Out of F o c u s

Hello, June! How's your June so far, guys? Some of you are mostly excited for the summer, I think. But we've been experiencing some gloomy weather the past few days here. Not that I'm complaining though. Recently, my autofocus censor on my camera has been taking more time than usual. I’m not a really patient kind of person and I don’t want to lose the moment, so I changed the focus mode to manual. I thought that I had the picture with a pretty clear focus… wrong. It was blurry and that’s when I started to worry about my sight. I never get my eyes checked. And wearing a pair of glasses sounds cool to me, but I’d rather not having to wear them every single day, you know? So anyway, I check on Google on what could possibly go wrong about my camera and I got into conclusion that there might be some dust on the AF censor (underneath the mirror in the camera’s body?). I’ve tried to clean it with a bulb blower and it seems like the AF finally able to select some points but still needs more time than usual to do so. I think I’m gonna have to clean it more thoroughly once again. Or ask for some help. If you find some of these photos are a bit blurry and wondering why, please read this paragraph again.

I took these photos at my aunt’s. One of my favorite thing from their place is the ridiculous amount of space in their front yard and backyard. There’s not much in there but I just love it, compared to the limited space we have at home, and I love to imagine having such a huge space of backyard like that for my future home. Also, in the backyard, their neighbor’s avocado tree has started to bear fruits and a bunch of them are overhanging the backyard. Man. I love avocado! Too bad those ones belong to their neighbors... haha. So good to hang out with Naya again! She was always looking for me. I asked her to pose for me and this photo below is what I got.

not mine

I feel really unproductive these past two weeks. But somehow I finally submit the draft of my internship report which needs a lot of touch up and I bought a book about the Ottoman Empire. I’m usually a not-so-slow kind of reader but with this book I’m gonna need more time. And already I’m longing for a lighter book! Haha. Then I watched two movies last week, which are Fast and Furious 6 and Now You See Me. Some action sequence in Fast 6 made me shake my head in disbelief as they’re a bit exaggerated. I also shake my head looking at Dwayne Johnson. Did he gain more muscles or was it just because he’s wearing tight clothes? He’s huge! And despite of all the exaggerations,  I like it because it’s really entertaining. There’s also an Indonesian actor in this movie. So proud of him. And Now You See Me got us fooled with the plot twists. Good list of actors in the cast, but only a few are really explored.

love this photo

Kylie recommended this band He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister. I’ve listened to some of their songs and watch some of their videos. Must admit that the first video I watched was Lazy Daze because of the face painting! Haha. And this is the song that’s stuck in my head. The drummer is really cool. And they somehow remind me to... Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros? I’ve been trying to whistle the intro of their song, Home, but so far it’s no success...

PS: I updated my link page a bit! :)

Tunes

I noticed that the construction of this three-story house nearby is nearly done, or in other news, I haven't take a lot of photos lately. Currently editing a video of the family I shot from this day. Took me awhile because when I first try to edit the video, the software was fussing so I kind of just leave it until I get the mood to try again.



I also noticed that I didn't post any tunes last month? Well, this month's tunes is sooooo predictable. Can't think of any other songs to put together other Tegan and Sara's playlist at Big Sound Festival. Sorry I'm not sorry... I still got that goosebump whenever I listen to these songs, but especially the ones from Heartthrob, wishing I can get back to that day. I have also been listening to more of The Temper Trap. Before the concert I only know probably three of their songs--whoops... And how I wish that I can sing like Dougy! A few days ago I found a YouTube video of them about to perform Down River and they invited Mumford and Sons on stage. Aaah so cool to see them together on stage. Anyway, check out these videos, the songs are from their self-titled album and Trembling Hands is a really good song.

May 15: Big Sound Festival!!!

Okay, I'll just keep this post short. So, my Mom changed her mind. And I wouldn't in a hundred years thought she'd change her mind that easily on such things. But that's my Mom, I guess. And I feel terrible for being a brat that I am. But she let me go to the concert and I was the happiest, I can't stop smiling! The struggle isn't over, though. I have to find a friend because obviously I wasn't allowed to go alone. And then I have to get the ticket on the D-day because it's not available anymore at some of the official ticket box I visited.
So shout out to my dear friend who accompanied me through hunting for the ticket, the concert, and not to mention all of my babbling, rambling, outspoken obsession of Tegan and Sara on daily basis. You know who you are. Thank you a million time, mate!!! ♡


I didn't bring my camera as DSLR is not allowed and it's the only decent photography gear I own, so I have no other option than my phone camera. I just hate how the phone can't do justice to the pictures but I just can't help it, I have to capture those moments. I'm sorry for the low quality photos.



1. Van She.
2. Heart-shaped smoke? Loving the purple.
3. Stage preparation for Tegan and Sara. This is when I'm losing my breath.
4. Tegan and Sara!!!
5. This was probably during Now I'm All Messed Up.
6. The Temper Trap.
7. Dougy Mandagi. He interacted with the audience in Bahasa the whole time. :)

My battery went low when Blur is on. But I managed to shoot one more video of them when I tried my camera again. And besides, the crowd went crazy and I'm stuck and sandwich-ed between the gate and this girl behind me. I left when Blur is still melting the faces of their fans because Mama already warned me not to get home too late. Besides, I was all messed up. Physically and emotionally.

