It's been 2 days since our second president passed away, Pak Soeharto. Despite all the controversy against him, let us just pray for his peace as a human being for him. In fact, there are still civil citizens who still respects him, and a lot of them vice versa.
Yes, he did a lot of developmental projects here in Indonesia, and we were once in our glorious days. And most of the citizens prefer those days when we were lead by Soeharto. Less hunger, less poverty, and less unemployment. It's the same feeling of eating a food with a lot of MSG inside it. It's delicious, but it's deadly harmful to our body.
But less of them realized that what we're facing today is the scrap of Soeharto's leadership. He doesn't only left us with charisma and a view remarkable development fossils, but also broken infrastructure and debts which must be repay decades later. By our grand grand sons, maybe.
Ah.. banyak yang nyalahin mahasiswa karena era reformasi kemarin, karena kalo ga ada kejadian tragedi 1998, mungkin rakyat kecil masih bisa beli minyak goreng dan nyekolahin anak mereka di sekolah deket rumah.
Tapi semua itu semu.. Because anything based on greediness and deceitfulness wouldn't last long. Dan susah.. banget.. kalo kita mendambakan perubahan sedrastis 180 derajat dalam waktu singkat. Kalo kata Mama Lauren, bakal ada bencana di tahun 2012 yang bikin Jakarta kehilangan lebih dari setengah penduduknya, dan baru bisa membangun kembali negara yang baik dengan pakem yang baru. (apa iya? Naudzubillah min zalik)
Yaudahlah. Gue cuma bisa berkomentar dan sedikit bertindak. Paling enggak, dengan kapasitas gw sebagai mahasiswa. Tapi pengadilan Tuhan itu udah yang paling adil kok. We don't need to worry about it...
Pas banget sama novel Laskar Pelangi-nya Andrea Hirata yang lagi gue baca, sehari setelah meninggalnya Pak Soeharto gue sampe bab 9 - Penyakit Gila No. 5. Gue kutip sedikit..
...Suatu hari dalam budi pekerti kemuhammadiyahan, Bu Mus menjelaskan tentang karakter yang dituntut Islam dari seorang amir. Amir dapat berarti seorang pemimpin. Beliau menyitir perkataan Khalifah Umar bin Khatab.
"Barangsiapa yang kami tunjuk sebagai amir dan telah kami tetapkan gajinya untuk itu, maka apapun yang ia terima selain gajinya adalah penipuan!"
Rupanya Bu Mus geram dengan korupsi yang merajalela di negeri ini dan beliau menyambung dengan lantang,
"Kata-kata itu memegang arti penting memegang amanah sebagai pemimpin dan Al Quran mengingatkan bahwa kepemimpinan seseorang akan dipertanggungjawabkan nanti di akhirat ... "
Memegang amanah sebagai pemimpin memang berat, tapi jangan khawatir banyak orang yang akan mendoakan. Tidakkah ananda sering mendengar di berbagai upacara petugas sering mengucap doa: Ya Allah lindungilah para pemimpin kami? Jarang sekali kita mendengar doa: Ya Allah lindungilah anak-anak buah kami ... "
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sandwiched
Astaghfirullah al aziim.
Hehee, gue baru melakukan terobosan baru lagi dalam hidup guee, yaitu: mengendarai motor sendirian di jalan raya. Well, it's the second time, dan masih kerasa sensasi deg-deg an nya. Dan yang kedua ini cukup berkesan.
Jadi alesannya adalah; mau minjem spidol prisma color ke rumahnya Izza, deket sih, sekitar 6 km dari rumah. Butuh buru-buru. Orang-orang rumah lagi pada pergi, dan demi niat baik ngerjain tugas Tata Ruang Dalam yang ternyata masih tersisa (damn, padahal gw udah ingin lepas dari tugas), jadilah gw ke rumah Izza sendirian.
Waktu pergi, masih owkay, yah sedikit grogi juga sih. Mungkin gw bermental pengendara mobil? Gw selalu tepat berada di belakang mobil, unlike the usual of motorcycle driver - selalu mengagetkan ada di kanan jalan atau bahkan mendahului dari kiri?! Ckckck. Sebagai pemula, sangat ingin menerapkan tatakrama dalam mengemudi, secara gw benci banget sama pengemudi motor yg semena-mena. Hehe.
Selain gw juga ga punya SIM, yaa mau apalagi selain berjalan mengendap-ngendap.
Perjalanan pergi, no problemo. Pas pulang, gue bertemu macet. Di depan gue adalah barisan mobil-mobil sekitar 15 m dengan pangkal kemacetan di perapatan Perum. Berenti dong gue.. Tepat di depan gue adalah angkot yang agak kosong dan becak yang lagi ngendog (baca: ngetem). Ragu antara si angkot ngendog juga ato engga, mulai dateng bisikan-bisikan ke hati, "nyelip aja kali ya? Jangan2 angkot ini lagi ngetem?", begitulah kira-kira dilema waktu itu.
Dan berbekalkan prinsip bahwa dalam hidup harus percaya diri, jadi diteroboslah becak dan angkot yang berjarak kurang lebih 60 cm itu. Pelan-pelan. Tapi ternyata ga muat! Bwahahaha. Terdengar bunyi gesekan antara motor gw dan angkot itu, spontan supirnya berkata dengan volume (se)maksimal (mungkin).
"KALO GA MUAT JANGAN MAKSA DONG!", he shouted.
Ooo mai gaad. Gimana ieuh? Kumaha? Wong bener-bener kegencet. Dibentak pula. Ciut deh. Trus tukang becak dengan sigap berusaha memindahkan becaknya yang sedang dalam posisi horisontal - jadi agak susah dibelokin, harus diangkat dikit. Ada kali sekitar 30 detik gw berusaha lepas dari dua benda nyolot itu. Spontan waktu bisa jalan, gw bilang "makasih ya Mang!", trus ngacir. Yaiyalah, gue yg salah. Mana banyak yg ngeliatin. Bengeut ditaro dimana ieuh?? HUhuHuhU.
Alhamdulillah yang kena cuma stangnya doang, tapi pas sampe rumah gw ga berani liat motornya (atau lupa tepatnya?), jadi gw belom tau keadaan motor gue. Huhuhu. Jangan ditiru ya yg seperti ini. Tapi kayaknya sopir angkotnya tak enak ma gue, soalnya pas abis tereak gitu ga ada sumpah serapah yang kedengeran. Mungkin karna gw cewe kali yaa. Ga tau deh.
Maap yaa abang angkot dan becak. Makanya abang angkot jangan suka bikin kesel di jalan raya, jadi gw (sebagai mediasi karma mungkin) membuat abang angkot kesel akhirnya. Hehehe.
Moral of the day:
- Never, drive without license.
- Never, ever, ever, drive a motorcycle without good intention (terbukti yang berniat mulia aja masih kena cobaan, gimana yg make buat ngetrek?? Astaghfirullah.)
- Self confidence harus diikuti pengetahuan yang kuat, yakni: Semua anak arsitek juga tau kalo 60 cm itu adalah ukuran ideal untuk sirkulasi manusia. Dan ini 60 cm untuk motor?!? Whatde? Harusnya sebelum jalan gue baca buku Human Dimension dulu kali ya. Hehehehe.
Cheers!
