The Uniforms We Are Given…
Allow me to indulge for a moment, so you understand my thinking, before continuing the read this blog post:
No, I’m not in the picture. :p
I used to watch an American TV show called “Good Times.” The TV comedy was centered around a very poor African American family, The Evans (picured above), who was stuck in “the ghetto” (a very run-down, dangerous, inner-city neighborhood). The show chronicled The Evans’ constant struggle with “trying to make ends meet” (American slang for: pay for all things they needed, with extremely limited money).
James Evans, the father, was eventually was killed in a work accident (“killed” on the show, not in real-life). The youngest boy, Micheal (a black rights militant) was reminiscing about lessons of life that his father taught him. One saying James told Michael was “We must play the game in the uniform we are given.” (Meaning: we must go through life with the skin color we are born with, and deal with life as it comes to us.)
Just as we must live life with the skin color we are born with (unless you are Michael Jackson), children must live in childhoods based on their parents’ decisions. Sometimes the choices parents make are hard for the child, but for the child’s own good. Sometimes the choices parents make are purely out of selfish reasons.
My photographic projects, whether special interest or humanitarian, are always focused on unique sub-cultures. One current project is focused on the lives of orphans. This weekend I spent some time at one particular place that I am focusing on. For most westerners, orphanages are places for children who do not have parents due to death, and the kid has no other family.
Actually, I am such a child. My father was unknown, and my biological mother–a Jane Doe: an unidentifiable woman–died during childbirth. I was adopted at 6 days old by my parents (non-biological parents).
In the West, children given up for adoption by their biological parents are technically orphans too, but westerners never think “giving up child for adoption” is the same as “make the child an orphan” as parents are still alive. I am learning very fast is in 3rd world Asia most “orphans” do not fit the Western paradigm of what an orphan is.
The vast majority of orphans in the 3rd world have living biological parents, who have either abandoned the children out of selfish reasons (such as not wanting to be looked down upon for having a non-perfect baby), or the parents willing gave the child to a orphanage in hopes to give the child a better future than they could provide it. Some parents even give their children to the orphanage with an informal agreement it is for a limited time only, until the family can support the child themselves. Only in a very few cases are the children truly without biological parents in 3rd world Asia.
So, these orphans are dealing with the circumstances they are put into. This particular orphanage is extremely well ran, with caring staff and a clean environment for the children to live, learn, and play in. The children have a range of issues, from mental retardation, to physical deformities such as permanent blindness. One 2 year old boy has permanent brain damage due to high fever while fighting the flu. He lays in bed shaking and moaning. He has very good health care, thanks to plentiful donations from Europe to the orphanage, but he seems to have little human interaction at the moment (he’s still sick with flu).
![](http://www.rodneyonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/angel-1.jpg "\")
The children all have heart-twisting stories, but one stands out: a blind girl that I will call Angel (I’m not giving her real name, to protect the child). Angel is a 4 year old, Indonesian-European mixed girl. In addition to speaking Indonesian, she speaks fluent Dutch! The orphanage does not know her origins; she was merely given to the orphanage.
Angel has already gone to Singapore so doctors there could determine if there was any treatment for her eye condition (her blue-gray eyes are covered with a cataracts-like film, giving her a ghostly appearance). Doctors said there is nothing that can be done for her.
Some believe Angel’s Expat father and his maid conceived Angel, and when he left the country he abandoned the mom and child, and the mother could not cope with a blind daughter. Some others believe she might have been the result of a “contract marriage” (where woman is married to guy for a specific time)–I’m still trying to understand contract marriages. All of these are theories only. On one knows Angel’s true story.
She loves constant hugs and to be carried, even though she gets around the orphanage fairly well on her own. Every time she bumps into a person, she enthusiastically puts her arms in the air to be picked up. If that does not work, she tries to climb the person.
*~ We all had a fun laugh when this happened to our shy driver. After several failed attempts to be picked up by the driver, Angel tried to climb him like a tree, ending up with him standing there with her stuck in mid-air with her arms and legs wrapped around his legs in a wrestling death grip. hahaha ~*
She has no surprise-from-touch response, for lack of a better term. Meaning: if she is walking, and bumps something, like water she just flows around it without breaking the song she’s singing. If you touch her hand or suddenly speak to her in a quiet room, she is not the least bit startled. She must have been blind for most of her very young life.
I could not hold her for long, out of fear of adopting her hahaha. She is so sweet and adorable, she ripped my heart out when she called me “Papa” when trying to get me to hold her. I would have given her one of my eyes, if that was humanly possible (and I am not kidding). My friend, Yensi, spent a lot of time carrying Angel around the orphanage, singing with her as they went along. Angel’s extremely smart: she will be amazing one day.
