I don’t have TV set at home; we’ve dumped it in the rubbish. Enjoying television on computer screen becomes an alternative. Internet TV here means that we’ve using online connection to download the program and then watching it (on demand TV). So don't misinterpret as watching conventional TV on computer screen. Unlike others Joost works on P2P which is different with other format. It’s bit like Digital TV but some of the program using video streaming. At the moment BBC iPlayer not available for Mac, while Apple TV is rather more friendly for iTunes user.


Joost



The unique system of Joost created millions of tester since introduced to public early 2007. I’ve got invitation and play along. The only things I spot from Joost is works based on P2P it’s runs quite smooth. Joost been created by Skype and Kazaa founder Janus Friis. The only thing that annoy me some of the programs only available in US and Canada. Most of the channels were live music or interview/documentary of the artist. Joost software quite easy to download, but it will consume your screen and bandwidth.

Predict : love it! But not for my daily basis.

MIO TV

Labels: technology

Labels: travelling, united kingdom

Singapura itu memang negara tukang jiplak nomer satu. Dan yang dicontek juga ngga tanggung2 apalagi kalau bukan mantan penjajahnya. Ini dia atraksi paling heboh paling tuop (halah..) seantero negeri sak cupet ini. Judulnya sih Singapore Wheel. Tapi coba aja deh liat websitenya, konsep dan penggarapan manajemen-nya meniru habis London Eye.

Sejak pembangunnya tiga tahun lalu, saya mengamati gimana sih bikin roda sak gede itu. Maklum beginilah kalau tukang. Dipetani siji siji. Dari membersihkan site sampai masang kapsul-nya. Terakhir January lalu secara struktural udah siap luncur. Katanya sih awal Maret ini mau dioperasikan. Ah ya dan tiketnya udah habis terjual jauh2 hari.


Beda antara London's Eye dengan Singapore Wheel ternyata dari cara bangunnya. Mata London diasembli di ground level diatas sungai Thames. Disambung dan ditaruh diatas semacam pelampung besar (barrage), lantas dinaikkan dengan ditarik per 2 derajat kemiringan/jam sampai posisi central. Sedang Mata Singapura dibangun di bawah dan dipasang per delapan section. Jadi pilar utama dulu baru delapan bagiannya dipasang satu persatu.

Weekend kemaren saya nengokin Mata London untuk kesekian kali. Saya kok ya ngga pernah terbersit pengen nyuba ya. Mungkin karena mahal. Sekali naik £13.50, yah miriplah sama Singapura yang SGD$29.50.

Kalau mau nonton London dari atas saya malah memilih cari yang gratisan. Nyebrang saja di Millenium Bridge menuju St Paul Cathedral. Masuk aja FREE trus menuju menaranya, sekalian mengagumi arsitektur Baroque didalam katedral ini. Mayan sih naik tangga tapi percayalah ngga rugi kok (he he he...dan ngga bayar).

Kalau Mata-nya Singapura? wah wes puas nonton dari tempat nginep saya. Atau Dagadu saja yang versi Mata-Mu Indonesia. Keep Smile Smart piss Djogja!

Labels: singapore, travelling, united kingdom

In week three we did most of activity independently and less physical demanding. The highlight must be goes to walking in Aoraki Mt Cook. It was really pretty and easy peasy. Everybody can do it including kids under 5 as I saw parents with their push chair baby. So get out and enjoy the great landscape and clean air. Initially we’ve booked Glacier Kayaking but due the storm and high wind the trip been cancelled. But hey…I can not complain as we had breathtaking trip a day before.


Glacier walks around Mt Cook
Free, pick up the map from DOC Mt Cook
or see at http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/PlaceProfile.aspx?id=38406

Comment : We did the Hooker Valley Track (duration 4 hrs return) and Red Tarns Track (2 hrs return). Both are quite easy and enjoyable specially the Hooker Valley.

