Failing to appreciate the beauty of our country as much as we appreciate Indonesia’s

I always tell my friends that ‘Sincerity’ or being ‘Sincere’ is one of the most important things in life. You will realize that if you are not ‘sincere’ or do not have the ‘passion’; you will only view things at the surface. This is, taking snapshots of your life experience here and there, without really wanting to understand (or do not have the ability to understand) what does this ‘snapshot’ really mean.

After all my theory of ‘sincerity’, I realized I have not known my country well; I have not sincerely find out more information about the life-style of my fellow Singaporeans well, which I am truly upset about and I must thank Puteri for reminding me about this. According to Puteri’s observations, Chinese (being the majority race in Singapore) have not really tried to understand about other races around them. She explained that this is because the majority will not find the need or the urgency to understand how a minority lives. True enough, I do not know a lot about Malay or Indian’s culture; what I know is just a surface (like what is written on text book). What games do they play? What food do they eat? What does Geylang Serai really looks like? Do Malays really have to be Muslim? Do Indians have to be Hindu? It never prompts me to find this information out before.

Now that we are in Indonesia, Chinese becomes a minority, and the reversed cycle happens, and so we, as Chinese, began to know more about the Muslims’ lifestyle. For instance, their fasting month; how long will this last? Where can we find food? What food could they not eat? (e.g. pork) etc. Hence, we as the ‘minority’ becomes aware of the neglected culture we failed to see in our homeland.

We are so excited to find out about the life style of Indonesians. We said: “Wow, this is the traditional game they play here”, “Wow, this is the authentic food that they eat here.” We got so excited because we believe this is TRUE Indonesian’s culture, but I felt very ashamed (and I should really be) when Puteri said that such games and such food exist in Singapore too. The joke about this is, when we find out the games they play here or the food they eat here, we only take a snapshot of it and pretend that we really know the culture here (at least this is how we present it).

How superficial is this! Being so excited about this and that in a new country and NOT realizing that such beauty exists in our own country too. Why is this so? This is because we are not sincere in wanting to know the people around us in Singapore. Now that I am in Indonesia, I really want to know the culture here. However, I think it is a wake up call for me to look into my country and her people too.

Puteri, I give you all the credits to remind me about this….thank you

~ God gives me ears but I hear not, God gives me eyes but I see not ~

SBY and Indonesia

Continuing from Megawati's announcement to be considered for the 2009 elections, many other Indonesian political figures have come out to throw themselves into the fray. Gus Dur, the former president, has been quoted to have said 'Saya siap maju, kenapa tidak? (I'm ready, why not ?) If he says what he means, then i say that Indonesia will have to see whether this man is 'ready' to lead the country again.

What should Indonesia expects from the president ?

A one man show to combat corruption ?
A one man show to improve the country's economy and competitiveness ?
A one man show to coordinate reconstruction efforts in affected areas ?
I mean the list can go on ...

Let's not kid ourselves that the President is Superman in disguise. He can certainly try to be one but he is only judged by his results. Right now, things are not going his way. The TIME ruling in favour of Suharto has certainly wiped off some gloss on his anti-corruption stand. The earthquakes in Sumatra will certainly test the capability of SBY and his administration through the reconstruction efforts. The DCA with Singapore certainly looks like a dead deal at this moment. My guess is that DPR will drag its feet and continue to capitalize nationalist sentiments to kill the deal permanently. So, one has to feel some sympathy for SBY. Unless things turn around for him, dark clouds will garner, in time to come, around his presidency.

On the other hand, Indonesia should reflect upon the words of John Wayne " I didn’t vote for him but he’s my president, and I hope he does a good job.” in 1960 when JFK was elected ahead of Richard Nixon, Wayne's preferred choice. I guess those were the words of a true patriot. Not for self and party but for the nation. For the fourth's largest country in the world on its slow path to democracy, such a message cannot be emphasized enough.

