… Ou, se preferir, fazer campanha boa dá um trabalho danado… mas vale muito a pena!

Pra quem está acostumado a ver as campanhas dos nossos clientes já nas ruas, vai aí um resuminho bem simples das diversas etapas pelas quais normalmente passamos pra deixar as peças de uma campanha prontas pra serem veiculadas.

A Campanha Summer Time, da Samarra, é um bom exemplo de como é preciso ralar muito pra conseguir bons resultados.

O começo de tudo: o briefing. Neste caso, lançar a nova coleção de verão da Samarra. Algumas reuniões com o cliente e pronto! ISSO É O QUE VOCÊS QUE PENSAM…

Definir o mix de peças e meios a serem utilizados, reservar os espaços com antecedência, conseguir aquele desconto com o veículo (é preciso otimizar a verba do cliente ao máximo), conhecer as tendências, comprar revistas de moda (nacionais e internacionais), assistir ao GNT Fashion, ir a Paris e Milão (neste caso, pela WEB – mas um dia a gente chega lá), conseguir um bom casting e escolher a modelo (ô tarefa difícil…rsrsrsrsr), descobrir uma boa locação, contratar um bom fotógrafo, fazer reunião de pré-produção, reunião de produção, iniciar a produção das fotos logo depois de um almoço de domingo, finalizar a produção das fotos – ainda no domingo – já depois de todas as pizzarias estarem fechadas (só sobrou o Galego’s como salvação), fazer uma triagem de 180 fotos pra escolher 03, tratar as fotos, aplicar nos layouts, trocar a cor da assinatura, trocar a cor da assinatura, novamente trocar a cor da assinatura, aprovar a cor da assinatura, aprovar as peças finais, finalizar os arquivos, enviar para os fornecedores, conferir as provas de cor, corrigir as cores, enviar novamente os arquivos para os fornecedores, conferir novamente as cores, cobrar os fornecedores para entregar o material no prazo combinado e…uffffaaaa, ver as peças na rua.

Alguns dias depois de iniciado todo esse processo e, com o envolvimento e participação direta de pelo menos umas 30 pessoas, o resultado ganha cara de campanha. E lembrem que, paralelamente a tudo isso, todos estavam envolvidos em alguns muitos outros jobs, menos ou mais complexos, com prazos tão ou mais urgentes quanto o mencionado neste post.

Pra quem quiser conferir, abaixo deste texto, um resumo visual das peças e de alguns momentos da produção fotográfica. Aqui vocês encontram mais fotos do making of. A campanha teve como peças outdoor, PDV, redesign de web (www.samarra.com.br), e-mail marketing e anúncios para jornal. Pois é… fazer campanha boa dá um trabalho danado… mas vale muito a pena!

Ficha Técnica
——————–
Cliente: Samarra Calçados Femininos
Campanha: Summer Time
Aprovação: Fernanda Marques
Atendimento: Thiago Melo

Criação: Maurício Braz (direção de arte) / Valtércio Paixão (redação)
Mídia: Leonardo Roeder / Indira Profeta
Finalização: Igor Freitas
Produção Gráfica: Carol Andrade
——————–
Fornecedores
Produção de Moda: Fernanda Marques
Fotos Campanha: Fábio Pamplona
Modelo: Renata Santana (Mega Model)
Maquiagem e Cabelo: Jemima
Impressão outdoor: Uranus2
PDV: Neo Comunicação Visual
Webdesign: AGW
Making Of: Mariana Aragão

After seeing countless lists of places to visit before you die/before you reach 30/if you can log off the net and actually get out there, I thought I’d add my tuppence-worth with some slightly different places I want to visit.

If anyone reads this then feel free to comment and offer up other places. If I don’t know enough about your favourite place and I haven’t included it then give me reasons for it to be added, though I may already have been there or just not want to…

AFRICA:

1. Church of St. George – Lalibela – Ethiopia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St._George,_Lalibela

A normal-sized church hewn from solid rock, rock from the ground. This is a statement of devotion I just have to see. Built in the early thirteenth century it’s still a major pilgrimage destination. Amazing.

2. Namib desert – Namibia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namib_desert

A tustle rages on between this and the Atacama for the title of world’s oldest desert but this one seems to pip it. It’s achingly beautiful with petrified sand dunes and red dust – this one is well worth a visit to the Wiki page just to see the image below full size.

3. Great Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Zimbabwe

This site lent it’s name to the country of Zimbabwe so it’s been somewhat hijacked politically but that ’s because it puts to rest the insulting and downright racist view that a lot of people have about African architecture. The conical tower is the pinnacle of construction here and a marvel in masonry. Constructed from round 1100AD the site is one of the oldest in Southern Africa and evidence has been uncovered of a trade netweork stretching as far as Arabia and China.

4. Nile Cruise from Cairo to Aswan – Egypt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Nile

One that really should be on everyone’s list. The Pyramids, Karnak (which I’ve wanted to see ever since The Spy Who Loved Me), Abu Simbel, some of the most important historical sites in the world, all linked by the one famous river. A cruise down stream would be a great way to see them all and I will try to get here in the next year or so.

5. The Dogon People – Mali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_of_Bandiagara

I’d never even heard of Dogon villages until I was forced to mortar and machine gun them in Farcry 2. The digital version was so striking I looked into it and discovered what they were based on. This culture has a lot of specific, sexual and gender-based architecture. Fertility cults and the division between men and women is encapsulated in these strange structures, the granaries in particular. It seems more than a travesty to blow these up doesn’t it:

6. The East African Rift Valley – Kenya

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Rift

Apparently the birthplace of Homo Sapiens, anyone want to find out where you came from? Yes please! Really this is something of a journey of imagination because the region must look almost nothing like it did all those millennia ago when we moved onto two legs and started turning tools to our advantage, beginning the rapid road to where we are now. To see the area is an ambition of mine that shouldn’t be too difficult with so much of the Valley accessible from Kenya.

EUROPE:

1. Portofino – Italy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portofino

Part of the rugged Cinque Terre (‘five lands’ referring to five picturesque villages) section of the Italian Riveria, Portofino is a destination very well frequented by cruise ships for good reason – it’s a small and extremely beautiful cove filled with houses painted in every pastel shade. Probably not great for much more than a day trip but well worth seeing from the sea, from where you can take it all in in one go. I first heard about this place from someone I used to work with, he holidayed along that part of the Italian coast and showed me his snaps. From then on I’ve longed to visit.

2. Delphi – Greece

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi

Referring particularly to the archaeological site rather than the modern city I wanted to visit here when I was in Athens but there just wasn’t time. With an ancient amphitheatre perched on the side of a mountain what’s not to love? I’ll get here on a future trip to the country.

3. Florence – Italy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence

The home of some of Michelangelo’s greatest works and the world’s first art gallery, the Uffizi, Firenze absolutely has to be on any art lover’s list of places to visit!

4. Venice – Italy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice

Goes without saying really doesn’t it? Legendary.

5. The State Hermitage – St. Petersburg – Russia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermitage_Museum

Another of the world’s greatest art repositories and palaces, and another building which is a work of art in itself! The Hermitage was founded by Catherine The Great and has grown from its inception to include several buildings used by the Tsars until the Revolution of 1917 when it was requisitioned into a state property and national treasure.