Points :
Availability 4
Value for money 4
Adrenalin level 2
Scenery 5
Photography opportunity 5
Overall : 20


Get into the Southernmost of South Island Slope Point
Free

Comment: it only need 20 minutes walk from the park, slightly remote from the sight. It was really windy on that day but yeah it's worth to see. Oh anyway apparently Slope Point is famous for surfing.
See at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slope_Point

Points :
Availability 3
Value for money 3
Adrenalin level 1
Scenery 3
Photography opportunity 3
Overall : 13


Visiting Royal Albatross in Dunedin
Fee NZ$30 per person Duration about an hour
Website http://www.albatross.org.nz/

Contact Telephone +64 3 478-0499 • Fax +64 3 478-0575 •
email reservations@albatross.org.nz
or call free within New Zealand 0800 528 767


Visiting Yellow Eyed Penguin and Blue Penguin in Otago Peninsula
Free and some required donations

Comment : blue penguin can bee seen at the tip of Otago Peninsula. It free so all you need a good jacket, binocular and keep quiet. They comes in sunset with perform of waves. They are smallest penguin in the world, so don't missed it!
Yellow Eyed penguin can be seen form the private farm not far from the beach. It's behavior little bit odd which did not like being a group. This is the only solitary penguin in South Island.

Points :
Availability 3
Value for money 3
Adrenalin level 1
Scenery 4
Photography opportunity 3
Overall : 14

Swimming with Dolphin Akaroa
Price NZ$110 per person

Comment : I did not doing it as I was busy wandering around Mt Sunday. Indeed it said really good. Specially lunch with fish and chips.

Contact :
Dolphins Up Close
Main Wharf, Akaroa,
New Zealand
Tel +64 3 304 7641
Fax +64 3 304 7643
Email akaroa@blackcat.co.nz
Website : http://www.swimmingwithdolphins.co.nz/

Labels: hiking, mountaineering, new zealand

The highlight of the activities on week two were undoubtly the Milford Track as been regarded as the finest walks in the world by Blanche Baughan poet in 1908. But because of the popularity made it was difficult to book in short notice. Otherwise you have to pay for Guided Walk which offer ‘luxury’ walk and would cost you bitterly NZ$1850 per person compare to NZ$252 if you do independently.

Canyoning at Routeburn
Price NZ$110 per person
Duration : all day start 9:00 - 16:00 from near Routeburn Track, Glencorchy

Contact ;
PO Box 893
Queenstown NZ
Email info@canyoning.co.nz
Website : http://www.canyoning.co.nz
Phone +64 3 441 3003




Comment : It wicked! Cool! Awesome! Highly recommended for someone with no fear of water and height! You will lead walk to Mt Aspiring to the rain forest before hitting the river. Combining slides, scrambles, jumps (big jumps actually), abseil and zipline cable. Very capable guides. This activities supported by The North Face.


Points :
Availability 4
Value for money 3
Adrenalin level 5
Scenery 5
Photography opportunity 2
Overall : 19

Trekking at Milford Track the finest walks in the world
Price NZ$120 including stay 3 night at DOC huts. Duration 4D/3N.
NZ$15 and NZ$17 for boat in and out the track from Te Anau Down.

Contact for booking :

Great Walks Booking Office
Phone: +64 3 249 8514
Fax: +64 3 249 8515
Email: greatwalksbookings@doc.govt.nz
Or click this link directly to check the availability (book well in advanced for summer session)

Comment: indeed this is the finest walk I ever had. The landscape changes every day and always make you enchanting. From lust jungle, into deep river and valley. Climbed up to the Mc Kinnon Pass and end in Milford Sounds, it was a real treat. We did managed to book advanced, and it turned out to be the best options for us. Lots cheaper and lot more challenging! If you don’t have time to book and want to do in luxury type walks you can book via Ultimate Hikes


Points :
Availability 2
Value for money 5
Adrenalin level 4
Scenery 5
Photography opportunity 5
Overall : 21



