tunnels

from tunnel to tunnel

i like taking pictures of these tunnels on the way down to shirawakago. miss japan!

I am so glad for these days.

Eka, Jenna, Serena 'n Filemon

I am so glad for these days.

My old buddy, Filemon, at the end of the day, returns here in this island. We once worked together for tsunami response in Aceh. Only couple months after that when another quake hit this island, we met again and worked very closely. What I like in him is his spirit, reliable and lots jokes around to cheers you up when you’re up ‘n down. We like speaking as it is, boldly, without reluctance wether it would be offending or not. We never feel that ‘bold ‘n sharp’ talking as offending rather as it should be and we regard that ‘we’ve already done’ abt it in the sense that we see people not in what and how they talk but rather than what he’s done, more less :)

Then Jenna, Super J, arrived here for internship at LPAM for two weeks. Young, smart, cool, menthol smoker, having musics taste. she shared me her 15 gb music files :) I met Jenna at ICU Tokyo after delivering the lecture suprisingly she told me she’s Indonesian in which she didn’t seem like that one. But she is. But she’s a real Japanese as well for many things especially for cleanness (hygenic) matter, not throwing ash anywhere as happening here. She left the island this morning though.:( She reminds me the beautiful moments of visiting Japan and I miss Japan again, the moments staying with my Big Dad ‘n Mom, Nishida ‘n family, Hayashi ‘n the gengs of Nias Network Project and the the awsome things of japan.

And Serena, the German buddy who;s learning to speak Bahasa Indonesia still as used to be; humble, smart, vegetarian, non-alcoholic ‘n non-cigarettes smoker, coming to visit us. She interned here last year. I like the way she speaks Bahasa Indonesia, it sounds like :D I don’t know how to explain it but I hope after her study in Solo, Java, she might speak more Indonesian. :) It’s amazing...!

I did really enjoy spending moments with these buddies and Eka was always there too.

Feeling Good Again

Feeling good again...

Yup, I feel good. Feel good :)

Good People Around

I often do few reflection over these days and I am always grateful to good people around me. There are just there. Thank you for them. There are Jihad who offered good relationship, Nishida and his team with Nias Network Project inviting me to get to know Japan more, his parents for the hospitality, My Japanese Okasang, Otosang (parents) that I will always miss them. I am also grateful that I have dedicated colleagues whose same vision with me and high solidarity in whatsoever we under through. On top of that, I am very happy to remember every moments I spent together with people, their faces, hopes and spirit. I sometimes envy my field colleagues as they are with the community every time. I wish I could have more time with them but I stuck in office very often though. However, generally I am so glad after these 3 years. I am so happy because I did full heart to work for the community, for them, to do the best I can do. I still remember in 2003 when I 'consciously' decided to keep working for them, for the marginalized ones and I tried to find the ways for that when I worked for Walhi Sumut as entry point for building network and getting more experiences to be prepared for working with them. Then I met Monang Wak Soleh, Dina, Jaishree, Terry Bigalke, Andrew and Anthony, Sam, Rebecca and Tony who I would always remember and thank to them.

I believe in destiny. I believe that every path to walk on has its own meaning. I believe that as long as I do things with my heart, full effort and do it sincerely, there will be people out there that would see it. I think the teaching of buddhism or hinduism, I am not sure, but it is said about the karma. That means if you do something either good or bad, you'll receive the return in some ways. If you do good thing to certain people, the return might not come from them but somewhere around. I believe that as my experiences show that. I hope that I am able to always keep holding this principle in my life. I also believe that having a good will and doing the good thing is not enough. I mean the good will is not enough but it takes more than that. I believe that good will should be challenged and how tough you are, that's the lessons will come from. Challenges will decide who you are as you wish to be or failed to be a different one. Not easy but it's worthy in life.

I know that what I am doing now is a part of the life stories of mine. A part of life line if you could say so. I know that I perhaps will not stay in very long time in this island to work for them, for the community in need as i am doing now. I know it's only a part of my path life, 3 to 4 years. However, I know that after going out for studying more or doing something else out there, I will be back for them in different role and dimension. They are the people who I should work for if I have an option to do that in future. I think Jesus face is with them. "Sindruhu-ndruhu niwa'ögu, nilaumi ba dalifusö no fondrege zilumana, ba khögu no mi falua". I will not for get this lyrics of a song. I often heard and sang when I was kid. It was a christian teaching song. More less it means "I (God or Jesus) tell you, what you do for the very poor, you do it to me" I don't know but perhaps that's what the reason why I am always glad when I am sorrounded by them.

