Connection with my Undergraduate University (UNIKOM) Bandung

Source of the photo

Yesterday, on 30 May 2021, around 11:30am, I attended a webinar meeting organized by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, UNIKOM Bandung, the university from which I obtained my bachelor degree in Urban and Regional Planning. UNIKOM is one of the emerging private universities in Indonesia. It was established in 2000, in the millennium era. The university believes that the information technology (IT) will be the motor for transforming the way we live. The importance of IT has been in fact proven today that we can’t live without technology. Without going to Bandung, I could see my old friends, and see them talk like on this webinar.

That is the simple rational why the university sets out IT as the foundation for every field of study. Applied IT programs are the basic subjects required for all the first year students. Frankly, prior my departure from Dili to Bandung I barely even touched computer and had no much experience of using Internet. In 2003, my first year, I was faced with software applications such as Microsoft office, web-based applications (now known as coding?). From this beginning I learned how to create email accounts, and started using urban planning related professional software such as AutoCAD, Arch Map, and some other. I created this blog back in 2009 with the purpose of communicating my thoughts with wider audience. The knowledge gained from UNIKOM equipped me to create this blog because I used to study HTML in the website making class, I’ve forgot the exact name of the subject. I prefer to communicate my ideas and thoughts to friends via this blog instead of Facebook or Twitter.

Back to the webinar thing. I was not contacted officially by the department though, but a friend via whatsup chat. Even so I could not refuse to attend because I have been feeling nostalgic with the campus, the lecturers, and old friends. I was thinking the timing would come for me to visit my campus, not only that but seeing old friends attending so that we could tell old stories, and even share future predictions for our professional lives. I understand that everyone is now busy with life and has scattered all around islands. It might be difficult, but again IT makes it possible to realize this kind of reunion, and finally it happened yesterday.

Progress by progress has been made since I left the university. What made me so proud of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning is that almost all the old lecturers are still maintaining. The university is growing, and is getting competitive in the higher education arena; therefore it is legit for them to stay. Ibu Romeiza, the then Chair of the Department of Urban Planning, one tough career woman who I have ever met, came back onboard leading the department after she finished her doctorate studies at Bandung Institute of Technology, one of the top universities in Indonesia. Another, my dearest supervisor for my undergraduate thesis study, and my always-be-there-mentor during my endeavor to pursue master’s study in the USA, Ibu Lia, is now the Dean of Faculty of Design. I did not know if the other best old lecturers were present in the webinar, but of course I could not be prouder by having all of them crossed my path during my time at UNIKOM.

The webinar was meant to greet alumni members, but also to share planners’ tips among each other. One topic that caught my interest is about the tips to get a job quickly after graduating. For me, even though IT is so advanced that anybody could get information anywhere, go out and meet people is still very important. Some jobs are not posted on websites, instead they are told from mouth to mouth in a small circle of people. Therefore, if you happen to be in that circle, the chance is you can get the job vacancy information quickly because you could be told directly. If you wait for the vacancy announcement on a website, you would be waiting forever. Also, as planners, we work with multiple professions. Expanding your network with different professions is very important. Somebody from another profession may need an integrated planner for, not necessarily a spatial planning project, but maybe a feasibility study, or environmental impact study which planners are trained to do as well. So, go out there, meet people, and share your contacts to them.

Also another thing that I think planners, particularly UNIKOM graduates should keep in mind is that the current global movement has changed. I understand that Indonesian language could be the ASEAN working language given the percentage of the speakers is huge compared with other languages. Let’s say Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei combined, and of course Timor-Leste as well, it will represent the biggest portion. However, learning English language is not less important. ASEAN free movement will require professionals to move across countries. Urban population is growing, ASEAN represents the trend. It means there is a huge challenge for the ASEAN countries to think on how to make cities a better place to live in. Eventually more planners needed to work on that.

Well, all in all, the webinar held by the Department of Urban Planning, particularly when the Rector attended, is a good opportunity for alumni to share tips. I am proud to be part of UNIKOM’s alumni community. Thus, we would like to hear sometimes about how the university is doing. If alumni lose contact about the development of the university, and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning itself, it would lead people to make some uninformed conclusion whether the university is doing fine or struggling. The university is in fact progressing so much; I could see the Urban and Regional Planning Department has got the best and upgraded faculty members. Thus, the planning graduates are going to be more prepared than the alumni like us. Future planners are not going to be for Indonesia only, but for ASEAN. This is a heavy standard but possible.

