Colorful Life of Hindustan..How About Us ???

About Manta Ray...

Here are some facts about Manta Ray, that you may interested to know, as I do :)

As one of fascinating creatures that live in the water, Manta Ray seems to be such a mystery to most people [and divers as well !]. Exploring the facts about them may help us to see them for what they really are.

Manta's size can be up 25 feet in length and weight as much as 5,000 pounds. Their average rate of life span are over 20 years. They can lose their protective mucus membrane if they are touched by humans.

Manta has the largest brain to body ratio of all sharks and rays on earth. They are very close relatives of the shark. Ironically, sharks as well as whales are their main predators. They are also closely related to the stingray, but they don’t have a stinger.

They are amazing when it comes to the acrobatics that they display.

The Manta Ray is classified as a fish. It is one of the largest and it continues to be one that we know the least about. Whoaaa !!!

They don’t have a skeleton that is made from bone.

The smallest species of Manta Ray is the Mobula Diabolis. It is only about 2 feet in length.

There are myths that the Manta Ray will consume people but they are false. These are very gentle creatures that are able to get close to humans without harming them [believe me, I have proved it though, ehm...]

The Manta Ray is only surpassed in size in the marine world by sharks and whales.

One of the reasons why people used to think that the Manta Ray was dangerous is because the body appears to be like a huge bat.

The open fins of a Manta Ray can be more than 20 feet in length.

While the Manta Ray has many rows of sharp teeth, they aren’t used for eating. Instead they have a filtering system.

The Manta Ray doesn’t have a nose.

The name Manta means blanket, and the fact that this creature looks like a blanket as it moves in the water is part of the namesake.

The mouth of the Manta Ray is located on the top of the head instead of on the bottom.

They are the only jawed vertebrates that also have limbs.

Many people view the Manta Ray as a shark that has been flattened out due to the overall anatomy that it features.

The movement of the fins through the water is very similar to that of a bird flapping its wings.

Many people assume that the Manta Ray is dangerous due to the fact that the Sting Ray is. However, they don’t have a stinger at all.

Many Manta Rays blend in well at the shoreline. They tend to get stepped on by people that don’t have a clue what is below their feet.

They are extremely fast swimmers, and also considered to be one of the most graceful as they move around. If you don’t look quickly though one can be gone before you realize it was there.

Wanne meet them in person ??? Come, and let's dive with me ! :)

[The above info was taken from various sources]

Playin' Time with Mantas

Here are some of my underwater photos during my last Bali Year-End Trip, from Dec 25, 2009 to January 5th, 2010.

It was really amazing moments ! I finally have a chance to visit Manta Point, at west Nusa Penida Islands. Together with my dive buddy, we've tried several times to visit this famous site. Unfortunately as the site is very open to the elements, many times heavy winds and strong currents make it impossible for us to visit this dive site. But during this year-end holiday, it's kinda a new year gift for me, the whether was so good, the water was so calm and warm, and lots of mantas around, even the black manta, king of mantas !

So enjoy these photos ! And I am hoping to upload my underwater video dancing with Manta real... soon ! Just wait, okay ??? :)

Another thanks and appreciation to Nicky Wirawan from Bali Marine Sports, for his willingness to be my underwater model, and of course, for being my underwater guardian....you are the best, coach !!! :)

I Wonderfully Made by You, God....

Sebab Engkaulah yang membentuk buah pinggangku, menenun aku dalam kandungan ibuku. Aku bersyukur kepada-MU oleh karena kejadianku dahsyat dan ajaib. Ajaib apa yang Kau buat, dan jiwaku benar-benar menyadarinya. [Psalm 139: 13-14]

I thank and praise you, my loving JESUS, for another year older in my life and my marriage life. For giving me such of wonderful people arounds me: great loved parents, siblings, spouse, best friends, and beautiful environment and moments in these wonderful years of my life.

I thank You, my God, for I wonderfully made by You.

Happy Christmas !

What does Christmas mean to you ???

I say, it is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessing rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

To all my friends everywhere you are, wish that you have a wonderful and blessed christmas !

Ujian Sejarah

[with KontraS team, for I always admired their spirited fight for Human Rights and against corruption]

Di Indonesia, keadilan hanya terlihat di atas awan. Kita sering terbuai untuk meraihnya dari ketinggian, tetapi lupa menanamnya di bumi kenyataan.

