Adelaide Rose

Funnies....

2006-06-04T19:28:00.000+09:30

"Gross" is a German word too....

Several years ago our family was traveling through Hamburg on vacation. As tourists, we naturally got lost and wandered into a less-savory part of town -- namely the red-light district surrounding the Reeperbahn.

When we stopped to look at a map, our teenage daughter glanced down a narrow alley, where she spotted a man peeing on a wall.

She exclaimed -- as any teenage girl would -- "Ewwww, gross!"
Now of course, to an English speaker, this is hardly a compliment. But to a German? "Gross," of course, means "big."

The man looked up and said with a smile, "Danke".

** Spiegel Online, 2nd June 06**

2006 World Cup Soccer

2006-06-04T19:11:00.000+09:30

5 more sleeps and we will be able to watch 2006 World Cup Soccer!! It’s very exciting… The moment like this always bring back the memory when I was still living in Indonesia. The boys at home all have their own team, Germany, Italy, England, Brazil and Argentina.

It’s the time when everyone stayed up late every night as the game in Europe usually took place in the evening and if broadcasted live that would mean very early morning for Indonesia time. Anything about soccer would always be the topic of conversation before they went to bed and when they gathered at the dining table for breakfast… they talked about the players, umpires, techniques of the game, fans, field etc etc.

This year Australia is included in the 32 countries that will compete in the World Cup Soccer that will start on the 9th of June in Germany. The Soccerroo, as we call Australia Green and Gold Team will be in Group F together with Brazil, Croatia and Japan.

In the first round, Australia will play against Japan on 12th June at 1500 hrs in Kaiserslautern, 18th June against Brazil at 1800 hrs in Munich and then the boys from Down Under will again play against the Croats on 22nd June at 2100 hrs in Stuttgart.

Looking forward to watch the games but perhaps just the replay ones due to the time difference :D

For anyone who would like to go to Germany for the games, the following tips maybe of use….

* * * * * * *

From Spiegel Online 2nd June 06

TAKE IT FROM A GERMAN
By Werner Wingen

How Not to Die on German Roads

German roads are unique. It seems like an opportunity for serious injury or death or a run-in with the law presents itself around every corner. A German reader sets you straight.

Germany is quite different from the rest of the world when driving a car (or even walking). It's a bit of a mix between southern Italy (impatient crazy folks, anything goes) coupled with driving in America (impatient bad drivers). But the major difference is that virtually every move made by drivers on German streets is regulated by the law. If there's not a sign allowing it, assume that it is verboten. Also, make no mistake about it, not everyone is equal on the German road.

To help visitors traveling to Germany this summer, I have put together a list of rules that should be heeded at all times:

Don't ever drive on the left lane of the Autobahn unless you really know what you are doing or unless you have a death-wish. People really do drive 200 kph or faster and don't like it when slower moving cars block their test tracks.

Don't ever pass a car on the right on the Autobahn. You'll either get a ticket or you'll die.

Don't give anyone "the finger." Germans are 100 times more likely to call the police or they will go completely crazy and hunt you down until you start crying.

Don't ever mess with BMW or Mercedes drivers. They always have the right of way. You might not get a ticket but you'll incur the wrath of those beautiful people in chic tweed jackets and well-coifed gray hair.

Never drive through an almost-red traffic light. You'll likely get a ticket or you'll die.

As a pedestrian, never walk when the signal is red. You'll get a ticket or you'll die.

Don't forget to use your turn signal, otherwise you'll get a ticket. It's not optional as it is in Italy or America.

Don't leave your car running when waiting for someone. You'll either get a ticket or passers-by will kick your car because you're polluting Germany.

Don't go too slow (less than 120 kmh) on the Autobahn. You might get a ticket or you'll die.

Don't compete with a German native for a parking space. You'll surely lose the battle and your rental car will be scratched for sure!

Don't park too close to another car or you might get cursed at.

Don't complain when a parking attendant charges you for another hour even if you're only 25 seconds late. Smile and pay!! German punctuality.

Don't even think of parking without paying, even if you have to walk 100 yards to the machine that dispenses the tickets. If you don't pay, you will get fined. Guaranteed.

Don't ever argue with a meter maid. You'll lose the battle and you might lose your appetite as well.

Don't drink and drive! I hear that German jails have even more rules.

My recommendation is to take public transport or taxis anywhere you go. You do want to remember your visit to Germany as a positive experience, right? Germany is a wonderful and friendly country. Just not while driving a car!

Earthquake Jolted Yogya

2006-05-27T21:48:00.000+09:30

An earthquake measured at 6.2 on Richter Scale that lasted for more than 1 (one) minute has jolted the Central Java Province in Indonesia on Saturday morning, May 27th 06, at 5.54 am local time.

According to CNN, officials in Indonesia has released 2700 people killed and more than 3000 injured. Bantul, Jogyakarta, Klaten and Pacitan are the area that mostly affected (Bantul is the hardest hit), according to El Shinta Radio in Jakarta 2000 people killed in Bantul alone.

Borobudur - the biggest Buddhist Temple in the world - and Prambanan - Hindu Temple - have been partially hit, both are located south of Jogyakarta.

The quake is the second worst in Indonesia after tsunami disaster on Boxing Day, December 26 2004.

Today's earthquake according to the experts was a tectonic quake that could increase Mt. Merapis vulcanic activity. As we all know Mt. Merapi has spewed its lava for weeks now.

My thoughts and prayers for those who have been affected.

Fall 060514

2006-05-14T21:41:00.000+09:30

My work’s belated Christmas party went well, hotel room was great and food was exceptionally good. Had a tummy bug that night though and learnt the next morning that Steve has had the same problem.

Seagull, people and cloud

View from Stamford hotel room

With Andrew G and Jaime, Australian Idols tv presenters
Sheeeshh guys, am not that vertically challenged.. you are just so tall!!

Kartini Day celebration went well, food was sufficient to cater for everybody, dancing and singing were good and those who wore traditional Indonesian costumes looked pretty nice. But same old story, the noise from the audience was still far louder than that of the performers. I always feel sorry for the committee who have worked really hard to keep everything organised and under control… yet children and adults still walking around hopping from one food stall to the other whilst performances that required attention were still on stage.

Trip to Sydney was rather interesting… the taxi driver who picked me up at home kept ranting at me for half way to the airport. The reason being that I rang the yellow cab again unaware that the driver was already waiting on the street, not in the driveway nor ringing the door bell as other drivers usually do. Still, got on to the plane on time but I was so angry at the driver that I forgot to get a receipt for the taxi charge.

St. Marys, 40 km southwest of Sydney was very dry and the drive in Comland is still as interesting as ever. A group of kangaroos or emus wandering around and if we are lucky enough, we could spot rabbits hopping around as well. Shops in downtown St. Marys are rather colourful and very multicultural, ie. an Afghan shop selling sweets and spices is located right next to a Vietnamese grocery and few shops after that there was a Turkish restaurant where you could get mouth watering pides.

The cozy room in Parkview hotel St. Marys

Thursday is a late night shopping in NSW suburbs, so went to Penrith shopping centre that day after hours (Penrith is about 20km or 15 minutes drive from St. Marys). The Penrith Westfield shopping complex was so huge and I got some really good exercise strolling from the ground floor to the very top one and from one end to the other. Thought about doing some retail therapy but everything over there is all available in Adelaide at similar prices. Hopped in Starbucks for a grande mocachino outside the complex when my feet couldn’t continue with the walking anymore, sitting outside whilst watching the world in Penrith go by.

The taxi drive from St. Marys to the airport on Friday took about 1 hour as the traffic was so bad. The driver whose appearance seemed to be of Indian origin, had some sort of clear fibreglass surrounding him (guess to protect him from getting stabbed from behind by evil passengers). He pushed the brake so often that he gave me nausea and the feeling got worse when he charged me an additional 10% of the total charge for using credit card *pheww* It showed A$ 100.00 on the metre so my company has had to pay a total of A$ 110.00 for that long ride!!

A snapshot whilst having breakfast at Sydney airport

Went to see International Police Tattoo 2006 in Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night. It was a nearly full house and most of the crowd were over 55+ The performers were: NYPD Police Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Australian Federal Police Pipes and Drums, Western Australia Police Band, The Auckland Police Pipe Band, Royal Malaysia Police Band, The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee Trompetterkorps, The Flying Grandpas of Police Hamburg, Polizei-Musik Basel of Switzerland, US Seventh Fleet Band, Australian singer Julie Anthony and of course South Australia Police. Love the colour and pattern of the kilts worn by pipe and drum players. Under the kilt is a mystery, so they said! Hmmm what is it??? Ops, got the answer, of course it’s socks and shoes hahaha!

The opening perfomance of the Police Tattoo

Tuesday, 9th May the two miners who have been trapped for 14 nights in the gold mine in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, were finally rescued at 4.50 am local time. Todd Russell, 34 and Brant Webb, 37 have survived the ordeal in ‘two star’ hotel (so they called it) 925 metres below the surface. Their co-worker, Larry Knight, 44 was killed on that Anzac Day rockfall tragedy. The spirit Todd and Brant showed when they popped out of the elevator was real true blue, full-blown Australian larrikin that has left the whole nation smiling and relieved. What a nice thing!!

Today is Mother's Day, so I wish a Happy Mother's Day to everyone who are!!

More to remember least we forget

2006-04-25T23:18:00.000+09:30

Today is Anzac Day, a national holiday in Australia to commemorate the battle at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. On 25th April 1916, Australian and New Zealand troops landed in Gallipoli, they were sent out to open the way to the Black Sea for the allied (British) navy. The plan was to capture Constantinople (Istanbul) the capital of Ottoman Empire which was an ally to Germany. From the day they landed until 8 months later the soldiers met fierce resistance from the Turkish. In December 1916 both sides were evacuated after suffering heavy casualties and great hardships with over 8000 Australian servicemen dead.