Hehee, gue baru melakukan terobosan baru lagi dalam hidup guee, yaitu: mengendarai motor sendirian di jalan raya. Well, it's the second time, dan masih kerasa sensasi deg-deg an nya. Dan yang kedua ini cukup berkesan.
Jadi alesannya adalah; mau minjem spidol prisma color ke rumahnya Izza, deket sih, sekitar 6 km dari rumah. Butuh buru-buru. Orang-orang rumah lagi pada pergi, dan demi niat baik ngerjain tugas Tata Ruang Dalam yang ternyata masih tersisa (damn, padahal gw udah ingin lepas dari tugas), jadilah gw ke rumah Izza sendirian.
Waktu pergi, masih owkay, yah sedikit grogi juga sih. Mungkin gw bermental pengendara mobil? Gw selalu tepat berada di belakang mobil, unlike the usual of motorcycle driver - selalu mengagetkan ada di kanan jalan atau bahkan mendahului dari kiri?! Ckckck. Sebagai pemula, sangat ingin menerapkan tatakrama dalam mengemudi, secara gw benci banget sama pengemudi motor yg semena-mena. Hehe.
Selain gw juga ga punya SIM, yaa mau apalagi selain berjalan mengendap-ngendap.
Perjalanan pergi, no problemo. Pas pulang, gue bertemu macet. Di depan gue adalah barisan mobil-mobil sekitar 15 m dengan pangkal kemacetan di perapatan Perum. Berenti dong gue.. Tepat di depan gue adalah angkot yang agak kosong dan becak yang lagi ngendog (baca: ngetem). Ragu antara si angkot ngendog juga ato engga, mulai dateng bisikan-bisikan ke hati, "nyelip aja kali ya? Jangan2 angkot ini lagi ngetem?", begitulah kira-kira dilema waktu itu.
Dan berbekalkan prinsip bahwa dalam hidup harus percaya diri, jadi diteroboslah becak dan angkot yang berjarak kurang lebih 60 cm itu. Pelan-pelan. Tapi ternyata ga muat! Bwahahaha. Terdengar bunyi gesekan antara motor gw dan angkot itu, spontan supirnya berkata dengan volume (se)maksimal (mungkin).
"KALO GA MUAT JANGAN MAKSA DONG!", he shouted.
Ooo mai gaad. Gimana ieuh? Kumaha? Wong bener-bener kegencet. Dibentak pula. Ciut deh. Trus tukang becak dengan sigap berusaha memindahkan becaknya yang sedang dalam posisi horisontal - jadi agak susah dibelokin, harus diangkat dikit. Ada kali sekitar 30 detik gw berusaha lepas dari dua benda nyolot itu. Spontan waktu bisa jalan, gw bilang "makasih ya Mang!", trus ngacir. Yaiyalah, gue yg salah. Mana banyak yg ngeliatin. Bengeut ditaro dimana ieuh?? HUhuHuhU.
Alhamdulillah yang kena cuma stangnya doang, tapi pas sampe rumah gw ga berani liat motornya (atau lupa tepatnya?), jadi gw belom tau keadaan motor gue. Huhuhu. Jangan ditiru ya yg seperti ini. Tapi kayaknya sopir angkotnya tak enak ma gue, soalnya pas abis tereak gitu ga ada sumpah serapah yang kedengeran. Mungkin karna gw cewe kali yaa. Ga tau deh.
Maap yaa abang angkot dan becak. Makanya abang angkot jangan suka bikin kesel di jalan raya, jadi gw (sebagai mediasi karma mungkin) membuat abang angkot kesel akhirnya. Hehehe.
Moral of the day:
- Never, drive without license.
- Never, ever, ever, drive a motorcycle without good intention (terbukti yang berniat mulia aja masih kena cobaan, gimana yg make buat ngetrek?? Astaghfirullah.)
- Self confidence harus diikuti pengetahuan yang kuat, yakni: Semua anak arsitek juga tau kalo 60 cm itu adalah ukuran ideal untuk sirkulasi manusia. Dan ini 60 cm untuk motor?!? Whatde? Harusnya sebelum jalan gue baca buku Human Dimension dulu kali ya. Hehehehe.
Cheers!
Jakarta - what are WE doing to you?
Jakarta (Jaya Karta - Prosperous, Glorious City) Capital City of Indonesia, what are we doing to you??
JAKARTA , INDONESIA — A SINKING GIANT?
by Andre Vltchek
Today, high-rises dot the skyline, hundreds of thousands of vehicles belch fumes on congested traffic arteries and super-malls have become the cultural centers of gravity in Jakarta, the fourth largest city in the world. In between towering super-structures, humble kampongs house the majority of the city dwellers, who often have no access to basic sanitation, running water or waste management.
While almost all major capitals in the Southeast Asian region are investing heavily in public transportation, parks, playgrounds, sidewalks and cultural institutions like museums, concert halls and convention centers, Jakarta remains brutally and determinately 'pro-market' — profit-driven and openly indifferent to the plight of a majority of its citizens who are poor.
Most Jakartans have never left Indonesia, so they cannot compare their capital with Kuala Lumpur or Singapore; with Hanoi or Bangkok. Comparative statistics and reports hardly make it into the local media. Despite the fact that the Indonesian capital is for many foreign visitors a 'hell on earth,' the local media describes Jakarta as "modern," "cosmopolitan, " and "a sprawling metropolis."
Newcomers are often puzzled by Jakarta's lack of public amenities. Bangkok, not exactly known as a user-friendly city, still has several beautiful parks. Even cash-strapped Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, boasts wide promenades, playgrounds, long stretches of beach and sea walks. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur compete with each other in building wide sidewalks, green areas as well as cultural establishments. Manila, another city without a glowing reputation for its public amenities, has succeeded in constructing an impressive sea promenade dotted with countless cafes and entertainment venues while preserving its World Heritage Site at Intramuros. Hanoi repaved its wide sidewalks and turned a park around Huan-Kiem Lake into an open-air sculpture museum.
But in Jakarta, there is a fee for everything. Many green spaces have been converted to golf courses for the exclusive use of the rich. The approximately one square kilometer of Monas seems to be the only real public area in a city of more than 10 million. Despite being a maritime city, Jakarta has been separated from the sea, with the only focal point being Ancol, with a tiny, mostly decrepit walkway along the dirty beach dotted with private businesses.
Even to take a walk in Ancol, a family of four has to spend approximately $4.50 (40,000 Indonesian Rupiahs) in entrance fees, something unthinkable anywhere else in the world. The few tiny public parks which survived privatization are in desperate condition and mostly unsafe to use.
There are no sidewalks in the entire city, if one applies international standards to the word "sidewalk." Almost anywhere in the world (with the striking exception of some cities in the United States, like Houston and Los Angeles) the cities themselves belong to pedestrians. Cars are increasingly discouraged from traveling in the city centers. Wide sidewalks are understood to be the most ecological, healthy and efficient forms of short-distance public transportation in
areas with high concentrations of people.
In Jakarta, there are hardly any benches for people to sit and relax, and no free drinking water fountains or public toilets. It is these small, but important, 'details' that are symbols of urban life
anywhere else in the world.