Osaka to Kyoto

Tunnel Time Travel

Tunnel Time. I like to call my travel to Osaka, Kyoto and west part of Japan as Tunnel Time Travel. I was so lucky I traveled there by Nishida's car. The moment in tunnels was sort of giving you thought. When you are about to pass through the tunnel, there is kind of slight feeling of uncertainty but at the same time you know you are going to pass that tunnel although not knowing what exactly what is going on ahead. It's so different when you are on the open road when you know clearly what ahead is.

When you are on the tunnel, it's dark, you can't stop unless it is in an emergency situation and when it takes long, sometimes I feel like 'what if' something happen here?

It was a relief though after you pass it. Even before that. When you are in the tunnel (dark) and you saw outside bright and clear, the feeling is sort of 'I pass it'! :). relief,..

on the way to Osaka & Kyoto

Part III 2008 Awsome Japan Travel
In 2006, we visited this lake. It was so beautiful. We just passed by this year.

Tokyo and Surrounding

Second Posting; Awesome Japan;
2008 Japan Travel
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After the lecture, I had free time for walking around Tokyo and took some pictures. Nishida and me visited some shrines and temples. His best friend, Ikuma, performed a worshipping dance in the temple and I was so glad to have the moment to come to see the performance.




Prof Someya, an Indonesia Expert Special on Yogyakarta (Borobudur Temple) after his presentation supported by Mishop.



Walking Around


A Bench in light raining spring



River around a temple


In a good weather, people enjoy paddling around the river.


Bicycle. Always wonderful...!

The performance











Ikuma..

Awesome Japan

First Posting over 2008 Japan Travel
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It's been months and i'm starting for posting to my blog again.
It's just been so wonderful here in Japan and it's inspiring. Capturing every interesting moments time by time makes me so full occupied by all that things until I realized that no single posting I make yet.:)

Japan is always amazing and again inspiring. So many interesting points when you find the melting between human, its culture, history and the advance of technology united (imbedded) in a what so called modern Japan Society.

Take an example of the crowd every morning and evening in the train back and forth for work. No matter how crowd it is, you'll never see someone push others or in any way try to harm you. Also, you do not need to worry too much if your pocket is safe enough in that kind of situation. Things were safe man..

I arrived on 7 May in Japan and stayed for two nights at Sakura City at Nishida's parents' house. The town was so peaceful. Once I arrived there, it was like I did not go anywhere but just staying there. My room was on the second floor in which I could breath fresh air any time :) I like the place. His parents were so kind too. They took me to some places; City Gardens, Library and Nishida lead the city tour visiting interesting places such as temple and shrines. Something is clear, shrine is very identical with forest and almost every shrine I visited, they were sorrounded by the trees; small forest. A combination between respecting the nature and faith (shinto).

On 9, I and Nishida took the train. It was on the way to ICU (International Christian University) in Mitaka City. I was giving a lecture about the experiences over the humanitarian responses on tsunami and earthquake. The train was from Sakura City to Mitaka City passing Tokyo Downtown. And that was the story of the 'crowded train experience'. It was cool.

At ICU, I met the director of the Institute of Asian Cultural Study, Kenneth Robinson. He is also an associate professor of history of ICU. After talking, we were actually alumni of EWC-UH. So, it was quick to get along or perhaps very much because of himself who was so friendly and humorous. There was also Kawaguchi San, the professor of the class. Her class was attended by many students. I delivered my lecture for one hour and it was wonderful. I did enjoyed it as the students were smart. They had smart questions in which I feel it was cool to answer and the class became dynamic.





This is actually the old and mobile fire hydrant of Japanese with the wheels for easily mobilized. It was sort of an artifact of how people fighting fire in past times.




Bicycle. No matter how advanced the transportation means of Japan, bicycle is still the favorite one. It is so interesting! healthier and plus it doesn't need any fuel.




