Celebrating Christmas 2010 in Yahukimo, Papua

I celebrating Christmas at Yahukimo, Papua. So sad, because should leave my beloved family in Jogja. But, celebrating in remote area inside jungle of Papua, make me think that the Christmas is not just about a party, but go deep into feel about how God save us.



From Papua, we wish you a Merry Christmas! Joy to the world!

Pay per Facebook Like, Pay Per Tweet or Retweet: A Social Commercialization

At 2001, my mailbox full of email advertising that delivered from may sources. That are first spam on the Internet for me. And then, SEO spam. I wondering how people create every way to increase rank of their website with content that just a crap. Copy from another sources and create auto generated content.

In the social networking era, then spamming still grow in another way. For example, I got so many friend request in Facebook, then finally after they become my friend then tag anything they sell, like clothes, watches, cars, and so many things. That's crazy!

I just check in some website that they offers pay per 'fan' or pay per 'like' on Facebook pages. Or pay per member in Facebook groups. That's also crazy!

Twitter, as one of social networking tools got a lot of bot that create so many spam things. Because, it's very easy to join Twitter, somebody then create bot to make a fake profile with fake followers. Then they commercialize their account for pay per tweet. They got more money per tweet when they have more follower. But, did the advertisers ever check how many of the followers actually read the tweet by check the number of retweets or replies? Or just check the number of followers? For me, good twitter users are the users that have high quantity and high quality followers. I'm not good one. I got little followers and some of them just a bot.

Now, someone is informing me about pay per retweet. So, what the hell is it? Then social media contaminates with junk and garbage contents that generated by bot or human with unnatural behavior. Don't waste your money for the garbage! I support for natural and good behavior of social networking!

Upgrading Akismet

I just upgrade my Akismet plugin to version 2.5.1. But after update them, I got messages from the system:

Akismet has detected a problem. A server or network problem prevented Akismet from checking 1 comment. It has been temporarily held for moderation and will be automatically re-checked in 13 mins.

Then I got so many email containing SPAM comment waiting for moderation. Maybe I have problem with my hosting server or Akismet server have some problem, but after check in Akismet Configuration menu, it said that All Akismet servers are available. After did searching in Google, I got that some users got same problem. So, that not just my problem.

Akismet is working correctly. All servers are accessible.
Akismet server Network Status
66.135.58.62 Accessible
66.135.58.61 Accessible
72.233.69.89 Accessible
72.233.69.88 Accessible

I just think that we have problem with the server, but after 24 hours the problem gone. Still don't know why...

The Next Project: Marina Bay Sands Skypark Singapore

I visited Singapore just in 4 hours, transit on the way from Bangkok to Jakarta. So, I don't have much time to visit some facilities in Singapore. I just visited Merlion and Orchad Rd. to met Agus, my friend who working at Plasa Singapura. Then back to Changi using MRT for the next flight to Jakarta.

Actually I have some list that I want to do in Singapore beside meet my friends:

1. Singapore Flyer
At a height of 165m, Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel and is set to be one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions.

2. Universal Studios Singapore
I want to meet the magic here. I love some cartoons from Universal Studios. The cheapest way for me to enjoy Universal Studio is by visit Singapore, because it's very near from Indonesia.

3. Marina Bay Sands Skypark Singapore
Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land. I hope someone will give me a hotel voucher, so I not just visit the sands skypark, but also be a guest that stay here.



Yes, someday I should visit Singapore again. Better if there is someone that will cover my expenses to Singapore. FYI, Yogyakarta-Singapore return trip just need less than USD 100 using promo tickets of Air Asia.

Dental Insurance in Indonesia

This morning, when my teeth is a little bit pain because drink ice, the I thing about dental insurance. Dental insurance is insurance designed to pay a portion of the costs associated with dental care.

I just think that in Indonesia only have insurance related to general medical service, but after searching some sources, there are many health insurance that cover dental care. They give the policy as added service. Just ask your insurance consultant to get your dental care covered with insurance. Of course you should pay more for the added insurance coverage.

I got information about some of them: Jasindo health Care, Reliance Insurance, Takaful (Islamic Insurance), Manulife Indonesia.

Just add in the comment form if you have other information.

Travelling Without Leave a Job

When I visited Thailand in last month (Nov, 2010) for Thailand Medical Tourism blog Contest, the finalist split into 6 groups. My group is with Malaysian blogger, Wilson, from placesandfoods.com. He travel around the world. But currently he is working at Focus Image Televideo, an advertising company in Malaysia (psstt.. it's a family-owned company).

Wilson and myself are example of part-time traveler, but with our business, we still able to travel around the world. So, what is the idea behind this? You still can travel around the world and still have a job! I mean that this is formal job, not like a freelance job.

