Photo Essay: Different Side of PENANG

A Boy Who Waved to Me

It was neither a Hawaiian’s flowers nor Military Parade which welcomed me as soon as I arrived in Penang by Train at 06.00 AM. It was boy who welcomed me. A little boy from Inside the train.

Early Morning Customer

A cup of tea or coffee with accompany of one or two friends are just nice combination for breakfast in Penang. During breakfast time, many of  kopi shops around the island are fulled with these regular customer. I was observing this man, having his tea.

Early Morning Customer (2)

Another vivid image shows a man having his breakfast. A cup of tea is just nice. I guess people in the restaurant were aware that I was a guest there. Since many of  them looked at me and smiled.

Time for work

Time for work. He did not care whether I would take his picture or not. I was not his business. His business was with those Singkong?

I still want to sleep

But those routines (breakfast and work) were not applicable for all. At Least for this man, a Becak paddler. Perhaps he was too tired and need more sleep. I just wondered when I took this image “what is in his mind right now”. Any way I have some others images that show a similar image.

Laksa's Seller near Aceh Street

Warm and humble are some words that I can dedicated to him. Served me with his best Laksa in Penang. It locates near Aceh Street. I had my laksa under the tree. I really like his Laksa and his kindness.

Uncle From Armenian Street

Kind, Warm, Helpful, peacefu, openl and family man are those some characters that I can dedicate to him. I spent sometimes to have a conversation with him, He was talking about Penang now and before, his family, his shop and so on. When I come back to Penang, I promise I will come with a photo of him.  I can not wait to see his smile and his story.

Market or Church?

What is the best way to see human’s civilization in term of  trading or exchanging? the best way is by looking at its trading place. A market. This building has serviced for public since many years back and its functioning as it before. Looks like a church but it is not. It is a traditional market. Many people still doing their trade here, mostly for fish and meat.

Becak now and before

No such thing as machine that can move people from one point to another point. No such thing as Rapid Penang at those time. But there was becak, while in fact it has survived through decades or even more. Human’s power that moved people from one point to another last time. Interestingly this mode of transportation still exist in Penang and has become extra point for Penang’s attraction.

Time to Time

Can you imagine how beautiful this  block last time? I was trying to imagine about it when I took this image. Looked up, pretending calling somebody up there. I wish I could capture the vivid image of the boy behind the window. He did not want me to take a photo of him

Abandoned

Abandoned is a right word for this site, mamak place site. I found this site when I was walking for nowhere. It was looked this place had been abandoned for quite long time. I met three new owners of this site. They were three cats.

early morning

I like when I was there. It was chill and quite. The clouds give another dramatic atmosphere for me personally. I came back to this place the next morning. To capture another angle of this church.

Church and Grave

Worship place plays an important role in most society, especially in this case is eastern context. When somebody is buried in front or in worship area sometimes it means the person is great. Great in terms of his contributions, achievements, ideas and even because others respect to the person.

Milo, Char kway teow, Siomay

one of Penang’s attraction, is its Char Kway Teow.

Laksa

Laksa from Aceh Street!

Mix Rice from Chinese stall

Mix Rice near from my Guest House.

Nasi Kandar

Nasi kandar from Indian Stall

Nasi Goreng with egg on top

Nasi Goreng with egg on top from Malay Stall. It was located near Penang National Park’s Dock

This is it

This is my last image for this post. Hopefully you enjoyed my experiences

Please drop some comments and tell your friends about this photo essay.

Thank you

Best Halloween

Sure it will be the best Halloween in my life..since it was my first Halloween..and surprisingly I met a lot of characters.

Check these out:

Tourist stucked in his dream

Have you ever met many characters in one dream? Good thing is I Did! And it was not a dream. It was my Halloween party. My first Halloween party. I met (from left to right) a lady bugs, Esmeralda, Hippies, Black Corpse Brige, and White corpse bridge. Cool! And I just pretended I was lost there!

Chun-li and Scooby doo

Even Chun li from street fighter and Scooby doo!

