Year End Party 2007 - Updated

Finally, I have chance to write this posting.
Yes, our party went well and we really had a great time.
I posted all photos in my multiply, you can click this to access the pictures.


This party was sponsored by Robert Half.jp and also sponsored by two Indonesian friends. Robert Half International is the world's largest specialized financial recruitment firm and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: RHI) and is a member of the S&P 500 Index.

L to R: Rudy, Batara, Frans and Rio
L to R: Welly, Kevin and Rudy


Click for Album 1 of ICT - Year End Party 2007
Click for Album 2 of ICT - Year End Party 2007
Click for Album 3 of ICT - Year End Party 2007
Click for Album 4 of ICT - Year End Party 2007
Click for Album 5 of ICT - Year End Party 2007

Year End Party - Tokyo 2007

See you there....
I'll update it after the party...

Look At The Birds...

Matthew 6:25-34

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I Thank you, Lord that Your Word will stand forever because You, Lord are the Living Word who always was and forever will be.

Autumn 2007.

Tokyo Bay At Night

A view of Tokyo Bay - Odaiba area at night. Taken from Shibaura Island - Grove Tower.

Midnight Thought - The Perfect Label

Inspired by the words of Amartya Sen in his book Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny, he described himself as an Asian, an Indian citizen, a Bengali with Bangladeshi ancestry, an American or British resident, an economist, a dabbler in philosophy, an author, a Sanskritist, a strong believer in secularism and democracy, a man, a feminist, a heterosexual, a defender of gay and lesbian rights, a Hindu with a nonreligious lifestyle, a non-Brahmin, and a nonbeliever in an afterlife. Sen (73) is a Nobel Prize winner in economics. He is a global man and his works has inspired many people in this world.

There are million people who get trapped in a small corner of their potential life, and live their life without doing something really meaningful even for their personal life. How far can we go with our life? What is the limit? Where is the border line?

When I reach 60 or 70, what would be the perfect labels to describe me? At this point of time, I only have few labels that I know for sure will remain the same until I die: an Asian, an Indonesian citizen, an Indonesian with Batak ancestry, a Jesus follower, a Christian, a man, a heterosexual.

Globally Local - Locally Global

A few weeks ago, I wrote a comment in one of Indonesian blog about posting article in English and Bahasa. He wrote that writing in Bahasa is much easier but he wants to reach more readers for particular stories. So I commented to try writing in both languages. Bahasa for something that simple, merely Indonesian and too local. At the end I said be globally local and locally global. GLLG is a common term in internet and portal world. This four words actually represent a global vision, bringing something global to local people and bringing something local to global people.

Think about McDonald and Kentucky Fried Chicken, is it a GL or LG? In my case, GLLG!
When I am in Jakarta, it is GL and it is LG when I am in Tokyo. I guess I am hungry! Anyone wants to eat?

Midnight Thought - Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

It's past midnight already. Here I am facing my notebook and dancing with my imagination. Again, it is all about great accomplishment and great achievement. I guess, these words what bring me to Tokyo for the second time after three years back home in working life.

It was a great working life, dealing with strategic things, setting up companies, executing successful acquisition projects. It was fun and unforgettable!. But the thing is it wasn't the ultimate goal that I set when I got scholarship in 1999. It was just part of the qualifying game, just another one step before I really start the real journey - a journey that according to God's plan. The only key to start it is to finish this project. Only few months to go and I will get it.

God uses unlikely people for His purpose.
How is God pushing you to use your talents for Him? Will you do it?

God often uses difficult circumstances to accomplish His will.
What difficult circumstances do you face? Will you trust God to fulfill His purpose through these circumstances?

Good Bye Pavarotti....

You are a true legend
You are one of my hero
Goodbye....
May you rest in peace....

It's A Man's Man's Man's World

Life is not a Black & White Adventure

Thinking Mode is On

Samba Festival in Asakusa, Tokyo

A great hot summer day of having fun and photo hunting at Samba Festival in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Fireworks at Odaiba, Tokyo

I tried some Digital Photography of Fireworks using my Nikon D80, it was definitely a great night for fireworks photo. A good opportunity to learn how to take pictures of fireworks. These are some of my favorite shots.

I used a zoom lens just to make sure I get in tight and capture just the fireworks themselves. Well, I missed the best place for shooting as we arrived a bit late. These photos taken by using full manual mode, aperture f/11, bulb mode, and of course, on a tripod. Enjoy it.






Please give your review, comment, critic and opinion......