For me this kind of sign of local wisdom. It's just interesting



Japanese Female Buddhism God.

Pulau Weh

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Aceh
Returning to Nias on Saturday, 26. On 27, I and Eka, my deputy, leaving the island again heading for Aceh. There was another DRR workshop there. The workshop was cool. I met new people, got some ideas especially basic concept of hazard, vulnerability, capacity, writing plan with its tools. Basically the PVA (Participatory Vulnerability Approach) was a developed tools of PRA. And many PRA tools are used for certain analysis on certain focusing issue such as disaster by PVA or some call it PVCA or poverty by PPA (Participatory Poverty Analysis). The basic tools are pretty much alike.

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Pulau Weh, Sabang
On top of things, the best experience is this, visiting Pulau Weh. Pulau Weh is an island on the top of Sumatra and it was on the west Indonesia. It's an Indonesian border with India, Thailand, Malyasia and Singapore.

What the amazing thing was that the island was just gorgeous. The sea was just fresh, clean and colourful. For swimming, snorkling and diving fans, the island offers you what you might expect or even more than that. IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL!!!

THANKS TO JIHAD.
Jihad. A great and humble buddy. He gave me a call if I would like to go to Pulau Weh after the workshop. Of course, I agreed. I heard about Pulau Weh even before tsunami. Yes, i read some article about it. Even, one of my colleague at LPAM, his name is Rara, is from there. Oh ya, by the way, I just knew there that his dad was one of the tsunami victim when Eka informed me about it. I never knew about it before. He was little bit closed with that story and I respected that. Again, until Eka told me about it and it made me silently surprise for a while. His home is in the island.

But again, I never had a chance to visit the island. I never knew exactly what it looked like until i was there. Man,.. what a wonderful place.. beautiful sea...clean, fresh and never been feeling amazing with the sea. never feel like that before. Yes, I do like Hawaiian seas; the beach and the waves were just spectacular,. and Pulau Weh offered another side of clean, fresh, peaceful and the rich of coral reefs with colourful fish and things.. Perfect place for swimming, snorkling and diving not to mention for fishing though. Peaceful...

I met Jihad when he visited Nias. Megawandi, Austcare Project Officer in Nias introduced me with him. As usual, it was a pleasure to discuss with anybody coming to office for information collection. But I knew something in the midlle of the discussion. He was different from others who often came to visit my office. I couldn't say it at that time but i could feel it.

Then we went to visit Teluk Dalam in South. There you go. On the way, I was exciting about his story as a Lebanese moving to French. Wow, we talked very much about Middle East from the first hand experience and I got a lot new sight about Middle East, syah and sunni, political situation and what things happen in there. That's how we started the friendship.

I'LL BE BACK
Back to Pulau Weh. On Saturday morning, Jihad, his girlfriend Asri, Kurniawati, Eka and me arrived Pulau Weh by ferry boat. Only took 1 hour from Banda Aceh. We went to Iboh Village where we stayed. On the way, everybody knows him. He was easy to get along with people. Man.., he was just so friendly to everybody and humble. He rent a bungalo there in which was very nicely managed. He knew where to go when he needed to go somewhere. I said, "He knows how to balance life". It's not like me in Nias, i often had no idea to go, no clue, no choice and stuck me in office day 'n night.


We swam in the afternoon. It was beautiful. Just couple meters from the beach and you could find how amazing of the coral reef and thousands of colour fish were. After lunch we went to Zero Kilometer Monument, starting point of Indonesia in West. Putting my feet there was kind of feeling to be already a half Indonesian :) I'm joking.

But the sunset that was fascinating. Speechless.. If I could, I would stay there longer.



Jihad & Asri in amazing sunset. This picture taken by Eka.


Sunday, Snorkling Day!



See.. how clean the water was
Snorkling at Gapang






We stayed here! Cool,. isn't it?

Jogjakarta for DRR Training

Training

It's been two months I didn't post anything. Sometimes, when I'm 'disturbed' or 'distracted' taking very much thinking and energy, i'm not in mood to write things. Things are better now though. Yes, things are always better and will be always; (i don't know if perhaps it's too bad to be very much optimistic in life). At least i am always optimistic instead of letting things dragging me down. Not easy to rise up once I got down.

