It's funny, the more i make trip the less i listen to music. that means i had great trips and the journey was fun that i was able to chat more with travelmates and strangers as well. few songs remain favorite throughout the trips:
1. Non, Je ne Regrette Rien! - Edith Piaf
2. Through It All - Andrae Crouch
3. I only Want to Be with You - Dusty Springfield
4.How Come - Ray Lamontagne
5. Sailor - Petula Clark
6. Fat Baby - Amy Grant
Senin, 24 Januari 2011
Minggu, 02 Januari 2011
Have Yourself a Merry Little Gathering!
From one Christmas to another, I repeat these lines: Yes, I practice Christianity yet in my family, Christmas is not that special. We used to move from one place to another, so we never thought having a Christmas tree. Since we live in different places, we don't gather at Christmases. It's Ok. Thanks for asking. I do appreciate :)
For most of my Christian friends, coming home for Christmas is a tradition. I never knew that until I went to college and friends would ask, "are you going to go home for Christmas?" or "Why don't you go home (for Christmas)?" Why should I? I replied back then.
Soooooo I been repeating the lines ever since. Last Christmas I spent with friends. So did this Christmas. I spent it with Umi, Phie, Firman and Ipul.
After Christmas service, I went straight home, intending to continue reading The Malay Archipelago and some magazines. It was a difficult time for me.
Umi SMS-ed me, inviting me to her house. "I know you go nowhere. Come here!" Never went there before, so i sought advice.
So I took taxi, "Mister, get me to Ibu Megawati's (Soekarnoputri) house!" My frend's house is near hers.
There I met Phie, Ipul, and later Firman. They're friends who are active at WTM. They were gathering to edit the book they were about to publish. They wished me Merry Christmas and we lunched together. I was touched! They're all of Islamic faith. So sweet of them, yes?
Later we went to Phie's house which is nearby and we ate and be merry.
A week later, we gathered again at Phie's. Right on the new year's eve. This time, I met Hamok, Mamet, Echi, Marley, Riza, and Aby. we cooked, ate, and be merry again.
This is what I learned: people need to gather every now and then. that's what i learn the whole time. and when you regroup, you need to be a good participant. none wants critics at parties. they need good comp'ny. and it was so nice of Anast, Ms. Unicorn, Hendra n Rita to gave me this set of jellies.
So i been a good campaigner of jellies ever since. Friends love them too! the jellies not only can multiply faces, they can multiply happiness
Jumat, 31 Desember 2010
Oh Mister Andrae, Sign This Please!
funny that last week at Phie's house I watched Moonwalker for the first time! i remember friends and i were admiring MJ's poster at the movie theater when we were small. "how could he lean 45 degrees?"
it opens with Man in the Mirror. l'homme dans le mirroir! the song reminds me of This Is It and of course Andrae Crouch whose choir appears in the song. I still envy kak Es. When she went to Sydney in mid 2009, she went to Hillsong to join people singing the song for MJ's memory.
It takes me back to 2001 when i loved mall hopping to find rare albums. there was i at Plasa Senayan with this album Tribute: Songs of Andrae Crouch. i thought, who's he? but i did recognised the lineup: Take 6, MWS, The Winans. so i bought it for Rp 15.000 or about USD1.5.
when i played it, i was like, "i knew these songs! wow, all my life i been singing and listening to these songs!" of course the indonesian version.
years later in late 2008, i read that JakJazz invited Grammy winning soul/jazz musician Andrae Crouch. i was more than happy to get a free ticket to JakJazz. it was so good of Hera to agree to switch her ticket so i could attend the festival not on Friday but instead, on Sunday.
i was mighty happy to watch the show. the stadium was filled with people, singing and dancing to his music. even my friends who never knew his music found his music interesting to dance to. "he's cool. who's he, Sem?"
