Nation Building Beswan Djarum 29

Ya this post is kinda too late. Too damn late! But whatever, I really need to post this because it's such a once-in-a-lifetime-experience!

Well, like I said on my last post, I'm a part of Beswan Djarum 29 and am going to have some events held by Djarum Foundation. And the first is Nation Building! Fyi, the name of the foundation is Djarum Foundation, name of the scholarship program is Djarum Beasiswa Plus and the scholars who get this scholarship program called Beswan Djarum :D

This event was held at Semarang, at PRPP Hall to be exact, on November, 7-12th 2013. Nation Building is like a gathering with other Beswan from all over Indonesia. There, we will enlarge our knowledge about Indonesia by making a performance, a great performance, kinda theatrical, taught by professional team.

I went there with other Beswan Bali, 10 of us. Actually, there are 12 Beswan Bali but another 1 couldn't join us because of college stuffs (poor him) and another 1 was already on her way because she was the main talent for our perfomance. We went there by plane to Surabaya. Why Surabaya? Because Bali is in the regional of Surabaya. Fyi, regions of Beswan Djarum were divided into 4; Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya. Surabaya region is the biggest region of all because it consists of some part of Borneo and to the east of Indonesia, they're all Surabaya's.

It was a very short but thrilling flight! Short because it only took 45 minutes, but thrilling because there were sooo many turbulence! Oh God I felt like riding a roller coaster. The turbulence was.....depressing...

And finally we arrived at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya! Then we direct to Djarum Surabaya Regional Office and met other Beswan from other districts. I met friends from Malang, Jember, Papua, Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Surabaya itself, and many many mooreee!!!

Once we arrived at Djarum Surabaya Regional Office

Ah ya! We decided to wear colorful Barong shirt because we wanted to show other Beswan that we're from Bali! B)

Beswan Djarum 29 Surabaya Region! New big family :)

At the office, we got technical info about Nation Building. We were divided into 2 hotels to stay; Grand Candi Hotel and Ciputra Hotel. Then, we were also divided into several buses for going to Semarang. Ya, we'll depart to Semarang by bus! How funnn!!!

After a long road trip, we finally arrived at hotel that we stay. I got Grand Candi Hotel. All 9 Beswan Bali were in Grand Candi Hotel and the other 2 were in Ciputra Hotel. Around 2am, I arrived at my room and I saw my roommate for the next 7 days were already there, sleeping zzz...

The next day, I started making new friends with my roommate. They are Citra from Semarang and Ute from Bogor. I was so happy to know them. They are so kind, but crazy and silly also. I feel comfort with them.

Ute - Citra - Me

Then, our days was filled with practicing and practicing. What? Practicing? Ya! We had to practice for our grand show on the last night. We would deliver a theatrical show about Borneo! And all Beswan Djarum were divided into 2 groups; choir and theater. I was in choir group for soprano. Psst... Dionisius Agung was the main talent for our show :p

Pardon my face :p

Break during practice

But, our activity wasn't only practicing. We also had talkshow with Rosiana Silalahi at 186 Conference Building. The talkshow was on November, 10th so it talked about National Hero!

Beswan Bali and Beswan Makassar!

Talkshow was ended by the performance from Andra and the Backbone. But I didn't take a photo of them. Not really a fan :p

Besides talkshow, we also had a cultural visit to Kudus. There, we visited Djarum Factory and learned about making traditional cigga using very traditional tools.

Me :p

The ciggas! :O

Da workersss!

Actually, I recorded a video of myself making a cigga but unfortunately, there is something error with that so the sound won't come out, like muted, and I don't know why. So I think it's better that I don't post it -__-

Then, I also had a chance to made a Batik. Yes, Batik! Batik is a traditional textile from Indonesia. It's so unique. Batik has several different motives and each motives tell where that Batik come from because Batik is widely spread in all over Indonesia. The Batik that I made is from Borneo and it has jar motive.

Tools used for making Batik: Kompor, Malam and Canting

Mine :(

Ya, there it goes! The first pic of the Batik is Kompor, Malam and Canang. They are the tools used for making Batik. Canting is the one that I held in that picture. That canting is used to drip Malam little by little, used just like writing with a pen. And Malam is that orange-browny liquid. It is used like an ink to write or draw following the motive of the Batik. Kompor is the small silver crock, used to keep the Malam warm so that it won't be dry.

How is it making Batik? Well, it's simple, literally. It's just like writing on a textile. Canting is the pen and Malam is the ink. Use Canting like you usually use a pen. Looks simple, huh? But seriously, it's a big NO. It's not simple at all. It ain't that simple. Can you imagine that Malam is sooo liquid so once you drop a drip of Malam, it will like scatter around your textile and destroy your motive. Besides, Malam is also soo hot. Can you imagine that when you drip Malam to the textile, it will penetrate to the other side of the textile which where your hand is? It is so hot :( And at that moment, I started realizing how great all Batik artists are! They can make such great Batik, sooo much! Oh man I love Indonesia!