Back In Your Head / The Con / Walking With A Ghost / Hop A Plane 

Goodbye, Goodbye / Drove Me Wild / Arrow / Alligator

Feel It In My Bones / Now I'm All Messed Up / Closer

I don't know how I managed to write down their setlist among all of the feelings. I was in between emotional breakdown and over excitement, I feel like I'm a bipolar. So yeah... there were tears involved and I'm not gonna explain it further unless you're as obsessed with them as I am. Haha. It was too fast. I mean, really fast. Later on, Tegan posted the photo of the setlist with the caption, "It was fast. It was furious. It was Jakarta." It still make me laugh. Ironically, I'm also furious because the big screen were off and then just playing the same graphic on the background of the stage, instead of a close up of them during their set. Even more ironic, it only happened during their set. So unfair. It was a really entertaining set, but something is clearly missing as they didn't even play Call It Off and Nineteen. I was also hoping for The Cure and The Ocean (T-Teamer right here hehe), but judging from their setlist for previous shows, I know they're probably not gonna play it.


My friend Eky being really kind and picked us from the venue. After they left the stage and until this afternoon I was feeling aaaaaall blue. I guess it's the post-concert syndrome? I really hope they'd come back for a full show. It was a great night and I had so much fun, but I just want more of them, you know? Oh well...


Got home, looking at the ticket, and can't really believe it all just happened. Wish to see them live again in the near future. :))

A Day Well Spent

One of my cousin went through the national exam for high school students last month and the college students in the family including me just finished with midterm  exam. And last Thursday was a red-letter day. My Mom has already started making plans from weeks away so that we all can refresh ourselves a bit. So, hanging out with the family is one of the main options to spend the day. She got some vouchers for this themed park and water world. It's located nearby my uncle's house, we went there first to organize things and last minute preparation. I was a bit pessimistic. Because the place is new. It's not even in the big city, so I know there's not much I can expect. I'm just really glad that I can spend the day with the family and that I can bring my camera. 

I'm mostly excited to be reunited with this girl. Meet Naya.

Nice bracelet, kiddo. Are you sure that's how you wear it?

Just like I expected. There's not much. It's not a huge themed park but it was enough to spend half of the day since we're going swimming, too. I was surprised that my Mom took this mini roller coaster ride. It was really funny to watch her expressions even from distant. Then my cousin suggested the Haunted House, and to my surprise again, Mom said she's going with us. The only thing that scares me is probably the sound effects. I hate it. I seriously have a wild imagination and I've already imagined things that don't even exist on daily basis. So I have to cover my ear to block the scary screaming and all. And my Mom was HYSTERICAL in there. I think it was also her way to cover her own fear. She kept punching the fake ghosts that pops out of the dark and like, 'How dare you! I'm not even scared of you!' Crazy. Then I took this ride that spun me over for about 4-5 minutes. When we thought the ride was over, it started spinning even faster for the last few spins. I haven't eat anything but a small portion of rice that morning, so I'm glad I didn't vomit from 7 metres high. Then had lunch break. And it was the most plain fried rice I've ever eat. It was spicy but that's about it.

And then almost everyone went swimming. I thought it'd be a hot day so I refused to swim. But the weather turned ridiculously awesome for swimming; it was cloudy and a bit windy, no sunshine. I kind of regret that I didn't bring my swimsuit, but I actually had fun taking photos and videos of them.

One of my favorite shot of the day. He likes to bug Naya a lot and it's just funny to watch their interaction.

My uncle took this picture at dinner and I love it. There were more than 20 of us! 

Checking on photos of her on my phone.

I felt so tired when we got home and I didn't even spend my energy on swimming. Then I found out that I took 333 photos and more than 20 videos even though some of the videos are less than 10 seconds long. Pheww. See you soon with more good things, hopefully! ;)

Contra

Despite all these smiley pictures I took on the last week of my internship, I've been feeling down lately. Mostly because my beloved mother won't let me go to the music concert in which Tegan and Sara will be performing at. I kind of understand that she won't let me because I've got no one I can go to the concert with. I said I could just find a friend from the T+S community on the Internet, which is fatal, because obviously parents don't want us to go with some strangers we met on the Internet. But all of her other reasons is just far from being logical. Seriously illogical that it hurts my brain. Being the only child sucks. And my life's dull. I can't wait until I can make a living for myself and then I can do whatever I want.

I'll start my final paper next semester due to my own stupidity and some mess I made last semester. So this semester I only have one class and we just finished midterm exam this week. It's funny how exam always makes me feel anxious no matter for how many years I've done it already. I really hope I'll come back with more positive news on the next post. Have a nice weekend, folks.