And, SBY would certainly appreciate those 17 words.

50% Indonesian in 3.5 months??? No, But we enjoyed studying here....

I was under Dr. Jennifer Lindsay last year for her ‘Media in Southeast Asia’ classes. I was really impressed when she told me she translated Indonesian books into English versions. I told her: “Wow, your Indonesian language must be really good, you must have mastered the language!” Dr. Lindsay replied: “No, we can never master a language but we can keep learning and improving our language ability.” Similarly, I was also very impressed with Ibu Wendy’s ability to speak Indonesian language, but she told us “No, not very good, still learning.” I am really impressed with them; not only because they could speak Indonesian language well, but also because they are so humble. We must truly learn from them because it is only by acknowledging our flaws, then we will continue to work hard to improve our language skills...

Am I expecting that I could speak like an Indonesian after 3.5 mths? My reply is no - Not even close to becoming 50% of a true Indonesian who could really speak and understand the language well. You must either be really good or really arrogant to say that because learning a language is really not easy and it can be tiring... However, our Bahasa Indonesia (all 3 of us) has certainly improved because we speak and listen to the language every day, and we read and write more in Bahasa Indonesia too. This semester away is also a good opportunity for us to widen our social group too.

Well, 3.5 mths here may not be long enough to make us half Indonesian, but all SE Asian students should take this opportunity to expose themselves to the new study experience here… That is not a single day that I have regretted studying here because it is very interesting and it gives us a different perspective of Indonesia. I am sure you will agree with me that studying comes alive when you are here...JOIN US!

God bless Tante, Puteri and Terence…

On duty

Are you on duty ?

Congklak, a traditional Indonesian game

Imagine reading about congklak in the morning and actually seeing
people play a couple of hours later at Jalan Malioboro. Well, I sat with
them for a good 15 minutes and never managed to grasp the game.

http://www.expat.or.id/info/congklak.html 
It gives a good overview and rules regarding the game which is way 
too complicated for me.  


Sellers along the kaki lima taking a break


Congklak - a game of mathematics, skill and strategy


7 seeds in each hole with 7 holes per player

The Contrast between ' Poor' and 'Rich'

I do not know much about Indonesia’s history and politics, so I am not trying to act like an expert to analyze the situation here. What I am writing here is purely what I see everyday on the street and my feelings.

I have been trying to blog about this for a very long time – about ‘poverty’ in Indonesia. We are staying in Wisma MM Sagan, one of the prime areas in Yogyakarta. Beside our Wisma MM, there is a Sagan Chinese Restaurant, and a Bangawan Solo café. These 2 places served relatively expensive food and drinks, so it is definitely one of the more ‘atas’ place in Yogyakarta. Yet across the road, there is a slum. People are living in houses that are torn and tattered, and their houses are surrounded by tons of rubbish. Whenever Puteri and I walked passed it, we could always hear this ‘chee chee chee’ sound, and I am not sure if it comes from rats or from other insects. It has a foul smell too, and yet, people are living in this area.

In contrast to the slum, my room is air conditioned; it is clean and is relatively comfortable. At times, Puteri and I will drink coffee at Bangawan Solo café and watch TV. By night, you will not be able to see much of the slum due to the poor lightings here, but you know there are people living on the side of the road and in the slum area. We are in a cool area, they are suffering from heat. We sit on comfortable chair; they sit at the side of the road. The contrast is a little uncomfortable for me. Hence, sometimes when I cannot sleep, I will start to wonder ‘what if I am one of them who live on the street? Will I survive?”

Maybe my research work for my ISM topic on rape cases is ‘heavy going’ and emotional. Many victims who were raped come from weak and poor families; they live in the slum and have no money. In addition to the poor condition of living, they have to fear and tolerate the sexual violence that might happen to them everyday. Given such harsh conditions, people continue to strive on. Sometimes, I think they have more courage than I do.

