though, I'm just me @byebyebeautifool - Tumblr Blog

The freedom of embracing absolute freedom

There are the days when all you really want is to get away from daily routines and disappear for a while. There are times of your life when all you ever wanted is to be away from people you know. There are moments in life when all you ever been is in a foreign place. Because you there’s a voice inside of you that keeps saying, “Follow your passion. Walk everywhere. See everything. Feel yourself.” And once you break your cage, left your home and left all the trappings of money, power, status and definitions behind and started the journey of your life, you realize that you’re home. So, after quitting my job as a journalist in a daily national newspaper, I decided to take a solo trip to Nepal, the home of the tallest mountain on earth. Bought the ticket only two weeks before the departure, packed my belongings, and without further ado the journey began. Serendipity was my tour guide, all we need to do is trust, follow the signs, open our hearts and minds and use the power within to create the life we are dreaming of, living in our terms. Blessed to have photography and writing as my passions, there are so many words and photos to describes how liberating it is to break out of the cage and follow my heart. This story is how I try to share at least small essence of the magical moments that I try to capture along the way. My impromptu route led me directly from the riot of sights, sounds and smells that can quickly lead to sensory overload in the Kathmandu Valley to serene and peaceful atmosphere in lowland Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and Pokhara’s pristine air, spectacular backdrop of Himalayan peaks, bewitching lakes, and green surrounding. I even got the chance to visit Tashi Palkhiel, a Tibetan refugees settlement. During the journey I encountered many strangers, with them I share my thoughts and exchange stories. Some give a new perception of my way of thinking, some give a new meaning of my existence. A "Jack Kerouac fantasy" of rejecting the boundaries and trapping civilized life in Jakarta and heading into Dharma Bums voyage to the birthplace of Buddha, my vision is to share these moments, to share the happiness, to share the bewitching beauty of Nepal and every creature on it. Free yourself, follow your heart and spread the message. 'Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry.'

There are the waves and there is the wind, seen and unseen force. Everyone also have this element in their lives, seen and the unseen. Karma and free will. (at Phewa Lake)

Hi all. Just want to let you guys know I'm doing fine here in Nepal. Yes, there were massive earthquake yesterday near Kathmandu-Pokhara. But right now I'm in a such remote area called Lumbini, the birth place of Siddharta Gautama. If I stick to my first plan, I probably in Pokhara right now, but I changed my mind. I thought it would be great to spent the birth day in buddha's birth place. And here I am, safe and sound. Coincidence? I don't know. This sunset picture I took yesterday, after rain falls all day. All is well 😇 (at Lumbini, Nepal)

Happiness only real when it shared, no? So today, I've spent the afternoon at Lumbini garden with this french guy I just met in guest house. All of sudden these bunch of Nepali people came to us and with all their curiosity asking so many things like "what's your name?" "where you came from?" "how do you say namasté in Indonesia?" or "how we do say thank you in french?" or sometimes we just exchange smiles. I could see their eyes glowing whenever they got new knowledge from us, the foreigners according to them, and i believe they could see me almost cry to realize that, though I celebrate this birthday in a foreign place, I'm not quite alone. धन्यवाद (at Lumbini Garden, Nepal)

It's mandatory to buy Jack Kerouac's book on his every birthday. That's why. Happy 93 yo, K! May your soul rest in peace 👼

I don't know bout you, but there are three moments where I listen to them: on my 45 minutes ride to and from my former office, while doing article on the deadline, and while lie with my hands turn up and be utterly empty. Throw back Explosions In The Sky gig on Urbanscapes 2013 Satellite Show #1 at KL Live. Grandest day. – View on Path.

On 29

I'm gonna be free, I'm gonna be brave. I'm gonna live each day as it were my last. Fantasticly. Couragously. With grace. Let's go everywhere eventhough we're scared. Because it's life, and it's happening. It's really really happening, right now.

#birthdaywish

Happy 92th birthday, Jack Kerouac.

garconniere

byebyebeautifool

Cultural Appropriation: A conversation by Sanaa Hamid

This body of work is an exploration of the extent of cultural appropriation and encourages a discussion about it. I give the appropriator and the appropriated the opportunity to defend themselves and create a dialogue between them, while maintaining a neutral stance myself. I am not attacking those who appropriate, merely educating and creating awareness. Neutrality is key in this series, as i remove myself from my political and social status and opinions, stripping the problem to the most basic issue; taking an item that means a great deal to somebody and corrupting it.

Sabda Bos adalah Sabda Zarathustra. Sedikit tentang Semalam

Sedikit sempilan tulisan tentang konser Sigur Ros semalam. Tadinya tidak berencana untuk menulis deskripsi konser, tapi mengkomparasikan dengan konser terdahulu di Singapura. Tapi karena bos meminta untuk sumbang tulisan untuk koran, yasudah lah ya kita tulis. Sabda bos adalah sabda Zarathustra.

.......................................

