7 things that scare you:
uhm...I'm not really scared of anything...so will change the title to:
7 things people are usually scared of and why I'm not scared of them:
1.insects - I think they're gorgeous and cool =D
2.ghost/evil spirits, at least the way they're depicted in horror movies - part of it has to do with me being a christian, another part is because I believe they can't do anything to me.
3. death - just another phase of life...in fact I'm sometimes curious as to how it feels..
4. failure - well, one can't stay on top all the time
5.loss of a loved one - will hurt, but life goes on
6. hurting a loved one - can't help doing it sometimes..say sorry and face the consequences..
7.being alone - quite enjoyable if one gets used to it
Used to be afraid of people's expectations as well as my own's..and also of being given too much responsibility,but have since learned to manage it.
7 things you like the most:
1.books!!!!
2.Nature
3.good friends
3.the colour Blue
4.lame jokes - and people who can crack them
5.tempe goreng...my staple food!
6.trees - currently my fave tree is the raintree
7.piano
7 important things in your room:
1.my books... (ok I'm cheatingi...but they are the most important things...)
2.laptop
3.guitar
4.potted plants (neutralise chemical contaminants!)
5.keyboard...though it's not exactly inside my room...
6.dark blue curtain, gift from my mom..makes the color of the whole room a very nice blue
7.drawing - modelling equipments
7 things you plan to do before you die:
1.see the Aurora (dream since childhood...)
2.visit all major architectural works around the world
3.write a book
4.volunter in an ulu place for half/one year,alternatively go around Indonesia visiting small tribes and learn how they live
5.climb a mountain (short one will do ;p )
6.design a house that my parents would love
7.make my clients very happy,as an architect
7 things you can do:
1.study for 5-6 hours straight, then go eat and continue studying..ya..my reputation as a mugger is kind of deserved..
2.either make people laugh, or otherwise freeze them, by telling jokes
3. read very fast, and very widely..I'm a very curious person regarding Nature and things
4.eat tempe goreng for lunch and dinner everyday without getting bored
5.learns languages pretty fast if I get to speak it quite often
6.can deal with insects..never thought this is a big deal before I went to ISCF camp and even the guys didn't dare to remove the insects in some girls' room...
7.can eat no meat for years,and years, and years..haha..not really an ability though, comes from being vegetarian..
7 things you can't do:
1.can't stay in a crowded places for a long time
2.can't be with people all the time - I need quite some time alone
3.can't concentrate with music around
4.can't live without books..haha..
5.can't be serious for long stretches of time, even when I'm alone
6.can't NOT think too much regarding some things
7.can't sleep with the lights on
7 things that attract you to the opposite sex:
1.knowledge - will be very happy if we can converse about lots n lots of things
2.sense of humour
3.ability to play musical instruments
4.love for Nature
5.interest in books and poetry,and Indonesian language!
6.straightforwardness
7. D.I.Y ability (fascination comes from watching my dad repair almost anything around the house..)
7 things you say the most:
1.buset
2.hah?
3.wahlau (ng...baru nyadar betapa singlish-nya gw kadang2...)
4.dude
5.yo
6.shoot
7.are you serious...?
7 random facts about you:
1.likes to make friends with people from different countries since I like hearing about and learning about other cultures
2.have difficulty remembering names, especially Chinese names..so yeah,I'm very happly if people's names are unique and easy to remember
3.used to be tomboy but have since gotten much better (at least I think so...)
4.want to learn Hindi and go around India..since I adore Indian food and am fascinated by Indian architecture and mythology
5.am a very tropics person..hates cold and snow but loves strong sun and pouring rain (whether to be seen through the window or be experienced directly ;p )
6.used to wish I'm born a boy and a pribumi so I can go around my beloved country exploring without my parents being so worried all the time.In any case, yeah, I used to REALLY wish I was born a boy.
7.for a person who studies design...I have a very can't-be-bothered and practical attitude towards my appearance and the things I use..as long as they can function well, then that's enough.
Hm...I really don't know who to tag..oh well, anyone who reads this and feels like being tagged, be my guest!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Archi Student's Trivia
At last can apply my brain to nonsensical pursuits again...fiuh...newae, created this specially to keep my archimates occupied ;p
1. If you can go for a fully paid trip to visit three architectural works, which one would you go to?
...ng....thermal bath at Vals, Hagia Sophia in Turkey, and Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama.
2.If you can apprentice under any architect for one year, who will it be?
Peter Zumthor!!!! Alternatively, Santiago Calatrava or Leonardo da Vinci..
3.If you are given only three items to make models, though you are given unlimited materials, which three items would you use?
white glue (so much better than UHU!), x-acto knife, set square. Hm..I guess not much choice in this one..
4.If you have to do your work the whole night listening to the same song over and over again, which song would it be?
"Begadang" by Haji Rhoma Irama ;p dangdut can really keep the brain awake!
5. If the guy/girl you really,really, really like asks you out the night before final submission, would you say yes?
Uh...nope....anyway I would be thinking of submission the whole duration I'm with the person..
6.What would be an ideal "brunner" (breakfast-lunch-dinner summarised into one) menu?
a Subway Garden Patty set meal, with 2 oatmeal raisin cookies. Yum..hehe..
7.Which do you think is the ugliest building in the world?
Actually..anything post-modernist is usually very very ugly...say, those by Michael Graves.
8.The first time you stayed over in studio?
Second or third week of semester two year one...managed to escape for the whole sem1 yr1..
9. Honestly, have you ever not bathed at all in one day because there was too much work?
Fortunately no...but I did reduce my bathing frequency to once a day several times..huhuhu...
10. Where would you be if you are not in architecture?
Nooooo!!!! I want to be in archi!!!! But I guess it would be biotech...nearly went there..
11. Which one better, sleeping 8 hours every 2 days or sleeping 4 hours per day?
Uh...preferably not both...but if I have to, 4 hours per day is better..
12. Would you be willing to trade 7 years of your life with being a star architect the calibre of Herzog and De Meuron?
Actually,no..but I think sometimes we all can't help sacrificing our health in archi..
13.If you can buy and own one building, any one in the world,which would it be?
Thermal bath at Vals! Wah...this is a very enticing thought...
....ran out of questions...hahaha...
Am tagging Edo and Ren,of course, also Sky, Grace...hm.....will think of other people to sabo..
1. If you can go for a fully paid trip to visit three architectural works, which one would you go to?
...ng....thermal bath at Vals, Hagia Sophia in Turkey, and Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama.
2.If you can apprentice under any architect for one year, who will it be?
Peter Zumthor!!!! Alternatively, Santiago Calatrava or Leonardo da Vinci..
3.If you are given only three items to make models, though you are given unlimited materials, which three items would you use?
white glue (so much better than UHU!), x-acto knife, set square. Hm..I guess not much choice in this one..
4.If you have to do your work the whole night listening to the same song over and over again, which song would it be?
"Begadang" by Haji Rhoma Irama ;p dangdut can really keep the brain awake!
5. If the guy/girl you really,really, really like asks you out the night before final submission, would you say yes?
Uh...nope....anyway I would be thinking of submission the whole duration I'm with the person..
6.What would be an ideal "brunner" (breakfast-lunch-dinner summarised into one) menu?
a Subway Garden Patty set meal, with 2 oatmeal raisin cookies. Yum..hehe..
7.Which do you think is the ugliest building in the world?
Actually..anything post-modernist is usually very very ugly...say, those by Michael Graves.
8.The first time you stayed over in studio?
Second or third week of semester two year one...managed to escape for the whole sem1 yr1..
9. Honestly, have you ever not bathed at all in one day because there was too much work?
Fortunately no...but I did reduce my bathing frequency to once a day several times..huhuhu...
10. Where would you be if you are not in architecture?
Nooooo!!!! I want to be in archi!!!! But I guess it would be biotech...nearly went there..
