Passenger: Let her go

I actually don't follow the music industry nowadays. I barely know about the artist nor the current hits. Does Lady Gaga still have number one hit? I don't know, or has she ever been in the top position? I don't know either. Hahaha. Talking about music, I love the 90s. I was raised during that period. It was a very enjoyable time to enjoy music since at that moment we still had MTV. Ah, I remember VJ Donita Rose. Gorgeous. 

Then couple of days ago, I looked for a song that I love so much from David Bowie, it's not from the 90s, it's a quite old song, from 69. But then I found a cover from a band (at first I thought it was a band) that sounds so unique. The song I looked for was Space Oddity, and it-in my opinion-was brilliantly covered by Passenger. You can watch the video on YouTube here. What attracted me the most was the band itself. I had no idea about them. Who is Passenger?

Of course asking Google was the solution, and what I found was that Passenger indeed was a band but they were dissolved in 2009. Then how come Passenger still exists? The vocalist, Michael David Rosenberg, opted to keep the band's name to be his stage name for his solo career. It's unique thing though to do such thing. Commonly, the vocalist name becomes the band's name.

That is not just the thing I wonder. He has a big single that is viewed by billions people on YouTube. It is also one of the most viewed video on YouTube. Wow. I didn't know it. The single is Let Her Go, and it reached top position in several charts in many countries. The song is poetic telling about the end of a relationship. Telling that you will really feel the love when someone you love has gone. Ok, here is the lyric.

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast
You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
Love comes slow and it goes so fast
Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much and you dive too deep
'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go
Oh oh oh no
And you let her go
Oh oh oh no
And you let her go

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

and here is the music video.

what do you think?

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Kini

mentari beringsut pergi
meninggalkan jejak jingga di cakrawala
indah memang
namun jadi tak berarti karena kau tak di sisi

kini malam menjelang
ditemani rintik hujan tiada henti
berselimut hembusan angin
husssss...
makin menusuk tetulang dalam raga
engkau dimana kini?



enjoy the 90s, everyone.

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Life is

Sometimes life is unpredictable. It dictates things that you do not want to pursue, nor do you wish to listen to. But no matter how we resists life, it wont allow itself to lay unappreciated and devalued for a long time. For each day we live on this planet, each breath we took when were awake and each silent breath when we are asleep, life is already in its existence. For life is within us, it envelops us in everything that we do. It is there, silent and yet overbearing, when we took our own paths, when we mold our own destiny, and when we choose wise and unwise decisions. Decisions that might or might not affect the way our life will be. For no matter what path we choose, life is always there. Life is the essence of life. Life is a God-given gift bestowed upon mankind. Life is our life. Without life, humanity would not have existed, I would not have existed. Life gives us the freedom to choose, to see things in its pure goodness, but above all, life gives us the ability to live on this planet. For it is life that we found each other. For it is in life that we are one. We are not only citizens in our own countries but we are citizens of the world. We are here because of life, and we are here because we have life. Live life to its fullest form. Thank God for bestowing upon us life. Life is life.

source:  http://gg.gg/LIFEIS

To complete, enjoy a music video from the 90s. I love 90s.

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Januari

Hi Januari.
Awal dari semua awal.
Pertama, meski bukan yang utama.

Selamat pagi mimpi,
jendela antara dunia ku dan dunia mu.
Masihkah aku menjadi bunga tidurmu?

Hari berganti, minggu berubah.
dan kini engkau tak tampak lagi
Masihkah aku menjadi bunga tidurmu?

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Happier

This morning, as I drove my car to the office, the radio played this beautiful song by Ed Sheeran. To me, he is a genius. Most of his songs are simple, but deep in meaning, and not to mention the process how he composed those songs, so simple but catchy. Back to the Happier, let's check out the lyric.

Walking down 29th and Park
I saw you in another's arms
Only a month we've been apart
You look happier

Saw you walk inside a bar
He said something to make you laugh
I saw that both your smiles were twice wide as ours
Yeah, you look happier, you do

Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt you
But ain't nobody love you like I do
Promise that I will not take it personal, baby
If you're moving on with someone new

'Cause baby you look happier, you do
My friends told me one day I'll feel it too
And until then I'll smile to hide the truth
But I know I was happier with you

Sat on the corner of the room
Everything's reminding me of you
Nursing an empty bottle and telling myself you're happier
Aren't you?