Surprising was the fact the orphanage does not have an immediate need for money, as several organizations in Europe provide the majority of their monetary needs. What they do need is food items, such as Ovaltine, baby diapers, etc. I will help them with that each month.
Anyway, the kids make me rethink life. Maybe “the uniform i was givien” is not so bad to have received…
Take care!
It’s Coming! + Mail Call :)
It’s Coming!
I knowwwww, I did not post within two days of the last post. I am STILL writing the blog post (yes, this is not the one I wanted to post). The forthcoming post is so deep that I am forced to review and rethink some things (in positive ways). Trust me, it will be worth the wait. 
For now, I will tell you what is happening, share some incredible news, and answer some emails (which I still get hundreds of each week: maybe I should create a forum).
I have been exploring some avenues for my current photographic project. I’ve made some amazing breakthroughs! I may be published in not one, but 4 publications, I may be interviewed by a well-known talk show host (I wont say any names, until it is confirmed). I may be able to get some of the impoverished children I’ve encountered some lasting support, and there may be a book!
Actually I have a horrible reporter to thank for all of this, as his actions made me feel I must give a more accurate accounting of some things. My friend, Yensi, told me to check the JakartaGlobe’s features section, as a reporter published a very short article about the very subject and location of my current project. But, he did not get formal permission to be there, and he only spent a few hours there one time. His information was so inaccurate I almost screamed (from laughing and from disgust). This was just another example of what my Ministry of Health acquaintance mentioned before: how foreigners ignore the government rules, and exploit the people for their own gain. Very sad. I took the time to get permission to do this, and to share my data, findings, and images with the government, and this reporter guy comes along and exploits the people! He only made it harder for sincere researchers to do work, as the government has yet another negative experience to cause them mental trauma. 
After I “googled” the reporter’s name, I found he published the same inaccurate article in other newspapers, with the same, singular misleading photo! *~kyaaa~*
All of this let me to take more action and move my timetable “up” a few months. Instead of waiting longer, I decided to proceed with bringing thing project into public view: thus the publications, the talk show appearance, the possible book, etc etc. And yes, gallery showings. I will tell you more next week
Mail Call:
Justin wrote: “Do you have gallery showings? If yes, where?”
I’ve only had one gallery showing since being in Indonesia, but you can count on another coming in the very near future. Actually, I’m planning for 3 showings, one month each, back to back in 3 different locations in Jakarta. I am still working out the details.
Kim wrote: “Your website does not allow purchases of the images. How can I buy one?”
Actually, some images are not for sale, such as the sex worker images. But when you select a photo on my website, it gives you the option to contact me. So far I’ve given away images, rather than sold them, when I see they will be used for the powers of good.
Kim (another Kim) wrote: “How are you and the stalker?”
Hahaha, funny you ask. I tried to work with the stalker on my current project, only to find out she was still telling people a bunch of bull. I made it clear I wanted co-worker relationship only (and others were witness to this) but it did not matter. Every time she and I work, it seems to be a 2.5 month time limit before she converts into craziness; at first, all is well, but as time progresses in that 2.5 months, she converts into a … not nice person. I won’t work with her again, ever.
It’s sad actually. When we “work” together, we are an *extremely* good team: we blend and mesh very well as we have the same goal: to help the people we are encountering. We know what the other is doing at the time we are doing our part; we even worked together to get the poor kids school supplies for their make-shift school. Working together has never been an issue, when we stay on-topic. It is the private-life items that ruins things every time, like where she tells people, in Indonesian language, we are married, then say they are lying when I learn what was said, or how she say my friends hack her email and cell phone to send me those hate emails/sms messages (ex: how all Muslims are going to hell, and they trying to take me with them, and she will kill them before she allows it, and God hates them all, and God told her it is her responsibility to keep me from their evil. God also told her I had a light blue sofa in my house, and a Hispanic babysitter (I’m not shi!tting you!): insane!).
At our last insane blow-up, 3 friends, the car’s driver, and I had to use a system to jump into the car, and lock all the doors, as she was insisting she wanted to go with us on the project (after I declined her because she cannot separate work and personal topics). I won’t go into more details of how we did it (it’s funny actually), but it ended in her breaking the car’s back-window and door with a brick! The driver got out and almost smacked her! People told him “don’t hit her, she’s just a woman.” (omg)
I had the choice of either giving the driver her address and phone number, so his co can sue her for $, or pay for the damages myself. She is a gov worker: committing a violent crime would certainly get her fired, and she would not be able to go to the USA for her PhD (UCLA, watch out!). I paid the damages (she does not even know they wanted her info, or that I paid the damages) so she would not be fired. I also paid the damages, so her chances of going to the far side of the planet Earth, far away from me, would not be ruined. I’m happy to say she is staying away (no calls or messages), and I certainly am too. Life is happy again.
