Do the best and let God takes the rest

Eating

Grandma's durian orchard

Farming

A mandailing farming in Panyabungan, North Sumatera

Defense

KOWAD (woman special forces) in acting

Travelling

At airport with tired face hoaaaahm

Moment

With Mom, brother, and youngest sister

Rabu, 19 Maret 2014

Mudik

You think the story back and forth only belong to the Java alone ? That's not true . The habit of going home - back to hick also known as go home during the month of Ramadan - is also done by the Batak people in my hometown long ago.

Friends from the village school and worked in Padangsidempuan , ahead of Eid , definitely going home , either to huta - Padangsidempuan huta around town , which is only about tens of kilometers away , or to Mandailing Natal , Sibuhuan , or Padangbolak are hundreds of miles away . They came to Padangsidempuan , the capital district , to junior high school , PGA , high school , SMK , or university , or work .

Those who attend usually stay at home relatives or rent a room ( also known as mardagang, boarding house) . Since the first school holidays in the month of fasting , then they return to their villages during that month . Who came home ahead of Eid usually already employed , for example, teachers and office workers , or traders . However, the school some distance away, for example to Medan or Padang , also home ahead of Eid , sadari mangalomang , the day before Eid.

Padangsidempuan city can be reached from Medan , Padang , Pekanbaru by bus (ALS, Sampagul) or minibus using Mitsubishi L-300. The bus will be used in long distance around 2 - 3 days in one trip from Jakarta - Padangsidempuan, or Padangsidempuan - Jakarta. Otherwise the minibus usually used by people in medium distance let's say one night trip for example from Medan - Padangsidempuan, Padang - Padangsidempuan, Pekanbaru - Padangsidempuan.

My father said that having built the pass from Medan to Bandar - Lampung , traveling back and forth from Java to my hometown is getting easier . First of all the travelers aboard sea - lanes Jakarta or Jakarta - Bayur bay - Belawan for two days and one night , followed by a bus ride from Padang or Medan to my hometown about 12 hours with a captivating panoramic.

If by land , the time taken is also almost the same , but the advantage that we can rest on the trip. When I was still child, often we go through this step. From Jakarta we headed to the port of Merak in Java western tip, then take a ferry across to Sumatra . From Port Bakahuni uphill to Bandar Lampung, then to Bukit Kemuning, Baturaja, Muaraenim, Tanjung Enim, Lahat, Bangko, Sarolangun, Sungai Dareh, Solok, Danau Singkarak, Bukittinggi, Lubuk Sikaping, Bonjol, Panti, Tapus, Rao, Muara Sipongi, Katanopan, Panyabungan, and last Padangsidempuan. If departing from Jakarta night , we stayed in Lahat or Lubuk Linggau , and may stay longer in Bukittinggi.

What a joy of traveling back and forth when done with ease while seeing the sights . If another season or Duku , then in South Sumatra , such as Baturaja or Muara Enim , we can buy it at a low price. While driving , fast road continues. Precisely driving while fasting is much more enjoyable : there is no intention to stop to eat. Stop only when praying in the mosque or surau , which were encountered along the way . When sleepy , mosques can be used as a place of rest and sleep or just of the sake to take a nap.

But contrary when traveling back and forth just in time to berbuka or eating sahur.  If the time coincodience in Bukittinggi berbuka can be performed in - lined restaurant row near the Clock Tower , or go down to the Pasar Bawah. Don't imagine that berbuka eating Padang as in Java or other places . In Bukittinggi or Padang we 'll never find Padang restaurant . If you do not believe , try your own search :D

In addition to food , traveling back and forth is an opportunity to enjoy nature . When I was children we take a bathing in the river where the water is crystal clear in Tanjung Enim . Bathing in the river is a distinct pleasure for the people of Jakarta . Where there is a river in Jakarta that the water is clear ? We also ever taken a rest in the middle of Rimba Panti shade or Bukit Dua Baleh , between Rao and Muara Sipongi on the border among North Sumatra withWest Sumatra.

Based on my experience the journey of two days and two nights it was performed at least five days before Eid . The closer Eid increasingly congested roads . Often arise at the port congestion , but that hit Sumatra island street so smoothly.

