Blog Catatan Perantau

Shopping at Southern California

2011-02-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Shopping

While outlet shopping centers generally mean bargains, but sometimes they mean surprisingly impressive cuisine in pretty surroundings too.

At Las Americas Premium Outlets , just south of downtown San Diego, enjoy Mexican food at Achiote that’s a step above the usual burrito-and-taco fare. Outlet malls throughout Southern California definitely aim to please the palate as well as the pocketbook. Check restaurant listings for other Premium Outlet Malls in Camarillo , Carlsbad , and Cabazon's Desert Hills mall, as well as for the Citadel Outlets east of Los Angeles, the Lake Elsinore Outlets between Riverside and Temecula, The Block At Orange , and the Cabazon Outlets .

Trip to Catalina Island - California

2011-02-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

Catalina Island

This island paradise, 22 miles from the California coast is an adventure lover’s paradise. If you’ve come looking for some fun outdoor – or underwater – activities, you’ve come to the right place.

Trip time: 3 days

Day 1:
Start with a smooth ride from the mainland across the water on the Catalina Express , arriving in the Mediterranean charm of Avalon. Check out the newly-renovated Pavilion Hotel . Spend some time strolling quaint streets, grab a bite to eat at one of the town's restaurants like the new Avalon Grille , located on the water. Don’t worry about traffic, cars are not allowed on the streets of Avalon. But don’t take too long, your adventure is about to begin.

To get a lay of the land, why not try a Segway tour through Avalon ? Or a new GPS Walking Tour . You could also take sightseeing to new heights with a parasailing trip high above Avalon Harbor. Keep your eyes open (if you can), you’ll get a birds’ eye view of the coast.

How about a bit of history? Take the new Behind the Scenes Casino Tour and go back in time to the glamorous days of big bands and classic movies.

What’s next? How about a Zip Line Eco Tour ? Travel from Descanso Canyon over five consecutive zip lines, at speeds of up to 45mph, experiencing the beauty of the island as you zip down through the canyon, ending up at Descanso Beach.

Day 2:
Today is all about the water.

Underwater

Explore Catalina by land…and sea with an “Outback Tour and Beach Picnic ”. Journey through the island’s rugged interior, and see where the buffalo roam. Buffalo were brought to the island in 1924 for the filming of “The Vanishing American.” After filming wrapped, the buffalo remained on the island and today, they thrive, living off the land.

Now it’s on to Little Harbor Beach and some fun-in-the-sun. Lunch, kayaks and beach equipment is provided, so gear up and enjoy! If that’s not your thing, take an Adventure Rafting Trip aboard the island’s “Fun Boats.” Snorkel, play with dolphins, and visit Two Harbors. Along the way, watch for bald eagles, flying fish, seals, and sea lions. From January to March, you can also go whale watching.

Can’t get enough of the water? You can rent any number of watercraft , from jetskis and motorboats to kayaks, pedal boats or paddle boards. The choice is yours.

For even more ways to see the island, take an exciting, narrated ride on the Skyline Drive Tour . Along the trip you’ll see spectacular vistas, deep canyons, quiet coves and an endless blue ocean.

Day 3:

Go beneath the waves and come face-to-face with Catalina’s abundant marine life – from bright garibaldi, spotted calico bass, bat rays, and more – as you snorkel in the clear waters and coastal reefs surrounding the island.

If you would rather watch from a distance, step aboard a semi-submersible for an undersea tour . You may even see a shark or two. For an added bonus, take the nighttime tour and see a whole new world that only comes out at night.

California - Outdoor Recreation

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Gold was what brought the world to California more than a century and a half ago. Gold of a different vein — nature’s gold — draws the world to California today. National parks , lakes, rivers, deserts, redwood glens, and wind-tousled peaks; Yosemite , Death Valley , Big Sur and Mt. Lassen — the list of California’s most precious commodities goes on and on. Not to mention the California State Parks system has treasures as diverse as the state: herein you will find the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings of any in the nation.

To grasp California’s true gold, you must leave the words behind and go to one of the state’s many special places. Experience the outdoor magic at the edge of Lake Tahoe. Hoist a backpack and head for the backcountry of the Los Padres National Forest near Ojai, where you can hike to a swimming hole framed by a granite gorge. You can even take a boat out to one of the five islands of Southern California's Channel Islands National Park and camp where sea lions outnumber campers a thousand to one. And, families travelling in California will appreciate the state’s commitment to strengthening children’s connection to the great outdoors, with the California Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights .

Rivers in California

2011-02-18T13:21:00.000-08:00

California Rivers and Lakes

The most prominent rivers within California are the Sacramento River, the Pit River and the San Joaquin River, which drain the Central Valley and the west slope of the Sierra Nevada and flow to the Pacific Ocean through San Francisco Bay. Some other important rivers are the Klamath River and the Trinity River, in the north, and the Colorado River, on the southeast border.

The Owens River takes runoff from the southeastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and flows into Owens Lake. The Eel River and Salinas River each drain portions of the California coast, north and south of San Francisco Bay, respectively. The Mojave River is the primary watercourse in the Mojave Desert and the Santa Ana River drains much of the Transverse Ranges and bisects Southern California.

List of rivers in California.

Terrestrial Paradise, History Of "The Island of California"

2011-02-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

The first known mention of the legend of the "Island of California" was in the 1510 romance novel Las sergas de Esplandián by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo—the sequel to Montalvo's more famous tales of Amadis de Gaula, father of Esplandian. He described the island in this passage:

Know, that on the right hand of the Indies there is an island called California very close to the side of the Terrestrial Paradise; and it is peopled by black women, without any man among them, for they live in the manner of Amazons.

Map of California, circa 1650; restored. (from Wikipedia)

It is probable that this description prompted early explorers to misidentify the peninsula of Baja California as the island in these legends.

In 1533, Fortún Ximénez, a mutineer on an exploring expedition sent by Hernán Cortés, discovered the southern portion of Baja California, around La Paz. Cortés himself followed up on the discovery with an expedition to La Paz, but the settlement had to be abandoned soon afterwards. Cortés' limited information on southern Baja California apparently led to the naming of the region after the legendary California and to an initial but short-lived assumption that it was a large island.

In 1539, Cortés sent the navigator Francisco de Ulloa northward along the Gulf and Pacific coasts of Baja California. Ulloa reached the mouth of the Colorado River at the head of the Gulf, which seemed to prove that the region was a peninsula rather than an island. An expedition under Hernando de Alarcón ascended the lower Colorado River and confirmed Ulloa's finding. Maps published subsequently in Europe during the 16th century, including those by Gerardus Mercator and Abraham Ortelius, correctly showed California as a peninsula.

Despite this evidence, however, the depiction of California as an island revived in the early 17th century. One contributing factor may have been the second voyage of Juan de Fuca in 1592. Fuca claimed to have explored the western coast of North America and to have found a large opening that possibly connected to the Atlantic Ocean —- the legendary Northwest Passage. Fuca's claim remains controversial because there is only one surviving written account of it found, his account as related to an Englishman, Michael Locke. Nonetheless, this account claims Fuca found a large strait, with a large island at its mouth, at around 47° north latitude. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is in fact at around 48° N, as is the southern tip of the large island now called Vancouver Island, while the northern reach of the Gulf of California terminates much farther south, at about 31° N. It is possible that explorers and mapmakers in the 17th century could have confused the two (if in fact they were aware of Fuca's voyage), and in any case further exploration was inevitable. Indeed the famed British explorer James Cook barely missed the Strait of Juan de Fuca in March 1778, almost 200 years later. Cook even named Cape Flattery (at the northwest tip of modern Washington state) which is at the mouth of the strait, and instead stopped in Nootka Sound just off the west coast of Vancouver Island at about 49° N. His account states "we saw nothing like [the Strait of Juan de Fuca]; nor is there the least probability that ever any such thing existed."[1] However, Cook describes some bad weather in his account around this time, and did continue on to map most of the outer Pacific coastline of North America from modern day northern California to the Bering Strait in Alaska on the same voyage.

Reports from Oñate's expedition reached Antonio de la Ascención, a Carmelite friar who had participated in Sebastián Vizcaíno's explorations of the west coast of California in 1602 and 1603. Ascención was a tireless propagandist in favor of Spanish settlement in California, and his later writings referred to the region as an island. As older maps confirm, Spanish authorities and local residents were well aware where the actual northern terminus of the Gulf of California lay, but by extending the coastline north past Cape Mendocino and eventually even into Puget Sound, Drake's claim of Nova Albion for England (1579) could be invalidated by the priority of Cortes' claim (1533).

Shortly thereafter an overland expedition was led by the founding governor of New Mexico, Juan de Oñate. The expedition descended the Colorado River in 1604 and 1605, and the official report claimed that from a vantage point the participants could see better where the Gulf of California continued off to the northwest (presumably behind in the Sierra Cucapá into the Laguna Macuata Basin). Subsequently, the first known reappearance of the Island of California on a map dates to 1622 in a map by Michiel Colijn of Amsterdam. The image became the standard for many later maps throughout the 17th century and intermittently into the 18th century. Previous maps show the Gulf terminating in its correct location. The stretch of the Gulf between its actual terminus and Juan de Fuca's strait was written Mare Vermexo ("Sea of See Better") on later maps drawn from Spanish sources. (At the time, Dutch map-makers lived under Spanish control.)

The Jesuit missionary and cartographer Eusebio Francisco Kino revived the fact that Baja California was a peninsula. While studying in Europe, Kino had accepted the insularity of California, but when he reached Mexico he began to have doubts. He made a series of overland expeditions from northern Sonora to areas within or near the Colorado River's delta in 1698–1706, in part to provide a practical route between the Jesuits' missions in Sonoran and Baja California but also to resolve the geographical question. Kino satisfied himself that a land connection must exist, and the 18th century Jesuits generally followed his example. However, Juan Mateo Manje, a military companion on several of Kino's treks, expressed scepticism; European cartographers remained divided on the question.

Jesuit missionary-explorers in Baja California who attempted to lay the issue finally to rest included Juan de Ugarte (1721), Ferdinand Konščak (1746), and Wenceslaus Linck (1766). The matter was settled beyond all dispute when the expeditions of Juan Bautista de Anza traveled between Sonora and the west coast of California in the period 1774–1776.

References

Laylander, Don, 2004. "Geographies of Fact and Fantasy: Oñate on the Lower Colorado River, 1604–1605". Southern California Quarterly 86:309–324.
León-Portilla, Miguel. 1989. Cartografía y crónicas de la antigua California. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City.
McLaughlin, Glen, with Nancy H. Mayo. The Mapping of California as an Island: An Illustrated Checklist. Saratoga, CA: California Map Society, 1995 .
Polk, Dora Beale. 1991. The Island of California: A History of the Myth. Arthur H. Clark, Spokane, Washington.
Tooley, R. V. 1964. California as an Island: A Geographical Misconception Illustrated by 100 Examples from 1625–1770. Map Collectors' Circle, London.

Original article from Wikipedia.

Origin of the name California

2011-02-18T12:57:00.001-08:00

The word California originally referred to the entire region composed of what is today the state of California, plus all or parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, and the Mexican peninsula of Baja California.

The name California is most commonly believed to have derived from a fictional paradise peopled by Black Amazons and ruled by Queen Calafia. The story of Calafia is recorded in a 1510 work The Exploits of Esplandian, written as a sequel to Amadís de Gaula by Spanish adventure writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. The kingdom of Queen Calafia, according to Montalvo, was said to be a remote land inhabited by griffins and other strange beasts, and rich in gold.

Know ye that at the right hand of the Indies there is an island called California, very close to that part of the Terrestrial Paradise, which was inhabited by black women without a single man among them, and they lived in the manner of Amazons. They were robust of body with strong passionate hearts and great virtue. The island itself is one of the wildest in the world on account of the bold and craggy rocks.

The name California is the fifth-oldest surviving European place-name in the U.S. and was applied to what is now the southern tip of Baja California as the island of California by a Spanish expedition led by Diego de Becerra and Fortun Ximenez, who landed there in 1533 at the behest of Hernando Cortes.

Read more - Origin of the name California

The Island of California - Terrestrial Paradise

2011-02-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

Map of California, circa 1650; restored. (From Wikipedia)

The Island of California refers to a long-held European misconception, dating from the 16th century, that California was not part of mainland North America but rather a large island separated from the continent by a strait now known instead as the Gulf of California.

One of the most famous cartographic errors in history, it was propagated on many maps during the 17th and 18th centuries, despite contradictory evidence from various explorers. The legend was initially infused with the idea that California was a terrestrial paradise, like the Garden of Eden or Atlantis.

State of California

2011-02-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. California's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast to the west, to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the east, to the Mojave Desert areas in the southeast and to the Redwood–Douglas fir forests of the northwest. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, a major agricultural area. California contains both the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley) points in the contiguous United States. Earthquakes are a common occurrence due to the state's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, with about 37 thousand recorded annually.