Kayaking at Doubtful Sounds
Price : NZ$205
Duration all day from 7:30 to 6:00pm
Contact :

Reg Calder and Jo Wilson
Owners/Operators
Adventure Kayak & Cruise
Fiordland, New Zealand
E-mail: information@fiordlandadventure.co.nz
Website : http://www.fiordlandadventure.co.nz/
Phone: 64-3-249-6626
Fax: 64-3-249-6923
Freephone in NZ: 0800-324-966

Comment : it started windy in the morning but turned out to be the best day in South Island. Really different experience with Milford Sounds where those too busy with cruise and helicopter flying around. Doubtful Sounds is best to enjoy with tranquil and peaceful mind.

Points :
Availability 4
Value for money 3
Adrenalin level 4
Scenery 5
Photography opportunity 3
Overall : 19

Labels: hiking, mountaineering, new zealand, trekking

We spent last month of 2007 set off for three weeks adventure in South Island of New Zealand. Flew from Taipei we were then stop over in Singapore for three days before continued flight to Christchurch en-route Melbourne (outbound) and Sydney(inbound). We were using Qantas Airways to NZ combined with budget flight JetStar, which I bought from Zuji about six month previously

Most of activities list here booked in NZ rather than make arrangement before hands. It was a busy time (summer in Christmas and New Year) but we managed to get everything fit in our purposes. We’ve only have sort of grand idea what we would like to do with few changes depends of situation and physical conditions. Using the phone card in public phone was the best way to deal with the Adventure Operator. Please be ready with your credit card in hand because that’s the only way your booking guaranteed.

I review activities based on :

Availability –how easy to book
Value for money –is it worth for doing these
Adrenalin level –scary enough for you
Scenery –the landscape surrounding
Photography opportunity -manage in difficult environment

The point based 1-5 which are: naf (1), ok(2), good (3), very good (4) and awesome (5).

Tandem Across the longest swing bridge in NZ
Price each NZ$25
Booked on the spot
Contact :
Highway 6, Upper Buller Gorge, Box 77 Murchison, New Zealand
Phone (03) 523 9809 Fax (03)523 9807,
Email: swingbridge@bullergorge.co.nz
Website : http://www.bullergorge.co.nz/

Comment: We did walked bits after 100m long cross the Buller Gorge. It was quite scary. But the tandem foxing was exciting. Not really thrilling for me though. I need more challenge!

Points :
Availability 4
Value for money 4
Adrenalin level 2
Scenery 2
Photography opportunity 3
Overall : 13

Whitewater rafting in Buller River
Price NZ$105 per person afternoon session
River Class 3-4 duration 4.5 hrs
Contact :
51 Fairfax Street, Murchison New Zealand
Ph: +64-3-523 9899
Fax: +64-3-523 9811
Free phone: 0800 RIVERS (0800 748377)
Emai ultimate@rivers.co.nz
Website : http://www.rivers.co.nz/

Labels: hiking, new zealand, photography, travelling, trekking

Sebagian besar tewasnya pendaki di Indonesia adalah kurangnya persiapan baik alat maupun bekal. Ataupun kurangnya pengetahuan survival sehingga jatuh dalam kondisi hypothermia akut.

Yang terpenting dalam kegiatan naik gunung atau kegiatan diluar (outdoor) adalah persiapan dan pengetahuan. Salah satunya mengetahui faktor apa penyebab hypothermia, gimana mencegah hal itu terjadi, apa aja yang perlu dilakukan dan juga tindakan apa yang perlu dilakukan kalau mulai merasakan kedinginan.

