BE Informed, BE Updated, & BE Fed!…
BE Informed:
Yes, I’m still alive, even if just barely! Life is the same as in my previous post. Actually, I’m very depressed. My friends read my blog, and feel “he’s happy boy” but frankly, I hide a lot of my feelings, and choose to post just the the everyday things. But, I will be ok.
I just feel frustrated. I won’t go into the personal life issues, but they are on my mind (enough about those). My photographic life is eating at me. At the museum showing, only one photo was shown. The gallery rep said they wanted to use all of my photos in the museum, but they could not read the CD of image files to be printed, except for one file. The CD was made by someone else who was assisting me while I as traveling in Vietnam. The person meant well, but did not do a “verify” of the disc’s content, thus some data was not readable. It was an honest mistake.
*~ SCREAM! ~*
To make a long story short: I feel I should be much further to my photographic goals than I currently am. Worse, since I am out of work, I can’t afford to go out shooting as I wish! I have a photo project idea I really want to start, and it is a great project which requires no special access approvals, but I cant get to the areas I need, as I cant afford the transportation to get to the places! Maybe I should ask The Evil Twin for a lift, but she’s quite busy with a project of her own at the moment.
Some noted photographers have told me I’m on the right track, that my photographic work is wonderful, that it’s getting better and better, and just be patient (see below about Rodney and patience!) but I can’t help how I feel. I feel “stuck!” I feel I am losing valuable free time, while I am free from work. I’m going to be the greatest photographer of all time, damn it!
*~ Hmmm, Egotistic much, Rodney? hahaha ~*
But it is true, damn it! I will be one of the greatest, and I will join VII Photo! Anyone who knows me knows my stubbornness. And not reaching my goal at a faster pace is slowly building my frustration. And I am not sure what NGOs or other organizations to contact, or how to find them (trust me, Google is not the optimum way to do it; I’ve tried it). Anyway…
I’m still in the interviewing process for a Director of IT position at a major company here in Indonesia. This co also has a photojournalist internship program I am told I can join on a part time basis. Yes, it is not photography job, but it pays bills, and it is a place that will give me some unique access to places. It’s an diagonal step (not straight forward step) in the right direction. I’ve gone to several Interviews, and each time they say they like me, yet I’ve not been formally offered the position! I’m wondering how long should one wait before looking for something else? I want the job, but, I cant wait forever; I’m poor! A friend of mine is partly involved in the interviewing process. I’m wondering if I should give him a quick call or SMS tomorrow to ask “Hey there, How are things? I just wanted to check what’s the next step?” My last interview was Thursday (2 biz days ago) when I was told by the HR he’d give me a call. Should I?
*~ Patience is a virtue, but it’s not a strong Rodney trait! ~*
UPDATE: June 18, 2008
I got the job: well unofficially. I received information all managers and HR met, confirmed they all like me, feel I am a good fit, confirmed my credentials, and will hire me as soon as the Manager returns from a biz trip.
The job is managing the IT department for the organization, but I also have a unique opportunity to work with the photojournalists. Will be interesting to see how that works out.
Anyway…
BE Updated:
I’ve used my way-too-much free time creating new recipes and updating my professional photography website: Beyond Exposures. I’ve updated the site from version 1.0 to the new and improved v2.0!
This is a screen shot of the new front page:
In addition to all of the pages being updated, I REALLY revamped the Photo Essays and Galleries section using SmoothGallery Javascripts.
*~ In Human Language: I used a way cool scheme to show my galleries ~*
I had to really update the code a lot to get the hundreds of images to load in a sensible manner that would not suck the viewer’s bandwidth quotas dry. Additionally, I tried to incorporate everything to be read more easily than the original site, and make it a joy to see. But I really feel the photo essays and galleries work very neat!
*~ Does anyone say “Neat” anymore, besides Clark Kent? ~*
Screen Shot of the Photo Essays and Galleries Page:
Ok, enough about the new website design. Please do take a look at the site and tell me what you think of it! I hope u enjoy it!
*~ Special thanks to Yensi: you endured my grumpy mood and my “typical-Leo, domineering Yendor” side while helping me to beta-test the new site. I appreciate your help very much! I’m waiting to receive your invoice in email for your time and endurance!
