Another Victoria's Secrets

installation art

This post was supposed to be made last week but I got very busy so I just write this now. Last week on Thursday my sister and I went to The Breeze after some business meeting in Alam Sutera. They got this Pasar Ragam (Diverse Market) festival going on along with Festival Kopi Tanah Air (Indonesian Coffee Festival) at this promenade and we looked around for ethnic and natural goods they were selling.

instant angkringan

I spotted Dee Lestari, the author whose works I admired, was sitting with her husband in Excelso Café. This was never my thing to do (I lived literally 3-4 houses away when she lived in Bandung before but I had never dared to talk to her, then finally one day she moved out and I had lost my chances) but Bali did changed me a lot. I brought all the 8 books of hers (I haven't bought Gelombang) and handed them to her for autographs. This was the main reason why I came at first place.

the books I got her autograph in

During the signing we had a little talk, about our neighborship back in Awiligar and how "destiny" had made us back to be neighbors in the same complex in South Tangerang. Keenan was there, too, and I remembered when he was a lot smaller he used to be brought to my house by his nanny (he didn't remember me, of course). Then I was introduced to Dee's husband, Reza, too. They are really great and friendly people, only I got too nervous that I didn't say too much.

view from the place I sat--mind the green hue from the spotlight

It was just minutes away to 5 p.m. and they were performing on stage at 5. So I took my place at J.Co with my sister, watching her singing and him on keyboard, with the background of the lake and setting sun at distance. It was a really great view from where I sat, which was rare to find a relaxed music performance at sunset. The last time I had the moment was at Jazz Market in Taman Bhagawan, Bali, in 2013.

the entrance from Festival Kopi to Pasar Ragam

It really was a great day for me and my sister, for we saw many things at the festivals and met old neighbors, as well. Even Keenan's nanny still remembered me. It was like a nostalgia, and the ambience at that "outdoor mall" was also very homy. It really felt like home, with friendly faces and small neighbor communities.. I guess BSD City, South Tangerang, is really a great place to live nearby Jakarta!

Another photo challenge competition is held by Boyanese Bags. This brand supports Indonesian handwoven textile by producing high quality bags with beautiful Indonesian tenun. And I'm supporting this brand for this! Come join the challenge and win 2 bags or a 50% discount voucher from Boyanese!

I think things are getting better and better every time for me, especially the few past days. I got an honor that Stanley Harsha, ex-diplomat of US in Indonesia and author of "Like The Moon & The Sun" ("Seperti Bulan dan Matahari"), came to my book launching last Saturday with his wife. Stanley wrote this directly on the day after the launching, so he really did read the book in just one day. I really appreciate his coming to the event and the review he wrote about my book. Should get his book soon, as well!


As quoted from his post:

I attended the book launch today at Gramedia for Victoria (Tori) Tunggono's first novel, "Gerbang Nuswantara," (Gateway to Nusantara), a beautifully crafted historical fantasy novel (in Indonesian language) about a teenage girl on a quest to discover Indonesia's roots. The first installment of this trilogy brings to life Indonesia's rich and colorful ancient civilization that forms the foundation of modern day Indonesia. This is a wonderful read for Indonesian youth and adults alike, an inspiration to further explore Indonesia's roots.
As Tori explained at the launch, this novel's purpose is to spur Indonesians to understand their own history and culture.

Before, he wrote on my facebook post: "Absolutely a wonderful book. I read it in one night. Entertaining. Inspiring. Unique. Please read everyone."

I feel really important by this, and honored and glad. I am proud of what the book could do to people. I hope the magic works to everyone who reads this, and that many are touched, inspired and moved by Gerbang Nuswantara. Thank you, Stanley. I'll read your book asap!

Fujifilm Mirrorless X-series

Oh, I haven't told you about this. I went to Grand Indonesia with Mom and Clemy last Friday after the tech meeting for my sister's stuff. As I searched everywhere for that Lumix GM1 that I wanted but it was 2013's product so I couldn't find it anywhere if I want a new one. So I searched for another and I fell for Fujifilm X-A2.