The name California once referred to a large area of North America claimed by Spain that included much of modern-day Southwestern United States and the Baja California peninsula. Beginning in the late 18th century, the area known as Alta California, comprising the California territory north of the Baja Peninsula, was colonized by the Spanish Empire as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. In 1821, Alta California became a part of Mexico following its successful war for independence. Shortly after the beginning of the Mexican-American War in 1846, a group of American settlers in Sonoma declared an independent California Republic in Alta California. Though its existence was short-lived, its flag became the precursor for California's current state flag. American victory in the war led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico ceded Alta California to the United States. Western areas of Alta California became the state of California, which was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.

The California Gold Rush beginning in 1848 led to dramatic social and demographic change, with large scale immigration from the U.S. and abroad and an accompanying economic boom. Key developments in the early 20th century included the emergence of Los Angeles as the center of the American entertainment industry, and the growth of a large, state-wide tourism sector. The late 20th century saw the development of the technology and information sectors, punctuated by the growth of Silicon Valley. In addition to California's prosperous agricultural industry, other important contributors to its economy include aerospace, education, and manufacturing. If California were a country, it would be the eighth-largest economy in the world and the 35th most populous nation.

Source : Wikipedia

Queen Calafia - A Fictional Warrior

2011-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

Mural of Queen Calafia and her Amazons
in the Room of the Dons at the Mark Hopkins Hotel,
San Francisco, California

Calafia was a fictional warrior queen who ruled over a kingdom of Black women living on the mythical Island of California. The character of Queen Calafia was penned by Spanish writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo who first introduced her in his popular novel entitled Las sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián), written around 1500.

In the novel, Calafia is a pagan who is convinced to raise an army of women warriors and sail away from California with a large flock of trained griffins so that she can join a Moslem battle against Christians who are defending Constantinople. In the siege, the griffins harm enemy and friendly forces, so they are withdrawn. Calafia and her ally Radiaro fight in single combat against the Christian leaders, a king and his son the knight Esplandián. Calafia is bested and taken prisoner, and she converts to Christianity. She marries a cousin of Esplandián and returns with her army to California for further adventures.

The name of Calafia was likely formed from the Arabic word khalifa (religious state leader) which is known as caliph in English and califa in Spanish. Similarly, the name of Calafia's monarchy, California, likely originated from the same root, fabricated by the author to remind the 16th century Spanish reader of the reconquista, a centuries-long fight between Christians and Moslems which had recently concluded in Spain. The character of Calafia is used by de Montalvo to portray the superiority of chivalry in which the attractive virgin queen is conquered, converted to Christian beliefs and married off. The book was very popular for many decades—Hernán Cortés read it—and it was selected by author Miguel de Cervantes as the first of many harmful books to be burnt by characters in his famous novel Don Quixote.

Calafia, also called Califia, has been depicted as the Spirit of California, and has been the subject of modern-day sculpture, paintings, stories and films; she often figures in the myth of California's origin, symbolizing an untamed and bountiful land prior to European settlement.

Source : Wikipedia

A Trip to Giblaltar - Information

2011-02-18T01:57:00.000-08:00

A day spent in Gibraltar is not one to be missed. Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the UK and still the site of a large naval base. It lies between Spain and Africa and is easily accessed through Spain by car or on foot (you will need to bring your passport for entry). To get to Africa there is a short ferry that takes you straight into Morroco where a wealth of shopping and culture awaits you.

The pillar of the island is of course the Rock of Gibraltar. There is a cable car that takes you straight to the top and from here you can enjoy the spectacular view, explore caves, tunnels, a Medieval Castle and meet the notorious Barbary Apes, who were around before the British capture of the rock and superstition holds that if the Apes leave then so will the British.

The monkeys are not the only wildlife on the island. Off shore, schools of dolphins like to swim in the bay and there are various boat tours organised for dolphin spotting. Wales have also been known to migrate here and you may even be lucky enough to witness the greatest mammal of all, The Blue Whale. The Upper Rock in spring and autumn is also the stage for millions of migrating birds, so if you’re a bird spotter keep your eyes open, for eagles, vultures, buzzards, the Peregrine Falcon, the Blue Rock Thrush and the rare Barbary Partridge.

Traveling to London

2011-02-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

Visiting London

Last year I went tlondono London to visit some friends of mine. They had moved to London the year earlier on a working holiday program (They are from canada). They’ve since got jobs there and stayed. I hadn’t even been to Europe because it tends to be expensive for Americans. That Euro is just too strong but since I had a free place to stay, I figured this was probably my best opportunity to go.

I took two weeks off from work and went over. I know two weeks isn’t a long time but I’m American and we don’t get a lot of vacation time. Anyways, I went over there and I was a bit dissapointed by London. I had always heard so much about the city that I was expecting this amazing plus, but like always, the image in your head never lives up to the reality of the place you are visiting. But London was a big dissapointment. It was expensive, it was boring, it was cold- and I mean the people not the weather. Everything was ultra expensive if you wanted to go out. It was 20 pounds for the London Eye!! Rediculous. It seemed like a great place to go to if you were right but for us normal people, anything more than like 2 days there is just too pricey.

Don’t get me wrong- I did shell out the money for stuff. I went to the Tower of London, paid to see westminster abbey and the parliament and of course lots of beers! I did really enjoy how all the museums were free. London is awash in musuems and they made for an awesome way to spend the day. I bounced in and out of like 4 musuems while I was there. It rocked.

Luckily, my friends took some time off too and I managed to get out of the big smoke. We headed to Cornwall since it was June and the weather was pretty good. Cornwall was what I thought when I thought of England. I mean there was lush landscape, lots of farms, small towns, quant little homes, and green space. It seemed like England. And compared to London everyone was much friendlier and things were much cheaper.

Overall, I really enjoyed the England. I loved cornwall. London was nice to visit but I’m not sure I would want to live there. It seems like a fun place to go but the people weren’t so friendly. Cornwall, however, was a place I loved and would move to in a second!!

And if I can ever figure out how to get photos on this site, I’ll add some from my trips!!

Dont Forget Amsterdam

2011-02-17T15:31:00.001-08:00

On the face of it Amsterdam’s reputation is colorful at best. World famous Coffee Shops and a legal Red Light District may be Mecca for teenage boys but for their parents it means price checking breathalysers and chastity belts. So there I am with an invite to a potentially very lucrative business meeting in a city I imagined was as smoggy as a Los Angeles in the eighties.

The first thing to be noted about Amsterdam is how easy and cheap it is to get there. With so many good quality cheap flights available I almost considered not claiming on my companies account! There’s an international airport which is linked to central station by a train service which is modern, clean and very affordable.

After arriving at the station it is only a 2 minute walk to the Damrak (the central square) from which the whole city is a matter of minutes away. The first thing to notice are the bicycles. They are everywhere and with many of the towns streets closed to cars its probably not a bad idea to dust off the peddle pushers yourself.

I opted to take the tram to my hotel which allowed me to enjoy the city without worrying about obstructing cyclists. Amsterdam is beautiful. The canals thread water through the streets bringing a liquid serenity which I have never felt in a city. After alighting at my hotel I was instantly impressed. With over 40 per cent of hotels in Amsterdam being 4-5 star, the fierce competition meant I was being treated like a king for the price of a pauper.

After chatting (in English) with locals in a bar across the road I caught a cab to the Leidseplein. I was told that I could find English speaking plays every night of the week but I found it was me struggling for words. The bright lights and stunning architecture left me dumbstruck. I had bought a Dutch phrase book but with everyone there fluent or practicing English I had actually left it in my case! I found some cheap theatre tickets and decided to return the following night with colleagues.

As my girlfriend will testify, I tend to be highly strung during important work meetings but this time it was my calmness which worried her. It’s just so beautiful here, I told her honestly, it’s like there’s something in the air!î Something tells me my return home won’t be as smooth.

Source : _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/

A Small Piece of Britain off the Atlantic Coast

2011-02-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

If you head true East from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with a good running start and a 600mile leap you can land on the coast of Bermuda, a little piece of Great Britain off the coast of the United States. My wife and I, however, opted instead for an airplane flight from Raleigh-Durham Airport, which deposited us at the L.F. Wade International Airport about ten miles outside the capital city of Hamilton.

We arrived in the middle of June, on a bright day with a temperature in the mid-seventies, which I was told was average for the time of year. According to the locals, the temperature never gets colder than 7⁰C, which is around 45⁰F in our system. We considered renting a car, but thought better of it when we realized that, being British, they drive on the left side of the road giving us visions of a nasty head on collision that would undoubtedly be our fault. A taxi brought us in to our hotel in Hamilton.

Hamilton is a beautiful, neat, well maintained city situated on the shore of Hamilton Bay, which itself presents a breathtaking panorama. One of the greatest enjoyments for a visitor to Bermuda is viewing the scenery in and around Hamilton Bay. First time visitors are often captured by the pastel colors and white roofs of the buildings in Bermuda, a characteristic of other islands that are currently or formerly under British rule. The Bahamas are another example.

Our main interest, upon arrival, was to plan to spend days at several of the islands famous beaches. As it turns out, we found our favorite to be the Horseshoe Bay beach. It has the typical pinkish sand that is characteristic of Bermuda’s beaches. It’s never crowded and is as peaceful and relaxing as one could hope for. My wife loves to swim, and I’m more of a suntan lotion, lay on a blanket type. The Horseshoe Bay beach was great for both of use.

It even sports a café where good coffee and lunches are available. We found that there was a shuttle service to get bathers to and from the nearest bus stop for a ride to Hamilton, but we had decided to rent motor scooters which are one of the most common and safe means of transport for visitors, especially those from countries where driving on the right is the custom.

The island is quite small, only about 50 square miles, and most places are accessible using the rented motor scooters. We both like to drive the two-wheelers, so rather than double up; we each rented a scooter and rode as a team to every possible destination on the island over the several days that we were there. For meals, we had lunches packed at our hotel, and ate our special dinners in the hotel dining room. It was a most relaxing vacation. Completely stress free.

Spinx

2011-02-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

Spinx in egypt

I pride myself on having traveled all over this great planet of all and I have seen a great many things – from the wonders of Africa and the Orient to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean and South America I have seen it all. Throughout all my journeys, however, I have encountered a more amazing sight than the wonders of ancient Egypt. Most spectacular of all and sitting in the shadow of these great pyramids can be found my favorite wonder of ancient Egypt: the great sphinx at Giza.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is popularly known and features the body of a lion and the head of an Egyptian Pharaoh and, at 65 feet high by 20 feet wide and 241 feet long, it is by far the most impressive standing monolith structure in the world. Older than the great pyramids, it’s believed the Great Sphinx was built in the third millennia BC by the ancient Egyptians. However, several other potential theories of origin abound.

Long a source of controversy and intrigue, there are many theories out there as to the true origins of the Sphinx. While some scholars and scientists date it to the time of the builders of the pyramids at Giza or at least their immediate predecessors, some archeologists hypothesize that this structure was in fact built hundreds if not thousands of years earlier. According to some studies based on the erosion caused by rainwater and other hostile elements, it would not be physically possible for the Great Sphinx to have built at the same time as pyramids. These studies, however, have been widely criticized, although there is evidence to support both positions.

Regardless of whether you follow one theory or the other, the Great Sphinx is an absolutely breathtaking example of humanity’s long standing creativity and ability to sculpt their surroundings. As one of the more awe inspiring instances of human ingenuity the Great Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza are more than just great wonders of Egypt – they are truly wonders of the world and no trip to this ancient land of Pharaohs, curses, and buried treasure would be complete without a tour of these amazing sites. Take it from someone who has both seen the pyramids as well as many of the other great wonders of the world, the ancient structures of Egypt’s Giza area might just be the most amazing place of them all.

Source: _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/

What to Do in Dubai ?!

2011-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

While making your travel plans if you happen to find yourself torn between the desert and the sea (almost as tough as being caught between “the moon and New York City”), Dubai is the travel destination for you. Dubai is located in the Arabian Desert on the coast of the Persian Gulf. It is a place where you can go deep-sea fishing one day, “dune bashing” the next and wrap it all up with clubbing at night.

Dubai is the most populous of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An emirate is a political territory that is ruled by a Muslim Monarch or emir Emirate is just one of the new words you will have to learn for your trip- souk is another. Souk or Souq refers to the traditional markets or market stalls which still co-exist amongst Dubai’s ultra modern developments.

Sites of the City:
At the Spice Souk you can buy spices from all over the Middle East including cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Another must see is the Gold Souk, the place for gold jewelry. Dubai isn’t nicknamed the City of Gold for nothing. You also should spend an afternoon in the Bastakiya District to experience historic Dubai. The District is filled with narrow lanes, traditional Arabian architecture and tall wind towers. Wind towers were the only means of cooling homes prior to modern electricity. In addition the Al Fahidi Ford is the largest concentration of courtyard homes. The district has been redone for tourists and many of the homes house museums and art galleries.

If you can’t find all you need at the souks Dubai offers a huge variety of shopping options including the Lamcy Plaza, Al Ghurair City, Mercato Mall, Oasis Centre and Wafi Centre. Dubai has become famous for shopping and millions of people attend the annual Dubai Shopping Festival every February.

