Senin, 17 Juni 2013

Loempia Boom

“This is a real good spot. Let’s take a seat here, guys,” said a friend, Ai, as she drew out a chair from one of a table. I was just going to reply ‘why’ until my head turned southward, then I knew what she was talking about. Out of the rows of buildings and uproar of the city, the yellowish green paddy field was stretched before us, framed with the green trees on the left side and the bright blue sky above.

Located on Jalan Selokan Mataram, Pogung Dalangan, in Yogyakarta, this restaurant presents a different point of view to see the city. The weather was prone to hot as we stepped on the second floor of “Loempia Boom” restaurant. It led us then, to pick a shady spot in the furthest corner, from which seen the red, yellow, and green lampions hung under the edge of the roof. Just like us, numerous of the other visitors are mostly teenagers to the middle-aged people, who seemingly enjoyed the tranquil ambience of the place.
Aside from the good vibes it spread out, the name “Loempia Boom” itself straightly hints to the specialty of this modest restaurant: lumpia. The lumpia served there is not just the ordinary one; ‘boom’ sounds pretty much like something extra, which is the size. Normally, a lumpia—also known as spring roll in English—is in a size of a man’s palm, with bamboo sprout as the filling. But this one is unlikely into normality. It has a jumbo size. Twice as big. Around 20 cm in length, probably 3 cm in width. Comes out with various fillings, as of chicken, beef, sausage, meatballs, seafood, or even chicken gizzard, loempia boom simply breaks the conventional lumpia. This golden brown dish features as a side dish, along with rice, plus the extra raw vegetable and sambal (grinded chili)—which completing each other.
Arranged on a plate of besek—a typically Javanese traditional plate made of weaved-bamboo—the shrimp-filled lumpia emits a yum aroma, inviting us to chomp it promptly as it is set on the table. Once the slice of it landed on my tongue, gently I ground its warm crispness. Just nearly at the same time, the diced carrot and sauteéd eggs touched my palate smoothly, pleasantly tender. And even that it was needed an extra attempt to make my gustatory sensitive in finding the shrimps, yet when I did, the savory of it tasted delicious. As if the whole of lumpia were dancing a melancholic waltz in my mouth.
Another friend, Tiyan, admitted that as chewing a slice of chicken-stuffed lumpia, she could hear the scrunch of her dish’s surface within her head. Once she came to munch the fillings of carrot and bean sprout, she grasped their tenderness that melt together. The mixture of naturally sweet carrots, bean sprout and scrambled eggs are all in balance with the well-seasoned chicken. It goes even more challenging when she dabbed her lumpia with the red-hot sambal, of which casting grains of sweat upon her philtrum. In accordance to what Tiyan said about her dish, Ai portrayed the sensation she gets for her lumpia as alike. The only difference lies in the filling she chose, the pungent tasted chicken gizzard that kicked her tongue in a morsel.
Also in her lumpia hunting, Nia preferred to order boombastic lumpia and oseng jamur boom. Tagged with the most complete fillings, she was allured by the image presentation of bombastic lumpia. The most dominant taste when her teeth crushed it was the carrot with its sweet smoothness and the chopped of well-spiced chicken. Combined with the chewy meatballs, sausage, and slices of beef, this lumpia is such a pleasure to eat. Whereas, the presentation of oseng jamur boom was delightfully colored: white of the mushrooms, garnished with red and green comes from the chili. Each slice of the mushroom was set in a bite size, and it was fresh on account of being undercooked.
But then to have a meal without drinking would be so unfair to the throat, so we ordered several distinguish beverages, one of which was ice tape with milk. Tape is a Javanese traditional food made of fermented yeast, that basically can be enjoyed by itself. For me, though, to take a sip a glass of stirred tape with milk was just a little piece of heaven. The combination of sour and sweetness comes from the green tape and its rice-like texture just felt complete with splash of creamy cold milk.
If a glass of ice tape with milk rather comes as semi-traditional, a number of Western beverages also served in this restaurant. With its slim long glass, the chocolate colored vanilla latte indeed tasted like the fresh, real melting chocolate bar. Covered with the soapy white float, the upper layer of this chocolate drink tastes sweet as well as mildly salty. For those whose tongues are a big fan of sweetness, vanilla latte would be a great accompaniment anytime.
As an alternative for those who wants to get relieved from thirst in a hot weathered day, a healthy choice offered in the menu is a glass of strawberry float. The composition is simple, with a red colored substance hints to its juicy freshness. If the flavor brought by the smooth strawberry juice is typically sour, a scope of vanilla ice cream upon it softens the taste, leaving a refreshing mixture throughout the throat.
Another beverage offered in this restaurant is indeed as fresh as its name, “the rainbow”. Splashed colors of deep red, green, and bright blue is apparently such a joy to watch. As a soda-based drink, the rainbow has an ability to calm down your body by the drops of mint extract. Served with ice, this cold syrupy drink is not only pleasing to sight, it glides down the throat like a dew in early morning.
Ultimately, with such enjoyable dishes, atmosphere, and less than Rp 10,000 for each food and drink, it is more than just a lumpia. It is “boom”.