6. The Alhambra – Granada – Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra

Ok, this one’s an annoyance. It’s obviously so amazing that when I tried to go there in 2003 I couldn’t get a ticket because it was sold out, even in the local banks which is apparently where it’s best to get on-the-day tickets. I was on a small trip around Andalusia and tried to visit, to no avail. Book in advance!

Even from the outside this fourteenth century palace and fortress of the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada is an astonishing place. Famous for its gardens and elaborate architectural details this has drawn masses of visitors since it fell to the Reconquista in 1492. From the hillside opposite it’s just beautiful and in part can claim to be one of the reasons I love islamic and moorish buildings, the majority of the sites I want to visit it seems.

7. Cordoba – Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3rdoba,_Spain

Ta-da! Told you so, here’s another Moor-inspired choice and it’s a goodun. The Catholic cathedral was originally a mosque:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mosque_of_C%C3%B3rdoba

The whole of the old centre of the city seems astonishingly pretty too though so I reckon there are at least a few days visit in this choice.

8. Segovia – Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segovia

Another stunning Spanish choice with Roman and Castillian architecture. The aqueduct is justly renowned because it’s bloody massive and the topography of the area makes the cathedral seem even more massive than it already is.

9. Carcassonne – France

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne

The fortified town of Carcassonne is, to me, the epitome of what a medieval walled city should look like. Dominating the area like a French Camelot it’s enormous pointy-turreted walls tick every box in picture-perfect fairy tale world.

10. Auschwitz-Birkenau – Poland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp

Yes, like Hiroshima but far more harrowing. This really is something to make you think about what you are and what you’re capable of because I’m sure that every person on this planet is capable of deeds like this, given the right conditions. If we get to know what can happen then perhaps there is a way to avert crimes like this. Events like the Holocaust have not ended with the fall of the Nazi regime so there’s every chance or, realistically, near certainty that scenes like this will come again.

11. Westminster Abbey – London – UK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_abbey

Right, I’ve lived in London my whole life and still haven’t been inside this historic site. It’s where all our monarchs are coronated and the stone is saturated with history. Founded 400 years before the Normans invaded the British Isles it finally got its stone form during the 1040s in the reign of the last Saxon king – Edward The Confessor. I’m sure it’s brilliant, must have a look!

12. La Tomatina – Bunol – Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Tomatina

http://www.reasonpad.com/2009/05/la-tomatina-festival-of-spain/

This is one of those things you read about all over the internet. In honour of St. Louis Bertrand but with unknown origins this food fight looks like great fun so I must go along one year and join in chucking tomatoes absolutely everywhere. Bunol, where it’s held, looks quite nice too but is almost an afterthought on this one I’m afraid.

13. Oktoberfest – Munich – Germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest

Mmmmmmmm, beer. This beerfest started in 1810 to honour a royal marriage and since then has grown to the epic proportions seen today. Oktoberfest is ‘the biggest party in the world’ though rather commercialised and rising in cost, but what the heck, it’s only for a day or two. Unless I don’t like my liver any more and fancy killing it off by going for the whole sixteen days? No, no thanks, even all the pretty German girls in traditional dirndl dress couldn’t convince me on that one…

14. Extremadura – Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremadura

Yes, yet more Spain! On the aforementioned trip to Andalusia we took a bus from Granada to Lisbon. We crested a hill and the scene that opened up before me was breathtaking. Ever since then I’ve wanted to re-visit the plains of Extremadura. We only skirted the southern rim but at that time of year it was an endless, glorious patchwork of purples, reds, browns, greens, oranges and yellows. I’ll need to learn how to drive for this one methinks. Minus the myriad colours this is very much how I remember my first view of the birth region of the conquistadores:

15. Ostia Antica – Italy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostia_Antica

Ostia is 30km southwest of Rome and operated as the Imperial capital’s port from around 300BC. The ruins are vast and severely under-visited so if you want respite from the throngs of Rome itself then come here to wander in peace (apparently). It’s the quality of the remains that gets Ostia onto this list. You can visit the public latrines, shop fronts, warehouses, and baths – all of which are remarkably well preserved. You get a real taste of what living in a Roman city was like. I reckon this would be a better visit than Pompei because of its crowds and the relative difficulty of getting there. Coming from Rome Ostia is a short rail journey, but an epoch away from somtimes overwhelming Roma. Or so I’ve read…

MIDDLE EAST:

1. Palmyra – Syria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmyra

This is a massive and extremely important archaeological site partly dating from well before the Greek Empire. I’m not sure when this first came to my attention but I know I’ve wanted to visit for a long time.

2. Istanbul – Turkey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul

Istanbul is rapidly becoming a must-see city for people avoiding the cost of the Euro in tough economic times. Now the largest city in Turkey, but not its capital (that task belongs to Ankara), Istanbul developed from a Greek colony called Byzantium to become Constantinople and the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire under Constantine. Later Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 and became the Imperial capital for 450 years. The influence of this place cannot be underestimated yet to many people it’s an unknown and mysterious place mythologised in films like Midnight Express which certainly coloured my youthful impression of it! This is a city I reckon I’d better get to quite quickly or risk seeing it fully Europeanised when it does inevitably enter the EU in the near future. Trust me, this will happen, and we’ll all be richer and happier for it once the inevitable racial backlash calms.

3. Krak des Chevaliers – Syria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krak_des_Chevaliers

With many ingenious design solutions to the question of how to repel invaders except for I believe, providing a well, this is a case-study in how to build a castle properly. It may not be the prettiest but it was damned effective during the Crusades!

4. Cappadocia – Turkey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia

I first saw this mysterious word being used as a restaurant name in Norbury, South London. For ages I meant to look up what it meant, when I did I was blown away. What an alien landscape, and fascinating culture this region possesses. One that apparently is best seen in winter and by hot air balloon… Churches and undergound cities carved into the rocks and phallic stone ‘fairy chimneys’ dominate the sights to see here.

5. Petra – Jordan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. That’s what I always think of when I see Petra. It was used as the resting place of the Holy Grail in that film and I can see why as an otherworldly city carved from rock. Just look at it! It’s not just this one building either, this is the most iconic of them though. The Nabataeans were a ‘lost’ civilisation until a Swiss explorer reported it widely to Europeans. Of course it had been known of since Pliny the Elder wrote about it but us Europeans like to forget things every now and then.

6. The Great Mosque of Samarra – Iraq

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_Minaret

I built this. Many times. In Civilisation 4. That game and Dan Cruikshank’s ‘Around The World In 80 Treasures’ inspired me to visit a lot of places on this list. The Spiral Minaret, AKA the Great Mosque of Samarra was once the largest mosque in the world. Sadly, it being in Iraq I imagine this will be a site I don’t see for many years. If at all. Sadly indeed.

7. Naqsh-e Jahan Square – Isfahan – Iran

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naghsh-i_Jahan_Square

Constructed in Shah Abbas’ reign the Sheikh Lotf Allah mosque on this square is a stunning example of Islamic art. Something I’ve already established that I love. The Square is immense and a good setting for this building. Thank you Dan Cruikshank for this one too.

AMERICAS:

1. Great Blue Hole – Belize

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blue_Hole

This is one for that long-held desire to learn to SCUBA. The Great Blue Hole is the opening on the roof of a huge underwater cave. Just imagine the wonders in there…

2.  Kilauea – Hawaii

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilauea

Volcanoes have always amazed me so to visit the one that has been spewing lava and extending Hawaii since the year I was born would be perfect.

