Gwatlan

Thank You

2010-01-19T04:46:44-05:00

Heran sekali di blog site ini...... rupanya ada polisi yang patroli. Orangnya saja engga ngerti bahasa Indonesia.... eh menuduh beberapa blog berbahasa Indonesia sebagai SPAM. Friendly betul????

Saya merasa betul betul tersinggung nih....Walaupun blog tsb bukan blog saya.

Please, you are free to flag this blog . It is also in Indonesian and I bet you would think that it is a SPAM!!!!!!!!!

The Exit

2009-10-17T00:01:24-04:00

Nyuwun Pamit..... :)

Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan

2009-10-15T02:03:21-04:00

Ini lagu lama, tapi membawa kenangan manis buatku dan tentunya juga banyak diantara anda yang memiliki kenangan serupa. Memang ada kalanya, cinta itu tidak harus berarti bersama, dan akan lebih indah jika perpisahan itu dilakukan dengan baik baik dan tidak meninggalkan kepahitan.

Lagu sepanjang jalan kenangan ini banyak dinyanyikan oleh berbagai penyanyi, lagu-nya indah alunannnya dan berkesan liriknya:

Sengaja aku datang ke kotamu
Lama nian tidak bertemu
Ingin diriku mengulang kembali
Berjalan jalan bagai tahun lalu

Walau diriku kini tlah berdua
Dirimupun tiada berbeda
Namun kenangan s'panjang jalan itu
Tak mungkin lepas dari ingatanku

Sepanjang jalan kenangan
Kita slalu bergandeng tangan
Sepanjang jalan kenangan
Kau peluk diriku mesra
Hujan yang rintik rintik
Di awal bulan itu
Menambah nikmatnya malam syahdu

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Saya ini hanya iseng saja menulis blog ini, dari pada engga nulis sama sekali, jadi saja saya tulis ini. Semoga bagi anda yang membacanya akan mengembalikan sebuah kenangan indah.

Oh ya, ini saya menambahkan sebuah permainan gitar dari lagu ini yang saya barusan temukan di YouTube.

Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan by Ronald Dave Schussler (Guitar)
May 16, 2009.

(... and this is what he wrote about the song):
This is a Indonesian song about a person with a great longing for returning, after a long time, to the city of the loved one, in remembrance of the road they once walked together, looking back again...

Please, enjoy!! Semoga anda semua enjoy ya?

Catatan: Ada kemungkinan blog ini adalah blog saya yang terakhir disini. Terimakasih buat mereka yang suka membaca dan menghargai tulisan-tulisan saya disini.

Yang Lagi Ngetop di-Indonesia

2009-09-25T11:10:21-04:00

Setelah meninggalkan tanah kelahiran Indonesia lebih dari 25 tahun, rupanya banyak hal hal yang tak kutahu. Banyak orang menyebutkan sesuatu, baik itu gossip yang lagi ngetop atau produk yang paling populer atau makanan baru yang kini sedang digemari... yang belum pernah kudengar atau kukenal sebelumnya.

Pertama yang membuatku bengong ketika adik tanya apakah aku juga punya BlackBerry. Trus aku tanya apa sih itu Blackberry? Tak kira itu tanaman buah blackberry jadi aku hampir saja jawab bahwa aku tak menanam blackberry. Kemudian adikku itu bilang masa engga tahu Ha-Pe BlackBerry. Nah aku tambah bengong apa sih "Ha-Pe".....Dia bilang itu adalah Hand-phone terus dia keluarkan dari tasnya mobile phone dia yang baru dan dia bilang ini lho Ha-Pe BlackBerry. Ha, ha..... aku merasa seperti orang dungu yang engga mengenal teknologi baru dinegeri ini. Habis disini di Australia BlackBerry mobile phone engga begitu populer. Oh ya di Aussie Ha-Pe itu namanya mobile phone........

Rupanya disaat aku ke Indonesia dibulan Agustus yang lalu, pemasaran BlackBerry Hand-phone ini sedang hebat hebatnya. Didepan pusat pertokoan di Jalan Merdeka di Bandung, ada pertunjukan band yang mengumandangkan berbagai lagu lagu modern yang salah satunya adalah Rap ala Indonesia..... Eh, engga tahunya BlackBerry sponsornya. Jadi semacam upaya pemasaran.