The happiest moment is when we reached the village safely and can be assembled at home parent with relatives from Medan. We each bring a family . The house was so great parents seem small , but precisely herein lies happiness . Especially when shaking hands after prayers id . Not Sungkeman, just shaking hands . First of all to the parents , then to the older ones. Sometimes greet event was peppered with cries . As you know , the Batak was very emotional . Even less, in such an atmosphere. As the most powerful cry that high degree of apology . Children are often puzzled.

When the crying has subsided , the event continued with makkobar, speech , by all family members unexceptionally  , although most marimom also known as follow it, especially women . This is a family trait Batak . Apologize for any errors , whether intentional or not , she hopes in the future is always in the shadow of God . Finally, my Grandpa advising. Once, as a children, in my mind I often menggerutu, how long exactly the advising.  If the parents listened respectfully , the intermediate heard with puckered forehead and his thoughts were elsewhere , then that children restless waiting continues when advising ends in order to get a "salam tempel" .

After advising, then the dish was opened . There is a glutinous rice cake that is delicious combined with rendang ayam, gulai ayam , liver sauce, and spicy foods as well as other bersantan. Also arranged pastries widths , starting from lemang the taste is the same as glutinous rice cake , dodol , kembang loyang , karak koling , and others.

Return to the Jakarta I bring a new spirit , even though the road we remain the same. The contents of the car has also been different . If the original contents sarung (the most precious gift in the village) or a food mill , then return home changed by souvenir from the village . If the form of food , which is not exceptional is the ikan sale, salted fish (especially teri medan) , or snacks such as lomang , alame , karak Koling , kembang loyang, and so on . Later , a souvenir was coupled with a wide variety of food that we bought along the way. In Bukittinggi , for example , we will buy kerupuk Sanjai , while in the South Sumatra area we buy Duku Palembang . Of congenital smell can make us avoid trouble on the trip , such as durian , kuweni , or Ambacang.

On the way back to Jakarta , we were more relaxed again . Through Padangpanjang or Solok , for example, we eat sate Padang at a time to the city . Or eat martabak Mesir that actually exist in Baturaja , not in Cairo, Egypt. All the experience was very valuable . Heart and mind went back to staring at the clear sheet over a new leaf of life. Alhamdulillah




Selasa, 18 Maret 2014

My younger sister's wedding

I was very happy when I got info from my home that my younger sister would marry. That good news makes me must go back in the wedding ceremony time, that will be conducted at 12 January 2014. Well, wedding ceremony unprecedented in my family, it means that my younger sister is the premier wedding in my family, whereas she is younger 4 years than me. If in my custom (culture) in Padangsidempuan/South Tapanuli according to the old tradition a young man sleeping with peers in 'sopo podoman' which they made themselves on the edge of village where they lived, otherwise a girl also sleeping with peers in 'bagas podoman' that usually belonging to an elderly widow because their husband has died.

I can imagine she would be happy because her reverie has come true. I have listed my trip plan to go back to Padangsidempuan, because I also consider about my work after all. Eventually, I proposed my annual leave for 2 days (13-14 January 2014) coincidence that on 15 January 2014 was public holiday, so I could be there around 5 years.

I started depart from Jakarta with my younger brother who studied at IT Telkom, Bandung. He came to my boarding house first then after negotiate we sanctioned that we would take on Friday, 10 January 2014. Anyway to reach my home in Padangsidempuan there is no airport around the city. The only one little airport nearby my city is in Pinangsori, around 60 km from my city. Unfortunately, it's only used for local airplane for example from Medan - Pinangsori. Thus, we have to choose another alternative airport in this case there are 3 choices: Padang (Minangkabau), Medan (Kuala Namu), Riau (Sultan Syarif Kasim II). We usually prefer through Padang, not only it's nearest among them, but also the view is captivating, panoramic.

Finally we reached Padang at 8 p.m around 2 hours on our way, we had reserved travel bus before departed from Jakarta, so travel carried us to airport and leave Padang thereafter. In our way to Padangsidempuan from Padang, we enjoyed our travel so much. Unfortunately due our trip at night so we couldn't see the panoramic, only feel the weather it's so cool because Padang is a plateau. Around 9 hours we have reached my home, we found that all families had been there to help the ceremony process. There is a tradition on my customary that there is a tribal ceremony after "Akad". It's called "dibulang" a kind of customary law which be conducted if there is a wedding ceremony.

