Keeping up with me

Hi, you!

I am writing a post now, finally, five months after my last entry. Was I too busy to stop doing activities and write here? Hmm not really, but the facts are; last June was full of deadlines before summer holiday; July and August were spent in delightful Indonesia; September was tensed because of .. a lot of things. It is mid-October already when life is at last adjusted with Universiteit Utrecht's pace-rhythm for a moment, just before the exam period is waiting in the corner of the month. Well, my bigger problem is, finding a thesis-internship, which is not difficult but definitely not easy. I am 80% excited with all these possible developments for my near future, and the rest of it is a mixed feeling of anxiety and desperateness hahaha.

Also, still in the realm of college life, I feel like my confidence (not that I usually have enough of it) is falling free stylishly from a cliff. As everyone knows, my academic English skill is not decent at all, but I feel like it becomes worse lately than ever. I guess, the perfect combination of two comments on my research proposal that said 'your grammar is lacking' and endless days of speaking that language made me even more inferior. Last year, I realized that I got so many back-ups with group projects (there would always be a final editor before report submission) that make my shortcoming stayed off the radar. However, now, with constant individual assignments (esp. with peer review), I need the urge to proof-read my paper before clicking that send/submit button. I also signed up for premium Grammarly and new academic writing class by PPI Utrecht, all in all for my Achilles heel.

Enough with the rambling, maybe I will just spam the rest of this post with pictures. Yes, pictures always cure!

Too much pictures? Indeed! The first one is what left from the Ramadhan dinner with Utrecht Moslem group (as Andri calls it), the second is my beloved family, the 3rd and  4th pictures are typical Indonesian tourist spots, 5-6-7th are the memory of visiting amazing Disneyland and Studios!  8th is the garden of Palais Het Loo (the one full of  Late Queen Wilhemina's vibe), while the rest are just me showing off my friend and I, strutting along Hoge Veluwe  

What else can I say here? Too many stories I want to share but my limited brain capacity to write in English won't take us any further. Oh, and I am going to Schiphol today, to bid a farewell to Puti, one of my closest friend in Utrecht :'( She is finished with everything and will fly back to Indonesia for good (at least for now). I'm losing my friend one by one.

Till we meet again,

Noya

Leisure Alternatives for Those Who Broke and Bored (Which Make You Feel More Intellegent on the Way Home)

Have you ever feel bored on a typical weekend but had not enough money to go window shopping around mall, watching movies in cinema, or simply visiting your favorites cafe? Some months ago, uber-boredom struck yet I was so broke and somehow this idea to feel educated came. I was managed to online search nearest museum or art gallery from my current domicile, Bogor. Since then, museums, galleries, exhibitions, and their friends stole my eyes. Public museum usually priced lower so it more friendly to us :)

One time, I visited Museum Nasional in Jakarta. For you who unaware for its location, the museum located on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.12 right across Monas (Monumen Nasional). It was unplanned trip as I actually want to visit other place in Jakarta but stranded there instead. It became a surprise and great memory though, because frankly it is one of the greatest museum I ever visited so far. The entrance ticket is only Rp 5.000,- for whole collection of so many Indonesian heritages. This museum divided into several sections and levels where you can find a yard filled with ancient sculpture replicas, a room of traditional appliances used in the past with each different influences of several civilizations, traditional and indigenous devices of many existing tribes from Sabang to Merauke, various diorama of Indonesian history (even pre-history), etc. Two hours was not adequate enough for me to adore every hall and corner available as the ambience back there was somehow comfortable. The museum is nicely arranged with clean and neat environment around, their collections also seen maintained which make it feels like home. Museum Nasional open every Tuesday-Friday: 08.00-16.00 and Saturday-Sunday: 08.00-17.00 while close during Monday and holidays.

I friggin love that sculpture on last photos above, its just like a time and space portal which sucked ppl inside *creep*

Another day, I was on Bandung with some friends and decided to go for Museum of Geology. Under the flag of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Museum of Geology is a very worth to visit place with admission ticket for only Rp 4.000,- Located on Jl. Diponegoro No. 57 Bandung, it is nearby the heart of Bandung City and easy to be accessed with any private or public transportations. There, you can find great description about Indonesian geology aspect; including collection of many fossil replicas found in Indonesian land, geology condition and its development of several big islands in Indonesia, common disaster history and each prevention steps delivered in a very interesting way (earthquake simulation is a must-to-try), also a room full of Indonesian resources which will make us so grateful to live in such generous mother land. When I was stepping my feet there, the museum was quite crowded from local visitor yet the place still convenient to stay and ofcourse two hours there was not enough to explore. Museum of Geology open every Saturday-Thursday: 08.00-16.00 and close during Friday and holidays.

if only they have brontosaurus fossil

Two examples above only explain general recognizable museum in two big cities in Indonesia. I believe there are many other museum spot in various cities in Indonesia where you can visit and being surprised enough to realize that there is such place existed in your town. There is also my own experience where I found a hidden ‘Museum Perjuangan Bogor’ lies only in front of most crowded shopping spot in the town with entrance fee only Rp 1.000,- It seem unmaintained and desolate outside (in contrast with shopping area just across of the building) but inside, their collection of Bogor history especially during colonization era is priceless.

To be honest, I never consider museum or gallery as an escapee or stress reliever until last year. Society around us tend to choose strolling around mall or eat in fancy cafeteria or restaurant in case of boredom attack. I won’t say those are a bad habit because I do that a lot too, but you won’t lose anything to try on visiting local museums which (I think) mainly well-preserve by government. Thankfully, some communities nowaday also going out to museum a lot including photographer community who usually take these wonderful museum collection or building as an object or even only for their background.  A website named Wisata Museum provides list of museums on several provinces in Indonesia on http://www.wisatamuseum.com/ may help you find your interest on visiting on nearest museum available in your area. In my conclusion, hanging out in museum not only save your money for other necessity but also make your image as an intellegent youngster, which is kinda cool (no? okay). But why don’t you give a try?

Love peace and gaul,
Icha