" Tidak Ada Judul "


Just got back from 'nowhere-to-go-instead-of' Citos to meet Ange and Inu and had some coffee at Regal. Iseng-iseng minta diramalin Inu, ternyata malah bikin down, karena diramal ngga bakal jadian sama gebetan yang sekarang. Ugh! Bete! (Padahal mah sudah seharusnya ngga boleh percaya sama ramal2an, tapi tetep aja iseng pengen tau! Udah tau malah jadi begini kan??).

Tapi dari apa yang Inu 'baca', katanya gue harus coba nahan sabar dan mengurangi sifat ke-grasa-grusu-an, emosian, dan ngambekan gue ini. Emang sih kadang-2 gue sendiri juga kewalahan ngadepinnya. Mungkin kalo dalam situasi sulit, sifat panik-nya yang lebih dominan. Tapi kalo udah sama orang yang ngga gue suka, udah deh, bawaan panasan terus, pengin nonjok. Padahal gue itu darah rendah, ngga tau deh darimana datengnya sifat ngga sabaran itu. Hormonal kali ya??

Nah, kalo bahasan ini sih ngga bikin bete, karena emang bener. Ada satu lagi yang jadi bikin pikiran. Katanya umur 30-an something gue bakalan sakit lumayan keras, karena itu harus dari sekarang mengatur pola makan dan olahraga yang teratur biar sehat. Katanya sih ada hubungannya sama kolesterol...duh...Yang bikin pikiran sih bukan sakitnya, tapi, olahraganya itu! Aduuh....baru denger kata OLAHRAGA aja, udah keringetan duluan gue! Paling tersiksa deh olahraga, malesnya itu. Kecuali hiking atau sekalian olahraga bela-diri (terakhir ikutan Taekwondo, berhenti setahun yang lalu karena krisis keuangan. Gaji yang sekarang nominalnya menurun dari sebelumnya, jadi ngga nyanggup deh nombokin). Tapi kalo ngga ada temen buat barengan, pasti juga bakalan cepet bosen. So guys, ada yang mau barengan gue olahraga gak? Sekalian nurunin timbangan nih, naik 4 kilo sepulang dari luar kota. Atau ada yang mau hiking? (Lagi kepikiran pengin ke Kampung Naga di Tasikmalaya. Seru nih naga-2nya)

Oya, siang sebelum ke Citos, iseng-iseng ikutan hunting foto ke Ragunan bareng milis Fotografer.net. Asik juga..kenalan baru (baik-baik loh!), ilmu baru, pengalaman baru. Jadi ngiler pengin beli Digital Camera setelah dari semua peserta hunting yang ikut, cuma gue yang pake kamera manual. Bukannya pengin sok2an, tapi untuk segi efisiensi waktu dan biaya, digital camera ternyata lebih baik. Karena di-total2, cost digital camera itu zero, cuma nyesek pas beli pertamanya aja. Buat belajar juga oke, karena bisa pakai digital kamera yang bisa manual juga, ngga cuma otomatis. Kalo hasil foto gagal, tinggal diapus. Eksperimen juga bisa sebebas-bebasnya. Gak perlu repot-2 scanning pula, kalo foto mau di upload. *semakin ngiler*. Yang sekarang dirasa berat buat belajar fotografi emang beli film dan biaya cuci-cetak-nya. Mending kalo hasilnya juga bagus-bagus. Namanya belajar, pasti banyakan trial-and-error-nya.

Untuk hunting kali ini, pencetus ide, pemimpin redaksi Majalah Digicom yang juga anggota milis Kameradigital bakalan memuat aktivitas ini di edisi mendatang. Foto-foto hasil jepretan Master-2 fotografi yang tadi ikut (minus gue yang baru belajar), juga bakalan di upload di milis Fotografer.net.

So, kesimpulan...do me a favor lagi, Folks. Offer me some freelance jobs to buy a camera digital, will ya?? *muka ngarep*. Anything, but related to web design, content, writing, or TV production *muka serius sekarang*.

PS: There'll be Kemang Street Festival again on next Sunday, June 07. There'll be some cultural event, bazaar, and bunch of people, who must be interesting to see and watch. So, anyone? Join with us hunting foto bareng? ;)

Oh damn! Bedingfeld has written an incredible song that I ever heard. But most of all, I never know that there's a song that can precisely reflects what I feel inside...so damn true...


