I'm your huckleberry

Introducing Mikael Zhaafir Rizali

2008-09-03T10:28:00.011+07:00

Father & Son: training session...pull up for strong hand

Father & Son: happy warm hug

Mikael: what a boy....

nulis di koran aja jiplak

2008-08-29T15:24:00.003+07:00

waktu masih ngajar (1996-2005), ke mahasiswa saya sering bilang:
- nyontek boleh, asal tidak ketahuan.
- kalau nyontek aja nggak becus, bisa apa kalian (mahasiswa)???

nah kalau dosen nggak becus nyontek, itu baru lucu.
lebih lucu lagi, yang dicontek tulisan koran.
dan dipublikasikan di koran dimana saya beberapa kali nulis & diinterview.

benar2 nekad tuh dosen.

Lihat tulisan "Menggugat Ramuan Penangkal Inflasi" dari bapak Agus Suman (Dosen Univ. Brawijaya) - Bisnis Indonesia, Kamis, 28 Agustus 2008 (lihat di:
http://web.bisnis.com/edisi-cetak/edisi-harian/opini/1id76176.html ).

Waktu saya baca, terasa beberapa bagian tulisannya sangat familiar dengan kata2 saya di tulisan "Moneter AS dan Inflasi Global" (Harian Kontan, Senin 11 Agustus 2008, http://www.kontan.co.id/ , tulisan terlampir).

Ternyata....
terlampir perbandingannya.

Bapak Agus Suman:
"...seperti China dan India, yang selama ini ekonominya tumbuh cepat tanpa disertai inflasi tinggi, mulai kesulitan mengendalikan inflasi. Inflasi di China dan India masing-masing 8,5% dan 7,7%, tertinggi dalam 10 tahun terakhir."

Siswa Rizali:
"...seperti Cina dan India, yang selama ini ekonominya tumbuh cepat tanpa disertai inflasi tinggi, mulai kesulitan mengendalikan inflasi. Inflasi di Cina dan India masing-masing 8.5% dan 7.7%, tertinggi dalam sepuluh tahun terakhir."

Pak Agus Suman:
"Inflasi yang terjadi saat ini adalah fenomena global."

Siswa Rizali:
"Inflasi sekarang ini merupakan fenomena global."

Pak Agus Suman:
"... negara kecil yang sangat terbuka terhadap ekonomi dunia seperti Singapura. Singapura biasanya berhasil dalam mengendalikan harga meskipun terjadi guncangan ekonomi dunia. Sejak 1983, inflasi di Singapura hampir selalu di bawah 2%, kecuali pada periode 1990-1994 yang sempat berkisar 3%. Sekarang inflasi Singapura mencapai 7,5%."

Siswa Rizali:
"... negara kecil yang sangat terbuka terhadap ekonomi dunia seperti Singapura. Singapura biasanya berhasil dalam mengendalikan harga meskipun terjadi guncangan ekonomi dunia. Sejak 1983 inflasi di Singapura hampir selalu dibawah 2%, kecuali pada periode 1990-1994 yang sempat berkisar 3%. Sekarang inflasi Singapura mencapai 7.5%."

dulu cuma dengar2 kalo ada dosen yg suka ngumpulin karya tulis mahasiswa buat jadi karya ilmiah guna mengejar posisi Profesor.

sekarang baru tahu caranya yg ternyata sangat culun. Sang dosen bakal jadi Profesor by Honor (alias honor nulis koran dah cukup buat acara pesta pengangkatan jadi guru besar).

Ada-ada aja, nulis di koran pun masih jiplak dari tulisan koran lain :-p

Oooohhhh pendidikan Indonesia....

salam,
rz

Moneter AS dan Inflasi Global
oleh Siswa Rizali

Tekanan inflasi sampai bulan Juli 2008 tetap tinggi, dimana inflasi tahunan mencapai 11.90% dan inflasi tahun berjalan menjadi 8.85%. BI Rate pun naik menjadi 9.00%. Siklus kenaikan BI Rate ini diperkirakan masih berlanjut.

Inflasi Global

Kenaikan inflasi terjadi merata di seluruh dunia. Di Amerika Serikat, yang dilanda krisis finansial dan perlambatan pertumbuhan ekonomi, inflasi mencapai 5%. Tertinggi dalam 15 tahun terakhir. Inflasi di wilayah Euro, yang secara ketat mengikuti target inflasi maksimal 2%, telah mencapai 4%. Jepang, yang pada periode 1999-2005 selalu dalam bayangan deflasi, sekarang mengalami lonjakan inflasi menjadi 2%.

Negara sedang berkembang seperti Cina dan India, yang selama ini ekonominya tumbuh cepat tanpa disertai inflasi tinggi, mulai kesulitan mengendalikan inflasi. Inflasi di Cina dan India masing-masing 8.5% dan 7.7%, tertinggi dalam sepuluh tahun terakhir.

Menarik juga memperhatikan inflasi negara kecil yang sangat terbuka terhadap ekonomi dunia seperti Singapura. Singapura biasanya berhasil dalam mengendalikan harga meskipun terjadi guncangan ekonomi dunia. Sejak 1983 inflasi di Singapura hampir selalu dibawah 2%, kecuali pada periode 1990-1994 yang sempat berkisar 3%. Sekarang inflasi Singapura mencapai 7.5%.

Gambaran perkembangan inflasi diatas dengan akselerasi pada semester pertama 2008 menunjukkan bahwa inflasi sekarang ini bukan hanya masalah spesifik sebuah negara. Inflasi sekarang ini merupakan fenomena global.

Inflasi tinggi saat ini didominasi oleh kenaikan harga-harga komoditas, khususnya sektor energi (seperti minyak, gas, dan batubara) dan sektor pertanian (seperti gandum, beras, jagung, dan minyak nabati). Guncangan pada sisi produksi terkait dengan bahan baku industri mempunyai dampak berantai pada biaya produksi barang-barang lain. Fenomena ini dikenal sebagai inflasi akibat kenaikan biaya produksi (cost push inflation).

Lonjakan tajam permintaan di era pertumbuhan tinggi ekonomi dunia 2003-2007, khususnya dari negara industri baru seperti Cina dan India, juga dianggap menyebabkan kenaikan harga-harga komoditas. Sebagai gambaran, hampir 40% pertumbuhan permintaan minyak dunia era 2000-an berasal dari pertumbuhan konsumsi minyak Cina.

Sejalan dengan semakin ekstrimnya kenaikan harga-harga komoditas sepanjang akhir 2007 sampai pertengahan 2008, faktor permintaan dan penawaran sektor riil tidak dapat lagi menjelaskan fenomena tersebut. Banyak pihak – seperti politisi, pemerintah, dan komentator –
menyalahkan kenaikan harga-harga akibat spekulasi di pasar berjangka komoditas.

Dari berbagai faktor penyebab inflasi, seperti interaksi permintaan–penawaran dan spekulasi, jarang sekali disebut faktor kebijakan moneter. Hal ini sangat aneh mengingat semua sejarah inflasi tinggi dan gelembung harga aset (saham, properti, dan harga komoditas) selalu disertai kebijakan moneter yang longgar.

Fenomena Moneter

Kebijakan moneter longgar ini terjadi sejak pertengahan 2007. Untuk mengatasi krisis finansial, Bank Sentral Amerika menurunkan Fed Fund Rate secara agresif, dari 5.25% pada Agustus 2007 menjadi 2.00% pada April 2008. Salah satu akibatnya adalah depresiasi tajam Dollar Amerika sepanjang periode Juni 2007 sampai April 2008, yaitu sekitar 18.5% terhadap Euro dan 21% terhadap Yen.

Sejalan dengan melemahnya Dollar Amerika, investor mencoba melindungi nilai aset/investasinya dengan membeli kontrak-kontrak komoditas. Maka harga-harga komoditas naik tajam meskipun permintaan sektor riil sebenarnya menurun sejalan perlambatan pertumbuhan ekonomi. Berhubung sebagian besar perdagangan dunia menggunakan denominasi Dollar Amerika, penurunan daya beli Dollar mememicu inflasi global.

Pada saat ekonomi stabil, kebijakan moneter longgar tidak segera memicu inflasi karena penambahan likuiditas akan diimbangi dengan kenaikan permintaan likuiditas. Tapi di saat krisis, penambahan likuiditas meningkatkan ekspektasi krisis lanjutan. Permintaan uang turun dan spekulasi pada aset meningkat. Kebijakan moneter longgar tidak menyelesaikan masalah krisis finansial Amerika, tapi memicu krisis baru berupa bahaya inflasi tinggi.

Gelembung harga aset yang dipicu kebijakan moneter longgar terlihat pada periode akhir 1990-an pada saham sektor teknologi dan pada periode 2000-2006 di sektor perumahan. Saat ini tema pertumbuhan negara BRIC (Brazil, Rusia, India, dan Cina) dan booming komoditas menjadi target banjir likuiditas dari Amerika.

Inflasi di Indonesia saat ini adalah bagian fenomena global sebagai efek negatif kebijakan moneter longgar dari Amerika. Karena itu kenaikan BI Rate tidak akan efektif untuk memerangi inflasi. Lebih baik Bank Indonesia tidak melanjutkan kenaikan BI Rate. Apalagi kenaikan BI Rate hanya menambah beban pada ekonomi domestik dan memancing banjir aliran dana spekulatif jangka pendek.

Inflasi global akan mereda bila Amerika mulai menerapkan kebijakan moneter ketat dengan menaikkan Fed Fund Rate, minimal menjadi 4.00%. Kebijakan uang ketat terbukti efektif meredam spekulasi pada harga-harga aset. Pengetatan likuiditas di Amerika pada periode 2004-2006 menyebabkan pecahnya gelembung aset sektor properti. Sejak Q3 2007, pengetatan likuiditas di Cina telah membuat gelembung harga saham terpangkas sekitar 55%. Terakhir, kenaikan suku bunga Bank Sentral Euro menjadi 4.25% pada 3 Juli membantu meredam spekulasi di sektor komoditas.

Kami yakin Bank Sentral Amerika akhirnya terpaksa menerapkan kebijakan uang ketat dan menaikkan Fed Fund Rate. Baru lah inflasi global terkendali sejalan mengempisnya gelembung harga komoditas. Jangan heran bila harga minyak pun kembali jatuh di bawah US$ 100 per barel.

Boh Engkot

2008-08-04T10:26:00.004+07:00

Call it caviar (~ beluga fish egg), but for me it just boh engkot (acehnese for “fish egg”).

In Aceh, fish egg culinary is famous. One type is like juicy soup (white and light yellow color), the other is spicy thick curry. I prefer the latter. Usually tuna fish is the source for the egg, but other big fish also okay (snapper or garoupa).

Since I stay in Jakarta, where to get fish egg cook???

Well, for aceh style you can find it in Seulawah, Aceh resto. Seulawah has two places, one in Tanah Abang, the second in Benhil street, near the hospital.

The next resto with fish egg menu is Chamoe2. I like chamoe2 in Panglima Polem. The cook is quite spicy with yellow color and a lot of herb (known as woku cook). My type of cook.

Another place you can try for fish egg is Medan Baru, mix of Aceh and Padang food, in Krekot Bunder. Fried fish egg. I just wondering, why the chef so lazy, downgrading fish egg the as same as the chicken egg. Have some effort, and admiration, for the fish egg!

The last one and I consider the most spicy, resto Minang “Duo Sekato”, at Setia Budi. The easy direction, come from Bundaran HI to Sudirman, take the slow lane, then turn left to Setiabudi Street. One hundred meters from Sudirman, or after the Church, you can find the small resto minang. It is not a cozy resto, but you must try the food. Then you know what is Minang cook (sorry for I do not fancy Sederhana as serious minang resto). The curry is thick, spicy, and full of excitement. Unfortunately, some time it is too salty. Its everyone favorite, so grab it in the early lunch time or you will not get your share.

During my trip to Kuala Lumpur, I have a chance to taste young fish egg cook in an Indian resto at Ong Tay Kim market, Gombak. The curry leave aroma and additional herb turn me on. The taste full of ectasy.

Two variations on how they cut the fish egg. In Aceh, usually the fish egg cook in whole, or slice it into two pieces. The other usually cut the fish egg into several small pieces (3~5 pieces) and turn the inside out. The first style have firm slice, the later have more interesting shape and the spice penetrate better.

The most important thing is: the fish must fresh, or the egg will very smelly and taste itchy in the tongue.

So try boh engkot and give me some feedback!

Related Link:
I love my coffee black and strong
Nasi Campur Bali
Ganja Sebagai Bumbu??

leaving aceh

2006-07-10T18:08:00.000+07:00

My last post from my office in Banda Aceh. Actually I plan to post from Sigli office, but I forgot.

My 9 months experience in Aceh reconstruction project is great. A wonderful experience; big project, friendly and smart boss, and supportive colleagues. My first community development project, and will not my last. I’m dreaming to get back to similar position in the future.

But for now I need to feel the beat at financial sector, so I take this position at securities company. Hopefully something good happen.

Maybe in this new job I will post more in my blog, on economic issues for sure.

'economist' on the run?

2006-06-20T02:06:00.000+07:00

By the end of my economic training at FEUI in 1996, unconsciously I apply everything on cost-benefit analysis and supply-demand principle. Rationality rules and market has it power on everything. Even if people behave irrationally, then there is always a way to rationalize the irrational behavior (or seem like it). While the market failure justify the present of government interference, the corrupt government always show how the bribery itself reflect the market works perfectly.

