Friday, April 18, 2014

I ain't the poorest people in the world

Like a week ago, I found these 3 pieces of my diary books. As reading it slowly and absorbed at whatever I ever wrote there (also realizing how I was such a dreadful human being for 10-5 years in the past); I feel like even for now, in this brand new 2014, I still havent change significantly, meaning my life still so-so with no huge impact for others. Please I dont have any good impact for myself either. Once there was old me wrote on one end of my diary page: Do every human always think that they are the poorest people in the world? Believe me, it is hard to think you are not, when you surrounded by amazing and incredible human being which achieve what you did not even dare to dream. I learn how to be grateful once in a while, and compel my mind to be positive as possible but alas, it is indeed hard. Not to mention, when you walk into the 'beauty' of being 20-ish, everything around revolves messily and you tend to lose sanity. It doubled or tripled mess for a people like me who ignorant enough to never making such things like life roadmap, life target/resolution, or even just listing off dreams (I actualIy did it once or twice but thats it, I dont even know why am I stopping). If you ask me now, "what do you really want then?" ...well, I dont have any good answers. This bugs me for a while (more like half a year actually) until today I blocked all my laziness to share this uber great reading.
Click here

Maybe I ever stumbled upon that kind of article several time but maybe again I wasnt in my clear state of mind so it is regrettably wasted. This time though, maybe I just need to be triggered a bit to realize that having 'me, the poorest human being' attitude is not right, and pathetic. Yes, I am not the best in any aspect yet achieve nothing impactful but still.. you have to know your life mean something. Let me sum up a bit some points of my favorite manifestos from article above:
1. Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. It causes you to work not on what you like, but what you’d like to like.
2. One of the interesting things about success is that we think we know what it means. A lot of the time our ideas about what it would mean to live successfully are not our own.
3. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.
4. This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often.
God, let this feel will continuously linger from now on so everytime I feel like a piece of crap I know that life is more than that. I believe if we struggle enough, life will embrace us beautifully (its hard to write motivational things like that when I actually feel worse hahaha *plain laugh* God dont let me be that kind of person who only say things but cant do). Oh and off course, I have to share this one from my favorite quote of a seems-mediocre-at first-but-turned out-really-heartmoving-in the end movie with brilliant messages ever, Remember Me (2010). 

Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it. Because nobody else will. Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we've touched.

Stay positive as you can,
-Icha

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Leisure Alternatives for Those Who Broke and Bored (Which Make You Feel More Intellegent on the Way Home)

Have you ever feel bored on a typical weekend but had not enough money to go window shopping around mall, watching movies in cinema, or simply visiting your favorites cafe? Some months ago, uber-boredom struck yet I was so broke and somehow this idea to feel educated came. I was managed to online search nearest museum or art gallery from my current domicile, Bogor. Since then, museums, galleries, exhibitions, and their friends stole my eyes. Public museum usually priced lower so it more friendly to us :)

One time, I visited Museum Nasional in Jakarta. For you who unaware for its location, the museum located on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.12 right across Monas (Monumen Nasional). It was unplanned trip as I actually want to visit other place in Jakarta but stranded there instead. It became a surprise and great memory though, because frankly it is one of the greatest museum I ever visited so far. The entrance ticket is only Rp 5.000,- for whole collection of so many Indonesian heritages. This museum divided into several sections and levels where you can find a yard filled with ancient sculpture replicas, a room of traditional appliances used in the past with each different influences of several civilizations, traditional and indigenous devices of many existing tribes from Sabang to Merauke, various diorama of Indonesian history (even pre-history), etc. Two hours was not adequate enough for me to adore every hall and corner available as the ambience back there was somehow comfortable. The museum is nicely arranged with clean and neat environment around, their collections also seen maintained which make it feels like home. Museum Nasional open every Tuesday-Friday: 08.00-16.00 and Saturday-Sunday: 08.00-17.00 while close during Monday and holidays.
I friggin love that sculpture on last photos above, its just like a time and space portal which sucked ppl inside *creep*
Another day, I was on Bandung with some friends and decided to go for Museum of Geology. Under the flag of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Museum of Geology is a very worth to visit place with admission ticket for only Rp 4.000,- Located on Jl. Diponegoro No. 57 Bandung, it is nearby the heart of Bandung City and easy to be accessed with any private or public transportations. There, you can find great description about Indonesian geology aspect; including collection of many fossil replicas found in Indonesian land, geology condition and its development of several big islands in Indonesia, common disaster history and each prevention steps delivered in a very interesting way (earthquake simulation is a must-to-try), also a room full of Indonesian resources which will make us so grateful to live in such generous mother land. When I was stepping my feet there, the museum was quite crowded from local visitor yet the place still convenient to stay and ofcourse two hours there was not enough to explore. Museum of Geology open every Saturday-Thursday: 08.00-16.00 and close during Friday and holidays.
if only they have brontosaurus fossil
Two examples above only explain general recognizable museum in two big cities in Indonesia. I believe there are many other museum spot in various cities in Indonesia where you can visit and being surprised enough to realize that there is such place existed in your town. There is also my own experience where I found a hidden ‘Museum Perjuangan Bogor’ lies only in front of most crowded shopping spot in the town with entrance fee only Rp 1.000,- It seem unmaintained and desolate outside (in contrast with shopping area just across of the building) but inside, their collection of Bogor history especially during colonization era is priceless.

To be honest, I never consider museum or gallery as an escapee or stress reliever until last year. Society around us tend to choose strolling around mall or eat in fancy cafeteria or restaurant in case of boredom attack. I won’t say those are a bad habit because I do that a lot too, but you won’t lose anything to try on visiting local museums which (I think) mainly well-preserve by government. Thankfully, some communities nowaday also going out to museum a lot including photographer community who usually take these wonderful museum collection or building as an object or even only for their background.  A website named Wisata Museum provides list of museums on several provinces in Indonesia on http://www.wisatamuseum.com/ may help you find your interest on visiting on nearest museum available in your area. In my conclusion, hanging out in museum not only save your money for other necessity but also make your image as an intellegent youngster, which is kinda cool (no? okay). But why don’t you give a try?

Love peace and gaul,
Icha