Jogja.
Last month, 20 to 24 Jan, I went to Jogja attending a workshop. The meeting was actually a meeting of GOLFRE participants and also DRR Consultation of 2008-2012. It's a distance learning about DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction). Anshu, the facilitator from SEEDS (www.seedsindia.org), was always friendly and full of experiences. I met him when I visited India in 2006. He was a good guy.

I also met the gangs there :) I like to have discussion with them. Meeting old friends (not too old, actually), chit chat much about how unpleasant the world is and how the perfect way it should be and things as usual rising the spirit of being activist if you could say so. Comrade and Comandante air was there!

I also met Anthony there talking about the 'way forward' of the program. It's been stuck for a while. it's alright now. I just feel overload sometimes and the moral obligation (burden) for helping the affected people. No much burden on me now and that's a relief. For almost 3 years of this work, I can breath after all. I will have much time for myself, I do hope so.!

Labor for Life

Labour Demonstration at North Sumatra Governor Office







*****
Last week I attended the workshop of Participatory Poverty Analysis. It was very interesting. I got a lot new ideas. Yes, for sure!. The interesting point was that how to see the poverty on the Poor’s perspective instead of the 'not Poor’s perspective. Scholars, researchers draw the standards (quantitative methodology) and when people do not fit the standard, the scholars then come to put them for the poverty index. That one issue. Another issue then is many programs created for the poor are programs 'according to their (scholars & researchers) perspective how to decrease the poverty. If the question then is "Do the programs are the real need of the poor to be out of the poverty line?" God helps! See, hundreds programs created but still the poor is the poor.

That workshop really revealed how to listen to the poor although many programs very often claimed for them but in many cases, it’s not there.

What co-incidence, I again joined the labor’s demonstration today. I actually wanted to meet Bang Job, the Director of Walhi Sumut (an environmental NGOs). One of the vows of the labors was simple that is to increase the regional wages minimum for 60 bucks from 700 - 800 bucks monthly.

Sometimes, I can't believe that. Well, I mean in this rich in nature country, people are fighting for living.

I am not saying that my life is 'good'. But at least my life is better than the farmers', the poor' and the labors'. At least, my income can fulfill my daily need. Earning 500 to 600 bucks which 1/3 of it shared with my parents in this country is okay.

Another thing couldn’t stop me to keep thinking is this one. On my way to go to JM though, I stopped for a mineral box for 5 cents. I heard one guy there saying something that "The NGO workers whose got the benefit from the labors issues. They are rich, having fancy houses, cars, etc." I was about to talk to him, asked him to repeat what he said just to make sure I was not miss-hearing until suddenly there was a kind of stopping me to come to talk and to argue with him. I mean that was not true. I knew the guys who organized the demonstrations. I knew their life. We once were on the same street, same places, a lot street demonstration, same fighting. I know how they live.

I think the things stopping me would like to talk and argue with him was when suddenly the portraits of NGOs in Nias and Aceh especially INGOs and UN Agencies staffs flashing in my mind. In that case, he might be right. Yes, with fancy cars, spectacular salary, beautiful office with full aircon, and so on.. I often find them were about to leave the island because of the ‘day off ‘and wanted to go travel to Bali or Jakarta for fun. Well..,, that's good! lol

Well., but that's life. I don't complain! It is about choice. I choose to be like that and they choose to be like that. And there's nothing wrong with that. I know that my choice is okay perhaps because I'm still single. I know it will be different when I have spouse or kids to feed for. And until then, I know that earning 500 bucks from the NGO thing will not be enough. It could be, but it couldn't help. Sometimes, it came across into my mind to work for UN agencies with 3000 bucks monthly or working for INGOs especially funding agencies. I don't know. Sometimes, it came across in my mind.

However, on the way, I also think of having my own little coffee shop or maybe a printing shop. I could get additional income from that and at the same time, I could keep working for LPAM (NGO). For me, working on this field (serving the people in NGO) is still a moral calling if not to say a 'fighting'. It is not as a 'job' in industrial point of view. Then at the same I know that I need to earn good income in future for supporting my life and I know that I could not get it from LPAM or NGO that working directly to the people. I was thinking of that. Or perhaps, I could be a better farmer while at the same time being an activist. Who knows? I mean I could manage my own land and helping other farmers as well and at the same time, I could get additional income. Hm... that sounds cool, heh...!

