At Celebes Convention Centre

Last night, (Saturday, 27/10/07) I was invited by my dad to accompany him to go to a wedding reception. Actually I was not really keen, going to a wedding reception with my dad, particularly because he likes to poke fun about me to his relations and friends and family that he met at the wedding. When he does that, all I can do is just put the fakest smile I can muster, and I do not like being fake. Hehehe.

But when I was told that the wedding is Melinda Aksa’s (daughter of one rich entrepreneur and deputy of the nation’s House of Representative, Aksa Mahmur) wedding, I thought that it would be cool, because I’ll be able to meet my cousins and other families. Besides, Melinda is the one who helped to be getting enrolled as an intern at Deplu (Dept. of Foreign Affairs) a few months back. But the coolest thing is that the wedding reception was going to be held at CCC or Celebes Convention Centre, located at Tanjung Bunga area, it is a brand new massive building, and this wedding reception apparantly is its first gig. I have read from the paper that this building have cost roughly Rp. 60 billion. Well, no more thinking, I was on my way instantly. “Let’s go, dad.”

When I got there, the place was.. darn.. the building is huge, and, just… abundant of people were there… wheww… At.. the parking lot.. When I got inside the building, its great hall to be exact, it was like, darn.. I thought there were thousands of people there.. And then, I saw a long lines of people, queueing for a chance to shake the newlyweds’ hands to congratulate them… And then, I saw a lot of public figures, and politicans, and celebrities,.. well, this is one hell of a wedding.. The hall was designed elegantly, with a huge huge curtain above, and fabulous food.. awesome awesome.. I regret it for the fact that I did not bring my digital camera, I only had my cellphone to take pics L but it’s ok at least I had a piece of what this brand new pride of Makassar has to offer. And I met my friends there, too, and sure, my cousin, and a cousin that I have not met before, his name was Raviq, a son of my dad’s cousin. He lives in Jakarta, that’s why I never met him. he was so friendly, and it did not take long to get into great conversation with him. Normally I have always had rough time, trying to get into conversation with a new person I just met, but this kid, Raviq, lights me up and he cracks me up. I’ll look forward for another time meeting him again. But beneath all, the wedding was awesome, the building was just.. unbelievable.!

with Raviq, the cousin I have never met before

Timbaland Feat. OneRepublic - Apologize

It's been quite awhile I haven't heard a song that really strucked me.. This track is called Apologize, by Timbaland featuring OneRepublic. Yes, at first I found it pretty odd for the fact that Timbaland "sing" this song, this is one umm... I did not think that this track is that kind of track that suits the style of music of Timbaland. This is the third single from his album, Timbaland Presents ... Shock Value, and I was a bit bitter about this album, because listening to its first two singles; Give It To Me (featured Justin & Nelly Furtado) and The Way I Are (featured Keri Hilson), I came up with a conclusion that this album is just another rap, hip hop album. BUT! after I listen to this piece, Apologize.. I thought that Timbaland and this upcoming pop rock band, called OneRepublic is really going to give a slam dunk hit!, .... This is one Awesome track!Just, awesome, awesome lyric, awesome rhtyhm, awesome voice, awesome arragement, everything you want in a song, there's in this track.. Furthermore, I think that this upcoming band OneRepublic is going to go for a success, I can't wait for their album to be released this November, called Dreaming Out Loud...

So if you want another piece of it, have it downloaded, Timbaland featuring OneRepublic - Apologize monggo

And here is the lyric of Timbaland featuring OneRepublic's Apologize.

Or if you want to watch the music video, here's the link on YouTube.... Timbaland featuring OneRepublic - Apologize (Music Video)

For more informations, just visit Timbaland's Official Site or OneRepublic's MySpace page.

Feel free to give a feedback!

TV Shows Thumbsdown

Man, oh man. I found this so very ironic. Last night I realized it that the tv program in all the tv stations in Indonesia, particularly in the primetime segment (from 7 to 10pm) was all so very, absolutely pathetic. Well, I know, complaining or even cursing is not the best thing for anyone to do, but I could not help it, others might have better solution, which is, “just turn off the damn tv, if you do not like what you’re watching!” Well, yes I could, but, I just want to point something out for the fact that we have serious problems regarding the tv programs particularly at the primetime segment.

What is the problem anyway? It looks like everything is fine, you can just watch the sinetron, or Indonesian tv series, or whatever, I don’t know what to call it, but I think that is the main problem. It is because I just do not think that we have something to be proud of regarding all those things we watch. Here’s why. First, I just want to bring it back to the basics for the fact that the sinetron is somekind of, branch, of art. Like screen art. But what I see on tv nowadays, art, I think is the furthest thing of what sinetron has to offer. I mean, how do you extract the sense of art from those things we watch on tv at the primetime segment? Most of them depicts a story of a female teenager who is having all kind of misfortunes in her life. Not to mention all those villains who always screams on the top of their lungs, with those huge evil eyes, and literally, abuse the main character throughout. I mean, it is absolutely ok if there are one of two of them with the same story lines, but for the love of God, they are all like that, in almost all tv stations. And, the worst thing is, all of those sinetrons are a regular fixture at primetime segment 7 days a week! Gimme a break!

