In the past during the Dutch colonial era in Java.
Javanese people were forced to live in hunger and poverty.
They eventually got used to eating only a spoonful of rice a day because they only had a little rice.
That way of life eventually became a common habit called 'laku prihatin'.

Now I'm also doing 'laku prihatin'.
I have been eating only a spoonful of rice a day for almost a month.
I'm doing this to show my solidarity with Gaza.
People and children in Gaza are starving to the point of being thin and malnourished.
How can I enjoy my favorite foods like soto , rawon , cap cay or bakpao while they are starving ?!..
That's why until today I'm still doing 'laku prihatin'.
A spoonful of rice a day is enough for me rather than eating delicious foods but not feeling the pleasure.


May 2024

By Alvian Eleven

Dear Amal , last night I had a strange dream about you.
I dreamed that suddenly you lived in my house.
In the morning my washing machine sounded.
I saw you washing all your clothes.

I took a shower and then I drank coffee on the terrace.
After that I cleaned my car while waiting for you to take a shower.
Then after taking a shower you wore a blue shirt , pink jacket and black jeans.
You put on your makeup and put on your ugly glasses.

I took you around my hometown Batu City , East Java.
A very calm and beautiful mountain town with cool air.
I drove my car slowly while you sat next to me.
You seemed happy to see the rice fields and vegetable gardens along the side of the road.

We stopped at a roadside stall.
We had chicken soto rice with boiled eggs for our breakfast.
The broth was very tasty with the addition of lime , koya powder and black soy sauce.
You tasted it and felt the deliciousness.

While eating you talked about your life.
You wanted to forget all the trauma. Because you suffered too much for a long time.
You just wanted to be able to feel truly alive again.

After breakfast I took you to visit Jatim Park 3.
This is one of the famous tourist attractions in Batu City.
You looked excited when you entered the dinosaur park.
We rode a small train around the entire park full of dinosaurs.

With a happy face you took photos and videos many times.
After exiting the dinosaur park I took you to the aquarium zone.
All the walls are made of glass showing many fish in the water.
Shark , manta , clown fish , turtle , octopus and others.
It looks beautiful with coral reefs and underwater lighting.

You asked me to take pictures many times.
You posed while smiling at each wall of the aquarium.
We also took pictures together while laughing.
Then we recorded videos many times while walking.

After leaving the aquarium zone you felt hungry.
I invited you to eat cheese burger and drink boba at the food court.
While chewing the burger you uploaded all the photos and videos.
So that Aya , Asmaa and Malak would see them immediately.

When it was noon we left Jatim Park 3.
You asked me to take you to a beauty salon.
You wanted to do hair and ****** treatments.
So I drove my car to the nearest beauty salon.

When we arrived at the beauty salon I took you in.
Then you were immediately served by the salon employees.
I waited quite a long time in the parking lot.
While smoking and listening to music.

When you came out of the salon your face looked so fresh and beautiful.
You also dyed your hair a bit maroon.
Then I took your picture several times. You posed while smiling in front of my car.

We went around Batu City again.
Then I drove my car to the mountainside.
After that crossing the vast rice fields Along the road of Pujon village.
Until we arrived at Selorejo Lake.

A calm and beautiful lake on the edge of the mountain.
The air was cold and looked a bit foggy.
We ordered grilled fish rice for our lunch on the lakeside.
Then we drank hot chocolate while talking about each other's lives.

Then we walked along the lakeside while taking pictures together.
After that we rented a boat to go around the lake.
You looked excited going around the lake while recording video.
While I smiled seeing you happy.

Towards the evening we left Selorejo Lake.
We returned to Batu City through the same rice fields as before.
Then you wanted to shop for cosmetic and fashion products.
So I took you to Batos Mall.

When in the mall you were busy choosing various clothes , t-shirts and pants that you liked.
Then you chose various cosmetics such as lipstick , powder , eye shadow , blush on , perfume and others.
After that we bought a lot of snacks to eat at home.
Chitato , Twistko , Taro , Beng Beng and others.

It was getting dark when we came out of Batos Mall.
Then I invited you to hang out at the Fifteen Celcius Cafe on the mountainside.
The weather was getting colder but we sat outside.
So that we could see the sparkling city lights from above.

We ordered a pepperoni pizza for our dinner.
Then we sipped warm macchiato slowly.
While jazz music sounded softly in the calm atmosphere.
We sipped macchiato while seeing the beautiful sparkling city lights from above.