11. Which one better, sleeping 8 hours every 2 days or sleeping 4 hours per day?
Uh...preferably not both...but if I have to, 4 hours per day is better..
12. Would you be willing to trade 7 years of your life with being a star architect the calibre of Herzog and De Meuron?
Actually,no..but I think sometimes we all can't help sacrificing our health in archi..
13.If you can buy and own one building, any one in the world,which would it be?
Thermal bath at Vals! Wah...this is a very enticing thought...
....ran out of questions...hahaha...
Am tagging Edo and Ren,of course, also Sky, Grace...hm.....will think of other people to sabo..
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Iris
Am mellowing up after extended periods of solitary mugging while listening to downpours outside the window...Looks like I'm not that much of an academic loner anymore....Oh well....Jiwang, jiwang go away, come again another day..
And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
-Iris (Goo Goo dolls)
And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
-Iris (Goo Goo dolls)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Kata-kata untuk Cinta
"Sebuah cinta memang harus diungkapkan karena tidak pernah ada cinta yang patut disembunyikan, kecuali oleh seseorang yang terlalu mencintai dirinya sendiri. . . . Dan, cinta sekali lagi membuktikan kekuatannnya malam itu kalau cinta ada untuk cinta itu sendiri, bukan untuk dimiliki. . . .Cinta memang ada untuk dicintai dan diungkapkan sebagai sebuah jembatan baru ke pelajaran-pelajaran kehidupan manusia selanjutnya. Cinta yang akan membuat manusia lebih mengerti siapa penciptanya dan siapa dirinya. Dan, dengan penuh rasa syukur akhirnya manusia menyadari bahwa tidak ada cinta paling yang paling besar di dunia ini kecuali cinta Sang Pencipta kepada mahluknya. Tidak pernah ada cinta yang bisa dimiliki manusia, kecuali cinta dari Sang Pencipta -yang tidak pernah berpaling dari manusia dan selalu mencintai manusia mahluk terbaik ciptaan-Nya. Sang Pencipta tidak pernah memberikan apa yang manusia pinta, seperti cinta..Ia memberi apa yang manusia butuhkan." (5 cm - Donny Dhirgantoro)
Monday, November 26, 2007
-
(Shiela's Law: "Ilham selalu datang di saat yang salah.")
Yah....mau diapain lagi...bakal aku laporin ke mamanya nanti si Ilham...
Puisi Fisikawan Patah Hati
Jiwaku beresonansi membayangkan senyummu
Cahaya dirimu yang selalu dan selalu
Jatuh di titik fokus lensa hatiku
Namun..
Resultan gaya kata-katamu nan tajam
Melibas melontar mencabik menghunjam
Seolah engkau mengkalkulasi vektor
Jarak terpendek menusuk hatiku
Engkaulah gaya gravitasi yang menjejakkan kakiku ke bumi
Demikian Hukum Newton berlaku
Namun heran aku karena dirimu
Telah kulakukan serentetan aksi
Mengapa darimu tak ada reaksi?
E = mc kuadrat
Begitu Einstein bernubuat
Besar massa rasa di hatiku,
Cepatnya sarafku bereaksi melihatmu
Tak kunjung menimbulkan energi
Membujukmu berpaling padaku
Segala cara menyampaikan cinta
Konduksi konveksi radiasi, sudah dicoba
Konduktor macam apa harus kupakai?
Beritahu aku, Feynman
Di bagian mana aku lalai?
Memang aku hanya magnet induksi
Tanpa arus listrik yang mampu menarikmu
Biarlah aku jadi tetes minyak milikan
Bolak-balik di ruang hampa,
Selalu dipermainkan
Memang nasibku bukan menjadi pujangga
Hanya seorang fisikawan
___
Note: TIDAK merefleksi kejadian di dunia nyata! tapi ini adalah pertanda aku sudah betul2 jenuh belajar..huhu..rasanya sudah siap sih, tapi juga nggak tau mau ngapain sampai besok..haih...mau tulis puisi arsitek patah hati, tapi kurang etis lah nanti malah bisa2nya jadi kenyataan..
Hueh....Bosan.....
Yah....mau diapain lagi...bakal aku laporin ke mamanya nanti si Ilham...
Puisi Fisikawan Patah Hati
Jiwaku beresonansi membayangkan senyummu
Cahaya dirimu yang selalu dan selalu
Jatuh di titik fokus lensa hatiku
Namun..
Resultan gaya kata-katamu nan tajam
Melibas melontar mencabik menghunjam
Seolah engkau mengkalkulasi vektor
Jarak terpendek menusuk hatiku
Engkaulah gaya gravitasi yang menjejakkan kakiku ke bumi
Demikian Hukum Newton berlaku
Namun heran aku karena dirimu
Telah kulakukan serentetan aksi
Mengapa darimu tak ada reaksi?
E = mc kuadrat
Begitu Einstein bernubuat
Besar massa rasa di hatiku,
Cepatnya sarafku bereaksi melihatmu
Tak kunjung menimbulkan energi
Membujukmu berpaling padaku
Segala cara menyampaikan cinta
Konduksi konveksi radiasi, sudah dicoba
Konduktor macam apa harus kupakai?
Beritahu aku, Feynman
Di bagian mana aku lalai?
Memang aku hanya magnet induksi
Tanpa arus listrik yang mampu menarikmu
Biarlah aku jadi tetes minyak milikan
Bolak-balik di ruang hampa,
Selalu dipermainkan
Memang nasibku bukan menjadi pujangga
Hanya seorang fisikawan
___
Note: TIDAK merefleksi kejadian di dunia nyata! tapi ini adalah pertanda aku sudah betul2 jenuh belajar..huhu..rasanya sudah siap sih, tapi juga nggak tau mau ngapain sampai besok..haih...mau tulis puisi arsitek patah hati, tapi kurang etis lah nanti malah bisa2nya jadi kenyataan..
Hueh....Bosan.....
Sunday, November 25, 2007
You Were There -by Avalon
I wonder how it must have felt
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand, and held on tight
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all his sovereignty had bigger plans
And just in time, You brought a lamb
'Cause You were there,
You were there
In the midst of the unclear
You were there, you were there always
You were there when obedience
Seemed to not make sense
You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There You were
Hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense
With Your last breath
You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God
You were, You are and You will always be
The Risen Lamb of God
__
When obedience does not make sense, and rebellion genuinely seems to be the right thing..remind me that Your ways are so much higher than mine,Lord.
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand, and held on tight
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all his sovereignty had bigger plans
And just in time, You brought a lamb
'Cause You were there,
You were there
In the midst of the unclear
You were there, you were there always
You were there when obedience
Seemed to not make sense
You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There You were
Hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense
With Your last breath
You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God
You were, You are and You will always be
The Risen Lamb of God
__
When obedience does not make sense, and rebellion genuinely seems to be the right thing..remind me that Your ways are so much higher than mine,Lord.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Tackling Prospective Fathers-in-law - The "Biblical" Way
(Story told by my youth pastor, as a negative example. Attention, NEGATIVE example.)
Here goes.....
A young man was going to meet the father of his prospective bride for the first time, and knowing that the father was strongly religious, he wanted to impress the man with Bible verses.
And so, when he met his prospective father-in-law, while he talked he quoted Proverbs 18:22 :"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD."
The father replied, "Ah young man, but do you not know what apostle Paul said? He that marries does well, but he who does not marry does better."
The young man got rather nervous, but after thinking for a while, he flashed a triumphant smile and said, "Well sir, we know that apostle Paul did not marry, while Solomon had 700 wives. So, surely in matters of marriage Solomon is more experienced?"
=) Well, well, for those who are in courtship age (I can hear my cousin complaining that the Israelites were all married off by the time they're 20..) and still waiting for your help mate, remember: God's choice is so much better than simply any good choice, and "let not our longing slay the appetite of our living."
God bless you!
Here goes.....
A young man was going to meet the father of his prospective bride for the first time, and knowing that the father was strongly religious, he wanted to impress the man with Bible verses.