It was Thursday, I guess, when I tried to compare products on some camera website. I couldn't find Olympus Pen in that web and it went to Fujifilm X-M1 instead. Within hours later, I was talking to my best friend Ana and we discussed about this mirrorless camera and she mentioned Fujifilm X-A2. Finally, my sister told me that she went to Grand Indonesia and visited camera shops there, told me that X-A2 should be the best option for me, not just for its specs but also from its appearance. In just one day, Fujifilm resounded over and over again around me, so I decided that I must go for that one.

So when we had a chance to go to Grand Indonesia (the only Fujifilm outlet they have in Jakarta), I bought the black X-A2 instead of the brown one (I had a big crush on the retro touch but I disliked the X-A2's brown--I prefer the X-M1's brown but the specs are lower than X-A2's). My brother said, always go for the highest specs you can go if it comes to gadgets because technology grow pretty fast nowadays. New now, old-skool tomorrow. So yes, I bought that one although it's a bit exceeded my planned budget.

But I'm super satisfied with the buying, especially that this is my first buy for professional camera. Mirrorless cameras are the new DSLR and it should be still usable for the next few decades because the lenses are changeable. I trust Fujifilm for cameras for it had been producing cameras for ages now and have the best colors in result that I prefer among the other brands'. I must learn more about photography now, reopen my old notes when I took the class more than 10 years ago. But it's better late than never, right?

via Tribun Jabar

For the first time in my life, my success story is covered in a newspaper, and it's so much an honor to me for having that. It all started when I was interviewed in Sonora Radio Bandung almost two months ago and my school friend Bernadette saw it and offered me a coverage in the newspaper. But due to transportation, I couldn't go to their office and did the interview by email instead.

I am so glad that the article turned out to be a full page one on Sunday paper, at page 8. I feel kind of important because of that. I hope that this would be a great start for my career as I need to finish two more books now. I hope that my story could inspire more people and would be blessings to many. And I thank all of my readers and people who believe in me for this, and God first.


PS. If you need to read the whole story, send me email and I'll send you the e-copy. Tribun Jabar, Sunday edition, page 8.

I guess this was the one I saw and had a crush on

I've been wanting a camera for long and now that I have money to buy, I'm searching for one that would suit my pocket (both metaphor and literally). At first I was thinking about NX series from Samsung, looking a girl using it the other day in Plewo Doi exhibition. I had always have crush on Olympus Pen but had never got the money to buy one so I'm thinking about these two.

and this is the Pen I'd been wanting

So I came to my friend, a chief editor in HWM magazine. He gave me a quite complete answer for such a quick question, a slight review on the mirrorless cameras. He mentioned Fujifilm and Sony as the best, but both are beyond my budget and have bigger (and heavier) lenses and bodies--which I avoid due to my already heavy handbag-- so he recommended two brands of all: Olympus Pen or Panasonic Lumix.

Actually I have a crush on this, too

I just figured out the meaning of mirrorless: it means the camera uses less camera than the old ones. The image captured through the lens goes straight to our eyes/the LCD monitor at the back of the body. Just like DSLR, mirrorless cams have optional lenses and/or flash and have both auto and manual settings--the difference is just with less mirror (which means less shake and less weight). Olympus and Panasonic both have the micro 4/3 lens mount so both can share/exchange lenses.

Finally, I'm going for this one

My friend doesn't recommend Samsung for me because Olympus and Panasonic have better lenses although Samsung wins at the digital system and various choices. So finally I pick Lumix GM1, according to my friend's recommendation, not just because of the retro model but also from the photo result. The Lumix has more vivid contrast and less purple fringing, that's why I chose it. So now I have to find a place that still sell it because it's a 2013 product. Nevertheless, I'm already falling for it so I'll go anywhere to find it!