Berikut adalah tips mencegah hypothermia di gunung :

1. Usahakan kalau naik gunung jangan memakai kaos dari katun. Bahan katun jika basah keringat sulit keringnya. Ini biasanya menyebabkan menggigil kedinginan walaupun sudah memakai jaket tebal. Sebaiknya memakai bahan sintetis (polyester/spandex/nylon) yang menyerap keringat dan berlengan panjang. Memang sih bisa ganti kaos, tapi di gunung yang sering ujan mengeringkan kaos jadi pekerjaan tersendiri. Ngeringin make api unggun wah jangan deh. Kasihan hutan kita. Cobalah mengurangi konsumsi kayu kecuali itu sangat darurat.

2. Bawa bekal yang cukup untuk naik gunung. Bekal praktis seperti coklat batangan, muesli bar, atau energy booster (seperti gel dengan glukosa, biasanya dipakai para pesepeda) sangat berguna sebagai cadangan makanan yang ringan dibawa dan menghasilkan energi lumayan. Juga biasakan mengamati sekitar, jika melewati air sungai atau daun2an yang kita kenali bisa dimakan kalau kepepet.

Dari kiri ke kanan : selimut darurat , makanan energi Bawah: pisau, kompas, headlamp > biasanya ditaruh di ransel bagian atas (gambar koleksi pribadi)

3. Menjaga tubuh tetap kering dan hangat. Salah satunya bawa ponco bagaimanapun kondisinya. Kalau punya baju dan jaket tahan air (gore-tex based) juga bisa (tapi ini mahal di ongkos). Jangan lupa kaos tangan dan kaos kaki. Khusus kaos kaki bawa ekstra jika perlu. Biarpun cuma bawa satu baju tapi tetep kering akan sangat berbeda hasilnya dengan bawa 3 baju tapi basah semua.

4. Kalau jalan sendiri siapkan piranti darurat komunikasi, kalau dengan teman harus saling menjaga. Hape kadang kurang efektif karena sinyal ngga ada. Bawa alat darurat sinyal seperti peluit atau cermin. Biasakan saling memperhatikan pendaki lain ketika naik atau turun.

5. Jangan paksakan jalan terus kalau kelelahan dan kecapaian. Berhenti, pasang tenda dan buat makanan/minuman yang cepat dihidangkan seperti teh manis atau sup instant. Paksakan jika enggak doyan. Karena makanan adalah sumber energi untuk tetep jalan. Selain itu makanan juga membuat tubuh jadi hangat karena memulai metabolisme tubuh.

6. Bawa selimut darurat (emergency blanket or space blanket). Ini mungkin sudah ada di Indonesia. Bentuknya seperti lapisan aluminium foil yang tipis dan dipakai untuk menyelimuti tubuh. Fungsinya : membuat tubuh tetap hangat, merefleksikan sinar matahari dan ngga kehujanan. Harganya USD$3.95 sangat ringan. Space blanket ini hanya bersifat memantulkan panas tubuh. Untuk mendapatkan hasil maksimal bisa dibawa Bivy Sack yang terbukti lebih baik hasilnya. Bentuknya seperti selimut plastik, dengan berat sekitar 200gr. Tapi agak mahalan US$33, ditanggung lebih tahan lama dari space blanket.

Labels: mountaineering, trekking

The death of Yeni Siregar, a 19 years old student of Gadjah Mada University during outdoor basic training in the village on foot of Mt Lawu left another scar on the outdoor community in Indonesia. She presumably dead after lengthy 9 days training in temperamental tropical weather. She suspected being hypothermia, being so tired after reckless sessions and also probably from stomach cramps she had in early days.

About the same time (2nd February 2008) another accident happen to Bagja Gunawan 19 years student at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in Bandung West Java. He presumably died during basic training in Mt Gundul, Cisolok.

Another recent record on June last year, a climber Djumadi 42 years old died in Mt Sumbing Central Java which he have been trapped in forest fire. While Nurdianto 18 years old died in Mt Ciremai West Java because of hypothermia. His body has been found near the summit.

The most lethal accident that shocked the public was on March 2007 when seven climbers in Mr Rinjani (3726mdpl), Lombok died near the rim. They suffered from cold and thought all starved during monsoon season January-March. Most of them were ill prepared, and don’t have survival knowledge in outdoor activities.

