Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Tragedy for a brave man

I met Alessandro Bertellotti (Ale) in 2004 when I was still working for Italian Institute of Culture, Jakarta. We met coincidentally in an occasion of European Film Festival. He took several images from the event to be aired in RAI (Italian National TV Station). That time I helped him to interview several Indonesian film practitioners. Til now our relation has grown better than before.

Last night, I met him and went out together for dinner and going to cinema. This is his million times to visit Jakarta, which as journalist, Jakarta is his favourite place to visit and get valuable news. He's in Jakarta to cover the Java Jazz Festival and also to cover a UNESCO meeting that will be conducted on March, 6 in Jogja. He told me about his plan to Jogja, and how he wasn't comfortable to wake up at 4 am to catch 6 am morning flight. That night with full stomach and full of laughing, we said goodbye and promised to meet up after he came back from Jogja.

This morning, as I arrived in the office, everybody was so panic with this hot news: "Garuda airline GIA 200 destination Jogja has crashed and burst into flames on landing in Adi Sucipto Airport, on the early Wednesday morning of 7 March 2007." I directly asked myself, whether Garuda is the earliest flight to Jogja. After confirming to my colleagues, I felt I had a heart attack. Garuda is the ONLY early flight to Jogja. Then, I screamed inside, "Ale!!"

Soon, I rushed to my administration staff and asked her to call Garuda and asked whether Ale was listed as one of Garuda GIA 200. What a shock! The answer was, YES!! "He is on that crashed plane," I said to Shilla. Shilla also knew Ale, I've introduced her to Ale last night. I felt really shocked, surprised and couldn't believe it. I just met him last night and I could tolerate if something happen with him. "Damn, I hope he's ok..." I said. I tried to call his cellular, but it was off. Then, I started to think bad, I was so overwhelming than I started to cry.

I couldn't stop thinking, if anything happened to him. Remember all the jokes we said last night and how we spent time in Java Jazz Festival. I tried to work, but my mind was occupied with the thoughts, predictions of his situation. At 1 pm, Shilla got a call from some man in Jogja, I was ready for something worse. Then, suddenly Shilla screamed Ale's name, "he's on the phone!" she said and passed the phone to me. On the other line, I heard Ale still talking, "tell Indri, I'm ok!" he said. After a short conversation with him and how he told me that he was ok with small injured.

He hang up the phone after saying he should go to finish the thing in Jogja and he would fly back to Jakarta in the evening. I was so relieved, happy and mad too... Not to him, but to the reality on how careless a people can be, in this case, the pilot. The news on the Garuda crash was a hot news and I was mad, sad and disappointed to the situation. Lately, Indonesia has been tested with series of accidents and disasters, killing even more people.

What's wrong with this life?


*The picture was taken the day before the Garuda crash.
Alessandro Bertellotti, Algooth (Bisnis Indonesia), Shilla and I.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Between Benny Likumahua, Bubi Chen, Jamie Cullum and Larry Franco

Java Jazz Festival has been conducted for two days, and today is the last day. I never went to any Java Jazz Festival, because I don’t feel to go. I’m not a jazz maniac; I just like jazz, like any other music.

This year Java Jazz Festival, I got a free ticket from my journalist friend, Alessandro. He’s an Italian journalist living in Australia for more than 9 years. He works as journalist for RTSI, a Switzerland radio news bureau and for RAI, Italian national TV. He wanted me to assist him in interviewing Indonesian jazz artists and needed me as a fixer. Well, I don’t mind at all, after all it’s nothing for a free ticket to Java Jazz that cost IDR 900 thousands for the last day. Aside from the entry ticket, the ticket is also valid for Jamie Cullum’s concert. So not bad, hah?!

Now, it’s almost 11 pm and now I’m here waiting for an interview with Bubi Chen, a legend in local jazz industry. He’s still on stage playing with Benny Likumahua and his band; the audiences are so excited and so moved with the rhythm. I see Ale in the corner with his huge camera on the corner, he seems really enjoy the show. Like he said earlier in his Italian accent, “Bubi Chen is fantastic!” Now, I’m trying to recap my day since 3 pm this afternoon. I arrived in the convention center around 3 pm something; I had to wait for around 10 minutes until Ale came out to get me in. I have to wear a wristband with “Press” written on it, kinda funny that I always in the position to handle journalist and now I’m in their position. Ale led me to the media center to re-register.

