tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20011050170116542212024-03-12T22:06:54.397-07:00FREE FORUMTHIS BLOG CONTAINED OF VARIOUS VIEWS ABOUT ANY ISSUES. I WILL BE VERY PLEASED IF YOU CAN SHARE YOUR INSPIRATION AND ASPIRATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR CAPABILITIES AND WISDOM.Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-36728005599261570852018-08-21T08:17:00.001-07:002018-08-21T08:17:29.206-07:00MUDAHNYA MEMBUAT ATAU MEMPERPANJANG PASPOR SEKARANG
<p dir="ltr"><b>MUDAHNYA MEMBUAT ATAU MEMPERPANJANG PASPOR SEKARANG</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">Bisa dimana saja, asal punya <b>e-KTP</b> dan <b>KK</b> (Kartu Keluarga) asli; yang isinya harus sesuai satu sama lain!<br>
<b>Pendaftaran bisa melalui: online, WA (What's App), SMS dan Twitter</b>, selanjutnya akan diarahkan sangat jelas!</p>
<p dir="ltr">1. Untuk online daftar melalui http://www.imigrasi.go.id atau Twitter Kantor Imigrasi Pelayanan Paspor yang dipilih</p>
<p dir="ltr">2. Lewat What's App (WA) atau SMS, dapat mendaftarkan diri dengan cara mengirim pesan ke nomor WA atau nomor HP Kantor Imigrasi pilihan anda (lihat di google atau www.imigrasi.go.id nomor HP, WA serta alamat Kantor Imigrasi Pelayanan Paspor yang anda pilih. <br>
Melalui WA caranya mudah, Ketik #nama#tanggal lahir#tanggal layanan# kirim ke nomor WA Kantor Imigrasi yang dipilih. <br>
Contoh #JOJO#27061978#08082017 lalu kirim ke 08118119000 (untuk Kantor Pelayanan Paspor Wilayah Tanggerang). Nanti WA atau SMS anda akan dikirim nomor "kode booking" yang harus anda balas (reply) untuk mendapatkan tanggal "jadwal" kedatangan ke Kantor Imigrasi Pelayanan Paspor yg anda pilih tersebut.</p>
<p dir="ltr">3. Sebelum datang ke kantor imigrasi siapkan dokumen yang diperlukan, seperti: Akte Kelahiran, Ijazah terakhir, Kartu Keluarga, KTP, Surat Nikah (bagi yang sudah nikah) dan Paspor lama (untuk perpanjangan). Fotokopi semua dokumen tersebut diatas kertas A4, serta bawa materai Rp 6000,- untuk pendaftaran paspor baru.</p>
<p dir="ltr">4. Datang ke Kantor Imigrasi Pelayanan Paspor 30 menit sebelum "jadwal" yang telah diberikan. Ambil formulir pendaftaran (Tersedia gratis disetiap Kantor Imigrasi Pelayanan Paspor). Tunggu/antri pemanggilan.</p>
<p dir="ltr">5. Setelah semua data lengkap diperiksa dan cocok, anda akan diwawancara dan difoto; kemudian diberikan kertas untuk biaya pembuatan paspor ke bank yg ditunjuk. Biaya Paspor 24 halaman (biasanya TKI, Rp 200.000,-). Paspor 48 halaman Rp 355.000,-). Setelah lunas, anda akan diberikan kertas dan bukti pelunasan untuk pengambilan Paspor, 3-5 hari kedepan.</p>
Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-86852457977224295072013-06-14T19:25:00.000-07:002013-06-14T19:25:21.565-07:00PRAKTEK CURANG SINAR MAS GROUP DI ITC BSD TANGGERANG. MENEKAN USAHA KECIL UNTUK MENJADI BESAR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>PRAKTEK
CURANG SINAR MAS GROUP DI ITC BSD TANGGERANG. MENEKAN USAHA KECIL
UNTUK MENJADI BESAR</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Bukan
masalah uangnya, tetapi masalah jujur adilnya!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saya,
Neneng Tarigan adalah pemilik kios kecil di Upper Ground, Blok C8/5,
ITC, BSD, Tanggerang, yang membeli cicil kios tersebut tahun 2004
dari Sinar Mas Group. Dalam perjanjian jual beli tersebut jelas
tertulis bahwa lantai Upper Ground hanya dikhususkan untuk zona
fashion, oleh karena itu saya membuka usaha fashion di tempat
tersebut sejak tahun 2005.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Karena
usaha saya yang sangat kecil, maka oleh Pengelola lama, saya
diberikan keringanan/diskon pembayaran service charge mulai Rp
100.000,- s/d sekitar Rp 150.000,- perbulan. Keringanan tersebut
juga mempertimbangkan keberatan saya sebagai pengusaha kecil dengan
lokasi konter di badan gang yang sempit; serta pemakaian listrik
dengan daya 1300 watt padahal yang saya butuhkan hanya 450
watt.Selain itu secara keras saya memprotes pengelola dengan adanya
restoran siap saji AW di Upper Ground yang khusus untuk fashion;
tempat pencucian foto, konter-konter penjualan seprei dan frame foto
yang jelas melanggar kesepakatan pada waktu saya membeli kios di ITC,
BSD!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Lebih
kurang tiga bulan yang lalu, secara mengejutkan saya menerima surat
dari Pengelola baru ITC, BSD, yang menagih dan menaikkan secara
sepihak biaya service charge dan biaya parkir hampir 50% untuk semua
tenant, tanpa ada musyawarah sebagaimana sebelumnya dengan para
tenant sebagaimana selalu dilakukan oleh Pengelola yang lama. Saya
juga tidak lagi mendapatkan keringanan service charge sebagaimana
biasa.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saya
melakukan pendekatan resmi tertulis maupun melalui beberapa pertemuan
agar tetap memperoleh keringanan tersebut apalagi mempertimbangkan
bahwa pada waktu saya sempat bangkrut dan tutup pada tahun 2008 dan
2009 saya tetap membayar lunas service charge dan tagihan listrik
kepada ITC BSD.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Bukannya
mendapatkan keringanan, tetapi Pengelola melakukan intimidasi dan
perbuatan tidak menyenangkan kepada saya dengan menyampaikan bahwa:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><ol>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Seyogyanya
saya menyewakan saja kios tersebut, karena seorang birokrat (saya
pensiunan PNS) tidak bisa/tidak pandai berdagang!</b></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Menagih
service charge yang sudah saya bayarkan, dengan keji pertelpon serta
tanpa bukti menuduh saya selama ini tidak pernah membayar service
charge! Dan ketika saya meminta bukti tertulis mereka tidak dapat
membuktikan.</b></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Hari
Jumat tanggal 17 Mei 2013 pihak pengelola mengirim petugas security
ke kios saya, padahal saya tidak pernah melakukan pelanggaran batas
penggelaran barang sebagaimana banyak pedagang lainnya.</b></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Setelah
mengetahui bahwa saya telah melunasi seluruh service charge dan
listrik tepat waktu setiap bulan selama bertahun-tahun, Kepala
Pengelola ITC yang baru, bukannya meminta maaf, tetapi saya malah
menerima surat peringatan dari Bagian Keuangan ITC untuk membayar
tagihan bulan April dan Mei 2013 dengan denda dan harga yang sudah
dinaikkan, padahal saya sudah memperingatkan tertulis bahwa saya
akan membayar, jika Pengelola menertibkan zona fashion di Upper
Ground yang belakangan ini merajalela berubah menjadi tempat bermain
mobilan dan seolah kebun binatang bagi anak-anak! Belum lagi
meningkatnya konter/kios penjualan mainan anak-anak dan seprei yang
tidak ada hubungannya dengan fashion sama sekali. Perparkiran yang
semakin semrawut dls.</b></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saya
menyampaikan bahwa akan membayar apabila pihak Pengelola juga segera
menertibkan Upper Ground sesuai perjanjian tertulis antara saya dan
Sinar Mas dalam surat perjanjian jual beli no 0649 tanggal 21 Mei
2004. </b></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Sampai
saat ini tidak ada tindak lanjut pihak Pengelola ITC tentang
pelanggaran yang dilakukan yang menurut saya sama dengan penipuan
terhadap perjanjian yang telah dibuat pada semua pemilik usaha
fashion di Upper Ground ITC BSD.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Menjadi
besar adalah keinginan bersama, tetapi menjadi besar dengan berbuat
curang dan menekan usaha kecil adalah perbuatan memalukan yang
seharusnya tidak dilakukan oleh Group besar seperti Sinar Mas! Semoga
hal ini mendapat perhatian oleh pemilik Sinar Mas, karena Pengelola
menyampaikan lisan bahwa seluruh tindakannya harus mendapat izin
Pemilik Sinar Mas Group!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saya
sendiri sudah pernah menyampaikan keluhan ini melalui media Suara
Pembaca pada <a href="http://www.detik.com/">www.detik.com</a>
tanggal 22 April 2013 dan juga menyampaikan pengaduan tertulis kepada
KPPU (Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha) melalui surat tercatat
tertanggal 27 April 2013 dengan tembusan kepada Sinar Mas Group
Pusat, tetapi sampai sekarang belum memperoleh tanggapan.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Kerugian
yang saya alami bukan hanya kerugian saya pribadi, tetapi juga
kerugian para pedagang fashion di Upper Ground, ITC BSD umumnya. Pada
waktu yang lalu melalui koordinasi salah seorang pedagang fashion di
ITC BSD, saya telah menandatangani surat keluhan bersama dengan
sekitar 45 pedagang, tentang adanya taman bermain anak-anak yang
sangat mengganggu tersebut. Tapi sampai sekarang saya tidak
mengetahui keberadaan surat yang telah ditandatangani bersama
tersebut dan tindak lanjutnya. </b></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saya
memperoleh kesan bahwa Pengelola hendak menimba keuntungan sepihak
dengan melakukan berbagai kecurangan. Saya bertanya didalam hati,
apakah memang demikian cara-cara yang selama ini dilakukan Sinar Mas
Group; yaitu menekan usaha kecil untuk menjadi besar? Jawabannya
tentu ada pada benak mereka masing-masing!.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>ITC
BSD, 14 Juni 2013.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Neneng
Tarigan</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-59065975188585450292011-12-09T00:58:00.000-08:002011-12-09T00:58:03.048-08:00LETUPAN BARA API<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvt5w6K6SAds7vbsFoticx0WzdMNTj9BG0bvh-MAXYpP9DdTEKBccj5AXW6wdKQWvcfg3pMGuPXf14lLSL8Tc56Tz1t0EhswG-Qy1cDH8HFAHVtxPN4Nl2YiFK90EaOP5RO2XySFOYeVf/s1600/1805146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvt5w6K6SAds7vbsFoticx0WzdMNTj9BG0bvh-MAXYpP9DdTEKBccj5AXW6wdKQWvcfg3pMGuPXf14lLSL8Tc56Tz1t0EhswG-Qy1cDH8HFAHVtxPN4Nl2YiFK90EaOP5RO2XySFOYeVf/s320/1805146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>LETUPAN BARA API</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #4c1130;">Pernahkah terpikirkan olehmu baginda yang mulia, betapa seorang rakyat harus meregang nyawa membakar diri didepan singgasanamu yang perkasa hanya beberapa hari saja setelah engkau mengadakan perhelatan luar biasa di Cipanas sana...didepan jutaan rakyatmu yang menggeletak meregang nyawa kelaparan....kesakitan....kepedihan .... tanpa protes melihat semua kepongahanmu tanpa bicara...... <br />
Matamu terbuka tetapi buta melihat fakta! Benakmu hanya terisi bagaimana berkuasa dan mempertahankannya, tanpa merasa berdosa terhadap kesengsaraan yang terjadi dimana-mana dari Aceh sampai Papua!<br />
Jika hari ini anak itu menunjukkan kemarahan yang terpendam, menyulutkan bara api dan rela mati, maka bara api itu akan tumbuh meletupkan bara yang maha besar yang akan menelan baginda...hanya tinggal menunggu waktu saja!<br />
Bangunlah dari singgasanamu sang baginda, lihatlah rakyat jelata... Padamkan bara sebelum menjadi neraka!</b><br />
BSD, 9 Nopember, 2011.</div></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-24031016806590052642011-10-22T12:44:00.000-07:002012-12-25T05:40:03.936-08:00A TRIBUTE TO MY BLOGGER FRIENDS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>A TRIBUTE TO MY BLOGGER FRIENDS.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>by: Neneng R. Tarigan </b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMk6DRC9Rmz8tEWQhsaA2HKBtQRbALaVzymBhe5VVtk3g32zTnHtid6Yv2j4afo-8JJ55MruUnCwm_naxFV226L52zVWU6ixTeQ-lrFJ9b70dyJXxx9lqLWvsBz3CoOTygsKjRts_QdoY/s1600/290920111051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMk6DRC9Rmz8tEWQhsaA2HKBtQRbALaVzymBhe5VVtk3g32zTnHtid6Yv2j4afo-8JJ55MruUnCwm_naxFV226L52zVWU6ixTeQ-lrFJ9b70dyJXxx9lqLWvsBz3CoOTygsKjRts_QdoY/s320/290920111051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Friendship is a unique relationship that knows no difference, cultural or otherwise.~</i></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>As bloggers, I think it is part of our obligation to promote our friends' blogs or their web sites in any possible way we can. </b></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Yes, I must admit, sometimes we feel reluctant because some of them are so unmindful even to leave a little comment on our posts; we feel bad about that. However, let us forget about their negative sides for a while and think what we can value and learn from our blogger friends who really have brilliant ideas to put in their blogs, sorts of stories and info that would make our lives as the readers much happier, knowledgeable and colorful.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Let us just remember, how they have made our day full with laughter and curiosity with their intriguing writings, how they can turn our egoism down with their preaches and the wise words as well as poems that they have created or some had been quoted from famous people around the world, or the pictures and traveling experiences they shared with us in their blogs, their cooking recipes, their fashion ideas, their health tips, their amazing pictures, their gigs, their craziness, their cartoons, their love stories, their films, their talent as fortune tellers, their free money making machines, their skill as an IT experts, their gardening, their small agriculture expertise, their arts, their architecture, their free games and thousand others that could color our lives.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>This post is a tribute to that kind of friends I have. There are thousands of them, but let us check some of their links and find out why these people deserve a special tribute as friends, though most of them are non professional writers, photographers, film makers, but what they had produced would make us whispers: " Yes indeed, they are really good!"</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Here are some recommended links that I am sure you might share my view of their quality. Please take note that the row where I put the names of the bloggers does not represent the rank at all. You may also recommend me more links and categories to be add in this list, but that should not be the links belong to companies or organizations except your own company or organization; I am sure that will be interesting and fun as we could assume it as a little appreciation among us as real bloggers. </b></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>I highly value your concern for spending your precious time to check for the links in this list. I wish our works as bloggers would contribute to a greater advantageous to many people around the globe; and most importantly, to create a better connection and to enable us as human beings to live in peace and harmony together.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>May God bless our works.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Forever your friend, Neneng Tarigan - Indonesia.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="zxx"><u><b>Preaches</b></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Dr. Russ Murray (Canada)</span></span></b> </div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://jesuscaritasest.org/"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><b>Desiray Lewis </b>, Food 4 Thought Ministries.</span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://woman4virtue.blogspot.com/">http://woman4virtue.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Judas Maccabaeus(Israel)</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://themaccabee.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://themaccabee.b<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>logspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><u>Novel</u></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Sir Johnny Ray (USA),</b> the American No 1 Winning Novelist and </span></span>an award winning writer of international romantic novels.<br />
<a href="http://www.sirjohn.us/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://www.sirjohn.u<wbr></wbr>s</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Novelist-Johnny-Ray/131358440209483?ref=ts" rel="me">http://www.facebook.<wbr></wbr>com/pages/Novelist-J<wbr></wbr>...</a><br />
<b>Pandora Poikilos (UK), </b>a novelist.<b> </b>Peace from Pieces<b><br />
</b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://networkedblogs.com/ovJNq"></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/">http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Romance:</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Manoj Kumar (India), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">The Dot</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.justanotherdot.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://www.justanoth<wbr></wbr>erdot.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.justanotherdot.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://www.justanoth<wbr></wbr>erdot.wordpress.com/</a><b></b><br />
<b>Aisha (Pakistan)</b>, 3yeSH's Illusion, She and The City <br />
<a href="http://www.3yesha.com/">http://www.3yesha.com</a><br />
<b>Daniel Fung (Malaysia)</b><br />
<a href="http://cha2ming.blogspot.com/">http://cha2ming.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table class="uiInfoTable mtm profileInfoTable"><tbody>
<tr><td class="data" style="color: blue;"><br /></td><td class="data" style="color: blue;"><br /></td><td class="data" style="color: blue;"><br /></td><td class="data" style="color: blue;"><br /></td><td class="data"><br /></td><td class="data"><br /></td><td class="data"><br /></td><td class="data"><br /></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"></td><td class="data"><br /></td><td class="data"></td></tr>
<tr class="spacer"><td colspan="2"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Poems:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Shashank Gard (India)</span></span></b><br />
<a href="http://the-world-of-thought.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://the-world-of-<wbr></wbr>thought.blogspot.com<wbr></wbr>/</a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Jim McIntosh (New Zealand),</b> Holes in My Soles<br />
<a href="http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com</a><br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Simon M Hunter (UK), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Simon Hunter Poetry</span></span></div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://simonmhunter.blogspot.com/">http://simonmhunter.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Rigzin Namgyal (India)</b>, Love, Poems, Thought</span><br />
<a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/rigzzz">http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/rigzzz</a><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Vishwas Anand (India),</b> Provoking Hearts and Minds </span><br />
<a href="http://vishwasanand28.wordpress.com/">http://vishwasanand28.wordpress.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Kymberly Berson,</b> Words of Expression</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://kkswordsofexpression.synthasite.com/">http://kkswordsofexpression.synthasite.com/</a></span><br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Thriller and Horror:</b></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Julian Ravage (USA)</b>, Writing, Arts, Dreams.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.julianravage.com/">http://www.julianravage.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>John Mountain (USA)</b>, Written in Blood, Writing and Promoting thriller and horror books, films and video </div>
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://jmountswritteninblood.com/2011/10/25/the-evil-dead/">http://jmountswritteninblood.com/2011/10/25/the-evil-dead/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<b>Scott Riddick (USA)</b>, Tales From A Motel<br />
<a href="http://www.talesfromamotel.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.talesfromamotel.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Life:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Scott Riddick (USA), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">a Typical Read</span></span></div>
<a href="http://atypicalread.blogspot.com/">http://atypicalread.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Debra El Ramey (USA)</b>, Pure and Simple</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://debrasblogpureandsimple.blogspot.com/"><span class="caption">http://debrasblogpureandsimple.blogsp<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>ot.com</span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span class="caption"><b>Alpana Jaiswal (India),</b> Motifs on the Wall.</span></div>
<a href="http://motifsonthewall.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://motifsonthewall.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span class="caption"><b>Ricky Allen,</b> Panthers Bad Boy </span></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://rickysnewbook.blogspot.com/"><span class="caption">http://rickysnewbook.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Bonnie Panter Gayadeen (USA)</b>, Bongo is me at</span></span></div>
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> <a href="http://bongoisme.blogspot.com/">http://bongoisme.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Therra Favor Weinberg (USA), </b>Oh Lead Me</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.ohleadme.com/">http://www.ohleadme.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Amit Purswani (India)</b>, Krane Metal</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/krane_metal">http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/krane_metal</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Umamaheswari Andane (India)</b>, Perpetual Mind.</div>
<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://perpetualthinkings.blogspot.com/">http://perpetualthinkings.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Savira Yogasavi (India)</b>, A Purple Journey</div>
<a href="http://yogasavy.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://yogasavy.blogspot.com</span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Lisa Brandel (USA)</b>, The Widow Lady.</div>
</div>
<div style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://widowlady302.blogspot.com/">http://widowlady302.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Deborah/Debbie (USA)</b>, Scattered Musing of A Creative Mind.</div>
<a href="http://scatteredmusings.net/" style="color: blue;">http://scatteredmusings.net/</a><br />
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Traveling Experience:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;">Dave Briggs (UK), </span></b><span style="color: blue;">"Daves Trav</span><span style="color: blue;">el Page". Around The World Cyclist.</span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.davestravelpages.com/">http://www.davestravelpages.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Jim McIntosh (New Zealand)</b>. Holes in My Soles.</span></span></div>
<span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}"><a href="http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com/2011/10/travel-photo-thursday-isandlwana-kwa.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://holesinmysoles.blogspot<wbr></wbr>.com</a></span><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}"><b>Sigit Hermawan (Indonesia)</b>, Rest Area</span></div>
<a href="http://restarea28.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://restarea28.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="color: blue;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Heinz Rainer (Austria), </span></span></b><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Project Life Art Travel: Life on Three Continents.</span></span></span><b><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<a href="http://africasiaeuro.blogspot.com/">http://africasiaeuro.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Michal Rupinski (Poland), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Unlimited Dreamers</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.unlimiteddreamers.com/blog" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://www.Unlimited<wbr></wbr>Dreamers.com/blog</a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>AJ Poliquit (Philippines)</b>, The Transcendental Tourist,</span></span></div>
<a href="http://ajpoliquit.wordpress.com/"><span class="caption">http://ajpoliquit.wordpress.com</span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Jorie Pacli (Philippines)</b>, The Long and Winding Road.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://jorietravel.blogspot.com/">http://jorietravel.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Norazam Che Amat, (Malaysia)</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.kenalinegaraku4u2c.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.kenalinegaraku4u2c.blogspot.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.malaysiaopenhouse2u.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.malaysiaopenhouse2u.blogspot.com</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Baracea Cosmin (Romania)</b>, Most Beautiful Islands </div>
<a href="http://mostbeautifullisland.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://mostbeautifullisland.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Aznzar (Morocco)</b>, Subme, Morocco Deserts.</div>
<a href="http://www.morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue;">http://www.morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Photography:</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Jim Brandono (USA)</b>, JP Brandono Photography</span></span></div>
<a href="http://jpbrandano.imagekind.com/">http://jpbrandano.imagekind.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Mike Neal (USA)</b>, Neal Studios</div>
<a href="http://nealstudios.net/"><span style="color: blue;">http://nealstudios.net/</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Endy Daniel (Indonesia)</b>, Endy Photography</span></span></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://www.msendy.deviantart.com/%20">http://www.msendy.deviantart.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Hind Toufga (Morocco)</b>, Fashion Photography</span></span></div>
<a href="http://hind-toufga.blogspot.com/">http://hind-toufga.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Recipes:</b><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Laura Spear (USA),</b> Culinary Adventures. </span></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<a href="http://spearfamilyculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/">http://spearfamilyculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Agriculture</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Robert Puckett (USA), </span></span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Missouri Permaculture.</span></span></span><b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div>
<a href="http://www.missouripermaculture.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.missouripermaculture.com/</span></a><br />
<div style="color: purple;">