" If you're not the one "

If you're not the one
then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one
then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine
then why does your heart return my call
If you are not mine
would I have the strength to stand at all

I never know what the future brings
but I know you're here with me now
We'll make it through
and I hope you are the one I share my life with

*Reff
I don't wanna run away but
I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you
then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

If I don't need you then
why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then
why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me
then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me
then why do I dream of you as my wife?

I don't know why you're so far away
But I know that this much is true
We'll make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with
And I wish that you could be the one I die with
And I pray in you're the one I build my home with
I hope I love you all my life

*Reff

'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong
that it takes my breath away
And I breathe you into my heart and pray
for the strength to stand today
'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right
And though I can't be with you tonight
You know my heart is by your side

*Reff

" Body by GD "


Nyeh...gotta get up early in the morning...so damn early, before arriving at the office at 4.30am (AM!) sharp and rush to Ciganjur, to Gus Dur's resident. *Sigh* it's getting bored talking about him on and on in 3 posting!

According to his assistant, he'll be exercising tomorrow morning around 5-6am, then have a cup of coffee afterwards. So, around that time, he'd be available for some interrupting come from others. See? See how really-really busy he is. Don't think that I'll have a chance to meet him that easily, because I'll be on queue with the other guests. Blah! On 5 am and you have to be in line, where you suppose to be in bed!!

Actually today at 2.30pm I've already got a chance to interview him (Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, 1000x) after 5,5 hours waiting at his office, PBNU at Kramat Raya. He was just arrived from Jogja in the morning, then drove to PBNU to meet his acquaintance at 12am. I don't think he's in a good condition, looks so tired, but the guests come and go like there's no tomorrow (which is quite so true!). I was suggested by his assistant to make another appointment tomorrow morning at 5am, so I don't have to wait at PBNU any longer. But I thought that I'd better wait for good here than have to wake up at 4am just to stay in line!

So, we waited. Only took 15 minutes to interview. He was nice, though he looked so tired. But then, his tiredness (or maybe some prescription) made him fall asleep for a second or two, so he didn't pay attention to my questions and replied it back in different subject to what I've asked, with short answer but long interrupting between.

As far as I know, he's quite temperamental and easily scold to others, so I didn't take his time any longer. Some technical problem run in a wrong time as well, when camera couldn't record the first 30 seconds of what he said, as his voice dissapear somewhere. Guess the situation around didn't ease us to finish the job well. So I decide to interview him tomorrow, to get his statement back when he looks more 'normal' to give opinion.

So...it's a long story actually, but it's time to hit the sack now!! Don't know what time I'll be awake tomorrow!

" Waiting for Godot "


Tomorrow morning at 09.40 am will fly to Jogja to interview Sultan in the evening, finally after waiting in vain for weeks. Staying for just one night, hopefully all work will be done on Friday and in afternoon we can go back to Jakarta. I'll go with Cameraman only, minus Driver.

Just arrived from Bandara Soekarno-Hatta, trying to chase after Gus Dur, to make an appointment. I'm mindless. So damn hard to have only 10 minutes -after I made it shorter instead of 30-60 minutes of interviewing - to ask his opinion about KH Hasyim Asy'ari, his grandpa whose name is written in Indonesian history as one of The Education Leaders around 1920. The deadline for this episode is getting closer, but still I can't manage to get his statement yet.

According to his important role in politic and civil society, his thought is very important, moreover he once was a leader of Islamic Organization in Indonesia, NU (Nadhlatul Ulama), a big Islamic civil society organization established by his grand, and of course he once was The President of Indonesia before Megawati has been 'taking' his position randomly. He still has strong influence to his people, and perhaps for the society (though some people might say he was failed as a President and he's better being a thinker or nationalist that would aknowledge him as Nation Father, instead of playing in politic area that proven has treated him real bad when he was a President).

But, after waiting for 5 hours, as for the last information I got from his secretary, they have changed the plan to go back to Jakarta from Surabaya at 5pm, though the secretary couldn't give exact time for the flight. So I couldn't decide anything, only just to wait for his coming.

