Panas dan Hujan!

Lebaran kemarin kami pergi ke Ujung Genteng.

Pemandangan 22 km pertama dari rumah Apih di Pelabuhan Ratu sungguh mengenaskan.

Tahun 2000 saya menempuh jalan itu sepanjang jalan hutan tropis lebat, asri dan sejuk, kemarin Okt 2008 ini gundul kering dan puanas...

Hanya di antara Cigaru dan Kiara Dua yang ada tumbuhan hijau karena punya perkebunan teh dan karet (harga komoditi ini turun 1/5-nya, tragisnya krisis moneter Amrik!). Ada kawan cerita tahun 2004 masih cukup hijau, entah musim hujan ini, kemungkinan hijau belum sempat, banjir melanda!

Tadi malam di Elshinta TV ada bapak Edhi (lupa nama panjangnya) punya kampung 99 pepohonan yang memelihara lingkungan dengan baik, pengolahan sampah, tumbuhan, arena bermain, pengairan, ternak, ikan, rumah kayu. Sungguh seperti lingkungan impian yang asri dan sejuk.

Andai punya uang untuk itu...Back to nature! ...gitu

Gallery in BKK (my camera)

Kun Ake (left) bad boy go to HELL



Jean describes aggregate testing



are we Japanesse? Use chop stick please!

Let's start a fight! I am seriuos, Karate, Thai boxing?

the only 2 ladies

traditional Thai flute

Bao and me ( Amron camera)

Skytrain ticket

At job site

Ray don't jump!

Waiting for the bus after play bowling

Elia take the ball picture ??

Come out and play

first dinner in BKK

At the BKK airport



the BOWLING VENUE

Second Change?

When I was waiting for boarding time at Banda Aceh airport to Jakarta, I talked to a man (older than me). He is a businessman with long long experience.
I asked 3 question to this guy.
1. How to deal with different people? His anwser was people are uniqe so the approach also different. Time will tell you how, but start to communicate, face em! and we cannot make all people happy. CANNOT!
2. Second change because a book said that there are 1 million second change, what do you think? His answer was depend on time, if we have long time weeks, months or years, yes we can do preparation that takes longer time. BUT in certain cases we have take the first we got. And time/experience also tells you how to deal with.
3. I forget the third.. I'll try to remember.. sorry guys (can someone tell me?)
During the back home trip last night I remember it, here we go;
About unrelevance chance/offer, should we take? he said do not expect everything may give us prompt feedback/earning/benefit but take the experience, sooner or later it could be very usefull or back up tool.

Any opinion?

Me, agry. depend on the case but analogically compliance with many case in my life.

2nd change visiting Aceh, funny, arrghh!

8am I just got the flight ticket. So revved up at 10am to bus station but no bus so wait few minutes. Unfortunately the way was on heavy traffic. No luck! I arrived just time 30 min before the flight(boarding time) but it was full and it was last flight suprisingly all flight was fully booked until tommorow afternoon, even to Medan. So I call the training arranger. I just return home. Try tommorow early morning flight. Sshhh
4am Thursday morning I rode a taxi, arrived at 5am to the airport, know what the Garuda flight was overbooked for 50 people on waiting list.
Arranger said must go on, so tried to find another flight mostly anything. Broker offered flight via batam but it's fully booked. Hey I met Rhenald Kasali in the airport, we had short conversation about his book.
I waited for 3 hours just for ticket, ahh. At Batam airport struggling to get medan or aceh flight.

I had my lunch but without asking people what the favourite is? So just to keep me have enough energy.

Finally got the ticket and arrived in Medan, guys the flight attendants are beautiful, mandala airways guys!. Find for the ticket (again!) to Aceh, unlucky still with me. People said that the entrance to left infact it's 200m under hot sunlight. In the end of the day I got ticket without any illegal manger, at least I got bibika ambon.

I was in Aceh when write this post.