Desert Safaris:
There are several tour companies that lead daily desert safaris. Generally there are four tour options: morning, evening, dinner and overnight. The overnight tour is the most adventurous option and includes dune bashing, quad biking, camel riding, sand skiing and sand boarding. Dune bashing is just what it sounds like- driving around at high speeds and jumping, sliding or bashing into the sand dunes. After a long day in the heat the evening, dinner and overnight tour options include a relaxing meal and belly dancing beneath the desert sky.

Deep-sea Fishing:
The waters around Dubai are known for their sailfish, kingfish, barracuda and hammour fish. Chartered boats go out daily and include tackle. The fishing grounds are located about 25-45 miles from the coast of Dubai City. The waters are generally calm with very little wind.

Camel and Horse Racing:No, sadly, camels and horses do not race each other but you can see both sports in Dubai. Dubai is internationally known for horse racing. The Dubai Cup is an annual thoroughbred horse race held at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, ten minutes outside the city center. Camel racing is also popular throughout the UAE. Traditionally camel racing was only performed for special occasions like weddings or festivals. However, there are now formalized tracks and races are held from October-April each year.

Dubai is a great place to visit. There are many things to do here and the hotels are amazing. I couldn’t believe the luxury here- one hotel was even its own island. How crazy is that? Make sure you book early though because you can find some good deals now if you book head. I used Hotels Combined when I booked my room. I got a pretty good deal too. Between the posh hotel and the posh environment, Dubai is a luxurious and exciting place to visit.

Source: _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/

10 Places to See in Egypt

2011-02-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

Many cultural wonders but also beautiful nature to visit !

Cairo - Mohammed Ali mosque & Hanging church
Aswan - philae temple
Kom ombo temple
Sinai - White canyon and coloured canyon
Sinai - Mt. Sinai and St-Catherine monastery
Red Sea - Ras Abu Gallum NP
Luxor - Luxor temple
Luxor - Karnak temple
The mighty Nile by boat !
The pyramids of Gizeh - just because nobody believes you have been in Egypt and not seen them

Mount Sinai

2011-02-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

We were staying for 5 days in Dahab in Sinai, on the Red Sea coast. From Dahab I made a trip to Sinai mountain, which is an hour or so away, and climbed this holy mountain... at night !

The reason many people climb this mountain at night is obviously to see the sunrise at the top, which is, I must admit, absolutely stunning. Some people tend to forget that it gets cold at night in the desert of Egypt, especially on top of a mountain.

Mount Sinai

Our trip started at the hotel at 23:30, I had taken a short nap before I went to diner, so we went shortly after diner, already in complete darkness, on the road with the small bus that would bring us to the base of the mountain. The temperature was a pleasant 27 degrees Celsius. When we arrived at the parking lot near the Saint-Catherine monastery, we started walking the 'camel route', which is the easiest way to get on top of the mountain. There exists also 'stairs', some 3000 of them, which is not only the shortest route but obviously the strenous route and at night a little bit dangerous route. After escaping from the camels - obviously someone taking the camel route wants a camel ...? - we arrived after an hour or two at a small tea house nearly on the top, we drank a tea and ate a sandwich, and were ready to go the last part - here you have to take the last part of the stairs route, which took another half hour. We were the first persons on the top this night, so we had a good spot to sit behind a rock, protected from the wind, and I started to get dressed for the night, which means get out the gloves, woolen hat and down jacket out of my bag... The temperature : near to zero degrees Celsius. It was a clear night, and it was so quiet up here - till the masses arrived... it was getting soon too crowdy to stand and more and more people were hiring blankets from the bedouins, some people were only dressed in T-shirts , shorts and slippers...

Sunrise

The wait till sunset was still a couple of hours, but the spectacle during the last half hour when the sun slowly came from behind the mountains was spectacular. After the last stars were gone, the mountain silhouets were becoming visible, but only faintly - it took still quite some time till the sun was appearing, first as a tiny dot , then in all its grandeur and brightness. The mountains were coloured in red all over now and only at this moment one could see how fantastic this point was we were standing... Most people hurried down immediately, I stayed a while to enjoy the feeling, and to go to the worst bathroom of my life on top of Mt. Sinai (highly not recommended).

Saint Catherine Monastery

The road down was easy and no problem at all for me with the hiking boots, the 'hikers with the slippers' had more problems. And it is getting hot very soon ! When we arrived at the parking lot again, we waited to be allowed inside the Saint-Catherine monastery, which is an orthodox monastery and has a nice collection of old icons - too bad the monks don't allow you to look carefully and the lighting is really bad inside. Also inside is the burning bushes that Mozes encountered.
A great way to end the climb of a holy mountain.

By the way, after you have visited the monastery, there are some cafés around, so relax, have a drink and wait till your bus arrives. Another refreshing experience.

Waterfall in North Carolina

2011-02-17T08:52:00.000-08:00

Waterfall

The North Carolina area contains a vast number of stunning waterfalls in a variety of locations. It is an area which is home to over one million acres of forests, national parks, state parks and activities such as hiking, horse riding and cycling to enjoy.

To fully explore such a vast area is impossible so focusing on a certain area and walking in it is a popular way for people to take in their surroundings. You can take advantage of various well established trails within the forests and parks.

If you are visiting the North Carolina area to experience the scenery then there is also accommodation which can fit right in with your plans. There are a number of campgrounds and hostels across the area which welcomes walkers and those wishing to explore the area. The accommodation may be on the basic side of things but you are there for the outdoors but it is still clean and well equipped for all of your needs.

You should not expect to spend time in expensive theme parks during a stay in this area. Instead your main expenses apart from accommodation and food shall probably turn out to be the hiring of a bicycle so you can go along the paths that cut through the area. There are several companies that can provide such a service for you at perfectly reasonable rates both daily and weekly.

Food in the area can involve a lot more traditional food rather than having a range of cuisine from around the world. From steak houses to more up market food you can certainly have some excellent cooking without feeling you have paid over the odds and after a hard day of walking or cycling in the parks and forests you shall really feel the need to refuel with a good meal.

So visiting the North Carolina waterfalls can be a holiday that helps bring you closer to nature. It is a holiday designed for relaxation and enjoying the peace and quiet in the great outdoors. All you need is some basic accommodation and good footwear and a sense of exploration to get the most out of your holiday.

Source : _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/north-carolina-waterfalls

Turkey Bucket List

2011-02-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

Holidays in Turkey are increasingly embraced by package holiday tours and budget airlines, are far from restricted to basic sun, sand and sea breaks. It is an ever increasingly popular destination for travelers, especially as the country has been in the new a lot lately, it’s easy to get to from Europe, and it is very cheap.
You can take the grown up approach to Turkey and do things your friends may not have considered. Cheap Turkey Holidays usually means the flight itself and possibly accommodation. Once you are there, take advantage of the many east-meets-west cultural opportunities. Here are some things you can do on your trip:

Don’t miss the Sultan Ahmet Mosque during your holidays to Turkey. A series of magnificent domes and a feel of space, coolness and holiness. This is one of the most famous mosques in the entire world and whose size will truly awe you. Don’t go during prayer time as access to parts of the mosque is limited.

A holiday to turkey mean you can go to the moon. Not the real moon, but the lunar landscape that is Cappadocia, full of white volcanic ash, odd rock formations and a real sense of otherness. Turkey has amazing cities but to see the real natural beauty that is Turkey, you need to take a trip to Cappadocia.

Take a Blue Cruise. This is a boat trip along the Turquoise Coast, a lovely breezy coastal trip that takes in all the major ports, including Bodrum. Cruise around the Caspian see or down the Mediterranean and relax in the azure blue waters that surround Turkey.

Do make a visit to Asia Minor, or as it is know today, Ehpesus, home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the magnificent Temple of Artemis. This was one of the central sites for Roman civilization in Turkey and contains a lot of historic ruins.

Adventurers on holidays to Turkey will not want to miss kayaking in the Coruh River, a white water haven and home to the most exotic of flora.

Finally, for history buffs there is the lost city of Troy. This is where the famous story the Illiad takes place as it chronicles the end of the city of Troy and the war with Greece. It was thought to be a myth for many years until it was discovered in the 1800s. You will discover alters, remains and 4000 year old history galore.

Shop ’til you drop. This is an essential with cheap Turkey Holidays. Put on your bargaining head for the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The vibrant colours, the negotiations, the jewellery, ceramics and carpets will entice you, but do make sure you contain yourself – think baggage allowance.

Vacation to Egypt

2011-02-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

We were staying for 5 days in Dahab in Sinai, on the Red Sea coast. This place is often referred to as the Ibiza of Egypt. But we found it a very relaxing place, an ideal base for trips into the surrounding mountains, learning about local culture, and of course swimming and snorkeling. It was our first snorkeling experience and it was really and eye opener - the beauty of the underwater world is truly amazing !
On one of the excursions we made, we started in a place called 'Blue Hole', near Dahab, and from there on , the only way further is by camel or by foot - but we even encountered one mountain biker !

Camel Ride

The path winds along the shore of the Red sea, in the shadow of the rocks of the Ras Abu Gallum National park. Also the camel ride was a first time experience for us - our total time on the camels was 3 hours, which is actually quite enough (at least to me it was more than enough - I walked the last hour). Each camel had its camel driver, which were in our case a boy of 10 and one of 14. They were from a bedouin family, which we would meet later, understood only the words 'pen' and 'money', and I hoped they went to school instead of doing this job... I already started to feel guilty because participation into this excursion meant they were succesful in their job and this meant... right, no school - on the other hand with the money they got maybe the parents could pay for school ...
Like so many situations in the world, also here exists no clear answer.

Bedouin Village

All of the bedouin people used to be nomadic people, trekking with camels in the Arabian desert. Although a lot of the bedouin live nowadays in a 'modern way', the bedouin culture remained alive in the Sinai. The bedouin are one of the most hospitable and enjoyable people we met during our stay in Egypt. When we arrived in the village - which lives of course mainly from tourists and divers - we were welcomed with the typical bedouin tea, which tastes just great and is really bringing energy - in fact some herbs are used that bring this effect. In any case, this is the best tea of Egypt !

The food these people made for us was not only delicious, there was also plenty !
Of course they also tried to sell some stuff, but without being agressive sales people , like in the rest of Egypt.

Snorkeling

So we went a lot of snorkeling, and this place was just fabulous ! As soon as you get into the water and put your head under water, you are in a different world, a world of colours and full of life. We saw many of the species which were in our book, even the poisonous ones we discovered later in our book. Main rule stays: don't touch anything, only leave your footprints on the beach. We had our own hut on the beach, which was ideal for relaxation after swimming and snorkeling - the bedouin manage to make huts that not only protect you from the sun but also provide a natural air conditioning effect - no matter how hot it is in the sand, it is cool inside ! just great !

After swimming, a bedouin man came with hot water, to rince the salt from our bodies ! A real luxury place ! And then it was time to get on the camels again and go home ...

Weekend in Dublin

2011-02-17T08:31:00.001-08:00

With a rise in the number of budget airlines offering cheap flights to Dublin, the city has become one of the hottest destinations for weekend breaks. No matter what sort of escape you are looking for ñ be it a relaxing cultural getaway or a party with friends ñ the charming Irish capital will easily provide.

Dublin’s history dates back to the 10th Century, when Vikings came to settle on the fertile banks of the River Liffey. Since then the city has seen a turbulent and captivating history and the remnants of which can still be seen in the center to this day. Dublin has always been noted for its Georgian buildings, but there are some stunning examples of architecture from a number of different time periods and some of the highlights including Trinity College, Christ Church, Central Bank and the GPO on O’ Connell Street.

Of course, a chance to sample of a taste of the city’s famous export, Guinness, cannot be missed nor will a trip to the world-renowned Guinness Brewery. And in Temple Bar, you will find a wealth of traditional style bars offering a pint of the black stuff. This area of the city is immensely popular for nights out on the town and boasts a fine selection of restaurants, music venues and late bars and clubs.

Flights to Dublin can be taken from numerous destinations throughout the world and the city’s airport sees thousands of travellers each day. Many budget airlines operate routes to and from the Irish capital. Direct Flights to London, Berlin, Paris, Manchester and Milan are all available.

Source: _http://www.mytravelingstory.com

Tips to Traveling to Spain

2011-02-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

When in an unfamiliar country, it is easy to feel lost or out of touch with the local customs. And in Spain, if you don’t speak any Spanish, this feeling of alienation can multiply if you can’t communicate. So here are a few tips to make traveling through Spain a bit easier for someone foreign to Spanish life.

Remember that Spaniards’ eating schedule may be quite different than what you are used to. Dinner time is normally between 9 and 11 pm and lunch is usually eaten in the mid afternoon. When finding a place to eat, try to avoid chain restaurants where food can be rather bland. Look instead for Mom and Pop joints where the menu is most traditional and the food is most likely delicious.