After Plewo Doi, this is the next gig for Indonesian tenun lovers in Bandung next June 5th. Save the date!

two more comics to add to my collection

Many things happened yesterday, as we woke up early and already left house at 8:30 a.m. I got two packages from the previous' day deliveries: a yellow Everlast hand wrap for muay thai and two volumes of Baladeva comics arrived. I've been waiting for the comics to arrive, especially the "chibi" version that is just so cute. These are really nice addition to my graphic novel/Indonesian historical collection.


Mom and I went to Dia.Lo.Gue Artspace for Plewo Doi, a Sikka textile exhibition. "Plewo Doi" in Sikka language means "self-introduce". Sikka is a regency in Nusa Tenggara Timur province on Flores island, with Maumere as its capital city. I was born in Wolowaru (where my dad was stationed to practice and service as a young doctor), west of Sikka, and 3 hours drive from Ende city. That's why I have this special attention for NTT, for I had lived there during my 9 months inside my mom's womb and for the next few months after.

Watubo: natural-colored Sikka textiles

many creative products made from Indonesian tenun & dyes

We arrived at Dia.Lo.Gue at around 10 a.m. but the Natural Dyeing Workshop had begun so we missed it. But we had 2 hours to look around and choosing all those tenun. I bought a Sikka textile, a Sumba textile, a Sikka camera strap, a plaid bracelet for myself, and a Sumba shawl for Mom. Sumba is an island at south of Flores island, and famous with its animal patterns for the tenun and the checker-and-stripe weaving at the end of the cloth.

spinning the threads spinning the threads

Now let me introduce more about NTT and its famous tenun. So firstly they harvest the cotton bur (opened boll) from cotton tree, and separate the seeds with a tool (that I forgot to take the photo) and rolled the cotton to 12cm small rolls (look at that rolls inside the woven basket in the picture above). Then using the spinning machine, they made the cotton into long continuous thread. One small roll of cotton can make up to 40 metres of thread. Fantastic, isn't it?

colorful natural dyes

Next, they dye the threads into many colors using natural sources. For blue hue, they use indigo leaves; for red morinda roots; for yellow tumeric or candlenut; for green katuk leaves, green bean leaves or mango leaves; for brown/orange sappan tree, jackfruit tree, mangrove tree or mahogany tree; and many other local plants such as ai telo, ai waher and ai reo.

ikat machine to create the patterns

After that they make the pattern using this ikat machine (see the picture above). Sikka tenun is famous with bird pattern, if not other ornamental patterns, and have many patterns in one sheet of fabric. They like to combine patterns with lines and play with more colors. The end of the fabric is usually just braided. Sumba tenun is famous with its many animal patterns: from chicken, bird, horse to komodo--all of the animals they have on the island. And Sumba tenun has checker-and-stripe plait on its ends before the braids.

traditional weaving by hand

Now the threads are ready to be woven. The difference with Baduy's tenun is that the NTT ones create the ikat pattern separately while the Baduys counted only by the threads separation to create patterns. That's why Baduy tenun looks more simple and boring to be compared with more complicated and crowded NTT ones.

traditional clothes for Sikka (and other NTT) men

Now that the fabric is done, it's time for some designing. The men of Sikka don't wear shirts. They are bare-chested and use dark blue plaid fabric for covering their lower body. They wear long necklaces with ivory pendant and a thin woven sling bag. They wear sarong, crossed over their bodies, and simple head and neck accessories.

traditional clothes for Sikka (and other NTT) women

The women wear more colorful and crowded patterns: the more crowded for lower body and more plain with single-lined pattern for the top. The younger girls wear short sleeves and less accessories; their hair made into small buns on the back of the head, while older women wear long sleeves--bubbled at its ends, and more accessories on their necks and arms; their hair circled on the top of their head. As other women everywhere else, Sikka women also use thicker (which means bigger) bags than the men's.

yellow Everlast semi-elastic handwrap

After shopping, Mom & I went to Le Seminyak for lunch (we were starving and melting from the heat) then went home, where I continued for muay thai training at the complex's sport club (which I still feel strange myself that I am capable of doing such high impact martial art) with my cousin Goldi. It was indeed a long and tiring day but I am happy with all the stuff I brought home (I guess I must be called as a shopaholic now--oh, no!).