Dibulang

Thus, in a perfect legal system there is no place for something that is not aligned or are contrary to morality. Similarly, the 'customary law’, due to her special relationship and there is a direct rapprochement between law and morality, so the presence of the term 'customary law' which was created as a 'new concept' is not actually needed by the community (an ethnic group) because they understand the term 'adat' (custom) is complete (integrated), both in the sense as a 'courtesy' ('morality') or as 'law', in which each other (both of them) is a unified whole.

Overall wedding ceremony has been done. Ending words is "happy wedding my sister, may Alloh bless your household, sakinah mawaddah warahmah"



Senin, 17 Maret 2014

Placement Test IALF

Well, that's one thing that makes me dizzy during process of repairing the requirement of my post graduate scholarship is to choose a place to take IELTS course. If you have a fluent English talent, may be it's not an issue for you :D. Because I have a personal goal to reach 7 points so I want to select the most suitable for me either in terms of quality, time, distance, and certainly budget. I had never even take IELTS test so I am not confident without course first. Perhaps there is also asked "Why should IELTS, not Toefl?". Well, some universities that I choose in Europe actually received IELTS or Toefl iBT. Just by personal survey, it would be beneficial if I take IELTS because IELTS more generally than Toefl, include Australia/New Zealand. Anyway, study abroad requires 6,5 for IELTS point. The following are several IELTS course that I got:

1. LBI FIB Universitas Indonesia
This one is cheap enough. It's only 1,2 Million Rupiah in 3 months every Saturday around 8.30 - 13.00 (totally 48 hours). As another course, there is fee for registration 75 thousand Rupiah, at once include get placement test schedule to ensure that you are proper to take a course or not. In my mind, it's long enough for me if I learn around 3 months, so that's why I had prefer to not choose this one.

2. TBI (The British Institute)
I had ever heard this course one. Unfortunately from info that I got on Internet said that, the reputation of this course worse recently. That's why this course also eliminated from my list :D 

3. English Today
I impressed for the service of this course, notably for correspondence via email. I sent them email and replied quickly, so I don't need to call the official. The location is in Villa Bintaro Regency and having a native speaker with totally 30 hours. They offered me either a private class with cost 12 Million or 4-5 persons with cost 4-5 Million, wow :D. Well, if I want to take 4 persons, who will accompany me? And certainly it will take a wasting time to invite 4-5 persons, that's why this is also eliminated.

 4. IEDUC
Actually this is a prominent course among students, especially Bandung area. Beside the cost is cheap enough, also the quality is good, despite it is not famous. The central office is in Bandung, but there is a branch office in Bintaro, Jakarta. From information I got from internet, said that in Jakarta might not be as Bandung office because the teacher is not native in Jakarta office. That's why it's also eliminated.

5. IALF
Unintentionally I got info from my ex class mate when I studied at Bandung, Raka. He said this course has a good reputation, it has exist around 25 years with native teacher. Voila, I decided to choose this course, because from distance, time, budget, and quality it's better than the other. :) You can check official website of IALF here.

Not long afterwards, I was going to call the Jakarta office to get information. Obviously, I have to take a placement test first to determine whether I am able to follow the class or not. The placement test conduct from Monday to Friday, around 9 a.m - 17 p.m or Saturday around 9 a.m to 11 a.m, during 45 minutes. Eventually, I choose Saturday (15 March 2014) at 9 a.m. Anyway, the placement test is conducted at IALF office at Plaza Kuningan 3rd floor.

Bank Receipt Voucher

I have to prepare myself to conduct the placement test. In honestly, I only prepare myself to learn tenses and gerund, presumably if placement test, in my opinion only to measure how understand that we know to use tense. Eventually, the day has come. I have to reach Plaza Kuningan at least 30 minutes before the schedule, it means that I have to reach there at 8.30 a.m. I started leave from my boarding house around 8.00 a.m because I predicted that it takes time about 20 minutes to reach Plaza Kuningan from my boarding house by motor cycle.

My appliance :p

This is my route to reach Plaza Kuningan. Pancoran - Tebet - Kasablanka - Epicentrum Kuningan - Jl. Rasuna Said - Plaza Kuningan. Firstly, I didn't see the building because there are lots truck park on the street because there is a development in front of Wisma Tugu building. It makes me have to try again and repeat my way from Epicentrum. Finally I found the building with low speed among the trucks. After got the parking ticket, I parked my motor cycle and got South building 3 rd floor.

