Mohamed Salah

I know.

I may not be the biggest fan.

I may not be the most loyal one either.

I may not always be in front of the screen to watch each and every single of his games, but, I've seen him since his very first day. I've followed his amazing growth with the team. I've been in the ups and downs of the club with him in it until finally, I realized I've grown love towards him.

Mohamed Salah

Pic's from here.

It's been a joy to have him in Liverpool. The team made some progress with the arrival of Klopp, but he completed everything. And God he was not only shining within the club, but throughout the league, the nation, the continent, the world, he stole everybody's attention! Scoring 32 goals alone in Premier League, effectively made himself to be the cup's top scorer, then winning awards after awards all in just one year after joining Liverpool, and not to mention his sun-bright achievements at international level for Egypt, well this paragraph summarizes why we love you, Mo!

And let's not forget that he is a Muslim. That alone makes me feel like we have additional bond, beyond just our Liverpool roles -he's the player, I'm the watcher, haha. I've always had respect to famous Muslim footballers, which usually got disappointed because not a few of them began to lose their Muslim identity thanks to the fame they got. But I don't think he'd do that, because unlike them who are mostly from the land of Europe, he's from the Arab world, and I'm sure he'll fight for his belief as he fights for his team. A true champion indeed.

And oh, speaking of champion, it makes me remembered something—wait, "something"? It's not just "something". It's actually the core reason why I'm writing this post for him, so why did I miss this!? Ah well okay let's get into it:

The Champions League.

Something Liverpool has been so in an extreme ups and downs for the recent years. But his arrival made it seem possible, and brought fresh air to the whole club. What he did in England, he did it in Europe. Second best goalscorer only one spot below Cristiano Ronaldo, that's NOT BAD at all! And I saw every—well, no, MOST of his games! Up til' the one against Porto, against City, against Roma...

For the last 8 years of being an on and off fan of Liverpool, I don't remember myself feeling so much hopeful and confident as I was on last year's Champions League. We made it to final, with him on squad, and battling title holder Real Madrid didn't seem really frightening at all.

I was so sure that it'd be the time I had been waiting for since I picked Liverpool as the club I'd love to cheer on. Those 10 goals he made in the league will be paid off, topped with sweet victory over the Spaniard giant, completed his brightness in England. Then with the World Cup just around the corner, his performance will be really anticipated, and extremely adored.

Such a scenario only to be seen in a dream ya?
Well it could've really been a dream come true,

If Sergio Ramos weren't ever born.

Or if he wasn't played during that devastating Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. That low key bastard. I swear I never had a grudge so big towards somebody I don't personally know before. But this man deserves all the hatred from everybody. It's not a secret that the guy plays dirty all the time, but to do it to Salah, while he's on his prime career, the asshole picked just not the right time to be an asshole he usually is. Pathetic loser. I'm running out of ideas I don't know any other cunt-like names to refer him to, because I think I've used everything.

The moment it was all starting to crumble. Pic's from here.

The foul Ramos made on that match, that caused Salah's dislocated shoulder, it ruined it all. The dream Salah's been building for the last one year for Liverpool. The hope Liverpudlians have been slowly growing for this whole season. The ultimate wish to finally reach the highest podium on Europe by regaining the title we hadn't won for 13 years, yea it was all ruined by that one filthy move. But let's not be selfish. Some millions other people suffer greater loss from Salah's injury.

Yes, the Egyptians.

With Salah, they progressed beyond belief internationally. Earning a spot at World Cup 2018 marked their 3rd entrance to the tournament, while breaking their 28 years curse after their last appearance. I can't imagine how ecstatic the whole nation were, because even I was so excited when I found out that Egypt, a team I never seen in my life fighting in a World Cup, would grace the tournament with their superstar Mo Salah, a player we all adore.

But with Sergio Ramos, the dream was swept away in just a matter of minutes. Salah's injury remained serious, despite all the positive air published in media. He missed Egypt's opening game against Uruguay, a match where Salah was supposed to be starring with pride on his first ever World Cup campaign. They eventually lost, though it wasn't a big loss, but still, I couldn't imagine how it was like being an Egyptian...