After finishing my master (in economic too), I have this great idea to become real economist: mean get PhD and write a lot of serious papers publish in international journal. Four years of trial and failure, I decide to stop the dream and cut loss.

Maybe my master degree good enough to be ‘acting economist’ (or pretend to be economist) or some thing like that. Well, in this country, popular writing seem to be more relevant rather than serious one in journal to claim to be an economist (just look all the name that people say economist in Indonesia, rarely they ever write in international academic journal).

Working in development job seems to be great too (Jan’02-Jun’06). Maybe I can apply this economic way of reasoning. Then in the middle of the way, when my career seems to go in the right fast-track, the temptation comes again.

Now its time to change my course once again. Answering my best friend offer to work for financial institution as analyst to support fixed income investment. A challenge that I cannot refuse. Just have to be sure whether the economic training really does something on me.

For sure, some feeling and empathy must be put into my heart so I can understand better economics as a social science rather than only cost-benefit analysis combine with ‘the market always work’ principle.

plan for leave

2006-05-11T00:19:00.000+07:00

So tired with all the reporting and daily regular activity. cannot wait to come to Jakarta again, for having fun and a week out of the work. What the big plan? Met her for sure, miss u much sayang ;-) . Attending Anna wedding. Then, feast festive, as usual selection including: jitlada, queen’s tandoor, jewel of india, kuppa, champa, sushi nobu, poke sushi, ajengan, and just name it all. Others just find out when I’m in jkt. Meetings friend: FEUI, asia foundation, Sam, and many others. Mmmmmhhhh, want to “living after midnight”, but may I? :-p .

Relevant posts:
$ feast vengeance - incomplete mission
$ meet Sam and Leo
$ dinner @ mantra
$ nasi campur bali

big plan for birthday

2006-04-27T23:47:00.000+07:00

Tomorrow is my birthday. So here is the big plan for the nicest day and after:
# reading and writing all that regular report. Yes, I’m the guy who ‘tick the box’.
# preparing field monitoring mission & meeting with TDH in Bireun (Saturday, 29 April).
# preparation to accompany visitors from “International Recovery Platform” for site trip to housing project (April 30).
# Then another report and all that email.

So what a great time for birthday. Need some chocolate with liqueur to boost spirit. But where to get it?

Anyway, just getting older, but not much wiser. Live sh*t, so binge and purge!

Relevant posts:
$ meet Sam and Leo
$ time IS NOT on my side
$ feast vengeance - incomplete mission
$ first of Jan '06

Polem Wolfowitz di Tiro

2006-04-10T12:09:00.000+07:00

Paul Wolfowitz, the World Bank President, come to Aceh (5 April) and visit Pidie (6 April). The exact place is Tiro, the core of ‘home of the rebel’. We may call him now: Polem Wolfowitz di Tiro (Acehnese sometime put village name in their name, examples include Hasan Meutareum, Surya Paloh, and as my nick name is Rizali Pidie).

Polem Wolfowitz visited the zinc-sheet-made school (a temporary class after the burning down of the real school) and talked with the villagers in public gathering. I have a chance to attend the public gathering in Dayah Cot village.

As usual, villagers ask:

what is your intention to come to Aceh?

What World Bank could give to Aceh?

Could you give capital to start our live after conflict?

So I decide to speak out my own and take the time for couple minutes from the villagers. Anyway, I was born here in Pidie too, so I do feel the right to say something about the area.

The following is my statement like.

If donor (World Bank, UN, ADB) want to have important role in Eastern Coast of Aceh, please pay attention to POST CONFLICT program, especially how the economic development can strengthen the peace process.

In this case, I propose for better public goods concerning poor people such as:

1. Education facility, both building and teacher welfare.
Aceh province is rich country, yet the education quality rank is among the worst in Indonesia.

2. Health facility, both building and health staff welfare.
During conflict, many health clinic programs in halt and many health officers leave their posts.

3. Infrastructure for economic activity (livelihood): road & bridge (for access to market), irrigation, and revival unused farm/ plantation.
Capital for individual will be more useful if we put it in the context of larger village/ kecamantan (sub-district) infrastructure investment. At the same time, the infrastructure will attract private/manufacture investment.

4. Support for village level government.
Without proper office, keuchiek (head of village) cannot keep village information properly. We need this institutional village structure to facilitate the development better.

5. Increasing capacity in public participatory development, as has been done in Kecamatan Development Program. My experience from building house for tsunami victim using public participatory approach result: lower cost for each house, faster construction, better quality, increasing community solidarity, and economic livelihood revival.

So I hope that World Bank and other donor soon implement their post-conflict development program. Especially since the community begins tired with all the never ending assessment, yet the program is not there. And if the donors do their program, hopefully they will not only waste the money with all overcrowd revolving and microfinance program, while ignoring a better public good provision.

Polem Wolfowitz also accompanied by World Bank team such as: Adrew Steer (Country director, Indonesia), Jeffrey Gutman (Regional Vice President, East Asia & Pacific Region), Herwidayatmo (Executive Director Southeast Asia), and Scoot Gugenheim (Operation manager, Decentralization Support Facility), and many others.

Relevant posts:

Khanduri Uroe Sjuhada

Economic interpretation of peace

Boh rom-rom: I don’t care anymore

meet Sam and Leo

2006-04-10T11:29:00.000+07:00

Sam Bazzi, my Lebanese-American friend, finally come down to Aceh after his stay in Indonesia since September 2005. He accompanied by Leo, a Mexican who loves Indonesia too. Both could be considered as young Indonesianist.

Instead of coming to Aceh for tourism, they seem to prefer to chat about the reconstruction challenges. They arrived in Banda Aceh, 30 March, stay overnight there and then in 31 March heading to Sigli, Pidie, where I work.

In the afternoon, we sit at the beach discussing about what is the plan for tomorrow (1 April). Finally we decide that we will make a trip across Pidie region, from Sigli up to Ulim (my hometown). The intention is for them to see:

Panteraja area, where the wet camp area is.

our housing project in Peurade.

The living in the village, by visiting my family home & land.

Visiting the Bustanul Aitam Orphanage.

Here is our picture: from the beach, enjoy the coconut near my cousin shrimp-pond, Sam take on the coconut after making out with the shrimp.

In the afternoon we heading back to Sigli then to Banda Aceh and stay at my aunty home in TVRI, Mata Ie area.

In the following day (2 April) I drove them to airport, to find out that the ticket suppose to be for 1st April. Mmmmhhh, what kind of traveler who does not check out the ticket properly. Instead of worry about the flight, it seems Sam more eager to winking his eye at the girl in the ticket booth. Guy, you are in messy situation, try a little bit focus!

Fortunately, the girl like Sam and Leo and give them the seat at the last minute. What a day!

Relevant posts:

other failure is our success

Panti Asuhan Bustanul Aitam

new coffee bean selection

2006-03-31T00:24:00.000+07:00

There are two new selections in my coffee bean club:

RAJA (as usual, I pick Sumatra Mandheling).

Aceh Coffee Company.

Raja, I like it for the medium-roast, providing strong aroma with fresh taste while the mix of sourness-bitterness is there. To get stronger taste, I will grind it to a little bit finer.

Aceh Coffee Company with it ‘espresso arabica’ has a very strong taste, because of the dark roast as well as fine grind. What I do not like is the small bag only available in finer grind selection, make it difficult to store for longer time and losing it aroma rapidly.

Except for the price, I will recommend Aceh Coffee Company for your all day coffee time ;-)

Relevant posts:

I love my coffee black and strong

sugar cane juice law

time IS NOT on my side

2006-03-27T13:22:00.000+07:00

The past haunt me now. It supposed to be a little adventure, then it became a little bit out of control. Just like that.

Yet the problem continues, for the notorious is sticky than ever.

The time is not on my side then, as much as now. Only bad luck and trouble tailing me, cause fire may walk with me.

(Benar2 lagi bingung aja nih, jadi iseng nggak jelas )

Okay, just wanna rock on now:

The chance you got comes never twice
Do your best, (and) do it right

Time will come but don't you hide
You are on your way

(helloween, ‘the chance’ in the ‘pink bubbles go ape’)

sweet face

2006-03-25T01:31:00.000+07:00

well, many of my friend complaint on my look with moustache & the hat. So here I change my pict for the popular demand. The blue seem suit my calm happy face. Always happy after a good meal with right companion.

Relevant posts:

dinner @ mantra

dugemist pulang kampung

at the orphanage with Mubarak

Field Monitoring TDH Italy

boh rom rom: i don't care anymore

2006-03-24T00:49:00.000+07:00

I read the news in The Jakarta Post about our partner, UN Habitat work (BRR warns it may take over unfinished contracts, 8 March 2006). I calm my self then ignore it. Who care what big man with big salary say!

Later on, my boss informed all the officers that Kuntoro had been mislead by his subordinate who unable update the data properly.

Well, the news is out there big man. Better watch your word next time, we are partner in this confusion of construction.

Then I attended a seminar from Aceh Institute about “The Role of Local Human Resources”, as a presenter (btw, no clear definition what is ‘local’ human resources). The chair of the committee, a good friend of mine, teased me about the news and he suggested that I say something.

I flared up! Then declare (in Indonesian) something like this:
I don’t care what Kuntoro say, I do not work for him.
As much as I don’t care what media write.
I’m Pidie people, working in Pidie, for the people of Pidie.
It is the word my partner, the Pidie people, that become my concern!
The rest is not my business.

I’m so damn tired with so many people talking so many things. Yet they never really clarify or verify anything.

In this land where all people keep complaining about anything, from a relevant one up to a delusional one, you must have the ability to separate the noise from the information. Otherwise, you will end up distress and make the wrong decision.

So, here is a short stupid poem of mine:
     boh rom-rom hana di Geumpang,
     boh rom-rom na di Banda,
     diputa-puta, diputi-puti,
     di pe buet hana,
peng habeh di sekuet

the stupid poem say: BRR is not present in Geumpang, they are in Banda Aceh, they just twist here & there, but non is done, yet the money is gone!

note : boh rom-rom is a nick name that I fond for BRR (Aceh & Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Body).

Relevant posts:

Other failure is our success

every time it rain

every time it rain, part 2

field monitoring, shelter (picture)

kids of the century

2006-03-16T17:12:00.000+07:00

Here are pictures from field monitoring in Geunteng Timu (Batee, Pidie), in 16 March 2006. They are kids of the century, for their nice happy smile.

We implement livelihood (cash for work) and shelter program there. Today I come to check out how are the shelter construction progress and its impact on infrastructure there. The heavy load and high frequency of truck passing the area to supply construction material has caused the road and hanged-bridge spoils seriously.

Yet, I find that two kids smile happy for their pictures have been taken by me. You two kids: “layak dapat Bintang” (upsss, it is haram, well I give you Bintang zero then).

Relevant posts:

Other failure is our success

field monitoring, livelihood (story)

field monitoring, shelter (picture)

field monitoring, livelihood (picture)

sugar cane juice law

2006-03-11T19:00:00.000+07:00

The law is simple rule:

if you travel and pass the sugar cane juice maker,
drink at least two glasses of the juice.

If I’m not travel in the car, then the rule apply for my driver who must buy at least two package of sugar cane juice.

I buy it before Seulimum (around 40 Km from Banda Aceh), at Paru (Km 140), and at Glee Geuleungku (around Km 190). I buy it when I go, and when I return!

Yes! I’m very fond of sugar cane juice, since my childhood. In fact, I’m addicted to sugar, cane or brown sugar (from palm or coconut tree). I ate sugar as a candy. Sometime I mix sugar with little coffee powder, to add the excitement.

Later, I try my best to control my addiction. And many of my friend’s complaint if I eat brown sugar at coffee shop such as Starbuck or Coffee Bean.

During Ramadhan, when Muslim fasting, I often buy up to 3 glasses sugar cane juice for opening the fast in the night. No, I do not share it with anyone. It is for me, my self, and I, alone! One time, mistakenly the driver & security guards though that I asked them to buy 3 glasses to share it. Daaaa! Later I clarify and told them to buy additional package if they want, but do not touch mine!

So, sugar cane juice does rule!

Relevant posts:

feast vengeance - incomplete mission

Ganja Sebagai Bumbu??

I love my coffee black and strong

Makan 1 : Nasi Campur Bali

president believes

2006-02-26T14:51:00.000+07:00

Does democracy contribute to a better choice of president?

Well, I think so.

In the past, Indonesia has to wait 25~30 years to replace bad president. Now the replacement could happen in two to five years. But does the new president is better than the former?

Here is the case:

The first president, Soekarno, believed in hocus pocus to lead the country, in addition to empty jargon such as berdikari, “go to hell with your aid” to US, and konfrontasi against Malaysia.

The second president, Soeharto, believed that his power determine by the condition of Merapi mountain. So when Merapi mountain throw up its lava, Soeharto force to step down by people power.

The third president, Habibie! Actually no body believes he is a president, but himself.

The fourth president, Abdurrahman Wahid, believe that sacrificing chicken to the holy ghost in South Coast of Java (ruwatan) will save his seat. The fact is, with the problem he created; even sacrificing an elephant is not big enough.

The fifth president, Megawati, has serious trouble with logic: she believes that Soekarno soul could guide her as a President. Therefore, Megawati pilgrims to his father graveyard to get a sign before she made big decision fro the country. Well, even when Soekarno alived he cannot save his own butt from Soeharto, how can he help her after his death? I loss with the idea!