Di negeri ini kita sering merasa sudah bekerja keras membangun pemerintahan yang bersih tanpa korupsi. Namun, itu membutuhkan pemimpin negara yang berani. Hampir mustahil suatu bangsa dapat menjumpai keadilan jika terdiam melihat kepemimpinan pemerintahan bergerak sebatas visi, pengetahuan, dan kompetensi tanpa keberanian. Akibatnya, mandat suci negara-hukum tak berdaya dalam menghadapi mafia dan hamba-hamba hukum yang korup.

Saat menerima laporan Tim Independen Verifikasi Fakta dan Proses Hukum atas Kasus Bibit Samad Rianto dan Chandra M Hamzah atau Tim 8, Presiden menyatakan kasus ini sebagai ujian sejarah. Juga saat menerima laporan Tim Pencari Fakta Kasus Munir, Presiden menyatakan kasus Munir sebagai ujian sejarah. Apakah kita telah melewati masa kegelapan menuju negeri demokratis, menghormati hukum dan hak asasi manusia?

Ujian Sejarah

Benar, ini ujian sejarah, yang tidak berhenti pada penerimaan laporan, tetapi pada tindakan. Pada kasus Bibit-Chandra ditemukan ketidakwajaran dalam proses hukum, tetapi justru terus muncul keraguan. Bahkan, Presiden belum berani memastikan ada sanksi bagi pejabat yang bertanggung jawab atas proses hukum yang dipaksakan. Hal ini mengundang pertanyaan, adakah hubungan kepentingan kuasa dalam rekayasa ini sehingga Presiden ragu memberikan sanksi? Apakah tak percaya kepada tim yang dibentuknya sendiri?

Presiden pernah meminta pihak-pihak yang disebut dalam rekaman Anggodo harus nonaktif dan mengancam untuk menuntut siapa pun yang mencatut namanya. Namun, kenyataannya?

Juga belum terlihat keberanian strategis untuk reformasi institusional dan reposisi personel. Memberantas makelar kasus di semua lembaga penegak hukum tak cukup hanya membuka pengaduan dan gugus tugas baru di bawah kepresidenan, tetapi bagaimana memastikan tindak lanjut atas laporan berbagai lembaga pemantau korupsi, terutama yang dibentuk konstitusi dan undang-undang, seperti Komisi Yudisial, kejaksaan, dan kepolisian. Tanpa tindakan nyata, pembenahan aneka lembaga hukum, termasuk organisasi profesi advokat, hanya menjadi ilusi.

Ujian Terdekat

Ujian terdekat adalah apakah Presiden akan mendorong penuntasan kasus korupsi Masaro, Sistem Komunikasi Radio Terpadu Departemen Kehutanan, dan proses hukum atas Kepala Bareskrim Susno Duadji dan Lucas terkait dana Bank Century. Apalagi, perhatian publik kini terfokus pada masalah Bank Century, penyebab polemik cicak-buaya. Bukan sekadar pencairan dana Boedi Sampoerna, tetapi kebijakan pemerintah kepada Bank Century.

Pengambilalihan bank ini pun menjadi skandal. Mengapa?

Pertama, Bank Century merupakan bank kecil. Adanya dampak sistemik seperti disampaikan Bank Indonesia sebenarnya diragukan karena hanya segelintir orang yang kehilangan uang dari penjaminan simpanan LPS hingga Rp 2 miliar.

Kedua, lemahnya pengawasan Bank Indonesia. Audit BPK 2005-2008 menunjukkan Bank Century sering bermasalah. Suntikan dana menjadi skandal karena dana LPS itu sebenarnya untuk mengisi kas Bank Century yang kosong setelah diambil pemilik bank. Andai itu tak terjadi, tak perlu diambil alih karena sudah mendapat pinjaman fasilitas pendanaan jangka pendek Bank Indonesia.

Ketiga, dugaan dana Bank Century untuk kepentingan politik. Ini semua harus dibuktikan kebenarannya.

Apa yang harus dilakukan?

