My 3-Days Holiday

A day before Friday, 23rd of June (the day that Pak Jokowi made into a holiday), my family and I went and stayed in Gunung Mas, Puncak. The journey took 2 hours, which is pretty short, and we reached there around 1:30. When we reached there it was drizzling, so I took India my tortoise on a walk after lunch around the concrete path (which the rain couldn't reach), then, around the field once the rain stopped. It rained again a few minutes later though, and it got a little bit heavy so I have to put India back. I found these from my nature walk with India:

Here comes India:

Awesome scenery.

He looks quite happy! Free from his cage!

Between my father's feet where he shaded himself from the soft sunlight.

After the rain stopped my mom and I played badminton until my arm hurts :p. After my Dad came back from taking my sister on a walk, he snapped some photos of me doing gymnastics. 

The legs weren't straight.

Copying my friend with her Wushu pose. Not swords, just rackets. :D

After that I played badminton with my father until it got dark ( my arm hurt more ). I closed my day by dinner & practising my flute with only 5% of energy left....

Waking up in the cold but fresh air, we ate Indomie for an early breakfast to warm ourselves, then set out on a hike (tea walk) while it's still early and quiet:

Warrior pose!

Usually after our hike me and my sister ride horses but my sister refused, so we had brunch and I took India out for a walk. While India was taking his walk, a cat became curious with India for his bright pattern which is unusual around that area, and came creeping up to him, although it was scared of humans. After India was warmed up, I put him back and it's time to pack up!

Playing flute after hiking. With a much better air than the city and with much more energy.

In the middle of loading the luggages, I did something silly while coming back to the hotel to fetch my things. There were short steps towards the hotel hallway, and there was a metal, rectangular "archway" at the sides of the stairs. Well, I didn't pay attention to the rectangular archway, so I jumped at the top of those steps, hit my head on the archway, lost my balance, fell on my tailbone and slid down to my back at the bottom of the stairs. My glasses and shoes all fell off (stupid, stupid). This is the third time I fell on my back in my life :p.

We continued our journey to Bandung. 

Our last journey from Puncak to Bandung took 5 hours, but this time it took 7 hours! There was a heavy traffic from Ciranjang to Padalarang. I brought bubble plastics to pop when I'm bored, but as the traffic was so long, I haven't finished popping all and I got bored soon after. 

After we reached where we stayed in, we dropped India, then visited a friend.

The next day, we went to register for my UN Paket B which I will take next year. I registered in this Homeschool community in Bandung because I don't have to attend the many drillings like the ones in Jakarta. Once everything is sorted out, I packed up my things, then, it's time to go home!

The next day, my aunt and cousins from Bandung came to visit and they found baby fishes in my pond. A month ago my Mom bought fishes for my turtles to eat, and one survived until now. A week ago there was another one but that one was eaten up, so I don't know whose baby fishes do they belong to.

This is one of the baby fishes.

If those baby fishes are still alive until they grow up, we don't have to buy any fishes anymore :p.

About Music (Again)

The next day after the competition, I watched the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra for free. I don't know about the others, but anyone from music institutions/schools can apply for free tickets, because it's good for us (musicians).

I was dropped off at 4:30 by my mom in Gloriamus Greenville, because I'm joining Gloriamus's principal to the concert, together with several others, as my Mom had to take care of my sister. Then I would be picked up by my Father.

It's located in TIM Jakarta:

This was the main soloist at the concert. 

I met other homeschoolers there too.

The next one (June 17th) was when I played the flute collaborating with TRUST Orchestra (Trinity Youth Symphony Orchestra) in Balaikota Jakarta. #senandungsorejakarta.

Many woodwinds were there.

The musicians that collaborate played both sides ahead the main orchestra.

Eyang Titiek Puspa and Pak Djarot.

This event was created to strengthen our unity in Bhineka Tunggal Ika. It means diversity in unity. It was great fun!

About Music

Recently, I played in 2 events, one, on the 25th of May, which is the Ascension Day of Jesus Christ, and on the 12th of June, in Gloriamus Piano Open Competition.

On the 25th of May, I played the flute together with 2 others as part of Gloriamus' Orchestra for the Church music in GKY BSD service. I played for 2 services starting from around 7:30, and both services summed up ended before lunch time.

Before the D-Day

And yesterday was the second event, where I won 3rd place:

I learned a fine lesson on my practising journey up to the competition. I thought that, as it's a church song, it would be easy, so I delayed practising one of the songs, as I was just too lazy to practice it. In the end I practised both songs (there were 2 songs) (not so) seriously 2 weeks ago. 

Just then the opportunity to learn with Jusuf Himawan from Singapore came, and I think he's kind of a specialist in church music. Now "that song" that I was too lazy to practice months ago, wasn't perfect yet, it's still, we could say, in "ruins". So it's a bit of a waste....

A week and 2 days before the competition, I started memorizing "that song" and I got stressed out, until I wanted to resign from the competition, although my parents were disagree. It's all hectic. 

Last Monday, my teacher talked to me and showed me the ways and techniques of memorizing it quickly and strengthen it. Surprise, surprise! I managed to memorize the piece in a day (although it's not strong yet). Next I played each part (I divided them into parts) again and again until I got it right. 3 days before the competition and I'm bored with the piece.

3 days before the competition I had my course with my teacher again and she polished it, giving me tips on dynamics, how I should play it, etc, etc. So I practised it and, by Saturday I'm all set. 

The other song wasn't practised as much as "that song", but it's okay already I think.

On the competition day, I didn't feel as nervous as how I used to be in the past, probably because:

1.There were not many audience, so the seats were arranged similar to how the seats were arranged when I came to try the piano.

2. My mindset was just: play for God. This is all for God. So when I played I wasn't as nervous as usual.

What I learned was that... it takes time to master something, don't leave it out until it's (almost) too late.

Thanks to Ms. Ruth Wibisono for polishing me the most. :)

P.S. 

When I came to try the piano a few days ago, how the seats were arranged could be random, as the auditorium may be used for other events/practices, and it's usually most of the seats piled up along the walls, while only a small amount were laid out for use, so how the seats were laid out on the competition day was similar.