Being in Jakarta can be both a hassle and a delight. The traffic jams, the hug agglomeration of people, the noise in the streets, the pollution, and disturbing urban disorder is complemented by the luxurious environment where business is run. It is usual that important corporations are located in high skyscrapers overweening the city, close to shopping malls of 10 floors with unlimited amount of luxury shops, hotels with the best of the existing facilities within the 5 star range. All of this built as an oasis to the external chaos lived in the streets.
One could tell that the overall combination is worth, since the two hours ride in the taxi to travel 25 km is compensated with the indulgence of being self treated almost as a king. It can be observed as a way to completely recharge batteries and relax, to forget the unpleasant times of dealing with the peace less moments and to get momentarily spoiled. It is in this environment where I continue with my tale.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Birthday Party
From 7 - 9 Nov.
Last Friday 9. Nov I had my Birthday Party. Eventhough I had my birthday on 12.Oct I decided to have it in this Friday. I postponed the party because first of all I did not have enough time and I did not know anybody who could b invited. Initially I was supposed to organize it with some other friends, as a birthday party + house warming party, they putting the house and I the music and the food.
Time passed and no development from their side was observed, so I took over. I arranged the party to be at my place, asked some live musicians to play, got some drinks, and at 20.30 all the people started arriving. We had a very nice pool party, my neighbours came, my colleagues, some friends from outside the office, and of course the musicians.
It was fun because I just got to know the neighbours during that evening, so in order to avoid any negative comment I invited them to the party. All had good time, I was dancing, singing, playing some keyboard, and since it was my party I could do anything without any regrets. When singing, all enjoyed it very much, probably because of my non-professional voice which probably made them think: "how on earth he dares to sing" :-)
The musicians were the same that played at Zania's (my neigbour) party few weeks ago. The arrangement was prefect, all guests were standing in the swiming pool area in the ground floor, and the musicians in the upper floor at the balcony. Fortunately enough the balcony was big enough to fit the whole band. All had a nice time, they played enjoying a nice view from the city, we enjoyed their music.
The food organization was perfect, I called one of my colleagues to arrange it for me :-) She did all the shopping (prepared food of course) and was on time before the band even started playing. We had traditional indonesian food and plenty of cake, the ratio was 1 cake for 3 persons! I think she loved it.
All in all we were about 20 people and they spoke among each other very much. Most of them did not know each other so it was a perfect way for socializing. I was extremely glad when two of my guests, Janina and Clevia, appeared at the front door, they were supposed to be in Jakarta, and I was not expecting them, they decided to take on day earlier flight, and they there were, also celebrating that night!
[picture of pool party]
During next Saturday I went finally to get sightseeing of Semarang. This was the first time since never before I have spent the weekend in the city, and this time was possible. I went to the Golf Club, and visited the driving range. The course seemed very nice since it is built inside between two mountains, it is like a micro valley. I am expecting to play there during the week, starting at 6 am, before it gets very hot.
[picture of Golf course]
Later on during the evening I was at the Zoo. The most amazing part were the lions, the Bengal and Sumatran tigers, and the 7 different species of monkeys. It was amazing that some of the monkeys had the facial structure of a human, only in miniature. I was surprised since I have never seen something like that before. It was also possible to fid them, the difference from Singapore was that these monkeys were in cages, never aloud to run freely in the park.
During the next day, I went together with the Hash Harriers to Ambarawa, a small city close to Semarang, aprox. 30 km, where we left with a steam train built at the end of last century in Leipzig. The machine was in great shape and strong enough to pull the passengers car up hill for about 10 kms. Incredible experience.
During the trip we crossed villages, rice fields, observed volcanoes in the distance, watch the kids running behind the train, and jumping on it, crossed bridges, etc. The landscapes were just green, different tones of green for all the different variety of vegetation. This topped up with the traditional sound of the "choo choo" from a steam train made the experience unique.
We ended up in another town, whose name I don't remember, and started joging for 15 kms. Again we crossed the jungle, this time by feet. The whole journey lasted about two hours and were incredible, crossing rivers, going up and down the mountains, crossing rice fields and different plantations, traversing through small villages, greeting the people. The jogging lasted about 2 hrs but it didn't feel like that.