Dramatis. Satu kata yang secara singkat mampu mendeskripsikan aksi panggung band post-rock asal Islandia, Sigur Rós yang baru saja menggelar konser di Istora Senayan, Jumat (10/5) malam. Permainan panggung band yang digawangi oleh Jón Þór Birgisson alias Jónsi pada gitar dan vokal, Georg Hólm pada bass, dan Orri Páll Dýrason pada drum selama hampir dua jam berhasil membuai mata dan telinga penonton dengan permainan musik serta perpaduan visual dan tata lampu dalam konser kali ini. Additional players yang memainkan mini orkestra semakin memperkaya 14 lagu yang dimainkan band yang baru saja ditinggal pemain keyboard/pianonya,Kjartan Sveinsson di awal tahun. Tidak hanya lagu bernuansa syahdu dan menyayat hati, namun juga menghentak dan bergairah. Selain menyanyikan tembang-tembang dari album lama, mereka membawakan empat lagu baru, yakni Yfirborð, Hrafntinna, Kveikur dan Brennisteinn. Konser yang dimulai sekitar jam 21.00 WIB diawali dengan dipertontonkannya bayangan Jónsi memainkan gitar dengan busur cello dari balik layar besar yang menutupi panggung. Selain permainan gitar yang unik, Jónsi juga dikenal dengan ciri khasnya menyanyikan lagu-lagu berlirik Hopelandic atau Vonlenska dalam bahasa Islandia. Vonlenska merupakan bahasa tanpa arti dan grammar (glosolia) yang fokus hanya pada bunyinya yang diselaraskan dengan musik. Efek lighting dan visual di layar panggung tersebut semakin mendramatisasi atmosfer yang dihasilkan suara unik dari gitar Jónsi. Tak lama, ketiganya langsung memainkan lagu pertama, yakni Yfirborð dari album teranyar mereka Kveikur yang akan dirilis 17 Juni mendatang. Pada dua lagu berikutnya, Ný Batteru dan Vaka ketiganya terus memainkan musik dibalik layar besar sehingga yang terlihat hanya siluet mereka memainkan alat musik masing-masing. Permainan panggung dibalik layar ini mengingatkan penggemar akan Heima, dokumenter aksi panggung outdoor yang mereka lakukan di kampung halamanya dan dirilis pada 2007 lalu. Baru pada lagu ketiga, Hrafntinna, hentakan drum Orri sekaligus menandai dibukanya tirai besar yang sedari tadi menutupi panggung dan memperlihatkan ketiga legenda di jagad post-rock ini. Sontak hal ini menimbulkan sorak sorai dari penonton. Ketiganya kemudian memainkan emosi penonton dengan alunan mengawang-awang lagu lagu dari album mereka terdahulu, seperti Sæglópur, Sven-G-Englar, Varúð dan tentu saja hits populer mereka, Hoppípolla Með Blóðnasir. Selama lagu ini dimainkan, penonton turut serta menyanyikan lagu tersebut bersama sama. Selesai lagu dimainkan, Jónsi tak lupa menyapa penonton. "Thank you Jakarta, so glad to be here," serunya dari atas panggung. Setelah sing along dengan lagu bernuansa ceria, emosi penonton kembali menggelanyut dengan dimainkannya Olsen Olsen. Nada sejuk dari lagi ini meninabobokan siapa saja yang mendengarnya, tapi tak sedikit juga penonton yang terlihat menikmati lagu hingga tidak tersadar menggoyangkan badan seiring irama lagu. Setelah itu, Kveikur, Festival dan single dari album baru mereka Brennisteinn dimainkan. Di lagu ini terlihat totalitas permainan ketiga personel yang baru saja menjadi bintang tamu dalam serial kartun The Simpsons ini. Nada-nada agresif dari Brennisteinn menghasilkan noise yang bisa dibilang menjadi antidot lagu-lagu sendu dalam album mereka sebelumnya, Valtari yang dirilis 2012 lalu. Atmosfer elektronik juga terasa dengan tambahan penggunaaan synthesizer, dihajar dengan efek lampu bernuansa hijau mengingatkan akan Aurora Borealis yang menjadi ciri khas pemandangan di Islandia. Setelah encore, Sigur Rós memainkan dua lagu terakhir yang menjadi andalan mereka, yakni Glosoli dan Popplagið. Di lagu terakhir yang berdurasi 16 menit ini ketiganya kembali menunjukkan totalitas mereka dalam bermusik. Diawali dengan alunan lembut dan ritme lagu memuncak pada akhir lagu dan ini menjadi klimaks konser. Tak sedikit penonton yang terlihat menangis haru ketika lagu ini selesai dimainkan. Bahkan meski Sigur Ros sudah berlalu dari panggung namun penonton masih mendamba untuk menikmati kembali permainan mereka dan berseru "We Want More!" secara berulang-ulang. Salah satu penonton, Radite Erlangga (26) mengaku tidak bisa berkata apa apa mengomentari konser band yang digemarinya ini. Menurutnya, konser Sigur Ros menjadi konser terbaik yang pernah ia lihat. "Aksi panggung mereka 99,5 dari 100. Mulai penempatan personel inti sama additional pas banget. Pas siluet mereka, itu berasa kaya dewa dewi turun dari langit," akunya. Hal yang sama diungkapkan oleh Freyke Kosakoy. Ia mengaku masih terbuai dengan permainan panggung trio Islandia ini. Perpaduan visual dan lighting arrangement menurutnya menghasilkan nuansa surreal, dreamy dan psikedelik pada saat yang bersamaan. "Para additionalnya pun ga sembarangan. Plot-plot sama stage positioning mereka seperti sudah jadi bagian dari band lama banget," cetusnya. Selain itu, ia menilai aksi panggung Jonsi, Georg dan Orri menunjukankan performa maksimal dalam aksi panggungnya. "Mata dan telinga sama-sama puas tapi yang jelas dalam hati itu adeeeeeem," tukasnya. Adapun tour Sigur Ros ke Indonesia menjadi awal tour mereka ke benua Asia pada tahun ini. Ketiganya akan melanjutkan tour ke Jepang, Korea Selatan dan China dan dilanjutkan tour di Amerika Utara. Sebelumnya, ketiganya tampil sebagai salah satu pengisi panggung utama di festival musik Coachella yang digelar di Indio, California, Amerika Serikat pada 20 April lalu. (Aim)

