Singapore is a foreign country that I almost know by heart. I lived here for more than 5 years, and more than 7 times changed address from north to south and east to west!! from HDB, condo, student hostel, hostel to homeless 
I choose Mombasa’s Hans Zimmer music, because the music represents Singapore fast paced lifestyle.
Nikon D3100,AF-S NIKKOR 18-55MM
Premiere and After Effect
At first, I blame my self because I still can’t continue my traveling solo story up to now. I still owe around 2 more entries about Jogjakarta, but I’d like to write about it when I have spare time. *Finger Crossed*
On this entry, I want to show my latest motion graphic project. Several months ago, I posted an entry titled; Speechless Speech .. ah, Honestly I’m not sure whether my phrase is correct or not. Speechless Speech, it’s just because I became so speechless when I watched the speech of Charlie Chaplin on The great Dictator video on youtube.
So, … it’s my very first full Kinetic Typography. I created it approximately 60 hours or a bit more, due to low processor and almost overload hard-disk,oh ya….. also browsing around on facebook really destroyed my productivity, eh!!
At first, I copy pasted all the speech scritp onto Photoshop, and give some effect abit, decided the typeface that I think suit with the theme. There are 711 words to be synced and animated individually. Yeah, it’s a bit tiring and painful, need a lot of patience where I have to listen the speech and visualizing the moving texts could be better for each words. So, during this process of making , I already listen to this speech around hundreds time … 
I almost know it by heart NOW… 
And then, I give some effect and animation in After Effect software, I create the scenes in green screen so I’m free to decide which background I’m going to use the latter on. After that, I bring them to Adobe Premiere software, and editing process take some times here. Because, in this process I have to make it all in sync with the voice. Then, bring them back to After Effect, to remove the green screen and give more vintage effect. Arhhh, do you think I work efficiently, .. because that’s all on my logic how to produce what I need and want. At last, … I bring all together in Adobe Premiere, ….to put sound and last editing. RENDERING is my favorite time. See, I’m a traveler, so does my work. It’s transiting from one software to another software. 
I intentionally make the video in vintage style, to give 1940s atmosphere in video. The main aim of this is, to campaign sustainable peace in this world. Enjoy my first kinetic typography
Hello… just check it out…
Still Day 13 , December 20, 2011 // Probolingo Bus Station and Malang
Stop over in Malang city is my last minute decision I made when I was in Bali. I suddenly noticed my friend who lived in Sydney for working there, was having holiday in her hometown, Malang – East Java. I then gave her texts, and we made a plan to meet up in her hometown, Malang before I continue my journey to Jogjakarta.
Around 2 hours by bus from Probolinggo. I took a non AC bus, and realized that the fact I’m really in East Java where Javanese is spoken around me. The journey from Probolinggo to Malang by public transport is a bit challenging. I think Indonesia is country for young backpackers who are keen on crazy and wild adventure. You know why I said so?? Uhhmm, Indonesian drivers are crazy, which I suddenly becoming more religious by praying along my journey in the bus, dear god please save me from this uncertain journey.
In the evening, I arrived at Malang Bus Station. I text-ed my friend I already arrived and she replied that she’s still in Surabaya, capital of East Java. Oh My….. The good thing is, she already booked a room for me in her hotel. What a generous friend, isn’t it…. She sent me her room hotel address and asked me to talk to the receptionist there and mention my name. I asked the taxi driver to bring me to my friend’s hotel address.
So, for two days I stayed at this convenient room and the nicest thing is FREE. ))))) Thanks Sylvia, my college friend I met in Singapore. We used to spend a lot of time together in Singapore from 2005 to 2006. We used to make our design projects in her apartment, and I sometimes slept in her place when we’re in rush to complete our projects.
Also, we were the same boat, lived alone overseas without family and roomate.. so, we used to be lazy going back home on the weekend, … instead of exploring Singapore from midnite to morning by having endless talks from Esplanade to Lau Pa Sat.
Why we waited until morning.. killing the time by strolling around Singapore, because we just don’t want to spend much money for taxi with its after midnight tax. Bus and MRT closed from 12 am to 6 am. Nightlife in Singapore is virtually safe.. walking alone at night is secure, 24 hours 7Eleven and fast food such as McDonald, Burger King always open 24 hours. Spending time with her, always full of laughs and jokes. Knowing we both don’t live in the same country anymore…. arranging time to meet up, it’s a great time to be made. The last time we met in 2007, 4 years ago………..
It is a pity, I only spend 2 nights in Malang. The city is developed, the weather is mild and a bit cold when then rain comes, surrounded by mountains, Mount Bromo is not really far from this city. At last, it’s famous with its apple, located in mountainous climate, apples grow so well here.
In Malang, I traveled with my friend and her driver.. so, I don’t really feel as backpacker like I did in Bali and Bromo which I know how to go to this place and that place. From my 2 days quick visit I found in Malang;
1. Malang city is not flat, .. mild weather.
2. People are friendly.
3. Growing city, good for business.
4. People speak Javanese… I believe, 2 or 3 months I stay here, I would be able to speak Javanese with its special accent.
5. It’s quite at night, unlike Jakarta or Kuta, Bali.. cities never sleep.
6. I guess Dutch lived here in colonial era, I found several colonial buildings here from Church, Government office, Train station etc.
