Menulis (II)...

Walapun secara pribadi menulis masih bukan aktivitas terfavorit saya (bahkan masih sangat bergumul setiap kali ingin melakukannya) namun sedikit demi sedikit saya mulai mengerti kebaikan di balik aktivitas yang satu ini; setidaknya setelah melihat beberapa tulisan beberapa blogger (yang sengaja dicari atau ketemu secara kebetulan) dan cerita beberapa teman tentang mengapa dia suka menulis di blog.

Seorang teman (baru), lulusan S1 psikologi dari salah satu PN terkenal di Indonesia ;), beberapa waktu lalu memberitahu saya kalau menulis bisa dipakai untuk menjadi alat untuk mengurangi atau bahkan menghilangkan rasa depresi/stress karena suatu perisitiwa sedih yang muncul secara tiba-tiba dalam hidup seseorang. Dia mengambil contoh B. J. Habibie; Presiden Indonesia yang juga seorang teknokrat. Sepeninggal istrinya yang sangat dicintainya Habibie merasa tertekan sekali bahkan hampir gila (ini berdasarkan cerita dari teman itu loh.) Habibie, masih menurut teman ini lagi, kemudian diberi 3 pilihan untuk mengobati depresinya, yaitu: 

1. menceritakan semua perasaannya kepada kerabat terdekatnya,
2. dirawat di rumah sakit dengan dampingan psikolog,
3. menuangkan perasaannya dalam tulisan dengan monitoring psikolog.

Habibie akhirnya memilih pilihan ke tiga dan jadilah sebuah memoir yang cukup terkenal di Indonesia hingga memotivasi seorang Faozan Rizal untuk memifilmkan memoir Habibie tersebut. And I guess that has also relieved Habibie's pain and depression. Fair enough.

Khusus untuk blogging, saya juga banyak menjumpai hal menarik dari blog-blog yang saya kunjungi (sepertinya saya lebih menikmati membaca dari pada menulis blog :D)  yang mungkin menjadi motivasi para pemilik blog tersebut untuk membuat blognya tetap aktif. Ada yang bercerita tentang pengalaman perjalannya seperti saya, ada pula yang menceritakan pengalaman hariannya (mirip-mirip status FB tapi tentu dengan lebih detail), ada yang mencurahkan perasaan tertentu, dan ada pula mengungkapan ide/gagasannya tentang suatu hal/topik tertentu, tapi banyak juga dari antara mereka yang menjadikan blognya sebagai diary pribadi. I don't know that's good or not and I don't have rights to say right or not in that issue. Nonetheless, I know that quite often things you can't speak of, you can easily write it in a diary or blog. Thus you can get rid of burdens/things in your mind that you can't reveal verbally. I guess that's so understandable because it's more burdensome and painful to bear things mentally than physically. I am very impressed with the consistency they have to keep writing and make their blog active. To sum up, I guess I need more writing. Keep my finger crossed... :) Till the next story then... (A T)

Revisiting Paris van Java

I've almost forgotten to tell about one more city in the series of 'the Journey to the six cities in a month.' It should have been put before Singapore actually but by any means it won't make this city to be least among the others. In fact this city has set a significant memory from the past. Bandung, a friendly city in Java, is the capital of West Java. People often call this city as Paris van Java since during the colonization era it was developed so much as Paris in Europe, although after the independence it's no longer much developed as her twin in France. It's growing so rapidly nowadays but not without social problems; the city use to be very cold even in the day but as the city becomes more and more industrial the growing number of industrial activities cannot be avoided and the environment becomes less and less friendly. After all, the people are still friendly.

 

 

I can still recall the first time I visited the city, it's when my friends and I went there for a 3-day weekend. It's a memorable moment because that's the first time I went to another part of Java island out of Jabodetabek. :D I feel this city is quite romantic not only because the weather that makes it so but also the neighborhood; the friendliness of the people, its natural environment, and those preserved old fashioned buildings just make this city a very good place to walk and relax with your girlfriend/boyfriend or even best friends. :)

There is a famous street in the down town called jalan Dago where many people really enjoy hanging-out and have fun with their friends and also engage in some social activities. There are many fun things you can find here, hangout places, street cafes or bistros. The street is most crowded in weekends.

However, this time I didn't much go around the downtown actually. I did go to some historical sites  (as usual) ;) which located near to downtown, but most of the time I spent in the country side of the city.  I went to Tangkuban perahu, a dormant volcano with its amazing natural view. It's a very beautiful sight that make you amazed. All surrounding the place is also so peaceful. It has a natural hot spring where we can steep our feet into it and relax all of our feet muscles; it's just very enjoyable. There is also mud around the spring that you can use to clean your skin (I used it only for my feet). All in all, it's a priceless experience to have myself there. Sometime in the future I'd like to come again to this beautiful place, but that time will be with someone special (wishfully). Would you like to accompany me? ;) 

More photos can be found here. Till the next story then... (A T)

Once upon a time in Singapore

This writing is actually the sequence of the story of "the journey to six cities in a month." The trip continued to a city (and country as well) northwest of Indonesia; Singapore, though a small country, plays a very significant  role in the southeast Asia and the world. Thanks to my best friend, Damianus Fritz, that made this trip possible. No one would ever think before that this small country would be one of prosperous countries in the world. Its existence even was never expected by its people. According to history, this small island was first developed by a British, Thomas Stamford Raffles to be a free-trade port. As the time went, Britain brought to this small Island more and more development. However, this island is actually lack of natural resources. What it depends is mostly on its strategic location for the world trading; the location makes a very efficient way to connect the West and East world, even up to this day. 

After World War II, Singapore joint other Malaysian states to form a new Federal country after granted independence by the Great Britain. But the state then was expelled from the federation of Malaysia due to some racial issues Malaysian government was afraid of. Since that, it has survived to stand as a sovereign state. What I am amazed about this country is that the country not only can survive after the separation but also has grown faster than the country that has expelled them.

I went to places that mark the history of the city; monuments, museums, etc. Here in Singapore, most of the monuments are free to look but not for the museums. Most of these sites tell the history of Singapore during British occupation up to the post World War II. Some museums also tell the cultures that have enriched the country.

Like other developed countries, discipline is one of the most crucial parts of the society here. No wonder Singapore becomes one of the cleanest and efficient countries (and cities) in the world. However, not like in other developed cities, it seems the discipline in Singapore mostly is a product of very strict law enforcement; the government will charge a big fine to whoever that breaks the rules and it's for real. However, some of the rules they apply seem silly for outsiders; one of those is prohibition on chewing gum.

One of the things that makes this city famous for tourism is the shopping center it has. Almost all famous brands are sold here like you can find in Paris and the 5th Ave. in NYC. It's centered in Orchard. Most tourists spend most of their money here before going back to their country.

The other thing I like from the city is its cuisine. Many peoples from around the world (especially from Europe, India, China, and Malaya) have lived here since long time ago, they brought their precious and delicious recipes from their homeland to the country and it makes the city one of the best places for culinary tourism. Not like Asian food in western countries, Asian foods here are very alike to its original.

Over all the country is very nice and tidy. It is good for tourism but not for living many years. You may get bored after living a few years here because the city size is so small and many rules applied there are very strict.

More pictures can be found here. Till the next story then... :) (A T)