An Indie in Me

When it comes to music, usually I’m dragged to the mainstream.

You know I like Pitbull. And Jason Mraz, and The Black Eyed Peas, and I’d mostly fall for any Billboard Top 40 hits that match my ears. I ain’t any indie guy, because their tunes aren’t any of my preference. And I just can’t vision myself enjoying the music to myself, not having a chance to easily share my love for the music with the other fans, or going to their big concerts to sing it aloud—no, that’s just not how I appreciate music.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that all my favorite artists are ‘em boring guessable ones. I like tunes that “that match my ears”, remember? So of course, I have a bunch of fave artists that come from the indie section. Like this London-based indie pop group named Autoheart which I started listening to since August last year. Don’t know them? Haha okay, what about this.

A friend of mine once asked me, after all the gigs of my idols I succeeded to catch, which artist(s) whose concerts I’d really dying to see. Well I’ve witnessed many of my faves. But still my life feels incomplete withouth these two. And so I answered

Bastille, and Imagine Dragons.

Pics are from here and here.

A British indie pop group, and an American indie rock band. Lead by vocalists named Dan Smith and Dan Reynolds –I don’t know what happens: whether the universe cospires, or they are made purely for me and meant for me but, what a coincidence to have both groups led by vocalists who share a same damn first name!?—these two had been on my iPod since the beginning of last year.

My love towards Bastille grew during my Bali trip in late 2013. It was “Flaw” that first came to my ears, which song to me, is Bastille’s best piece. Then I started listening to “Pompeii” in Vietnam-Cambodia 2014, “Overjoyed” in my recent Philippines 2014 trip, and I’m sure many more yet to listen.

Contact with Imagine Dragons was even longer. I brought “It’s Time” to Malaysia-Thailand 2013 –my very first solo trip experience!– and been in love since then. “Demon” was played all along my USA 2013 trip, while “On Top of the World” and “Radioactive” were always with me in Vietnam-Cambodia.

Those, and many other vacations and occasions afterwards, were times where I subconsciously fell in love with the bands.

A love I can’t do much about,

But listening to them through my headphones.

Cause these two, as I said, ’re pretty off the stream.

And would probably not come to Indonesia.

Please don't leave me hangin here, Dans. Pic's from here.

Many of my favorite artists come and go to Indonesia. David Guetta, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Calvin Harris –although I missed many of them too, but it’ll be much fulfilling if I can ever catch at least one of these bands. But yea, I don’t know.

Indonesia’s growing but it seems like international artists are much more interested to come to Tokyo or Hong Kong. And of course, Singapore.

But still I have faith in me. And I’ll definitely catch ‘em.

Right before they lost their Indie-ness

Dear Neighbor

I'm here, on behalf of my nation's youth,

Stating our deep condolences and support

Towards the current internal chaotic situation

Our fellow Southeast Asians have, in Bangkok.

My friend, my fellow Thai.

Sometimes it's no use, trying to collapse your nation's supremacy, it's no use. All you guys will have is riot. Havoc surrounds. Unwanted death might occur... You aware who will step aside from this kind of a mess? Tourists. And soon it'll harm your economy.

My friend, my fellow Thai.

Cool down all anger. Use your heart, not your head. I know government is a pain in the ass, I feel you. But think again. If they're all jackass, who would've been the brain? You citizens! Someone needs to think straight and shows who the one who has manners is! You aware who will pop off from a nation with no manner? Tourists. And soon you'll lose their trust.

Come on my friend, my fellow Thai.

Did you watch Pokemon The Movie back then? A song once sang "You don't have to be this way. Think about the consequences. Turn around and walk away." You do aware who will be walking away if you keep doing this, yes? Tourists! And soon you'll be broken in, side out!

Guys I'm begging you.

Don't make a fool decision.

Don't think about being destructive.

Don't you jeopardize all the potentials you have.

Peaceful Thailand pic, obtained from here.

Because you're captivating.

You possess amazing culture.

Magnificent goods soak within.

And I'll be there in two weeks :(

Fin & Gill

Let me tell you the biggest highlight of my last trip.

It's actually something I've done before in Bali.

Snorkeling.

First time doing this was last August with two friends in Amed. We had fun, they got back upland, I stayed for more. I knew I liked it but that was all. After that time, I didn't feel like I wanted more snorkeling.

Until Gili. I never been to Gili before. People said that the water's clear, way clearer than Bali. I just yeahed them and took it for granted because I hadn't actually seen it live. So once I got there, boom, it struck my eyes, my mind and my heart. Especially after I got the equipment, and swam among the surface of the ocean.

Oh. My. God.

It was seriously clear. I could see the corals, the fishes were swimming before me, I even saw a sea turtle! It was so beautiful I didn't even notice that I was like a hundred meters away already from the beach. And when I reached the level where it was like two stories deep to the ocean floor, I began to feel this fear of drowning -started panicking and losing my breath- so I acted calm and swam back to the sand.

