Journey to Sigur Rós

It was a really AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

well, here the story goes.

I was triggered by Cassey's blog post about when she watched Sigur Rós live in San Francisco, and I was aware that Sigur Rós will also touring in Asia, which the closest on was in Singapore and Malaysia. So i decided, I will go to Singapore to watch them.

I was really excited, i started to collect all of my wages and salary and tried not to spent big expenses so I could buy the plane and the concert tix. And there was I , buying all the thing my self, don't care if I can't hang out with the guys, or even thou i went out, not spending to much money so I could save more for this thing.

I bought the airplane tickets, the cheapest on, roundtrip and yes, I was proud of my self that I could actually get the promo price when I really indeed need the cheapest fare as well. So i paid the cost with no hesitate, I don't even want to think how much I just want to be relief that I had this airplane tickets , means I am , I was prepared to go fly to Singapore. I am prepared!

And then for the concert ticket, there was a little bit of drama for this part of the story. Most of it I was actually not fond of telling or even remembering what had happened. But I did, I did, I bought the ticket, a groups ticket which the other one was used by Athe, a friend of mine, whom actually is my best friend' x-girlfriend.

Cut to the case, moving to the Singapore journey story. Here it goes.

So It was Thursday, my flight schedule was on 17.55 pm. But days before, I was called by some HR person from Metro TV, and was called for a job interview on the same day as my flight. So I called them back and reschedule the interview so I can go to airport without rushing, because Metro TV was quite far from the Airport and also, I wouldn't know yet how long that interview will go for. Was it gonna be like hours, or just minutes, and so anyway, I did get to reschedule the interview and it was scheduled earlier but still on the same day.

And so I went to this Metro TV building, it's in Kedoya, somewhere near Daan Mogot, or Kebon Jeruk. I went there, I wait alittle while but just before my appointment hour, I've already been called and followed the person, who turns out to be soon-to-be-my boss.
We talked, she asked few questions, and hand me over a test, two articles , one in Indonesia, and one in English. The task was I had to translate both articles the other language around. She gave me 20 minutes to finished the task, but actually it took me more than that, I took like almost more than 40 minutes to translate the the articles. And yes, I wasn't that focused to do the task because whats on my mind was "Sigur Rós, Sigur Rós, in a couple of hours I'm going fly to Singapore and tomorrow I will see Sigur Rós" and so I did the task not to the maximum capability, I got distracted a lot.

And after finishing the job interview also the test, I had lunch with my parents and then went straight to the airport. When I arrived, I was 2 hours early from my flight, but still I was to excited to go traveling alone and well, there was a little pain in the ass but, what so ever, I kept on my mind that I am traveling alone.

And so I flew to Singapore, and I met this guy, an Indonesian guy who sit beside me on the plane, he was also going for Sigur Rós concert. That night, I wasn't had a plan where am I going to sleep for the night. There's a problem, but hell forget about that, and I decided to went and stroll along Singapore streets to find available Hostel. This guy, named Tama, was planned to sleep at the Changi Airport. For real, he was wicked and I feel pity for him, well it was something fun to do somehow, I think I will do that sometime in the future, sleep at the airport, alone. But anyway, I invited him to go with me, to find some hostel in China Town. He never ever been to Singapore, I think that's why he planned to sleep at the airport, and will meet up with his friend in the morning. But then he decided to come along with me. We found the MRT station, and pick the tickets to China Town.

We arrived like at 2200 and we found the China Town market already closing up one by one. It was late night anyway. So I started to seek for a hostel that still opened, because by my research, not all of the hostel would give 24 hours check-in service. I tried to memorize the map I have been looking at for the couple days back. I remember there was a hostel that I like to be in, Pillow and Toast, that was the name of the hostel. So I went finding the street, it was called Mosque street. I found it, I found the hostel, we went in and just in time because in a few minutes more, the receptionist will be off to bed. We checked in, we went to our dorm, I went for a shower, and then we went out for diner.

The next day, the day of the concert, I was awake at 8, and waited till 10, but there still no words from Athe. So I took a shower, and then went down to the kitchen, and made my self a bunch of toast. It still not enough for Indonesian stomach, I need rice. haha.

This is China Town, the view was taken from MRT station exit path.

In that kitchen , I met this Germany girl, named Anastina, she was there alone because of her ear problem. She actually has gone to , i think Thailand, Vietnam, and one other Asia country but then she has to go to Singapore because she had this ear problem that caused her half deftness and cured there in Singapore hospital. Also I met this India likely person, but actually He was born in UK, but he lives in some island , small island near Africa, I don't remember the name of the island. But yes he said his great great parents are Indian.

