De Drie Baritons, incredible voice from Netherland

Frankly, I haven’t heard anything about them before I saw their ticket in my friend’s facebook. However, I decided to watch their performance. Actually, another reason for me is the place where they were going to perform is an old building with thousands of creepy stories, Lawang Sewu or a thousand Door-Building.  Its strategic place in the heart of the town is just within distance to my house. So, what else could stop me from watching it?

After getting the ticket in Widya Mitra, a place offering Dutch course, my niece, a friend and I went to Lawang Sewu. The stage was simple completed with spotlight located in front of some rows of seats for audience. My first expectation was this concert would be accompanied by a team of orchestra players, but, what I got was just a stage with 3 microphones and 2 seats. So, where would the instruments be placed? Ika, a friend of mine takes violin course recently, so she expected to see some violinists playing on the stage. She would take the energy from them as her motivation. But?

Sunday, April 15, 2012. at 7.30 PM, the MC opened the concert. I thought, since the performers are from Netherland, and Widya Mitra as a Dutch course, the concert would be held in Dutch. Moreover, I heard some audience speaking Dutch that really made me lost. Thanks God, that the MC spoke in Bahasa and de Drie Baritons singers greeted us in English. Yay, I was not lost anymore. My curiosity about the instrument finally got its answer: they used playback for the concert. Owh, I see.

In the entrance, we got the list of songs they were going to perform. From the list, I tried to recognize some of them that I might be familiar with. I found only few, Perhaps Love, Sway, To All The Girls I love Before while some others I might have known but the text seemed incorrectly typed. The titles I mentioned before were songs I listened once in a while. I was quite not sure since the songs I knew are not opera songs. That made me even more curious.

As soon as de Drie Baritons were on stage, they greeted in Bahasa, Selamat Malam (Good evening). They expressed how happy they were being invited in Indonesia, particularly in Semarang. The first song was Italiaans medley. Listening to their voice made me out of breath. Fyi, I’ve never been in such concert before. Their voice, song, and the place that has European architecture really did a great spell on me. I almost forgot to take a breath. Lol.

The following songs they performed still made the audience out their breath. Some distractions happened, though. The microphone sometimes went on and off. One of the singers made a joke that the building has a lot of creepy stories. And the ‘dwellers’ were distracting them. Lol. Thanks God, the distraction only happened when they talked to each other and to audience. Oya, they expressed among others admiration before they met and set up a group.

Some pop songs like Perhaps Love, To All The Girls I love Before were performed in half pop and half opera. How about Sway, the swing jazzy song? They even danced along the song. Wow…  the last two songs were written You’ll Never and Amigos in the text. I did expect that the two songs were songs I’m familiar with. Before they were about to say goodbye, they performed the songs I was curious about. And……….. wow…. They performed You’ll Never Walk Alone, a song with a lot of versions. And another last..last song….. my heart fell when they sang Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life). No one could sit still but gave them a standing ovation…

.

I went home, feeling satisfied and looked for another free classical concert. 

Semarang Critical Mass Ride--August edition 2010

Friday night, 27 August 2010, is the last Friday in August 2010, which was also the day of implementation of the Critical Mass Ride, Semarang, Semarang raided cyclists. 

Semarang critical mass ride is an awareness campaign conducted by enthusiastic cyclist, held regularly every month on the last Friday of each month. Critical mass bike ride is a simultaneous campaign events held throughout the world, and Semarang is one of the participating cities. 

So, on the same day, there were about millions of cyclists flooded the main streets in every part of the world. Just imagine. It’s really awesome! Thanks to fairly vigorous campaign before the implementation of activities done by those cyclists, On Friday night, cyclists gathered, from various communities and various types of bicycles. All of them flooded with one purpose, to promote the use of bicycle as the main transportation.

They were gathered at the Menteri Soepeno park / KB Park, promptly at 8 entourage cyclists began to move slowly but surely making 'shock therapy' for the citizens of the city of Semarang. Travel route to be taken at this time is the critical mass Menteri Supeno Park, Pahlawan street, Simpanglima, Pandanaran, Siliwangi (in front of ADA supermarket). Then they moved in the park - Siliwangi (front PMI - Tugu Muda - Pemuda, Tawang Polder, Blenduk Church / Taman Sri Gunting. Then, they turned around to Pemuda street, Gajah Mada street, Kampung Kali – Kartini street, Dr. Cipto, Milo, Brigadir Katamso street, Ahmad Yani street- Simpang Lima. 

In Tugu Muda, Semarang Critical Mass participants gathered around the Tugu Muda, Their bicycles parked neatly on the sidewalk. This action could make the area of Tugu Muda crowded, where there were still lots of motor vehicles. Some participants were taking pictures, especially when they met their friends from other communities, the atmosphere seemed friendly and cheerful. The trip was continued and stopped at the parking lot in front of Blenduk church/ Taman Sri Gunting. And once again, some participants who were not satisfied for taking pictures, did their photo session.. 

The last route was Simpanglima. And at these five intersections, all the participants gathered in Semarang Critical Mass Ride. The last of all was 'bike in the air’ that is an action which the participants 'lift their bike' together. 