But it couldn't stop me from swimming back to that point.

I knew I would started to lose my calm again but,

I just couldn't get enough of that. 

Picture of Atlantica, obtained from here.

If I now recall the way I lost my mind, gave no shit about the possibility of drowning and kept swimming instead, feels like I wanna hit the back of my head and shout to myself "what the hell were you thinking??"

But then if I recall of how beautiful the view I peeked from that calm surface was, how vast the blue space around me and how I subconsciously praising Allah when swimming near the depth, I can actually block my own back-head-attack and answer, "but you enjoyed it eh?"

I'm into it. So much.

For now yes, I'm into it.

Well... I hope it lasts longer.

And I get more chance to snorkel.

And when seeing the ocean, I can be calmer.

But umm...

Calmer while all around me is just, water? How?

Should I make a deal with Ursula?

Resolution, Again

Welcome, 2014.

As I always NOT do every year -well if you pay attention, I don't always do this- this year, I sense something special and I guess I can use a little resolution.

So, 2014.

You know what big will happen this year? World Cup. Something I adore so much about football. About sport. International sport. Get back to 2010's World Cup and you'll see like thousands of posts about the whole league from the very beginning to victory euphorias. See, international matches turn me on. Stakes are on your pride. Because the party, is an international fiesta.

Well, 2014.

Up till now I have two abroad trip plans: Indochina and China. I still have like eight more months idling, waiting for more spontaneous abroad-ish plans to come by. Yea you know, things couldn't be easily predicted lately. Like last year on April my friends suddenly invited me to their delegates and the next thing I knew, we were at US already by October.

Maybe there's this overseas outing held by my office this mid year, or by the end of the year I get this chance to be transferred to overseas branches because the agency I'll be working to is a worldwide one, I don't know. Anything could still possibly happen.

Okay, 2014.

Now you get what's so special about it?

Yes. As far as my mind can predict about it,

It's the year of

Worldwide Fun

Now, 2014.

Surprise me!

Journal Closing

I thought 2012 was the sweetest one.
But I was wrong. Until I met 2013.

Which turned to be the year

I learned more about myself.

All year long, I'm telling you, all year long.
I kept exploring hidden potentials inside of me.

Potentials I thought were strong enough but eventually,
I kept exploring something bigger as days and months went by.

Flying Solo -- January - February

Never once in my mind, back then, that I'd actually ever gone traveling alone to some new places I never even been to. But I did. I completed the challenge I set to myself. And it was not only me, but my parents were also proud of what I did, my friends applauded me. A regular trip, supposedly, but the extreme touches I sprinkled, made it more interesting. I began to love myself.

First Real Jobs -- March - April

Things got more serious and it was more than just a traveling thing. So I got a freelance copywriting offer from my lecturer. To a guy in his junior year of college called "me", it was considered tremendous. I couldn't stop praising myself because, umm, she trusted me? :')

"The Field Trip" -- June - August

More about the professional world, yea as you knew I was called as apprentice by BBDO. One big, noted advertising agency worldwide. What I liked myself about this part was, I did everything by myself. Applying for the position, calling in the interview, doing the whole internship program ALTHOUGH, I have a relative who works for Lowe, I skipped the advantage and worked it all myself.

Getting American -- October

This, could actually be the highlight of the year and placed the last in this list. But after all, traveling should be placed one step below education and career so, it's placed fourth.

But still, this was the one I won't ever deny. The thing that makes me see myself higher. Although the success of this was achieved with my friends, I can't ever take myself for granted anymore. Or underestimate myself. So starting from US, when I felt down, I would just say to myself "dude, at least you been to America" :)

Done and Ready -- December

So as you know, the peak of my achievement was about myself in college. Yes. My degree. My title I worked myself to get. The phase where I could finally take a break from campus stuff. Well, the last break. Before I finally have to feel the real professional world. Not just an underdog freelance jobs. Nor a semi-real jobs called the internship.

But a real job.

That recently, has been haunting me too much.

Causing me lots of lots of thoughts and considerations.

Which actually, doesn't necessarily have to be like that tho.

Because I know somehow I can make it eventually.

Because I possess something greater than I ever even known.

I thought 2012 was the sweetest one.

But I was wrong. Until I met 2013.

And I hope I'm wrong again.

After I see 2014 :)

殆どそこに - Almost There

Let's update about my Japanese skill.

Anybody's dying to know??? I do, I do!

Since next year or so I'll be going to Japan -AMEN O LORD ALMIGHTY, I been working my ass off to master how to speak Japan. I bought the textbook, I watched Naruto like everyday, reinforced myself with a dictionary, got to admit I began to know some words, how to use it and... I still can't speak Japanese.

So I asked to myself, where did I do wrong?