Ivan wrote: “When shooting, how many images do you keep out of the bunch”
Hmmm, I have to say this will be in a future blog, but to give an base answer: maybe 1 out of 500. The future blog will explain why I am so “picky” about what images I keep.
ENOUGH. Take care, I have to work! And, I have to prepare for next week’s presentation :)
In Total Shock
Actually, I’m quite well. Everything at work is going accordingly and smoothly. My presentation for yesterday’s annual meeting was highly successful (I really put serious effort into that presentation!).
My photographic life is really going well. I’m working on “the project” with formal government approval, giving me total access to do what I need to. Thursday night (December 11) I will head to Kalimantan for more work with the Indonesian Government for one of their projects that deal with critical topics (malnutrition and extreme respitory disease). I’m looking forward to this Kalimantan project, as my photographic work will help the Ministry of Health show what they are doing to combat these important issues, as well as what the consequenses are when they lack the funding or personnel penetration to act.
But this post is about being in shock. “The Project” deals with certain groups of individuals, living in a type of poverty no one suspects really exists. I will not go into details, as I’m sick of my photo project ideas being stolen, but I will say I see humans and humanity in a different way. The way some people choose to live is incredible and sad. I’m digesting all I’ve witnessed and seen, and trying to get in touch with my perceptions of it all, so I may channel it through the camera.
I began this project with one goal, but it has changed to purely giving people a voice, so the world (or at least this country) know what they are enduring every day…
It’s all I can say for now. I’m ok, but I feel I’ve seen some things that change how I see life…… You will too, when you see and hear (yes, hear) the results of it all…
Running Downhill…
Hello Hello Hello,
It’s been super busy lately, both in my personal life, my photographic life (which partly overlaps into my personal life), and my professional life.
You can read the mundane details below, but for lazy people like me, allow me to just give you the cliff notes version
- Preparations for my current photo project has made significant leaps!
- My God, I have to give 2 critical presentations within the next month!
- After months of complaining to HR to get me CVs and Resumes, I’m FINALLY am getting quality people to potentially fill several tech support and programmer positions!
*~ If you’re a PHP Programmer, in Jakarta, EMAIL ME! ~*
. - After a battle with my company’s HR department, I was able to give two of my staff decent raises.
- I really really really need to finish my paper, a study of the specific group of individual sex workers (see previous post, “Exploring The Underground World of Sex Workers”)!
Photo Project:
My company’s campus has several buildings. For some meetings, I take a quick, 30 second walk to a neighboring building, then proceed to the 7th floor. From there, I have this incredible view of the area. One such view is of a place that fits perfectly into my current photo project. The area has grown in 3 months from 2 shacks, to a community of shacks, where they sort through, and burn huge amounts of trash.
Since I’m working alone on photo projects (I really need to be more autonomous), I decided to take a 45 minute walk to that area, in shirt and tie (stupid me) to talk to the people there, to gain some form of access/entry. My phone has a dictionary, and I was practicing what to say to their camat (their community leader). Turns out my attempts paid off.
After their initial shock of seeing this huge black guy with an American accent, they seemed quite open. I told them the best I could I just wanted “foto foto aja” (photos only). When the guy was talking, I could only understand 1 out of 7 or 8 words, but it seemed they wanted money! I told them it for my own project, not gov, or magazine or tv or such. I am sure I sounded like I was using baby talk hahahaha.
Daily I take taxis to and from work. I always tell the taxi driver to use roads instead of toll roads, because I love to see the people walking on the street as well as various hidden areas I find photographically interesting. This is how I found site #2 for the photo project! So, I’ve now 2 sites to focus on for this project. Hurray!
I also found renting a car (and driver, because no way I will drive in this city!) will be easy. Some of the places I want to go in the city simply have horrid access to taxis. And, being lazy, I hate walking more than I need to (but, with camera in hand, I can walk all day).
So, the project will begin soon. Wait… Not so soon! why???? Because…….
Case Study for Group of Sex Workers:
Yes, I have been asked to turn this in. I knew it would be due eventually, but I really wish I could have been told of the due date in advance! I was asked literally just a day before it was wanted! Come on! That is not fair. I shot the pics when? Last year? If I was told ‘the paper will be needed in 1 month, or 10 months” then I could have planned my work.
