Adele could be so very fortunate or she was just too decent to deserve The Oscar's Best Original Song from his latest "Skyfall". Her golden voice has led her to bring Skyfall on the grande stage of world's renowned annual award. I myself has been admiring the English singer, indeed the Skyfall lyrics is too vigorous against the definite chaos. Paul Epworth and Adkins herself seemed really putting huge power through the words. At least I am just attached in their work.
Their compiling work has really taught me I just need to be surely honest what I really want with my passion to be. Strapped in world of education in which I, after years, have been obvious having no idea I should go for, is sometimes worrisome yet the only most one I have got is I become more understand what I should do. Sometimes I need to look for another path which it requires to give up the other paths.
I should have thanked the process of life, it worth million times than sitting down back the lecturer's presentation slide. Though I deserve to get the consequence, bad grade during this whole four-year university term. It may sound selfish for those who think I should fulfill ones' trust, "parents" they say. Living in typical Asian way, good grade is the fullest of expectation as you seem so troublesome once you fail in exam. But mine is many times. At least passing the subject with C-carbon (terms for you providing most C on your grade transcript) as it's the minimum requirement of conditional pass is my normal expectancy, when others put A (or perhaps they expect A+ if possible) their must-to-be. I've just lost too much on grade, a contrary to who I was few years ago when I should had determined myself "a nerd". It just makes me giggling when reminding me of graduate ceremony of secondary school, my name was called the last as I was extraordinarily successful to gain the highest grade of National Exam in my region with average above 95%. Even one of the subjects I got perfect score 10, still retains the record until now. I knew the people in my cohort gave the appreciation of that accomplishment. But it is I was.
As I grow older and beyond, I start and be more accustomed to convince myself my life would be more than grade. It may sound contrary to the circumstance of "conventional minded" in my surrounding, ("conventional minded" is my own term that may be subject to personal view). I prove it when I become subject of underestimation when some people look at me based on my grade certificate. Yet I'm so proud of myself as I have been always setting those grades without cheating on tests or laboratory reports.
In return, I should be or have been working on another ways in order to live my optimism. I try to set myself on working with new world more than in the lecture class, devoting my time for student club activities, joining international symposiums (through this participation I knew I have big passion in research despite of grade failure), skipping class to accomplish my sketch works, reading online articles/news (not compulsory subjects) all night long during the exam week, and many things that make me fascinated and well encouraged. I've found I got many precious lessons more than if I only stay focus on lectures and exams. I would get nothing but A grade on transcript. I mean I have to redeem my nerdy time with more additional soft-skills/life-skills.
People say every act has its own consequence. I couldn't agree more. With worst grade on transcript I face so many times of refusal for scholarship or exchange program. Most recent my application to Erasmus (exchange in Finland) has been refused as well as that of Columbia University's global undergraduate visit, summer camp in Germany, and so forth. My only one success was to Oxford University Summer program but I had no financial aids, so no visit happens. Though I never stop to always apply as many as possible since I've created mindset of mine that life is about traveling the world where I could be settled in searching of spiritual value what life is for, a big question inward for years amid my vacant and thirst of journey.
After all rambling question in mind, I think I'm not the only one on this stance, at least the girl in vid below through her remarkable speech does think the same. It's not the defense of my view, but the freedom of expression. It's not about people should know, but determination of our own.
Their compiling work has really taught me I just need to be surely honest what I really want with my passion to be. Strapped in world of education in which I, after years, have been obvious having no idea I should go for, is sometimes worrisome yet the only most one I have got is I become more understand what I should do. Sometimes I need to look for another path which it requires to give up the other paths.
I should have thanked the process of life, it worth million times than sitting down back the lecturer's presentation slide. Though I deserve to get the consequence, bad grade during this whole four-year university term. It may sound selfish for those who think I should fulfill ones' trust, "parents" they say. Living in typical Asian way, good grade is the fullest of expectation as you seem so troublesome once you fail in exam. But mine is many times. At least passing the subject with C-carbon (terms for you providing most C on your grade transcript) as it's the minimum requirement of conditional pass is my normal expectancy, when others put A (or perhaps they expect A+ if possible) their must-to-be. I've just lost too much on grade, a contrary to who I was few years ago when I should had determined myself "a nerd". It just makes me giggling when reminding me of graduate ceremony of secondary school, my name was called the last as I was extraordinarily successful to gain the highest grade of National Exam in my region with average above 95%. Even one of the subjects I got perfect score 10, still retains the record until now. I knew the people in my cohort gave the appreciation of that accomplishment. But it is I was.
