August 17, 2011

17 Agustus, tv dll.

It was Holiday. Independence Day. Waking up late. No need to go attend the ceremony whatsoever…since I was not at campus. I was on a holiday. So, to compensate of what I should have done but I did not…..which is….attending the ceremony…..instead…I watched television that was airing the live coverage of the national Day from the Istana Merdeka ‘Presidential Palace’. Indeed, it was a treat for myself. I never thought that I would deliberately watch TV just to get to know the coverage of the event. Well, it was because the whole family was watching, too. So, I might as well glue my eyes to TV. It turned out to be quite an interesting thing to behold. I found lots of interesting stuffs going on TV’s multi channels that repetitively and simultaneously aired Independence-day related programs.

Let’s see what I remembered: how the selected youths representing each province of the nation pride themselves to be the bearer of the national flag during the ceremony. I got to know the live coverage from the Tugu Proklamasi at Jalan Pegangsaan Timur. I managed to get a glimpse of the euphoria and the fun time most people had during that particular day. Loved to be part of it, though only through television.

Malam Tirakatan

Preparing the food

"Malam Tirakatan” or literally means ‘a night of reflection’ was the time when we gathered with our family and neighbors, be it children and adult alike to celebrate as well as contemplate the meaning of being independent. Yes, this so-called Malam Tirakatan was a celebration specially designed and prepared by the neighbor in the communal and cooperative attitude in the eve of Independence Day Celebration the following Day. It was August 16 in the evening and we did this Malam Tirakatan to remember the sacrifice the national heroes and local heroes had mad and given us so that we live in this independent country and nation called Indonesia. This ‘Malam Tirakatan’ is an annual celebration carried out across the nation in the Eve of our Independence Day. I think I was lucky and blessed to be home in time for this annual event. Indeed, it was a simple and yet meaningful occasion since it was carried out during Ramadan (Fasting Month), so the whole guests—the whole community—from our neighborhood came and brought along their food to share. It was pretty much just like a POT LUCK party, in that it differs only in the momentum. It was in Ramadan and meant to celebrate the Independence Day. What a touching way to spend the evening together.

Cheerful children

I was moved and touched by the voluntarism and the cooperation as shown by my neighbors. They came and shared the food and beverages with all of the people. It was indeed a great time to spend and a great sight to behold. The traditional food, as well as the modern one, was wrapped up together. Nasi kuning or yellow rice was also served since it resembled the welfare of the community. The kids came with their fathers and mothers. The women in the neighborhood came early to prepare the food. Mbak Yuni—my childhood friend—prepared the specialties of the day: Soto Ayam ‘traditional chicken soup’. When it was ready, ibu-ibu (the mothers and women) in the neighborhood prepared them in the dish and were ready to serve all the guests. Oh, one particular drink that I noticed was Teh Rio ‘Rio Tea’. Rio is the brand name of the tea. It would not have caught my attention, had its name not been ‘Rio’J. My daughter—Eyra—as also keen in noticing this particularly named tea. Now, whenever I go ….my eyes would instantly notice the word Rio. It turned out that this tea is famous in East Java region. The same goes for Siiiplah (brand name) apple juice from Kusuma Agrowisata Malang—a special beverage made from the extract of apple originated from Malang (a town in East Java). This brand is also one of the most sought-after brand for juice in East Java. (hmmm, I guess I caught up some things while being home this time).

In the pictures that I uploaded here: kids and adults alike were all sitting on the mattress where food and drinks were laid in front of them. They were sitting in a circle around the food.  After some speeches made my father and the head of the neighborhood, and the prayers were performed, we all ate up the food and had the leftover brought back home to enjoy afterwards.

I think this kind of event may seem trivial for some, after all the kids as the younger generations may see and look at the meaning of Independence as something varied in nature. They may have different opinion as to what being independent means; but the essence of being together as one family; as one neighborhood, as one nation cannot simply be ignored. It is through this seemingly simple ‘Malam Tirakatan’ that the meaning of togetherness is energized and strengthened—especially among younger generations.

Pssst: I ate a lot. So did my wife…and kids, too. We enjoyed it very much.

Agustusan (Independence Day Fiesta) in July

 It was July 24, 2011. A week away from Ramadhan
 (Feasting –oops..I mean...Fasting Month).

But it was a kind of different kind of July simply because we were having Agustusan parade in July. Agustusan ( a parade to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day) is usually celebrated on August 17. But this year....due to the Fasting Month..we decided to celebrate it in July. One of the simple reasons was that....we could eat in the morning and pamper ourselves with arrays of activities during the day.

 

So, on this special Sunday, Eyra, Mbahti, and me...woke up early in the morning to participate in the jalan sehat, parade sepeda hias, and other activities held out by the committee.

Eyra was so excited about taking part in the decorated bike contest...and marble-run (running while biting a spoon with a marble on it). It was hillarious.

The fact was that...Eyra had been so excited  even 2 weeks before the event started. 

I still remember two weeks before the event.....I got an invitation to join in the program. So, I told Eyra that there would be this decorated bike event...and when she realized what it was..she just got so excited about taking part in it.

So it was July 24 ( a.k.a.) August 17 to celebrate the Independence Day.

Eyra got up early and was ready to have fun. Fun she did HAVE.

After a strenuous work-out session with a pumped up guy and a flirtuous girl who happened to be the coach for morning session, we were ushered to the main road at our housing complex and started the healthy morning walk parade.

Eyra pedalled her bike along with other kids who were all so excited and eager to finish the lines.or show off their decorated bikes.!!

After about 2,5 km walk, we ended up having a morning coffee, tea, milk and other condiments.

It was a great time.

Mbahti (my mother-in-law) was also happy to be a part of the whole program. I think it was simply because she could be around her friends of her age and be involved in conversations with other participants from the neighborhood. 

Ah..the food was yummy,too.

So, Eyra managed to be the first winner in marble-run.

We got a doorprize, too. 76 was our lucky number..and we ended up waiting for the MC to call out our number and YEP...he did. So, Eyra got the number exchanged for a gift that she could choose from the stacks of gifts in front of the stage. Well..since there were so many...she just could not decide which one...but she just took one of the big ones.

It turned out to be a set of blue bowls (there were two of them).

Well, Eyra hesitated for a moment after finding out about what it was inside. But, I encouraged her by saying that we could have a bowl of fried noodles in itJ

Then, it was time to go home and cherish the moment we had this Julian for Agustusan.