Why people tend to “hurt” their loved one?

That question raised by my much younger friend after we watched an episode of The Queen Seon Deok on local TV. She refered to an emotional scene where little Deok Man (the Queen to be) was having a heated argument with her leader Yoo Shin, and later Deok mentioned him as “the cruel one” because Yoo Shin pushed her to the limit in a training to be a soldier. Deok Man was still so young in this episode but we, the watchers a k a the chick flick lovers, had this certainty that Deok Man will fall in love with Yoo Shin later. Oh yeah, that’s for sure, Pal!

 The colossal drama of Queen Seon Deuk came just about time to save all of us here from being too sick watching Indonesian TVs these days for it has been trashed with silly soap opera called the gecko against the crocodile plus lady Godzillas. ( well, I am referring to the stupid war by the croc and Godzillas  to topple the anti corruption commission or KPK. It  went ugly these days, including a murder plot in it, of a greedy lobbyist who has three wives, where the youngest ,  miss Universe wanna-be Rani Juliani, was set by her own husband to seduce the anti corruption leader in a hotel room. Transcript of this vulgar scenario was made available by the very kinky district attorney Cyrus Sinaga. I do bet that Mr Sinaga is such a best candidate to replace Miyabi’s  recent vacant position in Indonesian triple x industry-after the FPI attack. I mean, Cyrus Sinaga’s  imagination is beyond wild! Check it out by yourself at your nearest newspaper portal for some disgusting details).

 The serialized drama from South Korea is more than entertaining, and it really gave me a little trouble in the afternoon, need some effort for working people like most of us just to not miss it. (I mean, this film should go on prime time!!!) . 

 Well, back to the question above, I do have nothing to answer it but being the oldest in my workplace, it is like a curse that it was me who should take the responsibility to say wise words that would help my colleagues to digest the secret of love. And because I kept my big mouth shut for a while, my friends start harassing me with another silly question about it.

 Doing my best to be a wise “big sister”, I put my most serious look and said like I really mean it, that we usually have a very high expectation from our special someone that unfortunately, sometimes, it just turns our relationship into the wrong direction, because of the lack of communication skill in explaining the hope, instead of giving an endorsement, we tend to push it too hard, even  emotionally “torture” our beloved ones!

 So, I kept going on, when I pushed the President hard, like everyday, actually  it is just because I do have a very high expectation that he WILL be able to kill all the godzillas, including in his own party! It is because of the LOVE! Great excuse, isn’t it?

 My friends nod their heads. Thank God, it seems that my friends believe it. So, it’s just another “Good Job, Rita”! Ha-ha. I am happy now!

 Ups, just wait a moment, do they mean it, like, they do really believe what I’ve just said? Hmm, that sounds fishy, doesn’t it?  

 photos :  the south korean colossal drama (taken from Wikipedia) and rani with her murdered husband on their secret wedding day (from detik.com).

 the translation dalam Versi Bojong Kiyut

(Buat seorang teman yang ngaku “addicted” baca bahasa Bojongkiyut, thanks yo, Pal)

 Kenapa sih orang suka kejem sama orang yang dia cintai?

 Nah loh! Pertanyaan itu meluncur gitu aja dari seorang teman yang imut, sehabis kami rame-rame nongkrongin episode kemarin lusa dari sinetron The Queen Seon Deok yang keren pisan di Indosiar. Ceritanya, kita-kita pada gemes ngeliat Deok Man gak brenti ngelawan komandannya, Yishin, trus ngatain Yishin “kejem booo” karena komandan satu itu tega bener gak brenti nambah karung pasir hukuman buat Deok Man yang udah ngos-ngosan. Deok Man saat itu masih bau kencur, 12 tahun, tapi kita-kita yang nonton sudah sok teu bahwa plot lanjutanya PASTI si Deok Man bakalan jadian tuh sama Yishin, kelak. (Iya kan? Ya kan? Hehehe)