</div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Architecture:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Cafelab Architettura (Italy) </span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://cafelab.blogspot.com/">http://cafelab.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Chrystal Baker Russel (Canada),</b> Adorn on a Shoestring, Interior Decoration</div>
<a href="http://www.adornonashoestring.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.adornonashoestring.com/</span></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">IT</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Prabha Karan (India), </b>Peppyday: News, Softwares, Blogging<br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://www.peppyday.com/">http://www.peppyday.com/</a></div>
<b>Joe Morrow (USA)</b> at<span style="background-color: white;"></span></div>
<a href="http://www.thebloggerpageshowto.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue;">http://www.thebloggerpageshowto.blogspot.com/</a><b></b><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Subrato Paul (India)</b>, Golden Twine,</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.goldentwine.com/" target="_blank">http://www.goldenTwine.com/</a><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: blue;">
<b>Abhinav Singh (India)</b>, Hacking, Security, Computer.</div>
<a href="http://hackingalert.blogspot.com/">http://hackingalert.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Social Media:</span></span></b><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Weddy Rhamdeny Karnalies (Indonesia/Australia), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Social Outbreak/Indofast International</span></span></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://www.socialoutbreak.com/indofast"><span lang="zxx">http://www.socialoutbreak.com/indofast</span></a></div>
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Human Right:</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Geoge Sera (Kenya), </b>Alliance Vision Educational Centre, </span></span><i>A community project that supports orphans, </i><i>widows and all vulnerable people in slum areas.</i></span></div>
<a href="http://www.avec.webs.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.avec.webs.com/</a> <a href="http://www.alliancevision.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.alliancevision.blogspot.com/</a> <a href="http://www.avec.wetpaint.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.avec.wetpaint.com/</a> <a href="http://www.avec.cealon.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.avec.cealon.com/</a><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jessica Brant (USA),</b> Finding One's Way, Women, Domestic Abuse, Survivor Stories</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://findingonesway.com/">http://findingonesway.com/</a></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Education:</span></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> <span style="color: blue;">Damaio Carlos (Brazil), </span></span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">English Tips and Tour Guide.</span></span></span><b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.englishtips-self-taught.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.englishtips-self-taught.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Barry Smith (Australia)</b>, Keeping Kids Out of Trouble</div>
<a href="http://www.keepkidsoutoftrouble.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.keepkidsoutoftrouble.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Cristina Dubei (Romania)</b>, Human Resources and Marketing Projects.</span><br />
<a href="http://krisztad.blogspot.com/">http://krisztad.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Health:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Al Sears, MD (USA)</b>, Power for Healthy Living</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.alsearsmd.com/contact-us/%20">http://www.alsearsmd.com/contact-us/<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Dr. Khan Sherief (Oman), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">All Internal Medicine</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://anaesthesiatoday.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://anaesthesiato<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>day.blogspot.com</a><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Jeff Simms (USA)</b>, Overcoming Diabetes</span><br />
<a href="http://overcomingdiabetes.blogspot.com/">http://overcomingdiabetes.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Mary Hudak Collins (USA)</b>, Living with Celiac & Food Allergies<br />
<span class="bio"></span></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<span class="bio" style="color: blue;"></span><a href="http://allergiesandceliac.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://allergiesandceliac.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<br />
<b>Environment:</b></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
</div>
<b style="color: blue;">Green Yatra (India)</b><span style="color: blue;">,</span><br />
<span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: blue;"></span><a href="http://zaroorat-a-need.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://zaroorat-a-need.blogspo<wbr></wbr>t.com/</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Egidius Heerkens (Netherlands),</b> A Self Sufficient Journey,</div>
<span style="color: blue;">Nature, Cooking, Bush-crafts.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.eheerkens.com/">http://www.eheerkens.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Journal:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Scott Ledbetter (USA),</b> Ye Olde Journalist</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://networkedblogs.com/oJ3gc">http://networkedblogs.com/oJ3gc</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Syarif Hidayat (Indonesia)</b><br />
<a href="http://alhajsharif.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://alhajsharif.b<wbr></wbr>logspot.com</a> <br />
<a href="http://hshidayat.multiply.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://hshidayat.mul<wbr></wbr>tiply.com</a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Spiritual:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">MaryelllenGrady (USA)</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://msrefusenik-msrefuseniktellsitall.blogspot.com/">http://msrefusenik-msrefuseniktellsitall.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<b>Dawn Sievers (USA)</b>, Healing Morning</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<a href="http://healingmorning.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue;">http://healingmorning.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
</div>
<div style="color: purple;">
</div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<b>Jessica Mokrzycki (USA)</b>, Ascending The Hills<br />
<a href="http://www.ascendingthehills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ascendingthehills.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
<b>Fortune Teller:</b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Indranil Ray (India)</b>, Astrology Useful Information</div>
<a href="http://indranilray.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://indranilray.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Gigs:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Patricia Morrison (Canada)</b>, The Writing Womb</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.thewritingwomb.com/">http://www.thewritingwomb.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Scott Riddick (USA), A Typical Read</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://atypicalread.blogspot.com/">http://atypicalread.blogspot.com</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Pramod Lohia (Thailand)</b>, My Musing.</div>
</div>
<a href="http://likemymusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://likemymusings.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<div style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Cartoon:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Johnny Ancich (Canada)</b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://pastexpiry.blogspot.com/">http://pastexpiry.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="color: blue;">Jeremy Billadeau (USA)</b><br />
<a href="http://www.comicssherpa.com/site/feature?uc_comic=cscyo" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://www.comicsshe<wbr></wbr>rpa.com/site/feature<wbr></wbr>...</a> <br />
<a href="http://morbitorbid.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://morbitorbid.b<wbr></wbr>logspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Fashion:</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Thuy Kathrin Otto and friends (Germany)</b>, Two For Fashion</span></span></div>
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.twoforfashion.de/">http://www.twoforfashion.de/</a></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Nava Krishnan (Malaysia),</b> Life Style on Nava K.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/lifestyle_on_nava_k">http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/lifestyle_on_nava_k</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Hannah Santhanam (UK),</b> Carina Bridesmaid Dresses</span></span></div>
<a href="http://bridesmaiddresses.name/">http://bridesmaiddresses.name/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>AngHoo (Singapore)</b>, Korean Fashion Indulgence,</span></span></div>
<a href="http://koreanfashionindulgence.weebly.com/2/post/2011/05/define-your-own-style-be-a-fashion-trendsetter.html">http://koreanfashionindulgence.weebly.com/2/post/2011/05/define-your-own-style-be-a-fashion-trendsetter.html</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Mdvanii (Finland)</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://mdvanii-finland.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://mdvanii-finland.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
</div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Soncere Nada (Italy),</b> Milana Fashion Galery</div>
<a href="http://milanafashiongallery.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue;">http://milanafashiongallery.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Zeeshan Rhana (Pakistan)</b>, Pakistan, India Beauty and Style</div>
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://blog.funeverytime.com/pakistani-indian-lehenga-dresses-collection">http://blog.funeverytime.com/pakistani-indian-lehenga-dresses-collection</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Jewelleries:</span></span></b><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Gilliauna (Italy), </span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Bits and Beads, Handcrafted jewelry.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.bitsnbeads.com/">http://www.bitsnbeads.com/</a></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com%20/">http://www.etsy.com</a></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Sarah Jones, USA, </span></span></span></b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Cute Jewelery</span></span></span><b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></b><br />
<a href="http://jewellery-style.blogspot.com/">http://jewellery-style.blogspot.com/</a><b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br />
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Traditional Music:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Vedang Dharashive (India)</span></span></b></div>
<a href="http://vedangdharashivemusic.blogspot.com/">http://vedangdharashivemusic.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Glass art:</span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Sadia Kayani (Pakistan)</b></div>
<a href="http://living4artncraft.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://living4artncraft.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Paintings:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Fisual Artist (USA)</span></span></b></div>
<a href="http://www.art4goodfoundation.com/the-artist-in-you/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.art4goodfoundation.com/the-artist-in-you/</a></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Bibi Bowman (USA)</b></div>
<a href="http://visualartexchange.ning.com/profile/bibibowmanrodriguez">http://visualartexchange.ning.com/profile/bibibowmanrodrigue</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Ashley Brake (USA)</b></div>
<a href="http://theartistinyou.typepad.com/taiy/ashley-brake.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://theartistinyou.typepad.com/taiy/ashley-brake.html</span></a><br />
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Allison Reece (USA)</b>, Allison Reece Arts. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://allisonreeceoriginals.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://allisonreeceoriginals.blogspot.com</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Wood crafts:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Sarah Wood (USA)</b>, Wood Arts Universe.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.woodartsuniverse.com/">http://www.woodartsuniverse.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b><span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Films:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span lang="zxx"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Aabhisek Phanda (India),</b> Film Maker.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<tr class="spacer"><td colspan="2"></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><th class="label"><br /></th><td class="data"><ul class="uiList">
<li class="uiListItem uiListVerticalItemBorder"><a href="http://abhiseksnetwork.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://abhiseksnetwo<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>rk.blogspot.com/</a></li>
<li class="uiListItem uiListVerticalItemBorder"><a href="http://myvisualization.webs.com/" rel="nofollow me" target="_blank">http://myvisualizati<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>on.webs.com/</a></li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<b>Entertainment:</b></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Chad Elliot,</b> Days in the Park</div>
<a href="http://www.daysinthepark.com/" style="color: blue;">http://www.daysinthepark.com/</a><br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Stars and Films Comments:</b><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Colleen Sullivan (USA), </b>Star Smoothy</div>
<a href="http://www.starsmoothy.com/" style="color: blue;">http://www.starsmoothy.com/</a><br />
<br />
<b>Forex:</b><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Ikon Group (USA), </b></div>
<a href="http://www.ikonfx.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.ikonfx.com/</span></a></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
<br />
<b>Making Money on Line:</b></div>
<div style="color: purple;">
</div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Derek Jones (UK), </b>Derek's Home and Business Blog<br />
<b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DereksHomeandBusinessBlog" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/DereksHomeandBusinessBlog</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.derekjones.co/" target="_blank">http://www.derekjones.co</a> </b><br />
<b>Francisco Linares (UK), </b>How to Make Money On Line<b> </b>With Francisco Linares.<br />
<a href="http://www.whatnetworkonline.com/" target="_blank">http://www.whatnetworkonline.com/</a><br />
<b>Delois Mc Kay (USA),</b> Click Bank Success Blog<b>.</b><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<a href="http://deejmckay.cbpirateblog.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">http://deejmckay.cbpirateblog.com/</a></div>
</div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Bronzilla Sheppard (USA)</b>, Gift Ideas, Make Money and Advice</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://bronzilla-sheppard.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://bronzilla-sheppard.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Adam Jones (Australia)</b>, Video Marketing</span></div>
<a href="http://www.youtubehigh.com/">http://www.youtubehigh.com/</a><span style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Kevin Elliott (USA)</b>, The Best Way to Promote Business Through Video.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.videocontrolpanel.net/">https://www.videocontrolpanel.net/</a><br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<b>Akinori Shiratori (Japan)</b>, Javita Independent</div>
<a href="http://www.myjavita.com/noritou"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.myjavita.com/noritou</span></a></div>
Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-9876596154736078812011-05-19T16:49:00.000-07:002011-05-19T17:46:42.259-07:00MY FIRST U TUBE VIDEO: Revive The Batak Culture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aTChMff7im0" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>This video was made on 25 June 2010, during a fund raising program entitled "Revive The Batak Culture", to support the Maranatha Choir mission to Austria to compete in the World Choir competition that annually participated by various group of churches choirs from all over the world.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><br />
<strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Members of the Maranatha Choir Indonesia, represented various ethnic groups in the country; however since the majority of Christian community in Indonesia is from Batak origin, therefore, some action had been taken to enable the Choir to go to the World Choir Competition by conducting a musical and fashion show entitled "Revive the Batak culture" for the fund raising.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><br />
<strong></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Batak, which is consisted of 5 major ethnic groups: Tapanuli, Karo, Simalungun, Mandailing and Dairi are largely very devoted Christians, except Mandailing, where most people in this ethnic group is Islam.</strong></span></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>This video shows a dance from Karo ethnic group, where I belong. I hope you enjoy the video. (Neneng Tarigan) <a href="http://neneng-tarigan.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://neneng-tarigan.blogspot.com">http://neneng-tarigan.blogspot.com/</a></strong></span><br />
<br />
</div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-56289286308895251102011-03-01T23:47:00.000-08:002011-03-02T00:05:47.953-08:00RETIREMENT: A Nightmare?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">RETIREMENT: A Night Mare?</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">PART I: My Childhood As Daughter Of A Soldier.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BxNTqxaE8cHc87MRsMe8MN2hQ4t1dpK_N1l8G16EpWT2V_gCzebPmXqaR0TxvOMgB_thG41jb9KCwcVjJFP1sU4gbvLyIUnREtJNonHHLvmlHiYnHROqlx3rVrYvokrbo8F3MqYMoZ5V/s1600/23022011629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BxNTqxaE8cHc87MRsMe8MN2hQ4t1dpK_N1l8G16EpWT2V_gCzebPmXqaR0TxvOMgB_thG41jb9KCwcVjJFP1sU4gbvLyIUnREtJNonHHLvmlHiYnHROqlx3rVrYvokrbo8F3MqYMoZ5V/s200/23022011629.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">When I retired, I realized that time flies very fast. I still remember vividly how I scream loudly looking for my mommy who left me alone among strangers at my first debut at the age of three entering my kindergarten school in Kutaraja (Banda Aceh) the Northern Part of Sumatra.</span> </strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">At that time, I might have thought, that mommy didn't have any pity on her own daughter by leaving me alone like an orphan at the kindergarten school. I remember they called me as a tearful kid for I was non stop crying waiting for my mom's hands although Kak Ida (Sister Ida) and Tante Lus (Aunt Lus) my teachers played a beautiful children song Potong Bebek Angsa or Slaught the Duck Swan in the piano and bribed me with a sack of candies that children normally loved.</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSGKShLFZPqIMbwWWO950P3zYq1uOd1-HWE9dDJj1mymhJFhiBqoZalJyNzFmxuVClX8xOpr6aJ6Fct233fUVE2ydWFx2yUFqvbflAEbuIs4daljBoTYpWbOQ4GeHgnm-4CJh2E2vE9DH/s1600/23022011584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSGKShLFZPqIMbwWWO950P3zYq1uOd1-HWE9dDJj1mymhJFhiBqoZalJyNzFmxuVClX8xOpr6aJ6Fct233fUVE2ydWFx2yUFqvbflAEbuIs4daljBoTYpWbOQ4GeHgnm-4CJh2E2vE9DH/s320/23022011584.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">My first debut at the kindergarten school in Kutaraja, Aceh.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>We lived in Kutaraja until my age was 4; then we forced to move for a refuge to Medan, because there was a big chaos in Aceh. Daud Bereuh the Governor of Aceh rebelled in order to enact a Muslim Republic in Aceh, separated from The Republic of Indonesia. Daddy had to stay in Aceh with the Indonesian loyalist troops in which quite a number of them were also an Aceh origin</strong>.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>I hardly recall, how long had we been staying in a hotel in Medan or back and forth to Berastagi to stay in my dad's home town. What I remember is, we then moved to Tanjung Selamat to a military compound about 12 kilometers from Medan. Daddy joined us about a year after the situation in Aceh subsided under the control of the Republic. In Tanjung Selamat, I began my first elementary school until the second grade and there my mommy gave birth to my two lovely sisters; so we were five, two boys and three girls.</strong></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">In my childhood, I was known as a tearful yet quarrelsome kid. So quiet, so shy, yet a spoiled brat little kid and a rebellious one, that was who I notoriously known, besides as my daddy most beloved child. Among the seven kids they have, I knew well, that my parents treated their second child or me more special and distinctive than others, not because I was the good one, no, only because, I can be so threatening and harmful to the other kids, if they messed up with me. That was possibly why, my parents had to make a persuasive approach so that I would not kill my siblings one by one with a dagger or stones as I always threatening them if my parents were not home! (Hmmmm,...that what I called a self defense. Actually I had never done that, because personally, I was the weakest in the family!)</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">People who didn't know our family might have thought that I was the only kid of my parents, or the youngest or the only daughter, because they always brought me wherever they go except to a funeral, a wedding or a hospital. I was reluctant to go to those three particular places, because I dislike and scared to see someone dead or ill, and so shy to go to a wedding because of inferiority complex of feeling so ugly. Yes, I felt, I looked like an alien, sometimes so fat and most of the time so skinny with protruded teeth. Because of that feeling and the teases I got from my siblings and parents, I became harmful, rebellious, arrogant and isolated at home. However, to my two little sisters I can be warmth and protective, it was just automatic, I didn't know why, even up to now, might be because they are both much nicer than my brothers. I also would always be nice to friends (boys and girls), easy going and friendly, they always took care of me and attentive. Of course there were some unfriendly friends, but in my childhood, I didn't recall of having any enemy, they were all too good to me.</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Growing up, I knew that, mommy changed a bit, she seemed in favor to my two sisters rather than to me, however, I had never lost the love of my daddy. I was still, obviously his favorite.</span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">I still remember, he would fulfilled whatever I asked, as long as he had money, I can always got what I want. Nonetheless, as a military man daddy always went to a battle ground. At that time, between 1950 till end of 1960s, there were lot of separative movements or rebellions in my country, so I hardly met my daddy at home, sometimes till a year or two. </span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>To meet my daddy, I recalled, my mom in the early of 1960 had to arrange a cultural performance to enable us and all of the family of the soldiers to go to the military front line to entertain my dad's battalion. She asked the permission from the commander of the Sumatra Army an approval to visit the battalion, because dad as the commandant of the Tiger Battalion (Battalion Macan Kumbang) and his troops, had long gone from home for a battle, although the distance between Medan and Rantau Perapat is only 300 kilometers.</strong></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Mommy was a very smart, strong and brave woman; she was really well organize in almost everything especially in dealing with her 7 brat little kids. I wonder how she manage my dad's meager salary and educated us so well by spending so little for what her personally needs for the shake of her kids. </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Mommy was the best woman I have ever had in life. She was so funny, lovable and always put her children and may dad interests in the first place. I remember when we were small (maybe around 1957) in Tanjung Selamat, some strangers came to our house and looked for my daddy. Actually, I was the first they met, but I honestly said to the strangers that daddy was not home, then mommy came out and convinced them to look for my daddy in the office not far from home, because our house was in the military compound. Mommy was so calm and full in control, she didn't show her fear though our house that time was the furthest from the office. She even offered them to drink and to allow her to call my dad. They refused the offer and left. I didn't know why the strangers then left us alone. After they gone, mommy hurriedly locked the door, gathered all of us (her five children at that time) inside of her bed room and told us to lie down on the floor and waited for her for a while. It was already late in the afternoon, we didn't know where mommy was, until she told us that she went out to report about the strangers to some soldiers who lived at the back of our house. </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Not long after, our house was bombarded with machine guns, I scared to death and so did my siblings seemed scared and shocked not knowing what was going on. We heard the machine guns swinging like in the battle ground. We knew the story about the revolution from our parents because mom was a nurse and dad was a soldier when they met during the revolution against Dutch colonial and the Japanese in 1940s. However, we didn't know that the Battle ground against domestic rebellion would be so horrifying and threatening. Mommy tried to keep us as quiet as possible and encouraged us to be brave because our soldiers were out there fighting against the rebellion. </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">About half an hour, the gun shots stop and later some soldiers came and told us to stay put, because we were all well protected. They said daddy was in hide, there were big rebellions against the Republic, we had to refuge the next day. Mommy was not in good health that time. She was very ill but she had to take care of her five little children alone. We run for a refuge from Tanjung Selamat to Pulau Berayan nearby Medan in the middle of the night and lived there in a very small military house. As far as I remember, we never stay in a small house like that, a wood house with 3 small bed rooms, a very modest kitchen and a toilet; but we had to, because our state was in emergency. </span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">My mom illness became more serious, she lied on bed helplessly. I was about 8 years old and with my mom sister who sometime came, I had to take care of my mommy and my siblings. In her lame less mommy told me to take care of my siblings and abide by the step mother if one day daddy had to marry again when she is gone. I cried a lot alone and felt so very sad and lonely, I met dad only once or twice in a month, the political situation and the condition was so unstable. Later, he brought mommy to the hospital and she stayed there for months. One night, we were all brought by bus to run for a refuge to Berastagi North Sumatra (my dad's home town) 60 kilometers from Medan. Mommy was still in the hospital in Medan. We had to run away and hide ourselves in Berastagi. We didn't know the daddy's whereabouts. Later we knew that his commandant Colonel Simbolon and Lieutenant Colonel Boyke Nainggolan were in battled against the Republic. My dad under Colonel Djamin Gintings and the loyalist troops had to wait for additional helps from the Capital (Jakarta) while they re-arranged the strategy to fight against the separatist troops led by Colonel Simbolon.