Sebuah negara hukum pasti memuliakan kesetaraan bagi setiap warganya di muka hukum. Tak boleh ada yang kebal hukum. Supremasi hukum harus ditegakkan. Tak ada intervensi. Namun, negara kita belum menjadi negara hukum, masih dalam keadaan tak normal. Hukum berjalan pincang, direkayasa, dikorupsi, dan digembosi oleh hamba-hamba hukum sendiri. Ini adalah ujian berat sejarah.

Diharapkan, Presiden mendorong KPK dan PPATK mengusut penyalahgunaan keuangan negara pada kasus Bank Century. Fokus pertama diarahkan untuk menguji kredibilitas kebijakan dana talangan.

Fokus kedua, menguji apakah dana talangan itu digunakan sesuai kaidah keuangan negara, untuk kepentingan umum atau pribadi/golongan. Sejauh mana uang itu digunakan secara tak bertanggung jawab oleh pihak- pihak luar, Bank Century, aparat hukum, dan kelompok tertentu?Jika dugaan publik benar, skandal Bank Century adalah contoh bagaimana sistem keuangan kita tak belajar dari pengalaman krisis 1997. Bank bisa dirampok pemiliknya lalu dengan mudah negara mengucurkan dana untuk menalangi kewajiban bank.

Ini semua harus dituntaskan. Kepercayaan dunia kini dipertaruhkan. Kegagalan untuk menyelesaikan akan mempermalukan Indonesia di mata dunia, khususnya dalam melawan korupsi. Yang lebih tidak kita inginkan adalah kegagalan mengatasi ujian sejarah kali ini bisa membawa republik menuju kebangkrutan.

[Written by Usman Hamid, Koordinator Kontras]

My Fish Portrait

These are some photos that I took during my Ambon, Maluku, gateway on last Nov 25-30th, 2009. I went there to join an underwater photo competition organized by Forum Selam. I paid some amount just like everybody else. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with their unprofessional conduct. Without even noticing me, they didn't even put one picture of mine into the contest, while I never told them that I withdraw from it. They just suddenly announced the winner ! From a friend, one of the committee said that they simply forget to inform me !!! Do I deserve an apology from them here ??? They don't even bother to tell me that !

Aaah, however, these are some photos that I took during the first session with a theme as "fish portrait". Even though 'am not winning anything, but i did enjoy my dive trips in Ambon ! And really hope that all of you will like these. Hey, am just a beginner ! :)

The Story of Starfish

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up, and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "what are you doing?", the youth replied, "throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son," the man said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish ? You can't make a difference !"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, "...I made a difference for that one."

[Original Story by: Loren Eisley]

And I really wish that as 'am still alive, God will me give a chance to "give something back", to "put-things back", some goodness to the people around me. To the world where I live. To the community where I socialized with. I want to make a difference !

The Sun and The Moon

I love both the sunshine and the moon.

The sun is you. For you are like the sunshine and brighten my day, with everything that you do and all that you say. And I am the moon. For I sometimes dark sometimes shining. For I cold as dark. For I lost sometime when no light. But yes, one for sure that I will be cold without you in my arms to hold.

But as the sun and the moon that stay far from each other, and so we are, so far apart. You are there. And 'am here. Or for I am there. And you are here. But everyday and night, the moon is waiting and longing for the sun. Its weird but its real. For if no sun will come again to this lives, then no moon will ever comes.

No matter how, you are my sunshine, and will always here in my heart. When I see you, I am glowing as you shine upon me. Like the sun on the moon across mountain and sea. And when our lips touched, it feels like a total eclipse, as we drift apart slowly on me, your light glows like the space between us, and my love grows on you...

Ayo Dukung Cicak Lawan Buaya !

"...Cicak kok melawan buaya..." demikian pernyataan Kabareskrim Mabes Polri Komjen Pol Susno Duadji, yang kini memantik perseteruan yang semakin memanas dan membuka konfrontasi terbuka antara kepolisian dan Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi [KPK].

Kekuatan cicak mungkin kecil. Kekuatan buaya mungkin lebih besar. Tetapi kini jutaan cicak mulai bersatu. Para cicak yang memiliki satu tujuan: cinta pemberantasan korupsi, dan menolak penggembosan lembaga anti korupsi dan gerakannya.

Mari, bergabung bersama para cicak lainnya. Bersama-sama kita selamatkan bangsa dari korupsi !