Akihabara - Sunday Afternoon

Two shots from Otaku dream land.

Pathros and Hafid

By October this year, my long journey will be reaching the toughest stage. This is my last chance and I don't want to repeat the same mistake again like I did in winter 2003. I must win this. Period.

"Victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats" Taken from The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino. A great story for everyone, a story about wisdom, knowledge and success. This book is a good reminder that we all have to work every day and fail every day to reach our ultimate goal and that is the only way and there is no other way.

Are You The One Who Has It?

Dua Kaleng Rombeng

Dua kaleng rombeng berdiri tegak, tua dan lusuh di pinggir dermaga kecil. Entah telah berapa tahun, keduanya menjadi penghuni dermaga, diam tak bergerak. Tak seorangpun tergerak untuk menggeser kedudukan mereka, enyah dari dermaga atau sekedar bergerak berpindah tempat.

Dua kaleng rombeng berdiri tegak, tua dan lusuh di pinggir dermaga kecil. Kala hujan datang, dengan lapang dada mereka menerima kedatangan air, kala panas datang, kehangatan sinar matahari teresap di dalam tubuh mereka yang rombeng.

Dua kaleng rombeng berdiri tegak, tua dan lusuh di pinggir dermaga kecil. Entah sampai kapan.

Tsukareta!

Jam menunjukkan setengah empat pagi waktu Tokyo.
Gue mulai ngantuk, capek dan kebanyakan ngerokok.
Gue udah baca puluhan artikel dalam selusin jam terakhir.
Capek...

The Rising Sun

You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Shibaura, Water and Midnight

Last night, I tried to write something about an interesting issue in private equity but I just had no appetite to start writing it. It was almost midnight and I sat watching things around the room till I looked at my camera bag at one corner. So, I grabbed my camera and without thinking I just went down to the river side, took few photo shots. It isn't bad at all compare to my shots in cloudy trip to Odaiba - no way to post it here!



Well, I am still a beginner and I really want to improve my works on photography, so I keep try to shoot, read technical books and visit some photography blogs. You should check these blogs, their works really inspired me. Beth Ellen Nagle, Aestheticemotions, Abaniko, Ambar, and few other bloggers.

Running Track at Shibaura Island

I am in love with Shibaura island, a new town in one small and tiny 6ha island. I just moved here two weeks ago and everyday I just can say Thanks God for this beautiful place.

Running track along the river and surrounding the island, a nice resto called Bagus Bar (taken from Bahasa Indonesia which means Good) at one corner and smiling people walk around in the afternoon. It does not really matter for me whether it is raining or not, whenever I want to run, I just go out. I just want to experience the world of raining, the world of shining and the world of enjoying the nature in a peaceful place.








Well, I do not know what to say more about this place. I will update this posting later.

Fortune, Dream and Takarakuji

Each time I passed the lottery stall, I thought of buying a takarakuji ticket and winning it. Can you imagine winning the lottery worth hundred millions yen? What you are going to do with that money? How you are going to spend the money?

Sometimes, it is so hard to understand why some people in Japan spend ludicrous sum of money on takarakuji just to improve their odds. It is all about fortune. If you are fortunate enough then you just need to buy one ticket to win it.

I once read about the Law of Attraction, it states that you get what you think about and your thoughts determine your destiny or you manifest your own reality. This law doesn’t fit for lottery fans – millions people buying the ticket and there is only one ultimate winner. So no matter how hard you think about winning the lottery, only the most fortunate person who will win it.

I think the reason those people spend much money on takarakuji is just to improve their dreaming quality. Once you buy a lottery ticket then you have a valid reason to dream about spending hundred millions yen! Yes, everyday until they announce the real winner. Well, I guess it is not a bad idea to have a nice fantasy, imagination and dream
as very fortunate and rich person especially when we are having a bad time.

Buy one ticket! Who knows you can buy this car?? You never know....

My Recent Visitors - Thanks for Coming

Special thanks for Statcounter and Google... :))

Singapore - Future Sin City

As reported by the Agence France-Presse: "Genting International gained full control of a US$3.4 billion (RM13.26 billion) casino project here after shareholders yesterday approved plans to buy a 25 per cent stake of sister firm Star Cruises.

"...Genting has said it will pay S$255 million (RM566 million) for the Star Cruises stake, which will give it full control of the integrated casino development called Resorts World at Sentosa.

"The resort will include a Universal Studios theme park and the world's largest oceanarium, as well as gaming facilities, and is set to open in 2010.

