Great Beyond in 2008

The glittering of New Year’s night is identical with fireworks’ festivity and trumpet. I’m actually don’t know about the purpose of why peoples blow the trumpets with high pitched sound and assembling crowded in the centre of town. But I think in here the sound of trumpets so worst, irritating my ear. I hate the sound of small trumpet, No…actually it’s not a trumpet, it is more likely I call it a thing with the shape of small tube or pipe that can be blow, and when they blew it I hate it very much.

In this city ( Bandung ) where I live, last night was rain. So I think the lustrous of celebration New Year in the centre of town was not so merry and absorbed, because splash of rain. But for me and my families the celebration of New Year kept attending a meaning of persistence and togetherness in my families. Last night we celebrate New Year by booking a place in one of resto in Dago street area, with nuance of family’s concord. We were commit a pray to Allah SWT, cheers, and enjoying the meals and banquet. We don’t pay any attention to the sounds of brawling trumpets out there.

So my friends, with my humble respect allow me to wishing you a Happy New Years 2008. peoples in here in Indonesia says “Selamat Tahun Baru”, peoples in Germany says “Glückliches Neujahr”, peoples in Italy says “Buon Capodanno”, peoples in France says “Bonne Anne”, and peoples in Holland says “Gullukkig Niuw Jar”. All those celebration expression had the same meaning, hoping for the best and good luck for the year to come.
We might hope or expecting the glittering celebration of New Year like in Times Square New York, like in Copacabana beach in Brazil, like in Harbour Bridge in Australia, like in London or Paris. But the most important is in 2008 that the world should be live in peace and become much better. The United Nations has proclaim that 2008 is the “INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET EARTH”, with noble purpose to protect planet earth from all forms of damages that created by humans and industries.

Oke, sahabat…..selamatkanlah bumi kita ini. Sidang Majelis Umum PBB telah menetapkan bahwa tahun 2008 adalah INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET EARTH. Tujuannya adalah melindungi bumi dari segala kerusakan yang dibuat oleh manusia dan industri.

Good luck in 2008!

Liverpool, Anfield and The Kop. You’ll never walk alone

I was becoming a big fan of Liverpool FC when I was 9 years old. Until now my love and supports to this club much more imposingly bigger and bigger. I will be fan of this club until the last day of my life. LIVERPOOL FOREVER. There is no such a fanatic and loyal supporters in the world like Liverpool’s fans. We were habitual sing “You’ll never walk alone” in every game that Liverpool played, home or away. We are the 12th player for Liverpool. I’m excessively contented and rightfully proud to be fan of Liverpool.

December 30. 2007, last night we were watch together our Liverpool’s away match versus Manchester City in Terazza Café at Suria Sumantri street. This agenda was an initiative of BIG REDS Indonesia as usual gathering watch in every match of Liverpool at weekend. And by coincide of that match, yesterday was the 8th anniversary of BIG REDS. So we were celebrate together the anniversary after halftime, we were slice that simple anniversary’s cake scattered by chocolate. Everyone feels so much happy and get their own drink and cake. When second half kick off begin we were focus back to the match while habitually singing “You’ll never walk alone” together and loudly, like as we were in the stadium. Although we were playing so well last night, had a lot of chances, shot attempts and lead the ball position in second half. We can’t afford to take 3 point, the game was ending draw 0 – 0. The city was so lucky they were hold us tight. Nevermind we still got a lot of games ahead to be win.

Oh…ya, about BIG REDS Indonesia, this is an official Liverpool FC supporters in Indonesia. They had lot of members from all over Indonesia. Besides of this official supporter there are lots of unregistered individual persons who love Liverpool all over Indonesia.
Here you can contact BIG REDS Indonesia :
Website BIG REDS : http://www.big-reds.org
Forum BIG REDS : http://forum.big-reds.org
Milis BIG REDS : big-reds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Meet the fabulous Andrea Hirata