Sabtu, 01 Juni 2013

Style and Nature: Practicing Being a Curator

Guyss,, the four pictures above are painted by Kim Yee Seul, a student of English Department in UGM. The first picture is her recent work. She gets inspiration from her picture which was taken in Port Stephen, Sydney. Then, the second is the collaboration of Addidas model and Sun flower. The third is a painted picture of two boys playing Play Station wearing Addidas jackets. The last is a picture of pink car she pretends it as Volkswagen Beetle, her dream car. She painted number 2, 3, and 4 when she was 16 years old.
Now, I’m trying to be the curator of Yee Seul’s paintings. From her paintings, she apparently always adds the touch of nature to make her paintings feel peaceful. For instance, in the second picture, she combined the model with the flower. Again, she adds the scenery of nature in number 4. This makes the car seems to run. Another example she paints the boys playing Play Station on the grass instead of on the floor or the table. Moreover, she seems like to express her fashion style. From the picture number 2 and 3, those characters wear Addidas jacket instead of the other trademarks. Also, she paints a pink car which is girly and stylish for a girl.

Kamis, 23 Mei 2013

English Media in Indonesia



Guyss,,,do you like writing? Are you willing to publish it? Let’s try to send your writing to the email of English media in Indonesia below:

1. THE JAKARTA POST
Jl. Palmerah Selatan 15, Jakarta 10270, Indonesia
Yogyakarta representatif office: Perumahan Tambak Mas 18 Yogyakarta 55182 Telp. (0274) 566530 Fax. (0274) 566530
Telp. (021) 5300476, 5300478.
Fax. (021) 5492685
Email : editorial@thejakartapost.com 
                               opinion@thejakartapost.com
jktpost2@cbn.net.id
editorial@thejakartapost.com
2.      INSIDE INDONESIA
E-mail Address(es): admin@insideindonesia.org
3.       STORY MAGAZINE
Story Editorial Staff  in Jl. Raya Kedoya Duri No.36, Kebun Jeruk, Jakarta 11520.
4.      THE JAKARTA GLOBE
newsdesk@thejakartaglobe.com
ben.otto@thejakartaglobe.com
thomas.hogue@thejakartaglobe.com
5.      TEMPO ENGLISH
agustina@mail.tempo.co.id
yismartono@tempo.co.id
tempo_english@yahoo.com
6.      THE INDONESIAN TIMES
Jl Pulo Lentut 12 Pulo Gadung Industrial estate Jakarta 13266 Telp (021) 4627481 Faks. (021) 4609722 web page;
7.      THE PRESIDENT POST
    (www.thepresidentpost.com)
    Menara Batavia 25th Floor Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur
    Kav. 126 Jakarta 10220, Indonesia
    Phone: +62 21 572 7337  | Fax.: +62 21 572 7338
    Email:    Customer Services  - andrian@thepresidentpost.com