Apparently, it's because I skipped the basic part.

手紙 - The Letters

Yea stupid me, I started everything just knew some Japanese letters. I constantly forgetting certain letters it made me lose my will to get to know what words those are forming and at the end of the day, I earned no progress.

But call me Vickette if I quit so soon.

For the last four days, I gave myself an intense letter-memorizing-session every night. It was identical to common student studying at night with books and papers everywhere, trying to memorize some math formulas or historical chronological orders by writing it down time and time and time again.

A note I made to easily memorize katakanas.

To be honest, the method was kinda helpful tho because now,

I know each and every single letter of both Hiragana and Katakana!

So next stop: Kanji.

Okay, that's just it. Told you it'll just a brief update.

Now if you excuse me, Vicky needs to learn some kanjis.

Or should I call myself, フイキ ?

Taking Worldwide Citizenship

Hi. So, I'm guessing that you're getting tired of me keep talking about USA eh? Well... I'm sorry, but I don't care. This is just how I get over it. The impact was just too big. It kept appearing in my dream for like fourteen days in a row and stopped three days ago. Not just mentally, it also bugged me physically. My jetlag completely finished just two days ago. So now you know how much this trip really matters to me eh?

But I promise, this'll be the last one because it's the overview and for you who've been keeping up with my writings -is there any? :(- you knew that I've always made an overview by the end of my interesting trip.

So here it is, the summary of my journey to...

U S A

Now let's see what I can summarize about this trip.

There are too many, I tell you, so you better brace yourself.

I'm totally, like genuinely into traveling

No doubt. Traveling turns me on. Booking flights are the foreplays. Boarding the aircraft gives me tiny orgasm. Visiting places I could only read from books or see from TV, hanging out with locals, eat their dishes OH GOD those are all like having sex to me and going back home is like the post ejaculation sensation. Hm this topic is getting inappropriate but HEY, that's the truth.

Now let's tell some other truths. I've been thinking about switching my direction of professional world. From that harsh advertising world, to magazine kinda stuff I'm actually more attracted to, since I was a kid. But of course, a traveling magazine. It's still all about writing but now, there's this added value I can benefit, and that is just my other passion. Won't I be on fire all the time about that??

Oh. There's one more thing I learn from this trip. That everything's possible. All my life, USA was just a fantasy. Never once on my mind, I would actually go there. NY has always been something sacred to me and DC, never thought I'd go there. But now that I ever visited US, I have this huge huge confident about the upcoming, undecided, unexpected trips ahead in the future. Why can't I do visit any other places??

So who knows next year I'll spend a month observing animals in Serengeti?

Or travel from Kiev to Reykjavik and the other way around from Lisbon to Helsinki?

Or in two years I'll spend the whole year studying in Cali, spending summer vacation in Hawaii?

Everything seems to be un-impossible after that trip.

Including my dream to be somewhere else's local?

Yeah, at least I can be a global local

Baby Imma Rock Star

"Spent this whole day enjoying supermodels at VSFS and recording stuff for my Soundcloud. Feelin like a rock star \m/"

--@rifkyvicky

I tweeted that thing yesterday.

And now I'm telling the whole story.

It was an idle day yesterday, and you know I'm still under euphoria of enjoying fancy girls from watching Greek and 90210 -I'm gonna post something about Ivy Sullivan soon, remind me!- back to back every morning on Star World.

So I was on this urgent need to see some beautiful crafts, and I spontaneously thought about tons of VICTORIA'S SECRET Fashion Shows I never finished watching.

Dashing. Seeing them walking down the runway one by one, I felt like a top notch musician having my days off and deciding to attend the show, just to browse some hot chicks. It's like Adam Levine grazing all girls before he finally ended up with Behati.

He's got his choice, I got mine.

It's Adriana Lima.

Picture's mine, I took it myself. Haha kidding, check here.

Done seeing angels, I returned to my business: music. And by returning to music, I meant I logged in my Soundcloud account to upload some recorded covers I did earlier. The account was created long, long ago but since I didn't have enough guts to let universe know my skill, I kept pending it. Since yesterday.

And for you, my fans, who wonder about why on earth did I, all of the sudden, signed up to Soundcloud... It's because I can't hold it much longer. I do rap. I can't sing, but I rap. I'm still learning, but I rap. And I just need some place to spill it.

So give it a shot, to my Soundcloud.
Let me know if it ruins your ear drums.

Now that the public knew my potential, it was actually the time for me to give a brand to myself. You know I like Pitbull and you know I love to wear shorts. Wha--you don't know? Okay, I love wearing shorts.

It's so nice to have some dreamy life as such.

At least it distracts me from how harsh real life is.

Although if I turn to be a real musician, and date a model,
It'll feel less harsh, I'm all sure

Overseas Submarine View

I have a Filipino friend.