And so, when he met his prospective father-in-law, while he talked he quoted Proverbs 18:22 :"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD."
The father replied, "Ah young man, but do you not know what apostle Paul said? He that marries does well, but he who does not marry does better."
The young man got rather nervous, but after thinking for a while, he flashed a triumphant smile and said, "Well sir, we know that apostle Paul did not marry, while Solomon had 700 wives. So, surely in matters of marriage Solomon is more experienced?"
=) Well, well, for those who are in courtship age (I can hear my cousin complaining that the Israelites were all married off by the time they're 20..) and still waiting for your help mate, remember: God's choice is so much better than simply any good choice, and "let not our longing slay the appetite of our living."
God bless you!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Random Thoughts....at a very wrong time....
Newae it got me thinking..I thought that an utopian world in terms of education system would be a world where everyone who is born has kind of a neon sign on his/her forehead that says what talents he/she has, and what would he/she loves to do best. Wouldn't that be cool? I mean, right now maybe there's a school teacher somewhere whose artistic talent rivals Da Vinci, but he's never touched a paintbrush all his life because his father thinks it's only for sissies. Or a struggling pianist could have been a three star Michelin chef, and conversely a cha kway tiau seller could have been a composer rivaling Nobuo Uematsu. But they did not even realize they have the talents!! Wouldn't it be cool to skip so many years of misguided, competitive education system that forces you to study everything with the lame excuse of discovering where your strength lies? Wouldn't it be cool if all a talent scout has to do is scour poor villages for a kid who has a "star footballer" sign in his forehead? Wouldn't a lot of hurt, a lot of worry, a lo of wasted chances, a lot of mistaken decisions, be avoided?
Well, I used to think so. But then, the human world is much too complicated to create utopia even if such a system is in place. What if a child who has a "musician" sign shining so bright on his forehead met an accident that paralysed him for life? Would he then be convinced he canno do anything else? What if a "star footballer" loves to relax and laze around even more than play football, would society accuse him of wasting talents right away? What about the kids who has the signs "Lawyer", "Politician" and "Taxman"? Would they be ridiculed since childhood by some people? What if I was born with a "scientist" sign, but wanted to try so many things before becoming a scientist? Would the system prevents me from doing that since it has already known where my talent lies, and would not allow me to waste precious time and energy from developing that talent?And if children go to "Artist School", "Scientist School", "Architect School", "Teacher School", how segmented a society will we be?
And so many other questions...haih..
Humans..we're created with immense potential to do good, but with immense potential to do evil as well.
Case in point:
The human-mouse ear. A real genetic engineering creation that rocked the biotech world some years back (Quite long already actually.So I assume they must have a better creature by now, if only slightly.) One of my favorite photos to illustrate the gray world that is science. Well, if scientists are able to generate and harvest human organs from animals, then a lot of people would be helped, that's for sure...ignoring cost and ethical problems. Would Nature really not bite back the way we are manipulating it now?
Which brings me to another point..one of my lecturer for Design and Environment said, "We shouldn't say that at the rate we're going we're going to destroy Nature. The correct statement is, at the rate we're going, Nature will destroy us."
So true, yet so ignored in actual life..
Uhm...why did I come to this point again? Oh well...continue studying!
(Just watched Disney's Robin Hood to relieve some boredom of studying SS..."Faint hearts never won fair ladies," faint muggers never won fair grades! Muuuuuuggggggg!!!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Inspiration to Mug
Steven Holl's NYU Department of Philosophy,New York
And so, I must rajin-rajin mugging, keeping in mind this ultimate goal: to be a cool architect! Yeah!
A Bittersweet Evening..
And it was actually so fun! I've said this so many times but I'll say it again...archi is the fun-nest of faculties! ;p hm..in this case,it's actually the act of destruction and not of building that constitutes architecture...maybe I should go to demolition industry instead?
Kinda sad, but well, no structure in this world can stand forever. (Especially not if it is build with inferior quality plywood! Totally infested with ants, maggots, fungi, spiders, don't know what else!)
Sunday, November 18, 2007
"And if I die mugging...."
"...at least I was mugging about archi-related stuff...."
Hahaha..thankfully the situation is not that serious, plus I'd rather die hiking up some difficult mountain rather than die mugging..so uncool!
Oh well, for those facing reading week, here are some stuff I've read: "The root of education is bitter, but the fruits are indeed sweet." And for those who are very pressurised: "A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work."
The easy part: reading. The difficult part: ignoring truly inventive distractions usually created by my creative brain. To top it off, I'm supposed to stay away from a person until after exams. Ah well, focus and restraint!
Hahaha..thankfully the situation is not that serious, plus I'd rather die hiking up some difficult mountain rather than die mugging..so uncool!
Oh well, for those facing reading week, here are some stuff I've read: "The root of education is bitter, but the fruits are indeed sweet." And for those who are very pressurised: "A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work."
The easy part: reading. The difficult part: ignoring truly inventive distractions usually created by my creative brain. To top it off, I'm supposed to stay away from a person until after exams. Ah well, focus and restraint!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Bukit Timah Trek
Arrived there at around 10 AM, then started the trek up....
Eventually reached the summit though..nearly out of breath which showed just how cooped up in studio I was during semester time.
After that we went to explore the paths to the quarry, which mainly consists of all kinds of stairs...and so up we go....
And up...and up... (seriously, if you have no stamina to go up hundreds of fligths of stairs, don't go to this nature reserve...halfway of the trek I was already cursing the steps...)
Oh well,but we did get rewarded with a beautiful view of the quarry:
And up...and up... (seriously, if you have no stamina to go up hundreds of fligths of stairs, don't go to this nature reserve...halfway of the trek I was already cursing the steps...)
Oh well,but we did get rewarded with a beautiful view of the quarry:
And when I was taking pictures of the quarry...Leonard saw a snake! Ok granted, it was a tiny, (I think) non-poisonous snake that's just long, cute and bright green..but still, was so excited to actually see something other than monkeys, butterflies and squirrels! (yup, that's how harmless nature reserves in Singapore are..)
Here's what I managed to take of the snake..I did not manage to take the head!!! Aaaa!! but then, I had to watch out for the snake as well as watch my balance since we were standing on cliff edge...(strayed from the normal path..which is well...just so like us...)
I hope I'll get to see it again next time I visit.
Also saw a weird tree with many flowers coming out of its base, part of an old wall (could be the boundary of the nature reserve) and n eerie structure that could have been a toilet, but it's really not for the faint-hearted...
Well, what goes up must come down, so....
Eventually we came to a tarmac path which we didn't know would led where, but one thing signals that this is an ulu part of Singapore:
You just don't find above ground electrical posts in the city anymore. Eventually we reached a little cottage...wondering what that was..and turns out that cottage was an architecture office of one of my tutors at school! Life is weirdly funny... maybe I'll apply to work there next time because the atmosphere is really nice.
Went further down and saw a weird building with a thick wall built in front of it:
So the thick wall was built in case the explosives start acting funny...hm...the government does keep lotsa weird things inside nature reserves..bunkers,manholes, even explosives...secret research facilities next?
Anyway, we went to eat in Mad Jack, a western food eatery in Bukit Timah road,and surprisingly they have a vegetarian section! So Leonard chomped on his fish n chips while I munched on my "fake fish" and mashed potato ;p
After that, went for ice cream at Island Creamery, but forgot to take photo cause I straight away attacked the ice cream! Roarr!! Hahahaha... Oh man, after weekends and weekends of staying over in studio, chasing deadlines and rushing models, at last I have a pure Saturday of uncontaminated bliss...
Here's what I managed to take of the snake..I did not manage to take the head!!! Aaaa!! but then, I had to watch out for the snake as well as watch my balance since we were standing on cliff edge...(strayed from the normal path..which is well...just so like us...)
I hope I'll get to see it again next time I visit.