Second week in BKK

Monday moved to next building, hey cotto Makasar was pirated here (he..he..he…)


Sleepy all day yes it’s a long gone day. This week was about sale and marketing. We have dinner in Siam Niramit and watch the cultural show.
That was an amazing show, but I felt to sleep during the show, just wonder it’s a rock music concert it would be spectacular!

In this two Bangkok is dry and make my skin on my face loose the cleavage. The funny was the test on Thursday morning mostly every compare the test sheet just before collected at 8am sharp. What a surprise, even I didn’t put good attention on the second week my score still around 8 of 10. In the Thursday evening was the party of official dinner.





Friday was another long gone day for game simulation. Each participants say good bye. In the afternoon I went to MBK (bukan bubuk bau badan lho!) shopping centre to buy souvenir. I just wanted the night pass quickly. I set the timer ring at 4.30am to prepare check out for 8.20am flight.

I met Eka and Rini and also another guy from Indonesia (forget the name sorry man)
Eka (left picture, some where in BKK, can tell us where?)

The night passed without good sleep and everything went good and smooth except the flight delay over 45 minutes I just felt to sleep again. Thai immigration passed without any question!
Finally arrived in Jakarta at 12.10, hey the Indonesian Immigration still tried asking my almost expired passport! I joined my friend car to reach our small city.
We just survive. Finally I met my family.

The 1st weeks course In Bangkok

Monday first day of the course begun with breakfast with fried rice again, introduction of course. In the evening the arranger set a dinner and bowling, it was fun (tastic!). I made 5 strikes by right hand 1 strike with left hand.

Second day (Tuesday) of the course my turn to present key learning I just begun with yell-yell to motivate the classmate and this yell became famous. On lunch break we had the lunch at Chinese food restaurant inside the Hotel. In the evening we tried the sky train to Siam Paragon.
We had at Moslem a restaurant and took a walk to MBK (similar with ITC in Indonesia).

It was 9pm when we arrived there most of the shop were closed. I found rubber case for my mobile phone to protect the surface of the phone from scratch and it can reduce the impact incase of fall down.

Wednesday we had plant visit to Chon Buri 60 km to southeast, Thursday workshop, Friday lab visit, btw it is huge building for lab, good AC but not finished yet, only few equipment placed there. Saturday job site visit. Lectures, lectures and workshops. Finally first week course end and we have time to visit somewhere interesting.

Saturday afternoon we visited Chatucak and bought many things. The route is from Shapan taksin (just beside the hotel) to Siam by Sky Train change the train to Mo Chit that is it. People said that this market will be closed around 10pm, in fact many shops closed at around 6-7pm. Not enough time to bargain! Rush-rush-rush!
Sunday we tried boat (the hotel is located by the Chao Praya River) and visit Royal Palace and back to Shapan Taksin to have lunch at Robinson.

Visit Bangkok --> Others <--

The course days In Bangkok
Still in airport some of fellows bought local simcard that named AIS. I talk to man with Shangri-La paper sheets; he found my name on car waiting list. The trip to the hotel took 45 minutes. After check in we went outside to the mall to find food for dinner. This was I found; Indonesian fried rice! (far far away just for fried rice instead tom yum!)


Second day (first day of the course) begun with breakfast with fried rice again, introduction of course
Second day of the course my turn to present key learning I just begun with yell-yell to motivate the classmate and this yell became famous. On lunch break we had the lunch at Chinese food restaurant inside the Hotel. In the evening the arranger set a dinner

Visit Bangkok #@* the passport

The story begun with near lost my boy that hide behind shopping centre boot stand.
This was a worst experience. But there was another bad experience at the air port immigration, the airways officer told me that the passport near expire may cause I might deportation by Thai immigration, he told me the passport should 6 month remain valid, my supervisor said better postpone the flight and apply new passport, I tried to talk to airport supervisor to cancel the flight. Meanwhile it was rain outside so the flight was postponed and I tried to call the course secretariat to help me at Thai immigration, surprisingly she told me just go on that’s OK. Furthermore I canceled my cancellation and flew to Thailand with angry of the airport officer to make them confused and busy. I met the people for the same course in the lounge.
During the flight I talked to passenger beside me to make the flight enjoyable with conversation. They have more experience than me in Thailand, that’s good. We arrived at Thailand at 5pm. Said goodbye to passengers beside me Eka and Rini.
At last fellows from the same company met together and went to immigration by two groups, before that we check for luggage ticket unfortunately the leader forgot where he put it and he look for the tickets for 10 minutes.

