The World of Geisha

Liana Riani Ramli
Daily Journal
February 15th, 2017

Geisha are traditional Japanese female entertainers who act as hostesses and whose skills include performing various arts such classical music, dance, games and conversation. The word "Geisha" itself means artist. They have been part of Japanese culture for 400 years. In the beginning, some of Geisha were ex-prostitute, but many of them were not. In 1680, they were popular paid entertainers in the private homes of upper-class samurai. Even though many of them had turned to prostitution, by 18th century geisha were strictly forbidden to sell sex in order to protect the business of the Oiran (women of pleasure). After World War II, due to Japan lost the war, women had to go to factories or other places to work for Japan. The geisha world, including the teahouses, bars and geisha houses, was forced to closed. After a year later, they were allowed to reopen the Okiya (geisha house). The few women who returned to the geisha areas decided to reject Western influence, kept their traditional ways of entertainment and life until now. Beautiful women with thick white make-up with red lipstick and black and red accents around the eyes and eyebrows, entertain people with their talent inside the traditional kimono. They are geisha.



Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha

Unique Table Manners on Japan

Liana Riani Ramli
Daily Journal
February 14th, 2017

Every country has different habits. The way they talk, how they treat others, their fashion style, and even how they eat are different from others. No exception for Japan, Japanese people have their own manner too, especially on table manner. There are many rules must be followed when you eat traditionally in Japan. First, you should sit down on small thin pillow on the tatami mat. Your position should in formal way, folding your legs under your thigh, your bottom on your feet. This posture is called "Seiza". Before you eat, you should say "Itadakimasu" and "Gochisosama" after finish your food. Saying those words in order to appreciate how delicious is the food you eat. Slurping you food and making noises sometimes make people irritated, but that different in Japan. The cooker will be happy because slurping your food showing the food is tasty. The noisier your slurps, the tastier the food is. Those unique manners can be found in Japan only. So, prepare yourself before you go to Japan.



Source :
http://kursusmasakjepang.blogspot.co.id/2014/04/tata-cara-makan-gaya-jepang.html

Hanami, Watching the Cherry Blossom

Liana Riani Ramli

Daily Journal

February 13th, 2017

Japan has a lot of beautiful nature, one of them is cherry trees. Cherry trees have unique characteristic, the flowers will bloom first before the leafs grow. The cherry blossom can be seen only in the spring. In Japanese, they usually call it sakura (桜). Generally, sakura starts blooming when the weather is warmer. Okinawa is the earliest place to see the cherry blossom, and then Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Tokyo and the last is Hokkaido. Sakura only last about seven until ten days, so it's really unfortunate to miss this chance. Japanese too, they're often enjoying the cherry blossom with their families, friends, or with their co-workers. They usually rest under the trees while eating their Bento (homemade food) and chatting with each other even singing together. Sometimes they stay until late at night to keep the beauty of sakura on their mind. Hanami, watching the cherry blossom.

Source :

https://matcha-jp.com/id/1663

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom

http://www.panorama-tours.com/blog/5-festival-musim-semi-terpopuler-di-jepang.html

Reflective Journals #SecondWeek

Liana Riani Ramli

Reflective Journals

February 10th, 2017

Good evening, everyone! Just like before, thank you very much for reading and giving comments on my blog. I apologize if you found any grammatical errors, not related words, wrong capitalization or something like that. I've tried my best to correct them with all my might. If there's still some mistakes, please forgive me and tell me what the right one is. I'll use the correct one next time.

This week's posts, I used theme "World Issues". It's quite difficult for me, because I'm not really interested with what happens in this world. It doesn't mean I hate this topic, but I simply don't understand the discussion is. The topic I chose this week were pretty simple, because the fact had written on the news. Sometimes, I added my own opinion about them too, but due to my low intelligence, my point of few is not really good.  