</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Indonesia was really in chaos in 1950s. So many separatists groups scattered between Aceh up to Sulawesi. They wanted to separate from the Republic of Indonesia either for reasons of religion, regional independence, cultural, or economic imbalances or whatsoever. Regardless the reasons, however, they were all failed, because until now the majority of Indonesians are united and all loyal to the Republic. For us, government could change many times, but the Republic would stand forever! </span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>We lived in Berastagi in my grandpa's house for months and all of us refrained from school. One night, some troops (in late of 1958) came and brought us to our new big house at Jalan Padang Bulan, Medan, where dad and his platoon was actually based while fighting back the rebellion. The situation was still unstable, some separatists were successfully entering our house yard where the platoon was temporarily stayed in tents. Again, gun fired swings around us but only for few minutes and the platoon had successfully pushed them away and caught them.</strong></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>From 1959, the Republic troops were fully in control in Medan and that time mommy gave birth to my two little brothers the number sixth and seventh. There was not much room to manoeuvre for the remaining separatist group. Not only their space to move in the mountains became much smaller, but most of them was caught by the military and some who were still hiding had to surrender either voluntarily or by force. With no support from the people of course no rebellion can survived. From 1962 everything was settled. The whole Sumatra except some part in Aceh were totally under the control of the Republic. From there on, we lived peacefully in our big house at jalan Padang Bulan Medan until we moved to our own house at jalan Hayam Wuruk, in the same city, the house that my dad bought partly from the money that he inherited from his late father who died in the revolution in late 1940s.</strong></span> </div><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;">I finished my junior high school at the age of thirteen in Medan, not as the smartest, I was just ordinary student but not dumb at all. </span></strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">We lived in Medan until I was about fifteenth, then we had to move to Kotabaru, Pulau Laut (Sea Island) in Kalimantan, to join my daddy who had been assigned as the commandant of a military regiment. He was a lieutenant colonel that time; and only 6 kids joining him, because the eldest (my brother and my cousin) preferred to live in Medan rather than in a small town like Kota Baru. </span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">That time, I was at the second grade of my senior high school; and in the public school where I studied, there were only 3 teachers (one for Indonesian language, one for English and one for history!), whereas my major was math. It was really tough living in an island with such poor condition and with population might be only around 10.000 people. No facilities than 20 land rovers and trucks in the island. The island only had one medical doctor (dr. Ari Dodo) and a clinic. There were only two high school there, one was the public school where I was the student and the other was a Chinese school.</span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">However, the view of the island was extremely fantastic and we always have fresh fruits, fishes and meats on the table. Sometimes we can eat bunch of cheese and various imported fruits like apples and grapes from the foreign ships that were always stop and anchored in the small pier of the island. (Usually American, Dutch and British ships that passed by the island before heading to Balik Papan, where their oil companies invested.)</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">We always give the ship captain and some crew a small party in our house whenever they stop by the island, we try to make them feel at home and welcome. For us and the people in the island it was nice to see big ships and visitors around. Slowly, I understand that by giving them a small party my parents were also try to introduce and educate their kids in how to live in international circle. </span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">People in Kotabaru were all very friendly and respected us, we were living on the hill in a military big house and well guarded by some soldiers. But I hated being guarded, because at any time if my friends come and visit me, they had to report to the guards first although our house had no fences and everyone actually could get in from every part of the house yard. In Indonesia, especially in the regions, they look up high to military commandants, to the mayors or the heads of the districts! Thanks God that our parents disciplined us to always live modestly and humble, they taught us to mingling with everyone and to love people, and to understand that daddy was only an ordinary soldier. He never boosted himself as the youngest son of a rich man from highland Karo, instead he told us how difficult it was living under the step mothers. He said, he only had two clothes in his childhood, although his daddy was one of the rich there in Karo and only have two sons. </span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">We lived in Kota Baru for about a year and a half. It was the most peaceful and friendly place I had ever enjoyed in life. My friends were all very nice, especially Ratna who lived next door, she was my neighbor and classmate. (I wonder where she is now). Regretfully however, our peaceful life was under threat again. At that time in 1965, there were big disturbances in our country. Members of the Communists Party (PKI/Partai Komunis Indonesia) had brutally killed 6 of our military generals with an accused that they would organize a coup de tat against President Soekarno and that they were members of the “ Council Generals” (Dewan Jenderal) who planned to take over the presidency. </span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">The situation was really unstable. The Air Force and Cakra Birawa (the president's special guards) took side with the communists party. Many military men and dignitaries in major parts of Indonesia were killed. Once again, bloodshed dripping wet our beloved land. The state was in emergency, because of the civil war created by the communist party. The occurrence known as “G 30 PKI” (Gerakan 30 September Partai Komunis Indonesia or the 30 September Movement of Indonesian Communist Party); which was indicated to had been fully supported by the People of the Republic of China and the Soviet Union. Once again; our country was in great danger, as the consequence of the Cold War!</span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Soekarno, the first President was reluctantly condemn the communist party for the reasons of national stability and maintaining secularism. He said, he didn't want to see the country in turmoil.</span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">As the results of his stubbornness and by the force of the students demonstrations, the communist party and the Cakra Birawa were desolated, the life long President Soekarno who had governed the country for 20 years had to withdrawn from the presidency and had been in house detained till he died in 21st June 1970, because of high blood pressure and kidney ailment. What a tragic for such a great leader like him.</span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">On 1st October 1965, in mid of the celebration of the anniversary of the People of the Republic of China, held at the Chinese School Kotabaru, my dad rushed home, he immediately held an emergency meeting with his staff. When he arrived home, I inform him what I heard from Radio Australia that there was a big chaos in Jakarta, the radio talked about the General Council and the missing of some of Indonesian generals. I told him that I didn't fully understand what the radio had said. The next day and days after days, daddy seemed so extremely busy. I knew then that many members of the communist party were detained. The Chinese school was closed and desolated. </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">My daddy taught me the politics and the need to fully understand the history, the back ground of each political party and to put the love on our country above all of our interests. He said, in order to achieve the objective, most of the political party using force and sometimes so cruel and sneaky. He never said to any of his kids not to involve in the politics or the arm forces. However he always said that he would be happy if we could just be a doctor, an engineer, a civil servant or a businessman like his dad. </span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">As a military man, of course he was not a partisan of any political party. Once, I asked him whether he had any fear whenever he was in the battle ground, he said yes, especially after he had 7 of us but had to defense the country in the battle ground. He said he always had to be more cautious and in full coordination with all of his soldier friends in order to be able to arrive home safely.</span></strong></div><strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Daddy was always in the military infantry when he was young, up to the age of late 40. Then when the situation is more stable, from 1970 till his retirement he was in the staff position. He ended up his career as a colonel for 12 years. A very honest man that I always love and respect. I knew how disappointed he was to his military career. But it was always difficult for a Christian and an honest person to have a career in a country with Muslim majority; only one or two could be successfully either because that person is peculiarly smart or “smart” in negatively connotation!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">As Indonesians, we would always be loyal to our nation though unfairness remain in tag in this islands country. However, I strongly suggest that the issues of differences have to be cautiously and wisely addressed and revived, to strengthen and empowering Indonesia! </span></strong></div></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-83417488064349470612011-01-07T10:21:00.000-08:002011-01-08T12:24:08.973-08:00IN MEMORIAL: MY MOST BELOVED PARENTS<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE TWO BROTHERS:</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKr51TAQDoFG-IoeEyEEl-RbhCiWbsIPUDpCn_LkEiWB5LUkszdENpPNDz-N-MdkUsfA6kYftf6xLaWTQCxd0B3IN_GeLdvf4gtfKFrthWZLtUe8CjSAIGNP6tga6kEgLdfxM7FHKJEpQq/s1600/Daddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKr51TAQDoFG-IoeEyEEl-RbhCiWbsIPUDpCn_LkEiWB5LUkszdENpPNDz-N-MdkUsfA6kYftf6xLaWTQCxd0B3IN_GeLdvf4gtfKFrthWZLtUe8CjSAIGNP6tga6kEgLdfxM7FHKJEpQq/s400/Daddy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="color: purple;">My uncle and my dad.</b></div><br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b>I wonder where on earth I have ever seen brothers that are so closed to each other like my uncle, the eldest M. Tarigan, a successful businessman and my dad the youngest, S. Tarigan, a colonel of the army. They called themselves as "chicken legs", only two, so when one leg lost, the chicken would be crippled, no more balance, no more health, only sadness left. It proved! When my uncle passed away decades back, I could only see sadness in my daddy's eyes till he also passed away in 1994 when I was still posted as the Commercial Counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in the Netherlands. </b></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b>Both died at very young age, my uncle died when he was only 49, my daddy a bit fortunate when he was 64. My grand father died when he was only 44 because of revolution against colonial Dutch, no one found his body until now, what we buried only his picture, his friend who happened to be saved by Indonesian guerrillas at that time told the family that he was seen to had been onslaught to death by other groups that were consisted of robbers and wild rebellion. My Grand father was a very well known rich man from Highland Karo, so presumably he had to be killed to stopped him from supporting the revolution. </b></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b>What I can recall until now is how my uncle and my dad loved each other so much. They were always like two little kids when they met, they could sit together, talked, laughed, we all can see very clearly how they cared each other so dearly. They both were our two pillars, very strong, very protected towards their children, very tough and hard working persons, never complain at any circumstances, even at a very low point of their life. </b><br />
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<b>Our parents taught us, how to live in simplest way yet valuable to others and to our country. Regretfully however, none of their children could live in simplest way. We were all, included my cousins lived exactly, like excessive spoiled little kids ; and even until now, almost none us could live as fighters as our parents. We could only sell our heritages one after another, until only very few lefts. None of us seems wanted to keep our parents legacy, to keep what lefts for our future generations. </b><br />
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<b>In sadness I write this article, with tears in my heart. I wish my siblings and cousins would read this article someday and aware how important love is in life, how important is, caring each other rather than quarreling, how important the togetherness and how important to be grateful to what God gives through our parents. Yes, our bodies is the symbol of love of our parents, the bodies and souls are the most important. As Christian we can rely to our believe that God will not leaves us all starves, yet He wanted us to work hard too, to respect each other and to love each other, so that we can leave peacefully and help the others.</b></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b>I wish the fighting spirits of our parents would re-born in us and we can wake up as new person s again, full with love and full with the fighting spirit. I amen to that in Christ name.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhExhxWcLITu_QWgwT0uONGpFoA29FYOmfDpb80DML2eZYnq-KK8DrzAMxFhIeg2AT0objg333WMwNdVzaDW-mp4_KiM5tRnOjL8PKB9lxJUWIt4uCcv4x8MKAanZMgqX5VEcnIUcDqe7J/s1600/07012011468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhExhxWcLITu_QWgwT0uONGpFoA29FYOmfDpb80DML2eZYnq-KK8DrzAMxFhIeg2AT0objg333WMwNdVzaDW-mp4_KiM5tRnOjL8PKB9lxJUWIt4uCcv4x8MKAanZMgqX5VEcnIUcDqe7J/s400/07012011468.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b>In memory: My beloved uncle, aunt, mommy and daddy. In front of my uncle's villa in Berastagi, North Sumatra, Indonesia. After New Year, January, 1972 with Mount Sibayak as the background.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkRIloayDbckx6N1ky_7UOLNFu-Z_zi2goV3HQV-GtAHaL47ijLCAQ3Nqj6Hjsf70T-V0N8XUuYeQTMakQPN3pYLWWbWfcFNaA5PIruFrDR3rgwOuztwMaoicFTHkFdgKaeCV0Pu8jg22/s1600/CIMG1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkRIloayDbckx6N1ky_7UOLNFu-Z_zi2goV3HQV-GtAHaL47ijLCAQ3Nqj6Hjsf70T-V0N8XUuYeQTMakQPN3pYLWWbWfcFNaA5PIruFrDR3rgwOuztwMaoicFTHkFdgKaeCV0Pu8jg22/s400/CIMG1098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: justify;"><b>Family tomb in Kacaribu, Karo, Sumatra. Left, where my uncle and aunt rest in peace. In the middle we buried the picture of my grand father.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHZmQN0f-cgEtxCA_gvSwQcQRo-RksTSOARiBFGCj4lDeHRi5XZ8gyiGToBQWWr3pu_8T8FFfNgMEXJNVj3Q86iyESQ-CNk25ji4qlT6MArsBBaXurP-0M9DTlVXn4C2o20YJ2q_4NeUn/s1600/Image%2528414%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHZmQN0f-cgEtxCA_gvSwQcQRo-RksTSOARiBFGCj4lDeHRi5XZ8gyiGToBQWWr3pu_8T8FFfNgMEXJNVj3Q86iyESQ-CNk25ji4qlT6MArsBBaXurP-0M9DTlVXn4C2o20YJ2q_4NeUn/s400/Image%2528414%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><b>Here rest in peace my dearest mommy</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WYhLQi5vCX558Wchcq3rHnlZwz2VvKSr0vdztYQfA6yitpEsUEm4LgBas9bcK3JN7YYm3PSwhKNfSSqbBpLyKHXoBnLb3YqcNY_aNn9Kk5kQCojMBHaKC-GLZHI0SvHkG222Qrylz-GJ/s1600/Image%2528428%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WYhLQi5vCX558Wchcq3rHnlZwz2VvKSr0vdztYQfA6yitpEsUEm4LgBas9bcK3JN7YYm3PSwhKNfSSqbBpLyKHXoBnLb3YqcNY_aNn9Kk5kQCojMBHaKC-GLZHI0SvHkG222Qrylz-GJ/s400/Image%2528428%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xb5uC2OyFPrhMThLHYeAsy-fF_nK3Kv3jWALKn8XvHrr4bRbQTb-68FxcaD4rhgRB3UmesFb7hiED5ubnKj-zRnOVV4rzmb9pCIM4PcVjSE1vipJu2beXM2lPL4-yg_-3iZ9ro_RMicN/s1600/Image%2528413%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Here lies my beloved daddy.</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-45921878258069021972011-01-04T00:10:00.001-08:002011-01-04T00:10:31.799-08:00Entri Google Wikipinggir oleh NENENG<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>I love Japanese culture, the ambiance, the scenery, the people and their products. I hope u can share more information about Japan from non Japanese fair point of view</p>perihal: <p><blockquote>"Followers"<br/>- <a href='http://japaneseumbrella.blogspot.com/'>The Japanese Umbrella</a> (<a href='http://www.google.com/sidewiki/entry/109300154003827051049/id/z_zG-2KJGoSiTEeHOvRCwtVIvP8'>lihat di Google Wikipinggir</a>)</blockquote></p></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-91931388649672606392011-01-03T23:39:00.001-08:002011-01-03T23:39:31.573-08:00Entri Google Wikipinggir oleh NENENG<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Although I know something about windows and all kind of use of computer and internet, still I find this blog is quite informative and useful.</p>perihal: <p><blockquote>"Followers"<br/>- <a href='http://colinsit.blogspot.com/'>Colin's IT Technology Blog</a> (<a href='http://www.google.com/sidewiki/entry/109300154003827051049/id/JXPGw79UVysxLDQSMBndrl2ddz0'>lihat di Google Wikipinggir</a>)</blockquote></p></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-28313465990643520532010-12-04T12:22:00.001-08:002010-12-04T12:22:17.746-08:00Tragedy<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Focus on natural disasters occurred in Indonesia</p>perihal: <a href='http://widget-cdn.meebo.com/mm.swf?kMHggwclfc'>mm.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)</a> (<a href='http://www.google.com/sidewiki/entry/109300154003827051049/id/63TIJcNCJGidOXOdGwRviTzKspQ'>lihat di Google Wikipinggir</a>)</div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-79069532457361807882010-12-04T12:20:00.001-08:002010-12-04T12:20:34.268-08:00INFORMATION ON TRADE AND FASHION<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Info focus on social, culture and trade as well as development issues of developing countries.</p>perihal: <a href='http://widget-cdn.meebo.com/mm.swf?kMHggwclfc'>mm.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)</a> (<a href='http://www.google.com/sidewiki/entry/109300154003827051049/id/KkmNUxfeOCo3Is0FwTt--fVp25Q'>lihat di Google Wikipinggir</a>)</div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-10220727016485660982010-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:002010-12-02T09:06:54.871-08:00CHRISTMAS IS A JOY IN MY FAMILY: Watch this video!<div style='background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 425px;'><object id='A177428' quality='high' data='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=JJEEhUizG076Arvu&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' height='319' width='425'><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=JJEEhUizG076Arvu&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param><param name='quality' value='high'></param><param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='external_make_id=JJEEhUizG076Arvu&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param></object></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-332726637463379442010-11-29T06:32:00.001-08:002010-12-29T01:44:19.296-08:00SITTING ON THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE: The Cause of Indonesia's Deadly Natural Disasters!<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SITTING ON THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE: The Cause of Indonesia's Deadly Natural Disasters!</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>By: Neneng Tarigan, November 2010.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(Pictures and sources of information had been fully quoted from various reliable resources)</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What is going to happened, if a country seats on the Pacific Ring of Fire? No country could determine where its geographical location would take place, so does in the case of Indonesia. Besides enjoying lot of benefits being born in the seismically-active “Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia should endure the negative impacts of it s geographical location.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yes, Indonesia had enjoyed the scenery beauty by laying amid the Ring of Fire; the largest islands country with abundant natural resources yet the only country in the world that ought to stand natural threats and disasters. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The last decade has proven the facts, which natural disasters that Indonesia had to encounter, from landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storm, thunder, tsunami and any kind of natural disasters that we can hardly find in land nations. Indonesia, the sprawling archipelago of some 17,000 islands, which lies in the seismically-active “Pacific Ring of Fire”, had severely hits by devastating natural disasters since the Aceh tsunami. Here are just some examples of them. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE ACEH TSUNAMI:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Nangroe Aceh Darussalam in the Northern Part of Sumatra, was the only province in Indonesia got the hardest hit by the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. About 170,000 people died, and until now, the Province is still rebuilding homes and livelihoods that had been devastated by the disaster. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>THE YOGYAKARTA EARTHQUAKE:</b></span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>May 27, </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>2006, an earthquake</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> rocked </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Yogyakarta</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>and its surrounding areas with the power of 6.3 Richter Scale. An </b></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>earthquake</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> in May </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>2006</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> hit the provinces of </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Yogyakarta</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> and Central Java island, killing more than 5,700 people and destroyed 280,000 homes.</b></span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE PADALARANG EARTHQUAKE:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>July 17, </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>2006, a</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>n </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>earthquake</b></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hits off the coast of West Java, Indonesia, </b></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>at 15:19 local time. The earth quake center at the coordinate of 9,46’ SL – 107,19’ EL or about 120 km from Southern part of Cianjur District had caused 1 – 5 meter tide of tsunami that reached up to the area of Gunung Kidul and Bantul, Yogyakarta Region. 637 people died, 543 were wounded and 165 were still missing and unfounded; those who were missing might probably had been swept out to the ocean by the tide of the tsunami. 116.506 people homeless and held refuge, and the refugees camps scattered from West Java Province up to Central Java Province. </b></span></span></span></i> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE MALUKU VOLCANOES:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>April 14, 2008, a volcano in North Maluku was put on Alert III status following an increase in activity over the past few days. Volcanic activity at Mt. Ibu in West Halmahera regency, North Maluku is causing tectonic and volcanic earthquakes. Meanwhile, two days before the activity of Mount Ibu, another mountain (Mount Gamalama) in Ternate, North Maluku, had been showing its activity by spewing thick smoke. The mountain Gamalama is one of five volcanoes in the province which is still active. End of 2007 it had also showed an increasing activity but did not erupt.The last major eruption of Mt. Gamalama occurred in 1983.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE FOREST FIRES:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>May 22, 2008, the haze which has been enveloping West Sumatra following the emergence of hot spots in a number of locations delayed the domestic and international flight schedules, not only in Indonesia but also interfered international flights schedules in Malaysia and Singapore. The hot season between April and October seldomly dried the forest and easily catch the forests into fire. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE MALUKU EARTHQUAKE:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>May 25, 2008, the 6.7 magnitude earthquake jolted Maluku Tenggara Barat district. The epicenter was detected in 7.41 degree southern latitude and 129.6 western longitude or about 194 km Southwest of Saumlaki city. The location of the quake was about 72 km below the sea level, so that it had not trigger tsunami.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE SUMBAWA EARTHQUAKE</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>August 7, 2008, a strong earthquake of 6.6 on the Richter scale, damages houses on Indonesia’s Sumbawa island. The epicenter of the quake was 51 km (31.69 miles) Northeast of Sumbawa island at a depth of 10 km.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE KALIMANTAN FLOOD</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>November 10, 2008 at least 4,547 houses in North Samarinda and Samarinda Ulu subdistricts, Kalimantan were inundated due to heavy rain and big flood.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE CIANJUR LANDSLIDE:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>November 14, 2008, ten people have been killed after a landslide triggered by heavy rain crushed parts of two villages in Indonesia. The landslide destroyed 30 houses in the Cianjur district of West Java.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE GORONTALO EARTHQUAKE</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>November 14, 2008, a magnitude of 7.7 quake struck in the Gorontalo area of Sulawesi at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The second quake, at 1734 GMT, was 5.6 magnitude at a depth of 9.9 km (6.2 miles), 83 miles northwest of Gorontalo. No casualties reported.</b></span></span><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE PADANG EARTHQUAKE</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>About 5:00 pm on September 30th, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck just offshore of the town of Padang in Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake toppled buildings and started many landslides, smashing homes and swallowing up entire villages. The following day, As rescue workers arrived and residents tried their best to dig out and help the survivors, another unrelated quake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck less than 1,000 km south of the original epicenter. Each of the two quakes had at least one aftershock greater than 5.0 as well. Over 1,000 people are known to have died, an additional 3,000 still missing. October 5th, 2009, officials called off the search for survivors in Padang, and were focusing on caring for the living and coordinating with international relief agencies.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/10/2009_sumatra_earthquakes.html"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/10/2009_sumatra_earthquakes.html</b></span></span></a></div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE WASIOR LANDSLIDE:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>October 4, 2010, the remote seaside town of Wasior in West Papua province was devastated after a torrent of mud, rocks and logs struck it on Monday following torrential downpours.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hundreds of homes were swept away and numbers of people remain missing feared dead, with rescue workers unable to clear huge piles of debris due to shortages of heavy equipment. Experts said that a big landslides and flash flood will become more common in Indonesia due to a combination of climate change, land conversion, logging, mining and deforestation that contributes to landslides and flash floods. The government suggested that the main cause of the flood in Wasior was the overflowing water from two rivers that are located above Wasior. To my personal point of view, both sides were correct in this regard. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>At least 148 people were killed. About 123 people were still missing and the chances of them being found alive is slim. They could have been buried under rocks or swept to the sea. About 700 people were injured, 172 badly. Those killed had reportedly been drowned and swept away by the powerful waters along with uprooted trees, rocks and debris.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE MENTAWAI TSUNAMI:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>October 25 2010, a 7,2 Richter scale of earthquake hit the islands of Mentawai, Sumatera. More than 600 people died, thousands were homeless and hundreds are still missing and the chances of them being found alive is also slim. They could have been buried under rocks or swept to the sea.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL89_6_oq-mxeVbbLXaUzuu34RAOcK8AoLoWpU_D-wujNSGltrennZhHGhoxt8CUrWxNfEJlRItPAOH0dxkofjhdoDszVcmAmdBvPT8nxdG2FhcQqpkH6mSNqryn-hMlo30k0XWaJ0WHU1/s1600/Foto-Tsunami-Mentawai-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL89_6_oq-mxeVbbLXaUzuu34RAOcK8AoLoWpU_D-wujNSGltrennZhHGhoxt8CUrWxNfEJlRItPAOH0dxkofjhdoDszVcmAmdBvPT8nxdG2FhcQqpkH6mSNqryn-hMlo30k0XWaJ0WHU1/s400/Foto-Tsunami-Mentawai-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Children, the largest victim in most natural disasters.</div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cWwsUBbvSxo-wE8hPsM4AgEL4FvX2inm6Vgsl8d7M4DkifwmWjz_epgYb0aok6OXF5k_FY15EcXyICxZRRRCzjBLShuPWPJjcc5u8I9AaNTlPagiS1yI45O3kLfTuqniu8hU7LSBaRGZ/s1600/Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cWwsUBbvSxo-wE8hPsM4AgEL4FvX2inm6Vgsl8d7M4DkifwmWjz_epgYb0aok6OXF5k_FY15EcXyICxZRRRCzjBLShuPWPJjcc5u8I9AaNTlPagiS1yI45O3kLfTuqniu8hU7LSBaRGZ/s400/Baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2001105017011654221" name="intelliTxt1"></a> <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>A two months old tsunami survivor lays inside baby box at a local medical center in Sikakap, North Pagai island part of Mentawai islands, West Sumatra Indonesia, 29 October 2010. The baby was found alive inside a water tunnel as his parents were missing after the tsunami hit Betumonga village. Rescue workers were racing against time in their search for hundreds of people still missing on Indonesia‘s tsunami-hit Mentawai islands, as an official estimated that the death toll could rise to around 600. EPA/MAST IRHA</b></i></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/features/article_1595132.php/Indonesia-Tsunami-Aftermath-Pictures</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE ERUPTIONS OF MOUNT SINABUNG:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>From September to October 2010, a volcanic Mountain in Highland Karo North Sumatera, Mount Sinabung shows its activities after 400 years in silence. Several eruptions occurred but no dead casualties reported.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkWuycYTRFz4je1oKPMkZ5afFjKZVSiB2c8NkrRngCMPpx3MLeuB_UQG2bL6nLdKOy4eIwvY27DHopwPB5usPl0qGFfwJWxR9j00e1Ez0VYCYFKEU8LLoaYyDBJAMa21ghtB2slAEJjvE/s1600/abusinabung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkWuycYTRFz4je1oKPMkZ5afFjKZVSiB2c8NkrRngCMPpx3MLeuB_UQG2bL6nLdKOy4eIwvY27DHopwPB5usPl0qGFfwJWxR9j00e1Ez0VYCYFKEU8LLoaYyDBJAMa21ghtB2slAEJjvE/s400/abusinabung.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE ERUPTIONS OF MOUNT MERAPI:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The unstoppable disaster was the serial eruptions of mount Merapi in October up to early of November 2010! The Alert status remain in tag although the authority reduce the alert area to 5 km from the peak today. Full stories were published in various titles in this website, in which you can see how horrific the results of Mount Merapi eruptions as well as the other natural disasters.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>IN CONCLUSION:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>We never complain living amid the Pacific Ring of Fire, we grateful to what God gives and blesses us with abundant natural resources, we just have to work harder to overcome the disasters in any form if it comes. We always pray and protect the country that we proud of, INDONESIA!</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
The same information also available at:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://disasterindonesia.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>http://disasterindonesia.wordpress.com</b></span></span></a></u></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>To get an update information on Breaking Emergency in Indonesia ,</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Please click: </b></span></span><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disasternews_indonesia/"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disasternews_indonesia/</b></span></span></a></u></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2001105017011654221" name="intelliTxt" style="color: #660000;"></a></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-69622068127305370412010-11-06T22:53:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:46:05.939-08:00THE DEATH OF THE FIERY MOUNTAIN (MERAPI)<div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7y_jT6arE3MsyjifLAaGWeb36TLp5rVqCzT6lWgaEazUC3vAHcMOvRFuP4YUxjQvMldgoeHtUq2tcGSgvhjhzgHRu24mTr_WGmgUOiqxOtpqsnwGZ11PHN3Te2g12utWCLREVrRqHu8I/s1600/kaskus.us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7y_jT6arE3MsyjifLAaGWeb36TLp5rVqCzT6lWgaEazUC3vAHcMOvRFuP4YUxjQvMldgoeHtUq2tcGSgvhjhzgHRu24mTr_WGmgUOiqxOtpqsnwGZ11PHN3Te2g12utWCLREVrRqHu8I/s400/kaskus.us.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> The fiery mountain (Merapi) eruption, 7 November 2010. Source: kaskus.us</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8cZ-DfFKANY40j17sTDkjVk7YrxVC61EeWpCCQSQQ1p5FBVnZ5JMhe2SnN0D6c8ofTp9FacK6KDuR8kPlM1tzP9MTY_m_nrKVzziTYSlRhQ_UNH2oLPelHQXm_XbwJpZHjq1Ln2_eRMk/s1600/lumpur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8cZ-DfFKANY40j17sTDkjVk7YrxVC61EeWpCCQSQQ1p5FBVnZ5JMhe2SnN0D6c8ofTp9FacK6KDuR8kPlM1tzP9MTY_m_nrKVzziTYSlRhQ_UNH2oLPelHQXm_XbwJpZHjq1Ln2_eRMk/s400/lumpur.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The cold mud. 5 November 2010. Source: Kompas.com</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKytuXNGpJhAPkO5aIs_VLUXkOf9qK7MDzduJzC9SUtOElD4Yph0tUIgG3Y1VadXim-qlH-e2hhkK-M1d1wSNX0HLOPPDeNNZJdnPdtOZ9XuCu-y5eGmaZh9UdVnGYfk5FpquaT8EaXMxL/s1600/CIMG1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKytuXNGpJhAPkO5aIs_VLUXkOf9qK7MDzduJzC9SUtOElD4Yph0tUIgG3Y1VadXim-qlH-e2hhkK-M1d1wSNX0HLOPPDeNNZJdnPdtOZ9XuCu-y5eGmaZh9UdVnGYfk5FpquaT8EaXMxL/s320/CIMG1209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The dust from the fiery mountain, 30 November 2010, Photo taken by Neneng Tarigan at</b></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Dagen Street Yogyakarta, 40 kilometers from the peak of Mount Merapi</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>THE DEATH OF THE FIERY MOUNTAIN (MERAPI)</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>by: Neneng Tarigan, 7 November 2007</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This morning, 7 November 2010, again Mount Merapi <span style="font-size: small;">unleashing hot ash up to 6000 meters high according to 09.00 a.m news of Metro TV. The current wind blew the hot cloud into direction of Magelang where the Borobudur Temple is located. The Maguwoharjo Stadium in Yogyakarta where more than 15.000 evacuees take refuge seemed much more in order and clean now, because according the schedule, Madame Yudoyono the First Lady of the Republic, would pay a visit to this refugees camp this morning from her shelter at the Presidential Palace in Yogyakarta, not far from the stadium.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, I am thinking, how nice would the first family be if they could take shelter in any of other damage areas of natural disasters in this country without thinking too much on their safety, even there were limited facilities, much less than a convenient palace once in their live time. And how lucky were the people in this country if Indonesia had ever has first family like the one we always dream upon who would be closed with the people while the peoples are in the danger and required thorough attention from their leaders. Well, perhaps that would only be in our dreams forever.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a name='more'></a>No experts could predict, when the fiery mountain active blasts would stop, but the fact is the beautiful slopes of Merapi is now a deceased area, that required months and years to recovered. The Javanese people especially the peasants and the lower class workers are quite known as a hard working people, as it had been proved since centuries ago with the existence of Borobudur and Prambanan temple. They can make it this time again, as they have done it in 2006 after an earthquake had strongly hit Yogyakarta and Central of Java! May God bless my country always and forever. Amen.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSydwOfVlZg2wwk53Q_hT4TkR6o7GdokgvcjZBcOVB3thbkbCpsb-qThADFz-PghyNgT8Uuqza1dL9I3kKdcQDekVXCUstG2a4BKOeVmvz6srYtUZTwpLquAqO4CmEvM9sskTxPLXw69uI/s1600/CIMG1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSydwOfVlZg2wwk53Q_hT4TkR6o7GdokgvcjZBcOVB3thbkbCpsb-qThADFz-PghyNgT8Uuqza1dL9I3kKdcQDekVXCUstG2a4BKOeVmvz6srYtUZTwpLquAqO4CmEvM9sskTxPLXw69uI/s400/CIMG1177.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: #4c1130;">The Presidential Palace, Yogyakarta. (Neneng Tarigan)</span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeAVH6M9VZ-8-lFCIieQxWED8hneYNC7y0-7WtRkxtKM8czw-0sP4NzMptBygLtiOIgEZPP9d15U93LbIZaXCdKpe2JPrP_7r5heBXaE1PdujL_88fgfRpSRoE66yhNpxMP8nVnTnZcyp/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeAVH6M9VZ-8-lFCIieQxWED8hneYNC7y0-7WtRkxtKM8czw-0sP4NzMptBygLtiOIgEZPP9d15U93LbIZaXCdKpe2JPrP_7r5heBXaE1PdujL_88fgfRpSRoE66yhNpxMP8nVnTnZcyp/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"> Kaliadem (cool river) before the eruption of the fiery mountain: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Source: beritafotodunia.blogspot.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k0NOjPXY-4Xg8W8C9zq3DqiBGdHDHHm_5XlqIvDtfbz2fPLDsZFQoei4GpMVwOL3lWekamYTBHN_Ep65WVzjedCFnO3Q97sns2gT5PxnqoDzt_mRNAIEim1LMRRo8oibwh66riPx7myB/s1600/merapi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k0NOjPXY-4Xg8W8C9zq3DqiBGdHDHHm_5XlqIvDtfbz2fPLDsZFQoei4GpMVwOL3lWekamYTBHN_Ep65WVzjedCFnO3Q97sns2gT5PxnqoDzt_mRNAIEim1LMRRo8oibwh66riPx7myB/s400/merapi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: #4c1130;">Mount Merapi, before the eruption. Source: sep2sip.blogspot.com</span></span></span></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-74669142631904373052010-11-06T09:04:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:47:49.159-08:00THE FIERY MOUNTAIN (MERAPI): Before and After<div style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>MERAPI AND ITS SURROUNDING BEFORE THE 2010 ERUPTIONS:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">As quoted from</span> <a href="http://biancatours.com/beautiful-merapi/">http://biancatours.com/beautiful-merapi/</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDUOcXnGUJqrztrsUu2ETa7UPxgv5Avzxvx-nkUCwvpqGVE7a-Xi-2qvLPz3JtsUKiH0dPljxce8OWw7nsy7plDcl-_oBvxGHHw9lOuTaJeBWcWDPxn5da3BfGIKNgn190nkOZFUnwLZe/s1600/kaliadem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDUOcXnGUJqrztrsUu2ETa7UPxgv5Avzxvx-nkUCwvpqGVE7a-Xi-2qvLPz3JtsUKiH0dPljxce8OWw7nsy7plDcl-_oBvxGHHw9lOuTaJeBWcWDPxn5da3BfGIKNgn190nkOZFUnwLZe/s320/kaliadem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Kaliadem or Cool River at Kepuharjo Village, Cangkringan District<br />
before the eruption of Mount Merapi. Source: wordpress.com</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4Ohw-Jxs8xwzwRmpKtoWO9O7HHyvATdLP2rK6BYY7w9iHl0nXmrNoGv4xGAdrfs2D6kpJUZ7stN5f2wjwLK-_TkOLoSmGsIbYxInE2Zsqlpg8p4v-l7up4F_Ux55sVUB3kJ5EfoFam1u/s1600/Cangkringan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4Ohw-Jxs8xwzwRmpKtoWO9O7HHyvATdLP2rK6BYY7w9iHl0nXmrNoGv4xGAdrfs2D6kpJUZ7stN5f2wjwLK-_TkOLoSmGsIbYxInE2Zsqlpg8p4v-l7up4F_Ux55sVUB3kJ5EfoFam1u/s320/Cangkringan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Cangkringan. Source: slametismulyanto.blogspot.com</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkqmVNdErmoC_OeH23Oo4sWDnWQT3No5UB282ZjhfgEThzpLflkLKdzMaJovLxJFHub7hpCMIEQfqjBRCvED_V0r3oqGAy_QQqHF5dZYu_lgHq9P_2UNsAC6rBbW2LqxLf1SoGOk9WwYo/s1600/grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkqmVNdErmoC_OeH23Oo4sWDnWQT3No5UB282ZjhfgEThzpLflkLKdzMaJovLxJFHub7hpCMIEQfqjBRCvED_V0r3oqGAy_QQqHF5dZYu_lgHq9P_2UNsAC6rBbW2LqxLf1SoGOk9WwYo/s320/grande.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b>Cangkringan</b> and kaliadem. Source: wisata.kompasiana.com</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">Merapi is Java’s most potent mystical symbols of life and is truly one of the world’s most beautiful mountains. It was revered understandably for centuries as a spectacular sight no matter how many time one sees it. For a break from punishing tropical heat of Yogya, race up to the quiet highland resort of Kaliurang only one our by car on good road., refreshingly cool, one can easily spend several days here relaxing.</div><div align="LEFT" style="color: #4c1130;">Merapi Trekking<br />
There are at least three good tracks for climbing the Merapi. They are:</div><div align="LEFT" style="color: #4c1130;">* The Kaliadem/Kinahrejo track on the southern side<br />
* The Babadan track on the western side<br />
* The Selo track on the northern side.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The Selo track is regarded as the easiest and safest, certainly the most suitable or beginner climbers. Those with experience in climbing will need about four to five hours to reach the summit.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
<a name='more'></a>If we want to enjoy sunrise from the peak, it is recommended we start our scent at about 1 a.m. People using the Selo track for this can spend the night before at lalangan village or Blumbangsari village, where residents rent their rooms and can provide guides for the climbers.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The Babadan track is the most direct of the three, but is not usually recommended,mainly because most of Merapi’s volcanic activity over the last decade as taken place on this side of the mountain.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The top of the volcano can be observed from a distance from Turi Village, Sleman. For a better view, a visit to Plawangan, the observatory resort, can be reached by walking up a pathway from Kaliurang for about an hour. In the observatory resort, visitor can use a binocular to observe the top of the volcano. The best time to elish the beauty of Merapi is approximately around the sunrise moment, at six to e ight in the morning. Another place for a better view, is Ketep Pass. It’s ocated on Magelang Regency, where Borobudur is also located.</div><div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nbT9TrvhkKQxaBRiwCHMCTlV98YEUbfoPLZjxe9LhqBVSkhkVPrR4a-9aKtWVXn3VyZYhPioPXN1oilBRGqfqEEFwHcd69aIacY2ZS1bSFR93b42ATfG5ny4jUmasFX_x_JAKVxMDF6t/s1600/Borobudur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nbT9TrvhkKQxaBRiwCHMCTlV98YEUbfoPLZjxe9LhqBVSkhkVPrR4a-9aKtWVXn3VyZYhPioPXN1oilBRGqfqEEFwHcd69aIacY2ZS1bSFR93b42ATfG5ny4jUmasFX_x_JAKVxMDF6t/s1600/Borobudur.jpg" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">Borobudur temple built in the eighth century by the Cailendra dynasty, is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit words “Vihara Buddha Uhr” the Buddhist Monastery on the hill. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa. The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circum-ambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). Borobudur contains approximately 2,670 individual bas reliefs (1,460 narrative and 1,212 decorative panels), which cover the facades and balustrades. The total relief surface is 2,500 square meters (26,909.8 sq ft) and they are distributed at the hidden foot (Kamadhatu) and the five square platforms (Rupadhatu).</div><div align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The Borobudur was in danger of collapsing as its stone statues and stone cancer, moss and lichen affected bas-reliefs. But, the monument has been completely restored and was officially opened by the President on 23rd February 1983. The restoration took eight years to complete, funded by the Government of Indonesia with aid from the UNESCO and donations from private citizens as well as from foreign governments.</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">Another famous temple between Merapi and Yogyakarta is Prambanan. The Prambanan temple is the biggest and the most beautiful Hindu's temple. Located 17 kilometers east of Yogyakarta, locally known as the Loro Jongrang temple, or the temple of the “Slender Virgin” it is reputed to be the biggest and most beautiful Hindu Temple in Indonesia. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</div><div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA82X1MtnoA6pR8Buxu8sCMzeZ6SK67YorBi2_agusWHiEP_KYu63gLfD_ytFawJFbzjOF6zvnOFHOWBnF7J_blQVf9Oomt1oi0hTpVgqU6MAYi9wy_qxVWDBN-m70p9U5gzr2hvqkBlov/s1600/candi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA82X1MtnoA6pR8Buxu8sCMzeZ6SK67YorBi2_agusWHiEP_KYu63gLfD_ytFawJFbzjOF6zvnOFHOWBnF7J_blQVf9Oomt1oi0hTpVgqU6MAYi9wy_qxVWDBN-m70p9U5gzr2hvqkBlov/s320/candi1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The popular legend of Lara Jonggrang is what connects the site of the Ratu Boko Palace, the origin of the Durga statue in northern cell/chamber of the main shrine, and the origin of the Sewu temple complex nearby. The legend tells of the story about Prince Bandung Bondowoso who fell in love with Princess Lara Jonggrang, the daughter of King Boko. But the princess rejected his proposal of marriage because Bandung Bondowoso had killed King Boko and ruled her kingdom. Bandung Bondowoso insisted on the union, and finally Lara Jonggrang was forced to agree for a union in marriage, but she posed one impossible condition: Bandung must build her a thousand temples in only one night.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The Prince entered into meditation and conjured up a multitude of spirits (demons) from the earth. Helped by supernatural beings, he succeeded in building 999 temples. When the prince was about to complete the condition, the princess woke her palace maids and ordered the women of the village to begin pounding rice and set a fire in the east of the temple, attempting to make the prince and the spirits believe that the sun was about to rise. As the cocks began to crow, fooled by the light and the sounds of morning time, the supernatural helpers fled back into the ground. The prince was furious about the trick and in revenge he cursed Lara Jonggrang to stone. She became the last and the most beautiful of the thousand statues. According to the traditions, the unfinished thousandth temple created by the demons become the Sewu temple compounds nearby (Sewu means “thousands” in Javanese), and the Princess is the image of Durga in the north cell of the Shiva temple at Prambanan, which is still known as Lara Jonggrang or Slender Virgin.</div><div align="JUSTIFY"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><b>MERAPI AFTER THE 2010 ERUPTIONS</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">As Quoted from sources : AP and Kompas.com</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 235 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes because it sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped string of faults that lines the Pacific Ocean.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFCTXP_kDx11PrB2AyGH26eQ0BDhIML6JsyrM3FYd73bBzhJUvFACnlEY1KtllbrpQrOMP6ixzJpXohrU4mB5UoWaT1S-Ir6qvXXGfrWkv8XhTxYe2UohYbLG3S08YrhgKTVjL8TFSZMv/s1600/awan+panas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFCTXP_kDx11PrB2AyGH26eQ0BDhIML6JsyrM3FYd73bBzhJUvFACnlEY1KtllbrpQrOMP6ixzJpXohrU4mB5UoWaT1S-Ir6qvXXGfrWkv8XhTxYe2UohYbLG3S08YrhgKTVjL8TFSZMv/s320/awan+panas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">While Friday’s 5 November 2010 explosion was the largest in volume in a century. An eruption at Merapi in 1930 killed many more — 1,300. (Note: Some data range between 1000-2000 casualties) Even that toll pales in comparison to other volcanoes in the region: Indonesia’s Krakatoa killed at least 36,000 people in 1883, in an eruption that could be heard 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away and blackened skies region-wide for months.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">When the Philippines’ Mount Pinatubo exploded in 1991 after a 500-year slumber, about 800 people died as the billions of tons of volcanic debris poured from the cone, erasing entire farm communities and altering the world’s climate. The May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens caused the volcano’s north flank to collapse, triggering the largest landslide ever recorded. The blast killed 57 people, flattened 230 square miles (596 square kilometers) of forests and blew 1,300 feet (400 meters) off the peak. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy72ievNwXzWuQKrtBMVsUw0k79B8v76qdQQdpQZkytZkxP-7PpydSsYcM7R1-JgcwuoEGfAAGqeqDH8-mmj-ZwBCt_j3lGOkfr40N_rdNDJwogkPb1mXhdZWA6M5ImD2RDQ1Z1tU1V4T/s1600/wedhus-gembel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy72ievNwXzWuQKrtBMVsUw0k79B8v76qdQQdpQZkytZkxP-7PpydSsYcM7R1-JgcwuoEGfAAGqeqDH8-mmj-ZwBCt_j3lGOkfr40N_rdNDJwogkPb1mXhdZWA6M5ImD2RDQ1Z1tU1V4T/s320/wedhus-gembel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #4c1130;">Wedus Gembel or shipgoat cloud, view from Umbul Harjo village, </span><b style="color: #4c1130;"> </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b>Cangkringan</b> sub district of Sleman DIY. Source: dtjakarta.or.id</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">Merapi’s latest round of eruptions began Oct. 26, followed by more than a dozen other powerful blasts and thousands of tremors. With each new eruption, scientists and officials have steadily pushed the villagers who live along Merapi’s fertile slopes farther from the crater.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">But after initially predicting earlier eruptions would ease pressure under the magma dome, experts who have spent a lifetime studying the volcano now say the don’t know what to expect. Scientists can study the patterns of volcanoes, but their eruptions are essentially unpredictable, as Merapi’s increasingly intense blasts have proved.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">On Friday, the towering plumes of ash rained dust on windshields of cars 300 miles (480 kilometers) away, although a rain near the mountain in the afternoon turned much of it to sludge. Bursts of hot clouds occasionally interrupted aid efforts, with rescuers screaming, “Watch out! Hot cloud!”