On some aspects, we share lots of similarities. Love traveling, citizens of the capital cities, which automatically, make us similarly hate the metropolitan traffic jam, love cats, and The Hunger Games -this is the best part that I like from him! Once, we were subconsciously counting how many tributes died when from afar we heard fireworks cracked- and we both majoring communication science.

But there's one thing that differs us from each other.

That in traveling, he also visit places his country possesses.

And one big goal that he had in mind for his next trip, will be

Diving with whale sharks, in Donsol

Pictures of Donsol above and under water, obtained from here.

And he wanted me to join.

I swear, I was interested--no! I am, interested. See the vast sea of water and the rocks, those are the scenery I'd love to see in my next trip to Halong Bay (wrong, apparently I bought a ticket to HCMC instead...). And the idea of swimming with sharks... Well to be honest, I guess I have this phobia of beholding bottomless water.

Like on my last trip to Bali, I was snorkeling with two of my friends. It was fun until they returned back to our resting area, leaving only me and the ocean, then I did the snorkeling all alone. I kept swimming and swimming as long as I could see corals below me, but once they're gone, poof! I started to breathe hard.

Now diving in the deep sea. You see nothing around you but blue color, getting any darker and darker once you see your sublevel. And there'll be this gigantic fish near you. I can feel the panic attack already but... I'm curious! Underwater mystery makes me curious! Outer space makes me curious! Dinosaurs, time machine, Grecian myth, those make me turned-on-ish curious! I'm curious like that monkey George!

In summary, I'm thinking of visiting Philippines.

I know, Indonesia must've owned something like this.

But now the problem is... I don't know where it is!?

Well I'm sure if I really go there,
I have this thing that'll keep bugging me:

So he can make me want to visit his aquatic wonder.
Now how can I convince him visiting mine?

Tribal Voyage

I'm into traveling, so much.

Well compared to some friends who travels more frequent, I'm just a novice. But through all journeys I experienced, I have already felt the sensation of skillful travelers. And that was just priceless. Especially when I do that alone. I can be the person I've always been hiding at home.

But umm, that only works for international trips. To be honest, I have no interest at all exploring Indonesian spots because umm, I see no pride in doing that. Passport stamps and communicating in English while traveling, those are what boost me. Sounds jerk enough?

Yeah I agree. That kind of me is an ass.

I kept holding onto that value until someday, when one of my foreign friends asked me where to visit in Indonesia besides Jakarta and Bali, I remained silent and had no idea at all. I had no idea about my own country. That bugged me a lot. I really wanted to know more about Indonesia, but nothing seemed to be able to ignite me.

But now, just now, well, not that 'now' but yesterday, I sensed callings from

Batak and Toraja

On the left, is Lake Toba in Medan and on the right is Torajan tombs in Makassar.

Yesterday a friend of mine, who's a Bataknese, proudly posted a video of Medan's new international airport, the Kualanamu. The video hit me right in my heart. The dramatic scenes, the colossal atmosphere, the Indonesian-tasted music, I have to go there! I told myself.

I know, it makes me want to visit Medan NOT because of the local culture, but the international asset instead. But at least it makes me want to land on Sumatra. I won't just visit Medan and stay by the airport the whole trip anyway, right?

And I know myself. I can't lie by saying I want to learn their customs oh God that's just so not me. I can't be that fully ethnical in just one trip so, Medan, as one of some international cities Indonesia has, would be a marvelous choice for a starter.

Now about Toraja. Another friend of mine is traveling back to her homeland, Makassar. And with all social networks she has, she showed everybody the beauty of her city. What striked me much is when she visited the native villagers and saw with her on eyes, the mystical side of Toraja I've been dying to know about. Yeah, the walking dead.

I really want to proof it myself, if the body is really moving or not, or just so so moving but everyone seem to make a big deal out of it and add some magical garnish so people will be curious, or... Anything could possibly happen and I want to see that with my own eyeballs!

See talking about this excites me already. Can't imagine if I can really perform the trip, experience it with myself, and rupture everything I see, here in my blog. That could cost lots of posts.

I want it. I want to do what those girls do.

Showing people what my nation possesses.

But first, of course, I have to get to know her.

My treasured motherland

It's Morphin' Time!

I'm done being excited about writing.
Everyone knows that I'm interested a lot in writing.
Now it's time for me to introduce something else, besides writing.

And that else, is childhood.

I don't know what to say about childhood.
I love childhood, I adore so much about my childhood.
I'd do anything to turn back in time, enjoy every piece of my childhood.

Or at least, collect what's left behind from my childhood.

But I have no idea where to find them.
What I still keep from my childhood, is my memory.
And now, this blog will help me rebuild those long lost moments.

So...

Thanks, rifkyramadhan.blogspot.com.
I gained enough reputation using my own name.

Picture of Neverland, obtained from here.