Oh ya, it's not the Batik when it's done. There was still another step; drying the Batik. Sadly, I didn't do that part. The committee would finish it and give the Batik to me on the next event of Djarum Beasiswa Plus.

Okay, after those amazing trips and activity, there I came to the D-day! The name of our performance is Malam Dharma Puruhita. It was sooo amazing and cool.

Performing Rancak Beswan

End of the show!

The first pic is Beswan performing Rancak Beswan. Rancak Beswan is a dance for us, Beswan, and we do it altogether like doing flashmob. So much fun! And the second pic is the end of the show. Ello is on da stage baby!

After all that show, I felt sad. Why? Because it mean that Nation Building is over! I just can't :( I took pic with my friends, exchanged contacts each other, and promised will meet again!

But, it's not the last. There was still another surprise for us. When we exited the hall to go back to bus, we saw a stage on the parking lot. Oh man, that was the surprise! We had another closing party, with special performance of Ello! Aaaahhhhh, seriously, it was sooo undescribable knowing we still could have some times together, going crazy and anything! I didn't take too much photos on that moment because I prefer enjoying the q-time with Beswan than taking photos :p

Crazy moment with crazy people

After that, Nation Building really really had to be over. We went back to hotel, packed our stuffs, and the next morning, we flew back to our places. So sad :(

Ah ya, Nation Building was in many press media. These are some of 'em. So happy. Pardon my pride :p

So after this, there are still some other events of Djarum Beasiswa Plus. The next one is Character Building. The post is coming ;)

LIFE IS SO DAMN GOOD!

AAAAAAAAA CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!!!

Well, I've gone for centuries, then now I'm back with thousands stories that really bring my life passion bar up there and keep me saying "is it for real?" over and over again.

So let's start it up on the beginning 2013.

2013 is so special so far. Ah, too many good things happened in me. Homecoming too many (5 times this year so far), first time traveling abroad (Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore), solo-backpacking trip to Malang, finally Eid al-Adha at home after 2 years had it in Bali, being a part of APEC CEO Summit 2013 crew, and...the greatest one is....

YAY! I become a part of the big family of BESWAN DJARUM!

Aaaaa you know what, I've been dreaming about this chance for too long, and finally the wait paid off!

The story started around May. I applied to this scholarship through website and sent the documents. Shortly, out of 17,144 applying students from all over Indonesia, there were only 9,290 students passed the documents check and allowed to have the written test on July. After having written test, the number turned smaller into 2,234! And at last, those 2,234 were to have FGD and interview. Then, all I had to do was waiting to see the final result on August, 31st 2013.

And finally that August, 31st came. I sat nicely in front of my laptop in the midnight, opened the website, input my registration number, then all I saw was.....

I PASSEEDDDDD!!!

I couldn't hold myself not to make a noise in a midnight, I just couldn't. The wait paid off. I just couldn't... :')

I jumped in a super excitement for a couple minute before I spread the info to my family, friends, and my circle who's still awake at that time.

I was so shocked. I still stayed in disbelief when I later discovered that only 515 students, repeat, 515 students passed! I mean, what's better than knowing that you're in the 515 chosen students out of 17,144 applying students from all over Indonesia? And moreover, this is a brain-and-leader-character-oriented scholarship program. I mean, do I really deserve this? I think it's not that I'm smart, it's just that I'm lucky...

This is a very prestigious scholarship program. I know right. That was why I was aiming this scholarship program since I was in high school. Even my lecturer said so. And guess what? I got this. Allah is too nice for me. I'm so blessed.

Aannndddd, after that, I followed the first program from Djarum Beasiswa Plus; Nation Building. There will be several programs like Nation Building, Character Building, Leadership Development, Competition Challenges, International Exposure, Community Empowerment, and other talkshows and seminars. The first program is Nation Building which already held on November, 7-13th 2013.

Complete story about this program, will be on the next post ;)

Family Gathering

Hey bloggers! Here I am, wanna share a little bit about my family gathering on 7th-8th of July 2012.

So, right now I'm having my oh-so-long-long-long holiday. Yap, it's a very long holiday because I have 3 months off. THREE MONTHS, DUDE! And, I flew back to Jakarta from Bali and about 2 weeks ago I had a family gathering at Sukabumi.

This family gathering came from the idea of my uncle who is about to move to Pittsburgh, USA, at around the end of this July. He got scholarship to study there and he'll bring her wife -- my aunt -- and his daughter -- my cousin -- along with him. That means we won't meet up with them for 2 years and that's why we wanna have a family gathering before he and his family fly to Pittsburgh.

