The Interesting Stranger

First Visit to Books Actually, Singapore

By Brigida Alexandra - May 14, 2020

Last year, my life was super unexpected. Plans twisted, impromptu travels, and looking for a way to keep myself up for going through everything. But one plan went right: my trip to Singapore. It has been 17 years I hadn't been back to SG (yeaa, I know it's absurd coz Indonesia and Singapore was just 2 hours away by flight). Anyway so I wanted to catch up on how SG had changed since I was a kid and I really wanted to visit one place the most: Books Actually bookshop!

Yay! One bucketlist, checked!

Since my writer's block, seeing great bookshops always have been my motivation to write again. I kept telling myself at heart, "If my next book is published, I want my book to be sold at this bookstore." And I did say that when I finally stood there in front of their glass doors with rainbow stripes at the bottom. Books Actually has that vibe that motivates you to see life with courage and love. You would definitely feel that strong-love-for-literature aura there. Going inside, you'll know why.

Located in Tiong Bahru area, I decided to go there after a good happy breakfast at Tiong Bahru Bakery. Super awesome pastry selections, with good coffee and tea!

The heavenly Tiong Bahru Bakery's Apple Chausson for breakfast

I ate Apple Chausson. Now I missed it already and I'm thinking to get and bring these back with me to Jakarta in my next visit which is hopefully soon. It's sugary on top, but not so sweet, in fact, it's mildly sweet blending perfectly with crunchy pastry with apple sauteed fillings inside. That was my first time trying Apple Chausson and I wasn't disappointed.

Walking distance from Tiong Bahru Bakery, passing so many artistic murals along with symmetrical white-colored dominated residence complex, I reached to Books Actually. Still in the same district, the bookshop is at no. 9 Yong Siak Street to be exact.

Welcomed by two book vending machines I'd been crazy about, truly I can't describe at this blog post about how happy I was when I finally saw the bookshop with my own eyes. After years of planning, that visit felt like a blessing to me and I'm not exaggerating right now.

The bookshop has the most complete world classic titles. Fiction and literature lovers, this is your must-visit in SG. They also have history books, food narrative, etc, and also I noticed they have so many poem collections.

Many are coming from independent publishers. I found interesting reads which I couldn't find in Jakarta, but miraculously I did in this bookshop. The most awesome part was also they're supporting SingLit, which is a genre I've been curious about.

The vibe I mentioned above is the magical feeling. You'll sense it when you visit a bookshop which is run by people who love books and literature. They have a good taste, they could talk about it for you whenever you need a recommendation. And most importantly, they care about how literature, authors and this industry will survive and evolve.

It's small and intimate. I felt focus to solely enjoy my time there.

It's really working

Before I left for more adventures, I tried the vending machine. It's my save-the-best-for-last thing at the moment. They welcomed me and this was my way to say goodbye.

The books are covered in pretty illustrated gift wrap paper. You wouldn't know what you get. this is the fun part! To do this, prepare your SGD $10 banknote for one chance. As a cashless person, I usually don't keep cash, always digital, but I was really lucky I had it at that time. Right time, right moment it is.

Seriously, I want to go back for new titles! The feeling I sensed, I miss it, too.

I'll come back for more!

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My List: 6 Inspiring Moments from TV Show, Games and Movies

By Brigida Alexandra - May 10, 2020

I'm republishing this old article of mine in English. Originally, this article was a content ordered by a career website for fresh graduates, but the website has been turned down since the company stopped operating a few years ago. So today, since I'm almost having another burnout, I'm extending my old-hidden positive spirit for you, hoping that you might be remembered (if you have seen these moments of pop-culture history below) and found back the push to keep walking, or if you haven't known them then you could probably be curious and inspired to kill your time with these gems below.

Many fictional characters can motivate you to live your life. However, no matter it's fiction and true story, sometimes it's only a fine line about them---whether you can relate your real life to the unreal or how strong the unreal can affect your reality. The silver lining is it can inspire you to be inspiring enough for someone else.

Ratatouille (my favorite!)

Photo Source: Variety

Remy felt the wrong thing in his life was because he was born a rat. But, he did not stop exploring his passion for cooking. When he indeliberately arrived at his idol chef's restaurant, Chez Gusteau, things did not turn out that easy. Whenever a mouse is found in a restaurant, then it's the sign for its closure. For the reason, he must collaborate with a human being, which is against his father's wish as human was believed to be a dangerous enemy.

Despite everything, Remy believed in his human friend, Linguini, and insisted to his father that the change is in our hands too. "Change is nature, Dad. The part we can influence, it starts when we decide," Remy said.

