Morning was cold, luckily the hot water was running. I took a bath and
helped out with breakfast. We packed and took off around 9. I bought a
couple of small snacks from Kartika Sari (a famous Bandung snacks),
since I didn’t have the money. We split up. Erwin and Basir family went
back to bandung for a ride around the city. As for Ucup and Kang Irep
car went home to Bogor. Then we also split up before going into puncak.
It was difficult to stop at Mesjid At-Ta’awun, so we went to my parents
place in ciawi to pray. I got my period so I didn’t pray. I didn’t stay
at home long, so I went back to bogor with Ucup.

At nite, I enjoyed again watching QAF the 2nd season, the only season I
got. It was to ease the feeling, I was still thinking about Muffins.
Slept at 3.

We arrived in Gambung 2.30 in the morning. We were welcomed by Ucup uncle
and aunt which owened the place. The house was in a tea plantation
area, you know how GUNUNG MAS is, all cold and fresh air. It was
freezing, the water was as cold as ice. We slept and woke up around 6.
Uyuy cooked us breakfast, a few of us went to the wedding vowls in the
morning, and at noon we all went to the reception. The weather was
great for sleeping. After eating at the reception, we went back to the
house which was only a few steps away and went all back to sleep. Eva and Qwong went over. I woke up around 2, and made cofee. Uyuy and Tuti made
dinner, I was glad I helped cleaning up, washing up dishes. During that
time I had fun with Rara, she liked to hear all sort of stories. When
she cried, I ussually take her attention by talking to her, she got
used to it. If she could talk at that time, she’ll be very talkative I
think. She’s gonna be a smart girl.

It reminds me a lot a few years ago when I was in university. It was
with the ilkomerz, once a year, we all went to Andri’s Villa and just
gathered, played, and speak our hearts out (alias CURHAT). As ussual
Uyuy would prepare the food, me and the others would just helped out.
Ussually doing the dished would be Ija and the other guys, but since
nowadays, these guys has become husband, so all the kitchen work is
left for girls to do.

I’m going to write about my trip to see Maliq & d’essensials. This
was on Friday, 6th of May 2005. It was at New York Cafe Jakarta (Komp.
Taman Ria Senayan).

Muffins got the information from Maliq’s management, Indra, about their
show in NYC. I was hesitating to go, I was saving up. But then again I
couldn’t resist the temptation of live music, especially Maliq, it was
my everyday music when taking a bath in the morning. It was only the 2
of us, we prepared to go from the office, prayed Magrib and Isya first
at Mesjid Raya Bogor, and then went to the bus terminal to take a bus
to UKI. At UKI we took a taxi and directly go to senayan. I haven’t got
a single clue where NYC is at, the blue bird taxi driver has no idea
too. We got off around senayan, and thought it was somewhere in gate
one, infact we were wrong, we need to go to gate 2. We walked then to
the place.

NYC, was a music cafe. Quite similar to Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta (Plaza
Ex). It was two floors. We entered from the second floor, where the
stage could be look upon a balkony. The entrance fee was 35rb for one
person. We had our hand stamped with ultra light ink. Inside the light
was dim, R&B music was quite hard blown, a few people was already
there. Muffins spotted her old colegue at KISI radio and good friend,
Indra pacique. Fortunately he was the MC for the whole event. He
invited us to his table, which was one of the high table, with high
stools. He had his friend along with him, Hakim I recall his name.
Indra wore a kindda rapper suit, with his hair tied into african-curls.
Hakim was quite a cute guy, he wore a cap, he kindda remind me of
jenifer beals . Any who.. the second floor had TV, and a pool table.
A few guys were playing, some girls are cheering them up. Drinks of
course are brought every where. There were a couple of old women in one
table, dressed up all glittery, we suspect they were the owners, since
everyone made an entrance and had the curtesy to say hi.

The stage was in the first floor, the bar was also too, which I didn’t
care. We had our first drink of soda. The music was so loud that
whenever we talked we had to move closer and shout. Muffins and Indra
chatted, since they are old friends. I was just enjoying the R&B
music the DJ had put on. I also looked around and kindda watch other
people. I saw Dewi Sandra, Mario Lawalata, Indra Bekti (I shook hands
with this guy, he was Indra Pacique’s friend, he came to our table and
greet, too bad Muffins were busy taking pictures of the first
performance with Rena’s camera), Dina Olivia, and some other people.