"Genting and Star Cruises, both part of conglomerate Genting Bhd, in December won a bid to build Singapore's second casino to be located on Sentosa island, off the city-state's mainland..."

A Precious Present From YISH - Tsurumi

A short story about me on the YISH bulletin news... kado indah to remind me couple years living at YISH Tsurumi. My special thanks for Fujii-san.

Golden Week Part 1 - Playing Golf at Chiba

Last week is a golden week in Japan, one week long vacation for most people in Japan.It's been a busy week for me in number of ways, so I haven't had time to do much work on my blog. One of a good decision I made is to join my friends spending the last day of Golden Week playing golf at Itopia Chiba, a nice golf course (and sure expensive!) and it takes almost two hours from Tokyo by car.`

I haven’t played for more than a year so my score was pretty bad – perfect 100!!. What I remember is I only got few pars, no birdies and dozen of triple putt. Not bad? Too bad?
Here is the list to blame :)
1. It was my first time play there
2. It was raining for the last 12 holes!
3. I didn’t know there are so many bunkers at the fairway.
4. I thought it was my ball
5. I guess it was my new glove doesn’t really fit on my hands
6. I didn’t have enough breakfast
7. The guys in front of us played like a turtle – we waited too long!

Do me a favor, add this list please! Onegaishimasu……:)) :)).

I will survive. I will.

I feel so tired with my damn project.. slow progress, got to read and read more articles, papers, journals and people's speech. Today, I am really having hard times to improve one part of it. Sometimes, I just want to give up and leave this project away for good.

Global economy, currency mismatch, bond market, secondary mortgage market, capital control, liquidity problem, capital market, regional initiatives, moral hazard, mortgage backed securities, rating agency... whatever you called it. I can't take it anymore for tonight. Hope tomorrow would be better.

Anyway, I think I had done one or two things today for this project - it might be a small thing but I am moving forward slowly but very sure.

One Macbook Please!!

I need to buy a new notebook and I am thinking to buy Macbook. I don’t know whether it will match with my expectation and budget or not. Last Sunday, I went to one of the best Mac store in the world at Yurakucho. Four storey shop building with a training center at third floor and it is for free. Imagine if you want to buy something and you are at the point of “after buy cost” or cost to master the thing you bought.
Actually, there is nothing wrong with my notebook, it is a good one, Toshiba with 15” screen, I got it last year so it just one year old. The problem, it’s belong to my ex company and like it or not I got to return it. Oh….
Well, anyway what I saw in Mac store was a very nice one, small sized, looks nice and powerful with affordable option (that’s what I thought so). I love Windows since the very beginning of it, but somehow I feel something wrong is going on with Windows future. I don’t feel that they go to the right direction. Vista might be a success story, but if someone could get Mac OSx and Windows XP – I bet you know what would be their choices.

What I feel is Apple really serious to get more and more users. Sometimes we got to compromise to one or two things in the world, if we really want to be the best and that’s what Apple has been doing to beat all odds and to win the market. Well, I don’t know for sure, what do you think?

God Alone Gives Wisdom, Knowledge and Happiness

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God"

人には、食べたり飲んだりし、自分の労若に満足を見いだすよりほかに、何もよいことがない。これもまた、神の御手によることがわかった。実に神から離れて、だれが食べ、だれが楽しむことができようか。なぜなら、神は、みこころにかなう人には、知恵と知識と喜ぶを与え、罪人には、神のみこころにかなう者に渡すために、集め、たくわえる仕事を与えられる。これもまた、むなしく、風を追うようなものだ。

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (In Bahasa: Pengkotbah)

Once again, through several occasions God reminds me to remember that Money, Power and Knowledge would not give me a meaningful life nor a true victory – it would be a chasing after wind.

Everything I undertake should involve God. All my plans should include Him. For only when God is the reason for my behavior; only when God is the purpose of my victory and only when I do what God wants me to do – my life would be meaningful.

Without His wisdom, all of my best efforts and pursuits can be a snare in life.
Without His wisdom, what would I do with my knowledge and would it lead me and my family to the true happiness?

Only God alone gives us wisdom, knowledge and happiness.

Win Your Health

After dropped off for more than two months as I was very busy and the weather was freaking cold (it’s supposed to be warm spring days), I went jogging today while the sun came out. Well, it isn’t a bad jogging course, running along a small river, flat area and less people. I guess my condition is fairy good today. The thing is I need to quit smoking soonest before it is too late.