A little note: When the film was released, Disney had difficulty finding a brand for tie-in collaboration with children's food-related merchandise. Why? The main character is a mouse. At that time there were no brands of cereals or snacks that wanted to be associated with pests even though the design was adorable. Even so, there are many lessons we can take from this Tiny Chef named Remy.

Masters of Sex

Photo Source: Deadline.com

This TV show tells the true story of obstetrician William Master and his research assistant Virginia Johnson between the 1950s and 1970s. At that time, sex was considered taboo. But Dr. William Masters dared to take risks to examine what had only been questions in the people's minds which had never voiced.

Both of main leads must be juggling between their daily work and the research they did very carefully at night. For every obstacle they found (because it was considered immoral and embarrassing), they continue to look for solutions so that the research could continue to be carried out, completed, and provide solutions for many people. The facts about sexual health that we know today most likely are stemmed from research conducted by Dr. Masters, you know!

The lessons we can take from Dr. Masters is as long as we have a basis for what we think is right, do not be afraid to go ahead. Secondly, don't be afraid to start what no one else has done, be pioneer! Third, do not give up because there are many challenges and difficulties that happen in the middle of the road because Chancellor Barton Scully also told Dr. Masters, "The world isn't kind to mavericks, Bill!"

The Dark Knight Rises

Photo Source: slashfilm.com

Compared to other superheroes, Batman is a bit different. The term 'superhero' is compared to a super-powered hero, in fact, Batman does not have any superpower. Apparently, he was just an ordinary human being who was drowned in obsession and revenge against criminal plotters who killed his parents.

You can guess, these background tragedies encourage Bruce Wayne to train himself to become the 'superhero' Batman. In the film "The Dark Knight Rises", Batman still had the time to rethink the meaning of a hero with a simple but deep look. "A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hasn't ended yet."

Yes, now you know from Batman that you don't need superpowers to be able to do something big, let alone in helping others.

Beauty and the Beast

Photo Source: moviefone.com

Disney's princesses are identical and lack self-survival urge. In fact, these two aspects are very important to survive in the world.

But, there are things you can learn from... Belle. Yes, the bookworm one. Aside from her reading hobby that can add some insight to her brain, Belle always believes that "There must be more than this provincial life." I interpreted this as she doesn't care if women his age are more focused on finding a partner, because he believes there are more exciting things to look for out there.

And indeed, it's true! Try to gain more insight by traveling and meeting more kinds of people, then you can be the girl who won't be fooled by others' physical appearance. This happens a lot. Be smarter one. Always.

Castle

Photo Source: TV Series Finale

Money often becomes a drama for us. When we have less and when we have more. Richard Castle can be an inspiration for this.

Richard Castle was a wealthy, successful writer, but seeking new inspiration had sent him into the many dangers that had passed since he decided to join the team of Catherine Beckett at NYPD. The problem was that Castle didn't have enough police background to be capable of composing his new main character: a female police detective. So only armed with crime fiction references, he followed each case handled by Kate and his team to be re-inspired because he lost the inspiration after killing off the main characters from his previously published book.

In one episode, Castle handled the case of someone who was a murder victim who was a lottery winner. Among its complicated situation in solving the case, Castle said, "Money doesn't change you, money only magnifies your personality."

Final Fantasy X

Photo Source: PlayStation LifeStyle

For you fans of video games, Final Fantasy X would always remind us of Tidus. After the city of Zanarkand was destroyed, Tidus who was a blitzball superstar suddenly survived by himself in a foreign land. Nobody knew him. He must start everything from scratch and start a new adventure with Yuna, Lulu, Wakka and Rikku.

Just in case you got hit by bad days, a quote from Lulu can ease your burden for a moment. "No matter how dark the night, the morning always comes, and our journey becomes anew."

Whatever you go through today, there is always tomorrow. Maybe it doesn't mean that you could postpone what you can do now, but there will always be a new day for you to start a new spirit.

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[2014's OLD POST REPUBLISHED] Revenge Revival to Blank Pages

By Brigida Alexandra - March 08, 2020

[UPDATE - 09 March 2020 | I have been writing non-professionally and professionally since 15 years old. Before that, writing is seen as a shitty task that made me feel doomed at school. Magic not-so-magic happened.... coz I wrote a poem. Then it all started from there. A day later, I edited it. Within a month, I started writing my first novel which has never been published. In two years, I published my first article in a campus magazine and another one year later, in a real newspaper, and magazine shortly after that...and it lasted for almost three years of my life. Then, I published my first co-written novel 7 years after I started writing]

People make assumptions. Always. They make more each day, which misled them about us and everything eventually. On the other hand, it drives me crazy when it comes about me or anything that I do, some time I can’t get enough strength to ignore. Well, who won’t get crazy, anyway?

Like writing, for example. Most people will have writing in their mind as a solitude working moment goes on like enlightening reflection or felt like a soothing yoga as seen in movies.

