Another Victoria's Secrets

Last Monday morning, I rushed my way to the airport despite my 3-hour sleep to gather with the Kompas Historical Tour Jejak Inggris Di Jawa (read more about it here). Mas Patricius Cahanar and Mbak Rica from the Kompas Book Publisher (PBK) welcomed me at 8.10 a.m. when I arrived, managed everything for me already.

Apparently I came the last, and they introduced me to six other participants, including Mr. Peter Carey and Mr. H. Witdarmono whom I already knew before. We were all given goodie bags with all the things we need, including the two books as the base of this tour: Inggris Di Jawa by Peter Carey and Perang Napoléon Di Jawa 1811 by Jean Rocher. Unfortunately Mr. Jean Rocher, the other speaker, couldn't join us due to his health problem.

We departed from Jakarta at 9.35 a.m. and arrived in Semarang around 11 a.m. Mas Richard from PBK picked us up with a medium-sized bus and we were dropped at Semarang Restaurant in Jl. Gajah Mada.

the memorabilia walls

Mr. Jongkie's wall of fame

check out the old-school cashier counter! so vintage!

The owner, Mr. Jongkie Tio, greeted us and made us a mini-tour in his restaurant that is full of the city's memorabilia. The restaurant was built in the 1990s and apparently it's famous for its great food, friendly owner and his hobby of telling stories.

our lunch setting

Lumpia Semarang

Mr. Patricius opened the program with a brief speech, followed with Mr. Carey, Mr. Iwan Ong Santosa (the other speaker), and Mr. Jongkie. The latter told us the histories and legends of each food that he served us that day, which was all new to me. 

Es Rujak

Nasi Langgi

iced fruits

While they were talking, we had lumpia Semarang and es rujak (iced spicy fruit salad) for appetizer. The main course was Nasi Langgi, and the dessert was iced cut fruits. But I won't tell the stories that came with these dishes so you can ask Mr. Jongkie yourself when you meet him one day.

Wisma Perdamaian

Mr. Carey, Mas Richard (PBK), Mas Iwan, the MC, and Mbak Mungi (PBK)

the famous Lawang Sewu building is located across Wisma Perdamaian

Our group expanded as the participants from Semarang joined us. The tour followed the journey of British troop when they came in 1811 as written in Mr. Carey's book Inggris Di Jawa, so it's a pilgrimage tour went first to Wisma Perdamaian at Jl. Imam Bonjol.





After that we went to the old Tanjung Mas Harbour to see the Willem III Lighthouse. The road was overflowed with sea water and ships were anchored along the way. It reminded me a lot of Sunda Kelapa Harbour in Jakarta.

on the way to Tanjung Mas Harbour

Indonesian SAR boat

Indonesian Navigation Service' ship

 

The Lighthouse Willem III

Indonesian House of Representative's ex-chief, Mr. Akbar Tandjung and his wife Mrs. Nina Tandjung, joined our group from here. We couldn't climb up the lighthouse because of the seawater flooded the first floor. So we carried on to the next spot.

The man on batik is Mr. Akbar Tandjung. His wife, Mrs. Nina, is the lady with straw hat next to him.

the overflowed road we must go through

And it was the Gereja Blenduk at Kota Lama area. It is a complex of art deco buildings left by the Dutch colonials. The Protestant church was built in 1753 and most of its interior is beautifully preserved. The original baroque orgel, however, is no longer used because no one can play it. Too bad, huh?

Kota Lama area

One of the well-preserved heritage building

The domed church or Gereja Blenduk

The interior

The baroque organ

These seats are the originals, except for the renewed rattan and polish

The altar and podium for pastor

The original building plate

The plate said this church was last renovated in 2002-2003

The staircase to organ room

I just have to get a pose here!

The side door and houses behind it

We then crossed the Sri Gunting Park to get to Spiegel Bar & Bistro, which instantly became my fave café ever. It really feels like Europe in there. And they serve great coffee, too! Just what we needed after touring in the sun.

A student had her boyfriend photographed her with the vintage bike prop. People donate to get pictures here.

This is a kind of flea market. Looks fun, right?

These 'shops' sell antique stuff. It was good that I didn't have time to explore this. I'd shop otherwise!

