LOVELY.
Just like the last few years, me and my sister came to Jakarta at the beginning of the year for a quick trip. Just a short getaway where we get to spend (like) 48hours straight with the cousins. It was CRAZY FUN! :D
From the airport, after dropping our bags off at their house, we went straight to the mall and devour delish Jakarta food, such as cakes and burgers (that were not available in Semarang!) :p
THEN we watched a movie, Alvin and the Chipmunk 4! I'm loving this movie more than the previous movies! :D Although, every time I hear the title, my mind wander off somewhere else...
The next day, which happened to be the HOTTEST day of the week (like, temperature hot. Not the 'fun' or 'epic' hot). And, we chose to go to Kebun Raya Bogor. Okay, our defense was that Bogor is supposed to be a cool little town! But nevertheless, Kebun Raya Bogor was AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL! I've never seen such a forest in Indo before :) I will definitely go back. Just don't know when. I really can't stand Jakarta traffic. Ugh.
Me and my sister flew to Surabaya the next day and just laid low for almost 24hours. Ate good food, watch movies, relax in a cool space, and of course READ A GOOD BOOK!
I bought a new book by Jenny Han - To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I love it! Will write a separate review on it, and definitely is planning to buy the sequel :D:D
Ah, why can't holidays last forever?
So many things to do, so little time.
Still, Cheers to all of us for making 10 days into the new year!
-*^^*-
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Saturday, January 02, 2016
Novels by Sapardi Djoko Damono
Hujan Bulan Juni & Suti adalah 2 novel karya SDD yang sudah kubaca.
Do I love them? Hmm, it's arguable. But they are not bad actually! :)
I ordered both of them (PO'd Suti with autograph! :p) from Melbourne :D And I'm glad I did :)
I think as he comes from a poetry background, his novels are (a bit) overly poetic. Also, he's put a lot of Javanese slangs, which entertains me to the max(!), but can be difficult for others to follow and catch the humor.
Hujan Bulan Juni is surprisingly short. The premise is simple: it's a love story between two people from different backgrounds and beliefs. Yet the story is told in the most 'sophisticated' way. Not the 'fancy' type of sophisticated. The 'complex' type of sophisticated. And it's told in a brutally honest, down to earth manner. I read this in the flight from Melbourne to Denpasar and Semarang. It doesn't only leave me quite bored (bcs I finished the book long before the flight ended), but also hanging bcs of the way it ends! Definitely will read it again, but does it make it to my TOP list? Don't think so. Not yet, anyway.
I find the title intriguing as well, but it's like Dee's 'Perahu Kertas' title, I suppose?
Luckily, Suti is way better!
I love this story, somehow. It has a weird attraction :p It's unconventional, fictional, yet (again) down to earth and poetic. I love the characters! Although I'm a bit hesitant about the theme, I'm amazed at how the story unravels! Admittedly, some wordings choices left me confused, but I think it's part of the art (?). And I'm also left curious about the ending! I don't know what had happened there. But I guess that's why we read books and watch movies :) To evoke feelings and play around with our emotions? :)
Now, would I recommend the 2 novels to people?
They might not be the first 2 novels I'd think of when I go on suggesting people on books they should read, but for an adventurous, poetic, and *quite frankly* Javanese reader, bored with the kinds of books out there and wanting to read something different, it's worth a shot :) I couldn't promise that everyone will like this book, but it's not too too bad :)
Di sini, aku dibuat benar-benar penasaran tentang novel-novel klasik Indonesia, those written by Indonesia's most famous poets and story tellers. And the poems themselves! Nggak kalah menarik, rasanya, dibanding dengan novel tulisan penulis asing.
Looking forward to reading more Indonesian novels!!!
Cheers!
-*^^*-
Do I love them? Hmm, it's arguable. But they are not bad actually! :)
I ordered both of them (PO'd Suti with autograph! :p) from Melbourne :D And I'm glad I did :)
I think as he comes from a poetry background, his novels are (a bit) overly poetic. Also, he's put a lot of Javanese slangs, which entertains me to the max(!), but can be difficult for others to follow and catch the humor.
Hujan Bulan Juni is surprisingly short. The premise is simple: it's a love story between two people from different backgrounds and beliefs. Yet the story is told in the most 'sophisticated' way. Not the 'fancy' type of sophisticated. The 'complex' type of sophisticated. And it's told in a brutally honest, down to earth manner. I read this in the flight from Melbourne to Denpasar and Semarang. It doesn't only leave me quite bored (bcs I finished the book long before the flight ended), but also hanging bcs of the way it ends! Definitely will read it again, but does it make it to my TOP list? Don't think so. Not yet, anyway.