But hey, it's (half) true!

Yet, there is still one big misconception about writing somehow. Writing isn't like when words by words come into your head, narrated to your mind and then your fingers just help to let it slip out---whether you write by hand on a paper or simply typing it on a computer, whatever how you do it. Please, keep that in mind! In some lucky on-fire chances, it can be true, though.

In fact, writing takes hours of wondering and wandering around, brain juggling in a search of great idea to write about. Then, followed by another hours just to start finding the first right and perfect sentence to come… which means you’re gonna staring at the blank page during those stressful phase. So, from my brief experience, I can conclude, writing isn’t that easy you see in films. It’s not a robotic work like you’re doing mathematics.

I have been writing non-professionally and professionally since 15 years old. Before that, writing is seen as a shitty task that made me feel doomed at school. Magic not-so-magic happened.... coz I wrote a poem. Then it all started from there. A day later, I edited it. Within a month, I started writing my first novel which has never been published. In two years, I published my first article in a campus magazine and another one year later, in a real newspaper, and magazine shortly after that...and it lasted for almost three years of my life.

I can make a conclusion from these experiences I’ve been through. What's next once you got the first sentence(s)? Re-reading it and deleting it all over and re-writing it... again and again. Hours to complete the whole piece, hours to find the perfect words, style and soul.

Hours. Worse, it could take days. So, it won't be quick and easy.

Nothing is ever easy. Quick, only for cheap stuff. Got that memorized!

I didn’t think that it was a big deal, a very big deal to land my future in journalism. All I know, it’s something big and awesome. I didn’t think the ‘deal’ I had to settle. No one told me. My family is far from anything that they called ‘risky job’. Most of them are entrepreneurs, bankers, accountants, architects and all. Safe jobs, they call it. They push me to be one of them. Not myself.

They really had no idea of writing things work and they only know journalists means people who are running here and there, chasing people with questions, making rumours on celebrities or going to war zone. This was my first ‘deal’. With them. I have to explain that I would not do those things, as I planned to work on lifestyle section. Still, it was hard. They could text me asking if this ‘x’ street was under shitty traffic or not. ‘I’m not even a traffic reporter!’

But, there I was for three years. Standing tall in heels, trying to ‘crying in the inside like a winner’ as Carly Witten in The Other Woman would suggest you. Stay to look fabulous with eye-bag on your face and clumsy work wear everyday, being pushed to improve your skill and persona with no-cost as what you get (sorry!) won’t be enough for what you are needed to be. Journalist, here in Indonesia, aren’t respected as in excellent countries. Yes, excellent and amazing countries respect their journalists and journalism! There again, my fam were (are) getting disapproved of this job as I could go home late, staying up until almost morning just to get my job done right on time, and seriously looked stressed out.

It’s a sad fact. Journalism isn’t an easy job. I can tell you all the worst stories.

Somehow, it feels like you are married to a guy and this guy keeps cheating on you and beating to black and blue...but you choose to stay. Waiting for a change. Or you think by staying things can change. It’s not.

(Note that I’m being a masochist. I enjoyed it. Very much. More than I can tell you.)

It took some years for me to see it and see my blank pages ahead of me. Writing is something I cherish the most. More than a one million dollar trip, more than a lottery jackpot, more than me being this too overreacting. So then, I dived deep down and come out alive to the dock. Running away from the wave that chased me, teasing me the pleasure to go back drowning. Lost.

Yeah, writing made me stay longer than ever.

When you call it as ‘writing’, most people who are not from that same world would say, “oh that’s awesome, I would never be able to do that”. Sadly and questionably, they would see it as something that could be done by a blink, or some random mathematical work like you can just ask an App in your cellphone to do it. Sorry, you can get cheap price for a piece of dress, but not my writing. If you can’t do it, then it’s not something easy-bitsy, bitch!

Translating has almost the same fate with writing, Once I was asked, “Why do you need to read it deeply and googled anything related about it? You can just simply read it and go on translating the words, right?” No, it’s not like that. Why are there super expensive translators? Because they’re not robot who works like Google Translate, not to forget their overload experience.

Translating doesn't mean changing the words between languages, it is more to changing phrases. Some words cannot be literally translated in other language as the other language we translate might have another way to express the intended meaning. You can speak the language fluently, but it doesn't mean you can just be a translator. This is also something I have dealt so far. Small things but annoying.

Misconceptions are fatal. What’s even more fatal? Ignoring to look closer. This has brought me to stand on the other side of my previous life. I might call it quit for a bit. I don’t know, though, if I will go back. The dream of being Lois Lane is still alive in me. I’m still Lois Lane, trying to be my own Superman.

... what happens in my bedroom, stays in my bedroom...