The present President believes in media communication!

Yes, public relation and media strategist is all his concern. Rating…rating….and rating. Like the teen idol in the TV who confidence that SMS pooling will save the rest of her/his life.

That is why SBY spend his time watching TV, reading newspaper, listen to radio. He wants to know about his rating. If his rating decreases, he will call all his people (and ministry) and urge them to do some action to save the day.

If there are event he can show his face and look like a nice wise guy, he will attend it for the media coverage.

In my opinion: that is the trouble we get if we choose president base on media manipulation, he is crazy about media and does not care about his voters anymore.

Mr President, do you think the poor people will get better after your visit?

But then, his believe better than former president. At least he believe in something modern and some logic in it: public relation and media strategist with statistically proper sampling method.

Note: my friend who is a parliament member confirm to me about the President paranoid about his image in media, especially related all that popular polling and rating.

Relevant posts:

Government is Shit: A Restatement!

media (melanjutkan) pembodohan masyarakat

Hukum Cambuk = Hukum Islam???

feast vengeance - incomplete mission

2006-02-03T00:25:00.000+07:00

The trip to Jakarta, 23-31 Jan, not only office trip, but also supposed to be a feast vengeance. Big plan in my head: jitlada, queen’s tandoor, jewel of india, kuppa, champa, sushi nobu, poke sushi, ajengan, and just name it all. Cause I want it and a lot of it!

Unfortunately, the big plan comes with bad time and bad strategy.

The food at Sari Pan Pacific hotel taste like garbage (24-26 Jan). Two days in row the hotel served the same menu: beef rendang, sweet-soar fish, and such thing that I have no interest to remember. The cake is quite okay, that crab cake, sweet chocolate, and so.

But on the whole, I hate the food.

I try to compensate my misery at night with a visit to Kuppa, Plaza Indonesia (Jan 24). As standard: green beef curry, tom yum goong, and vegetable (bean sprout is my choice). Again, I feel so so. Maybe my bad mood has ruined my appetite. The next night, Jan 25, I eat at Sushi Tei (Plaza Senayan). Name it: set of Oshumi Sushimori, my fave Salmon Belly Soup, Jumbo Dragon Roll, and Ebi Tempura. Thanks to my friend Sam Bazzi, my sister, n her husband for accompany me. Otherwise, I cannot imagine how to finish it all!

Salmon belly soup is the best, as always!

After big dinner, I need big drink. Dragon Fly is the place. This is my first time at that fancy place. Try the “one night stand” which the syrup was too sweet. Fortunately the ‘southern comfort’ always reminds me about the comfort living in the southern Jakarta.

Jan 27, lunch @ Kyoto teppanyaki; complete set of beef, seafood, and a lot of vegetable. And someone special as companion, AL. Full and satisfy! I feel suit to this place, especially in term of the size! Dinner @ spaghetti house, not my fave place. The spicy tuna spaghetti quite good. But I never understand Italian food. Italian Expresso is yes, the food is no go! The important thing, my friend all there: sweet Anna, aunty sari, Mami Lia, Jeng Rena, Pak Bido, Mas Adi, and Nature. What a crowd dinner!

Jan 28, lunch at The Café Cartel, Thamrin, with VV! One thing in my head; get that big chunk of beef steak and dump it into my stomach. Dinner @ sate senayan, menteng. Tahu telor (tofu & egg); so sweet & crunchy, mix with succulent taste. Add chicken sate. Across, is Mario’s Place. I suppose to get ‘bang-bang-boom’, my regular drink at MP. Everyone must try once! But I decide to get Black Russian and Vodka Orange, warm but no hip!

Jan 29 @ Bebek Bali, Taman Ria Senayan. It is a mini reunion of FEUI class 92. Around 40 more came. Surprisingly, not so many know that the crispy duck fried is the favorite food there. I’m not sure why most of my friends keep eating all that noodle, rice, vegetable, and fish. Try the crispy duck fren! Dinner @ Poke Sushi with Dela. Trust me: do not pass the dynamite, plus all crunchy roll (spicy tuna or dragon). Don’t ruin the taste, just take tea as your drink.

Jan 30, lunch @ Haveli! Damn, I don’t know that they only serve buffet for lunch. Great buffet, but I cannot get my spicy biryani and prawn masala. Well, I can get the at least: rice pulaw, masala dosai, samosa, and some other food (vegetable, mix meat, etc, that I forget the name). In the night, another big size dinner @ Hanamasa, Mahakam Blok M. it is all about the size, boil, and grill! Eat…eat…eat…, don’t stop till u get enough!

Relevant posts;

Ganja Sebagai Bumbu??

I love my coffee black and strong

Makan 1 : Nasi Campur Bali

dinner @ mantra

Takeru Kobayashi

Hukum Cambuk = Hukum Islam???

2006-02-01T19:08:00.000+07:00

Sebenarnya saya mencoba menghindari membahas isu hukum cambuk dalam konteks agama Islam. Semata2 karena saya tidak ahli dalam hal agama Islam (syariah) dan saya bukan penganut Islam yg baik. Tapi karena selalu muncul pertanyaan yg sama dari teman2, baik serius maupun sekedar sinisme, ya jadi lah catatan ini. Menyadari keterbatasan pemahaman saya tentang agama Islam, maka catatan ini semata-mata dari aspek logis saja, aspek agama putuskan sendiri2.

Dengan pelaksanaan hukum cambuk di Aceh, baik terhadap penjudi maupun pelaku khalwat (mesum or bermesraan diluar hubungan nikah), ada loncatan kesimpulan (jump into conclusion) bahwa telah dilaksanakan hukum Islam. Loncatan kesimpulan ini muncul karena ada kesamaan hukuman cambuk yg dilakukan dengan yg dimaksud dalam Al Quran/Hadits serta tradisi di masa Nabi/sahabat.

Saya sendiri tidak mau buru2 memutuskan apakah hukum cambuk di Aceh itu sama dengan hukum Islam, atau sebaliknya: kezaliman berkedok Islam.

Berikut logikanya.

Pertama, hukum Islam harus lah meletakkan Al Qur'an & hadits sebagai sumber hukum tertinggi. Dalam praktek hukum cambuk di Aceh, hukuman dilaksanakan berdasarkan Qanun, dimana Qanun memiliki landasan UU Otonomi Khusus, yg mana UU Otonomi Khusus adalah derivasi UUD 1945 & Pancasila. Hmmmm, dimana Al Qur'an dan Hadits??? Entah lah.

Kalau pun disebut Al Qur'an dan hadits, jangan2 hanya sebagai sampiran.

Lucunya, Qanun itu dinyatakan untuk menggantikan hukum sekuler yg sering dirasakan tidak adil. Tapi mengapa Qanun harus berdasarkan hukum sekuler yg dirasa tidak adil tsb??

Seorang teman berargumen bahwa di Malaysia penerapan hukum Islam juga dilaksanakan didalam negara yg berdasarkan hukum sekuler. Respon saya: tidak pernah saya dengar dlm Islam pernyataan "ikutilah Malaysia". Yg selalu saya dengar: ikutilah Al Qur'an & Hadits (btw, kalau ikut Malaysia, berarti Aceh juga perlu segera mendirikan lokalisasi judi seperti Genting???).

Kedua, prinsip pelaksanaan hukum. Prinsip disini termasuk: pelaksanaan yg tidak parsial atau diskriminatif dan dilaksanakan oleh orang2 yang adil.

Bila ingin menegakkan hukum cambuk yg Islami, saya kira pelaksanaan hukum cambuk (atau teman2-nya) tidak boleh diskriminatif. Hanya berlaku bagi rakyat sipil, TNI/Polri tidak berlaku hukum Syariah. Hanya berlaku untuk kejahatan kecil yg biasa dilakukan rakyat kecil (spt mencuri, judi), tidak berlaku bagi pelaku kejahatan berat seperti koruptor, pemerkosa, dan pembunuh.

Satu pendapat menyatakan: belum berlakunya hukum syariah bagi koruptor, pemerkosa, dan pembunuh karena belum ada Qanun-nya. Saya bingung, dalam Al Qur'an & hadits sudah jelas hukuman bagi koruptor, pemerkosa, dan pembunuh, mengapa harus nunggu Qanun. Jelas2 Qanun tsb banyak direkayasa oleh eksekutif, legislatif, dan TNI/Polri yg jadi dalang utama pelaku korupsi, perkosaan, dan pembunuhan. Bila Al Qur'an dan Hadits harus menunggu Qanun penerapannya, jelas aneh sekali. Mengapa hukum Al Qur'an & hadits harus tunduk kepada hukum2 sekuler buatan orang2 yg zalim???

Timbul masalah juga dengan orang pelaksananya. Hukum yg adil hanya bisa dilaksanakan oleh orang2 yg adil. Bila pelaksana hukum adalah orang2 zalim, maka hukum yg ada ya hukum zalim; meskipun hukumannya berkedok dan diberi embel2 Syariah Islam.
Sebagaimana diketahui, tokoh2 (lebih tepatnya penokoh) rakyat Aceh cenderung diam saja terhadap kejahatan korupsi, pembunuhan, dan perkosaan yg terjadi di Aceh. Dengan kata lain, mereka adalah orang2 zalim. Jadi bagaimana tiba2 sekarang orang2 zalim ini ingin menegakkan keadilan di Aceh dengan menerapkan hukum cambuk terhadap pelaku judi kecil2-an dan orang bermesraan. Padahal mereka berdiam diri atau turut serta dalam kejahatan yg lebih besar. Di jaman pemerintahan Nabi & sahabat para penegak hukum Islam orang2 adil yg mengorbankan harta dan nyawanya demi kepentingan rakyat dan kebesaran Islam. Di jaman sekarang, pemerintah NAD, DPRD, dan TNI/Polri adalah orang2 yg memperkaya dirinya dengan menzalimi hak2 rakyat. Tidak mungkin orang2 zalim menegakkan hukum Islam.

Ketiga, motif pelaksanaan hukum Syariah. Sejak lama yg dituntut masyarakat Aceh adalah keadilan, yaitu berupa penegakan hukum terhadap para pelanggar Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM), khususnya dalam era Daerah Operasi Militer (DOM). Hukum harus ditegakkan terhadap mereka yg dengan semena-mena merampas hak2 kehidupan dari masyarakat.
Anehnya respon Jakarta terhadap tuntutan penegakan hukum bagi pelanggar HAM ini tidak terlihat. Rezim Jakarta lalu membelokkan tuntutan penegakan hukuman bagi pelanggar HAM menjadi isyu penegakan hukum Syariah Islam. Isyu penegakan hukum Syariah Islam hanya dijadikan alat politik oleh rezim Jakarta. Agama dijadikan sebagai instrumen untuk membiarkan pelanggaran HAM di Aceh dan bahkan mendorong perpecahan karena penerapan hukum berkedok Islam yang feodalis dan patriakis.

Masyarakat Aceh sadar betul keanehan hukum cambuk yg diterapkan di Aceh. Ini terbukti dari berbagai sinisme yang dilontarkan masyarakat terhadap perilaku orang2 yang ngotot dalam penegakan hukum cambuk bagi kejahatan2 kecil, tapi membebaskan penjahat2 besar. Lucunya lagi, mereka yg getol menyuarakan hukum Islam ini tidak berdaya terhadap pelanggaran2 hukum Islam yang dilakukan oleh TNI/Polri, DPRD, dan koruptor besar ala Abdullah Puteh.

So putuskan sendiri apakah hukum cambuk di Aceh itu benar hukum Islam????

(Gambar: Beni bin Saleh (45) warga Desa Landuk Kecamatan Rantau berdarah dan bengkak bagian punggung usai menjalani 40 kali razam dari algojo. Tubuhnya bergetar menahan rasa sakit, dikhawatirkan shok Beni terpaksa di larikan ke Rumah Sakit Umum Karang Baru.Selasa, Sumber: Serambi Indonesia, 31 januari 2006).

Relevant posts:

Government is Shit: A Restatement!

Corruption and a leftover wood

Khanduri Uroe Sjuhada

2006-01-23T10:31:00.000+07:00

Yesterday (Jan 22), I attended a kanduri (feast) for orphanage across Pidie district. The event held by GAM (Free Aceh Movement) to socialize the peace process and to pray for lasting peace.

The event was held in Cubo (Bandar Dua sub-district), one of GAM base. The late Abdullah Syafie (former GAM Military Chieft) was ambushed and shoot to die (22 January 2002) by TNI (Indonesia army) in that area.

So the day become the Hari Syuhada (heroism day) for GAM.

But yesterday, the commemoration was not full with war spirit, but it was full of confidence and spirit for peace.

Thousand orphans and villagers come to the event. The crowd caused traffic jam, so I have to stop the car around 3 Km from Blang Sukon, place where they held the event, and walk.

The cook already prepared since Jan 21. The people said the guests had come since around 09.00. In spite a lot of food flowing in to the place, at 12.00 the kids had to wait almost one hour to get the meal. The committee asked grown up people to wait after the orphanage for meal.

The place really crowd and the hot weather force some kids passing-out.

Considering the thousand crowd, the committee seem handling the event very well. Every one has their meal, though the grown up have it at 14.30. Health section ready all the time to assist kids and villagers who was tired.

After the feast, each kid got a ‘sarung’ (traditional garment). They look very happy during the walking back, though they also very tired.