Finally, a word from Athe came, she asked me to meet up at City Hall MRT station. Cut to the case, I met her there, she brought her cousin and one American guy, good looking guy, named Keith Bradley. She met him at the plane too, just like I brought Tama along the day before. It was so nice experiencing things like that, met a stranger, but then we can bring along that stranger to company us in this alien city. Well, lucky her, she met a handsome native guy. But I thank God thou, Tama did accompany my night so that I don't actually feel alienated.

So, after finally meeting up we walked unplanned. It was draining my strength, really was. I wasn't looking forward something like that. I want to be settled to Athe's apartment, put my stuff there, and went to Orchard road, or somewhere else to explore Singapore.

 But this girl.. is really was.. well.. cut the story, we parted from Bradley, he went to Marina Bay Sands, which I was envy a lot. I want to go there too, but it was to expensive and we don't have that much time to catch up for the concert. It was late already as what I had planned for the day. But anyway, we had lunch. I picked this menu, something called tofu something, I haven't tasted it again since I was teenager. I was so excited to finally had a chance to eat this again. It was memorable.

After lunch, we went to Athe's cousins apartment. It was at Clementi, which was far away from the concert venue. By the time we arrived there, it was really late, like we only had 2 hours to get prepared for the concert, but after experiencing some unenjoyable time, and it was a mood destroyer that just an hour before I want to get going, it was raining, a heavy heavy rain was pouring Singapore. But well, after took a shower and did some preparation, we went to the concert venue, prepared with rain (i brought umbrella -lent from athe's cousin, which actually left behind afterward) condition, and yes we were on set an hour before the concert *should be* began.

Fort Canning Park. It was huge, and we didn't actually know how to get to the entrance booth. I also didn't know where the ticket booth is. I already bought the tickets from Jakarta, but I do have to change the print out to be the actual tickets. I met few friends from Jakarta and they told me I have to go out front to the ticket booth, but we actually already in the entrance line, it was long enough i thought i could make it in time to change the ticket and back in line. But I must ran to catch up with the line, thank God i made it in time. We were in. We were in the venue. It was relieving, so much. I was exhausted enough before the concert even begin. So we bought some drinks and find a spot to sit.

And finally, after 2 hours waiting, there they were. On stage, and I was shivering to my nerves I couldn't bare to scream, but I didn't. They played the first song - I couldn't even remember the list, I was to excited and occupied with my condition. 

This is a few friend we met in the middle of the concert. We had so much fun, we scream, we laugh, we yelled together as Jonsi sang and made us gone wild.

It was phenomenal. Few last songs were definitely was magical. The rain was pouring during the songs, and it was.. I don't know how to describe it, magical. Really is magical. The sky turned to orange puffy like, and the rain drops started to pour little by little and actually it began to be a heavy rain, stroll along with the change of the atmosphere of the songs.

I couldn't say I didn't cry, I wasn't but I feel something inside, It took my feeling ups and down, as Jonsi  scream his voice out and the ambience.. oh God, I would never ever forget what I had experienced that night.

The concert done in like 2hours or so. I feel it was really soon to be done. But the time has said so, we have to go as soon as possible, the MRT soon will be closed and we don't have anything left to go anywhere. So we ran, catching up with the train, and finally end up in Little India, soaking wet, still shivering , still felt the excitement of witnessing the awesomeness of Sigur Rós.

We were stopping by the Mustafa center to meet up with Bradley, who actually was there at the concert. He was actually went to Fort Canning to meet up with us, but I wasn't aware that he called me several times, and texted me where were we after the concert finished. But yeah, we met and gathered at Mustafa center, and he brought us to his Hostel. It was so nice of him that he already asked for permission from the hostel for us to use the bathroom and also hang around till the first train start in the morning.

It was a crazy night. I couldn't believe I had experience such things. Really, It was.

The next morning, I realized that I lost my necklace, the 7 years necklace that already be my treasure all along, it was gone. vanished, and I couldn't remember where the last time I put that off my neck. I assumed that I left it behind in Bradley's hostel, so I went parted from athe earlier, and went back to the hostel. Just to find my necklace. But it wasn't there. I was devastated. Seriously, I felt like loosing something important in my life. That necklace had already accompanied my life and almost dying experience for the past 7 years, and I lost it recklessly. I felt so stupid, but well.. I see this as a good bye, to my old phase of life.