Spaniards also are very dedicated to their daily Siesta time. Besides restaurants and retail stores that are located in touristy areas, businesses close down between the hours of 2 and 5 pm. So plan ahead – try to plan on eating lunch during this time period, as you won’t be able to do much of anything else.

Driving in Spain is probably not the greatest idea. Signs are often confusing and streets are poorly marked if at all. That is not a great combination when driving in a foreign country. Spain has a fantastic public transit system, and if you are going somewhere quite close, walking is a great way to take in all the sights. If you are traveling cross country, the train AVE in Spain is great. Public transportation is always a fabulous way to meet fellow travelers.

Lastly, when using public restrooms, toilet paper is not a sure thing. In fact it’s more likely that there will be none. It would be smart to travel with some tissues, so you don’t find yourself in this uncomfortable situation.

Source: _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/

The Best Greek Location for Young Adult

2011-02-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

With the recession in its full, fell swing, many feel that they cannot take proper vacations. Cheap holidays are the order of the day; shorter trips for smaller budgets, less exotic locales, fewer borders crossed and flights taken. Many days of vacation time are finding themselves unused simply because few believe cheap holidays are feasible.

Holidays in Greece are often thought of as pricey, high-class excursions to a luxury zone in an exotic foreign country, but in truth, holidays in Greece can be done on the cheap, on the quick, and with all the fulfillment and relaxation of a grandiose, expensive trip.

Greece is an historic nation, the root and foundation of Western civilization; for young adults, be they students or professionals, there is no better place to go to inspire awe and reawaken drive lost in the working day-to-day. Greece is home to the former city-state Athens, the prototypical democracy, and Athens is in turn home to the Acropolis of Athens, foundation of the Parthenon, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, some of the finest archaeological ruins open for public viewing in the world. Athens alone houses dozens of museums for both archaeology and contemporary works, displaying the best and most important elements of the past alongside the cream of our present and hopes for our future. The Grecian islands contain a splendor of their own, as well, with their beaches of white sand flung up and down the entire lengths of their coasts, with majestic outcroppings of cliff and rock to shield the shores from harsh wind and weather.

Greece is the perfect location for any young adults looking to take a cheap, affordable holiday in their time away from University or on their limited vacation. The modern nature of Greece coupled with the historic nature of its tourism centers creates a much more affordable holiday not centered on the stereotypical tourist culture of expensive food and overpriced souvenirs, allowing both starving students and overtired young professionals to find some respite from their day-to-day lives without breaking their banks for a luxury hotel. Greece is the ideal escape for those on a tight budget looking for a true escape from the mundane.

Source: _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/

Historical Landmarks in Berlin

2011-02-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

When you look at the most significant historical moments in the history of Germany, it is no surprise that a large percentage of these moments occurred in the nation’s capital city, Berlin. For those who have an interest in history, visiting these historical landmarks in Berlin will be an absolute treat. For those who are not necessarily interested in history at the moment, you may well find that you are after visiting the following sights:

Checkpoint Charlie
One of the most prominent images in German history is the Berlin Wall being torn down. This wall was built in order to separate the communist west from the east of the city and was one of the most controversial structures in modern history. Checkpoint Charlie was formerly the third checkpoint for the Americans, and the line showing where the divide once stood is somewhat eerie and evokes thoughts of how such pain and suffering could be bestowed in what was in reality a relatively modern era.

Victory Column
This column serves as a reminder of the military power that Germany used to be, even in the days before the Nazis. It was built to celebrate successful military campaigns and is as artistic as it is imposing. The statue offers more than just something to look at as you can walk up the stairs within the statue itself and experience some beautiful views of the city, and in particular the Reichstag.

Reichstag
This building has featured highly in the colourful past of this city. Those with an interest in World War Two will be more than familiar with this building as it played a significant role in the Nazis attempt to gain power in the country. Prior to the Nazi rule, the Reichstag has a rich history as home to the German government.

Charlottenburg Palace
Taking your place on one of the hourly tours around this palace is highly recommended. One of the few buildings to remain from the Prussian times, it serves as a perfect indication of the luxury in which the Prussian rulers used to live. The Palace is now home to various exhibitions, with some including prehistoric artefacts. The gardens are delightful on a sunny day.

Contribution by James of holiday-velvet, who offer Amsterdam apartments and Accommodation in Amsterdam for European travellers.

Source : _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/historical-landmarks-in-berlin

Traveling to Normandy

2011-02-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

Answer me quick - "what is the first thing you think about when I mention Normandy ? " ... right : world war II, D-Day, Utah and Omaha beach ...
A history that is maybe lesser known is that Normandy got its name from the Vikings (mainly Danish and Norwegian) that conquered this land in the 9th and 10th century.
But this story is not about war, it is about good living in France and about the beauty of nature.

It has been quite a while since I visited the Atlantic coast in Normandy and the different cities and villages, but while I am writing this story, the images of the walks into the fantastic landscapes are still vivid in my mind. In the countryside, a hilly terain awaits you - ideal for a couple of days hiking with friends, in the midst of beautiful nature. This countryside is also known for its apple trees - after a nice day of hiking, a good Calvados brandy in the evening ... this must be France !

The most impressive to me is still the Atlantic coast with the white cliffs, like in Etretat and Fécamp - the secluded beaches with little crabs crawling back to the sea, the smell of the sea, the fresh wind and the sound of many seabirds. The whole route along the coastline is just incredible scenic. Along the coast, there are little pitoresque harbors, like in Honfleur - of course the restaurants over here offer a good choice of delicious seafood.

But also cultural activities must not be overlooked - in cities like Rouen with such a big history, you can visit cathedrals, bridges, monuments and museums - from the Vikings to the Middle ages and the history of Joan of Arc - it's all there for you to discover it again.

Source : _http://www.worldtravelstories.com/france_story2.htm

Bordeaux and Million Bottles of Wine

2011-02-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

The name appears on millions of bottles of wine, one would almost forget it is also the name of a town in France. The place is crowded with cathedrals, statues and other monuments that remind you of its great history and cultural importance. The city became rich some centuries ago thanks to the two rivers 'Garonne' and 'Gironde', as overseas ships from many continents used the port for trading. Nowadays the port has lost its importance, but the name of Bordeaux did not lost its prestige, thanks to the sweet gold... wine !

A visit to the vineyards is a pleasure in many ways. The landscapes are just fantastic - this countryside is ideal for a bicycle trip - it is great way to explore the little villages, meet the locals, experience the 'couleur locale'...
The landscapes are dotted with castles (chateaux) , which makes the experience sometimes like being in a fairy tale. A lot of these 'chateaux' can be visited, often a guided tour with explanation about the wine making process and wine tasting is offered - this is really the good life ! A little word of warning however : it can become hot , very hot, and when with a bicycle, one better not exagerate wine tasting along the way...
Real caves, full of wine bottles... ... and barrels !

But don't worry , the good life can be continued when one comes back in the evening and can enjoy the richness of the French cuisine. Oysters, 'Foie gras', different 'Patés', of course with the appropriate choice of Bordeaux wine...it is difficult to make a choice from the menu here and did I mention the deserts yet ? Many nice restaurants, often at great locations with a nice atmosphere. And dfter dinner a nice stroll in town, watch the sun set, and then a nightcap in the hotel - good life can be simple !

Bordeaux, a place to remember and return to !

Source : _http://www.worldtravelstories.com/france_story1.htm

10 Reasons to Love Low Cost Flights

2011-02-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

Low Cost Flights

The famous Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote: “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” The Scottish author would have plenty of choice in the modern day UK on how to move around this country. This article looks at the benefits of low cost flights compared to other forms of travel when considering spending a weekend in the historic city of London.

1. Flights to London do not have 13 other stops on the way: Have you booked a coach to London, only to find that you are going there via Hull, Cardiff, St Ives, Hastings, York and then John O’Groats? Most cheap flights to London head there directly, meaning no 12-hour mini-tour of the UK on the journey down.

2. You do not need your credit card details to land or park your plane in London: Driving down to London is one thing, getting into the city and parking is another. The introduction of the congestion charge and increased parking rates mean that taking the car is becoming increasingly expensive. Fortunately, aeroplanes do not have to pay the congestion charge, or parking fees!

3. There are no traffic jams in the sky: There is nothing guaranteed to send moods spiralling downwards in a car or coach than hitting one of the many traffic jams on the roads of the UK, especially when you glance up desperately to see planes above your head, winging their way effortlessly to their destination.

4. Flying is relaxing and stress free: Are we nearly there yet? Can we stop soon I need the toilet/feel ill? Children fighting and bickering, arguments over whether your other half is reading the map correctly. Travelling can be so stressful at times. In the air, however, the most stressful choice is whether to enjoy a cool drink while you read your book or listen to your music in peace and quiet.

5. Flying is much quicker than any other form of travel: If you are heading for a short two-night break, then you do not want to spend an inordinate amount of your break travelling. From the UK, London can be reached by almost every airport within the space of an hour or so, freeing up more time for your holiday and less time on the road.

6. There are many flights to and from London available from a variety of places nowadays: It is not just the case that the cheapest flights available come from the most popular and populous airports. Many smaller airports now offer a regular low-cost shuttle flight into the capital either daily or on several days during the week. This means that many local airports offer a direct link to the capital for your convenience.

7. Clouds do not require ‘necessary maintenance’ and contra flows: There are few things more maddening to the motorist than the sight of mile after mile of slow traffic due to road improvements, often when nobody is actually about making any improvements whatsoever. Clouds, however, do not require such work and as such, flights into London tend not to have their journeys disrupted quite so frequently!

8. London flights are proving increasingly cost effective: With the rise in cost of petrol, car tax, insurance, parking fees and the introduction of such items as the congestion charge for London and the toll road (with more toll roads planned in future), gone are the days when using the car for a trip into London was the cheap alternative.

9. Statistically, flying is still by far the safest way to travel: Safety a concern? Remember, being on the roads is, statistically, far more dangerous than being in the air. It is worth remembering that everyone responsible for your safety in the air is a highly-trained individual, at the top of their profession. Whereas, anyone who can pass a driving test is allowed onto the roads to drive, it is a sobering thought!

10. You get more time to do what you want: Robert Louis Stevenson may have enjoyed travel, but for many, travel is the process we undergo to get to where we want to be. Travelling by air gives you far more time to spend doing what you want to do, where you want to do it.

Your free time is a precious commodity and it is your right to enjoy it as cheaply and expediently as possible and as yet, no form of transport facilitates this better than taking to the air.

Source : _http://www.mytravelingstory.com/

Pengumuman Pemenang Kompetisi Essay Pesta Anak Rantau 2010

2010-04-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

Sekilas Komentar dari Dewan JuriOleh: Sudarno

Dari sekian banyak tumpukan naskah yang diserahkan oleh panitia ke masing-masing juri (tiga orang juri). saya dapat menyimpulkan jikalau peserta “Lomba Penulisan Essay Anak Rantau 2010” menuliskan karyanya telah mengacu pada kriteria yang telah ditentukan oleh panitia. Mengenai syarat teknis semisal jumlah halaman, jenis dan ukuran huruf. Umumnya peserta menyanggupi kriteria tersebut, meski ada beberapa naskah yang terkesan dikompres dengan cara menyambung beberapa paragraf kedalam satu paragraph saja -- untuk menghemat spasi.

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Sekilas Komentar Dewan Juri Lomba Essay Pesta Anak Rantau (Lanjutan)

2010-04-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Atas nama kreatifitas. Saya selaku juri sama sekali tidak mempermasalahkan persoalan-persoalan sepeleh seperti itu. Namun saya pun tetap harus mengingatkan bahwa; paragraf yang terlalu panjang (khususnya untuk karangan esai) cenderung memiliki resiko tidak disukai oleh pembaca. Apatah lagi, beberapa pesarta menuliskan karyanya dimana satu lembar kertas A4 tidak cukup untuk memuat satu paragraph karangannya.

Berikut ini. Beberapa catatan (tentang naskah nominasi pemenang) dan koreksi (tentang kekeliruan penulisan) yang sempat saya catat sebagai hasil proses mencermati semua karya-karya ada. Namun sebelum itu, patut kiranya saya jelaska terlebih dahulu tentang dasar/ acuan penilaian yang saya gunakan selaku juri lomba.

Definisi esai sebagai karya tulis yang berisi tinjauan subjektif dari penulis tentunya dapat diterima secarah umum oleh berbagai kalangan akademisi. Akan tetapi, tentang bagaimana menuliskannya, ada yang berpendapat: Teratur (formal) dan ada pula yang berpendapat: Bebas (non formal). Dan tentang berapa ukurannya, ada yang menyatakan; bebas, sedang, dapat dibaca sekali duduk dll.