Salah was finally included in the lineup against hosts Russia for their Group A Matchday Two. I swear the whole world was so psyched seeing him about to play again, as he was the sole headline and main topic of any media and any commentator. However, it's pretty clear that he was still suffering. The injury was real, and it was obvious to see it from how he played.

It was a nightmare to see the match. To see Egypt raided by Russia, whose supporters make them three times stronger, was not a nice thing to watch. To see Salah, who usually played like a hungry beast, was so spineless and fragile, was like seeing a helpless little kitten in the middle of a raging thunderstorm. And to see the Egyptian supporters, whom two months ago was still hopeful to go far in this World Cup, seeing their national dream crumbling before their own eyes, I swear Ramos,

I never had a grudge so big towards somebody I don't personally know before, never but YOU.

It was really heartbreaking.
For me, for us Liverpudlian,
For those hopeful Egyptians...

I REALLY WANNA HUG HIM AND LET HIM KNOW THAT HE STILL
GOT US SUPPORTING HIM!!! Pic's from here.

Oh, Egypt :(

Liverpool can still repeat their glory immediately next season, after this World Cup nightmare ends. But you guys, only God know when you can get to feel this blessing again. Well Salah's still 25, and he's got a promising future before him, and let's not be pessimistic about other potentials we may discover in upcoming years, given the fact that Salah must have really inspired so many talented Egyptian youngsters. But it's just so unfortunate that this big once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has to be gone so quickly, because a fucking ignorant bitch sabotaged your national hero.

His tears that night in Kiev wasn't only his. It was all ours too. Really heartbreaking, really dream-shattering. He really didn't deserve all these, but I think it's obvious as it happens everywhere... good people has lots of haters waiting to destroy them.

But as we all know from what our religion taught us,
Allah never gives obstacle beyond His creature's capabilities.

So dream on, Egypt.
And dream on, our hero,
Mohamed Salah

Time's Up

So I've watched Moana.

And I really loved it.

I adored how she's so tough and independent, how she's not a crybaby about being forbidden to follow her dream -well Disney Princesses won't easily get what they want, eh?- and how she finally break the rules anyway -yes, it's not a Disney Princess if they're not being a rebel. And her adventure is a badass one. Wandering the ocean all by herself when she doesn't even know how to sail? That's sick! In short:

"Moana is flawless. But remember, the ocean's got its dark side too."

Hm. Sounds like a contrast summary to something I clearly said I was so in love with, don't you think? Well, no, it's not about the film. The film's good, too good, if I may say.

It's about something else.

Vicky Amin presents

I used to take Disney Princesses for granted. I mean, I adored each and every single of them, but that's all, nothing special. It's not until my high school years when I realized that this franchise is more than just featuring ladies with their beauty and moral of story—there's also history in it, sense of timeline, science facts, legends, and -here's what I like the most- nationality. And ever since I realized about this, I've always hoped that there'll be at least one coming from Indonesia.

I know, I know, we got China with Mulan, and Arabic with Jasmine—Asia's pretty much represented already. Plus, Japan and India haven't got their spots and I think they are more likely to be featured if there'll ever be more Princesses from Asia. So, if Indonesia can make it, I think it will happen like, in 20 years?

Then Moana came.

With her ocean spirit and maritime way of living, with her voyager ancestors and sea myths and mother nature—oh Lord, I swear, it was an indigenous Indonesian woman and culture that I saw.

Of course, Polynesia shares culture with us. We're just separated with the ocean, and our old men used to sail a lot so, it's no wonder that they look just like our people from eastern Indonesia.

But it's just too similar. Their physical appearance, their outfit, their houses, their boats, their value about coconut which all elements can be benefited—OMG IT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS LEARNED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Along the film all I did was gasping and whispering to myself, oh my God it is obviously Indonesia! or oh my God, it is what my people do! and in the end, I was just sitting there in silent, stressed, because that was it for my country to step up.

They will never create something so similar just to feature some new Princess from Indonesia. They will never use the ocean's approach again for their next Princesses, and guess what, ocean is Indonesia's best asset...

