(?) mere chance

1 challenge working with my boss is "reading" what he wants and/or needs while he doesn't want to take the effort of explaining. It's impossible I know, so it gets me once a while.

Then off he went traveling. He avoided so much to sit with me and talk about all the itsy bitsy details, so at the end every other day I got complain either on my email or cellph.

Why do I have to fly at midnight?
How come they (airplane caterer) didn't serve me the food I wanted?
Why did I have to wait on transit for 4 hours??!!
How do I get to Florence from Venice?
Why this.. why that..
What’s this.. what’s that..

If any of those was perfectly arranged, it would be hard work & lotsa lotsa prayer. Prayer? Indeed. Like the biggest problem was arranging one leg, from Florence to Venice. He didn't want to take a car, he didn't want to take flight I already arranged. It had to be by train. The decision was finally made when he was off to Italy. Now how the heck did I get ticket for him??

I found a relatively good website on travel in Italy and Eurorail, but they're no good for rush order. Another website offered inland delivery but they were soooo slow in handling the order. I was really running out of time when a simple board message popped into my attention and voila! another train ticketing service in Italy. All booked, paid, but still worried if the service actually work.

After like worrying for the longest time finally I got a message from him where he described there was a long line in the train, but it only took him 1 minute to get tix from the vending machine using the booking code I gave him. Thank God. It wasn't hard work. If there's coincidence, it is a coincidence that I found the website. But not for me, I owe it all to God.

I think he'll kill me good if it didn't work and he ended up stranded in Venice. Well, if it's me, I wouldn't mind got stranded in Venice :p (just doing "traveling" by surfing the websites gave me some ideas for vacation). Lovely.

ps. For future reference: trenitalia

text from El Prez

Stop penyalahgunaan dan kejahatan narkoba sekarang. Mari kita selamatkan dan bangun bangsa kita, menjadi bangsa yang sehat, cerdas, dan maju. Presiden RI.

Who would expect to get text message from THE Mr. President?
I didn't. But it was mere propaganda, reminding people of not to abuse drugs. I wonder if it actually do something good other than jamming some providers for several minutes. How effective can it be?

SBY said to be the first President ever to use text/sms to get in touch with his people. Right. And does people actually could get a hold of him, to actually spare one minute (at least) to read one message and reply. I've no idea how many messages flooded the phone number as soon as it was launched. I've no idea how many got replied.

One can only try...

small discussion on "decision making law"

There should be a law where people can only cancel their decision max. twice. More than twice, they'll get fine/penalty. This way people are forced to think really hard what they want and when they decide, it will be a firm decision.

Hmmmmm, sounds pretty grim to me. What do you count as a decision? What constitutes changing one’s mind? Some would argue that your mind is like your underwear, should be changed daily if not more often.

Or are you thinking about “contracts” which means that it refers to business arrangements such as buying a car or getting married? One of my uncles lived by the motto “make a decision and make it right” which is why he was both a success and failure in business. But there is a kernel of truth in it.

Sure would be a good law (& scary) for indecisive people like me :D

And why make it a law? Heck, there are far too many laws now and seeing more than one side of an issue may lead to dithering but it also enables one to take different perspectives. That usually is a virtue but..... it does lead to dithering.

So, make a decision and make it right.

get a kick from nature

n: Happy weekend a.....
n: I'm already drinking New Zealand beer to celebrate
a: u 2 n.....!
a: am going trekking soon
n: Cool
n: Where are you off to??
a: place called Ubud. base camp is my boss' place
n: AAhhh.. coolio. Sounds like fun
n: Did I mention I'm hiking up Taiwan's highest peak when I go back there?
a: i hope so, only several ppl coming
n: NICE NICE
a: nope, any good?
n: Yeah. it's pretty good. Called "Jade Mountain". 4800+m
a: & that was a month ago?
n: Nah it's when I go back there at the end of Aug. I'll be there from August 24 - October 10
a: sounds challenging. big group going up?
n: Nope just me and one other person. W're going to base camp overnight and then start hiking at about 0200. That way we can make it up for sunrise. It should be an arse kicker of a climb too.
a: as long as yr up for it. u got yr own gear or renting?
n: Got most of my own but will have to rent some for sure. No pitons required though. it's just bloody steep. It's fun getting your arse kicked by nature from time-to-time.
a: indeed. only when u got time
a: excuses excuses
n: True true
n: Sounds like words from a slacker if ever I heard them :)

ANYWAY.... a slacker is I won't. And trekking did I went.
Small group, 1 guide, 4 adults and a couple of children. If it weren't for the kids I'd ask for harder track. The area was rather civilized so we didn't expect anything big like steep climb or such. Most of it was along paddy fields, beauty for sure. The only challenge I would note was the bridge made out of 2 big bamboos tied together, going across Ayung river, around 2m above it. It spread for about 5m long, and by the time you walked on it it started to bounce. Up and down, up and down. Your legs started to feel wobbly, you wished you could grab something to keep it steady, but nothing to grab. So you just stood there for a moment, took a deep breath, collect your courage, smiled to show that you were ok, and walked on. Nothing to lose, the worse could happen if you fall was soaking wet.