There is no need for you to live near slum near in order for you to know the poverty of this group of Indonesians. Every where on the street and on the busy road, there are beggars as young as 4-6 years old begging for money. You can’t ignore them; they will knock against your taxi door and put their hands forward, hoping to get some money from you. What could you do for them? Most of the time, we could only feel sad for them, and when we are back in Singapore, we will forget about them and live on with our own life.

I must admit that I not only feel sorry for them, but their experiences instill a certain fear in me. I told Puteri that I do not aspire to be a very very rich person, but I am really very afraid to be poor. I don’t think any amount of money is ever enough to help savage the lives of Indonesians who live below poverty line and we must also accept the fact that corruptions has add on more problems to this major issue, but we must always tell ourselves “能救多少是多少”. This is, we must always save as many lives as we could because every life counts.

God bless this group of people who needs help….

Taking buses in Yogyakarta

Overview

Taking buses around Yogya is one of the cheapest and convenient (but not the fastest) way to get around the city. There are about 17 different routes plying various areas around the city. In addition, there are smaller buses which travel to the outskirts of the city. If you want to take them, it is best to ask specific directions from the locals before the trip as the buses only stop at certain locations.

If you are expecting first world standard, forget it. The buses are at most functional. For those of us who are born in the 1980s, we can probably still recollect the older SBS buses. Yeah, those are the ones you see here after it was phased out from service. The bottom line is, don't expect too much.

Where do i take buses?

- EVERYWHERE. There are no fixed bus stops here. Passengers can board or alight along the designated bus route. Bus conductors will try to 'escort' you up the bus all the time. So, it is important to know the bus route and your destination before boarding the bus. Don't bother asking the bus conductor. He will be more interested to get you on the bus than to ask your question. You are probably better off asking the locals first or be more observant when you are at important landmarks.

How much does it cost to take a bus?

- A single trip costs 2,000 Rp which is payable when you board the bus.You should have exact change or small notes (maximum 10,000 Rp.) as the bus conductor will not have change for your 100,000 Rp.note. Always have the bus fare ready before you board the bus.

How long do I have to wait for the bus?

- There is no definite answer. Buses in Yogya do not operate on German/ Japanese efficiency. If you are in a rush, you are better off taking a taxi. Buses in Yogya may stop for a pit stop for an indeterminate amount of time along the side of the road to wait for passengers. However, this happens more often during peak hours (between 1500 and 1600). In the meantime, you might be entertained by buskers who may be singing the latest Indonesian Top 40 hits that you recognize from frequent airplay.It is an obligation to give them tips but not necessary.

Do I have to afraid of pickpockets?

Taking the bus is relatively safe in Yogya but you still have to take the necessary precautions.
Wallets should always be in the front pockets. If the bus is quite crowded, it is always safer to take the next bus rather than a bad experience.

Important bus services

FROM CESASS

To Maliboro, take No. 2 or 4. It will take you into the heart of Malioboro.
No. 2 will ply along Jln. Mataram which is parallel to Malioboro.
To Am Plaza, walk down towards MMUGM and turn left at the cross junction where you will be on Jln. Kaliurang. Take No. 7 along that street.
To MMUGM Hostel, take No. 5 or 7 from the biology department bus stop.

FROM MMUGM Hostel

To CESASS, take any bus except No. 5 or 7 that turns left into the street leading into UGM
From the same location, No. 7 will head towards Am Plaza.
To Malioboro, take No. 2 along Jln. Cik Ditro near the UGM roundabout.

- This post will be regularly updated -

45 days of Bahasa Indonesia

It has been 1.5 months here in Yogyakarta. The formal portion of Bahasa lessons will be wrapping up next week. Not sure of the format of the remaining language lessons. If it is what they have been telling us (movies and literature discussions), it is surely going to be a challenging time ahead.