Now wish me luck in Neverland

Rebranding

Hey there daily visitor!

Well, if any...

So if you wonder, today I've been doing some changes to my blog appearance. You know it's 5 years old already and I guess it's just time to rebrand this stuff. I've even been thinking to change the name of this blog. Apparently, personally, naming this blog with my own name is not quiet selling.

But this gon' be a major transformation for everything like, everything.

Everybody knows this blog as rifkyramadhan blogspot, not anything else.

Every blog buds linked my blog to rifkyramadhan blogspot, not anything else.

All my life, all this time, it's always been rifkyramadhan that I ran to, not anything else.

It's risky I know, it's emotionally challenging.

But something inside tells me to

P.S. : Wish me luck :)

This Is Harder Than High School

This year is a party time for football lovers. You know,

Arsenal will come, Chelsea will come, Liverpool will come...

Ah yes, Liverpool will come.

To Indonesia, to the land I'm staying at.

This could actually be like, you know, a chance for me to show the universe that I am trying to be a good fan of Liverpool. And um, this could be the only time for them playing here! I mean, WHEN ELSE WILL THEY BE COMING TO THIS CRAPPY COUNTRY!?

But... Yeah, there's a 'but'.

You know I'm not posting this story for a scrubby reason.

This is a real deal because, you know what, Pitbull will also come this year.

Yes, Pitbull. Again.

The all-time-fave-rapper-of-mine Pitbull.

He'll come. Again. And it gave me some hard times.

I know, I should've just pick Liverpool over Pitbull but... Got to admit, I adore the Cuban bastard much much more than all Liverpool players. Combined.

And the last time he came, well since I obtained his ticket for free, I couldn't help but promised myself that the next time he's coming to Indonesia, I won't risk my chance again by waiting for some stupid free tickets. I will just buy my own ticket instead. No matter how expensive it'll be. No matter what.

And now that he's coming again,

Along with the game of Liverpool,

I don't even know how to react.

Image of Captain Gerrard is from here, and Pitbull's from here.

I drool.

I drool like a mule.

Oh how could I dare to miss the duel

Of my favorite club, right before my stool?

But you know I won't say no to my lengua española fuel.

The guy who made me love to rap like a fool.

Argh, this is so uncool.

If only I have a gold pool,

I don't have to face this mull.

So, Liverpool or Pitbull?

God this bugs me deep into my skull

P.S. : I don't know why, but I have this feeling that somehow, eventually, I get to see both of them this year.
Just, Amen o Lord :')

Japanese, A New Level

So today, I felt this massive urge to bookshop.

Hm. Not really in mood to write in English.

Ya jadi gatau kenapa tiba-tiba gue merasa terdesak banget buat beli buku. Apapun itu. Gue udah lama banget gak ngerasain sensasi beli buku di toko, pulang bawa gembolan, bongkar kresek, buka plastik bukunya trus cium bau lembaran barunya. Sumpah. Kangen :'(

Trus pergilah gue ke Gramed. Karena gatau mau beli apa, gue keliling dulu sebentar sampe akhirnya berenti di depan rak bertuliskan "Kamus".

Oke inget project akhir taun gue? Ya, belajar Bahasa Jepang. Akhir-akhir ini gue gak nyentuh sama sekali itu buku BasJep gegara tugas kampus yang menggila. Gue butuh motivasi baru buat lanjut belajar. Dan kayaknya kamus bisa ngebantu. At least nanti jadi ada dua buku yang kalo gue telantarin, panggilannya untuk dibaca pasti bakal jauh lebih kuat daripada cuma satu buku.

Tapi gak semudah itu gue ngambil keputusan buat beli. Gue berdiri di depan rak buku lamaaaaaaa banget, mikirin manfaat dan mudharat kalo beli itu kamus. Bukan karena harga loh ya. Pilihan gue malah antara beli kamus kantong yang paling mahal, atau nggak sama sekali. Ngga ada pilihan buat beli kamus yang murah *branding biar gak dianggep pelit*

Alasan kenapa gue lama banget membatu di depan rak itu,
Adalah... Karena... Google Translate.

Jadi selama ini, pas gue lagi belajar atau nonton Naruto trus tetiba nemu kata-kata baru, pasti langsung lari ke Google Translate. Nah yang gue takutin adalah, pembelian kamus ini jadi sia-sia karena ujung ujungnya gue bakal tetep pake Google Translate.

Tapi jiwa konvensional gue lagi menggelora. Gue pengen punya kamus kecil yang bisa gue bawa kemana-mana, dan bentuknya buku, bukan apps. Plus akhir-akhir ini gue baru baca artikel soal media fisik yang ninggalin kesan emosional lebih kenceng daripada media digital.

So did I buy the dictionary? Yes.

Semoga pembelian buku ini tidak sia-sia ya Rabb.