Ain't no no body hurt you like I hurt you
But ain't no body need you like I do
I know that there's others that deserve you
But my darling, I'm still in love with you

But I guess you look happier, you do
My friends told me one day I'd feel it too
I could try to smile to hide the truth
I know I was happier with you

Baby, you look happier, you do
I knew one day you'd fall for someone new
But if breaks your heart like lovers do
Just know that I'll be waiting here for you

songwriters: Ed Sheeran/Benjamin Levin/Ryan Tedder

So, are you happier now?

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Negeri Di Atas Awan

Pernah melihat tumpukan awan dari atas pesawat? Indah bukan? Nah bagaimana klu kita melihat langsung tumpukan awan tersebut ada di bawah kaki kita? Pasti akan menakjubkan. Indonesia yang diberkahi dengan banyaknya dataran tinggi yang memungkinkan kita bisa berada di "atas" awan. Nah, dataran tinggi Dieng, salah satunya, bisa menjadi tujuan untuk menginjakkan kaki di atas awan. Dieng memang sedang menjadi primadona saat ini. Dataran tinggi yang terletak di dua Kabupaten ini-Banjarnegara dan Wonosobo-memang memiliki banyak titik yang dapat memanjakan mata. 

Saya ingin berbagi pengalaman perjalanan ke Dieng beberapa waktu yang lalu. Saya berangkat dengan seorang teman. Kami berteman, tapi tidak mesra. Teman saja. Klu mesra, geli juga, dia cowok juga soalnya, anaknya juga udah dua. [tapi yang penting kan kasih sayang...] aaahhhh... apa siiiih. Lanjut.

Perjalanan Dieng - Bandung

Perjalanan ke Dieng dari Bandung dapat ditempuh dengan berbagai moda transport. Untuk transportasi umum, kita bisa naik Bis dari terminal Cicaheum, jurusan Bandung - Wonosobo (Wonosobo adalah kota terdekat dari Dieng). Ada perusahaan otobis yang menuju Dieng, yaitu Budiman dan Sinar Jaya. Kalau saya sih merekomendasikan Sinar Jaya. Perjalanan Bandung - Wonosobo tidak akan terasa karena berangkat malam hari, jadi tinggal tidur di Bis. Hehehe.

Perjalanan ke Wonosobo sekitar sembilan jam, berhenti sekitar satu jam untuk istirahat di daerah Banjar [duh... lagi enak tidur dibangunin, buat istirahat katanya! hehehe... #supirbutuhngopiwoy]. Sampe di terminal Mendolo pukul empat pagi disambut dengan dinginnya udara Wonosobo. Brrrrrr.. Meskipun masih gelap, jangan kuatir, terminalnya sudah "hidup". Begitu turun dari Bis, langsung disambut dengan ramah oleh mas-mas yang nanya, "mau kemana mas? Sindoro? Sumbing? Prau? atau hanya ke Dieng?" Yup, di terminal Mendolo anda akan banyak menemui para pendaki yang rata-rata dari Jakarta.

Wonosobo - Dieng

Setelah menghangatkan badan dengan minum teh anget-yang cepat sekali dingin-di terminal, kami melanjutkan perjalanan menuju Dieng dengan menggunakan Ojeg. Ya, sepagi itu angkutan ke Dieng belum ada di terminal, tapi kita harus ke Plaza (begitu orang sana menyebutnya) dimana sudah banyak bis 3/4 yang menunggu. Sebelum berangkat, kami sempatkan dulu shalat subuh di Masjid Kauman. Sebuah masjid lama dengan gaya arsitektur jawa kuno. Jadi berasa di zaman para wali. Lokasi masjid sedikit agak jauh dari Plaza, namun bis menuju Dieng lewat tepat di depan masjid.
Perjalanan Wonosobo - Dieng memakan waktu kurang lebih satu jam dengan hamparan lahan pertanian di kiri-kanan. Gunung Sindoro juga terlihat sangat indah. Dalam perjalanan, ada satu spot yang layak untuk dikunjungi, yaitu Gardu Pandang Tieng. Nah, kebetulan kami berangkat pagi dari Wonosobo, jadi pas ngelewat Gardu Pandang, posisi mataharinya sangat indah, di sebelah Gunung Sindoro. Sayang, kami gak sempat turun dari bis. Lain kali, mungkin. [untuk foto Gardu Pandang Tieng banyak di Google].