But really, seeing the poverty around can't stop me to keep thinking though. Hmmm.. I don't know...

Things Happened!

I rather call it 'things' happened. I'm still struggle for it though. But it's okay. Sometimes, no matter how you try to make things good, better, the best you can do even, but still things happened.. That's life :) There will an ending of things but i do hope it's a good ending though..

A Good Start for Helping the Farmers

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After these 5 months, I can see the good start how to help farmers in Nias especially in growing horticulture plants. At least, from the perspective of organization's experience, we have it now, how to grow successfully certain fruits and vegetables where this concept could be replicated to other villages in Nias. It's just pitty to find that tons of tons imported from Sumatra every month and at the same time they can grow here. Again, it's about the lack of capacity how to do that. What we've done is not yet an ideal one. I know that. Just because I still do not have exact figures how much we spent and how much we will earn. If this replicated by a farmer, he should know this figure and be convinced that this livelihood is feasible and profitable for their life. Still...

When Will this Wild Mind Go Slow Down?

Yesterday, Daniri from oxfam came to visit me at office discussing about the gender equality issue in Nias. She is conducting a sort of assessment for a coming project dealing with economic right and women issue. Actually, Risa, other member of the team who initially contacted me, would come but she informed me that she got sick and that's why Daniri who visited me for the discussion. No much things to say except the fact that Nias is more open for that ideas. I mean there is no any rejection of the idea in Nias since Nias people culturally and historically respect the woman and woman has its own special position in the society. In public decision making, it's not there however, but still there is no big opposing for the gender equality. That's what I understand so far.

Ali arrived in NIas as well. He is going to help me in building the grass root organization, people organization and building the capacity as well.

Before that Vince from ELSAKA came to discuss about the forestry in Nias especially in Pulau Tello, a group of small islands in south. I didn't have much data on it except the brief story of how PT Gruti, a timber company, did the the forest cutting and kicked away from that place. THere was a huge protest of the local people supported by LPAM at that time in Medan and in Nias itself.

Today, I went to Afia, the demplot for agriculture project. I went along with Ali and Ika. Ali stayed there for tonight and I discussed with Ika how she could help for making LPAM better. We agreed that she will help for data collection so we have a small data center. We are lack of it. She also would like to help for writing the news or article to be posed in our website www.lpamnias.org

HSO has arrived in Jakarta from Papua. I'm very happy that she arrived safely. She's also very happy of the gift I sent here. Actually, the bag is the gift from New Delhi when I was there in last March but stored in my cupboard don't know whom to send them. Until the last August and I know that I will send her them. She purchased me coffee, shirt from Papua as well. I always forgot to send her another pictures of my village.

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These days seems like I just want to do things. The only problem is I want to do the things perfectly. It takes much times and energy though. Writing the reports; for TdH and CA, compiling modules and materials training for NGO management including the topic of strategic planning, having much time for playing guitar, learning making dvd using either iMovie HD or iDVD of my mac, making plans for FORNIHA, a forum of NGOs we have just established, learning keynote to have a good presentation, articles for the website, administrative things for LPAM, contract letters, SoP, finance things (making a sort of financial reporting using excel), learning exploring blog, mac features and so on. By the way, there are still many books I bought but I don't read them yet. One more, damn iBT. Months I planned to register for the test but still not yet.. I don't know man..

Oh ya, I would like also to start the healthy life pattern; sports; cycling, swimming, quit smoking and so on. Man...

Wild mind, go slow..... calm, calm, calm,........
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Not an Early Riser and That's good

I was little bit upset this morning. I should attend the meeting from the beginning. It was a meeting held by UNDP and Nias Selatan local government for two agendas; hand over of the temporary buildings built by UNDP to Nias Selatan government and the ceremony of the establishment of the DCT (District Coordination Team). I was elected to be one of the DCT members. We had a first meeting on the last 30 August.