</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEUYPdV9YSP3Xxe7Wxaww_pRKcQZwOg2WA3j5DvDSj4eDPb3Bu8yiHOINAYcL4WJR81b2LlaPSywk-L2urd_HANaGH3Vej8JkiOXBZP_N-cB9gMu2nEywdpFj9pzAkOkhaZ2jlRNJGrlA/s1600/05112010_merapi_amatir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEUYPdV9YSP3Xxe7Wxaww_pRKcQZwOg2WA3j5DvDSj4eDPb3Bu8yiHOINAYcL4WJR81b2LlaPSywk-L2urd_HANaGH3Vej8JkiOXBZP_N-cB9gMu2nEywdpFj9pzAkOkhaZ2jlRNJGrlA/s1600/05112010_merapi_amatir.jpg" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The eruption released 1,765 million cubic feet (50 million cubic meters) of volcanic material, making it the biggest in at least a century as plumes of smoke continued to shoot up more than 30,000 feet (10,000 meters). </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">Soldiers pulled at least 78 bodies from homes and streets blanketed by ash up to a foot (30 centimeters) deep Friday, raising the overall toll to 122, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">With bodies found in front of houses and in streets, it appeared that many of the villagers died from the blistering gas while trying to escape.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The 1,400-degree Fahrenheit (750-degree Celsius) heat — were carried away on stretchers following the first big explosion just before midnight. More than 150 injured people — with burns, respiratory problems, broken bones and cuts — waited to be treated at the tiny Sardjito hospital in Yogyakarta where the bodies piled up in its morgue, and two other hospitals.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVyEE2lTyBUAdvej8ERl7sKBPPLuNDLQyJOPvgt6y4TelrsYkd4vc8Q_WEqQFYmqc6JNozj4a-aA54JklZw3vJ3czeqYIo0PeXHDeDY-yNR-kXd3CM-M_7j3cD27KmUWNInb8DppiC5co/s1600/evakuasi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVyEE2lTyBUAdvej8ERl7sKBPPLuNDLQyJOPvgt6y4TelrsYkd4vc8Q_WEqQFYmqc6JNozj4a-aA54JklZw3vJ3czeqYIo0PeXHDeDY-yNR-kXd3CM-M_7j3cD27KmUWNInb8DppiC5co/s400/evakuasi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"> Evacuation process. Source: Kompas.com</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsZFf_NbY3EVWhurKBKOQF0-7w06BKq8yjBHS2lniZhl-ZrkY-jU65X0YQ05DSGjGfhBsK5OemqUK-6fJFl2CokSELX4Nf5NaSZiEe-tAlR0Tb0yLtzAJpD4-46zc42_uuM6j1gIYUaK6/s1600/kabsi051110_ribuan_orang_mengungsi_di_stadion_maguwoharjo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsZFf_NbY3EVWhurKBKOQF0-7w06BKq8yjBHS2lniZhl-ZrkY-jU65X0YQ05DSGjGfhBsK5OemqUK-6fJFl2CokSELX4Nf5NaSZiEe-tAlR0Tb0yLtzAJpD4-46zc42_uuM6j1gIYUaK6/s400/kabsi051110_ribuan_orang_mengungsi_di_stadion_maguwoharjo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"> 15.000 evacuees refuge at Maguharjo sport stadium as a shelter. Source : TVone.com</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">For several days Borobudur are closed to visitors as the ashes covered the whole compound up to 3 cm thick; and today 6 November 2010, all airports in Java island included Jakarta airport are forced to close for several hours due to volcanic dust that has scattered all over the sky.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dobyvywnC5JkQK2mq_QfaV1K2HOTQJVliG1I7K1JmxF7WbNS0lPYVFuClZc03wkOAWEkJY6uicl9VGWS498vDMvhz-ELd8BIvqf6AbF9RuVwC85zvQztjguYuWx1IwclNRrQZcIKwFtz/s1600/kabsi051110_dusun_brogah-sleman_luluh_lantak_diterjang_awan_panas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dobyvywnC5JkQK2mq_QfaV1K2HOTQJVliG1I7K1JmxF7WbNS0lPYVFuClZc03wkOAWEkJY6uicl9VGWS498vDMvhz-ELd8BIvqf6AbF9RuVwC85zvQztjguYuWx1IwclNRrQZcIKwFtz/s400/kabsi051110_dusun_brogah-sleman_luluh_lantak_diterjang_awan_panas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-ul_Zlv2ZwWfgTujAc5Mo2qikXk9fLHrosF_2vIvui2oUYhmoKZtFFWsLpDsQZY9kJpPMq1tP3AoYKil2rPF3qH6tP0UWimaaJLGRuP8HXBCDJkKLid-Wz67ivQQhiCAeoG2mbSXAgD8/s1600/kabsi051110_tim_sar_cari_korban_tewas_usai_erupsi_merapi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-ul_Zlv2ZwWfgTujAc5Mo2qikXk9fLHrosF_2vIvui2oUYhmoKZtFFWsLpDsQZY9kJpPMq1tP3AoYKil2rPF3qH6tP0UWimaaJLGRuP8HXBCDJkKLid-Wz67ivQQhiCAeoG2mbSXAgD8/s400/kabsi051110_tim_sar_cari_korban_tewas_usai_erupsi_merapi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;">Cangkringan, Sleman turned into ashes, while the rescue team keep on searching for the victims</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130;">The slopes of beautiful Merapi is now turned into ashes and mud, and no experts could predict when the fiery mountain eruptions would stop. </div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-63085077265048276062010-11-02T09:44:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:49:04.710-08:00YOGYAKARTA, MOUNT MERAPI AND THE LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf84wv-KA8vSnMe1F20oIAo9tizIRFfOLLft-9q3-Pd7UDybAzmhmqCRBtqVZi0t2aqzMrtyrQiFfD-Izrh1oFn1gw0qhG4CnR-reEhsXYtYg64hr7IvfSmvnuzJeQwxyNVN_JGYgb_Zl/s1600/petagempa.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf84wv-KA8vSnMe1F20oIAo9tizIRFfOLLft-9q3-Pd7UDybAzmhmqCRBtqVZi0t2aqzMrtyrQiFfD-Izrh1oFn1gw0qhG4CnR-reEhsXYtYg64hr7IvfSmvnuzJeQwxyNVN_JGYgb_Zl/s400/petagempa.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b> Epic centre 2006. Source: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">YOGYAKARTA, </span><span style="color: red;">MOUNT MERAPI</span> <span style="color: blue;">AND</span> <span style="color: orange;">THE LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">By: Neneng Tarigan.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>I have already decided in mind that the last day I serve my office as a civil servant, I have to go to one of my most favorite place in Indonesia, Yogyakarta. I love this city because people in the city are very committed with their cultural value that is a real Javanese culture. This city is not only best known as always keeping up the Javanese tradition but also as “the City of Student” or “Kota Pelajar”. Many students from all over Indonesia studied and graduated from various universities here such as from Gajah Mada University, Islam University of Indonesia Sunan Kalijaga, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Christian University Duta Wacana, ASRI or the Academy of Fine Arts just few examples of reputable Indonesian Higher Education institutes here around. Many intellectuals, researchers, professors as well as foreign students graduated or at least join a further studies in Yogyakarta, most popular subject among others are: cultural, arts, medical, law and agriculture.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>People here live very peacefully and governed by a Sultan as the Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region; the recent one is Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. </b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IjJoTHzH2G_qcIFPCGu-WP4_DmTFKF9-zgbWNLDDRixFOPkVFh_9hfOs0rBR36YCPDa3umYiWgXOTIgVppbA1gQAiiITuu4rOxBKMt2iWv8gzDTpSo2jEAYGCsttWXQP7nhS5iPR4qRg/s1600/prince-charles-and-an-indonesian-sultan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IjJoTHzH2G_qcIFPCGu-WP4_DmTFKF9-zgbWNLDDRixFOPkVFh_9hfOs0rBR36YCPDa3umYiWgXOTIgVppbA1gQAiiITuu4rOxBKMt2iWv8gzDTpSo2jEAYGCsttWXQP7nhS5iPR4qRg/s320/prince-charles-and-an-indonesian-sultan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Prince Charles. Source: Momolamen.com</b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>The city or Yogyakarta existed since 1755, after the division of Mataram Kingdom into the Sultanate of Yogyakarta and the Sultanate of Surakarta (Solo). Yogyakarta is geographically located in between three most important international gateways of Indonesia, Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar (Bali). The four cities are well connected by various kind of transportation such as bus, train, air plane from and to almost all air ports of Indonesia. Chartered and scheduled flights from foreign countries could also landed at Yogyakarta airport Adi Sutjipto. Yogyakarta is also the only big city in Indonesia, which still has traditional Becak (rickshaw-style) as its public transportation and these kind of transportation facilities, including foods and hotels are available at a very reasonable price and that attract people from all over Indonesia and overseas to come and spend longer time in Yogyakarta rather than other cities in Indonesia. </b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCbpXaFZjRvsWvkhFLwJgoYdEcAsDk_3rqYXp_xxTxnGrT0rNIJfByCVuzXBMq3LT-qSJAHhTaS91z0qRRbmwCpBtw-KqJeUsVd6Y9w2EwI6pWFlAYnbhvOa3tDD7ma2kw3B6V4EFX2tW/s1600/CIMG1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCbpXaFZjRvsWvkhFLwJgoYdEcAsDk_3rqYXp_xxTxnGrT0rNIJfByCVuzXBMq3LT-qSJAHhTaS91z0qRRbmwCpBtw-KqJeUsVd6Y9w2EwI6pWFlAYnbhvOa3tDD7ma2kw3B6V4EFX2tW/s320/CIMG1180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The demonstrators and the becaks.</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>The key attraction of Yogyakarta is Kraton (the Sultanate Palace). It is the center of Yogya's traditional life and despite the advance of modernity; it still emanates the spirit of refinement, which has been the hallmark of Yogya's art for centuries. This vast complex of decaying buildings was built in the 18th century, and is actually a walled city within the city with luxurious pavilions and in which the current Sultan still resides. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaIMfe-m-uIRAa-f6IWHX0VifygwPVLOL798HOq7YydQ_IjfDCk_awbvVkz0lRaf-A-9jJOvnQmVClhzvb2X_sOgCjB0ahgAvU5jMuBRBR4xh1SpSHFw3gRaLsjaBEuy9MpkxKaxfElEL/s1600/sultan-palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaIMfe-m-uIRAa-f6IWHX0VifygwPVLOL798HOq7YydQ_IjfDCk_awbvVkz0lRaf-A-9jJOvnQmVClhzvb2X_sOgCjB0ahgAvU5jMuBRBR4xh1SpSHFw3gRaLsjaBEuy9MpkxKaxfElEL/s400/sultan-palace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; text-align: center;"><b>The Keraton</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>The average daily temperature of Yogyakarta range between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius with its maximum 35 degrees. Average humidity is 74% or range between 65% and 84%. Yogyakarta has a tropical climate with only two seasons, that is rainy and dry. Usually the wet season begin in September to April, and the dry season begin from end of April till end of August. The monthly rain falls in Yogyakarta varies between 3mm and 496mm in which those above 300mm take place during the month of January up to April. The heaviest rainfall usually occurs in February while the lowest commonly happens between May and October. Average annually rainfall is about 1,900mm.</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Special Region) is one of Indonesia's 33 provinces; and one of the most densely populated area of Indonesia. This region is located at the edge of an active volcanic mountain, Mount Merapi that had been erupted several times. The biggest eruption was in 1672, killed about 3,000 people, the following eruption in 1997 and 2001 no casualties were recorded, however eruption in 2006 claimed to kill 2 people and the current eruption that still occurs from October up to November 2010 had taken life of 37 people including the key holder of Mount Merapi, Mbah Maridjan. </b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>There was a mystical story about the key holder of Merapi, Mbah Maridjan or grandpa Maridjan. He was entrusted by The Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX (the father of the current Sultan Hamengku Buwono X) to watch over the volcano's spirits, dispatching his assistant to go to the crater and remind people about when and what the spirit of Mount Merapi wants. According to the Javanese traditional believe, the Sultan himself should maintain the harmony between the Merapi, the Keraton and the Southern Sea. In that order the Sultan has to assigned the Merapi and the Southern Sea Watcher respectively and marry with the Queen of Southern Sea (Ratu Roro Kidul) and regularly serve an offering (“Sesajen” consisted of foods, flowers etc) to the crater of Merapi, so that his people will live in peace and bless with foods and all kind of necessities (usually agricultural products) from the fertilize Merapi soil. But the current Sultan is a very modern Sultan and a devoted Islam. He is a monogamous and has no concubine (selir) although this is allowed and a bit compulsory in Javanese royal tradition to have concubines. He keeps up the Javanese tradition on the offerings, but I hardly believe that he keeps the tradition of marrying the Ratu Roro Kidul or do the offering as to worshiping the Mount Merapi. He did that just to keep the tradition alive but at the same time gradually build the awareness of his people that this dogma is not a Religion. Besides of that not all of his people are Islam, some still hold the Javanese Believe the so called Aliran Kepercayaan or A Stream Believer that is very close to the believe of Javanese tradition; and some of course hold other religions such as Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, etc. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNualhZ07eqcN_0fAuFFHfeeiGbg3Av7WN69PUEVTqAmVjFeeil8euH7w_waPa4vfSliHuJZdfceQdBPIlbrG09TXekPfzENQq9zIxJTlxxTfOGFrsnwHKDEJL1tFXB4Nra6nOT2JYlmJT/s1600/22Sultan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNualhZ07eqcN_0fAuFFHfeeiGbg3Av7WN69PUEVTqAmVjFeeil8euH7w_waPa4vfSliHuJZdfceQdBPIlbrG09TXekPfzENQq9zIxJTlxxTfOGFrsnwHKDEJL1tFXB4Nra6nOT2JYlmJT/s1600/22Sultan.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas</b>.<b> Source: Solopos.com</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>As a modern Sultan it is obvious that the Sultan Hamengku Buwono X relied more on the seismologists prediction about Mount Merapi than Mbah Maridjan prediction. He even clarified publicly that the function of mbah Maridjan was not as a Merapi Watcher or the guard of Merapi or the Key Holder of Mount Merapi, but the function of Mbah Maridjan was to prepare at any time if the Palace or the Keraton has a regular ceremony such as the offering to the Merapi Mountain. However, many people of Merapi and mbah Maridjan himself believe that he is the guard and the key holder of Merapi as entrusted by Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, and that assignment has never been withdrawn till the death of the previous Sultan, meaning that he still keep and has to maintain that assignment and trust respectfully for what ever cost even with his own life.</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>Therefore, when the eruption occurred at about 06.00 pm in the evening of 26 October 2010, Mbah Maridjan was among dozens of villagers who died because of believing in his decision not to leave the mountain. He gives his life to abide by what has been assigned to him by the previous Sultan, was to guard the Mountain, and would not leave that though he has to sacrifice his life! He died in his prayer to God the Almighty since he himself was a very devoted Islam and a very humble man who very much in tact with the pure Javanese tradition. What a story....</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawu53wSLrkc61FrN_TGz2qWKiBSILPwxHaI4YaM9nszJofJ_bm28RrpB3ff-0_ipPSb7xZi2wxl5cl9WzVA1Dyhtz10u2gOdP5fr76Lf_d0B_clpiFWcrfaI5uRa2e_9zAfMXcuX5_cMQ/s1600/mbah-maridjan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawu53wSLrkc61FrN_TGz2qWKiBSILPwxHaI4YaM9nszJofJ_bm28RrpB3ff-0_ipPSb7xZi2wxl5cl9WzVA1Dyhtz10u2gOdP5fr76Lf_d0B_clpiFWcrfaI5uRa2e_9zAfMXcuX5_cMQ/s320/mbah-maridjan.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: center;"><b>Mbah Maridjan</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>There was a disappointment from the current Sultan, because the Sultan has a very strong believe that the accident should not have taken life of his people if they just abide by the advice of the seismologists or the government officials on the danger of Merapi eruption rather than abide by the advice of Mbah Maridjan. So, when the Merapi began spewing its 600 to 2000 degree gases down the mountain's slopes in about 200 miles speed per hour and to the sky, no one from Mbah Maridjan Village that located just 4 kilometers from the crater had enough time to escape and run away from the disaster. </b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>Actually, a week before the first current eruption (26 October 2010) all routes to Mount Merapi were closed to public as the alert status of one of the most active volcanoes in the world was raised to “standby,” just one level below a full-blown eruption. All residents on the slopes of the mountain including Mbah Maridjan had been advised sternly to stay outside at least 10 kilometers radius from the peak of Merapi and to stay away from around the rivers since the lava may spew out at any time and flow along the river and would cease them away. Only authorized personnel could enter the alert area to monitor the observation posts that located in certain areas but not too close to the peak of the mountain.</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b>Nevertheless, how can we blame the people who were not willing to leave their homes and took refuges. Experiences shows that Mbah Maridjan seemed to be correct when he advised people not to leave the mountain in 1997, 2001 and 2006 eruptions, the last one then brought the Mbah into a celebrity life in promoting one of the energizing product. He didn't use the money for himself but donated most of it to his poor neighborhood and the mosque that was enacted besides his home which is now only dust, the debris and the ruins. Further more, how can we blame the peasants and the poor who were afraid to leave their only huts, their grounds and cattle, they are all too poor to live without it. Experiences shows they get only a pity when they loose the properties, there will be no reimbursement or guarantee, let alone to get back part of their belongings. For them there would be indifferent whether they are running away or staying. Lack of healthy water and sanitation as well as lack of foods and medicines is always happens in the refugees camps....that is another nightmare for the refugees......</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtVlhgz6jcwzxSRhPrjsUXh6PjgXC-tpOYIYiSFIlqSr8M04epIP-05jWTSNGF6UbLepPfym5m6FgZ9Ic4qL9BDFdGaoZ-dcLafk9Uaw4Py6G-OlztUCQRYwdTFvwp_vdXgHvu-BfJih8/s1600/wartakota.co.id.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtVlhgz6jcwzxSRhPrjsUXh6PjgXC-tpOYIYiSFIlqSr8M04epIP-05jWTSNGF6UbLepPfym5m6FgZ9Ic4qL9BDFdGaoZ-dcLafk9Uaw4Py6G-OlztUCQRYwdTFvwp_vdXgHvu-BfJih8/s400/wartakota.co.id.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8LBVjyq5nr8O_BOQ3xOIDLBVo8P-govYzJa4xA5ae-nMq-dUKSzPZ-65Rogp137pvDg27nf_7g6qmkTpSP4cqIZzGaACrIIPE6vyQqCjWhM3wHDyZH1SsY1T6KxuYt5rbqM_WWKWRXjP/s1600/pengungsi(1)vhrmedia.org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8LBVjyq5nr8O_BOQ3xOIDLBVo8P-govYzJa4xA5ae-nMq-dUKSzPZ-65Rogp137pvDg27nf_7g6qmkTpSP4cqIZzGaACrIIPE6vyQqCjWhM3wHDyZH1SsY1T6KxuYt5rbqM_WWKWRXjP/s400/pengungsi(1)vhrmedia.org.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm; text-align: center;"><b>The refugees. Source: vhrmedia.org</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2001105017011654221&postID=6308507726504827606" name="bodytext"></a><b style="color: #4c1130;">Before I left Jakarta, heading to Yogyakarta on the 27 October 2010, I already aware about the danger of Mount Merapi eruptions, but since I have already booked a hotel and the plane ticket, I was really reluctant to cancel it, let alone knowing the fact that Yogyakarta located 40 kilometers from Mount Merapi. When I arrived in my hotel room, I can feel a little tremor, according to the news, since 22 October 2010, deep volcanic earthquakes occurred seven times, shallow volcanic earthquake 34 times, multiphase volcanic earthquakes 321 times and lava splashed 93 times. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>On Thursday 28 October 2008 in the morning, I and my daughter Angie went for a shopping in Malioboro the most well known shopping compound in Yogyakarta, about 200 meters from Jentra Hotel where we stayed. We went to a traditional market Bering Harjo to look for some Batiks, since Batik is Indonesian design pattern that has been acknowledge by the United Nation as one of Indonesian national heritage. After shopping, we walked around and took some pictures of interesting spots, such as the Presidential Palace, the monuments of Yogyakarta Kembali or the Return of Yogyakarta, the traditional market Bering Harjo and the student demonstrators who strongly complain on the poor government service in the educational programs that not even pro to the poor! They also complain on the slowness of the government to tackle on the Merapi victims and the Tsunami earthquake victims in Mentawai islands of West Sumatra that happens almost coincidentally with the eruptions of Mount Merapi! Well, I don't blame the students for these, because I totally agreed with the students that the government never learns from previous experiences and revise the educational programs and victims of natural disasters in the right and appropriate ways. I donate a bit for the Merapi victims through the students activities, I don't want to go to Merapi area, since I might have interfered with the rescuing programs that still continue up today. Some foreign tourists took the opportunity of approaching nearby the area for filming the rather scarce occurrences. Well, they have every right to do that although that was not a good idea at all.</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hgq3IGf3ULPOcXfJH0qZ_iztOvP0RW_gUnN45klQOHyjcL_tBdNLPf7PvuxljpQAFzAGz3wsXCZFfwgPYunQqYY7n1jrpVVnDM6VajbhZDKqVsvDbhfIWoau0AqDdTJ5hM3G07zxSwaV/s1600/CIMG1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hgq3IGf3ULPOcXfJH0qZ_iztOvP0RW_gUnN45klQOHyjcL_tBdNLPf7PvuxljpQAFzAGz3wsXCZFfwgPYunQqYY7n1jrpVVnDM6VajbhZDKqVsvDbhfIWoau0AqDdTJ5hM3G07zxSwaV/s320/CIMG1185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiJTkeW17hUxuea5bu6rBmB1aVsHEguu1kh5ZcamTXH7wX5mwvX6Lxzx6VfUqR-HJBkzqwp05QoopWf34_4YTaXKi0ZX-TwNFMPQrq7l5s9r087jfINhg5uAhLL-dc2u3YUib362ts1-B/s1600/CIMG1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiJTkeW17hUxuea5bu6rBmB1aVsHEguu1kh5ZcamTXH7wX5mwvX6Lxzx6VfUqR-HJBkzqwp05QoopWf34_4YTaXKi0ZX-TwNFMPQrq7l5s9r087jfINhg5uAhLL-dc2u3YUib362ts1-B/s320/CIMG1197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK_gJ3lRRta9tcfUm3hzeTMpK_f-2rkgDW-z2Bf_-WQjqNz7VYvcuhQ_ni1gQtXX5sSTyGeMb0tDrq5K4QObVmuOolGOk80oqnsduX6xL3qkrQoeCbJfrPXlqjMEYrDmuVDGUhXzdiFIz/s1600/CIMG1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK_gJ3lRRta9tcfUm3hzeTMpK_f-2rkgDW-z2Bf_-WQjqNz7VYvcuhQ_ni1gQtXX5sSTyGeMb0tDrq5K4QObVmuOolGOk80oqnsduX6xL3qkrQoeCbJfrPXlqjMEYrDmuVDGUhXzdiFIz/s320/CIMG1200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The demonstration in all over Yogya on the Hari Sumpah Pemuda (the Youth Swear Day) which was coincided with the eruptions of Mount Merapi</b></div><br />
<div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>I returned back to my hotel room at about 01.00 pm, but Angie had decided to went out again strolling around Malioboro to find a little souvenirs for her siblings.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>At about 04.00 in the afternoon I heard a very strong boom, and a big quake shake me for at least a second. From the third floor of my hotel room I saw the mountain far across my bedroom window spew a very big smoke and fire, I didn't realized that it was Merapi that exploded, because according to the taxi driver, we can't see Merapi from Yogyakarta, but it was indeed Merapi that I saw and what a pity was I didn't take my camera to shoot and recording the occurrence.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>When Angie arrived from her shopping, I told her what I saw that I am now convince we can see Merapi from our room; so the next morning and afternoon of 29 October 2010, I was able to record the Merapi activities on that particular date as you can see in the pictures below.</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwicSHtUL_xYH3N581gz6gvLbbjTMzp1-kSmp6e5biUcqbL7dof4DvwNnVDvbwaNRboHvCo0ayvZODZ02xG1zXX2Rww5je4MGSMGYwWXfBt6-YblHp2Mg0e6Fc36BdUMZNkq5QNyuVADS/s1600/CIMG1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwicSHtUL_xYH3N581gz6gvLbbjTMzp1-kSmp6e5biUcqbL7dof4DvwNnVDvbwaNRboHvCo0ayvZODZ02xG1zXX2Rww5je4MGSMGYwWXfBt6-YblHp2Mg0e6Fc36BdUMZNkq5QNyuVADS/s400/CIMG1203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QeZV90Qyu9vvekppKXJwcLjvvkOgtlJDG2MUGCJwSATW8rDv1xnnEC_QGXaIEwwiV_RJIutPyHliAmcQqQ27VksrzVgSgQ_lerhHAFwHGDmJrNy1pSPfSoejb4HAnjvZnJVJyxy1PGD3/s1600/CIMG1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QeZV90Qyu9vvekppKXJwcLjvvkOgtlJDG2MUGCJwSATW8rDv1xnnEC_QGXaIEwwiV_RJIutPyHliAmcQqQ27VksrzVgSgQ_lerhHAFwHGDmJrNy1pSPfSoejb4HAnjvZnJVJyxy1PGD3/s400/CIMG1204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The hot cloud of Merapi, taken from my hotel's room from 40 km distance</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>At around 01.00 am of 30 October 2009, I felt so difficulty breathing, I can't sleep and felt so uncomfortably like tons of bricks pressing my diaphragm and stopped me from breathing, so I asked Angie just to put some balm at my back and I used inhaler to release my chocking nose. After few hours it helps and I can sleep a bit. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>At about 09.00 am when we were having breakfast, I saw all the roofs turned to white, I told Angie that it was Merapi's dust that covered all over the roofs and the streets around. She hardly believe it, because she never saw that before. Well, I saw that kind of dust once when I returned to my home town Berastagi, North Sumatra in last September 2010, while Mount Sinabung just erupted, so I was right in recognizing the dust of Mount Merapi by then.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Knowing, that we were about going out, the receptionist gave us some masks; and yes, almost all of the whole part of Yogyakarta was covered with dust of Merapi about 1 cm thick. Eventually, Merapi was re-erupted several times between 01.00 to 08.00 am on 30 October 2008. People then were all busy cleaning their houses, gardens and cars, because the dust is so dangerous for the breathing system. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BcRYwKE177PeN37QmCQQoYP44H682f3mVlWdcfsHGtjJWjZ9y7_EzjPuLwOM9ANk7Z79jTzY8a25R8afhGuNw4LIVnfeAZ8Uj9QOk2Ruvi_RvXs6elaeGBZCkpm_OVYzrcNlONip5D4o/s1600/hujan+abu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BcRYwKE177PeN37QmCQQoYP44H682f3mVlWdcfsHGtjJWjZ9y7_EzjPuLwOM9ANk7Z79jTzY8a25R8afhGuNw4LIVnfeAZ8Uj9QOk2Ruvi_RvXs6elaeGBZCkpm_OVYzrcNlONip5D4o/s320/hujan+abu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHgsmgR8Yr34439bIq70X2Xfw049XXCZc9fY0BHZf7sReFXDnskQzENKYz1-pg7ABPdIUOvboZiw9z3DxwmGRrdTWVhGaxqcLzfNzQ7IH0NHhewd0LfeeOcm6RtaxBPmSwJBXhMiXZffV/s1600/debu_merapi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHgsmgR8Yr34439bIq70X2Xfw049XXCZc9fY0BHZf7sReFXDnskQzENKYz1-pg7ABPdIUOvboZiw9z3DxwmGRrdTWVhGaxqcLzfNzQ7IH0NHhewd0LfeeOcm6RtaxBPmSwJBXhMiXZffV/s320/debu_merapi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Dust Rain in Yogyakarta. Source mediaindonesia.com</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><br />