Maybe if I have a good chance, I will go to Imperial Palace area, the residence of the Emperor of Japan. This palace is at the center of Japan since the establishment of the shogunate government of Edo in 1604. It is a famous jogging area, a 5 km course starts near Sakuradamon and continues around the inner moat of the Palace.
Passing by the Imperial Palace Public Square, Takebashi and the cherry blossom-famed Chidorigafuchi, then the British Embassy, the National Theater, the National Diet Building, and back again to Sakuradamon. I will take a picture and post it in here next time I go there.

This course attracts many joggers not only on weekends and holidays, in particular during lunch time break, many businessmen running in their overalls or shorts along the moats of the palace.

Let's start running for health, fitness and enjoyment.Good health is the precious gift of God and the precious gift that you can give to your loved ones.

Real or Unreal - Both!

One month ago just one week before I go to Japan, I went to Lampung for business trip and also for holiday... I went there with my wife and kids...
So, the morning day before we back to Jakarta, we went to a kind of semi private beach owned by my friend. It is a lovely shallow beach with few kerapu (grouper) breeders scattered near the seaside.



At that time, I was so damned fall in love with that place and try to forget my trip to Japan - as I know it is gonna be totally different kind of life scenes from I enjoyed here. We really had a good time, swimming, having barbeque and playing at the sea shore. I felt that there was a distinctive split, with only easy living on one side and "must do" on the other.

My "must do" is just nearby a place what people called an unreal market, where people buy and sell a PAPER and to some extent they just buy and sell few bytes of data telling a value of one thing.

Tonite just several minutes to midnight, listening to some gospel songs from Joe Pace, I am feeling so empty with my flashy Ph.D. program in bond market, stock daytrading and all those finance structuring models - gee,.. I feel like I am being trapped into something unreal.

So it's difficult for me to tell if my disappointment in it is justified or not. Somehow, I got to go this way first before I could enjoy those "real life" and somehow, we got to choose both or nothing at all. That's life!! Who said we only have one choice at one time?!! At least, it is not me!

God bless you

BMW K1200 GT - My Dream Bike

If I had the money, that would be the EXACT bike that I would purchase.
I saw it in the luxury BMW show room this afternoon near TamaikeSanno. The more I look at it, the more I love it.


Total cost would be around 2,7 million yen... yes it is very expensive compare to its competitors Honda Pan European ABS and Yamaha FJR 1300 A. Well, there is no other way to afford it, I got to work smart so I could buy it in near future. Nothing is impossible in this world, right?.

In here, I could ride it on weekends and spend some hours,kicking around city, cruising the country side or riding it to other cities during holiday. Anyway, it still a dream and like The Alchemist said if you desire a thing strongly, the universe will conspire to make your wishes come true.

Bottom Line

I've been working on my top priority project for the past 3 months and most of that time was spent developing the idea and trying to get all necessary documents done, managing resources and getting approval from authorities. Somehow, I feel that I am really under pressure and to some extent I think to give up. I guess there are two most important things to remember before you start something big or important or something that needs full attention,

It’s better to talk about your idea, plan or project to closest friends and colleagues rather than hide it from everyone. You get so much more value from people's feedback than you get risk from people stealing your idea. Bottom line is about sharing meaning that we need someone in our life to be our sharing partner!

It may take a lot longer than you think it will. Before I landed in this crowded city, I thought I could finish my project in August 2007. When I met with my professor, he said that dead line would be in late October 2007 so even I can finish it earlier it would not make any differences. At last, I was shocked and need to readjust my schedule, resources and of course Money!. Certainly, it is not a good situation for me but at whatsoever I have to achieve my goal. Bottom line is we have to spare some times just in case if thing does not go as we expect.

Nongkrong @ Excelsior Caffe

Today is my fourth day in Tokyo and thanks God I really enjoy my days here in Tokyo (27 March 2007). It’s been 3 years since I left Japan in 2004.
I am sitting on the excelsior café, enjoying cigarettes and coffee while reading few bond related articles
It’s not easy to get back at the same level of knowledge as my job was far away from this field.

Well, I don’t want to talk about bond for this time, what I wanna talk is this place, a modern coffee shop with slow latin music, nice atmosphere and nice people
I came here 3 days ago with my bro, I said to him a place like this is a result of small and uncomfortable apartment in Tokyo.

People needs some place and privacy, if people go outside just to escape from their small box then I guess when they go to coffee shop – they do expect some privacy
So when half of the visitors expect the same thing – then u will find a comfortable atmosphere inside the coffee shop – nobody cares about nobody
They give a space to public for having their privacy so they also can get their privacy