Interview with the Cabbie

Last nite, when facing traffic jam on my way home I had a small talk with the cab driver. It’s been three times though the same subject mentioned with the same tone. They miss the old Suharto’s regime. Not surprisingly, they were all talking about how situation were much better during those days and how much development and prevalent economical welfare felt by the people on ‘almost’ every class. They were stressing about the stabilized national security and feeling of patriotism upheld in high esteem by all. Granted that the freedom was ‘slightly’ compromised but they recognized that as sacrifice they’re willing to take instead of real chaos and total indignity they see these days.

To be honest I was a bit stunned, because I remember it very well, marching with thousands of other protestors during those 1998 period. At that moment what we’re fighting for seems so true and worthy. The regime that’s in power for more than 32 years was deemed to be the source of suffering to the non-bourgeoisie class and the nest of collusion, corruption, and nepotism throughout the administration. Human rights violation in the shape of abduction and suppression of anyone who dare to speak different was beginning to be the focus of rage within the nation.

The powers that be decided that reformation was needed. Preluded by a horrific riot in plenty of business districts, the reformation took place. The regime stepped down and reinstated by one of the crony, although not long after that, the people choose themselves another leader in the shape of Gus Dur, followed by Megawati, and the first time ever Indonesian people able to choose their own leader from a so called ‘the most democratic election ever’ put Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in RI-1 throne.

What do we have now? Consider the economic growth on 1995, the real GDP grew on average by 8% annually (albeit slightly misleading because it was ‘allegedly’ measured with pretense parameters), while now is a modest 3% and not looking to rise anytime soon. The price is hiking up, Rupiah is still franticly unstable, our ‘honorable’ elected parliament fighting like a bunch of thugs in front of national television, corruption is even more rooted in every corner, crime is as high as ever with bombs and massive riot ready to explode at any time, I could go on forever but it’s getting depressing.

The things is, back then even though the number of corruption was indeed high, yet it seems there’s a certain chain of command, there are little fishes, tunas, sharks, and sitting atop was the smiling killer whale. Like for example, the mayor won’t be richer (more corrupt) than the governor, and the governor bow to the minister, furthermore all of them didn’t take more money than the King and his royal family ties. Now it seems that they are all competing each other, to be a local king of their own and taking as many cake as possible leaving the poor dead and starving (anyway, incase you didn’t notice, it’s just a tongue in cheek expression).

I wonder whether the ‘reformation’ in our collective mind was a country without technocrats? Where the younger generation all budding to become celebrities instead of engineers? Become raunchy models instead of scientists? Become dodgy entertainers instead of teachers? Where naked pictures and sex scene considered art? Hugging and kissing in public places considered human rights (Well, it IS probably, I’m not going to use a moral high ground on this one, because at one point I might be just as guilty)?

What does it mean? Are the students and the people in the wrong by doing the protests that escalated into the fall of Suharto in 1998? Is the condemned regime right after all by saying that in order for the country to develop its economy, there needs to be a stability and a Gestapo-like act is indeed required? Are these fellow cab drivers and probably millions (?) other who share the same feeling stating the truth? I dare not even try to contemplate about it.

Or maybe it’d be better if we just move on, try our best living our life and level of involvement (be it in politics or social) the way we want it, within the boundaries of our principle and just hoping, that some day, some how, Indonesia will get better in time.

The Hunt for a PDA

I was on a meeting with quite a prospective client, when my pen suddenly ran out of ink. It’s pretty embarrassing to borrow pen from your client’s secretary. She gave me that peculiar condescending looks and probably thinking what was I doing meeting with a torn white peace of paper and a rubbish pen to a big boss like hers. Luckily when it’s my turn to present the pages in computer the clients (and the secretary) were pretty impressed so I think I can save my ass a bit there.

It has always been a habit, going to an important meeting without pen or organizer. I had a decent memory so almost all the requirements and data from any client sticks to my mind. But these last few weeks the need to have a decent organizer or PDA is beginning to mount. The budget is there but first I had to ask permission from my wife because she had a veto for any expenses after all. Following several persuasions process, she agreed, but with side note, try and find the cheapest one there is.

At first we thought, it would be just great to pair the PDA with CDMA phone, there has been plenty of recommendation to use Esia, for it’s very cheap and cost effective. Most of the PDA Phone in CDMA Technology was way out of our budget, save one, Audiovox Thera. I search reviews in forumponsel.com etc, all of them said that it’s a decent buy but with major issue in battery power. We took a gamble and got ourselves one. Apparently all Thera in Indonesia is a refurbished product and on top of that, they are from black market, so no warrant available unless the local vendor gives you.

I’ve been playing with the Thera all-night and got very disappointed when I realized about the battery problem. I charged it full for eight hours yet when I woke up the next morning it’s reversed to empty again. We decided to return the PDA Phone and get our money back with slight reduction. I thought it was only fair, than end up with a rubbish gadget, which we have to charge every time we want to use it.

We browsed ITC Kuningan and Mall Ambassador once more for PDA Store and met this kind lady in Palm Point, who offered us a brand new HP Ipaq RZ 1710 for only 1.9 million rupiah, the only problem is that they’re out of stock. She’ll have to call us if its ready stocks once more. She let us browse for a while just in case we could find one with a better price. Apparently not, the others offered no less than 2.4 mil rupiah.

The lady called me in the next two days and asked whether I was still interested. I hurried went to the store and finalized the transaction. She also told me that she had to endure wrath from her boss for letting the Ipaq go at that price (which is very low indeed especially with the rupiah plummet that day). I thanked the lady for her kindness and got home anxious to have fun with the new toy.

Ira was pretty excited too. We had the PDA for two weeks now and it has been a great help and quite a decent investment. Considering the price and functionality, it's a steal really. She’s been to half a dozen meetings with it and found it pretty handy and useful. The 65K TFT resolution is crystal clear. And with Windows mobile 2003, landscape and portrait view is available to almost all applications. Synchronizing with my mac and pc is easy and with the 512 MB SD Card I bought, I can fill it with plenty of mp3s, medium sized movies, and programs so I won’t be looking like an idiot the next time I had to wait for two hours in Plaza Senayan. Basically, in the end it’s considered money well spent.