*From Bandung to Paris: Why I Survive at The Burned City*

 

Riot in Paris (Antara, Foto)

Minutes after the mayor left Braga Street — one of the most iconic areas of Bandung — the crowd was gathering to consolidate. But the police thought they would cause destruction. So, the police fired tear gas that, seconds later, hit the protesters brutally.

Instead, the crowd fought back. Many of them ran away in panic, screaming, crying out loud while trying to save their lives. Anger was through the roof. The silent night turned to chaos in hours.

I was watching from a narrow alley with my camera rolling. It was the most terrible experience I have ever seen, and I will never forget it.

At 2 a.m., I heard the sound of sirens from ambulances nonstop. And the firefighters tried to control the burning buildings — stores were destroyed as well. Thick clouds of smoke and flames were everywhere.

On the way back home, I heard a live news broadcast reporting at least 200 people arrested, hundreds of injured people taken to hospitals.

I didn't get enough sleep that night. I kept wondering why the riots could happen, and even more — why simultaneously in almost all the big cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Makassar? What really happened? What were their intentions? And why was Greenpeace involved?

I was sitting on my bench, watching TV, sipping my coffee with cigarettes already on the table. Yes, I have passed the nightmare. And thank God, I am still alive.

Riot in Bandung (CNN Indonesia)

Now, I know. Today is the commemoration day of two years of President Prabowo and his Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka ruling the nation.

But most people were disappointed. Flawed policies, followed by high corruption, resulted in wrongdoers in public service. The massive forest fires in Kalimantan have had a serious impact on nature's sustainability. Instead, the government plans to replace forest diversity with palm oil for quick money and investment.

Meanwhile, our neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia, sent official protests condemning the thick haze in their skies.

People's prosperity declined, education was lacking, and purchasing power was declining. The price of fuel rose in the last few months, and people felt that basic daily needs were difficult to afford.

The President's popularity sank to 20 percent.

I was thinking, again and again. Why is it happening now in Europe as well? See what happened in France, Belgium, and Italy at the same time?

The quality of life is declining. And climate change is the real sign to stop the greedy!

If I had interviewed the mayor of Bandung earlier, the protesters would have been more careful and would not have let intruders join the demonstration that turned into riots.

The mayor said, "People's anger is okay, but looting, burning cars, or destroying private property is not."

At the end of his speech, he said, "I am standing here in front of you to keep your rights running well in a conducive way. And at the same time, I will never tolerate whoever tries to break the rules. Looting is a crime! They will reap what they sow."

*UPDATE: Oct 22 — From Braga to Paris*

As I finish this article from my bench in Bandung, my TV shows the same pictures from France.

On October 17, France saw one of its worst days of unrest in years. What started as nationwide demonstrations over high fuel prices and declining public services turned into riots. Town halls were set on fire in Limoges and Marseille, shops were ransacked in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux.

According to Reuters and Le Monde, nearly 1,800 people were arrested and hundreds of police officers were injured. The government has now asked local mayors to impose partial curfews from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

France's bond yields rose to 4.96%, the highest since 2002, because investors fear the government cannot reduce its debt while the country is burning.

I watched this from Bandung and I understood: this is not only about my city. From Kalimantan's burning forests to the haze over Singapore, from Braga Street to Paris — the quality of life is declining everywhere. And when peaceful voices are not heard, chaos fills the vacuum.

Climate change, cost of living, corruption — it is the same anger with a different accent.

--

The 41st Minutes That Killed Viettel: Kyle Colonnas's Expensive Mistake

Persib Bandung defeated The Cong Viettel 1-0 on the second matchday
of Group E in the 2026/2027 AFC Champions League Two
(ACL Two) at Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung,
last night, October 14, 2026.

Bandung was flooded with crazy supporters at 7pm on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. They yelled and shouted nonstop since the players came down on the Jalakharupat Stadium, Soreang, Bandung, last night. Traffic was jammed, vehicles were stuck, but the hard sound of the drum band beating loudly made every heart tremble! That was the greatest match ever. 

Since the opening whistle blew, both teams went straight for the attack. They traded blows fiercely. The match was exciting. It looked balanced. But Persib kept pounding on the hearts of the Bobotoh, who were roaring in Jalak Harupat Stadium, Soreang, Bandung.

By the second minute, my heart had stopped. Peralta broke free and shot—just wide. In the seventh minute, he was there again, and again the ball refused to go in. The stadium was groaning, 27,000 people holding their breath at once.