At 14.00 o’clock I decide to go back. Well, I cannot stand anymore since I feel so hungry, yet I do not want to queue for the food. How can I queue while the kids already desperate for food.

Tired but happy. In my way, I pick up 3 villagers (2 was kid) who walk back from the event. If they walk, it was around 10 Km from the main road where there is public transportation.

Note: in the afternoon my friend told me that actually the committee prepared a special place for us, including after a session about reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pidie. What funny was, they wait for my present to give some speech. What a confusion!

Btw, now I’m heading to Jakarta (24-31 January). When I get back to office, I’ll tell you more.

economic interpretation of peace

2006-01-21T00:45:00.000+07:00

Efforts for peace once again come to Aceh. The agreement is there, the spirit accompanies it, the people full of hope, and the process is happening. Everyone pray it will last forever.

So what is the meaning of peace? Surely it is about safety in all daily activities; from sleep, working, traveling, praying, and back to sleep.

From the entire hip for peace, the earliest interpretation of it is about economic; better income and welfare. Well, we live in the materialistic world where anything that matter seems to be ownership of assets. Climbing the social ladder mostly also about wealth accumulation. Study hard at school narrowly bound just for career, which mean a higher salary.

Then no wonder when peace there, economic interpretation becomes crucial.

List the examples:

people work back to paddy farm that had been left for years

ignore plantation became like a forest, now is clear up

crowd in the coffee shop happening pass the midnight, compare to conflict time which end at 07.00 p.m.

across city transportation (say Banda Aceh – Medan) continue for 24 hours, while in the past it was stopped before dark

and more….

Small bus terminal in Sigli, where I live now, active 24 hours, proofing the confidence and vote for peace.

I have good title for a post conflict program too: Maintaining Peace through Economic Empowerment/Development. Yeahhh, only title for now. See later if we can any budget for that. This brings my memory back to brief on Aceh in Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) during the “Cessation of Hostility Agreement” (COHA) titling: Promoting Peaceful Development in Aceh.

The poster spread through the region also say about it clearly, Peace are:

you can trade and go to market everywhere

you can farm anytime

you can go to the sea anytime

you can go to the paddy field without fear

you can study and teach anywhere

Let’s make it real and preserve the peace.

Relevant posts:
- bi-weekly round up, Dec '05

reconnected

2006-01-20T20:23:00.000+07:00

finally......reconnected!
happy like a little kid.

well, since last week, thursday morning (Jan 12), the internet was down. the lightning struck the transmitter tower and destroying several equipment. improper grounding cable make it worse.

after waiting new equipment from medan/jakarta. then changes the equipment because they sent the wrong one. plus hard work and all the trial, finally reconnected.

so lets sing together:

...

Reconnected and it feels so good
Reconnected 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited 'cause we're reconnected, hey, hey ..

...

adapted from reunited lyric.

cheers

Field Monitoring

2006-01-08T20:57:00.000+07:00

Last week I did another field monitoring in Bireun district. In field monitoring, I directly discuss with stakeholders (government official, implementing partners officer, community leaders, villagers non-beneficiaries and beneficiaries) issues relates to the donation distribution. Here are several points that I try to find out:

does the donation reach the target (in term quantity & quality)

does the donation useful to the beneficiaries

how is the mechanism distributing the donation (transparency, public participatory, beneficiaries selection)

are there any special attention to marginalize/most vulnerable people (diffable, single parent, women, elderly, etc)

what is the impacts from the donations (both positives & negatives)

and general question “are there any problems”, such as corruption, unsuitable donation, etc.

are there any recommendation to improve the future program

While we may pretend to know better than the villagers, not surprisingly villagers learn faster and has more idea what is good for them. Well, it is their life, so they suppose to know better than me.

See also my previous post on Field Monitoring, with picture (pict1 and pict2)

donation from Beydoun family

2006-01-06T00:54:00.000+07:00

Recently, I met sister Zaynab (of Victory News Magazine) in Banda Aceh, Dec 25. We have been in touch since 2000 by email and phone, mostly relates to discussion about Aceh.

Sister Zaynab has generously donated to Bustanul Aitam orphanage (see also my note on the orphanage, in Indonesian). Now, she bring donation from her friends Nabil Beydoun and Alaine Beydoun, from Cairns, Australia.

I delivery the donation to the orphanage committee in January 1, 2006. Well, it is a nice gift for beginning the year.

Thanks a lot for your donation Nabil and Alaine :-)

To thou who want to donate for the orphan in Ulim, you can transfer the funds to:
Bank BNI – Sigli Branch,
Account Number: 61093541
On behalf of: Ilyas IB/ Yayasan Bustanul Aitam
Swift Code: BNINIDJA

If you pass the area and want to visit the orphanage, the address and contact:
Yayasan Bustanul Aitam,
Jl Meunasah Krueng Keude Ulim
Jl Banda Aceh Medan KM 163, Aceh
Phone: +62-(0)644-545057
Mobile: +62-(0)8566162033

For more information, you can reach me by email or Yahoo Messenger rpidie.

first of Jan '06

2006-01-06T00:53:00.000+07:00

I suppose to write this note in Jan 1, ’06, at night. But I was too tired at that time. In the following day until now, I was busy with office work. In fact, this afternoon I just finish two days field monitoring travel (I tell about it later).

Why I make this note? Cause my friends curiously asking how did I celebrate my New Year in Aceh? (After long time – 13 years – I stay in Jakarta, they curious how after three months I’m still in Pidie, Aceh).

For sure, when the time cross 2005 to 2006, I have been surfing for hour searching information about scholarship. I’m looking for short term training, study, or professional program with maximum one year duration. These two programs seem to be very interesting: the International Summer School, University of Oslo, and School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia (actually, I have already submitted one application for short term training program: Financial Institutions for Private Enterprise Development (FIPED), John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University).

Entering 2006, what a surprise, someone called me to wish me Happy New Year. It is a special call I guess, what a nice girl. Thanks ;-) ….

The following day, first of Jan ’06, Sunday, here was my activities list:

opening duck farm training, morning, @ Lampoh Saka, Pidie (120 Km from Banda Aceh, don’t ask me how its happen).

passing house construction area, Peurade village.

take a new picture of latest progress bridge building in Meue village, Trienggadieng sub-district.

visit my cousin

give donation from Nabil Beydoun and Alaine Beydoun (Cairns, Australia) to Bustanul Aitam orphanage.

visit my uncle

home at afternoon, dinner, then long rest.

Sometime I confuse between holiday and working day, all is just mix up.

Come to think about it, I have never celebrated New Year before, why do I care about it now?

bi-weekly round up, Dec '05

2005-12-31T15:48:00.000+07:00

Instead of preparing office bi-weekly report, I decide to write my blog bi-weekly round up.

House hand over ceremony (Peurade, Pidie, Dec 21)

The event went well, with Bupati Pidie (District Head), Head of Bappeda (Regional Development Board), and Regional Army/Police Chief was there. Our team and partner also complete, including the representative from Embassy Donor.

Five house ready, compare to 25 ~ 50 we planned. Many houses have reached final stage of construction: have roof, wall partially smooth cement, and rough floor. I believe all houses, 200, in that area will finish by mid Jan ‘06.

The event is a proof that we have progressed significantly in shelter program. Hopefully, donors will provide more fund for program expansion.

Currently, around 1,150 houses in construction, majorities are new house and some are rehabilitation of damage house. In village Rawa Gampong and Peukan Baro (near Sigli city), 200 houses has advanced rapidly. I’m confidence by mid Feb ’06 all 200 will finish. At the same time, other 750 houses have begun construct across Pidie region.

In the afternoon, Mas Wawan (our partner area manager) invited us for free drink to celebrate the good day. Personally, I feel happy, like a little kid, and wanna hop around such a craziest fox.

Language alienation

Now, many people use English term/acronym in daily communication. In the past time, people use Indonesia term/acronym for the same object. Even in Indonesian they may not know what the object they talk, but at least they familiar with the term.

Worse, now people use English term even without knowing what the meaning of the word. They just say it because other says the term. Example of the words: NGO (non-government organization), UN (United Nations), Red Cross, livelihood, shelter, and mangrove.

From quick check and few discussions, I find out people mostly does not understand that NGO is what in Indonesian call LSM (Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat, Community Development Institution). Many think that UN and its agent that does not have ‘UN’ letter in its acronym (ILO, WHO, FAO, WFP) are the same as usual NGO. As in the case NGO term, commoners do not know that UN is what we call PBB (Persatuan Bangsa-bangsa).

Red Cross is easier to identify, because all Red Cross around the world, including Palang Merah Indonesia, has the same logo and everybody familiar with it.

Rather than saying “pemberdayaan ekonomi rakyat” (people economic empowerment, which is famous term for politician and govt official in Indonesia), now they say “program livelihood”.

I’m not sure whether it is better to translate the term into Indonesian, so people understand better what they say. Or let them use the English term, without knowing what it is, following the way our discussion among donors/NGO which usually use English.

Anyway, what matters for the people is how much actually we have provided for their need; food, house, capital to start up small business, various small infrastructure/public building, etc.

Dances; creative or fake art?

In Sunday (Dec 25), my friends and I visited a traditional dance group at a Junior High School Wanna Great, Lubuk Gapuy, in Greater Aceh area. The kids, all girl and nice too, show us four dances, Seumerah (washing), Likok Pulo (move of Pulo), Panyot (lamp), and a medley of the three dances. Two of the dances, Seumeurah and Panyot, suppose to be creative dances. While Likok Pulo is a traditional dances from Pulo (island, which is located at coastal around Banda Aceh).

After the visit, we begin discussing what traditional dances or creative dances are. One of my friend state that the essence of Acehnese dance is a complex combination of dynamic varieties move, sound of music from instrument and vocal, and collectiveness. Then she criticized the dances of Seumeurah and Panyot for not having the dynamic varieties move, thus fail to be a real Acehnese dances. She continue explaining that the two dances is similar to many Malay dances, where no vocal sound and consist of simple step forward/ back/ left/ right/ up/ down.

Another friend, who is dancer, also criticizes that combining several dances into one dance is not new creation. In fact, it makes the dances loosing its original value. He suggests that the combination is based on popular and commercial demand which disrespect art of dance. Minimizing movement in dances also show lack of creativity, disgracing any dances claiming to be Acehnese one.

One thing we agree: the chair of the dance group is civil servant who actually lack of creativity. But his position in cultural office makes him an art creator, especially the one with govt sponsor.

A year after commemoration

Dec 26, as many other people in Aceh, I attended one year commemorated of tsunami. I was in Grand Mosque of Baiturrahman, Banda Aceh. People come to say pray together, for them who die or lost in the tsunami, and for a better future (especially with peace is in Aceh now).

Then, I moved to a “Siang Malam” coffee shop near the mosque. Siang Malam famous for mie kocok (noodle soup) and es campur (ice drink). You know, I always in hungry state. In addition, the place also reminds me of my past.

By noon, my friend wanted to go to Ulee Lheu area, which is called as “the ground zero” of tsunami. The president, SBY, was attended the commemoration there. Ironically, some of the people who live in the camp for almost a year have to demolish their home. This is to allow the President to have a good view in that area. Well, whoever the president, authoritarian or democratically elected, she/he just human who does not like seeing misery but she/he happy to trampled people to covers it.

As another tourist who still not bored for misery sight seeing, we check out the house and port construction in that area. One of the board state the spirit of the people: “lebih baik disini, kampung kita sendiri” (yes the word is similar to popular rock song Rumah Kita). I just hope that more NGO will let the people build the donation house by them self; known as public participatory approach development.

Btw, déjà vu, my mother in 20 Dec 2004 was in Jakarta, visiting me. That was how she escaped tsunami. And recently, Dec 18, my mother flied to Jakarta again.

Post conflict program – assessment

As soon after tsunami, I attended several donors meeting: USAID, international NGO coordination, World Bank, and ADB. One thing that I repeat consistently: without peace, tsunami recovery program only solve partial Aceh backwardness problem. Cause Aceh backwardness problem, such as poverty, low education quality, slow economic growth/industrialization, largely conflicts related. During the conflicts, Aceh was totally in isolation. In fact delay in international emergency assistance for Aceh happen because of the “Martial Law” and years of isolation (see special section Human Rights Watch on Aceh.

As soon as peace process begins, with strong support from international community, I believe that it is time for me to come back to Aceh. And there the peace agreement signed in August 15, 2005. It bringing more hopes that ever, far beyond the hope during earlier peace dialog (Cessation Of Hostility Agreement, Jan 2000- Mar 2003).

After I join UNDP ERTR, again I stress the important of post-conflict program in addition to tsunami recovery program. I said internally, international NGO coordination meeting, seminars, and also every meeting with local government/NGO.

When our boss from Jakarta says she will send mission to conduct assessment to prepare post conflict livelihood program, I’m happy again, like a little kids, craziest as a fox (you see, I rarely feel happy, so this is a good sign).

During Dec 28-29, we conducted assessment for the post conflict livelihood program. Hopefully, the proposal will ready soon and in two or three months we ready for the program. Well, good news at the end of the year.

So… happy new year! Hopefully, next year will be more productive, in work and blogging ;-)

Ganja Sebagai Bumbu??

2005-12-31T10:02:00.000+07:00

Sebagai orang Aceh, dalam perjalanan saya ke berbagai daerah, ketika makan selalu timbul pertanyaan dari teman2: “Katanya di Aceh ganja digunakan sebagai bumbu masakan?”

