2026! Time for New Hobby! Beading and 3D modeling!

 Back in 2021, yea during the covid era, I bought 11000 Hama Beads in various colors, because you need various colors to work with.  I bought a box that already have all the colors but the box got smashed, all the color got mixed up.  I spent days separating the beads by the colors using chopstick (what do I have to use tweezer if I have chopstick?).  I got traumatized I don't even want to look at the hama beads even today.

But beads look fun right? It's 2026, a new year, time for revisiting the beads,  Not hama beads, I chose miyuki beads, or to be precise the cheap version of it, glass beads.  I bought 4 books, 3 books use peyote technique while the other one use loom technique.  Since Aneka Benang sell the loom, of course the first method that I try is the loom beading technique.  It's a bad habit of mine actually, I impulsively buy tools and supplies so I can blame the tools if I failed to learn.  It wasn't easy and I wasn't sure I had fun but I think the loom waste a lot of thread.  See, I already blamed the tools.

But it is 2026!  There are 3D printers!  And I couldn't believe myself, instead of using the peyote method, I tried to make the loom by myself using 3D blender.  If you know me well, I don't like 3D, my specialty is in 2D.  It is not a secret, I am a design teacher, and last year I was the secondary instructor for some 3D class when I know nothing about 3D.  Aesthetically, I like 2D and pixel art.  I rarely play 3D games with first person view because I get motion sickness.  Thanks to the 3D class where I was supposedly the teacher (and of course thanks to the primary instructor who did almost everything), I learn a little bit of 3D.

The first prototype which works but I got greedy thinking that I can make it prettier

the third prototype which is not the last

So I made a loom using blender, the first one looks like a castle wall, it is sturdy and printed cleanly but the sides made it hard to put a finger underneath the beads.  But it works and I like the size.  So the second version, I tried to improved the experience, by only making the loom on 2 sides, and made the loom a little bit rounded.  I was proud about the design but I made the hinge too small LOL.  Because I didn't use the right scale.  The third one supposedly the final one.  I made it perfectly, scaled, measured...Someone even ask to buy it.  But... the thread slipped because of the curved edge doesn't have enough grip.  one part fell apart. And the size is too small.  I intentionally made the size small but it is too small for the project that I want to do.   The loom from Aneka Benang is not wide enough, while my loom is not long enough.

My Teacher ID card, because I love my job?

I guess I need to fix my loom prototype again, but 3D print is not that cheap.  Meanwhile, as I mentioned early in this post, I am using the cheap glass bead, the glass bead size is not uniformed, it looks okay as an artwork, I mean I like that it looks imperfect, but as a product to sell (not that I want to sell it), I think I need a more uniformed beads. Just like when making amigurumis, I never know how much I like pure cotton yarn before I tried milk cotton.  I need to try to do many things with various beads to find out which one is the best for me.

Now I don't know which one I like the most, beading or prototyping the loom?

Nano Drama on Hellofest 2025! My best efforts!

 I want to continue writing about micro journal because that is the reason I revived this blog but I really have a good news.

Yesterday, there was the 2025 Hellofest, the animation festival.  And like back in 2014 (WHAAAT), it has the 8 seconds film contest.  It's a unique and special category that only can be done in Hellofest.  There is almost no creative limitation to what can be told in just 8 seconds.

Back in 2014 I tried making a stop motion with my amigurumis. I made it through the final with my 8 seconds animation: Simalakama.  I didn't win but it was a very special moment for me, to watch my animations being screened in a big screen with a lot of audiences.  Hearing and watching the live reaction of the audiences reminded me that I made animations for the audiences, and it felt wholesome.

Fast forward to 2025, It had been quite a long time since the last Hellofest.  I am now a teacher, I teach animation and I really hoped my students would join the 8 seconds film contest.  But the deadline was at the same time as the mid exam. I couldn't be the teacher who ask them to finish their mid exam animation assignment and at the same time ask them to join the contest. As an animator, Hellofest is a very special festival so I shouldn't skip it, so if my student can't join the contest, I had to be the one joining the contest.

With only 9 days remained to submit the film, I suddenly got the idea.  I have been writing about micro drama for my academic research so I was inspired by it.  Instead of making micro drama, I made nano drama, the even shorter duration of drama.  I wasn't exaggerating if I said I made the animation with micro journal rev.4.  I wrote down the dialogue and plot on the tiny screen of rev.4.  I really had no time to make proper notes of the idea. With the deadline approaching I need to make quick decisions. And despite I need the F5 keys to make animation, I didn't have time to replace my keyboard and I used micro journal rev.4 for the whole animation compositing and editing process.  Oh I made a lot of  quick decisions I didn't have time to think about it.