"You may never heard of me...Indonesia was the first country i visited as a musician. i went here in 1971!" said Andrae .
it certainly wowed everyone so did he and his whole band (including the famous bassist Abraham Laboriel)
after the show, the LO said, there are Q & A session after this.
i thought, my, i must go there! so i called Evi to lend me her ID. she said, OK.
Inside, i was more than happy to meet him. he made everybody smile. he showed big enthusiasm in everybody. he reduced the LO to laughter and tears when he said, "hey, how could you speak that fast! please do it once more. i'd like to hear that again!"
he entertained everyone with fascinating stories. "When I came here in 1971 i did shows in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Denpasar. I traveled with train. I sat with mothers and children...with chickens and vegetables....
"Our opening act was a girl named Henny hmmm... (someone shouted, "Purwonegoro?") ...yes, that's her. is she around?"
it was an honor to meet him in person.
"Oh my, i look so skinny there!" he said when I handed him my old cassette.
Lately i been listening to his songs. timeless pieces. songs that bless my whole being. how happy he must be, being a person who blesses many people though his arts!
and i just found out that even Elvis Presley recorded his song!
So now, I'd like to say, God bless you, Mister Andrae. Love, Sem
it opens with Man in the Mirror. l'homme dans le mirroir! the song reminds me of This Is It and of course Andrae Crouch whose choir appears in the song. I still envy kak Es. When she went to Sydney in mid 2009, she went to Hillsong to join people singing the song for MJ's memory.
It takes me back to 2001 when i loved mall hopping to find rare albums. there was i at Plasa Senayan with this album Tribute: Songs of Andrae Crouch. i thought, who's he? but i did recognised the lineup: Take 6, MWS, The Winans. so i bought it for Rp 15.000 or about USD1.5.
when i played it, i was like, "i knew these songs! wow, all my life i been singing and listening to these songs!" of course the indonesian version.
years later in late 2008, i read that JakJazz invited Grammy winning soul/jazz musician Andrae Crouch. i was more than happy to get a free ticket to JakJazz. it was so good of Hera to agree to switch her ticket so i could attend the festival not on Friday but instead, on Sunday.
i was mighty happy to watch the show. the stadium was filled with people, singing and dancing to his music. even my friends who never knew his music found his music interesting to dance to. "he's cool. who's he, Sem?"
"You may never heard of me...Indonesia was the first country i visited as a musician. i went here in 1971!" said Andrae .
it certainly wowed everyone so did he and his whole band (including the famous bassist Abraham Laboriel)
after the show, the LO said, there are Q & A session after this.
i thought, my, i must go there! so i called Evi to lend me her ID. she said, OK.
Inside, i was more than happy to meet him. he made everybody smile. he showed big enthusiasm in everybody. he reduced the LO to laughter and tears when he said, "hey, how could you speak that fast! please do it once more. i'd like to hear that again!"
he entertained everyone with fascinating stories. "When I came here in 1971 i did shows in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Denpasar. I traveled with train. I sat with mothers and children...with chickens and vegetables....
"Our opening act was a girl named Henny hmmm... (someone shouted, "Purwonegoro?") ...yes, that's her. is she around?"
it was an honor to meet him in person.
"Oh my, i look so skinny there!" he said when I handed him my old cassette.
(it reads: "To Sem, God Bless you, love, Andrae Crouch")
Lately i been listening to his songs. timeless pieces. songs that bless my whole being. how happy he must be, being a person who blesses many people though his arts!
and i just found out that even Elvis Presley recorded his song!
So now, I'd like to say, God bless you, Mister Andrae. Love, Sem
Kamis, 23 Desember 2010
So This Is Christmas. What Have I Done?
Tonight, am having a moment like what Ebenezer Scrooge had experienced. am visited by Christmas thoughts. of course i consciously recall the memories--scenes i can remember. All beautiful. For me, Christmas is a special moment indeed.