I was sitting in front of my TV, coffee getting cold, muttering, "Come on, come on."

Until one crucial moment, Peralta, Persib's main striker, made a brilliant run. He shot the ball like an arrow, dribbling it all the way into Viettel's penalty box.

But the Viettel FC defender, seeing that dangerous move, immediately tackled him savagely and roughly to stop him, sending Peralta crashing down!

Without hesitation, the referee, who saw it with his own eyes, punished that illegal action with a penalty. Silence for one second in Jalak Harupat, then an explosion.

Peralta stepped up himself. He placed the ball, took three steps back... and executed it coldly. The opponent's net shook. Bobotoh roared hysterically. Score 1-0 for Persib.

Down 1-0, Viettel became more aggressive and fired up, crossing the line, until the referee showed a red card. Paulinho out. And Viettel had to play with only 10 men.

On the other side, Persib's captain Marc Klok also tackled hard to stop Viettel's attacks until he was shown a red card and forced out, his position replaced by Thom Haye. Both teams played with 10 men. Until the final whistle blew, the score did not change.

The defeat of Viettel happened because of one of the most expensive mistakes made by Viettel's center-back, Kyle Colonna, wearing number 2, who dropped him roughly in the 41st minute of the match.

Then in the 45th minute, Peralta executed it himself until the net of Nguyen Van Viet, Viettel's goalkeeper, shook. The score 1-0 for Persib lasted until the match ended.

Top of Group E. Six points. 

Persib Juara!

Persib Beat Port FC Thailand 3 - 1 in Their Backyard!

What a dramatic trailing! With just three minutes remaining, Persib Bandung turned it on late to beat Port FC at the Shammarsat Stadium in Thailand. Persib made its winning debut in Foofball Club (Shopee Match), 3 - 1, last night.   

After Garuda roared at GBK, Maung Bandung silenced Port FC, Thailand.  Indonesia broke a 35-year curse by beating Thailand 4-2 on penalties at Gelora Bung Karno. Almost 80,000 people roared inside GBK. 

Three days later, October 8th, Persib made Thailand hurt again—but not in GBK. This time in Thailand's own backyard. At Thammasat Stadium, Pathum Thani, Maung Bandung beat host Port FC 3-1 in Group B of the Shopee Cup. Port FC's home, full of their supporters. Not ours. 

 I watched it from Bandung via live streaming on a YouTube channel. Bobotoh were not there flooding the stadium like at GBLA. The stands were orange and blue—Port FC colors. That's what makes the win sweeter. 

Persib Bandung showed a steady mentality during their first Group B match. Port FC dominated the first half, pressing high with nine attempts. Teja Paku Alam saved us three times. 0-0 at half-time. 66th minute, a penalty for Port FC. Jude Soonsup-Bell sent Teja the wrong way. 0-1 behind, in their home, with their crowd screaming.

Then the new Persib woke up. The coach is no longer Bojan Hodak. Since 2026, it's Igor Tolić—Croatian, born in 1977, Hodak's former assistant from 2023 to 2026 who won consecutive Liga 1 titles with him.

Tolić's men poured forward instead of giving up. Mariano Peralta equalized with a precise low finish. 1-1. 

Then Luka Menalo crossed, and Berguinho smashed it. 2-1. In the final seconds, Menalo himself slotted a pass from Peralta. 3-1. 

Three goals in 10 minutes late in the game, silencing Thammasat. For Thai fans, this is the worst month. First, their national team lost to Garuda at GBK; now their club lost 1-3 at home to Maung Bandung. 

For us in Bandung, watching on YouTube at home, it felt different from GBK but just as proud. GBK was loud and massive. Thammasat was quiet revenge—we won in their land, without our Bobotoh army. 

Hodak built the defense. Tolic adds courage. He already beat FC Seoul 1-0 away in ACL Two. Now Port FC is 3-1 away. Persib is no longer a tourist in ASEAN. 

The Shopee Cup has just started, but the message is clear. If Indonesia can break the 35-year curse at GBK, Persib can break the curse of never winning away in Thailand. Go ahead, Maung Bandung!

GBK Roared: The Night Indonesia Beat Thailand 4-2 on Penalties

Indonesia Ends 35 Years of Waiting

At 11:30 PM, Gelora Bung Karno was emptying. 80,000 people had just screamed themselves hoarse as Indonesia beat Thailand 4-2 on penalties. I stayed on my bench. I needed to understand why a regional final felt bigger than a World Cup.