Basically it was a fun trailing.

pilkabe - pilkada

pilkabe will be contraceptive pill.
pilkada is a different kind. it's not a pill either. pemilihan kepala daerah. regent election.

then again, who cares??
it's holiday here, so not being a member of local community i got a day off. yet here i am at the office and sort things out for boss' travel. was thinking about going home, but my parents said they're off to medan the next day & my other sibblings are just busy. well, at least i get to safe airfare for another opportunity.

the island's not much different during campaign and this election. other than lots of huge banners and billboards of not so photogenic candidates, everything is the same. it's supposed to be democracy, but seeing what's there, it's more like a feudal election, where the candidates are the upper-level socialite in bali. so maybe it's bali style, feudal-democratic.

whatever. got other work to do.
ciao!

an idea for a silly new law

A colleague who bears the male version of my name is notorious of being difficult and pain in the neck in dealing things with.

The last big annoying incident was about a month ago when in a last minute order he had to go to Jakarta to attend a training. He got so po-ed, he insisted that he doesn't want to go. A colleague who handles travel hesistated on ticket and hotel reservation, but made the reservation as requested. Three people took turns in talking him into going, the result kept changing. 'Ok', on this minute. 'I'm not going' the next minute. This kept changing in one day. Imagine the pain he caused to his staff and ticketing people. Good thing at the end he confirmed. Then came the wife issue. Same deal. She's coming with me. No, she she's staying in Bali. Ok, she's coming, but going back earlier. Decisions kept changing. Decision in going, decision in flight schedule. He was soooo dead erratic (not erotic!!!).

Come to think of it, maybe there should be a law where people can only change their mind twice at max. If they change again, a fine or penalty should apply. This should be good for indecisive people, where they will be forced to think really hard before making a decision, and when it's decided, it will be a damn firm one.

This should be good for me too (blush). I've been dithering about getting a car for a couple of years. Back in Jakarta all I could see it would be major pain to have a car. Sure you'll be mobile, yet what's the point in being mobile if you're stuck in traffic all the time and can't do anything. If you're stuck in traffic but not driving (ie. in a bus or cab), then you can do other stuff (tho limited) such as read, play with your cell, or just rest your head and snooze).

The need of a car slightly increased when I came to Bali. There's practically no public transportation. Only a few and in limited area. You can take an ojek (pay motorbike riders to take you at a point) but it's relatively expensive.

So with that idea on the back of my mind one day I was strolling in a mall when I went pulkam (Jakarta), then 'bling', this car looked perfect for my use in Bali. Chat with the sales, he persuaded me to pay pre-down payment and assured me that we can continue the deal over the phone if I go back in Bali.

Short version of this, my decision changed several times. And I came to a strong NO at a point where I got so annoyed with the sales on how he tried to trick me in making some decisions. Big mistake. They 'threatened' me that my 5 mill DP is gonzo. WHAT???? I had enuff talking with sales (any sales) so dad finally stepped in and talked me into continuing the transaction while other considerations will be sorted out as time goes.

Being prudent is good, but being indecisive shows sign of unreliable, if not mental instability (LOL). I only do that because I can. A bit silly tho, what's so great about being erratic (erotic will definitely be different LOL). Erratic is also bad for health. Have enuff stress from work, then dealing with this only increase the level of acid in my tummy. Ughh.

So maybe next time I should just make a quick calculation of the pros and contras of a decision, decide and live with it. Let's see how easy that is...

-=- ms. indecisive -=-

when is a guest a 'GUEST'?

SATURDAY – 10.00
O815-113xxxx: don’t forget to meet us at the airport, flight # GAxxx, arriving 12.40.
O815-990xxxx: Bali’s weather is hot, but cloudy. Don’t forget to bring an umbrella!
O815-113xxxx: whaaaat fooor, there’s car right?