Nah ada pembicaraan lain yang sedang ngetop yaitu mengenai wafatnya Mbah Surip yang begitu beken dengan lagunya "Tak Gendong". Bayanganku yang namanya Mbah Surip itu adalah wanita, ha, ha.....
Engga tahunya dia itu penyanyi jalanan yang terkenal. Ternyata khas juga lagu lagunya.

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Yang lain lagi yang aku belum pernah dengar sebelumnya adalah makanan yang terbuat dari tempe. Itu lho Tempe Mendoan. Seperti apa ya tempe mendoan ini? Engga tahunya tempe yang berasal dari daerah Banyumas yang dibuat dari tempe diiris tipis terus dicelupkan ditepung yang dibumbui dengan bawang putih, ketumbar, merica dan irisan daun bawang. Terusnya digoreng didalam minyak yang panas dan setelah matang dimakan dengan sambal kecap.

Kalau dipikir hidup diluar negri itu belum tentu membuktikan bahwa seseorang itu lebih hebat. Nyatanya banyak hal hal baru yang membuatku terbengong bengong. Apa sih itu yang lagi gencarnya jadi pembicaraan di Indonesia? Aku sama sekali tak tahu. Aku perlu: "Please explain?" Mereka bilang masa tinggal diluar negri begitu saja engga tahu. Tapi sebaliknya buat orang Indonesia kata "please explain" itu tak mengandung segi humor.... yaitu humor mengenai Pauline Hanson. Ha.....

Menarik juga aku mengenal hal hal yang sedang top top-nya jadi bahan pembicaraan orang disana. Yang begitu populer disuatu tempat belum tentu dikenal ditempat lainnya. Ini betul kan????

Prambanan Temples

2009-09-06T23:04:53-04:00

The Yogya earthquake back in May 27,2006 destroyed Prambanan Temples. When we visited the place in August 16,2009, part of this Hindu temple complex was still closed as they were still fixing it.

The day was sunny and very hot and we were thankful for the possibility to hire umbrellas for few thousands rupiahs. While walking around the area, my mind went back many years ago when I visited the temples with everyone from year 10 (SMAK 1 Sido Kare Solo). Also I remember a superstition around this ancient place. People believe that lovers who are not married should not visit these temples as they are bound to break up! I always try not to believe it, but it really happened to me once. What if we did not go to this place at that time? Would we have been married with a dozen children and few grand children now?

Gempa di Jawa Barat

2009-09-03T22:48:21-04:00

Hati ini ikut sedih mendengar berita gempa yang terjadi lagi di Indonesia. Kali ini (Rabu 2 September, 2009) daerah sekitar Jawa barat digoncang gempa tektonik berkekuatan 7.3 Richter Scale yang pusatnya 30 km di barat daya Tasikmalaya.

Untuk semuanya yang telah kehilangan sanak saudara, terluka atau kehilangan harta benda, saya mengucapkan prihatin dan ikut sedih dengan malapetaka yang lagi lagi menghujam masarakat Indonesia. Semoga Tuhan memberi kekuatan.

Alam Mengingatkan Kita

Hidup didunia ini tidak pasti dan mudah pudar
Kita berdiri diatas tanah yang mudah terguncang
Gunung murka, tanah goyang bergetar
Bangunan dan jembatan runtuh terjengkang
Batu batu, abu dan lava panas berpijar
Termuntahkan dari mulut merah meradang

Lautan diam berubah diri tanpa bilang
Menjadi dinding tinggi mengejar bergemuruh
Menerjang semua yang menghalang
Hingga semuanya hanyut lanta luluh
Petaka menyambar banyak nyawa yang malang
Rumah hancur ngeri jiwapun mengaduh

Kita tak mengerti dan meminta jawaban
Kepada langit dan awan diatas kita bertanya
Tangisan mengisak minta pengampunan,
Yang marah meneriakkan kata kata nista
Ditengah berantaknya mala petaka
Sebenarnya jawaban bisa jelas didapatkan

Peringatanlah yang diberikan oleh alam ini
Pesan dari Tuhan karena kita tak lagi takut
Kekayaan duniawi yang kita semua miliki
Bagaikan pasir pantai yang mudah hanyut
Bisa musnah secepat mata berkedip,
Kalau matipun tak bisa kita angkut

Kehidupan duniawi sudah menjadi setan
Yang merasuk kehidupan sehari hari
Begitu sering ajal merenggut tanpa peringatan
Sedangkan kita belum juga siap diri
Kita diingatkan supaya tunduk pada Tuhan
Dan lebih mengutamakan kehidupan rohani

Dieng Plateau

2009-09-03T22:14:06-04:00

I had been dreaming of visiting Dieng Plateau during my visit to Central Java this time in 2009. Few days before the scheduled time to go to this place, there was a shooting of a suspected terrorist Noordin M. Top in the area. Some members of my family told us to cancel the trip, but I had my mind made up and the more I determined to go. Somehow, I wanted to prove that Indonesia was still safe for tourists to come. Later I was right that the travel was completely safe and all of us really enjoyed the trip.