3. Alaska – USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)

Wolves, bears, eagles, glaciers, whales, aurora borealis. Some of the best things nature has to offer. Hopefully I’ll get to see it before it all either a) melts or b) turns into an oil refinery. Luckily with Bush gone from the White House and Palin resigning from the governorship there may be some sanity on that front.

4. Teotihuacan – Mexico

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotihuacan

One of the big sites of Pre-Columbian America but majorly and unfairly overlooked. It was the centre of an empire pre-dating the Aztec’s and its influence stretched all the way to Guatemala. These ‘ruins’ are some of the most spectacular in Mexico, as the picture below demonstrates.

5. Machu Picchu – Peru

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

Probably on every list I’ve seen so it’s no surprise it’s on mine too… A four day trek culminating in a dawn view over the ruins sounds like a little earthly slice of heaven. Apart from the fact it’s often shared with a thronging crowd of tourists. I first got word of this incredible place when I was about 4 years old. The Mysterious Cities Of Gold cartoon was an inspiration that I’ve never lost. Who says cartoons, films and computer games do nothing for the youth of today eh? (do I still count as youth at 26? Bloody hope so but I doubt it…)

6. The Grand Canyon – USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_canyon

Another well-regarded and often mentioned attraction makes it onto mine too. I need not say any more.

7. Nazca Lines – Peru

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines

How on earth were these surveyed? Nobody has a satisfactory answer but however it was done these are a work of artistic genius dating from anywhere from 200BC to 700AD. Beautiful geometric and animal shapes scraped into the desert floor. Gotta get up in an aeroplane or, perhaps absurdly as the makers did, in a balloon to see these.

8. Yellowstone National Park – USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone

This jewel of a national park consists of a supervolcano caldera and could explode at any moment, I should get over there as soon as possible before that happens because when it does it’ll destroy the whole park and cripple most of North America. It’s swelling already and some think it’s only a matter of time before an explosion occurs powerful enough to change the way we all live our lives forever.

9. Antigua – Guatemala

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_Guatemala

I’d never heard of this place until I saw images like this. That’s all that was needed.

10. Monte Alban – Mexico

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Alban

Another Pre-Columbian and Pre-Aztec site. Situated in a dramatic and dominant position on a hill overlooking a valley, it used to be a fortress town. I read a bit about it whilst doing an Archaeology course, worth a visit by all accounts.

11. Iguazu Falls – Argentina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls

The longest set of waterfalls in the world, Iguazu falls must be a breathtaking sight.

12. Altiplano – Bolivia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altiplano

This region includes the famous Lake Titicaca and is one of the highest and most barren places in South America. High altitude living should make this a fascinating destination.

13. Las Vegas – USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_vegas

Yet another regular appearance on this kind of list but just to see the legend would be worth it. The kingdom of tat and sleaze, sounds like fun! I especially fancy visiting the Double Down Saloon ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ as it sounds quite far removed from the Strip and from their website, my kind of place. http://www.doubledownsaloon.com/

ASIA AND PACIFIC (except for Hawaii):

1. Samarkand – Uzbekistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samarkand

Another Cruikshank classic, this time from the Silk Road. It looks like another winner to me judging from this picture.

2. Angkor Wat – Cambodia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_wat

Angkor is one of those places most people have heard of but aren’t quite sure where it is. They know it from films like Tomb Raider but everything I’ve heard is that it’s better than anyone’s imagination. When you can find a corner to yourself it’s supposed to be magical. Construction at Angkor started in the early twelth century and partially abandoned in the sixteenth it retains its place as one of the most impressive Hindu/Buddhist temple complexes I know of.

3. Himeji Castle – Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji-jo

An ingeniously designed castle with so many ways to harrass and kill invading soldiers that it was never attacked! This was a prototype for many of the other castles in Japan.

4. Bukhara – Uzbekistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukhara

More Silk Road action which makes me think I really should just do the whole route. A nice trip from London to Xi’an wouldn’t be too much hassle really. Pop to Baku and start from there I reckon. This looks like an absolute must see on that kind of journey.

5. Bora Bora – French Polynesia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_bora

Not. Enough. Superlatives. Expensive but stunning. If I ever have the money, I’ll visit here.

6. Mount Kinabalu – Malaysia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kinabalu

A real biodiversity melting pot, Mount Kinabalu doesn’t require mountaineering knowledge to climb it. A good guide would be a must to get the most out of the wonders you’re looking at. Everything from orchids to rodent-eating plants abound here.

7. Varanasi – India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi

The Western take on death is wholly different to the Hindu one, as epitomised at Varanasi’s pyres on the Ganges. To see this kind of thing for real would make a lot of people re-think their outlook on life and recognise its transience. The full on nature of this city makes it somewhere I really have to visit on my own pilgrimage of sorts.

8. Guilin – China

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilin

Beautiful karst formations surround the city of Guilin in China’s Guangxi province and it’s one of the sites I didn’t get to visit when I was in China. This is something I want to rectify.

9. Hiroshima – Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima

A continuation on the theme set by Auschwitz, in order to see the worst things that people can do to each other you have to visit places like this. And then you have to see the recovery you can make. I suspect that visiting this city’s museums and monuments would be extremely moving.

10. Durga Puja – Kolkata – India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_Puja

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata

One of the most extravagant Hindu festivals which celebrates all deities at the same time, including characters from other faiths like Mary and the Christian saints. The city bursts into colour as the oversized models of these gods and idols are paraded to the Ganges and then dunked in. The effort and excitement surrounding this festival make it something I want to be part of, if only as a voyeur.

11. Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival – Harbin – China

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbin_International_Ice_and_Snow_Sculpture_Festival

Every year incredible scenes from around the world are recreated in ice. The structures and sculptures are lit from within and externally to create a magical city of ice. It seems that every year it gets bigger and more ambitious too.

Antarctica

A vast continent, rapidly losing it’s icy cover. As a unique habitat this is something we should be trying far harder to save but I fear it’s already too late.

The Arctic Circle

Because, like Antarctic ice, it won’t be around much longer.

None of the pictures in this blog are my own, they have all been sourced from the Wikipedia pages noted.

metin2, metin 2, metin2 indir, metin2 hileleri, metin2 download

apalı olan sunuculara giris denemelerinde BLOCK LOGIN uyarisi alacaklardir.

1. Alesta – KAYIT KAPALI
2. Tramola – KAYIT KAPALI
3. Tuva – KAYIT KAPALI
4. Yakamoz – KAYIT KAPALI
5. Manas – KAYIT KAPALI
6. Samarra – KAYIT KAPALI
7. Artemis – KAYIT KAPALI
8. Kilikya – KAYIT KAPALI
9. Pitaya – KAYIT KAPALI
10. Asena – KAYIT KAPALI
11. Vilusa – KAYIT KAPALI
12. Grifon – KAYIT KAPALI
13. Ergenekon – KAYIT KAPALI
14. Anatolia -KAYIT KAPALI
15. Turkuaz – KAYIT KAPALI
16. Agamemnon – KAYIT KAPALI
17. Yeniçeri – KAYIT KAPALI
18. Malazgirt – KAYIT KAPALI
19. Efes – KAYIT AÇIK
20. Ayasofya – KAYIT AÇIK
21. İstiklal – KAYIT AÇIK

Serverların kayıt durumlarırın son şekli böyledir

 Built more than 1,100 years ago, the Mosque of ibn Tulun still looks largely the way it did when first constructed, which is really saying something when you consider that the entire city that was built around it was destroyed just 26 years later.  The mosque tells the story of the son of a Turkish slave who came to rule all of Egypt and part of Syria, and who declared independence for his kingdom–as well as himself–from those who once owned him.  This article will explore the history of Ahmad ibn Tulun and the mosque that bears his name.