Jauhkan hamba dari godaan era internet yang kejam ini.

Well I promise, Baiburu -yes I name my dictionary that

That wherever I go, whenever it is, inside my backpack,

You'll be there

P.S. : Therefore, I name my Japanese learning book "Seisho"

Old School Meals

You know when you have some habit, something you usually do, somewhere you regularly check, especially with people you do care about, although such things are totally out of date, you will always, always love to keep it on your list.

Like this restaurant I've always been into.

Jadi di daerah Menteng, ada tempat makan nyempil di depan SD Obama. Namanya Restoran Miranda. Atau Tan Goey? Well I don't know, they use both names on their menu and the name board. Yang gue tau, udah dari jaman orok gue diajak makan kesitu.

Tempatnya gak cozy cozy amet. Homey sih, ada kolam ikannya terus teduh gitu ada atepnya. Tapi bagian luarnya, which is the smoking area, which is the place my family always look for at a restaurant, kadang -kadang suka panas dan banyak nyamuknya.

Makanannya semacem makanan Belanda gitu. Banyak makanan lokal juga sih. Seafood juga ada. Banyak pilihan deh pokoknya! Tapi tiap dateng kesini, gue sekeluarga gapernah mikir panjang buat pesen makanan. Selalu menu yang sama dari waktu ke waktu, dari orang ke orang.

Asparagus Soup & Chicken Steak

Sumpah ya ini recommended banget kalo ada yang tertarik kesana. Seporsi sup asparagus cukup buat berlima sampe enam orang, trus stik ayamnya... Gue yakin banget itu ayam-ayam diternak di surga sebelum akhirnya dimasak. Pokoknya setiap dateng kesana, selalu pesen 5 stik ayam gapake tapi tapi.

Hhh entah kenapa gue sekeluarga seneng banget kesini. Damai, sepi, makan diiringi percikan air dan ikan-ikan berenang, suasana 70an gitu deh macem jamannya Dono Kasino Indro. Waiter nya pun udah pada tua. Kostumnya mirip di film Warkop DKI pas mereka kerja di hotel.

Kata nyokap, itu semua waiternya  udah kerja disono dari jaman batu, pas mereka masih pada muda muda. Satu hal yang amat sangat gue suka, mereka ramah banget. Setiap kita dateng, muka-mukanya langsung pada sumringah. Mereka juga kayak udah pada apal gitu apa yang mau kita pesen.

Kadang gue suka sedih sih liat mereka. Karena restoran itu kadang sepinya suka keterlaluan. Gue sih seneng-seneng aja karena jadi berasa makan di rumah sendiri. Tapi ya gimana ya, kalo terus-terusan begitu lama-lama kan bisa tutup trus... Kenangan gue... Sirna...

Oh God. Deep inside my heart, I seriously pray for their existence.

Grandpa succeeded introducing my dad the warmth of the restaurant.

And my dad, succeeded introducing me the memories of his childhood.

So now I don't want to miss the chance, introducing to my children, about

The essence of living retro times

A Road To New York

Hi. So umm New York? Am I travelling to New York, you supposed?

Well, hopefully I am. And please, please wish me luck!

http://modejunkies.blogspot.com/2013/03/off-to-new-york.html

So yeah, my friends asked me to join them being a part of their team. We'll be participating in Columbia Model United Nation in New York on October this year. But damn right, there's a whole lot of things to do. For the conference preparation, also for our academic needs because umm, you know, this is our last year in campus.

We made it for the campus approval. And also, we have gladly finished our mid term exams. Next thing to do, we'll have to deal with sponsors hunting, visa proposal, conference preparation and stuff. Yet, we also have to finish the rest of our term, face our final exam, do the internship program, and the epic part is, the thesis trial for our final paper.

So what, one, two, three... Okay, it's seven steps away.

And I'm so gonna update every single things we will be done.

To appreciate our work, to New York

The Living Plan

Real life is just a couple of years away. Setelah lulus, dapet kerja dan punya penghasilan sendiri, baru deh tuh dimulai kehidupan yang sebenarnya.

Kemaren pas lagi kuliah Bauran Promosi: Hard Sell, dosen gue si Mbak Anne nanyain ke kelas, pada udah punya rencana keuangan buat nanti atau belum. Gue, yang kebetulan rencana 'hedon' nya udah setengah mateng, gak bisa tinggal diam dan akhirnya ngebeberin semuanya.

Nah karena udah terlanjur go public, jadi sebelum rencana agung mahakarya gue itu ditiru orang lain, gue mau patenin plan gue itu di blog ini. Dan ini juga sekalian buat bapak gue nih, biar besok-besok gausah nanya-nanya lagi dan ketar ketir lagi kalo gue mau beli apartemen.

So Dad, here's my plan.