In 1920, Anzac day was established to commemorate the 60,000 Australian who died during the war. From mid 1930 Anzac Day’s culture is associated with dawn vigils, marches, memorial services and reunions.

Feels a bit awkward having a holiday amidst workday…

Anyway, went to Dians place in Erindale this afternoon, plenty of food and as usual gossipping, laughing and constant munching from the time I arrived until I left to go home. What a day!!

I have been busy with work in the last couple of weeks preparing a presentation for Navision Training. Have emailed the presentation to head office on Monday before I went home and if it’s ok it will be used to train national staff which for this month will be started in Port Adelaide. So… looking forward to that!!

Off to Sydney on Tuesday, May 2nd for work trip, not too sure for how long as yet. Hoping that people over there have already got access to online Navision, so as well as train them for internal company’s RPSC, I could also train them with Navision, will see how it goes…

This Saturday April 29th, finally, we will have our work’s belated Christmas Party :D It’s been delayed since December last year due to time availability for the three of us *wheewww* We will be staying for one night in a wonderful ocean view room in Stamford Hotel and that of course will include dinner and breakfast… hmmm can’t wait for that.

There will be a Kartini Day celebration in Goodwood Community Centre on Sunday April 30th, singing and dancing will be performed and last but not least there will be food stalls that will sell mouth watering Indonesian cuisine.

Everything is nice… sugar and spice!!

Time to go to La La Land, nite all :)

Relaaaax

2006-04-18T10:00:00.000+09:30

I know Easter break just finished but it wasn't long enough.. If life is hard today and Friday is still so far away, there is only one thing to do, relaaax!!

Easter Bunnies

2006-04-08T22:09:00.000+09:30

Easter break is in the corner meaning a long weekend and lotsa chocolate, hubba..hubba :D

Not too sure what will be the plan for this holiday yet, for the time being I am just hoping that the weather will be kind.

Happy holiday everyone!!

Aida, thanks for the email, I have doctored it a bit *wink*

Joke of the day

2006-04-04T14:13:00.000+09:30

Fall, 20060404

Q: Why are married women heavier than single women?

A: Single women come home, see what's in the fridge and go to bed.
Married women come home, see what's in the bed and go to the fridge!!!

Bwahahahahaha

Summer - 060327

2006-03-27T13:41:00.000+10:30

What a super Saturday for the Labour Party in South Australia last Saturday! The result of the state election which took place on Saturday 19th, has secured them 28 seats out of 47 seats in SA Parliament, 15 for Liberal, 3 for Independents and 1 for the National Party. Labour has ruled the state since 1998.

Monday 22 March, category 5 Cyclone Larry hit far north Queensland and Innisfail was struck particularly hard. Larry unleashed its fury with winds of up to 290km/h and badly destroyed banana and sugar cane plantations. As we all know, 80% of Banana and 20% of sugar cane stock in the country are supplied from these plantations. The damage estimated to cost around A$ 1.5 billion. The disaster has left 1000 people left homeless, few minor injuries and thankfully no deaths.

Commonwealth Games 2006 has finished last night in Melbourne with Australia pocketing 221 medals, 184 of which were gold. Surely the spectacular closing ceremony will not be the end of the celebration for the Game Officials as they still have to continue searching for those 27 missing athletes (Sierra Leone:16, Cameron:9 Tanzania:1 Bangladesh:1) For Sierra Leone, 16 athletes were 2/3 of their total athletes competing in the game. At the Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002, 70% of Sierra Leone athletes went missing... Gee, this must be some sort of trend for them to migrate in an easy and convenient way, air tickets were paid for and special purpose visa were all provided. To date, 11 athletes that went missing in Sydney 2000 Olympic are still unaccounted for.

The IR (Industrial Relations) Law which was introduced by Howard Government last year comes into effect today. Apparently the explanation of this law has been compiled in 1500 pages plus 600 more supplementary pages. I bet the law firms around the country have had their peak in recent times. Many still voicing they concerns about the new law including Kim Beazley, the opposition leader. According to him, this law does not have protection for the workers for unfair dismissal and will cause an average Australian worker to loose A$ 230 per month.

The Clipsal 500 has ended last night in Adelaide as well. The motor sport carnival has attracted 270,300 people in its four-days of racing, other than fumes, the event has also created a fury for motorists who, everyday, pass the major thoroughfare in the city area for commuting to and from work, have had to take the detour roads which was jammed with traffic. Thank God the race has ended, the trip which usually takes 40 minutes to or from work for me became 1.5 hours every single day last week!!

Now that the Clipsal Race is over, I can go vroom vroom again and don't have to leave home so early to be able to get to work on time.

Letter from a troubled user

2006-03-21T22:02:00.000+10:30

Any of you has experienced problem with your Wife 1.0. software?? If so, the following may be of help hahahaha ^_^

===================

Dear Tech Support

Last year I upgraded Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 . I soon noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources. In addition, Wife 1.0 installed itself into all other programs and now monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Poker Night 10.3, Football 5.0 , Hunting and Fishing 7.5 , and Racing 3.6 .

I can't seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run my favorite applications. I'm thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0 , but the uninstall doesn't work on Wife 1.0. Please help!!

Thanks

A Troubled User

************************

Reply

Dear Troubled User

This is a very common problem that men complain about. Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0, thinking that it is just a Utilities and Entertainment program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its Creator to run EVERYTHING!!! It is also impossible to delete Wife 1.0 and to return to Girlfriend 7.0 . It is impossible to uninstall, or purge the program files from the system once installed.

You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is designed to not allow this. Look in your Wife 1.0 manual under Warnings-Alimony-Child Support. I recommend that you keep Wife1.0 and work on improving the situation.
I suggest installing the background application "Yes Dear" to alleviate software augmentation.

The best course of action is to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the system will return to normal anyway.

Wife 1.0 is a great program, but it tends to be very high maintenance . Wife 1.0 comes with several support programs, such as Clean and Sweep 3.0 , Cook It 1.5 and Do Bills 4.2.

However, be very careful how you use these programs. Improper use will cause the system to launch the program Nag Nag 9.5 . Once this happens, the only way to improve the performance of Wife 1.0 is to purchase additional software. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0 !

WARNING!!! DO NOT, under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3 . This application is not supported by Wife 1.0 and will cause irreversible damage to the operating system.

Best of luck

Tech Support

Urinalysis

2006-03-19T20:29:00.000+10:30

Funnies from Ina....

============================

URINALYSIS

One day, in line at the company cafetaria, Jack says to Mike behind him, "My elbow hurts like hell. I guess I better see a doctor."

"Listen, you don't have to spend that kind of money," Mike replies. "There's a diagnostic computer at the drugstore at the corner. Just give it a urine sample and the computer'll tell you what's wrong and what to do about it. It takes ten seconds and costs ten dollars...a hell of a lot cheaper than a doctor."

So Jack deposits a urine sample in a small jar and takes it to the drugstore. He deposits ten dollars, and the computer lights up and asks for the urine sample. He pours the sample into the slot and waits. Ten seconds later, the computer ejects a printout: You have tennis elbow. Soak your arm in warm water and avoid heavy activity. It will improve in two weeks.

That evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was, Jack began wondering if the computer could be fooled. He mixed some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, urine samples from his wife and daughter, and masturbated into the mixture for good measure.

Jack hurries back to the drugstore, eager to check the results. He deposits ten dollars, pours in his concoction, and awaits the results. The computer prints the following:

1. Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener
2. Your dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo
3. Your daughter has a cocaine habit. Get her into rehab
4. Your wife is pregnant...twin girls. They aren't yours. Get a lawyer
5. If you don't stop playing with yourself, your elbow will never get better.

Is sex good for us???

2006-03-16T15:54:00.000+10:30

Went through all my old files in the computer today and found this article that I copied from The Age, November 25, 2003. It's very interesting and funny (to me anyway), so thought to share it with you..

===================

Of course sex is very good for us. Isn't it?

By Bettina Arndt

"Fellatio reduces risk of breast cancer." It was hardly surprising last month's CNN health bulletin made news around the world. The story was published in newspapers from Chile to Croatia, reporting that women who swallow semen regularly, once or twice a week, may reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 40 per cent, according to a North Carolina State University study.
One of the researchers, Dr Helena Shifteer, was quoted saying that since the results have been known: "I try to fellate at least once every other night to reduce my chances."

You're right. It was a hoax. And a mighty successful one. The website that posted the original article received more than 667,000 hits on a single day soon after the story broke.

But within a week, Brandon Williamson, the student who wrote the mock report, responded to legal threats by apologising to his university, to CNN and to "all men who did not take advantage of this article in time to get head".
Williamson wasn't the first. While the internet has greatly increased the exposure of such stories, there's a long history of such false reports appearing in the press.

My favourite was a story that appeared three years ago, claiming to be from The New England Journal of Medicine, entitled Ogling Breasts Makes Men Live Longer.
The main thrust of these stories is that sex is good for you. That oral sex is good for you and swallowing is even better. I have no doubt that the driving force behind this cheerful mischief-making is the eternal supply and demand problem - with men always on the lookout for good excuses to lure women into the cot.

Back in the real world of proper science, there is actually a growing body of evidence that supports some of these fantasies. For a start there's: Oral Sex Makes Pregnancies Safer. It's true, according to Professor Gus Dekker, a maternal-foetal medicine specialist at the University of Adelaide. Dekker compared 41 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia - a condition where the mother's blood pressure soars during pregnancy - to 44 without. He found 82 per cent of those without the condition practised fellatio compared with 44 per cent of those with it.