 Drama kolosal Ratu Sendok ini beneran kayak oasis di padang gersang yang bikin rasa muak waktu nyalain tivi bisa lenyap. Gimana gak muak, berbulan-bulan kita disuguhi sinetron sampah berjudul Cicak dikeroyok Buaya, Kadal, Komodo dan Godzilla. (Itu tuh, operasi penggembosan KPK yang makin lama makin busuk baunya kecium ke seluruh Endonesa. Sinetron Kepung Cicak ini barangkali mo niru pilem Agatha Christie, makanya pake dikasih plot bunuh-bunuhan segala, dengan korban tewas satu orang direktur yang hobinya maen golep dan punya bini tiga biji! Sang bini muda yang paling bontot, Rani Juliani, ternyata gak cuman faseh banget dadah-dadah kayak ratu sejagad di tipi, Lady Godzilla Rani ini ternyata juga faseh dikaryakan buat ngerayu bos KPK di kamar hotel. Skenario adegan vulgar yang masih konon terjadi itu dicatet dengan dahsyat UNTUK PUBLIK oleh yang terhurmat Tuan Jaksa Cyrus Sinaga. Bapak Jaksa yang hot berat itu cocok juga kalo skalian aja kita jadiin kandidat tokoh fenomenal soal gituan yang lagi kosong ditinggal mbak miyabi yang sekarang lagi tiarap setelah dikejar-kejar FPI bulan kemaren. Gak percaya? Beuhhh, cek aja ndiri ke mbah gugel, cari portal terdekat yg mejengin transkrip jijai bajai ituh!).

 Nah, kembali ke laptop yah! Gw bingunglah ditanyain soal-soal gituan. Tapi gimana lagi, berhubung uban ini gak bisa nipu, bahwa gw adalah yang paling senior (baca : tuwa!) maka temen-temen dengan sepenuh hati meyakini bahwa itu udah kwajiban moral gw untuk ngejawab pertanyaan yang cihuy tadi. Set dah, gw sih emang udah mulai uzur, yah namanya juga udah emak-emak paruh baya, tapi soal cinte-cintean gitu mah gw masih selugu Gita Gutawa loh,  .. hahaha! Tapi, gara-gara gw belagak cuek, anak-anak itu malah kayak sengaja pada nungguin, sambil nambah nanya soal-soal sejenis itu pula yang kagak ada brentinya. Yah, terpaksalah gw belagak bijak

 Dengan mengucap Basmallah dalem hati secara khusu dan tawadlu, maka gw pasanglah ini wajah gw kalo tanggung bulan, super serius dua rius, gitu. Terus, mulailah gw menjelaskan dengan bahasa Endonesa yang baik dan benar menurut ejaan yang disempurnakan, bahwasanya kita ini kerap memiliki harapan yang terlampau tinggi terhadap orang yang kita sayangi. Nah, harapan yang melambung ini harus disampaikan dengan cara yang benar biar tak kontraproduktif dan justru merusak hubungan itu sendiri, dengan kecenderungannya untuk menyakiti perasaan orang yang disayangi

 Jadi, contohnya nih, kalo selama ini gw rese banget ngeritik Presiden yang waktu kampanye heboh bilang “Katakan Tidak Pada Korupsi” tapi malah belagak pilon sama segala Anggodo, Anggoro, Ong Juliana, Susno, Ritonga, Wisnu, dan para Godzilla di belakang skandal Century, well, itu tuh karena gw sayaaaang sama die, karena gw punya harapan yang mulukkkk bahwa dia bakalan mampu ngancurin para Godzilla itu walo pun mereka ternyata, jika terbukti, adalah orang-orang dekatnya sendiri!

 Penjelasan yang keren kan? Temen-temen juga pada ngangguk-ngangguk guk guk guk, kayaknya mereka puas bener dan percaya sama petuah gw yang tumben rada kliatan bernalar ini. Manteb lah, gw jadi lega!

 Eh, tunggu, tunggu, apa beneran anak-anak ember itu pada percaya? Hla kok jadi gw sendiri yang kagak percaya sama sekali? Weleh-weleh, opo tumon iki!

 Pringatan daripada Pemrentah :Semua keanehan penulisan ejaan dan grammar bukan atas kesalahan monitor Anda. Meniru ejaan tersebut berbahaya bagi kesehatan janin dan bisa menyebabkan guru bahasa Anda setres.

Introducing: Anggodo Widjojo, Indonesian newest star for recording artist of the year. Right now I am all ears for Ang’s unbelievable voice, being broadcasted nationally from Metro TV.  Wait, don’t get me wrong, Anggodo,  is not a singer, hah hah., no, he is a businessman and a great friend of Indonesian infamous Crocodile Philharmonic Orchestra. They work harmoniously for weakening our ongoing war against corruption.  Ang is being bugged and this  taped conversation is now on air. My friend in support-the-anti-croc’s movement in facebook has ordered a ringtone of this shameful album, simply to remind us, that it is going to be a very looooooong journey!