The entrance to the flea market area

Statue of Semar welcomes the buyers

If you see this spot, you're at the right place.

The great Spiegel Bar & Bistro. Love it so much!

A side road next to Spiegel Bar. Looks so serene!

Inside the Spiegel

If this is located around my house, I'd come at least once a week here!<3 br="">

Image via @eldidito

Mr. Carey was explaining stuff, but I was busy snacking and having my glorious coffee time

We carried on by 4 p.m. and headed to South, passing Candi area (the highlands) where luxurious houses bordering the street. We arrived at Jatingaleh just on time for sunset. It was splendid and I was glad we had sunset. It's been a while since my last 'amazing sunset' -- LOL.

Wherever I go to (the well-preserved) Southeast Asia's China Towns, I get happy

This area is too Instagrammable!

Another building I like.. I'm not sure if it's still occupied, tho..

Four Doric added columns to the art deco church. Well..

the 'canopied' road we took to get to Candi area

On the way, we had a quick stop to pick up Margie, another PBK writer who became my roommate in this trip (it's so curious how I could get another SanUr alumni to be my roommate within two weeks -- the first was Clarissa on my other trip.) I won't tell you what's so special about Jatingaleh so you can grab the book and read by yourself (or take the next Kompas Historical Tour), but I'll show you the magnificent view from up there.

The sunset

I love the colour of the twilight sky!

Me and Margie in the front line. Mr. Akbar Tandjung is behind us, walking between Mas Yudhi and Mr. Carey.

After Jatingaleh, we visited Srondol and then checked in at Santika Hotel. Some of us wanted to take shower, so the rest of the group waited at Semarang Restaurant. Margie and I was in the latter group. We had a little shopping at the boutique while waiting for dinner time.

You may see this restaurant as a vintage one, but it worth visiting for the food and good talk with the friendly owner!

The façade of Semarang Restaurant at night

The outdoor dining area at the backyard

We were served croquette for appetizer and lontong cap gomeh for main course. For dessert, Mr. Jongkie served us wedang ronde. Just like our lunch, each of these dishes tells its own story, but I'll let Mr. Jongkie explains it to you when you visit his restaurant (;

The creamy & cheesy croquette

Lontong Cap Gomeh

Some students from Universitas Diponegoro came, and the night discussion began. It was overall about Semarang's history, from different angles. Mr. Iwan Ong started by telling us the military background that you could read from Mr. Rocher's book Perang Napoléon di Jawa 1811. Mr. Jongkie Tio carried on, telling us about the fascinating stories about the city.

The speakers of Semarang

Then a guest speaker, Mr. Singgih Tri Sulistiyono, continued by singing to us the pupuh (Javanese poetry) from Pangeran Panular's Babad Bedhah Ing Ngayogyakarta (which you could read the full version in Mr. Carey's book Inggris Di Jawa.) It was the first time I ever hear a pupuh being sung, and I think it was hypnotising in a beautiful way.

Mas Iwan, Mr. Carey, Mr. Jongkie, Mr. Singgih, Mr. Patricius

Mr. Carey closed the discussion by playing us a documentary film by Dr. Farish Noor. As the first day's program ended, Margie and I asked for a photo with Mr. Jongkie, and it made us each given his very own book Semarang City: A Glance Into The Past (price Rp 300,000.) If you want to purchase it, just come to Semarang Restaurant -- don't forget to ask to meet the owner and he'll tell you anything you want to know about the city!

Mr. Jongkie's books are sold only in Semarang Restaurant -- or via online.

me and Mr. Jongkie

Mr. Jongkie signed a book for me! (;

We finally went to our room at Santika Hotel, but couldn't do too much as we had so little time. The room was nice, despite looking a bit old. But the shower was all renovated. I had a great 5-hour sleep that night. Not bad actually, to be compared to my last trip's 3-hour.

Just in case you're wondering, this is the PBK's standard for accommodation.

And the bathroom is really nice, right?

 
Check out our second day's tour here and check for more pics at my Instagram.