Yes, this is an experience that gives me a lot of learning the way I have to manage something by my own, seeing new people, strangers, being nice, being dumb, being extra careful and being very reckless. There is always advantage and disadvantage, and I couldn't step forward if I won't try any of choices I had in life.

I went back alone, I flight on my own, and arrived there at Cengkareng Airport, seeing my mom and dad waiting for me and picked me up, I feel so .. I don't know.. mellow.

well, maybe the way I'm telling this story was not as I expected, I can't make a good arrangement of the story because it was jumping all over in my head. But I feel like I have to type this down and hoping this could remind me somewhen, although I would never ever forget it.

Thanks for the chance, thanks for the fortune, thanks for everything.

Thank you Universe

My first Gig with my Sister

It was 9th of November, Friday, a regular day for my Sister, as you now before, Ichyl, sing with her band in a cafe called Tokove, which located on Kemang Selatan VII, I forgot the name of the "ruko". but yea there was we.

I asked her weeks before if I can have an opportunity to jam with her, with my violin. Turned out, I only played like 3 songs, disaster one, and also sang a song with her, a cover song from Fleet Foxes, Tiger Mountain Peasant. But we sang it the way First Aid Kid way.

My parents heard our rehearsal hours before I headed to the venue, they were like amazed when finally they got a chance to hear me singing. Well, yes, I never sing in front of them, it was like my private embarrassment to show my capability infront of my own family.

I sang alot back in collage. I had a band, and actually collaborated with some bands too in our Campus events. I done the violin parts and also sings for many songs that time. But the past was the past. I left that activities when I got to the ending of my study year. It was such a lost for me to leave that part of favorite thing I had back in the life of Bandung comfortableness.

Also, in that opportunity, I invited my new friend, someone called Momo, who actually has a real name Hendra Rahtomo, but somehow he has a artist name, called Rayiekha Racht, if I wasn't mistaken.
Haha, it was some big burden for me to actually play infront of new people. But, well, booze makes everything goes well. hahha

It was some huge experience for me to have guts to play spontaneously in front of stranger. I used to play with people I know, groupies -they so called. Well, if I do want to be a professional player i have to be brave enough to play solo, or being outstanding with my instrument capability. BUT IT WAS SO HARD TO ACHIEVE. Orchestra made me have this kind of safe zone, I could play whatever tune it produced, and no one will actually realized if I made a lot of mistakes. haha

I should grow any faster if I want to achieve my France dream. YOU SHOULD!

my GRADUATION day. not so much relieving day

It has been really quite a while since my last post. I was distracted by my unhealthy state being because of this tooth problem I had , still have till now tho, yes. I'm not quite well yet for the time being.

But anyways, what I wanted to share is about this momentary unforgettable event , which was a once in a life time opportunity to feel and experience this kind of joyfulness a man can have.

GRADUATION!

Yes, I just got graduated from this University I had enrolled for about 4 years far from home, yet feels like a real home for me and my 'family' in this case refer to my best best friend from the very beginning life I started in Bandung, till the very present day, oh I started to feel mellow right now.

It was 20th of October 2012. At least I did do achieve my goal, graduated before the so called dooms day on 21th December. Not that I was saying I believe on that premonition but, still a common view took a big courage to say I don't care about those thing, at all. A little of that matter still cloudy up my nerve somehow.

So, yes. My family came to Bandung to attend the ceremony of the graduation day, the day we, the students of this so not being respected UNPAR, thou I do thank you for letting me developed somekind of a never-been-thinking to have skill that I may use up for the next stage of my life.

At first, the ceremony was a total bore-some ritual, which makes us even crankier because of the heat that heating all of us while we have to use kebaya plus coated with the , what do they call it? Toga? I tought Toga was only the hat. but Anyways..

The moment of the time when usually the alumnus being given back to our parents didn't actually make a good impression here in this UNPAR' ritual. My mom and dad said, we supposed to be walking towards our parents and show them some gratitude, not just waving around and laughing like no meaning at all. Well, we were stuck by the petit place we had as the venue of the ritual anyway, so I guess, no comment for that failure.

But after the formal ritual done, we head to our own Faculty, where our beloved friends already awaits for us to give us greeting, congratulation greets, flowers, presents, and many hugs and kisses (this part wasn't my interest at all). BUT IT MAKES ME SO SAD, realizing that I am going to leave this place after all. Which I don't want to. Never. It's like leaving my life behind, even thou I do have goals to achieve, but not like this. This is too soon to be true. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Well, c'est la vie, we do have to buy it no matter what. Life goes on and on, we never stop to turn back. All we can do is to peek a little about the past, making it a joyful memory and took it as a strength to go forward on the path we see in front of us.