The explanation? Semen contains a growth factor that helps persuade a mother's immune system to accept sperm. Regular exposure before pregnancy helps her immune system get used to her partner's sperm.

As for the link to cancer, it's just possible that semen could have some effect on cancer of the cervix or ovaries. There's research showing oral delivery of TGFbeta (transforming growth factor beta), one of the key molecules in semen, can increase the number and activity of "natural killer" cells that are important in recognising and killing aberrant cells that give rise to tumours.

Adelaide University researcher Dr Sarah Robertson, a leading scientist in the fertility area, is involved in animal research showing TGFbeta activates an inflammatory response in the cervix and ovaries after intercourse, which may lead to increased activity in these killer cells, guarding against cancer.
Yet Robertson suggests women may not need to swallow semen to gain these benefits - should the scientific research ultimately confirm this possible link. An alternative source of TGFbeta is cow's milk, which for many women is far easier to swallow. Plus there are pharmaceutical companies working on freeze-dried semen products, in tablet form.

But an even stronger link between sex and cancer has been found in recent work by a Melbourne research team led by Graham Giles of the Cancer Council Victoria. Giles's team has found men can reduce their risk of prostate cancer through regular ejaculation.

Comparing the sexual habits of a group of 1000 men who had developed prostate cancer with 1250 who had not, they found men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer later in life.
Regular ejaculation, through sex or masturbation, may prevent carcinogens accumulating in the prostate gland, the researchers suggest.

Then there's a study showing women are less depressed if they have sex without condoms, and another showing regular sex helps to avoid colds. While the research method used for the depression study is rather shaky, both studies, according to Robertson, are based on legitimate scientific reasoning.
There's also research suggesting regular sex can improve sense of smell, reduce risk of heart disease, aid in weight loss, pain relief and soothing PMS symptoms, and even help people live longer.

The work never stops. Across the world male scientists are trying to prove to women that they need it. Often.

My Trivia

2006-03-08T23:03:00.000+10:30

Just got home from dinner in town with a girl friend.. now sitting my bum in front of computer after taking the wheelie bin out on the road as tomorrow morning will be trash collection day.

I have been back to the gym again since end of January, swim on Monday-Wednesday-Friday and workouts on Tuesday-Thursday. Enjoy swimming so much... the feeling under the water after the long stressful day at work is indescribable, so soothing. I have been able to do 60 lapses every day so far and hopefully it would stay the same for a long time :) Hey, don't picture me having a Hollywood star body shape now as not a single kilo has been shed as yet!

I have performed the role of social butterfly "fully" in the last couple of weekend haha. On Saturday February 25th, was at Vitas place with some other girls and their family from 1.30 in the afternoon right through to 11.30 at night. We ate, chatted and laughed most of the time in the host's dining room and lounge which perhaps have made husbands of those girls wondered what we all talked about :D

Last Saturday Rita and I went Ice skating at Thebarton. That was a good fun... heedee heedee hooo! Only fell once and got bruising bum plus an inch blister on right leg just on top of my ankle. There were few people ice skating that day, lots of children, some teens and few of my age *grin* Used to play roller skater when I was younger but now... gosh, let's blame it to the age, keeping the balance of the body whilst moving on the ice was such a difficult thing!!

End of daylight saving which supposedly falls on March 26th this year will be extended until April 2nd due to the Commonwealth Game which will be starting on March 15th in Melbourne, Victoria. I am happy about this extension as it will give me more time to stay in the garden picking and pruning after gym of course.

Feel a bit sleepy and now it's time to go to La La Land, night night all..

Childrens Letter to God

2006-02-24T23:29:00.000+10:30

This is hilarious... I absolutely love it.

All, have a fantastic weekend when you get to it :D

************

Olivia, thanks a bunch for sending this email to me.....

Bedah buku "Memoirs of a Geisha"

2006-02-21T11:31:00.000+10:30

Ellie Merrett

Penulis: Arthur Golden
Penerbit pertama: Chatta and Luindus 1997 - United Kingdom
Penerbit di Australia: Vintage 2005
Tebal halaman: 428 Lembar

Novel Memoirs of A geisha diawali dengan cerita seorang mantan geisha yang bermukim di New York, Nitta Sayuri kepada seorang temannya, seorang dosen antropologi.

Di suatu desa bernama Yoroido, hidup suatu keluarga nelayan miskin, Sakamoto dan isterinya yang sakit-sakitan beserta dua anak perempuan bernama Satsu dan Chiyo. Sakamoto sebelumnya pernah berkeluarga namun semuanya telah meninggal. Satsu berwajah biasa sedangkan Chiyo memiliki sepasang mata biru yang indah, persis seperti mata ibunya.

Tertekan oleh kemiskinan, Sakamoto menjual ke dua anak gadisnya kepada Tanaka Ichiro, lelaki pedagang ikan di Yoroido. Melalui perantara yang bernama Bekku, kedua anak ini di bawa ke Okiya. Di sana Chiyo disambut namun Satsu ditolak. Satsu kemudian dijual oleh Bekku di tempat pelacuran.

Di Okiya, Chiyo tinggal dengan beberapa perempuan; termasuk seorang yang dipanggil ibu, tante, nenek, beberapa pembantu, gadis seumuran Chiyo bernama Pumpkin dan seorang geisha yang terkenal, Hatsumomo, yang berwajah cantik, pintar namun sangat culas dan selalu berkelakuan jahat terhadap Chiyo.

Ketika Hatsumomo mengejeknya dan mengatakan "kakak kamu yang jelek dan kau rindukan adalah pekerja seks di Miyagawa-cho", Chiyo berbulat hati untuk mendatangi tempat tersebut. Maka di suatu malam gelap dan di tengah guyuran hujan lebat, Chiyo berjalan ke Miyagawa-cho. Di sana dia bertemu dengan Satsu yang telah berganti nama menjadi Yukiyo. Mereka kemudian membuat rencana untuk melarikan diri, namun malang bagi Chiyo, dalam upayanya untuk menemui Satsu di malam yang telah ditentukan, dia terjatuh dari atap dan dikembalikan ke Okiya sedangkan Satsu berhasil melarikan diri dari rumah bordil.

Beberapa bulan setelah kejadian itu, Chiyo menerima surat dari Tanaka Ichiro di Yoroido yang mengabarkan bahwa kedua orang tuanya sudah meninggal sementara Satsu kabur dengan pacarnya semasa kecil. Suatu hari di atas jembatan ketika Chiyo menangisi nasibnya, dia dihampiri oleh seorang laki-laki gagah yang hanya dikenal dengan nama Chairman. Chairman menghibur Chiyo, memberikan uang untuk membeli es krim dan selembar sapu tangan untuk mengusap dan membersihkan wajahnya. Terkesima oleh ketampanan dan kebaikan Chairman, Chiyo menyimpan sapu tangan tersebut.

Setelah mengalami pahitnya kehidupan di Okiya akibat perlakuan Hatsumomo, akhirnya Chiyo disekolahkan untuk menjadi geisha. Dia mengamati bahwa kimono yang dipakai seorang geisha harus memperlihatkan leher dan beberapa ruas tulang belakang, karena menurut laki-laki Jepang, leher merupakan bagian yang seksi dari seorang perempuan seperti halnya kaki yang panjang bagi laki-laki barat.

Mameha, seorang geisha yang cantik dan terkenal suatu hari datang ke Okiya untuk menawarkan Chiyo dilatih menjadi seorang geisha profesional. Umumnya geisha yang cantik dan pintar selalu mempunyai "danna" (laki-laki yang membiayai kehidupan dan memperlakukan geisha sebagai wanita peliharaan). Danna Mameha adalah Baron, seorang berdarah biru yang kebetulan belum beristri.

Di kesempatan pertama dalam pelatihan sebagai geisha, Chiyo yang sudah berganti nama menjadi Nitta Sayuri di bawa oleh Mameha ke pertandingan sumo. Di sana dia bertemu dengan Chairman dan seorang temannya Nobu, yang bertampang jelek, kasar dan hanya mempunyai satu tangan serta kulit wajah berkerut bekas luka bakar.

Laki-laki kaya biasanya bertaruh dengan jumlah uang yang sangat besar untuk mendapatkan mizuage (keperawanan) seorang geisha. Seorang dokter yang bernama dr. Crab dan Nobu bertarung untuk mendapatkan mizuage Sayuri. Dr. Crab memenangkan taruhan tapi belakangan Sayuri mengetahui bahwa sebenarnya bukan Nobu yang bertaruh melawan dr. Crab tetapi Baron, danna Mameha.

Semua rumah hiburan yang biasa disebut "tea house" tempat para geisha menemani tamunya, ditutup selama perang. Sayuri, atas bantuan Nobu berhasil mendapatkan pekerjaan sebagai pencuci kimono di rumah Arashino, teman Nobu.

Ketika tentara Amerika menduduki Jepang, tea house mulai dibuka kembali di Tokyo. Sayuri kembali menjadi geisha dan kali ini memiliki seorang danna yang bernama Jenderal Tottori. Nobu berang ketika mengetahui hal ini dan menyuruh Sayuri meminta maaf kepada dirinya ketika sang jenderal tidak sanggup lagi menjadi danna bagi Sayuri. Nobu bersumpah bahwa dia tidak akan berbicara atau menemui Sayuri lagi seumur hidup jika Sayuri berhubungan dengan laki-laki lain.

