On Songket Palembang

If you’ve read the previous post, you’ll know by now that Palembang is famous for pempek. But other than that, songket is another thing that is often associated closely with the city. In fact, the region.

When I was there, I had a chance to visit one of the shop that happens to belong to a friend of my mom. The shop is called Pesona Bari, and is located at Jl. Cek Syeh. Below are some pictures of the shop, and of the songket in the shop. And of some materials that have been embroidered beautifully.

At this point, all I have to say is Daniel Mananta’s brand: Damn! I love Indonesia!

In Between

In Between is the name of the blog that I recently created (with a hope) to share insights about social media, PR, communications and everything in between. Hence the name.

In Between is an ongoing process, so it’s still very young – perhaps even premature. This one is also young, but it’s been here for a little more while. In Between, is still in the making.

Kindly appreciate your suggestion and critiques if you’ve dropped by In Between….

Joyous Christmas and Blessed New Year!!

God Jul och Gott Nytt År!!

God Jul og Godt Nyttår!!

Fröhliche Weihnachten!!

No longer the first..

Two days ago it was number 1..
Oh, how google works swiftly…

Palembang Culinary Trip

Palembang, as some of you may know, is the capital of Indonesia’s South Sumatera province. The city was also the capital of the old Sriwijaya kingdom that long ago encompassed the whole island itself, as well as other regions such as Java island and Malaysian peninsula.

The city is considerably prosper, and rich with oil and mineral. Before, the city’s prosperity was due to the wide river Musi that stretched across Palembang, dividing the city, and is now adorned with the Ampera bridge that is a pride for the Palembang people. It is from this city that my mother comes from – and this is where I went last weekend. Firstly for my cousin’s ‘family proposal’ to his (now) fiance, and foremostly for the culinary trip!!

The Length of The Past

…a contemplation on the verge of 2009…

One question just popped again when I was writing a final paper on one of my course module. How long actually is the Past? As in, how far would/could your Past go along with you through the Present, and perhaps even the Future? And, how real is the Past? What made it so real?
Someone once told me that you create your Past based on your present need.. So, the Past is actually very much self-made, no? It is virtually nonexistent, right? How come it matters so much?

According to wikipedia (haha), the past is the portion of time that has already occurred. It is the opposite of future. And according to presentism, the past does not strictly exists. Well, I guess that kind of makes me a presentist?? It also says that the past can only be known from the evidence of the past in the present time. Fair enough that when one talks about matters, there may be evidence. Solid one. But what about life? And feelings? And other intangible things? What are the evidence? And, as I experience myself, life and feelings are very fluid concepts. And what happens now can easily be wiped away from the heart and the head in some time – depending on the magnitude of the events.

And, that is exactly what I was wondering about. How long would the Past, or events in the Past stay with you?

Some Past stay for a long time.. Some stay even longer than the Present, and perhaps longer than the Future. Some stay short, so short they do not even make it to the Present. Who decides that? You do, off course. No doubt about it. But there are always things that either stop you from doing it, or force you to do it. Which one for which Past, you can almost never tell. Ah, there I go, mumbling again. So I guess I will cut it short here.

Lesson learned: no matter how hard you try to define it, truth is as true as our ongoing conversation about it. I guess the same thing goes with the Present. And the Past. Not sure about the Future though.

*originally published on Facebook Notes, on November 12, 2008

How Lovely…

An early morning quickie of heart-to-heart in the office…
Group hugs shared through Twitter..
Soothing melodies, distinctively smooth in the background…
Thoughts of loved-ones..
Of holiday to come…
Of life, waiting yet to be lived fully…

Usaha untuk pit

Jadii… terbujuklah saya untuk yang kedua kalinya… ikutan pitnes.

Kali ini, yang menjadi tersangka utama adalah seorang rekan sekerja yang duduk di belakang saya, nyaris punggung-punggungan… (yes, you.. you!) Semua berawal dari obrolan ringan tentang hobi, yang membuat kita sama-sama tahu bahwa kita berdua sama-sama suka olahraga. Dia suka olah raga bela diri – tae kwon do, silat, segala macamnya. Saya selalu mencoba-coba olah raga bela diri – sedikit tae kwon do dan silat, dan sampai pada capoeira yang membuat saya jatuh cinta dan bertahan cukup lama.

Akhirnya diputuskanlah bahwa kami berdua akan ikut capoeira! Latihan pertama (yang selalu tertunda) kami jalani dengan semangat membara!!…. yang kemudian pupus sepulang dari latihan pertama.. badan yang linu-linu, otot dan sendi yang menegang, serta kepala yang ikut nyut-nyutan menahan rasa sakit dari peregangan otot yang sedikit dipaksakan….

A Long Longing in December

Exactly 365 years days ago I was alone. But not lonely. I was in a place that I call home, with the green-flowery curtain that hung on the window, and the pots of plants that lined nicely by the window, welcoming me every time I walk in through the door.

I remembered noticing the first snow falling some time in November while I was sitting by the window. And the thought of him came on to me as the first snow fell into the grass that has now turned dry. My memory flew right back to when we first held hands, and imagined how nice it would be if we could do that under the snow. Oh, how I wish I could share this first drop of snow with him…

***

I took my baret, put on my boots, slightly carelessly stuffing in a pair of gloves into the side pockets of my jacket, and threw it over my shoulder – putting it on me. I walked out into the thinly-snow-layered-grass on the side of my apartment building. I can hear the crisp sound of the snow every time I step on it – a sound that I can still hear until now every time winter (was supposed) to come.

The weather that day is nice, the sun shines warmly, as bright as it gets in a December as far up north as this place. The wind is calm, not too cold. The falling snow only adds up to the beauty of a mid day in mid December. I looked up to the clock on the bus stop – 12.53. The bus will come in 2 minutes, I am on time.

***

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