Adapting the Language

Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia are told to have same root. That is why we have so many similar words. But... Malay and Indo also have a lot of same words with totally different meaning. This had made my adaptation process a bit hard...

Comel
Indo = big mouth
Malay = cute
Pengacara
Indo = lawyer
Malay = performer/host of event
Boleh
Indo = allowed
Malay = can/able
Bisa
Indo = can/able/venom
Malay = venom
Seronok
Indo = too sexy/provocative [usually in clothing or attitude]
Malay = fun
Kelainan
Indo = abnormal
Malay = different
Ribut
Indo = noisy/quarreling
Malay = tornado
Ibu Pejabat
Indo = wife of high rank officer [usually wife of minister]
Malay = head office
Pejabat
Indo = high rank officer
Malay = office
Syarikat
Indo = association/trade union
Malay = company
Bertuah
Indo = posses magic power
Malay = lucky
Mesra
Indo = lovingly/tender
Malay = friendly
Ahli
Indo = expert
Malay = member
Pelan
Indo = slow/quiet
Malay = plan
Jawatan
Indo = office/body/institution
Malay = position/occupation/designation
Peraduan
Indo = bed
Malay = contest
Jimat
Indo = lucky charm
Malay = saving
Khidmad
Indo = whole-heartedly
Malay = service
Semasa
Indo = during certain period
Malay = current
Faedah
Indo = use/advantage
Malay = bank interest
Maut
Indo = death
Malay = dead/died
Mangsa
Indo = victim of predator
Malay = victim [any victims]
Bagi
Indo = share
Malay = give
Kekal
Indo = ever after
Malay = remain
Masa
Indo = era
Malay = time
Pemandu
Indo = Guide
Malay = driver
Asyik
Indo = fun/interesting
Malay = always
Gaduh
Indo = noisy
Malay = quareling
Majlis
Indo = board
Malay = party

And then, there are also other words which unfamiliar and sounds funny for me as an Indonesian:

semulajadi = natural
air sejuk = cold water
cawangan = branch
cabaran = challenge
pejabat suruhan = branch office/supporting office
kakitangan = staff
timbalan = second man/vice
berhad = limited
kerjaya = career
setiausaha = secretary
selesa = comfortable
katil = bed
berhampiran = near by
sehala = one way
matlamat = hope
seluar = pants
tempatan = local
sukan = sport
jenayah = criminal
juruarah = navigator
antarabangsa = international
temu janji = dating
temu ramah = interview
laluan = way/road
tasik = lake
siasatan = investigation
kelemumur = dandruff
menceburi = get involved

Oh, man....!

Memorable Moments with My Friends

Do you have memorable moments with your friends?
I bet you do! And so do I...

with Anto
Memorable moments: debates; confronting each other

with Mony Pen
Memorable moments: harassing and grabbing each other

with aLbert The Narcist
Memorable moments: exchanging comments; debating; compare our narcisms; acting like retard in the mall; dancing in the music store [that was completely INSANE!]

with Rachel
Memorable moments: hook up together on cigarettes; fight the taxi driver in Bangkok; shopping; gossiping

with Greg and Ed
Memorable moments: hang out at G.O.D [Patpong] until 5 AM

with Frika
Memorable moments: talking to each other until 2 AM under the duvet with eyes closed; hang out at the gay bar in Patpong and forced to hold our pee because the toilets were only for men! went on a 1-day trip to Pattaya just to see her doctor because she missed him!

with Lette and Rosy
Memorable moments: 6 hours shopping in Suan Lum Night Bazaar

with Gita
Memorable moments: shopping in Russian Market and Mekong River Boat Touring [Cambodia]; spending time in the beauty salon in Pnom Penh which had a massaging washing chair [wasn't that a great experience?]

with Kusna and Nio
Memorable moments: Community Party in Sri Lanka [we had to dance together because we were the only Indonesians!]; I was caught in the middle of a vulgar and private conversations because I was translating!

with Winda and Rika
Memorable moments: Secara gitu lohh...!

with Eddoy and Dusyhanta
Memorable moments: last minute design revisions; Saturday Night Hang Out for Singles at Kafe Halaman; pre-wedding photo shooting of Dian and Gery

with Ikha
Memorable moments: we found out that we bought the exactly same butterfly t-shirt [model, color, size]

with Shipwee, Many and Buki
Memorable moments: walking around the World Social Forum till 6 PM every day

HDN Key Correspondent Training in Chiang Mai

Finally, I started to travel again. And as usual, this one is also a working travel. I'm going to join the HDN Key Correspondent Training in Chiang Mai... Yayyy!!! Finally I will see the other side of Thailand!

So, this training was held in AHRN office in Chiang Mai. The place was really beautiful It was more like a Playboy Mansion. Two houses with huge yard and swimming pool! They said that the house belongs to one of former prime minister and his daughter rented it out for a cheap price, especially for NGOs. So, here we are, having a packed training in the pavillion overlooking the swimming pool. It was nice.

On the first night, HDN took us to have a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant called Khum Khantoke. The place was huge and beautiful. Very ethnic. The dinner was free flow of traditional Thai food mixed with Indian. Traditional performances were accompanying us during dinner time. Those beautiful teenagers with slim figure and flat tummy!

We had a very intense day on the second day. I almost lost all my energy [and I haven't done any shoppings!]. Lucky that we did not have any programs after the training was ended. So, Rachel and I decided to let ourselves had a nice dinner at the Nero Cafe nearby.

After that, we went to the Night Market. I really have this crave to do some shoppings. Well, at least to buy some souvenirs for my friends at the office. After several tour and detour of the market, I finally made my first, last and the only purchase! Bookmarks for my friends back in KL. I really did not get anything interesting for myself. The price was twice as much as Bangkok's and I really have no idea what to buy for myself. I was bargaining for a bag, but I was not succeeded. And then I thought to myself, I'd just buy it in Bangkok in my next visit. End of discussion.

I like Chiang Mai. It's quiter than Bangkok, but Bangkok is more accessible in terms of transportation. I was too tired to bargain for taxi fares. Anyway, i's a nice place for a holiday, but I prefer Pattaya though... Hahaha!