As I was never asked for it, I never kept working on it. Then just last week I was asked to provide it in a day. if knew it would be needed, why not tell me when you found out when you are meeting about it? I could have prepared it, if I was given a firm deadline to have it by. And, when giving deadlines, it cant be a day or two before! It has to be planned, and stated during the project’s Analysis phase. But anyway, It’s a lesson for future projects. It’s not a huge deal, but will be time consuming, given my work presentations, plus my regular workload. :p
So, I gave what I had, the base outline that was posted on the previous blog post (which did go into detail, but not as much as the formal paper, with citations and secondary sources) and I gave the photographs. I also stated I would finish the paper next week at the latest (which is when presentation #1 is due….. Oct 14 cryyyy).
Ok, enough for now. Hope you are not as busy as me! But damn it, these presentations put off my photo project, AGAIN! I’m really thinking of that NGO photographer/writer offer that is avail in 2009… While this job is great pay, it’s cutting into my photography time big time! This is something I cannot allow for a long period of time.
At the moment I feel like I’m running downhill; at first, I’m in control of the decent, but momentum and gravity are pulling on my body mass until its a mad run, and just keeping from tripping over my own two feet! hahahahaha
What Makes Crazy People Crazy???
The Setting: Starbucks Sarinah, which is 95% empty
I’m writing this blog post in my head. Why in my head, instead of on my laptop? Because my crazy-ass stalker is sitting next to me. Why is she sitting next to me? I’ve no idea, except to bug me.
“Are you alright? How do you feel? Did you get my calls or SMS? You did not reply…”
*~ Well of course I did not reply! You’re a stalker! OMG! ~*
I think stalkers have stalker-periods. Just as women have monthly periods, stalkers have monthly or bi-monthly periods, where they come to their victims, bleed all over them, and give their victims cramps!
My stalker is especially tenacious, using every excuse in the book to make contact. First, it was contact out of ‘concern’ for my health. Second, it was contact about religious advice, with a side-dish of dieting wisdom, and reprimand-for-telling-people-cafes-are-fun desert. Third, she now wanted to meet because Dumbledore, the laptop I sold her a year ago, has a non-functional trackpad after she installed a mouse. Forth, and lastly, she wanted to meet because she wanted me to join her in Tangerang for a photo project (like I’m going to stay in a hotel with her? “F” that!). But, no matter what she says or does, I only become more adament to stay the hell away from her. I’m the world’s most stubborn man.
*~ I AM the world’s most stubborn man! I even have a plaque stating it! ~*
Off-tangent Item:
There seems to be some celebrity here! There are three photographers here shooting photos of some woman and her gentleman friend. I’m assuming the woman is the celeb, as I am sure I’ve seen her “somewhere” before, I just can’t place where. I’m sure on TV though. I can say she seems genuinely a kind soul, and is very accommodating to the photographers.
Back to Reality… Oh ya, Luxifer is sitting next to me…
Yesterday, she sent food items to my house, even though she knows knows knows I do not want anything from her! I gave them to the house-boy, because I simply cannot accept anything from her. I felt that was better than just throwing it into the trash (It’s bad to waste food).
Part of me is fully aware she “cares” in her own demented, warped way, but it does not justify terrorizing people. She’s like bi-polar! One min she spewing out talk of how I am a evil man, because I do not listen to God (why? because all she says is directly from God, and so if I do not listen to her then I am, by the transverse property of mathematics, not listening to God). Then she “switches” and talks of “why do I avoid her?” as if she has NO CLUE why, as if I just woke up and decided to not talk to her for no reason! Then she “switches” again with anger and speaking in “tongues” (Christians in America, especially Baptists know what I mean) and telling me she is a prophet, and her name is no longer Luxi <Lastname>. But, now her name is Maria-name-name-name-name-Luxi <Lastname>. *~ That scared the shit out of me! ~*
OMG, now she trying to put her arm around me? *~ GET THE FUCK OFF ME! ~*
No, I did not “say” that, but my Grrrrr seemed to convey the meaning. Now we know what is next….. the “I’m sorry” My God. Now comes “The Tangerang office needs the sex worker photos, this is business Kak Rod…” I told her “Send me their address; I will mail the CD.”
BTW, I am told “Kak” means “Sister” not “Brother” Is this true? Then why the fuck does she keep calling me Kak Rod? My skin crawls everytime I hear her call me that. I want to get up and go, but the free wifi is just too damn adhesive.
She wants to use more of that horrid “Anointing Oil” to bless me. I respectfully decline. I should say, all of my replies (the very very few I do give) are very tactful, 5-word-or-less “no thanks” or “sorry, I’m not interested.” replies. I don’t want to feed the beast!
She rubs the oil in the palm of her hand, and is about to leave. She’s making several phone calls to whoever. She wants to shake hands as if “no hard feelings.” She really does think she is the smartest person on the Planet Earth, and all others are just idiots: She wants to contaminate me with an Anointing Oil handshake?
