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5th Birthday of Irene Felicia

Boy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:49:07 +0000

Irene is my niece and I was asked by her parents to help documenting her 5th birthday party, including for taking video – which was the first time for me using with this 5D. The party was, as expected, filled with running kids, scream, innocent faces, and yeah, a lot of fun for them. It was fun to take their expressions. For private reasons, I can not show most of the pictures.

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Jawa Kontrak (Jokon) in Kerinci

Boy — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:00:20 +0000

Jawa Kontrak, or mostly known as Jokon, in Kerinci is usually referred to people with Javanese lineage who have resided for more than 3 generations in Kerinci. Their ancestors were usually immigrant from Java who worked as labor during Dutch colonial era and also during early years of Indonesia. Jokon is quite distinctive with indigenous people by the way of: 1) Jokons do not have local dialect tongue (they way the speak is very different with the locals); 2) they usually reside in separate areas with the local; 3) physically the face structure is slightly different with the locals who are typically narrow eyes and tend-to-round face. Home of the Jokons are also a bit different with the locals.

With such differences, the Jokons are sometimes subject to racialist comments and treatments. Most of the Jokons are farmer and they rarely work for municipal government, so their average living standard is arguably below the indigenous. However during local election period, all the candidates were usually nice to the Jokons in order to get their vote.

The Dairy Farmer

Most of the Jokons meet their ends by cultivating potatoes and vegetables. In the above picture, the farmer wears Javanese-pattern batik before go to work.

Even the Jokon mosque has distinctive features: 1) the roofs and dome tend to be shaped, Kerinci/Padang mosques tend to be globular; 2) the door brings “closed” character to the mosque. It is also get more “western” look and the doors tend to be like “gate” instead of “door”. Kerinci/Padang mosque usually has “open” character as defined by their doors. Below is the typical home of the Jokons

See the difference with the typical home and mosque of indigenous Kerinci people (not the modern one..modern Kerinci home tend to be “western”)

And the face…Jokons are just like Javanese everywhere…brown skin, shaped face, and wide eyes…

and the boys are like this:

After the Party has Ended

Boy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:34:26 +0000

Komando Gincai is a night market or circus group. Not really a circus because there was no animal show, but there were ferris wheel, acrobatic shows, etc. They open every night for two weeks and move from a city to another city in Sumatera. Unfortunately, when they came to Kayu Aro, Kerinci, there was a group already performed about 2 weeks before. Hardly any people went Komando Gincai show, and it was freaking cold at night.

Kerinci Highland Landscape

Boy — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:32:11 +0000

“Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley. ” – Theodore Roethk

“A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?” – Kahlil Gibran

“Behind him the hill are open, the sun blazes down upon fields so large as to give unenclosed character to the landscape, the lanes are white, the hedges low and plashed, the atmosphere colourless.” – Thomas Hardy

“Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence.” - Nemann Buhl

Mount Kerinci is the highest mountain in Sumatera, and also one of the most active Volcanoes in Indonesia. It is part of Kerinci Seblat National Park. Its surrounding area consist of tea plantation, cinnamons, and villages. The landscape adjacent to Mount Kerinci is rather plain and sparsely populated. Tea from the plantation is among world’s finest and 99% for export market (they don’t sell it domestically!).

Mount Kerinci is reachable around 6-8 hours from Padang, or around 10-12 hours from Jambi. The road from Jambi is in terrible condition, that’s why it needs around half day to get there but it is worth the trip from Jambi: The people are friendly, no tourist traps, the air is good, and the view is magnificent. Highly recommended.

On Leave

Boy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:06:10 +0000

I am taking a leave starting tomorrow until Sunday, 25 March 2012. I am off to Jambi and probably will go to Kerinci as well. Can’t wait to take some pictures there. Related posts: Vietnam Related posts:

Vietnam

Taman Menteng Suropati

Boy — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:03:16 +0000

Taman Menteng Suropati has been my favorite spot for afternoon walk, and I think most of Menteng people share the same passion as well. This small park is located in front of Bappenas office and Home of US Ambassador in Jakarta. This park has been used by local communities for walking, music practising (yes! there’s outdoor music practising here), bicycling, street performance, sports, or just for admiring the art pieces. This park is quite clean and well managed, also not too crowded. I hope Jakarta will have bigger and more parks like this.

Vietnamese Food

Boy — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:33:13 +0000

What is the most interesting thing in Vietnam? For me, it is the foods. The foods are spectacular, very rich in taste, fresh, and surprisingly very cheap. I didn’t experience any good fine dining in Vietnam (I tried the Bobby Chin, but it failed to impress me), so I think the best foods can be found in streets or in common restaurant. Hoi An may have the best sandwich in the world, Hue with the imperial cuisine, but Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are able to offer the best dining experience in street and restaurants.

New Look

Boy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:14:38 +0000

I am working on the new look for this website. I wont be updating this blog for a while. I hope by next week it will be fully done. Related posts: New Look! Bpix New Theme Related posts:

The Early Years of Ade & Dina

Boy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:52:14 +0000

Pre-Wedding session of Ade and Dina. Jakarta, January 2012

More to come. This is just the warming up session

Kuta Sunset

Boy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:46:54 +0000

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky – Rabindranath Tagore

When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator – Mahatma Gandhi

Kuta, Bali – November 2011
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