The newest and the best hotel in Wonosobo (Kresna Gallery Hotel) was booked-up so we stayed in Surya Asia Hotel instead. Although it had only 3 stars rating, we were so surprised that the hotel has international standards. Our 2 deluxe rooms each has a nice bathroom with hot shower and bath tub, a TV, a mini bar with a fridge to make coffee and tea. It is located in the middle of the Wonosobo shopping area which is really handy for us. The free breakfast in the Hotel Restaurant was also satisfying. There was a big group of tourists from Europe also stayed here that night.

After one night stay in Wonosobo ( a good place to spend before going to Dieng), we checked out early in the morning to start the short journey to Dieng Plateau. As soon as we were out of the city, the road were climbing and our eyes were greeted by many golden orange Angels Trumpet’s blooms (I think it is Brugmansia sanguinea) that grew along the road. I noticed that in Dieng and Wonosobo most farmers grew potatoes. The picturesque mountainous plains had the appearance of being carved by rows and rows of terraced potatoes fields.

There are many things to see in Dieng Plateau. The area which is about 2093 m above sea level is cold and it is loaded with active volcanos. There are some cracks of the earth where the steam of hot lava can be seen from kilometres away. Although the volcanos around this area are not likely to explode, but it is obvious that they still have highly thermal activities. In some area there is still a danger of deadly carbon dioxide gas emission. On Sikidang crater, we could see bubbly volcanic mud and thick white steam cloud which seemed to cloud the area. Everywhere the strong sulphuric fume dominated our sense of smell.

The large multi coloured volcanic lake (Telaga Warna) was so panoramic and beautiful. The lake looked like a large mirror with green, blue, silver and black colour formation. It was surrounded by luscious green shrubs and trees.

Dieng Hindu Temples:
The name Dieng was originated from a complex of old stone Hindu Temples in the area. It was from the Sanskrit words Di Hyang which means The Mountain where Gods dwell. This Hindu site was built during the years of 600 – 800 AD and it was the home of Hindu priests (vihara) which consist of 400 small temples. Today it is only 8 temples left due to the volcanic destruction in the past. All the remaining temples are named by using the name of local Mahabarata characters (Arjuna, Bima, Gatutkaca, Dwarawati, Srikandi, Semar, Sembadra, Puntadewa).

The beauty of Dieng Plateau which strongly shows picturesque mountainous plain and its power in the form of volcanic activities is really a suitable place for all the mighty Gods to dwell. For those who visit central Java, I truly recommend you to spend a day or two here.

Photo Jadul

2009-08-27T18:22:57-04:00

Waktu ke Indonesia dua minggu yang lalu, aku sempat melihat lihat photo photo jaman dulu. Semua kenangan masa kecil mengalir. Ingat dulu Mama selalu mendandani kami (aku dan kakak) dengan pakaian yang kembar. Walau kami dua tahun selisih usia, aku setinggi kakak perempuanku itu.

Mereka mereka bilang, sejak aku hidup dinegeri kangguru ini, disetiap ada kumpul kumpul atau pesta aku tak ada lagi dipotret kenangan. Ini membuatku merasa sedih juga. Tapi apa boleh buat, memang udah garisnya aku harus hidup jauh dari sanak keluarga. Rasanya kapan kapan ingin pulang lagi dan membuat reuni keluarga......

Anyway, ini beberapa photoku waktu jadul masih kecil dan remaja.

Bandung the Chaotic Flower City

2009-08-22T00:01:30-04:00

Bandung is known as the Flower City of Java. Located in West Java, I once studied and lived here for about 10 years. Apparently, long time ago during the very long years of Dutch occupation, the colonial government took advantage of the temperate climate to grow flowers to make them feel more at home. As we all know that Netherland is well-known for its flower production. Another story said sarcastically that the flower name came from the pretty maidens that the lonely Dutch men used to enjoy in this area. Which one was true, I never know but now after leaving this city for more than 25 years, one thing is very sure. The flower city is not really very suitable for naming this second large city in West Java.