Actually there is so so so so so much to tell, but this is enough. My mind is getting full with this text, esp while reading of how O.J. is finally going to jail.
*~ What a combo: OJ and Luxifer, hahaha ~*
A question to the universe: How to get rid of stalkers? Some friends say “move!” others say “change your number!” Both of these ideas are quite disturbing actually. Some may say only do those if the stalker is violent. Well, my stalker IS violent.
*~ One day, maybe (but most likely not) I will tell you of her physical attack at my house, and prior to that, her throwing a full bottle of Jungle Juice at me, then pushing her elderly mom when the mom and sis were screaming “KikI, Stop It!”! ~*
In the past, I would reply her SMS and emails, in some hope of explaining to her that just because someone is not doing what “she” wants, does not mean they are acting childish. Oh, if you are not willing to talk to her, you are childish. Well, I say if a person is disrespectful to you, you then have the right to choose to not associate with that person. But, my attempts are quite insane, in a way. Why? Because I’ve tried explaining “over and over and over” how I feel and think, and only getting the same result, while hoping to get a new result.
That is the very definition of insanity: doing things in same way, while expecting a different outcome. So, I am taking a new approach to get that new result: I do not reply any communication. I do not reply any emails. Items she brings to my house are given to the houseboys to do with as they want. The ONLY thing I give is the photos, which I did shoot for the city of Tangerang, thus I respectfully give that CD of photos. The entire time she was here (maybe 20min now? I lost count) I’ve said only couple sentences to her. No matter how many time she put her scaly arm around me, or try to touch my arm, I simply move away slightly to show it is not welcome, and I just turn the music up higher.
Ah, she’s going to church. Wonderful. Amen, and God Bless! Go to Heaven! (pretty please?!?)
The Starbucks girls just brought me a free Oatmeal Raisin cookie. I guess she saw I needed it. As they were staring and watching this entire infiltration into my personal space *~ LOL ~*
Take care
Mail Call…
This post will be very fast. I just wanted to answer more emails that I received:
Lisa Wrote: “Hi, Rodney. Do you still do humanitarian photography? “
Yes, I do! But with this new job, which is quite demanding, I onlyh can go on weekends, after planning it. I am starting a new project in the very near future!
Justin Wrote: “What do you think of the politics there?”
Hmm, That is a sensitive topic for Indonesia! I can say they believe in diversity for political parties. While America has two main parties, and a bunch of smaller ones which rarely are even herad of, Indonesia has like 30+ parties, and all the candidates really get heard from by the people. I think more mainstream parties in the USA would be a blessing.
Janice Wrote: “I heard Jakarta has many malls. Which do you like the least?”
Wow, that is an interesting spin. First, yes, there are tons of malls in this city. Back in Norfolk, VA, there were only 2 malls that I can remember (MacAuthor Mall, and Military Circle). Here, I can’t count them all, and each one here is hugeeeeeee in size. (MacAutorh was just barely 3 floors, with the 3rd having a food court and movie theatre hahaha, and Military Circle is 1 floor only!” If people from Norfolk came here, they’d be shocked. Taman Anggrek Mall, alone, would scare them due to its size and 8 floors, with a full-sized ice skating rink (plus dozens of other stores still) on the 3rd level! Second, of all the malls, I HATE Plaza Semangi! My friends all seem to like it. I hate it. It is like floor after floor of circles. Each floor is just a circle. I hate the place. I hate going there. I do not have a favorite mall yet.
Keiko Wrote: “You have been there over a year now. Do you feel comfortable there as non-typical American Bule?”
Hi, Most people here do not see me as American. To them, Americans are whites. When they see black guys, they tend to think Nigerian (even though my friends say blacks from Nigeria and black from the West look very diff, I do not see how though). Also, Bule is only used with whites. Indonesians will say it is for all foreigners, but from what I’ve seen, it is only used with Whites. The very word means “pale” (its origins are from the old days of the dutch, when Indonesians would jokingly call the Dutch “bule” cos they were pale skinned).
My experience here is that people in Indonesia tend to be more open to “dark” people than most other Asian countries. EX: In Bangkok, they will bend over backwards to smile and “thank you! thank you!” to whites, but for me, they ignore me until they hear my voice, then suddenly “oh, you are American! ” and I get “thank you!” (but not 2 thank yous hahahaha). I think Indonesia is similar: they treat me diff once they know where I am from, but even beforehand, they are not as rude as most other Asian countries. Maybe because Indonesians have “dark” skinned Indonesians here (in the East), they are more used to seeing dark people. I find that if you are poliet, and treat people in a fair way, you will be ok here.
Christi Wrote: “What food have you not tried yet, that you hear a lot about? Why have you not tried it yet?”