As I grow older and beyond, I start and be more accustomed to convince myself my life would be more than grade. It may sound contrary to the circumstance of "conventional minded" in my surrounding, ("conventional minded" is my own term that may be subject to personal view). I prove it when I become subject of underestimation when some people look at me based on my grade certificate. Yet I'm so proud of myself as I have been always setting those grades without cheating on tests or laboratory reports.
In return, I should be or have been working on another ways in order to live my optimism. I try to set myself on working with new world more than in the lecture class, devoting my time for student club activities, joining international symposiums (through this participation I knew I have big passion in research despite of grade failure), skipping class to accomplish my sketch works, reading online articles/news (not compulsory subjects) all night long during the exam week, and many things that make me fascinated and well encouraged. I've found I got many precious lessons more than if I only stay focus on lectures and exams. I would get nothing but A grade on transcript. I mean I have to redeem my nerdy time with more additional soft-skills/life-skills.
People say every act has its own consequence. I couldn't agree more. With worst grade on transcript I face so many times of refusal for scholarship or exchange program. Most recent my application to Erasmus (exchange in Finland) has been refused as well as that of Columbia University's global undergraduate visit, summer camp in Germany, and so forth. My only one success was to Oxford University Summer program but I had no financial aids, so no visit happens. Though I never stop to always apply as many as possible since I've created mindset of mine that life is about traveling the world where I could be settled in searching of spiritual value what life is for, a big question inward for years amid my vacant and thirst of journey.
After all rambling question in mind, I think I'm not the only one on this stance, at least the girl in vid below through her remarkable speech does think the same. It's not the defense of my view, but the freedom of expression. It's not about people should know, but determination of our own.
" When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way "
-- Paulo Coelho (Brazilian lyricist and novelist)
-- Paulo Coelho (Brazilian lyricist and novelist)
Take A Deep Breath
I might be so much inspired by NG's explorer, conquering the wilderness, creating new path, and definitely leading exploration just like never before. All of those are uncountable satisfactory even beyond as written on published magazine or documentary video. The majestic nature can be never merely explained by depicted figures but all of the thing is the sense of exploration. Or perhaps, in addition, Anggun's Je Partirai (in Frace) song is too much heart blowing as its lyrics seems so inspiring, to have a journey around the world and going back with contenting stories. I was fortunate, I guess, as my pal texted me two months ago informing me a trip organized by BackPacker Indonesia (BPI) to Krakatau. I told him before since I was just too much curious about this attention-cheating site. Two months later thing has happened with myriad of inspirations as I am telling you here.
I pull off stuffs inside my dully greenish backpack: rayban, goggles, swimming clothes, etc. and zip them off. Meeting my pal in front of the campus and then departing to bus station where we have to head off to BPI traveler meeting point at Pelabuhan Merak (harbor) at the horn of westernmost Java island. It is almost 3 hours from Bogor to Merak after passing crazy traffic jam at office break hours, it is 11 pm we arrive. Out of my prediction, total of traveler has reached 80 or perhaps more. I don't count them all at exact amount. Most of them are full time worker in capital greater Jakarta as we depart on Friday night, at mid night for sure. I just so understand how working life sometimes is so frustrating or perhaps backpacking is just too much interesting. Do not ever judge by age, passion is an equivalent supporter. Your young blood could be not working at the moment as you do not move your lazy ass from the desk to have adventure, yet bloody old man could be as young as 17s teen. No wonder you are traveler when your passion to see the world is much bigger than your PC desktop appearing wonderful Google Images.
I prove some of them might be either inspiring traveler or worker in the mean time. But let my guessing disappear, let hold one each other together to have this 3 days adventure. At 2 am (it's already early Saturday) we all after brief introduction conducted by organizer are ready bound for ferry to cross Sunda Strait. With additional fee IDR 10,000 (approx. 1 USD) I and my pal book for an executive cabin, yet in my own measurement it is so average by quality and service. But it is not my concern, I prefer sleeping than judging as tomorrow and on the trip will be full time.
Arrival at 5.30 am at Pelabuhan Bekauhuni (harbor) the ferry drops by to unload both passengers and vehicles. We all gather up in front at parking lot then depart by angkot to breakfast venue, a local house thine. It is drizzle covering up lusty southern Lampung at the time of breakfast. Nothing much to do but immediately approaching Rajabasa, a typical small harbor merely used by local settlement and visitor. But thing begins with nerve-wrecking circumstance. The strait is too wavy today, a contrast to what happened yesterday, one of local says. At first we are not allowed by official person who is on duty to pass through, too dangerous he says. But show must go on. We play with risk but life vest works to endorse. At the final of decision, three vessels agree to board us.