<div style="color: #4c1130;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I returned back to Jakarta on Saturday evening 30 October 2010. All passengers of Garuda Indonesia Airline had to fly not from Yogyakarta, but moved and took the Garuda flights from Solo about 60 km from Yogyakarta to avoid dusts and the 2000 centigrade Celsius degree of the Merapi's smoke or hot cloud that dangerous for the air planes safety. </span></b> </div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I arrived back in Jakarta at 07.00 pm in the evening carrying various emotion from sadness of watching the Merapi and the earthquakes victims in both sides Merapi and Mentawai Islands from the television news; and a little relief that I and my daughter Angie still safe and luckier in not to experience those horrible tragedies.</span></b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Indonesia's deadly volcano Mount Merapi still produced another powerful eruption on Nov 1, at around 10.04 am, spewing superheated clouds into the air. Mount Merapi produced two intense eruptions; on the 26th of October 2010, the pyroclastic flows killed around 37 people and on Sunday October 31, a strong explosion that had never been occurred earlier was heard. According to the seismologist experts, the eruption will continue to occur along November and it is difficult to predict the power since Merapi still keep so many lava and other materials that need to spew out from inside of its magma. It was predicted that this time Mount Merapi would produce greater eruption than those in 1997, 2001 and 2006.</span></b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">In my tenure as the Head of Bureau of Trade and International Cooperation at the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, I feel deep disappointment that there is not a single word of farewell and grateful from the government or the Vice President to what we the pensioners have done and dedicated to the government along the tenure of our career. Instead of complaining, I feel grateful to God the Almighty that although I receive now only less than US 300 for my monthly salary as a pensioner, but I am still much luckier than those Merapi and earthquakes victims, who lost not only their life, their love ones and their properties, but most importantly a brighter future since they lost almost everything...... </span></b> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0.32cm;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I still condemn the government for not taking a good care of the poor and the victims of natural disasters appropriately, and in still in-just in punishing the corruption but rather let the corruptions remain un-touch and release in peace. However, what can we expect from the fact that Indonesia is the most corrupt country in Asia? Expecting a change is only in a dream......</span></b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>BSD City, 2 November 2010.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><br />
</b></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-4291709153743129102010-09-06T11:36:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:50:03.013-08:00INCREDIBLE INDIA?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4HTuF8sdbv0VOEbhAkVELBioiarSHaKS77nCWlxr9QwIOJoQOwo1_aIbmSnyC2yU48vpyrS4Cfr5VYgQdOuEulhwpvFt1vVzO7wk5UY1Fz2Y7ykD8BtkHqgVvLAdQmcYLRb1990lmLr2/s1600/CIMG1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4HTuF8sdbv0VOEbhAkVELBioiarSHaKS77nCWlxr9QwIOJoQOwo1_aIbmSnyC2yU48vpyrS4Cfr5VYgQdOuEulhwpvFt1vVzO7wk5UY1Fz2Y7ykD8BtkHqgVvLAdQmcYLRb1990lmLr2/s320/CIMG1055.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">The Taz Mahal. Photo taken by Neneng Tarigan.</span></b></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>INCREDIBLE INDIA? </b></span><br />
By: Neneng Tarigan<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BSD City, 7 September 2010.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Visiting India especially the Taz Mahal is always in my dream. In my childhood we used to have calendars with pictures about interesting places all over the world. Watching the pictures I got the feeling as if I were living there once in the past, because those pictures seemed so close to my heart. Some pictures were about few places in my country but most of them were about interesting and historical places abroad. I wonder if reincarnation is a true story, but as a Christian I would rather trust, that was only because my heart and soul was extremely possessed by the beauty of the places and the history behind it, that was why I feel so close with the pictures. As it proved, I was lucky to have been visited more than 40 countries in the world.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">It was 09.00 pm when I landed at Indira Gandhi International, the new airport of New Delhi, India, on 30th August 2010. The airport is huge and it has just been operational since early of August 2010. The size maybe equal to Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok and the floor was totally covered by wall to wall carpet like Changi airport of Singapore. The security check was so tight, may be it happens after India has a very bad experience with the Mumbai terrorist attack. (Mumbai is the second largest city of India)</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Upon arrival, I was fetched up by the Embassy people who then brought me with Toyota old van 1990 to Ramada Hotel which I booked through the internet. It took about 30 minutes from the airport to the hotel and my eyes caught by the glitter of the road studs. I also observed that many fully equipped military guards stand between the airport to the center of New Delhi. Later, I knew that they guarded the city day and night. Incredible!</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">When I arrived, there were so many cars queuing at the hotel gate, a wedding party of the rich had taken place in the hotel, so I asked the driver to just drop me, so that we would not blocked other cars to get in. </div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">After passing the scanning machines, I went inside then submitted the hotel voucher and asked for the room. Unfortunately however, the receptionist told me that I was not registered in that hotel but to another Ramada Hotel in Gurgaon about 2 hours from Ramada Hotel New Delhi.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">I showed them that what was written on the voucher is clearly Ramada Gurgaon New Delhi, and since I had never been to India before, I presumed that the one I booked was totally correct, which is the one that I stand now; I had no idea, that there are two different Ramada hotel in Delhi. (Well, if they assumed that Gurgaon which is 2 hours from Delhi is also in Delhi) </div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Feeling tired and sleepy, I then asked them whether I can simply move to this hotel instead of staying at the other Ramada in Gurgaon, of course with additional cost I don't mind. Again, according to the hotel management I can't do that, simply because the two Ramada is only the same hotel chain under the same franchise system and name, but different ownership. How incredible! They are very strict with the rule here, the cancellation meant that all of the booking cost for 4 days stay which I have already made with Ramada Gurgaon that cost USD 400.- will automatically deducted from my credit card and gone, if I stay in Ramada New Delhi! (Well, that is the rule)</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">After long arguments, they advice me to use a hotel taxi to bring me to Ramada Gurgeon. I said: “Okay no problem, how much would the price be?” and then they said:”7000 rupees or about USD 170” I answered:”Well, that will be the problem, just get me another taxi not from this hotel.” They nodded, then I got an outside taxi with the price of only 900 rupees” Can you imagine the price different just in a minute? Well, that was incredible!</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">After about one hour drive, I then arrived at Ramada Hotel Gurgaon. There the manager said: "You can't cancel your booking". So, I had to stay in that hotel for the 4 nights I booked in the first place. It was already 01.00 am. Feeling tired and disappointed, I could do nothing than to accept their policy. Here I am, in the middle of nowhere; I then called the embassy personnel to inform them the situation and where I am about. Of course the embassy staff offered me the transportation facility, but knowing the distance and the fact that I had already chartered a taxi for pick and drop during I stay in the hotel, I gently refuse the offer and ask them to only fetch and drop me when I was about going back to Indonesia later.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Before sleeping, I asked the hotel manager for the free internet facility as they promoted in the web . We worked on it, and after one hour my laptop get connected with the internet, but with very low signal or meaning no connection at all! Another incredible story.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Gurgaon itself is a new industrialized modern city in the outskirt of New Delhi. It will take only 45 to 90 minutes from Ramada Hotel Gurgaon to Ramada Hotel New Delhi, depends on the traffic. There will be a small metro train station located in front of the Ramada Gurgaon once it is finished in early 2011. The Ramada Gurgaon Hotel is a small 8 stories 3.5 star hotel, built about 2 years ago. It is a very clean hotel and with a very helpful and polite staff too. I had no complain at all about the hotel condition. It is a good hotel to stay, especially for businessmen or investors who have business in Gurgaon; and else the infrastructure facilities in India is good or at least better than in Indonesia, so almost every part of India is reachable.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">The next morning, I went to the meeting with the chartered taxi as recommended by the hotel manager. It was a small car with a Nepalis driver named Tapha who only speak a little English. No smile in his face, he seemed full with anger. he didn't even greet me a good morning but just drove and murmured, may be because I was a bit late for our appointment that morning. </div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Arriving at the toll gate, Tapha asked me to pay 20 rupees for the toll. Getting furious, I sternly said to him: “You know what, why are you so impolite to your costumer? I supposed to pay only 800 rupees for pick and drop, but the manager then told me to add 500 rupees more, for toll , miles, parking and bla bla bla. I have already agreed about that and now with your long face you force me to pay more and more. Why don't you just check to the hotel manager?” He called and checked and then with grim he said: “Okay, okay”</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">On the way to the meeting, I asked Tapha whether he can stop the taxi at Ramada Hotel Delhi, just to check, whether the meeting will be taken place at Ramada Delhi or Le Meridien. Actually they are at the same direction, and we could pass Ramada Delhi before Le Meridien, however he said: “No, no, no, miles, miles, miles”. “Okay” I said: “no problem, just drop me at Le Meridien”. (Ghost, it was incredible!)</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">At Le Meridien, I check, whether the venue of the meeting is in their hotel or in Ramada Delhi. They politely check and inform me that, it is not in their hotel, so I phoned the committee and they told me that the venue is at Ramada Delhi.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">From Le Meridien I walked about 3 minutes to Ramada Delhi, because the two hotels are very closed by. The problem is, no one at Ramada Delhi knows where the meeting would take place when I asked them at the night when I firstly arrived where the meeting would be. (Another incredible story!)</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">In the afternoon, I called the manager of Ramada Gurgaon to ask Tapha to fetch me at 05.30 pm; and there Tapha came with a man whom he called his body guard. They both have very strong sweating smell which made me almost choked to death. I just sat quietly till I arrived at Ramada Gurgaon and paid Tapha 1300 rupees (+ USD 32) for the transportation I made with him that day.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">The next morning, Tapha was totally 100% changed. He came alone and became so very polite and full with smile. He asked me to talk to his wife who is Indian and has two master degree and of course she speaks very fluent English much better than me. After talking in the phone to his wife then I chat with Tapha and from his broken English I knew that he has one beautiful 9 years old daughter and 3 of his siblings married to different nationalities such as married to a Malaysian, a Kuwaiti, a Saudi Arabian and he himself married to a beautiful and smart Indian lady. Well, that was really a beautiful incredible story.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Along the way back from Ramada Delhi to Ramada Gurgaon I sang along with Tapha a beautiful Indian song entitled Kuch-Kuch Hota Hae which is originally sung by a famous Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan. It was like an ice breaking song that we both enjoy. We sang and dance along the way and every car just looked at us dancing and singing and beep us to be careful because we disturbed other cars to pass by.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">It was a pity because the next day, I had to go with the embassy van to visit the famous Taz Mahal, and the day after that I had to go back to my beautiful country Indonesia. So no more Tapha.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">It takes 4 hours to go to the Taz Mahal from Ramada Gurgeon. I had to pay about 12,000.- rupees (+USD 300.-) if I use the hotel taxi (not Tapha taxi), or I pay only USD 75.- per person if I use tourist bus, that is already included lunch and entrance tickets. With the embassy car the two of us (me and my colleague) pay only USD 150.- for the tip, since 2nd September was a holiday in all over India as they celebrating the Khrisna day.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Along the way to Taz Mahal, we pass by the country sides. They are all green but also dusty and rocky. The Northern parts of India are quite dusty because they are close to Gobi desert, one of the largest desert in the world. Sometimes, we can see sky scrapers enacted in the middle of nowhere. The way they built them there were to create equal distribution of wealth across the states.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Not many houses exist along the way. With 1.2 million people, India seems so quiet. Most Indians seems tend to live in the cities rather than in the country sides. Well that is my observation at glance and that may not be 100% correct. (*PS: Later I found from my Indian friend that only <u>+</u> 35% Indians living in the cities)</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">The road to Agra is full with trucks. Well, I am sorry to say that most of the trucks or vehicles in India seemed old but still work well. The bus there all surrounded by concrete bars, so it seems like a jail bus to me, but they say it was because India has a large poor population and the majority of them use buses as main transportation, so in order to avoid them from falling out of the bus, they put bars in all of the windows, so that they would be more secure inside. The famous public vehicle is the three wheels Bajaj. (We also have Bajaj in Indonesia, as one of our public transportation in the cities. We imported a lot from India, but the size of the Indonesian Bajaj is smaller than the Indian one). What amazed me is the Indian Bajaj fit for 12 persons and still moving, whereas in Indonesia may be for 6 or 7 person can fully pack in one roof. Wow, another incredible story!</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Agra is one of the cities in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state of India. UP has about 130 million people, who live in trade, crafting, agriculture and mining. The majority of Agra people is Moslem, but they seem so poor, or at least that was I observed along the way. The Taz Mahal built by King Shah Jahan (a Moslem King) in 17 century as a dedication to his most beloved queen Mumtaz. (The King himself has <u>+</u> 200 wives, according to our driver). Incredible! It took 22 years to build such a magnificent and beautiful landmark. As everyone knows, Mumtaz died when delivering her 14th baby much earlier before the Taz Mahal itself finished.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">The king himself then murdered by his own son who disagreed with his royal father lavish live and plan to built another Taz Mahal for himself. If you go to Taz Mahal compound, there is no other Taz Mahal or the black Taz Mahal around. Every building in Taz Mahal compound was built asymmetrically and in harmony with its surrounding. The buildings erected in the edge of the river, so it has incredibly beautiful natural landscape in itself. </div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">Made of first class marble and crafted and decorated with semi precious stones such as Lapis Lazuli , Malahit etc, it makes Taz Mahal one of the world expensive and grandeur royal tomb ever exist man made! </div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">The King and his Queen buried in the ground of Taz Mahal. What we can see in the first floor or the entrance is the replica of their tombs. The entrance fee is 750 rupees for an adult, that is included a bottle of small mineral water and a pair of wet shoe cover since the temperature around Agra could reach up to 50 centigrade degree Celsius we need the shoe cover to stand the heat. No chewing gum allowed into the Taz also no pictures taken inside the building in order to maintain the color of the stone. The marble wall itself is translucent, it gives white color in the morning, yellow to light orange in the afternoon and blue in the evening. When we pointed out our light or lit the matches to the wall, the light can go through the wall, so it is magnificently incredible!</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">There are many professional photographer around the The Taz Mahal, so we don't have to worry if we forget to bring our camera along. It will costs us only 700 rupees for ten pictures, so its no money at all considering the professional result we could get. The pictures will turn to be very fantastic! </div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">On the way back to the hotel, our tour guide, the one who has been recommended by the embassy, lead us to the handicraft shop, who sells some souvenirs made of translucent marble. The ancestors of the handcraft men were the one who crafted the Taz Mahal, so according to our guide they produce only high quality handicrafts, but the price is extremely expensive, especially for a civil servant like me. I bought the cheapest one, not so nice, but it cost me already USD 150.- only for a simple marble plate and small elephant crafts. Gee...that was only some I could bring from India since I had a condense meeting and must commute every day from Gurgaon to the meeting venue in New Delhi. I didn't even know how New Delhi actually looks, but I thanks God and my government and myself because of the small mistake I made in booking the hotel, I was then able to commute and see how the real India looks and I could take some pictures which you can see in this website.</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;">I return home on 3rd September to Indonesia and stayed over night in Bangkok Thailand. I bring along a beautiful and incredible memory of India which I will treasure the beauty of India until I die.<br />
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</tbody></table>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-66579083527629922012010-09-05T05:03:00.000-07:002010-09-05T05:06:02.915-07:00KISAH SANG PENGEMIS TUA<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE"></meta><title></title><meta content="OpenOffice.org 3.2 (Win32)" name="GENERATOR"></meta><style type="text/css">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTK0zlCkWlmv9QWKJFajBf9a_LSC93F6W31igz8Ok5KqTA0P5I1mSap-pPxsZQsAM2sYj1rcRZG7tQEXq35Eyu7yvTdnqOg9VfRRo8uUoXz_B7pemtGYD9EO6ndEJWhFeWrdyk1q8j3gyB/s1600/pak_tua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTK0zlCkWlmv9QWKJFajBf9a_LSC93F6W31igz8Ok5KqTA0P5I1mSap-pPxsZQsAM2sYj1rcRZG7tQEXq35Eyu7yvTdnqOg9VfRRo8uUoXz_B7pemtGYD9EO6ndEJWhFeWrdyk1q8j3gyB/s320/pak_tua.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div>Sumber foto: <a href="http://www.mullie.wordpress.com/">http://www.mullie.wordpress.com</a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">PENGEMIS TUA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tertatih ia meluruk jalanan panas ibu kota</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tubuh tua lunglai... terpanggang terik matahari..terseling hujan ..debu bau-bau sampah kali kotor metroopolitan kota Jakarta...</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Terbakar kaki melepuh letih berjalan... terseok....merambat dia melirik kanan kiri menghindar padatnya manusia lalu lalang berkenderaan kencang bak tanpa kendali....</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Kaki tua .... sesekali terhenti mengadah tangan mengharap koin dan lembar-lembar kumuh para dermawan baik hati ..... yang muncul tiba-tiba kala bulan-bulan suci menaungi negeri tercinta.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Hujan deras kuyup mengguyur tubuh tua tanpa sanak ....</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tangan kurus ...kotor merambah.... mencari koin nan jatuh tumpah terserak dibawah genangan hujan lumpur kolong jembatan...</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Mata tua terpejam terciprat air hujan nan terlindas mobil mewah para tuan dan cukong-cukong yang sibuk asyik bercanda dengan kekasih gelapnya.........</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tanpa henti tangan tua meraba.. mencari koin koin lembar -lembar kumuh yang terkumpul sejak dini pagi tadi ...</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tubuh gemetar menahan lapar tanpa sentuhan sebutir nasi ditengah negara swasembada pangan yang bernama Indonesia...........</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tiba-tiba napas terhenti.... ia terhujam terhenyak terhempas tergelepak merintih meregang dan melepas nyawa tubuh tua lemas tak berdaya terkena senggolan tronton penuh muatan pangan hari raya..........</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tiada lagi ....senyum miris sang pengemis itu di bumi ini.......</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Dia hanyalah seorang dari pengemis-pengemis tua tanpa identitas jelas ....walau tetap manusia yang hidup di bumi Indonesia.................</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Dia hanya....lah segelintir ....manusia miskin dari mereka yang punya nasib serupa....hidup tua.... miskin tanpa terpelihara.... dinegeri Indonesia dimana kaum tua papa harusnya dihidupi oleh negara.........</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Entah....dia pergi dengan damai.....,tapi ia terlepas dari bebannya,.....terlepas dari beban negara......,terlepas dari beban manusia.....dibumi Indonesia tercinta........ditengah kejamnya ibu kota........ditengah kemewahan pejabat, petinggi negara, ditengah mata hartawan dan orang-orang kaya yang seharusnya syarat pada kenyataan yang terjadi di masyarakat kita..............</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Akhirnya semua tetap diam bungkam...menutup mata dan telinga... sampai saat pemilu nanti ....dimana nasib seperti pengemis tua..... baru akan berarti. dan suaranya akan didengar dan terdengar sampai lorong-lorong redup gedung mewah para pejabat negara, para cukong dan koruptor yang berlimbah ruah dengan harta... ditengah masyarakat yang penuh rintihan dan air mata.......</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">NRT</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">BSD City 5 September 2010</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> WAJAH KUMUH NEGERI TERCINTA, MASIHKAH AKAN TERUS BEGINI?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><br />
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</tbody></table>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-63140322785837408062010-08-18T13:49:00.000-07:002010-09-28T23:06:29.672-07:00DOA BAGI BAGINDA RAJA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNhmCMep9VZzsHnHIhqACtEgEDREbbTBYKKbgLntydqOhWCu5Tcu3E0Fi0RTCkisbcD8oUkdK-mUAabe-x7IGzddoRG_SvskhZK7FVi9EX8Pyi761VhyFc0IBLj7HqLCKd7agPLuyfJyK/s1600/orang-miskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNhmCMep9VZzsHnHIhqACtEgEDREbbTBYKKbgLntydqOhWCu5Tcu3E0Fi0RTCkisbcD8oUkdK-mUAabe-x7IGzddoRG_SvskhZK7FVi9EX8Pyi761VhyFc0IBLj7HqLCKd7agPLuyfJyK/s400/orang-miskin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sumber foto: www.kaskus.us</div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">PANTUN TAK TENTU</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">ARAH TAK TENTU</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">DOA ….BAGI….. BAGINDA RAJA</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Disuatu negeri ….antah berantah …..</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alkisah hidup seorang raja …..</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Raja kuasa rebutan massa….. begitu kisah hasil hitungan…. para hulubalang sang penguasa………</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sorak sorai pecah memekik…..genderang menang sang raja pandai …. dari laga separuh damai terbentang luas seantero negeri…..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meronalah negeri antah berantah….. menanti titah raja bestari……..</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hulubalang bersorak menari-nari … jutaan tahta menanti-nanti….</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bak pengantin tersipu malu… raja bertitah penuh perintah: "….Ini untukmu…ini untukmu … ini untukmu …….dan biarkan ini jadi milikku!"………Duduklah dia disinggasana.... kembali …secarik kertas menulis lagu………………..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Syair ----syair… dan ---nada sendu; …..tertuang tercurah kedalam lagu; .... Lagu ciptaan maha prabu … menjadi wajib seluruh negeri, lagu istana negeri berantah….dikala sang kakala berbunyi .... </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Puji dan puji bak lidah air… menjilat sejuk hati baginda, ...terbuai ia diatas tahta berbingkai emas bertabur permata………….<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hulubalang licik gentar kuatir,….. raja terjaga dari tidurnya, ...nun disana rakyat jelata ...porak poranda miskin melata…. terlunta-lunta, mengemis dinegeri orang, berjuang dilorong-lorong pengap, terseok dikolong-kolong gelap …….tanpa pelita …tanpa suara…letih penat …berkeringat pekat …..tertelan gelombang terseret arus badai banjir bandang…. berdecik suara anak-anak rakyat jelata….meregang nyawa tanpa penawar ….wabah menular ditengah bencana…………</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tak nyana, bangunlah raja oleh lengkingan menyengat telinga….. hulubalang sigap menyembah sujud kaki baginda, kuatir nak kehilangan tahta lalu merintih seolah duka:”……Duh baginda bijak bestari…itu lengkingan suara berontak dari orang yang tidak berotak dan hanya pandai mencaci maki….” </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Murkalah raja seraya bertitah: “….Di negeriku antah berantah hukum adalah panglima diatas segala!…Seret mereka!….. Adili segera!……Panggil, …. perdana menteri setia!…. Ah dia pun terlibat perkara!…. Tuan-tuanlah kini bertindak cepat tebar pesona…!” Lalu kembalilah raja tertidur pulas dalam mimp-mimpii yang indah ….Sementara hulubalang menggertak menebar neraka dimana-mana dengan ancaman tiada henti………. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alkisah seorang nenek renta, peot tua termakan usia …meneropong nasib negeri berantah berujar dia pada cucunya: “…..Berjuanglah dengan diam cucuku….tegakkanlah panji-panji dinegeri ini….sebelum negeri luluh lantak marilah berjuang dan berdoa, moga baginda terbangun … melihat membuka melalakkan mata hati, bertindak bijak sebelum negeri menjadi neraka…………..!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