Scooby Doo and friends

 

 

Thank You Sin Kee Restaurant

I have studied Mandarin Language since a few weeks ago but I never practiced it with others. While in fact living in KL gives a benefit to practice mandarin in daily life. At least Malaysian Chinese can speak with it.

So today after finished with the church, I was planning to have dinner in bukit bintang. But rain started. No choice I need to find a nearest restaurant to get a shelter from rain and feed my stomach.

I found a Chinese Restaurant. It is located in the middle of Indian shops, Barber shop and mamak. Many people were inside for dinner. Start from couples to families, young to old. And four blur person, including me ( we don’t know each other).

 

The owner approached us. Tried as hard as He could to give an empty seat for us. He had a decision to put four of us in on big table. We all were agreed.  we ordered our food and drink.

 

In front of Sin Kee Restaurant

Sin kee from outside

Mun Fun as my meal

 

 

The one who sat in front of me:

• Was very quite,
• He was not even make any sound from his mouth. Mute perhaps
• He did not finish his meal.
• Mun fun for dinner and CoCa Cola with ice

The one who sat on my left

• ate very fast
• Mun Fun for dinner and Chinese tea with ice

The one who sat on my left

• Order mun fun with out drink
• He never came back after He had ordered the food.

ALL ORDERED MUN FUN! and they were so unique as an individual.

What a great table mate.  All of them left earlier than me. My order came last because the owner told me that my order was special while in fact It was look the same with others.

Suddenly an idea crossed on my mind “how about if I talk in mandarin with uncle (owner)”. Below were the conversation that I had with the owner

Scene 1: I asked about other person’s mun fun

F:  Na shi shenme? (what is that?)

U: no no. That one is not yours. Later later. Yours is very special one.

F: Hao (oke)

Scene 2: When my Mun fun came

F: Wo de zhe shi mun fun ma? (is it my mun fun?)

O: Yes very special one. With pork. Want chili hah?

F: Ooo. hao hao. (oke.oke)

O: Here you go..

F: Xie Xie (thank you)

Scene 3: When I wanted to have a bill

F: Hao, hao.. hao ce (I don’t know the word, but I know it sounds like “hmm delicious” )

O: see see.. I told you.

F: Oke I want to pay.

O: oke seven ringgit.

While the cashier was doing the transaction, the uncle looked at me curiousness. I don’t know what He was thinking . But for me it was a fun and great experience.

Thank You Sin Kee Restaurant. Xie Xie..hahaha

Belajar dari Gempa (mau kah kita?)

Fakta 2 Lempeng Aktif di Indonesia

Fakta bahwa Indonesia dilalui oleh dua lempeng besar di dunia adalah hal yang sudah saya pahami sejak saya SD-SMP, saya ingat saat guru SD Pak Wartono dan guru SMP Pak Seno menjelaskan mengenai sirkum pasifik dan sirkum meditariania. Kedua lempeng yang aktiv itu selalu menunjukan pergeseran. Saat terjadi pergeseran yang significant, maka akan timbul sebuah gempa. BIla gempa di dasar laut, bisa ada kemungkinan terjadi sebuah Tsunami.

Dari seluruh pulau besar di negeri kita hanya kalimantan yang tidak dilalui salah satu sirkum tersebut. Tak heran bahwa ide untuk memindahkan ibu kota negara ke wilayah ini sempat timbul saat pemerintahaan Presiden pertama Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno (acaman gangguan alam hanya salah satu dari alasan beliau memilih kalimantan)

Gempa Sumatra Barat / Padang

Gempa yang masih hangat di ingatan kita adalah gempa 30 September 2009 di provinsi sumatra barat. Gempa yang kuat 7.6 SR mengguncang perairan sumatra barat. Mengakibatkan kerusakan yang sangat parah. Hampir semua sudut provinsi tersebut terkena dampaknya. 1115 Orang telah dinyatakan tewas per  20 Oktober 2009, 50.000 keluarga / 1.250.000 orang terkena dampaknya.

