Opening Sea Games XXVI

Upacara pembukaan SEA Games ke-26 bertajuk "Sriwijaya Sebuah Semenanjung Emas" nan megah menandai dimulainya perhelatan olahraga terakbar se-Asia Tenggara di Gelora Sriwijaya, Kompleks Olahraga Jakabaring, Palembang, Jumat.

Keagungan dan gemerlap upacara pembukaan SEA Games yang menawan itu untuk sementara memupus keraguan bahwa pelaksanaan perhelatan olahraga prestisius itu bakal berlangsung ala kadarnya.

Sejarah mungkin juga harus mencatat, bahwa upacara pembukaan SEA Games di kota Pempek itu termasuk yang paling spektakuler dan termegah sepanjang sejarah penyelenggaraan SEA Games.

Perhelatan itu sekaligus juga meneguhkan bahwa meskipun sempat kedodoran dalam persiapannya, Palembang dan Jakarta sepenuhnya telah siap menjadi tuan rumah SEA Games 2011.

"Saya sampaikan bahwa Indonesia siap menjadi tuan rumah SEA Games ke-26," kata Menteri Pemuda dan Olahraga Andi Malarangeng dalam sambutannya pada upacara pembukaan berbiaya Rp165 miliar itu.

Presiden Republik Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dan Ibu Negara Ani Yudhoyono yang duduk di tribun kehormatan terlihat sumringah dan dengan seksama menyaksikan kemegahan upacara pembukaan.

Pun demikian dengan sekitar 16.000 penonton mereka tampak antusias dan terpukau dengan perhelatan itu, meskipun pada paruh pelaksanaan upacara hujan deras mengguyur stadion Sriwijaya.

New 7 Wonders "Komodo"

Yayasan New7Wonders akhirnya mengumumkan tujuh lokasi keajaiban dunia untuk kategori alam. Di antara nama-nama di dalam daftar pemenang sementara ada Pulau Komodo. Selamat!

Dalam situs resmi New7Wonders, Sabtu (12/11/2011) dinihari, tertulis pengumuman bahwa nama-nama yang tercantum adalah daftar 7 keajaiban dunia sementara berdasarkan pada perhitungan suara pada 11/11/2011. Ada kemungkinan perubahan pemenang dari daftar yang ada sekarang dengan pemenang sesungguhnya nanti.

Peringkat yang dimunculkan juga berdasarkan abjad. Bukan atas dasar peringkat jumlah perolehan suara yang dikumpulkan.

Pihak panitia saat ini masih memeriksa, menghitung dan memverifikasi secara independen jumlah perolehan suara yang masuk. Pemenang resmi akan diumumkan dan dikonfirmasi pada awal tahun 2012.

Berikut ketujuh daftar 7 keajaiban dunia versi New7Wonders berdasarkan abjad:

1) Amazon
2) Halong Bay
3) Iguazu Falls
4) Jeju Island
5) Komodo
6) Puerto Princesa Underground River
7) Table Mountain

Silent Love

Once, there was a couple who love very much each other. From the very Begining, the girl's family objected strongly on her dating this guy. Saying that it has got to do with family background & that the girl will have to suffer for the rest of her life if she were to be with him.

Due to family's pressure, the couple quarrel very often. Though the girl love the guy deeply, but she always ask him: "How deep is your love for me?"

As the guy is not good with his words, this often cause the girl to be very upset. With that & the family's pressure, the girl often vent her anger on him. As for him, he only endure it in silence.

After a couple of years, the guy finally graduated & decided to further his studies in overseas. Before leaving, he proposed to the girl: "I'm not very good with words. But all I know is that I love you. If you allow me, I will take care of you for the rest of my life. As for your family, I'll try my best to talk them round. Will you marry me?"

The girl agreed, & with the guy's determination, the family finally gave in & agreed to let them get married. So before he leave, they got engaged.

The girl went out to the working society, whereas the guy was overseas, continuing his studies. They sent their love through emails & phone calls. Though it's hard, but both never thought of giving up.

One day, while the girl was on her way to work, she was knocked down by a car that lost control. When she woke up, she saw her parents beside her bed. She realised that she was badly injured. Seeing her mum crying, she wanted to comfort her. But she realized that all that could come out of her mouth was just a sigh. She has lost her voice......

The doctors says that the impact on her brain has caused her to lose her voice. Listening to her parents' comfort, but with nothing coming out from her, she broke down.

During the stay in hospital, besides silence cry,.....it's still just silence cry that companied her. Upon reaching home, everything seems to be the same. Except for the ringing tone of the phone. Which pierced into her heart everytime it rang. She does not wish to let the guy know. & not wanting to be a burden to him, she wrote a letter to him saying that she does not wish to wait any longer.

With that, she sent the ring back to him. In return, the guy sent millions & millions of reply, and countless of phonecalls,.. all the girl could do, besides crying, is still crying....

The parents decided to move away, hoping that she could eventually forget everything & be happy.

With a new environment, the girl learn sign language & started a new life. Telling herself everyday that she must forget the guy. One day, her friend came & told her that he's back. She asked her friend not to let him know what happened to her. Since then, there wasn't anymore news of him.

A year has passed & her friend came with an envelope, containing an invitation card for the guy's wedding. The girl was shattered. When she open the letter, she saw her name in it instead.

When she was about to ask her friend what's going on, she saw the guy standing in front of her. He used sign language telling her "I've spent a year's time to learn sign language. Just to let you know that I've not forgotten our promise. Let me have the chance to be your voice. I Love You. With that, he slipped the ring back into her finger. The girl finally smiled.