Author: amellina

A living sample of contradiction. https://amellina.me/about/
Books

I Just Read: “The Life of a Stupid Man”, “Testimonies”, and “Death Register” by Ryunosuke Akutagawa

I’m starting a new routine of writing a review on every book I’ve finished. So far I’ve produced 2 reviews. Here’s one, on a small compilation of a ‘Japanese modernist writer’ Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s works, written with a sangfroid.   Ryunosuke Akutagawa is sceptic about living, but too curious to let himself die. His younger self, brought by the infecting minds of 19th century philosophers, grew … Continue reading I Just Read: “The Life of a Stupid Man”, “Testimonies”, and “Death Register” by Ryunosuke Akutagawa

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Life / Hidup

Words or picture, or both?

My soul mate recently asked me, “Where are the pictures on your blog? I miss them, it adds your sensitivity in your writings.” My natural response was that I lacked original pictures that represented the story, and I’ll probably add them in the future. Later, her inquiry made me think, was it the picture or the writing that move people? Does picture speak more than … Continue reading Words or picture, or both?

Unknown's avataramellina4 Comments
Life / Hidup

On the Metro Mini This Evening

14 November 2014 On the Metro Mini (Jakarta’s city bus) this evening, a street singer told a story. He said he couldn’t continue going to school for he had no money. He said we are lucky. Literate, educated, employed. Unlike him, his friends, and his surroundings whom have to “work on the streets, sell their pride, and sleep on the shops’ front doors”. Unable to … Continue reading On the Metro Mini This Evening

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Life / Hidup

Di Metro Mini Malam Ini

14 November 2014 Di dalam Metro Mini tadi, seorang pengamen bercerita. Katanya dia berhenti sekolah karena tidak ada biaya. Dia bilang kita ini beruntung. Bisa baca-tulis, sekolah sampai kuliah, dan kerja yang baik. Tidak seperti dirinya dan orang-orang di sekitarnya yang harus “bekerja di jalanan, menjual harga diri, tidur di pelataran toko”. Tidak bisa bersekolah karena keadaan. Semoga, katanya, pemerintahan yang baru banyak membuat perubahan … Continue reading Di Metro Mini Malam Ini

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Catatan, Perjalanan

Catatan Yogyakarta: Perayaan Waisak di Borobudur (Mei 2013)

25 Mei 2013, Hari Waisak Memasuki area bertenda di Candi Mendut dimana ratusan umat Buddha berkumpul dengan pakaian biksu atau seragam komunitas masing-masing, saya merasa kurang ajar. Orang-orang pada ramai memfotoi seperti obyek wisata padahal mereka sedang beribadah. Ibaratnya seperti Muslim sedang salat Ied berjamaah lalu orang-orang berkamera datang dan membabi buta memfotoi di depan muka mereka. Ramai, tidak terkendali. Sebagian  memang sudah selesai beribadah … Continue reading Catatan Yogyakarta: Perayaan Waisak di Borobudur (Mei 2013)

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Catatan, Perjalanan

Catatan Yogyakarta: Pesona Macapat dan Birokrasi Turis (Mei 2013)

24 Mei 2013 Hari ini saya bertekad tidak akan naik becak. Tadinya mau sewa sepeda gunung atau onthel, tapi dengan lugu saya tinggalkan KTP-ku di hotel. Lalu ego saya menolak semua tukang becak yang menawarkan jasanya. Saya biasa dan senang jalan kaki! Tapi ternyata, kota ini lebih sulit ditaklukkan oleh kaki daripada yang saya bayangkan. Bukannya tak ada trotoar atau banyak pengendara motor yang menyebalkan … Continue reading Catatan Yogyakarta: Pesona Macapat dan Birokrasi Turis (Mei 2013)

Unknown's avataramellina2 Comments
Life / Hidup, Notes

The Borrowed Life (The Letters – Part 2 – end)

Dear Friend, How are you? I hope the sun is shining outside your window and the dog is sleeping peacefully on your foot.. Those small things that make life deserves to be cherished! I wrote to you about my life recently. About how I had been living a life that I borrowed, from Life itself and from the people who own it.. It has come … Continue reading The Borrowed Life (The Letters – Part 2 – end)

Unknown's avataramellina2 Comments
Life / Hidup, Notes

The Borrowed Life (The Letters – Part 1)

Dear Friend, How are you? I hope everything is still as great as you told me the last time we talked. It’s been more than a month now, since my ankle bone broke. I may forget the date and how the accident happened in detail, but I don’t want to forget the life experience and lessons it’s given me. This is why I’m writing you, … Continue reading The Borrowed Life (The Letters – Part 1)

Unknown's avataramellina3 Comments
Life / Hidup, Notes, Tribute

Pak Pram: What I’ve Learned from Him Since the First Encounter (About Myself and Pramoedya Ananta Toer)

(Bahasa Indonesia version: https://amellina.me/?p=286) It was around 2001. I was about 13 years old, an 8th grader. I went into our family library at home, trying to find something new to read after I had finished reading a book. My eyes caught a vintage-looking book. It was a paperback with white cover; the title looked like it had been written with the help of a ruler … Continue reading Pak Pram: What I’ve Learned from Him Since the First Encounter (About Myself and Pramoedya Ananta Toer)

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