STUNNED. oranje rhapsody, our agony.

Last night was a total mess.

I was expecting a great display of the game. Part of the game was fantastic, but the bigger part was heartbreaking. What is wrong with our Azzurri?

I took time sleeping just enough to see the match on TV. Well, I boasted some by telling that I was off to Berne (just to feel the fun of European atmosphere) and got myself wearing Luca Toni's shirt. Thee-hee. Equipped with snacks, Haji Marlboro and drinks while my wife sleeping, I sat in front of telly as if I was at the stands at Stade de Suisse, Berne.

Of der Nederland, one of Europe's powerful teams, I expected a revenge of defeat in Euro 2000 by Italia. Pretty. The best thing is, both coaches, Marco van Basten of Nederland and Roberto Donadoni of Italia were teammates back in AC Milan in late 80s. No time for down memory lane, boys. Pitting their tactical skills and wit, I believed the Azzurri would make progress and should have been alighted with a win.

But that wasn't the case. Totally stunned.

Der Oranje/Nederland were outclassing the world champions with three goals, neat play, effective tactics, sheer skills, accurate passes and total football. Clearly, Italia played below par. Everything seemed serba tak kena. I failed to understand the Italian approach to the game. Most players are considered veteran; some are over 30s, but playing against a team of mostly young lads, another approach would be better than the originally-planned-but-busted 4-3-3 system.

Without capitano Cannavaro out of injury, the defence were quite shaky. Luckily, Andrea Barzagli and Panucci were good, even the great Zambrotta couldn't work effectively. When Fabio Grosso entered, the defence strengthened a little. Grosso should start earlier.

Midfielders were of pure Milanese: Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso and my great Andrea Pirlo. Simone Perrotta should be in starting XI.

Frontliners: Mauro Camoransei, Antonio di Natale, Luca Toni. Camoranesi's poor display so far, and Toni was overlooked.

Italia cannot just rely on Toni to break the net. Toni is good when he's off-guard and I think Del Piero was inspirational. However, Cassano wan't at his best, he needs to work more on team understanding.

Didn't want to say much about the Oranje, as their best game tell.

What did our supremo Donadoni says?

"When we went 1-0 down things got complicated and for the second we were not quick enough to recover our positions after the corner. We looked strong physically and created a few chances but it wasn't our night. I think the Netherlands played as well as we expected them to. We knew they were capable of creating chances and making life difficult for us and that's what they did but we made mistakes and paid for it. It started badly and ended up worse but this is already history and we need to think about the next game against Romania. We need to recover physically and mentally so we can put things right straight away.

If we're not optimistic we should go off on holiday instead of taking the flight to Zurich. The players need to put this defeat behind them, understand the mistakes we've made. As of tomorrow we'll start working on them so they don't happen again. We were naïve at conceding goals on the counterattack. We took a corner and were not attentive enough afterwards. We didn't defend properly. Obviously in the light of this result, we're happy that France and Romania drew. It's to our advantage but also shows that Romania are a team who'll make it difficult for us."

I haven't check out the Italian sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport on their opinions of the game. Emm. Nevermind then, just prepare and head to Zurich with aim to win.

Forza Azzurri!

Pabila Sang Kelembai menjadi raja sehari...

Akhirnya, selamat juga Ahmad Fuad @ Sang Kelembai dan isteri, Shila ke alam perkahwinan. Alhamdulillah. Semoga berbahagia sampai ke akhirat.

Sabtu 7 Jun 2008. Asalnya aku dan isteri nak mengajak kengkawan lain ikut sekali dalam ekspedisi ke Kuala Lipis, rumah si Kelembai ni. Alih-alih kami berdua je. Dahlah bangun lambat pagi tu (pagi Sabtu masa paling best menidurkan diri sebagai ganti tak cukup tidur masa hari bekerja). Sempat pula balik ke Rawang sekejap menghantar barang ke rumah mentua, lepas tu terus pecut ke Negeri Gading Emas (Pahang) kira-kira 210 km dari sini.

Aku sudah membuat persediaan untuk ekspedisi sehari ini. Siapalah aku tanpa peta. Dengan bantuan daripada Ujang, aku dah dapat arah ke sana. Pemanduan ke sana macam biasa je. Kami seronok sambil menyanyi-nyanya. Melepasi terowong Genting Sempah, kami mula melawan hujan lebat. Sampailah lepas bandar Bentong, barulah hujan ditinggalkan. Hmm.

