Mengakrabi Ketakutan

Dua hari yang lalu, aku menonton Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter.

Tapi kali ini bukanlah bahasan mengenai film tersebut.

Hanya saja ada sebuah quote yang menarik dari film tersebut ketika seorang tokoh bernama Henry Sturges mengatakan hal seperti ini : 

Real power comes not from hate but from truth

Entah mengapa, kata-kata itu mengingatkanku pada sebuah dialog yang terjadi di meja makan keluargaku sekian tahun yang lalu. Kalau aku tidak salah ingat, sepertinya waktu itu aku masih duduk di bangku SMU.


Dialog yang terjadi seperti ini.
Ibuku bertanya, sebenarnya ada apa sih yang salah di Indonesia, katanya orangnya pintar-pintar, beragama, tapi kalau urusan korupsi juga jalan terus.
Jawabanku simpel.

Di sini, diajarkan untuk melakukan sesuatu di bawah ketakutan.
Manusia sebaiknya melakukan sesuatu karena manusia sadar bahwa hal itu baik, bukan hal yang merugikan.
Sama seperti manusia harus sadar bahwa suatu hal yang tidaklah baik, maka apalah gunanya dilakukan.
Jika semua orang sadar dengan segala perbuatannya detik per detik, maka tidak ada itu istilahnya khilaf, karena semua perbuatan dilakukan dengan sadar.

Orang yang melakukan sesuatu hanya karena takut, maka jikalau hal yang ditakutinya itu hilang, bukannya akan kehilangan makna dari pengerjaan hal tersebut?
Ada perbedaan kedalaman antara doing something only because you are afraid and because you know the real benefit of doing this thing.

Contoh sederhana..
Seberapa sering kamu telah mendengar kata-kata ini sepanjang hidupmu:

"Udah.. ga pa pa lagi begitu. Ga ada yang tahu juga kan?"

-> jadi kamu tidak melakukan itu hanya karena kamu takut ada yang tahu, terus kalau tidak ada yang tahu jadinya tidak apa-apa?

Aku tidak akan mengatakan bahwa tidak ada gunanya ketakutan.
Ada beberapa hal yang aku takuti, dan menurutku itu ada gunanya sebagai alarm buat diriku sendiri untuk tetap mawas diri.
Tapi aku mencoba mengakrabi ketakutan itu.
Apa penyebab ketakutan tersebut, dan apakah yang bisa kulakukan untuk membuatku bisa mengurangi rasa takut itu?

Mungkin akan ada yang bertanya, terus apa hubungannya antara ketakutan, kesadaran dengan quote-nya Henry Sturges itu.
Menurutku ketakutan lebih dekat dengan kebencian, ketimbang kesadaran dengan kekuatan.

Siapa yang suka berada dalam ketakutan?
Kita tidak suka rasa tidak berdaya ketika kita ketakutan.
Tapi jikalau manusia sudah sadar apa penyebab ketakutannya, maka itulah yang akan menjadi kekuatannya.

Fifty Shades Trilogy

Actually, I'm reluctant to review this Fifty Shades of Grey's trilogy.

Since it's like opening up your dirty secret.

Why...?

You don't want anybody know that you read erotica fiction, do you?

Based on Merriam-Webster dictionary:

Definition of EROTICA:

1. literary or artistic works having an erotic theme or quality
2. depictions of things erotic

Enough of definition.

Why do I want to read this trilogy?
Maybe you've already read my previous blog entry regarding Kobo.
I mentioned that I saw this trilogy in some bestseller list.
Of course I do some research before deciding to buy this bundle.
Most shown up terms are : erotic, fan-fiction, BDSM

Fifty Shades of Grey is originally a fan-fiction of Twilight.
Just add the erotic and (sometimes) hyperbolic touch.
Don't expect a deep story.

The main characters are Anastasia Steele (later Grey) and Christian T Grey.
Anastasia is a recently graduated young woman.
Christian Grey is a very rich businessman with a darker side (in his own term "fifty shades fucker").
Both are madly attracted into each other.
At the beginning, it is mostly the sexual attraction, but the more they know about each other, it will get into a deeper relationship.

My point for this trilogy is 6.5 out of 10.
If you don't know anything about BDSM, this book will give you some insight about this world.
Good for your knowledge maybe (?) :P
The story itself is addicting, but the story lack of depth.

Notes:
This book is not available in Indonesia. I guess the theme is too risky.
If you are a regular visitor at Kinokuniya, you must be familiar that they always put the NY times bestseller list on their bookshelf.
This time, they don't.
I guess this is because that the top number 1,2 and 3 is taken by this Fifty of Shades Trilogy.