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Sea, Air, Land, and Underground Strikes on Dili City

Today’s morning I walked down to the beach to see the impact of the tidal floods happened yesterday afternoon, 28 May 2021. It affected several beachfront houses, and roads. The beachfront area of Pantai Kelapa, and Bebonuk were the most affected. The tides tore off some of the squatter housing located on the beach, and the tides even crossed the road and flooded some of the houses on the other side. It did not cause deaths but it did disrupt the traffic, and damage some squatter housing making the people to evacuate for a few hours. The event was warned already by the Meteorological Agency of the Government. The agency predicted that there were possible high tides, and wind storms due to ….bla..bla (dunno scientific terminologies). People were asked to be vigilant, particularly at the beachfront.

This is another strike on Dili city, which I call it Sea strike. The beachfront areas in Dili are prone to tidal floods.  People are living in the beach which makes them the first layer to be hit by the high tides. The impact won’t come next year but is happening now and will just intensify as there are no mitigation measures taken to relocate the current squatters, and prohibit future development at the beachfront. Just for you to imagine that somewhere up to the area of Caicoli will below the sea level just in 50 years. Please imagine! For me, if there are no adaptation measures taken to prevent sea water to flow as far as Caicoli, for sure, the prediction will surely be proven correct; and it means our children won’t see Palacio do Guverno anymore.

Before these tidal floods, there was a huge Air strike on the Dili city occurred two months ago. The government declared a state of calamity due to the heavy rains occurred across the country from 29 March to 4 April which resulted in flash floods. The floods affected a sizable area of Dili. It inundated approximately around 90% from the total across the country- or 25,881 households in Dili municipality, and 41 Fatalities in total. The impacts of Air strike will intensify due to the climate change, poor land use plan, and disorganized physical development. 

Also I have got a few friends who fly drones. They showed me pictures of how Dili got Land strike very hard after heavy rains. People living in the upstream of the city, and notoriously on the hills, they have also been hit very hard. Landsides on the hills and river bank erosion caused houses literally yanked out from the ground. There is no hope to recover from this kind of damage because rebuilding means soil ground stabilization first which I think impossible for individuals to afford. If they keep living in the same area then, I will let you to imagine.

As the city grows and being burdened by mass production of load and the weakening ground prop, underground strike is also possible. Dili city’s underground water is being sucked out as the population grows. Now, population of Dili is around 300k; underground water is exploited uncontrollably, and this is not good for the stabilization of the ground for the future. I remember, the city of Jakarta, some experts predict the land subsidence is happening often, and the city will collapse.

Lately, Dili city is being hit by disaster from rains, storm water floods, landslides, tidal floods, and possible land subsidence. Well, like a war, you have to understand the nature of your enemies, also like where they will strike from. Now it is important to study those disasters that have occurred, and try to do something carefully, and systematically to solve. The country has been independent for about more than 20 years, but most things done are responsive not preventive.  I take the analogy of war because it might be easily understandable because I have seen recently that most Timorese are interested to talk more about Israel and Palestinian war instead of their own problems.

 

 ** I hope this gives you an inspiration.

Price of Banana Skyrockets in Dili

The government started locking down the Dili city two weeks ago (early March 2021) after finding out the first Covid-19 local transmission case. To prevent spread of the virus, the lockdown immediately limits social and economic activities within as well as bars exit from and entry to the city. Only essential and emergency related traffics are allowed with a so-called tight protocol. It allows essentials to be transported and being accessed in the market.

The lockdown affects the local food market as well. After the first week of the lockdown, the local food supply in the traditional markets started scarce. As far as I go out and observe, the stock of fruits, vegetables, tubers, legumes, and others started to phase out in the first week. Some of fruit street vendor stalls are even empty completely. I stopped by onetime and asked, they said “no banana anymore coming from vicinity and municipal areas.”

As a regular buyer of banana, I started to recognize the price difference last week. According to my experience, the normal average price for a bunch of banana is $1.5. The maximum is like $2.5 for a healthy and fresh look one. This morning, I went to the traditional markets including the fruit market at Lecidere and found out that the average price has gone up to $2.5. Another, I found a larger and fresh look banana and it was $5. 

I used to bargain in the market, and there was a room for bargaining most of the time. I often could still get it reduced after the negotiation. However, for this time, the vendor jokingly told me that there is no time for bargaining anymore. $ 5.00 is a fixed price for this damn good banana.