Also saw a weird tree with many flowers coming out of its base, part of an old wall (could be the boundary of the nature reserve) and n eerie structure that could have been a toilet, but it's really not for the faint-hearted...
Well, what goes up must come down, so....
Eventually we came to a tarmac path which we didn't know would led where, but one thing signals that this is an ulu part of Singapore:
You just don't find above ground electrical posts in the city anymore. Eventually we reached a little cottage...wondering what that was..and turns out that cottage was an architecture office of one of my tutors at school! Life is weirdly funny... maybe I'll apply to work there next time because the atmosphere is really nice.
Went further down and saw a weird building with a thick wall built in front of it:
So the thick wall was built in case the explosives start acting funny...hm...the government does keep lotsa weird things inside nature reserves..bunkers,manholes, even explosives...secret research facilities next?
Anyway, we went to eat in Mad Jack, a western food eatery in Bukit Timah road,and surprisingly they have a vegetarian section! So Leonard chomped on his fish n chips while I munched on my "fake fish" and mashed potato ;p
After that, went for ice cream at Island Creamery, but forgot to take photo cause I straight away attacked the ice cream! Roarr!! Hahahaha... Oh man, after weekends and weekends of staying over in studio, chasing deadlines and rushing models, at last I have a pure Saturday of uncontaminated bliss...
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD!
You see me worship o LORD
Though my dancing may be clumsy
You hear the songs that I sing
Though others may sing
Much better than me
For it is with a heart of worship
It is with a heart of praise
I come in front of You
Lift my hands and say:
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD!
For that is all He needs
He doesn't care if we were sinners
The time is now, the place is here
To make a joyful noise unto the LORD!
For that is all He needs
This is the least we can do
Just to say
Thank you..
__
Just came back from Indon fellowship, and was talking to one of the mentors about music. How does qualify one song as fit for worship and another as unfit? The melody? The lyrics? The intention fo the songwriter? The emotions it arouses?
The discourse on worship music is amazingly influenced by doctrine. The church that strongly influences the fellowship happens to be Calvinist, and far as I know they come from a tradition that does not so much emphasis the individuality of each person, but the person as part of the congregation. Hence, the type of music preferred also does not focus so much on the individual and his/her personal relationship to God. I think this is also why they frown upon contemporary Christian songs who supposedly emphasise mroe on the individual instead of on God.
I come from an apostolic pentecostal church that emphasises the teaching of God as a personal saviour,hence I'm used to songs depicting the closeness and the very personal nature of a person's relationship to God. I don't agree that these songs will compromise the purpose of worship, which is gloryfing God, but the discussion just now did give me something to think about.
When we worship, are our emotions gloryfying God as well? I think the people I talked about are wary of feeling good during worship due to emotions like "Oh God loves me so much", "Oh everything will be okay",and people focusing on the nice beat and melody instead of "Oh God You are awesome!" Yes I agree with that. If people cry because the song has a sad melody, and not because they really are moved by God, something's wrong. But well, can these only be achieved by singing hymns alone?
Still thinking. Being open-minded does bring problems of its own.
Teach me n my trusty guitar, LORD, to put a smile on Your face..even if all I know is how to make a joyful noise!
Though my dancing may be clumsy
You hear the songs that I sing
Though others may sing
Much better than me
For it is with a heart of worship
It is with a heart of praise
I come in front of You
Lift my hands and say:
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD!
For that is all He needs
He doesn't care if we were sinners
The time is now, the place is here
To make a joyful noise unto the LORD!
For that is all He needs
This is the least we can do
Just to say
Thank you..
__
Just came back from Indon fellowship, and was talking to one of the mentors about music. How does qualify one song as fit for worship and another as unfit? The melody? The lyrics? The intention fo the songwriter? The emotions it arouses?
The discourse on worship music is amazingly influenced by doctrine. The church that strongly influences the fellowship happens to be Calvinist, and far as I know they come from a tradition that does not so much emphasis the individuality of each person, but the person as part of the congregation. Hence, the type of music preferred also does not focus so much on the individual and his/her personal relationship to God. I think this is also why they frown upon contemporary Christian songs who supposedly emphasise mroe on the individual instead of on God.
I come from an apostolic pentecostal church that emphasises the teaching of God as a personal saviour,hence I'm used to songs depicting the closeness and the very personal nature of a person's relationship to God. I don't agree that these songs will compromise the purpose of worship, which is gloryfing God, but the discussion just now did give me something to think about.
When we worship, are our emotions gloryfying God as well? I think the people I talked about are wary of feeling good during worship due to emotions like "Oh God loves me so much", "Oh everything will be okay",and people focusing on the nice beat and melody instead of "Oh God You are awesome!" Yes I agree with that. If people cry because the song has a sad melody, and not because they really are moved by God, something's wrong. But well, can these only be achieved by singing hymns alone?
Still thinking. Being open-minded does bring problems of its own.
Teach me n my trusty guitar, LORD, to put a smile on Your face..even if all I know is how to make a joyful noise!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Penderitaan Orang Pintar
"Orang cerdas memahami konsekuensi setiap jawaban dan menemukan bahwa di balik sebuah jawaban tersembunyi beberapa pertanyaan baru. Pertanyaan baru tersebut memiliki pasangan sejumlah jawaban yang kembali akan membawa pertanyaan baru dalam deretan eksponensial. Sehingga mereka yang benar-benar cerdas kebanyakan rendah hati, sebab mereka gamang pada akibat dari sebuah jawaban. Konsekuensi - konsekuensi itu mereka temui dalam jalur-jalur seperti labirin, jalur yang jauh menjalar-jalar, jalur yang tak dikenal di lokus-lokus antah berantah, tiada berujung. Mereka mengarungi jalur pemikiran ini, tersesat jauh di dalamnya, sendirian.
Godaan-godaan besar bersemayam di dalam kepala orang-orang cerdas. Di dalamnya gaduh karena penuh dengan skeptisisme. Selesai menyerahkan tugas kepada dosen, mereka selalu merasa tidak puas, selalu merasa bisa berbuat lebih baik dari apa yang telah mereka presentasikan. Bahkan ketika mendapat nilai A plus tertinggi, mereka masih saja mengutuki dirinya sepanjang malam.
Orang cerdas berdiri dalam gelap, sehingga mereka bisa melihat sesuatu yang tak bisa dilihat orang lain. Mereka yang tak dipahami oleh lingkungannya, terperangkap dalam kegelapan itu. Semakin cerdas, semakin terkucil,semakin aneh mereka. Kita menyebut mereka: orang-orang yang sulit. Orang-orang sulit ini tak berteman, dan mereka berteriak putus asa mohon pengertian. Ditambah sedikit saja dengan sikap introvert, maka orang-orang cerdas macam ini tak jarang berakhir di sebuah kamar dengan perabot warna teduh dan musik klasik yang terdengar lamat-lamat. Itulah ruang terapi kejiwaan. Sebagian dari mereka amat menderita." (Andrea Hirata, "Laskar Pelangi")
Aku menulis tentang orang pintar, bukan karena merasa pintar. Cuma, kayaknya aku cukup banyak ketemu bermacam-macam orang pintar, dang yang jelas kondisi mereka jauh dari stereotype murid kesayangan guru yang tanpa perlu banyak belajar mendapat skor gilang-gemilang.
Terlalu banyak orang yang mengandai-andai bahwa menjadi orang cerdas berarti terhindar dari kewajiban untuk berusaha,lepas dari hukum "apa yang kau tabur itulah yang kau tuai", sekaligus bisa menyombongkan diri karena otak yang di atas rata-rata. Maka sekarang aku ingin menulis tentang bermacam-macam orang pintar yang nyatanya menderita.