Apart from that I was fully concern about Yeni and Bagja who died while doing basic training. Some thought there were possible violence or physical abused during initiation sessions. But I will only give attention about the length of training and people ability to cope with such harsh condition in the mountain particularly long-term periods.

Yeni and Bagja, both just started to know outdoor activities. Like most of Indonesians like me who got training as early on high school as part of extra curriculum. If you are lucky or really like outdoor you can continue into university level. There will ‘harder’ and prestigious if you graduated from so called basic training and became member of Mapala (Students Organization of Nature Loving).

Indeed, Yeni was died because she was insisted to stay in the village because she was nearly finish. While others ignored the signs of tiredness and hypothermia and her ‘grump’ about stomach cramps. The symptoms were exists not in sudden situations, but grows in matters of hours even days. I read the press release wrote by M Hilman Triandi Sukma who supposed to be responsible on the field. I was amazed by the length of the training which is 9 solid days. It said weather was quite mixed between heavy rain and windy.

For me, nine days are too long for the training. I assumed these poor students did not have outdoor experiences before. Yes it can be hell for them. Learning many thing in outside their comfort zone, living in tents, eating rough food and even survival training in 2.5 days. As a member of training you should submitted letter of consent from parents/guardians and letter from doctor declare that you are fit enough to face the battle with nature and possibly your seniors.

When the weather not in your side, the body react really quickly to adopt the change environment. Wet is the enemy number one. Because once you’ve get wet, your body release calories to keep your body warms. Means eating your body fat and consumptions. If you do outdoor and feeling so tired, your appetite went far. You’ve become lazy taking food, don’t want anything even the best food in the world served in your face.

Then if you lose appetite, not enough food intake you’ve become tired. Wet body leading into bitterly cold and you will start shivering. If that conditions getting worse, yes you get hypothermia.

That’s what I reckons happen on Yeni. She already showed the symptoms, tell her friends about her feeling. But rather follow the strict rule to save her, she’s been allowed to back to camp. The hours gap between that are crucial to keep her warm and well feed.

In the outdoors, things can be wrong. But the knowledge and close examination of our partner are crucial when she/he had to follow order. It’s for their good’s sake, for their own safety.

To : Yeni who loves nature so much it lead into her death.

Labels: indonesia, mountaineering

Kalau ada kesempatan ronda ke London, saya selalu numpak Tube. Nama resminya sih Underground tapi orang lebih suka memanggilnya si tabung. Lah memang bentuknya seperti silinder. Sistem kereta bawah tanah ini tercatat paling tua di dunia, menunjukkan kejayaan Inggris era 'revolusi industri'. Cara membangunnya juga masih manual alias dipacul dan ditahan dengan batu-bata.

Labels: travelling, united kingdom

Sejak kecil saya akrab dengan kethoprak. Sori, ini bukan makanan tapi adalah pentas teater rakyat yang mengambil cerita Babad Tanah Jawi atau sejarah/legenda Mataram sebelum dan selama pengaruh Islam abad14an. Cerita dalam kethoprak itu macam2, tapi kebanyakan adalah tentang konflik kerajaan, intrik persaingan politik dan pengaruh, romans atau juga pengkhianatan. Kalau mau puas silakan baca cerita panjang karya SH Mintardja seperti Api di Bukit Menoreh atau Nagasasra Sabuk Inten.