Most world cities, including those in the region, want to be visited and remembered for their culture. Singapore is managing to change its 'shop-till-you- drop' image to that of the center of
Southeast Asian arts. The monumental Esplanade Theatre has reshaped the skyline, offering first-rate international concerts in classical music, opera, ballet, and also featuring performances from some of the leading contemporary artists from the region. Many performances are subsidized and are either free or cheap, relative to the high incomes in the city-state.
Kuala Lumpur spent $100 million on its philharmonic concert hall, which is located right under the Petronas Towers, among the tallest buildings in the world. This impressive and prestigious
concert hall hosts local orchestra companies as well top international performers. The city is currently spending further millions to refurbish its museums and galleries, from the National Museum to the National Art Gallery. Hanoi is proud of its culture and arts, which are promoted as its major attraction — millions of visitors flock into the city to visit countless galleries stocked with canvases, which can be easily described as some of the best in Southeast Asia. Its beautifully restored Opera House regularly offers Western and Asian music treats.
Bangkok's colossal temples and palaces coexist with extremely cosmopolitan fare — international theater and film festivals, countless performances, jazz clubs with local and foreign artists on
the bill, as well as authentic culinary delights from all corners of the world. When it comes to music, live performances and nightlife, there is no city in Southeast Asia as vibrant as Manila.
Now back to Jakarta. Those who have ever visited the city's 'public libraries' or National Archives building will know the difference. No wonder; in Indonesia education, culture and arts are not considered to be 'profitable' (with the exception of pop music), and are therefore made absolutely irrelevant. The country spends the third lowest amount in the world on education (according to The Economist, only1.2 percent of its GDP) after Equatorial Guinea and Ecuador (there the situation is now rapidly improving with the new progressive government).
Museums in Jakarta are in appalling condition, offering absolutely no important international exhibitions. They look like they fell on the city from a different era and no wonder — the Dutch built almost all of them. Not only are their collections poorly kept, but they lack elements of modernity — there are no elegant cafes, museum shops, bookstores or even public archives. It appears that the individuals running them are without vision and creativity. However, even if they did have inspired ideas, there would be no funding to carry them out.
It seems that Jakarta has no city planners, only private developers that have no respect for the majority of its inhabitants who are poor (the great majority, no matter what the understated and
manipulated government statistics say). The city abandoned itself to the private sector, which now controls almost everything, from residential housing to what were once public areas.
While Singapore decades ago, and Kuala Lumpur recently, managed to fully eradicate poor, unsanitary and depressing kampongs from their urban areas, Jakarta is unable or unwilling to offer its citizens subsidized, affordable housing equipped with running water, electricity, a sewage system, wastewater treatment facilities, playgrounds, parks, sidewalks and a mass public transportation system.
Rich Singapore aside, Kuala Lumpur with only 2 million inhabitants boasts one metro line (Putra Line), one monorail, several efficient Star LRT lines, suburban train links and high-speed rail
system connecting the city with its new capital Putrajaya. The "Rapid" system counts on hundreds of modern, clean and air-conditioned buses. Transit is subsidized; a bus ticket on "Rapid" costs only $.60 (2 Malaysian Ringgits) for unlimited day use on the same line. Heavily
discounted daily and monthly passes are also available.
Bangkok contracted German firm Siemens to build two long "Sky Train" lines and one metro line. It is also utilizing its river and channels as both public transportation and as a tourist attraction. Despite this enormous progress, the Bangkok city administration claims that it is building an additional 50 miles (80 kilometers) of tracks for these systems in order to convince citizens to leave their cars at home and use public transportation. Polluting pre-historic buses are being banned from Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and gradually from Bangkok. Jakarta, thanks to corruption and phlegmatic officials, is in its own league even in this field.
Mercer Human Resource Consulting, in its reports covering quality of life, places Jakarta repeatedly on the level of poor African and South Asian cities, below metropolises like Nairobi and Medellin.
Considering that it is in the league with some of the poorest capitals of the world, Jakarta is not cheap. According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2006 Survey, Jakarta ranked as the 48th most expensive city in the world for expatriate employees, well above Berlin (72nd), Melbourne (74th) and Washington D.C. (83rd). And if it is expensive for expatriates, how is it for local people with a GDP per capita below $1,000?
Curiously, Jakartans are silent. They have become inured to appalling air quality just as they have gotten used to the sight of children begging, even selling themselves at the major intersections; to entire communities living under elevated highways and in slums on the shores of canals turned into toxic waste dumps; to the hours-long commutes; to floods and rats.
But if there is to be any hope, the truth has to eventually be told, and the sooner the better. Only a realistic and brutal diagnosis can lead to treatment and a cure. As painful as the truth can be, it
is always better than self-deceptions and lies. Jakarta has fallen decades behind capitals in the neighboring countries — in esthetics, housing, urban planning, standard of living, quality of life, health, education, culture, transportation, food quality and hygiene. It has to swallow its pride and learn from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brisbane and even in some instances from its poorer
neighbors like Port Moresby, Manila and Hanoi.
Comparative statistics have to be transparent and widely available. Citizens have to learn how to ask questions again, and how to demand answers and accountability. Only if they understand to what depths their city has sunk can there be any hope of change. "We have to watch out," said a concerned Malaysian filmmaker during New Year's Eve celebrations in Kuala Lumpur. "Malaysia suddenly has too many problems. If we are not careful, Kuala Lumpur could end up in 20 or 30 years like Jakarta!"
Could this statement be reversed? Can Jakarta find the strength and solidarity to mobilize in time catch up with Kuala Lumpur? Can decency overcome greed? Can corruption be eradicated and replaced by creativity? Can private villas shrink in size and green spaces, public housing, playgrounds, libraries, schools and hospitals expand?
An outsider like me can observe, tell the story and ask questions. Only the people of Jakarta can offer the answers and solutions.
JAKARTA , INDONESIA — A SINKING GIANT?
by Andre Vltchek
Today, high-rises dot the skyline, hundreds of thousands of vehicles belch fumes on congested traffic arteries and super-malls have become the cultural centers of gravity in Jakarta, the fourth largest city in the world. In between towering super-structures, humble kampongs house the majority of the city dwellers, who often have no access to basic sanitation, running water or waste management.
While almost all major capitals in the Southeast Asian region are investing heavily in public transportation, parks, playgrounds, sidewalks and cultural institutions like museums, concert halls and convention centers, Jakarta remains brutally and determinately 'pro-market' — profit-driven and openly indifferent to the plight of a majority of its citizens who are poor.
Most Jakartans have never left Indonesia, so they cannot compare their capital with Kuala Lumpur or Singapore; with Hanoi or Bangkok. Comparative statistics and reports hardly make it into the local media. Despite the fact that the Indonesian capital is for many foreign visitors a 'hell on earth,' the local media describes Jakarta as "modern," "cosmopolitan, " and "a sprawling metropolis."
Newcomers are often puzzled by Jakarta's lack of public amenities. Bangkok, not exactly known as a user-friendly city, still has several beautiful parks. Even cash-strapped Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, boasts wide promenades, playgrounds, long stretches of beach and sea walks. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur compete with each other in building wide sidewalks, green areas as well as cultural establishments. Manila, another city without a glowing reputation for its public amenities, has succeeded in constructing an impressive sea promenade dotted with countless cafes and entertainment venues while preserving its World Heritage Site at Intramuros. Hanoi repaved its wide sidewalks and turned a park around Huan-Kiem Lake into an open-air sculpture museum.