Indonesia has 280 million people, and most of them love football. For 35 years, we waited for the ASEAN Cup. For 35 years, we were mocked as the runner-up specialist. That curse ended last night.

It took a long journey. PSSI replaced coaches many times—Shin Tae-yong from Korea, then Patrick Kluivert from Holland, until finally John Herdman from England brought us the crown.

Behind it was Erick Thohir, the minister and owner of Oxford United and former owner of Inter Milan. His plan was simple: call back our diaspora. Players with Indonesian blood from their ancestors came home through naturalization. Critics said we were dominated by Europeans. Malaysians mocked us. It wasn't true. They love Indonesia, and Indonesia loves football.

This year, FIFA appointed Indonesia as host, but with a new system. The ASEAN countries were divided into divisions. Division 1: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Hosted in Indonesia. Division 2: Hong Kong, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Myanmar. Hosted in Hong Kong.

Australia is now part of ASEAN football, but they chose not to participate to equalize the competition—their FIFA ranking is far above the rest.

The road to the final was crazy. In Division 1, Malaysia held Indonesia to a draw. Then on October 2nd in Bandung, Malaysia destroyed Singapore 6-0. We looked blocked from the final.

Then came the miracle. Indonesia beat Bangladesh 9-2. An unbelievable score. On aggregate goals, we overtook Malaysia. Harimau Malaya went home. So it was Indonesia vs Thailand in the final — the ultimate proof of who is king in the region.

I watched it live at GBK on October 5th. The vibe was not ASEAN; it was the World Cup. Tickets sold out days before. People came from Jakarta, Bandung, and all over Java. Some who came late couldn't even enter. President Prabowo sat beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the VIP tribune. More than 80,000 were inside; millions more watched on TV and YouTube.

At 7:30 PM, Anggun C. Sasmi opened the ceremony. At 8 PM, the ball rolled. From kick-off, the tension was suffocating. We started carefully. Then Indonesia scored. GBK exploded. Minutes later, Thailand equalized. Silence. Then a Thai defender lost his temper—red card. Thailand down to 10 men.

We should have won easily. Instead, disaster. Thailand counter-attacked and scored. 1-2 for Thailand, against 10 men, in Jakarta. Garuda behind the White Elephants. It was embarrassing.

President Prabowo, Erick Thohir,
and President FIFA Gianni Infantino at the Tribune 

In the last minutes, Herdman gambled. Two fresh players in. Thailand did the same, parking the bus with total defense. Garuda pressed. 65% possession but no goal. Until—in the dying minutes—we equalized 2-2. The stadium shook. 90 minutes over. Extra time, 2x15 minutes. Same story. Thailand defended with everything. 

So it went to penalties. Sudden death. Supporters held their breath. Indonesia 4-2 on penalties. The roar was something I will never forget. Prabowo and his ministers jumped up, hands in the air. The 35-year curse was finally broken.

By 11:30 PM, everyone was leaving, but I stayed. Both coaches last night—John Herdman and Thailand's Anthony Hudson—are English. Herdman from Consett, Hudson from London. Same school, same tactics. At the end, penalties are just luck. And luck was ours.

I got home at 1:30 AM and rewatched it online. FIFA's website was flooded. Sports channels worldwide were analyzing an ASEAN final. Why? Because 280 million people feeling the same emotion at the same time is powerful. That collective catharsis spreads fast.

Now a bigger challenge awaits: the World Cup. Asia has monsters—Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. On FIFA rankings, they will beat us easily. But football has its own ways. There are always miracles on the field. This dream team is on fire. Nothing is impossible if they keep fighting, keep improving, and keep believing. We still have months to prepare. Go ahead, Garuda! Give us more pride. The time is on your side now!

Inspirits: Seven Old Friends, One Garage, and Music That Heals

Me, holding the white guitar, with Rudy (bass),
Tony (red guitar) and friends
in the garage. This is the preparation moment.

 The night jamming with guitars, coffee, and friends in the garage. We showed the real playing after the preparation.

''Honey Don't" by the Beatles was the first song we played. Followed by "Baby It's You" and "Here, There, And Everywhere," we played beautifully. 

There were five players: Syarif Hidayat, nicknamed Abot (vocals); Rudy, nicknamed Yoyo (bass); Iwan (melody guitar); Yunan (rhythm/keyboards); and Zaenal (drums). They are professional players who often perform in many places. 

But since we were coming (Tony and I) as guest players, we created the jam sessions in seven. These are old friends who still love loud music. 