After that you made a video call with Aya.
With great enthusiasm you showed Aya the sparkling city lights.
Asmaa and Malak also saw it.
They all seemed excited to talk to you.

The night was getting colder we went home soon.
After arriving home I smoked on the terrace while you immediately took a shower.
You took too long in the shower until I felt sleepy.
Slowly I fell asleep on the terrace.

When morning came I woke up in my room.
I felt strange and confused.
When I came out of the room I looked for where you were.
But you were not in my house.

It turned out I was just dreaming.
It was a really strange dream.
Maybe because I thought too much about you.
You who are still trapped in Gaza.

Dear Amal , this world is so unfair.
We live on the same planet under the same sky but my reality and your reality are so different.
How can I live my normal reality while your reality is so far below normal ?!...
if only I could bring you to my reality I would always see you smile just like in my dream.


May 2025

By Alvian Eleven

In the midst of the long chaos in Gaza.
All kinds of food are becoming scarce and the prices are rising higher.
People have difficulty to buy anything.
Children are thin and malnourished.

But there was a girl and her friend.
They received a lot of donations.
That's why they wanted to buy pizza.
A mushroom pizza that was too expensive and considered a luxury.

The pizza was sold in a streetside tent restaurant.
The girl and her friend came with enthusiasm.
They said eating pizza was their dream that must be fulfilled so that they will not regret if they die.
They just wanted to feel alive again with their favorite food that they had not been able to eat for a long time.

When the mushroom pizza was served on the table.
The girl and her friend couldn't wait to eat it.
They each took a slice of pizza and chewed it with satisfaction.
It was the first time they had eaten pizza again after not eating for so long.

But no one expected it.
A few minutes later Israeli jets bombed the street.
The tent restaurant was destroyed by the bombing.
Many people died instantly.

The girl also died while her friend was badly injured.
The girl's blood spilled on the table and soaked her pizza.
At least before she died she had time to eat a slice of pizza.
It was a slice of life that she could feel again before she finally died.


May 2025

By Alvian Eleven

Do you feel dead inside ?!...
Because you see too many painful deaths every day.
For more than a year people in Gaza have been continuously posting photos and videos.
About the endless chaos and terrible massacre as usual.
While they are threatened to die anywhere anytime.
They might die today , tomorrow , next week or next month.
You worry about them but you can't do anything.
You can only see them from your smartphone screen.
So are you tired of seeing their photos and videos every day that are too painful to see for more than a year ?!..
What if they no longer post anything because they are all dead ?!..
Can you imagine if all the people and children in Gaza died without anyone left to be slaughtered ?!...
What would you feel if that happened ?!...
Do you feel dead inside ?!...
How do you continue living if you feel like you are really dead inside ?!...
Can you still feel alive ?!...
Or is it just your body that is still alive but your soul is dead along with the people and children in Gaza ?!..
Can you pretend to be alive while you feel dead inside ?!...


April 2025

By Alvian Eleven

People often say that the youths of generation Z are weak , lazy and useless.
Of course there are some who are stupid losers among them.
But actually many of them want to form an ideal world.
A world with a truly humane system.
For that purpose they have the courage to rebel.
Against the old system that is full of rot.
In America they held protests against the Israeli lobby network on large campuses.
In Bangladesh they held large protests against the government which was taking away the people's rights.
In Myanmar they fought against the military junta coup that repressively overthrew the government.
In Palestine they are still fighting in the midst of the Israeli genocide.
Of course they must be ready to bear the worst risk.
Aaron Bushnell , Ma Kyal Sin.
Thousands of youths in Bangladesh , Myanmar , Palestine and other countries.
They all died in the struggle.
For what they believed was something worth fighting for.
They died holding the honor as brave young fighters.
While those who are still alive continue to fight.
They believe the old rotten system will slowly fall.
It will be replaced by a new humane system for a better future.
So the future of the world belongs to them.
To generation Z who are now called to fight.


April 2025

By Alvian Eleven

Palestine is like a sick woman.
Her body is being eaten away by rotten cancer until she is dying.
But she is pregnant and she must give birth soon.
Give birth to a baby she has been waiting for so long.
When the time comes for the birth the woman is in pain.
She screams in unbearable pain and bleeding profusely.
Slowly get her baby out of her womb that is being eaten away by rotten cancer.
A very slow and painful birth.
Too slow and too painful.
Until finally the woman dies after giving birth.
Ending the long painful suffering and giving the beginning of life.
To a weak premature baby who cries so loudly.
That is the cry of the newborn Palestine.


April 2025

By Alvian Eleven