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| Sebuku island |
No question how these vessels break the wave, leaning right to left or jumping up and down. Sometimes when the sea force is too strong, the burst broken on the board and becoming wet. I my self attempt to calm down even though the wave does not chill out. An hour later we anchor in Sebuku island, amazing white sand all through the shoreline with clean turquoise shallow water bank at fringe. Taking photos and deep relieving breath for awhile. Next challenge is coming up.
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| Sebuku island |
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| Sebuku island |
As all of us onboard, we head off to Sabesi island, where our hosting place located an hour from here. Nothing more heart-triggering than the way of heading to Sabesi, the wave becomes more forceful. I and a new fellow group suddenly turns into silent when the vessel struggles passing challenging sea. Powerful wave by geographical condition origins from open Hindia Ocean in the southwestern bank, the wind triggers pace of sea becoming curly. At least I learnt little bit from Fundamental Oceanography class two years ago.
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| Sabesi island |
It is so much relieved when we safely approach the pier of hosting island. We are encouraged to fast preparing for lunch before another optional trip to a small island nearby (I forget the name). I meet another group traveler from "Kakikukakukaku" and a group of seemingly Russian backpacker. I prefer to opt staying at sharing house than taking subsequent voyage due to tiredness fro sunset. My and some others choice is not bad, the sunset is not clear due to overcasting. However, at night we have barbecue party and sleep tight for few hours since tomorrow at 2 am we will have departed to another islands.
I managed to refresh my fitness as second day trip start just at very early morning or so late midnight. We have been onboard as engine works combusting fuel. Navigated scattering crystal stars above on clear sky, we all head to (Anak) Krakatau located. Almost two hours the vessels pass through wavy sea, fortunately some people are too tired so they decide to continue sleeping instead of playing with their nerve. I become more accustomed, frankly I get this trip is so worthwhile for the challenge.
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| Hiking (Anak) Krakatau |
Once the vessels cease to haul, all of us unload the boat. Stepping on the island for first time is so overwhelmed for me as it looks like a forest instead of a deadly mountain as depicted on internet. Well, let me think awhile, there must be primary succession has just been occurring. My guess is right. Few meters ahead there is square billboard informing the biological change after eruption. A notice, for well renowned in 1883 Mount Krakatau had changed the geographical condition until present day. Some evidence and written source in Dutch have revealed how deadly it erupted which also caused tsunami.
As we climb upward, it looks totally different. Uprising mountain just at the corner and we hike onto highest yet safest point. The slope is 45 degree in average. Our spirit is too forceful as some of travelers here are also mountain hiker. Two of our members are children at 4-5 years old and another two are married grandpa and grandpa who turn out these kids ancestor. A family member is making reunion here. We take some photos here and trying the best for the best sunrise. It is such a wonderful view at height. The sulphurous fog blows from top of the mountain behind. For almost two hours we are at the top point.
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| Krakatau Kitjil island |
We descend carefully to harbor right down there. I meet another group travelers including foreigners. We have breakfast before subsequently heading off to Rakata island, the origin of chained surrounding mountains in the past. It takes only 15 minutes to reach another beautiful snorkeling spot. All of us immediately prepare for snorkeling stuffs and submerging down there. I just do love doing this igniting my burning skin. I really enjoy the fascinating undersea. It is just too awesome. I and smaller group members play hide-and-seek amongst scattering traveler from these three vessels.
The command to return onboard announced when the sun at its highest yet hottest horizon. We return to Sabesi island for lunch and preparing stuffs going back to Rajabasa. Fortunately our last day here the weather is nice even though the wave still works but not as harder as yesterday. At 3 pm we pack our stuffs and going back.
Then 2 hours later the vessels have arrived approaching log made pier. It's kinda tiring but lot of joy. Meeting new friends, experiencing new nerve, exploring new place. We subsequently depart to Bekauhuni harbor by angkot, an hour long. I am so much surprised when I know the ferry we are going to go by is the biggest I ever drop. I and my new fellows order for flat bed class as we plan to play UNO. Lot of laughs at the night of our return. I have found a new friendship here. Hope I would meet them again someday.