But then, I couldn't make it happened to meet him, because the airport gave wrong information about flight schedule from Surabaya. When at 7.15pm we heard that the first flight from Surabaya was already arrived, we then rushed to the Departure Gate on the second floor, searching out for his figure. (For privacy, he seldom comes from Arrival Gate which is more crowded). After some time we got information from the officer that he's actually already leaving the airport 10 minutes ago! Oh damn! I can't describe what kind of feeling we had at that time. We were just hopelessly staring each other, and started to blame the secretary and the situation. So we went back to the office in emptiness. I tried to contact his secretary many times, but he turn off the cellphone when he heard my voice on the line. So? No more explaination I reckon.

After telling my producer about the situation we had, he decided to try another way to get him, after I arrived from Jogja. So he asked me to just spend one night in Jogja and go back on Friday (by flight it only takes an hour). And I agree with his suggestion, since I've just arrived from travelling last Saturday. I really don't want to spend any longer in other city, not after the 32 days of last travelling. The tiredness still in place, and I need time to rest.

So the title of my story has not been ended yet. It's not even starting yet. Still "Waiting for Gus Dur" episode, until it meets the production deadline. Thanks God, my producer has extended the deadline from Friday to Tuesday, considering to Gus Dur's tight schedule. So, another sweating and butterfly in stomach's story and also the hectic time, is still waiting to come.

" Gus Dur, oh Gus Dur "


Fiuuhhh...I'm starting to feel as a real journalist nowadays, a REAL one with high pressure and tight deadline. Each day seems run after another and 24 hours seem not enough. Not because I have different pressure before, just the people I'm dealing with, are some kind of 'untouchable' people for their important role in politic and society. Not to mention the layers protection from their private securities to avoid people like me.

Spent 32 days working out of the city, Jakarta, doesn't mean the job is finish when we got home. In other word, it's a never ending job. It's getting more hectic when at office, my producer feels the source we've got is not enough to make a 19 minutes' show. So, everyday is like in hell. Episodes for next show keep running in my head, make me forget what day today.

----------Enough for English, males mikir------------

Deadline di depan adalah tayangan KH Hasyim Asy'ari tanggal 1 Juni, tapi harus udah masuk ruang editing hari Jumat ini. Semua bahan liputan di Tebu Ireng, Jombang, juga hasil wawancara dengan tokoh-tokoh terkait seperti KH Yusuf Hasyim, Pengasuh Pondok Pesantren, juga Salahuddin Wahid, lagi di proses. Cuma satu tokoh yang sekarang bikin kepala cenut-cenut karena susahnya diminta waktu wawancara, yaitu Gus Dur. Statement dia dirasa penting, karena dia cucu dari Hasyim Asy'ari, pendiri Tebu Ireng dan salah satu pelopor NU, dimana GD tentunya sangat mewakili untuk bicara ini, tentang pentingnya posisi kakeknya itu dalam proses kemerdekaan dan setelahnya, juga peletakan dasar pendidikan pola pesantren yang dijadikan bahan rujukan pesantren-pesantren lain. Keberadaan Tebu Ireng sangat penting sampai sekarang, karena dianggap sebagai tonggak kebangkitan umat, khususnya NU, dalam pergerakan nasional. Usianya bahkan lebih tua dari negeri ini. NU dan juga Muhammadiyah yang didirikan lebih dahulu oleh KH Ahmad Dahlan, pada masanya berperan aktif sebagai filter pendidikan dan budaya dari pengaruh kolonial Belanda dan Jepang.

Tayangan KH Ahmad Dahlan udah lebih dulu ditayangkan, tanggal 11 Mei kemarin. Responnya sangat bagus, baik dari Muhammadiyah, juga dari pemirsa. Bahkan saking banyaknya permintaan untuk menambah jam penayangan untuk episode ini, Metro TV berniat membuat episode khusus KH Ahmad Dahlan untuk program Metro Files. Kemarin pihak Metro minta ijin dari kita sebagai pemegang copyright-nya. So, ini menjadi tantangan sekaligus tekanan untuk membuat episode KH Hasyim Asy'ari sebaik KH Ahmad Dahlan. Setidaknya pentolan-pentolannya seperti GD itu bisa diwawancara, seperti halnya Amien Rais dan Syafii Ma'arif untuk penayangan Ahmad Dahlan. Untungnya gue dibantuin Novi untuk ngejar Hasyim Muzadi, Ketua PBNU. Kalau ngga, wah, ngga kekejar semua. Gila, orang-orang NU sangat super sibuk. Sehari aja bisa keliling ke beberapa daerah. Belum yang kayak GD.