I find the title intriguing as well, but it's like Dee's 'Perahu Kertas' title, I suppose?
Luckily, Suti is way better!
I love this story, somehow. It has a weird attraction :p It's unconventional, fictional, yet (again) down to earth and poetic. I love the characters! Although I'm a bit hesitant about the theme, I'm amazed at how the story unravels! Admittedly, some wordings choices left me confused, but I think it's part of the art (?). And I'm also left curious about the ending! I don't know what had happened there. But I guess that's why we read books and watch movies :) To evoke feelings and play around with our emotions? :)
Now, would I recommend the 2 novels to people?
They might not be the first 2 novels I'd think of when I go on suggesting people on books they should read, but for an adventurous, poetic, and *quite frankly* Javanese reader, bored with the kinds of books out there and wanting to read something different, it's worth a shot :) I couldn't promise that everyone will like this book, but it's not too too bad :)
Di sini, aku dibuat benar-benar penasaran tentang novel-novel klasik Indonesia, those written by Indonesia's most famous poets and story tellers. And the poems themselves! Nggak kalah menarik, rasanya, dibanding dengan novel tulisan penulis asing.
Looking forward to reading more Indonesian novels!!!
Cheers!
-*^^*-
Friday, January 01, 2016
Happy New Year 2016!
In reflecting on the year 2015, I've been trying to define & pin down a few lessons that I've learned throughout the year. But
I can't really think of any specific lessons. Instead, all I can think of
is my Melbourne days.
Oh, how I'm just so glad I'm here to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my family here in Indonesia. Now I know more than ever that they're my everything. I could probably do a lot without them, but I don't really want to do anything if it's not for and with them. They make me better anyway. And the food can't be beaten, too!
This year, my passion for 'the things I'm passionate about' was tested again and again. Production. Theater. Writing. Do I really love those? Will I go to the ends of the earth to grab it? All the odds seem to stand against them, so am I willing to fight for those?
And I'm so glad, my answer to all of those questions is still 'yes' :)
Being away for so long hasn't put out my love for Church productions. In fact, I think I can see clearer now the things that I should be improving (even though the system now has gone way better compared to the beginning of the year). I'm in absolute heaven!
My passion for writing is also growing in a very interesting way. Whilst I'm here in Indo I've taken a break from months and months of writing. But I found out that I've written more stories than I could actually remember and I missed writing (even though finding the time to do it is quite tough), which is a good sign, right? :)
And theater. I just could not grow tired of it. Ballet, musicals, opera. Comedy, family-themed, drama, tragedy. Ooh how I'd love to spend full day being totally emerged in it.
It might not be happening now, but it will happen sooner or later. This path that I take might not directly lead me to those, but hey I don't mind circling a few laps to get to where I actually want to :) and of course, I'll keep asking God if He really wants to use me in those area. If it turned out that He wants me to do other things, I'll happily switch to that! :)
And, yes, that possibility is quite --, well, -- possible!
During my Trinity days, my tutors opened my eyes that I could do more than I though I could, and that maybe I should! (Rhymes not intended :p)
My confidence that I'm meant to do great things has grown as the year progresses, and even though it's all still a big blurry mess, that confidence helps :) It gave me a purpose. It gave me something to look forward to. It encouraged me to think bigger than myself, for maybe one day I can be a blessing for a lot of people :)
I'm keeping my eyes and ears open!
For 2016, I personally want to work on bringing 'More of You and less of me'. For me, it means I define less of myself. I did not limit myself to certain things, but I'll open up to new possibilities. At the same time, I'll seek Him more and listen to what He has to say. I want His will to be done in my life, not my own wants. In the midst of the possibilities of 2016, it will truly be an interesting, unpredictable but exciting journey. I so can't wait!
So now, let's recap!
In 2015, I -->
- Entered Trinity College for Foundation Studies, met new peeps that I'll never forget for the rest of my life :)
- Graduated TCFS with quite a mark! :D
- Got offered an unconditional place in Melbourne Uni :)
- Met my Melb fam & started playing keyboard again :p
- Went to Planetshakers Conference 2015 in Melbourne!