Saya biasa balik bertanya:

Apa anda pernah makan masakan Aceh yg pakai bumbu ganja?

Apa teman kamu yang bercerita menyatakan pernah makan masakan Aceh yg pakai bumbu ganja?

Dan saya tahu pasti jawaban yg diberikan adalah “tidak” dilanjutkan: “katanya”...ya...hanya “katanya”.

Di Indonesia ini saya sudah dengar banyak “katanya”. Katanya indonesia kaya raya, kolam susu, tongkat kayu dan batu jadi tanaman. Kok penghasilan per kapita rendah aka miskin terus ya???

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Lihat link berikut mengenai “katanya” ganja sebagai bumbu:

Kalau masakan Aceh biasanya suka dikasih campuran ganja sedikit. Katanya kalau di Aceh, ganja memang dipakai sebagai campuran bumbu masak, apalagi kalau gulai kepala ikan. (Dunia Ibu).

Mi Aceh yang Pakai "Tuâ" (Kompas Kamis, 21 Juli 2005).

Ini lebih netral, “Ada Ganja dalam Masakan Aceh?“ (Kompas, Sabtu 23 Juli 2005).
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Pendukung teori ganja sebagai bumbu masakan umumnya hanya berpegang pada “katanya”, tidak ada yg bisa menunjukkan bukti apa pun. Sayang “katanya” itu sudah menjadi kebenaran yg diterima apa adanya oleh orang-orang bodoh yg mendominasi negri lemot ini, mulai dari yg tidak berpendidikan, sampe yg punya gelar Doktor (spt Hamzah Haz itu), mulai yg pegawai kecil, ampe pejabat tinggi. Semuanya hanya “katanya” (pantas ini negri nggak bergerak kemana-mana, dikira masalah bisa selesai dengan “katanya”).

Seingat saya, pernyataan ganja sebagai bumbu masak di Aceh dilontarkan oleh Prof. Ali Hasjmi, mantan Gubernur Aceh & juga mantan ketua MUI Aceh. Ucapan itu muncul pertengahan 80-an or awal 90-an, ketika berita suburnya ganja di Aceh semakin top.

Sebagian besar orang Aceh memandang Ali Hasjmi (AH) sbg seorang tokoh. Bagi saya, beliau seorang penokoh rakyat Aceh. Mengapa? Tulisan sejarah beliau terlalu banyak yg dipelintir. AH juga cenderung menulis tentang Aceh dan orang Aceh sebagai makhluk yg tidak ada cela, tidak mungkin salah. Semua yg berbau Aceh hanya ada baiknya! So ketika masalah banyaknya ganja di Aceh mendapat sorotan nasional, AH mencari pembenaran dengan menyatakan ganja adalah bumbu masakan.

Apa dia punya bukti sejarah? Tantangan sama bagi yg menyatakan ganja adalah bumbu, apa kalian bisa menunjukkan bukti sejarah kepada saya?

Mari kita lihat!

Orang Eropa yg paling top mengenai sejarah & kebudayaan Aceh adalah Snouck Hurgronje (SH), dengan maha karya “De Atjehers” (sudah diterjemahkan dalam bhs Inggris dan Indonesia. Terjemahan Indonesia diterbitkan Balai Pustaka). Dalam buku paling top tentang Aceh itu, SH menggambarkan berbagai hal terkait dengan orang Aceh, mulai bangun tidur, makan, kerja, ibadah, sampe tidur lagi. Juga ada perayaan2, kepercayaan, dsb-nya. Termasuk didalam buku itu dibahas berbagai bumbu yang digunakan dalam masakan Aceh dan info obat2-an tradisional. Tapi tidak ada satu pun yang menyatakan bahwa ganja (mariyuana or kanabis) digunakan sebagai bumbu. Menariknya, dalam rangka merendahkan orang Aceh, SH menyatakan bahwa orang Aceh juara madat (hisap candu) berhubung konsumsi candu per kapita orang Aceh jauh diatas rata2 konsumsi pe kapita nusantara.

Bila SH dengan sangat berlebihan menunjukkan hobi madat untuk merendahkan orang Aceh, mengapa dia luput memperhatikan kebiasaan pake ganja?? Apa SH kurang teliti?? Tapi dia mendaftar bumbu2 yg dipakai di Aceh. Apa SH belum kenal ganja? (tanya: ganja dikenal mulai tahun berapa sih di Eropa??). Atau memang pada saat itu ganja belum popular di Aceh?

Ahli ilmu sosial akan bilang, ya meskipun tidak ada bukti empiris/tertulis yg kuat, coba gali cerita dari mulut ke mulut. Okay, saya kembali bertanya, pernah nggak anda2 pendukung teori ganja sbg bumbu masak check cerita2 tsb ke orang2 tua?

Lagi2, krn faktor malas dan kebodohan, pasti jawabannya: TIDAK!

Waktu saya masih tinggal dan jalan ke berbagai daerah di Aceh (khususnya tahun 1990-1994), saya selalu meluangkan waktu untuk bertanya tentang hal ini. Apalagi waktu itu Daerah Operasi Militer (DOM) sedang berlangsung, dimana berita ganja di Aceh sangat rajin dihembuskan oleh TNI/Polri dan media2 nasional sbg antek Orba.

Hal yg saya temukan, pernyataan bahwa ganja sbg bumbu masakan ternyata muncul dari generasi yg lahir setelah 1950-an, ya mereka yg besar di tahun 60&80-an. Contohnya ya Ibu, Makcik, dan Miwa saya, juga beberapa orang lain yg segenerasi. Nenek saya (dari pihak Ibu or Ayah, or nenek angkat) semua menyatakan tidak memakai ganja dalam masakannya. Demikian juga pernyataan beberapa kakek/nenek yg saya temui sepanjang perjalanan saya dari Lhok Seumawe, Bireuen, Samalanga, Meureudu, Sigli, Banda Aceh, terus ke Meulaboh, & Tapaktuan.

Karena pernyataannya saling berbeda, maka ada yg bohong. Entah yg generasi Ibu/Makcik/Miwa, or Kakek/Nenek. Tapi kalau melihat sikap orang2 generasi setelah 1950-an suka pakai “katanya“, saya lebih percaya generasi kakek/nenek saya.

Kalau ditanya ke restoran yg top di Aceh pun, tidak ada yg bilang mereka pakai ganja dalam masakan. Boleh jadi mereka juga bohong. Yg jelas kalau anda tanya ke si juru masak dan dia tahu anda pendatang yg sedang nyari masakan pakai ganja, paling dijawab “Coba saja sendiri“, dengan senyum penuh tanda rahasia.

Bagi pedagang, itu jawaban rasional untuk menjual produknya. Apa mau anda calon pembeli pindah ke puluhan keude gule sie kameng (gule daging kambing) lain di sepanjang jalan di Aceh???

Nah kalau si penanya menyimpulkan bahwa itu masakan benar mengandung ganja, saya kira karena dia bodoh saja. Jump into conclusion fallacy!

Ada yg bilang, itu di resto Medan Baru (krekot bunder, Jakarta) ada yg jual “Sambel Ganja”. Well, lagi2 ketololon yg berlebihan. “Sambel Ganja”, di Aceh dikenal sebagai Asam Udeung (Asam Udang), dibuat dari: asam belimbing, udang direbus setengah masak, daun jeruk nipis (diiris2), dan sedikit sereh. Satu piring kecil modalnya nggak sampe seribu. Kalau dipakai judul “Asam Udang”, sumpah paling mahal cuma laku Rp 3,000/porsi. Kalau pakai judul “Sambel Ganja”, orang2 bodoh yg punya duit akan beli pada harga Rp 5,000-8,000/ porsi (dgn isi sktr 3~4 sendok makan). Dan setiap orang bisa makan sampe 2 porsi.

Kalau anda pedagang, pilih mana jual pada harga murah or mahal?

Bagaimana saya percaya pendapat pendukung teori ganja sebagai bumbu masak, membedakan irisan daun jeruk dengan daun ganja dalam sambel udang saja tidak bisa!

Bukti2 lain tentang katanya ganja sebagai bumbu masak berasal dari perasaan yg muncul sedang/ setelah makan: tidak kenyang2, mengantuk, dada berdebar, pusing, dll. Well, dengan lemak kiloan di sekitar perut dan pantat anda yg malas, wajar anda mengantuk terus, baik saat lapar mau pun kenyang. Dasar lu orang malas. Kepala pusing dan dada berdebar?? Apa yg diharapkan setelah makan berbagai lemak dan kolesterol dalam masakan Aceh? Badan jadi lebih fit???

Masakan Aceh sangat dipengaruhi oleh masakan India (berbagai kari; dari kambing, ikan, ayam, apalagi kari daging ikan Hiu). Ganja juga istilah India. Karena itu saya juga tanya kebiasaan pakai ganja di Asia bagian selatan kepada seorang peneliti yg lama tinggal di India, Banglades, Pakistan, dan sekitar. Dia juga penikmat kari. Dia bilang, di Nepal ada lassi yg pakai ganja. Tapi itu juga biasanya dijual untuk orang2 bule yg mencari sesuatu yg eksotis.

Well, repot nih jadinya. Memang ganja udah dikenal dalam berbagai masyarakat, tapi saya masih ragu ganja adalah bumbu masakan di Aceh. Karena kurangnya bukti, yg ada adalah penyataan “katanya” dari generasi yg besar di tahun setelah 1960-an, masa ganja popular bersama the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, dll (check out “Sweet Leaf“ - Black Sabbath). Pada saat bersamaan muncul buku2 yg mempromosikan ganja sebagai bumbu masakan, misal Adam Gottlieb’s, “Art and Science of Cooking with Cannabis” (High Times / Level Press, 1974).

Menurut saya, era 70-an ini lah ide2 tentang ganja berkembang pesat. Di Aceh, ide2 ganja ini berkembang, kebetulan, sejalan dengan operasi militer 1976-1982, 1989-1990-an. Dan bukan kebetulan bila ganja bisa bebas keluar Aceh karena keterlibatan oknum TNI/Polri, atau minimal: TNI/Polri tidak bertugas dengan baik, hanya malas2-an dan makan gaji buta.

Saran saya buat pejabat/tokoh Aceh: jangan membenarkan keberadaan ganja di Aceh dgn mitos ganja sebagai bumbu masak. Pejabat/tokoh Aceh harus berani menunjukkan mengapa ganja melimpah ruah di Aceh, yaitu lemahnya kemauan TNI/Polri menegakkan hukum! Boleh anda bilang ganja ditanam diam2, dirahasiakan dari aparat TNI/Polri. Tapi ingat, kayu haram dari Aceh juga bebas keluar ke Sumut di depan mata TNI/Polri. Lagi2 masalah kemauan menegakkan hukum!

Dan jangan anda urus masalah ganja di negri jauh entah dimana, di Jakarta di setiap pojok jalan orang bebas jualan narkoba. Pakai istilah “katanya“ lebih mudah beli pil koplo/ ekstasi daripada obat sakit kepala.

Akhirnya, satu saran buat pengguna ganja: berhentilah menggunakan ganja. Enakan ‘makan’ ekstasi/the ice/the cooler. ….Apalagi kalau dikombinasikan dengan booster mentol; dari rokok, permen, bahkan vicks vaporub. Sediakan es batu buat sistem pendingin. Plus Gabriel & Dresden, di pantai lagi! Fly with the devil! Reap it! (see www.ecstasy.org ).

2005-12-20T23:29:00.000+07:00

Here is the area what I call wet camp, in Panteraja, Pidie (150KM from Banda Aceh). My colleagues was there, Monday (Dec 19, '05), to survey the area. Mr Raja (left) and Mr Mubarak (right). Tent, plastic, slump, and lot of water! What a hell of area to live in.
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every time it rain, part2

2005-12-20T23:11:00.000+07:00

Another rainy night, short yet heavy one. I’m worry again about the housing project. Worry all the time!

Tomorrow we will have the house hand over ceremony. My partner told me several houses ready, many almost finish, the rest around 70% finish.

Hopefully tomorrow everything will go smoothly.

Several reporters confirm to come. If this success, we can do more for this region, my home land, home of the rebel. Hopefully!

(note: when Iskandar Muda, king of Aceh in early 1600s rebel against his uncle, Pidie is his base. Teungku Chik di Tiro, and his family, fought continuously (1874-1910) the Dutch invasion, his base is Pidie. Teungku Daud Beureueh (Darul Islam movement, 1953-1962) also from Pidie, with his main commando in Geumpang, a small town in mountainous area in Pidie. Finally, Teungku Hasan di Tiro, also from Pidie. Now you know why I name it ‘home of the rebel’)

Well, I tell u before about wet camp, here is the picture. So you can imagine what a downtrodden life they have! Especially in this rainy season.

My friend is calling his colleagues in the field. Discussing traffic problem in the area where hand over ceremony will be hold. A big tree fall down to the street. But I believe tomorrow the area will be clear!

Now, I just want to sleep, so I can wake up fresh & ready for tomorrow ceremony.

every time it rain

2005-12-20T08:00:00.000+07:00

Yesterday, I visited the house construction site, again (Dec 18). The house construction has progressed, a lot. Roof is ready and most of the wall cemented smoothly. Floor also cemented, though some part is still coarse. The wall is ready for first paint layer.