Gado-gado! I hear about Gado-gado so much and often, yet not tried it, because of the horrid description of it (horrid to me). It seems to be a mix of everything else, even chips! I also have not tried Durian yet, which is a real shame. I want to try both of these!
Ok, enough email for now. Please take care!
S$1900 for iPhone 3G: Am I Stu-Stu-Stu-Stupid?…
Yensi and I had a super time in Singapore during my visit there! We went all over the place, including a new (to me) mall: Cathay. She really helped to keep me calm and cheered up there (see previous blog about being terminally ill in Changi Airport).
Anyway, before there, we went to tech-heaven: Sim Lim Square!
I wanted to see what the iPhone 3G was selling for and play with one to see how easy it is to write SMS messages on a touch screen. In the USA, it’s US$199 (8GB) and US$299 (16GB). Add about US$100 for the “unlocked” (non AT&T) ones. So, US$399 is great still.
There are many levels in Sim Lim Square. The first floor, and vendors near the first floor entrance are always the priciest shops. It’s ok to get their prices, but never immediately buy from them! Check the other shops, and play them against each other for the best prices! So, I go to the first shop I see on the first floor with mobile phones. I saw the yummy iPhone 3G box in the glass display, so I asked the price:
- Rod: Hi! Is that the new iPhone 3G? How much is it?”
- Blood Sucking Salesman: “S$1750″ He said this with such big, smug smile on his face that said “Yeah, and what you gonna do about it?”
- Rod: “What??? S$1750??? Why on Earth would anyone play so much, when it can be bought in America for just $399!?”
- BS: “Maybe you should buy it in America then and buy it.” *~ What!? !@#$@! It’s on now! ~*
- Rod: “For S$1000 I actually could fly to America and buy it!” *~ Smack-down, bitch! You’ve been served! ~*
- BS: “Uh, ummm, uhhh, uhhhhh….” Thinking of what to say… forget it…
Yensi and I went around the mall, various floors asking. The prices ranged from S$1650 to S$1900!
At an Apple dealer, we aske their price. They did not have it yet. Nor did SingTel. Ahhhhh, then I realized the iPhone is not officially released in Singapore, and those Sim Lim Blood Suckers thought they would ask incredible + S$1000 prices!
I want the iPhone, but Dang! I’ll just wait for it to be released! (I’ll prob have to order it: no telling how long it will be before Jakarta gets it hahaha).
The Cafe Connoisseur & Am I being “Punk-d?”…
I’m here sweating in Singapore! It’s been a messed up day, up until a few minutes ago (now that I am at my favorite Starbucks in Singapore).
Empathy at the Embassy:
I went to the Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia, to process my work visa. I was one of the first people there, yet it took forever to have my number called for service! There are 4 windows, but only 2 workers, with one of them constantly away filing paper work. Now, the two workers are working hard, I can tell, but why are there 2 empty windows, yet there are now well over 100 persons waiting? * ~Kyaaa ~*
The window hours for Visa application submissions are from 9AM to 12 noon…. After hours, my number is called at 12:07PM! But, they still take the application. All others (who came after me) have to return on Friday (OMG!, after they waited 2hrs already!).
The lady said they were back-logged, due to their 30-July holiday, and thus it will take 3 working days, instead of 2 to get the passport back. I had an early Monday flight at 10AM, but the passport wont be ready until 3PM-ish. Kyaaaaa I will call Garuda and change my flight.
The lady saw my sad face and said “Ok, you can get it as early as 9 on Monday. I will process it myself on Friday evening to be sure it ready” Wow, nice lady! Still, I’ll have to change my flight though…
The Cafe Connoisseur:
After hours at the embassy, I wanted to find a cafe with access to free wi-fi. Wireless@SG is fast and free, but not areas of Singapore has strong signal strength for it. Ex: at my hotel (Oxford hotel on Queen street) my laptop can ’see’ the wireless service, but it’s so weak the connection cant be made. This is ok, as it gives me an excuse to try a new cafe!
I was trying a new cafe (new for me) at Ngee Ann City called Coffee Club, within that huge Japanese bookstore. I’ve known of this chain of cafes, but yet to try any. Now was as good time as any!
I have to say it is the most laptop-unfriendly place I’ve seen! They have even taped the electric sockets, so people cant plug in their notebooks! Wow wow wow! This is really too bad, as Coffee Club has some of the best food I’ve had in a long time.
Their Roast Beef sandwich is the best RB sandwich I’ve ever had to date: refrigerator-cold, hand-carved beef, topped with hot, caramelized onions on a Parmesan Oregano Roll, with romaine lettuce and creamy mayo. Truly a sandwich of paradoxes! Cold vs Hot, and crunchy vs creamy!