To read the rest of this article, click HERE.

(You will be redirected to the article on the new website)

நான் அமெரிக்கா கிளம்புவதற்கு இரண்டு நாள் முன்பு ஏர் ஃபிரான்ஸ் விமானம் நடுவானில் காணாமல் போனது. என்னை வழியனுப்ப, சொல்லிக் கொள்ள, ஆசீர்வதிக்க வந்த அனைவருமே, ஏனோ இந்த செய்தியை எனக்கு சொன்னார்கள்.

எங்கள் வீட்டிலும் தி ஹிந்து வாங்குகிறார்கள் என்பதை அறிந்திருந்தும் இந்த நிகழ்வை சுட்டிக் காட்டிப் பேச்சைத் துவக்கினார்கள்.

நானும் அவர்களுக்கு அமெரிக்க மாமா கதையை அலுக்காமல் சொல்லி ஆறுதல் அளித்தேன்.

ஹைவேயில் வேகமாகப் போகிறோம். சடாரென்று கொஞ்ச தூரத்தில் போலீஸ் கார் தென்படுகிறது. ஒன்றும் தெரியாத பூனைக்குட்டி போல் இரண்டு அப்பாவி கார்களுக்கு நடுவில் சொருகிக் கொண்டு, பம்மி, பாவனையாகக் கடக்கிறோம்.

அடுத்த பத்து, இருபது மைல்களுக்கு கவலை வேண்டாம். உடனடியாக இன்னொரு காவல்துறை வண்டி இருக்காது. திருப்பத்திற்கொரு போக்குவரத்து காவலர் இருக்கமாட்டார் என்பது விதி அல்ல; சம்சயம்.

அதே போல் காலாண்டுக்கு ஒரு விமான விபரீதம்தான் நிகழும் என்பது ஒருவிதமான மனப்பிராந்தி ப்ராபபிளிடி.

ஆனால் விதி வலியது.

இப்படி நினைத்து வேகமூட்டும்போது, கையுங்களவுமாகப் பிடிக்கப்பட்டு $300 தண்டம் அழுததுண்டு.

அதை விட இந்த அம்மணியின் நிலை பரிதாபமானது

Woman who missed Flight 447 is killed in car crash – Times Online

பிரேசிலில் விடுமுறை. ரொம்பவே உல்லாசமாக இருந்ததாலோ என்னவோ, பாதுகாப்பு பரிசோதனைக்கு தாமதமாக வந்துசேர்ந்து, போய்ச்சேர வேண்டிய விமானத்தைத் தவறவிடுகிறார். மரணத்தையும் தட்டிக் கழிக்கிறார்.

காலன் கைவிடவில்லை.

God’s contingency plan வந்துசேர, சாலை விபத்தில் இறந்துவிட்டார்.

சாமர்செட் மாமின் கதையான Appointment in Samarraவை ஸ்ரீகாந்த் பரிந்துரைத்திருந்தார்.

சாமான் வாங்கிவர சந்தைக்கு செல்லும் வேலைக்காரர் அரக்க பரக்க ஓடி வருகிறார்.

‘பெண்ணைக் கண்டேன்… பேயைக் கண்டேன்’

‘ஒழுங்கா சொல்லுடா!’

‘நீ சாவப் போறேன்னு மரணதேவதை சொல்லிடுச்சு. நான் ஓடி ஒளியணும்.’

அந்தக்காலத்தின் அதிகாரபூர்வ நடராஜா சர்வீசுக்கு பதிலாக, தன் குதிரையைக் கொடுத்து வேலைக்காரரை எழுபத்தைந்து மைல் தள்ளியிருக்கும் சமரா நகருக்கு துரிதகரமாக அனுப்பி வைக்கிறார் வியாபாரி.

அப்படியே சந்தைக்கும் சென்று காலதூதரை கண்டுபிடித்து ‘ஏன் சின்னப் பையனை பயமுறுத்தினாய்?’ என்று குறுக்கு விசாரணையும் நடக்கிறது.

‘இன்னிக்கு ராத்திரி அவனை சமராவில் நான் கொல்லணும். இன்னும் இங்கேயே இருந்தா எப்படி! அதனால்தான் போக வைத்தேன்…’ என்கிறது எமன்.

சின்ன வயதில் இந்த மாதிரி கதையொன்றை இந்து மதக் குறியீடுகளைக் கொண்டு கேட்ட ஞாபகம்…

சட்டென்று நினைவுக்கு வரவில்லை.

‘நாளை வருவேன்’ என்று விநாயகரிடம் சனி ஏமாந்ததும், ‘என்றும் பதினாறு’ மார்க்கண்டேயர்களும் தவிர இப்படி துரத்தி செலுத்தப்பட்டவர் எவரேனும் இருக்கிறாரா?

Sacred dome and minarets of the holy shrine of Al-Imamayn al-Askariyain (AS) in Samarra have been completed by the grace of Allah Almighty and help of fourteen Masumeen (peace be on them).

Source: JafariyaNews

Halaman ini menyajikan informasi bangunan masjid yang masih mempertahankan seni dan arsitektur peradaban awal suku bangsa setempat di karenakan memiliki nilai dan sejarah peradaban, dan beberapa bangunan masjid yang akan dibangun pada saat sekarang dengan disain arsitektur peradaban warisan nenek moyang yang salah satu alasannya untuk mengagungkan dan memelihara nilai-nilai seni dan arsitektur peradaban asli suku bangsa, serta masjid yang telah dibangun dengan disain arsitektur moderen dengan melupakan sama sekali sejarah kejayaan peradaban dan seni arsitektur Islam pada masa-masa jayanya, dengan menerapkan konsep dengan pertimbangan serta alasan tertentu.

Seperti kita ketahui, bahwa banyak sekali arsitektur masjid yang masih mempertahankan arsitektur peradaban asli suku bangsa setempat di dunia ini, disebabkan bangunan tersebut telah ada dan dibangun pada zaman awal masuk dan berkembangnya agama Islam, sedangkan thread ini hanya akan menyajikan informasi 7 buah bangunan masjid saja yang dikategorikan sebagai “7 Simply Amazing Mosques” di dunia.1. Masjid Agung Djenné, Afrika Barat

Masjid Agung Djenne, pada mulanya masjid ini dibangun sepenuhnya dengan bahan “ferey” atau bata dari bahan tanah yang dikeringkan dengan matahari dan diplaster dengan tanah lumpur, dengan ketebalan dinding antara 41 cm dan 61 cm. Masjid ini dibangun pada abad ke-13 dan direnovasi pada tahun 1834. Masjid yang terlihat pada gambar ini dibangun ulang kembali pada awal abad ke-20 dan selesai sekitar 1909. dengan bantuan dan dukungan Pemerintah Perancis dimana pada pada saat itu Djenné adalah negeri jajahan Perancis di Afrika Barat. Pemerintah Prancis telah memberi bantuan dan dukungan politik serta dana untuk pembangunan kembali Masjid Agung Djenné ini.