But in Jakarta, there is a fee for everything. Many green spaces have been converted to golf courses for the exclusive use of the rich. The approximately one square kilometer of Monas seems to be the only real public area in a city of more than 10 million. Despite being a maritime city, Jakarta has been separated from the sea, with the only focal point being Ancol, with a tiny, mostly decrepit walkway along the dirty beach dotted with private businesses.
Even to take a walk in Ancol, a family of four has to spend approximately $4.50 (40,000 Indonesian Rupiahs) in entrance fees, something unthinkable anywhere else in the world. The few tiny public parks which survived privatization are in desperate condition and mostly unsafe to use.
There are no sidewalks in the entire city, if one applies international standards to the word "sidewalk." Almost anywhere in the world (with the striking exception of some cities in the United States, like Houston and Los Angeles) the cities themselves belong to pedestrians. Cars are increasingly discouraged from traveling in the city centers. Wide sidewalks are understood to be the most ecological, healthy and efficient forms of short-distance public transportation in
areas with high concentrations of people.
In Jakarta, there are hardly any benches for people to sit and relax, and no free drinking water fountains or public toilets. It is these small, but important, 'details' that are symbols of urban life
anywhere else in the world.
Most world cities, including those in the region, want to be visited and remembered for their culture. Singapore is managing to change its 'shop-till-you- drop' image to that of the center of
Southeast Asian arts. The monumental Esplanade Theatre has reshaped the skyline, offering first-rate international concerts in classical music, opera, ballet, and also featuring performances from some of the leading contemporary artists from the region. Many performances are subsidized and are either free or cheap, relative to the high incomes in the city-state.
Kuala Lumpur spent $100 million on its philharmonic concert hall, which is located right under the Petronas Towers, among the tallest buildings in the world. This impressive and prestigious
concert hall hosts local orchestra companies as well top international performers. The city is currently spending further millions to refurbish its museums and galleries, from the National Museum to the National Art Gallery. Hanoi is proud of its culture and arts, which are promoted as its major attraction — millions of visitors flock into the city to visit countless galleries stocked with canvases, which can be easily described as some of the best in Southeast Asia. Its beautifully restored Opera House regularly offers Western and Asian music treats.
Bangkok's colossal temples and palaces coexist with extremely cosmopolitan fare — international theater and film festivals, countless performances, jazz clubs with local and foreign artists on
the bill, as well as authentic culinary delights from all corners of the world. When it comes to music, live performances and nightlife, there is no city in Southeast Asia as vibrant as Manila.
Now back to Jakarta. Those who have ever visited the city's 'public libraries' or National Archives building will know the difference. No wonder; in Indonesia education, culture and arts are not considered to be 'profitable' (with the exception of pop music), and are therefore made absolutely irrelevant. The country spends the third lowest amount in the world on education (according to The Economist, only1.2 percent of its GDP) after Equatorial Guinea and Ecuador (there the situation is now rapidly improving with the new progressive government).
Museums in Jakarta are in appalling condition, offering absolutely no important international exhibitions. They look like they fell on the city from a different era and no wonder — the Dutch built almost all of them. Not only are their collections poorly kept, but they lack elements of modernity — there are no elegant cafes, museum shops, bookstores or even public archives. It appears that the individuals running them are without vision and creativity. However, even if they did have inspired ideas, there would be no funding to carry them out.
It seems that Jakarta has no city planners, only private developers that have no respect for the majority of its inhabitants who are poor (the great majority, no matter what the understated and
manipulated government statistics say). The city abandoned itself to the private sector, which now controls almost everything, from residential housing to what were once public areas.
While Singapore decades ago, and Kuala Lumpur recently, managed to fully eradicate poor, unsanitary and depressing kampongs from their urban areas, Jakarta is unable or unwilling to offer its citizens subsidized, affordable housing equipped with running water, electricity, a sewage system, wastewater treatment facilities, playgrounds, parks, sidewalks and a mass public transportation system.
Rich Singapore aside, Kuala Lumpur with only 2 million inhabitants boasts one metro line (Putra Line), one monorail, several efficient Star LRT lines, suburban train links and high-speed rail
system connecting the city with its new capital Putrajaya. The "Rapid" system counts on hundreds of modern, clean and air-conditioned buses. Transit is subsidized; a bus ticket on "Rapid" costs only $.60 (2 Malaysian Ringgits) for unlimited day use on the same line. Heavily
discounted daily and monthly passes are also available.
Bangkok contracted German firm Siemens to build two long "Sky Train" lines and one metro line. It is also utilizing its river and channels as both public transportation and as a tourist attraction. Despite this enormous progress, the Bangkok city administration claims that it is building an additional 50 miles (80 kilometers) of tracks for these systems in order to convince citizens to leave their cars at home and use public transportation. Polluting pre-historic buses are being banned from Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and gradually from Bangkok. Jakarta, thanks to corruption and phlegmatic officials, is in its own league even in this field.
Mercer Human Resource Consulting, in its reports covering quality of life, places Jakarta repeatedly on the level of poor African and South Asian cities, below metropolises like Nairobi and Medellin.
Considering that it is in the league with some of the poorest capitals of the world, Jakarta is not cheap. According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2006 Survey, Jakarta ranked as the 48th most expensive city in the world for expatriate employees, well above Berlin (72nd), Melbourne (74th) and Washington D.C. (83rd). And if it is expensive for expatriates, how is it for local people with a GDP per capita below $1,000?
Curiously, Jakartans are silent. They have become inured to appalling air quality just as they have gotten used to the sight of children begging, even selling themselves at the major intersections; to entire communities living under elevated highways and in slums on the shores of canals turned into toxic waste dumps; to the hours-long commutes; to floods and rats.
But if there is to be any hope, the truth has to eventually be told, and the sooner the better. Only a realistic and brutal diagnosis can lead to treatment and a cure. As painful as the truth can be, it
is always better than self-deceptions and lies. Jakarta has fallen decades behind capitals in the neighboring countries — in esthetics, housing, urban planning, standard of living, quality of life, health, education, culture, transportation, food quality and hygiene. It has to swallow its pride and learn from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brisbane and even in some instances from its poorer
neighbors like Port Moresby, Manila and Hanoi.
Comparative statistics have to be transparent and widely available. Citizens have to learn how to ask questions again, and how to demand answers and accountability. Only if they understand to what depths their city has sunk can there be any hope of change. "We have to watch out," said a concerned Malaysian filmmaker during New Year's Eve celebrations in Kuala Lumpur. "Malaysia suddenly has too many problems. If we are not careful, Kuala Lumpur could end up in 20 or 30 years like Jakarta!"
Could this statement be reversed? Can Jakarta find the strength and solidarity to mobilize in time catch up with Kuala Lumpur? Can decency overcome greed? Can corruption be eradicated and replaced by creativity? Can private villas shrink in size and green spaces, public housing, playgrounds, libraries, schools and hospitals expand?
An outsider like me can observe, tell the story and ask questions. Only the people of Jakarta can offer the answers and solutions.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Freedom!
Whii hiii. Udah selesai UAS. Bisa tenaaang sekarang. Hm, liburan enaknya ngapain ya? Pengen membenahi pola hidup sebenernya. Nantilah, we'll figure it out. Tapi pasti bakal disibukkin sama acara-acara yang bakal diadain kampus, seperti Sayembara Halte Busway Trisakti, persiapan Adhisthana Cup dan pameran Metamorfosa Arsitektur. Hmmm.