Jika ditanya; Pada pihak mana saya selaku juri mengambil acuan dalam memberi penilaian terhadap karya-karya para peserta lomba?. Jawaban saya simple saja; Saya sebagai juri lebih memilih jalan tengah ketimbang ikut-ikutan kedalam perdebatan yang belum tuntas itu. Bukan berarti saya hendak menengahi atau semacamnya. Akan tetapi, Jalan tengah yang saya maksudkan adalah menilai dari aspek gagasan penulis yang ada dalam setiap karangannya. Terutama; bangunan, pengorganisasian dan orisinilitas gagasan/ide sebagai poin utamanya

Oleh karena muatannya adalah gagasan/opini penulis. Maka, penilaian saya bukan berdasar pada rumusan apa (formal atau non formal) yang dipilih oleh para peserta dalam menuliskan karyanya. Dan bukan pula pada aspek ringan dan beratnya gagasan dan hasil karangan. Kriteria penilaian ini tentunya saya padukan dengan kriteria yang sebelumnya telah ditentukan oleh pihak panitia.

Kekeliruan peserta
Kebanyakan peserta keliru dalam mendefinisikan tentang apa sesungguhnya karangan esai itu – keliru memaknai dan menangkap wujud sebuah karangan esai. Barangkali, ini dikarenakan peserta cenderung berpijak pada uraian dan pengertian-pengertian umum (tidak terperinci) yang selama ini peserta dapati tentang esai itu sendiri.

Contoh sederhana dari kekeliruan-kekeliruan itu. Misalkan, pertanyaan simpel tentang; Apa sesungguhnya yang membedakan antara karya tulis esai dengan jenis karya tulis lainnya semisal karya tulis ilmia, cerpen, puisi, autobiografi dll?. Kebanyakan peserta tidak mampu menjawab pertanyaan ini dalam wujud karya-nya.

Khususnya peserta lomba yang memilih gaya penulisan non formal. Banyak yang terjebak oleh pendefinisian posisi subjektifitas seorang penulis dalam karangan esai. Dengan demikian. Peserta cenderung menguraikan tentang kondisi dirinya (sebagai anak rantau) ketimbang mengurai pandangannya (opini) sebagai penulis terhadap fenomena anak rantau serta tema lomba yang telah ditentukan oleh panitia – penulis cenderung memposisikan diri sebagai objek tulisan.

Alhasil tulisan yang lahir, tak lain dari sekedar uraian panjang-lebar tentang penulis itu sendiri. Fokus tulisan pun tidak lebih dari sekedar bagaimana menjaga plot cerita pada setiap persambungan paragraf ketimbang mengurai dan mengembangkan gagasan si-penulis. Kurang lebih separuh dari total naskah peserta yang diserahkan oleh panitia kepada saya ditulis dalam bentuk; cerpen, outobiografi singkat, puisi naratif, true strory.

Saya selaku juri, langsung saja menyisihkan karya-karya semacam ini dan sama sekali tidak memberikan penilaian terhadap karya-karya tersebut. Alasannya adalah; pertama; Tugas saya selaku juri adalah menyeleksi karya tulis esai dan menentukan mana yang terbaik dari seluruh naskah esai yang diserahkan oleh panitia kepada saya. Kedua; Saya sama sekali tidak memiliki kompetensi yang memadai untuk menilai karya tulis berupa; cerpen, puisi, true story, autobiagrafi.

Adapun peserta yang memilih penulisan karyanya secara formal, lengkap dengan daftar pustaka sebagaimana kebiasaan mahasiswa dalam menuliskan makalah ketika mendapat tugas dari dosen di kampus masin-masing. Beberapa dari peserta yang memilih bentuk penulisan formal ini, cenderung tidak mampu membedakan yang mana karangan esai dan yang mana karya ilmiah.

Beberapa peserta menjebak dirinya pada aturan-aturan ilmiah yang kaku dan sarat dengan “kebenaran objektif” sebagai acuan pendekatan dalam kepenulisan karya ilmiah. Kutipan-kutipan teori (gagasan) pun dicantumkan secara terperinci, bahkan ulasan panjang tentang teori tersebut ikut pula dicantumkan. Padahal jumlah halaman yang ditentukan oleh panitia sangat terbatas.

Kesalahan paling fatal adalah; terlalu banyak mengutip pendapat/rumusan tesis orang lain (tokoh ternama) yang tentunya barangkali dimaksudkan untuk menguatkan opini penulis. Tapi upaya seperti ini justru mencederai orisinalitas gagasan penulis karangan. Terlebih lagi, setelah mencantumkan gagasan orang lain, penulis terkesan sekedar memberi komentar atas gagasan-gagasan kutipannya – Indikasinya; karya lebih tepat sebagai rangkuman atas gagasan orang lain ketimbang sebagai karangan esai. Amat sangat disayangkan. Entah karena terlalu banyak mengutip, atau memang sejak dari awal pengutipan itu lebih berupa saduran dan ringkasan terhadap gagasan-gasan orang lain.

Kekeliruan umum peserta.
Banyak peserta yang terjebak pada kata “rantau” dan melupakan tema pokok (Ada Rindu Yang Patut Diungkapkan) yang disyaratkan panitia. Alhasil hasil, karya para peserta pun sedikit banyak mengupas tentang definisi rantau, suka dan duka merantau, bahkan ada yang mendasarkan pengalaman traumatisnya sebagai kacamata/ sudut pandang penulis dalam membentuk gagasan karya-nya.

Oleh karena kebanyakan naskah yang masuk adalah tulisan dari para perantau (pelajar) yang berasal dari luar pulau Jawa dan tentunya sedang mengenyam studi di Jawa, maka gagasan rural dan urban sangat kental dijumpai hampir disetiap karya para peserta.

10 Nominator dan Pemenang Lomba Penulisan Essay Pesta Anak Rantau

<< Sekilas Komentar Dewan Juri Lomba Essay Pesta Anak Rantau

Nominator dan Pemenang Lomba Essay Pesta Anak Rantau

2010-04-30T23:25:00.000-07:00

Karya-karya yang masuk nominasi peraih juara.

Dari tiga orang juri, terdapat perbedaan menurut urutan nominasi yang diajukan oleh setiap juri. Oleh karena itu kesemua hasil keputusan juri digabung untuk diurutkan kembali sesuai dengan urutan nilai/poin-poin pokok (criteria sebagai juara). Dari ketiga juri yang ada terkumpul sepuluh naskah nominasi peraih juara. Kesepuluh naskah itu adalah;

Rinduku Bukan Rindu Biasa
Ceritaku
Ada Rindu Yang Patut Diungkapkan
Status Perantau
Berkeliling Kota Jakarta di Hari Libur – Sebagai Prasarana Untuk Menyalurkan Kerinduan Terhadap Kampung Halaman
Merantau dan Mudik
Filosofi Coto
Antara Metropolitan dan Kampungan
Kehidupan Rantau Berdampak Sistemik (Refleksi Kehidupan Keluarga bagi Anak Rantau dari Perspektif Ilmiah)
Sebuah Janji

Dari sepuluh naskah nominasi diatas, disaring ulang oleh dewan juri untuk menentukan 3 karya pemenang. Urutan pemenangnya sebagai berikut:

Pemenang I : Antara Metropolitan dan Kampungan
Pemenang II : Berkeliling Kota Jakarta di Hari Libur – Sebagai Prasarana Untuk Menyalurkan Kerinduan Terhadap Kampung Halaman
Pemenang III : Sebuah Janji

Selamat bagi para pemenag!......
Sekian dan terimakasih

Pengumuman Lomba Penulisan Essay Pesta Anak Rantau

2010-04-25T19:09:00.003-07:00

PENGUMUMAN DITUNDA SAMPAI 1 MEI 2010

DAFTAR PESERTA

1.    Antara Metropolitan dan Kampungan    By Riana Mardila
2.    Maksimalisasi Kompetensi Diri Wujud konkrit Pengungkapan Rindu yang Sesungguhnya    By Rahma Veni Husna
3.    Kehidupan rantau berdampak sistemik    By Ardian bakhtiar rivai
4.    Sebuah pelukan untuk keluargaku    By Ni kadek ceryna dewi
5.    Ceritaku    By Nuri yani
6.    Doa dan nasihat; kasih saying orang tua kepada anak    By Haris abizar
7.    Sepenggal kisah dari tanah rantau    By Adhawanty
8.    Anak rantau rindu masakan mama    By Shinta arviati hamidah
9.    Surat kepada ibu    By Pambayun Kendi
10.    Rindu rumah, tapi rumah tak pernah merindukanku    By Purnama Julia Utami
11.    Menebar kasih saying di bumii orang    By Ilma seftyanisa
12.    Berkeliling kota Jakarta dihari libur sebagai prasarana untuk menyalurkan kerinduan terhadap kampong halaman    By Musrifa ilam
13.    Menjadi peka dan bijak terhadap kerinduan orang tua bagi anak rantau    By Taher batubara
14.    Rinduku bukan rindu biasa    By Sabar ardiansyah
15.    Anak rantau, jerih payah dan penantian    By Chintami ricci
16.    Sebuah janji    By Daniel simanjuntak
17.    kerinduan terhadap petani “Matras”    By Kristanty
18.    Rindu yang selalu ada    By Maria franciskasaujana
19.    Nasib menjadi anak rantau    By Nilla Essy
20.    Tiga kata pada rindu perantau: keluarga, kampung, dan teman bermain semasa kecil    By Eda Ervina
21.    Tak habis cerita tentang rindu    By Eka herlina
22.    Hikmah merantau    By Subandi rianto
23.    Tanah kelahiran    By Eko saputra
24.    Yek    By Edison
25.    Masa Kecilku, Kurindu    By Epi mujiati
26.    Meretas mimpi intelektualitas dalam kerinduan di perantauan    By M. Bahtiar rifa’I idris
27.    Susahnya jadi perantau    By Susi novi andari
28.    Sebelum yuda merantau    By Husen arifin
29.    Kepada sahabat di langit jauh    By Sulfiza ariska
30.    Merantau dan mudik    By Sketsa ultra pelangi
31.    Segundang rindu di perantauan    By Zaenal muttaqien
32.    Menguntai Jejak    By Nova Kurniawan
33.    Ibu dan mama    By Febri zulhenda
34.    Katak dalam tempurung berkaca, aku rindu di tengah harapan dan perjuangan    By Agus adi putrawan
35.    Filosofi coto    By Ince dian aprilyani azir
36.    Merindukan kota Yogyakarta tempo dulu    By Eka nur’aini. S.Pd
37.    Ada rindu yang patut diungkapkan    By Neurella desi
38.   Ada Rindu Yang Patut Diungkapkan II
39.   Semalam Bersama Mama
40.   Rindu Itu Setia Untukku
41.   Status Perantauan
42.   Nantikan Pengumuman Selanjutnya

PESTA ANAK RANTAU 2010

2010-01-24T22:27:00.000-08:00

PESTA ANAK RANTAU 2010
IKATAN KEKELUARGAAN MAHASISWA/PELAJAR INDONSIA
(IKAMI) SULAWESI SELATAN CABANG MALANG

PENGANTAR
Meninggalkan kampung halaman, adalah proses merangkai cerita dan mengoleksi pengalaman yang tersiar di banyak tempat. Ada banyak tuntutan untuk meninggalkan tanah kelahiran. Merantau ke daerah lain yang berbeda system kebudayaan, adalah usaha membangun komunikasi, mengumpulkan informasi dan membuat visi perubahan untuk kampung halaman.

Perantau adalah setiap orang yang merindukan hidup di kampung halamannya, mereka meninggalka kampung halaman menuju daerah lain dengan latar belakang kebudayaan yang berbeda. Bersosialisasi dengan masyarakat baru dengan usaha untuk mengenali kebudayaan baru dan memperkenalkan kebudayaan mereka. Dalam segi jumlah, tidak sedikit masyarakat Indonesia yang meninggalkan kampung halaman untuk mencari kehidupan di daerah lain, baik itu usaha memenuhi kebutuhaa materi, mencari pengetahuan, mencari pengalaman, atau mungkin mencari jodoh pada satu sisi.

Apapun alasan perantauan, dapat dipastikan bahwa, semua anak rantau akan mengalami akulturasi budaya, dimana tabiat hidup di rumah akan berhadapan dengan kehidupan masyarakat pada sistem budaya lainnya. Dalam proses akulturasi tersebut, budaya-budaya baru melekat dalam benak para perantau dan terwujud pada perubahan pola perilaku, lifestyle, pola pikir dan tata krama, termasuk kecakapan dalam berkomunikasi.

Pengalaman tersebut yang kemudian coba dibagi. dengan asumsi bahwa segala pengalaman di tanah rantau mengandung nilai budaya dan pengetahuan yang layak dibagi, sehingga penyebaran dan pengenalan karakter para perantau dapat teridentikasi.

Alasan mengangkat tema perantau ini tidak lain karena terdapat sebuah kisah-kisah atau pengalaman dimana budaya yang dianut kemudian diperhadapkan dengan kebudayaan yang baru dan berbeda, hal ini akan menunjukkan keberagaman karakteristik kebudayaan yang terdapat dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara di Indonesia.

Di sudut lain, pesta anak rantau ini juga menjadi momen romantika kampung halaman, dimana para perantau akan menampilkan kampung halamannya kemudian mengisahkan pertarungan dirinya secara kultural di tanah rantau.