We were about 60 people, including members and their families. The good thing of this type of Hash is the family environment that exists within. Even though there are sometimes too rough jokes, it is always respectful, without offence to anybody.
Some of us concluded the day by going to a 1.5 hrs body massage to a relaxation SPA. Finally John, one of the oldest members at the Hash, invited us for dinner where we concluded the weekend.
The good thing from Indonesia is that price levels are so low, for example:
Weekend at the beach, including transportation, food, accomodation and soft drinks: 500,000 Rp
Organizing the party for all guests, musicians, food, drinks and cakes: 2,500,000 Rp.
Price for the golf round, including cady and golf cart: 250,000 Rp
Trip with the train to Ambarawa, with an add on 1.5 hr. massage: 150.000 Rp.
At 14,000 Rp per Euro, prices are not bad at all!
Week 46
Today I am in Jakarta, enjoying the peacefulness of my hotel room, and watching the external chaos through my 3 cm thick window, without a single street sound! But soon is time to go, continue my journey visiting different subcons, until I go back to Semarang.
BTW
There have been some terrorist threats to the city of Semarang following the execution of the Bali bombers, I hope non of them get realized, please read through:
**'
Semarang gets bomb threat
Suherdjoko , The Jakarta Post , Semarang Sun, 11/09/2008 12:13 PM National
Few hours after the Bali bombers death execution, a hoax bomb threat was made over the phone to Novotel Hotel in Semarang, Central Java, on Sunday Morning.The threat was received by a phone operator at around 07:00. The hotel immediately contacted the local police.Semarang police bomb squad told all the hotel guests and employees to get out of the building. They swept the hotel for two hours before concluding there was no bomb.
Two choppers to transport bodies of Bali bombers
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Sat, 11/01/2008 9:25 AM National
The National Police said Saturday they would provide two helicopters to transport the bodies of convicted Bali bombers after their execution."We will facilitate the transport of the bodies by helicopter," National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen.Abubakar Nataprawira told tempointeraktif.com.He said one helicopter would be designated to bring the remains of the two death row convicts, Amrozi and Ali Gufron, a.k.a. Mukhlas, to East Java, whereas another would transport the body of Imam Samudera to his hometown in Serang, Banten.Abubakar said the decision to use air transport was made so as to, "expedite the burials."Meanwhile, the National Police are increasing security monitoring around foreign embassies in Jakarta in anticipation of revenge attacks that may follow the imminent execution of the convicted Bali bombers.Abubakar previously said that aside from intensifying protection of embassies in Jakarta, the police were also posting more officers at vital sites throughout the country and upping security on Nusakambangan island where the three Bali bombers were expected to face execution by firing squad.
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said Thursday that the execution could be carried out on any day from Nov. 1 until Nov. 20. (amr)
JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (UPI) --
Three men in Indonesia convicted of the 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 202 people could be executed soon, observers say. The men, who were sentenced to death five years ago, have been placed in isolation at the Nusakambangan maximum security prison, and the government had said the men would be shot in early November, BBC reported Saturday.
For their part, Imam Samudra, Amrozi Nurhasyim and Ali Ghufron have said they hope their executions will trigger revenge attacks. To help prevent a backlash against the executions, the British network said the bombers' families are unlikely to receive prior notification.
The Bali bombings were said to have been carried out by the militant group Jemaah Islamiah.
Last month, Indonesia's Constitutional Court rejected arguments that the three men should be beheaded instead of being executed by firing squad, which, they argued, did not guarantee instant death and would amount to torture.
Last Friday 9. Nov I had my Birthday Party. Eventhough I had my birthday on 12.Oct I decided to have it in this Friday. I postponed the party because first of all I did not have enough time and I did not know anybody who could b invited. Initially I was supposed to organize it with some other friends, as a birthday party + house warming party, they putting the house and I the music and the food.
Time passed and no development from their side was observed, so I took over. I arranged the party to be at my place, asked some live musicians to play, got some drinks, and at 20.30 all the people started arriving. We had a very nice pool party, my neighbours came, my colleagues, some friends from outside the office, and of course the musicians.