At Thai immigration! I just prayed that the officer not find the passport expire date and it worked. I passed this immigration without any question.

Visit Aceh

In this few days I just miss my computer. Since came back from Aceh. This is the second and third chance to use computer. I would like to share my story during visiting Aceh, I wrote this story in Bangkok. Please enjoy…
Tuesday 27 February I got the ticket, feedback and test sheets that delivery by association guys. Wednesday morning went to bank to pick up new ATM pin (1 month delayed) using public bus, well it’s work, oh I met Rosi in that ATM. At 10.30 I reach the airport bus station, fortunately just in time to leave.
Arrive at the airport at 12.10, make prayer and then boarding.
Whilst waiting I met a man that reading ‘Quatum Ikhlas” book and we had an interesting conversation. Furthermore he talked that he had learn Neuro Language Program since 1997 that in the company where I work just few people had that training.
On airplane I met a neighbor (in Bogor baru) that her family in Medan and a men that his interest in investment.
She told me about how she manages her daughter (at SMP 2nd level). A little bit strict actually but with clear argumentations and good roles. Also she told me about how she manages her work environment in her office. She will slap me if she knew what I am doing with men. I forgot the detail. This is the Medan air port picture


Arrive at 5pm at Banda Aceh.

Well… the man that would pick up me did not appears anywhere, no paper say my name, so I just sat and look around he could be late … I guess.
Few minutes later a man with the cement uniform (I knew this color since last year), he said that there was another people from India he should picked up and there is people from cement competitor looking for me. Yes I already know him since Feb 07. It’s good to have friend in somewhere even competitor guys. This competitor guys was already in Aceh since last Sunday.
The trip from air port to hotel (?) took 30 minutes, the India guy was dropped at medium house size called guest house. The driver is an employee that will join the class along the trip told me that house is rent around IDR 225mio p.a. Surprisingly the guest house is large enough but it was not sufficient maintenance such gardening, wall paint and ceiling looks old and the most important is the bath room piping is not well arranged.
At 7 pm the house keeper told us that dinner was ready.

Next day in the morning went to lok nga, the distance is around 20 km and took 30 minutes ride by car.
The view is mostly hills that exploited partly for land fill. Ex tsunami still appears in some place like unfinished bridge of lokNga.
Arrived at the cement office at 7.55 and we were waiting for readiness of the room. At 8.15 the class begun with plant location (by Google Earth), games and lectures until 16.00. No problem with prayer or break time. I just started with few people and did not wait for class is ready. During the class my boss sms me that the Bangkok course advance is ready in low budget and I ask for more budget.
I met couple friends from current company I work for. They talked about some of friend with the same back ground were leave and only 3 people remaining.
In the night I took a walk to the main city to buy some t-shirt, local food and taste original local food like mie-Aceh, pinang juice. Back to the guest house at 9.30pm
Following days was lectures again and Jum’at prays at famous LokNga mosque that the only building survive in tsunami 3 years ago and conduct a post test.

The post test result is surprise, more than I was estimated. During the class my boss confirmed that the Bangkok course advance was ready at correct number.
After the class I went back to Jakarta. Luckily in Jakarta the Damri bus still available but the traffic was crowd and took 2.5 hours instead 1.5 hours, I slept during the trip.

Visiting Thailand

If my fellow went to Sydney depeloped state. I have a chance (???) to visit developing one.

Story begun with lack of imigration knowledge, that say passanger has to have a valid passport at least 6 month (before expired)

Forget about the trouble that's realy annoyed. enjoy the pictures...

terrace of Shangri La Hotel

People tried to find lugage ticket

Indonesian Nasi Goreng in Mall close to Hotel


Multi etnic; Russian, Indian, Singaporean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Srilankan, Italian, Argentina and off course Thai.