Okay, .. I don’t really know much about Malang yet.. I hope I’d get a chance to come back in the future…
, but no tulips here
After going to sleep quite late due to long chats the whole nite with Sylvia, we woke up very late. I had a good time in Malang city with my friend.. Thanks sylvia for giving me a place to stay … ready to continue my journey to another city. Thanks for being such a great host in your hometown, by refusing me to pay everything from coffee, meal and two nites free accommodation in your comfy hotel.
Sunrise ...
As the sun goes up… around 6 or 7 am, I went down to the foot of Mt.Penanjakan. When I climbed up the mountain early morning, It needs alot of energy… when I walked down from the peak, … it’s easier…
While walking down I met some visitors like me, Edelweiss sellers, locals and horses.
Locals
Edelweiss, or Ever Lasting flowers, only grow on mountainous areas
Scenery
It looks in Fairy Tale
I walked down alone, on my way to the foot of Mt.Penanjakan… I stumbled upon a guy who rents a horse to ride. He offered me to rent his horse, at first.. I’m not really interested, but then I changed my mind, why NOT?? To be honest, I’ve never ridden a horse entire my life.
There is always the first time for everything, so.. It would be my first experience riding a horse, … in Mt.Bromo ..
The horse name is Untung, means Lucky in Indonesia
Passing the cliffs with a horse, ..it's like in the movie...
Desert on Tropical Country.. Isn't it beautiful... On the way to the foot of Mt.Bromo passing the sea sand...
Reaching on the foot of Mount Bromo, I parked Untung, my horse there… because I can’t climb to the peak with a horse….
Almost vertical stair to reach Bromo crater...
Hindu Temple on the foot of Mt.Bromo, On the fourteenth day of the Hindu festival of Yadnya Kasada, the Tenggerese people of Probolinggo, East Java, travel up the mountain in order to make offerings of fruit, rice, vegetables, flowers and sacrifices of livestock to the mountain gods by throwing them into the caldera of the volcano.
Ssst, Don't tell my mother with this pose ....
I know standing close to the crater is highly dangerous… I’m not going to do this for the second times, people… I still value my own live, of course.. and , I don’t want to give a shock news to my parents at home, that her daughter who traveled alone fell into the Bromo crater… Oh NO!! So, Don’t tell my mom and dad regarding this.. I just don’t want to let them worried…….
Sad things about Bromo, I can’t understand irresponsible people who throw their rubbish into the crater … C’mon Indonesians, …. it’s so pity and embarrassing.. seeing mineral bottle and plastic bag around the mouth of crater, it destroys the beauty of nature….
So, the last eruption of Bromo is January 2011. Due to the eruption, it destroyed the fence that circling the caldera, before eruption, it’s possible for visitor to see around the caldera. But, now… the fence is already gone, swept away by the volcanic ash, .. At the moment…. officially, visitors are not allowed to climb the Bromo crater….
Look like in Mars
Still Day 13 , December 20, 2011 // Probolingo + Cemoro Lawang, Bromo East Java ……… Back to the hostel for Breakfast and pack my stuff to check out.
I called it Brunch.... Toast, Egg, Fried rice and Coffee & Orange Juice, Edelweiss at the edge of table..
At the cafe hostel, while waiting for public transportation to bring me back to Probolinggo city, I met with three Germans who stayed next to my room. They were waiting for the bus, same as me. They saw me talking to the hostel staff asking about what time the transportation will be picking us in Indonesian.
One of them asked me: ‘ Do you speak Indonesian??’
Me: a bit confused… ‘Of course…, I’m Indonesian…’
Him: Oh.. I thought you’re Japanese….
Hmmm….. guys, do I look like Japanese??? Or , I found some western who are still new in Asia, still can’t differentiate between Chinese, Japanese or non East Asian face.
We are four now, waiting for the bus. As Indonesian, in the middle of German tourist, .. I felt abit embarrassed with my own country service. C’mon… Bromo is a beautiful place, don’t destroy tourist memory about this amazing place with our suck service like this.
We had to wait for the bus for 2/3 hours… and these Germans were about to take the train to Jogjakarta. One of German, female, get mad with the system.. how unprofessional, … the driver came, but he asked more fare to the city because the passenger only 4 of us. He said, he doesn’t want to waste the fuel to bring us to city with normal fare.
After bargaining, …. we had to pay more than normal price,.. cuz no option, and the weather was not really good, .. rainy and foggy.
Around 1 hour trip to the city, I had a good small chat with one of these German, he’s from Berlin. He just graduated from his university, he studied engineering, related to aeroplane. But he told me, he’s not smart… what a humble guy….
His next destination after Jakarta is Malaysia, then he asked me where to go in Malaysia. Uhhmmmm….. I told him about Malacca, it’s a historical city with the Dutch, British and Portuguese heritage. It’s a nice place for just having a calm day for one or two nite chilling out at cafe for beer. Then he asked me about Tioman Island, .. I was about to go to Tioman island in February 2009, but we stopped at Mersing, didn’t continue our journey to the island. The beach look so disspaointing due to wet season. So, I afraid his visit to Tioman is not in the best month.
Arriving in Probolinggo city, we separated.. I continued my own journey to Malang city and they headed to train terminal to get a train to Jogjakarta. Saying good bye one another.
Note
For foreigners who want to travel to Bromo, it’s better get a travel bus… It’s a pity, government don’t really concern about this. Bromo National park is a great place I’ve been so far. I hope they can provide foreigner public transportation friendly.
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