TEMA KEGIATAN
“ADA RINDU YANG YANG PATUT DIUNGKAPKAN”

RANGKAIAN KEGIATAN
1. Lomba Penulisan Essai Anak Rantau
Ketentuan umum: Peserta Lomba berasal dari kalangan mahasiswa yang merantau di Jawa dan Bali. Waktu pelaksanaan dimulai sejak tanggal 1 Februari hingga tanggal 1 April. Penjurian dimulai pada tanggal 1 april hingga 20 April dan diumkan pada 22 April 2010.

2. Futsal Persahabatan Antar Orda Se-Malang Raya
Ketentuan umum: Pertandingan ini dilaksanakan dengan sistem gugur. Dilaksanakan pada tanggal 7 s/d 11 April 2010. Peserta kegiatan berasal dari Orda se-Malang Raya.

3. Seminar Kebudayaan
Ketentuan umum: Seminar dilaksanakan pada tanggal 22 April 2010. Seminar akan membahas persoalan realitas perantau dan sumbangsihnya terhadap pembangunan daerah masing-masing. Pembicara kegiatan ini yaitu:

Putu Wijaya
Asdar Muis RMS
Zawawi Imron

Key Note Speaker: Jusuf Kalla (Mantan Wakil Presiden RI)
(pembicara dan key note speaker dalam konfirmasi)

4. Festival Budaya Anak Rantau
Ketentuan Umum: Dilaksanakan pada tanggal 22 April 2010. Kegiatan ini menghadirkan penampilan dari berbagai Oeganisasi Daerah (Orda) se-Malang Raya yang akan menampilkan kesenian daerah masing masing dalam bentuk Drama, Pementasan tari, Musik dan kesenian adat lainnya. Selain pementasan seni dan budaya, kegiatan ini juga menghadirkan pameran kesenian yang ditampilkan oleh berbagai Orda.

JADWAL PELAKSANAAN KEGIATAN
1. Lomba Penulisan Essai Anak Rantau
    1 Februari s/d 1 April 2010.
2. Futsal Persahabatan Antar Orda Se-Malang Raya
    7 s/d 11 April 2010.
3. Seminar Kebudayaan
    22 April 2010.
4. Festival Budaya Anak Rantau
    22 April 2010

PESERTA KEGIATAN
Peserta kegiatan Pesta Anak Rantau 2010 adalah para Perantau se-indonesia dari kalangan pelajar, mahasiswa dan masyarakat umum yang merantau di pulau Jawa dan Bali. Target peserta kegiatan ini adalah 5000 orang.

SEKRETARIAT KEGIATAN
Kegiatan pesta anak rantau ini dilaksanakan oleh Ikatan Kekeluargaan Mahasiswa/pelajar Indonesia (IKAMI) Sulawesi Selatan Cabang Malang.
Sekretariat Panitia :
Jl. Tlogo Alkautsar No. 58 Malang – Jawa Timur. Kode pos: 65144.
Kontak personalia: 085234164050 (cheng)
Email: anak.rantau2010@yahoo.com

Lomba Penulisan Essai Anak Rantau 2010 IKAMI Sulsel Cabang Malang

2010-01-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

Dalam Rangka Memeriahkan “Pesta Anak Rantau” yang dilaksanakan olehh Ikatan Kekeluargaan Mahasiswa/pelajar Indonesia (IKAMI) Sulsel Cabang Malang. Kami mengundang kawan-kawan mahasiswa seluruh Indonesia yang merantau di pulau Jawa dan Bali, untuk mengikuti Lomba Penulisan Essai Anak rantau 2010.

Tema Kegiatan: Ada Rindu Yang Patut Diungkapkan.
Periode Pelaksanaan Lomba dimulai pada tanggal 1 Februari s/d 1 April 2010.

Ketentuan Umum:
1. Peserta lomba dapat mengirimkan lebih dari satu essai.
2. Mahasiswa rantau yang berada di wilayah Pulau Jawa dan Bali.
3. Melampirkan fotokopi KTP/SIM dan Kartu Mahasiswa.
4. Melampirkan biodata lengkap dan pas foto berwarna ukuran 3×4 sebanyak 2 lembar.

Syarat Penulisan Essai:
1. Panjang essai maksimal 5 halaman, menggunakan kertas ukuran A4, ditulis dengan spasi 1.5, margin normal, dan jenis huruf Times New Roman, font 12.
2. Naskah ditulis dengan kaidah penulisan baku sesuai dengan Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan (EYD). (istilah asing/daerah dicetak miring dan disertakan catatan kaki).
3. Naskah digandakan sebanyak 3 (tiga) rangkap dan menyertakan soft file berupa CD.
4. Tema essai harus berhubungan dengan tema kegiatan.
5. Isi essai harus asli bukan saduran atau terjemahan (menyertakan surat pernyataan).
6. Essai belum pernah/tidak sedang dilombakan dan belum pernah dipublikasikan di media massa apapun.
7. Naskah dikirim kepada panitia selambat-lambatnya tanggal 1 April 2010 (cap pos).
8. Naskah lomba dikirimkan dalam sampul tertutup, pada sudut kiri atas dicantumkan kode “Pesta Anak Rantau 2010″.

Naskah dikirim kepada Panitia Lomba Penulisan Essai dengan alamat tujuan

Jl. Tlogo Al-kautsar No. 58 Malang – Jawa Timur. Kode Pos: 65144

Pengumuman pemenang lomba penulisan akan diumumkan pada hari Kamis, 22 April 2010 di blog: http://catatan-perantau.blogspot.com

Total hadiah 10* Juta Rupiah
Pusat Informasi
Email/Facebook : anak.rantau2010@yahoo.com
Blog : http://catatan-perantau.blogspot.com
Kontak personalia : 085233291133 (Jumrayana) – 085255637010 (Najamuddin)

* Sesuai dengan ketentuan dan kondisi

Masakan Bunda

2010-01-12T23:37:00.000-08:00

Oleh: Cheng Prudjung

Aku rindu pada masakan bunda, walaupun kurang enak di lidah, tetapi sangat enak luar biasa di hati. Bukan nasi dan lauk pauknya yang menjadikan makanan terasa enak, melainkan suasana dan sensasinya. Hingga sekarang, aku betul-betul merasa rindu masakan bunda, walaupun jauh hari setelah ribuan kali kunikmati masakannya, perasaan ini hadir.

Sepiring nasi dan sepotong ikan bandeng yang digoreng hingga kering dan terasa renyah, ditambah dengan air garam sebagai perasa daging ikan bandeng itu. Itu saja, makanan yang sangat sederhana dan bisa ditemui di warung makan mana saja, namun aku tetap merindukan masakan bunda.

Perasaan rindu ini sebenarnya muncul ketika mataku bertatapan dengan mata ikan bandeng yang telah mampus dan menghiasi etalase makanan di warung makan sebelah kos. Aku hendak mencicipinya sambil membayangkan makanan bunda di rumah, nasi dengan lauk ikan bandeng dan sayur kacang panjang dengan kuah bening yang dimasak dengan beberapa asam sehingga rasanya betul-betul nikmat. Sayur yang terasa kecut di tengah siang yang panas.

Hingga tulisan ini kutuliskan, kerinduan itu terus menjadi-jadi. Perutku semakin lapar, dan aku tersiksa karena uang tidak ada, hanya berusaha bersabar menunggu teman yang datang dan mengajak ke warung nasi, paling tidak sekadar ngopi.

Entah bagaimana zat rindu mengaduk perutku sehingga mataku yang menatap menu makanan yang terpajang di etalase warung nasi sebelah kos, terlihat seakan-akan masakan bunda, dan ini efek yang terlalu berlebihan, entah karena saking laparnya, atau saking rindunya. Tapi paling tidak, kusampaikan dengan jujur bahwa ini tidak lebih dari dramatisasi peristiwa dalam tulisan.

Tapi, rindu terhadap masakan bunda adalah perasaan umum, selalu ada kerinduan untuk hal semacam ini. Rindu itu meliputi masakan, suasana dapur, perasaan ketikan makan malam bersama dengan semua keluarga, perbincangan di meja makan atau bahkan kasih sayang bunda dan kerja keras ayah yang kemudian mewujud menjadi masakan. Makanan yang penuh dengan keberkahan.

Sedikit menyimpang dari permasalahan rindu ini, rasa lapar, makanan, dan kondisi perut, mempengaruhi kondisi tubuh secara umum, fisik maupun psikologis. Contoh yang paling parah untuk kasus ini adalah kejadian seperti meninggal akibat kelaparan, mencuri atau membunuh untuk memenuhi kebutuhan perut dan segala macam yang masuk dalam kategori “Urusan Perut”.

Dan masakan bunda mudah-mudahan bisa menjadi obat dari perilaku yang negatif akibat pengaruh perut atau rasa lapar. Masakan bunda dari rejeki yang halal, berasal dari kerja keras dan proses pengolahan makanan yang penuh dengan kucuran kasih sayang. Seorang bunda tidak pernah menganjurkan makan yang banyak untuk cepat besar dan merasa kuasa dari anak-anak yang lain sehingga mereka dapat dijajah.

Masakan bunda, bagaimana pun tidak enaknya dibandingkan makanan di restoran kelas “Planet”, adalah makanan paling dirindukan, dan harusnya begitu. Masakan restoran hanya memberikan kenikmatan sensasi yang bergantung pada keadaan, seperti dengan siapa kita menunaikan makan malam, di restoran mana dan dengan penyajian bagaimana?.

Maka, dimanapun kita berada, hadirkan niat untuk pulang kampung dengan tujuan sesuap nasi dari bunda. Sesuap nasi putih dan secabik ikan bandeng dengan mangga rica-rica. Betapa pun miskinnya kita, meja makan tua dan segelas air minum dalam gelas berwarna kuning yang harusnya berwarna bening, akan melupakan kita pada keadaan bahwa kita orang miskin. Harusnya memang seperti ini.

Ini Bukan Cerita, Ini Fakta, Sebuah Realita Kisah Mahasiswa Rantau

2010-01-05T12:32:00.000-08:00

Oleh: Rahim El-Bugisy

Rahim dan Motornya, Uni ikutan mejeng

Seperti biasanya tiap pagi cuaca kota Malang amat Dingin menusuk Hingga ke Tulang (Heheheheeh Lebey dikit), Ayam Berlomba-lomba memperdengarkan suara merdunya (Ayam Di Malang Memang Aneh..Khukhukhu) Kukkkuruuuuuyuuuukukukuku.............Khuzzzzzzzzz (Kira-Kira gitu Bunyinya).

Pagi itu aku Tidak ada firasat apa-apa, Aku Sadar dari Mati Kecilku....!! dan What.........?????? Udah jam 06.15 “Udah terlambat nihhh”, kataku dalam hati, (Masya Allah Ngga On Time Lagi sambil geleng-geleng kepala).

Hari kamis, tepat tanggal 24 desember 2009 tertulis dalam agenda di HPku Rapat HUMAS UKM.K. Jama'ah A.R Fachruddin dengan agenda penyambutan LDK UIN Maliky Malang.

Tanpa fikir poaaaaanjang, kupasang Kuda-Kuda.... Ciaaaatttt (Him, Bangun Tidur atau mau kerate...Hikhikhikhiiiik) aku pun Melompat, tanpa cuci muka kumengambil Kunci Motorku di Atas Lemari Samping TV depan sopa dekat kamar (temanku), Taslim, di Kontrakan Jalan Tlogo Al-Kautsar No 58 (Lengkap sudahhhhhh) akupun menyalakan sepada Motor Hijau Hitamku.

Khummmmmmmm........khummmmm.... (Bunyi Motorku yahhh Mirip-Mirip Bunyi Motornya Rossi lahhh) Tanpa memanaskan mesinya terlebih dahulu kutancap gas menuju ke Masjid A.R Fachruddin UMM. Brummmmmmmmmm Zettttttttt, Sampailah diriku di Parkiran Depan Masjid....!!!! Matikan Motor. Kunci leher, Pasang Alarem pengaman sambil melihat jam tanganku Wahhhh Udah jam 06.25 Pagi, kayaknya dah mulai rapat dari tadi Nihhh (Hatiku terus berceloteh karena merasa bersalah dahhh terlambat). Kulangkahkan kakiku, langkah demi langkah diiringi rasa barsalah karena dah telat, sesampai di Markas Dakwah...??? Mana Orang-Orang nihhhh 1.2.3.4.5....7 Aku pun menghitung orang-orang di Markas Da'wah ternyata baru sekitar 7 orang yang datang termasuk diriku. (Ini niiiii Penyakit sebahagian besar Orang-Orang Indonesia Al- Malasssss Ikut Ruaaafat Al-Kecuali ada Kueeee barkhu Ruhaaajin khekheheheheh).