Orang pintar menderita jenis pertama, adalah orang yang karena kepandaiannya harus menanggung beragam ekspektasi, baik dari orang-orang sekelilingnya, maupun dirinya sendiri. Orang macam ini biasanya menggunakan isi kepalanya untuk mengejar prestasi, baik dalam bentuk nilai, uang, atau status. Ironis, karena karunia kepandaiannya itu bukannya membuatnya bahagia malah memberi tekanan dan membuat stres. Tambahan lagi, orang pintar jenis ini tak jarang kecanduan berbagai2 penghargaan dan pengakuan, karena dari sana dia mendapatkan identitasnya. Sungguh kepandaian yang mubazir. Dan jelas, kalau ada negara di mana orang pintar tipe ini bertaburan, Singapura lah itu.
Orang pintar menderita jenis kedua, yaitu orang pintar yang selalu skeptis. Saking pintarnya, dia selalu mempertanyakan apa saja, dan yang paling celaka adalah bila tidak ada orang di sekitarnya yang sanggup menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaannya dan memuaskan keraguannya.Orang pintar begini biasanya berpendapat dunia ini jahat, manusia tidak ada yang dapat dipercaya, Tuhan itu tidak ada, dan berbagai pandangan negatif lainnya. Kasihan, karena bukannya melalui hidup dengan penuh ketenangan, mereka justru tidak punya keyakinan. Kecerdasan membuat mereka takut ditipu - ditipu orang, ditipu agama, ditipu masyarakat, ditipu sistem - maka mereka sangat sulit mempercayai sesuatu.
Yang ketiga, orang pintar yang sangat sangat sangat pintar sehingga, seperti kata Andrea Hirata, mereka dianggap orang yang sulit. Konyol memang, tapi seringkali orang-orang "kurang pintar" bukan saja tidak mau mengerti,malah sekalian mencemooh dan bahkan membasmi mereka.Makanya Van Gogh mati depresi setelah potong kuping, dan Copernicus divonis murtad oleh gereja jamannya. Kecerdasan mereka melampaui jamannya masing-masing, tapi justru karena itu Jangan salah, yang dibutuhkan orang-orang pintar jenis ini bukan pengakuan, tapi semata-mata pengertian. Adalah kebahagiaan yang tak terkira menemukan orang yang bisa mengerti kita, dan buat orang-orang cerdas , semakin cerdas, semakin kecil lah kemungkinan menemukan orang yang selevel dengan mereka.
Keempat, orang pintar yang karena kepintarannya menjadi malas dan sombong. Mereka merasa berhak mendapat jabatan paling tinggi, status paling terhormat karena, yah, seringkali mereka memang punya kemampuan untuk itu. Yang gawat adalah apabila mereka tidak bisa mendapatkannya, karena memang dalam dunia ini yang diperlukan bukan kepandaian saja. Maka mereka menjadi orang-orang pahit yang mengutuk dunia karena merasa dicurangi, menyia-nyiakan kepandaian mereka karena kesempatan emas yang dinanti-nanti tak kunjung tiba.
Kelima, dan inilah menurutku jenis orang pintar yang paling menderita, adalah mereka yang pintar, sadar dirinya pintar, tapi tidak berdaya meraih fasilitas untuk mengembangkan kepintaran itu. Kasus yang membikin aku malu jadi orang Indonesia karena bisa saja the next Einstein atau Feynman atau Mendel adalah orang Indonesia, tapi dia terpaksa putus sekolah waktu SD gara-gara kekurangan biaya, sekolah digusur, guru tidak memadai dan tidak berdedikasi, serta sejuta alasan lainnya. Aku sungguh beruntung karena rasa hausku akan ilmu bisa kupuaskan dengan begitu banyak cara, sementara pasti ada orang yang IQnya lebih tinggi 50 poin dariku dan kemauan belajarnya 3x lipat sekarang sedang memandikan kerbau di sungai. Orang boleh saja menghamburkan uang, menghamburkan air, menghamburkan makanan,menghamburkan waktu, tapi orang yang menolak dan menghamburkan kesempatan mendapatkan pendidikan sungguh tidak tahu kemewahan apa yang diberikan kepada mereka.
Godaan-godaan besar bersemayam di dalam kepala orang-orang cerdas. Di dalamnya gaduh karena penuh dengan skeptisisme. Selesai menyerahkan tugas kepada dosen, mereka selalu merasa tidak puas, selalu merasa bisa berbuat lebih baik dari apa yang telah mereka presentasikan. Bahkan ketika mendapat nilai A plus tertinggi, mereka masih saja mengutuki dirinya sepanjang malam.
Orang cerdas berdiri dalam gelap, sehingga mereka bisa melihat sesuatu yang tak bisa dilihat orang lain. Mereka yang tak dipahami oleh lingkungannya, terperangkap dalam kegelapan itu. Semakin cerdas, semakin terkucil,semakin aneh mereka. Kita menyebut mereka: orang-orang yang sulit. Orang-orang sulit ini tak berteman, dan mereka berteriak putus asa mohon pengertian. Ditambah sedikit saja dengan sikap introvert, maka orang-orang cerdas macam ini tak jarang berakhir di sebuah kamar dengan perabot warna teduh dan musik klasik yang terdengar lamat-lamat. Itulah ruang terapi kejiwaan. Sebagian dari mereka amat menderita." (Andrea Hirata, "Laskar Pelangi")
Aku menulis tentang orang pintar, bukan karena merasa pintar. Cuma, kayaknya aku cukup banyak ketemu bermacam-macam orang pintar, dang yang jelas kondisi mereka jauh dari stereotype murid kesayangan guru yang tanpa perlu banyak belajar mendapat skor gilang-gemilang.
Terlalu banyak orang yang mengandai-andai bahwa menjadi orang cerdas berarti terhindar dari kewajiban untuk berusaha,lepas dari hukum "apa yang kau tabur itulah yang kau tuai", sekaligus bisa menyombongkan diri karena otak yang di atas rata-rata. Maka sekarang aku ingin menulis tentang bermacam-macam orang pintar yang nyatanya menderita.
Orang pintar menderita jenis pertama, adalah orang yang karena kepandaiannya harus menanggung beragam ekspektasi, baik dari orang-orang sekelilingnya, maupun dirinya sendiri. Orang macam ini biasanya menggunakan isi kepalanya untuk mengejar prestasi, baik dalam bentuk nilai, uang, atau status. Ironis, karena karunia kepandaiannya itu bukannya membuatnya bahagia malah memberi tekanan dan membuat stres. Tambahan lagi, orang pintar jenis ini tak jarang kecanduan berbagai2 penghargaan dan pengakuan, karena dari sana dia mendapatkan identitasnya. Sungguh kepandaian yang mubazir. Dan jelas, kalau ada negara di mana orang pintar tipe ini bertaburan, Singapura lah itu.
Orang pintar menderita jenis kedua, yaitu orang pintar yang selalu skeptis. Saking pintarnya, dia selalu mempertanyakan apa saja, dan yang paling celaka adalah bila tidak ada orang di sekitarnya yang sanggup menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaannya dan memuaskan keraguannya.Orang pintar begini biasanya berpendapat dunia ini jahat, manusia tidak ada yang dapat dipercaya, Tuhan itu tidak ada, dan berbagai pandangan negatif lainnya. Kasihan, karena bukannya melalui hidup dengan penuh ketenangan, mereka justru tidak punya keyakinan. Kecerdasan membuat mereka takut ditipu - ditipu orang, ditipu agama, ditipu masyarakat, ditipu sistem - maka mereka sangat sulit mempercayai sesuatu.
Yang ketiga, orang pintar yang sangat sangat sangat pintar sehingga, seperti kata Andrea Hirata, mereka dianggap orang yang sulit. Konyol memang, tapi seringkali orang-orang "kurang pintar" bukan saja tidak mau mengerti,malah sekalian mencemooh dan bahkan membasmi mereka.Makanya Van Gogh mati depresi setelah potong kuping, dan Copernicus divonis murtad oleh gereja jamannya. Kecerdasan mereka melampaui jamannya masing-masing, tapi justru karena itu Jangan salah, yang dibutuhkan orang-orang pintar jenis ini bukan pengakuan, tapi semata-mata pengertian. Adalah kebahagiaan yang tak terkira menemukan orang yang bisa mengerti kita, dan buat orang-orang cerdas , semakin cerdas, semakin kecil lah kemungkinan menemukan orang yang selevel dengan mereka.