Sayuri bermaksud menampik cinta Nobu tetapi dengan materi dan pengorbanan yang telah diberikannya membuat Sayuri susah berkutik. Di suatu rumah peristirahatan di Okinawa, Sayuri menyusun rencana. Dia meminta tolong kepada Pumpkin untuk membawa Nobu ke suatu bilik supaya bisa menangkap basah Sayuri bercinta dengan seorang menteri. Pumpkin menolong tetapi bukan Nobu yang dibawa melainkan Chairman!! Pumpkin mengetahui bahwa Sayuri sangat mencintai Chairman dan sekarang saat tepat untuk membalas sakit hatinya. Dahulu semasa mereka masih tinggal di Okiya, Pumpkin bermimpi untuk diangkat sebagai anak yang akan mewarisi rumah dan seisinya, tetapi sang pemilik Okiya memilih Sayuri. Sejak itu Pumpkin menganggap Sayuri telah menghentikan mimpinya.

Nobu akhirnya mengetahui hal ini dan memutuskan untuk tidak menghubungi Sayuri lagi. Chairman yang sudah beristri dan memiliki anak rupanya juga memendam cinta yang dalam terhadap gadis kecil bermata biru yang bernama Chiyo yang dulu ditemuinya di atas jembatan. Diam-diam rupanya Chairman telah meminta tolong kepada Mameha untuk membantu Chiyo menjadi seorang geisha supaya dia dapat bersamanya di suatu hari.

Pada saat kembali ke Okiya dari rumah peristirahatan di Okinawa, Chairman datang menemui Sayuri dan menyatakan perasaannya. Sayuri mengatakan kepada Chairman bahwa apa yang dilakukannya di Okinawa adalah untuk memungkinkan dirinya tetap dapat hidup bersama dengan Chairman, karena seandainya dia menjadi milik Nobu, Chairman sudah pasti tidak akan bisa bersamanya lagi.

Sayuri dan Chairman akhirnya pindah ke New York dan menghabiskan masa tuanya di sana.

Pembukaan cerita berupa percakapan Sayuri dengan temannya di halaman pertama novel ini adalah cerita rekaan penulis belaka.

This is soooo funny!!!!!!

2006-02-19T13:52:00.000+10:30

Miss Beatrice, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room.

She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea. As he sat facing her old Hammond organ, the young minister noticed a cut-glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water, and in the water floated, of all things, a condom!

When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist.

"Miss Beatrice", he said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" pointing to the bowl.

"Oh, yes," she replied, "Isn't it wonderful? I was walking through the Park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven't had the flu all winter."

***************

Thanks to Julia for sending this to me, it has made me laugh out loud :D

Yadda yadda yadda

2006-02-13T15:53:00.000+10:30

Tonight cupids are busy sharpening their arrows and florists who are preparing for their busiest day of the year, arranging ordered flowers for people who will celebrate Valentine Day tomorrow. Yep, it comes again... the so called Valentine Day.

The chocolate aisle and flowers section of Coles was a bit busy this afternoon. Whilst sipping my latte I couldn't help but wonder how this commercialized Valentine Day celebration has become such a big thing. Why do these people have to wait once a year to express their love? Or does love only warrant being expressed once a year?

Anyway, life is back to its normal mode. My class has resumed last Monday though two of my students will not be participating this term. Regular workouts and swimming in the gym hopefully can be maintained to keep the flab away.

Ops, nearly forgot... I would like to congratulate my dear friend Fisty for the much awaited baby news!! I am so happy for you and hopefully we could catch up someday in Singapore and stroll along Orchard Road and the surroundings, doing a bit of a retail therapy would be very nice :)

Off to Melbourne on Wednesday and will write the update when I get back.

Adios all

Larangan Merokok

2006-02-09T16:02:00.000+10:30

Ellie Merrett

Sejak Sabtu tanggal 4 Pebruari sampai hari ini, larangan merokok di tempat tertentu diterapkan di Jakarta. Ingat, bukan merokoknya yang dilarang karena kata ini berpotensi untuk dipelintir sebagai pelecehan hak asasi manusia. Karena si perokok, tua muda, kaya miskin, laki dan perempuan semuanya mempunyai hak untuk memenuhi kecanduan nikotinnya, petani tembakau mempunyai hak mencari nafkah dengan menanam dan mengolah tembakau dan tidak ketinggalan hak pemilik pabrik rokok mencari dan meraup fulus karena mereka mendayakan tenaga kerja ribuan manusia di pabriknya.

Dengan dalih mengurangi pencemaran udara – meskipun polusi yang disebabkan asap rokok masih dalam skala abai dibandingkan pencemaran yang disebabkan oleh kendaraan – bang Yos melalui Peraturan Gubernur DKI Nomor 75 Tahun 2005, menjatuhkan palu larangan merokok di tempat ibadah, di dalam kendaraan umum dan perkantoran. Pelanggar aturan ini akan diganjar denda Rp.50 juta atau penjara 6-9 bulan.

Di Indonesia larangan berupa peraturan saja susah untuk berhasil, karenanya perangkat berupa rambu yang memadai jumlah maupun ukurannya ditambah dengan law enforcer yang tidak bisa diajak berkongkalikong sangat dibutuhkan.

Komunikasi antara pembuat aturan dan petugas yang memantau penerapan di lapangan juga tidak kalah pentingnya. Jangan sampai karena komunikasi yang tidak nyambung petugas lapangan menerjemahkan aturan sesuai dengan keinginannya sendiri, seperti kejadian tempo hari di Jalan Thamrin ketika petugas memerintahkan seorang pejalan kaki yang melintas untuk mematikan rokoknya, padahal peraturan tidak melarang orang merokok di jalanan.

Meskipun terlambat, keputusan ini patut kita dukung dan galakkan bersama. Semua warga, terutama di Jakarta sudah saatnya menyadari bahwa asap rokok yang dikepulkan terutama di ruang tertutup selain mencemari paru-paru si perokok juga menyebabkan hal serupa pada si penghirup asap yang kebetulan berada di ruangan yang sama.

Disiplin untuk mengkuti peraturan akan membawa kita maju selangkah ke depan. Sikap tidak peduli selain membuat kita jalan di tempat juga mengakibatkan kita menjadi bahan olokan bangsa lain, seperti kejadian di ruang vip bandara Dubai ketika salah seorang anggota dewan yang melawat ke Mesir, merokok di ruangan itu.

The Koala and the Little Lizard

2006-02-07T16:10:00.000+10:30

This koala story has given me a biiiig smile today, so thought to share it with you...

A koala is sitting up a gumtree smoking a joint when a little lizard walks past and looks up and says "Hey Koala ! what are you doing?"

The koala says: "Smoking a joint, come up and have some"
So the little lizard climbs up and sits next to the koala and they have a few joints.

After a while the little lizard says his mouth is 'dry' and is going to get a drink from the river.
But the little lizard is so stoned that he leans too far over and falls into the river.

A crocodile sees this and swims over to the little lizard and helps him to the side, then asks the little lizard: "What's the matter with you?"

The little lizard explains to the crocodile that he was sitting smoking a joint with the koala in the tree, got too stoned and then fell into the river while taking a drink.

The crocodile says he has to check this out and walks into the rain forest, finds the tree where the koala is sitting finishing a joint, he looks up and says.....
"Hey you!"

the koala looks down at him and says:

"Faaaaarrrrk dude.......how much water did you drink?!!"

Navision, have you heard of it?

2006-02-01T14:29:00.000+10:30

Mid February, I will be flying to Melbourne for a work trip for few days to attend an inhouse "navision" training at head office, a new computer program which we will be using nationally at the end of June this year.

Navision is a microsoft sotware that can be doctored to suit the needs of a company. It does everything from payroll, accounts receivable and payable, productions, logistics etc. I haven't heard of it until after I have got the info from Melbourne.

Prior to the training I would very much like to acquire some knowledge about this software. Tried to look for cds when I was in Jakarta and Bangkok but it was to no avail. Have checked in the net as well but almost all of them just provide some sort of overview of this particular microsoft product.

Has anyone ever used this software or have any knowledge about it? Greatly appreciated if you could share it with me.

1 Muharram 1427H

2006-01-31T15:15:00.000+10:30

Hari demi hari berganti dan bulan pun berlalu satu per satu, tidak terasa hari ini kita memasuki tahun yang ke-1427 dalam penanggalan Hijriah.

Nuansa peringatan hari raya 1 Muharram rasanya makin redup dari tahun ke tahun bagi kita yang bermukim di negara barat. Terima kasih atas jasa teknologi dunia jaring yang telah memungkinkan kita memasang almanak Hijriah di komputer ataupun hanya sekedar melihat-lihat pergantian bulan dalam penanggalan Islam, sehingga kita tidak merasa tertinggal atau alpa sama sekali dalam mengikuti perjalanan dan kalkulasi waktu menurut perhitungan Hijri.

Nun jauh di Parepare, Sulawesi Selatan ketika kami masih kecil-kecil, datangnya 1 Muharram selalu dinanti-nantikan. Bubur berbagai warna dan sejumlah makanan tradisional termasuk "kaddo minyak" (ketan kuning yang dihidangkan bersama ayam goreng lengkuas) selalu tersedia dan bila orang tua mempunyai kelebihan rejeki, kadang-kadang kita dihadiahi baju baru. Jadi jangan heran, dulu waktu kami masih bocah nama-nama bulan Islam selalu dihapal di luar kepala. Tetapi sekarang... jangankan dihapal, tahu urut-urutannya saja sudah bagus... Memilukan ya? Tapi itulah kenyataannya.

Perjalanan waktu 1 Muharram sampai ke penghujung 30 Zulhijjah 1426H ditandai dengan berbagai macam peristiwa di tanah air, dari Irian sampai ke Sabang. Ada longsor yang menelan korban ratusan ribu nyawa, flu burung, folio, bencana kelaparan, serangan bom yang membinasakan manusia tak berdosa serta berbagai macam petaka lain yang telah menghentikan mimpi dan membentangkan awan kelabu di perjalanan kehidupan saudara kita.