                  Circulation – sheila@thepresidentpost.com

                  Editorial - ceo@thepresidentpost.com
8.      TEMPO INTERAKTIVE
Kebayoran Center Blok A11 - A15
Jl. Kebayoran Baru - Mayestik, Jakarta 12440
Telp (021) 725 5625
Faks (021) 725 5645
E-mail : interaktif@tempo.co.id
9.      BERITA JAKARTA
BeritaJakarta.com - Media Online Pemprov DKI Jakarta
Jl. Merdeka Selatan 8-9 Blok F Lt. 2 Jakarta Indonesia
Telp. +62 21 3822988, 3822488; Fax. +62 21 3822788, 3822846;
Email : redaksi@beritajakarta.com


10.  ANTARANEWS AGENCY
Wisma ANTARA 19th Floor
Jalan Merdeka Selatan No. 17
Jakarta Pusat
Telp: 3802383 , Ext. 246
Faks: 3522178
Email: newsroom@antaranews.com
11.  ISLAM VOICE
E-mail Address(es):
editor @ islamicvoice.com
12.  REUTERS
E-mail Address(es):
jakarta.newsroom @ reuters.com
Foreign Newspaper Agents in Indonesia
1. AFX-ASIA
Jl Indramayu No 18 Jakarta 10310.
Telp. : 021- 3160780
Email : afxasia@cbn.net.id

2. AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE (AFP)
Jl. Indramayu No 18, Jakarta 10310.
Telp. (021) 3160780, 336082
Email : bestrade@cbn.net.id

3. ALGEMEEN NETHERLAND PERSBERAU (ANP)
Jl. Kebon Kacang 35 No 4, Jakarta 10240.
Telp. (021) 3141984
Email : britsins@cbn.net.id

4. ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP)
Detchce Bank Bldg, lt 14
Jl. Imam Bonjol No 80 Jakarta 10310
Telp. (021) 39831269
Email : gspencer@agp.org

5. AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Detchce Bank Bldg, lt 14
Jl. Imam Bonjol No 80 Jakarta 10310
Telp. (021) 39831262, 39831263
Email : aapkaren@cbn.net.id

6. BERNAMA
Wisma Antara, lt 19
Jl. Merdeka Selatan No 17 Jakarta 10110
Telp. (021) 3857626

7. DEUTCHE PRESS AGENTUR (DPA)
Istana Harmoni Apartment 19J
Kompleks Harmoni Blok B26-27 Jakarta
Telp. (021) 6305644
Email : mailto:aapkaren@cbn.net.id

8. EFE SPANISH INTE. AGENCY

Jl. Penjernihan V/No 1 Pejompongan, Jakarta.
Telp. (021) 5722233

9. GEASSOCIERDE PRESS DIENSTEIN (GPD)
Jl. Prapanca Raya No 12 A, Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta 12150.
Telp. (021) 7250815
Email : theohaer@indosat.net.id

10. JIJI PRESS
Wisma Kyoei Prince Lt 7, suite 705
Jl Sudirman Kav 3 Jakarta 10220
Telp. (021) 5723309

11. KYODO TSUSHIN NEWS AGENCY
Wisma Antara Lt 16
Jl Merdeka Selatan No 17, Jakarta 10110
Telp. (021) 3802810, 3840113
Email : kyodojkt@rad.net.id

12. MIDLE EAST NEWS AGENCY (MENA)
Jl. Pulomas Barat 5A No. 1 Jakarta
Telp. (021) 4894839

13. NIHHON HOSO KYOKAI (NHK)
Wisma Nusantara Lt 14
Jl MH Thamrin No 59, Jakarta 10350
Telp. (021) 330174, 333909
Email : nhkjkt@rad.net.id

14. REUTERS
Wisma Antara Lt 17
Jl Merdeka Selatan No 17, Jakarta 10110
Telp. (021) 3846364, 3845012
Email : Jakarta.newsroom@reuters.com

15. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY
Jl. Sawo No 20, Jakarta
Telp. (021) 326261
Email :vnajak@indosat.net.id

16. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
Jl. Pandeglang No 44 Jakarta
Telp. (021) 2305753

These email addresses are taken from several blogs and websites, please correct me if I’m wrong. Moreover, you have to consider about what you will send. Thank You and Let’s try!