The family gathering was held on 7th-8th of July 2012 at Pondok Saung Geulis Cottage, Cisaat, Sukabumi. I went there along with my uncles, aunts, cousins, mom, dad, brothers, and maid. We booked 3 cottages because the cottage is big enough so we didn't need to book too many cottages.

The cottage is good enough, score 7 out of 10. Inside the cottage, there is a restaurant, fishing pools, parks, a jogging track, and cottages of course. Between each cottage, there are small ponds with fish in it so we can see the fish under the cottage. But, watch out for babies and toddlers to not to go too close to the pond.

My family and I went there by car, if I'm not mistaken, 4 cars on convoy. I was in the third car together with my uncle who will move to USA, dad, mom, and brothers. On the afternoon, we arrived there. We had late lunch, and gathered at the park. We played soccer perfunctorily, bubbles, etc.

On the second day, we just gathered again at the park, took photos, had lunch and went back to home. Just that! It was just a very simple family gathering, but really can heal my homesickness ahahaha :') I love my family, so much ♥

Observation or Vacation?

Heeey bloggers! As written on my last post, now I'm gonna share about my observation at Lombok Island. Well, my campus has a yearly activity called field trip for some observation and all collegers outta make a report based on the observation did on the observation point.

Nah, this year we got a chance to have some observations at Lombok Island for 4 days and 3 nights. To start it all, maybe some of you wanna know what exactly Lombok Island is. Lombok Island is a not-so-big island located near Bali. It has sooo many beautiful places to visit and most beaches there are all still virgin. That's a glimpse about Lombok Island.

There, we stayed at Senggigi Beach Hotel, located in Senggigi area.

Garden view

Terrace

First day was spent on board. From Bali, we went by bus then cross the sea on ship. It took 5 hours to cross the sea you know! Ergh I was soooo bored because there's nothing to do >:( so I just chitchat with my friends and then I slept hahaha. Finally, we arrived at Lombok! After we arrived, we had a little tour around Mataram city, had dinner, then direct to hotel to check-in and take a nap. Before we took a nap, we had some guidance from our mentor about the observation (we were divided into groups) because tomorrow is the observation day.

On the second day, after breakfast, we had some observation. My group was sent to a travel agent in Senggigi and Rembiga. There, my fellows and I did an interview using a questionnaire. Just about 1 hour, the interview done. Then, we went back to hotel to get prepared for lunch. After lunch, we went to Sade Village. Sade is a traditional settlement in Lombok Island. There, you can buy traditional textile, typical bangles and other traditional and typical stuffs from Lombok.

Typical accessories

Traditional and typical textiles

Lombok-styled accessories

The accessories

Bird cage

Local people

Welcome gate

After visiting Sade Village, we went to Kuta Beach! Don't mistaken it, guys. Kuta Beach isn't in Bali only. There's another Kuta Beach in Lombok Island ;) after going to Kuta Beach, we had dinner, got back to hotel and had another guidance about the observation did that day.

Kuta Beach

On the third day, we went to Gili Trawangan! It's my most-waited tourist attraction. Gili Trawangan is located on a different land from Lombok. So, we had to sail to get there. I heard people talking about this place and none of them say something bad about this place. That's why I'm really curious about this place. And, all what people say is totally true. Gili Trawangan was so...ADORABLE!

Gili Trawangan ♥

The unique thing in Gili Trawangan is that there's no motor vehicles there. All transportation is still using horses, bicycles, or just by foot. I took time to walk around Gili Trawangan but because walking too much can make me sooo exhausted, me and my friends decided to ride bicycles. So, we rented bicycles just by paying IDR35,000 each per day. 

Bike for rent

We went around Gili Trawangan and a little bit far from the point where we gather, we stopped at a beach which I believe it's still virgin. Sooo beautiful! And at that beach, I found so many starfish!

In Gili Trawangan, you also can buy many souvenirs like shirts, textiles, bangles, ornamental things, etc. There are some souvenir shops there, like this one.

Souvenir shop

After having fun at Gili Trawangan, we had dinner and back to hotel.

Last day, the fourth day, we had an examination about our observation at the hotel venue. My group gave a presentation about the travel agents. The presentation went smoothly and, done! We went back to Bali again!

That's my observation story. Ummm actually, it seems like it's just a vacation, huh? We had more fun than the observation. From the whole 4 days and 3 nights, we only did the observation for 1 hour and the test about 2 hours. The rest is, HOLIDAY!

Here I give you other photos of my vacation observation in Lombok. Enjoy!

Lombok sky

Hotel beach

Such a nice shot :3

Kuta Beach

Horse used at Gili Trawangan for transportation

Relaxing spot at Gili Trawangan, on the edge of the beach!