The convention center was still empty as I got in; several bands were playing their own rhythm. It’s more like night market where I can hear two or three music are playing at the same time. As I entered the media center, I saw few people there wearing the same wristband as I do. 4 apple PCs are there to serve journalists needs of Internet. After re-registration, I followed Ale and discussed our program. He asked me whether he could interview several Indonesian jazz artists, and I recommended two names from the list. Benny Likumahua and Bubi Chen, both are Indonesian leading jazz musicians. There are pioneers or I can say legends in jazz industry. Soon after we’ve finished with the discussion, I rushed myself to the media center to get information on how to interview these two legends. Ale, in the other hand, needed to wait for his source, an Italian jazz artists that also involve in the festival. He wanted to interview them prior to their performance tonight.

Finally, I could get into the list of interviewers to Benny Likumahua and Bubi Chen. It wasn’t that hard, just needed to use my hidden journalist skill, not bad at all! Our first interview was with Benny Likumahua, it took around 15 minutes and the interview was in Bahasa. Ale wanted it in Bahasa, “to get original side,” he said. He gave compliment for my act as a reporter; he said, “You’re a born talent,” again with his Italian accent.

Anyway, I finally got introduced to the Italian artists, Larry Franco and his band, and we ended up watching SF Jazz Collectives from USA. They were really good! One of the SF musicians was Bobby Hutcherson, one of few vibraphone and marimba players in the world of jazz. That was the first time for me to see what vibraphone looks like. Slightly, it looks like our traditional instrument, Angklung. I sat there enjoying the performance for almost an hour until it had to end. Then, Ale and I wanted to have dinner before we continue the program. We had dinner in Sultan hotel, a quick one, and we had to hurry to see Jamie Cullum’s concert at 7.30 pm.


Jamie Cullum’s concert was postponed to 8.15 pm, but we were already there. At 8 pm the door was opened, we entered the hall slowly because of the lineup. We managed to get a good spot for Ale to be able to shoot the stage. The hall was getting crowded and packed. Not long, the presenters called Jamie Cullum to start the performance, scream and applause welcomed his appearance on the stage. Ale had to move his camera to other strategic spot to get good views. He said, “You’re off duty, you can enjoy the concert and we’ll meet again after the concert!” I didn’t know whether I had to be happy or not. “Should I enjoy the concert,” I questioned myself. I never really like Jamie Cullum like Shilla does. She supposed to be here somewhere; she’s a Jamie Cullum’s biggest fan. I called her up and asked where was she…I could only find her after more than 15 minutes. She really enjoyed the concert.


I could only last there for almost an hour, and then I decided to go out and get a fresh air. I called up Ale to check where he is. He was in Bubi Chen’s show when I found him. The Bubi Chen’s show was start late, therefore the interview will be late too. So, I went out and looked for a place where I could open my Mac and write something. As I walked out from the Bubi Chen’s show, I saw a room and I catched a note “Jamie Cullum’s Press Conference” written on that room’s door. I hurried to text Shilla about it and hopefully she could join the press conference.

That’s what happen today. Now, I’m resting my legs and waiting for next interview with Bubi Chen, and to close my day I’ll see Larry Franco’s show at 11 pm…what a day!! Thanks a lot Ale for inviting me to the Java Jazz Festival…

Friday, March 02, 2007

Mbah Jingkrak (Hopping Grandma)

Want to taste real traditional Javanese food? Try the newcomer restaurant in town. Mbah Jingkrak is located in Jl. Bulungan opposite to Gelanggang Remaja Bulungan (Youth Hall), stays on the Joglo house (typical Javanese House) with wooden antique Javanese interior…it really creates the atmosphere.

Mbah Jingkrak offers varieties of traditional Javanese food; Pecel, Krecek, Rawon, Tempe & Tahu Bacem, etc. More than 30 varieties of food are offered on the big table in the middle of the restaurant. They offer some kind of “Warteg” style restaurant, where you can see all kinds of food they offer, and then, you can choose any food you like.