Semoga tahun yang baru datang bersama limpahan barokah dan nikmatNya yang berwujud usia yang panjang dan kesehatan bagi kita semua.
Mari berdoa dan berharap kiranya awan cerah senantiasa memayungi cakrawala kehidupan yang membawa kegembiraan dan kebahagiaan mulai dari bulan Muharram ini sampai ke penghujung Zulhijjah nanti dan seterusnya.

Gong Xi Fa Xai

2006-01-30T08:56:00.000+10:30

I wish a very happy Chinesse New Year to all friends who have celebrated the big day yesterday, especially to my Chinesse friends in Indonesia.

Thinking of you all and Jakarta this time of the year... the rain, angpau, dodol China and all the rest. Hopefully Imlek spirit in this year of dog keeps bringing happiness, success and health to all of us.

Gong Xi Fa Xai...

WomAdelaide

2006-01-23T11:30:00.000+10:30

Tia and Me in Chibo - Gouger Street

The dark snowy sky in December and January in France is romanticized as "au coeur de l’hiver" (the heart of winter). I wonder what should the romantic word be given to Adelaide for its blue, clear summer sky in this January especially in the last few days!!

It has been extremely hot... last Thursday was 42, Friday 41.8, Saturday 44 and Sunday was 40.1 degrees celsius. Searing temperature has made nothing was exciting to do outdoor... this was the hottest summer since 66 years ago. This heat wave has caused bush fire and blackouts in some places in country South Australia and in Adelaide.

Prior to that scorching heat... but it was still a hot day, I caught up with the Martins (Jhony and Tia) and this was the first time I met them since the passing of Tias father in Indonesia. They popped in and after a drink or two the three of us went to BBQ City in Gouger Street. All those mega yummy Chinesse food (peking duck, chicken shantung, crispy skin chicken, salt and pepper squid plus stir fry bok choy) were on our table that evening. We decided to sit outside because the heat was bearable then... but long before the food was finished, the temperature became chilly!! So chilly, then we rushed to Chibo for an indoor hot drinks...

Weird temperature, is it something to do with climate change? Let's leave this question to the experts and today I am just hoping it won't be 40 degrees again...

*********
ps: To Tia and Jhony, thanks a lot for the treat that night, it was a great night and it's always nice to catch up with you two.

Joke of the day

2006-01-13T15:04:00.000+10:30

Email from Loc, thanks Loc... keep 'em coming

Awwww....

2006-01-13T13:06:00.000+10:30

It was a glorious day yesterday... sunshine and only 24 degrees C, what a great summer weather! Thought it's a shame to stay in the office so I went out for lunch in Port Adelaide and drove straight to my favourit pie place, the blue and teal shop, Port Pie.

As usual, I chose the seat right at the back so I could watch people and world go by. There were many seniors wandering around, guess because it was pensioners day. Some were couples and single ones were a few as well...

Whilst sipping my hot moccachino, an aged gentleman, I think he is in his late 80s wearing an off white long sleeves shirt, navy blue pants and brown glasses with very thick looking lenses, walked towards me pushing his black and red walking frame. I wasn't sure why he did that as there were many empty tables around. He stopped in front of me and asked if he could join. "Certainly" I said and within minutes he already sat in the vacant chair in front of me and started to eat his pie.

"Which part of the world do you come from love?" He opened the conversation when I was collecting my cell phone and the car keys ready to go. I thought about teasing him but then I might have to repeat everything I said more than once in a louder mode and after all it was only 10 minutes left for me to drive back to work.
"Oh, Indonesia... have you been there?"
"No, not yet. You look nice and have a nice complexion"
"Thank you, thanks for your compliment. If you'd excuse me, I've got to go, back to work. It's nice to meet you and hope you'd enjoy the beautiful day outside"
"Alright love, bye bye"
"Bye"

Aww... that gentleman made me smile yesterday. I hoped he didn't have to work hard looking through his thick glasses to give me such compliment haha.

What women want...

2006-01-12T09:28:00.000+10:30

Short article from The Australian this morning.... I find it interesting so thought to share it with you.

********************

What woment want according to survey

FORGET good looks and a sense of humour; what women really want is a partner who is financially savvy, a survey says.The BankWest survey found that three quarters of married Australian women believed that having a partner who was money wise was the real `must-have'.

"It revealed that women realise looks soon fade and the dynamics of a relationship can change, but being with a partner who isn't sensible with money can cause real problems in the long term," BankWest spokesman Jude Leon said.

But while being in a relationship with someone who is smart with money made women's `must-have' list for a partner, only half of the men surveyed shared the same opinion.
In fact, 40 per cent of men said having a financially savvy partner wasn't important in the slightest.

Gay Curtis, author of the Smart Couples Guide to Money, said men traditionally saw themselves as having significant input over financial matters in the household, so having a partner who was financially savvy was viewed as less important.

"Women on the other hand realise that there will likely be a time in their lives when they may not be contributing money to the household, so having someone who is good at understanding and handling money matters is more essential," he said.

******************

So guys, what do you think?? :D

Eid Mubarak

2006-01-10T16:42:00.000+10:30

Picture of Masjid Nabawi (Prophet Mosque) taken early in the morning from hotel room in Madinah during my hajj pilgrimage in Jan-Feb 2004.

Eid Mubarak

to everyone who celebrates Eidul Adha today....

Women's prayer????

2006-01-10T15:50:00.000+10:30

***********
A friend emailed me this and it has made me angry because my prayer isn't like that at all *grin*

Felix sit annus novus

2006-01-06T15:44:00.000+10:30

Here we are again in 2006...

So glad the 2005 was over, what a year has been.. few bumpy and rocky roads had have to be passed but hey, that was only part of the life which unfortunately I have to go through.

Attendance at several Christmas functions during December has have to force me stayed away from the scale and hopefully I would be able to get rid of that so called Christmas flab very soon :D

Have had a very memorable experience at the end of 05 and the beginning of the year...

Friday afternoon on 30th Dec. (remember it was a 42 degree celcius day) a guy came in to my office to tell me that I have a flat tyre at the rear in the driver side. So, quick decision, I rang RAA to come and change it. They came but then I would have to go to T-Mart to get a new spare tyre. Being Friday and end of year... they just said to me "sorry, we don't have stock this week, we'll ring you Friday week", that very moment I was just hoping that nothing else would happen with the car until all shops are open after the new year.

On Tuesday, Jan 3rd on the way back to office from lunch in Arndale, a police car chased me with its sirene on. I felt really guilty when I pulled over and by the time he asked for my driver's licence all in my mind was a $220.00 fine and 3 demerit points. Oh boy... I shouldn't have run that stupid yellow arrow when I turn left from Hanson Rd. to Grand Junction. I did notice the yellow arrow but unfortunately wasn't long enough for me to avoid the red one. I felt bad doing that and thank god the police officer just gave me a caution this time *hurrayy* meaning no fine and demerit points *mega happy*

Work is still a bit quiet and so does the road :D but I will make sure no more running-red-lights.

I wish everyone a very happy new year, all the best in 2006.

Selamat tahun baru, felix sit annus novus and gelukkig niew jaar!!

With the girls at Ursulas party

2006-01-06T15:41:00.000+10:30

Update Finally

2005-10-21T16:44:00.000+09:30

Hola

After hybernated from blog update for sometime, I finally have the time to update this little blog of mine.

Idul Fitri celebration went well as usual in Al Khalil Mosque.... visited tante Emi's grave and prayed there before headed off to Firdas place. It was a wonderful day, plenty of food and had a chance to catch up with many friends.

There were so many things have happened this month... some were sweet and some bitter. Some friends celebrated and some other have been living their life in worrysome. Nevertheless, at the end of the month, all turned out just fine. Thank God for that.

Work has been okay... a colleague who has been with the company for few years has resigned. It felt unusual at first but quickly back to normal after just few days.

There have been few social engagements as well, lots of eatings for sure... so now, the scale has to be kept away for some time until I feel comfortable to weigh myself again :-D

Had a chance to attend the AIA (Australia Indonesia Association) picnic as well. It was good to meet with few people there who I havent seen for some time.

Now Christmas is approaching.... few things to arrange at work such as Xmas luncheon for the boys and Xmas cards and gifts for customers.

Adios all

Thank you

2005-09-23T16:54:00.000+09:30

My dear friends

I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to all of you for your thoughts and support during the rough time my family and I have been through when my dad was treated in hospital for stroke.

To my wonderful friends in Adelaide, thanks for those comforting phone calls, email and sms....

To my only-few-in-the-world-like-you friends in Jakarta, thanks for the visits to hospital, goodies, phone calls, sms etc etc....

To my blog friends, thank you for those nice and sweet comments you left in this blog whilst I was away..

Thanks again......

Baton baton.....

2005-07-28T15:49:00.000+09:30

Salaam

Eiiitttss.... kerjaannya Fisty nih.... akhirnya ane kena baton cycle juga!!

Ngomong-ngomong soal buku, belakangan ini untuk urusan buku-bukuan ane lebih prefer "ndenger" daripada mbaca. Alasannya, kalo ndenger bisa di mobil atau sembari walking-walking di sore hari setelah pulang kantor. Trend ndenger atawa Talking Books bagi ane saat ini helpful banget!! Maklumlah, di rumah selain menjadi nyonya ane juga merangkap sebagai pembantu..... jadi sembari bebenah, njemur cucian ato ngurusin kebun ane bisa tune-in......

Sekarang ini ane lagi getol-getolnya ndenger "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"nya John Perkins, ntar kalo udah selesai mau ndengerin "The Da Vinci Code"nya Dan Brown sampe abis... penasaran soalnya!!