GUYS, I love you so much, I would never forget what we have been through together, the sadness, joyfulness, our ups and downs, our shitty problem, our shitty jokes, our routinity, our home!

Don't ever forget about this. We should stick no matter how far apart we are, we have to spare some time to gather and share our old and new story together.

AAAAAA
I'm started to feel so mellow right now.
sincerely,





the oddest people on the world

Quite a big night

Yesterday I went to work , from early in the morning till after noon, as usual, and it felt soo.soooo exhausted. But then I did remember that the night before, I made an appointment with Athe, to do something, well hang around somewhere and did a little business we actually often done it, a lot. haha

Well, after meeting her in Cilandak Town Square, we went to her friend's Apartment. It should be some even, we called 'Arisan' but when we arrived, no one there. So I sat there, ordering some salad and coke , which like the first meal I head for the day. I surely enough I had lost some weight lately. I don't know why, loosing appetite is something I always came with days ago.

Anyway, we decided to leave the apartment early, and went to somewhere else. Actually, many college friend of mine already invited me to go to Beer Garden SCBD, well, it's not that often we get along and hanging out in Jakarta, so I decided I will go there.

And the night started.

We arrived at BeerGarden around 8, or 9-ish. Still not so much people around the place. We sat and talked about things we have missed quite abit since we have separated from our sharehouse back in Bandung (uuh, hix). And actually they just got finished from this PNS (Pegawai Negeri Swasta) Examination near the place. I think the test took place in Senayan or somewhere.

Talking talking talking and nothing. But even nothing felt so fun that night. I guess I carried away with my condition, so , I would say I might be the only one who felt the world turn up side down, wavy and shimmer all around (haha)

Anyway, I took some of our photos, and I would like to share it here.

This is Me, Caca (Ardwiza), James(Boncel) and Indri

To bad it was too bright, bad iphone flash, you made us blinded by your shining bolt

I miss you guys so much, why can't we live together forever in the same shape , same life, shame activities? uhuh. we grow and we hate it.!!

There you go, enjoy

We separated, then united, over and over again

Being old, walking another path, different path, doesn't mean that we forget what we were years before.
Changes, there will always be changes. But friendship would never die.

Tonight, I just met with Nurjana and her boyfriend Rangga. We had a little afternoon coffee in Plaza Senayan, we talked much about many missed information because we have separated for months, not knowing how we do days back. Catching up, gossiping, and many things to be talked about.

To bad it didn't last long, they had some study to do because they are going to have an examination for this PNS thing tomorrow. Many people will do it tomorrow, BEST LUCK for you guys. You can nailed it and be what you want to be. AMEN.

This is Nurjan and Rangga, such a nice couple but with complicated funny stories. I love to hear about them.

 So long that I haven't catch up with Nurjan. and she just checked out my new hair, and I assumed, she love it thou. hahahaha I miss her so much. Thank God being parted by different activities, the one that already work hard, and me that still freely work and play in the same time, but we still the same person as we were back then. uu I miss college time. SO MUCH


After Nurjan and Rangga went back home, I continued my journey this night to meet James, someone from the past, a best friend, a crazy man, freak man, but funny humorous guy I would never forget.
He was in some bar called de hooi but then I contact Athe and finally instead going to that bar, we went to 7/11 that located in Pondok Indah, near BM400 -High School- we called it 'Pertok'.

  This is James. Chinese funny , or actually we called it 'jayus' man ever alive hahaha, he looked so old now, to bad.haha kidding dad.

And this is Athe, my newest girl friend I had , she is my best friend's girl friend

I had a very random fun night, and off the record, even on substance and some booze, I still enjoy this night in sober way.

After we chatted for about hours, finally they went home one by one, leaving me alone there, I have the responsibility to waited for my sister, mba Upie, and have to drive her home with me. So, Here I am. Home, safe and sound, with happy feeling.

Hopefully tomorrow I could have the same fun gathering with my friends, which I hope, someone will invite me soon. haha, still feel like an outsider with this new phase of life.

Anyway, got a work to do early in the morning. So I guess, I'll post another story of my life sooner tomorrow.

Good night Universe. I still missed a figure for this moment, but what ever, we have our own business, aren't we?

sincerely,
Sleepyhead