My recommendation; do try grilled chicken, “Tahu Bacem” (sweeten tofu), sautéed squid in black sauce, red rice, and “Sambal Iblis” (Devil’s Chili), and get yourself a glass of sweet ice tea…it tastes really typical Javanese tea.

They also play traditional Javanese music to company your meal, it really brings your appetite. Enjoy!


Mbah Jingkrak
Open Monday to Sunday – for lunch and dinner
Jl. Bulungan – South Jakarta

Love sucks?

narcistbandit
8:13 AM
Ndro
Indri P. Rosid
8:13 AM
woi..
narcistbandit
8:14 AM
duuuhhh....lagi sedih nih...hiks...
Indri P. Rosid
8:14 AM
knapa say?
narcistbandit
8:14 AM
sedih sm kenyataan
Indri P. Rosid
8:14 AM
which is?
narcistbandit
8:14 AM
huh...
narcistbandit
8:15 AM
pernah nggak sih ngerasa sayang sm orng...or...like Cold Play said: You love somebody but it goes to waste...?
narcistbandit
8:15 AM
gw lg ngerasa kyk gt
Indri P. Rosid
8:15 AM
loh emang wayan knapa?
narcistbandit
8:15 AM
well...dia kan mo ngelanjutin kuliah ke US
narcistbandit
8:16 AM
& gw nggak mau dong jd ganjalan
narcistbandit
8:16 AM
mau nggak mau gw hrs ngebiarin dia pergi
narcistbandit
8:16 AM
& gmnpun....gw trauma sm LDR
Indri P. Rosid
8:18 AM
i always believe that love is sacrifice..
Indri P. Rosid
8:18 AM
do u think i didn't feel bad when he left?
Indri P. Rosid
8:19 AM
it just not fair if you dont let your love one to grow better, is it?
narcistbandit
8:19 AM
yes....makanya gw nggak akan nahan dia disini
narcistbandit
8:19 AM
& skr gw ngerasa ngasi rasa sayang gw for nothing
narcistbandit
8:19 AM
krn toh akhirnya dia akan pergi
narcistbandit
8:20 AM
loe kyk berusaha sekuat tenaga...bnr2 sekuat tenaga...pdhl loe udh tau akhirannya...semua akan hilang...
Indri P. Rosid
8:20 AM
there is no "percuma" to show how u feel to someone..
narcistbandit
8:20 AM
ngabayang nggak sih rasanya?
narcistbandit
8:21 AM
Ndro....gw udh berkali2 kyk gini
Indri P. Rosid
8:21 AM
i know exactly how u feel honey...
narcistbandit
8:21 AM
selalu berakhir kyk gini
Indri P. Rosid
8:21 AM
but u need to let him go...
narcistbandit
8:22 AM
I know....and it means...let half of heart go too...
narcistbandit
8:22 AM
(again)
Indri P. Rosid
8:24 AM
yes...
Indri P. Rosid
8:25 AM
that's the consequence, kalo lo ga cinta bgt sama nih orang, apa lo akan ngerasa yg lo rasain skrg?
Indri P. Rosid
8:25 AM
being in LDR will also test your feeling juga loh..
Indri P. Rosid
8:26 AM
so mungkin lo skrg cinta, tapi will it last?
Indri P. Rosid
8:26 AM
true love last loh..
Indri P. Rosid
8:27 AM
so u choose, u want true love or just ordinary love that always beutiful..
Indri P. Rosid
8:27 AM
love is pain, sacrifice, yet beautiful..
Indri P. Rosid
8:27 AM
kalo cuma beautiful doang, i don't think it's love..
narcistbandit
8:28 AM
damn...u're so right
Indri P. Rosid
8:29 AM
i've learned a lot nang...
Indri P. Rosid
8:29 AM
love is like a dream.. u really have to fight for it..
Indri P. Rosid
8:30 AM
u think it's wonderful, beautiful, but it's just a big heart break
Indri P. Rosid
8:31 AM
come on honey!! cheer up..
u can get over the pain..
r u there?

narcistbandit
8:35 AM
yes....
crying
(again)