Suka ndenger kagak berarti ane kagak baca-baca lagi... setiap ada kesempatan (kalo gak ada kudu diadain) ane baca-baca Al Quran atawa tafsir supaya otak ane kagak dipenuhin urusan duniawi aja.. Masak tahu urusan "pinjaman negara-yang tak mungkin terbayarkan" sementara doa untuk mohon keselamatan dunia akhirat kagak ngarti ......kan malu tuh ama Yang Di Atas...

Ane bercita-cita suatu saat nanti bisa punya perpustakaan Al Quran... Cuman, nah ini kendalanya.... Ummi (nyak ane) bilang kitab suci itu kudu dibaca abis... kalo disimpan kagak dibaca apa gunanya... punya satu juga kagak apa-apa yang penting dibaca, ditiru, diamalkan dan dipraktekkan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, itu baru berkah... nah loh !! Kan aneh punya banyak kitab suci tapi kagak bisa ngebedain antara 'alif' dan 'ain'.... dipikir-pikir bener juga ya kata Ummi ane...

Untuk sementara koleksi Al Quran ane baru yang ada di foto (atas) aja dan alhamdulillah semuanya ada storinya *caileee*

Buku/novel yang paling berkesan bagi ane adalah:

- The Wuthering Heights, 1939, Emily Bronte
(Ini novel berbahasa Inggris pertama yang ane baca waktu masih sma kelas 1)

- Pride and Prejudice, 1917, Jane Austen
(Novel ini punya ibu Sakiyah, guru bahasa Inggris di sma kelas 2 yang dipinjamin ke ane. Novel ini ane baca di rumah waktu itu, tapi pas mau dikembaliin beberapa halamannya udah pada terkoyak dan robek gara-gara dipeletekin sama adik-adik ane yang waktu kecil pada bandel-bandel)

Buku yang terakhir dibeli.... wah apa yah??!! Duitnya abis dipake buat belanja "baju and the gank" di "end of year sale" soalnya hahaha :D

Buku yang paling penting buat ane saat ini ya paspor dong... mau holiday soalnya :D masak tiket ama tas yang penuh sesak udah siap tapi paspornya ilang... kan kagak lucu!!

Tabik

Catatan rehat makan siang

2005-07-07T16:07:00.000+09:30

Salaam

Alhamdulillah akhirnya semua urusan perjalanan ke New South Wales rampung. Biasalah urusan kantor, sebelum bepergian harus menyiapkan sejumlah tetek bengek seperti materi training dan overview, supaya tujuan kunjungan jelas disertai ancang-ancang target yang hendak dicapai. Temuan-temuan untuk kasus baru maupun lama sudah didokumentasikan sehingga bila ada masalah yang terjadi dari waktu ke waktu, acuan dan reference selalu tersedia untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian.

Tiba di Sydney hari Selasa 21 Juni dan langsung menuju ke St. Marys yang jaraknya kira-kira 45 km sebelah barat laut Sydney. Kantor terletak di daerah yang masih diisolir dari publik, artinya kalau mau masuk ke areal itu harus memperlihatkan tanda pengenal di pintu utama. Tempat ini masih dijaga ketat karena satwa liar seperti kanguru dan emu (burung unta) masih berkeliaran di sini. Konon dahulu daerah ini adalah barak tempat pelatihan militer. Area bagian barat semuanya sudah terjual ke pengembang - salah satu alasan mengapa kantor berada di situ - sedangkan bagian timur tetap diperuntukkan bagi satwa liar.

Enaknya berkantor di kawasan ini ya mungkin kalau lagi stress bisa keluar jalan-jalan menyaksikan satwa liar memadu kasih... ndak enaknya ya itu, di pagi hari dari tempat parkir menuju ke arah pintu kantor harus berjalan gaya njot-njotan biar ndak keinjek ranjau kanguru dan emu. Kalau ini terjadi kan bisa bubrah hahahaha..... gaya rapih atas bawah tapi alas kaki berbalur kotoran binatang !!

Emu yang berkeliaran di sekitar tempat parkir

Kolam renang di depan kamar hotel……

Pengunjung setia di petang hari

Setiap malam mba Ima sekeluarga datang menjemput di hotel dan membawa jalan-jalan ke Lakemba, Fairfield dan Mt. Druitt menyusuri liku Great Western Highway dan menembus dinginnya cuaca malam. Ukhuwah persahabatan yang dijalin di tanah suci terasa bertambah erat dan hangat begitu berjumpa lagi dengan teman-teman. Pengalaman waktu sakit dan suka duka lainnya selama berhaji seakan tak pernah ada habisnya dibicarakan.

Di rumah mba Nanik di Fairfield (ki-ka: Shahnaz, Abu, Ima, Nanik, Ellie)

Pertokoan di Lakemba mengingatkan aku akan toko-toko di Madinah, etalase toko banyak yang bertulisan Arab dan pengunjungnya kebanyakan dari negara teluk di jazirah Timur Tengah. Kalau ke Lakemba, yang namanya makanan halal tidak susah ditemukan bahkan McDonald halalpun ada di sana!

Perjalanan ke New South Wales ini penuh dengan warna dan nuansa!

Hari terakhir, Jumat tanggal 24 Juni aku dikabari dari Melbourne bahwa orang tua (ibu) Managing Director meninggal dunia setelah dirawat di rumah sakit selama dua hari. Almarhumah (Lorraine Roderick) meninggal dalam usia yang relatif tergolong muda bagi orang Australia, 63 tahun. Beliau meninggal karena gangguan pernafasan, menyusul almarhum suaminya yang berpulang hanya enam bulan yang lalu (4 Januari 05)

Steve, teman yang mengantarku ke bandara tidak mengetahui jalanan di suburb Sydney dengan baik hingga akhirnya kita harus melewati Liverpool dulu sebelum ke Parramatta dari St. Marys.

Nuansa penantian di bandara berubah rasa ketika mbak Nanik datang menemani sampai di saat aku harus masuk ke ruang chek-in. Ah, betapa indahnya memiliki sahabat....

Nona Schapelle

2005-06-09T14:37:00.000+09:30

Ellie Merrett

Dara lajang ini kini meringkuk sebagai pesakitan di penjara di Krobokan, Bali setelah diputuskan bersalah oleh Jaksa Linton Sirait atas tuduhan memasukkan secara ilegal narkotik kelas 1 sebanyak 4.1 kg ke Indonesia (4.2 kg versi media di tanah air).

Jumat tanggal 27 Mei-05, acara pengadilan Corby ditayangkan langsung dari Bali ke seluruh pelosok Australia dan New Zealand. Begitu signifikannya pemutusan vonis bagi gadis yang dianggap tidak bersalah ini bagi publik Australia hingga setiap 30 menit jeda, hiruk pikuk sidang dan gaung suara hakim yang membacakan putusan dari dalam gedung pengadilan terdengar di radio-radio swasta.

Kasus ini heboh di Australia... dan opini publik telah terbentuk dan nampaknya dipercayai kuat bahwa perempuan ini tak bersalah dan menjadi korban sindikat penyelundupan narkotik yang disinyalir dilakukan di bandar udara Sydney. Diyakini bahwa tas papan selancar yang dibawanya telah disisipi marijuana oleh baggage handler pada saat transit di Sydney menuju Bali.

Siapakah Corby?

Schapelle Leigh Corby dilahirkan di Brisbane, 10 Juli 1977 adalah seorang mahasiswi kecantikan. Pernah menikah dengan seorang Jepang, Kimi Tanakama ketika turis peselancar ini berlibur ke Gold Coast. Mereka Pindah ke Jepang pada tahun 1998 dan bercerai pada tahun 2003. Kakak Schapelle, Mercedes menikah dengan seorang Bali bernama Wayan sementara adik tirinya, laki-laki bernama Clinton Rose, sampai saat ini masih mendekam di hotel prodeo di Gold Coast atas tuduhan pencurian dan perampokan. Ayah mereka, pada usia 27 tahun konon pernah didenda A$400.00 karena tertangkap memiliki 2 gram marijuana yang seperti Schapelle, diklaim "bukan miliknya".
Keluarga Corby berulang kali mengatakan bahwa tidak satupun di antara mereka yang pernah terlibat kriminal dan obat-obat terlarang meskipun nama Mercedes dan Schapelle pernah termasuk sebagai penjenguk penjara di tahun 2001 untuk Clinton.

Bersalahkah Schapelle?

Pertanyaan ini telah dijawab oleh jaksa Sirait meskipun putusan vonis menuai berbagai kritikan dan hujatan keras dari publik Australia. Pengadilan dianggap sirkus dan jaksa yang mengadili Schapelle dicap tidak adil dan barbarik (meskipun jaksa Linton Sirait pernah dipuji atas putusan hukuman mati yang diberikannya untuk Amrozi dan Imam Samudra - pelaku bom Bali)

Upaya pembelaan Corby dimulai dengan dihadirkannya John Ford (pesakitan dari Penjara Port Phillip, Victoria) di pengadilan Bali, sebagai saksi. Ford berdalih bahwa ia pernah mendengar percakapan antara pesakitan di penjara bahwa benda haram yang dituduhkan ke Schapelle adalah milik orang lain yang tak "sempat diambil" ketika berada di dalam bandara di Sydney. Namun kesaksian Ford tidak digubris jaksa karena bukti yang berupa "hearsay on hearsay" atau desas desus semata dianggap tidak memadai dan sangat lemah.

Penjatuhan vonis kepada Schapelle dianggap tidak senonoh dan salah di mata publik di benua ini meskipun John Howard sudah meminta supaya semua orang dapat menerima putusan pengadilan dan menghargai sistem hukum di Indonesia.