Ujang asks to be picked at Raub bus station, which is our next passing town. Aku pun bagitau Ujang supaya tunggu. Dalam beberapa minit lepas itu Ujang hantar SMS suruh jumpa di Lipis terus kerana Raja Azlan "Oldman" dah datang picking him up. Melepasi bandar Raub yang menarik, aku pun teruskan pemanduan dengan isteriku tertidur di sebelah.

Jam sudah pukul 2 petang. Akhirnya sampailah kami ke bandar Kuala Lipis, tetapi rumah Fuad bukanlah di dalam kawasan bandar. Kampung Berchang, lokasi rumahnya terletak di tepian jalan menuju Gua Musang. Hmm. Jenuh aku menelefon Ujang. Jauh jugaklah kampung ni daripada Lipis. Apabila aku perasan signboard "Kampung Berchang", di sebelah kananku ada sebuah rumah besar dihiasi kanopi perkahwinan. So, inilah dia rumah pengantin.

Kedatangan kami disambut oleh my old roomate, Fadil Braew-Braew. Rupa saling tak berubah, cuma rambut panjang lebat macam gondorowo katanya. Dengan membawa hadiah, kami naik ke rumah dan bertemu dengan pasangan raja sehari ini. Fuad sungguh kacak, Shila pun cantik. Elok benarlah kalian. Kami dijemput makan, dan di sana kami bertemu dengan Ujang, Oldman, dan Ajiem. Si Braew-braew pun duduk makan sekali round lagi dengan kami.

Inilah first time in 3 years aku merasa majlis kenduri kampung sebenar. Takde khidmat katering, semuanya dimasak sendiri. Wahh... terujanya aku. Lama sangat tak merasa suasana kampung macam ni. Best betul. Lauk dan masakan superb. Lepas makan-makan borak segala, we all naik ke rumah nak bergambar dengan pengantin yang dah bertukar persalinan. Laa... baru nak ambik gambar. Takpe lah, asalkan ada. Lama jugaklah kami di atas rumah bersembang. And masa tu jugaklah aku terpandang kakak dia yang masih cantik walaupun beranak dua... aku pernah teruja dengan kakak dia masa zaman matrik 9 tahun lepas. Hohoho.

So, usai semua kami pun bertolak pulang ke Lembah Klang. Ujang dan Ajiem terus ke Kuantan, manakala kami yang lain berkonvoi ke KL. Oldman bercadang nak singgah di Lipis untuk lepak-lepak. Kami OK saja. Bukan main lagi lepak-lepak, minum-minum dan bersiar-siar di bandar Siti Nurhaliza ni sampai ke maghrib. Hmm. Bandar yang menarik di petang hari. I like this place.

So, entah macam mana datang gila kami untuk tidak pulang ke KL. Disebabkan tiada pakaian spare, so kami berdua take some time to shop for some clothes. Macam koboi pulak. Dah isi minyak semua, kami meneruskan perjalanan ke Bukit Tinggi-Colmar lepas Isyak.

Punyalah laju si Oldman ni bawak Tiara dia. Si Braew-Braew pulak berkepul-kepul asap rokok dari Mitsubishi Storm dia. Jalannya kurang lebar, trafiknya sekejap OK sekejap slow, so pepandai la kami buat adegan potong-memotong di jalan raya. Sejam lebih kami camni. Mesej diterima untuk menanti di Hentian Lipur Lentang. Punyalah gelap gelita di situ. Aku lead the way to Bukit Tinggi.

Bukit Tinggi @ Colmar Tropicale ialah sebuah pusat peranginan yang tersorok dicelah-celah hutan. Kawasan tu dibina seperti sebuah perkampungan Perancis di pergunungan Alps, lengkap semuanya. Hmm. Dengarnya macam best, tetapi tak berapa best sangat. Aku dan isteri betul-betul macam orang honeymoon... enjoy jalan-jalan sambil tengok show. Kami kelaparan, maka kami dine kat satu restoran yang mana servisnya lousy tapi hidangannya... superb!

