Sunday, March 11, 2007

studio LDA - check out the Yogyakarta slide show

Goto studio LDA homepage to see the slide show.

Have glimpse of the Barabudur; a UNESCO heritage preservation site.

Check the Grand Mecure Hotel at Yogya. Its like a little museum; a conserevation scheme.

The downloading may take a while if you are not using broadband.

studio LDA - To enjoy can be different from to experience

To enjoy can be different from to experience – A short trip to Yogyakarta
Is there a difference between the two? This trip to Yogyakarta made me think of the differences.
My mum had been nagging me about the trip; that it would be a waste as there is nothing to enjoy. There is nothing to see, to eat, to enjoy. In a way my 3 years old daughter proved her right. As when I asked about what are the memorable things about the trip. She said hotel swimming pool, ice-cream and TV in the bed room, which she had long requested to be installed in our house, but she got a big nope from me.

You might disagree with them just like my self. But I do think both of them are entitled to their opinions. Why? My mum had gone through all these years of hardship since the Japanese occupation years in Malaya to economic crisis in recent years in Malaysia? Theses experiences of her life are by far more real then any trip to any where in the form of a few days travel. As for my 3 years old daughter, she knows only graphically how scary it was for snow white to be lost in the dark forest. What should we expect from her?

As for me and my wife, carrying the 3 years old up the Barabudur was but a little catalyst of the life experience. Its no where near the “becak- tricycle” driver who carried us in the front seats for a whole day, under the scorching sun and steaming rain, for a meager RM24. I think this Java tour is about enriching experience and perspective of life. That is different from sipping a glass of cold rich ice cold Javanese coffee, and reading about Java from a coffee table book.

Check out the power point slides of our tour. Hope you would be there too to experience the Javanese coffee yourself.

look from studio LDA

studio LDA - I am the shadow



Under glorious lime light, its easy to mistaken the big shadow to be your real size.

look fr studio LDA

studio LDA To enjoy can be different from to experience

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

studio LDA - Yogya trip-Jalan Maliaboro 的市场

位于Jalan Maliboro中一个不知什么名的市场,我们经历了以下几段有趣的事:



1--
最初时,我们走入市场和店屋之间的小巷,这里都是摆卖铜铁的古董摊位。女儿在其中的一个摊位发现了一只铜铸的俊俏小马,令她爱不释手。问了价钱后,没买下就进入市场。
我们在离开时,再次经过这摊位时,摆摊的小姑娘认得我们并轻叫道:“Di mana kuda adik tertinggal?”(小妹妹,你的马留在哪啦?)上了三轮车后,我有点后愧没给女儿买下那只小铜马。


2--
进到市场后,大部分的摊位都已关门了,四周光线微暗。女儿走累了,要我抱抱。当我们来到一卖竹藤编器的摊位,妻子正选购竹篮时,有一身躯矮小的婆婆走到我身旁,对我讲了一些听不懂的话。后来经卖竹器的小姐解释一番,才明白这婆婆是要求帮我们提东西以赚点钱。但我们除了需要人帮忙抱女儿外,并不需要别人帮忙提东西。就算是在酒店,如果不是行李多的自己无法搬,我一向都不假手于人的。我就从口袋里掏出一个500盾打发婆婆走。怎知道她把我递给她的手推开,一脸委曲,眼眶泛红。顿时,我和妻子心愧于如此不当作法而侮辱婆婆崇高的人格。因此我们就同意让婆婆帮我们提东西。
在逛的期间,我们只要停下来看看,婆婆也会默默地跟着,并赶紧从小贩手中提过我们买的东西。我只是随口地向摊位老板问可有咖啡豆卖?婆婆听到,就开始边走边帮我打听哪有咖啡豆卖?她的主动和热心真的感动了我。在离开时,我们和她合照以作纪念。与她短暂相遇,让我们感受到她虽然生活贫困,但并不因此而贱卖人格和尊严,这是我们应向她致敬的。



3--
在离开市场前,我们到卖香料的档口看一看,虽只剩一档口正开着。但小小的香料档,摆卖的香料可说是琳琅满目。我想买几根桂皮(kayu manis)作花盆的点缀。于是就选了4、5根,给姑娘称称付钱。她看了看,愣一楞,然后笑一笑着说:“sekilo sepuluh ribu.”(RM4) 于是她从窄窄的档位走出来亲自帮我选了一公斤,包好给我。我心想若在大城市,我们早就成大水鱼。落后的日惹,我们所见到的人民大都衣衫简朴,居住空间简陋窄小,他们待人诚实是我们在目前的城市中是难能可贵的。

fr look and sook yin of studio LDA