IHSAN KHAIRIR

by Charles Aznavour

She may be the face I can’t forget
A trace of pleasure or regret
May be my treasure or the price I have to pay
She may be the song that summer sings
May be the chill that autumn brings
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day

She may be the reason I survive
The why and wherefor I’m alive
The one I’ll care for through the rough in many years
Me, I’ll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I’ve got to be
The meaning of my life is she

So he died. I found out through the radio this morning, when the usually hilariously entertaining Hitz.fm Morning Crew show seemed to have lost all its colors and turned black. I actually thought I dialed in Lite.fm, but no, it was Hitz.fm. They kept playing MJ songs and then I realized something relating to MJ must have happened. Then the sub-Morning Crew reannounced it: That MJ died from cardiac arrest last night.

Anyone who has been with me for the past few years, or at least have read this entry of mine last year, would probably have a bit of an inkling of how I’m feeling right now.

Hotel poolside, originally uploaded by ihsankhairir.

This is the swimming pool at the Hills Hotel Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

The pool is well-maintained and there are lots of poolside chairs with shade, and there’s a reflexology and massage service provided.

Next to the pool is a small playground for kids and there’s even a small slide (partially in the picture) that goes into the pool.

For all the days that I was there, I haven’t seen anyone using the pool, although there are times I’ve seen children with towels and wet hair in the elevator (I assumed they played in the pool earlier).

I went to the pool two times: once during the day to snap photos like this one, and once at night for some long exposure photos.

Maybe sometime, I’ll share the long exposure photos here. Only the nice ones though, long exposure is not something that I have truly mastered and it usually takes me quite a number of tries before I get a decent shot.

But for now, this one shot of the pool will do. Tell me if you want to see other shots of the pool

Hotel poolside, originally uploaded by ihsankhairir.

This is the swimming pool at the Hills Hotel Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

The pool is well-maintained and there are lots of poolside chairs with shade, and there’s a reflexology and massage service provided.

Next to the pool is a small playground for kids and there’s even a small slide (partially in the picture) that goes into the pool.

For all the days that I was there, I haven’t seen anyone using the pool, although there are times I’ve seen children with towels and wet hair in the elevator (I assumed they played in the pool earlier).

I went to the pool two times: once during the day to snap photos like this one, and once at night for some long exposure photos.

Maybe sometime, I’ll share the long exposure photos here. Only the nice ones though, long exposure is not something that I have truly mastered and it usually takes me quite a number of tries before I get a decent shot.

But for now, this one shot of the pool will do. Tell me if you want to see other shots of the pool

Jam Gadang, originally uploaded by ihsankhairir.

This is the major landmark and iconic monument of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is called ‘Jam Gadang’ (lit. ‘Massive Clock’) and was built by the Dutch in 1926.

One unique feature of the clock is that although Roman numerals were used, the number ’4′ is featured as ‘IIII’ instead of the usual ‘IV’.

The top of the tower has changed two times. When it was built it featured a dome with a weather rooster on top. During Japanese occupation the top was a Jinja-like structure. After Indonesian independence the top was changed to its present Minangkabau roof structure.

When I visited the Jam Gadang, there were lots of people hanging around the tower and in the plaza next to it. It seems like the iconic structure has become a common meeting point of sorts, since everybody knows where it is, and it is quite close to several tourist attractions, including some business areas and the Hills Hotel.

Jam Gadang, originally uploaded by ihsankhairir.

This is the major landmark and iconic monument of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is called ‘Jam Gadang’ (lit. ‘Massive Clock’) and was built by the Dutch in 1926.

One unique feature of the clock is that although Roman numerals were used, the number ’4′ is featured as ‘IIII’ instead of the usual ‘IV’.

The top of the tower has changed two times. When it was built it featured a dome with a weather rooster on top. During Japanese occupation the top was a Jinja-like structure. After Indonesian independence the top was changed to its present Minangkabau roof structure.

When I visited the Jam Gadang, there were lots of people hanging around the tower and in the plaza next to it. It seems like the iconic structure has become a common meeting point of sorts, since everybody knows where it is, and it is quite close to several tourist attractions, including some business areas and the Hills Hotel.

The Pool, originally uploaded by ihsankhairir.

This is the pool of cool water at the bottom of the aforementioned hillside waterfall. The water’s very clear and very clean. Locals say the water has healing and youth preservation properties.

Too bad I was in my business suit already when I arrived at this place. Plus the changing room was too small and creepy-looking so I decided not to jump into the water.