Since my drawing and animation are so so, I thought I need to use an extra special technique to make it unique.  So I use embroidery.  It was stupid and crazy decision, I spent the whole week to embroider all the parts.  Luckily, I was alone at home so nobody witness how messy my room was.

I thought of using stop motion, which use over the top camera, but I am suck at photography.  So I used scanner.  The scanner is broken, and I don't know if anybody realized, there are dead pixels on the pictures.  The animation production was the most violent production I ever had.  I killed a cicak (house lizard) accidentally I don't know how exactly,  I found its body underneath the fabric and paper scraps.  I also almost killed the printer.  And yeah, the scanner was already half dead. And I ruined the rev.4's spacebar that I have to replaced its insert steam.  Not to mention it was tiring to embroider everything.  It was a huge damage to my wallet because I had to order extra embroidery threads and the shop sent the wrong colors.  There was also system failure when paying the voice actor.  

But. overall it was fun experience and I love to brag about the process to my student LOL. I would like to share the whole production process here but I might have to write it down for an academic journal as well so I would get publication point (ah the life of a faculty member).

Then it was announced yesterday. I won best effort award!! it's totally worth it :D. 

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I Like Green but I Love Pink

 Don't know when did I start my obsession with pink.

I remember one day my parents bought 3 binder notes (loose leaf) for me and my siblings.  My brother took the blue one, my sister took the green one, and I got the pink one.  And afterward, I always got pink.

Growing up, I was bullied for being a girly girl.  If you imagine a stereotypical cartoon character or movie character  who dressed in pink, that people/ viewer hate, well that's me.  I like being a girl, I like being a princess. Like, how did they expect me to behave?  I am always a girl.  So I tried not to be too girly, I tried not to laugh like a pink character,  I tried to wear poker face. I used to hate being a girly girl, a sassy girl, but that's who I am and they bullied me so I hated to be myself.  Anyway...  That's in the past.  I am no longer afraid of wearing the brightest pink to the art gallery where everybody wears black like in funeral.  One of my childhood friend (who was not very close but she never bully me) even asked "I don't know you like pink".  Well, my friend, please tell the world, I like pink!  

Pink unleashed!!!  

But it's not like I am always wearing pink like Legally Blonde or Barbie.  My comfort color is green.  Even my coworker call me "nyai" because she always see me wearing green.  I choose green luggage over pink luggage because it feels safer.  But of course not the matcha green. Neon green LOL.  What is subtlety anyway?

It has been 8 years and I suddenly write again?

It is funny.  I don't realized I was that sad because I lost my job. I mean looking at the last few post, I can make a conclusion that I stopped writing because I was THAT sad.

Good news. it's all in the past. I already have a new job.

Things are okay. 

Last time I wrote the blog was in 2017?

The me in 2017 would have never guess it that in 2018 I got scholarship for master degree.

Yeah, it was never a plan but I did back to school, and graduated at 2020, Exactly on the day the social limitation started because of the Covid Pandemic situation.

I didn't plan to be a teacher but here I am, a teacher LOL.

one of the draft that I didn't publish was about Hellofest 2018.

Guess what, tomorrow is Hellofest, and they will screen my animation :D

yup even after 7 years, some things remain the same.

And why do I start blogging again?  

Because I don't know where to put my notes.

So yeah, I can stop suddenly and I can start suddenly too,

I don't know if anybody stop by and read my blog,  But hello! thanks for stopping by

A not so quick project

Ceritanya saya mau ikutan meramaikan #tigernimation by @wwf_id karena saya suka misi #iprotecttigers : melindungi Harimau Sumatera supaya tidak hanya hidup dalam dongeng. Karena Tigers are real, they are not mythical creatures. Animasi ini dibuat frame by frame dengan tinta dan kertas-kertas bekas ujian (yang sudah dibuang oleh pemiliknya). Selain untuk eksperimen visual juga karena #savepaper could #saveforest To #savetigers Untuk info lebih lanjut tentang Harimau Sumatera dan hewan lain, please follow @wwf_id , they know better than me :) #tigernimation #iprotecttigers #Wwfid #globaltigerday

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Aug 23, 2017 at 1:49am PDT

WWF Indonesia held an animation challenge called "Tigernimation". As you may already guess, it's about protecting Tigers. The deadline was at August 10, I didn't really have time, because I was handling many projects. But... it's a challenge and I like challenge.