Even by my spoiled, USA standards, that sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten ANYWHERE. I wanted to lick the plate of its juices! I would have, if not for the girl sitting next to me hahahaha. I followed that sandwich with the Muddy Mud Pie, which is almost 5 inches wide, 6 inches long (wedge-shaped) and tall as my glass of Iced Tea! 100% pure ice cream, choc crust shavings and drowned in rich milk chocolate! I did not even finish it.
Speaking of the title “The Cafe Connoisseur” you can expect a new website titled just that! (I’ve already registered the URL, but yet to create the actual website). More news about this site will be posted in the near future!
Am I being Punk-d?
Today I feel like a test tube baby, and I’m under everyone’s microscope for study. I feel like Jim Carrey in that movie, The Truman Show, where his entire life is fake, and it’s just a sitcom/drama for the world to see.
I’ve seen the same woman 7 times today. I have seen another guy 4 times yesterday, and 3 times today. They are not together, and I’ve not seen them always at the same time, at the moment, they are! If I was more paranoid, I’d swear they were like spies and I’m being followed!
Maybe I’m being punk-d, and they just trying to get into my head? Worse is how they stare at me. When I see them, they are just looking dead at me. They are not even together, but in the same places at same times as me; it’s like one is in one corner, the other is just a few tables away…staring. Even when they pick up their drink, they not blinking, just staring.
*~ Shudderrrrrr ~*
It’s not normal! Even once I saw one of them in a taxi at the stoplight next to mine, looking me dead in the eyes! Or, maybe they are thinking the same as me? Maybe the guy is thinking “I saw that woman, and fat guy before!” or the woman is thinking “I saw those two guys before, maybe they following me!” I’m waiting for Ashton to jump out and say “Dude, You’ve been Punk-d!”
Baby Boy Blue:
Now, there is a little boy, dressed head to toe in blue, making his way around the tables of people with laptops.
*~ Pls pls pls, God, don’t let anyone have porn sites open! ~*
He’s standing next to me now,leaning over so much I can barely see the screen as I type this very sentence!
One guy with an IBM Thinkpad asked the kids “Where’s your daddy? Go away from us, kid!” The kid gave him the finger! OMG!
Ok, take care!
SARA, Europe Travel Plans & MacDaddy Status…
Hi Hi,
It’s 4:15AM, Wednesday. I know I promised to publish on Tuesday, but I simply could not because I could not think how to begin to talk about SARA.
I said I would talk about SARA (ethnic/race, religion, and racism) but it seems to be extremely complex (too complex for my brain, anyway) and VERY sensitive. Better I leave that topic alone!
Letter to Rod:
Christi Wrote: ”Hi. I’m a photographer. I am traveling to Bali in August, and thought to go to Java and see Borobudur. Have you been there? Do you think it is worth the extra money to see the place?”
Rodney: I’ve been asked by a number of people this. Actually, I have been to Borobudur! If you have the money, I’d definitely go to visit it. I went with a friend and her family during Lebaran Holiday (Idul Fitri). I was very worried about how to properly photograph the place, as there are just so many wonderful photos already. I did manage to get two that I’ve not seen before. here’s one now, with the temples in silhouette and the setting sun directly behind the temples.
I loved the place, and extremely grateful for my friend’s brother taking the time to drive us there to see it! It is majestic, and fascinating. You will be glad you visited!
But, strangely, my biggest memory of Borobudur is not the temple, but the escape from there! When leaving, you must walk for over 20min through a maze of tiny shacks and shops trying to sell tourist trinkets! There is only one exit, and you are forced to walk through the maze which twisted and turned left or right every 10 or 20 meters. The entire time, you are pressure sold to by the vendors. Also it is extremely hot and sun is beating down on your head (this is intentional, and this the drinks are almost 3x the normal price!). It was a horrible end.
I climbed up, down, and back up Borobudur two times, and was not as tired as I was during that long walk through that tourist-trap maze of shops! After we finally got out, we had to get drinks (and shock, they were only 1/3 the price of the drinks in the maze-o-death! :p
Mac Daddy:
My office is giving me a MacBook Pro, Max’ed out (meaning, the highest available processor, max amount of RAM, etc). I only opted for the 15.4in instead of the 17in (which only has a larger screen, and 1 extra USB port, but also extra weight). Niceeee…. The Evil Twin will purchase my current MacBook, named Merlin.
*~ Hmm, What To Name The New MacBook Pro? ~*
Maybe I will keep the name Merlin for the new laptop, and make her give the old MacBook a new name of her own choosing. I can’t wait to get the new laptop! I will be sure to bring it to Singapore at the end of the month. (I’ve a presentation to prepare). A friend said “you’re becoming a MacHead, you’re a MacDaddy!”