Satu-satunya bagian asli bangunan yang masih dipertahankan dari masjid ini adalah ruang dasar (kandang) yaitu tempat kuburan atau makam pemimpin-pemimpin lokal bangsa Djenné.

Masjid Agung ini berlokasi di tepi Sungai Bani Kumba, pada platform atau site yang telah ditinggikan dengan luas permukaan bidang 5625 m², sehingga terlindung dari banjir.

Setiap tahun, masjid Djenné mendapat perawatan atau perbaikan dalam rangka menyambut berbagai perayaan festival rakyat sebagai hiburan yang luarbiasa, serta menyenangkan bagi masyarakat Djenné.

Masjid Agung Djenné adalah salah satu “Situs Warisan Dunia” yang ditetapkan oleh UNESCO pada tahun 1988″, yang dapat dikunjungi setiap saat, tetapi tidak dibolehkan memasuki bangunan, kecuali anda Muslim. Masjid Agung ini telah ditutup untuk non-Muslim pada tahun 1996, akibat dari kerusuhan dan penembakkan salah seorang official fotografi majalah Vogue Prancis di dalam masjid.

2. Masjid Agung dari Xi’an, Cina

Masjid Agung Xi’an ini adalah masjid pertama di Cina pada masa dinasti Tang, disain masjid dipengaruhi oleh arsitektur bangunan dan rumah ibadah yang lazim pada masa itu, masjid ini dibangun selama 742CE (kekuasaan Kaisar Xuanzong, 685-762).

Kemudian Kaisar Hongwu dari Dinasti Ming merenovasi kembali masjid, yang samasekali tidak pernah menambahkan kubah atau dome dan menara, atau sama sekali tidak merobah arsitektur asli masjid.

Fitur yang penting dalam arsitektur ini adalah penekanan pada “simetris yang kontras” dengan taman di sekitar bangunan

Masjid ini merupakan salah satu contoh dari Sino-arsitektur Islam. di Cina, khususnya masjid yang berada di dekat Drum Tower (Gu Lou) di Huajue Lane dari Xi’an (Sian), provinsi Shaanxi, Cina, dan merupakan salah satu masjid yang paling tua dan paling terkenal di negeri ini.

Masjid ini awalnya merupakan pusat keagamaan (Islam) bagi pedagang Arab dan Persia yang beroperasi di Cina.serta pusat kegiatan hubungan dagang dengan pemerintahan dinasti Tang, Disinilah rute perdagangan Xi’an terhubung ke Timur Tengah dan Eropa, dan China untuk membuka diri dengan dunia Barat.

Pada 754 AD hasil sensus menunjukkan bahwa ada lima ribu orang asing yang tinggal di kota ini yang terdiri dari bangsa Turki, Iran, India, serta bangsa Jepang, Korea dan bangsa berbudaya Melayu dari timur.

Untuk mengetahui dan mempelajari lebih lanjut arsitektur masjid ini, silahkan kunjungi website (atau klik disini).Website ini berisi banyak gambar dan penjelasan rinci dari Masjid Agung Xi’an, serta beberapa sejarah tentang daerah tersebut.

3. Mesjid Agung Samarra, Irak

Masjid Agung di Samarra, Irak ini dibangun pada abad 9, yaitu 848CE, selesai dalam 52 tahun pada masa pemerintahan khalifah Abbasid Al-Mutawakkil (di Samarra) dari 847 sampai 861.

Pada zamannya, masjid ini adalah masjid terbesar di dunia, tinggi menara, yaitu menara yang terkenal disebut menara al-Malwiya adalah 52 meter dengan lebar dasar spiral menara 33 meter, dan dapat menampung delapan puluh ribu orang jemaah. Masjid didinding atau dibatasi dengan dinding batu bata yang mengelilingi sebuah kawasan yang berukuran panjang 240 meter, lebar 158 meter, dan tinggi 10 meter. Dinding ditutupi dengan panel berwarna biru gelap dengan kaca mosaic.

Menara masjid yang berbentuk spiral. Spiral menara masjid ini ini sangat terkenal, dan merupakan fitur-fitur pertama kali yang didaftarkan pada bangunan-bangunan bersejarah “Congregational Mosque” Al-Mutawakkil di Irak, kemudian diikuti oleh 20 bangunan istana lainnya. Hal ini membuktikan bahwa pemimpin atau khalifah di Irak pada masa itu sangat menghargai perkembangan dan kemajuan karya seni arsitektur.

Sayangnya, pada 1 April 2005, bagian atas Malwiya mesjid rusak oleh sebuah bom. dalam peperangan infasi AS ke negara Irak.(seperti gambar puing masjid, disamping) Para pejabat Irak telah menyatakan klaim bahwa tentara AS telah menyebabkan kerusakan yang signifikan pada situs-situs bersejarah di Samarra, termasuk dinding sebuah istana kuno di Irak.

4. Masjid Jami-Ul-Alfar, Kolombo, Sri Lanka

Masjid Jami-Ul-Alfar, adalah salah satu masjid tertua di kota Kolombo dan merupakan ikon pariwisata di ibu kota Srilangka
Ciri khas disain arsitektur Masjid ini adalah ornamen atau dekoratif dinding belang merah dan putih.
Masjid ini berlokasi di perempatan jalan di daerah Pettah Bazaar, dibangun tahun 1909 dengan arsiteknya bernama Saibo Lebbe yang merancang bangunan ini selama satu tahun pada tahun 1908.
Beberapa orang telah mengakui bahwa masjid Jami Ul Alfar adalah salah satu “land mark” atau ikon pawisata kota Kolombo
Selain di kota Kolombo Sri Lanka, arsitektur masjid semacam ini juga terdapat di kota Kualalumpur Malaysia yang bernama Masjid Jamek
5. Masjid Dublin, Irlandia

Masjid Dublin Irlandia ini, merupakan salah satu masjid yang mencerminkan budaya daerah, karena pada semulanya tidak dirancang untuk bangunan masjid. Tetepi dirancang dan dibangun untuk rumah tempat tinggal, kemudian beralih fungsi menjadi masjid sebagai tempat ibadah.
Masjid ini, dibuka pada tahun 1983, oleh sekelompok mahasiswa Islam yang tiba di Dublin pada awal tahun 1950-an dalam rangka belajar di daerah ini. Mereka merupakan Perkumpulan Masyarakat Islam yang pertama pada tahun 1959 di Dublin, dan satu dekade kemudian masyarakat ini mulai menggalang dana untuk membeli sebuah bangunan yang akan dijadikan masjid.
Mereka pertama kali membeli sebuah rumah di Harrington Street, dan kemudian jumlah pendatang Islam bertambah juga maka mereka terpaksa mencari bangunan baru.
Pada tahun 1983 mereka membeli sebuah bangunan, bangunan yang sekarang ini dulunya adalah sebuah rumah di South Circular Road, Dublin 8, yang kemudian difungsikan menjadi masjid serta sebagai pusat “The Islam Foundation” di Irlandia. Saat ini jumlah umat Islam di Irlandia berjumlah lebih kurang 1300 orang.