Bandung today is an over-crowded city with too many untidy tents along most streets where the street peddlers sell their goods that are mainly food. To top the mess is the traffic jams that happen in too many streets. Car drivers and motorbike riders are competing to get through with no regards of staying on the correct lanes. They seem to jostle through every possible gap to move forward.

Travelling through Dago Street or Cipaganti Street is really a test to remain cool and patient. Rows and rows of untidy and unregulated food tents along the streets are in contradiction to the big and rich houses in that area. It is surely not a pretty place anymore.

I heard that the local government tried to manage and tidy up the city by running city buses and relocated food peddlers to more suitable areas, but every move they tried to make was protested by the small people who make a living here by operating businesses in rickety tents along the streets or by running hundreds of small cars/vans for city transportation.

Although my all around impression of this city is negative, I must admit that it is a city of opportunity for both the rich and poor. The rich by opening big trendy malls and the poor by doing their business in street tents. A place that must have accommodated very patient and tolerant residents. After all, the beauty of flowers cannot feed hungry mouths.

This picture was taken during lunch at the Sindang Reret Restaurant in Ciwidey, a small city South of Bandung. It was built on the top of a big fish pond. The restaurant serves very delicious and healthy traditional Sundanese cuisine which mainly consists of fish, chicken and beef cooked traditionally either fried or barbequed served with rice, fresh salad and chilli paste (sambal).

Greetings from Bandung

2009-08-10T08:28:22-04:00

I've been here in Indonesia for two and half days.....The flight had been smooth and we arrived in Jakarta earlier than the scheduled time. The new Garuda Indonesian Airways' Airbus Industrie 320/200 was great:) Good on you Garuda and congrats for much better service!! :)

Today we visited Kawah Putih (White Volcano Lake) which is located in Ciwidey in South of the city of Bandung. The scenery was breathtaking with the emerald green coloured water. The smell of sulphur was not very strong, but it had a pecuiar smell.

We made many pics, but I can't upload them today.... as I borrowed the computer from my brother in law. Tomorrow we will start the journey to Central Java.

Greeting from Indonesia. Monday, August 10,2009

Goodbye Sam

2009-08-06T22:00:13-04:00

I was so shocked and sad to hear that koala Sam, the symbol of hope for the survivors of the bushfires Black Saturday in Victoria, Australia has died.

The once badly burned female koala who was previously thought was a male, was diagnosed with cysts that were linked to the deadly disease Chlamydia that has threatened koala population for some time. John Butler from Morwell Vet Clinic was supposed to do surgery on the four year-old koala when he discovered that the tumours were non-operable due the severe damage in her urinary and reproductive tract as the result of the highly transmittable disease.

Without the surgery, the unfortunate koala would suffer terrible pain, so she had to be put down to sleep.

It is very sad to think that after being saved from the fire, she has to end this way. But then again, it is a good reminder for all of us about how fragile the existent of many wildlife animals is. Many have lost their natural habitats and for koalas, the threat is also from this wide spread disease. Without our efforts to safe them and their natural habitats, sooner or later many more wildlife animals will be sadly extinct.

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Not This Time

2009-08-01T20:04:57-04:00

How many times during my visits, I had to go back to this sand dune along that beach? Yes it is still there, still looks the same I’m sure, but it has lost its peaceful feeling. Now, it is too crowded with too many visitors. More than 30 years ago it was so alone and secluded, nestled under those rocky hills......

No, this year I have decided not to go there....It has lost its charms and serenity. Somehow, it has told me that time was not stood still....... I have to move on!!

Adieu, farewell my once lonely beach. Forever strong and pretty my lovely sand dune. This time I have to do this journey without you......

I Wish You Love

2009-07-29T08:48:26-04:00

The other day, I heard this song on the radio while I was driving home from work. I haven't heard this song for a long time, although I have and sometimes listen to the instrumental version. The song and the lyrics was so beautiful and it brought back all the memories of my younger days... to a special someone who was so dear to me long long time ago. How true that to many people, first love was the sweetest and the hardest to forget.

I Wish You Love song used to be very popular and one of the most songs sung by many singers. Originally this song was written in French by Charles Trenet with the title “Que reste-t-il de nos amours. While the tune was composed by Leo Chauliac.