So I collected unused exam papers (I have my own source) and made handdrawn animation.
 What so called quick project was not a really quick project. Because the tracing desk was too tall, I got back pain and stiff (and blistered) hand.

 But the animation was finished at August 2nd. I was planning to upload it at August 9 but... They postponed the deadline to August 25.

 I know the audio is crappy, and I certainly could do better with the visualization but no. I really have jobs to do, so I left it as it is.
And if you search "Tigernimation" in instagram, you will find a lot of good animations. So I kinda happy I made handdrawn and rustic animation, because if I made digital and colorful animation there are way too much animation with pretty visualization and technique.

 Anyway, this project was really fun. Drawing on exam paper is actually really entertaining. I specifically choose papers with a lot of numbers/ math formula on it.
 Of course I already ask permission to use them. If I didn't use the paper for the animation, the paper would end up as a food wrapper or I don't know, trash? By the way there are a lot of empty answer, what a waste of paper right?

Just some repost on what am I doing

Hello, May!

It's been more than 6 months after I "resigned".  I wasn't doing nothing,  I make illustrations for some freelance project, barely enough for the monthly bill but I guess it's still alright to not looking for a new full time job. Aaaaand... I'm planning on making animation!

I have this light tracer since high school, I rarely use it, finally it's time to use it to make animation. #workinprogress #animation #handdrawn #ink

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on May 6, 2017 at 6:38am PDT

It's still a long way to go but I will start as soon as I have the fund.  Like always, it's a self-funding project.  I really want to get another fund but I am a really bad producer and I don't want to postpone the project for another year.

I also participate in some workshops:
A thriller writing class, because deep inside I still want to be a writer.

A friend of mine said that I look like a psychopath because I don't like social interactions and prefer to stay alone, knitting doll while watching horror and thriller movie. So I'm considering writing as a new hobby, and that's why I'm taking this writing class with some potential victims, oops I mean new friends.

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Apr 29, 2017 at 8:43pm PDT

then a watercolor drawing class, because I really need to learn.  The Instructor is also from DKV, only 11 years younger. (D*mn, I'm old).

A friend of mine said that I look like a psychopath because I don't like social interactions and prefer to stay alone, knitting doll while watching horror and thriller movie. So I'm considering writing as a new hobby, and that's why I'm taking this writing class with some potential victims, oops I mean new friends.

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Apr 29, 2017 at 8:43pm PDT

and also "punch needle embroidery" workshop, cause it's always fun to learn new things.
I already bought a lot of fabric to make some embroideries at home :)

Learn to punch needle embroidery at @studiosalamanis It's kinda fun, I still need a lot of practice but I think I will make something fun using this technique :) #punchneedle #embroidery #red

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Apr 1, 2017 at 3:18am PDT

See, I am not doing nothing.  So, let me know if there is any other fun event or workshop in Bandung :)

Bye Bye 2016, Hello 2017

Happy New Year 2017! Wish you all have a great year!!!

2016 was a very though year, there are many unanswered mysteries left behind, like why did the bad things happened, time will tell the answer someday, but not today. I'm curious of what will happen next.

I started this year by being very busy. I almost skipped the New Year Eve by working.  which is a good start. maybe.  But I hope I will soon have time to work on my real animation.

For my new year's resolution, I'm thinking about continue taking language course, so I can say something else than "keine ahnung".

I'm happy I finished "Pulang" last year so I know I achieved my resolution last year.

I don't know whether I keep freelancing or I start job hunting again, meeting new client is exciting but also tiring.

I know for sure I need to get back to the gym again. I hope the "skywalk construction" will be finished soon, getting to the gym is more exhausting than working out at the gym because of that silly construction.

My biggest priority right is finding out what I want to do for my life.

I want to make animations again but there are a lot of things I need to take care of first. and unfortunately, my animation proposal got rejected again and again. So if I want to make animation, I need to collect the money by myself.  OH what an Indonesian style of animation production.

Well... 2017 will be an exciting year :)

 

After the DOK

HUH? where's the story during the Dok?
if you wait patiently, you will read it, but not yet.
I only have nice experiences, that for sure :)

After the world premiere of "Pulang ke Indonesia", I got some invitation e-mails to submit the film and also some offer to hire "festival agency".  I'm not sure with the term, I guess it's an agency which will help me submitting my film to various festival.  It's a great idea actually, considering submitting the film takes time, money, and a hell of internet data.  But of course, you need a large sum of money to hire the agent.

