The Jakarta - Japan Matsuri 2010
Today I went to the Jak-Japan Matsuri 2010, an annual Japanese festival in Jakarta at Monas (National Monument), at their closing ceremony to be precise.
I went there with two of my friends, Zahra and Lia.

There were supposed to be many of us, like Rachel, Anzie <--not her real name, and some others...but they didn't came.

So it was raining that afternoon. We actually was going to go at 1pm, but delayed until 3pm.
Lia and Zahra goes first, then me after them.

When I came, it's still raining. But I have an umbrella so it's not a big deal, just that the entrance was kinda crowded.

As I enter, I was given a Jak-Japan Matsuri fan and a stamp on my hand. Then I started to see...NIHONJINS (Japanese people).
They were like, everywhere. It's like that the Japanese are part of our people. Like Jakarta was in Japan or vice versa. 
They walk together with us. They sing, dance, everything all together with Indonesians.

Like I see in some stage, the Japanese were (trying to) talk in Indonesian, while us speak in Japanese.
Also on the food stands, Indonesian promotes the food, and the Japanese cooks them.

AHH THE HARMONY ;___;

Before I meet Zahra and Lia, I had lunch on a ramen stand. I also buy takoyaki and teriyaki from those real Japanese folks.
Then there goes my search for the two.

We met behind the main Matsuri stage.
First we accompany Zahra to buy onigiris, then we go to the anime/manga merchandise stand.
It was so crowded so that even we can't walk, we are carried by the sea of humans.

I bought a Chocobo hat for Rp 50.000,-


Then we play Japanese traditional games like, uh, what's the name?
You know...when we had to get waterballs with a pin on a paper without destroying the paper because it's wet.
Zahra and Lia only got 1 each, while I got 3 in one try >u<

Then I forgot what we're doing next D:
I guess it's only browse from shop to shop.

As for the cosplays, we saw many.
Like Echo from Pandora Hearts, a Vocaloid like Miku but red?, Akatsuki members from Naruto, Sasuke too. And this bussinessman like character from Durarara!, but I don't know.

I've been searching for a kimono but no, there weren't any.
I only found a Hanten, a Japanese traditional clothing too, but not too much like Kimono. But I bought it for Rp 150.000,- anyways. The colour was blue and it has a Sakura (cherry blossom) patterns and a mountain on the back. I love it!


I'm tired. Don't mind the face :(

I also bought this two little pocket for Rachel and Anzie to give at Monday :3



We watch the Doraemon show but the Doraemon was scary, seriously D:

Then another rainstorm came and it was a pretty bad downpour, even we were protected by the tents, we can't see our feet because it was covered in mud and the puddle was pretty deep. It almost covered the whole field.

It was really fun today because we all laughed all the time :D
We promised to each other that we'll come to this event next year, with cosplay!
We also try to stay together by entering the 26 High School (not the best but was in the top category <3)

I hope our wish could come true!
6:56 AM | Category: , , , , | 2 comments

Perjuangan Seorang Ibu Penjual Yakult
For English, open this page with Google Chrome or use Google Translator.
Even though the translation isn't perfect, but at least you'll kind of understand what I say.
I used formal Indonesian for easy translation.


Sore itu hujan mengguyur deras di Jakarta, tak terkecuali daerah tempat aku tinggal.
Aku harus kerepotan membawa payung untuk membuka gerbang dan garasi rumahku.


Saat mobil sudah masuk dan aku pergi menuju gerbang untuk menutupnya, seorang ibu paruh baya, dengan baju kaos bertuliskan Yakult dan sebuah gerobak tarik kecil, mendatangiku. Ia berjalan tanpa payung ditengah derasnya hujan angin.


"Selamat sore, dik. Mau beli Yakult tidak?" katanya ramah.


"Umm, saya tidak tahu, bu." jawabku.


"Kalau begitu, coba tanya ibumu. Siapa tahu ibu berminat?"


Aku menanyakan ibuku apa ia ingin membeli Yakult atau tidak. Ibuku mengangguk, lalu memberikan Rp 12.000,- padaku. "Satunya Rp 6.000,- , beli dua ya,"


Lalu aku kembali pada si ibu penjual Yakult.


"Ini bu, saya ingin beli dua."


"Wah, baiklah." Ia membuka gerobak kecilnya dan mengambil dua bungkus Yakult, mengambil kantong plastik dan memberikannya padaku. Aku memberi uangnya.


"Terima kasih banyak ya, dik. Bilang sama mama dan keluarga untuk minum Yakult setiap hari, jadi selalu sehat." pesannya dengan ramah.


"Baik, bu,"


"Kalau begitu, saya permisi dulu." katanya, dengan menarik gerobak kecilnya. Ia melanjutkan   perjalanannya ke tengah hujan angin yang dingin dan deras.


Aku menutup pintu.


----------------------


Aku tidak bisa membayangkan, betapa kerasnya perjuangan seorang ibu penjual Yakult tadi.
Bayangkan saja, ia menjajakan dagangannya dari rumah ke rumah, komplek demi komplek. Mana ia tidak membawa payung sama sekali. Badannya basah kuyup.


Namun...ia masih bisa bersikap sangat ramah.
Seorang wanita yang perjuangannya sebesar itu, seberapakah besar gajinya?
Tentu tidak sebanding dengan total hasil yang ia dapatkan hari itu.


Aku saja, baru pulang dari mal Grand Indonesia, yang jelas itu adalah mal mewah.
Bagaimana dengannya? Apa ia pernah ke sana, atau ke tempat seperti itu? 


Ya Tuhan...semoga kebaikannya dibalas dengan pahala yang berlimpah.
5:03 AM | Category: , | 0 comments