Indonesia Festival 2010 in Los Angeles

The 65th Indonesian independents is celebrated in Los Angeles, USA. I was really glad that I have the opportunity to participate in this festivities. It is an incredible feelings to know that I came from such a rich and deep culture. You can go to the link I have posted by clicking on the comment link below. You can see the short version of this 12 hours long of celebration. Although I must warn you that the narrator uses the Indonesian language. I am sure however you can look for the english version from Youtube.

I am taking lesson to play the gamelan and is it to my surprise that I really-really enjoying it. I joined a musician group call the "Paguyuban Karawitan Ngesti Budoyo." I am so glad that I did. I becamme more familiar with the music of my ancestors.

This girl is only 12 years old. It is really amazing at how she moves and dance imitating a bird. There are so much diversity and deep are the cultural aspect of the Indonesian people that I can say , I am proud to be born in the country that has so much wealth in mores and traditions.

There are muchmore to say and more pictures I would like to post on this website. But I realized this is siply an impossible task. So to ensure that you are able to watch and enjoying the festifavl, I would like for you to go to link below.

Independence Day

I can not believe that we are celebrating another Independence Day upon tomorrow. Time really crept up on me like a thief in the night.

I can nt remember what happened the past six months.... hehehehe... I know there is New Years Celebration, my fiftieth b-day celebration and then suddenly is America B-day celebration. It's all become a blur for me. I guess my age is showing with the memory loss.

In the past month I spent several weeks in the field. I was so tired that I was to lazy to do anything, I wanted to sleep all the time.. and it seems that I have no energy anymore... may be this is also my age is showing... I may have to change my 30 years plan. We'll see...

CATCHIN' UP...

Well, I have not been faithful to my word in getting this blog written everyday, or may be life is not so bad any more that I have to rant and rave on my blog... hehehe... There is a lot of events that took place since I written on this medium. Hummm... let see.... my last blog was October 2009, and now is April 2010.. that's mean I have like six months to catch up... so, here we goes..

End of October or early November, I took my two weeks leave to visit the "old home country" stick aaround Jakata... the city doesn't look the same at all... and Yogyakarta to visit my parent graves site. The old city looks the same.. more vehicles on the road than I like it to be... but nonetheless it hasn't change much. All in all it was very short trip... but as always I have a blast and have really good time with my brothers and sisters. I long to stay for more then just ten days where I can really enjoy my visit.

Picture of me and my nephews and nieces after an evening of Bowling (left). I tried to start the tradition, where I tried to encourage all my nephews and nieces to play a game or two of bowling with me. I am hoping one of these days they all can come and play...

Here some of my brothers, and sister shows up to join us. Why not? the more the merrier.....

We celebrated my older brother "BOONE" birthday.. I think that what it was.. we gather and enjoy his hospitality and definitely the foods... man what a feast....he sure knows how to put on a party. For your information, the three of us carry the name "AJI." It was told to me that our Dad were given a position in the hierarchy of the Sultan, and "AJI" is a title of his position...

Sedyo-Aji; Firman Buntolo-Aji; and Susilo Heryanto-Aji. In front is our dear sisters Sri Purwanesti Nurprabaningsih "June" and Sarojini Wuryan Rahayu "Jeanie." (Right photo).

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Picture below was taken in front of our parents grave site. We gather here to talk about our parent and share some stories about them. We pray the prayer of thanksgiving for our parents and gave suplication to God for them. Although we knows that God is the outhor of life and that our existance are due to God's will, and our parents are mere instruments to bring about our existence.... nonetheless without them, we wont be who we are today.

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November 2009.. "Thanks Giving" is my most favorite day of the year... that is the only holiday that I enjoy to celebrates. It is the most unique remembrance our people has to offer. During this "thanks-giving" day, I attended the United Service Organization (USO) ARM FORCES S SERVICES day. It was really great how the people of this country supported the troops. I am glad it is so..

USO has been around a long time. They support the troops abroad as well as here at home. If I am not mistaken BOB HOPE (God bless his soul) traveled all over Europe and the Pacific to ensure that American men- (back in WWII only men) in combat got a break from their daily jobs and be entertain and refresh as they laugh and forget about their helllish experiences.... at least for a day. May all the combatants who died, in the past, present and in the future, Rest In Peace as they fight for their country and gave the final sacrifice.

I also had the opportunity to clebrate with Jay Leno- the late night talk host show of NBC, with the rest of my "brothers and sister at
arms." No, I was not the main person he interviewed.

He interviewed MEGAN FOX.... and
I was thiiiis close to the "foxy lady."


I was upset to find out that my camera battery was dead. What a bummer, believe me it will not happened again :( ... After the show, we were treated with the most extravaganza feast I ever seen served. They decked up the place and feed us like we were the lords adn the ladies. I mean you could not believe how much foods they have for us.

The culmination of my November got to be the visit from Andrew, my third son. He visited me for a week end and I was so thrilled. I had a visit from Josh the first year I moved to LA. Now, if I can get my oldest son to come, then it will be complete, perhaps this year. Andrew and I went on a little trip to SUNSET and HOLLYWOOD Boulavard... you know the usual.. got to take him to the infamous sign... and was told to get off the hill, because he climbed up all the the way and was wanting to touch the sign.