this is tenun Sikka with Dimun Lekon pattern, in form of a blouse for young women (with short sleeves); "Darius Tengge Cok Biru" from Watubo

this is another pattern of tenun Sikka; made as camera strap, from Noesa

this is tenun Sikka with bird pattern; a large 150 x 64 cm cloth that can be used for making a girl's clothes (but I'm gonna wear it just as body wrap / shawl; "Virgensia Burung Biru" from Watubo

this is the green tenun Sikka my Mom had since 1984 with other tenun Ende; that "Bienvenue Chez Moi" print was my creation via Pélopé Shop

You can see from three pictures above that Sikka's hand-weaving character has more playful combinations of graphic or bird patterns with stripes/lines and they use more colors for dyeing.

this one is tenun Sumba with horse and bird pattern; the ends of the cloth are plaited in checker and stripes; I bought this cool indigo shawl for Mom.

this is another tenun Sumba with chicken (unseen) and komodo pattern; this is a wide and long cloth I'll use as tapestry or sofa throw one day and I love the way the colors blend, as if it was water-colored

Sumba's hand-weaving has more animals patterns and have more tidy and strong ends with those checkers and stripes plaits. They are not as colorful as Sikka's tenun but more crowded with animals.

and this one is tenun Ende; Mom got it from 1984 but never used this for anything because she doesn't like the very crowded pattern and its colors.

pardon my selfie but this is my favorite batik skirt

Last Sunday we all dressed in kebaya, batik or tenun to attend my sister's sidi. Sidi is a ceremony in Protestant churches, including in HKBP (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan or Church of Bataknese Christian Protestant --Batak is one of Indonesian ethnics from North Sumatra) which is more like a Confirmation Sacrament in Catholic, or a Catechismal/Baptist, if he/she had never been a Christian/Catholic before. This is more like an inauguration to become a good Christian and as one of the important conditions to get married in HKBP Church.

all women!

So we all departed from South Tangerang to Central Jakarta (which took us just 50-60 minutes on Sunday but would take 1.5-2 hours on other days) dressed up like we were going to a very formal party (which is how the Bataks are dressed for their Sunday Church) and we arrived for the 3 p.m. service at HKBP Menteng. The building is more like a chapel for Catholic's standard and seemed to lacking of this and that to me, for I had been going only to Catholic church my whole life.

after the ceremony

My sister did well on the ceremony and got her legal documents on becoming a Protestant (which sounds and seems so odd to me till now). That night we all had dinner at Singapore restaurant, our whole very big family of ours and of my sister's fiance. As the date of the wedding gets closer we are all getting busier but happier. It really is a great occasion, especially to extend our family members. I am very proud of my sister (;

Today I went to two exhibitions in Jakarta, which is rare because a) the traffic in Jakarta usually don't allow us to attend more than 2 occasions in a day and b) it's been a while since I come to any exhibition. The first one was Pesona Tenun Baduy (The Marvel of Baduy's Handwoven Fabric) at Omah Yado, Radio Dalam, South Jakarta.

many colors and patterns of Baduy's handwoven fabrics and other crafts

I came at around 10 a.m. and was kind of too early for the festive but lucky to have first peek at the beautiful and colorful fabrics there. I learned a bit about Baduy's traditional hand-weave patterns (there are songkét, swastamata, poléng hideung, poléng kacang hérang, poléng capit hurang, and adu mancung among others) and bought myself a piece of 90x180cm pink fabric and a dark purple shawl.

hand-weaving a tosca-red songket fabric

Basically it's not too difficult to hand-weave once you understand the way to do it. The tricky part is to set those wood and bamboo sticks and to slip all thousands of threads through the comb-like component to avoid them to tangle (more about the traditional machine can be read here). And designing a pattern would be another challenge. Baduy's patterns are mostly lines and rectangles--thus considered to be the most plain if compared to the other tribes' patterns.

cooked beansprout, a Betawi culinary

My aunt Ellen came by also and we mingled with the guests that literally filled the house and we all brought home those pretty cloths. I also got myself some bracelets made out of root but forgot to buy more of the merchandise because I got hungry (they had the taugé goréng/cooked beansprout, grilled rice, dumplings and many others--the guests were spoiled) and quite busy chatting with other guests.