Second, the impact to those who watch those kind of shows. What I mean is, most of those shows bring a high rating to the tv stations because, most of people, particularly women and teenagers love to watch those kind of shows. That is what matter, rating. To those tv stations. But what about the people who are watching? They are going to be poisoned with the same storylines that depicts people who are being abused and tortured every single day. What do they gain, watching those kinds of shows? this is so pathetic I can't barely speak. I wish I could bring any sollution in this, I am sorry for complaining like this, most of you must be thinking that I'm a miserable-know-it-all, but I am just voicing my point for the fact that we need to bring this up, tv stations and production houses should come up with something more more creative, in order to bring good impact for the public who watch the tv shows. Aaaaaargghh..!!!

Ridiculous Ruli

Ruli is my friend, he's also happened to be a family of mine. He's ridiculous, I can't even tell you, I just like to laugh on everything that he says and everything that he does, although, there are times when I'm really sure that he's more than just a ridiculous guy. His thoughts about things sometimes are beyond my comprehension, and I just want to state that, when people say "do not judge the book by its cover" it is absolutely true. He's always fresh on thoughts, and always hilarious. Ruli is now applying for a scholarship for his Master's degree, maybe in some country in Europe.. Some friends like LaOde M. Syafaat have this kind of prophecy that Ruli is really keen to apply for a Master's degree in the country of Netherlands, and someday is going to plan a wedding there... Hehehehe... Ruli.. if that is true, good luck on you buddy... For now, enjoy your pic.!

Sharee Sadness

Muthia, Sharee, Isma, Mario, and Uq...

Muthia.. what's that face?, Sharee, Mario, Uq

Andyka, Uq, and... the newly engaged Isma.

Muthia, Saddat, Mario, Sharee at Cafe de Coral

Sharee, she’s one of my really best friend. It’s been almost five years, and there was always a blast, being friends with her. Her bubbly character, sometimes, she’s the best. I loved it when she’s having a tough time following the path of my conversation with her, the look on her face, look of confusion.. hahaha.. gosh, I’ll always love her, she’s special.

She’s now already left Makassar, she’s back to her family in Jakarta, she lives there, she was only here for her study, and it’s already accomplished now, she’s now ready for a new chapter of her life. She was throwing this lunch with me and other best friends (Muthia, Isma (somebody's enganged now), Ridha, Nur"cuchan"shan, Saddat, Uq, Andhyka) of hers on Thursday this week, and she planned to fly home to Jakarta the next day. So it was kind of our last-memorable-moment with Sharee, and well, I just hope that that was not going to be the last time for me to see her. Lunch at Café de Coral, karaoke at E-Club, then we went to Saddat's house... but one of us were kind of nervous going to his house, I wonder who that might be hahahahaha.... and finally, we decided to go to the beach, we thought that it was going to be a special place for us to have our last moments with Sharee, but, unfortunately, there were some music concerts held, but it’s ok, we thought that we could enjoy it, why not, but it turned to a complete let down, like, a huge disappointment. I was like, I was about to kill someone, when we found out that it was the music concert of the most distasteful band in the universe, Radja.

Nevertheless, Sharee, you’re amazing, you’re lovely, you’re the best, you’re beautiful, love you so much, see you next time…. By the way, other friends, especially those who did not have the chance to at least say goodbye to you have told me that they were sorry they could not attend, and they love you… Thanks for being an amazing sister for me, Sharee. Never forget me.

Dictators' Dine Out

It is still Ramadhan, the month in Islamic calendar where we’re as Muslims are obliged to fast for the whole 30 days of the month. fasting, in this, means that we’re going to have to hold and press all of the desire in ourselves, like the hunger, thirsts, angers, desire to lie and gossip, as well as to hold our desire of being too close to the opposite sex. You know what I mean, hehehehe….. All of those basic human desire we would have to hold from the sun rises until the sun sets.. so there’s a ritual, before the sun rises, we do Sahur, or you can say early breakfast, and when the sun sets, there’s also ritual, called Buka Puasa, or you can say early dinner, where we can drink and eat again, until the sun rises again the next morning.

It is a custom in our International Relations Students Associations in every Ramadhan, that each class throws a Buka Puasa gig, so every students from all classes can attend, however for this year, it is not so very much the case of IR students of class of Dictator 2003. It is so unfortunate for the fact that we are not a whole anymore, because some of our members have already graduated, so we were not sure that we can throw a Buka Puasa gig for everyone anymore.

However, we tried to think something else. Maybe we could just gather, ourselves, whole Dictators, graduated and not-yet graduated, hehehe, we can make it ourselves, Buka Puasa in a restaurant maybe. So yes, yesterday, 4/10/2007 we held our Dictator 03 Buka Puasa at Bakso Lapangan Tembak restaurant at Mal Panakukang. So here it goes, a little glimpse of it.

Me, Sharee, Cucan, and a creature that I don’t feel like to mention her name, were the first four in the restaurant, and there was Andicted, Uq, Ancha, Muthe, who came with her boyfriend Sadat, and his brother, Ikal, and there also was, Edy, who wore a very, well, I thought it was an odd attire of his, but it was apparently the fashion that he is into… ok,and there was, Chakra, Isma, who finally is home from her project in an NGO in South East Sulawesi, she came with her new boyfriend, but he was not in the restaurant, what the…? Ok, continue…. Makmur and Santhi, Rusdin, and finally Andika, who came after some of us have already left… Andika apparently brought someone that I did not recognize.. erhmm erhmm.. who was she, Andika? Hehehehe.. good on you, though.. better than none, right!

So we all got into nice conversations, and jokes, of course, we were glad that we are still able to throw this, despite of us not being whole 49 people, but we were good, it was a good time, I would love to do that again, Love to you all, cheers to Dictators!