BE Fed!:
Being poor and out of work means having to cook at home instead of eating out. Actually, I love to cook! When I was a teen, my Aunt (a master chef) really encouraged my parents to send me to formal chef school! I love to create new things and try new cooking ideas. One thing I love to do, yet rarely seen people in Asia do, is create flavored steamed rice. One thing I did was use the flavoring packets, oils and veggie packs that come with instant noodles, and added it to the water in the rice cooker. This infuses the rice with wonderful flavors! Bye bye, Nasi Putih! Say hello to:
*~ Rodney’s Super-Duper-So-Good-Will-Make-You-Stuper Rice! ~*
It tastes wonderful! Of course, you can add basically any sapi (soup) mix to the water, then cook the rice. you can then eat the rice as a side dish (it maintains its cohesive, stick-together, Asian nature) or can add it to the Wok for making the ultimate, the wonderfully tasty:
*~ Super-Duper-So-Good-Will-Make-You-Stuper FRIED Rice! ~*
Adding the flavoring packet to the water of rice is VERY different than adding that packet to instant noodles, because noodles is merely coated with it. while rice absorbs the flavors. As such, you can make 6 servings of flavored rice with just 1 (ONE) packet of seasoning! *~ Shock ~*
I was going to post a pic of the rice, but it was umm, uhhh, Eaten!
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today:
Nasi: Rice
Putih: WhiteEx: Saya sedang makan Ayam Goreng pakai Nasi Putih
(I am eating fried chicken with white/plain rice)
Take care! I’m ok, just depressed, very frustrated, but look at the pic at the top of my blog: I’m smiling with “V” fingers. (hmmm…)
Highway (ok, Airport) Robbery!
Ok, I wrote the previous post while waiting for my flight back from Singapore to Jakarta, after undergoing some serious Q&A from the ValueAir lady. I had no idea at the time that would not be the worst part of the day!
Indonesia is quite famous for its corruption: from police, to dealing with contractors, to to to… Some people pointed out in the past the police cannot shake you down for $ if you have the proper documents. (This is true, but the broken part of this particular issue is where you must give your documents to Immigration, thus you have no docs to show the police–and they wont accept copies of the docs or letters from immigration–but anyway… back to my topic!)
Another place where corruption occurs is at the airport!
*~ Que the slowly building, Horror-movie Music ~*
I arrived in Jakarta 10 minutes ahead of schedule (hurray!). I was in a great mood. I had just eaten my yummy croissant, so I had to be in a great mood! I was happy, damn it! I get to the visa on arrival desk and pay my US$25 for the 30 day tourist visa. I moved on to the next window (never a big queue, so this is just seconds to do) to get the visa stamp. This is where the horror builds, and the shakedown takes place:
*~ Horror-movie Music: da Da DAAAAAAAAAA ~*
Rodney: “Hiii!” *~ Happy-after-croissant-Smile ~
Visa Guy: < looking at passport>
Visa Guy: < looking at passport>
Visa Guy: < looking at passport, LAGI>
Rodney: < thinking: what nowwww??? >Visa Guy: “I’m sorry, we cannot give you a Visa, there are no free pages in you passport”
Rodney: “Huh? There are two pages left, sir, see?”
Visa Guy: “I’m sorry, we cannot put visa on the last page. You must have a free page remaining in your passport.”
Rodney: “Huh? There are DUA (two) pages, Pak!. Even after you put the Visa stamp, there is still a free one!”
Now, I knew I was low on pages in my Passport. I had intended to go to the US Embass to get more pages added (yes, you can do that) but the Embassy told me on the phone I should be ok for this trip, and just bring the passport by upon return. But, Visa Guy was not having it!
Visa Guy: “Sir, I am sorry, it is our regulation must be full page free. this is just one page…”
Rodney: “But there are two sides to the page. After putting the Visa on one side, the other side is still free, and when I leave, you are stamping your own stamp, not the free page side anyway…”
Visa Guy: “Hmmm, I think I can help you, but you must help me too, ok?”