This song was recorded for the very first time in 1957 by Keely Smith. The English lyrics were written by Albert A. Beach. Since then it was sung and recorded by many other singers.

I Wish You Love

I wish you bluebirds in the spring
To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this
I wish you love
And in July a lemonade
To cool you in some leafy glade
I wish you health
But more than wealth
I wish you love
My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free
I wish you shelter from the storm
A cosy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love

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Coralee

2009-07-11T22:04:30-04:00

Coralee

The lyrics of the song “Tell Me Why” by the band April Wine set his mood raging again. Quickly he stopped the music and lit a cigarette. She was not there anymore, so he could do whatever he liked. All these years, he had given in. No more smoking and drinking. He had given her everything that she wanted and followed her like a little puppy. But now she was gone. He had loved her before and still loved her now.

Dan felt the urge to have a drink before he went out to the pub that Friday evening. He put a couple of ice cubes in a glass and poured some Johnny Walker. Slowly he sipped the whisky. It was true that he could not win it all. She loved someone else and had walked out of the door for a few months now. The fact that there was no child involved in the marriage felt like a bitter blessing. He thought of a way to calm his emotion and put some classical music on. The 1902 Mahler’s Symphony no 5 Adagietto was playing as smooth as a refreshing spring breeze.

The clock gently stroke seven times and somehow he had to make an effort to go out for dinner and to have few more drinks in the local club. Dan swallowed the last drop of his drink, shut the stereo player, grabbed his keys and walked towards the door.

The full moon was hanging low and the gum leaves at the wooded area along the road were shimmering by the lunar glow. The closest pub which was his favourite place to hang around was about forty kilometres away. Slowly he drove his 2009 Toyota Rav4, while the car radio was delivering the seven o’clock news. The road was peculiarly empty and Dan felt like he was the only human existed in that area.

“What the hell ....” he said the words out loud. He was puzzled when he realized that there was a woman was signalling for his car to stop. She was wearing all in white and she looked like an angel. He slammed the brake eventhough he realized that there was no broken down car to be seen. He lowered the front passenger window down.

“Hi there.....?” he was not really sure what to say.
“Hello....,” her voice was light and sweet. “Are you going towards Walhalla?”
“Yes, I’m going there. Hop in....” Dan noticed the beauty of her young face.
“Wow, how lucky I am. Thank you.....,” she said.

Immediately, Dan could smell her delicate floral fragrance. It had a touch of jasmine, sandalwood and ylang-ylang. It was definitely Oriental and it was so delicate and lingering. The kind that was only noticable when you were close to the wearer. He noticed when she climbed into the car that she was also wearing white high heel shoes. Her short white dress was clinging nicely around her shapely body. Her pearl earrings and necklace were glowing in the dark.

“I’m Daniel....”
“Oh, I’m, Coralee but people call me Corry,” she smiled showing her perfect shiny white teeth.
“What a lovely name, a bit unusual..... Are you going to Walhalla? I’m on my way to the club there, if you care to join me?”
“I would like to but I have to go home. I live in the outer skirt of Walhalla.”
“I thought you are going to town... I mean you dressed like you are going out.” Dan was a bit baffeled.
“Oh it’s nothing.... I always enjoy to dress up to look good,” she blushed a little bit.

To his surprise, Dan found himself easily talked about his recent break up with his wife and that he was going to have a dinner and a few drink. It seemed that she felt really sorry for him and suggested if he would like to spend a quiet evening at her place instead. She would prepare a quick steak Dianne for dinner and she had a collection of movies to watch after if he wanted to.

The 4WD was approaching the township of Walhalla when she signalled Dan to turn right into a narrow private road. Her house was nestled among tall gum trees. He couldn’t believe his luck to get to know this beautiful young woman. For the first time since Lindy left he had felt the joy of knowing someone else.

She asked him to help her to light some fragrant candles while she was preparing the meal. She told him to help himself with the choice of music and Dan chose romantic piano collection by Richard Clayderman. The steak was delightful and after dinner they enjoyed some wine with a platter of fruits, crackers and cheese. They talked and talked and laughed liked they had known each other for a long time. There was some strange magic feeling that brought them closer. Two sets of eyes gazed at each other and their lips met. It was a feeling of a mutual need for company where two lonely people tried to fill the emptiness. She led him into her bedroom and once again he was feeling these intense ecstasy of love and desires.