I thought: finally, we will have our show! And hopefully, the show will bring us more money for the tsunami victims or even conflict victims.

Yes, we plan to hold the house hand over ceremony in Dec 21. Our partner has invited important people, including an Ambassador of Donor Country.

I do have concern at that time. If the rain falls, we are in big trouble! In fact my partner, Mas Wawan, was joking that if only he can hire a shaman rain to chase away the cloud from the area.

Tonight, our worry comes into a nightmare. Damn…damn…damn! Suddenly rain drops heavily, like God against and curse our plan! I really stress out. They just paint the house, so it will be gone in the morning. Walah….I don’t know what to say. I rarely pray, even now I realize pray will not help me, for God sabotage my plan.

I thought it is only govt officer who harass our program, now I know….God maybe hate it too.

My brain jams again! So what can I do? Confuse, tired, and desperate!

Okay, never mind, forget the entire problem! So I click my media player, get some helloween, the hardest, to break out my hang brain: midnight sun, push, falling higher, and ride the sky!

Blow it!!!!

Hoping the song can boost my spirit:

With magic in our hands
We are lost-and-found contenders
For a kingdom of our stand
Come together no surrender at all

When we unite
We're falling higher
When worlds collide
We'll stand straight in turmoil and fear
No harm coming near
(helloween , falling higher)

At 10.30, the rain drops lightly! Really tired now and hungry too. Headache! Damn, that people in the wet camp will get wash again. &%*(^@#&)_* pap lemo! (there, I curse again).

So it goes as Nazareth sing: every time it rain, i fall apart, than I start to remember. Every time it rain, I think of them (yehhh, a little plesetan).

Then…eat…eat…and eat. To survive my stress, eating is another solution.

(this post could not be uploaded last night, internet was down when rain, as usual. So I post it in the morning after)

media (melanjutkan) pembodohan masyarakat

2005-12-18T23:08:00.000+07:00

media di indonesia sepertinya tidak lelah berusaha membuktikan bahwa mereka adalah garda terdepan bangsa dalam pembodohan masyarakat.

bersaing keras dengan lembaga2 pendidikan penjual ijazah, media di indonesia menyebarkan berbagai kebohongan, menjebak masyarakat yg umumnya kurang pendidikan dan lemah daya nalar, lalu berdiam diri ketika hal yg sebenarnya terbongkar.

demikian dalam kasus money game g cosmos, probest, anne ahira, dan roy suryo.

sbgmn diketahui, Anne Ahira menjadi top di media setelah kompas memunculkan profilnya (lihat: kompas1 & kompas2). lalu media lain (swa, cosmo, intisari, dll) menyusul kebodohan kompas. hanya majalah tempo yg berhati2 dlm menilai sukses anne ahira.

banyak teman2 netter coba mengingat media: dgn kirim surat pembaca, nimbrung di milis pantau (tempat orang media), dan via kampanye net. ada yg ekstrim (termasuk saya), ada yg lebih netral.

sayang masih banyak juga jadi korban. akhirnya, anne ahira & elite team menjadi "korban" juga, dlm artian: mesin penipuan mereka diputus oleh FFSI.

saya terus terang kecewa dgn cara berakhirnya riwayat anne ahira. saya lebih berharap perkembangan alami multi-level-marketing (mlm)/money game yg akan mengakhiri anne ahira. sehingga benar2 terbukti bahwa yg namanya mlm itu sama seperti usaha lain: satu direktur, beberapa wakil direktur, dan ribuan/jutaan karyawan. untuk money game malah: satu bos penipu, beberapa wakil bos penipu, ribuan/jutaan korban penipuan.

apa hendak dikata, skrg tinggal penyesalan bagi sebagian pengikutnya: Curhat Seorang Korban Money Game . yg lain maju terus dengan FFSI Indonesia.

ya sudah lah, yg berlalu biar lah berlalu, yg patah kan tumbuh, yg hilang kan berganti. maksudnya, pembodohan oleh media dan penipu ala g cosmos, probest, pt qsar, dan anne ahira masih akan terus ada disekitar kita.

eh…benar aja! namun sekarang beda isunya: bukan uang, tapi popularitas. di negri ini, media memang suka sekali dengan pernyataan kontroversial dari orang popular.

dari bidang ekonomi, lebih mudah saya memberikan contohnya. coba, pernah dengar kah nama Ari Kuncoro atau Sudarno Sumarto? saya yakin sangat sedikit mahasiswa/dosen ekonomi yg pernah dengar. Kalau ditanya siapa ekonom indonesia, pasti yg disebut nama2 popular yg sering muncul dikoran (tahu sendiri lah namanya).

ini lah beda ekonom di negara maju dengan negara terbelakang spt indonesia. di negara maju ekonom adalah orang2 peneliti bidang ekonomi yg punya publikasi di jurnal2 ilmiah. di indonesia, ekonom adalah orang yg berani asal komentar di media tanpa melakukan penelitian apa pun. biasa disebut pengamat, mirip pengangguran yg duduk di pinggir jalan dan suka mengamati yg lewat sambil ber-siut2.

hal yg sama berlaku bagi dunia informasi dan teknologi (IT). yg top ya roy suryo , yg sebenarnya tidak tahu apa2 mengenai IT. orang yg benar2 tahu dan kerja dibidang IT malah nggak top.

banyak teman2 dari IT yg keroyokan membongkar kebohongan roy. berhubung medan perang berbeda, maka tidak bisa dibilang siapa yg menang atau kalah. kalau di media konvensional (koran, radio, tv), jelas roy yg menang. di internet, bisa dibilang roy kalah.

namun baru2 ini medan perang itu terjadi di kedua tempat: konvesional (koran) dan internet. berbeda dengan perang2 yg sebelumnya, kali ini di kedua medan perang roy kalah telak.

dalam perang tersebut, lagi2 terlihat media di Indonesia sangat tidak bermutu. dengan adanya internet, sangat mudah mencari info perang roy vs priyadi (+ pasukan IT). tinggal google aja dikit atau kunjungi blog2 yg melawan roy. pasti dapat info yg cukup dan segera bisa dikonfirmasi untuk mengimbangi pernyataan roy. sayang media di indonesia lebih fokus pada popularitas (si roy) daripada isi masalah (IT) yg sedang dibicarakan.

media tidak pernah mau belajar dari kegagalan/kesalahan masa lalu, dan tetap bertahan pada prinsip bahwa popularitas jauh diatas segalanya. so it goes, in the land where stupidity is highly demanded, the stupidity rules the game.

Corruption and a leftover wood

2005-12-16T14:48:00.000+07:00

This simple board from leftover wood is people cry out about corruption: "Please Head of District, prosecutes the contractor who build this road because it was better than now. Too much corruption. Even motor-cycle-cab cannot use it, moreover car". In the stick is typical Pidie (Aceh) curse which say "company of a bad seed" (literally it is said: the company of no-good sperm).
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A week end + Monday!

2005-12-13T13:57:00.000+07:00

Friday, a colleague informed me that I have to replace my boss for a seminar “Tsunami Summit 2005”, @ 12 December, in Lhok Seumawe city (280 KM from Banda Aceh). At the same time, several report already in deadline.

So this week end becomes a full working hour: preparing weekly report (not finish), Note to File for 1st period project (feebly finish), and seminar presentation.

As usual, I get loss with all the report. Disorder comes in and my brain is jammed!

So there I am, Sunday searching material for my presentation. Late @ night finished my so-so presentation.

It was a very rainy week-end, raising my concern that the house construction will delay again. The area, where our house project implemented is low ground, most likely will flood.

Monday morning, wake up at 06.00, in total I slept for less than 4 hours. I have to travel to Lhok Seumawe, around 3 hour trip.

Passing Panteraja area, where torn refugee camp is, misery expose to my face. Wet camp, flooded since Sunday night. The only thing in my mind: need more money for more programs, including the permanent shelter for these downtrodden wet refugees.

In few second, we pass our housing project side, Peurade. I can see the mark from flash flood. Damn, I think I will not able to show the house to Donors before Dec 26, where I can also show Panteraja wet camp and beg more money for program expansion.

The rainy season suppose to be good luck, but now it is turn into a problem! (in Tuesday, Dec 13, my partner inform me that some of the house owner loss their sand, washed by the flood. It is difficult time to buy sand, since the sand mine is in the river and the area totally wash).

I tried my best to take a nap during the trip. A few minutes in my nap, my mobile phone was ringing. Hmmm, it was not an important call.

In the seminar, no easy life too! People keep cornering speaker from BRR, many bashing NGO poor performance, and later they also turn to me.

Well, I come not only as UNDP ERTR officer, I also an Acehnese and my mother is suffered by tsunami. So I know better how to respond all the cynical with my own cynical, irony, and even sarcasm. I gave them the same statement what I say to my mother: she must not dream that she will get the donation house in one year (I said it at the end of January 2005, still have to wait to proof it). I repeat again the same statement when we visit my village, Lampulo, recently (Dec 4), where an international NGO is showing the house design (I know the NGO has budget and they will build it. But it takes time, which some of this people cannot easily understand).

Not all is negative and skeptical. I also explain how public participatory approach in house construction (and other programs) delivery a better result: minimum complaint, lower cost, no corruption, and good quality. Though time to build house is relatively longer, it is a learning process: a valuable investment for future community development.

And as usual, in my tired and desperation, I have an easy way to get over it. I eat ‘sate matang’ (local style beef barbeque, famous from Matang Geulempang Dua, 225 KM from Banda Aceh) with soup. Then, I buy three medium size durians. Arrive in Sigli, at 10.15 pm, I eat one and half of the durian, while the other eaten by driver and security (now they know my stomach is larger than they thought). At 11.00, I go to bed with full stomach and hibernated brain.

Other failure is our success

2005-12-11T12:33:00.000+07:00

One colleague sent me news (dating Nov 30) from local newspaper with note: Community refused housing assistance from an NGO (non-government organization) as the houses didn’t meet standard building code. However, NICE NGO (edited, our partner name) got a good report for smooth construction & good quality of houses in the area (see bolded sentences below).

You can measure success in several ways:

do your best, without any target

set up the target and reach or over it

do as you can and find someone else failure

In number (1), the measure of success depends on process evaluation: do we have done our best? Since it does not have a target or standard, it is difficult to say what is success or failure.

The number (2) is more precise measurement, especially when we have quantitative indicators.

The number (3) solely relies on our luck, which means not really our luck, but a matter of another people bad luck.

Now back to our program. Actually, in my standard and our partner plan, the project is not really on track. From 415 quantities planned, now in construction are 342. Around 50 of them are the project hallmark and suppose to be finished by Nov 20. Yet till now (Dec 11), we have not finished a single house. Then we plan for finishing at least 5 houses for inauguration by Dec 21. Personally, I doubt we can do it as rainy season really cause serious obstruction.

In term of quality, we also have problems. House construction through public participatory approach is not easy: the people lack of skill, knowledge, and experience in construction. We sit and learn together while our civil engineer tries their best transferring knowledge. The engineers, who also construction supervisor, have to give advice to owner, who responsible to build it.

Unfortunately, combination of lack of skills, ignorant, and needs (the owner want house and it must be ready soon), induce the owner to order workers to build as fast as possible and take the house as it is. In their head (owner & worker) it is okay, since in the past that is how they build house.

However in term of engineering standard, such as earthquake resistant, the building is not good enough. It could be the source of the danger for the resident, since earthquake regularly happen and may destroy it.

In spite all the problems and weaknesses, we are success. The success comes from another NGO projects failure and they cannot delivery people expectation, even the lowest expectation.

Well, an ironic rule in the land of confusion: another people failure is our success.

Note:
I also suspect that some of the villagers refuse to accept Fail NGO house because they are jealous, seeing the neighbor village house is permanent and larger. At the same time, fact also indicates the Fail NGO is not able to delivery its promise, since Fail NGO has approach NICE NGO (our partner) to take over the house construction.

Thanks for your generous donation

2005-12-10T14:02:00.000+07:00

My friend Hendra Harahap just donate again to Bustanul Aitam orphanage (see also my note on the orphanage, in Indonesian), in my hometown Ulim-Pidie. This reminds me to thanks all community and my friends who generously support the orphanage:

villagers in Ulim who continually provide basic needs (rice donation and school fee)

Hendra Harahap (Indonesia)

Sister Zaynab Al Fatah (Australia), editor of Victory News Magazine

Leela Young & Sam Stephen Stake (USA)

workers of PT Indo Pacific Sheraton (Indonesia)

Nahdatul Ulama by Beny Sya’af

Hari Kusdaryanto (Indonesia)

With all your support we can do much better for these kids: better foods, living place, and school.

Actually I plan to create a blog for the orphanage, but I do not have spare time yet. I try my best to do it soon.