The main key is: find the company that give you flexibility to travel around. Off course it good when you have job that give bonus free travel when you have an achievement. Consultant, sales and marketing, manager are some jobs that usually give travel bonus from the achievement.

Or if you prefer to traveling but still in the job area, you can be a technical support in international company. Sometimes you should travel around the world to do field support. My friend is working at offshore oil company and can travel around the world, because the company give 1 month on field and then 1 month for holiday!

Life With Passion

My journey to many places and meet many people make me know many kinds of lifestyle. From people that have no job, work at home, work in office, work on the street, work in the government. From beggar, official, criminals, I have met them.

But, from all of them, I can split into 2 kind of person, one with passion, and one is without passion. And from that, I feel comfortable and motivated when talking with person that have a passion. I met some people that enjoy their life by teach children in remote areas, that only can reached by small airplane. I met people that enjoy with their office life. Last month, I met Gary Arndt and Nellie Huang, persons that enjoy their life by traveling around the world with nomad life.

To meet your passion, you should find your purpose of life. Searching something that give your life a meaning. Passion will make your spirit rise up. The spirit will give a strong motivation for someone to reach out and catch what's on his mind and what is in his heart.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

So, what is your passion?

The Book of Mixologist: Tipple Thai

Saturday night is a good night to spent with your family. But, if you have young spirit, you can try to spend money to buy some drink. Actually, I don't drink alcohol, but it's okay to me to drink one shot of Nescafe or Cocacola :)

I curious when got book titled Tipple Thai from Ms. Jidapa Julakasilp. I just think that book contain recipes of herbs. But, the book not about herbs, but contains recipes of cocktails inspired by Thai fruits, herbs and alcohol. The mixologists are: Justin Dunne, Dannie Joel Sorum, Ben David Sorum, and Johan Davidsson.

Besides the recipes, you can get a lot of information about nightlife in Bangkok. So, if you want to spend this weekend in Bangkok and want to enjoy night life in a club, you can read the book. Because this is a book about alcohol, those who may be susceptible to reactions from alcohol should be mindful of some of the products used in these recipes. The elderly, pregnant women, and those suffering from immune deficiency diseases and heart diseases, should consult their doctor before sampling the drink listed.

Book details:
Language: English
Hardcover 167 Pages, ISBN-10: 9749338499, ISBN-13: 9789749338490, Publisher: Born Distinction, Pub date: Jan 01, 2005

Install Wordpress in Multi User Mode

I just finished install Wordpress in multiuser mode. This is easy, because Wordpress version 3.xx or above already support multiuser. So, why I decided to install multiuser?

The main problem is language. Sometimes I posted in English, and sometimes in Indonesian language. If I just post in one website the posting will be mixed, and maybe will be annoying readers. Last time I want to use translation plugins, but actually I don't have much time to translate each post. Using automated translator? No, I don't want use them because I often got weird translation.
I just want to manage the similar blog with different language, in a single system. The simplest thing to do is installing Wordpress in multiuser mode. Now, I have 2 blogs, one under domain www.wahyu.com, than contains all my posts in English, and id.wahyu.com that contain my post in Bahasa Indonesia.

I follow instructions on http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network and then successfully setup this system. I hope by splitting different language in different posting can make readers easily read the articles they want.

PS: I still keep all my old posting in Indonesian language at domain wahyu.com, just to maintain sustainability and contingency.

Why Malaysia is Truly Asia?

Someday, my friend in my village ask me, why Malaysia is truly Asia? I haven't visit Malaysia before, so at the time I can't answer his question. But, I have so many friends living there and the topic is very interesting for me. Then I did a little research and asked my friends about their perception about Malaysia. My neighbor is Indonesian people who few years ago worked in Malaysia. He said that he take some good experience by worked at there. I also asked my wife about Malaysia, because she visited the country in 2006 for holiday. She said, in economic view, the development in Malaysia is growing so fast, and they have good tourism destination.

I have some friends born, grew and living in Malaysia. From what they said to me, there are many people from China, India, and Melayu. Asia is the biggest and most diversified continent in the world and what my friend said give me a little clue that the people of Malaysia represents majority ethnic in Asia, and they have their own tradition and culture. About diversity, people in Malaysia celebrate The Chinese New Year (for Chinese), Christmas (For Christians), Gawai / Tadau Kaamatan (For Kadazan / Iban), Deepavali (For Indian Hindus) and the celebration considered as national holidays.

Then I go back to the word "truly Asia". The brand is published by Tourism Malaysia since 1999. This brand also has won more than 25 international creative and marketing effectiveness awards, including the winner on "Asia's Best Long-Term Marketing and Branding Campaign" in Media Magazine's Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards, held in Macau in 2008.

That explanation still can't give me the right answer about why Malaysia is truly Asia. The only answer to me about why Malaysia is truly Asia is only by visit, feel and enjoy the trip to Malaysia.