The laughter of kookaburras woke Dan up. He found himself all alone and was shivering of a sudden cold feeling. He looked around and suddenly realized that he was lying naked on a slab of black marble stone. His clothes and foot- wears were spread around the ground. He looked up and saw a head stone and there it was written that Coralee Watson died on July 12, 2003 at the age of 23 years old.

In panic, he gathered all his clothes, his socks and shoes while the eyes of the white angel statue were seemed to gaze at him intently. He ran as fast as he could towards his car. The morning sun was trying to penetrate the thick haze and it hardly brightened the surrounding but it was enough to realize that he was in fact in the well-known local cemetery.

While driving home wearing only his shirt, he could smell the faint fragrance of her perfume. He was calmer now and for a very strange reason he started to feel peace inside. It seemed that she whispered into his ear that things will be alright. He was capable of a new beginning and that he would soon find another love.

I dedicated this story specially to LGW:)
LB - Sunday July12, 2009
This short story is only a fiction.

This is the real picture of "Walhalla Cemetery":

We Had Him

2009-07-09T00:56:48-04:00

We Had Him
Writen by: Maya Angelou

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon
.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.

Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.

Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.

Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.

His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.

And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.

In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England

We are missing Michael.

But we do know we had him, and we are the world.

The Blue Diamonds

2009-07-05T01:00:41-04:00

Dizaman dulu waktu masih belajar di SMP dan SMA (tahun 60-an), salah satu lagu lagu yang sering kudengarkan adalah dari penyanyi duo Indo-Belanda dan Band mereka yang bernama “The Blue Diamonds”. Kalau bicara tentang penyanyi duet, yang ini betul betul kompak suaranya dan menurut pendapatku lebih jempolan jika dibandingkan The Everly Brothers, walaupun mereka dapat julukan Everly Brothers-nya Belanda. Lagu mereka Ramona dan Sukiyaki adalah yang paling kusukai, walaupun lagu lagunya yang lain juga enak sekali didengar.

Kelahiran Batavia (yang sekarang Jakarta tentunya), kakak beradik Ruud de Wolff (lahir 12 Mei, 1941 dan wafat diakhir Desember 2000) dan Riem de Wolff (lahir 15 April, 1943) pindah dari Indonesia ke Negeri Belanda pada tahun 1949. Ditahun inilah mereka memulai karier-nya sebagai penyayi duo, walaupun baru kemudian ditahun 1959 mereka mulai membuat rekaman. Lagu pertama yang sukses dan menjadi hit adalah Ramona yang direkam tahun 1960.

Beberapa minggu ditahun 1961-1962, Penyayi duet Ruud dan Riem bersama dengan penyayi Indo Belanda Anneke Gronloh, melakukan tour ke Indonesia.

Ditahun 1966 terbentuklan Band mereka yang bernama "The Blue Diamonds" dan mereka memulai tour mereka kebanyak negara seperti misalnya Jerman dan negara negera lainnya di Eropa dan juga di Asia, seperti misalnya di Singapura dan Indonesia dan Amerika Utara (Curacau).

The Blue Diamond terus aktif sampai akhir tahun 2000 dimana Ruud meninggal dunia setelah sakit untuk beberapa lama. Setelah meninggalnya Ruud, ditahun 2001 Riem menyanyi bersama putranya Steffen dan membentuk duet The New Diamonds.

Dibawah ini adalah beberapa lagu lagu The Blue Diamonds yang kusukai:
• Ramona
• Sukiyaki
• Show Me The Way To Go Home
• Down By The River Side
• Waarom Huil Je Toch (Nona Manis)
• Little Ship
• Isle of Capri
• Waktu Potong Padi
• Moonlight Liebe Roter Wein

Sampai saat ini menurutku belum ada penyanyi duet yang seenak suaranya The Blue Diamonds. Banyak lagu lagu mereka yang membawa kenangan amat manis disaat masa remajaku

Ramona:
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Sukiyaki:
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Waktu Potong Padi:
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Jalan Manakah?

2009-07-02T19:20:20-04:00

Renungan Hari Ini

Saya kerja di Mail House, yaitu perusahaan yang mempersiapkan promotional material untuk dikirim/diposkan. Kemarin ini selama empat hari berturut turut kami harus membuat rak untuk DVD yang terbuat dari karton tebal. Karton tersebut telah siap dipotong dan kami hanya tinggal menyatukannya/ meng- assemble-nya. Cara membuatnya adalah dengan jalan melipat dan menyelipkan. Bagi mereka yang belum pernah mengerjakannya, akan terlihat rumit.