Andris Halim was talking to the audiences

We left at 3 p.m. and went to Bentara Budaya Jakarta where the RetroSpektif Komik Indie exhibition was held. We came just in time at the Cakrapolis' talk show, where my lecturer/illustrator Toni Masdiono and colleague/illustrator Iwan Gunawan were on the stage. They had roles in the making of this comic series. I got the honor of meeting the author, Andris Halim, and got signatures from all those 5 artists behind this comic.

My aunt, Pak Toni, Pak Andris, Pak Canser, Pak Iwan, Pak Hari and me

At around 6 p.m., after the book-signing, mingling and chatting, my aunt and I went to Gandaria City for our dinner before going all the long way back home. I'm so glad for having this day, although I started it a bit gloomy. But I met friends (tho all of them are 50+ years old) and new people and new stuff and new experience--for sure. Days like this are my favorite indeed!

two first volumes of Cakrapolis comics

www.victoriatunggono.com

Yoas was the guy in black shirt with rasta-colored skull

This morning I woke up to a very shocking and sad news: the depart of Yoas Tahapary. I got the news from Agatha, his fiancée. DJ Yoas was my senior in SMA St. Aloysius, tho he was graduated before I entered the high school. We spent more time together with the others back in 2011-2012 at the friendship and brotherhood of OJ's Tavern. It really was the precious moment of our lives--definitely one for me.

I remember one night in 2011 where I decided to hang out at OJ's Setrasari with my friends Timen Cheryl, Dimas and Otto and met Yoas again after few years there, being the "chief" of the bar and staying up until the sun rise. I remember all the jokes, the laughter, all the unimportant-but-memorable chat, the stories and the way he giggled. I remember he created such a pointless but fun Gendut Gemes Group at Facebook to gather friends just to laugh together.

I remember Yoas as a bright, sunny person, despite his dark skin of being an Ambonese. I remember to always dropping by to Sushi Groove where he played every Thursday and Friday whenever I went to PVJ. I remember that one time I specially went over to a new bar with my bestie Maria, just to watch him play. I remember him as a Holland-sprechen and taught me some of it. I remember had my cousin Hizkia learn to spin the vinyl from him for 4 months back then. Those were really fun times we had!

New Year 2012 Eve Party at OJ's

I remember he was consulting with me when he had a crush to my friend Agatha, who is now his fiancée. I remember him being such a soft, mellow person compared to the wild, lively Agatha--which made them match as a pair. Knowing that they were planning a wedding that supposed to be in November this year, really made my tears won't stop running since morning. I really can't imagine Agatha's pain for losing this great man just months after losing her own father last year. But I know God is planning something beautiful for her as well.

For the past few months, Yoas had been fighting the lymph node cancer and diabetes, and had been staying in the hospital. Last week I had a chance to cheer him up a bit thru the LINE chat, but I know it was far than enough. I'm just glad I had a chance to say a little hi before he was gone. And what made me really glad was to see that he had fun playing at Andru-Karlina's wedding in Bali last March, to know he had lived his life to the fullest. Again, they said good guys finish fast ;)

Yoas Tahapary had been such an awesome person and great friend to many. We are all praying for his soul to rest now and be in peace with the Lord in Heavens. I am writing this eulogy as an expression of loss, but mostly I'm thankful for having a chance to know such a person like Yoas. Too bad I cannot go to Bandung for the last tribute at his funeral tomorrow, and this eulogy is the least that I can give as an honor to his beautiful soul. Farewell, Yoas, you are dearly missed ;')

To anyone who can attend:
at St. Borromeus Funeral Home, Room A
Consolation Worship - May 5 - 7:30 p.m.
Requiem Worship - May 6 - 9 a.m.
Funeral - May 6 at TPUK Pandu, Bandung

Peachy Life

I think this is the first time someone ever write a review on my work, and this one is indeed a nice one. I know it seems like I've been cheating because the reviewer is my own friend (Gusti Amanda Noor, a fashion & graphic designer/blogger/accessories crafter) but trust me, she's hard to please when it comes to a good story!