The next best thing, Daughter.

#daughter

The book that i dont want to finish.

Some people will be "the book that you dont want to finish to read". You'll keep it on the shelf and only read it once in time. Read it with slow speed, drown to the story. Enjoy the every minute you spend by reading the book. not much not less. In this context, it's you.

#randomthoughts #morningwisdom

Each photograph is only a fragment, its moral and emotional weight depends on where it is inserted

Susan Sontag

#susansontag #photography

Happy (belated) Birthday, Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag, penulis wanita asal Amerika (kalau masih hidup) genap berumur 80 tahun pada 16 Januari 2013. Sayangnya, tokoh literatur yang karyanya berkutat pada bahasan soal fotografi, budaya dan media ini meninggal pada Desember 2004. Meski demikian, sebagai penghormatan, dengan suka cita saya ucapkan: "Happy (belated) Birthday, Susan. Your spirit carries on!"

Susan Sontag, oleh Annie Leibovitz

Berbicara tentang Sontag, perkenalan saya dengan wanita ini melalui bukunya, On Photography. Pemaparannya yang komprehensif tentang ontologi fotografi, sedikit banyak mempengaruhi saya dalam bagaimana melihat fotografi, menilai karya fotografi dan atau melakukan proses memotret.

Kutipan dari buku ini yang paling mengena barangkali ini:

"Photography is not practiced by most people as an art. It's mainly a social rite, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power."

Bagi saya, dan mungkin kebanyakan orang yang bergelut pada seni kontemporer tidak tidak lagi menganggap fotografi hanya sekedar menampilkan keindahan visual. Mungkin bisa begitu, kalau kita melihatnya dari sisi estetik (Walaupun akan muncul perdebatan juga untuk memutuskan suatu karya fotografi indah atau tidak). Tapi coba kita lewati hal itu sebentar. Dalam tataran ontologi, bagi saya, fotografi adalah self-revelation. Saya agak sulit untuk menerjemahkan dalam bahasa indonesia, "pembukaan diri" mungkin mendekati dengan padanan kata bahasa inggrisnya. Karya fotografi bukan saja hasil dari pertemuan pemotret dan sebuah peristiwa, aktivitas memotret itu sendiri sebenernya juga adalah proses pemotret untuk mencampuri;memunculkan atau mengabaikan realitas sesungguhnya; dan kemudian memunculkan realitas baru.

Sampai disini mungkin agak sedikit tersesat dengan "realitas baru" dan "pembukaan diri" melalui karya fotografi. Tapi mari coba kita pikirkan. Berapa banyak orang-orang yang menampilkan diri mereka apa adanya, dengan keistimewaan (baik positif dan negatif) yang mereka punyai. Sejauh pengamatan saya, manusia memiliki kecenderungan untuk melakukan "conformity" dengan lingkunan sosialnya. kenapa demikian? supaya bisa diterima oleh masyarakat. Well, ga semua orang bisa menerima keunikan manusia yang lain kan? Dalam konteks ini ini, etika antar subjek juga berlaku. Standar norma dalam masyarakat menyebabkan manusia cenderung menerima kebaikan orang lain, tapi tidak dengan anomali yang dimiliki. Fotografi, bagi saya, adalah alat untuk memvisualisasikan 'kecacatan' yang saya miliki. dalam hal ini, "angst"

#susansontag #photography

fyeahjoydivision

Ian Curtis’ last lyrics

Einstein and His Professor

You might have read it already, but i still want to share it anyway in case you haven't.

________________________________

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?

Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.

i love you john

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