Sabtu, 18 Mei 2013

“He” Is Beautiful


Every Monday, I always have creative writing class. However, the last two meetings my lecturer, Mas Dalih, could not give lesson for us as he has been in Bali for the important thing. Even though he was absent, he has sent her friend, Mbak Abmi, as the substitute teachers in his class. Actually, Mbak Abmi ever came to the class as the guest. Then, when she taught us in the first time, she played a movie “Bag It” as I’ve reviewed previously. On last Monday, she came in to class not by herself but she brought a guest. Actually, this guest is beautiful. She has long hair, pointed nose, and proportional body. She sat at the corner of the class. I talked to my friend this guest is beautiful but rather strange. Then I asked her if this guest girl or boy. Yet, she said this guest seems female.
At the beginning of the class Mbak Abmi said that we would interview her guest based on the topic having been divided into five. Surprisingly, Mbak Abmi called this beautiful guest with “he”. Ngik… Ngok…. I was very upset at the moment. But, then, I realized that OK, it is a common view to see Waria (woman but man) came to the class.
After that, this guest sat in front of us, then, introduced himself kindly. He is Olivia Sonya Aresta or we could call him with Mbak Sonya. He is from Klaten but now he lives in Yogyakarta. He has been in Yogyakarta since he was in vocational school (D3). Although he is a waria, he is a hard worker as Mbak Sonya has so many jobs. For instance, Mbak Sonya is an activist in PKBI (Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia) one of organization concerning about the marginal society. He is also a beauty consultant, a seller of online shop, and a make-up bride. Wowww!!!
Yet, who knows that Mbak Sonya has to face hard struggle in finding his identity. Until now, his family, especially, his mother could not accept him as a waria. His mother is a teacher supposed to be followed. However, she could not believe and admit to his condition. This is a kind of homework for him to get the confession and acceptance from his family.
Mbak Sonya lived in Klaten from his childhood till his senior high school. Then he continued his study in one of vocational school in Yogyakarta. Actually, when Mbak Sonya was child, his parents did not allow him to play together with boys. Her parents were afraid of him if those boys were naughty to him. Moreover, her parents preferred Mbak Sonya played with girls. However, this lead Mbak Sonya seems to be girly. She began to like making up, dressing like a girl, and playing dolls. As he was in junior high school, he usually hang out in the night and began to dress like a girl. This continued till he was in senior high school. Once he went to mall in Yogyakarta, suddenly he found that his friends were also there. They noticed Mbak Sonya in dressing like a girl then they called him. Mbak Sonya was very surprised then he threw his shoes to his friends and he ran away. Slightly, this seems to be a funny story. Yet, this made him mocked by his friends. Whenever he went to or back from school, he had to hide himself. He did want they laughed at him because he was a waria. After he graduated from senior high school, he considered to go out of Klaten to be free from those mocking. Once he heard someone said about him that he went out because his family had thrown him. Yet, he refused this assumption. He went out of Klaten as he wanted to restrain from this inconvenience that his family felt from Mbak Sonya’s decision as a waria.
Yogyakarta is not only a town used by Mbak Sonya to prove his identity as waria. He also ever went to Solo, Bandung, Jakarta, and Bali several times. But somehow, he feels that “Jogja is the pleasant place for me and the atmosphere is different from others”. In Jogja, he found so many lessons. For instance, he found his confidence when he was being a volunteer in Bantul. He felt that his helps were very precious for the victims of earthquake. Moreover, he found the meaning of friend. When Mbak Sonya was sick and had to be hospitalized their waria friends took care of her and were always by her side. Furthermore, he feels that her life would be more meaningful when he becomes a volunteer in PKBI. He said that it is a contract for her that does not only take one or two months to finish this project, but forever. He wants to help people, especially, waria against HIV AIDS. He also wants to prove that the identity of waria is not a mere marginal society but they have real contributions to this world by doing something useful. 
That is no doubt again if at the first sight I said he is beautiful. Although he is a marginal, he still keeps his beauty inside. Thank You Mbak Sonya for your inspiration...