I dunno what got into me but since July this year I was strongly attracted to tarot reading. Born a Piscean, I naturally have a tendency to like anything related with superstition, spiritual, and magic. I've always interested about dreams, tarot, and higher forces. But I never dared to plunge myself in. All I ever did was dipping my toe and that's it. A friend gave me a deck of Rider Waite tarot years ago but my mom disposed it and I never thought I'd ever have another deck ever.

Few weeks ago I found this beautiful deck 'Tarot Nusantara' by Hisyam A. Fachri and fell in love with it instantly. And after more than a decade being curious about it, I finally bought a deck myself. I was as surprised, but the force was too strong it was inevitable. And I was going with the flow, following my intuition more than ever. When the deck arrived, I felt super excited. I love the images so much it is a mix of Javanese wayang and the Rider Waite deck. Super super love it!

It is always funny how The Universe work. A day after I received the deck, I got to know the illustrator, Sweta Kartika, thru a friend's facebook. We chatted a bit, and I told him how I love his works. But the fact that I could get to know the illustrator is something too incidental to happen. I guess it's true what Paulo Coelho said: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

Nothing in this world happens in coincidence. Just like my encounter with my new friend Clarissa last weekend. The fact that we share same perspective, idealism, and interest in spirituality and tarot really intrigued me and made me excited about life even more. Meeting people in the same frequency can really give us energy boost. And talking to Clarissa expanded my perspective about myself. Deep talks really help me in understanding the way this Universe works.

via deviantart

How Tarot Really Works

I used to think of tarot as a fad fortune-telling, divination stuff. I got some readings in 2015 and 2016 and both were not accurate and I took them as for fun. I didn't believe in that. But now as I am more attracted to it, I studied it through the Youtube and Pinterest, and found that this isn't fortune-telling at all. Tarot is all about confirmation, affirmation, and explanation. 

Because somehow you know what you want / need after all, but most of time your decision is clouded with logic, theory, or traumas. When you're in the middle of a situation you're not certain of what to do, tarot can help you in understanding the energy around you.

We believe that everything in this world has energy, be it living plants or inanimate objects. That's why Balinese has special days to pray for these, because of the energy contained. In quantum physics, it relates with the atom or subatomic particles. It reacts to our energy, and is part of what's called as law of attraction.

"What we seek is seeking us," said Rumi. This works not just with human beings, ideas, dreams, and goals, but also with the things around us, the things we wear and use, the things we touch. And when you are focusing your energy in seeking for answers, the answers revealed.

The 22 cards of Major Arcana speaks of the force from The Universe, while the 56 Minor Arcana cards describes what state you are currently in. The four suits of cups, wands, swords, and pentacles represent consecutively our primal energy, emotion, action and material things.

Understanding these cards can really help us know what's really happening and give us a solution of what to do to get thru it. It does not tell forecast at all--it shows us cause and effect, and valid for just 1-3 weeks until we take a new decision that would change everything all over again.

Last weekend I was invited to go to Kota Baru Parahyangan for the "17 Pertiwi" photography exhibition and book launching. The book featured photo works of the selected 17 Indonesian women photographers, and the exhibition added more works of several other professional photographers, and contest winners. I was invited because I helped the text and editing for the photography book--I felt so lucky!

couldn't sleep in the bus so I took selfies instead

So we all gathered at Darwis Triadi School of Photography at Bundaran Senayan at midday on Friday (Aug 11). I had some trouble with my MacBook the previous night and had to deal with the ransomware hacking so it was a terrible morning for me, but meeting the women photographers, all new to me, was quite a mood boosting.

the 5-storeys hotel

the swimming pool and breakfast area

I loved the hotel instantly. It has modern classic architecture with great view, and the room is spacious. We got the room with a balcony facing other building's roof, but the fact that it has balcony is another plus. It has many restaurants options for all day dine-in. The swimming pool is large and the greens are really refreshing. With the published rate, I think it's so worth it!

the spacious room - and I was having a nite coffee

We departed at 2 p.m. by bus to Padalarang and arrived at Mason Pine Hotel at Kota Baru Parahyangan by around 5.30 p.m. The air was cool and the hotel was nice. By that time I had long forgetting my problems. I was roommate with Clarissa Jayakumara of Clarissa + Peddy Photography and she was so nice I'm glad we were paired.

the ladies

still, the ladies

dinner time

That night we had dinner at the Bumi Pancasona Sport Club, where all of the photographers, some JPS member, and Darwis Triadi's crews gathered. I chatted with more of them there and it was so fun. But apparently I had to call the night off quite earlier because suddenly I caught flu and had a restless sleep that night. I had only two hours of sleep but amazingly woke up refreshed.

me, after having breakfast

the '17 Pertiwi' women photographers

the photographers and me!