So, I do believe this would be Indonesian album of the year. Amazing!!! hhh… what can I say, just welcome to the ugly face of law enforcement in my country.

Makin rusak aja nih negara gw!  Akibat salah pilih nih! bla bla bla.

Anger, disbelief, deep concern, etc, all have been in the air since last night when we realized the anticlimax of a corruption war here that has lost its battle, again!

Guys, let’s have fun with our getting-not-so-fun-neighbour, Malaysia.

If Malaysia wants to get a barter after sending their two lethal bombers, Azahari Husin and Noor Din Mat Top, who have been ruining Indonesia with their fully-hatred bomb attacks since 2002, they can always take them back. Period! Coz, we, Indonesians, would never approve to replace those two terrorists with our heavenly beautiful Pendet Dance  :D

And no, either Ibu Siti Hadjar, the abused migrant worker by her Malaysian boss, or even Cik Puan Manohara Pinot the estranged wife of Kelantan “allegedly sadistic” Prince, never deserves to be an equal trade with those two terrorists! Never!

I mean, come on…, guys!

At first I think Malaysia just hate our haze from Kalimantan’s forest fire a lot that made them doing some trick to tickle us. Yup, I do also realize that today Malaysia is much richer than my country, a place used to be called as their “Big Brother”. As a “new” emerging and don’t ever forget, richer, nation, it seems that they really really like to show off their power in buying things to us here.

Well, they did successfully bought those expensive lawyers or international consultants, dunno for sure, that granted them Sipadan and Ligitan islands from Indonesian shore about five years ago. And Indonesia, this big but still ailing nation, seems to learn the hardest lesson because lately our Ambalat seashore is going to be Malaysian new target.

Unfortunately,  the list keeps going on. Malaysian “richy new kid on the block” Tourist Association made that juicy ad of Visiting Malaysia with Indonesian contents, from Rasa Sayange song, Ponorogo’s Reog dragon dance, Sundanese’s Angklung bamboo music, Javanese wayang kulit puppet show, and lately, Balinese Pendet Dance, ha-ha…!

Yeah, Baby, money talks. Armed with the big buck, their national tourist agency seems to eye Thailand’s (the South East Asia’s most famous Tourist destination today) domination to lure its segmented tourists to also visit Malaysia. Actually this has nothing to do with Indonesia, right? Coz, thanks to NoorDin Mat Top and Azahari’s idea to Bali bombing in 2002, Indonesia is still in wounds in international tourism . (And I am not even mentioning the odd Visit-Jakarta- ad on TV lately. My Dear Good God, what is WRONG with Pak Foke, eh? I don’t even dare to take a second look at that “I am going to Jakarta, I am going fishing, I am going golfing, yeahhh” silly ad…, ouch ouch ouch!)

Money talks, Honey, and it seems that the rich is always winning. But, hey, you simply can’t win them all. That is a sunnatullah, a god’s rule, right?

But, seriously, if my Malaysian friends, like the sharp-tongued Miss Ummuhani Abu Hasan, still really like Indonesian culture that much, let me give you an option, how about joining us as Indonesian province number 34? Then you can surely claim those zillion Indonesian arts that we, sometimes, neglected (not because we don’t care, Darling, it is just because we still work hard simply to make ends meet). Oh, and we can use your new status as rich rich rich people to do a more proper idea of yours to buy the copyright of those arts internationally, coz it all was invented here, in Indonesia by Indonesians. So, your money will do you good and proper thing!

How about that, Dude? I knowwww, you would like it, hah hah!

Photos:

   (l-r)The controversial ad with Javanese Wayang and Balinese Pendet,     Manohara Odelia Pinot the former Cik Puan Tumenggong Manohara of Kelantan Palace,  Abused Siti Hadjar released from Malaysian Hospital and her face before her Malaysian nightmares,    Malaysian noted artist Ummuhanni Abu Hasan who said to Metro TV that it is okay for Malaysia to use Indonesian arts.

udah diterjemahin nih,  VERSI BASA BETAWI, ada di comment nomer satu yak

Only hours after the shocking attack of twin bombs which ruined Jakarta’s leading hotels, Indonesian youths around the world showed us their great wisdom, on twitter! That very sad day I saw #IndonesiaUnite  as one trending topic along with “eternal” issues like Michael Jackson and Harry Potter. I was amazed. I did realize, unlike me,  a teen of the eighties, Indonesian tweets are mostly those twenty something internet savvy guys. And yet those posh “anak gaul” guys were among the first to send the best message to fight the terrorist in such a very clever way, way much better than the confusing words from our very own President, (oh, by the way, later, he said it was the press that was “being stupid” for misinterpreting his emotional and shocking speech…ouch!!!)