Listening to the dialogue in movies will be an uphill task considering that i had to rely so much on the English subtitles when watching Jakarta Undercover last night (it was rather disappointing. The movie kind of dragged on towards the end.) Reading is less of a learning curve since I understand more of tata tata bahasa with its 'di-, per-an, pe-an, di-kan, me-kan, ter-, ber-', the list never ends. Well, 18 more hours is only 6 hours x 3 weeks. And, it will be the dreaded presentation. I really cannot imagine myself doing a presentation in bahasa in front of native speakers. Then again, it is good exposure for further bahasa modules (I just hope the placement test will serve its purpose since it will decide my Bahasa future in NUS)

Frankly speaking, I really feel the improvement of learning bahasa in THE motherland. After all, I was in BI 1 last semester. And I totally lost interest towards the end because I was just not performing well in class. Rather demoralizing, I must say. However, things are really looking up at this moment. I just took a look at the BI 2 coursepack and I have almost covered all the topics during my daily conversations (how cool is that). I feel as though I am turning half Indonesian such that I will go 'apa, ya' instead of ' hmmm'. It just rolls off the tongue.

If the future Semeter Away people happen to reading this, there is nothing like learning a foreign language by immersing yourself in the culture and country. Yes, the learning curve can be very steep at times (and feeling lost sometimes), I guess it is part and parcel of the learning process. Don't be afraid to make mistakes when communicating. In fact, the people here appreciate the fact that you are trying to converse with them. Sooner or later, you will feel so at ease with Bahasa that it might just feel like your first language.

Suharto wins... again

Former President Suharto has just won a RP 1 trillion (that’s with a ‘T’… US$106 million!) suit against TIME magazine for defaming his good name :)

TIME ran a cover story back in 1999 exposing Suharto Inc. and in it, alleged that the former dictator and his (extremely fortunate!) children amassed more than US$73 billion in his years in office, lost most of it during 97’s financial crisis, but was still comfortably sitting on ohh just about, US$15 billion in 1999.

Now there’s no way that can be true…

That’s apparently what the Indonesian Supreme Court thought and so, here we are, almost ten years after Reformasi, and still the man many believe to be the most corrupt politician of the twentieth century walks away smiling.

You know what’s interesting though? Suharto had earlier filed lawsuits with the Central District Jakarta Court and then the Jakarta High Court. Both courts ruled in TIME’s favour. When the case reached the Supreme Court however, which was presided over by a panel of three judges, (one of whom, Jakarta Post reports, is a retired general who rose in the military ranks during Suharto’s administration) it overturned the decision and ordered the mag to pay up.

It kinda sucks for TIME but I’m sure they can afford it. It is quite funny though, that they’re gonna have to take out full page public apologies in the press to the former Prez.

So yes, poor TIME. But poorer still, is press freedom in the infant democracy that is Indonesia. I know it sounds like the pot calling the kettle black but trust this Singaporean, it takes one to know one.

Wishing you were here (to someone)

12 September 2007
Parangtritis Beach

Yep, as part of our language lessons, we went to this famed beach in
Yogyakatra. It's so cool right ? But the journey was not. One hour by
public bus but that was the cheapest way to get there. Poor students.
Nothing much to do at the beach but to enjoy the sea breeze and
freezing water and to think of what we are missing out in Bali.

The pictures speak for themselves.


Scenes from a postcard


Yes, we were in Paris.


No swimming !

Menjadi Presiden muda, jadi pemimpin sangat sulit

Kompas 12 September 2007



Jadi Presiden gampang. yang sulit jadi pemimpin.
(Becoming President is easy, becoming a leader is difficult)

Jadi rakyat juga sulit kok bu ....
(Dear madam, being in the (Indonesian) society is also difficult for us)

Malah sering dibikin sulit
(and, it is always being made more complicated)

This comic strip was published the day after Megawati announced
her candidancy for the 2009 election. The people have spoken. Looks
like the politicans have a lot more work ahead of them.

Any Pre-orders for my Video???