Jam menunjukkan pukul 12 malam. Where to stay for a night? Dengan kegilaan, kami memutuskan untuk menyambung adventure ke Genting Highlands. Tiara dan Myvi diparking di R&R Genting Sempah, so kami ke kota keriangan dengan Storm. Macam orang gila betul. Kami sepakat bermalam satu bilik triple, kongsi duit sekali dengan breakfast di First World Hotel. Ada bilik. Selesa dan seronok. Kami bergilir-gilir mandi dan lepas tu bersiar-siar di sekitar plaza. Sejuk menggigit tapi aku buat tak tau je. Aku kelaparan seperti biasa, so aku dan Oldman membedal wantan mee. Balik bilik terus tidur sampai pagi.

Breakfast terlambat bangun, so cepat-cepat kami turun. Lepak dalam bilik, checking out terus berpesta pora di plaza dengan Starbucks, karaoke dan macam-macam lagi. Seronok betul. Disebabkan Braew-Braew ada kerja, so kami pun turun balik ke Genting Sempah where we miss the junction and make a U-turn at Taman Melati! Punyalah jauh, sian B-B.

So tamatlah adventure yang asalnya meraikan Fuad kahwin menjadi frenzy ride around highlands. Kami berdua kepenatan, pening kepala dan terus balik ke rumah tidur, itu pun selepas aku makan KFC di Kepong...

Again, salam bahagia untuk Ahmad Fuad dan Shila di hari perkahwinan mereka. Tahniah!

PASUPATI BRIDGE

Yup, it's about Bandung city again.

I wonder how much this city has influenced me for the past week. Everybody who has been on Bandung trip seems can't stop talking about it. Some are even planning to make a return, and a handful of them has booked their flights on August. It's OK, let them have fun while I plan my next Bandung trip, which will be more interesting and a feast to the eyes.

I get myself the detailed street map of Bandung (that's why I love Periplus maps), clicking on AirAsia website to get the best flights, making room reservations and try to make sure that my local friend is at call. Phew, I am eager to come back. Not really to shop, but to take photos, venturing the wilds, exploring historical sites, experiencing local lifestyle and of course, local fares. My wife is very excited about our prospects of going back to Bandung and I am hoping that she'll be fine for a long walk around town.

What fascinates me actually?

Bandung is different. Roads are narrow, compact population, perfect blend of traditional and urban facilities, distinct culture, art-deco Dutch buildings, unfenced railways, bustling crowd, exotic dance, peculiar names and food galore. What else I can put, erm, should I say Bandung is very different from Jakarta? Perhaps.

For me, traveling to new places unveil many mysteries (not spooky-type of mystery). The feeling to explore the city is so high. You tend to capture more shots, you will last to enjoy their meals, venturing to historical sites, experiencing nature... oh, it's indescribable. It's good enough to see hillhouses, farms, communities, cool temperature because at our home, we won't experience it.

Spending millions of Rupiah is also a great experience. No one ever wonder how you could become a millionaire by working as a middle-class executive in KL. We are used to spend thousands of RM, and when we are in Indonesia, we get confused. Why? Because goods cost around 100K above. Sound expensive, but it isn't. Rp 100,000 is equivalent to RM 35 (around US$11.30). Very, very affordable. To avoid confusion, ignore the last three digits. You'll be fine at market. Beside, you still can bargain to the lowest price you can get. Good enough.

Our prospective trip to Bandung will be the second honeymoon for us. It's gonna be great. I shall return someday to Bandung, I will. I miss this lovely city.

oh, tragedi SANGKURIANG

Sebelum ke Bandung, aku memang pernah mendengar tentang Gunung Tangkuban Perahu. Tetapi legenda yang membayangi gunung itu tidaklah kuketahui sehinggalah aku menjumpai legenda ini sewaktu mempersiapkan diri mempelajari segala hal tentang Bandung yang telah dilawati minggu lepas.

Maka diceritakanlah perihal legenda Sangkuriang yang punya kaitan dengan pembentukan Gunung Tangkuban Perahu dan juga teori keringnya Tasik Bandung.

Pada zaman dahulu, ada seorang raja (Sungging Perbangkara) yang gemar berburu. Di hutan ketika berburu, raja ini mahu membuang air kecil dan melepaskan hajatnya dalam sebiji tempurung kelapa di tengah hutan. Kebetulan, pada waktu yang sama, seekor khinzir betina (sebenarnya dewi yang disumpah), Wayungyang, sedang mencari air untuk diminum. Dan sudah ditakdirkan khinzir itu meminum air dalam tempurung tadi tanpa mengetahui apakah ia.