- Went to IFGF Oceania retreat in Sydney! (& ate Hurricane ribs :p)
- DID MY FIRST EVER SOLO TRIP !! :D From Melb to Semarang! :D:D:D
- Did Operation Christmas Child volunteering for the first time :) & loving it! (although it lasted for about 30-60 mins? :p)
- Did 2 small-ish research projects that I'm really quite proud of :D
- Went to watch my first ever Ballet --> the Sleeping Beauty! :D
- Finished 2 of my own projects ;)
- turned 19!!!! One more year to being 2.0 >.<
- Went home in the beginning of the holidays season, tackled 3 Christmas productions & attended one huge family Anniv celebration :)
Looking back, I can put up a little smile on my face and say, "It's been quite an amazing ride."
But I'm also quite excited of what's ahead :)
LET'S DO THIS!!!
Thanks 2015!
2016, here we go!
CHEERS!
-*^^*-
Oh, how I'm just so glad I'm here to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my family here in Indonesia. Now I know more than ever that they're my everything. I could probably do a lot without them, but I don't really want to do anything if it's not for and with them. They make me better anyway. And the food can't be beaten, too!
This year, my passion for 'the things I'm passionate about' was tested again and again. Production. Theater. Writing. Do I really love those? Will I go to the ends of the earth to grab it? All the odds seem to stand against them, so am I willing to fight for those?
And I'm so glad, my answer to all of those questions is still 'yes' :)
Being away for so long hasn't put out my love for Church productions. In fact, I think I can see clearer now the things that I should be improving (even though the system now has gone way better compared to the beginning of the year). I'm in absolute heaven!
My passion for writing is also growing in a very interesting way. Whilst I'm here in Indo I've taken a break from months and months of writing. But I found out that I've written more stories than I could actually remember and I missed writing (even though finding the time to do it is quite tough), which is a good sign, right? :)
And theater. I just could not grow tired of it. Ballet, musicals, opera. Comedy, family-themed, drama, tragedy. Ooh how I'd love to spend full day being totally emerged in it.
It might not be happening now, but it will happen sooner or later. This path that I take might not directly lead me to those, but hey I don't mind circling a few laps to get to where I actually want to :) and of course, I'll keep asking God if He really wants to use me in those area. If it turned out that He wants me to do other things, I'll happily switch to that! :)
And, yes, that possibility is quite --, well, -- possible!
During my Trinity days, my tutors opened my eyes that I could do more than I though I could, and that maybe I should! (Rhymes not intended :p)
My confidence that I'm meant to do great things has grown as the year progresses, and even though it's all still a big blurry mess, that confidence helps :) It gave me a purpose. It gave me something to look forward to. It encouraged me to think bigger than myself, for maybe one day I can be a blessing for a lot of people :)
I'm keeping my eyes and ears open!
For 2016, I personally want to work on bringing 'More of You and less of me'. For me, it means I define less of myself. I did not limit myself to certain things, but I'll open up to new possibilities. At the same time, I'll seek Him more and listen to what He has to say. I want His will to be done in my life, not my own wants. In the midst of the possibilities of 2016, it will truly be an interesting, unpredictable but exciting journey. I so can't wait!
So now, let's recap!
In 2015, I -->
- Entered Trinity College for Foundation Studies, met new peeps that I'll never forget for the rest of my life :)
- Graduated TCFS with quite a mark! :D
- Got offered an unconditional place in Melbourne Uni :)
- Met my Melb fam & started playing keyboard again :p
- Went to Planetshakers Conference 2015 in Melbourne!
- Went to IFGF Oceania retreat in Sydney! (& ate Hurricane ribs :p)
- DID MY FIRST EVER SOLO TRIP !! :D From Melb to Semarang! :D:D:D
- Did Operation Christmas Child volunteering for the first time :) & loving it! (although it lasted for about 30-60 mins? :p)
- Did 2 small-ish research projects that I'm really quite proud of :D
- Went to watch my first ever Ballet --> the Sleeping Beauty! :D
- Finished 2 of my own projects ;)
- turned 19!!!! One more year to being 2.0 >.<
- Went home in the beginning of the holidays season, tackled 3 Christmas productions & attended one huge family Anniv celebration :)
Looking back, I can put up a little smile on my face and say, "It's been quite an amazing ride."
But I'm also quite excited of what's ahead :)
LET'S DO THIS!!!
Thanks 2015!
2016, here we go!
CHEERS!
-*^^*-
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