SO, I am still doing everything by myself, but it is nice to know that there is an easier way to do everything.  And since I am currently self employed, I could spend days only to submit the film to various festival.  As a really novice filmmaker, I don't have festival strategy, or to be honest, to submit the film to other festival than DOK Leipzig was not in my plan.

My plan was to work as a designer again, as a normal employee, but the company cut me off so I need to change my plan.  Oh, I have started working as freelance designer and I got some projects, so I'll be fine.  For now.

I'm not confident at all with my animation so I only send it to few festival, preferrably the ones with free submission, but I did pay for some submission especially for the ones who invited me.  I know that there's a possibility that my animation wouldn't be selected but I am really thankful for the invitations.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, I skipped the submission to film/animation festival, although I really want to participate and screening my animation in Indonesian festival.  First, because I am not confident with my animation. Second is because the rules and regulations are not in details.  Like, they don't mention what they would do with the film submitted.  This is important because there are some festival which doesn't allow submission of any film which is already in youtube/ vimeo.

So, I'm really sorry, I can't show the animation yet :(

A Long Story Behind the Story You Can Skip

I returned from Germany 3 days ago, and I am hesitating to write this story because I know it's gonna be a long story.

Maybe you don't ask and maybe you don't want to know the whole story, but let me tell you, because I have many time to waste.

so... I went to Leipzig, to be exact to Dok Leipzig Film Festival for the second time!!! YAYYYY!!

The first time was to be a visitor, and the second time as a filmmaker :)

Mission Accomplished!

When I started the project, I didn't know it would be a roller coaster ride, of course it's fun to visit Leipzig twice, but there are equally a lot of hardships.

Random sh*tty things keep happening, starting from the company sell the office building.  Although I am now happy living with my parents again,  I wasn't easily adapted to the "new" environment.  I was really brokenhearted when I have to leave Jakarta.  I was still working for the company but I didn't feel like I was still part of the company.  I started to feel like I was a disposable employee, and never stop wondering, did they need me?

The financial condition of the company was not good and the best choice was to find another job.  That time I had a lot of options, I got a lot of job offers. But I didn't take any of it because there was a higher possibility that in the new place, I wouldn't have time to finish the animation.  So I chose the animation. I stayed with the company.

I really wanted to finish the animation as quickly as possible so spent my weekends and spare time making the animation,  I stop taking freelance project, and stop making amigurumis which caused financial and mental damage.  To relieve stress, I go shopping like crazy and spending money on random things.  Luckily two of the random things were subscribing a gym membership and taking language course, so at least I spent the money on good reasons (although I'm still not fit, not slim, and still bad in speaking German).  

After became slightly healthier and happier, I started making the animation again but then... I ran out of money, so I spent two month working many freelance projects, and "coincidentally" started working on the main job also from home.  Afterward, I started finished the animation, right on time with the Dok Leipzig's deadline at July 7.  What I meant on time was actually only sending the raw file, because the rules mentioned that they accepted raw files/ unfinished project too, and give 2 weeks more to finish it.  And it was finally finished  at July 22 before 12 o' clock, German time (means 6 hours extra).

What happened during the next 2 months was : I intensively stalking.  I googled every day, looking for any announcement, because I can't wait patiently.  I did my job for the company really good and fast, because I had to keep myself busy so I didn't have time to check google.

And at September, I finally knew that my animation was selected.  I spent restless nights preparing files required including a web site. And I still stalking, because I couldn't sleep well unless the official selection is published/ posted at the web.  Because few years ago my animation was selected by a local festival but never published in the catalog, and replaced by foreign animation :(

And since the festival didn't provide travel funds, I had to ask around.  I could borrow money from my parents, but they never offers me, and I have a pride, I don't want to ask for money from my parents, especially because they were not interested with my animation :'(.  There was no news for a long time, mostly because it was a busy time, there were so many festival, so I was feeling really down because I thought I would never watch my own animation's world premiere.  And guess what? I waste my money like crazy again.  

I was really stressed when suddenly my boss got creative and sending a meeting invitation at Friday.  I still remember how furious I was, but I still go to Jakarta.  Of course I had a secret agenda which to ask for a "proof of employment" from the human resource.  I need that "proof" for Visa arrangement, just in case.