Jumat, 10 Mei 2013

Film Review : Bag It!



‘Bag It’ is a film by Suzan Beraza featuring Jeb Berrier. This film is not romance or action movie. Yet, this is kind of documentary film. ‘Bag It’ is a slang that has two meanings (1) to put in a bag; (2) to stop doing something, to quit. For example: If you don’t want to do it anymore, just bag it.

Here, there is a man, Jeb Berrier as the main character. He lives in a small town in Colorado. This story begins from the simple orange plastic bag he finds from the local grocery store. This orange plastic bag contains a cup and a spoon that are also made of plastic. After he gets home, he also finds a plastic bag. However, inside of that plastic bag there are many other folded plastic bags. First, he tries not to think about. But, he considers that later the plastic bags become a serious problem.

When he walks through the alley of the supermarket, he sees that most of products in the shops are covered by plastics. Even, he observes that there are plastic bags are everywhere. He looks people bring plastic bags in their right and left hands. Also, he sees that people sitting in the public places leave their plastic after they eat or drink their food. This condition makes that place looks dirty. Moreover, he finds plastic bags at the trees. Those plastics are hung like leaf. Even, he concludes that they (plastics) were created to be thrown away.

Because the plastics are disposable, there are so many plastics that are thrown away in the wide ground. However, this Jeb Berrier says that although plastics are disposable it does not mean that plastics can be thrown away in everywhere. Many people throw the plastics in beach, river, public places, and bushes. Those plastics float in the river and fly in the air.

Actually, this film gives the information about the advantages of plastics. For instance, plastics are like amazing thing in this world. They are inexpensive, durable, and simple. Berrier also realizes that most of stuffs in his home are made of plastics. For examples, the bottle of medicine, helmet, glasses, toys, etc. He, however, considers if all of the plastics in the shops are thrown away, then, it would load the earth. In fact, there are one million in every minute or five hundred billion plastics used each year.

He, then, observes that many countries such India, Saudi Arabia, China, Hong Kong, South of Australia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ruanda, Kenya, South Africa, and many countries in Europe have banned the use of plastics bag. Moreover, he visits Dublin in Ireland to observe about the use of plastic bag. Once, he goes to a store and then asks to the cashier about plastics bag. The cashier says that if the customers want to use the plastic bag, they have to pay more 25 cents. It is the policy applied in this country. Therefore, if they want to buy something, they have to bring their own bag. Then, he goes to Modbury in England. This country also bans the use of plastic bag in order to save the environment. Also, he visits San Francisco in California. In San Francisco there is dilemma between using paper or plastic. Yet, paper is considered to be more convenient to the environment as it can be recycled. So, many shops use paper as the substitution of plastic bag. Berrier, then, also visits other places in America that also ban the use of plastic bags.

Actually plastic bags are not only dangerous for environment but also for our health.  In this film, Berrier’s wife gives a birth for their first child and Berrier is by her side. When their child grows older, Berrier finds chemical in his son baby bottle that is made of plastics. In fact, those chemical like BPA and Phthalates are dangerous for our health. They can cause diabetes, autism, the risk of heart disease, etc.

From this film, we can get the point of the danger of plastics for our environment and our health. Yet, this film also gives the solution how to minimalize the use of plastics. For instance, he uses his own bag whenever he buys everything. His bag is not plastics bag but bags that can be used more than once. He also persuades us starting today feedback on single use disposable products with less. We can start from ourselves. We have to think outside the bag by recycling comes after reducing and volunteer in your community.