Buy A Matic Bike

The first baby step! Berubung gue gak ngeliat adanya prospek transport umum jadi lebih baik, yaudeh mending gue beli motor aja ya gak sih?

Buy A Satellite House

Udah nabung agak banyakan, saatnya gue beli rumah buat investasi. Tapi gak langsung rumah gede di tengah kota juga sih. Gue mau cari rumah murah di daerah pinggiran Jakarta, yang agak pedalaman lika-liku seluk-beluk gitu. Tapi nih, gue gak akan tinggal disitu -gamau, mama :'( Itu rumah bakalan gue kontrakin buat banyakin tabungan gue. At least gue punya tanah gitu kan, in case of unexpected things.

Buy The Place of My Dream: The Apartment

Selang beberapa taun, tabungan makin banyak, it's time to move to the place I've been longing to stay at. The place where my Dad is so against about. Kyaaaahahahaaaaaargghh gara gara F.R.I.E.N.D.S nih ah! Sumpah salahin mereka gue jadi pengen banget bangetan tinggal di apartemen!

Buy A Car

Tempat tinggal udah punya, transport udah punya, saatnya aktualisasi diri dengan membeli sebuah Mini Cooper. Ih lucu gak sih? Keluar apartemen trus ke kantor di daerah Senayan atau Blok M atau Pancoran pake Mini?? KABULKAN IMPIAN INI YA RABB.

Buy A Bigger, Settled House In Town

Udah tajir nih ceritanya, trus udah puas gitu menggila membabi buta di apartemen, saatnya move on ke tempat tinggal yang lebih manusiawi dan lebih mapan. Itu si rumah satelit mau dijual kek, mau masih tetep dikontrakin kek, atau dibikin kos kosan kek, biar diriku di masa depan yang menentukan.

Cool gak sih rencana gue? Kata Mbak Anne sih canggih haha. Emang sih kesannya foya-foya banget beli motor iya, beli rumah iya, apartemen iya, mobilnya mahal pula. Tapi yaa gapapa deh ya, toh nanti gaji gue kan tak terhingga (AMIN ALLAH!!) jadi ngayal dikit gapapa kan?

Now Dad, what do you think?

It's not that I don't think well about my future.

I do consider every single details I possibly meet, but

I just want a more challenging life

A Whole Month Long of Slacking Off For Me, From Proud Me

Oke masa liburan udah mulai. Walopun hari-hari terasa berat gegara kemunculan pernilaian masih menggantungi nasib kami para mahasiswa, entah kenapa tiba-tiba libur udah hampir dua minggu aja gitu. Padahal gue belum siap ninggalin Januari penuh ceria ini.

Bukannya karena gue pengen berlama-lama di Januari -gue pengen cepet cepet Februari malah, karena gasabar pengen perform the magical solo trip. Bukan juga karena gue enggan masuk kuliah. Jujur, gue pengen cepet cepet semester 6 karena di term ini gue terbebas dari segala kepanitiaan, dan gue udah berhenti dari FISIPERS :') 

So why?? Why, Vicky, why don't you want to leave this month so early??

Because somehow, I turn to be a complete lazy ass this month. 

Parah. Jam bobo gue tambah berantakan. Tidur sih masih disitu situ aja, jam 1 atau 2. Tapi bangunnya... Makin geser jadi jam 9. Plus gue makin gak ada niat olahraga, makin nganggur ga karuan, makin makin makin payah deh.

Intinya, gue pengen lebih produktif sebelum Januari usai!

So, you don't want me to be a pro couch potato, eh?
Now January, please grow me some motivations

Yak. Tadinya gue mau nulis keluhan itu buat postingan kali ini.

Tapi setelah berpikir panjang, diskusi batin dan solat Istikharah,

Kayaknya gapapa sih gue berleha-leha di liburan kali ini.

Karena ternyata, sepertinya liburan ini adalah liburan panjang terakhir buat gue sebagai manusia merdeka. Coba deh liat liburan selanjutnya. Gue udah harus magang lagi. Dan liburan setelah itu, gue udah harus gesit mencari pekerjaan. Dan liburan setelah setelahnya, paling lama cuma sebatas liburan lebaran atau natal taun baru yang cuma semingguan :')

Pembenaran gue yang lain, pan liburan kemaren gue full magang kan ya. Dan pas semester 5, gue ditimpa sama kewajiban kewajiban fana di kepanitiaan kampus. Jadi sekali lagi, gue rasa emang saatnya buat gue di liburan yang sekarang ini nih, buat jadi kebo rumahan.

Dan pembenaran ketiga gue, adalah mengenai nilai semester ini. Walopun kemaren hectic sampe segitunya di acara kampus, tapi gue berhasil survive dan IP IPK semester ini pun lebih tinggi daripada semester lalu. Agila Vick, sumpedeh gue bangga banget sama eluu kyaa sini cium dulu :*

So yeah, Vick, you don't have to be feeling bad about this.