Well,….karena keinginan untuk bertemu Andrea Hirata secara langsung, kemaren 28 Nov 2007 aku sengaja bolos kerja agar bisa berkunjung ke Gramedia Book Fair di Sabuga. Disitu ada acara Nobility Of Teaching ( talk show ) dan Andrea menjadi pembicara dalam diskusi tersebut bersama dengan ibu Muslimah Hafsari ( Guru SD nya Andrea sewaktu disekolah Muhammadiyah Belitung ). Setelah acara talk show tersebut ada sesi acara pemberian tanda tangan yang dilakukan langsung oleh Andrea. Persis di depan booth stand nya Mizan, Andrea dan juga ibu Muslimah duduk dibelakang sebuah meja, dan aku langsung masuk kedalam baris antrian yang untungnya pada saat itu aku dibarisan ke 12. Karena acara pemberian tanda tangan nya barusan dimulai, dan aku gak perlu berjubel-jubel. Tapi apa yang terjadi beberapa menit kemudian setelah Andrea membubuhkan tanda tangan nya di ketiga buku tetralogi ( Laskar Pelangi, Sang Pemimpi dan Edensor ) punyaku. Antrian sudah tak terhingga panjangnya dan orang-orang ( ibu-ibu dan mahasiswi ) berdesakan tak terkendali sehingga harus ditertibkan oleh liaison officer nya Andrea ( yang jumlahnya cukup banyak memakai kaos kuning lengan hitam dengan tulisan Laskar Pelangi pada bagian belakangnya ). Adegan heboh tanda tangan buku seperti ini mengingatkan aku pada feature news yang disiarkan oleh beberapa TV swasta beberapa waktu yang lalu tentang JK Rowling yang memberikan tanda tangan nya pada peluncuran buku Harry Potter di sebuah toko buku di kota London.
Padahal aku ingin minta diphoto secara personal berdua dengan Andrea Hirata, tapi dengan kondisi seperti itu dan juga waktunya Andrea mungkin yang sangat padat. Akhirnya keinginan itu aku batalkan, dan aku hanya bisa curi-curi photo dengan posisi berada disebelah Andrea yang sedang sibuk menandatangani buku-buku.
Well,.....Andrea Hirata memang benar-benar sudah menjadi selebritis sastra di negeri ini. Dan Andrea akan selalu menjadi penulis terfavoritku sepanjang masa bersama Kahlil Gibran, Muhammad Iqbal, Rumi, Annemarie Schimmel, Kate di Camilo, Paulo Coelho dan Milan Kundera.

Religious Feast Day of Idul Adha

Tulisan ini telat aku posting disini, seharusnya sepuluh hari yang lalu. Karena aku lupa mengingat password blog ku ini. Tapi gak apa-apa dari pada tidak ku posting sama sekali cerita mengenai Hari Raya Idul Adha yang selalu berkesan bagiku di tiap tahunnya.

Takbir berkumandang semenjak malam itu sampai fajar terbit. Hari ini Hari raya Idul Adha 1428 H ( Iedul Qurban ) dirayakan. Alhamdulillah senang rasanya bisa kembali menjumpai hari raya besar kedua umat Islam tahun ini, dan selalu akan merindukannya ditahun-tahun mendatang. Seperti biasa setiap tahun dihari raya baik Idul Fitri maupun Idul Adha, aku selalu melaksanakan sholat Ied di komplek ITB yang sangat luas ini. Kalau sekitar 4-5 tahun kebelakang kami sholat di ITB ini di komplek masjid Salman, kemudian tahun berikutnya di lapangan depan fakultas Desain dan Seni – Aula Barat dan Timur ITB, dan kemudian 2 tahun belakangan ini sholat Ied diadakan persis dihalaman didepan gedung Pusat Studi Baru yang ada lapangan bola basket serta koridor dan sidewalks nya yang luas. Disini suasananya sangat tenang, nyaman dan sedikit rimbun karena ada pepohonannya. Tapi tarif parkir mobilnya sedikit mahal, yakni Rp.5000,-. Mungkin karena setahun dua kali dihari raya, tukang parkir dadakan disekitar ITB ini meraih keuntungan dalam kesempatan yang cuma dua kali itu. Yah…biarin aja, sudah rezekinya mereka kali.
Well,….sampai ketemu dihari raya tahun depan yah.