by the Window, Absorbed, Once More

I used to go to Vit's room back then. He owned a supercool tape, a large window to sit by, and being a student of Indonesian Literature a great selection of books. he introduced me to Burung-burung Manyar, Bumi Manusia, and Catatan Seorang Demonstran among others. (I'd sit by his window, reading while Vit would played metal bands whose music I could bear like Extreme.)

I grew very fond of the latter book, colored red, written by  Soe Hok Gie. i was hooked instantly. it was 1999. it was fun to read and very inspiring. he visited Mt Semeru in my hometown. not even I have climbed it. it's where he died. quite young.

Last Wednesday Deste introduced me to one online site. she was ordering a book written by her friend. i asked her, does it have Soe Hok Gie's? No, she said. meanwhile i was clicking about this book by Rudy Badil, entitled Norman Edwin. I said to her, Pls order me this one and we can save delivery money.

two days later the book hadn't arrived yet. I grew impatient. i lost my newly sown faith in online shopping!, i said to Deste in an air of a drama king. lol. i ws expecting to read it over the weekend!

this morning the two books arrived. Norman Edwin from that lazy online store and Catatan Seorang Demonstran from Adeste (she lends it.)

i had a difficulty in choosing. i want to read both. While lunching, I skimmed Norman Edwin and read through everything written about Gunung Gede, the volcano friends and i climbed last week.

now here i am, sitting by my window, renewing acquaintance with Soe Hok Gie. once again i put layers of respect for this person. ever productive, idealist, brave and honest person, activist, gentleman. (i had been looking for Gie's book for a very long time.)

then in the middle, i switched to Norman Edwin and learnt both Gie and Norman had things in common: Mapala members, UI students, conquered mountaintops, and died there.

Norman Edwin contains the travel writings he submitted to media, while Catatan Seorang Demonstran contains diary entries by Gie.

it's timely that the books arrived at the same time.

inspiring. good reads i will recommend to anyone!