Eh, gue udah beli Laskar Pelangi dooongs. Tapi cekak jg sih, pengeluaran bulan ini udah banyak buat pengumpulan tugas. Hiks.
Eh, gue udah beli Laskar Pelangi dooongs. Tapi cekak jg sih, pengeluaran bulan ini udah banyak buat pengumpulan tugas. Hiks.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Last book I read
Gue baru selesai baca novel, judulnya "Astral Astria". Artinya perjalanan Astria. Pengarangnya adalah Fira Basuki, dan karya terbarunya Fira. Release Desember 2007, di Gramedia Matraman termasuk salah satu buku best seller.Gue sering bingung mendeskripsikan buku yang jadi favorit gue, karena banyak banget buku bagus. Tapi kalo mau masuk kategori buku kesukaan agak susah, karena kadang-kadang kalo udah agak lama, gue suka mikir lagi, "emang buku ini beneran bagus ya?". Karena udah ada tolak ukur buku2 yang lebih bagus lainnya yang udah gue baca. Jadi yang selalu gue tulis sebagai buku favorit gue adalah buku yang jalan ceritanya kuat banget. Dan ga akan terlupakan walaupun ada novel2 bagus bermunculan.
Astral Astria bercerita tentang seorang anak perempuan yang konon titisan Dewi Sima di Dieng. Dengan segala 'keajaiban' Astria (artinya bintang), dia ngejalanin hidup untuk bertemu orang-orang baru dalam hidupnya dan berusaha menolong mereka. Diceritain kalo Astria ini pernah punya kehidupan lain sebelumnya, tapi dia juga muslim. Di Islam bukannya ga ada reinkarnasi ya? Itu sih yang membingungkan. Tapi ya.. Gue suka aja cerita kayak gini. Fantasy.
Yang bikin buku ini bagus adalah jalan cerita paralelnya. Keterkaitan antar karakter yang diceritain terpisah tapi sebenernya masih ada kaitannya. Inti dari ceritanya sih ga terlalu jelas, karena cuma nyeritain sebagian jalan hidup Astria aja. Kayak ga tuntas gitu ceritanya, karena disitu ga jelas apa yang sebenernya Astria cari. But afterall, this is a good literature. Nambah wawasan tentang banyak hal, terutama budaya Jawa. Fiktif, dan agak terkesan mistis. Cocoklah buat pemimpi seperti gue ini. Hehe.
Sekarang gue pengen banget beli buku lagi. Tapi mau nyicil aja, karena takut ga kebaca. Ada lebih dari 3 novel di rumah gue yang belom gue baca. Kalap waktu beli novel. 2 chicklit, 1 Princess Diaries, 1 Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, 2 buku arsitektur, dkk. Kapan waktu buat baca bukunya ya?? Gawat.
List buku yang pengen dibeli:1. Tetralogi Andra Hirata, "Laskar Pelangi, Sang Pemimpi, Edensor, dan Maryamah Karpov"
2. Totto Chan - Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
3. The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
4. Ketika Cinta Bertasbih - Habiburrahman El Shirazy
Novel yang banyak ngajarin tentang motivasi dan makna menurut gue sangat menarik. Karena penyampaiannya gak ngebosenin dan ada alur ceritanya. Novel juga bisa mendidik. Tapi novel bagus menurut gue enggak melulu harus tentang motivasi dll sih.
Saat ini novel Indonesia favorit gue masih "Supernova: Ksatria, Putri, dan Bintang Jatuh" oleh Dewi Lestari. Keren banget. Plot ceritanya, alurnya, dan tentunya kemasan ceritanya. Dari triloginya ("Akar" dan "Petir"), menurut gue yang terbagus tetep yang pertama.
Penulis itu hebat yaa. Kalo buku itu sumber ilmu, berarti penulisnya jauh lebih hebat dari bukunya sendiri. Salut buat penulis yang bisa punya karya bagus, karena dia punya talenta hebat untuk berimajinasi sekaligus menggambarkannya dengan kata-kata. Padahal kita juga bermain dengan kata-kata kan yah tiap hari? Nulis juga sering, dari kita sekolah malah. Tapi cuma orang-orang tertentu yang bisa berkarya seperti itu. Two thumbs up. ^^
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Temennn
Hari Sabtu, ada temen gue yang ultah 2 orang - Hairul & Opal. Hairul hari Sabtu, Opal hari Minggu. Nggak dirayain sih, kita bikin cuma bikin "surprise" by kidnapping. Hehee. Jadi, mereka diajak ngumpul di Roti Bakar Edy. Dan sekitar jam 10, kita iket tangan n kakinya pake selotape, mata ditutup, trus masukin mobil. Diboongin mau dibawa ke Terowongan Casablanca. Padahal sih ke Senayan.
Rencananya adalah membawa mereka ke Kolam Renang Senayan (KTS), bernostalgia tempat "tongkrongan" kita dulu. Tapi ga jadi... Serem banget. Hahaha. Padahal niat nakutin tapi takut juga anak orang kerasukan kaan. Yaudah kita pindah lokasi ke... Keramik (aer mancur, masih di dalem Gelora Bung Karno. Letaknya tepat di seberang Hotal Atlet Century Park).
Keramik itu sebutan buat anak Arsitek Trisakti aja sih. Karena disekitar situ lantainya dikasih keramik (norak ya). Kenapa kita doyan kesitu, karena punya sense of belonging yg gede untuk tempat itu. Bwahahaha.
Yah nostalgia deh. Agak gelap n sepiii banget, ada sih beberapa orang yg lagi nongkrong. Lalu Hairul dan Opal ditelantarkan dibawah pohon. Biasalah, ditakut-takutin gitu, dan anaknya emang menunjang untuk ditakutin~ (penakut, red). Hehe. Kalo Hairul sih ga asik, hening tak bergeming, pemberani dan pembela agama, dan udah tau itu di Keramik. Hahaha.
Ada juga Satpam yang curiga, trus kita bilang aja ini ulang taun.
Tapi si Opal ini entah kenapa takut banget. Ditakut-takutin, biasalah. Ada yang nyinden, ada yang loncat-loncat, bermacam2 tiruan scene film horor deh. Sekitar setengah jam dibiarkan diatas tanah (kan ceritanya kita bilangnya kuburan), tiba-tiba satpamnya dateng lagi.
Opal: diam tak bergeming
Satpam: "Mas, jangan ditaro situ, pohonnya angker."
Kita: "HAH? Masa' sih Mas? Boong ah."
Satpam: "Lah, bener, demi Allah. Kalo mau sini aja, pinggir aer mancur."
Opal: meronta-ronta dengan gejala kejang-kejang
Bisa ditebak, paniknya amit2. Langsung digotong deh tuh si Opal (kalo Hairul udah berinisiatif melepaskan selotape). Dan Alhamdulillah ternyata Opal tidak apa2, tapi masih dalam tahap ketakutan yang amat sangat (tapi dia kayaknya gak denger omongan satpam barusan).
Tapi gak lama gue harus pulang, dan ceritanya jadi kepotong sampe situ saja yaa. Hehe.
***
Yesterday was remarkable moments for me.. We visited 2 places which were frequently being visited during ospek.