I remember singing from church to church with Moses, Delsy, Andre, Johan, Angel, Diana, Kak ?, etc in Bali. That was 1997! Then with PS POSA UI at Balairung or some churches. I dont remember any Christmases at school or at church during childhood. but i can recall one day i realized it wouldn't snow in Indonesia that i ran to fridge to create snow!
Last year, i had a good one. I was traveling with Enti, Ocha, Fit, Siti Hajar, Yudi, and Cupay, en tour to Kudus, Ambarawa, and Semarang. It was Christmas Eve. Cupay and I went to the nearest church (forget the name). It was so nice of Enti, Ocha, Hajar, and Yudi (all of them are of Islamic faith) to accompany us to the churchgate! "We want to make sure you guys don't go elsewhere!" joked Enti. It was very nice of them.
When we returned to the lodgement, they were waiting in front, surprised us with gifts and Christmas log and "We wish you a merry Christmas"! these wowed me. i got a tee and cupay a bolero. oh the log! it was amazing! even at home, we never had any Christmas log! It was one of the best Christmas experience.
i was so happy. Being in the city of Kudus, it was a real Malam Kudus!
During the trip, i stopped playing the new Christmas albums of Tori Amos and Sting in my MP3 player. theirs were melancholic tunes. they only induced gloomy mood.
I remember singing from church to church with Moses, Delsy, Andre, Johan, Angel, Diana, Kak ?, etc in Bali. That was 1997! Then with PS POSA UI at Balairung or some churches. I dont remember any Christmases at school or at church during childhood. but i can recall one day i realized it wouldn't snow in Indonesia that i ran to fridge to create snow!
Last year, i had a good one. I was traveling with Enti, Ocha, Fit, Siti Hajar, Yudi, and Cupay, en tour to Kudus, Ambarawa, and Semarang. It was Christmas Eve. Cupay and I went to the nearest church (forget the name). It was so nice of Enti, Ocha, Hajar, and Yudi (all of them are of Islamic faith) to accompany us to the churchgate! "We want to make sure you guys don't go elsewhere!" joked Enti. It was very nice of them.
When we returned to the lodgement, they were waiting in front, surprised us with gifts and Christmas log and "We wish you a merry Christmas"! these wowed me. i got a tee and cupay a bolero. oh the log! it was amazing! even at home, we never had any Christmas log! It was one of the best Christmas experience.
i was so happy. Being in the city of Kudus, it was a real Malam Kudus!
During the trip, i stopped playing the new Christmas albums of Tori Amos and Sting in my MP3 player. theirs were melancholic tunes. they only induced gloomy mood.
Sabtu, 18 Desember 2010
Mecta Moya
Zhelayu shto ya zhivu v svoei mectoy:
puteshestvovat' po miru
medlenno, Bozhe, medlenno
Molyush' shtoby vsegda delat' eto
v budushem vremeni
Xocu issledovat mir
etu planetu, Zemlya
puteshestvovat' po miru
medlenno, Bozhe, medlenno
Molyush' shtoby vsegda delat' eto
v budushem vremeni
Xocu issledovat mir
etu planetu, Zemlya
S samoletami
S vertoletov
S Deva Ruci
S Spirit Madzapaxit
Molyush' shtoby vsegda delat' eto
Minggu, 05 Desember 2010
Again, To Dive For
(photo by Adrian Nugraha, Ricka Ristianti)
Phie suggested newbies to refresh diving each 6 months. With the exception of Rian and Ocha, none of us had dived since last April. we could not wait to plung. So here we were again. Too bad, Anien, Cupliz, Chokin, and Maria couldn't join the wet fun.
Island hopping: Belanda, Magaran, Harapan, Kaliage, Kotok.
after the last dip, i climbed to the boat and lied exhausted. thought, ii'm going to die. but when i gazed skyward, saw a sea hawk soaring gracefully above Kotok. beautiful. thought, yesterday when i woke up , in my head was playing that song "my soul soars like an eagle up in the sky"
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)