Sehari tanpa televisi

Beberapa hari terakhir di milis beredar kampanye “Sehari Tanpa Televisi”.  Kampanye ini bertujuan mengurangi ketergantungan anak-anak pada TV, dan sebagai ungkapan keprihatinan terhadap siaran-siaran televisi di Indonesia yg tidak berkualitas. Lebih jauh lagi disebutkan dalam kampanye itu bahwa makna Hari Tanpa TV adalah keluarga mendapat kesempatan berharga untuk melakukan aktivitas bersama tanpa gangguan TV, dan sebagai wujud nyata dari kesadaran pentingnya bermedia secara cerdas dan kritis. 

Membaca nama kampanyenya, saya mengerutkan dagu. Membaca tujuannya, saya mengerutkan kening. Kesempatan berharga untuk melakukan aktifitas bersama tanpa gangguan TV, cuma sehari? Ada efeknyakah? 

Being a contributor

A good friend of mine contacted me by email a few months ago. I am glad she did. Emails from old friends in Indonesia are things that make my days here.  We have certain style of conversation, certain style of humor, sense of humor. I don’t compare friends in Indonesia and ones I find here. I don’t compare which ones are better. They are just different. And I miss them very much. 

Up close with Piko

Sonneberg is one of important cities in Thuringia. It is well-known as a toy city, though it has nothing to do with Toys ‘R’ Us. This city has produced toys for children (and adults) around German, around Europe, and even around the world. In the past, almost all children in Germany definitely grew up with these toys. Some of them are fine dolls made from porcelain, train models, and wooden toys. These toys have been supporting the economical life of Sonneberg.

Goats on the bus *)

Just like many places in the world where the availability of public transportations is limited (so is the budget of the owners and the passanger), minicabs and buses in West Timor don’t leave too much empty spaces in each trip. They will leave the bus or minicab station only when the seats are full. And since it is a long trip connecting town-to-town and town-to-village, their baggage room will be full of belongings of the passangers. When the room cannot accommodate the baggages, the drivers and their helpers will hang them on the body of the vehicles. And when it is impossible to hang them, they can be tied up on the top.

Who needs English in Atambua?

It is always interesting to know a new place, no matter how ‘un-tourist’ it is. Especially if you are not so crazy with the fun of a big city. Atambua is one of the place. It is a small town near the border between Indonesia and Timor Lorosae, formerly East Timor. The daily life in this town run slowly and relatively the same everyday. Not so much to offer for fun. Activities in traditional market started at 6 o’clock and ended at 16.00. Shops open at 08.30-12.00 and 14.00-19.00. After seven o’clock in the evening, the streets are yours. Quiet and dark.

Bastei, rocky hills between Germany and Cekoslowakia

 Bored with Gothic-or-Baroc-styled old and historical buildings in Germany? Want to go hiking but don’t want to be extremely tired? Want to have incedible shots of sunset or sunrise but not ready to climb a mountain? This place may be suited for you who likes wandering or easy rock climbing.

Thuringia

Nature, history, wellness, active recreation, relaxation, events, art and culture. Thuringia, or Thueringen in German, has  a lot to offer. From beautiful landscapes until historical towns. From health resorts until therapeutic spas. Forests are just around the corner just in case you need to escape from daily routines. Either on foot, a bicycle or a horseback. By water, land, or sky. You can enjoy any recreations there. And while Alps are still so far away in the south, skiing down snowy slopes in Thuringia is possible to do, as long as you do it at the right season. Wanderers are surely invited. Not just for hiking but also learning to pick the non-gifted mushrooms or blueberries. Who knows, maybe you will eat mushroom-steaks fresh from the forest for dinner. Travellers will encounter culture and flash back to history at any  castles, chateaus, and museums. Adventurers should glid along cross-country ski runs or kayaking. Photographers may follow the trail of historic, artistic and scientific highlights for 300 kilmeters along the Classical Route. And what about a citadele in a flower-full garden?