Well actually, if I should see things from the positive side, there's not even once in the film that they clearly stated where this Moana universe took place. So we Indonesians can actually claim that this one will be ours.

But let's not be shallow here. We all know that this lady is more like Hawaiian than Moluccan. And we know that the combination of ocean and lava is identically related to Hawaii.

So no matter how persistent and stubborn I want to be,

I know that I won't win it. Time's up for Indonesia.

However.

We also know that Indonesia possesses more culture than any other nations in this world. We know that ocean is the best asset, yes, but there are others we can highlight.

I think I'm just being too much here.

We can still make it into the Princess lineup.

So it's time, Indonesia.

To show the world what else we got

As for slacking off and goofing around,

Time's up

Flying Solo

When I was younger, I’ve always had this huge desire to explore

By myself.

Vicky Amin presents

I remember when my family and I went to Singapore 7 years ago. After we called it a day and headed back to the hotel, I asked for my parents’ permission to go out on my own –while my younger brothers decided to eat fried chicken and watch Smackdown at their room. Mom and dad agreed, and I went to Clark Quay. I can’t ever forget about that moment. When I rode the MRT, asked the staff where particular places were, asked strangers to take photos of me, damn, I felt like I was ready to take off of my home and rule the world.

Then I started my annual solo traveling habit. Malaysia–Thailand, Vietnam–Cambodia, Philippines, and finally Hong Kong–Macau. It was all crazy, really, like, if you ask me which one is the best, I literally can’t answer.

But if you force me to answer, with cold dagger lingering on my throat, and blood slowly bursts out of my Adam’s apple –shit man, I’ve seeped too much inside the Game of Thrones, I gotta say that, the best solo traveling moment actually came from inside this country.

Yes.

From my “Conquering Indonesia” mission.

I met so many people during my international solo trips. Like, hundreds of them. Whether I knew their names or not, I literally met and talked with people from everywhere.

Knowing that I was traveling on my own, on such young stage of life, they were impressed, yes. But that’s all. After that, we kept on talking like nothing spectacular had happened to me, like travelers normally interacted. Because solo traveling is not a big deal for them. It’s common. Everybody from their country does that—even they have done that many times.

Then back in my country.

Where solo traveling is considered as, well, peculiar. Some say it’s crazy, some others say it’s desperate –oh what a narrow-minded, corny persons they are, and the rest of them say it’s… Mesmerizing.

Harapan was my first experience. I was grouped with originally twenty people, half of which was a bunch of stupid high school teenagers so I would only say that by that time, I was joined to a group of eleven. Aside of me, the other ten came literally in a couple. So basically they had a company. I, eventually, got called ‘Hachi’ by them. You know, that lonely honeybee hutch? Yea they called me that.

But that didn’t make me down. I was psyched instead. Those people saw me and looked after me like I was their youngest brother –well, I WAS, the youngest of all eleven. They talked to me, offered foods to me, make fun of me being so lean and lonely—after all, I went home bringing new friends more than anybody else in the group.

Care to guess which 10 people I did make friends with?

One month after, I went to Pahawang. This was even better. A bigger group, of 32, but since it was split into two boats, I only got to know half of them –which was good, because on the other boat there were these flamboyant boys I really wanted to punch and this fat girl whose mouth I would want to shut with a duct tape. So what made the trip better?

I personally knew these people even deeper than the ones I met in Harapan. They were originally a group of people knowing each other pretty well, and they welcomed me as if I was one of them. Talked to me, offered foods to me, make fun of how I slept like reclining Buddha—I swear at this stage, I fell in love with joining an open trip.

The rest of the group were drinking coconut somewhere on the beach.

Oh I was right. Because the best thing happened in my Krakatau trip. It's a whole bigger group, consisting of several different smaller groups, and all of us shared one same boat. So the rumor about me being the only one who came down there alone, spread like virus. Making everybody impressed, and curious about why on earth would I decide to hike Mount Krakatau with strangers.

And I literally talked to each small group. Groups that were not interacting with other groups, because they only wanted to hang inside their group. But since I wasn't a part of any group, they came to me. Talked to me, offered foods to me, make fun of THEMSELVES, for not being brave enough to do what I had done so many times—and I swear at that stage, I was so proud of myself.