It was fun because I just got to know the neighbours during that evening, so in order to avoid any negative comment I invited them to the party. All had good time, I was dancing, singing, playing some keyboard, and since it was my party I could do anything without any regrets. When singing, all enjoyed it very much, probably because of my non-professional voice which probably made them think: "how on earth he dares to sing" :-)
The musicians were the same that played at Zania's (my neigbour) party few weeks ago. The arrangement was prefect, all guests were standing in the swiming pool area in the ground floor, and the musicians in the upper floor at the balcony. Fortunately enough the balcony was big enough to fit the whole band. All had a nice time, they played enjoying a nice view from the city, we enjoyed their music.
The food organization was perfect, I called one of my colleagues to arrange it for me :-) She did all the shopping (prepared food of course) and was on time before the band even started playing. We had traditional indonesian food and plenty of cake, the ratio was 1 cake for 3 persons! I think she loved it.
All in all we were about 20 people and they spoke among each other very much. Most of them did not know each other so it was a perfect way for socializing. I was extremely glad when two of my guests, Janina and Clevia, appeared at the front door, they were supposed to be in Jakarta, and I was not expecting them, they decided to take on day earlier flight, and they there were, also celebrating that night!
[picture of pool party]
During next Saturday I went finally to get sightseeing of Semarang. This was the first time since never before I have spent the weekend in the city, and this time was possible. I went to the Golf Club, and visited the driving range. The course seemed very nice since it is built inside between two mountains, it is like a micro valley. I am expecting to play there during the week, starting at 6 am, before it gets very hot.
[picture of Golf course]
Later on during the evening I was at the Zoo. The most amazing part were the lions, the Bengal and Sumatran tigers, and the 7 different species of monkeys. It was amazing that some of the monkeys had the facial structure of a human, only in miniature. I was surprised since I have never seen something like that before. It was also possible to fid them, the difference from Singapore was that these monkeys were in cages, never aloud to run freely in the park.
During the next day, I went together with the Hash Harriers to Ambarawa, a small city close to Semarang, aprox. 30 km, where we left with a steam train built at the end of last century in Leipzig. The machine was in great shape and strong enough to pull the passengers car up hill for about 10 kms. Incredible experience.
During the trip we crossed villages, rice fields, observed volcanoes in the distance, watch the kids running behind the train, and jumping on it, crossed bridges, etc. The landscapes were just green, different tones of green for all the different variety of vegetation. This topped up with the traditional sound of the "choo choo" from a steam train made the experience unique.
We ended up in another town, whose name I don't remember, and started joging for 15 kms. Again we crossed the jungle, this time by feet. The whole journey lasted about two hours and were incredible, crossing rivers, going up and down the mountains, crossing rice fields and different plantations, traversing through small villages, greeting the people. The jogging lasted about 2 hrs but it didn't feel like that.
We were about 60 people, including members and their families. The good thing of this type of Hash is the family environment that exists within. Even though there are sometimes too rough jokes, it is always respectful, without offence to anybody.
Some of us concluded the day by going to a 1.5 hrs body massage to a relaxation SPA. Finally John, one of the oldest members at the Hash, invited us for dinner where we concluded the weekend.
The good thing from Indonesia is that price levels are so low, for example:
Weekend at the beach, including transportation, food, accomodation and soft drinks: 500,000 Rp
Organizing the party for all guests, musicians, food, drinks and cakes: 2,500,000 Rp.
Price for the golf round, including cady and golf cart: 250,000 Rp
Trip with the train to Ambarawa, with an add on 1.5 hr. massage: 150.000 Rp.
At 14,000 Rp per Euro, prices are not bad at all!
Week 46
Today I am in Jakarta, enjoying the peacefulness of my hotel room, and watching the external chaos through my 3 cm thick window, without a single street sound! But soon is time to go, continue my journey visiting different subcons, until I go back to Semarang.