Beberapa lama kemudian, ditakdirkan oleh para dewata, Wayungyang (dalam bentuk khinzir) mengandung dan melahirkan seorang puteri yang amat cantik. Raja tersebut, yang berburu lagi terpesona dengan kecantikan puteri itu lantas membawanya ke istana dan dilayan bagaikan puterinya, lalu dinamakannya Dayang Sumbi a.k.a Rarasati. Adapun Dayang Sumbi ini sememangnya cantik jelita (keturunan raja dan dewi), maka raja amat menjaganya dengan begitu baik sekali.

Adapun hobi Dayang Sumbi ialah bertenun kain. Pada satu ketika, sedang elok bertenun kain maka jatuhlah alatan Dayang Sumbi ke tanah. Kerana tingginya anjung istana daripada tanah, maka tiadalah mahu Si Dayang turun mengambilnya. Memandangkan tiada sesiapa yang mahu mengambilnya, Si Dayang berbisiklah, "Maka sesiapa yang membantuku, akan kutunaikan janjiku. Jika yang membantu seorang perempuan, nescaya kulayan umpama adikku; tetapi akan lelaki yang mengambilnya, nescaya kukahwini lelaki ini." Maka ditakdirkan seekor anjing jantan, Si Tumang, datang mengambilnya. Oleh kerana janjinya, Si Dayang pun berkahwin dengan Tumang (sebenarnya dewa yang tersumpah). Berpindahlah mereka berdua dari kota dan bahagia bersama lalu Si Dayang melahirkan seorang anak lelaki yang sihat dinamakannya Sangkuriang.

Akan Sangkuriang ini amat sayangkan ibunya, tapi tiadalah dia mengetahui Tumang itu bapanya. Kegemaran Sangkuriang ini ialah berburu (diwarisi datuknya si raja). Pada hari kejadian, keluarlah Sangkuriang berburu bersama Tumang akan menurut kehendak ibunya yang mahu memakan hati rusa. Berburulah mereka di hutan dara tanpa menjumpai apa-apa. Sedang perjalanan pulang, Sangkuriang terjumpa seekor khinzir betina yang sihat (Wayungyang? Mungkin juga) dan memerintah Tumang agar mengejarnya. Tiadalah Tumang mahu memburunya, lantas amarahnya Sangkuriang lalu pulanglah dia ke pangkuan ibunya.

Akan sampainya di rumah, Sangkuriang menyediakan lauk untuk ibunya. Sedang mahu bersantap, Si Dayang bertanyakan perihal Tumang, kerana tanpanya tiadalah mahu dia makan, dan bongkarlah pekung akan Tumang ialah bapa kepada Sangkuriang. Terkejut dengan kebenaran, Sangkuriang mengaku membunuh Tumang kerana degilnya memburu di hutan dan lauk masakannya ialah Tumang yang terhidang. Betapa amarahnya Dayang Sumbi lalu disisanya Sangkuriang dengan senduk hingga lukalah kepalanya. Lantas Dayang Sumbi meninggalkan anaknya sendiri tatkala Sangkuriang pengsan dek luka besar itu.

Sedari pengsannya Sangkuriang berwisata seluruh alam, membesar dan menjadi pahlawan terbilang dengan kuasanya yang makbul. Hampir 20 tahun, maka sampailah dia ke suatu tempat dimana mahulah dia menetap dan jatuh cinta dengan seorang gadis yang amat cantik. Kedua-duanya saling mencintai dan berjanji untuk bermahligai melayari hidup bersama.

Sehari sebelum sampai waktu berkahwin, keluarlah Sangkuriang unuk berburu. Sedang keluar, gadis itu mengikat rambutnya dan terlihat bekas luka di kepala Sangkuriang. Terimbas semula akan kehilangan anaknya 20 tahun yang lampau, takutlah gadis ini untuk mengahwininya kerana dia, Dayang Sumbi, mahupun Sangkuriang tiada lagi mengenali antara satu sama lain. Terdedah pada kebenaran ini, Sangkuriang terkaget, tetapi tetap mahukan mereka berdua bersatu. Akan tidak mahu melanggar hukum alam dengan mengahwini anaknya sendiri, juga tidak mahu menolak permintaannya kerana cinta, Si Dayang memberi Sangkuriang dua syarat yang perlu dipenuhi menjelang fajar menyingsing demi pernikahan mereka, iaitu membendung sungai Citarum kepada sebuah tasik yang besar dan membina perahu untuk mereka berbulan madu di tengah-tengah tasik.