Sebenernya waktu di Surabaya, gue udah depan-depanan sama GD, nyegat dia pas turun di Bandara Juanda. Tapi keliatannya mood dia lagi bete banget, karena pesawat dari Malaysia terlambat. Padahal dia harus ke Madura siangnya, terus ke Surabaya lagi untuk Press Conference (tentang IMF), trus langsung ke Gresik dan Jombang malamnya. So, daripada gue ditendang pengawal-pengawalnya, gue batalin nagih wawancara. Sebenernya bisa aja sih kalo nekat...tapi pengawal-pengawalnya aja pada mundur liat dia spaneng, apalagi gue! Dan karena pada saat yang sama harus pula liputan Budi Darma, sastrawan yang juga mantan Rektor IKIP Surabaya (sekarang Universitas Negeri Surabaya atau Unessa), juga sorenya harus wawancara temen seperjuangan Bung Tomo, so gue putusin, ngga dateng pas GD Press Conference di Surabaya jam 5 sore, which is, it was a WRONG decision! Seharusnya bisa aja gue switch ke hari lain untuk tokoh yang lain, dan konsentrasiin ke GD, sekedar sepatah-dua patah kata perkenalan sebelum bener-bener wawancara. Jadi ngga sesulit ini nembus ke orang-orang di sekitarnya. Tapi ya sudahlah, udah terlanjur janji sama orang. Ntar dibatalin yang ini, GD tetep ngga bisa diwawancara. Bete banget sih...Udah di depan mata ne'!! Nyeseknya kayak apa kemaren itu...

Besok sore, setelah menghiba-hiba ke sekretarisnya, gue dikasih clue kalau sekitar jam 4 sore GD bakalan mendarat di Bandara Soekarno-Hatta setelah perjalanan ke Jawa Timur paginya. Moga-moga besok ada kesempatan wawancara bentar, mengingat deadline-nya Jumat...arrrghhh!! Please, God...*berdoa*...Ayo dong Gus, ketemu sama Inul aja disempet-sempetin, masa buat Mbah Hasyim ngga bisa sih?

Terus, cerita belum selesai sampai disini...kekisruhan gimana caranya dapat wawancara dalam waktu singkat, diperparah karena, Kamis pagi gue harus ke Jogja (lagi) selama dua hari, untuk wawancara Sultan HB X jam 8 malem. Kepastiannya baru didapat siang tadi lewat sekretaris Gubernuran, setelah such a long long time approaching. Jadi pas ke Jogja kemarin, cuma tentang HB IX aja yang bener-bener miss semuanya. Ijin ngeliput keraton dan Museum HB IX sebenernya udah di tangan, tetapi ternyata, birokrasi lain ngga ngasih ijin sebelum gue wawancara Sultan. So, waktu kita yang harusnya on schedule 4 hari liputan kelar, jadi mundur 6 hari, dan do NOTHING, karena ketidakpastian dan keribetan birokrasi itu tadi.

Sebenernya ngga sulit ketemu Sultan, asal sabar nunggu waktunya. Cuma karena gue ngga ngerti seluk-beluk perijinan di Jogja, juga celah-celah ke orang-orang yang berhubungan dengan Sultan, ditambah padatnya jadwal beliau, jadi makan waktu lama. Belum lagi urusan paper work yang ternyata bikin sakit kepala, karena setiap orang minta surat lagi, minta surat lagi. Padahal urusan begitu bisa sangat merepotkan jika udah lapangan dan di luar kota pula. Belum lagi dioper-opernya. Sangat membuang waktu kemaren itu. Padahal masih harus liputan ke Jombang, Surabaya, dan Semarang. Ditinggal pergi, nanti takutnya Sultan bisa diwawancara dan mesti ketemu dalam waktu dekat, padahal kita udah terlanjur di Jawa Timur (kecuali kita liputan pakai Helicopter!). Ditungguin juga ngga ada kepastian kapan bisanya. Pokoknya serba salah banget. Gue juga rada diomelin Pak Ud (KH Yusuf Hasyim) karena jadwal wawancara di Jombang jadi ngga karuan, ngga sesuai dengan schedule semula. Semuanya jadi mundur gara-gara ketahan di keraton.