We got up at 6 a.m. the next morning, had breakfast and gathered at the lobby before departing to Bale Pare by bus. The last time I went there was 2003 when I just entered Maranatha University, so it was quite a nostalgia for me. The event started at around 10 a.m. and it contained some opening speech and ceremonies, and also award-giving to the winners.

on our way

the gang took photo before the event

wefie during the event

me and Mrs. Hermandari Kartowisastro - a healthy 74-year old lady!

me and dr. Erytromisin Cahyaningtyas - she has the name of medicine!

me and Mrs. Dina Andrea Wijns - I superlove her works!

me and Mr. Darwis Triadi himself

After lunch, Darwis Triadi gave a free workshop for fashion photography, which we attended for two hours. I joined the photo hunting group to Stone Garden Geopark, about 20 minutes drive from the complex. It is a site of ancient stone cluster located on top of a hill among the lime mountains. At the bottom of the hill there is a sacred cave Goa Pawon, but we didn't go there.

welcome to the geopark tourism destination

the parking lot

this photo was taken by Clarissa

who can resist a bowl of meatballs in the cold mountain breeze?

We had a fun two hours of photo hunting there, but I used the first hour to eat with Clarissa instead. When I climbed up the hill, the sun was hiding behind the clouds and night was approaching fast. The view from up there was amazing and if I don't say it perhaps you'd think I was in Ireland or somewhere Nordic. Perhaps.

the view was splendid from up here!

another additional member is the ambassador of Bosnia & Herzegovina on far left back

the cool ancient rocks

on the way back - took a selfie for a proof

we all had fresh young coconut after the climb to restore energy

We went back to Kota Baru Parahyangan and had Mie Naripan for dinner but it was quite disappointing. Apart from the food, we didn't like the service they gave us--especially the part where they don't put the price on menu (it really feels like a fraud or a rip-off where you should wonder about the exact price). But we survived it at least.

tired and hungry at Mie Naripan

That night I wanted to pay off my lack of sleep, but again sleep was canceled. I chatted with Clarissa instead and we made it till 5 a.m. It is amazing how sometime The Universe make us meet a person we can easily connect with. We were amazed at how similar our interests and perspectives are, and I guess the talk went on with the higher force. It was as if we were charged with the energy.

this is so much like a nostalgia: yamien asin bakso

We had 3-hours sleep that morning and woke up at 8 a.m. We missed the photo hunting session that morning but we could still have breakfast. We checked out at 11 a.m. and we went by bus to the Al-Irsyad Mosque built in 2010 by Bandung's current mayor Ridwan Kamil under his architecture firm Urbane. It is a modern square building with no pillar, and the façade read the Arabic sentences "Laailaha Ilallah Muhammad Rasulullah". We took a good 15 minutes to get pictures there then the bus left for Jakarta.

the interior of this mosque has no pillar in it

some of the ladies - the ones who went back to Jakarta by bus

We arrived back at Darwis Triadi's School at around 2 p.m. and went our separate ways home. I carried on by commuter train. But during that special weekend I had more than just a weekend getaway trip. I got new friends--special ones--and great network, thanks to Pak Rikin Junaedi of JPS who invited me. I feel so blessed with this experience, and feel that my energy is now fully charged.

Thanks to The Universe _/|\_ Rahayu.


P.S. for more great photos, check out my Instagram account. And about the book, check here.

Last Saturday I went to Gedung Kesenian Jakarta at Pasar Baru with my sister to watch the dance performance of Dhea Seto and her friends at Animal Pop group. The last time I watched a dance performance was in 2011, of the "Ali Topan Anak Jalanan" musical theatre, so this was quite refreshing. Only that this time the dance is a contemporary one, not musical drama.

the girls acted as contemporary wayang wong, the human puppet, which is quite a good idea!

