Those Three Months, I Remember

As I was walking down this narrow lane of Perugia
Stepping slowly on cobblestones that were set centuries ago
When all of the sudden I was almost ran down by this blue Vespa
Shocked and surprised, I screamed out foul words until this old Italian lady yelled, “Silenzio!”

She made gesture as if flicking a lamp’s switch off
Continued with another sign :
Sliding her thumb and forefinger across her lips as if shutting a zipper

I definitely got the message, didn’t need to ask her
That was a simple gesture I learned in kindergarten over 25 years ago
When our teacher wanted us to shut up and sit down quietly
Before starting the ritual of saying Lord’s Prayer

Instead I waved my left hand that wasn’t holding the brown umbrella
“Mi scusi, Signora,” said I, and walked away hurriedly
Surprised by my own ashamed feeling of having no guts to face this stern old Italian lady
Oh, I haven’t told you it was raining drizzly that day, eh?

A little trivia : I turned 30 that year
So I decided to give myself a birthday present
It was a 3 months vacation to Italy
The country that gave birth to a grand man
That millenniums later is known universally as an operation technique he was named after

It was surely the most amazing 3 months of my life
Good time partying with young people, citizen of the world
Strolling down traditional market, pocketful of loose changes with no idea what to buy
Flirting using sign language with a beautiful girl whose sad face framed with auburn locks,
Because she doesn’t speak English, and deaf ever since five

I can guarantee you, what a feat it was
Intellectually challenging, such a test to patience
Yet we could still find ways to communicate and
To share this love that knows no boundaries of races, religions or political views

It was the most amazing 3 months in my life
Because I could forget all my worries back home
Leaving them behind, and only have tomorrows to look upon
It was the time when horizon seems far enough, yet within reach

It was still a jolly good time when the last day finally arrived
As I sat down on Leonardo da Vinci airport’s cold steel bench
These random thoughts passing through my mind like cold wind blown from the sea,
“Hope I can return to this magnificent country, which cities are as old as civilization itself,”
“Hope that when I return, I will fall in love all over again with the beautiful life Italy has to offer ..."

“Oh, shoot! Hope I didn’t impregnate that beautiful deaf girl!”

Ah, questa dolce Vita!

Photo illustration courtesy of C.G. Salon in Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.A.
Used for non-commercial purpose without permission.

Liburan di Bali, Film Indonesia Anyar dan Cerpen Monster Klasik

Hari ini Dia terbang ke Bali. An early weekend getaway, sekalian untuk merayakan hari jadi Sang Bunda, yang katanya sudah lebih dari satu dekade tidak pernah menginjakkan kakinya di Pulau Dewata. Untuk itulah dia sudah merancang secara khusus liburan kali ini. Rencananya, Dia akan menginap di Ayana Resort. Mudah-mudahan dia dan Sang Bunda bisa sangat menikmati kunjungan mereka ke Bali kali ini.

Jadi teringat, bulan lalu aku mengikuti quiz pembaca sebuah majalah khusus pria, yang hadiah utamanya trip dengan akomodasi dua malam di Ayana Resort tersebut. Mudah-mudahan kali ini keberuntungan menghampiriku, dan hadiah utama yang tampaknya begitu menggoda itu bisa kudapatkan. Kalau menang, akan kuajak Dia lagi menghabiskan akhir pekan berdua di sana. Seru!

Nah, itu rencanaku kalau menang. Lebih tepatnya: angan-angan. Namun bagaimana dengan rencana jangka singkatku untuk akhir pekan ini? Secara, lagi temporarily single (though still unavailable, hehe...).

Tadi pagi sudah kuajak Bradley untuk menonton film Indonesia teranyar, baru rilis secara luas hari ini. Judulnya: Garuda Di Dadaku. Menilik dari promo trailer-nya sih, tampak menarik. Sebelnya, Bradley bilang dia harus menghadiri sebuah meeting terlebih dahulu, yang dijadwalkan mulai jam delapan malam di Plaza Senayan. Itu artinya, Bradley baru bisa nonton saat jam pertunjukan terakhir. Ah, terlalu malam!, pikirku. Tapi kita lihat saja nanti, siapatahu aku merubah pikiran dan memutuskan untuk bergabung dengannya.

For this time being, dan sembari menunggu konfirmasi ulang dari Bradley, mungkin akan lebih baik apabila aku menyelesaikan terlebih dahulu bacaanku yang sempat tertunda beberapa hari ini. Sebuah cerpen karangan Ray Bradbury, The Fog Horn, yang menjadi inspirasi cerita film monster The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

I enjoyed watching the movie adaptation so much, because The Beast was so huge, scary, crashing cars under its feet and stomped people to death. What’s not to savor about it?? After all, it’s a monster movie.

I wonder if the short story could also give the same delectation. I certainly hope so.

This Summer's Good Reader

It’s June already!
Don’t you think its quite funny how time flies?

I woke up lazily this morning, June 1st, and clicked on the TV to find a talkshow segment in tvone about the Pussycat Dolls concert in Jakarta, scheduled for tomorrow night. These sexy cats and dolls arrived last night straight from Down Under. Even though I won’t watch PCD live on stage, somehow watching them smile and all to the cameras made me feel a bit relaxed and strangely relieved. So I guess Indonesia is now officially out and off of the travel warning list by the U.S. of A.!

On the sidelines, June also marks the beginning of the sunny months. It’s summer, people! Welcome the warm and more often than not, hot days!

Summer is also the time to attach myself with one of my favorite activity: reading of as many books as possible, before the monsoon begins and then it’s much more tempting to sleep under my thick blanket than reading any (good) books.

I’ve already finished my first novel of this summer; it’s “The Catcher in The Rye” by J.D. Salinger. I believe you know what it was all about, so I’d rather not say anything. Looking at my short bookshelf this morning that is now over-occupied by too many books, somehow I really get excited about months to come.

I plan to finish “More About Nothing” by Wimar Witoelar tonight. He’s my best friend’s father in law. I saw in his Facebook profile this morning that he’s going to be a guest at Pagi Jakarta next Thursday. Mark the calendar. I’m curious whether he can beat Erwin Parengkuan again this time at his own show, just like the last one when they talked about Citizen Journalism.

There are also some children’s books I just bought from a sale in Grand Indonesia yesterday; ranging from “Spring-Heeled Jack” by Philip Pullman, to some Astrid Lindgren’s. These books are going to be my summer reads, obviously. Summers are intended for pop and leisure and fun, aren’t they?

What about you, friends? What books are going to be on your bedside table? How about in your beach bag? And what about the one(s) you’re going to bring with you on vacation? How many books do you think you can finish before the monsoon begin?

Let’s challenge ourselves! Be one of this summer’s avid book readers!

Pesan untuk Si Gembul

Si Gembul akan berlibur bersama sahabat-sahabatnya akhir pekan ini di Bali, sekaligus untuk merayakan bulan madu bersama pasangan sahabatnya yang akan menikah besok di Hotel Mulia, Senayan.

Mudah-mudahan saat menikmati liburan selama 4 hari 3 malam di Pulau Dewata tersebut, dia bisa mewujudkan cita-citanya, memiliki kulit berwarna tan, meskipun belum tentu akan bertahan lama di tubuhnya. Barangkali sesungguhnya memang sudah menjadi takdirnya untuk tetap berkulit putih.
Ha! Ha!

Selamat berlibur, Gembul!


P.S.: Jangan sampai lupa membawakan oleh-oleh seru yang spesial untukku.