Yogyakarta

sebuah renungan akhir tahun

Menumpang Maestro GM: Selamat Hari Ibu

Telah kubaca Catatan Pinggir Majalah Tempo 15-21 Desember. Pelacur judulnya. Berkisah tentang ibu yang memproduksi uang dengan alat reproduksi. Demi harkat putera-puteranya. Demi sekolah dan sedikit bicara bahasa Inggris, katanya. Cerita itu diangkat esais GM dari satu film karya Ucu Agustin yang ikut di festival film internasional jakarta. Walau belum menonton filmnya, lewat kata-kata sakti GM, dapat kurasakan betapa mulia peran itu. Untuk kali tak terbilang, esai Catatan Pinggir itu mencubit emosi. Wajib untuk dibukukan, semacam Kata Waktu jilid 2, agar bisa dengan mudah secara random dibaca-baca kembali pada saat berbeda, dengan tanpa kehilangan konteks.



Gambar-gambar pada entri blog ini bukanlah representasi esai GM. Cuma rekoneksi emosi.

Dari Situ Gede, satu perkampungan di pinggiran Bogor. Seorang Ibu dengan lima anaknya. Tertua baru saja lulus SMA dan terkecil belum masuk usia sekolah. Tertangkap olehku keramahan khas negeri ini. Tentu dengan sebuah sapa tulus dan senyum, kita boleh menjadi tetangga, kenalan, kolega baru. Berbicang dengan profil generik ibu rumah tangga negeri ini, melihat anak keturunannya bermain, dan berkeliling di seantero rumahnya, dari sudut paling privat. Boleh kuduga, sangat mungkin idealisme dan kerja keras ibu di foto ini tidak jauh berbeda dengan Ibu Nur Hidayah yang barusan kubaca di Catatan Pinggir. Mengangkat harkat strata sosial lewat pendidikan anak.










Sebentar lagi, sekali setaun kita ucapkan Selamat Hari Ibu. Ingatku pada Ibuku, yang baru saja pulang dari rumah sakit. Tak kan habis banggaku padamu.

Di Kolong Sawah Besar

Sejalan pagi. Stasiun Kereta Api Sawah Besar, Jakarta. Berderet-deret di kolongnya. Majemuk tingkah dan upaya manusia ibukota ditempa berat. Selemparan batu pagi hari. Rutinitas kerja keras dan kadang sepi di keramaian. Ya. Musim harga naik rongsokan tak laku karena harga jual turun. Entah kenapa.









Equilibrium Disequilibrium? Kulihat hanya keuletan demi kekuatan yang diasah setiap hari, nampaknya. Ya. Di tempat yang tak terlalu jauh pusat kekuasaan negeri ini. Tipikalkah di kolong stasiun yang lain?.

Inside Yogya and the Solo Soul

I got an image from my four days trip to Yogyakarta-Solo (Central Java, Indonesia) some time last month, being post to a jpgmag.com theme of Bird's Eye. This image was the only shot that was taken from above, whilst exploring 15mm FishEye lens on human interest subject. An old lady selling rice-with-egg, in a banana tree leaves, in front of one of the entrance gates of local market Klewer, Solo, Central Java. Yes, Indonesia. Tried to link the picture here, should be shown in the frontpage of my blog (i wish i can link this).

Also, I have posted in my multiply account a complete 24 set of pictures of the first part of the trip: Inside Yogya (www.epurwoko.multiply.com). It was about the regular people of Yogya on their regular activity in regular places, mostly local-original market. The second part of the trip, the Soul of Solo, will also be posted at the same site, once i am done with self selection of the pictures.

Just want to share it with more people.

Indonesian Flag is Raised Today: Independence Day

Today, 17 August is a nation wide holiday for Indonesia. Red & White flag is everywhere. I saw this morning some elementary school have a flag raising ceremonials, in remembrance of the founding fathers flag raising at Proklamasi Street, Jakarta after declaring the nation independence. I did not take any picture this morning, although i bring along my camera with me. A pause. Just seeing people and the kampong decoration surrouding Bogor, West Java. Usually they dressed up their 'kampong' with colorful gate, many flags, newly painted fences. Today, I saw a bit less compared to previous years, i feel. Possibly, due to the economic pressure. Less purchasing power, i guess, after a new school year last June. (sure this was not due to recent global equity market and FX volatility). Nevertheless, i saw some creativity in celebrating the independence day still existed. In various way. Open-air stages for musical performance, dance, kids games, singing contest were some that I enjoyed today.

BTW, do they listen to the President SBY annual keynote address at the People Representative on August 16? I myself not.

Picture above was Indonesian flag, with the foreground those friendly faces of students of a rural elementary school in Sasaksaat, West Java. That's our nation Red and White flag. I went there sometime in December 2006. Sharing with you on this very moment. Independence.

A Prelude

It was with unique tense when I start creating this blog. Wondering what need to be written as I have had a 'multiply' account already for my photographic journeys. Also registered as a member of on-line photography forum seems to be enough. But, human rarely feel enough. People do blogging. Why should not I try. A journal. Writing what i thought on pictures I created. Bad or good. That's will be this blog all about, i guess.

It was late afternoon. I took my family to one amongst Indonesian historical places. I pressed my camera shutter several time. This one is my favorite. One officer on duty we met in July 2007 at Gedung Perundingan Linggarjati, Kuningan, West Java, with our founding father Soekarno at the background. He has been working as a public servant guiding this museum's guests for more than 25 years. A government officer loyalist. I asked his name, but forgot to make any record of it and, i must apologized to myself: I forgot. I should bring my recorder next time.

On the next two days, our nation will be on her 62th anniversary. 17 August 1945. Long journey to a real independence for a better welfare for Indonesian people. Diversity in unity. We need that unity. Beating the number one enemy: corruption troops.

Merdeka!