BTW
There have been some terrorist threats to the city of Semarang following the execution of the Bali bombers, I hope non of them get realized, please read through:
**'
Semarang gets bomb threat
Suherdjoko , The Jakarta Post , Semarang Sun, 11/09/2008 12:13 PM National
Few hours after the Bali bombers death execution, a hoax bomb threat was made over the phone to Novotel Hotel in Semarang, Central Java, on Sunday Morning.The threat was received by a phone operator at around 07:00. The hotel immediately contacted the local police.Semarang police bomb squad told all the hotel guests and employees to get out of the building. They swept the hotel for two hours before concluding there was no bomb.
Two choppers to transport bodies of Bali bombers
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Sat, 11/01/2008 9:25 AM National
The National Police said Saturday they would provide two helicopters to transport the bodies of convicted Bali bombers after their execution."We will facilitate the transport of the bodies by helicopter," National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen.Abubakar Nataprawira told tempointeraktif.com.He said one helicopter would be designated to bring the remains of the two death row convicts, Amrozi and Ali Gufron, a.k.a. Mukhlas, to East Java, whereas another would transport the body of Imam Samudera to his hometown in Serang, Banten.Abubakar said the decision to use air transport was made so as to, "expedite the burials."Meanwhile, the National Police are increasing security monitoring around foreign embassies in Jakarta in anticipation of revenge attacks that may follow the imminent execution of the convicted Bali bombers.Abubakar previously said that aside from intensifying protection of embassies in Jakarta, the police were also posting more officers at vital sites throughout the country and upping security on Nusakambangan island where the three Bali bombers were expected to face execution by firing squad.
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said Thursday that the execution could be carried out on any day from Nov. 1 until Nov. 20. (amr)
JAKARTA, Nov. 1 (UPI) --
Three men in Indonesia convicted of the 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 202 people could be executed soon, observers say. The men, who were sentenced to death five years ago, have been placed in isolation at the Nusakambangan maximum security prison, and the government had said the men would be shot in early November, BBC reported Saturday.
For their part, Imam Samudra, Amrozi Nurhasyim and Ali Ghufron have said they hope their executions will trigger revenge attacks. To help prevent a backlash against the executions, the British network said the bombers' families are unlikely to receive prior notification.
The Bali bombings were said to have been carried out by the militant group Jemaah Islamiah.
Last month, Indonesia's Constitutional Court rejected arguments that the three men should be beheaded instead of being executed by firing squad, which, they argued, did not guarantee instant death and would amount to torture.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Jepara
From 1-2 November
My team has organized a weekend family retreat at Bandengan Beach at Jepara, a city located 75 km from Semarang, which takes 2.5 hrs to reach. We were totally 50 people, these included all my present team members + family members, plus ex-ante team members, which were not there when I took over the project. May be you were asking, WOW this is an extremely generous company, now I need to tell that we did not make any type of sponsorship, every participant was in charge of their expenses, which made the weekend much more enjoyable because people was able to bring as many family members as they would like to.
The sea was like an inmese swiming pool, first of all because in the Java Sea there are no waves, second, the beach was in a bay, and this protected even further the effect of the wind to disturb the water's peacefulness. Third, the color was turquoise blue due to the white sand.
The resort was also not bad, 7 bungalows strategically build in front of the beach, facing the sea, with an nicely shaped swimming pool, in proximity to the pool bar and the snooker hall. The Mediterranean style gave a precious feeling of comfort which is always well received under the present Indonesian circumstances.
My team has organized a weekend family retreat at Bandengan Beach at Jepara, a city located 75 km from Semarang, which takes 2.5 hrs to reach. We were totally 50 people, these included all my present team members + family members, plus ex-ante team members, which were not there when I took over the project. May be you were asking, WOW this is an extremely generous company, now I need to tell that we did not make any type of sponsorship, every participant was in charge of their expenses, which made the weekend much more enjoyable because people was able to bring as many family members as they would like to.
The sea was like an inmese swiming pool, first of all because in the Java Sea there are no waves, second, the beach was in a bay, and this protected even further the effect of the wind to disturb the water's peacefulness. Third, the color was turquoise blue due to the white sand.