Perjalanan untuk membawa pulang perempuan ini untuk menjalani masa hukuman di penjara Brisbane - jika terbukti bersalah - kelihatannya masih panjang. Permintaan Australia untuk TSP (Transfer of Sentenced Person) sampai saat ini belum ditindaklanjuti di Indonesia (Gatra, 8 Juni 05).

Pengiriman serbuk putih ke kedutaan di Canberra yang disertai surat caci maki dan acaman boikot Bali dan Indonesia, di mata kami dapat menjadi bumbu yang akan memperpanjang dan memperunyam masalah Schapelle. Kami berharap, semoga kasus ini tidak berlarut dan dituntaskan dengan cara elegan dan objektif sehingga hubungan bertetangga Indonesia dan Australia tetap terpelihara hangat!

**************

Perayaan Hari Kartini di Adelaide

2005-05-30T14:58:00.000+09:30

Ellie Merrett

Tadi siang di tengah cuaca cerah penghujung musim gugur yang agak dingin, kami berdua berangkat menuju Goodwood Community Centre. Maklumlah hari ini ada perayaan Hari Kartini. Mengapa baru dirayakan sekarang, ya jawabannya banyak... mungkin karena bulan April lalu ada malam amal untuk korban tsunami, Easter break plus kesibukan para calon panitia di kampus, tempat kerja dan lain sebagainya.

Tepat pukul 11 kami memarkir kendaraan di pelataran gedung. Undangannya jam 11 namun di depan pintu masuk masih terlihat beberapa bapak-bapak masih asyik menikmati isapan dan kepulan asap rokoknya. Barangkali memang enak merasai hirupan dan kuluman asap putih si tembakau di tengah udara yang dingin... "We're not late, people still standing outside" ucap Stephen.

Begitu memasuki ruangan ternyata acaranya sudah dimulai... ndilala!! Kursi kayu berkaki aluminium yang diperuntukkan untuk pengunjung sebanyak 200an orang tertata rapi namun yang diduduki hanya beberapa barisan di bagian depan dan belakang sementara bagian tengah dibiarkan kosong bin melompong. Loh!! pengunjung yang berdiri di belakang koq kurang tertarik untuk duduk ya? Padahal duduk manis mengikuti acara demi acara kan lebih enak, rasa dan kelihatannya.

Suara pengisi acara juga kalah volume oleh suara lain.... sampai-sampai si gadis bule dari Mitcham Girls High School harus menghentikan narasi drama Kartininya seraya berkata "could you please be quiet, this is the most important part of Kartini's life". Sejatinya kalau sudah dihimbau begitu ya tenang, tapi koq tak lama kemudian bising lagi, ck ck ck!

Kerja keras seluruh panitia melaksanakan acara ini ditambah pengorbanan ibu-ibu yang telah mempersiapkan makanan selayaknya dibalas dengan ketertiban serta keteraturan dan bukan dengan sikap oblivious.

Aku tersenyum membaca tema perayaan "MELESTARIKAN TRADISI" sembari mengingat ulah dan sepak terjang sebagian pengunjung siang tadi....

Crabby Old Woman

2005-05-26T11:46:00.000+09:30

A colleague in head office in Melbourne sent this to me this morning... I think it's great.

===============

Ellie,

I think we all have to read this!

Marg

* * * * * * * * *

Crabby old woman

When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was believed that she had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her meagre possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland.

The old lady's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent, poem. And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem
Winging across the Internet:

Crabby Old Woman

What do you see, nurses?
What do you see?
What are you thinking
When you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman,
Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit,
With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food
And makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice,
"I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice
The things that you do,
And forever is losing
A stocking or shoe?

Who, resisting or not,
Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding,
The long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking?
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse,
You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am
As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,
As I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten
With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters,
Who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen
With wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now
A lover she'll meet.

A bride soon at twenty,
My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows
That I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now,
I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide
And a secure happy home.

A woman of thirty,
My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other
With ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons
Have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me
To see I don't mourn.

At fifty once more,
Babies play round my knee,
Again we know children,
My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me,
My husband is dead,
I look at the future,
I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing
Young of their own,
And I think of the years
And the love that
I've known.

I'm now an old woman
And nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age
Look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles,
Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone
Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass
A young girl still dwells,
And now and again,
My battered heart swells.

I remember the joys,
I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living
Life over again.

I think of the years
All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact
That nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people,
Open and see,
Not a crabby old woman;
Look closer . . . see ME!!

ps:
Remember this poem when you next meet an old person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within... . We will all, one day, be there, too!

Dandan

2005-05-16T11:11:00.000+09:30

Cewek berdandan untuk menarik perhatian.... benar nggak sih???

Ellie Merrett

Yang namanya cewek, dari jamannya Cleopatra sampai Christina Aguilera itu banyak yang suka berdandan. Alasannya beragam, ada yang berkata supaya kelihatan lebih apik, nggak kelihatan lusuh, ada juga yang mengatakan karena kegemaran saja. Dunia cewek memang tidak pernah dijauhi oleh kegiatan dandan berdandan. Motivasi mengapa mereka melakukannya hanya dapat dijawab oleh yang bersangkutan secara gamblang dan apa adanya.

Tidak semua cewek suka berdandan! Wah, itu pasti dan tidak bisa ditampik. Namun jumlah yang lebih suka bersolek kayaknya outnumbered mereka yang tidak gemar melakukannya sama sekali.

Survei kecil-kecilan mengenai topik ini aku lakukan beberapa waktu yang lalu. Respondennya ya, beberapa teman baik yang single maupun yang sudah berkeluarga, melayu dan bule. Respon berbahasa Inggris tidak diterjemahkan supaya artinya tidak rancu atau diterjemahkan sesuai selera penulis…

“Perempuan itu memang banyak yang suka berdandan. Anak gue umurnya 8 tahun dan kegemarannya berdandan sekarang udah keliatan. Rambut harus rapih, baju dan sepatu kudu nyambung, gimana nih? Kalo gue bilang dia berdandan untuk menarik perhatian orang lain kan gak mungkin? Tapi, bagi cewek yang berumur 17 tahun ke atas dan selalu berdandan, ya pastilah untuk menarik perhatian. Bagi ibu-ibu yang berdandan moderately mungkin untuk nyenengin suami, tapi yang dandanannya menor dan kelewatan sih itu kayaknya untuk nyenengin suami orang lain hahaha!”
(Pria, 40 tahun, berkeluarga)

“Aku berdandan karena I have to dan bukan untuk apa-apa (selain untuk keliatan cantik lah yau) Soalnya kalo nggak berdandan mukaku keliatan pucet dan kucel, Menarik perhatian? Wah nggak dong, berdandan itu membuat aku lebih confident aja di depan orang-orang”
(Wanita, 39 tahun, berkeluarga)

“Of course girls put make up on and dressed nicely to attract others attention, it’s difficult to say not to. To me, my girl looks the same with or without those makeup. It’s so frustrating when we have to go and she still standing in front of the bloody mirror”
(Pria, 35 tahun)

”It depends with the person, herself. However, for me is to make you look nice as long as not over though! And also for me if I have not put on lipstick yet…make me don’t feel confident…he he…”
(Wanita, 39 tahun, berkeluarga)

“I reckon 85 pct. of the girls do this to attract attention from either the same sex or the opposite ones, the other 15 pct do it just to look good I guess!”
(Pria, 37 tahun, single)

“I would put 75% of the girls berdandan untuk menarik perhatian. Banyak lho yang berdandan karena ingin kelihatan lebih bagus, lebih cantik. Aku dulu tomboy, tapi aku realized kalau mau kelihatan lebih cantik aku harus berdandan tapi konsep aku berdandan di sini just to look more beautiful”
(Wanita, berkeluarga)

“Gue berdandan karena kalau nggak gue nggak kelihatan manis. Suka aja sih! Di rumah juga kadang-kadang gue dandan kalau lagi mood. Tapi iya juga dandan itu untuk menarik perhatian orang lain, gue soalnya kadang-kadang dandan untuk show off ama ibu-ibu komplek hihihi”.
(Wanita, 34 tahun, berkeluarga)

“Yup, surely girls will dress up nicely with that thick makeup for guys… I’d think so, 100 percent”
(Pria, 42 tahun, berkeluarga)

“Aku berdandan karena mau keliatan lebih cantik. Kalau bepergian trus nggak berdandan ntar dianggap ignorant atau kurang perhatian ama diri sendiri oleh orang-orang. Lagipula kan gak pe-de banget tuh berada di antara orang-orang tanpa ulasan makeup. Kalau yang berdandan untuk menarik perhatian orang lain sih itu namanya keganjengan”.
(Perempuan, 29 tahun, single)

“Berdandan untuk menarik perhatian, itu pasti dong!! Tapi jangan salah, nggak dandan juga akan menarik perhatian! Cuma perhatian bagi yang nggak dandan itu biasanya gak seheboh dengan yang berdandan. Gue suka ngeliat cewek yang berdandan, INDAH dipandang mata. Kalau yang nggak dandan OGAH dipandang mata. Kalau dandan untuk memperindah, mempercantik atau apalah namanya, ya ok-ok aja sih bagi gue, yang namanya perempuan pasti semuanya mau cantik, iya kan?”
(Pria, 40 tahun, berkeluarga)

“I think most women do it to look more beautiful. To attract attention?? Can’t answer this, that depends on the women themselves”
(Pria, 50 tahun, berkeluarga)

Nah, bagaimana menurut anda??