Rak ini terdiri dari dua compartment untuk DVD display di toko, yang masing masing compartment terbagi dari 12 bagian. Kedua compartment ini berdiri diatas stand yang juga terbuat dari karton tebal. Untuk melipat kotak rak-nya sendiri mudah, tapi untuk assembly “stand”-nya agak rumit.

Karena saya udah berkali kali mengerjakan kerjaan ini, maka saya diminta untuk mengajar orang orang baru. Jadilah saya jelaskan dengan menekankan pentingnya mengikuti petunjuk saya 100% karena cara inilah yang termudah, tercepat dan tak pernah gagal. Setelah saya terangkan caranya, saya minta mereka mencoba dengan meniru apa yang saya kerjakan. Kelihatannya mereka okay. Jadi langsung mereka harus mulai kerja sendiri.

Ada enam orang dan ternyata hanya 2 orang yang mampu mengerjakan tugasnya dengan tepat dan cepat. Mengapa? Karena dua orang ini mengikuti penjelasan saya dan persis mengerjakannya seperti yang saya terangkan sebelumnya. Sedangnya ke empat orang lainnya tidak mengikuti petunjuk saya 100 persen dan mereka memakai cara mereka sendiri. Akibatnya mereka mengalami kesulitan, terutama sewaktu harus menyelipkan bagian yang berfungsi sebagai kunci penyatu agar rak itu tak berantakan (rak ini tak pakai lem/bahan perekat sama sekali). Jadi saja, mereka berkeluh kesah dan bilang kerjaan itu tidak mudah serta menjengkelkan dan jadi saja mereka memakan waktu lebih lama dan tidak produktif.

Kejadian ini membuat saya berpikir kenapa sebagian besar orang tidak mau mengikuti petunjuk yang betul betul menjanjikan cara yang termudah dan pasti akan berhasil? Apakah sulitnya? Didalam kehidupan sehari hari manusia juga bersikap sama. Begitu banyak-nya orang hidup sesat karena mereka menolak petunjuk Tuhan. Mereka memutuskan untuk hidup dengan jalan dan cara mereka sendiri dan tersesat dijalan.

Jelas di kitab Yohanes 8:12 disebutkan bahwa: Yesus adalah Terang Dunia. Bagi mereka yang mengikuti- Nya akan berjalan didalam terang dan tidak akan tersesat. Namun tidak semua manusia mau mengikuti jalan ini dan merasa cara hidup mereka sendiri yang lebih mudah dan lebih memuaskan. Mengikuti jalan Yesus memang harus mawas diri dan menjauhkan diri dari godaan dan dosa. Sedihnya, justru godaan dan hidup didalam dosa itu yang lebih terlihat menggiurkan. Akibatnya banyak manusia yang terjebak dan tersesat.

Persis seperti yang terjadi ditempat kerjaan saya. Sudah diberi petunjuk yang benar, malah tak mau mengikutinya. Hal ini juga sama juga dengan kehidupan manusia didunia ini..... Sudah diberi petunjuk oleh Tuhan bagaimana caranya untuk hidup yang benar, eh.... lebih banyak manusia yang justru mencemohkan....................

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Butterflies or Moths

2009-06-25T04:19:53-04:00

Do you love butterflies? One day, I found this strange looking insect in my back yard that looked similar to a butterfly, but it was kind of strange. It was big, the span of the wings was almost as long as my spread out fingers and the one that caught my attention was its strange looking antennaes.

Quickly, I called my husband to see it and he told me that it was not a butterfly, but it was a giant moth. So we took some photos. These are the pictures of it and the bottom one was the close-up antennaes.

I was so curious to find out more about moths and butterflies. I found this online info to tell the differences between butterflies and moths.

From:http://australianmuseum.net.au/What-are-the-differences-between-butterflies-and-moths

Butterflies, skippers and moths all belong in the insect order Lepidoptera. However, there are some overall rules that can be used to tell a moth from a butterfly or skipper.

Worldwide, there are five families of butterflies and one family of skippers, which share some specialised similarities in body form. All of these families are present in Australia. Moths form a larger group of 125 families worldwide. In Australia, 82 families of moths are represented.

However, there are some overall rules that can be used to tell a moth from a butterfly or skipper. Note that there are always exceptions to each 'rule'.