Trips to Sulawesi

The story continued…..
The driver said that the strikes were over on Saturday, aaah good! we were in the right time for business (?). At the hotel after check in and put language in the room, we went out to find original Makasar food, my brother (his wife from here) suggested us Konro, Palubasa, Kikil soup, coto Makasar, so we visited the Mall close to the Hotel. The mall its self like most mall in Indonesia, huge but it was almost close hour, food court had nothing to serve. Finally we walked out the mall and find local restaurant or street café.
Fortunately we found a small local street café that provide coto. Know what, the taste is good, delicious. I was regret never try this food, some café offer this food and close to my home.
Back to the hotel and talk a short conversation and went to sleep it was 10 pm. In the hotel room I was surprised by 3 pillows. The hotel provides 3 pillows, which the 1st/could be the last I found room with 3 pillows. I try to turn on my phone cell radio to gather what is popular in Makasar, music, news etc. I found 25 radio stations with this gadget.
It was a good sleep. We had our breakfast and head of the cement plant by a Taxi. The taxi driver did not know this plant so he tried to ask people by street. We did not lose and reached the plant at 8.45 am. Finally we find the friend (Mr. A)of my friend (currently he is in Malaysia).
The microscopy presentation began at 10.30 am. The powerful of microscopy and advantages/disadvantages, equipments required for each preparation methods, simple interpretation, and kiln process adjustments. Some question arose during this presentation such; targets for meal and clinker, kiln adjustment, meal assessment etc.
The equipment presentation began after lunch; basically the supplier suggested having a Discoplan TS or Rotopol. He also described the advantages for both equipments. Mr. A said that the management already agreed to implement microscopy within this year (2008).
During equipment presentation some question regarding bought microscope was arose and we found that the microscope is not suitable for neither reflected nor transmitted light (metallurgy, mineralogy). It is recommended to buy a Nikon or Leica mineralogy/metallurgy microscope meets clinker investigation requirements and also not to be hesitate to ask me about this (since it is very expensive).
After 4 hours presentation and discussion we had back to air port by Mr. A’s car. The driver dropped us at front of the air port and be continue to buy some souvenir in Losari at Somba Opu street, having some local sea food (baronang fish with rica-rica seasoning), it was delicious (please try if you visit this city).
The flight was postponed for 1 hour but I was convenient flight with the same plane and attendants.

Trip to South Sulawesi

A friend of my friend work at other island had email me willing help to support on microscopy equipment.
My respond was general and minimum equipment he must to have.
Several times in Ramadan last year Oct 07 one of microscopy preparation supplier offered me to visit him. I prepared some presentation.
In jan 08 we have opportunity to realize this inquiry.
Here is the story begins:
I prepare 2 on leave days. I leave my house to airport bus shelter 3 hours before the flight; unfortunately the bus was not available due to traffic. At last I arrived at airport by rent car just for 45 minute! Instead 2 hours by bus, too early and I have to wait for 2 hours. What should I do? First make a pray, after that I started to talk to other passengers. 1st a couple from Lampung that the flight delayed for 12 hours (6x times longer than me) to Jayapura Papua, 2nd a couple with the same destination, husband work for the forest department in west Sulawesi and boarding ahead of me.
Finally the supplier guy showed up. After boarding we enter the lounge. He talked about his experience visiting Denmark, Germany, Japan, Singapore, China and some other country. As a sum European people welcome him than Asian or Oz.
The boarding announcement stopped our conversation. We took 34 seat in this plane new Boeing 900ER, it was 4 pm a few minutes late. During the flight we talked about tomorrow’s planning, it was a smooth and stable plane. We arrived at Hasanudin at 8pm. Find taxi, surprisingly no offering crowd and the Rp 80k fare clearly state on the desk for certain destination in the city of Makasar, by the way the distance was 30 km from airport to the hotel. While we were sitting in the cab we talked to the cab driver about current situation in the city, it was important since few days before we arrived some demonstration (strike) to the governor election result.
….to be continue….