The resort was also not bad, 7 bungalows strategically build in front of the beach, facing the sea, with an nicely shaped swimming pool, in proximity to the pool bar and the snooker hall. The Mediterranean style gave a precious feeling of comfort which is always well received under the present Indonesian circumstances.
We spent the day playing in the swimming pool, eating great amounts of food, playing beach voleyball, walinkg in the beach, playing pool and relaxing. The day concluded with a beach BBQ and a huge born fire. There all the team chatted all night long. I went to bed quite early since I wanted to see the sunset. When I woke up at 4.30 am, the sun has started rising, and all the people was still awake. A long night I thought.
The sun rise was magnificent, mist in the distance and a mountain before the sun. It was also special because I was on a boat, watching the sunrise while being in the sea. The color and number of tonalities was worth remembering, a sunrise which raised the sunrays all the way to the sky and shaping, in the far distance, the contoured profile of the delicate rock formation, almost as dreamlike sight.
The day continued, after having a nice Indonesian style breakfast, taking a nap under a banana tree, giving an extended swimming lesson to a nice looking girl, playing with water volleyball, we got ready and left back to Semarang.
The weekend was perfect, relaxing, and with a nice environment. Not that far from it was possible to have a nice type of retreat, forget about working issues and only enjoy the time with the colleagues within a different environment.
After Jepara
Life at work contued as normal, we have achieved good progress at work. Subcontractors are performing in an appropriate way, the problems with the end customer have been solved, the performance of my team is quite high, and also their morale. If all goes optimistically we will be able to reach our target which is coming before Christmas.
During this week I also got involved with a girl I met some weeks ago. She is so sweet, nice, intelligent, and good looking: the perfect combination. I like her because of all her attributes, and she likes me because, in her own words I am "intelligent, fat and sexy" Excellent!! What a perfect combination! So far all has been quite OK, both know that this relationship will last only during my visit to Indonesia, we both agreed on such. It is quite nice to be able to share own experiences with other persons, to be together in the best moments, to exchange ideas and opinions, and spend time together. I have enjoyed it and I am sure I made the right decision, gave an end to this indecisiveness which has bothered me since I got to this country.
During the week I also joined dancing lessons, I have participating in some classes already and we have seen basics of Tango, Samba, Cha Cha, Paso Doble, & Waltz. The teacher is an expert and has been dancing for many years. Her teaching techniques are also good and keeps a nice environment for learning complex choreographies.
The sun rise was magnificent, mist in the distance and a mountain before the sun. It was also special because I was on a boat, watching the sunrise while being in the sea. The color and number of tonalities was worth remembering, a sunrise which raised the sunrays all the way to the sky and shaping, in the far distance, the contoured profile of the delicate rock formation, almost as dreamlike sight.
The day continued, after having a nice Indonesian style breakfast, taking a nap under a banana tree, giving an extended swimming lesson to a nice looking girl, playing with water volleyball, we got ready and left back to Semarang.
The weekend was perfect, relaxing, and with a nice environment. Not that far from it was possible to have a nice type of retreat, forget about working issues and only enjoy the time with the colleagues within a different environment.
After Jepara
Life at work contued as normal, we have achieved good progress at work. Subcontractors are performing in an appropriate way, the problems with the end customer have been solved, the performance of my team is quite high, and also their morale. If all goes optimistically we will be able to reach our target which is coming before Christmas.
During this week I also got involved with a girl I met some weeks ago. She is so sweet, nice, intelligent, and good looking: the perfect combination. I like her because of all her attributes, and she likes me because, in her own words I am "intelligent, fat and sexy" Excellent!! What a perfect combination! So far all has been quite OK, both know that this relationship will last only during my visit to Indonesia, we both agreed on such. It is quite nice to be able to share own experiences with other persons, to be together in the best moments, to exchange ideas and opinions, and spend time together. I have enjoyed it and I am sure I made the right decision, gave an end to this indecisiveness which has bothered me since I got to this country.
During the week I also joined dancing lessons, I have participating in some classes already and we have seen basics of Tango, Samba, Cha Cha, Paso Doble, & Waltz. The teacher is an expert and has been dancing for many years. Her teaching techniques are also good and keeps a nice environment for learning complex choreographies.
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