Dieng

Sampai di Dieng pukul delapan pagi disambut udara dingin menusuk, kami langsung menuju homestay. Kami tidak melakukan reservasi terlebih dahulu, karena waktu itu bukan high season. Kami menginap di homestay Bu Djono. Memilih disini karena hasil ulasan di beberapa situs perjalanan-termasuk Tripadvisor-memiliki nilai yang bagus dengan komentar memuaskan, harganya pun bersahabat.

Destinasi pertama sesampai di Dieng adalah..... makaaaaan. Ah itu mah bukan destinasi. Hehehe. Kami menikmati Mie Ongklok pagi itu. Mie khas Wonosobo, yang kata orang, belum ke Dieng klu belum mencoba mie ongklok. Terus, enak ga? Klu anda penggemar Lomie, mungkin akan doyan, karena kuahnya mirip, pake tepung kanji gitu. Saya sih, agak kurang doyan ya, karena "berlendir". Hehehe... tapi habis juga, lapar dan kedinginan, jadi butuh bahan bakar untuk menghangatkan tubuh. Mie ongklok dimakan dengan sate sapi. Kalau saya sih ditambah dengan paha ayam kampung goreng. Setelah makan mie ongklok, badan masih terasa dingin, kami putuskan untuk minum kopi di homestay yang kebetulan menyediakan kopi luwak aseli, katanya. Lumayan sih, dan cukup asam ternyata, apalagi saya bukan pekopi berat.

Wisata Dieng

Setelah ngupi ngupi syantiek, kami bertanya tentang wisata Dieng ke petugas homestay, dan beliau menjelaskan dengan sangat rinci dan ramah sekali. Oya, namanya Pak Kelik, tapi bukan Kelik Pelipur Lara (ada yang tahu??? hehehe), juga bukan Pak Keli Suradi, calon mertuanya Dea [Lah, siapa mereka??? Hehehehe]. Lalu kami putuskan juga untuk menyewa motor untuk dua hari ke pihak homestay. Dengan dibekali peta wisata Dieng dan bensin motor full tank, kami menjelajah Dieng, dan tujuan pertama adalah Telaga Warna. Dari penginapan sangat dekat, hanya sekitar 10 menit.

 

Katanya sih, telaga ini dinamai telaga warna karena warna airnya yang sering berubah karena kandungan sulfur yang sangat tinggi. Telaga warna ini dikelilingi oleh bukit hijau dengan udara yang sangat sejuk, meski bau belerang sangat menyengat sih. Selain telaga warna, daerah sekitarnya juga terdapat tempat-tempat yang cukup mistis. Ada goa yang biasa dipakai untuk bertapa para resi di zaman kerajaan dulu. Terdapat juga patung-patung tokoh seperti Gajah Mada dll. Selain itu, juga ada satu telaga lagi yang letaknya bersebelahan dengan telaga warna, yaitu Telaga Pengilon. Cuma kami hanya melihat dari jauh, karena mirip-miriplah, lagian suhunya cukup terik meskipun baru jam sembilan pagi. 

Tujuan selanjutnya adalah Dieng Plateu Theatre, objek wisata yang berupa bioskop yang memutarkan film-film dokumenter tentang Dieng, baik itu tentang fenomena alama, maupun budaya masyarakat Dieng. Namun, disini kami hanya singgah saja, tidak nonton film, titip parkir motor, lalu langsung "mini hiking" menuju Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin, objek wisata berupa bukit yang menyajikan pemandangan aduhai. Jarak tempuh dari Dieng Plateu Theatre sekitar 15 menit jalan kaki. Di atas, terdapat beberapa titik untuk melihat pemandangan Dieng Plateu. Dari sini terlihat indahnya telaga Warna dan telaga Pengilon. Di sisi lain puncak bukit ini, juga terdapat Jembatan Merah Putih. Jembatan sepanjang sekitar dua puluh meter ini terbuat dari kabel baja yang menghubungkan dua titik tempat melihat pemandangan. Jembatannya tidak terlalu tinggi, namun cukup goyang ketika dilewati.

=== bersambung

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sendiri

...dalam kesendirianku
ku kenang semua tentang mu
yang perlahan pergi seiring angin musim gugur

...dan dalam kesendirianku,
ku menantikan musim semi,
berharap semuanya seperti dulu,
saat kau menghiasi dahanku.
Aku rindu masa lalu.

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