At October 8th, I was really stressed out, I ask around again (in the middle of the night), and some friends suggest me to make a funding proposal to the government (which actually a very last option).  So I made proposals in bilinguals but then at October 10th, they published the official selection of Dok Leipzig at their web and Ta-daaaaa... finally I got a sponspor to fund my travel.  I cried a lot that day, happy tears.  And I send a notification email to my boss.

So at October 12th I went to Jakarta,  met the sponsors, sign the contract, watch some horror movie at Kineforum, IKJ (I need time to relax, okay?)

At the very next week, I have another email from my boss to meet the human resource in Jakarta.  They complained about my plan to go to Germany.  They said, it wasn't fair if I take a leave when my colleagues are being mutated or laid off, and how I would make the production process disturbed. (oh yes! that sh*tty story!)  But they eventually "give me permission to go", so I went home, prepare to sleep, stalking the embassy site and someone canceled his visa appointment schedule.

I CAN CHANGE  MY VISA APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE!

So at the very next morning, I go back to Jakarta again to make my visa.

I was still working, even harder than before, so that my company wouldn't have anything to complain about my trip to Germany.  I meant lately since I knew that my animation got selected, I've been working harder than usual, because Boss said we have to proof that we are the assets for the company  (oh what a speech).

I barely have any sleep, because I also need to prepare many things when suddenly, there's another call for the Human Resource.

I was in the "angkot", so I have to stop somewhere to take the call, it was raining, and it was almost dark.

The company didn't allow me to go to Germany and they ask for my resignation.  I didn't have any choice.  It's not like I wouldn't go to Germany just because the company didn't approve my leave, but as an employee I did make a lot of mistakes, why they have to ask for my resignation now?

I was at the side of the street, in front of my hairsalon.  I almost do "Britney haircut". NO way.

I sat in the corner, inside the angkot. Try to not cry, when someone played Bruno Mars "Cause your amazing...."

Amazing.

Amazing.

That's the company's name.

I didn't cry that time, I wait until I was home.

I cried when I told my parents.

oh by the way, I didn't try to negotiate, because they ask for my resignation only 3 Days before I go to Germany.  I had no more time and I was exhausted.  It was my 4th time in a month going to Jakarta.  I resigned at the same day I took my passport (with the Visa approval).  I cried a lot. again.

Were I know they would cut me off, I would made Visa for a longer visit, to visit my birthplace.  How could they ask for my resignation after the Visa approved?

But you know, that night I slept real good.

The next day, I was unemployed and although I would get the travel funds, I had not received it.  So I borrow my sister's money to buy the flight tickets. (YES, D-2, I still didn't have the ticket, but the company already laid me off).  Oh, and the company ask for the works to be done before I go to Germany.  I didn't do it.

D-1, I went shopping again with my friend, watching Doctor Strange.  Cursing the company.  Finally I got the travel funds so I can pay my sister's money back.

And D-day, I went to Germany.  And I didn't want to think about that company during the trip.

Will you take the risk of being unemployed to go to Germany?

I bet some of you will say yes.  I will say yes.   I don't regret it.  But it is painful, really.

Oh, please don't be sad if you don't get any souvenirs from Germany, it's not that I don't want to bring you some or I don't care about you, I just can't afford it.  remember... I am unemployed. really.

September Ceriaaaaa

September Ceria means Delightful September. Delightful, happy, cheerful.

It's a rainy season again but my mind is like a clear sky. I'm so happy, it's already September.
From July to January, there would be at least one birthday celebration of my family members.
Time goes by so quickly and when I looked at my blog I feel like I 've been missing a lot of thing because I rarely update it.

SO here's a quick update of what happened so far:
I've been working on some illustrations, clip arts and sticker project for a while.
I wrote some script
I played some video games
I'm still working for that Educational Company (yes, I should be grateful, but I'm not always remember to stay grateful, sorry about that)

AND.... I have instagram now! follow me @zuperdzigh, although I'm a lazy updater.

There's a big probability that my short animation: Pulang will have its world premiere in a special place. but I don't want to write too much about it before I am successfully make the DCP.
and I also have a lot of homework to do, like making trailer, filmography, CV, merchandise, many things I never made before. SO wish me luck ;)

coming soon, maybe next month, maybe next year, just maybe

a short animation.

coming soon.

hopefully.

