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…

This year the April Fool stays more than a day for me, I think it even lasts a month long. Losing some work contract, personal setbacks,  and having a very bad ankle injury made me helplessly blank and almost lost.

But they say things that can’t kill you will make you stronger, so, just put my chin up and get up again because you’ll never really see me down..haha, that is a promise, Homer, a promise.

After three painful weeks with the injury, now my ankle seems normal…, almost, because it is still a little swollen I guess…ouch.. Somehow I would like to express my gratitude for my heroes, Pak Andreas and Pak Junaedi, two security officers from FX Building who hurriedly helped me when I accidentally fell on a rainy busy morning in Sudirman Street. God bless you Pak.

Let’s  move on, Homer, I am in this time…, oh yeah!