6. Masjid Assyafaah Singapore

Masjid Assyafaah, Singapura adalah masjid yang dibangun dengan disain arsitektur moderen (The Modern Masjid), masjid ini sekaligus merupakan basis atau kantor Dewan Agama Islam Singapura yaitu Majlis Ulama Islam Singapura (MUIS) yang didisain oleh “Forum Architects Singapura”, sama sekali masjid ini tanpa kubah atau dome.
Masjid ini terletak di sebelah utara pulau Singapura di lingkungan yang penuh dengan bangunan tinggi, Arsitek Tan Kok Hiang dengan konsern mendisain masjid ini dengan konsep “keharmonisan dan toleransi” dalam keberagaman kehidupan sosial berbagai suku bangsa, sehingga diaktualisasikanlah fisik bangunan masjid tanpa memihak kepada arsitektur peradaban salah satu suku bangsa atau etnis manapun.dan bahkan juga pada paradaban agama manapun. Tapi sudahbarang tentu bangunan ini harus mempunyai ciri atau tanda bahwa bangunan tersebut sesungguhnya adalah masjid.
Masjid Assyafaah dibuka pada tahun 2004 dan ini masjid ke lima dibangun pada fase III, program “The Mosque Building Fund” masyarakat muslim Singapura Utara. Masjid dibangun dengan memakai konstruksi kerangka baja dilapisi anti karat serta penutup “colorless polyurethane”. Masjid ini juga sebagai pengganti dua buah masjid tua yang ditutup di daerah Sembawang yang dapat menampung jemaah sebanyak 4000 orang.
7. “Mahligai Minang” Masjid Raya Minangkabau

Pemerintah Propinsi Sumatera Barat ingin mewujudkan land mark selain yang ada di Sumbar yaitu Jam Gadang di Kota Bukittinggi, maka dalam satu-dua tahun ke depan akan ada land mark baru bernama “Mahligai Minang”. Ini adalah hasil karya arsitektur pemenang sayembara yang diikuti 323 arsitek dari sejumlah negara.
Mahligai Minang tidak semata-mata sebuah masjid, tetapi sebuah identitas yang akan menjadi pusat peradaban, di mana salah satu bangunan utamanya adalah bangunan masjid. Di situlah perpaduan antara Islam dan Minangkabau, dengan melengkapi bangunan atau ruangan antara lain; ruangan atau bangungunan lembaga pendidikan seperti perpustakaan, tempat rekreasi keluarga sakinah, ruang serba guna yang menampung 3.000 orang yang bisa digunakan untuk seminar, pertunjukan kesenian, dan sebagainya.
Masyarakat Minangkabau yang sebagian besar adalah penduduk wilayah Propinsi Sumatera Barat dalam menjalankan kehidupan sosial budayanya tetap berpegang teguh pada adagium adat basandi syara’, syara’ basandi kitabullah (ABS-SBK). Oleh karena itu sejak dulu sampai sekarang, masjid sebagai representasi kehidupan merupakan salah satu ikon budaya yang penting.

Masjid tidak saja dapat dijadikan ukuran dari keberhasilan masyarakat suatu wilayah/nagari, tetapi sekali gus menjadi sebuah kebanggaan masyarakat di nagari tersebut. Itulah sebabnya sampai sekarang, setiap orang Minangkabau baik yang di kampung maupun yang di rantau selalu bergairah dan berlomba-lomba membangun dan memakmurkan masjid. Dengan demikian, masjid menjadi sentra kegiatan sosial kemasyarakatan. Di dalam adatnya disebutkan, sebagai salah satu syarat bagi sebuah nagari antara lain adalah babalai bamusajik. Adanya balai tempat bermusyawarah ninik mamak dan adanya masjid untuk aktivitas keagamaan dan ilmu pengetahuan.
Masjid merupakan bangunan utama Mahligai Minang mengambil dan mengaktulisasikan kembali seni dan arsitektur bangunan “Minangkabau pada masa peradaban kebudayaan awal”.
Seperti diketahui dalam sejarah Kerajaan Pagaruyung bahwa ada tiga fase atau gelombang peradaban kebudayaan yaitu :

1). Fase atau gelombang peradaban kebudayaan Pagaruyung yang menganut agama Hindu Budha.

2) Fase atau gelombang peradaban kebudayaan Pagaruyung yang menganut agama Islam. dan

3) Fase atau gelombang peradaban kebudayaan Pagaruyung atau Minangkabau saat ini.

sumber : http://yasirmaster.blogspot.com/2009/02/7-masjid-paling-unik-dan-amazing-di.html

o iya, satu hal lagi, bahwa saya sebagai orang minang sangat bangga terhadap unik dan high tech-nya bangunan mesjid raya Sumatera Barat (Mahligai Minang) ini, walaupun masih dalam proses pengerjaan.

The Great Gatsby and Appointment in Samarra

I’m reviewing these two books together because they are of similar age and cover similar themes.  Both are set between the wars, both are, in some sense, classic tragedies – featuring flawed heroes who must die because of their flaws; and both deal with the disillusion of societies captive to wealth and status.

(Full plot of The Great Gatsby)
(Full plot of Appointment in Samarra)

From the beginning of both books, it’s obvious the heroes are doomed.  Gatsby, because the narrator makes it plain that this is an obituary; and Julian English (the hero of Appointment in Samarra) from the book’s title, which comes from an epigram by Walter de la Mare.  Both of them seem at once responsible for the circumstances around their downfalls, yet powerless to stop. Gatsby has been pursuing a beautiful rich girl, by trying to turn himself into someone else, and he can’t stop.  Julian’s seemingly impulsive and minor acts have larger and graver consequences than he, thoughtless and shallow, can imagine.

Both are wealthy men, though Julian inherited his wealth whereas Gatsby acquired his by dubious means never quite explained.  Both are popular on the wild party circuit in their respective towns where, despite Prohibition, the booze flows liberally and everyone gets very, very drunk, a lot.  But Neither Julian nor Gatsby really know who they are.  Gatsby inhabits a made-up character that he has created for himself, to the extent that he’s lost the self that his girl Daisy loved in the first place.  And Julian has never really had to be responsible for his actions, to the extent that he doesn’t realise what image he projects and what the consequences of his immaturity will be.

Both books use cars as metaphors and important plot devices.  Cars are used to show the type of person being described (flashy, sensible, poor, old-money, new-money, gangster); and also the person’s state of mind (driving slowly, quickly, recklessly, erratically, sensibly, mindlessly).  Cars are also instruments of death.  I guess most of this comes from the time the books are set, when car ownership was becoming middle-class, and associated anxieties about technology and pace of change were beginning to make themselves felt.

There are two main differences between these books.  The Great Gatsby is written in the first person, so the narrative is very tight and controlled.  This adds to the mystery around Gatsby – we can only ever know as much about Gatsby as the narrator does.  Appointment in Samarra is written in the third person, and often uses peripheral characters’ viewpoints to show what is happening to Julian.  This is quite effective, because much of his downfall is not just due to his own behaviour, but also to the gossip and rumour that begins to swirl around him.  The three incidents of bad behaviour that trigger the chain of events are not even seen by the reader, they are read about afterwards.

The second difference is the time they are set.  The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920’s before the stock market crash.  The money and the good times look like they’ll go on forever, making Gatsby’s death seem more tragic than perhaps it really should be.  Appointment in Samarra is set not long after the crash, when the Great Depression is beginning to be felt.  The book uses quite a few example of people and businesses that were overly extravagent in the good times and are now sliding towards the bottom – Julian is just one of these.  Julian and Gatsby are about half a generation apart:  Gatsby is old enough to have fought in WWI, Julian was just too young and with the rest of his peer group feels separated and immature next to the veterans.  The Great Gatsby seems to be a warning of the coming hangover that will be explored in Appointment in Samarra.