I took almost 2 years to finish it, not that I was working on it every day.  It started 2 years ago, and I got tons of drama problems during the time.  it's done now.  But after spending so long time to finish it, I still not ready to show it to the world.  Would anybody care to watch it?

Remotely not Mobile only Remotely without Flexibility

Hi, I'm back!
The grumpy and negative me.

So I started working remotely. Or to be precise, I have been working remotely since last year, only me and one of my colleague working in Bandung, while the other crew are in Bekasi and Jakarta.
And now instead of going to the office, now I am working from home.
My colleague is a nice guy, but spending the office hour only with him is somewhat frustrating.
working in the same room with just the two of us feel suffocating.
I think we are getting along very well but I have this odd personality, that I tend to hate spending too much time with someone else.
Again, he is a nice guy. I am the bad one.

Okay so now I am working totally remotely but not mobile and definitely without flexible working hour.  Let's see what happen next

It Must Have Been Love

Do you know Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love" ?

It's a soundtrack for Pretty Woman.

The lyric was "It must have been love, but it's over now"

I just coincidentally choose this sentence as the title for this post.

If you following my social media activity, you'll know that I complained a lot about my job.

I might be unprofessional because I complained too much, but well, there are jobs that I do because I like to do it, and there are jobs that I need to do for a living.

My job at the company is the last one. 

But I stayed, at least for 4 years. I don't really hate it, so it must have been love.  I love it too much that I started to expect many things. And the problem is, the job is not a human, so it couldn't love me back.

It must have been love, because How could I keep on staying for the last 4 years?

Love is irrational, that's how my relationship between me and my job.  My brain told me to leave, but my heart want to stay.  And I already missed many chances to leave my job.

It must have been love, I'm not ready yet to let it over.

Leipzig 2014

So I was preparing a kebaya for some event, called my mom for a suggestion, thinking of going on a diet (NO WAY! LOL) when I got another call.  This time it was from IFI (Institut Français Indonesie),  so my proposal for an animation program got accepted.  There are 3 participant, 2 of them would be sent to Leipzig in a week, and the other one would be sent to Annecy next year.  OKAY it’s a roullete now.  It’s a win win thing. but going to German within a week could be challenging.  As you know Indonesia is a tropical country and it is Autumn in German.  I don’t even have any jacket.  So I called my mom, told her to forget about the Kebaya, I need warm clothes, just in case.

The IFI didn’t call for days, till suddenly at Wednesday I got a call: “Congratulation, you will go to Leipzig next week!”.  I can’t say that I was happy that time. I meant I haven’t prepared anything.  Of course it was exciting, and I’m happy, but I was more panic than happy.  The very next day I have to applied for a Visa.  Thanks to Katrin Sohns from Goethe Institut, the Visa application went smoothly, by Friday we already got the Visa and ticket to go to German at Sunday.  Thanks to Mbak Pia Maria who helped me making a travelling insurance.  Thanks to my Mom who especially prepared a big luggage full of warm clothes that I need even borrowed me  some euros.  Love you, Mom, I can't do anything without you :*

I went to 3 money changer on Friday, 2 of them don’t have any euros.  I wonder why.  Thankfully I got some euros, because my credit card didn’t work in German. I wonder why.

Thanks to the manager at the company, Kak Kus who allow me to take the day off in a short notice.  Cause it could be a once in a lifetime chance, there’s no way to skip it.  I kinda hope this once in a lifetime chance happens more :p

Thanks to my sister and her husband who drive me to the airport.  I met Johan Tri Handoyo at the airport.  Johan is the other participant who went to Leipzig with me.  It’s kinda funny, because it’s the third time we met at an animation event.  The first one was at Increfest, an animation and software festival in Bandung, he won the first prize, I won the best character design.  The second one was at The ASEAN Animation contest, so we both went to Bangkok together, shop together, and now went to Leipzig together again.  By the way, Johan and Me were studied at the same college but at the different year and different subject and both are from Bandung, both have “Tri” as middle name.  It’s strange to hear the recepsionist call me Miss Tri although my family name is Bambang.

Because there’s no direct flight to Leipzig, We took a plane to Abu Dabhi, then another plane to Berlin.  From Berlin we took the ICE Train to Leipzig Hopbahnhof.  It felt like a dream suddenly arrived in a very cold and different place compared to the 33 Celcius Jakarta :)

The Abu Dabhi airport roof, it's really crowded!

a picture of strangers at the Berlin train station LOL.

inside The Berlin Hopbahnhof

Thanks to Johan who is a better communicator, when we have the trouble at the hotel (check-in misscomunication), he took care of it, while me sleep peacefully, not knowing about the problem until next morning.  Thanks to Katrin Sohn again and Verene Lehmkuhl.