Dengan segala kuasa yang ada, Sangkuriang bertapa dan menitah para semangat dan dewata membantunya mengempang sungai Citarum dan membina perahu besar demi cintanya terhadap Dayang Sumbi. Akan hampir siaplah perahu itu, Dayang Sumbi ketakutan, kerana bakal terlaksanalah janjinya; maka dititahkan para dewatanya merentang sanggul selendang merahnya di ufuk timur dan mengibarkannya untuk menerbitkan cahaya seakan fajar dimana ayam-ayam berkokok dan para petani mulai turun ke bendang.

Hairanlah Sangkuriang akan terbitnya fajar, kerana tahulah dia usahanya sia-sia. Begitu amarahnya dia dengan pembohongan fajar seraya menendang perahu ke tengah tasik sehingga terbalik, dibuangkan kayu-kayunya dan dibongkarkan sungai Citarum sehingga kering. Larilah Sangkuriang jauh sehingga akhirnya hilang ke alam ghaib, begitu juga Dayang Sumbi ghaib. Maka diceritakanlah bahawa perahu yang tertangkup itulah jadinya Gunung Tangkuban Perahu, sebatang tunggul itu menjadi Gunung Batu Tunggul dan puing-puingnya menjadi Gunung Burangrang. Akan tasik Citarum yang terbendung itu keringlah, lalu kota yang didirikan di tengahnya dinamakan Bandung, sempena perkataan Bendung (menakung air yang terkumpul). Sungai Citarum masih lagi mengalir sekarang, merentasi wilayah Jawa Barat dan Jawa Tengah berdekatan bandar Cirebon dan tidak jauh dari Bandung sekarang.

Begitulah kisahnya Gunung Tangkuban Perahu terjadi dan di tasik yang kering inilah kota Bandung berdiri megah di Jawa Barat seperti sekarang. Arakian kisah ini tidaklah seperti tragedi Greek purba, Oedipus Rex yang mana Oedipus mengahwini ibunya sendiri, Iocasta tanpa mengetahui status mereka (bacalah drama karya Sophocles ini. Satu karya penuh tragedi).

CIHAMPELAS WALK

I am a citizen of the world" (Laertius Diogenes)

Traveling has always been my passion.

For years, I traveled across continents, particularly to Europe; but none compared to what Bandung has got to offer on your travel map. Of distinctive style and diversed culture, Bandung, unlike other Java Island cities, is cooler and romantic. With prehistoric legends of Lake Bandung and Sangkuriang, Bandung is commonly known as "Parijs van Java" (Dutch for Paris of Java).The city is inhabited mostly by the Sundanese, an ethnic of which their culture is rich, softly-spoken, polite, fairer and oh my god their women are exceptionally beautiful. C'est magnifique!
Bandung's topography is stratovolcanic, which means the soil is fertile and good for plantation. Even so, this volcanic grounds are reported as silenty active and as recent as 2007, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu was closed due to increasing volcanic signs (perhaps monster arising?). But positively, this factor contributes to tourism boost with tea plantation estates, hot springs and high-altitude sightseeing. It's not hard to tell that Bandung is a place where East meets West, in terms of couture, of course. Bandung has more factory outlets I ever seen, flooded with branded items of rare sights in KL (Prada, Versace, Chloe, etc.). And of course, for us, a place where millions of rupiahs are well spent. Talk about spending spree could never get enough. Even I couldn't contain my desire from spending madly.

Food, the other thing that travelers like me likes to venture. Sundanese cuisine is by far, moderate. The rice is different from what we used to consume (volcanic rice, eh?), their fare is quite dry and solid. The preferred drinks is a natural, sugar-free jasmine tea, which comes to my delight; and local cendol as well as avocado juice! According to some, they don't prefer Sunda fare, but Padang one instead. As for me, everything goes under my belly. Jamu, is an everyday consumption for locals here. I took two glasses of jamu every morning after breakfast... and I could feel the energy inside running through my veins.