Keempat, orang pintar yang karena kepintarannya menjadi malas dan sombong. Mereka merasa berhak mendapat jabatan paling tinggi, status paling terhormat karena, yah, seringkali mereka memang punya kemampuan untuk itu. Yang gawat adalah apabila mereka tidak bisa mendapatkannya, karena memang dalam dunia ini yang diperlukan bukan kepandaian saja. Maka mereka menjadi orang-orang pahit yang mengutuk dunia karena merasa dicurangi, menyia-nyiakan kepandaian mereka karena kesempatan emas yang dinanti-nanti tak kunjung tiba.
Kelima, dan inilah menurutku jenis orang pintar yang paling menderita, adalah mereka yang pintar, sadar dirinya pintar, tapi tidak berdaya meraih fasilitas untuk mengembangkan kepintaran itu. Kasus yang membikin aku malu jadi orang Indonesia karena bisa saja the next Einstein atau Feynman atau Mendel adalah orang Indonesia, tapi dia terpaksa putus sekolah waktu SD gara-gara kekurangan biaya, sekolah digusur, guru tidak memadai dan tidak berdedikasi, serta sejuta alasan lainnya. Aku sungguh beruntung karena rasa hausku akan ilmu bisa kupuaskan dengan begitu banyak cara, sementara pasti ada orang yang IQnya lebih tinggi 50 poin dariku dan kemauan belajarnya 3x lipat sekarang sedang memandikan kerbau di sungai. Orang boleh saja menghamburkan uang, menghamburkan air, menghamburkan makanan,menghamburkan waktu, tapi orang yang menolak dan menghamburkan kesempatan mendapatkan pendidikan sungguh tidak tahu kemewahan apa yang diberikan kepada mereka.
Teori Transplantasi
Berhubung sekarang kekuatan mental dan fisik saya sudah tidak dibutuhkan untuk arsitektur, inilah saatnya menuangkan tenaga otak yang kelebihan untuk satu kegiatan produktif nan intelektual: berteori.
Satu teori yang saya pikir-pikirkan sejak beberapa waktu lalu yaitu Teori Transplantasi. Intinya: hubungan antar manusia, terutama antara pria dan wanita, itu mirip dengan transplantasi organ. Sebelum saudara tertawa berguling-guling, atau istilah kerennya "ROFL", mohon saudara sudi membaca kelanjutan buah pikiran saya.
Pernahkah anda terpaksa berpisah dengan seseorang yang saudara sayangi, yang saudara puja, baik secara terhormat maupun tidak hormat, dan kemudian menjalani hari-hari saudara dengan kelam kelabu, merasa bahwa hujan berarti langit turut menangisi nasib saudara, dan teriknya matahari adalah rasa simpatinya yang diberikan sepenuh tenaga. Saudara ingin tidur, lelap dan tidak perlu bangun lagi, karena terbangun berarti menghadapi kenyataan bahwa orang yang disayang tidak ada di sisi saudara. Bisa saja saudara mengutuki diri dan berulang- ulang me replay perpisahan saudara tersebut, berpikir "Seandainya ini..." atau "Seandainya itu...." Mungkin juga saudara ingin mencabut nyawa dengan berbagai-bagai metoda, dari mulai minum Baygon (cara yang menurut saya agak kurang berkelas, namun murah dan konon efektif), sampai terjun melompat dari tempat tinggi. (terus terang agak sulit dilaksanakan di Indonesia, karena harga unit rumah susun tak disesuaikan dengan isi kantong masyarakat awam.) Apapun itu, saudara merasa tidak akan lagi bisa menyayangi seperti saudara telah menyayangi, berbagi seperti saudara telah berbagi, tertawa seperti saudara telah tertawa, percaya seperti saudara telah percaya.
Tapi kemudian, saudara bertemu dengan seseorang yang membuat dunia kembali berwarna, ditambah waktu yang cenderung membuat kenangan terpahit sekalipun menjadi indahnya nostalgia. Maka saudara bertanya ,"Apakah mungkin aku akan bisa kembali percaya, tertawa, berbagi? Apakah mungkin aku akan bisa kembali menyayangi?"
Lalu, saudara menggeleng-gelengkan kepala, dan otak saudara mengutuki bahwa saudara tidak setia! Semua kesedihan itu, rasa perih itu, tangis-tangis itu! Sia-sia! Saudara merasa bahwa perasaan indah yang baru timbul tapi dimungkiri habis-habisan itu adalah pelarian. Hanya pelarian, tidak lebih. Betapa cepatnya saudara bisa lupa akan kepedihan, yang tadinya dikira tidak berkesudahan! Betapa mudahnya saudara menggeser rasa sayang, menghapus jejak- jejak orang yang sebelumnya disayang! "Memang laknat hati manusia!" demikian rutuk saudara, dan saudara bertekad menenggelamkan perasaan ini seolah ia adalah mayat orang yang mati terkena wabah pes, ataupun membabatnya habis ibarat gulma jenis baru dengan taraf bahaya kelas satu.
Maka otak kiri saudara bekerja lembur dan otak kanan dipaksa tidur. Segala rasio dikerahkan demi menghabisi yang namanya perasaan. Rasa harap, rasa bersalah, rasa sayang dan rasa marah campur aduk jadi satu, cukup untuk membuat saudara depresi atau setidak-tidaknya menurunkan nafsu makan menjadi cukup dua kali sehari.
Izinkan saya mencoba menjelaskan apa yang terjadi. Sebenarnya, yang ada hanyalah suatu transplantasi. Ibarat organ yang sudah tidak lagi bekerja, maka memori-memori, kenangan-kenangan lama yang bittersweet akan orang yang pernah saudara sayangi tidak lagi mengatur hidup saudara, tidak lagi memberi hidup, tidak lagi menimbulkan emosi. (saya percaya bahwa emosi dibutuhkan dalam hidup manusia, karena begitulah kita diciptakan,dan apabila seseorang tidak bisa mengisi hidupnya dengan emosi-emosi yang positif, maka ia akan berpegang erat pada emosi-emosi yang negatif.)
Karena itulah saudara butuh organ baru, memori-memori baru, kenangan-kenangan baru, tawa yang baru dan harapan yang baru. Dan memang, dengan adanya "organ" yang baru, akan menjadi mudah bagi saudara untuk membuang "organ" yang lama, ibarat seorang pasien gagal ginjal akut akan timbul kembali semangat hidupnya begitu mendapat kabar ada donor yang cocok baginya.
Bukan masalah saudara tidak setia, atau gampang berubah hati. Memang begitulah adanya, mau tidak mau, daripada menyimpan organ yang sekarat di dalam badan pastilah lebih baik mendapat tranplantasi.
Yah tapi, tentu saja ini sekedar teori. Bahkan saudara bisa menuduh saya bahwa teori ini adalah pembelaan diri. Tentu saja ada orang yang mati-matian menolak transplantasi, memilih untuk mundur atau melarikan diri, merasa toh nanti hatinya akan berubah lagi.
Sampai di sini, saya kehabisan kata-kata. Akan tetapi saya harap teori ini mungkin walaupun sedikit setidaknya telah menyentuh pikiran saudara.
Satu teori yang saya pikir-pikirkan sejak beberapa waktu lalu yaitu Teori Transplantasi. Intinya: hubungan antar manusia, terutama antara pria dan wanita, itu mirip dengan transplantasi organ. Sebelum saudara tertawa berguling-guling, atau istilah kerennya "ROFL", mohon saudara sudi membaca kelanjutan buah pikiran saya.