The whole event was launching the new motto for NYC, with sponsored by
A Mild, Indosat and the others, NYC presents “Soul to Squeeze”. The
motto was “Let the music beat you” something like that I forgot. The
first performance was Da geronimo, they brought very groovy music, most
of were R&B, such as from Usher (my boo, yeah, etc), Jay-Z,
Arrested development etc. It was a blast. Then a few games were thrown
by Pacique. It was funny, the games was shaking booties, this big girl
called herself J-Lo had the most funky move. Maliq was next, it was
around 11 at night when Maliq was on stage. I was still sitting at
Paciques table on the second floor. Pacique and Indra Bekti had
suggested us to go downstairs and on the dance floor and shake those
booties heheh.. At first, Muffins hesistate since we thought it was
crowded and we didn’t have space. The first song was Sunshine. I only
could watch them from one of the TV’s coz the balkony had already been
crowded since the first performance (Which I had to see thru the TV). I
thought to myself if I watched Maliq from this TV too, then it would be
a waste coming to Jakarta and all. So I asked Muffins to go downstairs,
and try to get near the stage. I saw it wasn’t that crowded near the
stage, I could peek and see some spaces beside the stage.

I was right, the right side of the stage was empty. We stood there and
move our bodies to the music. Muffins hold out the camera and capture
some pictures and movies. I really was enjoying myself, we knew most of
the songs, even though we didn’t know most of the words. Angga the lead
singer, sometimes spotted me and I thought we had a moment, singing
along and moving along. All the songs were played, even our favorite
song, “Lil thing“.. The music was awesome, its more living then the one
in the album. They also played other songs beside theirs, such as My
Girl, September and a few other more. Their performance was great, they
hardly stayed still, especially the singers. Even Dewi Sandra, who were
at the balkony, adored them. We could hear Indra Bekti’s voice shouting
once in a while, in between songs. Near to the end, they went off
stage, and we had to move away from the stage, this is because Indra
Pacique (the MC, Muffins friend) had planned to prank us and was going
to take us on stage with his small games. We definetly didn’t want this
to happen so we were out.

I stood near where the members of Maliqs band took their rest. People
in front of the stage were half gone, either went home maybe because
they thought the event was over, or they were grabbing some drinks. I
kindda couldn’t belive the girls infront of the center stage sang and
moved thru a few of the songs while drinking and smoking, weird and
unhealty. But again its a cafe and bar, so they are allowed to have
that kindda behaviour, it was us who is outta place . I spotted two
other jilbabers beside me and Muffins in there.

Any who.. during the last song (we thought it was).. “Ketika” the bonus
song in the album, I pushed Muffins to move more central to the stage,
so we’d be in front of the stage. Muffins hesitate, maybe she’s shy or
something. I wasn’t since I wont be going in here in another million
years. So, I’d be willing to make a fool outta myself . It turns out
we were there infront of the stage, we were 50cm from the stage, noone
had come in between, no one dared or I don’t know. They went all back
on stage and sang an Earth Wind and Fire song.. I forgot the title, but
we moved to the beat. We kindda followed their moves, with bowing, and
moving sideways, well just imitating what they’re doing. It was
Muffins, Me and Pacique, no one dared to go infront of us, I have a
feeling we’re one of the highlights. I didn’t care, I was just having a
good time, and not drunk of course .

It all ended at 2 am. We said our goodbyes to
Pacique and Hakim, and took a taxi back home to Bogor. In the taxi, we
had to be awake coz the driver is also sleepy, we sang Maliq songs over
and over even though we didn’t know all the lyrics. I arrived around 3
am at the kosan.

The next day I had to meet with some guy I’m being matched up by my
family. It wasn’t some guy actually, it was my far uncle. I didn’t
it’ll work. He wasn’t interested in me anyway… well that’s another
story. I’ll tell about it if something else will happen