Actually I am hoping to upload videos of some interesting people we met during our interactive classes at Jalan Marlioboro and at the beach. However, despite repeated attempts, they just cannot be uploaded.

I took more videos than photos because Putria nd Phalawan took a lot of photos and I thought maybe I could take video instead so that we could show all our friends when we are back in Singapore. I will compile all the videos into a CD and give it to Putri and Phalawan. All these videos will become part of our beautiful memories in Yogyakarta. Hmm…Let me see what I have recorded so far….

1. Life is not complete without shopping (Dr. Goh’s shopping experience in Yogyakarta)
Starring: Dr. Goh
Director: Winna
What can you expect from this video: We could see Dr. Goh and her batik shirt she bought in the traditional market

2. Bahasa Indonesia Classes
Starring: Terence, Winna, Ibu Novi and Mbak Santi
Director: Nicola
What can you expect from this video: Our language classes LOH and our serious ‘mugging’ faces…haha

3. Kunir Assem
Starring: Winna
Director: Nicola
What can you expect from this video: The most horrible beverage we have ever tried so far…but it is good for our skin

4. Our first look at Prambanan
Starring: Prambanan and invisible Nicola
Director: Winna
What can you expect from this video: The magnificent Prambanan…(although it is not well recorded

5. Anak Anak Indonesia (The Live Show at Prambanan)
Starring: Nil
Director: Winna
What can you expect from this video: We were so excited to catch a ‘Live’ show at Prambanan, so I captured one scene of the show.

6. Train
Starring: Nil
Director: Winna
What can you expect from this video: We saw a train passing by the railway station near Jln Marlioboro…isn’t that wonderful?

7. Andong Festival 1 & 2
Starring: Nil
Director: Winna
What can you expect from this video: Beautifully dressed up horses and the anticipating crowds…, it is an annual event.

6. Sepatu Nicola Hilang ( Nicola’s shoes are missing)
Starring: Nicola, Terence, Mbak Uva, Mbak Santi and Winna
Director: Winna
What can you expect from this video: It is by far the best video I have ever recorded. We hid Putri’s footwear and she was desperately searching for it and the beach. Ending? She found it of course…but was really funny…it is a MUST watch…(the photo above is taken at the beach)

Any pre-order for my video collection? Just drop me a note….and I will reserve a copy for u…haha...

God bless this Director, Actress cum Video seller

Megawati to run in 2009 presidential election

The first salvo has been fired for the 2009 presidential election with Megawati declaring another shot for the presidency. It seems that the 'silent president' wants the post so badly. After all, her presidential term was never ratified by the nation. Well, Indonesia has rejected her the first time round in favour of SBY. Maybe we will see a rematch between the two.

It is really interesting that she would declare her intention so early with two years to go. Perhaps, with the verdict on SBY's presidency still unclear, this could prove to be a masterstroke by distracting SBY from his presidency to his future in Indonesian politics.

On the side note, the Jakarta Post reported that Jusuf Kalla, Vice President and the Golkar Party chairman, congratulated her on the campaign bid. Will we see the PDI-P and Golkar forming a coalition in 2009 after the failure in 2004 ? Will Jusuf Kalla himself launch his own presidential bid ? What about the perennial dark horses (Amien Rais and the rest) ? What about SBY himself ?

So many unknowns right now, but all will be clear as we head into 2008.
Let's hope the 2009 presidential election will shape up to its potential.
Let the show begin.


SBY - The incumbent who has yet to make his mark on his presidency


Megawati - former president looking for another shot at presidency


Jusuf Kalla - Vice President waiting for his turn in the highest office 

Interactive Class

Hi all,
I will upload more photos which were taken during the Interactive class…and I will be having similar type of class tomorrow...hehe

The Ice Chendol Seller...

At the Tourism Information Centre at Jalan Marliboro

The Batik Making Demonstration

The Museum

You know what??? I will upload these photos first before the internet gets disconnected.....it is hard to get these uploaded k....haha

To be continued....