To thou who want to donate for the orphan in Ulim, you can transfer the funds to:
Bank BNI – Sigli Branch,
Account Number: 61093541
On behalf of: Ilyas IB/ Yayasan Bustanul Aitam
Swift Code: BNINIDJA

If you pass the area and want to visit the orphanage, the address and contact:
Yayasan Bustanul Aitam,
Jl Meunasah Krueng Keude Ulim
Jl Banda Aceh Medan KM 163, Aceh
Phone: +62-(0)644-545057
Mobile: +62-(0)8566162033

For more information, you can reach me by email or Yahoo Messenger rpidie.

almost a year after

2005-12-10T00:38:00.000+07:00

some people lucky,
for instantly die and out of this ruin land,
other less lucky,
waiting to die,
while others running around to find their beloved one.

many just have a bad luck,
to live on and witnesses the misery.

a month after,
my mother stand in front of her ruin house,
asking why?

some say to her,
you were lucky for not being there.

and I repeat the same hate;
the deaths were the lucky, we just had a bad luck

now almost a year after,
i stand in this land,
confuse,
fragile,
hopeless,
asking what the hell is going on
or shout, i want out

yet she keeps asking why?

sekilas info

2005-12-07T00:00:00.000+07:00

Rencananya sih mau update blog malam ini. Tapi nggak jadi. Abis cape berat. Kegiatan sejak sore kamis (1 des ’05) mulai dengan perjalanan ke banda aceh, lalu jum’at rapat, sabtu pergi-pulang sigli-banda aceh (ngantar bos UNDP), minggu nemenin nyokap lihat sisa rumah di Lampulo (Banda Aceh) dan cek-n-ricek rencana pembangunan dari sebuah LSM internasional, senin-selasa masih di banda aceh untuk rapat monitoring dan bahas isu2 terkait. Demikian aja cerita ringkas kali ini. Nitezzz3

I love my coffee black and strong

2005-11-28T22:09:00.000+07:00

I love my coffee black! Here is my almost complete perfection to a cup of coffee: selected bean (Excelso from PT Santos Jaya Abadi -also famous for its Kopi Kapal Api- or Aroma -of Jalan Banceuy Bandung), Braun coffee grinder, and a traditional Vietnamese coffee maker. For bean, I recommend Arabica of (old or aged) Sumatra Mandailing, Gayo Mountain, and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Perfect aroma you will get from any Aroma product which already store for over 5 years in special warehouse. As far my memory can take it, only Old Sumatra Mandheling of Coffee Club (Singapore franchise, available at Plaza Senayan) can compete with Aroma Sumatra Mandailing, though later is the winner in price.
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Panti Asuhan Bustanul Aitam

2005-11-24T23:28:00.000+07:00

Di Panti Asuhan Bustanul Aitam (Ulim, Pidie, sktr 164 Km dari Banda Aceh) kami menampung anak2 korban konflik, miskin, dan tsunami. Sebagian besar anak tersebut korban konflik; apakah orang tuanya meninggal karena peluru nyasar, dibunuh oleh TNI/Polri, maupun oleh GAM. Ada juga orang2 yang apa pun kondisi Aceh memang miskin. Paska tsunami, ada 5 anak tambahan. Secara keseluruhan ada sekitar 60 anak. Beberapa bukan penghuni tetap, melainkan titipan keluarga yang setiap saat bisa mengajak kembali anak yatim itu kerumahnya.

Yang ditampung sementara memang hanya sebagian dari anak yatim di kecamatan Ulim. Kapasitas kamar sudah penuh (lihat gambar: Kamar penuh sesak). Dan hanya anak pria, maklum pengurus terbatas dan semua pria. Ada pun umur anak-anaknya berkisar antara 10~18 tahun.

Selain panti asuhan, juga ada taman kanak-kanak ala kadar yang dikelola oleh 3 orang guru honorer yang bersedia dibayar ala kadar juga.

Secara makanan cukup terjamin, karena ada stok 6~7 ton beras sumbangan dari penduduk setempat. Beras itu sebagai cadangan untuk bertahan 8 bulan dengan makan nasi aja. Secara gizi memang masih kurang, karena tidak ada dana operasi yang memadai. Untuk pakaian, untung2-an ada yang nyumbang sarung, pakaian sekolah, dan pakaian lebaran. Biaya sekolah diusahakan dari penduduk sekitar plus negosiasi untuk dapat diskon dari sekolahnya. Perbaikan tempat tinggal tambal sulam, kalau ada atap bocor atau papan yang lapuk. Mudah2-an sekolah dasar sangat tua (dibangun 1968) yg dikonversi jadi panti asuhan ini tidak segera roboh :-(( .

Pemerintah ada juga kasih sumbangan, untuk 35 anak sebesar Rp 2250/hari/anak. Konyol kan, ada 60 anak yg dibantu cuma 35 dan besarnya tidak cukup untuk satu kali makan. Emang anak yatim cukup makan sekali sehari?

Rencana mau cari dana untuk bangun permanen. Tapi kemana? Coba minta sama teman2. Dulu banyak yang takut nyumbang dengan alasan takut diselewengkan buat mendukung GAM. Paska tsunami, tetap susah dapat sumbangan meskipun banyak donor lokal dan asing. Alasannya: bukan korban tsunami.

Gila, masa anak korban konflik harus kena tsunami dulu baru bisa dapat bantuan. Tega benar! Dimana2, anak yatim ya sama aja, tetap yatim, baik karena konflik atau tsunami atau alamiah.

Mudah2-an nantinya ada beberapa anak yg bisa sukses dan mengingat masa2 mereka di Bustanul Aitam dan bisa bantu saudaranya yang kurang beruntung.

Jadi teringat novel “The Insulted and Humiliated” dari Dostoevsky dengan sedikit pelesetan: Don't go to anyone, be alone and poor, and work, and if you can't get work, let me beg alms for you kids.

Akhirnya, buat yg mau berbagi rezeki & nyumbang, dapat di transfer via:
Bank BNI Cabang Sigli, Aceh, Indonesia
Nomor Rekening: 61093541
Rekening atas Nama: Ilyas IB/ Yayasan Bustanul Aitam
Swift Code: BNINIDJA
Kalau ada yang kebetulan ke Aceh & mau singgah, silahkan ke:
Yayasan Bustanul Aitam,
Jl Meunasah Krueng Keude Ulim
Jl Banda Aceh Medan KM 163, Aceh, Indonesia
Telpon: +62-(0)644-545057
Mobile: +62-(0)85260391971

Info lebih lanjut, silahkan hubungi saya via email or Yahoo Messanger rpidie.

2005-11-24T23:20:00.000+07:00

Kamar penuh sesak
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Panti Asuhan Bustanul Aitam

2005-11-24T22:47:00.000+07:00

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2005-11-24T22:43:00.000+07:00

Tanggal 22 Nov 2005, setelah pulang dari acara peresmian proyek UNDP di Bireun (sktr 210Km dari Banda Aceh), saya mengajak advisor UNDP, Mubarak Ali, untuk mengunjungi panti asuhan (Bustanul Aitam) dimana saya menjadi salah seorang pengurus.
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Takeru Kobayashi

2005-11-21T20:25:00.000+07:00

Hore!!!!!!! Takeru Kobayashi menang lagi. Dia berhasil makan sebanyak 69 burger dalam waktu 8 menit di kompetisi makan internasional “Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship”. Koby bener2 juara bertahan. Maklum, dia juga sudah 5 tahun berturut2 (2001-2005) memegang gelar juara dunia Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Ini orang emang gila makannya. Favorit ku lah. Sayang ku tak pernah berhasil makan menggila seperti dia. Pernah coba latihan makan cepat dan banyak. Hasilnya: rahang dan perut sakit, badan susah bergerak. Yang jelas, perut makin gendut dan berat badan naik dari 78 Kg ke 82 Kg. Tiap medical check up dokter memperingatkan masalah kolesterol. Rese tuh dokter!

Tapi ternyata Koby juga naik berat badannya, dari sekitar 50-an Kg di tahun 2003 menjadi 77Kg sekarang ini.

Well yg jelas cita2 lama untuk naik ke kelas berat 85 Kg sepertinya susah tercapai nih. Maklum, makanan di Aceh meskipun spicy dan banyak kari, tetap tidak ada variasi lain seperti makanan Thai, Jepang, Vietnam, dan India. Bagaimana pun variasi makanan ku perlukan sebagai booster menaikkan berat badan. Jadi teringat masa2 sukses menaikkan berat badan dari 56 ke 63 setelah kerja (1997-1998), selanjutnya malaju kencang dari 63 Kg ke 74 Kg selama di S’pore (1999-mid 2001), dan terus tambah lagi dari 74 Kg ke top 82 Kg selama di Asia Foundation yg sering ada acara makan kantor di buffet Gran Mahakam (2002-2003).

Ternyata sulit mempertahankan berat badan kalau pikiran dan gaya hidup kurang beres nih, drop deh ke 78 Kg & stabil.

Kadangkala, hidup ini emang menjadi lebih baik ketika fokus pada makanan dengan semboyan: makan is for the sake of makan!

More on Koby see:

Takeru @ wikipedia

Takeru @ kizworld

Ini bukan kompetisi main2, ada kompetisi makan internasional dengan federasi-nya segala, lihat: The International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc.

Field Monitoring

2005-11-16T23:46:00.000+07:00

Saya memutuskan bekerja dengan United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), yaitu di bagian “Aceh Emergency Response and Transitional Recovery Programme” (ERTR), karena saya ingin bekerja dalam bidang development yang langsung berhubungan dengan masyarakat.

(Sebelumnya, saya berkeja untuk program development juga, yaitu di Asia Foundation. Program kerjanya lebih ke arah advokasi kebijakan ekonomi, khususnya aspek persaingan usaha, perijinan, dan regulasi.)

Apalagi kerjanya untuk masyarakat kampung halaman saya sendiri yang sangat memerlukan pengganti rumah, infrastruktur, dan kegiatan ekonomi yang hilang akibat tsunami/gempa bumi.

Dalam kepala saya, gambaran yang ada adalah: saya akan punya wewenang untuk memutuskan kegiatan apa, dimana, dan bagaimana implementasinya.

Ternyata, saya harus kecewa karena tugas saya hanya untuk melakukan monitoring and evaluation (monev, kata teman2). Artinya: saya hanya memeriksa dan melaporkan sejauh mana perkembangan program2 yg dilaksanakan oleh mitra2 UNDP (dalam kasus ini UN Habitat, Alisei, dan TDH).

Ada pun program2 utamanya adalah: kerja padat karya (cash for work), pemulihan ekonomi (economic livelihood recovery), dan pembangunan rumah.

Berikut ada dua foto dari kegiatan Field Monitoring yang saya lakukan.

Plus minus dari kerjaan sekarang dibandingkan dengan yg sebelumnya:

plus: gaji lebih besar & biaya hidup lebih rendah (more saving lah), posisi lebih tinggi (Program Officer yang di posisikan menjadi “Area Manager”), dekat dengan keluarga (khususnya Nyokap), suasana kota kecil yang lebih tenang, kalau mau dugem aka ‘living after midnight’ pilihan paling banyak 3TA (tafakur, tadarus, tahajud), real direct to the community development work (compare to policy advocacy work), for sure less interaction with the bull’government’shit.

minus: tidak ada wewenang untuk memutuskan program (hanya monev ingat), jalannya cuma disekitar Banda Aceh-Pidie-Bireun (dulu mencakup sekitar Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, dan Sumatra), pilihan makanan minim: masakan Aceh artinya kari…kari…dan kari (mau Thai, Japan, Vietnam, Manado, Sunda, dll nggak ada), stress karena dikecam kiri-kanan-atas-bawah-depan-belakang (oleh penduduk dan juga keluarga sendiri. Ini ditandai oleh semakin seringnya saya mengeluarkan kata2 jak pap lemo = setubuhi lembu sana), dan tidak ada real dugem (Beng-beng Boom, Cendana, Black Russia, or any additional mix that necessary to make it happen). Yang paling parah: minim ekposur dari ce2 yang manis2 dan tidak boleh sembarangan peluk2 sayang plus cipiki-cipika, bisa2 ku kena cambuk terus :-((

Jadi lah saya sesekali menyanyi “You can’t always get what you want” (rolling stones).

2005-11-16T22:47:00.000+07:00

Field Monitoring on Terre des Hommes Italy "Cash For Work" program, Bireun (240Km from Banda Aceh), 15 Nov '05.
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2005-11-16T22:43:00.000+07:00

Field Monitoring on UN Habitat house construction program, Peurade-Pidie (140 KM from Banda Aceh), 8 Nov '05.
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Teman Seperjalanan

2005-11-14T01:08:00.000+07:00

Lebaran hari kedua, jumat, 4 Nov '05. Berniat lebaran di kampung halaman, Ulim, sktr 165KM dari Banda Aceh. Kendaraan umum, biasa Minibus Mitsubishi L300, sangat sedikit dan penuh terus. Akhirnya ngobrol ama supir truk barang yg kebetulan menuju arah yg sama, yaitu Beureunun (KM125). Numpang lah di bak truk bersama dua orang lain. Yang jelas sangat tidak nyaman, meskipun sampe dengan selamat :-) .

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On pot, coke, & ice

2005-11-14T00:37:00.000+07:00

One way or another there is always a pro & con on pot, coke, ice, and such a thing. See for example: www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org and www.ecstasy.org .

My respond, in one way or another, always point to what rock or metal music group shout out.

You may choose Black Sabbath road (Sweet Leaf, N.I.B, Snowblind) or Gun ‘N Roses way (Brownstone).

The best choice is from Motorheads’ Overkill album: STAY CLEAN !
Nice live opening statement: "This is a song about staying clean!! It means in all things you do, not necessarily washing your legs! The upshot is that if you stay clean they can't ever get you, at least not easily!"

Nigerian Scam dan Donasi Bencana Tsunami

2005-11-12T11:24:00.000+07:00

Saya baru menerima email Nigerian Scam yang mendompleng pengembalian dana donasi untuk tsunami dari lembaga internasional Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Memang dalam setiap kesusahan manusia, selalu ada orang yg mencari untung. Dan ternyata peristiwa tsunami menjadi bahan baku yang sangat baik bagi scam2 yang mereka coba lancarkan.