Enough of this Anthony Bourdain-like mumbling. Let's talk about my adventure.

Day 1
I am overwhelm by the fact that we are going to travel to Bandung, yet my passport has some problems to be solved. I do some homework (watching Astro Aruna & listening to Indonesian songs) with my wife sighs. A lovely-hot homemade breakfast prepared by my wife, I am full till lunchtime. Getting aboard QZ 7603, I sit silently. What a boring flight (selalu sangat fly). The flight is roughly around 1 hour 50 minutes to Jakarta (it's like flying back home to Kuching), and we land safely at Bandara Internasional Soekarno-Hatta or Cengkareng (CGK). The bus journey takes 3 hours to reach Bandung, lunch stop in the midway (Restoran Sederhana Padang) where the first Indonesian fare is tasted. Belissimo! Continuing with our ride, it's great to see country views of Java. We are staying at Novotel, located within hotspots of Cihampelas, Padjajaran, Dago and Braga. The room is awesome, and it's only around RM129 a night! Our dinner is great (Arum Manis Restaurant), where I first tasted avocado cendol (and help finishing others' as well). Strolling along Cihampelas Street, I shop for the first time, and to my amazement, there's an Ultraman Dyna statue (though improperly sculpted, it's fine). Friends have to pull me off from there.


Day 2
A chilly trip to Tangkuban Perahu is amazing. Preceded by rain, the surroundings are shivering me. Reaching there, i looking at the caldera crater whispering: "I fought a monster here years ago". Such a fantasy. Well, it's a volcano, and it's magnificent. On the way to the hot springs, we stop at a vast, hilly tea plantation. We take our group photos there, and I become a tea-picker. Such fun! Our lunch is great with garden settings. A first taste of massive shopping comes at Dago area amidst heavy rain. Even rain couldn't deter everyone from shopping, including myself. Ah, I need a Marlboro Kretek. The night has different story. Our dinner becomes more exciting (Sindang Reret), where a first look at Sundanese dance makes me melt like butter. The dancers are divinely gorgeous! With some friends, we venture to the red area of Bandung (Braga) where we spend our night out karaoke-ing and checking out Sunda chicks (tsk tsk).

Day 3
Shopping is our main agenda for the day. Dressing like a hot chick, I steal the limelight of the day. Stopping at Bandung Municipal Hall, we gather to take a larger group photo. Bandung kids are enjoying their rollerblading morning, and I take a picture with them as well. Till afternoon, the shopping time is tiring me. I detach myself from the group, and make my way alone around the city (on foot, of course). I walk around Riau area, crossing the famous Persib Bandung FC stadium (Siliwangi Stadium) and try to get myself the team jersey, but the shop is closed. The lunch is just a throughfare (Simpang Raya), and at Pasar Baru, my real shopping extravaganza begins. I shop till I drop (literally) by falling off the escalator. Ouch, that hurts. I heard the crowd mumbling: "Mas, nggak apa-apa mas?" "Bisa bangun mas"... yeah, that hurts. I continue shopping, and at last I top my shopping list. As planned, five of us are wearing Ferrari F1 crew shirts to gala dinner, where I mesmerize myself with scrumptious meals, beautiful dances and humiliating myself in front of the crowds by dancing. Hmm. At room, Ratna (the masseur) gives a well-defined Sunda massage on me. Sexy. I feel re-energized to healthy blue (a la Ultraman).

Day 4
Nothing special today, as we all head to Kartika Sari cake house (emm, they say the brownies are great). A rainy journey back to Jakarta bids my Bandung goodbye with memories forgetten not. The lunch, by far is the worst I have, and arriving too early at CGK (no massive traffic jam as was expected) let me to spend my remaining romantic adventure in Indonesia before heading back to KL at night.

Lots of thanks to:
NSTP Malaysia (my company) - giving the best incentive trip ever for free.
CS Holidays Sdn Bhd & PT Tama Tours - best services, hospitality and warmth.
Novotel Bandung - warmth, plush, roomy, delicious breakfast & energetic massage.
Hendra - our tour photographer.
Anton - our bus tour guide.
Friends - for all their joy and fun.