Lumpia, even food can be localized

Lumpia is the Indonesian version of popiah except that it is deep fried.
Yet another example of localization.
Indonesians see the Chinese popiah.
They like to fry their stuff.
Presto, a localized snack.

So, this is how to make a lumpia:


Start off with popiah skin.
mix of bean sprouts, carrots, cabbage cooked in a broth


Fold the skin and the ingredients into a popiah.  
Put a small piece of popiah skin in the middle to make sure that the
ingredients do not burst out during the frying process.
(and, add a toss at the end if you can. That was what the hawker did.
He was just showing off to me.)


The main ingredients are bean sprouts, carrots and cabbage cooked in
stir fried and stewed. Chicken is optional.


Waiting to enter into the frying wok.


All ready to go into hungry stomaches.


Finally, the lumpia meets its fate.

This price list is only a guide:
Basic (only vegetable) - 1000 Rp.
Special (additional chicken) - 1500 Rp.
Deluxe (w white garlic) - 1700 Rp.

Ilusi - Ilusi Nasionalisme

Title: Illusions of Nationalism
Date: 9 September 2007
Place: Jogja Gallery (near Alun-Alun Utara, at the end of Jln. Maliboro)

This art exhibition about Raden Saleh, arguably the most famous and important in Indonesian art history, was held from 18 August to 9 September. It was to commemorate his 200th birthday, hence the title for the exhibition.

Raden Saleh was considered the first 'modern' Indonesian painter as he was schooled in the western styles and techniques. And yes, some of his paintings were shown us during our SE 1101 course by Jan Mrazek. (Yes, more publicity for SEASP) and its relation to nationalism. Quite aptly, this exhibition attempts to explore nationalism and Raden Saleh as the two main overarching themes. Being someone who is not really artistically inclined, I must say I am not the best person to comment on the artistic aspect. However, I was really blown away by the message that each painter tries to express through their paintings, be it through abstractly, satire or even extrapolating ideas and concepts. Each painting expresses a different understanding of Indonesia as seen through their eyes.

As the foreword by the curator interprets the role of the painters to be ‘in charge to document the nation – state feelings, regardless what happens inside themselves … to present them in interesting aesthetic attraction’, it really captures the essence of the exhibition. From the parody of the Last Supper by Bambang Puranto to re-interpreting Saleh’s “The Capture of Prince Diponegoro” in the modern Indonesian political context, art and politics becomes one entity. In all, the exhibition clearly shows the fluidity and illusiveness of nationalism, as expressed through the title, and brings to the mind Benedict Anderson’s conceptualization of ‘imagined communities’.

Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take pictures of the paintings.
If you are interested, let me know and I can show you the catalogue.

More on Raden Saleh and his paintings:

The Arrest of Prince Diponegoro


Raden Saleh's version

In the painting, Raden Saleh deliberately distorted the heads of the Dutchmen much to be much bigger in a reference to their pomposity and pride and contrast to the balanced proportion of the Indonesians. What a subtle way to show resistance and nationalism. In addition, Raden Saleh also positioned himself in the painting in the crowd as the Javanese man with his face in his hands standing behind Diponegoro and the second self portrait is the bowing man under the ladder. 


The Dutch version, painter uncredited.

Note how the Dutch flag is high and flying in this version and the position of Diponegoro in relation to his captor. The difference in height between the two and facing away from his captor, as if he was ashamed of confronting his nemesis and accepting his fate, attempts to re-emphasize the superiority of the Dutch during the colonial period. Hence, Raden Saleh's version was somewhat of an act of resistance against Dutch colonialism. While he was never actively involved in overthrowing the Dutch, he fought and expressed nationalism through his painting.

His brush was to guns as his paint was to bullets.