We laughed together (of course in a social distance manner). I then asked the vendor again “Do you think you will low the price once we come to the normal live? Yes, he said when there are more bananas.” He meant that if the normal supply resumes, then the market will set itself to the normal price. I hope that the Covid-19 can get controlled, so that we all can get what we afford.  

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Japanese Airplane Crashes in Lore, Lautem

The War World II effect was also felt in East Timor. East Timor was under the colonial, Portuguese rule during the War occurring between 1942-1943, some Timorese were being bombed and killed. The killed Timorese were the aides for Australian military who was the main enemy of the Japanese military at the time. In a more sustained local suffering, I heard from my village grandparents, the Japanese military forced them to serve in building shelters or housing and infrastructure in order to facilitate logistical distributions.

Fortunately, the War ended, and thus the suffering also stopped. The WWII left a lot of footprint in physical forms as well. There are so many tunnels, roads, compounds that the Japanese military built. It is all now becoming historic assets. Those assets need to be preserved for tourism and educational purposes. I am afraid; however, the government is able to go that far in preserving the historical assets located sporadically all over the country and that being out of sight and reach as time goes by.

One specific remnant that drew my attention is a Japanese WWII military airplane crashed in Lore, a village in the South side of Lospalos, the capital city of Lautem municipality. The airplane crashed in the forest; the color of the airplane is white. However, it is now being eaten up by mosses to about turn green entirely.  According to the source I contacted to, the exact name of the location where the airplane crashed is Raka, Lore - Lautem. It would be interesting to find more sources to tell about the story, and if get a chance, to visit the location. Japanese tourists who visit East Timor should be more interested than any other tourists, right?

Lastly, I must admit that I have not confirmed fully whether it is real. A Facebook friend posted it, I asked him, and he said yes it is real. Then I texted a friend who is from the village also said yes. I could not wait until confirmed, I go ahead to share with those of you who read this blog, by the way with an expectation that you might be interested to visit one day either for the sake of curiosity or for a predetermined purpose. If you happen to confirm the reality of the photo, please let me know so I can edit the content, or even delete if it is totally fake.

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Trail Shaped by Nature

“When left alone, the nature eventually takes over.” This is what happens to the circular road right at the toe of Cristo Rei’s statue hill. The road was progressively damaged by waves. I remember the first damage occurred years back. It was just news without intervention until the road paralyzed and is totally out of service. Ever since the road had not been in use and impassable by cars.

Some people complained for this long abandoned road never came back to open because it could be an alternative route for them to go to Hera, and on to the East side of the country. Dili residents similarly have limited options to go farther of the coast line of Cristo Rei. They have to park the cars in the other side and then walk to Dolok Oan.

The abandoned road has shaped a new character and serves new functions.  Trees and grass have outgrown the used to be asphalt and concrete surface. The trees getting taller and the grass getting thicker in the rainy season. It is a new space for birds, and other animals to live in. The sound or birds quite relaxing; while walking, you could also see the sunlight shines through the tree canopy. This has shaped a new character of this area as before.

This nature-shaped character made the road is not for cars anymore but people. People go there for jogging. It is a place to go farther if you want to be alone; it also becomes a fishing spot. Locals and even foreigners go there for fishing, both day and night times. The road severs the new functions.

Since the abandoned road could also provide benefits for the environment, and the people, what do you think that this place should be for? to restore the function by rehabbing the road to bring back the cars or Keep as it is now for people to enjoy the nature, and their leisure time? I will leave it for you to answer if you are from Dili. 

** Hope this gives you and inspiration

Green Building Concept in Timor-Leste

It had been a long time not hearing about green building, neither in a public discussion, or reading a public document. I don’t know whether the green building concept is not for the country like Timor-Leste which is struggling to cope with many basic priorities. But, thanks to UNDP who brought up the green building concept into the public arena. It was this year in March 2020 before COVID lockdown phenomena, UNDP organized a green building workshop, and I was excited to attend the workshop.

The goal of the workshop was to mobilize individuals and organizations to discuss about the concept, and possibly UNDP, under its project scheme, would recruit a potential individual or group to design a green building prototype. The winner will get funding, and the prototype will then be built. I have been asking around to ex-participants of the workshop if UNDP has done with the prototype and what is the actual green building project? It would be interesting to see the outcome.  

The workshop was a very good event to talk with engineers, architects, professionals, and even private developers who are interested to work on sustainable building technology in Timor-Leste. The concept was not new to all the participants. Media bombards news about climate change and its impacts to the society, and the world. The participants have been aware of the importance of climate change mitigation, and adaptation from the angle of built-environment. It was recognized that the building industry and its embodied energy is one of the biggest that emit a lot of CO2 to the environment.