Amed Beach - Bali

Last weekend, I went to Bali for company outing.
My first reaction was "Bali"?
I stop counting my visits to Bali since a long time.
Maybe because I've been there more than 5 times, nearly once a year (twice last year, because my flight to Komodo depart from Bali).
What makes difference for this time is the destination.

The destination is Amed.
Located on Karangasem area, on the east of Bali island.
It took 3.5 - 4 hours from Kuta by bus.

On the way to Amed, you can stop at Goa Lawah, Pesinggahan, Tirta Gangga.
The last "city" before Amed is Alampura.
The view between Amlapura into Amed is surely breathtaking.
You can enjoy the view of ricefield across the valley on your side and the blue sea in the horizon for the background.
At another point, you'll see the beach below your way, with several jukung boat laying on the sea-shore.

Unfortunately, because of the flight delay, we didn't have enough time to see the sunset.
I spent the night at Coral View - Hidden Paradise.
I was lucky enough to get the Family Suite to shared with my friends.
It is a two level villa.
The room downstairs provide two single bed, the room upstairs provide one queen bed.
There is one bathroom downstairs , located outdoor (Don't worry, the wall is high enough, unless someone climb the wall, nobody will peek you naked)
Hot water is provided, also the toiletries. (The shampoo and conditioner is well enough. It didn't dry my hair even after I soaked my hair in the pool and the sea. But you can't take it home, because it is stored in a big stone bottle)

Amed is actually a small fishing village.
You can see plenty of jukung boats on the sea-shore during the time when the fisherman are not sailing.
Oh yes...I almost forgot.. Amed is a black sandy beach with sunrise view.

April(e) in May

How about the white sand lovers? Will they be dissapointed?
Of course they won't.
Below the sea-surface, the view is quite beautiful.

Try to snorkeling while you get there.
Or if you are a certified diver, try to dive there. There is a japanase wreck in Amed.
If you don't feel enough, you could arrange a dive trip to Tulamben (30 minutes from Amed). You could find the wreckage of U.S.S.R. Liberty.


You don't like to snorkling or diving?
You can still walk around the village.
It is a quiet village, so if you want to feel a different side of Bali, this is a nice place.
I really enjoy my morning walk there. It is so calm and refreshing.

7:00 AM at Amed village road

You like to enjoy spa? (Balinese massage is quite famous, isn't it?)
From the hotel information, they recommend A-Spa and Puri Wirata Spa.
I didn't have enough time to go to those places, but I was lucky enough that I found a masseuse near the pool.
I paid 150k IDR and I get 60 minutes body massage.
I think the price is reasonable, considering that Amed is only a small village.
(You'll forget about the price once the mbok's hand is in your back, and you could hear the wave sound as the background)

Last, don't forget to eat some fish.
The grilled fish is so awesome. :)

Building my Reading Life with Kobo

I'm a bookworm.

I love the smell of paper. I've already had two large cupboard for my books collection.

That's why it's really hard for me to consider buying e-book.

In the past, reading an e-book was valid for me only if I've already bought the actual copy of the book.

But a few days ago, I made a decision, "Let's try buying an e-book".

50 Shades of Grey is listed in Goodreads, Bookdepository, NY Times Bestseller, etc. Since the original format for this 50 Shades Trilogy is an e-book, so I think, okay then, let's try. 

First of all, I search into the Google Play for some e-book reader app.

After browsing through some apps I decided to try Kobo. 

I like simplicity, and I could sync between desktop, Android, Apple devices and Blackberry. (I only have the 1st gen iPod Nano and I'll never buy a Blackberry, so it's not really important tough)

It also compatible with some e-book reader. Kobo itself have a product named Kobo-eReader.

The files format supported: Adobe DRM and e-pub.

The other reason why I choose Kobo is ..... I like to collect awards. :D

Kobo has Reading Life features.

It provides some collectible award such as:

• Reading Life: Your digital Reading Life has just begun
• I love my Library: You've started to build a digital library with Kobo
• Once Upon a Time: You started reading a new book

etc....

You could see the default awards are already available in the Reading Life.

Some of the other awards are hidden at the beginning, and it will show up according to your reading habit.

So far I've unlocked Page Turner (2H), Primetime, Better in Bed. 

You could check the complete list on Reading Life Awards .

Mine?

some of my Reading Life Awards

Other features:

• sharing into Facebook timeline
• sharing into Kobo Pulse
• custom reading setting 
• appearance: Classic (white background, black text), Sepia (beige background, black text), Night ( black background , white text)
• font size and font style

Snapshot from my LG L7:

Kobo

Kobo Home

reading a book

IMAX 3D in Gandaria City

Hi hi..... 

just want to share a short update. 
Since two weeks ago (4 May 2012), the IMAX 3D is officially open in Gandaria City XXI. 
The ticket price is mentioned as below: 

• weekday (Monday-Thursday) : 50k IDR
• Friday or a day before a holiday : 75k IDR 
• weekend or holiday: 100k IDR

Update!