All those series of short (weekend) trip are even bigger in the meaning than the length of its time. It has given me accounts to me myself having another conclusion. I, as not having many experience as that of other travelers, have realized the growth of traveling within this country is remarkable. Willingness to travel, to look new places, to become more aware the potential of their own nation is just emerging. It is not initiated nor created by government or official institution but the own sense of most of us, the grassroots. Calculating these scattering islands alone seems never ending, official says it's around 17,000 but who knows the dynamics of geological condition might break the existing report everyday. Its dynamic is as easy as of most people I meet here to make new friends in the very short time. I notice something they are very welcome and always smile to new people, foreigners or local is just the same. I have to admit, I become more addicted to travel within this never ending nation where west to east is as long as Europe continent alone. Just too much curious another hidden beautiful spots tell me another story. Someday :)
I've come back from a brief reading of bird migration either southerward or northerward depending on the season. I am so amazed how they are able to reach as far thousand miles for a single pace. With their magnificent wings, they fly beyond ocean and continent only looking for the most suitable climate to their adaptation based on scientific finding that of expert. The migration causes might conclude more enigmatic reasons which are still undiscovered. In brief, the birds have freedom to revolve the earth even though dangers can cause them failure to destination unpredictably. A freedom always attached with a risk, it's rule.
It reminds me of some years ago when I was really young in hometown, before the twilight I used to stand on vast green grass field looking up yellowish sky, groups of birds flied across the horizon. I always questioned where they ended up, until I got Biology class. But I still have no answer of the birds I used to observe, to Australia or New Zealand by considering me at the axis of migration route, neither my friends nor teacher ever discussed about them. My best wish they had found their happiness.
My bird story has come into more fascinating when once I relate to these days people mobilize more frequent like never before. But one of the most thing I am surprised when some of country's leader eye this so far abandoned axis to drop by. I wonder is there any cage here.
I almost become more accustomed to get heard or heard of diplomatic visit to capital Jakarta. This year alone, from the first ever visit of Irish Minister, Belarus President visit, till Liberian leader. Not to mention neighboring and regional countries leader visits in order to boost economy ties as they eye Indonesia as a new islands of opportunity they could cooperate with.
The Belarus President visit was another interesting example for me as the Minsk-based TV was streaming nationwide an hour special documentary about Indonesia, a rare thing I ever heard unless news about disaster, corruption, and so fourth.The only thing I hear about Belarus is since it became host of my student organization (IAAS) world congress in 2008, my friends visited the country as Indonesia delegates. Meanwhile President SBY visit to Liberia which later revisited by a wonder woman, Libarian leader has even surprised me more since Liberia is not famous in this country, I have known about the country from my old encyclopedia I used to read few years ago, but might be a question for most others.
Despite of growing economy and more diplomatic ties, it has never been always easy for ordinary citizen of Indonesia to travel overseas particularly to developed country. We still need what so-called VISA. The growing economy has not yet been represented by easiness to travel. There are only very few number of countries to receive Indonesian passport holder to grant VISA-Free or Visa On Arrival, a matter which still mumbles until today. This restriction index is far below neighboring Malaysia and Singapore which they are able to visit most countries around the world.
Visiting EU countries without any very strong endorsement would be very hard, not to mention US. I have heard about many experiences of visa rejection at the embassy, my friend who visited US for graduate school test has told me how he barely saw a student who officially accepted at one of prominent university in US rejected for student visa. Fortunately my friend just got it so easy, he went to US for Harvard and Michigan State University for graduate school test, funded by sponsor he struggled to obtain. Good news he is accepted by those two universities. My other friend was confirmed to fulfill additional document to obtain the visa even though he was invited by the UN. He cancelled his visit. Though some others may get it smoothly.
Visiting Netherlands, a country with more than 350 years history with Indonesia is another matter of visa requirement (Schengen) even it is merely purposed for short visit. Considering number of consulate of certain countries are limited, the only most possible thing to propose visa is in Jakarta. It could be another barrier for Indonesian who live far from capital city, you know how long this islands country stretches from west to east. But for certain groups of elite, obtaining visa to developed country might be easier.
I was one who previously planned for proposing visa to the UK embassy as my summer course application was accepted and given seat by Oxford University. I never believed before I got that fortune since I applied for Geography which that of Oxford ranks the first in the world based on QS Ranking (a prominent university ranking system). But financial matter is still classical barrier. I don't get any financial support, at the end of the day, my July class at Oxford will never happen.
Those experiences have confirmed me sometimes people could not always be as free as bird. And life sometimes is lottery. The only thing to win the game is to do the fullest, with extraordinary efforts. I remember what Bill Gates said, "Life is not fair, get used to it". Despite of it, I'm still waiting for my Erasmus Exchange announcement which I applied for Finland and Sweden. I do believe there are million other prolific students across this country who dream the same, but seems we have to do more than other students in other countries in order to win. It's never been always easy but there is still opportunity. Who knows :-)