*******

Rumahku blogku

2005-05-06T09:05:00.000+09:30

Ellie Merrett

Weblog ibaratnya seperti rumah, cuma yang ini letaknya di dunia maya. Sebagaimana lazimnya pemilik rumah, utamanya GIRLS baik yang bermerek mrs-miss-ms banyak yang hobinya suka mengubah posisi perabotan di dalam rumah, bahkan kalau ada waktu rumahnya pun diubah sekalian. Bedanya, rumah beneran perlu duit, sedangkan rumah maya cukup dengan melek komputer atau melek blog aja (aku kayaknya masuk kategori yang terakhir ini he he he)
Nah, demikian pula dengan blog ini, karena pemiliknya suka mengutak-atik, partly because ndak ada kerjaan lain partly lagi karena ya.. sudah bosen sama existing layout, maka digantilah skinnya so rumahnya pun kelihatan berbeda.

Sebagai pemilik rumah tentu aku senang hati kalau ada yang mampir apalagi bagi tamu yang datang dengan santun. Sebagai orang yang beragama dan berbudaya, kita di tanah air selalu diajarkan untuk menghormati tamu. Masalah tamunya suka atau tidak sama rumah kita that's another problem. Ya namanya juga manusia, sudah pasti seleranya berbeda-beda. Biasalah itu!!

Soal rumah

Kadang-kadang kalo kita sowan ke rumah teman, kita ketemu dengan orang baru. Begitu pula kalau blogging by ke blog teman... kita sering kali iseng mengintip blog temannya teman. Tapi jangan khawatir... si empunya blog pasti senang rumahnya di kunjungi as long as kita datang dengan santun. Apalagi kalau datang mengenalkan diri dengan sopan dan sempat link2-ngan .... kan lebih bagus. Bukankah dengan membaca blog orang lain kita bisa memperkaya cakrawala dan nuansa pengetahuan?? Kan katanya "think about the square you living..." iya kan?!
Di samping itu kita bisa mengetahui what-ons somewhere some place...
Kalau blog itu milik saudara kita setanah air yang berada nun jauh di negara orang, membaca suka duka mereka membuat kita merasa "don't feel alone" atas kerinduan pada sanak, kerabat serta kampung halaman di tanah air sementara membaca blog yang dimiliki oleh saudara kita di Indonesia akan semakin merekatkan rasa cinta dan mengobati rasa rindu pada tanah air.

So, rajin-rajinlah ngeblog he he he!!

Bagi pengunjung yang reside di Adelaide dan sekitarnya, supaya ndak susah-susah menelusur web atau meminta hard copy jadwal shalat dari masjid dan cukup dengan "one click away", maka aku masukkan jadwal shalat di blog ini. Semoga berguna dan mudah-mudahan kita semua termasuk yang senantiasa diingatkan bahwa hubungan dengan Sang Pencipta itu ultimate dan beyond any border..

Selamat berblog ria dan semoga kita selalu diingatkan untuk senantiasa berlaku dan bertutur santun.

Mother's Day

2005-04-28T15:25:00.000+09:30

Ellie Merrett

Second Sunday of May is approaching!! It's 'I love yous and breakfast in bed' time for our mothers. After all the gracious things they have done for us, it's only fair to express our gratitude to them and letting them know that they place is always special in our hearts.

mom... you' re the most wonderful person in my life
you brought me to the world with pain and tears of joy
you raised me in the abundance of love
with those laughs, tears and sorrows

you led me when I lost
you picked me when I fell
your hugs and kisses are always warm

your love has never lessen
your words of comfort is a voice from heaven
your words of wisdom always remind me of how wonderful life is

I love you mom...
wherever I go I will take you with me
deep inside
in the best place of my heart

* * * * * * *

Rumah mahal duta bangsa .....

2005-04-06T14:56:00.000+09:30

Ellie Merrett

Pembelian rumah yang diperuntukkan bagi kepala perwakilan tetap Indonesia untuk PBB - Makarim Wibisono menjadi sorotan publik dan media Swiss saat ini. Betapa tidak, rumah yang letaknya terpencil dan dikelilingi oleh hijau pepehonan itu dibeli dengan harga US $ 8.7 juta dan dilakukan di saat negara kita masih dalam sorotan masyarakat internasional sehubungan dengan bencana tsunami dan gempa bumi yang telah merenggut ratusan ribu nyawa dan memporakporandakan Aceh dan Nias.

Tak ayal publik Swiss menuding jangan-jangan uang yang dipakai tersebut adalah sumbangan negara-negara lain untuk korban tsunami yang jumlahnya sangat banyak.

Pengeluaran uang negara sebanyak itu untuk pembelian rumah dinas seorang pejabat memang terasa kurang pantas dan tidak seyogyanya dilakukan dalam keadaan dan situasi tanah air seperti sekarang ini. Menurut BPPN, dibutuhkan dana sekitar Rp. 46 triliun untuk membangun Aceh kembali, belum lagi dana yang diperlukan untuk membangun sarana dan prasarana di Nias yang baru-baru ini juga diluluhlantakkan gempa.

Tudingan Swiss hendaknya kita jadikan sebagai pembelajaran bahwa di saat bangsa kita masih dalam keadaan "dire need" terhadap bantuan asing untuk membangun negara dan memperbaiki taraf hidup rakyat banyak, pengeluaran uang negara yang terkesan kurang hati-hati hendaknya ditiadakan.

Penyediaan sarana dan rumah tinggal bagi pejabat negara di luar negeri memang perlu, tetapi pertimbangan first thing first pun haruslah selalu dikedepankan sebelum mengambil keputusan. Uang yang berjumlah sangat banyak itu tentu akan menghasilkan manfaat yang lebih besar jika digunakan untuk membiayai sesuatu yang menyangkut kepentingan hajat hidup orang banyak, seperti membangun sekolah di daerah yang terkena gempa misalnya.

Gaung dari Senayan pun tak terdengar menyahuti gonjang-gonjang pembelian rumah mahal ini, apakah karena hal ini tidak mempunyai nilai jual politik yang tinggi?? Jawabannya tentu terletak pada para anggota dewan yang konon katanya adalah penyambung suara rakyat.

* * * * * * * *

Jempol darah, perlukah?

2005-03-09T14:00:00.000+10:30

Ellie Merrett

Isu ganyang Malaysia belakangan ini kembali mengemuka di seluruh pelosok negeri. Tingkah polah negara jiran ini yang rupanya belum puas mendapat Pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan dari pangkuan ibu pertiwi pada tanggal 17 Desember 2002, melalui putusan IJC, kembali membuat perasaan kebangsaan bangsa Indonesia terhalau. Kini, dua tahun dua bulan lewat beberapa hari Malaysia kembali membuat hati kita panas dengan mengklaim Ambalat dan Laut Ambalat sebagai wilayah teritorialnya. Bahkan dengan angkuhnya kapal selam Diraja Malaysia mengusir dan menghalau para nelayan kita yang melaut di Karang Unarang yang secara hukum jelas-jelas merupakan wilayah hukum Indonesia.

Ribut-ribut soal ketamakan Malaysia ini juga merembes ke Makassar. Bakar-bakar bendera dan cap jempol darah juga mewarnai aksi protes yang digelar beberapa hari yang lalu di sana.

Namun, apakah hal ini perlu dilakukan?

Bangsa kita adalah bangsa yang beradab demikian pula halnya Malaysia. Seorang tetangga yang mengklaim hak milik kita sebagai miliknya tentunya harus diperingatkan lebih dulu. Membakar simbol negara dan ajakan untuk melibas mereka tanpa mencari cara penyelesaian yang elegan akan semakin memperburuk citra bangsa kita sebagai bangsa barbar. Masalah ini seharusnya dibincangkan baik-baik dengan kepala dingin tetapi dengan pendekatan yang tegas, lugas dan jelas. Penyelesaian masalah krusial seperti ini tidak boleh memakai pendekatan yang lembek karena pendekatan seperti ini akan melahirkan kesan bangsa kita yang akan semakin gampang dipermainkan oleh bangsa lain.

Kalau boleh berandai-andai menjadi bangsa yang cerdas, tegas dan berwibawa dalam mempertaruhkan tanah air, maka inilah saat yang tepat untuk mentransformasikan pengandaian tersebut menjadi sesuatu yang kasat mata. Jika pendekatan elegan berkepala dingin tak membuahkan hasil, maka pilihan terakhir yang melibatkan kekuatan pun tak bisa tidak harus dipilih.

Jempol darah tentu tak ada salahnya, tapi melakukannya terlalu dini mungkin akan membuat kita dicibiri orang lain.

Sejatinya para aparat pemberantas korupsilah yang harus melakukan cap jempol darah, menguber para penilap uang rakyat sampai kemana pun bahkan sampai pada tetesan darah terakhir.

Semoga negara jiran yang tampaknya masih haus akan minyak dan gas alam yang ditimbun di bawah laut yang bernama Ambalat mengakui kekeliruannya dan memohon maaf kepada tetangganya yang bernama Indonesia.
* * * * *

2005-02-28T20:09:00.000+10:30

Adelindo Group in Saman Dance - Seacombe 050226

2005-02-28T16:47:00.000+10:30

NTA Comittee - Seacombe 050226

2005-02-28T16:19:00.000+10:30

1-2-3 and ...Action!! Seacombe - 050226

2005-02-28T12:54:00.000+10:30

From Anak-Anak for Anak-Anak - Seacombe 050226

2005-02-28T12:40:00.000+10:30

Rabana Dance - Seacombe 050226

2005-02-28T12:20:00.000+10:30

Rabana Dance - Seacombe 050226

2005-02-18T22:37:00.000+10:30

DOO = Da Old Office

2005-02-18T12:39:00.000+10:30

DNO = Da New Office

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2005-02-09T10:13:00.000+10:30

Hope everyone who enjoys this Chinese festive season will have a nice break. The two day holiday in Indonesia hopefully become a precious time to catch up with family and friends.

Xi Xi :D

2005-02-03T12:08:00.000+10:30

In a temple in Chiang Mai