Nor the fight makes us artists
but because we are artists
we become fighters.
- Albert Camus, 1940 -

Pictures - In and Around Malioboro

Here are some pictures (to add on to Tante's previous entry) of our interactive class outing to Jalan Malioboro last Monday. The Kraton is really nice. Too bad the Sultan's wasn't in, I really wanted to say hi to him! This Wednesday, we are off to Parangtritis Beach (the beach you only look at and not swim in :) , with the Bahasa teachers. I'm pretty lucky coz i don't take Bahasa classes (not that I shouldn't, my language capabilities are still terrible) but they let me tag along anyways!
The 100 year old caretaker of the Kraton Museum which houses the royal families' horse carriages. He's holding up a picture of himself as a palace guard, taken in 1937, when he was 30. And he was really cute coz he kept repeating that he was born on 15 January 1907 and that he's 100 years and 7 months old. And the three of us we're quite fascinated, we're not even a quarter of that yet!

Us at the music hall of the Kraton. We thought it was about time we upload more photos of ourselves :) But no promises coz I am soooooo not a photo person!

I took this picture the next day while I was becak-riding with Puri. The tukang becak stopped the becak and pointed out that there was a gajah (elephant). And I seriously thought he meant like a toy elephant or an elephant-shaped kids' car or train or something (we were at a children's carnival which is held daily at the Kraton square). And no, it's not funny that I didn't see the elephant (and yes, I do know that it's the largest mammal on land) But i really didn't until it turned the corner and was walked directly towards me and then yea I realised ohh rite gajah!

Anyway I was too scared to get a photo of it's front (I thought the flash might send it into a blind rage) so I got it's behind for your viewing pleasure :) But ya, quite close right? Which is pretty cool for me coz when I was young, my dad let me ride one at the zoo and it suddenly raised its trunk and roared or blew or trumpeted, whatever sound it is elephants make, and it scared the living daylights out of me. But still, I'd take an elephant over a kangaroo any day.

Hope you enjoy the photos.. Will upload shots of our day at Parangtritis soon!

Interactive Class

Hi all,
It is time for me to write again. Last Monday, we had our Bahasa Indonesia class, but the class was not conducted at a class room but at Jalan Marlioboro. We went to visit the Train Station, Train Museum, Keraton and Taman Sari. Our language teachers insisted that we speak and listen to the tour guides in Bahasa Indonesia.

Pictures say a thousand words….so I think I will not bore people with my long boring writings…but let you enjoy the photos that were taken there

This ‘Interact class’ was a little tiring because we walked a very long distance from 9am to 3pm….BUT, we really enjoyed our trip and we met alot of very interesting people; An old man who is already 100 years old (and he is very happy to tell us his age), a keraton guard who used his 'inner energy' to make his keris stand.. etc..haha.


Unfortunately, due to the size of the video, I could not put up them up on this blog, but nevertheless, we really hope you will enjoy reading our blog. Perhaps, we could show you more photos and videos we are back in Singapore...

The entrance of train station

Our language teachers, Putri and Phalawan

To be continued.....

down but (hopefully) not out

Fever
Flu
Cough
Sore throat
Food poisoning

Can it get any worse ?
I hope not.

Koruptor Buronan

Wanted for corruption in Indonesia.



Are you one of them ?
I hope not.  
Then again, they are not likely to be in Indonesia.
Maybe Singapore ?

One for the architecture

Fans of architecture and urban planning, this should interest you.

A Dutch colonial building withstanding the test of time. 
Spaces between the buildings speaks of  the absence of urban planning
yet it exudes an unique character which is replicated across the region.

I think this combination of modernity and the nostalgic past makes
places like Yogya and the rest of Southeast Asia special. The ability to
establish "chaotic order" is something that we should appreciate
especially when order and planning is de rigeur in Singapore. 

Reverse Psychology

Found in a shop selling over priced batiks to unsuspecting tourists.
 


Imagine the irony when they try to pull off a batik scam.