How The Grand Voyage Starts

The older generation has a saying in Indonesia, “seek the highest possible knowledge all the way to China.” The younger generation, of course, just disregarded it all together and with the global Americanization sweeping Asian countries, decided there was nothing cool about China. Off they went to any other coutries with “cool” culture. Only recently, in Indonesia, we (as in the millenial generation) are more aware of the Dozing Dragon, the land of Uncle Mao. Chinese culture oozes into our skin slowly, effortlessly. After all it has been an inseparable element of Indonesian culture for God-knows-how-long. We know the food and we watch the movies from time to time (Indonesian practically grows up by watching Bobo Ho or Jet Li or Hopping Chinese Mancurian Vampires). Our neighbor might be partly Chinese although they know nothing about their ancestral culture apart from celebrating Chinese New Year or cooking a mean fried noodle.



That last sentence may also fit to describe me. Yes, I have a Chinese heritage. And yes, I, like most of the population of Chinese Indonesian, shamefully speak no Mandarin nor Cantonese, except the small wee bits we learned from TV series. And yes, there are some occasions I don’t feel quite comfortable announcing my Chinese-ness to the world. It might be something to do with the oppressive regime of our then government or a colonial legacy with their apartheid classification, but in the end, being a Chinese (or partly Chinese) in Indonesia isn’t something that you’re boisterously bragging about.



However with free tickets at hands, itchy traveler feet and curiosity, I took my enthusiastic Mother to visit our ancestral motherland. Sustained by sheer bravado, a guide book and stacks of printed research papers about China, we decided to visit three neighboring cities. Chengdu, Xi’an, Guilin and back to Chengdu for the flight home. A friend snorted and incredulously asked, “Why China?”, when I told him I’d travel there. Another one tweet me and said, “Make sure you bring a phrase book.” Uh-oh.





Off we went on mid-January, despite dauntingly cold weather forecast. First, to Kuala Lumpur and the next day, fly to Chengdu. While waiting for our Air Asia flight, I noticed something quite astounding. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a room where everybody are Chinese, or in our case, looks like one. Nor have I been in such a raucous waiting room before. Eyeing a couple in front of us who produced voices like there’s going to be a domestic crime happening anytime soon, my Mother only said, “It’s going to be a long, long four hours flight.”

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Ni Hao China!

After luckily winning a pair of return tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, China last year, me and my blissfully happy Mother are going to explore the formidable country. We'll start our travel in Chengdu then move ahead to Xi'an to say hello to the terracotta warriors. Hopefully the weather will cooperate warmly with us, the patethically prepared tropical lazybones. After Xi'an, I'm thinking about the possibilty to go either to Guilin or Hong Kong or Yunnan.

This is my first trip to a country whose language I do not understand and alphabets I could not read. I'm nervous, excited, anxious, joyfull... all the necessary emotions that attack you prior to your leave. My tools to survive are Lonely Planet, charming killer smile and a hope that being partly Chinese will makes the Chinese take a pity on us.

By the way, I just realized upon posting this entry that my trip is going to take a heart form shaped. Awww. Maybe I will be able to successfully pass the China trip exam after all. After this, I feel I'll be able to take over the world. Wish me luck, won't you?

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Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big Reading Challenge

Definition of a Chunkster:

• A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) ... A chunkster should be a challenge.
• If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more ... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

The Rules:

• No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.
• No e-Books allowed - we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge.
  
• Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
• Books may crossover with other challenges
• Anyone may join. If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)
• You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
  
• Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!
  

You must pick a level of participation (thanks again to Dana for the humor in these categories!):

1. The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a couple of large tomes on their TBR list, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. 3 books is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 4 Chunksters over the next twelve months.
3. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

Some Other Questions you Might Have:

• To review or not to review, that is the quesion...Reviews are not mandatory, but they are strongly encouraged. I will be putting up a Mr. Linky at the beginning of the challenge for links to your reviews. I will also be posting a Mr. Linky for wrap up posts at the end of the challenge.
• Will there be prizes? Perhaps. I am still thinking on this...but I may consider some bookish giveaways as the challenge progresses! If I were you, I would subscribe to this blog just in case I announce something important.
• Is there anything else we need to know? Um, not that I can think of right now. But, lately I have been into being flexible. And I may decide to add some fun stuff to this blog, or even have a guest poster or two. Check back in occasionally (or subscribe to the feed) just in case!