Roti Bakar Edy:
- Nongkrong bareng 2000 sampe jam 3 pagi
- Ngamen buat buka puasa & sahur on the road
- Rute terakhir sahur on the road 2006
- Ngamen buat Inagurasi
Senayan:
- Tempat tongkrongan pertamaaa banget
- Tempat bikin buku tanda tangan bareng2 dengan hebohnya
- Tempat latihan art performance buat Adhisthana Cup 2006
- Tempat rapat angkatan
- Tempat perkenalan para angkatan
- lastly, tempat pr*ssing
Being a melancholic person (based on the Personality Plus by Florence Littauer), yessh, it's very touchy. I missed the times when we had clear purposes, yang secara makro adalah jadi warga Adhisthana. That made the day more colorful, though VERY, VERY, VERY tiring. Dan menghabiskan banyak uang.
Tapi ga tau kenapa gue bisa sangat semangat kuliah waktu itu? Nilai juga bisa bagus... Beda banget semangatnya sama sekarang. Mungkin faktor suasana baru, temen baru, semangat baru, dan semua yang serba baru dengan lingkungan yang mendukung. Mungkin juga karena mata kuliah semester satu gak sesulit semester2 lanjut, gak tau deh.
Yang jelas sekarang gue masih mempertanyakan, what's happening to me? Kok gue kayak ngerasain ada yang ilang ya. Gak segeregetan dulu, kayak ilang tujuan. Padahal gue masih sangat ingin jadi arsitek. Belom ingin beralih profesi lho. Masih excited dalam mendesain. Tapi malas mengerjakan tugas. Nah loh. Dan puncaknya adalah ketika gue hampir gak lulus UAS 3dsMax (baca: Motivated (?))
Kalo kata Lancung (baca: Friend Came in a Handy Time), sesuatu yang ilang itu ya rutinitas gue yang dulu. Rutinitas ospek, tepatnya. Yang membuat pola perkuliahan gue jadi berubah total. Entahlah...
Dulu juga temen-temen gue nanya, "Git, kok lo semangat banget sih nongkrong?" Waktu itu sih alesannya karena gak enak sama temen-temen gue. Itu doang. Dan bukan sekedar rasa gak enak takut dikucilin, tapi ga enak ga ngerasain apa yang mereka rasain. Ya ketinggalan cerita, ya macem2. Dan sekarang baru kerasa kalo kebersamaan itu mahal banget ya.
Gue termasuk orang yang taat ngikutin proses ospek itu dari awal. Gue inget banget, gue telat masuk dan malam sebelum gue masuk, seseorang yg mengaku bernama Gendhis nelpon gue. Katanya ospek Jurusan Arsitektur udah mulai, dan dia adalah temen sekelompok gue yang bertanggung jawab mengabari orang2 yg belom masuk. Dan ternyata banyak banget barang2 yang harus dibawa besok.
Tapi gue semangat banget, sampe bela-belain ke Hypermart depan rumah buat beli barang segambreng. Hampir beli polo shirt item baru seharga Rp. 50.000, padahal kk gw punya (ya kegedean sih). Dan kalo bisa ga ada satupun yang ga sesuai ketentuan. Harus komplit dan sesuai.
Gue selalu excited ikutan yg kayak gini2an, karena ini saat-saat yg paling tepat buat kenal temen-temen gue. Gue gak mau gue masuk kuliah dalam keadaan temen-temen gue udah saling mengenal deket, and suddenly there came a stranger, and it'd felt like a wimps. Bukannya lebih baik kita sama2 saling kenal, dan kita bisa ada di dalam komunitas yang sama, bareng2. Tanpa ada yang ngerasa jadi pecundang. Ya mediumnya ospek ini.
Dengan segala kelebihan dan kekurangan yang amat sangat dimiliki oleh gue dan temen-temen gue, intinya sih ospek ini cuma belajar saling mengenal kok. Bisa saling nerima dan toleransi. Gue bisa deket sama orang yang sama sekali beda kebiasaan, beda pola hidup, beda latar belakang, dan semuanya. Dan proses perkenalan itu kita rasain selama hampir 10 bulan. Sangaaaaaaat panjang. Dan efeknya sangat besar.
Malah gue pernah bilang ke temen gue, kalo perlu gak ada baksos sekalian, biar bisa ngumpul terus. Hahaha.
Dulu gue ngerasa angkatan gue dipedulikan banget sama angkatan yang lain. Iyalah, mau masuk komunitas baru (eh, sekarang udah punya "adik" 2007). Masih ada yang ngurusin, dan kayak punya tempat bergantung. Gw juga kangen figur 2003 waktu masih ngurusin 2006 dulu..
Ah, gue lagi bermellow2 ya? Entah apa tanggepan gue baca tulisan ini beberapa hari lagi? Hehe.
Kalo dulu gue dan angkatan gue mengidam-idamkan "kebebasan" di kampus (yang sekarang telah, sedang, dan akan kami rasakan), sekarang kita pengen bisa nongkrong bareng lagi. Satu angkatan. Minimal 90%, kayak waktu absen2 ospek itu yang gak pernah mencapai 100%. Pengen banget.
Seandainya kita bisa ngumpul lagi, tanpa tekanan dari manapun. Kapan ya?
Rencananya adalah membawa mereka ke Kolam Renang Senayan (KTS), bernostalgia tempat "tongkrongan" kita dulu. Tapi ga jadi... Serem banget. Hahaha. Padahal niat nakutin tapi takut juga anak orang kerasukan kaan. Yaudah kita pindah lokasi ke... Keramik (aer mancur, masih di dalem Gelora Bung Karno. Letaknya tepat di seberang Hotal Atlet Century Park).
Keramik itu sebutan buat anak Arsitek Trisakti aja sih. Karena disekitar situ lantainya dikasih keramik (norak ya). Kenapa kita doyan kesitu, karena punya sense of belonging yg gede untuk tempat itu. Bwahahaha.
Yah nostalgia deh. Agak gelap n sepiii banget, ada sih beberapa orang yg lagi nongkrong. Lalu Hairul dan Opal ditelantarkan dibawah pohon. Biasalah, ditakut-takutin gitu, dan anaknya emang menunjang untuk ditakutin~ (penakut, red). Hehe. Kalo Hairul sih ga asik, hening tak bergeming, pemberani dan pembela agama, dan udah tau itu di Keramik. Hahaha.
Ada juga Satpam yang curiga, trus kita bilang aja ini ulang taun.
Tapi si Opal ini entah kenapa takut banget. Ditakut-takutin, biasalah. Ada yang nyinden, ada yang loncat-loncat, bermacam2 tiruan scene film horor deh. Sekitar setengah jam dibiarkan diatas tanah (kan ceritanya kita bilangnya kuburan), tiba-tiba satpamnya dateng lagi.
Opal: diam tak bergeming
Satpam: "Mas, jangan ditaro situ, pohonnya angker."
Kita: "HAH? Masa' sih Mas? Boong ah."
Satpam: "Lah, bener, demi Allah. Kalo mau sini aja, pinggir aer mancur."
Opal: meronta-ronta dengan gejala kejang-kejang
Bisa ditebak, paniknya amit2. Langsung digotong deh tuh si Opal (kalo Hairul udah berinisiatif melepaskan selotape). Dan Alhamdulillah ternyata Opal tidak apa2, tapi masih dalam tahap ketakutan yang amat sangat (tapi dia kayaknya gak denger omongan satpam barusan).