Dalam kethoprak ada satu karakter yang selalu harus ada. Dialah Mbok Emban. Tugasnya adalah menjaga Gusti Putri (tuan putri) di Keputren (taman khusus untuk putri, selir dan permaisuri). Deskrepsi tugasnya lengkap, mulai dari menghibur sang putri jika ditinggal pacar/suami/kekasih. Memijiti kaki kalau capek, merawat badan dan rambut (adegannya kadang si mbok menyisir rambut sang putri yang panjang). Ia juga berkewajiban menjaga keselamatan lahir dan batin termasuk menyertai jika dalam pengungsian akibat perang atau ancaman perkosaan penjahat (begal kecu garong). Si Mbok juga adalah pengabdian seumur hidup. Terkadang ia sudah menjadi employee sebelum gusti raden ajeng dilahirkan, menyertainya melewati masa puber, menikah, punya anak bahkan mungkin berpindah boss ke generasi berikutnya.

Jadi tugas utamanya memang pembantu umum. Dalam pergerakan sosial, ketika aristokrat masih membawa peran mbok emban dalam masyarakat modern, perannya ini dianalogikan dengan 'pembantu' atau batur atau rewang. Bahkan kita masih memanggil si Mbok pada pembantu rumah tangga yang sekiranya berusia jauh diatas kita. Sebagai bentuk penghormatan. Bukti masih ada keterikatan sejarah. Bukti kita masih ingat peran mereka ratusan tahun silam.

Mbok Emban menjadi jarang diucapkan, menjadi hanya si mbok saja. Inipun sebenarnya menegasikan Mbok Emban dengan menunjuk 'si' yang lebih terasa orang ketiga, bukan sedulur, atau bagian dari keluarga. Ia tidak lagi sedekat dulu, tidak lagi mempunyai nilai kesetiaan tinggi, pengabdian seumur hidup. Saat ini Mbok Emban lebih sebagai sebuah hubungan juragan-batur kapitalis. Jadi fungsi-nya saat ini diambil alih oleh Maid atau apalah namanya dengan embel2 kontrak kerja dan gaji.

Walaupun secara sosial Mbok Emban itu adalah terendah (itu jika kita menganggap kasta Jawa masih berlaku : kastriyan merujuk working class dan pembantu, buruh, uneducated sebagai the bottom class), tapi karakternya selalu ditunggu dalam pentas kethoprak. Sebabnya? ia adalah ice breaker, membuat karakter tuan putri yang boring (yang sok njelehi tenan) jadi lebih menarik, apalagi jika ada sparring partner pembantu laki2 yang sama2 ndagel alias melucu abis. Seperti karakter Punakawan dalam jejer wayang kulit. Tidak mengambil peran penting tapi sangat dinantikan kemunculannya.

Saya merindukan karakter Mbok Emban, atau saya kangen main kethoprak ya? plis deh hilangkan sinetron dan ganti kethoprak aja deh.

ps : gambar diambil di Imogiri, dengan pakaian yang menunjukkan sangat sederhana. Mirip dengan Mbok Emban, hanya untuk dandanan kemben atasannya sedikit beda.

Labels: indonesia

Setiap kali saya melihat photo Sydney House Opera, saya selalu membayangkan duhai cantiknya gedung ini, engineering marvelous, civil engineering challenge. Sebagai tukang, saya gumun dengan kemampuan mendesain beton menjadi bentuk nan indah begini. Wih apalagi kalau diterangi cahaya malam, ampuh tenan.

Maka saya agak kecewa ketika disana. Saya lupa, gedung ini seumuran saya, yang mungkin mulai menampakkan tanda usia. Agak surprise juga melihat atapnya dari keramik. Atap dengan bentuk keong yang menjulang ternyata tidak segagah yang saya bayangkan. Wah memang enggak seindah aslinya. He he he..

Apalagi saya cuma mampir sebentar. Tahun lalu 2007, Sydney Opera House dimasukkan dalam daftar World Heritage UNESCO. Bersama dengan Patung Liberty di NY, mereka adalah karya kontemporer yang bisa menyusup daftar panjang WH. Sydney ternyata adalah sebuah kota yang vibrant. Saya menikmati walau hanya sejenak.

Untuk seorang kawan yang baru menginjak Sydney (ia mengingatkan saya akan gedung ini).

Labels: australia, travelling