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Did Elvis Sing in the Shower?

This sums up rather brilliantly on why I will keep blogging although not every so often. From my favorite motivational blog by Danielle LaPorte:

The conclusion: I don't actually need to write, not like Anais Nin did, or Henry Miller. I don't journal... I yearn to philosophize. My voice - written, spoken, sketched - engages me with life. Either Rumi or God or Orpheus planted a mechanism in my brain that compels me to broadcast my epiphanies in anyway I can. Even on my most interior and complex pursuits I'm thinking to myself, "Can't wait to register this a-ha in The Ever Evolving Big Mix of Cosmic A-ha's." The mix of us-ness. The mix of heartbreak and euphoria, collapses, and victories of determined love. Our mix. My art doesn't work without the Our.

I thank you, my readers. Wherever you are, whatever you do. I know you exist out there from the life traffic feed. You make my day by each click.



May 2010 be an even better years for you.



XOXO

sapimalas

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Recent Things That Made Me Mooing

Movie
The Boat That Rocked. Invite your friends, grab a beer (or four) and rock your weekend with this supercalifragalisticexplialidocious movie.

Food

Daddy's Kitchen Restaurant's Green Noodle and Lao Ta Pudding.
Have a bite at Jalan Puputan Niti Mandala Renon (next to Suranadi & Warug Babi Guling Renon)

Stepper Machine
Post-modern torturous device to kill off extra bulge on your thigh. Try it at your nearest gym.
Extra pain and muscle spasm guaranteed. Weight loss at your own risk.

Before sleep Talk Show
Mata Najwa. Every Wednesday night on 23.00 WIB at Metro TV. Let the gorgeous and super-smart Najwa Shihab stimulate and lull you to sleep. Never before news can be so fun.

Latest obsession when grocery shopping
Lemonade from Berry Juice. Best served chilled when outside is 35 degree celcius.

Treasure found upon blog walking
www.lonnymag.com

Christmas wish list
I hug and kiss thee, my generous Samaritan.

Embracing escapism by reading
The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende.

Favorite new salad bar
Zucchini on Jalan Laksamana 37, Seminyak

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What The Little Blue Bird Can Do

I finally found the perfect template for sapimalas. After what seemed like an endless search, I found this beautiful template in btemplate and wonderfully designed by Insight. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Don’t you just adore the gleeful pin-up girl in the corner?

While we are in the topic of blogging, I found myself lately in the restless mood. I got so easily distracted by ehem, twitter and information flood inside that tiny micro world. I kept clicking over links from newspaper, latest updates from favorite artists and sale info. I kept refreshing the page and skipped lunch so I can just re-tweet or reply comments from friend (which, by the way, is online at moment with me in the messenger). How sick could you get? It’s really is the new addiction. Does twitter kills blogging?

I’m so afraid I would be this tweeting/ blogging/ status updater maniac, I banned smart phone from my life. I know myself and what I’m capable of. Trust me; I will be really out from real life if I get my hands on that thing. Anyway, I still love the old fashioned meeting up with friend over coffee and have a real talk, real laugh which doesn’t involve L.O.L. Is it too much to ask?

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Say Hello to Terminal 3

Despite valiant government's effort of finally developing Soekarno Hatta International Airport and built the new so-called green terminal, it lacks some of essential touches. The most noticeable failure in the new terminal is the echo from flight announcement. It was almost impossible to comprehend what was being said since the voice was bouncing all over the place. However, I had to give a light applause for the coffee vending machines, drinking water pumps, smoking room, etc. which was God's given miracle if you found yourself stranded there for six hours like I did. Design-wise, there was nothing you were not expected in any international airport. Still a long way to go to keep a tally with Changi, but well, it's a start.

P.S: A big applause for Bakmi Gajah Mada. You just saved many starving travelers from cold tasteless soto ayam.

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