BSD City, 20 Agustus 2010<br />
NRTNeneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-23662069455574123922010-08-15T00:50:00.000-07:002010-08-15T00:53:34.395-07:00PUISI KATA HATI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV4xVoF6nJktBdg98NSs5NcwGmXMPdyHwbKVI7sxTd6crmGaJPOnZ9X-qKIOAGUtv5tYzgRJKB9YWI872F_GpRjVWXxajV2I0IfWTLDpjOQgW45NaTgR5OMe9teEoKmIOT7mVSXjR9Im9/s1600/rakyat-miskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV4xVoF6nJktBdg98NSs5NcwGmXMPdyHwbKVI7sxTd6crmGaJPOnZ9X-qKIOAGUtv5tYzgRJKB9YWI872F_GpRjVWXxajV2I0IfWTLDpjOQgW45NaTgR5OMe9teEoKmIOT7mVSXjR9Im9/s320/rakyat-miskin.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sumber foto: http://ramondt.blogdetik.com</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE"></meta><title></title><meta content="OpenOffice.org 3.2 (Win32)" name="GENERATOR"></meta><style type="text/css">
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<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">PUISI KATA HATI</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Begitu banyak mereka yang berjuang dengan diam...</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Mereka bekerja keras tanpa pamrih dan ketenaran nama...</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Mereka bekerja dalam bisu dan keheningan tanpa huru hara.... tetapi mereka bekerja dan tetap bekerja dengan sungguh-sungguh.......... berjuang dan berdedikasi menurut kata hati..........</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Oooh...sucinya cita-cita mereka bagi bangsa dan negara yang tercinta ini...</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">menangis didalam hati melihat bangsa masih banyak terhenyak tergeletak merana...</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Sementara mata para pejuang diam ... merah amarah melihat korupsi melantakkan negara menyengsarakan bangsa......; para maling berdasi bermewah ria ditemani mafia hukum bersembunyi dalam kemewahan dan senyum jumawa..............</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Aaaah negeriku...kemana moral bangsa ini.....</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Sementara ada rakyat yang sakit menggeliat didera kemelaratan yang tak pernah henti........ ada kaum muda yang hanya memikirkan maksiat dan memuaskan nafsu duniawi.... sementara para pengemplang pajak tertawa-tawa..ada rakyat miskin yang melata didera gempa, bencana alam dan kemiskinan abadi............</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Dikala orang berpesta ria menyambut berbagai hari raya dan kemerdekaan di negeri tercinta …... simiskin melata, memerdekakan diri dengan bunuh diri....... tercebur didalam aib dan dosa demi dosa...........karena kemiskinan yang abadi....</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Sementara nun jauh diseberang sana ada jutawan yang menyumbangkan hampir seluruh hartanya bagi rakyat miskin didunia......... disini dinegeri tercinta ini …. simiskin berdesak pingsan tergeletak dan mati terinjak dihari-hari raya mengharap belas kasihan para dermawan yang bukan terlalu jutawan....</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Hati para pejuang diam itu menangis ingin membantu tetapi tak berdaya....... apa yang dapat disumbangkan kepada bumi tercinta.......?</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Negeriku yang cantik ...... sekarang aku makin ragu.... apakah memang benar ada mereka yang berjuang demi rakyat dan atas nama rakyat........... atau kata-kata manis hanya dibibir belaka.......... atas nama janji demi janji.... siapa pun dia...</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Apa benar petani bawang dan petani cabe setahun sekali menari mendekati hari-hari raya agama karena panennya membawa berkah melimpah ..........ataukah tengkulak yang meloncat ria....... sementara mereka-mereka petani itu tetap bersedih digubuk reot memikirkan utang demi utang dan tulang-tulangnya yang luluh lantak kehabisan tenaga berjuang tanpa henti dibawah terik matahari..........</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Pernahkah terlintas … perihnya hidup si miskin ditempat sunyi di pulau terpencil, di hutan rimba, diperbatasan negeri tercinta yang bernama Indonesia........? Pernahkah terlintas perihnya hidup miskin mengarungi laut diterjang ombak yang menerpa dan kesunyian mendalam...... demi sesuap nasi.......... </span></b></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Pernahkah terlintas perihnya hidup diselembar atap dikolong jembatan mendorong gerobak diterjang penggusuran hanya demi tempat berlindung dan sesuap nasi.......? Inikah arti kemerdekaan atau hari-hari raya agama atau apa pun namanya..........?</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Duh......puisi kata hati....betapa perihnya....dan sanggupkah kau bersama para pejuang diam itu... menyentuh relung hati setiap insan di bumi ini …... bahwa manusia tidak hidup sendiri dan apa pun kondisinya mereka-mereka berhak hidup bahagia dan menikmati artinya merdeka..........?</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Puisi kata hati......akan menjadi menjadi puisi kata hati sampai selamanya........ engkau tidak akan pernah didengar dan terdengar selamanya …........... atau sampai saatnya nanti........... tetaplah berjuang bersama para pejuang diam ….... selamanya …...........</span></b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="RIGHT" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">BSD City, 15 Juli 2010</span></b></span></div><div align="RIGHT" lang="en-US" style="color: red; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">NRT</span></b></span></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-41269424436893721672010-08-15T00:11:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:51:19.620-08:00MENGAPA PROYEK KERJASAMA PEMERINTAH – SWASTA TERSENDAT?<div style="color: #4c1130;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw1Wk5ppqKB-QbFGise4TyfK3fVj_mkCdSLNenXPMw6jP92ukj5yRb1bKrgPfF_igguTdXifJp4aEn2Hcd6P9mRzJUnXuDpy8Xv_NYGQMX_9pfcZrFCMqzgXZwvlJiaCo-AY-YuCVZ1LA/s1600/gallery03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw1Wk5ppqKB-QbFGise4TyfK3fVj_mkCdSLNenXPMw6jP92ukj5yRb1bKrgPfF_igguTdXifJp4aEn2Hcd6P9mRzJUnXuDpy8Xv_NYGQMX_9pfcZrFCMqzgXZwvlJiaCo-AY-YuCVZ1LA/s320/gallery03.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Sumber foto: http://www.delimakreasinusa.co.id</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>MENGAPA PROYEK KERJASAMA PEMERINTAH – SWASTA TERSENDAT?</b></span></div><br />
<div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;">Salah satu upaya Pemerintah untuk membangun sarana dan prasarana infrastruktur di Indonesia adalah melalui Kerjasama Pemerintah Swasta (KPS) </div><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;">Sebagaimana diungkapkan oleh Luky Eko Wuryanto, Deputi Bidang Koordinasi Infrastruktur dan Pengembangan Wilayah Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian pada pembahasan tentang Skema Kerjasama Pemerintah Swasta (KPS) tanggal 10 Agustus 2010, di Hotel Mulia Senayan, Pemerintah memperhitungkan bahwa untuk tahun anggaran 2009 – 2014 diperlukan biaya sebesar 5% dari PDB atau sekitar Rp 1.924,- triliun untuk pembangunan Infrastruktur. Untuk itu:</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">1.Rp 560,- triliun akan dibiayai dari APBN;</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">2.Rp 355,- triliun dari APBD;</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">3.Rp 340,- triliun dari BUMN;</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">4.Rp 346,- triliun dari swasta yang akan ditawarkan melalui KPS.</div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;">Namun dari jumlah tersebut diatas masih terdapat kekurangan sebesar Rp 323,- triliun yang tentunya diharapkan dapat dipenuhi oleh Pemerintah; dan hal ini berarti harus menggenjot pertumbuhan ekonomi minimal 7% per tahun dalam periode 2009 – 2014. </div><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;">Sejak dicanangkannya program KPS atau Public Private Partnership (PPP) untuk periode tahun 2004 -2009, biaya KPS juga diperkirakan telah naik sampai 3 kali lipat untuk tahun anggaran 2009-2014 ini, namun proyek-proyek KPS belum serta merta dapat terlaksana. </div><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">Belum dapat terlaksananya proyek-proyek KPS, terutama dikarenakan oleh:</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">1.Masalah Pembebasan Lahan/Tanah, antara lain harus menghadapi:</div><ul style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><li>Masyarakat pemilik tanah, Pemda terkadang sampai Camat, Lurah bahkan, RW, RT dan masyarakat adat serta pemimpin adat.</li>
<li>Vested-interest developer atau kepentingan politis tertentu di daerah tempat akan dibangunnya infra struktur; belum lagi bila proyek tersebut harus melintasi daerah-daerah yang mempunyai kewenangan berbeda.</li>
<li>Lahan-lahan yang dikuasai oleh pemegang HPH (Hak Pengelolaan Hutan) dan lahan yang dikuasai pemegang KP (Kuasa Penambangan)</li>
<li>Lokasi yang belum pasti; dan ini akan menyebabkan tingginya ongkos yang harus dikeluarkan oleh developer diantaranya untuk biaya Amdal (Analisa Dampak Lingkungan) dan biaya lain-lain.</li>
<li>Belum terselesaikannya UU tentang Pengadaan Tanah Untuk Kepentingan Umum yang baru disampaikan Pemerintah, Juli 2010, saat ini masih dalam pembahasan intensif dengan DPR. Sebab, peraturan yang selama ini dipakai Perpres 36/2005 jo Perpres no 65/2006 tentang Pengadaan Tanah Bagi Kepentingan Umum dan Pembangunan dinilai terlalu lemah. </li>
</ul><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130;">2.Masalah Kelembagaan :</div><ul style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><li>Belum tersedianya lembaga khusus yang dapat menjembatani (net work) kepentingan termasuk perizinan antara Pemerintah Pusat dan Daerah maupun dengan swasta serta antara instansi terkait di Pusat dan Daerah sendiri.</li>
<li>Ide one stop service apabila harus dilakukan oleh lembaga seperti BKPM (Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal) berhubung dekat dengan pengusaha penanaman modal dalam negeri maupun luar negeri; oleh sebagaian kalangan dianggap tidak akan berjalan efekif karena banyaknya tugas kewenangan yang telah dilimpahkan dan harus ditangani oleh BKPM dalam rangka penanaman modal. Disamping itu, tidak semua kewenangan dapat dilimpahkan kepada BKPM seperti terkait dengan kehutanan, pertambangan, lingkungan, keimigrasian, bea masuk barang modal, pajak dan lain-lain.</li>
<li>Pihak PT. IIF (Indonesia Infrastruktur Fund) dan PT. PII (Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia) beranggapan bahwa untuk percepatan proyek tidak perlu lembaga khusus, karena pelimpahan wewenang serta berbagai proses birokrasi untuk pembentukan lembaga semacam itu akan memakan waktu lama. Diperlukan hanya Tim yang berada langsung dibawah Presiden RI atau Wakil Presiden RI yang dianggap dapat mengkoordinir seluruh instansi terkait untuk percepatan pelaksanaan KPS atau semacam BRR (Badan Rekonstruksi dan Rehabilitasi) Aceh dan Nias saat Tsunami dahulu.</li>
<li>Proyek-proyek dipilih yang mana yang patut memperoleh prioritas kemudian dilaksanakan oleh para developer dibawah koordinasi Tim atau pun lembaga yang akan dibentuk nantinya. </li>
</ul><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130;">3.Biaya : </div><ul style="color: #4c1130;"><li style="text-align: justify;">Sampai saat ini tidak ada dana khusus dari Pemerintah untuk pembebasan lahan bagi proyek-proyek KPS. Menurut Pejabat Bank Dunia hal ini tidak menarik bagi investor. Di Cina, India dan Malaysia. Pemerintah masing-masing secara penuh menanggung biaya dan menyiapkan lahan bagi proyek-proyek infrastruktur dinegaranya baru kemudian ditawarkan kepada investor, sehingga investor hanya berurusan dengan pembangunan infrastruktur tanpa harus terlibat dalam masalah pembebasan lahan. Sedangkan di Indonesia masalah lahan harus ditangani sendiri oleh investor dan ini tentu tidak menarik bagi investor. Mengenai biaya pembebasan lahan, Pemerintah Indonesia menurut pejabat Bank Dunia tersebut dapat saja meminjam dari ADB dan lain-lain.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Pemerintah secara matang telah bertekad untuk tidak membuat utang-utang baru, oleh karena itu berupaya keras untuk menutupi kekurangan biaya melalui KPS dan biaya sendiri yang diyakini dapat diperoleh dengan meningkatkan penerimaan pajak, memberantas korupsi, meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi dan berbagai program lainnya. Lagi pula, daya serap anggaran yang kurang memadai pada lembaga-lembaga Pemerintahan yang diperkirakan baru terserap sebesar 17% sampai akhir Triwulan II 2010, dapat dialihkan untuk biaya pembangunan infrastruktur.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Namun proses pengalihan dana dan pelaksanaannya juga tidak mudah, karena yang dapat menggunakan dana pemerintah untuk pelaksanaan proyek sesuai dengan UU no 1 tahun 2004 tentang Perbendaharaan Negara adalah BLU (Badan Layanan Umum), sedangkan yang akan melaksanakan proyek KPS adalah Badan Usaha (PT Persero/BUMN dan PT swasta) sehingga perlu terobosan atau perubahan Undang-undang apabila program KPS harus menggunakan dana pemerintah atau dilaksanakan oleh Badan Usaha.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Apabila harus meminjam dari Bank-bank BUMN juga tidak mudah karena mereka juga terikat pada ketentuan perusahaan terkait CAR (Capital Adequacy Ratio/Rasio Kecukupan Modal) dan NPL (Non Performing Loan atau performance bank terkait dengan kemampuan pengembalian utang oleh debitur) antara lain bahwa pinjaman hanya dapat diberikan apabila masalah-masalah tanah telah diselesaikan.</li>
</ul><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130;">4.Peraturan :</div><ul style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><li>Sesuai Perpres No. 13 Tahun 2010 tentang Perubahan atas Peraturan Presiden Nomor 67 Tahun 2005 tentang Kerjasama Pemerintah dengan Badan Usaha dalam Penyediaan Infrastruktur, maka seluruh tender pemerintah yang diikuti dan dimenangkan oleh swasta harus dilaporkan ke DPRD serta harus diproses dan selesai oleh DPR selambat-lambatnya 15 hari kerja, padahal dalam pelaksanaannya dibutuhkan sekurang-kurangnya 6 bulan untuk menyelesaikan dan melaporkan proses tender ke DPRD sampai masuk ke DPRD dan keluarnya persetujuan untuk proyek yang bersangkutan.</li>
<li>Lelang barang pemerintah yang diikuti oleh BUMN atau instansi pemerintah, diatur melalui Keppres No. 80 Tahun 2003, sedangkan tender yang diikuti dan sebagian didanai oleh swasta diatur melalui Perpres No. 13 Tahun 2010 tentang Perubahan atas Peraturan Presiden Nomor 67 Tahun 2005 tentang Kerjasama Pemerintah dengan Badan Usaha dalam Penyediaan Infrastruktur. Padahal apabila proyek akan dimulai, tender dalam rangka KPS baik yang dilakukan oleh BUMN dan swasta mitranya harus dilakukan pada saat yang bersamaan. Untuk mengatur agar waktu pelaksanaan tendernya bersamaan bukanlah hal mudah karena keduanya diatur dalam tatanan hukum yang berbeda.</li>
</ul><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">Kesimpulan dan Saran:</div><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><ol style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><li>Masalah tanah merupakan hal kunci yang harus diselesaikan sesegera mungkin dan dengan bijak oleh Pemerintah. </li>
</ol><ul style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><li>Perlu diberikan sosialisasi dan pemahaman kepada pemilih tanah, baik masyarakat, pemilik tanah adat, pemegang HPH, pemegang KP (Kuasa Penambangan) mengenai kesadaran tentang pentingnya sarana dan prasarana infrastruktur bagi masa depan bangsa dan negara ini. </li>
<li>Seyogyanya, karena sudah ada UU No: 26 tahun 2007 tentang Penataan Ruang dan dengan telah diterbitkannya beberapa peraturan pelaksanaan dari UU no: 26/2007 tersebut maka penetapan lokasi proyek infrastruktur maupun penyelesaian masalah tanah dapat tertanggulangi dengan lebih mudah. Namun tampaknya mengenai masalah tanah ini “mungkin” baru dapat terselesaikan dengan dikeluarkannya UU tentang Pengadaan Tanah serta peraturan-peraturan pelaksanaannya nanti.</li>
</ul><ol style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><li> </li>
<li>Mengenai kelembagaan untuk koordinasi masalah infrastruktur, dapat saja BKPM ditunjuk sebagai lembaga koordinasi untuk proyek-proyek KPS bila Pemerintah menghendaki demikian. Namun, apa pun lembaganya, apakah itu BKPM atau Tim, harus dengan pengawasan yang ketat karena lembaga ini nantinya juga diharapkan dapat menjadi Contracting Agency untuk memediasi masalah-masalah kontrak antara instansi pemerintah/BUMN dan swasta.</li>
<li>Pemerintah juga perlu mempercepat pengadaan peraturan-peraturan yang diperlukan untuk dapat mempercepat pelaksanaan proyek-proyek KPS; antara lain memang akan dikeluarkan Instruksi Presiden untuk percepatan proyek-proyek KPS sebagaimana dilakukan pada proyek KPS tahun 2004-2009; dan tidak kalah pentingnya tentu diperlukan peran DPR dalam mempercepat terbitnya UU Pengadaan Tanah maupun kecepatan penyelesaian persetujuan maupun penolakan DPRD terhadap proyek-proyek KPS yang diajukan ke DPRD sesuai dengan peraturan perundang-undangan; apalagi menimbang tertundanya pelaksanaan proyek-proyek infrastruktur berarti tertundanya pembangunan negara dan bangsa ini secara keseluruhan!</li>
<li>Niat Pemerintah Indonesia untuk tidak melakukan pinjaman untuk pembangunan di negeri ini benar-benar sangat terpuji, apalagi bila mengingat dana yang dibutuhkan didalam negeri baik dana pemerintah sendiri/termasuk bank-bank BUMN juga tersedia, sehingga Indonesia bisa terhindar dari ketergantungan pada dana asing. Walaupun secara komersil juga dapat diperhitungkan dengan matang, untung atau ruginya meminjam dana dari bank-bank asing. Sebenarnya, sepanjang dana tersebut dapat dikembalikan sesuai target, serta keuntungan yang diperoleh dari pembangunan infrastruktur serta dampak positifnya bagi kemaslahatan rakyat banyak dapat jauh lebih besar, serta pengawasan dan tidakan tegas terhadap penyelewengan dilakukan, mengapa tidak?</li>
<li>Yang paling penting diatas segala kesimpulan diatas tentunya komitmen politis dari para penyelenggara negara serta partisipasi masyarakat secara luas tentang pentingnya sarana dan prasarana infrastruktur bagi perbaikan kondisi bangsa dan negara ini kedepan, agar seluruh kesulitan dapat diatasi bersama!</li>
</ol><div style="color: #4c1130;"></div><div style="color: #4c1130;">Demikian laporan ini dibuat untuk kiranya dapat bermanfaat bagi bangsa dan negara.</div><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">Jakarta, 15 Juli 2010</div><div style="color: #4c1130;">Neneng Tarigan</div><div style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-29957685365925981782010-08-13T09:25:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:53:25.130-08:00DOMESTIC REGULATION<div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>SAMBUTAN DEPUTI SEKRETARIS WAKIL PRESIDEN BIDANG ADMINISTRASI: DR. HENRY SOELISTYO BUDI, SH, LLM. PADA PERTEMUAN KONSULTASI TENTANG: </b></span></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><b>LIBERALISASI PERDAGANGAN DAN HARMONISASI PERATURAN PERUNDANG-UNDANGAN DIDALAM NEGERI (DOMESTIC REGULATION)</b></div><b style="color: #660000;">Hotel Salak, Bogor, 4 Agustus 2010.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi-0Gdfl-Evu13aN0H8FdEbLwPlEfJcnoZsRMkGrDQnBB4XRjNHN18PgcVECJkyb-TciMkBKzQnvepdA9rWLZ_8vZ3kooq4fVi9F-Q4E-N6b3bj3iFqI3ifuSAfvp2Ju_8z9aDdCf2saq/s1600/CIMG0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi-0Gdfl-Evu13aN0H8FdEbLwPlEfJcnoZsRMkGrDQnBB4XRjNHN18PgcVECJkyb-TciMkBKzQnvepdA9rWLZ_8vZ3kooq4fVi9F-Q4E-N6b3bj3iFqI3ifuSAfvp2Ju_8z9aDdCf2saq/s320/CIMG0930.JPG" /></a></div><b style="color: #660000;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Sambutan dan pembukaan pertemuan konsultasi oleh: Dr. Henry Soelistyo Budi SH, LLM.</span></b><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Saudara-saudara Peserta Pertemuan Konsultasi Liberalisasi Perdagangan dan Harmonisasi Peraturan Domestik yang saya hormati.</span> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saya menyambut baik prakarsa penyelenggaraan pertemuan konsultasi hari ini. Dalam pengamatan saya, pertemuan ini memiliki makna penting dan strategis.</span></span></li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pertama, </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">sebagai bagian dari upaya sosialisasi dan diseminasi </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>progress</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> agenda liberalisasi perdagangan berikut </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>issue-issue</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> aktual dan penyikapan kita terhadap </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>never ended</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> agenda WTO tersebut. Hanya dengan pemahaman yang cukup maka kita dapat mengambil sikap yang benar, terarah dan bermanfaat bagi kepentingan nasional. Langkah ini sekaligus menunjukkan kesungguhan Indonesia menjadi </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>good player</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> dalam </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>international trade fora. </i></span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a name='more'></a>Kedua, </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">perlunya strategi dan langkah bersama untuk mewujudkan harmonisasi regulasi domestik. Harmonisasi regulasi merupakan keniscayaan dalam mewujudkan komitmen Indonesia dalam keanggotaan di WTO. Harmonisasi mengandung makna </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>compliance</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ganda. Pertama, keharusan menyusun peraturan perundang-undangan yang baru, yang belum dimiliki</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Indonesia, sebagai konsekuensi logis dari kepatuhan terhadap prinsip-prinsip perdagangan internasional yang bebas, transparan dan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>equal</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Kedua, keharusan melakukan revisi atas berbagai ketentuan dalam </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>existing regulation</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> yang tidak sesuai atau bertentangan dengan norma-norma hukum internasional, termasuk standar pengaturan yang dikembangkan oleh WTO. Di luar konsekuensi itu, Indonesia memiliki </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>right to regulate</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> sesuai dengan kepentingannya.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Law making process </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">untuk kedua keharusan tersebut tentu memerlukan waktu dan pemikiran yang matang. Bagi Indonesia, strategi ke arah </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>compliance</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> itu harus dibangun atas dasar dua prinsip, yaitu harus bertahap sesuai dengan kemampuan atau </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>level of development</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> dan harus tetap berpegang pada kepentingan nasional. Betapapun dalam bidang jasa ini tidak dikenal adanya </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>exemption</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> sebagaimana diatur dalam </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>special and differentials treatment </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">bagi negara berkembang pada skema GATT 1947.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Makna penting yang </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ketiga,</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> lebih merupakan evaluasi atas kesiapan sektor-sektor jasa kita dalam melaksanakan aturan-aturan, mulai dari induknya, yaitu </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>General Agreement on Trade in Service/</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">GATS, hingga penjabarannya dalam berbagai kebijakan dan peraturan perundang-undangan nasional yang relevan. Termasuk dalam kesiapan ini adalah kepastian sektor jasa untuk dibuka dan bersaing dalam pasar global. Meskipun telah mengisi dan menyampaikan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>schedule of commitment</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, kita masih memerlukan instrumen yang valid untuk mengukur daya saing riil produk jasa Indonesia. Bila tidak cermat dan hati-hati dalam mengambil posisi, tidak tertutup kemungkinan akan menimbulkan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>dispute</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> yang dapat berujung pada retaliasi.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Patut dicatat bahwa Persetujuan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Trade in Service</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ini merupakan satu dari tiga </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>new issues</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> dalam agenda </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Uruguay Round Negotiation,</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 1986-1994, disamping TRIPS dan TRIMS. Oleh karena itu, masih perlu penyesuian yang utuh dan pemahaman yang mendalam atas seluruh aturan hukum di bidang jasa tersebut, terutama di kalangan pelaku usaha, pemerintah dan masyarakat, dalam menyikapi implikasinya.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harus diakui, jasa merupakan bidang perdagangan yang berpotensi menghasilkan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>income </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">yang sangat </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>lucrative </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">bagi perekonomian nasional disamping komoditas barang. Hal ini dimungkinkan karena cakupan sektor jasa yang sangat luas, mulai dari sektor keuangan seperti perbankan, lembaga keuangan dan lembaga keuangan non bank, hingga bisnis transportasi, telekomunikasi dan pariwisata. Seluruhnya mencakup 12 sektor jasa dan lebih dari 700 sub sektor pencabangannya. Kesemuanya harus ditata, diarahkan dan dioptimalkan pengelolaannya menghadapi persaingan global.