*~ Lightbulb goes off: OMG He’s Shaking Me Down! ~*
Visa Guy: “Let me make a call” <calls his friend on his mobile> “My friend works at the desk in middle. I will give you the stamp and he will stamp it, but I need US$200″
Rodney: ” Kyaaa! For less than US$200, I can fly back to Singapore, go to their US Embassy, get a new passport! I only have a few hundred Rupiah on me! and just the US$15 change from the previous window!” (a lie, I hid the Singapaore $ while he was talking to his friend on the phone. And I had RP$100.000.000-about US$97-hidden in travel pack)
Visa Guy: “Ok, give me ALL of your Rupiah, and your US$”
*~ WHAT All?! ~*
He tooke RP$835K + US$15! That is almost US$100! I’m out of work and poor as it is! How I am almost $100 poorer! That was going to pay for my rent! *~ cryyyy ~*
Corruption is a total Bitch! I know it is in ever level of government, but my God! The Evil Twin told me she and her sis and brother, Indonesians, were even stolen from at airport before. They had returned from Singapore, and had some CDs and such, and the immigration wanted to keep them, and wanted her brother’s mobile phone! (keep for themselves, not to go through customs). They had to call their dad, who happen to work there, and he had to come and rescue them from highway (ok ok, ‘airport’) robbery too!
I mentioned in a comment in previous blog to a new reader named Aiko that I loved Singapore’s MRT. And too bad Jakarta does not allow Japan to pay for the monorail. For Aiko, here’s the story:
Japan offered to pay for Jakarta’s monorail in full (a grant, not a loan). They would pay for any and all fees and costs–from materials to workers to equipment, you name it, they pay it–BUT ONLY if they can pay Siemens (the co to do the work) directly. But the Indonesian government said “no, we want the money, then we will decide how it is spent and handle the accounting ourselves.”
*~ Kyaaa they tried to shake down Japan! ~*
The corruptors (is that a word?) are like The Borg in Star Trek!
“We will add your monetary distinctiveness to our own. Your currencies will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile… We are The Borg”
Ok, I admit I love The Borg (Star Trek TNG’s Borg, not the Watered-down Borg of Star Trek Voyager!) but I totally Hate the Indonesian Borg!
I Hate Corruption!
Singapore, Lagi…
Yes, I am once again in Singapore. Living on 30-day tourist Visa in Jakarta, while job hunting, requires I leave every 29 days, then re-enter Jakarta. But, this is ok. I’m always happy in Singapore! I’ve been there sooooo many times for holidays in the past 8 or 9 years that I know most of the major roads, as well as most of the MRT system (except for the newest branches and LRT). 
I spent the last two days with a very good friend that I rarely get to meet. We spent time just going for steamboat, and hung out at Vivocity Mall (a place I love and hate: love the mall and it’s hot Canon store, but HATE their horribly slow taxi queue!). I have to say, I did miss the “normal” sized drinks and refills at some fast food places that are from USA in Singapore. Yes yes, I know I have a few friends there, but this time, I only spent the time with one. For the others there, I’ll catch up with you next time!
*~ Note to Jackie: Hardee’s (and full menu) is in Singapore, under the name Carl Jr.s’! ~*
I had a hard time actually just now at the ValueAir check-in counter. I had my ticket and passport in hand. I went to the counter with a big Rodney smile, and …
Rodney: “Good Morning!” and hand my e-ticket and passport
VA Lady: “Good Morning, Sir.”
VA Lady: <pausing while reading>
VA Lady: <still pausing while reading>
VA Lady: <Pausing while reading lagi!> *~Kyaaa~*VA Lady: “Sir, are you a permanent resident in Indonesia?”
Rodney: “No, I’m entering as a tourist”
VA Lady: “Sir, you are required by Indonesian Law to have a return flight to the city of orign (aka, Singapore)”
Rodney: “Oh, I plan to take the ferry back from Batam, Indonesia to Singapore” *~Smile~*
VA Lady: <talks to her manager> “Ok. Do you have $500 USD”Rodney: “Huh? Since when does one need $500 USD to return to Singapore on a ferry?”
VA Lady: ” I see your point. Your seat is 24C, Thank you for flying Value Air.”
*~Kyaaa~*
Ok, I normally do have a return flight in hand when I travel places. But, I thought a quick domestic flight from Jakarta to Batam, then a fun ferry ride is much cheaper than flying Jakarta to Singapore! (I did not lie about the ferry)
Anyway, almost time to take the LONG walk to gate C24. Normally I’ve flown from Gate C1 (only 4min walk from the ticket counter, and next to the yummy iced blended mocha drink counter!). Today, I must take an 89km walk to C24!
*~ Ok, not really 89km. More like 88.214km! ~*
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for today:
Lagi: more/again
Ex: “Mas, Pepsi satu lagi” (Waiter/brother/ One more Pepsi)