So basically we made it to Leipzig thanks to the help of many people :)

We were so tired as we arrived at the Hotel, we took some hours of break before going to the DokLeipzig Opening Ceremony.  

a view from the hotel's window.

OH I missed to write, that the reason we went to Leipzig was to go to 57th DokLeipzig Festival.  It’s a documentary film and animation festival.  To be honest I didn’t know anything about this festival before we go there.  Before we departed from there I was having nightmare because I read that Leipzig is a city for bycicling.  So I tried learning to bike, but failed, ended up having stiff legs.  Thankfully, we don’t have to ride a bike at all because all the venue is in walking distance.  I wanna punch Queen for singing “I want to ride my bycicle” song in my ears.

BYCICLE! BYCICLE! BYCICLE!

 before the opening ceremony of DokLeipzig

Passage Kinos, one of the Dok Leipzig Venue

Everything is amazing.  even the doors are amazingly heavy and big.  During the opening ceremony, there was a screening of Citizen Four, a documentary film about Snowden.  I rarely read news but He was on some news that I accidentaly read, something about how we lost our privacy when we used internet.  The Festival director during the speech said that the film considered ilegal, but we were so lucky to be able to watch it.  Indeed, I’m very lucky :)

The next day, we met Annegret Richter, the head of the Animation category of DokLeipzig.  She told us a lot about the program, and gave suggestion on which program to watch and join.  So, as her suggestion, we booked all of the animation screening program, and went to animaTalk to have a discussion with another animation directors.

It’s hard to pick my favorite animation on the festival because every animation is unique.  The technique and visual approach are very different to common animation in Indonesia.  it’s no longer just about 2D or 3D or stop animation. (I think I will make another post about this).

Since DokLeipzig is originally a documentary film festival, some of the animations are documentary animation.  What so special about the documentary animation is that the animation show things that no longer exist or protect the subject on the animation.  As example, the animation “Suleima” which is a documentary about a female activist in Syria, the identity is hidden and reanimated with the character called Suleima.  The other exciting thing is, this Film Festival is an international film festival, so we could see the world from various side, even the same war could be told in different story. 

The topic is not limited to heavy subject like war or politic, but also about family, love, and life.  Some are seriously funny, you didn’t even think it was actually a documentary like my favorite: Mend and Make Do.

There were also a special program called Animation by Kids. Like the title, the animations are created by Kids, I think they were 9 years old to maybe 16 years old.  The program was in German language without translation, so I don’t really understand.  The theater was full, even some of the parents had to wait outside so the children could watch it.  Me, of course watching it alone, I don’t have kids and I was so worried that they would ask me to get out because I was too old :D

The program shows that everybody could make an animation. it reminds me that animation is not just a moving picture and it’s really fun to make an animation.  I wish someday Indonesia has this kind of project, cause recently animation in Indonesia is not considered as art but more like an industrial product :(

At Saturday, we went to the screening of Jalanan by Daniel Ziv.  The movie is about 3 buskers from Indonesia.  Few months ago this movie was also screened at Chopshots Festival (held by Goethe Institut).  Back then I missed the screening because I was watching documentary animation program at Chopshot, so this time I didn’t want to miss it.  It’s really exciting to watch film about Indonesia created by foreigner and the screened in German.  The audience reaction was very good, some didn’t believe the film, even ask when was the film made, because it was too good to be true.  Because they read how Jakarta is full of violence and intolerance. So thanks to Daniel Ziv who had show a different side of Jakarta :).  I wish I could do that too.

Me, Daniel Ziv & Johan

On Sunday, there were only awarding ceremony and screening, so Johan suggested that we took the tram to sightseeing, so we did.  Leipzig is a vey tranquil and clean town.  It’s as if I was in Professor Layton’s world, except this is German, not UK.  

after 2 hours tram ride, Me and Johan decided to meet another Johann (but with double N), Johann Sebastian Bach.  We visited the Thomaskirche and then the Bach Museum.  The entry ticket was 8 Euro, but it’s really worth it.  Although I never or maybe didn’t aware of any Bach’s Composition, the Museum is really a place to visit.  I really love the interactivity, something that haven’t be applied in Indonesian Museum.  Too bad, we can’t take a picture there.  Jokowi, please send some spies there to learn how to make a fun museum.

 a miniature of Thomaskirche, but I think maybe it's more like a map for blind people, because there are some brailles on it.