Well, overall, the event lasted amazingly. It is not everyday, bicycle becomes the ‘king’ on Semarang main streets. The people who didn’t expect to see such amazing event would be stunned, amazed seeing hundreds of cyclists enjoying the night ride in Semarang.

taken from www.opojal.com translated by the admin

A Proposal: A Bike Lane in Semarang

For your information, I have been biking to work since 2008. Besides, I have been active in joining bike to work community in Semarang, including promoting to society about how important to reduce global warming by biking. I don’t bike to work every day, though. I bike to work at least 2-4 times in a week. The number of bike to work members is getting more and more every time. Moreover, bike to work has some ‘branches’ in Semarang: bike to school, bike to campus and folding bike community. Actually, there some other bike communities in Semarang: PCS, SOC (Semarang Onthel Community), Samba, Gagak Rimang, Tend Beer, etc. Some of the mentioned communities gathered this morning with some prominent officials discussing about bike lane in Semarang. Is that possible?

There were three speakers in the talk show, A Proposal: Bike Lane in Semarang, Mr. Joko from Sugijopranoto University majoring Transportation, Mr. Cahyono from Sugijopranoto University majoring in Environment and Mr. Gurun from Transportation Government Department. Basically, they agreed to have a bike lane in Semarang. The problem is there are still many things to prepare such as the infrastructure and the awareness of Semarang people about bike lane. There are some bike lanes in some parts of the streets in Semarang, however, the people make use of them for parking, for street vendors (mostly a semi permanent building for selling food). As the result, the cyclists prefer using the lane for motor vehicles to using the bike lane.

During the talk show, there were some questions from the audience. Some of them were about the complaint of the unavailability of bike parking in malls and other places and the unfair treatment of some people to cyclists especially on the street. Therefore, we all expect that by realizing bike lane in Semarang, the people will open their mind that we, cyclists exist and need to be treated fairly.

At the end of the talk show, Mr. Gurun from Transportation Government Department promised us to meet him after the major election that is going to be carried out next week. He invited us to discuss to realize bike lane in Semarang. Well, wish it would be realized soon.

It's happening in Semarang Sky....

ell, this is the first time for me to share something that is still happening in Semarang. At first, I didn't get interested in looking up to the sky even though some friends of mine encouraging to see the sky right now via facebook. But then, after a friend of mine uploaded the photo that was taken 5 minutes ago, I hurriedly went outside, and.....Subhanallah. Allah the Greatest.... There, up in the sky, I can see full moon with halo around it.

I cannot describe in words.... speechless....

Wish the phenomenon brings good things for all of us...

The pic was taken from www.seputarsemarang.com

Imlek Semawis Fair 2010

Starting from 2002, I regularly visit Imlek Semawis Fair that is located in Chinatown in Semarang. This fair is especially held to welcome Chinese New Year. Different from the previous fair that was mostly located in Gang Baru, this year it was located in Gang Lombok, right in front of Tay Kak Sie Temple. People regard the temple as the oldest and the most complete temple in Semarang.

It was established  in 1746. The main purpose of establishing the temple was to worship Kwan Sie Im Po Sat, the Compassionate Goddes. But then, the temple was getting bigger and more Tao Gods are worshipped there. The name of the temple was written on a big board in the gate, including notes about the temple that was established in Emperor Dao Guang (Hokkkian: Too Kong) during Qing Dynasty (Ching Dynasty) that means The Great Awareness Temple.

This year, Imlek Semawis Fair was launched by The Minister of Industry and Commercial, Mari Elka Pangestu. It appeared that people from all walks of life enjoyed the fair regardless their race. The celebration is to a kind of revitalization for exposing Chinatown as one of tourist objects in Semarang. There were some attractions during the launching such as dancing and singing Pancawarna Semawis by Bina Bangsa International School, another dance by The International Nature Loving Association (INLA) and the launching of new type of stamp with the picture of tiger as a symbol of Tiger Year in Chinese calendar.

the stage is located in cheng Ho's Ark replica

From what I experience comparing from year to year Imlek Semawis Fair, this year’s celebration was not as big as the previous celebrations. I noticed it from the location that was narrower than the previous ones. It was perhaps due to the celebration took place at the same time as the Warung Semawis that is regularly open during the weekend. Therefore, there were two places that hold the same event. Some people even mistakenly came to Warung Semawis instead of Imlek Semawis (including me).

One thing similar to the previous year, 2009, was Industry Exhibition from Local Regions. We could see a lot of handicrafts in a form of batik, such as table cloth, curtain, even guitar, kitchen utensils and statues. It’s unique, isn’t it? As a visitor, since I didn’t plan to buy, I merely took pictures without asking about the price.

 

rice spoon in batik

duck statue in batik

My next place to visit was Tay Kak Sie Temple. Frankly, I love anything about Chinese culture, that’s why I have visited this temple a couple of times. In regular days, it doesn’t open for visitors like me, only for those who want to worship. Since it’s Chinese Year celebration, so it’s open for everyone. I was free to take pictures as many as I could. I was also quite lucky since there was a charity program held by the temple by distributing food aid for the needy. I saw some people were fighting to get the first. It was a bit chaotic. Well, I can conclude that all religions have the same care and share happiness for everyone who needs help by distributing what they need.

 

people deeply absorbed in their worship

 people waiting or distribution

Looking forward to another celebration next year.