Beberapa hari setelah tsunami, langsung penipu2 bergerak mencari mangsa. Lihat berita/info berikut:

Charity donors hit by new email scam

Tsunami Disaster Scam Letters FREE Online Database

Hoax-Slayer Newsletter on Tsunami Scam

Sampai hari ini pun mereka masih bergerak mencari mangsanya.

Untuk yang tidak tahu apa itu 419 Nigerian scam, lihat:

United States Secret Service: Advance Fee Fraud Advisory

Nigeria - The 419 Coalition Website

Rz
= =  = =
419 Nigerian Scam Email on Tsunami Donation Reimbursement

Date:     Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:22:59 +0100 (MET)
From:     "Msf charity" <msf_charityhome@gmx.de>   Add to Address Book   Add Mobile Alert To:
Subject:     Sense titol

Good Day,

I am writing you in respect of the GLOBAL relief agency Medecins Sans Frontieres Charity Organization reimbursement donors campaign worldwide.

The Organization is refunding back to donors their money out of the surplus 83 million euros they want to return to all donors who refused the Charity's offer to redirect their donations to lower profile cases like
Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Please check the web link below for more information:

Charity returns tsunami money
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/

I am soliciting for your kind co-operation, to act as one of those that have donated funds to this charity organization and would want his/her fund return back to him/her so that part of this surplus 83 million euros will be reimbursed to you for us to share.

Upon your acceptance, reply me through my personal mailbox: (robert_anderson@accountant.com) for details. And I will send you backing documents issued to those who donated to victims of tsunami through MSF to enable the Organization reimbursed you with part of these surplus funds they are returning. In regards to your agreement with me, I will inform you on your percentage for your assistance.

Best Regards,

Robert Oliver Anderson
Account Officer,
Medicines Sans Frontieres Charity Home.
--
Lust, ein paar Euro nebenbei zu verdienen? Ohne Kosten, ohne Risiko!
Satte Provisionen für GMX Partner: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/partner

Makan 1 : Nasi Campur Bali

2005-11-11T22:15:00.000+07:00

Mau makan yang pedes, lezat, dengan perpaduan rasa gurih dan segar? Well, coba Nasi Campur Bali. Ada tiga tempat saya biasa makan nasi bali, yaitu: Ajengan, Bebek Bengil, dan Pondok Prapanca. Semuanya di daerah Jakarta Selatan, tepatnya Kebayoran Baru (kebetulan saya memang tinggal Kebayoran Baru). Selain itu, yg top juga Bebek Bali, di Taman Ria Senayan.

Setiap Nasi Campur Bali terdiri dari lauk ayam berbumbu (atau bebek), sate, sayuran, sambel, dan telur ayam/bebek. Masakan ayamnya bisa Be Siap Tutu (ayam dimasak dengan bumbu bali), Be Siap Pelalah (ayam bakar dengan bumbu pedas bali), atau Be Siap Sisit (daging ayam digoreng dan disuwir-suwir dicampur bumbu terasi). Kalau bebek, enaknya ya di goreng garing.

Satenya ada dua pilihan, Sate Tusuk Sapi atau Sate Lilit Ayam. Paling hanya ada dua tusuk sate di setiap satu porsi nasi bali. Kalau anda penggemar sate, siap2 memesan satu porsi tambahan untuk memenuhi rasa ingin tahu anda. Buat yang belum pernah makan sate bali, perhatikan bahwa sate bali tidak memakai bumbu kecap/kacang seperti sate biasanya. Bumbu sate bali adalah rempah2 yang langsung dicampur dengan daging dan kemudian dibakar. Sehingga bumbunya menyatu dan menyerap dalam daging sate.

Sebagai penikmat masakan daging; ayam, sate, dan telur lah yang membuat nasi bali sangat lezat. Apalagi dipadu dengan rasa bumbu yang tajam dan rasa pedas.

Sayuran biasanya Jukut Kalas, yaitu campuran kacang panjang dan toge dengan bumbu kacang. Bisa juga Urap, dengan variasi campuran daun singkong, kacang panjang, kol, toge, dan kelapa bumbu. Pelengkapnya adalah Be Pindang Sambel Matah (atau Sambel Matah aja), sambel yang lebih seperti sayuran bawang dicampur dengan daging ikan tongkol suwir dan irisan cabe. Dua lauk ini yang menimbulkan rasa segar bercampur gurih. Di Bebek Bali, sambelnya malah tiga macam. Muaantap!

Tentunya di masing2 tempat ada variasi. Bagi saya yang paling lengkap dan sesuai selera ada di Ajengan. Di Bebek Bengil, ada tambahan kacang kedele goreng dan emping. Dua pelengkap yang saya sukai juga, karena rasa gurihnya semakin rame.

Kemana mengajak kencan anda makan nasi bali?

Terus terang, Pondok Prapanca bukan pilihan terbaik. Tempatnya terpencil, dibelakang Apotik Prapanca, dari namanya jelas di Jalan Prapanca (Kalau anda dari arah Pasaraya Blok M, Apotik Prapanca ada di sebelah kiri anda, sebelum Kantor Walikota Jakarta Selatan). Kelemahan lain dari Pondok Prapanca adalah jalan sempit dan tempat parkir terbatas (repot jika membawa mobil nih), ruangannya sederhana, dan waktu masak yang lama. Harga memang yang termurah. Tapi jangan sampe anda ditinggalkan pacar karena dianggap pelit sehingga rela mengajak kencan di tempat yang kurang menarik. Oh ya…di Pondok Prapacanca ada dua pilihan nasi bali yaitu Nasi Shangrila (porsi lengkap, Rp 20.000 net) dan Nasi Rames Bali (Rp 15.000 net).

Ajengan (Rp 30.000, belum termasuk pajak dan pelayanan 10%), Bebek Bengil (Rp 26.000, belum termasuk pajak dan pelayanan 15%), dan Bebek Bali (Rp 43.900 + pajak dan pelayanan 20%) adalah tempat yang lebih baik untuk kencan.

Ajengan, seperti resto lain yang didirikan dilingkungan perumahan, lagi2 terbatas tempat parkirnya. Tapi suasana Ajengan benar2 menarik dengan arsitektur, perabotan kayu, dekorasi ukiran kayu, dan lukisan2 bernuansa Bali. Musik yang diputar juga musik Bali. Suasana privacy benar2 tercipta bila anda memilih posisi duduk agak kepojok, sangat romantis. Jangan lupa, pesan Brem Bali (Rp 15.000), untuk menenangkan perut setelah makan besar (brem ini juga kelebihan Ajengan, karena di dua resto lain tidak ada minuman dari hasil fermentasi beras khas bali ini).

Bebek Bengil, sebagaimana restoran di mall, suasana modern lebih dominan dan tidak ada dekorasi yang menarik. Aspek praktis menjadi pertimbangan juga. Lokasinya strategis untuk makan dan juga jalan-jalan sejenak. Apalagi bila anda mau melanjutkan kencan ke caffee, ada Tator atau Etcetera, dan lanjut dugem ke Centro atau La Dolce Vita.

Bebek Bali, hmmmm paling okay tempatnya. Cuma paling mahal juga. Seperti Bebek Bengil, letaknya juga strategis, setelah dinner banyak pilihan hiburan lain, mau lounge or billiard.

Selain nasi bali, tentunya banyak menu lain di keempat restoran tersebut, termasuk favorit saya adalah Bebek Goreng.

Ajengan, Jl. Panglima Polim I, No. 65, Jakarta Selatan, telpon: 021-7220227.
Bebek Bengil, Dharmawangsa Square - The City Walk, Lt. dasar, Jl. Dharmawangsa VI-IX, Jakarta Selatan, telpon 021-72788308.
Bebek Bali, Taman Ria Senayan, Jalan Gerbang Pemuda, Phone (021) 574 7224 or 7667.
Pondok Prapanca, Jl. Nipah XV No.3, Jakarta Selatan, telpon 021-722 1985.

Beberapa Link Tulisan Lama

2005-11-11T21:47:00.000+07:00

Blog ini rencananya akan saya isi dulu dengan beberapa tulisan lama saya (era 2001-2003). Tapi saya kesulitan menemukan file tulisan2 tersebut.
Jadi saya putuskan memasang link tulisan yg di Indonesia Business online saja (www.ibonweb.com).
Saya versi bahasa Inggris di Ibonweb rada kacau, ya karena saya tidak pintar bahasa inggris, ya karena editornya kurang okay. Bahkan ada makna tulisan yg berubah gara2 diedit.

Will Rupiah Appreciation Continue? Ini tulisan versi Indonesia-nya dipublikasi di Koran Tempo (6 Agustus 2001), dgn judul “Prospek Nilai Tukar Rupiah”. Merupakan tulisan saya pertama di media, dibuat di tempat teman baik saya Hendra, di Puri Casablanca (ingat nggak Ndra, waktu itu gw nganggur nggak jelas, jadi semangat nulis).

Tulisan yg lain adalah “Catatan Kegagalan Program Stabilisasi Moneter Indonesia”, dipublikasi di Bisnis Indonesia (27 September 2001). Versi Indonesi ini lengkap dan ada grafiknya. Versi ringkasnya dalam bahasa inggris, muncul dengan judul "The Myth of Tight Monetary Policy". Salah satu tulisan terbaik, sampai pernah direposting di situs regional asia, www.asiafeatures.com (sayang ini situs udah mati).

Di awal 2003, saya diajak Bang Faisal untuk jadi narasumber di radio Delta (radio-nya orang2 tua nih). Bahasannya mengenai pertumbuhan ekonomi. Habis ngomong di radio, langsung semangat nulis. Jadi lah opini yg berjudul “Mengkritisi Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Paska Krisis” (Koran Tempo, 10 Maret 2003). Seperti biasa, rangkuman bhs inggrisnya diposting di Ibonweb dgn judul "Unsustainable Economic Growth".

Buat teman2 yg baca, jangan ragu2 mengkritik. Saya biasa kalo dapat kritikan, bagaikan mesin diesel yg panas: jadi lebih kencang mikirnya dan lebih produktif. Seperti yang selalu saya katakana kepada teman2: kalo saya masih nyela kamu, itu semata2 karena saya masih perhatian dan cinta ama kamu. Jadi bersyukur lah.... rz

2005-11-11T15:42:00.000+07:00

dugemist pulang kampung
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2005-11-10T22:37:00.000+07:00

dinner @ mantra
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Situs saya: Aceh Links

2005-11-10T22:17:00.000+07:00

Saya mulai mengenal internet tahun 1996/97. Tapi benar2 aktif di internet mulai 1998 dan semakin aktif di tahun 1999-2001, ketika kuliah di Singapura. Waktu itu saya aktif mempromosikan masalah pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Aceh, khususnya dengan target mereka yang tidak bisa berbahasa Indonesia. Karya pertama saya adalah sebuah halaman link berita, Aceh Links. Untuk memperbaiki format, saya membuat situs Aceh Links baru dengan menggunakan Microsoft Front page dan saya posting di Tripod. Karya lama saya masih bertahan pada peringkat 1~3 bila di google menggunakan kata kunci ‘aceh’.

Situs ini tidak di update dengan beberapa alasan:

keterbatasan fasilitas internet ketika balik ke Jakarta

notebook saya crash dan file2 Aceh Links rusak/hilang

munculnya situs2 Aceh dalam bahasa Inggris yg jauh lebih bagus, misal Acheh Times (belakangan juga ada situs Aceh Kita versi Inggris – sudah tiada sejak September 2005)

Dengan semakin banyak berita mengenai Aceh dalam bahasa Inggris, maka nilai manfaat situs saya juga semakin menurun (in economic term: my private marginal cost larger than social marginal benefit, singkatnya MCprivate > MBsocial). Akhirnya saya membiarkan situs seperti apa adanya sejak pertengahan 2001.

Meskipun banyak yg protes karena banyak informasi baru mengenai Aceh, situs tidak saya tutup. Anggap saja sebuah kenang2-an. Lagipula, masih banyak yg suka kok, berhubung ada beberapa info menarik. rz

my blog @ friendster

2005-11-02T13:17:00.000+07:00

Masih belajar pakai Blogger dan belum sempat memindahkan blog dari Friendster. Jadi lihat blog saya yg di Friendster. rz

Skema Piramid dan Media

2005-10-31T18:10:00.000+07:00

Ini tulisan saya buat karena kesal dengan media2 di Indonesia yg suka asal nulis tentang berbagai usaha yg mudah dan banyak uang. padahal itu usaha kebanyakan bohong adanya.

Herannya, media seperti kompas juga terjebak pada bombastis yg sama, waktu itu kebetulan Anne Ahira yg diliput.

Saya coba nulis surat pembaca, tidak dimuat. Saya posting pendapat di milis orang2 media, pura2 tidak tahu.

Terpaksa gerilya dan aliansi dengan teman2 netters. Dari saran Bung Andreas Harsono (mantan editor Jktpost), saya buat tulisan panjang lebar tentang tipu2 usaha dengan bentuk skema piramid. Tulisan ini sebenarnya restatement dari posting2 sejenis sejak tahun 2001, waktu Probest lagi berjaya. Jadilah tulisan "Skema Piramid, Media, dan Pembodohan Masyarakat".