Later we went to another museum.  The museum has a lot of collection from Palleolithicum Era, but somehow the English language extinct after the era, so we don’t know what is what.  Then we go upstair to the Modern Year Museum, it’s another fun and interactive museum.  It would be such a shame if the Leipziger never come to the museum since they have very fun museum to visit.

By the way I ate a lot of Sausages while we were in German (I usually living a semi-vegetarian diet in Jakarta, but nobody believe it).  I was surprised when I bought currywurst, because what they meant by curry is more like a lot of sauces, not curry like kari or something like gulai :D

 Currywurst

 umm.. this is not a sausages, I don't know what it was, it's seriously delicious :p

I was planning to buy souvenirs at the Mall after the Museum visit.  The Mall is closed at 6 PM.  That’s really odd for Indonesian or maybe Asian. Cause Asian love late night shopping.  The Mall is also closed at Friday (October 31st), so I’m really sorry that I can’t buy souvenirs for my friends.  At least for me, going abroad or out of town equals shopping time.  Sorry, I can’t do it this time.

I'm partly grateful this shop was closed.  it's too cute!

On Monday, Me and Johan leave Leipzig for Berlin.  We went to Franzoschise Straße to meet Findri, an ex-worker from Goethe Jakarta.  We have lunch at the Ritter Sport Schoko Museum.  Thanks Findri, for spending your time with us and all your help, especially on explaining how cool is Berlin.  I owe you a Nasi Padang :) Using Findri direction, we visited Bradenburgh Gate. YES. WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY VISITED BERLIN :D

We then visited some of the monument nearby, and then go back to the Sunflower Hostel.  The Hostel is very unique.  it’s my very first time staying in a hostel, might not be my last time.  The Hostel owner is into reggae music.  I like reggae, so I kinda feel like a little bit at home, it would be a lot like home if He played dangdut, anyway :p

 there are grafitti in every parts of the hotel. Cool!

The Hostel rules:

"We can provide alarm clock of a deposit at 6 Euro, Or get our special service fo 10 Euro, a personal appearance with bucket of water, a cup of coffee and a smile!"

Earlier in the morning, we checked-out, and then went to the airport.  I have some very last minute shopping. it’s not much but I got this Picture Book about Berlin for my sister.  She loves book, books with words, this book only got pictures but I believe it’s a cool collection.  I don’t like reading but I love bookstore, I visited almost every bookstore, and of course I had to buy a knitting book cause I like knitting.  I don’t understand any words in it,  the shopkeeper (who was very kind and friendly) said “oh so you really like knitting and bla bla bla bla” (in Germany, but I only understand he said I love knitting). I just smiled.

We arrived at Jakarta at 23:08, then I took a DAMRI Bus to Gambir. it was the last bus, so Lucky I got that bus cause there are a lot of fake taxi.  The taxi drivers tried their very best to lie by saying there’s no more shuttle car or Bus.   They lied, of course. There were only 3 passanger, 1 driver and 1 vice-driver (let’s pretend that’s a real term), but I arrived at Gambir safely.  From Gambir, I still need to take the taxi or bajaj.

Bajaj was never the option.  Riding a bajaj from the train station is always more expensive than taking taxi.   They said it’s also dangerous to take a taxi at night, exspecially a random taxi, with no argometer.  Well  if I rode a killer’s vehicle, I would prefer car over bajaj.  Let me  have that luxury. 

The taxi driver tried to scam me, he asked minimum tariff which is 35000 IDR.  it’s a scam because minimum tariff is usually just 15000 IDR.  it’s past midnight, so I don’t have any choice but argued with him.  I think jetlag makes me stupid.  What am I thinking, arguing with a strangers in the middle of the night? I almost cursed him but He took the bargain at 25000 (he’s old, so I can’t really cursed him).  I don’t have 5000 so I paid him 30000 anyway with smile, he smiled too. at least he asked for rupiah not euros.  it’s really nice to be back at the sauna.  My boarding house’s room without AC.

Finally the trip is over.  There are some place that I still want to visit, but there’s no regret cause one way or another I will surely go to Leipzig again, maybe to the DokLeipzig as the participant. Wish Me Luck!

Oh right, I still have to prepare for my Kebaya.  How do I get a Kebaya. Oh My God.