Although this film seems to give the solution too hard to do but actually we can do it starting from ourselves. First of all, we can follow what Berrier does; using the shopping bag that can be used many times. Then, we can persuade our family or friend to realize them about the danger of plastics and to reduce the use of plastics. If we can do those steps, believe that we at least can save our environment.

Minggu, 21 April 2013

SAJAK MATAHARI BY W.S. RENDRA-- CASSIOPEIA

SAJAK MATAHARI
Oleh :
W.S. Rendra
Matahari bangkit dari sanubariku.
Menyentuh permukaan samodra raya.
Matahari keluar dari mulutku,
menjadi pelangi di cakrawala.
Wajahmu keluar dari jidatku,
wahai kamu, wanita miskin !
kakimu terbenam di dalam lumpur.
Kamu harapkan beras seperempat gantang,
dan di tengah sawah tuan tanah menanammu !
Satu juta lelaki gundul
keluar dari hutan belantara,
tubuh mereka terbalut lumpur
dan kepala mereka berkilatan
memantulkan cahaya matahari.
Mata mereka menyala
tubuh mereka menjadi bara
dan mereka membakar dunia.
Matahari adalah cakra jingga
yang dilepas tangan Sang Krishna.
Ia menjadi rahmat dan kutukanmu,
ya, umat manusia !

Jumat, 19 April 2013

What Is in A Name?

"Do you believe now, dear, that you can't mix this mie ayam?" my boyfriend asked me when I tried and felt difficult to mix the mie ayam.
He and I went to a small warung of Mie Ayam in around Bakulan, Bantul. He informed me that there is a unique mie ayam.
"Wow, the kuah (sauce) flutters this bowl!" I am surprised. It is mie ayam, kind of noodles poured with sweet chicken. The noodles is ful in a bowl and makes everyone hardly can't mix this with the sauce. If you mix them in hurry, then the kuah would spill. Moreover, there is fried meatball cut into small parts. This makes the bowl is full and crowded. Despite noodles, chickens, and fried meatball, there is also sawi, like the green mustards, that makes the mie ayam is more colorful in the bowl as there is white color from the noodle, brown from the chicken, red from the sambal and sauce, and green from the sawi.
Actually, this warung is not too exclusive. Even it has no name like the other warung commonly. In fact, there are a lot of warung naming them with the name of their owners or their town. However, people will not find any kind of banner, billboard, pamphlet, etc, in this warung. They just find two gerobaks (kind of cart) as the place for cooking the noodle. Yet, this warung is crowded by the customers. It seems that this place is well-known enough. Customers can sit on the wooden old chair or on the mat on the floor. Moreover, there is no table for them. Nevertheless, people are still enjoying their eating though they have to bow.
This mie ayam is also delicious. The taste of the kuah is fresh and oily. This seems that there are diamond shining over the kuah. This kuah is also neither too salty nor too sweet. Furthermore, the noodles is very much but their size keeps proportionals, not too tender with the savory taste. Moreover, the chicken is cut into long and thin parts.This chicken is also much with the sweet taste as it is cooked with the ketchup as the seasoning. Also, the fried meatball is crispy. So, we can hear the sound "cress" while we bit it. This make the taste of this mie ayam delicious. Even it can be more delicious if we add it with sauce, sambal (chilli), and ketchup based on our taste. In addition, we also can add the meatball or in this warung it is known as "Miyanmso" if we want to. This meatball is big enough with the savory taste also. This size is as big as the rounders ball.
This price is also achievable. In the common place, the price of Mie ayam is around Rp 5.000-Rp 6000 and the meatball is Rp 7.000-8.000. Yet, in this warung the Mie ayam is Rp 4.500 and the meatball Rp 5.000. In addition the price of Miyamso in the common place is Rp 10.000 but in here it is only Rp 6.000. Furthermore, the price of the ice is only Rp 1.500.
"Ha..ha..ha.. It is incredible mie ayam, dear!" I said
"Yes dear, it si cheap but precious" he said
"But, by the way, what is the ppropriate name for this warung?"
"Hah??" (thinking) "What is in a name, dear?" he continued
"Ha..ha" (laughing together)