We do not only play The Beatles. We play rock 'n' roll and pop. From Chicago to Koes Plus, we play what makes us happy. The location is simple: the garage of Pak Yunan's house at Jl. Melong Kidul, Bandung. No big stage. Just a mixer, some cables, a small table with coffee, martabak, and cigarettes. That's enough to make us feel joys spend the night together with cheers.  

Preparation takes minutes for setting up, mixing, and tuning. Yunan had already prepared before the whole team came. And we enjoyed every minute of it. We played as if we were a real and the best band. We sang the songs and played like professionals! 

The live music vibe is joyful. If I make a mistake, like when I forgot the lyrics, they do not get angry. We just laugh. Playing with these old friends reminds us of when we were young.

Honestly, playing music makes us feel young again. For 5 hours, as we play in the band, we forget all our troubles. Even though music does not solve problems, it heals our pain and raises our mood. Music cures the bad times. 

After playing in the band, we get new inspiration and a better view of how to handle life with a better mindset. That is what we call Inspirits—the life and rise of inspirations. 

It's not the first time we've met at the same place; we did it for the second time, and it was three years ago. 

Thank you, Kand Yunan, for the pleasure and for being the host.   

Bandung, 2026—Live from the garage at Jl. Melong Kidul—

coffee, smoke, and old friends playing like a pro band.

45 Tahun Kebersamaan Fikom Unpad 1981-2026

Temu Kangen 45 Tahun Fikom Unpad, 1981-2026

45 Years Later - From Class of '81 to Rema's House in Ciateul, Bandung. 45 is the age when someone becomes mature. You should know better what, where, and why you are here now. As a comparison to army ranks, at 45 you are a colonel or lieutenant colonel. You already know whether you will become a general or not. It depends on the career you are in. Do you hold an important and strategic position or just a mediocre one? That will tell you how far you can go. 

Even though the future is a mystery and no one can predict it accurately—because life is not linear—at least you can predict your next stage. So did I, when I saw my classmates again at our reunion, 45 years after we left college. We graduated from the Faculty of Communication Science at Padjadjaran State University in Bandung. 

Tahun Pertama, Publisistik Unpad 1981

We had been together since we knew nothing, in the class of 1981. After graduation in 1988, we were separated and pursued different career paths for a long time. 

When the internet and social media connected people around 2010, we started tracing each other one by one to gather in the virtual world. And finally, on 27th September 2026, someone took the initiative to gather us in person. The place was Rema's house at Jl. Ciateul 33, Bandung. 

Our class had about 90 people, and only 45 could attend. Some had passed away, others were sick, some couldn't come because they lived too far away or abroad, and some had other reasons. But the fact that 45 people came on time is something great! 

Surprisingly, we met again when most of us had left our jobs or retired. Some of us had become grandmas and grandpas. It was amazing! Time has changed everything—not only our appearances but also our lifestyles, compared to when we were teenagers. We talked, laughed, ate, drank, and made joy together. 

We didn't just say "how do you do," but "how have you lived your life so far?" The favorite questions were: Where do you live now? How many children and grandchildren do you have? And what are you doing now? 

These questions were not just lip service; we really wanted to know. As we get older, we share a common curiosity about health. We avoid talking about what we have achieved or how much money or property we have. It sounds impolite and ridiculous. Instead, we try to see what is the same about us, not what is different. 

This was amazing, because we take care of each other. Yes, time has changed everything, but it has also tightened our bonds into a great family, a great brotherhood, and, most importantly, a deeper care for each other. Does that sound good? That's what reunion means for us now, especially when we reach 65. 

The meeting was arranged by Rema Karyanti, the host, with Kang Aan, her husband, Dr. Jenny, our best announcer, and Ani Yuningsih leading the games. They cheered us and raised the joys all the time we met.  

But we have also had time to reflect as we asked Wirianingsih, a mother of 11 children, Havidz and Havidzah, to speak in her busy time. Her experience was really great. 

"All of us must have a clear vision for our children, even grandchildren; they are like soft clay, so choose to be a good one. Don't ignore their golden ages (0-7 years), the time when their brains develop significantly. God has created me with His plan...be the best as far as you can go! And the first thing is fear of God,'' she said. 

The wisdom from Ibu Wirianingsih relates to our time today, since we are getting old. And I have made it into beautiful quotes.     

We have committed to meet more often. We never know what life will bring us tomorrow. Will we meet again? I hope so. 

Written on September 28, 2026, one day after our reunion at Rema's house. For my 44 friends who came, and for those who couldn't.