Aku pun masuk markas da'wah, Toweeeeeeng..... Aku Bengong Bin Bingung ada satu Laki-Laki disampingku inisialnya Z Berbicara sendiri. ???????? Nih Orang Gila atau Punya kemampuan berkomunikasi dengan Makhluk Halus. Wuahahakekekekekukhizzzz... (Aku Tertawa Dalam Hati) Astagfirullah.... Wal Hamdulillah... dan Subahanallah.....!!!! tak seperti biasa yang aku dapatkan ternyata Rapatnya betul-betul mengamalkan syariat Islam yahhh (Hatiku balik menegur karena sempat Negative Thingking) tau nggak Para Pembaca Rapatnya Menggunakan Hijab (Pembatas Akhwat dan Ikhwan) jdi kalu kita ingin bicara ama Akhwatnya (dikit berbahasa arab ketimur-timuran "Takut ntar lupa kosakatanya selama 6 tahun di Pesantren n biar agak keren dikit") kita seakan akan berbicara denga Hijabnya (Papan Tulis) Gilaaaa Kaliii Bicara ama Papan Tulis, tapi yahhh Namanya juga Lingkungan yang Islami yahhh dimaklumi aja dan pantas untuk di pupuk + Aplikasikan ditengah masyarakat.

Kembali ke cerita, dan Wooooowwwww Aku lansung dipilih menjadi ketua Panitia untuk penyambutan LDK (Lembaga Da'wah Kampus) UIN Malaky Malang. dengan Muka Imut tapi memancarkan cahaya tidak Ikhlas (Maklum dah banyak tugas, Mau UAS, dan Masih banyak lagi kegiatan-kegiatan lainnya) Tapi apa Boleh buat peserta Rapat yang hampir 80.000 Ummat (4 Nolnya kayaknya dicuri orang, Wahhh kayaknya ada di saku pembaca nihhh coba prikasa... khuhhuhuhuh). Lanjut............!!!! Mereka sepakat aku jadi ketua Panitia.

"KERJAKAN PEKERJAANMU DENGAN IKHLAS DAN HADAPAI DENGAN KESABARAN SERTA TERIMA HASILNYA DENGAN KESYUKURAN INSYA ALLAH ENGAKAU MENJADI ORANG YANG TENANG DAN BERUNTUNG DALAM HIDUPMU".

Inilah mottoku yang telah aku ukir menjadi sebuah komitmen bila beraktifitas di dunia yang fana ini.

Jam 06.55 Rapat dah kelar.... Horeeeee..... Pulang Mandi siap-siap ke kampus untuk berproses jadi insan akademis, aku pun melangkahkan kaki menuju parkiran tak sadar bahwa cobaan telah menantiku. Jantungku melai berdetak berlomba-lomba dengan jarum jamku (Detik) Horeeee Detak jantungku juara Heheheh Canda itu.....Him..Himmm. Kembali ke Lap.....Top (Ni Bukan acaranaya Tukul Nirwana yaaahhh ehhhh salah Arwana).

“Pak Ngga Liat Motor Ijo Hitem yang Masih Mulus dan Mengkilat di parkir sini yahhh? (Maklum 27-02-2009 keluar dari toko hingga 24-12-2009 jadi masih baru lohhh tapi kayaknya dah lenyap hehehe)”.

“Nggak, Mas”, dengan Entengnya Satpan Menjawab..... Astagfirullahhhh itulah kalimat yang pertama kali kelua dari mulutku dan dilanjutkan dengan Istigfar dalam hati.

Inna Lillahi Wainna Ilaihi Rajiuuun Motorku Hilang Para Pembaca......!!!!!

Jum'at 27-2-2009 Pukul 15.00 Dia Bersamaku
Kamis 24-12-2009 Pukul (Antara 06.25-06.30) dia pergi mungkin dipinjem orang yahhh...Wakheheeh

"SEMAKIN TINGGI IMAN SESEORANG MAKA SEMAKIN TINGGI COBAAN YANG IA AKAN TERIMAH". SEBUAH KALIMAT YANG DAHSYAT......!!!! SEMOGA AKU, PEMBACA, DAN SELURUH SAUDARA-SAUDARA KITA SEIMAN TERMASUK DIDALAMNYA....Aminnnnn....!!!

N/B : Bila ada Tulisan yang salah Mohon Maklum, Baru Belajar Menulis.

(Sidikit Coretan dari Orang Bodoh)

Hujan Sekali Lagi

2010-01-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

Kuterbangkan asap rokok diantara tusukan-tusukan jarum yang jatuh dari langit, sedikit-sedikit ait hujan yang jatuh nampat sebagai benang yang terurai turun dari langit di mata rabunku. Aku menncari inspirasi diantara ruang kosong di tengah hujan.

Teringat pada sebuah lelucon yang kurang menarik yang kudapatkan ketika duduk di bangku SMA, dari seorang teman. Bahwa apa yang harus ditakuti dari hujan? Basah?, kenapa harus takut, aku tidak takut padanya seandainya saja dia berani turun satu per satu. Hahaha. Tertawalah kawan agar aku dan temanku ini merasa dihargai. Skali lagi hehehehehe.

“Yang lari kambing”, seseorang berteriak ketika segerombolan remaja yang kumpul kebo berhamburan saat bintik air berhamburan, jatuh dari langit. “Yang tidak lari kambong bodoh”, lanjut orang itu sambil tertawa bergembira.

Ada banyak kisah, seimbang dengan jumlah air yang turun dari langit, prosesnya pun sepertinya sama. Sebagaimana hujan dengan siklusnya, kehidupan manusia (kisahnya) juga memiliki siklus. Ungkapan bahwa hidup ini bagai roda berputar menjadi justifikasinya, kita melakukan proses pengulangan karena sebelum kita, orang-orang telah melakukan banyak hal sebagaimana yang dilakukan sekarang. Informasi dikirimkan melalui suatu tatanan tradisi dan pewarisan pengetahuan.

Paling tidak, demikianlah hujan kumaknai untuk hidupku secara pribadi, sebagaimana kualifikasiku yang dangkal.

Entah kenapa hujan menjadi sesuatu yang istemewa dalam kepalaku. Dalam ruangan kekonyolan dalam otakku, ada keinginan untuk memperhatikan hujan di setiap gumpalan kecilnya. Ya, memperhatikannya satu demi satu, seperti kisah dalam Gadis Jeruk-nya Jostein Gaarder, dimana seorang pelukis membeli sekantong buah jeruk untuk dilukis, dia akan memperhatikan jeruknya satu per satu, mencari celah perbedaan diantara puluhan buah jeruk yang ada dalam kantong itu.

Sangat konyol, paling tidak untukku. Sama seperti usaha menghitung bintang di langit. Pertanyaan untukku adalah, untuk apa aku harus memperhatikan setiap gumpalan kecil dari hujan yang jatuh?. Jawaban yang kupilih adalah, mencari perbedaan diantara mereka, sama seperti pelukis dan jeruknya dalam Gadis jeruknya Jostein Gaarder.

Dan memang benar bahwa itu adalah perbuatan yang konyol, tapi salahkah?. Ini hanya sebuah keinginan, ingin tahu tepatnya. Mungkin tidak ada orang yang memikirkan ini, dan itulah yang membuat sebuah peristiwa menarik untukku.

Sekarang, marilah beralih sedikit dari gumpalan kecil butir hujan yang realitas menuju gumpalan hujan yang penuh perandaian. Bayangkan saja bagaimana diri kita mewujud menjadi gumpalan kicil hujan itu, bersama orang-orang di sekitar kita yang juga menjadi gumpalan kecil hujan tersebut.

Proses jatuh dari langit menuju bumi adalah sebuah rangkaian peerjalanan kehidupan dari lahir menjadi usaha mengetuk pintu surga pada dimensi yang lain. Saat tiba di bumi dan pecah, itulah akhir kita, dan kehidupan ini memang berjalan begitu cepat dan penuh kefanaan, tidak lagi memeberikan arti.

Pertama, apa perbedaan antara satu gumpalan air hujan dengan gumpalan air hujan yang lainnya, jika gumpalan kecil air hujan itu adalah kita dan orang lain di sekitar kita?. Kita hidup bersama, membutuhkan pasangan, membutuhkan pekerjaan, membutuhkan uang, dan kesamaan lainnya. Sehingga perbedaannya apa?. Sekali lagi menurutku adalah, identitas. Dan mohon maaf jika saya mendahului identifikasi gumpalain air hujan saya dengan yang lainnya bahwa perbedaan saya adalah, saya memikirkan hal konyol tentang mencari perbedaan antar gumpalan kecil air hujan, yang mungkin pasti tidak dipikirkan oleh seorangpun selain saya.

Kedua, apakah kita akan menjadi gumpalan kecil dari air hujan yang pecah di bumi begitu saja, sia-sia, tanpa arti, tanpa efek dan tanpa tanda bahwa kita telah jatuh dari langit dan remuk di bumi?. Maka tinggalkanlah jejak berupa kenangan dalam benak dunia yang akhirnya memekarkan bunga di taman, menyuburkan rerumputan. Bahkan bisa saja merubuhkan bangunan dengan longsor.

Mari mendalami ini. Ketiga, ketika kita jatuh dari langit, apa yang terekam dalam meemori kita tentang proses kejatuhan ini? Bisakah kita mengingat sesuaatu tanpa melakukan apapun?. Maka singgahlah di warung pada sebuah persinggahan seebelum hancur di bumi, berceritalah dan mendengarlah kisah dari alam, udara, angin, cahaya dan sebagainya. Petiklah beberapa kuntum bunga yang akan digunakan sebagai kado untuk sebuah ciptaan yang akan kita temui setelah kita remuk hancur dan masuk pada dimensi lain.

Mari mendalami ini.

Mari mendalami bagaimana kita hanyut dalam hujan dan terancam demam di malam hari, setelah kita berlindung di bawah hujan dari teduhnya atap rumah. Betapa bodohnya kita!

Malang, 5 Januari 2010

Malang Diguyur Hujan

2009-12-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hujan runtuh dari awan hitam yang menjadi payung kota Malang. Aku menutup mata dan berkeliling di dunia tak kenal logika, cairan meleleh dari dalam mulutku, melukis sketsa abtrak. Hingga suasana dingin di hujan kali itu menyadarkanku, dan gemuruh atap Kontrakanku menggoncang telinga sehingga aku terjaga penuh.

Aku bangkit, tidak langsung mencuci muka, tapi menuju pintu depan kontrakan dan berdiri mematung memandangi hujan. Dan hujan selalu saja mengantarkan kesan romantik di benakku, tentang kesederhanaan, tentang cinta-kasih, tentang keceriaan, persahabatan dan kehangatan diantara titik-titik airnya. Walaupun hujan menjadi bala di tempat lain.

Tidak ada aktifitas yang terjadi di hadapanku, diantara butir-butir air yang jatuh dari langit. Setiap orang sepertinya memilih untuk mengurung diri di kamar kos masing-masing, entah apakah mereka beristirahat, menikmati waktu senggang dengan menonton TV, atau diam-diam menikmati hujan di belakang jendela kamar.

Aku sendiri, sekarang telah berjongkok memperhatikan suasana di sekitar. Hingga terlintas beberapa orang anak kecil yang menikmati hujan di benakku.

Ada sketsaku di benak ini. Bermain sepak bola di lapangan sekolah depan rumah bersama anak-anak yang lain, menyepak bola tanpa aturan, sekeras-kerasnya hingga mengenai teman yang lain dan jera oleh rasa sakit. Semakin tersisksa dan lelah anak-anak itu, semakin bergemuruh keceriaan mereka, mengalahkan serangan hujan kala itu.

Banyak cerita yang terjadi ketika hujan, sepulang sekolah ketika aku masih SD, aku berlali sekencang mungkin menuju rumah agar tidak basah kuyup dan merusak peralatan sekolah di dalam tasku yang reot. Selain itu, ada juga yang segaja kuyup oleh hujan dan besoknya mereka masuk ke sekolah dengan sandal jepit atau sandal bermerek mereka, alasannya tidak lain bahwa sepatu mereka belum kering karena kemarin basah. Parahnya, banyak teman-temanku dulu yang selalu berdoa agar sekolah kami banjir sehingga kami bisa berlibur. Dan musim hujan adalah musim kreatifitas, musim mencari kebebasan karena hujan alasan.

Mungkin sejak itu, hujan menjadi idolaku. Ketika air di sungai-sungai yang setiap hari kulewati ketika pergi dan pulang dari sekolah meluap, dan disulap menjadi kolam renang gratis. Teman-temanku melompat masuk, ada yang telah menyediakan pakaian ganti atau malah bertelanjang bulat masuk ke air. Semuanya bergembira.

Maka demikianlah dunia anak-anak di mata hujan, hujan seakan merasa seperti badut, video game nitendo atau kartu kwartet, malah kelereng yang selalu saja menggembirakan mereka. Namun, tidak semuanya gembira, karena ada saja anak-anak yang nakal dan tidak senang melihat teman-temannya yang lain selamat dari hujan, terutama anak perempuan.