Respond Terhadap Gempa Baik Internatsional Maupun Nasional

Begitu banyak aliran bantuan mulai mengalir dari hari pertama gempa sampai detik ini saya menulis tulisan ini. Bahkan di kampus saya HELP University College, KL, Malaysia kami pelajar indonesia mencoba ikut serta denga nberbagai cara, kami mengumpulkan apa yang kami bisa berikan bagi korban gempa disana. Beberapa kampus lain mengirimkan bantuan secara langsung, volunteer ke padang dan lain-lain. Respond sangat baik.

Kembali ke gempa, bantuan sudah mulai banyak datang (kita tidak akan membicarakan masalah distribusi bantuan di tulisan ini), dan teman saya menyatakan bahwa padang mulai membangun, “lix, Padang sudah mulai membangun koq, semua bantuan cukup lengkap dan banyak (sekali lagi kita tidak lihat distribusi lebih dalam, saya percaya ada daerah yang masih sangat butuh distribusi bantuan), mungkin yang sekarang kita butuhkan adalah bahan bangunan”.

Gumaman / Unek-Unek

Saat teman saya katakan mengenai bangunan, saya seperti flashback ke belakang “beberapa tahun silam juga ada gempa di padang, sekarang gempa di padang, foto-foto gedung hancur rata, sirkum pasifik dan meditariania, dan…”

Bagaimana negara besar seperti kita, dengan kepahaman mengenai dua lempengan yang tadi saya sebutkan terlebih dahulu, selalu kebobolan, dan lagi akan dampak besar gempa. Kota padang yang dikatakan hampir rata sekarang mulai membangun. pertanyaannya mau kah kita belajar dari gempa dalam membangun kota yang dapat meminimalkan gempa? HAl tidak mungkin untuk menghentikan gempa. jadi pertanyaannya “Mau kah kita (rakyat, Pemerintah dan siapapun yang ikut serta) belajar dari gempa?”

saya ingat

koran kompas tanggal 7 Oktober, halaman 15 ada artikel mengenai “Ringan, Murah, Tahan Gempa” tulisan mengenai bangunan murah tahan gempa.

koran kompas tanggal 9 Oktober ada artikel mengenai “400 Mandor Siap Bangun Rumah Tahan Gempa” tulisan mengenai kesediaan 400 mandor untuk membangun rumah tahan gempa

dan beberapa tulisan lainya seperti bambu sebagai alternative bagunan tahan gempa.

Bangunan Tahan Gempa, Regulasi Pemerintah Daerah

Ini yang kita perlukan. sebuah inovasi. bagian dari belajar dari pengalaman..bagaimana kita harus dapat memutar otak agar kerusakaan tidak separah yang telah berlalu. Murah, Mudah, Tahan Gempa.

Apakah ada aturan pemerintah (sebagai contoh pemerintah Sumbar) agar mengharuskan setiap rumah atau gedung yang akan dibangun harus lulus izin sertifikasi tahan gempa. Hal ini perlu agar kejadian serupa tidak terjadi lagi.

Belajar dari Jepang

Siap kita untuk belajar dan praktekannya? Mari kita lihat ke jepang. Negara yang secara total dilewati oleh lempengan yang sama dengan Indonesia. Gempa dan Tsunami adalah pemandangan biasa di Jepang, dengan kekuatan yang sama..bagaimana Jepang dapat bertahan dari gempa? Karena mereka belajar, dan meningkatkan terus menerus.

Mereka bangun gedung tinggi anti gempa, dengan system hidrolik dipermukaan bawahnya. teknologi mahal? OK kita lihat ke rumah-rumah mereka. Rumah sederhana pun menerapkan teknologi tradisional yang tahan gempa. Dengan biaya murah tentunya.. Mari kita belajar dari pengalaman seperti mereka.

Memang tidak dipungkiri, bukan berarti jepang selalu selamat dari gempa..tapi paling tidak mereka dapat meminimalkan.

“Poor infrastructure, warning systems still being refined and improved, and often shoddy construction in Sumatra as in much of Indonesia mean seismic and volcanic events there frequently cause more deaths and damage than the equivalents in strength in more developed countries such as Japan” oleh Jerry Norton

“Kurangnya infrastruktur, sistem peringatan yang masih terus disempurnakan dan ditingkatkan, dan seringnya konstruksi yang kurang baik di Sumatra seperti di sebagian besar Indonesia, mengakibatkan seismik dan gunung berapi di sana sering mengakibatkan lebih banyak kematian dan kerusakan daripada di lebih banyak negara-negara maju seperti Jepang yang mengalami kekuatan yang sama (gempa).