Topic on this week was actually a little bit heavy, even though it was easier than other news. Drugs, nature disaster, terrorism, explosion and defense. Either of them didn't bring happiness at all. But those all the newest news I could pick. Just like in Afghanistan, not only suffered from nature disaster, but even attacked by terrorist. I'd read some articles from Afghan, militants killed six Red Cross workers and two workers were missing. The International Committee of the Red Crosses were on they way to help victims from avalanches. Because of those accident, the Red Cross stopped giving help for the time being. I wanted to write about this, but it was to difficult to make it in only a paragraph and I didn't wish this week's theme change from world issues to Afghanistan issues. I chose to write about explosion on Paris instead. I didn't write about news from America and Africa, I forgot it. I wish I can write about them on the next few weeks daily journals. I won't write it next week though, because I'm beat on writing about world issues. I'll just write about something I like.

Protect The Eiffel Tower with Bullet-Proof Glass Wall

Liana Riani Ramli
Daily Journal
February 10th, 2017

The famous tower icon on Paris, France, is planned to get an extra security. Paris is putting an 8th bullet-proof glass wall around the Eiffel Tower to protect it from terrorist. Not only to protect the historical building, but to safeguard the parks around it too. The access to the tower will be decrease become few entrances so it will be easier to be controlled, but visitors still can enter for free. Jean-Francois Martins, the assistant mayor for tourism, said that contributing the wall had already consulted with architects, therefore the wall still suitable with surrounding environment. It is expected to cost around €20m (£17m) and work will go ahead later this year if approved. Martins added : "We have three aims -  to improve the look, make access easier and strengthen the protection of visitors and staff." On August 2016, the Eiffel Tower had evacuated after some staff found a suspicious suitcase inside the tower. The glass wall will be expected to pretend the same accident so it won't happen again.


Source:
http://news.okezone.com/read/2017/02/10/18/1614964/paris-berencana-bangun-tembok-anti-bom-di-sekeliling-menara-eiffel
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2828738/paris-to-protect-eiffel-tower-from-terror-attacks-with-8ft-bullet-proof-glass-wall/

Explosion on Paris Metro Caused Terror Fears

Liana Riani Ramli

Daily Journal

February 9th, 2017

A ‘’huge explosion” has been reported on the Paris metro, on Wednesday night, leading to dozens of passengers being evacuated from a station. As many as eight passengers are believed to have been injured in the explosion, either in apparent blast or from smoke inhalation. This accident, on Line 6 in or near to the Place d’Italie subway stop has raised fresh terror fears as France remains on high alert. A large number of armed police are at the scene around the Place d’Italie as the situation is investigated. France has been living in fear of a fresh attack by jihadis, as the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris and the Nice lorry massacre, but this night’s explosion was not currently thought to be terror-related. Early report suggest the explosion was caused by electrical fire.

Source:

www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/explosion-paris-metro-dozens-passengers-9782377

Bobm Blast Outside Afghanistan Supreme Court

Liana Riani Ramli
Daily Journal
February 8th, 2017

Another victims has passed away from Afghanistan. This time, is not caused by nature disaster like before, but human itself. An apparent suicide bomber targeted Supreme Court in the center of Afghan capital on Tuesday, February 7th. Police said that the perpetrator targeted the employees leaving their offices at the end of the working day. Up until now there is no immediate claim of responsibility from the attack. It seemed the bomber entered the area where the guards were performing security check when he exploded the bomb. The Ministry of Public Health said at least 20 people were killed and 41 wounded were taken to Kabul hospitals. Before, the Supreme Court was the target of a bomb too, in June, 2013. A suicide bomber drove an explosives-packed car into a bus carrying court employees, including judges. Last month, bombers killed more than 30 people and wounded about 70 in twin blasts in a crowded area of Kabul during the afternoon rush hour. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as a "crime against humanity and an unforgivable act."


Source :

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-blast-idUSKBN15M17K
https://news.detik.com/internasional/d-3416388/ledakan-bom-di-depan-mahkamah-agung-afghanistan-20-orang-tewas