Tapi gak lama gue harus pulang, dan ceritanya jadi kepotong sampe situ saja yaa. Hehe.
***
Yesterday was remarkable moments for me.. We visited 2 places which were frequently being visited during ospek.
Roti Bakar Edy:
- Nongkrong bareng 2000 sampe jam 3 pagi
- Ngamen buat buka puasa & sahur on the road
- Rute terakhir sahur on the road 2006
- Ngamen buat Inagurasi
Senayan:
- Tempat tongkrongan pertamaaa banget
- Tempat bikin buku tanda tangan bareng2 dengan hebohnya
- Tempat latihan art performance buat Adhisthana Cup 2006
- Tempat rapat angkatan
- Tempat perkenalan para angkatan
- lastly, tempat pr*ssing
Being a melancholic person (based on the Personality Plus by Florence Littauer), yessh, it's very touchy. I missed the times when we had clear purposes, yang secara makro adalah jadi warga Adhisthana. That made the day more colorful, though VERY, VERY, VERY tiring. Dan menghabiskan banyak uang.
Tapi ga tau kenapa gue bisa sangat semangat kuliah waktu itu? Nilai juga bisa bagus... Beda banget semangatnya sama sekarang. Mungkin faktor suasana baru, temen baru, semangat baru, dan semua yang serba baru dengan lingkungan yang mendukung. Mungkin juga karena mata kuliah semester satu gak sesulit semester2 lanjut, gak tau deh.
Yang jelas sekarang gue masih mempertanyakan, what's happening to me? Kok gue kayak ngerasain ada yang ilang ya. Gak segeregetan dulu, kayak ilang tujuan. Padahal gue masih sangat ingin jadi arsitek. Belom ingin beralih profesi lho. Masih excited dalam mendesain. Tapi malas mengerjakan tugas. Nah loh. Dan puncaknya adalah ketika gue hampir gak lulus UAS 3dsMax (baca: Motivated (?))
Kalo kata Lancung (baca: Friend Came in a Handy Time), sesuatu yang ilang itu ya rutinitas gue yang dulu. Rutinitas ospek, tepatnya. Yang membuat pola perkuliahan gue jadi berubah total. Entahlah...
Dulu juga temen-temen gue nanya, "Git, kok lo semangat banget sih nongkrong?" Waktu itu sih alesannya karena gak enak sama temen-temen gue. Itu doang. Dan bukan sekedar rasa gak enak takut dikucilin, tapi ga enak ga ngerasain apa yang mereka rasain. Ya ketinggalan cerita, ya macem2. Dan sekarang baru kerasa kalo kebersamaan itu mahal banget ya.
Gue termasuk orang yang taat ngikutin proses ospek itu dari awal. Gue inget banget, gue telat masuk dan malam sebelum gue masuk, seseorang yg mengaku bernama Gendhis nelpon gue. Katanya ospek Jurusan Arsitektur udah mulai, dan dia adalah temen sekelompok gue yang bertanggung jawab mengabari orang2 yg belom masuk. Dan ternyata banyak banget barang2 yang harus dibawa besok.
Tapi gue semangat banget, sampe bela-belain ke Hypermart depan rumah buat beli barang segambreng. Hampir beli polo shirt item baru seharga Rp. 50.000, padahal kk gw punya (ya kegedean sih). Dan kalo bisa ga ada satupun yang ga sesuai ketentuan. Harus komplit dan sesuai.
Gue selalu excited ikutan yg kayak gini2an, karena ini saat-saat yg paling tepat buat kenal temen-temen gue. Gue gak mau gue masuk kuliah dalam keadaan temen-temen gue udah saling mengenal deket, and suddenly there came a stranger, and it'd felt like a wimps. Bukannya lebih baik kita sama2 saling kenal, dan kita bisa ada di dalam komunitas yang sama, bareng2. Tanpa ada yang ngerasa jadi pecundang. Ya mediumnya ospek ini.
Dengan segala kelebihan dan kekurangan yang amat sangat dimiliki oleh gue dan temen-temen gue, intinya sih ospek ini cuma belajar saling mengenal kok. Bisa saling nerima dan toleransi. Gue bisa deket sama orang yang sama sekali beda kebiasaan, beda pola hidup, beda latar belakang, dan semuanya. Dan proses perkenalan itu kita rasain selama hampir 10 bulan. Sangaaaaaaat panjang. Dan efeknya sangat besar.
Malah gue pernah bilang ke temen gue, kalo perlu gak ada baksos sekalian, biar bisa ngumpul terus. Hahaha.
Dulu gue ngerasa angkatan gue dipedulikan banget sama angkatan yang lain. Iyalah, mau masuk komunitas baru (eh, sekarang udah punya "adik" 2007). Masih ada yang ngurusin, dan kayak punya tempat bergantung. Gw juga kangen figur 2003 waktu masih ngurusin 2006 dulu..
Ah, gue lagi bermellow2 ya? Entah apa tanggepan gue baca tulisan ini beberapa hari lagi? Hehe.
Kalo dulu gue dan angkatan gue mengidam-idamkan "kebebasan" di kampus (yang sekarang telah, sedang, dan akan kami rasakan), sekarang kita pengen bisa nongkrong bareng lagi. Satu angkatan. Minimal 90%, kayak waktu absen2 ospek itu yang gak pernah mencapai 100%. Pengen banget.
Seandainya kita bisa ngumpul lagi, tanpa tekanan dari manapun. Kapan ya?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Pingin hibernate..
Hari ini gue abis ujian PA-3 (Perancangan Arsitektur 3, red). How it drained my brains. Hoh. Dan lusa ada pengumpulan 3 tugas annoying lagi, Teori Arsitektur 2, Metode Perancangan 1, dan Sejarah Arsitektur 3. Aduuuuuuuuh. Haunted by assignments : (
Harusnya gue ngerjain sekarang sih, tapi malah ngeblog. Gue bener-bener lagi blank aja. Gak bisa mikir, for some reasons. Mana udah ngantuk, mood gw lagi down banget. Semuanya aja deh. I really need someone to talk to, but nobody's availabe tonight. Ni postingan juga gak jelas intinya apa. Semua orang sibuk dengan kesibukannya masing-masing. Musim UAS, musim sibuk pengumpulan tugas.
Duh, jadi arsitek kok susah banget ya. Dan susah banget ternyata ngerjain tugas sambil dibebani pikiran2 yang (harusnya enggak) gue pikirin malam ini.
Pengen banget, short term memory lost gue berlaku untuk hal-hal kayak beginian. Dan seandainya sesuatu yang sedang gue pikirin ini tau kalo 'dia' sedang dipikirin, harusnya dia sadar kalo dia jauh lebih penting daripada 3 tugas diatas yang menunggu untuk gue kerjain...
Harusnya gue ngerjain sekarang sih, tapi malah ngeblog. Gue bener-bener lagi blank aja. Gak bisa mikir, for some reasons. Mana udah ngantuk, mood gw lagi down banget. Semuanya aja deh. I really need someone to talk to, but nobody's availabe tonight. Ni postingan juga gak jelas intinya apa. Semua orang sibuk dengan kesibukannya masing-masing. Musim UAS, musim sibuk pengumpulan tugas.