Bus’ Ritmo

Don’t believe on what you see in this post.

Because you were not there.

Cheers

The Monkey and code of ethics

Swirled around in a darkened room, accompanied by dim lights that illuminate the living room. As he turned and walked, pat on the head repeatedly crossed.

“The monkey went to the market to pick up a banana, but the monkey was blocked by the prevailing ethic”.

What is really needed by him? whether it’s time to quit?

Trying to remember what had happened previously. A few days ago were still okay.
Code of ethics governing the profession to act in a professional way. But one thing of code of ethics that it is not something perfect.

The monkey was still able to take a banana and anything can happen.
It was after 23:47, the monkey out of mind, the light has come back to life. Bedtime

Black and white in my house

Every human has motivation. anything can be a stimulus which stimulate the potential energy to convert to kinetic energy and BOOM…Behavior happens.

West Sumatra Province Earthquake 2009

Padang's Earthquake relief poster

I designed it for fund raising purpose in my campus.

the images source belong to Kompas images

Indonesia’s Batik Days (In Help University College)

I took this photo during Batik Day Friday 2 October 2009. At HELP university College, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Indonesian Students Society at HELP university College

Much Less Activities

“She wakes me up with the sun in her eyes.
Every morning, a warm surprise.
She makes laugh, she makes me sing.
She gets me dancing, she has me swinging.

She’s so beautiful, she’s so beautiful.

(Sore-She’s So beautiful)

This slow psychedelic melody played through my headsets to my ears. Accompanied me while I was counting how many cars passed me by…Not so many cars yesterday, since yesterday was the first day of hari raya. Most of the commuters were those who were going to their relatives houses. Their smile and clothes could describe that.

one song..two songs……six songs, the bus still.. somewhere over the rainbow Bangsar LRT Station. I could not wait it anymore.. I just had my breakfast then..Then took taxi to drop me at HELP University College. Yesterday, we had an invitation from menteri besar of selangor open house.

Along the road to the place. I found something interesting. I looked at the LRT rail. how did the train move nicely. Then I switched my observation toward a group of my Vietnamese friends, You know what I had found. They found it interesting as well. I could say that since they looked so stunned with the LRT train. suddenly I was thinking ” hmmm..perhaps, they found it interesting because they could not find such a thing in their country”

They I saw a giant billboard of AIRASIA’s advertisement with CHINA as their main point. CHINA is another air asia target, this is what the billboard all about. Then another great scenery came. “aaa..CHINA! CHINA!” said one of my Chinese friend . I look to a group of Chinese, they were seemed so excited. I will do the same thing if I see Indonesia’s advertisement here.

I did not eat much during the open house. Too much curry I guess.

First day of hari raya..DONE

,————————————————————————-

Second day, 21/9/2009

I woke up in the morning, with a plan. I should go out today. Take some photos like what I did a year back. Had Finished with the bath and so on, I took my camera and my book wait for bus for 30 minutes. I started my trip in Bukit bintang ( last year was in Masjid Jamek). Went to pavilion, trying to find something interesting there. took some photos outside the mall. And i found a restaurant called “paper lunch”. Sounds familiar…aa my friend Pito had asked me about going together to this restaurant. “Today I would try this” I thought. From its name I guessed it suits for lunch.hahaha

I ordered Beef Pepper Ruce+cheese+Egg. What i got was more likely Nasi goreng daging telur spesial. hehehehe… But it was nice. A new concept of serving food.

I went down to KLCC, through the shortcut. Tall buildings around me, Some cops were investigating illegal monk, Some tourists around.

As soon as I reached KLCC, it was really full. Most of them were workers I guess, good for them, at least they had a good time during hari raya. Beside this kind of public holiday, they couldnot enjoy their spare time like this. good for you guys.

I took LRT back to my house. what a day.