Well, actually, I already set up an alarm and i told myself to get up at 7.30 so that I could be in the meeting at 9. But again, I don't know why I got up at 9.30 and I was there at 10.30 when the meeting was almost over. My goodness... Anyway, I'm little bit happy now becuase of this article http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070906/ts_afp/healthjapansleep

Justification, of course..! lol but yes, i just hate waking up early when my body and my mind doesn't want to do so yet.
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New House using earth compressed block. I think this building is more quake resistant.





We can see how our dream starts to grow. It would be an entry point for 'fighting against poverty and marginalization'

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I just re-read the notes I got from Makara. In the notes (small paper) was sort of brief expression of how other think other after the two weeks being together. Out of 30, I got 23. All are positive comments. I like it. At least I know how people think of me or at least I know their brief impressions on me. Despite of the comment of my long hair, yeah., they commented on me as cool, calm, confident 'n smart. Writing this is not narcissistic (I'm too afraid to be called so) lol. The positive thing is at least I can find myself not freaking out others :D I'm so afraid if that happened.:D

These days, my talking with Harla is moving forward. Day by day I feel more happier. However, we have our jobs and it's not merely job. It's more than that, it's self actualization. We are improving our each organizations. That's why we need more conversations to understand each other. But for sure, I'm in:)

I talked to my parents about her and they were happy. Yeah, I am happy as well.
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Last week, I went to Hiliamaeta visiting the training of building the houses with the pressing blocks. It is strong and I believe it's more quake-resistant than others. Geoffrey was just as great as to be and the team was solid, too.

For livelihood, I found great change there. Habit change of the staffs who staying in the field. They are doing pretty good job.
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new dimension

Getting around in mailinglists, it was just cool. NMCP alumnies were pretty much active. I'm just sort of cooling down before appearing. Well, you know, I need to watch over what's goin on there first. Scanning..!

It's been already three weeks after the NMCP. A week after leaving Jakarta, a week already for starting a new life. A new life in the sense .....well, it's personnal, actually, and I don't know if this is right space for that. But yup, i hope that it's a new start of life, a new start for new dimension of life. Yes, it'll be. I'm so convinced like never before. Keywords; HSO

The guys from anywhere
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I met Jaishree yesterday night. She was just like used to be, humble 'n thoughtful. She visited Aceh, Nias and Jogya as evaluator of the disaster response programs of YTBi and its partners. One of our conversations last night was the fact that the flowing of aid in Aceh has reduced the participation of the people. It's NGO and other humanitarian agencies fault who provided the aid regardless the culture and the participation of the people. Yes, it's not a new issue. It's good she got that point.

Another issue we talked was about the fact that people (NGO activists) were very often trapped in the project implementation. Huge energy spent for reports, administrative works and things to fancy donors. This somehow very often make us forgot the initial mission why we were here. Is it only for project implementation "an sich" or something beyond it? Something down deeper. This clicked me. Yes, I realized I've been here now for three years but yes I feel something not fulfilled yet. That's it. The question why am I here? Reflection. And it's not only about me personally but also with all the teams, the staff, the people in LPAM. I realized that we might be good in programs implementation but something down deeper should be recalled again. We need Annual Reflection. I am thinking about it now. We need to remind ourselves again the mission for social transformation, how to build dignity of the people, to "not depend" on the aid, to fight for the self-esteem, to say no for the commercialism, enlightening.
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Tomorrow, I am leaving for Medan to meet Anant and auditors. What I understand is Anant is trying to help the administrative work of LPAM. I won't blame anybody here but yes the fact in this mid August, the auditing was just started. It should have been completed since he required me that. Yup, I think it's my weakness for not asking hard the x treasurer to deal with the auditor. Yup, I have to pay the price for that by going back again to Medan in which I prefer staying here to complete my works.

Oh yeah, Mike and Patrick from London, Anant and Iskandar from Medan visited us on the last Monday, 13. Nothing special for the auditing except that the letter from Andrew in early days when he agreed on our proposal through email instead of issuing 100 papers of agreement. Once Mike and Patrick found that letter it was sort of finding the clue. I had no idea at all about that but what I thought was it was not fair to judge Andrew for the past regardless the situation. In my perspective what Andrew did was the right one to make the relief operation run as expected. Well, no clue at all...

From Makara With...

The method of the training was okay. I liked it at least it didn't make you feel bored.