Not only echoing the spirit of “we are not afraid, Indonesia Unites, and fight terrorism”, they also add some encouraging support to drove back the bomb-affected economy into the right track by sending a call to buy local products and spend our holidays at home. What a spirit of a fighter! I am so proud of you all, guys!

I think my melodramatic Mr  President could really learn from those anak gaul of Jakarta how to address this mourning nation, by being wise!

We Are Not Afraid!

I turned off my TV, speechless,with a mixed feeling of being angry and extremely sad, I managed to leave the room, going to pray, for those innocent victims of Jakarta’s Ritz Carlton & JW Marriot Hotels.

My town is attacked, again, by the monsters of hatred, in a cowardly bombing act.

 I should turn off my PC too, and start meditating, for a little peace in me, to my damaged town, and on earth.., hopefully!

 What is the similarity of American George Walker Bush with Iranian Ahmadinejad and Indonesian Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono? Well, they all won their second term in office in a scandalous election .

“Are you sad? Angry? Humiliated?”, a dear friend who is also a strong supporter for incumbent Yudhoyono asked this morning.

I laughed at her. “Don’t worry about me, Dear”,  I confirmed her, ” I KNEW it from the very beginning that Yudhoyono would likely win. And that’s why I initially decided  to be a nonvoter again. But, I was angry when he went too far with this chrystal clear cheating operation with the General Elections Commition (KPU). That was where I stood to publicly say that I am against that.”

“You will be in a lonely road, Dear,” my friend said in a symphatetic tone,”Because EVERYBODY would like to join the joyride of the winner’s train. You know, as they said, the winner takes it all”

“That’s right, but I was there during Soeharto dictatorship regime WITHOUT losing my grip to go against him,” I had a smile to her, a very big one,”So having another five years of  bad time politically would be a piece of cake. Well, maybe I will be sad to see another Ahmadi people being forced leaving their home by the Islamist hardliners, coz this president did nothing about it during his first term in office. The lists can go on, but, again, I am not living in a perfect world, right?”

“Yeah, that too,” she answered, with a less enthusiasm left in her face. “But,” wait, I can see another splash of enthusiasm emerged in her face, “how did you KNOW that Yudhoyono would secure his winning?”

I had a big, biggest laugh, before answering her. “That, my friend, because last year Mama Lauren has said so”

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.., we both broke into hysterical laugh together. Mama Lauren is a famous psychic, , Gotcha! 

Yeah, what a country I am living in , Oh Indonesia, I love you with all of your faults, I consider you as my home…, always!

I have been very angry with all the flaws during these campaign periods lately. It burns my guts and forces me to change my mind. As I have mentioned before in my writings, I never buy those empty -sometimes also silly- promises from the candidates and happily join the nonvoter group. But the constitutional court verdict two days ago simply confirmed me how ugly the scandals during this presidential election.  The next day it got worse with the confirmation from Hafiz Anshary himself,  head of General Election Commision (KPU), who admitted there are tens of millions of unidentified people, children, deceased, and servicemen who were registered as legal voters (The Jakarta Post, July 8, 2009).

It simply reminds me into another scandal, the controversial leaked email, that said, “Their enemy is not us, but the limited time”. Well done, Foxy boys, you have opened my eyes and I did vote! My choice would unlikely win but, hey, there is always hope.

I was very happy watching TV the other day. Last year Indonesian Idol winner, Mike Mohede sung melodiously the jingle from the famous Indomie instant noodle that has been rewritten for my president newest campaign ad. What a great voice Mike! But what made me happier was the fact that finally I have something in common with Pak Beye the president. Just like million other Indonesians, I am an avid user of indomie, our best survival menu during the rainy days, since my college years, like, decades ago.

Happily I told my dear buddy Nicknack (yeah, that’s not her real name, because she hates it when knowing her name getting more famous than it already is.., ha ha haa) about this rare closeness of me with “Mr Instant politician” Pak Beye. Nicknack is the co-owner of a busy Public Relations Company in town who has a very big heart, at least to always pick a phone from me every time I call.

“Hi Nick, (munching enthusiastically) this is Rita, turn on your TV please (keep munching), now!”

“What? I am busy, you know!”

“I know, you always busy, but (keep on munching) it is GOOD!”