I’m not sure if this is true or not, or good or not… hmmm
I’m bugging the purchasing dept to please get it by end of the week, and to get it at IBox or E-Store, so I get the free wireless mouse (the Apple MightyMouse). I already have a wireless MightMouse, but if I get the free one, The Evil Twin gets to have one. She also gets all my MacBook Accessories (the cases, etc) because they wont fit the new laptop (which is slightly wider and longer in size). Maybe her sis will steal some of them. :p
Travel:
Speaking of work, I am leading a team of 5 to Amsterdam and London in September! I can’t wait to see what Singapore Airline’s Business Class is like. I heard it is very very good! I can use the frequent flyer miles to hehehe.
Projects:
I’m stuck. I am thinking I need a translator to go with me for this project. Hoping The Evil Twin’s brother is still interested in working with me.
Also, I am stilllll writing that paper for the Health Dept. I need to give more priority to it so it gets done before my birthday this month!
Ok, that is all for now. Please take care!
Hodgepodge of Hindsight…
Hi!
As promised, I’m posting today (Saturday) on time! I’ve been accused in the past of easily making promises, and not keeping them, so I want to correct myself, and try to keep my word going forward.
There are a few emails I want to address. Like last time, I begin with the easy ones, and work my way to the more complex ones.
Letter #1
Michelle asks: “Hello. I like your blog’s humor. The photography is great! What was the hardest photo project you’ve worked on, and why?”
Rodney: The hardest by far was the photo essay and reportage titled “Exploring The Underground World of Sex Workers.” It was difficult because I was shooting in near total darkness, with no flash or tripod! Additionally, most of the men did not want to be there when seeing a guy with a huge lens, so I had to shoot wide angle, moving in the dark as fast as possible, and quietly as possible (very hard for a fat guy to walk silently on a squeaking floor of woven bamboo slithers!). It is extremely difficult to get sharp photos in this situation!
Letter #2
Jamal asks: “Do you find discrimination there based on religion, since most there are Muslim? I’m assuming you are not Muslim, since you come from the United States, where most are Christian.”
Rodney: I’ve never found discrimination here. If anything, I’ve had more issues with Christians here than the Muslims! I won’t go into details here, but you’d be shocked. I’m still washing “anointing oil” out of my dress shirt (which is hard to find here in my size) from a Christian trying to rid me of evil. In the future, I will write a blog about “SARA” (4 items that should never be discussed, in general public, here in Indonesia).
Letter #3
Amanda asks: “I would like to see more color photos of just different things and people. Photos not associated to each other.”
Rodney: OK! This is why this post is called “Hodgepodge!” I’m posting a hodgepodge of photos from different places and genre.
This photo was taken in Kota (old area of Jakarta). Kota is full of old, Dutch buildings, and still has a wonderful gothic feel to the place. It is also a very popular location for pre-wedding photos, such as this one. The photographer was sort of pissed at me that I was there, and got this shot of this soon-to-be-married couple. I love their pose, as if all is in ruins, and they are about to kill each other!
This photo reminds me of the title of a Bjork song: “Violently Happy” *~ LOL ~*
This next photo was taken at a Mental Rehabilitation Center. The patients here had a range of mental disabilities due to several reasons: from drug use, to physical head trauma.
Some individuals have interesting stories.
- One guy was an expert martial artist, who trained police officers in combat skills. He was giving a demonstration of how to defend yourself against a baseball bat wielding opponent. But, the assistant swung full strength before the man was ready, hitting him in the head and causing permanent brain damage.
- Another person there is a woman who simply had a hard time coping with the world. She spends her time walking the length of the central floor, counting the tiles, over and over all day. The resident assistants told me they’ve had to take her to the doctor on several occasions because of foot injuries.
- One other patient is very unique: he is an elder man, but I found he was once one of the original doctors who worked at the facility! Now he is a patient there!
This photo is of two friends.
This next photo was taken with the Bethel English Service church group who treated an orphanage to a fun day. This is the flying fox ride, where you are suspended over 80m off the ground, and traveling at a fast speed from the top of one cliff to the ground. She seems to be having fun!
This photo was shot in Yogyakarta, in the mountains of Semin (I need to check my notes on this part). I really like her smile and attitude. She seems very nice.
This last photo is also in Yogyakarta, in the rice fields. I love the colors, and represents the theme of Yogyakarta pretty well.
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today:
Macam-macam: Hodgepodge (a heterogeneous mix or jumble)
Melihat Kebelakang: Hindsight (recognition events or situations that occurred in the past)
Ok, Take Care!