Even though every discussion on the green building concept started always from the global climate change context, some were discussing more about how the green building concept can benefit the local before global. For example, they discussed about how to tap existing local resources for cost efficient and other multiple benefits coming out of this. However, the challenge of adopting the green building concept into the very own local context requires a lot of research and innovation. This kind of attitude is the most important one. And I think future discussions should be local-focused, and that everyone in the circle should weight the benefits of using green building concept in making their building, or community.

In our Timor-Leste, it is difficult to define exactly where to start. However, bringing the concept into the public arena often time is enough, at least. I am sure that some of sustainable design professionals do have green principles already in mind when they make designs. The action might still be sporadic, and that a community of professions in the area need to make the concept widely recognized, and have well-structured, and even more ambitious one is to have TL’s own green building design principles. Minister of Public Works also attended the workshop, so it can start with public buildings, and public built-environment.

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Dolok Oan Beach Cleanup

Do you see in the photo people with white shirts flocking all over the beach holding black trash bags? they are not playing a game or something, but cleaningup the beach.  

It was on 19 September 2020, around 3:30pm. I also went there after seeing Facebook event notification. It was to commemorate the World Beach Cleanup Day. The activity got support from various national and international organizations, but was organized by Movimento Tasi Mos (MTM) or in English called  Movement for Clean Ocean. The activity took place at Dolok Oan beach, behind the Cristo Rei statue. 

The MTM group has been proactively advocating and organizing beach cleanup activities in Dili started several years ago. Multiple cleanup activities conducted inviting all elements of the society, government agencies, and even ministers. The first time I saw this movement, I was thinking this is massive and it would become a national movement which is very progressive attitude and action. 

  

In my opinion, the movement is pretty consistent and determined even though there are so many vivid challenges lie right in their eyes. Cleanup after cleanup, but beaches get littered again just within hours; plastics reinstate the beaches like normal days. The movement does not give up though, they keep doing it. 

 

It was Saturday so Dolok Oan visitors came there on day time for picnic and some came later for overnight camping. When we were wandering and collecting trash, it was ironic to see that they did not bother at all to join or at least stop doing their activity. Even the visitors did not care when we asked them to move to get the trash out under their butts. From a moral perspective, if any voluntary action that benefits the public, everyone around should feel ashamed to join. As far as I observe, Dolok Oan beach littering comes from that kind of visitors.

There must be something wrong that makes the effort of cleaningup does not have sustainable effect. Like you, I also see two problems. One is about behavior. The visitors just don't see a clean beach is for their benefit, so they don't care and keep littering, and changing that behavior takes time, you know. Second is about unavailability of trash facilities. In a sense, if people cant find a trash bin nearby where to throw water bottles,  they would just let them in the beach. So it is important to put more trash bins and start to install collection bins as well.

But it would be more effective and efficient to invest in trash bins and collection facilities if the Dolok Oan beach has a clear definition of land use plan and initial concept. At least about the basic layout of the area. What kind of tourism activity this area should be for? do you have a sketched layout plan already? For examples, layout of the road, parking area, sidewalks, etc. You can imagine exactly like what we see on the Cristo Rei side. So by knowing the plan, putting the facilities can be more directed and not random, and I think donors or other profit organizations who usually donate trash bins might be interested to provide more.  

I also think that the current condition of Dolok Oan makes the visitors might think that there is no value to be disciplined because the area is still isolated from Dili downtown, no certain future development plan yet, no residents, and animals entering the area freely, and at last no trash and collection bins yet. The visitors might still consider Dolok Oan as a periphery which their littering behavior does not have immediate effect, not to mention to the ocean. In addition, the current condition makes it pointless to put the trash facilities randomly into this wide area without any clear space arrangement, at least from the conceptual stage.  

So, in order to make the effort of cleaningup the beach at Dolok Oan to have sustainable effect, all stakeholders should start thinking broader and bigger while keep walking the walk. MTM and other groups should start advocating about this to the government. The intention of doing it this way is the incremental effort will be directed to a clear goal in an efficient way. Otherwise, you clean today, it gets littered tomorrow, because, one reason is, you don't provide enough facility to encourage people to be disciplined, but where to put all the facilities? you need a more directed and clear goal in the context of Dolok Oan. You make mistake if you think cleaning up Dolok Oan beach will safe the the whole ocean and tackle global climate change. Don't do something like blind goats walking in the dark. First, please be local, and from local. It is very important!

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.