I miss my strangers.

Oh well, Tricky Traveler.
You surely found where you belong.

I may have said this too many times but, I really like traveling solo. I really enjoy meeting new people. And how they will judge me about my self exploration. But nothing beats the joy of seeing their face in either amaze, wonder, or worry, when I start telling them my adventures.

Honestly, my mouth is getting tired of answering question "why do you like traveling solo?" and answer "because it's free, and I don't have to wait for anybody, and I can be mad to whoever I want if they're slowing me down because they're not my friends" has been spilled too often.

But I never got sick of that.

Because that question is where everything begins.
It's a cue that will lead me to a deeper conversation,
Stronger relationship and of course, eventually, a new friend.

And after all,
That's the beauty of
Flying Solo

I'm Sorry, Captain

It took exactly three nights to get over it.
Not completely moved on, but at least it feels easier now.

Vicky Amin presents

I will never stop saying this before I start talking about Liverpool: I’m not the biggest fan. It’s not like I always watch every single game, keep up to every single updates. No. But at least I’m not a fake one. I know the players, I know the theme song, but most importantly I didn’t turn my back when the squad was down on their knees. And I’m not that kind of fan when people ask who my favorite player in Liverpool is, and I expectedly answer “Steven Gerrard.”

Well.

Steven Gerrard is, and will always be—in default, the favorite player of any Liverpudlian all over the globe. I’ve known him long ago, when I was still loving Milan, and he played for Liverpool already. Then I turned to support for The Reds in 2010. Ups and downs, with swifts in managers and legends started departing, leaving Gerrard the only classic Liverpool key left behind. But still no matter what happened, he got a good grip of the whole team, and served the most entertaining performances for the supporters.

Honestly, after Carragher left and Gerrard became the last player of Liverpool squad playing in Istanbul 2005, I’ve been having this instinct that our captain will be leaving in no time. Could be because he’s retiring, or because he’s just tired of Liverpool, or he gets amazing offers from other clubs—could literally be anything, I don’t know what, but the thing is, he’ll eventually leave.

I’m actually okay with that. With him leaving. He’s been beyond loyal to Liverpool and his devotion to the club is not questioned. It's hard, but totally tolerable. What hurt me bad was, his last two games.

Gerrard’s final match at Anfield two weeks ago was considered as the closure of his career with Liverpool. Of course, it’s a home game. The celebration was touching, the drama was epic, what went wrong was only the fact that Liverpool lost. But I was fine with that. At least he’s got his supporters for that, so either win or lose, he’d leave Anfield with endless salute. Plus, he’s still got his true one last game a week after so... There was still a chance to close his Liverpool story with nice ending.

But then, you know what happened.
Liverpool lost, big time—it’s like, raped.

After the game ended, I was just there, sitting in front of my laptop throughout a slowly-creeping, endless and quiet 15 minutes, doing nothing. Nothing but to think how is it like to be Gerrard right now.

Well I cried, honestly and I don't think I have to hide it. I cried, dramatically. When all 6 goals flashed behind Mignolet's back, when Charlie Adam celebrated over his goal to his ex-team, when Gerrard scored his last goal in Premier League ever. But of course my worse tear fell when the final whistle blew. When Gerrard clapped to honor his surroundings like a true legend, while everybody else was mocking him and his horrible last day in Liverpool.

I cried.

How could such thing happened to a legend that big?

If I were one of Liverpool players. I couldn't apologize myself for letting my captain down. But now what am I? Just a fan who sometimes watch the game, sometimes not, sometimes I feel like I’m the one who care most about the team, sometimes I don’t even give a fuck…

So all I can do is just to write this pity note.

Stating how sorry I am for the tragedy, and wholeheartedly wishing you, my beloved Captain Steven Gerrard, to have a better career ahead in the United States.

I regret that I don’t have a jersey with your name on it.
I regret I didn’t watch you when you were in Indonesia.
Speaking for all the fan who feels the same,

I’m sorry, Captain.