12.45
O815-113xxxx: we just landed. Where are you?
O815-990xxxx: 5 mins away, at a red light

13.05
+: where the heck are you?
x: hehee.. we’re in the toilette. Where are you?
+: am at the arrival gate. Which toilette?
x: uhmm... let’s see.. near mcdonald
+: ok

+: hiii… welcome to Bali!!
y: hi!
x: we were waiting for you. Which red light was it?
+: close here. Let’s go, this way.
x: wait, what about this? (pointing at a mid size black luggage)
y: hahahaha.. inconsiderate!
+: move it!!!

Lunch: Nasi Pecel, Tuban area (close to airport)
Shop: Guwang, Gianyar
Supper: Bebek Bengil, Ubud
Lodging: Sanur PP Hotel, Sanur

Total drive: approx. 4 hrs, 130-150 km

SUNDAY – 11.00
+: so, any other place in particular you wanna check out?
x: (whiny tone) dream land pliiiizzzz..
+: aww, it’s a bit far, especially you guys have to meet another friend in Kuta
x: (pout)
+: let’s just check out the Sanur beach ok. Besides I need to get something from a store down the road there

Sanur beach
Sindhu beach
Lunch: IBC, Renon
Kuta beach

16.20
+: have you guys think about where to have supper?
x: don’t know yet
+: well, am not up for another drive, it’s packed but I’d go with you to watch the sunset

18.15
+: so, got ideas what you want to have for supper?
x: want to check out the new mall
+: not much to see there, besides you got all day tomorrow to check it out. It’s a one way street and a long detour to get there. If you wanna walk, go ahead, I think I’ll just go home
x: (cynical snort)
+: well, next time you try drive all day, ok! My legs are sore and I can feel a bruise there!!
Silence

When is a guest a “guest”?

Gor: what?? Bali isn’t that difficult, people could explore by themselves!

Electro: Like that? Just smack them on the head!

Hyr: it was more than enough. Here, guests stay at our house, eat our food, drink our wine, and drive our car. But I definitely will not drive them around and baby-sit them.

Writer’s note:
Take heart, she loves having visitors/guests, from out of island, out of country, even out of planet if possible. But when an open hand is taken for granted (if not abused), then she thinks a line needs to be drawn. What she’s not: a tour guide, female servant, personal driver, and loaded financier. She’s basically a new settler who’s eager to show friends nice places around the island (of course places she won’t get lost going to. LOL). So, don’t hesitate to contact if you ever visit the paradise island. Even if it’s only meeting an old friend over a cup of coffee, she definitely will try not to pass the chance.

;)

my last day

Last week I received 3 emails with same subject. Along with that got informed that 2 people are resigning. This week, 1 guy left and 3 more people are resigning. What the heck is going on??

For some people this is a rather sensitive issue, so we keep it nicely, smile, shake hands and wish the other person luck in their future endeavor. I dared myself asked a woman I consider friendly as she was one of a few who invited me to hang out with on my early days here. She's leaving too and it's is her last week working here.

I asked her why, she answered with another question "what does it tell you?". The answer is all too obvious. What intrigued me more was her opinion that I'm in an untouchable position. Interesting. I never think a job is ever 100% secure. A few years back I had a tough lesson to learn that nobody's indispensable. It's better to hang lose to things you know wouldn't last. A job is a job. I prefer to see it in a slightly higher level tho.. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away..

This reminds me of how naïve and ignorant I can be. For the past a couple of weeks people were restless and edgy. And what did I do? Nothing. I know some have personal issues and some simply seem restless because of the slight changes in the system. On this friend case I tried to approach her and asked what's going on, she mumbled about her personal problem and obviously avoided the real qestion, so that didn't answer my question about the big system.

Ohwell.. ces't la vie.. People come, people go. Just hope the friendship doesn't diminish when we're parted ways. Or is it my naïveté again??

Name: Moccachino aka Mocca Latte (in short: mocca)
Age: 4 months old
Height: 30 cm
Length: 40 cm
Weight: 3.5 kg
Hair color: mocca
Eye color: blue-black. Empty eyes (from the moment I saw it I knew it was blind). Regular food: milk, rice+egg Hobby: sleep, biting people’s sandals, being stroked and fall asleep
Cause of death: ran down by my dad’s car. It being so small was not visible from the steering seat. It being blind could not see the car was coming right at it.

It has only been with us for such a short period, but during that period, Mocca (dec.) has shown so much love and received so much in return. Like in normal world, some people were jealous and could not accept other creature’s existence. May they feel glad and relieved, tho not necessarily they will receive the remaining attention and love now that one subject is gone :p. May it rest in peace.

deceased MOCCA