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.35cm; margin-top: 0.35cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sejauh ini memang tidak tersedia data lengkap mengenai besarnya kontribusi sektor jasa pada perekonomian Indonesia. Namun, tanpa harus menampilkan data grafis maupun angka-angka kuantitatif, semua pasti sepakat untuk mengakui bahwa Singapura merupakan salah satu negara yang perekonomiannya sukses dan maju bertumpu pada perdagangan di bidang jasa. </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Air transport service</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> dan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>financial service</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> menjadi pilar penting di antara bidang-bidang jasa lainnya.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.35cm; margin-top: 0.35cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sesuai dengan mandat Pasal VI General Agreement on Trade in Services/GATS; setiap negara anggota WTO, diwajibkan membuat Domestic Regulation sesuai dengan norma dan standar aturan WTO. Domestic Regulation tersebut penting dan diperlukan dalam rangka mengakomodasi liberalisasi perdagangan jasa. Dalam bidang perdagangan jasa, fokus acuannya adalah aturan GATS, dengan berpedoman pada prinsip transparan, tidak </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>burdensome</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> bagi para pelaku penyedia jasa dan tidak menurunkan kualitas jasa yang disediakan akibat diterapkannya regulasi mengenai prosedur atau perizinan dibidang jasa apapun.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Prinsip regulasi seperti itu sungguh tidak sederhana karena bukan hanya mencakup produk jasa saja akan tetapi juga menyangkut penyedia jasa (</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>service provider</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">). Bagaimana produk jasa diperdagangkan diatur dalam empat kerangka Modes of Supply yang perlu dipedomani sebagai rambu.</span></span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mode 1 terkait dengan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cross Border Supply</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, yaitu bagaimana jasa diperdagangkan secara lintas negara. Normanya, dilarang membuat aturan perizinan maupun kualifikasi yang dapat menyebabkan hambatan terhadap masuknya produk jasa dari negara lain. Misalnya, izin praktek pengacara, dokter, akuntan dan asuransi yang perlu memperoleh pengaturan secara seksama. Pengaturan perizinan dan kualifikasi harus transparan dan tidak boleh menjadi </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>disguised restriction</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, atau restriksi terselubung yang sengaja diciptakan.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mode 2 mengenai </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Consumption Abroad</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Normanya, dilarang membuat aturan yang menyebabkan hambatan konsumsi jasa di negara lain. Misalnya, larangan pasien berobat atau pelajar sekolah ke luar negeri. Prinsipnya harus tidak ada </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>barrier</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> bagi kebebasan untuk memilih jasa yang tersedia di pasar global.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mode 3 menyangkut </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Commercial Presence</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Normanya, dilarang membuat aturan, baik yang menyangkut institusi ataupun persyaratan kualitas maupun kuantitas, serta perizinan yang dapat menghambat masuknya penyedia jasa asing. Norma ini berkaitan terutama dengan aturan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Foreign Direct Investment</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> yang perlu kita evaluasi dari waktu ke waktu. Perda-perda yang terkait dengan investasi asing harus selaras dengan semangat </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>mode of supply</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ini.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mode 4 menyangkut </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Movement of Natural Persons</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: Normanya, dilarang membuat peraturan atau persyaratan yang dapat menghambat masuknya pelaku jasa asing. Bila ada persyaratan, hal itu harus jelas dirumuskan, misalnya visa dan aturan keimigrasian yang terkait dengan lalu lintas ketenagakerjaan.</span></span> </li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sejauh ini, serangkaian perundingan yang menyangkut ke empat Modes of Supply tersebut masih berlangsung alot dan sulit diprediksi selesainya. Namun demikian, mengingat Doha Development Agenda, telah memproyeksikan selesai akhir tahun 2010 atau selambat-lambatnya akhir tahun 2011, termasuk kesepakatan mengenai domestic regulation; maka pertemuan konsultasi ini dapat digunakan untuk mengukur kesiapan Indonesia dalam kancah perdagangan jasa berskala global dan bernuansa liberal ini.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dari segi regulasi, saya juga melihat ada </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>blessing in disguise</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Sebab, harmonisasi regulasi domestik ini secara serta merta juga mendorong terwujudnya harmonisasi peraturan pusat dan daerah; serta antara daerah dengan daerah lainnya dan dengan dunia internasional.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sebagai negara berkembang, Indonesia menyadari perbedaan tingkat kemampuan dan kesiapan setiap negara yang tidak setara, apalagi disandingkan dengan negara-negara maju. Oleh karena itu, Indonesia dan negara-negara-ASEAN saat ini masih terus memperjuangkan agar </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Emergency Safeguard Measures</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> dan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>right to regulate</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, dapat dimasukkan kedalam kesepakatan tentang Domestic Regulation. Selain itu, untuk penyiapan pelaksanaannya, kepada negara-negara maju juga diminta memberikan bantuan di bidang peningkatan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>capacity building</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dengan latar belakang permasalahan tadi, perkenankan saya menyampaikan ucapan terimakasih dan penghargaan kepada para pembicara dan moderator dalam pertemuan konsultasi ini.</span></span></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kepada Bapak Bachrul Chairi, Staf Ahli Menteri Perdagangan dan juga Ketua Tim Koordinasi Bidang Jasa (TKBJ), yang akan menjelaskan perkembangan perundingan Domestic Regulation serta kebutuhan untuk mengkoordinasikan pemikiran-pemikiran konseptual guna menghadapi berbagai sidang WTO serta kesiapan menghadapi ketentuan </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>domestic regulation</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> bila diterapkan pada waktunya nanti. Bagaimana kiat-kiat dan strategi menghadapi liberalisasi perdagangan sehingga memberi manfaat yang optimal bagi pertumbuhan sektor jasa di Indonesia merupakan masalah penting yang juga patut untuk diulas.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kepada Bapak Made Erata, mantan Staf Ahli Menteri Keuangan dan Mantan Ketua TKBJ yang saat ini menjadi Ketua Dewan Direktur Lembaga Pembiayaan Ekspor Indonesia (LPEI) karena berkenan menyampaikan perkembangan pembahasan mengenai </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Disciplines on Domestic Regulation/</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DDR pada Forum WTO. Topik DDR ini sangat penting, untuk dapat menilai manfaat serta melakukan analisis mengenai implikasi atau konsekuensinya bagi Indonesia.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kepada Bapak Henki Irsan, Staf Khusus Kementerian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi yang akan meng-</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>update</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> kita tentang permasalahan yang terkait dengan penggunaan tenaga kerja asing, kebijakan, aturan hukum dan aspek proseduralnya. Arahnya, untuk mengevaluasi kesiapan Indonesia menghadapi liberalisasi perdagangan jasa terutama di sektor ketenagakerjaan.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bapak Dirjen Administrasi Hukum Umum, Kementerian Hukum dan HAM, yang akan membahas mengenai tantangan dan kesiapan melaksanakan kewajiban penyusunan regulasi domestik guna menunjang perdagangan jasa Indonesia.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bapak Doddy, Direktur Pengembangan Ekonomi Daerah, Kementerian Dalam Negeri untuk paparannya mengenai beberapa permasalahan terkait dengan upaya Harmonisasi Peraturan Perundang-undangan antara Pusat dan Daerah. Pengalaman selama ini dan rencana ke depan yang masih akan dilaksanakan kiranya akan dapat menambah wawasan mengenai kemungkinan melakukan proses yang sama bagi harmonisasi regulasi domestik di bidang perdagangan jasa ini.</span></span> </li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ucapan terimakasih dan penghargaan yang sama juga saya sampaikan kepada Ibu Huda Bahweres dari Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian dan Direktur Perjanjian Internasional, Kementerian Luar Negeri, yang telah berkenan menjadi moderator memandu Pertemuan Konsultasi ini.</span></span> </li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Akhirnya, kepada seluruh peserta konsultasi saya sampaikan selamat mengikuti pertemuan ini hingga paripurna guna memperluas </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>understanding</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> dan memperkuat </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>awareness</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> mengenai konsepsi perdagangan jasa, guna dapat lebih optimal menangani tugas-tugas yang terkait dengan perdagangan jasa. Seperti harapan kita semua, kiranya perdagangan jasa dapat tumbuh dan berkembang menjadi primadona perekonomian Indonesia. Dengan pengantar tadi, Pertemuan Konsultasi Liberalisasi Perdagangan dan Harmonisasi Peraturan Domestik pada hari ini Rabu, 4 Agustus 2010, secara resmi saya buka.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 3.96cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bogor, 4 Agustus 2010 </span></span> </div></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 3.96cm;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Henry Soelistyo</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vGXvhjhX1Of-u5fdx5cbcUJgUKCidXaFmzDQdIGJba2Nc7rhXz0ycqVo_Q-6PDUVQ8rcm2uPchX1K16IuT5Yz7S-5xZxT-2JPd0eIReom412TUeqShTSVZ0DrPsGVDtOp3GGiKHhVsWj/s1600/CIMG0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vGXvhjhX1Of-u5fdx5cbcUJgUKCidXaFmzDQdIGJba2Nc7rhXz0ycqVo_Q-6PDUVQ8rcm2uPchX1K16IuT5Yz7S-5xZxT-2JPd0eIReom412TUeqShTSVZ0DrPsGVDtOp3GGiKHhVsWj/s320/CIMG0924.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-88095634753219589342010-07-29T07:40:00.000-07:002010-08-01T02:17:52.897-07:00REMARKABLE INDONESIA<div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Being travel to more than 40 countries in the world, I can say: "There are so much stories about my beautiful country Indonesia that I could share with people around the globe." </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Indonesia is a country with abundant natural resources, inhabited by approximately 250 million citizens; with more than 17,000 islands in which some has no name still; and more than 450 local languages belong to the ethnic groups. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Hundreds of scarce animals such as orang utan, coala, java tiger, komodo still exist in Indonesia also various kind of rare plants that could make us all breathless by their beauty. Indonesia is among the most beautiful country to visit either for workings or leisure and most importantly for a vacation.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>We can speak years and years about the uniqueness of Indonesia. However, in modern time, we better enjoy the story from the slides, because time is so precious and it is more effective if I show you Indonesia from the audiovisual facts.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Every part of Indonesia has a beautiful natural landscape, a gracefully GOD gives to our nation. Some part yes I must admit is bold because the jungles was deforested by irresponsible people for illegal logging, some was partly damage because of natural disasters such as Tsunami that hits Aceh in December 2004, earth quake in Yogyakarta in May 2006, in Padalarang early of September 2006 and West Sumatera end of September 2009 as well as many other places after that.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>But, do the country lost its beauty because of the natural disasters? Not at all, neither in the country sides that had experienced the damage, because not long after that, people work hard to recovered from the damage either by self initiatives, by domestic or foreign helps. Well sometimes it is even hard to recognize back if the place had ever been hit by flood or Tsunamy. It needs time yes to rebuild, but the country sides still have their beauty and extraordinary natural landscapes that we can enjoy till today.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>So, why not trying to explore the beauty of Indonesia? The following short slides will show you a little part of what I said, but by visiting Indonesia you can prove it yourself. Dont they said: "Seeing is believing"? Bring along your family and friends and have a nice trip in Indonesia. Welcome.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Take a little of Your time and watch the slides. Thank you!</b></div><br />
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</tbody></table>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-43006056639539438702010-07-17T05:30:00.000-07:002010-12-29T01:54:41.034-08:00REVIVE THE BATAK CULTURE<div style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>REVIVE THE BATAK CULTURE</b></span></div>by: Neneng Tarigan<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tobaphotographerclub.com/data/media/7/Rumah_adat_karo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://www.tobaphotographerclub.com/data/media/7/Rumah_adat_karo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">http://www.tobaphotographerclub.com/data/media/7/Rumah_adat_karo.jpg</div><br />
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<div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>It was 25th June 2010, still sundown at 18.00 pm, I and Angie hurriedly driving through the traffic jam of the capital city in order to promptly arrive at the Haji Usmar Ismail Film Head Quarter, so that we would not be late for the REVIVE OF THE BATAK CULTURE program. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><a name='more'></a><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>As a Batak Karo I am and Batak Tapanuli for Angie, we were both quite seldom to attend or even almost had never been to any particular Batak program like this one. However that night was so special for us to support the Maranatha Choir mission to Austria to compete in the World Choir competition together with the group of churches choirs from all over the world. Whatever the reason was, the effort of Maranatha group would have crafted a good name for Indonesia as a country and a nation that has been so pluralistic. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>At 19.00 pm, we arrived at the Usmar Ismail Film Head Quarter. Not so many guests arrived yet; what it seen was the busy of the committee and the Batak Tapanuli's traditional percussion players named Batara Guru. Hm... that is quite similar with the name of a wise god in the Mahabharata epics. In the lobby of the building, Batara Guru play some of lovely Batak's songs with their traditional percussion, whereas just in front of them lies an exhibition of beautiful Batak woven clothes created by Batak designer Merdi Sihombing. Merdi used to live in Austria to deepen his study on textile; his Batak woven creation which used Swarowzky beads in most of his design has already have special costumers in Europe. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Beside of getting fund for the Maranatha Choir Group mission to Austria; Revive the Batak Culture program was also aimed at raising fund for building a school for children at Samosir Isle in Toba lake. A sincere idea of Merdi Sihombing. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Revive The Batak Culture program itself begun at 20.00 pm. Not many audiences present in the program, since almost all eyes of the people at that time were focused on South Africa where the world football match or the World Cup taken place. I my self is a great fan of the World Cup. Ever since the television exist, the World Cup event which is conducted every 4 years became my most awaited event ever. Nevertheless, that night I feel I was called to watch the Batak's Cultural Performance, beside of that my niece Lulu the daughter of my late cousin Maria Erbina Barus with late Singarimbun was also taken part as a committee of the program and she will join the Maranatha Group mission to Austria in July 2010. Few years ago, this group and Lulu were also went to Austria and won as the first winner of the world choir competition that time. What a prestige indeed. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>That night the program was filled with Batak modernized dances, but oooiiii... besides the beautiful dances, the dancers also wore the unique, lovely and attractive Merdi's hand woven colorful clothes. The MC was also funny, the songs were also exclusively special especially those songs sung by Ramona Purba with his traditional Batak Karo Band Endakustik, and most specially the songs sang by Victor Hutabarat and Tio Fanta Pinem.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>That night I really was swayed and admired by the uniqueness, and the beauty as well as the friendliness of Batak Lima Puak/the Five Tribes of Batak (Tapanuli, Karo, Simalungun, Dairi and sorry if Dairi is not the same with Simalungun). I felt so convenient with the ambiance and the songs because they were so lively and melodious. What sad was, although I am the product of mix marriage of Ambonese + Mandailing from my mom's side and Karo from my father's side. These tribes are famous in producing the top Indonesian singers, however none in our family has the talent. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Beside of dancing and singing performance the program was also interlude with the fashion show of well known beautiful models of the capital. They performed the Merdi Sihombing's creations. Ooooiii...although I am not rich, I was really eager to have just a master piece of this great young designer creations. He dreams to promote the traditional Batak's woven to international market. A solemnly idea indeed. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>How lucky I was at the bid that night, because of the pro gesture of the young designer Merdi Sihombing and my favorite singer Victor Hutabarat, at last I was able to win a master piece of one of Merdi Sihombing's design. For me, that was the most expensive cloth I had ever bailed, although the historical value, the culture and uniqueness of the piece must have priced higher than what I paid. Thanks God I had the opportunity to have that Batak cultural creation. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>The efforts and the results of the program was not really met with all of the efforts taken by the committee, the sponsors, the models, the designer, the singers and all of the artists who were present that night. Just if I am rich, I was able to help .................. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Nevertheless, it was such a wonderful night that I will treasure in my life together with my kid/niece Angie. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>REVIVE THE BATAK CULTURE (Pembangkitan Kembali Budaya Batak)</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Oleh: Neneng Tarigan</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Hari itu tanggal 25 Juni 2010, masih pukul 18.00 senja hari, saya dan Angie buru-buru berkenderaan menembus kemacetan lalu lintas ibu kota untuk segera bisa mencapai Gedung Pusat Perfilman Haji Usmar Ismail, Kuningan, agar tidak terlambat menghadiri acara REVIVE THE BATAK CULTURE. Sebagai orang yang masih berdarah Batak Karo untuk saya dan Tapanuli bagi Angie, kami memang jarang sekali atau hampir tidak pernah menghadiri acara-acara khusus budaya Batak seperti ini. Akan tetapi ini adalah malam yang sangat special untuk mendukung keberangkatan group koor Maranatha ke Austria bertanding merebut kejuaraan koor dari berbagai gereja dan kelompok gereja sedunia. Apapun alasannya, upaya ini pasti untuk keharuman nama bangsa dan negara Indonesia yang sangat majemuk ini.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Pukul 19.00 kami tiba di Gedung Pusat Perfilman. Belum banyak yang hadir; yang tampak adalah kesibukan panitia dan gendang tradisional Batak Tapanuli bernama Batara Guru. Hm... suatu nama yang mirip sekali dengan nama Dewa bijak dari kisah pewayangan Mahabarata. Di lobby gedung, Batara Guru memainkan dengan sangat indah lagu-lagu gending Batak, sedangkan didepannya terhampar tenun-tenun songket Batak yang luar biasa indah dari designer Batak ternama Merdi Sihombing. Merdi, pernah tinggal di Austria untuk belajar memperdalam mengenai tekstil; bahkan hasil karya tenun Bataknya yang menggunakan manik-manik Swarozky mendapat tempat dan penggemar sendiri di dunia fashion Eropa. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Acara the Revive Batak Culture ini selain menggalang dana untuk keberangkatan group koor Maranatha; juga ditujukan untuk pembangunan sekolah di Pulau Samosir Danau Toba. Suatu niat yang sangat luhur dari Merdi Sihombing.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Acara Revive The Batak Culture-nya sendiri baru dimulai pukul 20.00 malam. Tidak banyak yang hadir, karena hampir semua orang dan semua mata dunia saat itu tertuju ke Afrika Selatan, tempat diselenggarakannya pertandingan sepak bola dunia. Saya sendiri penggemar berat pertandingan sepak bola dunia. Sejak adanya televisi, maka Pertandingan Sepak Bola Dunia yang merupakan ajang pertandingan empat tahun sekali adalah event yang sangat saya nanti-nantikan. Namun malam itu saya terpanggil untuk menyaksikan pagelaran kesenian Batak, selain itu Lulu keponakan saya dari sepupu saya almarhum Maria Erbina Barus dan almarhum Singarimbun ambil bagian karena dia termasuk panitia yang akan turut berangkat dengan group Maranatha bulan Juli 2010. Beberapa tahun sebelumnya group ini dan Lulu juga pernah berangkat dan mereka memenangkan sebagai juara pertandingan koor sedunia tersebut. Sungguh membanggakan memang.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Acara malam itu diisi dengan tari-tarian Batak yang sudah di permodern, akan tetapi oooiiii... selain tariannya yang indah, mereka mengenakan kain-kain tenun Merdi Sihombing yang sangat unik, cantik dan menarik. Pembawa acaranya juga sangat kocak, apalagi lagu-lagu yang dibawakan oleh Ramona Purba dan group tradisional musik Batak karo-nya Endakustik sangat eksklusif sekali terutama lagu-lagu Batak yang dibawakan oleh Victor Hutabarat dan Tio Fanta Pinem.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Malam itu saya benar-benar dibuai dan mengaggumi tradisi Batak yang unik dan indah dan keakraban Batak Lima Puak (Tapanuli, Karo, Simalungun,Dairi dan Mandailing= hmmm, maaf bila mungkin Dairi sama dengan Simalungun.) Apapun alasannya, saya merasakan sangat nyaman dengan suasana dan lagu-lagunya yang merdu meriah. Sedihnya, saya merupakan hasil campuran dari perkawinan Ambon+ Mandailing ibu saya dan Karo adalah darah ayah saya. Suku-suku ini terkenal menghasilkan segudang penyanyi-penyanyi top Indonesia, akan tetapi didalam keluarga besar kami, tidak satupun yang berbakat.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Selain tari dan nyanyi, acara ini juga diselingi dengan fashion show dari pragawati ternama ibu kota yang cantik-cantik. Mereka memperagakan kain-kain tenun Merdi Sihombing yang indah. Ooooiii...walaupun tidak kaya, saya benar-benar ingin memiliki salah satu saja dari disain kreasi anak muda yang luar biasa ini. Dia bercita-cita mengangkat budaya dan tenun tradisional Batak. Suatu cita-cita yang sangat luhur. </b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Alangkah beruntungnya saya, pada acara lelang malam itu, berkat keberpihakan sang disainer muda Merdi Sihombing dan penyanyi kesayangan saya Victor Hutabarat, akhirnya saya bisa membawa sehelai disain unik Merdi Sihombing. Buat saya, itu adalah harga termahal yang saya tebus, walaupun sebenarnya nilai historis, budaya, keunikannya, beratus kali pasti lebih mahal dari harga yang saya tebus. Terimakasih Tuhan aku sempat memiliki hasil kaya budaya Batak.</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Upaya dan hasil yang dibuahkan acara ini, benar-benar tidak sebanding sama sekali dengan seluruh upaya yang dikerahkan panitia, para pendukung, pragawati, disainer serta para penyanyi dan seniman yang hadir pada malam itu. Andai saja saya kaya dan dapat membantu...........</b></div><div style="color: #4c1130; text-align: justify;"><b>Akan tetapi, bagaimanapun juga, itu adalah malam yang indah yang akan saya kenang sepanjang masa bersama anak/ponakan saya Angie.</b></div>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001105017011654221.post-31379832517267729262010-06-18T19:43:00.000-07:002010-06-18T20:08:32.382-07:00EARTHQUAKESSince Indonesia lies on very fragile territory and easily hits by the earthquakes as happened today in West Papua, Indonesia; Here is some reliable sources to get information regarding earthquakes in general:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earthquakes/357790046098 (11000 fans)">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earthquakes/357790046098 (11000 fans)</a><br /><a href="http://www.quakesos.com">http://www.quakesos.com</a><br />These sites bring all the relevant news when it becomes available from reliable sources.If you are living in a tsunami risk area, these sites can help to gather <br />additional information<br /><br />The same information comes also in the iPhone app “QuakeSOS”<blockquote></blockquote>Neneng Tariganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246751871415766917noreply@blogger.com0