Ultimately, The Great Gatsby is the better book.  F.Scott Fitzgerald is a master – there is not one superfluous word in the whole story, and every incident and every piece of landscape is there for a reason.  He can conjure up states of  mind and characters in just a few words, like this, which has everything you need to know about a turning-thirty crisis in one compact line:

Thirty—the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair.

John O’Hara is trying a bit harder to shock (for its time, the book is explicit), and he needs many more words and pages and anecdotes to draw his characters.  Not that he does it badly, they are powerfully observed and very enjoyable to read.

I’ve not come across O’Hara before, and I’m keen to seek out more of his books (apparently one of them,  BUttercup8 was banned in Australia till the mid-sixties).  I first read The Great Gatsby over 10 years ago, when going through an extended F.Scott Fiztgerald phase, and I now know I didn’t really get it the first time round.  Both books are highly recommended, and if you buy the latest Penguin edition of The Great Gatsby (with the retro orange cover) it includes an interesting essay on the book which is also well worth a read.

The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fiztgerald
Penguin Books

Appointment in Samarra
John O’Hara
Vintage / Random House
(I got mine at Fly-By-Night Books for a ridiculously low price)

Samarra Ulu Camisi, binlerce askerin bir arada ibadet edebilmesi için, Abbasi Halifesi Mütevekkil tarafından 846-852 yıllarında yaptırılmıştı. Bu büyük cami yıkıntı halinde ama ziggurat tarzındaki minaresi halen ayakta

Samara Ulu Camii, öteki adıyla Mütevekkiliye Camii, İslam dünyasının en büyük cami yapılarından biridir. 150.000 kişi burada bir arada namaz kılabiliyordu. Basit mimarisi, ilk İslam cami planının anıtsal ölçüler içinde tekrarından ibarettir. Yapımında tuğla ve kerpiç kullanılan caminin ilginç bir minaresi vardır. Kare tabana oturan dev boyutlu bu anıtsal minareye geniş bir rampa ile çıkılır. Bu minare formu, yine Samarra’da Ebu Dulaf Camii’nde tekrarlanmış ve bir daha kullanılmamıştır.

Samarra’ın ikinci büyük camii olan Ebu Dulaf Camii, 860 yılında yapılmıştır. Kalıntılar daha gelişmiş bir mimarinin varlığını ortaya koymaktadır. Harem bölümü, kemerli duvarlarla birbirinden ayrılan neflerden oluşmuş ve üzeri düz bir çatıyla örtülmüştü.

Samarra’nın saray ve evlerinde kullanılan çeşitli süsleme arasında mermer tozu ve alçı karışımıyla yapılan “ıtuk” kabartmalar önemli bir yer tutar. Bu kabartmalarda iki farklı teknik kullanılmıştır: Dik kesim ve eğri kesim. Dik kesimde motifler yaş sıva üzerine dikine olarak oyulmakta, böylece ışık-gölge kesin çizgilerle birbirinden ayrılarak kuvvetli bir kontrast etkisi sağlanmaktadır. Eğik kesimde ise daha yumuşak bir plastik etki söz konusudur. Eğik kesim, Türklerin İslam sanatına belki de ilk katkısıdır[kaynak belirtilmeli]. Bu teknik daha önceleri Orta Asya sanatında Türkler tarafından kullanılmıştır. Dik kesimde daha natüralist, eğik kesimde ise daha stilize bir üslup görülür.

Great_Mosque_of_Samarra

Samarra, ( 34°11′54.45″N, 43°52′27.28″E). Irak’da Bağdat’a 125 km. kuzeyinde bir şehir.

Şehir 836 tarihinde Abbasi ordusundaki Türk birlikleri için kuruldu. 836′daki nüfusu 35.000 iken bugün 200 binin üzerindedir.

Most megint egy kis saját.
A Samarra zenekar 2004 telén alakult, a budapesti Café Baliban való „dzsemmelést” követően, ahol Piukovits Gábor (bőgő) és Mohammed Nur (derbouka) barátommal improvizáltunk végig sikeresen egy estét. Ezután számok írásába fogtunk, a fellépések pedig állandóak lettek a Café Baliban. Felléptünk a Magyarországon Élő Irakiak Kulturális Egyesülete rendezvényein, a solymári művelődési házban, vagy spontán bárhol, ha éppen hangszer volt nálunk. 2005 februárban pedig elkészítettünk egy négyszámos demo-anyagot. Stílusát meghatározni sosem kívántuk, leginkább keleti zenei elemeket próbáltunk keverni a jazzel, blues-zal, stb….Ez a demo cd tulajdonképpen a legjobban kidolgozott, legtöbbet játszott négy dalt tartalmazza, mivel a repertoárunk nagyobb része improvizatív, vagy próbákon született témák variálásából állt.
Jelenleg a zenekar nem aktív, a tagok különböző, más irányú elfoglaltságai miatt.

http://rapidshare.com/files/152023187/Samarra_demo.rar

(18 MB)

Maka, mengapa Sadie, sang penari perut asal Winconsin itu jauh lebih baik dari pada penari yang lahir dan besar di Timur Tengah? Tarian lenggak-lenggok yang ditiru di Indonesia namun dicekal di mana-mana.

“Sadie emang jagonya. Itu yang bikin aku terus latihan belly dance sepulang ngantor…masalah artis yang dicekal karena liukannya, ah, itu tiruan yang aneh, Kop. Yang asli gak gitu. Ada hal prinsip yang kudu dijaga. Bila bagian atas tubuh kita gerak, maka bawah harus “still”. Diam pada porosnya. Begitu pun bila bawah yang sedang main, maka atas harus sabar untuk diam. Inilah prinsip yang harus dijaga..”

Telpon yang tadi kuangkat sudah pada tahap liukan senja. Entah mengapa, aku dan dirinya tiba pada pembicaraan mengenai liukan tubuh. Obrolan seperti apa sih yang pantas di kala senja sedang meradang. Menciptakan romantisme dadakan dan hati yang rawan.

“Kemaren ada recital lho, Kop…kamu kenapa gak datang, bukannya aku udah kasih tahu kamu?”

“Aku semingguan kemarin gak di Jakarta..sorry.”

“Padahal aku dandan abis, lo…sampai gak nyangka dapat “the best make up”..

Wow. “Aku yakin emang juri gak salah pilih…”

“Hmmmm…” Ia terdiam.

“Coba deh kamu buka Youtube, Kop…ada Sadie di sana memperagakan apa itu tari perut. This is what I wish I could do in two years time. Tonton gih…kalo kamu sampe horny, aku berani taruhan berani tanggung jawab atas ke-horny-an kamu.”

Hah!? Apa nih maksudnya? Apa salahnya aku nonton via youtube. Sudah seperti yang kuduga sebelumnya. Sadie tampil luar biasa di situs itu. Tak ada kesan mengundang. Kostum minimnya jauh lebih menyatu dan melekat melewati batas-batas sekadar pembalut tubuh dan ornamen tampilan. Gerakan yang elegan. Mimik mukanya ekspresif sekaligus enjoy.

“Gimana Kop? Keren banget kan? Musiknya pas, ritmenya dinamis banget ya…Liat deh bagian rib cage* perut dia…bisa lentur dan terkendali? Gw yakin lo gak bakalan horny..Musiknya asyik kan?”