Plaza Kuningan South building
I got 3rd floor and register myself to receptionist. They have listed all participants would take placement test, totally there were 4 persons at that time. But only me that take the placement test at 9 a.m so I was alone. My impression about officers is they serve me friendly, a security carry me to the room that I would take the placement test, a library room. There were 3 persons librarian who oversee me during my test. Generally, the question is about tense and gerund, there are 50 questions in 45 minutes. Not too difficult to finish it actually, I could finish it around 25 minutes.

After I finished, I gave the documents to receptionist as I got it from. She said that the result will be informed at Monday (today) so I am still waiting for the result whether I pass or not :D
Finally, they just caLl me and said that I pass the test and offer me the schedule, either Monday to Friday at 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm, or Wednesday 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm and Saturday 08.00 am to 12 pm. I prefer to choose the first one, hehehe

Welcome to the jungle, next step is waiting for me, let's do it :)










Selasa, 11 Maret 2014

Project ISM Upgrade at Singapore 2

This part is continuance of Project ISM Upgrade at Singapore. Well, I have to finish this project around 1,5 months, it makes me quite anxious because not include installation yet and troubleshooting network requirement, Operating System (Solaris), etc. So the outline are: installing operating system, ensure no problem with network, download the ISM software, configuring, fixing bugs (if any), UAT to client.
1. Installing Operating System
Generally, there is no problem when I was installing Solaris System at Dell server. But, need to download several packages needed by IBM software.

Installing and configuring Solaris at server room

2. Ensure no problem with network
Network requirement is very crucial things. Due this is acting as server, so network issue have to be ensured no problem sublimely. So far I checked, there is no problem with network include allocation of IPs, gateway, or even hardware of network (router/switch). Only there is a little bit issue when I tried to ping client from server. At that time, firewall still active so I have to set the firewall at Solaris server. Done, no problem again.

Network infrastructure
Troubleshooting network issue

3. Download ISM Software
To download IBM Internet Service Monitoring we have to account first, means we have to be partner of IBM. We can download here. So far there is no problem when downloading the IBM software.

4. Configuring
This part that I spend long time, almost 1 month. Assisted by Mohib, finally this part done with lots struggles. Customizing, connecting to other IBM product (Omnibus object server), fixing, repairing again, etc. However, this part makes me strong and got precious experience, tight schedule, overtime (back to hotel at 2 a.m). Alhamdulillah :)

Me and Mohib


5. Fixing bugs
There are no significant bugs overall after configuring. Only little bit bug such as java client not installed yet, but everything is under control. So we have to ready to conduct UAT with client.

Fixing bugs


6. UAT
This also new experience for me. Not yet interact to present with foreigner before, I presented UAT with Mr. David who he is a superior of Internet Service division at Singapore Telecom. Despite my English is bad, but I am still able to understand what he said, so conducting UAT is success, Alhamdulillah.

Once my project finished, certainly I also want to enjoy and explore Singapore. The following below are my several moments:

Shopping at Orchard

Mainstream :p

River side

Tampines

Anyway, I couldn't find unique culinary at Singapore. Like an ordinary food in Indonesia, take a look:

Nasi lemak
Breakfast at hotel


Finally, long scramble has been done !!!






Project ISM Upgrade at Singapore

Around mid of Feb to April 2013 ago, I was assigned by my boss in a new project at Singapore (Singapore Telecom) named ISM (Internet Service Manager). Actually, this project should be done by 2 engineers (me and Feri) but finally only 1 engineer assigned because Feri involved to another project in XL Axiata. Obviously, I feel perturbed because I never go to Singapore in advance don't know the territory of my hotel and office, and etc. Fortunately, management also assigned another project to my colleague Rezky and Dian who they have done several Singapore projects before. So I was quite relieve because I wouldn't worry about hotel, office, freight from airport to hotel, etc.

We took off from Jakarta at Monday morning around 06.00 a.m, so I have to reach Soekarno Hatta airport at least 1 hour before the flight. From my boarding house I used Damri around 04.00 to reach Soekarno Hatta airport. On my way, I saw that the highway seems free of traffic because it's still predawn. Not long afterwards, around 1 hour I have reached the airport, 10 minutes later Rezky came, and Dian as well. After checking, we were going to waiting room and enjoy our breakfast around 30 minutes later we have taken off with Air Asia airways. Approximately 2 hours on our way, we had reached Changi airport. That was my first experience in abroad, after collect our baggage we went to taxi queue soon.