The universe is compiling to spoil you as a brand new couch potato.

Now January, you stay as long as you want

Japan(ese) Here I Go!

New year usually came along with new resolutions. I'm not a type of guy who made resolutions every year -except last year, when I was totally bummed- but this year, I have one tho.

First of all, gue lagi males pake bahasa Inggris.

Oke. Jadi buat kalian yang nggak follow Twitter gue -ebuset berasa populer banget nih mas piki :')- pasti kalian gatau kalo gue lagi mulai belajar bahasa Jepang.

Single fighter. Otodidak-ly. Gaikut les. Cuma pake buku--
Yaudah intinya gue lagi berusaha coba belajar bahasa Jepang!

Pas semester 5 kemaren, yang Alhamdulillah udah beres itu, karena gue super disibukkan dengan segala kepanitiaan fana nan nggilani, jadinya gue gak fokus gitu deh belajarnya.

NAH sekarang kan udah selesai nih. Plus semangat liburan, plus semangat taun baru, saatnya melanjutkan apa yang udah gue lalaikan!

So yes! Mastering Japanese, is something I have to achieve before the closure of this year.

Or if possible, by the middle of the year.

Because somehow in one of those old months,

I'll be going to Japan

P.S. : Amen o Lord!!

Yearly Myth

So Happy New Year 2013, everybody!!

Postingan pertama di 2013 nih wuwuwuwuwu ya Allah 2012 beneran deh ya, gak kerasa banget tiba-tiba udah abis aja fufufu. Tapi emang deh, itu taun kebesaran gue haha banyak banget nikmat serta karunia Allah SWT yang gue rasain -tadinya gue pikir itu kan taun terakhir kita di bumi, makanya dikasih happy ending gitu :')

Jadi ada satu hal yang pengen gue sampaikan. Yaitu soal malam tahun baru. Sejak taun baru 2008 ke 2009, gue menemukan sebuah pola nan unik yang mengantar gue ke sebuah spekulasi spektakular -jir apa banget sih bahasa gue.

Yodeh mari ditelaah satu per satu.

New Year 2009: Bandung, Friends of X-2.

Di rumah Khobbab nih ceritanya, bareng rombongan anak kelas X-2 SMA 68 angkatan gue pastinya. Seru kan tuh bareng temen-temen, ceqaqaq ceqiqiq dengan segala ups and downs nya. Nah gotta tell ya, all year long in 2009, I learned a lot, A LOT, about friendship. Backstabbing, loyalty, togetherness pas kelas XI, comfort zone, team work from BAZKOM, independency from Baduy pas kelas XII. Shocked? Not yet.

New Year 2010: Singapore, Family.

Kala itu, pas jam 12 tiba, warga Singapore sudah siap dengan perkakas canned foam mereka dan mulai nyemprot-nyemprotin senjata mereka ke siapapun, bener-bener orang gak kenal sekalipun, pokoknya semua orang yang lagi nongkrong di Orchard Rd. Fun? Banget!! Berasa selebrasi kemenangan apa gitu deh gila kacau serunya. Dan apa yang terjadi selama 2010? Graduation. Selebrasi kelulusan yang, ya Tuhan, gabisa diungkapin gimana senengnya. Di taun ini juga gue mulai ospek di kampus. Seru-seruan sama total strangers, temen-temen baru yang sama sekali gak kenal sebelumnya, tapi bisa-bisanya nyatu dan jadi sebuah keluarga baru.

New Year 2011: Bali, Family.

Meskipun di Bali, gue mumet banget sama NYE yang satu ini karena ujan. Pulangnya pun harus nunggu taksi berapa lama baru bisa cabut dari Discovery Mall. Alhasil, setaun penuh selama 2011 itu gue ngalamin hal-hal yang yaaahh gak ngenakin deh.

New Year 2012: Jakarta, Mom and Dad.

Di Bunderan HI, ngeliat kembang api dan langit bersahabat. I didn't quiet enjoy the atmosphere tho, but one thing I liked was, I spent the night with my parents. Mungkin karena itu Allah ngasih setaun penuh kecerahan buat gue di 2012 haha! Emang deh restu orangtua gak ngalahin apapun.

The point is, subconscious matters. Suggestion works. You got one belief, and you put faith on it, then there you go. You'll surely have that.

So start from now, I'll see a bright side from each year, and hope the positive side for the next one. No matter how suck the NYE could be, I'll just make it fun, for the sake of my whole upcoming year.

Wets bentar dolo, satu lagi nih.

New Year 2013: Home, Alone.

Gatau sih ini pertanda apa, tapi yang pasti, awal dari 2013 ini akan dimulai dengan trip gue ke KL - Bangkok which I'm gonna be... Alone.

So could this year be my single-trip-all-around-the-globe-alone year?

Let's just hope that's true :)