Segera saya besarkan volume suaranya di komputer mejaku. Menyetel tayangan Sadie di Youtube, namun dengan suara Randy Crawford mengalun sendu. Tembang “People Alone” membahana di senjaku sore ini. 

“Aku tuh pengen banget kayak gitu. Keren. Orang Amerika yang jadi masterpiece dalam dunia belly dance. Perfect banget deh…Kop, kalo aku bisa kayak dia, entar aku ajarin kamu deh..”

Busyet! Bukannya belly dance indah bila dan hanya perempuan yang melakukannya? “Emoh…aku mending liat show kamu aja..private tapi lo..”

“Hihihi…iya deh..Asal jangan minta yang lain ya..! Huahaha..” Ia menggoda.

Sekejap bayanganku tentangnya kembali hadir. Wajah merah merona. Pulasan make –up yang menggelora. Liukan tubuh dalam satu sudut ruang. Remang cuaca yang menimbulkan nuansa berbeda.

“Oh iya, aku liat rekaman acaranya aja deh, Fal…”.

“Ah, nggak mau..aku masih masuk kelas beginner..Entar deh kalo udah advance, aku kasih liat…. Apalagi di foto dan rekamanku kemaren, aku ngerasa tampil terlalu terbuka. Gak enak ah…”.

Aih!..Apalagi ini? Ter-la-lu-ter-bu-ka..?

“Kop, gak enak aja..ini bukan konsumsi publik..”. Ia menambahkan sebagai reaksi diamku sejenak.

“Aku kasih foto wajahku waktu itu aja ya..”.

Lalu munculah di email. Wajah itu. Ayu dan ngangeni. Kerling mata penuh percaya diri. Namun, ada binar “mengundang”. Namun memang elegan. Namun memang cantik. Namun kamu memang betul-betul cantik.….

“Gimana Kop..keren kan…itu kalo gak aku crop, busana minimnya bisa kamu liat..”

“Lha, kenapa gak kasih liat aku…? Bahaya lho..membiarkan seorang pria berimajinasi, lambat laun berubah menjadi imajiliarrrrr…!”

“Huahahahaha…” Ia tertawa. Lalu kembali berkata: “Well….. you havent seen the costume, red and black, with a gold snake necklace, and gold earings, gold shoes…Terlalu vulgar buat kamu. So, I’ll leave it to your imagination.. huahahaha..”

…..

Maka selekasnya dengan sepenuh jiwa ku-berfantasi ria….naik busway hingga ujung mangga dua, lalu naik moda khusus menuju ancol dan kolam lumba-lumba, sebelum naik bianglala!

***

Podjok Monas, 29 April 2008

(*)

Dalam Belly Dancing tidak ada gerakan di mana tubuh bagian atas dan bawah gerak bersamaan. It’s the rule. Bahkan tubuh bagian tengah alias perut itu masih dapat dibagi 3 bagian juga: rib cage (tulang yangmenutupi diafragma), perut atas, dan perut bawah. Antara perut atas dan bawah itu juga masih ada 3 otot yang harus digerakan secara terpisah.

Wednesday, March 5 @ 3PM Eastern / Noon Pacific
We Have a Winner! McCain Secures Republican Nomination
Media Lizzy discusses how Texas delivered the Republican Nomination for John S. McCain. Today, McCain will visit the White House, and receive the endorsement of President George W. Bush.  Hillary Clinton won Texas, Ohio, & Rhode Island.  Obama’s mojo is diminished – and now, it’s seven weeks to Pennsylvania.

Friday, March 7 @ 3PM Eastern / Noon Pacific
Iraq in Focus: An Interview with Pete Hegseth of Vets for Freedom
Media Lizzy welcomes Pete Hegseth, Iraq War Veteran and Vets for Freedom’s Executive Director. He was a witness to the Golden Mosque bombing and aftermath – and recently returned to Samarra. It is time to put Iraq in focus: political progress, the success of the surge, and what it’s really like on the ground – and how Iraq War Veterans are making a difference.

Join me!

—Media Lizzy

Per my friends at the MNF & WH:

Al Qaeda Leader’s Diary Reveals Organization’s Decline

Document Entry: “The Renegades And Americans Started Launching Their Attacks To Destroy Us. We Lost Cities, And Afterwards Villages, And The Desert Became A Dangerous Refuge”

Diary Entry: “The Al Qaeda Emir Claimed That He Once Commanded Almost 600 Fighters, But That After ‘The Tribes Changed Course,’ Many Of His Fighters Quit, While Others Joined, Quote – ‘The Deserters.’”

View Excerpt From Translated Document (PDF)

Read Full Briefing & View Slides

Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, MNF-I

Press Briefing

February 10, 2008

“Today I want to talk with you about two recently captured al Qaeda Iraq documents that tell a great deal about the enemy we are facing here in Iraq. …

“On November 18th of last year, Coalition forces … killed Abu Maysara, a senior advisor to Abu Ayyoub al-Masri. Among his effects, we discovered a number of electronic storage devices – computer hard drives, thumb drives, compact discs and DVDs, along with original documents. One item seized in this operation was a 39-page typed document, undated and unsigned. …

“Overall, the document is a pessimistic assessment of al Qaeda Iraq’s long-term prospects in the al-Anbar area. The author describes the difficulties involved with trying to manage foreign fighters. He states that al Qaeda Iraq has lost popular support in the province. He recommends that al Qaeda Iraq’s remaining foreign fighters in al-Anbar be moved to other areas of Iraq, where the terrorists might have greater freedom of action. …

“He credits Iraqi and Coalition forces with having learned lessons from past mistakes … [says] ‘traitors and factions’ are taking on al Qaeda … warns his superiors that the Sunni citizens of the area are growing weary of the misfortunes and tribulations brought about by violence. … says that Sunni Anbaris are becoming more willing to join the Iraqi Security Force, and to participate in elections. … also laments the Americans have waged a quote ‘ferocious media campaign against al-Qaeda.’

“The document also describes the growing problems al Qaeda is having with its recruits and terrorist operations. …

“The author says, ‘The renegades and Americans started launching their attacks to destroy us. We lost cities, and afterwards villages, and the desert became a dangerous refuge. We got away from people and found ourselves in a wasteland desert.’ ….

“Let me now turn to a second al Qaeda Iraq document found near Balad late last year. On Nov. 3, while conducting raids south of Balad, Coalition Force soldiers captured a diary kept by an al Qaeda operative named Abu Tariq. …

“Abu Tariq’s diary provides clear and compelling evidence that Iraq’s volunteer citizen groups are making their country safer by weakening al Qaeda and restricting the terrorists’ freedom of movement. His diary shows that al Qaeda regards these volunteer citizen groups as a grave threat, and that the terrorists are increasingly targeting them. …

“On the first page, shown here of his diary, the al Qaeda emir claimed that he once commanded almost 600 fighters, but that after ‘the tribes changed course,’ many of his fighters quit, while others joined, quote – ‘the deserters.’

“In these pages, the al Qaeda emir said that the changing turn of events reduced his strength from almost 600 fighters to just 20 or fewer terrorists. …

“Describing the Battalion of Abu-Haydar al-Ansari, the al Qaeda emir claimed that it once had 300 fighters well equipped with weapons and vehicles. He then tells that the leader of this unit deserted just before the Awakening movement was organized. After this, the unit’s strength declined to just 16 fighters, and then later only two. Of these two, the emir wrote that one was arrested and the other captured as well. The rest of the fighters joined Awakening groups.“