#820 - Seven Random Things

ENGLISH

1. Apparently, it has been four years after the big earthquake shook my hometown, Yogyakarta. I (and my friends) were lucky enough not to experience the disaster, as we were in Bali for our vacation at that time.


2. Last Monday was my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Ma!! Well, that's why now I have ample supply of cakes at home, LOL.


3. I have been in Yogyakarta for three days now. The weather here, just like in Bandung, is unpredictable. Just few hours ago, it rained cats and dogs. Anyway,


4. I just realized that in some people's mind, this statement holds: "if an aircraft is a propeller aircraft, then it is an old aircraft". During my trip back to Yogyakarta last week, while I was waiting for my flight at the waiting lounge, there was this man. When the aircraft (ATR 72-500) was being prepared for our flight to Yogyakarta, he said to they guy next to him that this aircraft shouldn't be operated anymore. In his mind, the statement above held. I know because they were talking about aircraft (and I unwillingly eavesdropped :D). Well, he missed the fact that that aircraft he was seeing (ATR 72-500 reg code PK-WFI) was a brand new aircraft which was delivered only on April 22nd, 2010 to Wings Air from its manufacturer, ATR, in France. Thus, not all propeller airplanes are old.


5. I finished reading another Agatha Christie's novel, Appointment with Death. Probably I will write about it in more detail later, but I don't make any promise :-) I think, Appointment with Death is a much better novel (than any Agatha Christie's novels I have ever read). The drama and the psychological approach were enjoyable. It's just that the revelation of the mystery was just "like that" even though it was really logical. The closure could have been better too.


6. As I wrote here, I think this season of American Idol is (one of) the worst season. Even so, at least, two contestants which I think deserve to be in the finale made it to the finale: Lee DeWyze vs Crystal Bowersox. This is the ideal finale this season. However, the finale performance was kinda anti-climax, not that "grand" :-( Based on the performances in the finale alone, Crystal Bowersox should win the competition. But, I think we can't predict who will win American Idol just based on the final performance, just like David Cook who won season 7, even though in the final David Archuleta was better. I think I want Lee DeWyze to win. But we will just see :-)


7. I am excited that the second grandslam of the year, The French Open is on this week. I really want to see all Williams final in the women's singles side, which I think is possible, as long as Serena Williams can tackle Justine Henin and Jelena Jankovic (or they will be out before meeting her). Venus has a relatively easier draw, but she still has to be at her best to make the final. In the men's singles side, I think it is possible to have another Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal final. I still think Nadal has the biggest chance (of anyone) to win this year. Go Rafa!! (and Andy Murray!! :-) )

::: a Wings Air's ATR 72-500 reg code PK-WFG.

::: Some of our meal at Lie Djiong Restaurant last Monday.

::: Fried Chicken at Tojoyo Yogyakarta. This restaurant serves my favorite fried chicken EVER!! :-)

::: Roland Garros (The French Open) logo.

BAHASA INDONESIA

1. Ternyata, sudah empat tahun nih semenjak gempa besar mengguncang kota asalku, Yogyakarta. Aku (dan teman2ku) beruntung dengan tidak harus merasakan gempanya seperti apa, karena kami sedang liburan di Bali pada waktu itu.


2. Senin lalu adalah ulang tahun mamaku. Selamat Ulang Tahun Ma!! Hmm, oleh karenanya sekarang jadi ada banyak persediaan roti taart di rumah nih, LOL.
   


3. Aku sudah berada di Yogyakarta selama tiga hari nih. Cuaca disini, sama kaya di Bandung, sulit sekali diprediksi. Baru saja beberapa jam yang lalu hujan deres banget. Ngomong2,
   


4. Aku baru menyadari bahwa bagi beberapa orang, pernyataan berikut berlaku: "jika sebuah pesawat adalah pesawat baling-baling, maka pesawat itu adalah pesawat tua". Pada perjalananku balik ke Yogyakarta Minggu lalu, ketika sedang menunggu penerbanganku di ruang tunggu, ada seorang bapak-bapak. Ketika pesawatnya (ATR 72-500) sedang dipersiapkan untuk penerbangan kami ke Yogyakarta, ia bilang ke orang di sebelahnya bahwa pesawat ini seharusnya tidak digunakan lagi. Di pikirannya, pernyataan di atas tadi berlaku. Aku tahu ini karena mereka sedang membicarakan masalah pesawat (dan aku mau nggak mau terpaksa menguping :D). Yah, dia cuma nggak tahu fakta saja bahwa pesawat yang sedang ia lihat (ATR 72-500 kode registrasi PK-WFI) adalah pesawat super baru yang baru dikirim pada tanggal 22 April 2010 ke Wings Air dari pabriknya langsung, ATR, di Prancis. Makanya, tidak semua pesawat baling-baling itu tua lho.


5. Aku baru saja selesai membaca novel Agatha Christie yang lain nih, yang judulnya Appointment with Death (Perjanjian dengan Maut). Mungkin aku akan menulis tentangnya dengan lebih mendetail nanti, cuma nggak janji ya :-) Aku rasa, Perjanjian dengan Maut ini adalah novel yang lebih bagus (daripada novelnya Agatha Christie lainnya yang pernah aku baca). Drama dan permainan psikologinya sangat menarik. Cuma saja pengungkapan misterinya cuma "kaya gitu" walau memang sangat logis sih. Penutupnya seharusnya juga bisa lebih baik deh.


6. Seperti yang kutulis disini, aku rasa American Idol musim ini adalah (salah satu) musim yang terburuk. Cuma paling tidak sih dua kontestan yang menurutku berhak untuk masuk final ya memang masuk final: Lee DeWyze vs Crystal Bowersox. Ini adalah final ideal musim ini. Namun, penampilan finalnya koq agak anti-klimaks yah, nggak "agung" gitu :-( Berdasar penampilan di final saja sih seharusnya Crystal Bowersox yang menang. Namun, aku rasa kita tidak bisa memprediksi pemenang American Idol hanya dari penampilan final saja, sama seperti David Cook di musim 7 yang walau di final ia kalah baik dibanding David Archuleta, tetapi dia bisa menang. Aku rasa aku ingin Lee DeWyze yang menang deh. Cuma akan kita lihat nih :-)
   


7. Sangat senang nih karena grandslam kedua tahun ini, The French Open mulai minggu ini. Aku sih ingin melihat final sesama Williams di sisi tunggal putri. Aku rasa kemungkinannya ada, asal Serena Williams bisa mengatasi Justine Henin dan Jelena Jankovic (atau mereka sudah kalah dulu sebelum bertemu Serena). Venus berada di bagian yang relatif agak ringan, cuma dia harus tampil terbaik untuk bisa masuk final. Di sisi tunggal putra, rasanya sih finalnya bisa jadi antara Roger Federer dan Rafael Nadal. Aku rasa Nadal masih memiliki peluang terbesar (dari semua pemain) untuk menang tahun ini. Ayo Rafa!! (dan Andy Murray!! :-) )