On Sunday, 26 December 2004, an earthquake followed by tsunami devastated Province of Aceh in Indonesia, and several other provinces in other South and South East Asia countries. Total victim has tolled to 67.000, with approximately 50% in Aceh. Some of the area is still unreachable due to broken infrastructure.

We, fellow Indonesian Diver, was called to provide the aid and information about situation in Aceh in general, and Weh island. The island has been mostly uncovered by the news, and maybe by aid. Our action will be posted and co-ordinated from Yahoogroups mailing list (4weh@yahoogroups.com), and the website 4weh.org (Website in bahasa Indonesia, do contact me for translation).

We would appreciate any kind of help, news, fund, primary needs, volunteer, anything. In return to your help, we can only say thank you very much, and may you be blessed in the coming year.

I heard this story during the Christmas Mass at my church this morning:

A Mom was walking when she ran into a stranger. Both of them almost fell. “Are you alright?”, the mom asked the stranger. “Yes, I’m OK. Are you alright? I’m sorry”, replied the stranger. “Yes, I’m OK, I’m sorry too”, answer the Mom. Both of them then left.

In the evening, when the mom was cooking, she reach for some spice when she tripped over her daughter. The Mom then shouted with angry face, “Don’t play in the kitchen, don’t you see that I’m busy?”.

I cut the story short, because here is the message:
“Do you act like the Mom, being nice when she ran into a stranger, but mad like a jerk to her own daughter?

Merry Christmas

OK, so it is 11pm here in Jakarta. You might just arrived in the office, checking emails, and get some birthday greeting. What’s your plan for today? Giving yourself a birthday present? Do some shopping, take a leave, etc, etc?

Eh, don’t forget to make a wish… or wishes, you have birthday, christmas and new year’s wish. Let me give you some idea…. wish to be proposed by your boy . He…he…he…, c’mon what are you guys waiting for? I can’t wait to see my forster kid . Or you might wish me to sent you…. crab noodle, fried kwee tiau, hainamese chicken rice, Chicken Curry, I fu mie, Padang, Siomay, batagor? Keep wishing then, cos I wouldn’t sent you one . But, as promised, I’ll treat you till you drop .

Well…. happy Birthday Sis, may you have a happy year, and success in your life, carreer, and, most importantly, love.

From: your far-far away bro and his girlfriend.

That was the topic of the radio last Firday. One caller said that such love doesn’t exist, because when you think you have unconditional love, it is actualy an obsession. Other caller say such love exist, as long as they respect each other…. but the requirement of respect itself is a condition.

Driving from one traffic light to another, I came to a conclusion that such love doesn’t exist. I agree with the first caller, that if you love someone reardless of what he/she do, it is more to obsession than love.

So… if unconditional love doesn’t exist, what is the condition of love? I thought of many things, but all of them can be summarized into 2 words: trust and respect. You trust your spouse that he/she wouldn’t do anything that hurts you, and you respect the trust given by your spouse. You respect things that he/she done to you.

Still, how far you can trust and should respect your spouse, its all depends on your relation. But the conclusion is, if you don’t trust your spouse, you will become jealous easily. If you don’t respect your spouse you can’t love someone. The trust and respect is the condition that should be fulfilled for love.