Since the end of July 2012 (I didn't know precisely since when, but when i want to watch The Dark Knight Rises), the ticket price is:

• weekday (Monday-Thursday) : 60k IDR
• Friday or a day before a holiday : 75k IDR 
• weekend or holiday: 100k IDR

The good news is that the tickets are available for purchased on M-Tix. 
Just make sure that your account balance is enough before transaction ;) 


Enjoy the movie..

me, my bf and his friend 

oh yes, of course you need the review.

I watched The Avengers.

In my opinion, it's rare to see a nice real action 3D movie.

My best experience with 3D movie was How to Train a Dragon.

I watched Iron Man 2, Captain America, Harry Potter 7 part 2, Avatar, Transformer and so many 3D film and yet, the best 3D movie is How to Train a Dragon.

But my opinion has changed when I saw The Avengers in IMAX 3D.

The effect is nice, you could really feel the pop-up effect in your eyes.

I think, if you want to see a real action 3D movie, IMAX 3D is worth for your money. 

But if you want to see animation 3D movie, Dolby 3D is more than enough.

I forget something.

Do you wear glasses? Unfortunately, IMAX 3D only provide one size. Don't worry, it's wide enough for your glasses, but I would really like to have two option for size like Dolby 3D provide.

Meeeeeooooowwww....Rest in Peace...

My relationship with cats have been upside-down for my whole life.

At 6 years old, my neighbor's cat named Maurice scratched my hand. A long scratch from my wrist to my finger. I could still see the mark until this day.

At nearly 7 years old, we moved to Indonesia. We got a cat named Udin. I don't really remember what do we love about him, but I still remember the day of his funeral. We made a little tomb of a brick, and we buried him in our garden, between two trees.


At 10 years old, we moved into a new house. Now we have dogs as our pet and guardian. So bye bye cats.

I never really thought about cat until this morning.
Yesterday, when I go home, there was a cat at the front of my door.
Because I'm not a cat person, I just look at his face then go into my house.

This morning, on the way to the church, I said to my boyfriend "I saw a cat at the front of door yesterday."
He: "Then?What did the cat do?"
Me: "Nothing. It was just sitting there."
He: "Okay. It doesn't matter then"

Near my house, there is an office home building called Merah (means Red).
In my mind Red is associated with blood.
And believe me, you don't want to see what i saw at 6 AM this morning.
At the front of this house, we saw a cat lying in a pool of blood.
And it was still breathing, gushing blood from its mouth.
It's really a heartbreaking view (and disgusting).
I lost my appetite, I can't cook.

Something strange happens when I open my front door while I'm preparing myself to go to the office at 8 AM.
The yesterday cat is there.
This time, he meows at me.
I could feel the goosebumps on my neck.
Yes, I know it's another cat, not the run over cat.
But still, Dear Cat, could you pick another time before showing up at my front door...?

Anyway, this note is dedicated for the run over cat. Rest in peace.

Pepaya Mangga Pisang Jambu

It has been a month since I've tried to eat fruit regularly.
Sometimes it was papaya, sometimes it was mango, sometimes it was orange.
But mostly it was papaya or mango.
Because those two are the most easiest to be found in Indonesia.
We have a song regarding those fruit, as you can see on the title of this article.

What the point is, sometimes I get bored by eating cut fruit everyday, especially if the variant only switched between papaya and mango.
So i think, why don't i buy a blender and i can drink some juice?
But the problem is, I have a bad habit of like to do some research before i buy something.
So i stumbled across the option of buying juicer or blender.
But i found a nice article that really help me to decide which one i would want to buy.
Maybe you could check this out also: Juicing Vs Blending

I think that I'll buy a blender first because its many purposes function, and after gathered additional money, I'll buy a juicer.


At the end, I want to share you the original lyric of Pepaya Mangga Pisang Jambu.

Pepaya mangga pisang jambu
Dibawa dari pasar minggu
Disana banyak penjualnya
Dikota banyak pembelinya

Papaya buah yang berguna
Bentuknya sangat sederhana
Pasanya manis tidak kalah
Membikin badan sehat segar

Reff :
Pepaya jeruk jambu
Rambutan duren duku dll nya
Marilah mari kawan
Kawan semua
Membeli buah buahan

Papaya makanan rakyat
Karena sangat bermanfaat
Harganya juga tak mengikat
Setalen tuan boleh angkat

or maybe you could check this Youtube video

Enjoy it.. :)