Gue sempet juga sih ke kantor Gubernuran di Malioboro, mau nyegat disana. Disana ada ruang khusus wartawan, yang boleh nunggu untuk keperluan reportase. Wah, orang-orang pada panik liat gue yang sok-sok-an mau ketemu sebentar sama Sultan, sekedar tanya kapan ada waktu wawancara sebentar untuk mengomentari Bapaknya. Soalnya saat itu pas lagi ada kunjungan tamu dari Malaysia, tentang prospek investasi di Jogja...Ya iyalah, gue juga ngga segitu begonya mau interrupt orang pada saat yang tidak tepat kayak gitu. Heran deh orang-orang itu.

Berhubungan dengan orang-orang di lingkungan Keraton juga ada cerita tersendiri, apalagi waktu dapat kesempatan ketemu dan wawancara adiknya Sultan, GPBH Yudhoningrat. Walah...itu yang namanya sungkan, salah tingkah, baru kali itu. Biar orang Jawa, tapi urusan 'uweh pakewuh' khas orang JAWA, apalagi Jogja, bener-bener ngga ngerti gue. Apalagi ini mesti ketemu orang-orang berdarah ningrat, dan berada di DALAM lingkungan kerajaan, yang pastinya punya tata krama sendiri. Lain kalau mereka ada di Jakarta misalnya, kesungkanan terhadap bau-bau keningratan ataupun jabatan tinggi bisa gue atasi, karena mereka berada di LUAR lingkungan mereka. (Atau mungkin karena gue ngerasa Jakarta itu daerah sendiri, makanya lebih pede).

Buat gue yang biasa hantam kromo, masalah-masalah sepele bisa bikin senewen. Seperti misalnya, apakah harus melepas sepatu sebelum masuk ke kediaman atau boleh saja dipakai. Karena ada juga kebiasaan sebagian orang yang 'tersinggung' kalau alas kaki dilepas. "Memangnya di mesjid?", biasanya begitu komentar mereka. Atau apakah boleh duduk dulu sembari menunggu tuan rumah dipanggilkan, atau harus terus berdiri sampai dipersilahkan. Atau memilih kata-kata mana yang sekiranya sopan dan 'njawani' supaya tidak menyinggung martabat dan harga diri. Belum lagi kekikukan apakah boleh berakrab-akrab untuk mencairkan suasana seperti yang biasa gue lakukan kepada orang-orang 'biasa', atau dilarang untuk kalangan tertentu. Bahkan gue juga mesti hati-hati untuk menyebut nama Gelar, karena memiliki simbol dan arti khusus...

Yah, hal-hal yang ngga pernah gue bayangkan bisa bikin sakit perut dan keringat dingin. Nyesel juga gue kenapa ngga bisa bahasa Jawa, meski sekedar 'conversation' seadanya biar ngga terlalu kikuk di daerah orang. Ini aja masih sering ketuker antara mau ngomong "Maturnuwun" dan "Nuwunsewu"! Parah banget kan?

So, dalam minggu ini gue harus bisa dapetin GD sebelum berangkat ke Jogja, Kamis besok....Arrghh!! Berarti cuma hari ini waktunya!! Baru sadar gue! Setelah Hasyim Asy'ari kelar, masih ada kesempatan nafas bentar karena 3 episode berikut dikerjain Novi. Pusing juga dia sekarang mikirin bahan dan narasumber. Kejar tayang terus, kapan maennya nih gue??

Ok, berhubung sudah sangat panjang meski baru cerita tentang GD dan Keraton aja, so laporan pandangan mata mungkin gue bikin edisi khusus kali yee?? ;) Gue sebulan di luar kota loh, banyak yang pengin ditulis. Ngga mungkin ditulis semua di blog. Mungkin nanti kalau semuanya lancar. Bantuin doa yaa...

Hi world! Finally at home after such a long fun-but-tired days. Arrived last night. Having some great moment to write, but unfinished job and this blogger stuff (again!) has taken my attention until it get fixed. Until later!