Pernahkah anda terpaksa berpisah dengan seseorang yang saudara sayangi, yang saudara puja, baik secara terhormat maupun tidak hormat, dan kemudian menjalani hari-hari saudara dengan kelam kelabu, merasa bahwa hujan berarti langit turut menangisi nasib saudara, dan teriknya matahari adalah rasa simpatinya yang diberikan sepenuh tenaga. Saudara ingin tidur, lelap dan tidak perlu bangun lagi, karena terbangun berarti menghadapi kenyataan bahwa orang yang disayang tidak ada di sisi saudara. Bisa saja saudara mengutuki diri dan berulang- ulang me replay perpisahan saudara tersebut, berpikir "Seandainya ini..." atau "Seandainya itu...." Mungkin juga saudara ingin mencabut nyawa dengan berbagai-bagai metoda, dari mulai minum Baygon (cara yang menurut saya agak kurang berkelas, namun murah dan konon efektif), sampai terjun melompat dari tempat tinggi. (terus terang agak sulit dilaksanakan di Indonesia, karena harga unit rumah susun tak disesuaikan dengan isi kantong masyarakat awam.) Apapun itu, saudara merasa tidak akan lagi bisa menyayangi seperti saudara telah menyayangi, berbagi seperti saudara telah berbagi, tertawa seperti saudara telah tertawa, percaya seperti saudara telah percaya.
Tapi kemudian, saudara bertemu dengan seseorang yang membuat dunia kembali berwarna, ditambah waktu yang cenderung membuat kenangan terpahit sekalipun menjadi indahnya nostalgia. Maka saudara bertanya ,"Apakah mungkin aku akan bisa kembali percaya, tertawa, berbagi? Apakah mungkin aku akan bisa kembali menyayangi?"
Lalu, saudara menggeleng-gelengkan kepala, dan otak saudara mengutuki bahwa saudara tidak setia! Semua kesedihan itu, rasa perih itu, tangis-tangis itu! Sia-sia! Saudara merasa bahwa perasaan indah yang baru timbul tapi dimungkiri habis-habisan itu adalah pelarian. Hanya pelarian, tidak lebih. Betapa cepatnya saudara bisa lupa akan kepedihan, yang tadinya dikira tidak berkesudahan! Betapa mudahnya saudara menggeser rasa sayang, menghapus jejak- jejak orang yang sebelumnya disayang! "Memang laknat hati manusia!" demikian rutuk saudara, dan saudara bertekad menenggelamkan perasaan ini seolah ia adalah mayat orang yang mati terkena wabah pes, ataupun membabatnya habis ibarat gulma jenis baru dengan taraf bahaya kelas satu.
Maka otak kiri saudara bekerja lembur dan otak kanan dipaksa tidur. Segala rasio dikerahkan demi menghabisi yang namanya perasaan. Rasa harap, rasa bersalah, rasa sayang dan rasa marah campur aduk jadi satu, cukup untuk membuat saudara depresi atau setidak-tidaknya menurunkan nafsu makan menjadi cukup dua kali sehari.
Izinkan saya mencoba menjelaskan apa yang terjadi. Sebenarnya, yang ada hanyalah suatu transplantasi. Ibarat organ yang sudah tidak lagi bekerja, maka memori-memori, kenangan-kenangan lama yang bittersweet akan orang yang pernah saudara sayangi tidak lagi mengatur hidup saudara, tidak lagi memberi hidup, tidak lagi menimbulkan emosi. (saya percaya bahwa emosi dibutuhkan dalam hidup manusia, karena begitulah kita diciptakan,dan apabila seseorang tidak bisa mengisi hidupnya dengan emosi-emosi yang positif, maka ia akan berpegang erat pada emosi-emosi yang negatif.)
Karena itulah saudara butuh organ baru, memori-memori baru, kenangan-kenangan baru, tawa yang baru dan harapan yang baru. Dan memang, dengan adanya "organ" yang baru, akan menjadi mudah bagi saudara untuk membuang "organ" yang lama, ibarat seorang pasien gagal ginjal akut akan timbul kembali semangat hidupnya begitu mendapat kabar ada donor yang cocok baginya.
Bukan masalah saudara tidak setia, atau gampang berubah hati. Memang begitulah adanya, mau tidak mau, daripada menyimpan organ yang sekarat di dalam badan pastilah lebih baik mendapat tranplantasi.
Yah tapi, tentu saja ini sekedar teori. Bahkan saudara bisa menuduh saya bahwa teori ini adalah pembelaan diri. Tentu saja ada orang yang mati-matian menolak transplantasi, memilih untuk mundur atau melarikan diri, merasa toh nanti hatinya akan berubah lagi.
Sampai di sini, saya kehabisan kata-kata. Akan tetapi saya harap teori ini mungkin walaupun sedikit setidaknya telah menyentuh pikiran saudara.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Visit to Bishan Library - at last!!
For someone who's a self-confessed library buff, I can't believe the time I took to finally visit the new library at Bishan. But finally!! Spent last night browsing rows and rows of non-archi books...ah, bliss....
Anyway, the new library is very unique because of a feature: tinted glass block cubes that are used as reading rooms! Here are photos of the exterior and interior:
See the cubicles? What's quite cool about it is that when you're inside it feels private because really, it's a very nice small space just for you, but the kicker is that actually you are kind of being "showcased" through the glass cubes for the pedestrian below...hahahaha... And people use them despite that fact! Which means the architect is successful, because often architects create spaces that are too complicated or too weird for people to use and as a result the spaces just get ignored.
This glass cubicles are continued on the inside:
And voila, my dinner yesterday night:
Cheese and mushroom sandwich accompanied by a stack of random books for browsing, and most importantly, topped with a very nice feeling of having all the time in the world....ahhh.... it's the time of the year to slowly savor beautiful words and poetic sentences, instead of the usual very visual diet I get from archi books.
Hm...but this really doesn't mean I like archi any less. Know what's the secret of staying happy throughout the whole academic year? Study something that's so fun and yet so demanding, hence when holiday comes we'll be happy to get away temporarily from demands and pressure, yet when school starts we'll be happy to have fun again!
Ah...ma vie c'est vraiment bon!
Anyway, the new library is very unique because of a feature: tinted glass block cubes that are used as reading rooms! Here are photos of the exterior and interior:
See the cubicles? What's quite cool about it is that when you're inside it feels private because really, it's a very nice small space just for you, but the kicker is that actually you are kind of being "showcased" through the glass cubes for the pedestrian below...hahahaha... And people use them despite that fact! Which means the architect is successful, because often architects create spaces that are too complicated or too weird for people to use and as a result the spaces just get ignored.
This glass cubicles are continued on the inside:
And voila, my dinner yesterday night:
Cheese and mushroom sandwich accompanied by a stack of random books for browsing, and most importantly, topped with a very nice feeling of having all the time in the world....ahhh.... it's the time of the year to slowly savor beautiful words and poetic sentences, instead of the usual very visual diet I get from archi books.
Hm...but this really doesn't mean I like archi any less. Know what's the secret of staying happy throughout the whole academic year? Study something that's so fun and yet so demanding, hence when holiday comes we'll be happy to get away temporarily from demands and pressure, yet when school starts we'll be happy to have fun again!
Ah...ma vie c'est vraiment bon!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Tribute to studio 11
Submission's just over and it feels like a huge load has been lifted off my back...no more dazed-ness from late nights! no more back pain and tired legs from standing to draw! no more finger-ache from cutting models! no more eye fatigue from inking horribly small details!! yayyyyyy!!! (and so dear readers, if anyone you know wants to take architecture, do warn him/ her that's it's a physically intensive course as well!)