Anna had been my "partner in crime" back when I lived in Bali for 2 years and we attended the same college, took the same class of Visual Communication Design in Binus Uni way back before. And yes, we have almost the same taste for style (she's more girly while I'm not), almost the same taste for books and stories and the most important is that we share same perspective for life that made her my tandem to talk for hours just discussing about life.

While you're checking out her review, don't forget to visit her handmade accessories shop and lovely blog posts about her life in Bali! ;)
#thankyou

www.boyanesebags.com

I just got my new tote bag delivered today and I'm so happy to get it. I found the link to the online store at boyanesebags on Sunday and it's already here today (Wednesday). The sewing is very neat (and has a lifetime guarantee if you're in Indonesia), the bag is light but made of strong synthetic leather material and waterproof inside layer) and it's pretty convenient to bring my stuff but still comfortable to wear all day.

day to night work outfit with Timor Blackbuck Tenun Tote Bag

This one I have is made of Tenun Rangrang, a handwoven fabric from Nusa Penida, Bali. It's really nice to wear with both of my casual and formal urban outfit (because I chose the most neutral color). It is also limited, for each model is produced in only 3-4 items maximum. And the fun part is that the price is very reasonable (if not to be said CHEAP!) and they give free shipping all around Indonesia!

What I like about the brand is they produced bags in order to save Indonesian tenun (handwoven fabric) so the craftsmen can keep on producing and creating, developing their inherited legacy from the ancestors. I highly support this brand, because they keep the price low enough but maintain high quality for both the design and production. I wish more products are made with this kind of spirit!

www.boyanesebags.com

Check their website and instagram for more choices.
#saveourtenun #ilovetenunindonesia #walkingwithculture

www.unocase.com

My new iPhone case just arrived, a customized design by uno.case (owned by my college friend and her husband) according to my request of hand-painted mandala, Jeparanese engraving style and my name logo. Gosh, how lovely it is and I'm loving it to the bottom! It really feels as happy as getting a tattoo (now that I'm no longer getting tatts anymore).

The wooden part is stuck to a soft black material that wrapped the phone. The engraving is very precise and subtle because of the laser cut, so even complicated design would do. It comes with black paper box with stamp of the casing design and care instruction. If you like this, contact uno.case or by instagram or by their Etsy shop for your own customized special design. Now, happy shopping guys!

Although many are inspired by the quote "My attitude is based on how you treat me", I would stand against the odd and added: NOT. It is based on how great a person I am. I know that as human we are tend to copy the attitude of our surroundings, being nice to those who are nice to us and to avenge the mistreats we've got.

It is easy to just do what the society do. But to have a character and not being affected by the negative is one hell kind of an attitude! While many people I know agree more to the original version of the quote (by the quotes they re-posted), I can easily judge them for being shallow, narrow-minded and being too mainstream to follow every trending topic.

I, on the other hand, was taught differently, both by the religion I was raised on and by the parents who always stood for what they said was right. I feel kind of lucky to have that kind of parents. They taught me to understand things more than to copy things literally. I was taught to get the point of every problem and implement different solutions to different situations.

If people are treating others by how they are treated, then how on earth would we have the peaceful world we all are dreaming about? If the chain of mistreats aren't to be broken, wouldn't this life be full with vengeance and unhappy people? If no one dare to be the light and inspire the others, won't this world covered in darkness with negativity all around?

So, I'm saying (especially to the youth) to stand out and be different--as long as it is the right thing to do--and have a principle to build a strong and mature character. This is necessary, especially to have the spirit of a knight, of being right before being good or kind, and to hold on to justice and wisdom. This is my opinion. What do you think?