Blast of 2016

I like to keep track of the things I did in a year, as today is the first day of the new year I would like to break down a few moments and achievements that I have gained in the past year. To be honest, I was kind of upset when it got to the end of the year. My year was tough, a lot of unpredictable shits happened, and I didn't got as much as achievements as I planned before. I feel like I haven't done enough that year, but before it's getting to midnight I tried to scrolling down my photo gallery and tried to remember stuff that I have done in 2016. It also helps me to feel grateful for what I have done, and feel enough.

And yes, here goes the timeline of things that I have done in the past year.

I kind of losing track of what I have been doing in the first three months of the year, as far as I remember I was busy preparing contents for the 13th issue of my magazine. On the middle of March, I went to a local music festival that happened to be one of my favorite –– Music Gallery. I was really cherishing that moment as my first time watching MALIQ & D'Essentials live music gig. It may be cheesy, but it was my bucket list since 2010 and I finally accomplished it that night. Thank you, Music Gallery! One of the best music festival, indeed.

April was fun! I took a national exam on the first dates of April, followed by a little celebration that I did with my classmates. We went to karaoke and bought lots of chicken wings, fries, and churros – gossiping about nonsense and laughing at things. The next day, I paid a visit to Singapore and attending Singapore Art Book Fair. This time I went to Singapore and only visited lots of book and record store and it all was good. I managed  to bought some records as I also planned to buy a turntable player later in Jakarta's Records Store Day in the middle of April. To end the month, I went to Tame Impala concert with a few friends.

A note from this month, as one of the moment that I want to keep is the moment when I went to dinner with a group of good friends. It was right the night before my national exam. They never fails to be one of my support system and I could never thank them enough for what we have done together.

May. My favorite month of the year, which also my birthday. I was planning to spent my birthday differently this year. I managed to wandering around the city by myself one full day. To start the morning, I went to but first coffee in Dharmawangsa followed by lunch in Umabo (which already closed now, I'm sad). After that I went RUCI's Gallery to attend Anton Ismael's exhibition. On the evening, I went to a closed succulant plant garden in Fairgrounds. Before I end the day, I got a message from my friends to meet them in a coffee shop at Kemang, so I drove off there. And yes, they have prepared a surprise for me! And also a bunch of amazing gift that they made – call it a collaborative mixtape, a poster with my face drawn there, and postcards. One of the best birthday with the very first surprise I have ever got from a friend.

In the middle of May, me and my Knacker friends went to Malang for a short trip and attending Folk Music Festival which held by our friend. We were wandering around Batu and around the city, and stayed in a capsule hotel for the first time. I wrote down the experience here. It was a very good experience to plan off a holiday with your good friends.

Before May ends, I was attending a press conference of M83, a french electronic band in Fairmont Jakarta. I met Anthony Gonzalez himself as he was attending the press conference. One of the priceless experience I had this year.

I finally left high school marked by a school graduation on early June. The night after graduation, me with a few friends left for Bandung for a short trip. We went to Kineruku, one of my favorite indie bookstore and cafe, and ate seafood. In the middle of June, I started to join Indoestri Long + Haul program for the next 6 weeks and started doing yoga. Me and my classmates were also planning to hike Mount Mahameru.

On July, right before we went off to Malang for Mahameru, I found out about my backbone ache. The doctor said that I have a serious scoliosis. The fact made me kind of shock and worries, and for more further reasons, I cancelled my trip to hike Mount Mahameru. I do regretting the decision I made back then, but my condition made it impossible for me to go.

Some time before I graduated my 6 week course in Indoestri Long + Haul, I was helping out a friend as an event public relation, holding social media and copywriting jobs. The event was called Social Design for Social Living, a design exhibition created by communities in Indonesia (including Jatiwangi Art Factory) and Poland in National Gallery of Indonesia. I was also working with curators from Poland for the event. It was one of my turning point and big achievement that year.

August was also a month that I have been waiting for, because – summer music festival! Like the year before, I went to We The Fest for the second time this year. This time I went there with my best friends. Even though the rain won't stop pouring on the two days of We The Fest, we do still have fun and feel so happy for the event! I also checked off my bucket list to watch Breakbot and The Temper Trap live set.

On this month I also bought my first pocket analog camera and tried out my first ever 35mm roll. Turns out, my photos on the first roll were unexpectedly good! You can see a few of my analog shoots here or on my Instagram.

I started off to college on September. I was very nervous, of course. It was my first time again adapting with a new surrounding after almost four years. As the time goes, it all went pretty well. My group of friends on the class was good and I enjoy talking with them. And I finally experienced it myself how tough it is to be a graphic design student. It's not as easy as only drawing what you want, dear friends. I have warned you.

Another music festival I experienced this year was on October – Synchronize Fest! Another good local music festival presented by Demajors. The line-up were set up very well and it seems like this will be one of my favorite music festival. I attended the festival with my boyfriend and I really love the ambience there. Most of the line-up were indie musicians and you can see them everywhere like it was so normal, wandering around the venue while chit-chatting, also watching the other band performances. There was no gap between the audience and the performers, which I really like.

On the last two months of the year, two of my favorite films were releasing their new movie serials. On November, Warner Bros Studios was realising a new series from Harry Potter film which is Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them. Finally after years, I got to see Harry Potter movie on the cinema again. My boyfriend made me watch it on the first release day in 4Dx3D cinema. I am a happy kid, indeed.

Last month of the year! On December, Disney was realising Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and yes I watched it on the first day again. Surely it was one of the best Star Wars movie and one of my favorite. In my honest opinion, this Rogue One is better than any Star Wars series. Best, unexpecting, and mind-blowing film. This month I also preparing up a lot of stuff with my team for my magazine. We will be releasing a lot of plans on 2017. Please do wish us luck. Fingers crossed!

I do hope all of the dreams and plans that I haven't accomplish in 2016 could be come true this year. I am going to make 2017 as my year! I hope you guys are also having a great new year. Cheers.



(read more of my tracklogs: 2014 and 2015)