Here are some of my writings on gather.com:
Why do we need another mosque?
June 14, 2006 06:07 AM EDT
If you have been to Indonesia, you would probably remember people on the traffic lights come to your car window asking for contributions for building a mosque here and there. Or if you drive through the local streets you would also see several people with some fish nets trying to get small change also for building mosque, sometimes they are accompanied by somebody with a speaker quoting some verses of the Qur'an and say thank you if you give them some money. Read more... Behind the hijab - My personal experience
May 19, 2006 01:21 PM EDT
I started wearing hijab on the first day of fasting month seven years ago. At that time I believed that my decision was purely mine. No outside influence. In Indonesia, although almost 90% people are Muslims (practicing or not) but we did not have sharia law (Islamic law) for our state law (Now we have Aceh province with sharia law, and several regencies pushing for this sharia law although it is illegal to do it in accordance with the Constitution). And we were always said to be moderate Muslims. In Indonesia, as far as I know, there was no formal obligation for women to wear hijab. (Again, I could not say for today's Indonesiaas it is obligatory in Aceh and some local administrations make this an obligation). Read more... Tsotsi - personal film review
June 27, 2006 04:13 AM EDT
Tsotsi n. thug, gangster, hoodlum "Tsotsi" literally means "thug" or "gangster" in the street language of South Africa's townships and ghettos. The acceptance speech at the Academy Award when this film was awarded best foreign language film: "God bless Africa…. This is for best foreign language film…. Viva Africa. Viva. I've got ten seconds….We may have foreign language films, but our stories are the same as your stories. They're about the human heart and emotion…". Read more... Does your car have a personality?
May 14, 2006 11:40 AM EDT
It has been almost 20 years since I bought my own car, a beat-up 1977 Honda Civic. It has orange color and it was such a blast to have her. She did not always in a good working condition but I did have a blast with her. I got so many dates because of her. No, not because those guys admired her! I was offered dates because those guys helped me pushed the car when her engine refused to start! And I was still so young at that time, that on the highway between the city I live and where my parents live, I never, and I mean never, let other cars passed me! Not even BMWs or Mercedeses! Read more... |
Are we not being discriminated?
July 01, 2006 12:59 PM EDT
There have been articles and discussions about women's rights, women's oppressions in Islamic countries. I would like to put forward here some discriminatory regulation and practices in Indonesia. Indonesia is not Islamic country but it seems that the laws get more and more similar to those countries. Read more... Fasting month in Indonesia
September 09, 2008 09:45 PM EDT
On September 1, we Muslims in Indonesia started our fasting month of Ramadhan. I was in Bandung one day before that to visit my parents and on the way to my parents’ house, I stopped at a supermarket as my mom asked me to pick up a few kg of brown rice. When I asked what else can I pick as I would be in a big supermarket, she said not to buy anything anymore as she does not need much. After picking up the brown rice, my nephew Ilham and me went to the exit to pay, but alas there were so long queues at the cashiers and everybody was like having full carts of food on them! I was curious and asked the lady in front of me why everybody shopped a lot and her answer stunned me: ‘Tomorrow is fasting month!’ Read more... Mudik - Spiritual and Cultural Journey of Idul Fitri
October 31, 2006 02:49 AM EST
(Mudik means going back to ones' hometowns) Idul Fitri or Eid ul-Fitr is "Festival of Fast-Breaking," an Islamic holiday, is celebrated at the end of Ramadan. In Indonesia, this is the most important Islamic event celebrated by almost all Muslims every year. This marks the time when Muslims throughout the country observe a joyous celebration at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Read more... Smile, it's Visit Indonesia Year
November 22, 2007 06:39 AM EST
Yes, that's one of the headlines in one prominent newspaper in Indonesia. Visit Indonesia Year 2008. They said that in addition to the government's efforts to improve safety and infrastructure, ordinary Indonesians can contibute by doing what they do best - smiling and being friendly. That was said by the minister of culture and tourism, Jero Wacik. Read more... |