Know that however ugly the parts appear
the whole remains beautiful…
the wholeness of life and things,
the divine beauty of the universe.
Love that, not man apart from that,
or else you will share man’s pitiful confusions,
or drown in despair when his days darken.
Robinson Jeffers
Today, I’m visiting another barge, this time, it’s called Crane Barge Indo Prestasi I. Sounds like a very good vessel, and yes, it is huuuge, it is robust, and it is pretty. (you know.., people mostly refer a boat/ship/vessel to a girl, a feminine object). Sounds true, imagining Indo Prestasi as a sexy but big vessel.
I briefed the personnel on-board concerning the quality management system, and later had lunch in the vessel. They got a good cook, Sukardi, who was famous with his sambal, and it does taste good! They served fish, egg, vegetable, fruits. But, I didn’t really care about what I ate! What keep buzzing in my head is, I had lunch UNDER the sea level! I had lunch in the ‘basement’ dining room, which was one of lowest part of the barge, we had to go downstairs for the lunch, and it was under the sea level. So good!
When we went to the barge, we had to take a small boat, called Straits Lhok Tuan, which was operated only by a guy, manually, without engine. But it was only about 10 meters before reaching the barge. They were doing some piling job, and extremely busy with their activity. Luckily, got time to brief about tomorrow audit.
Having such a good time on board.. the travel from Bontang to the port took 2 hours, but it was certainly worth it.
In my youth, years ago, there’s something I always want to do. I want to sail across the deep blue ocean, through the straits. 🙂 I want to be able to go to many countries, many ports, many harbours, by working on a vessel or ship (I know, owning a vessel or ship, will be damn good, but I put my feet on earth that time haha). Before I made my mind choosing Industrial Engineering, I have 2 other options; architecture and shipping.
For several reasons, I chose Industrial Engineering, although my feeling always more into shipping. A decision I never regretted, and will never be. I enjoy knowing many things as an industrial engineer. But, there’s this thing with the previous feeling. Yesterday, I’m visiting a job site in Bontang, and to reach the Crane Barge, we need to take a small speed boat. And I’m in the frontseat! Beside the you know, the ‘driver’, I dunno the english for God’s sake. Haha.. I even hold the control for a sec.
Hahahaha…. Actually, I want to tell the ‘driver’, that I want to drive it to the base-port, but… I changed my mind. (Hmmm… imagine I did!)
Its been a while since my last post. Been in Bontang (300 km from Balikpapan) last week. The 1st time I’m in Bontang, they told me “when you drink the water from the land of Bontang, you will keep coming back”, I laughed. Bull Shit! (Jack Welch would have called it BS, for bull-shit).
It was July 2004. And one-and-half year ahead since then, there’s been those 5 more trips to this oil and gas town, and made me nod my head and said “Damn! They’re right!”… Know what, next week, I’ll be visiting Bontang again for another trip to another client. A marine constructor. I can say that there’s nothing in Bontang. What I do everyday : wake up, breakfast and a cup of hot coffee, 5 minutes drive to job-site, conducting audit/consultancy/training, go back to hotel, watch one hour of TV, dinner with client, back to room, typing/reading/or another TV hour, and sleep. Tomorrow? The same thing!
Ah, tired? Yes yes yes… but must put in mind and soul, that these trips were just several good experiences and many to come, these are learning experiences, where we can also learn about life. Learn yours too! 😉
Just noticed that airport in Semarang provides Free Hotspot! 🙂 Yipeee! For the first time, use my laptop for wireless internet connection! Previously, just feel, unfair to pay 50K Rups in Starbucks to try it. I was torn between 2 decisions, either to take out my laptop and try it, or just assuming there wont be such free thing down here. Talking to my mate for a sec, and decide to try.
I watched Young Adams last week, I don’t think it’s a commercial movie that will be available in every screens. Its more into festival film. It’s about a young man, named Joe. He was involved in an accident that killed a girl, his previous girlfriend who is pregnant that time. Police and judges, at the end of the movie, decided that another guy (forgot the name) guilty for the death. Joe was there on the court-room.
He was in a position that will decide the future of that suspect (charged with death penalty). Either he stepped in front and tell all the people, that he knew what happened, and that innocent guy will be released from any charge, or he stayed quite. There’s a moment in the movie that show the situation. At the very end, he chose not to do anything. The guy was charged with maximum penalty, which is death.
Sometimes, we are in Joe’s foot. We are in between 2 decisions. No matter how simple the decision to be made, and how simple the consequences are. No matter how hard the decision to be made, and the harder the situation is, we are often in that position. Be a bad guy or be the good guy. North or South. Sleep or Not.
Last time, I was in car heading to pay the parking ticket. Cost me 17000 Rups. I gave the guy 50000, and he returned 37000. I counted. I stepped on the pedal. I counted again, ups… it’s a mistakes. He over-paid me 4000! Back or not? Let myself get the extra 4000 or go back and stop the guy from losing 4000 at the end of the day?
I hit the pedal again. It was too late, I thought. A lil bit sorry… but, must change the behaviour next time. 😉