The performance was divided into two scenes: the first one is fully a contemporary Trans Papua and the student class musical. The second one is a sort of exam or inauguration of the dance school from different class levels. I really enjoyed watching the dance moves, the energy I got from the performers, and the philosophy behind the choreography. Here are the things I love from that night's show:

1. Great choreography.
As the title "Trans Papua", the dance showed movements and acts from people of Papua. The first act had the dancers dressed up like Papuan people (although the girls didn't wear any costume, which perhaps showed the 'trans' part of the story.) But I got the idea and it was great.

2. They highlighted some pop issues.
On the second scene (the class musical) they would highlight teenagers' daily problems such as physical issues. Most teenagers grow up feeling inferior in their peer group and physical things become an important thing. The dance had a song that told us that it doesn't matter if you're fat / skinny, dark / light-skinned, etc. They packaged it in a song / dance performance and I like the idea. It really is a good message for growing up teenagers. I hope more people get the message too.

3. Great energy.
I could really feel the great energy of the dancers that night, because I was all ready to dance too all night. I could see how much effort the dancers put on giving their best, although my focus was centered to Dhea Seto, the only person I know on stage. But I could see the performance of the Trans Papua dance was equally good, and the credit goes to the whole team!

Dhea Seto and Zsa Zsa Utari

I found the first act was superb, but a bit confused with the second one because of certain things. It was too confusing that I think I had to write about this somehow. I think any dance performers / choreographers should really notice these things:

1. On stage, appearance is everything. 
Yes, the moves and stage control are important, but what's more important is the costume. Even if it's "just" a student musical dance. Wearing loose T-shirt is definitely a no-no. If you're on budget, you could at least wear something basic, black and body fit like gymnastic clothes. It really annoys the eyes when you wear a loose class T-shirt on stage. For a moment I was confused if I really went for the performance night or was it the rehearsal night, and was questioning about the ticket price I had paid.

2. Art performance should be universal.
I was personally bothered when I see one of the group performers wore hijab. I know it is a sensitive matter, but I just think that it's not appropriate to show your religion preferences on stage where it (dance, music and art) should be universal. It's not that I disrespect anyone's preference of belief, but to me it is as if the person is disrespecting the art of performance itself. It made her seemed like she wanted to be seen and be treated special because of her personal belief and principles and that she didn't want to blend with the team--where the rest of her group wore uniformed hairdos. 
I just think that one's religion shouldn't be taken onto the stage and a good actor/actress should be able to play any role regardless one's religion/principal, because it's what a stage is for. And it just ruined the whole visual artistic.

3. Inner jokes are for your inner group.
It's great to have inner joke with your friends; it could show how close and solid your relationship is. But when the show is open for public and they pay for it your audience wants to enjoy the show they could understand. When your joke is funny only to your own crowd, it's where your show fails. Art could be confusing sometimes, but inner joke isn't part of art.

4. Repeated pattern is boring.
It's cool to have a bit element of surprise, but when the pattern is repeated for more than twice, it becomes predictable and boring, and won't make your audience stay till the end. On the show I watched, I could see a pattern of how each song would be stopped by a Papuan actor--and on his third time I became too bored. I didn't stay until the end of the show (and it's too rare that I leave any show before it finishes) because I thought I've seen it all and assumed the rest of the show would be a repeated pattern; nothing to be waited to the end.

5. Keep it minimal.
On the performance I watched, there were two guys played as ladyboys. On their first appearance, I found it hilarious. Especially because one of them acted as another character in the previous scene. But when these two characters keep showing up again and again, I found it to be too much and cheesy. We could all take something exaggerated once for a refreshing surprise act. But when it's repeated, the audiences would think that you are not that creative, and anything excessive is not good.



Other than these critics (which went mostly to the choreographer), I think the performers did great that night. Some uniformity in movement still should be worked on, but it's just a matter of practice. I really do love watching art performances and I love seeing people being creative in their own terms and fields. I hope both the Animal Pop group and Indonesian art in general would get better and expand more.

Rahayu _/|\_