Oh well, all that's left is the insomnia from sleeping so late every night...must try to restore some semblance of normalcy and regularity into my life. Anyway, what more befitting way to close this semester's design module than to make a tribute to my beloved studio mates. Ahhh....studio mates..the people who've brought such fun and laughter into an otherwise a torturing semester, what with the workload and demands. Wonderful friends, you know who you are...I'm reminiscing over the time we spent doing the group project..stitching that gorgeous plywood structure together..I remember the D n E project that took away our mid-sem holiday, but was bearable cuz you're all on the team...I remember the late night subways, botak jones, the karaoke session(my first time singing in a karaoke, if what i did can be called singing..), the crappy lame conversations, the satisfied smiles on our faces when our structure proudly stands... the pressure in the studio to fulfill our dear tutor's expectations, the rush to make models and draw panels..the teasings...the way we keep borrowing "uncle"'s tools ;p ....the mess in the studio, the safari beds and sleeping bags..the rush for morning lectures, the little mandarin lessons (thanks for being so patient with all my questions!)...the playground session at mount emily park! isn't that awesome!
Some of you might not read this, dear studiomates (though I plan on forcing you all to read ;p), but here goes....
To Adel, thanks for always being there with the smile and enthusiasm. Your rap rocks girl!
To Anusha,after mid-nite you're one of the funniest girl I've ever met! =) Thanks for all the laughters from the crappily intelligent conversations ;p
To Ren, I love your voice..hehe..and your panopticon instument is sooo cuuuuuteee!! haha...am inspired to practice drawing again by your drawings =)
To Poh Liang, our "Auto Cat", who proved to me that one can draw a map to scale just by looking at Google Earth, am inspired by your drawings too!
To Adriel, resident bodybuilder, who always goofs around but also always did whatever tasks allocated to him well, thanks for the D n E simulations again! Here's to your dream of having watermelons for muscles!
To Jong-Eun, alias sweet Korean exchange student, it's great having you around! You're so cuuuuteeeee!!! (Not in the same sense as Ren's panopticon instrument, but well..cute!) Talking with you's always pleasant because of your laughters =)
To Ra, I've never seen anyone who likes purple so much ;p thanks for taking the trouble of being our studio treasurer! (oops...i remember I havent paid my part yet!)
To Hui Loh, aka "Rose" ;p, it's always fun to tease you and a certain tall guy..hehehe...thanks for receiving me in your Eusoff room hall everytime I go there to bathe!
Last but not least, to Sky, aka "Uncle" aka "contractor" aka "studio rep" aka general busy man.. thanks for always lending us the tools and taking so much responsibilities! You're a rockin' rep man! (Must tell people to sabo you again next time..hehe..)
Shucks..though I'm glad that there won't be any pressure from deadlines and workload anymore, and I'm so happy because of that, I'm pretty sad too cuz this means we won't meet up as a studio again...Oh well, there's still crit...All the best everyone!
Love,
Proud member of Studio 11,
Shiela C.
Oh well, all that's left is the insomnia from sleeping so late every night...must try to restore some semblance of normalcy and regularity into my life. Anyway, what more befitting way to close this semester's design module than to make a tribute to my beloved studio mates. Ahhh....studio mates..the people who've brought such fun and laughter into an otherwise a torturing semester, what with the workload and demands. Wonderful friends, you know who you are...I'm reminiscing over the time we spent doing the group project..stitching that gorgeous plywood structure together..I remember the D n E project that took away our mid-sem holiday, but was bearable cuz you're all on the team...I remember the late night subways, botak jones, the karaoke session(my first time singing in a karaoke, if what i did can be called singing..), the crappy lame conversations, the satisfied smiles on our faces when our structure proudly stands... the pressure in the studio to fulfill our dear tutor's expectations, the rush to make models and draw panels..the teasings...the way we keep borrowing "uncle"'s tools ;p ....the mess in the studio, the safari beds and sleeping bags..the rush for morning lectures, the little mandarin lessons (thanks for being so patient with all my questions!)...the playground session at mount emily park! isn't that awesome!
Some of you might not read this, dear studiomates (though I plan on forcing you all to read ;p), but here goes....
To Adel, thanks for always being there with the smile and enthusiasm. Your rap rocks girl!
To Anusha,after mid-nite you're one of the funniest girl I've ever met! =) Thanks for all the laughters from the crappily intelligent conversations ;p
To Ren, I love your voice..hehe..and your panopticon instument is sooo cuuuuuteee!! haha...am inspired to practice drawing again by your drawings =)
To Poh Liang, our "Auto Cat", who proved to me that one can draw a map to scale just by looking at Google Earth, am inspired by your drawings too!
To Adriel, resident bodybuilder, who always goofs around but also always did whatever tasks allocated to him well, thanks for the D n E simulations again! Here's to your dream of having watermelons for muscles!
To Jong-Eun, alias sweet Korean exchange student, it's great having you around! You're so cuuuuteeeee!!! (Not in the same sense as Ren's panopticon instrument, but well..cute!) Talking with you's always pleasant because of your laughters =)
To Ra, I've never seen anyone who likes purple so much ;p thanks for taking the trouble of being our studio treasurer! (oops...i remember I havent paid my part yet!)
To Hui Loh, aka "Rose" ;p, it's always fun to tease you and a certain tall guy..hehehe...thanks for receiving me in your Eusoff room hall everytime I go there to bathe!
Last but not least, to Sky, aka "Uncle" aka "contractor" aka "studio rep" aka general busy man.. thanks for always lending us the tools and taking so much responsibilities! You're a rockin' rep man! (Must tell people to sabo you again next time..hehe..)
Shucks..though I'm glad that there won't be any pressure from deadlines and workload anymore, and I'm so happy because of that, I'm pretty sad too cuz this means we won't meet up as a studio again...Oh well, there's still crit...All the best everyone!
Love,
Proud member of Studio 11,
Shiela C.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
It's that time of the semester!!
Studio 11...
10 minds...
7 days...
Only 1 submission..
AAA!! It's Submission in one's week time! Oh well,not really panicking since I think I'm quite ok. Got the concept, form, the whole thing, just minor adjustments here and there. But still, it's SUBMISSION in one week's time!!
And so, starting from tomorrow I'm on a strict archi diet: archi days, archi nights, archi dreams and archi thoughts, archi people, archi books, archi air and archie meals, archi works and archi rests..archi sweat, archi blood and archi tears...and archi bliss and happiness..
To Him that put me in the best faculty ever, I dedicate all my archi things.
And may I be principled, disciplined enough to always keep Him first in the midst of archi madness.
Amen.
10 minds...
7 days...
Only 1 submission..
AAA!! It's Submission in one's week time! Oh well,not really panicking since I think I'm quite ok. Got the concept, form, the whole thing, just minor adjustments here and there. But still, it's SUBMISSION in one week's time!!
And so, starting from tomorrow I'm on a strict archi diet: archi days, archi nights, archi dreams and archi thoughts, archi people, archi books, archi air and archie meals, archi works and archi rests..archi sweat, archi blood and archi tears...and archi bliss and happiness..
To Him that put me in the best faculty ever, I dedicate all my archi things.
And may I be principled, disciplined enough to always keep Him first in the midst of archi madness.
Amen.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Wonders of Engineering
Above is "The Rolling Bridge", in Paddington, London, by someone called Heatherwick (haven't done background check...). Those in London!! Visit it for me!! I envy you all :'(Well, despite the traditional jokes poking fun at the divide between architects and engineers, we architects do have great respect for engineers. Was talking with my tutor about my current project, brainstorming structural solutions, when he dropped me this nugget of opinion, which I loosely quote: "Good structural engineers don't just give you ordinary structures, in fact, they can design structures according to the Golden ratio, or the Fibonacci sequence, making the structure not just load-bearing but also beautiful."
Can't agree more. Looking forward to meeting such a structural engineer!
By the way, this video: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/162 is about Dutch artist called Theo Jansen, who built "new life forms" using plastic tubes and bottles..it's TOTALLY COOL! Do watch it. Got the video from the website www.ted.com. The TED website is dedicated to "ideas worth spreading" and they have many videoclips of original, interesting stuff.
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