Beberapa anak sering berkejaran dan menghentakkan kaki dengan keras ke tanah yang digenangi air, air yang tidak bersih dan bening pun itu terpercik ke pakaian anak-anak perempuan yang kontan marah. Mereka pun tertawa riang. Kisah lainnya, anak laki-laki menyukai hujan yang menyerang anak perempuan, hingga mereka kuyup. Ketika baju seragam putih mereka sempurna basahnya dan kelihatan transparan, beberapa anak akan berkumpul dan diam-diam memperhatikan anak perempuan tersebut, menikmati imajinasi dari pakaian putih yang berubah menjadi agak transparan. Dasar anak-anak.

Seandainya saja hujan ini adalah lawan jenis (kelamin), dia akan banyak menerima surat berisikan puisi dan kalimat-kalimat gombal. Selain itu, ada juga yang akan mengirim hinaan dan cercaraan padanya karena terlalu serius membasahi bumi.

Namun, setiap orang akan mencintai hujan. Karena di dalamnya ada kedamaian yang tersembunyi ketat pada bening airnya. Sayangnya, setiap orang tidak terlalu mengerti bagaimana hujan disambut dan dipedulikan, ribuan ton sampah menggenangi sungai, ribuan pohon di hutan ditebang dan terjadi erosi. Hujan yang dating dengan kedamaian pun berubah menjadi tamu kejam akibat perlakuan tuan rumah yang kurang welkam.

Hujan di Malang seakan portal yang mengantarku menuju hujan di Makassar bertahun-tahun silam. Ketika dunia belum sekejam ini terhadap alam.

Malang 23 des 09

Masjid Adalah Rumah

2009-12-11T10:50:00.000-08:00

Mengunjungi daerah yang jauh dan asing merupakan sebuah keasyikan tersendiri, sensasinya adalah ketika kita merasa sendiri, survival, dan berusaha untuk bersosialisasi dengan masyarakat sekitar. Demikianlah perjalananku ini untuk menemukan sensasi itu seteah merasa penat dengan siklus pergaulan di Malang.

Ada banyak tempat yang takkan pernah terhalang oleh pagar pembatas untuk para pendatang baru. Dan jujur kusampaikan bahwa masjid adalah shelter paling aman sekaligus murah meriah. Dia menjadi tempat yang menyambut para tamunya dengan tangan terbuka, bahkan di malam yang telah dalam sekalipun.

Masjid pun kemudian membuktikan fungsinya yang beragam (multifungsional). Di jaman Nabi Muhammad, masjidlah “alun-alun” agama islam dimana segala aktifitas terjadi di dalamnya, tidak sekadar beribadah. Dan untuk kali ini, masjid adalah shelter yang menjadi pilihan terbaik bagi perantau yang belum memiliki tempat singgah sementara. Paling tidak untuk sehari. Di masjid pula, erbagai informasi dapat dikoreksi, meyangkut kultur sosial, menyangkut informasi “sipil” dan sebagainya.

Sepulang dari pendakian gunung Ciremai, Cirebon, Jawa Barat. Kutumpangi Elf yang menuju terminal dan menggunakan jasa ojek menuju stasiun. Karena kemalaman, kereta yang harusnya mengantarku pulang ke Malang atau paling tidak ke Surabaya telah meninggalkan stasiun. Seorang diri kupikirkan rencana selanjutnya menghabiskan malamku ini, termasuk bagaimana aku bisa beristirahat dengan aman, apalagi aku sedang dalam kondisi kelelahan malam itu. Maka berkelilinglah aku di sekitar stasiun sembari mencari makan malam, perhatianku tidak lepas dari pucuk-pucuk rumah yang kulewati, akankah ada kuba masjid yang bisa menaungiku.

Spontan saja kupikirkan masjid waktu itu, dan demikian kebiasaanku jika aku mengalami kejadian seperti ini, bingung akan kemana mencari “tumpangan atap”. Setelah bertanya pada penjaja makanan kaki lima malam itu, dia menunjukkanku arah menuju sebuah masjid. Kuikuti sarannya hingga tibalah kakiku di masjid tersebut.

Bukan hanya aku yang mencari perlindungan aman di masjid itu, beberapa tukang becak memarkir becaknya di halaman masjid yang berpagar. Tukang becak itu sendiri mengginakan bagian teras masjid sebagai tempat tidur mereka, dengan menggunakan tikar yang telah mereka persiapkan. Selanjutnya, kupersiapkan tempatku untuk beristirahat.

Beberapa saat sebelum tertidur, para tukang becak yang “nginap” di masjid malam ini sungguh kasihan. Dimana rumah mereka? Jauh di sebuah kampung?. Maka beruntunglah ada masjid yang menyediakan jasa numpang mimpi, tanpa berharap imbalan.

Aku mendramatisir pikiranku dengan memikirkan bagaimana jika masjid menjadi bangunan yang “tertutup”, dipergunakan oleh segolongan tertentu dengan beberapa aturan yang mempersempit fungsinya, akankah orang-orang sepertiku tertolong, apalagi para tukang becak ini?.

Parahnya, pikiranku sampai pada kritik reflektif yang menusuk diriku, seberapa setiakah diriku hadir di masjid untuk memakmurkannya? Termasuk banyak orang selain diriku tentunya. Sehingga kehadiranku di masjid hanyalah untuk beristirahat bersama ribuan mimpi yang antah berantah. Masjid tak pernah meminta imbalan atas jasanya memfasilitasi kebutuhan ummat, malah memberikan pesangon atas aktifitas kita di tempat ini.

Film Meet Dave dan Realitas Perantau

2009-12-10T07:28:00.000-08:00

Narasi visual di layar kaca memancing perhatian sekaligus menggosok pisau tafsir akan suatu ide realitas, sebuah ide pokok tentang naluri atau malah penggambaran nyata akan pola pergaulan kaum pendatang. Cerita dalam film berjudul Meet Dave membentuk satu garis ide dalam benak (setidaknya bagi saya) tentang bagaimana seorang pendatang yang masuk di pekarangan asing. Dengan rendah diri, saya mengangkat diri saya sebagai sebuah contoh dekat, seorang perantau yang mengumpulkan kerikil ilmu pengetahuan dan pengalaman di daratan lain yang dipisahkan oleh gelombang air.

Dalam film tersebut, sebuah pesawat berbentuk (kasar) seorang manusia utuh mendarat di pulau Liberty, dari pulau itu, ia berjalan menuju kota/pusat keramaian. Dalam proses menuju pusat keramaian tersebut, visualisasi gambar menuturkan bagaimana pesawat luar angkasa tersebut yang kemudian menamai dirinya Dave Ming Chang, nampak berjalan dengan kaku. Narasi gambar tersebut menunjukkan bagaimana Dave memulai proses adaptasi (mungkin dari kebiasaannya terbang kepada gaya berjalan ala manusia di bumi).

Gambar-gambar yang tampil selanjutnya masih tetap satu tema/pesan, yaitu bagaimana ia beradaptasi, dari belajar berjalan, mengimitasi perilaku dan ekspresi orang-orang di sekitarnya dan mengidentifikasi simbol-simbol di sekelilingnya. Sederhananya, begitulah awal kedatangan seorang perantau di pekarangan baru yang asing, sebagaimana saya awalnya, tidak mengetahui bagaimana perilaku secara umum masyarakat jawa, bagaimana bahasa dan kulturnya. Adaptasi.

Dave, datang ke Bumi dari planet asalnya, Nell, adalah untuk mencari sesuatu yaitu Orb, sebuah batu bulat berdiameter 2,5 cm yang hilang dari planet mereka dan jatuh di bumi dan disimpan oleh seorang anak bernama Josh Morrison. Batu tersebut adalah sumber energi yang sangat mereka butuhkan untuk meneruskan eksistensi planet mereka, tujuan menemukan batu dan mengembalikannya ke Nell adalah tujuan utama, menemukan dan mengembalikan adalah fokus mereka.

Dave dalam proses adaptasinya, mengalami kecelakaan, ia ditabrak dengan keras oleh sebuah mobil yang melaju kencang dan dikendarai oleh ibu Josh, Gina Morrison. Kejadian itu yang akhirnya mempertemukan Dave dengan Josh, namun pada pertemuan pertama mereka, Dave yang diterbangkan oleh puluhan awak belum menyadari bahwa Josh-lah yang menyimpan Orb, hanya alat sensorik dari pesawat itu saja yang menjelaskan bahwa Orb ada di dekat mereka.

Cerita-cerita dalam film itu terus berlanjut pada penegasan tentang realitas kaum perantau, bagaiamana Dave bergaul, berkomunikasi dengan keluarga Gina Morrison. Dave menemukan berbagai kejadian-kejadian yang secaara psikologis mempengaruhi para awak pesawat sedikit demi sedikit, bagaimana Dave menjelaskan identitasnya (nama, aksen dan penampilan), ketika dave berintekasi dengan seorang gembel, Berdansa, tertangkap oleh polisi dan segala macam. Film itu diperkaya dengan berbagai tampilan realitas masyarakat bumi di bagian belahan tertentu (New York).

Singkat cerita, sebaiknya Film ini perlu ditonton, hanya sekadar stimulasi sensor refleksi dalam diri kita sahaja.

Suatu kenyataan/realitas sosial yang kecil dan nampak biasa saja karena kebiasaan kita bersentuhan/mengalaminya, akan terasa berbeda, bagi saya penggambaran film itu mengangkat memori sampai ke dasar bahwa kadang suatu realitas awal yang asing bagi kita, akan berubah menjadi menarik sehingga kita tidak lagi bersikap awas/waspada terhadapnya.

Kedatangan Dave Ming Chang (yang saya maksudkan termasuk awak pesawatnya), mengingatkan bahwa pertemanan di pekarangan lain itu perlu, dan teman itulah yang kemudian membantu kita untuk memahami lingkungan. Namun, interaksi kita dalam mencari teman jangan sampai melarutkan kita pada dunia lain yang akhirnya mengaburkan tujuan awal kedatangan kita pada suatu daerah asing. Dan begitu pula yang dialami Dave, dia sempat terlena oleh semarak bumi dan menjadikan Dave mengalami split personaliti (para awak kapal terpecah kepentingan, pihak yang satu memaksa untuk tetap fokus pada pencarian Orb, sementara pihak yang lain tetap menikmati keadaannya). Split personaliti yang terjadi itu menghadirkan dialog yang menarik. Sebaiknya ditonton!!!.

Kembali kepada tujuan utama, mencari, menemukan, dan mengembalikan Orb, lalu pulang ke planet sendiri untuk menjaga dan mengembangkannya. Jangan melakukan perusakan di Bumi (pekarangan asing yang kita datangi), malah seharusnya meninggalkan kesan dan pelajaran/motivasi bagi mereka (teman).

Malang, 15 Juli 2009

Pesta Anak Rantau

2009-12-10T03:21:00.000-08:00

Meninggalkan kampung halaman sebagai sebuah aktifitas kehidupan adalah proses merangkai cerita-cerita dan mengoleksi patahan-patahan pengalaman yang tersiar di banyak tempat. Ada banyak tuntutan untuk meninggalkan tanah kelahiran untuk menemukan percik pengalaman dan pengetahuan baru, dampak dari menjauhi kampong halaman tersebut tidak sedikit dan tidak kecil. Menyebrang ke halaman tetangga adalah proses membangun komunikasi, mengumpulkan informasi dan membuat visi perubahan untuk kampung halaman.

Apapun alasan perantauan, bisa dipastikan bahwa semua anak rantau akan mengalami akulturasi budaya, dimana tabiat hidup di rumah akan berhadapan dengan tabiat hidup masyarakat pada sistem kultur lainnya. Dalam proses akulturasi tersebutlah budaya-budaya baru melekat dalam benak para perantau dan terwujud pada perubahan pola perilaku, atau biasanya lifestyle, pola piker dan sopan santun, termasuk kecakapan dalam berkomunikasi.

Perantau adalah setiap orang yang merindukan hidup di kampung halamannya, bersosialisasi dengan masyarakat baru dengan usaha untuk mengenali kebudayaan baru dan memperkenalkan kebudayaan mereka. Dalam segi jumlah, tidak sedikit masyarakat Indonesia yang meninggalkan kampong halaman untuk mencari kehidupan di daerah lain, baik itu mencari kehidupan materi, mencari pengetahuan, mencari pengalaman, termasuk mencari jodoh pada satu sisi.

Potongan-potongan pengalaman tersebutlah yang kemudian coba dibagi, dengan asumsi bahwa segala pengalaman di tanah rantau mengandung nilai budaya dan pengetahuan yang selayaknya dibagi sehingga penyebaran dan pengenalan karakter para perantau dapat semakin diidentifikasi.

Alasan mengangkat tema perantau ini tidak lain karena terdapat sebuah kisah-kisah atau pengalaman dimana budaya yang dianut kemudian diperhadapkan dengan kebudayaan yang baru dan berbeda, hal ini akan menunjukkan keberagaman karakteristik kebudayaan yang terdapat dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara di Indonesia.

Di sudut lain, pesta anak rantau ini juga menjadi momen romantika kampong halaman, dimana para perantau akan menampilkan kampong halamannya kemudian mengisahkan pertarungan dirinya secara kultural di tanah rantau.