“Wait, are you eating something?”

“Huh?.. (giggling) Yeah, I am! “

“And what is that?”

“Errr (reluctantly) indomie.., sotomie flavour, ( giggling nervously) wanna some?”

“Eeeek…, how could you still eating that, Rita! You have promised me to eat only healthy breakfast. A glass of organic fruit and vegetables, and no more junk food! How could you forget? That was your New Year resolution!”

“Yeah…, I know that, but, it is just (sincerely) SO GOOD!”

“Oh my God, My Dear Naughty Buddy Rita, stop eating that! Come on, this is not because you look like Miss Piggy more and more but mostly for your own health. Remember, we are not getting any younger! Arggggh, you are so stubborn! Don’t you know what people say?”

“What?”

“You are what you eat! “

Ouch! Well, what can I say, she was simply right. Careless is my middle name but jeopardize my own health is a very-very stupid act to do. It takes a health-conscious dear buddy to remind me to stay on the track.

There are many ways to describe our true colours. You are definitely what you read, what you eat, or what you say. But in my case, I would put it as “you are who your friends are”.

I may eat junk food, read silly books, and say stupid stuff in daily basis, but I have great buddies to make me a much better person. Isn’t that great?

photos:

1. indomie instant noodle, the original product

2. Mike Mohede (white shirt) on tv singing  the SBY instant noodl…ooops, I mean SBY presidential ad

This year’s general election in Indonesia should be the best way (unfortunately, it is not!!!) to celebrate our choice to embrace democracy. I do enjoy the colorful debates of those so-called think-tankers of the candidates, both for legislators and president’s elections, mind you, its drama is much more breathtaking than any soap opera I have ever watched!

Almost every morning I have a laughter when reading the morning paper with updates of those “political actors”. There are some kutuloncat bin kutukupret or the ultra-chameleon legislators whose parties have always changed to the “money side” without any guilty look in their faces. Other candidates, mostly the first time runners, would be the sitting ducks for the so-called Political Consultants, for charging them big with easy money for some political mambo jumbo, and yeah, mostly ridiculous advise. That’s for sure! A friend of mine showed me a silly picture of a legislator wannabe in Bekasi, West Java, built a billboard with “peace” as its title, where he was sitting pretty next to a picture of Obama and Osama in one frame…heh heh heeeh.

This show got worse when the General Election Commission (KPU) did a very poor performance this year. Unlike the more successful general election in 2004, reportedly this year millions of voters lost their rights for some administrative problems, their names were not registered on the KPU’s list. To make it worsen, KPU even registered the imaginary names, those who were not even existed in this world, including the deaths, as the legal voters. Of course we do believe mostly that it was all made on purpose, likely completed by the Interior Ministry, in order to seal the 20% vote for the incumbent’s Democratic Party, the exact number needed for a party to be able sending its nomination the lead the country.

So, here we are, with three nominees for the upcoming President Elections in July, Pak General Beye the incumbent, Pak Kalla the vice president, and Mbak Mega the opposition leader. To make it fun, there are two more top brasses joined the ride, General Wiranto for Pak Kalla VP, and General Prabowo for Mbak Mega VP. While General Beye put Bank Indonesia’s governor Budiono as his VP. And the drama goes on. We can see Pak Kalla who sells “faster is always better” motto, always one step ahead of his own president. Pak Kalla, a leading businessman from Celebes, is also known as the real president during these last 5 years because of his quick responds in solving the nation’s problem (somehow he is not that fast dealing with Lapindo’s disaster).

And without worry, the American Darling Pak Beye (Bill Clinton praised him openly on one interview with Greta Van Susteren of FOXNews) showed his Obama-wannabe declaration in Bandung. The posh event started exactly similar the way Obama on train to Delaware to pick up VP Biden. Interesting eh? I was just curious, I thought Rizal Malarangeng of Fox Indonesia who was known behind this glamour declaration, should know that train is Joe Biden’s real daily transportation during his days as senator, right? It was not a “drama” when Obama picked the train to Delaware, Rizal! … So, I found it really funny.

But the funniest would go to Mbak Mega declaration in Bantar Gebang. This place is the country’s biggest dumpsite, a place where most people would avoid getting near, and she went there. My oh my…, I was just speechless!

Oh Homer, don’t you just love election days? What? You asked me, which party I did vote?  Unfortunately I still am with my non-voters group peacefully.  Sorry Homer, I simply don’t buy those dreams easily…