Duh, jadi arsitek kok susah banget ya. Dan susah banget ternyata ngerjain tugas sambil dibebani pikiran2 yang (harusnya enggak) gue pikirin malam ini.
Pengen banget, short term memory lost gue berlaku untuk hal-hal kayak beginian. Dan seandainya sesuatu yang sedang gue pikirin ini tau kalo 'dia' sedang dipikirin, harusnya dia sadar kalo dia jauh lebih penting daripada 3 tugas diatas yang menunggu untuk gue kerjain...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Friend came in a handy time
Last night my phone rang, and it wrote:
Lancung
938052**
Calling
And we had a long conversation ahead. But I prefer to consider it as a discussion, I think. We discussed a lot of thing. Life, relationships, study, friends, etc. At the time when I was dwelling in my confusions. Haha. Perfecto. There are a lot of new thoughts I had discovered, something deeper than what I usually seen.
I love making friends with people above my age, because I learned a lot from them. They told me their experiences, thoughts, and I knew what problems they had faced when they were in my age. And sometimes, they could answer my questions better then my own family (even my parents). Hm, I don't know, because I'm not that extrovert to my parents to talk about my own problems.
That's why I don't usually tell problems with friends in my age, because we're facing the same phase. Though I still share things with them (of course!), but often it didn't came up with good solutions. Talking with someone older gave me another perspective of seeing things. And.. they are wiser and more experienced, usually.
I once underestimated philosophy. Anything that related into it. Books, and the person who learn it deeply (being a student in that major in a bachelor degree). I thought that they could learn anything more realistic better than thinking too far in little things. And since I'm an architecture student, why should I learn things which having small correlation which wouldn't affects my study. (back in past, when I was in ospek, they did introduced me with these philosophy stuffs)
Then I forgot that architecture does came from philosophy (remember those philosopher back in Greek history? They were architects too!). LIFE does came from philosophy. Human civilizations does came from philosophy too. Because we'll never stop evolute in thinking.
I'd really love to spare my time reading some philosophy books, and currently do. Just a light philosophy book titled "Imaji dan Imajinasi". Hm, it's like everything has an image of representing itself, and we shouldn't see the image but see something deeper inside it. Yeaa, something like that. I just read the introduction, though.
By doing so, I hope I could be a 'deeper' person, and I could implement those thoughts to my design concepts. I'm longing to have a design which doesn't sell geometrical form (just like Ridwan Kamil said).
But well, my aim is to be someone that doesn't just be a human for myself. How to treat other people rightly. How to behave in my community. To be more sensitive in my surroundings, to see what REALLY happens around me, and (insya Allah) could contribute something to my environment. Manusia adalah makhluk sosial, afterall.
Kuliah gue emang penting, dan jadi arsitek adalah hal terpenting. But I wanna do anything I wanna do, because my 4 years of study wouldn't be as long as it counts. Time runs fast.
And I wanna live as perfect as it could - which perfect means; gue bisa ngerasain apa yang mau gue rasain sebagai mahasiswa, karena waktu gue gak akan balik lagi. The upside downs in life, the happy times, bad times, friends, love, live life lively, and do something useful. Besides riding my dreams to be an architect.
Well it's all about time management & motivation kok.
Karena ga ada satu hal pun di dunia ini yang sama sekali ga ada manfaatnya. Percaya sama gue.
Lancung
938052**
Calling
And we had a long conversation ahead. But I prefer to consider it as a discussion, I think. We discussed a lot of thing. Life, relationships, study, friends, etc. At the time when I was dwelling in my confusions. Haha. Perfecto. There are a lot of new thoughts I had discovered, something deeper than what I usually seen.
I love making friends with people above my age, because I learned a lot from them. They told me their experiences, thoughts, and I knew what problems they had faced when they were in my age. And sometimes, they could answer my questions better then my own family (even my parents). Hm, I don't know, because I'm not that extrovert to my parents to talk about my own problems.
That's why I don't usually tell problems with friends in my age, because we're facing the same phase. Though I still share things with them (of course!), but often it didn't came up with good solutions. Talking with someone older gave me another perspective of seeing things. And.. they are wiser and more experienced, usually.
I once underestimated philosophy. Anything that related into it. Books, and the person who learn it deeply (being a student in that major in a bachelor degree). I thought that they could learn anything more realistic better than thinking too far in little things. And since I'm an architecture student, why should I learn things which having small correlation which wouldn't affects my study. (back in past, when I was in ospek, they did introduced me with these philosophy stuffs)
Then I forgot that architecture does came from philosophy (remember those philosopher back in Greek history? They were architects too!). LIFE does came from philosophy. Human civilizations does came from philosophy too. Because we'll never stop evolute in thinking.
I'd really love to spare my time reading some philosophy books, and currently do. Just a light philosophy book titled "Imaji dan Imajinasi". Hm, it's like everything has an image of representing itself, and we shouldn't see the image but see something deeper inside it. Yeaa, something like that. I just read the introduction, though.
By doing so, I hope I could be a 'deeper' person, and I could implement those thoughts to my design concepts. I'm longing to have a design which doesn't sell geometrical form (just like Ridwan Kamil said).
But well, my aim is to be someone that doesn't just be a human for myself. How to treat other people rightly. How to behave in my community. To be more sensitive in my surroundings, to see what REALLY happens around me, and (insya Allah) could contribute something to my environment. Manusia adalah makhluk sosial, afterall.
Kuliah gue emang penting, dan jadi arsitek adalah hal terpenting. But I wanna do anything I wanna do, because my 4 years of study wouldn't be as long as it counts. Time runs fast.
And I wanna live as perfect as it could - which perfect means; gue bisa ngerasain apa yang mau gue rasain sebagai mahasiswa, karena waktu gue gak akan balik lagi. The upside downs in life, the happy times, bad times, friends, love, live life lively, and do something useful. Besides riding my dreams to be an architect.
Well it's all about time management & motivation kok.
Karena ga ada satu hal pun di dunia ini yang sama sekali ga ada manfaatnya. Percaya sama gue.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Motivated (?)
I think this semester is the nightmare of my study time. A lot of things happened recently, and I almost failed in one of my subject. Well it's all my fault, I admit it. Being unmotivated and not focus. I almost waste 300 thousand for a subject, it sucks, disappointing, and embarrassing. Which was caused by my lazyness and clumsyness and unfocusness and all stupid reasons.
I could see the way my lecturers looked at me, and I know they were very disappointed. Alas, I do want to change not because of them. It's just disturbed me whenever I disappoint people, whoever they are. Well maybe I have this kind of personality which I intend to try to satisfy other people, and would feel very guilty if I disappoint them.
Whatever happened in my life, I just hope that I could change it. Change the way I see things, the way I overcome problems. Err... Maybe I just have to made up my mind, and be motivated as the first time I came to my campus.
I could see the way my lecturers looked at me, and I know they were very disappointed. Alas, I do want to change not because of them. It's just disturbed me whenever I disappoint people, whoever they are. Well maybe I have this kind of personality which I intend to try to satisfy other people, and would feel very guilty if I disappoint them.
Whatever happened in my life, I just hope that I could change it. Change the way I see things, the way I overcome problems. Err... Maybe I just have to made up my mind, and be motivated as the first time I came to my campus.
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