Indonesian Song - Sama-Sama

A multi-Cultural Band CILIWUNG with
Singer YAYAK performing during the
Exhibition of Indonesian Contemporary Art
at the Alte Feuerwache, Cologne City
on April 27 - 29, 2007.

Indonesian Contemporary Art Exhibition in Cologne

Indonesia in Cultural Diversity

In the bustle of Asia's fine arts development in the world,
Indonesia's fine arts is attempting to gain its position,
folowing the earlier China's and India's fine arts.
As a country with the third largest population in Asia,
as well as geographical nature which consists of archipelagos,
Indonesia owns diverse cultural assets, in language and
fine arts.
This time, >The Aryaseni Gallery Singapore
whose programs always introduce the works of Indonesian fine artists,
brings along the works of 8 Indonesian artists to have
an exhibition together. In Alte Feuerwache, Köln, Germany. The 8 artists, who come from different places
in Indonesia, like Marsoyo from Java, Zam Kamil from
Makasaar-Sulawesi, Antonl from Padang-Sumatera and Gustl Alit
Cakra from Bali, the four of whom domicile in Jogyakarta,
as well as Rudi Mukahar from Tasikmaya-West Java, I Wazan
Sujana (Suklu) and I Wayan Sudiarta as Balinese who live in
Bali,try to express Indonesia`s fine arts as a result
of cultural tradition process in globalization era.
Through different style, theme and technique, each artist
reflects what has been part of himself, which bound
to the regional culture, and also, due to the intellectuality
and urban lifestyle which have shifted from tradition to
universal direction. Indonesian culture through the hands
of those artists has become richer and diverse, from which
inbred a new form which is able to cross geographical borders
and is easier to be digested by generation of artists.

The exhibition is expected to encourage cultural
exchange and enrich knowledge so that the understanding
and friendship among countries can grow in harmony.

The involvement and attempt of Elizabeth Becker,
Karl Mertes and Daniel Kho in organizing the exhibition
shall not be forgotten and shall deserve some compliments.
They are infinite steps in the journey of culture.

Cosmas D. Gozali
The Aryaseni Gallery

A as in Asparagus

With this springtime saying April Showers Bring May Flowers,
I am posting one of my favorite things in this
month (it is actually the last week for this tropical-like April heat
which according to German news is the hottest April since 1901 with
a recorded temperature ranging fro 26 to 36 degrees Centigrade).
But more on global warming later.

April in Germany means the start of the season of Asparagus
or Spargel in German which they named as king of
vegetables which is not the explanation why Asparagus is one of my
favourite things dating back since pre-Be (Blogging Era).
Another explanation reads that it is a member of the lily family
which includes onions, leeks and garlic! Watch out for those water
lillies still floating on Pasig River...it might be as delicious
as these wonderfully tasting spears. Anyway.

I bought yesterday about three pounds which was about 1 and half kilo
of white asparagus...(wonder what is the plural form...asparagi?)
for 12Euro which was stilll cheap according to another girlfriend
who bought half a kilo asparagus for 10Euro. Not that she has
what the Germans call a Tick for designer's label
but asparagus could really cost a fortune depending on its quality
and the name of the supermarket, of course.

For tips on how to cook asparagus, please ask your favourite neighbor
for her secrets and this is a good communication skill to keep good
vibration with the rather 'aloof' kapitbahay.
My other German girlfriend who is not hooked on blogging yet,
gave per phone call this tip: Boil water with a teaspoonful of sugar
and salt,a spoonful of butter. Put in the asparagus to cook for
about 25 minutes.I told her that I also put some slices of lemons
to the water,and she said she would try that, too. At least I was
happy to share one piece of wisdom in cooking Spargel while she paid
for the expensive Telecome calling bills.

Our call lasted more than an hour talking about the political
economy of growing and harvesting Asparagus. We talked on topics
like more and more Polish seasonal workers are quitting work in
German asparagus fields for better pay in France and on the effort
of German employment agencies to attract unemployed Germans and
recipients of Hartz IV
unemployment benefits to work in asparagus fields.
In the meantime, the kingly spears were waiting to be cooked and served.

To go with these edible ivory pieces, we just enjoy the simplest mix
of boiled potatoes, Parma ham and butter sauce or what they called
Holland butter sauce.

If interested, click on this website
for info related to Asparagus Officinalis:.
Below are some flash info about the king of the lily family:"
*China is the largest grower
*South Africa and Spain are asparagus powers with US and Peru.
*Japan is the world's importer of asparagus.

And while or rather before we enjoy our delicious Spargel, let us
say these blessings for those workers who start as early as
six in the morning in the asparagus fields for 4.78Euro hourly
working rate, amen.

Tita Bee

International Fair in Cologne City

41st International Fair for Modern and Contemporary
Art in Cologne, Germany on April 18-22, 2007 at the Cologne Exhibition Hall in
Cologne, Germany.
Featured works above are from Ayako Rokkaku
China Hero Series No. 13 from the art seasons Gallery
The Fertility of Capitalism
from Wang Mai courtesy of alexander ochs gallery
and August Macke Paar am Wasser
Bei Vollmond, courtesy of allposter.
For detailed info on the International Fair, please see Art Cologne

If you need an interpreter, guide or travel coordinator for your
visit to Cologne, please get in touch with Tita Bee. You can email
her at this email: babaylanes@gmx.de

Happy Birthday, Dear Pope

Some quotations written by some popes:

"Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best
improve with age."

Anybody can be Pope; the proof of this is that
I have become one.

Pope John XXIII 1881-1963

"Adultery in your heart is committed not only when
you look with excessive sexual desire at a woman who
is not your wife, but also if you look in the same
manner at your wife."

Pope John Paul II 1920-2005

"Women preserve the deep intuition of the goodness
in their lives of those actions which elicit life,
and contribute to the growth and protection of the
other...But, in the final analysis, every human being,
man or woman, is destined to be for the other..."

"God 'has a great sense of humor'."

Pope Benedict XVI

....Aha, so that is one simple reason why we have
now a German pope?

All Things Fundraising: Too Little for Board Members to Do?

All Things Fundraising: Too Little for Board Members to Do?

More on Shakira's Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 Concert in Cologne, Germany

and all the things I deserve
for being such a good girl honey

Because of you
I forgot the
smart ways
to lie
Because of
you
I'm running
out of reasons
to cry
When the friends are gone
When the party's over
We will still belong to each other.

Underneath your clothes
There's an endless story
There's the man I choose
There's my territory
And all the things I deserve
For being such a good girl honey

I love you more than all that's on the planet
Movin' talkin' walkin' breathing
You know it's true
Oh baby it's too funny
You almost don't believe it
As every voice is hanging from the silence
Lamps are hanging from the ceiling
Like a lady to her good manners
I'm tied up to this feeling.

Underneath your clothes
There's an endless story
There's the man I choose
There's my territory
And all the things I deserve
For being such a good girl honey

Produced by SHAKIRA

Laundry Service with Shakira in Cologne

SHAKIRA performs in Koeln Arena on Sunday, April 08,2007
at 20:00.
Koeln Arena in Willy-Brandt-Platz 1, Cologne City