Antennae
• Moths: Have simple thread-like or 'feathery' antenna without a club
• Butterflies and Skippers: Have a thickened club or hook on the tip of the antenna, never 'feathery'
• Exceptions: Several families of moths have antenna with clubs, most notably the Castniidae (Sun Moths)

Colour
• Moths: Duller colours
• Butterflies and Skippers: Brighter colours
• Exceptions: Many moths are brilliantly coloured, especially day-flying ones such as the northern Queensland Day Moth Alcides metaurus (Uraniidae), or the Jacob's Coat Moth Agarista agricola (Noctuidae). Many butterflies and skippers are dark brown with few markings.

Wings
• Moths: Wings are linked together with a bristle-like structure called a frenulum
• Butterflies and Skippers: Wings are not linked – no frenulum
• Exceptions: Australia has the only skipper in the world with a frenulum, the Regent Skipper Euschemon rafflesia (Hesperiidae). Also, many moths do not have a frenulum.

Resting posture
• Moths: Hold wings flat when resting
• Butterflies and Skippers: Hold wings together above body when resting
• Exceptions: Many moths, including geometrid moths hold their wings up in a butterfly-like fashion when resting. Butterflies in the lycaenid subfamily Riodininae, and skippers in the subfamily Pyrginae hold their wings flat when resting.

Forelegs
• Moths: Forelegs fully developed
• Butterflies and Skippers: Forelegs reduced, missing terminal (end) segments
• Exceptions: Only some butterflies have reduced forelegs. Most skippers have normal forelegs.

Pupae
• Moths: Pupae spin a cocoon
• Butterflies and Skippers: Pupae (chrysalids) not in cocoon
• Exceptions: Many moths do not spin a cocoon, many butterflies and skippers form a silken shelter, often with plant leaves.

Activity
• Moths: Fly at night
• Butterflies and Skippers: Fly during the day
• Exceptions: A few butterflies and skippers are active at dusk, many moth species are day-flying.

These are some pictures of beautiful and colourful butterflies:

How interesting it was to learn how to tell the differences between butterflies, skippers and moths. Then I started to wonder on how to tell the difference between a butterfly and a skipper. So I started to find the answer online and here is the answer:

A skippers body usually shorter and fatter than that of a butterfly.
Skippers generally are smaller in size compared with butterflies.
Skippers are usually yellow, orange, brown or whitish in colour.
Skippers fly rapidly up and down in skipping motion.

These are some examples of skippers:

If you love gardening, plants and flowers; butterflies will be an important part of a garden and you will also love these beautiful creatures as much as I do.

Friendship

2009-06-20T23:46:33-04:00

A true friend is happy when I am happy and as a your friend I will be the same
A true friend is sad when I am sad and as a your friend I will be the same
A true friend dares to tell me if I am wrong and as your friend I will correct myself.
A true friend shows me the way if I am lost and as your friend I will accept your guidance.
A true friend supports me by not always agree with me and as your friend I will respect differences.
A true friend gives me rooms to improve myself and as your friend I also want you to be the best.
A true friend is always honest and as your friend I will not be angry if you say things do not suit me.
A true friend can tell me what to do and as your friend I will take it as an advice.
A true friend will not laugh at me and as your friend we will laugh together.
A true friend cannot always be here for me all the time and as your friend I will understand.
And most importantly a true friend will be happy to give and as your friend I will not be greedy.

Remember that friends don't make you happy.....as happiness comes from within and it is only you can make yourself happy.

(Writers Unknown)

Papa

2009-06-20T03:35:03-04:00

My father Thomas H.S. August29, 1919 - December 9, 2006

A Soft spoken man, calm and serene
And if life was about a stage show
Then your role was behind the screen
Low profile but your part was vital, we all know

Every morning I feed the turtle doves in the garden
The humble birds bring back all your memories
If talking about animal and vegetation
I feel that you and I share many similarities

You and me, both of us keen on beautiful melody
Keroncong music and Javanese gamelan
The way you engaged in thought so deeply
I do it the same way most of the time

Papa, your love for all of us before
You expressed it in bed time stories
Silly funny tales deep in sense of humour
You made us giggle in glee

If possible I will catch our childhood so it won’t slip away
For during that time life was the dearest
Your memory was the sweetest those days
If I could, I would tightly hold on to this happiness

Papa, now you have been gone
But if I hear the turtle doves sing to each other
And whenever I listen to gamelan and keroncong
I can still feel your present for ever near

Lois B. November 2, 2007

Note: "Gamelan and Keroncong" are Javanese music.......