Along our way to reach hotel, the view is good enough. Infrastructure and urban design of Singapore is good. There are lots groves on right and left side, even it is not nature, but made by government. Only 30 minutes in our way, we had reached our hotel which is as our home stay as long as doing and finishing the project.

After check in, we saved our baggage into our each room, then continue to our each office client, where Dian went to Starhub nearby Tanjung Pagar, Rezky went to Singtel at Bedok, me myself went to Singtel as well, but different location with Rezky, Tampines. In other words, We went to same commuter station but different aim.

This is my first experience in using commuter line (subway) at Singapore. Not like in Indonesia, Singapore has a better infrastructure. Let's say for subway service, toilets, and subway on-time no delay. The latest delay I got there around 4 minutes, otherwise in Indonesia I had bad experience regarding delay, more than 1 hour. Furthermore, denizens/passengers presumably more orderly than Indonesian, no scrambling in entering the subway, contrary with in Indonesia. I thought this is due discipline factor.

Eventually, ranging 1 hour I reached Singtel Tampines office, and I called my colleague also as my leader/superior, she is Nireesha. Beside her, there are another colleague with directly related with my work they are Raihan and Mohib.


Raihan - Mohib - me 

Both of Raihan and Mohib are Pakistan's citizen. Nevertheless, Raihan not directly related with my project, but he acted as consultant for determining client's requirement, otherwise Mohib acted as assist of me because his main task is support.

I got lots impression with my 2 colleagues. We went to Masjid together in Jum'at, lunch, and break time to take a cup of tea/coffee. In spite of along my project at Singapore we never go/hanging out together, but I feel they had as my brother.

I have to go back to Indonesia maximum 1 month since I arrived. Because it's prohibited in law if tourist stay there more than 1 month, unless use Permanent Residence (PR) or Employee Pass (EP).

OK I will continue tomorrow regarding my experience at Singapore.

No fake certificate

Semua pasti dah pada tau kalo kita bisa encrypt email pake mail client seperti Outlook, Thunderbird, Evolution, dll. Tapi kalo encrypt tanpa mail client, emang bisa?! Bisa bos, adalah FireGPG sebuah program tambahan untuk browser berlambang rubah yang sangat terkenal, Mozilla Firefox, yang mempunyai fungsi yang mirip dengan EnigMail milik burung pembawa surat, Mozilla Thunderbird.

FireGPG menggunakan program opensource-nya PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) yaitu GnuPG atau biasa disingkat GPG (Gnu Privacy Guard). Kita ga perlu pake mail client buat mengintegrasikan GPG ini, tapi hanya browser Mozilla Firefox. Hebatnya lagi, FireGPG sudah mengintegrasikan programnya dengan GMail, email dengan tempat yang segede pulau itu, sehingga bisa digunakan untuk encrypted compose di GMail.

Bagi pengguna Linux, diwajibkan menginstall GnuPG sebagai program yang memang dipakai oleh FireGPG ini, cara installnya bisa pake Yast, Yum, Smart, apt-get, slap-get atau ke situsnya
Bagi pengguna Microsoft Windows, program GPG4Win harus didownload terlebih dahulu kemudian di install.

Saya belum pernah pakai GPG4Win, jadi tidak akan dijelaskan disini. Bagi pengguna Linux, silakan download KGpg untuk tampilan gui GPG di KDE, atau Seahorse di Gnome untuk kemudian di set paired key yang akan dipakai untuk encrypt di FireGPG. Bagi yang udah pernah bikin paired-key, bisa langsung dipake.

Setelah itu, silakan buka browser Mozilla Firefox dan download FirePGP. Biasanya setelah instalasi program tambahan, Mozilla Firefox minta bunuh diri, trus minta dihidupkan lagi Lalu, silakan pergi situs GMail, login dan tuliskan surat baru, setelah itu perhatikan di jajaran tombol Send, ada sederet tombol baru khan

FireGPG integrasi dengan Gmail


Surat yang benar memang seharusnya di cek integritasnya dengan cara Sign, pastikan kita menerima e-mail dari orang yang benar ;) - 99 kali dilihat - Lihat komentar (0