Friday, June 10, 2011

Zerotoys: Nostalgic Time with 80s Toys

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If you were born in the 80s, maybe you ever know such thing as He-Man, Voltus, Silver Hawk, Transformers or the legendary Saint Saiya and Kamen Rider. Yes, it all was the cartoons of the 80s who definitely memorable for you all. Probably not a few of you who come to collect the toys too. For those who miss the old school toys of the 80s, Zerotoys probably could be your new place to make nostalgic time with the old school toys.

For those who haven’t heard Zerotoys, you just come into the place that could be considered quite hidden. You take Veteran street, then after the red light you turn left into Sunda street, ten meters after the turn, you'll see a house on the left numbered 39A who there is no signpost, yes, therein lies Zerotoys, toy shop who concurrently with the 80’s toy museum owned by Aldo.

The story is around the year 1998-1999, Aldo and his colleagues took the initiative to open a garage sale who specializes selling toys of their collections. From there, many fans of toys who are interested in Aldo’s toys. Thus was born the Zerotoys. Yep, called Zerotoys due at the time there were no toy stores at all, then Zerotoys became the toy store, which first appeared, not with the number one who is identical to the first, but with a zero who means before the first or the very first!

Over time, more and more people who barter and deposit toys in Zerotoys for sale, but because that too, especially old school toys of the 80s began to run out and rarely to find. So Aldo took the initiative to separate the old school toys, from there so was the birth of toy museum of the 80s. Yep, the museum which is located side by side with Zerotoys is a museum which showcased all the toys of the 80s. Starting from He-Man, Star Wars, Silver Hawk, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Voltus, until the japanese candy toys who was first circulated showcased here.

Museums who begin to open the outlets around the year 2007-2008 has been collecting the old school toy of 80s approximately 1500 to 1600 pieces! And all the toy are approximately 25-30 years old. From Japan toys until American toys begin to shown here, don’t forget, several artwork, posters and other trinkets who come with toys of the 80s too showed in the museum who is located precisely on the Sunda street No. 39A.

Why should the 80s? Because the 80s was the golden age of cartoons and children's toys, for examples, circulated films in the 2000s such as Transformers and GI Joe is a remake of the product the 80s. Star Wars, Silver Hawk until action figure toys sized three inches also first appeared in the 80s says Aldo. Therefore it’s not strange if who comes to Zerotoys is average adult male who aged 30's, although not a few young people who come here also.

Because the toys displayed in the museum is almost entirely well maintained, the value is high. For example Voltus toys who is still complete with its box, price is estimated to be about 8-10 million! Well, no doubt, Zerotoys is heaven for you the collector of toys especially the toys of 80s. Therefore, Zerotoys practically is a time machine who will deliver you to the golden era of Voltus cs.

Also, if you have one of the 80's toys like Voltus, but your toys already broken, Zerotoys could be a place to fix your old school toys. Yes, if the toy can still be repaired, Aldo then no mind at all to repair these toys at least your toys can look cool again. For those who want to find new toys too, Zerotoys could be a place of your choice. Because like their motto, toys store? Stock toys? Museum of toys? Workshop on modeling? or All of the above? Zerotoys is entrusted goods store. Yep, all the classics until modern toys you can find here. Don’t admit lovers of toys if you haven’t come to Zerotoys! Happy nostalgic with old school toys guys! (AG)


Thanks to special source information. http://www.bandungreview.com/en/articles/index/detail/node/nostalgic-time-with-toys-477 

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Bandung Style : Good Morning, Dear Sheep Competition!


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As if waiting for their turn go to the battlefield, these sturdy horned creatures were patiently standing on those pickup cars that had brought them to the ground of Babakan Siliwangi (right behind the Sasana Budaya Ganesha), Bandung, on last Sunday (05/06). With their beautiful necklace, they seemed like a king who would come down to the battlefield, they went down to  mound the soil where they waited for moments of shine.

Clockwise direction was aimed directly at the number 9, it's time to moved to the game area. Then, we've seen the visitors - which consists of various circles - have started packing the terrain that lies behind the running area of Sasana Culture Ganesha. In the middle of the empty land,  the wood fence had been standing there, for approximately 10 square meters, equipped also by a long bench for spectators as well as stands of timber where the committee got together and negotiate.

The event - which is held regularly once a month in Babakan Siliwangi  - was opened by the narrative of the master of ceremony, and accompanied by Sundanese traditional music. Then the sheep entered the fighting arena, square off and compete to each other , how strong are the power of the circular solid horns on their head. Three men wearing cowboy hat and also pangsi pants had standing there, assigned to referee fights of sheep competition, they stood in the middle of the field, and maintain the state of the sheep who are fighting. When you hear the cue "treatment" of the sound behind the sound system, the referee in the arena was immediately separated those two sheep, for just giving a massage and moved into the arena again.

Typically, the ram is allowed to complain to each other horns strength up to 20 times the beat, but this isn't necessarily as well. Many of the fighting sheep unable to match his opponent, so that before it make another worse injury, the fight was stopped at the that moment. Movement and hard hit are increasingly entertained the visitor's eyes - including us - but it turns out, not all sheep has  the guts, for example, we saw a white sheep that had suddenly run away, jumped off the fence and made the audience hysteric. You gave up before you got on the war, buddy!

This Sundanese cultural heritage has been so popular in Garut, West Java,  but then it also took the attention of many society of Bandung city. Many owners of rams are coming from this flower city, such as local Gegerkalong, Soreang, and much more. Only difference, sheep competitions at Baksil is not the same as fighting sheep in general, which uses "saweran" or betting which sheep will win the game, because the goal is just for entertainment and hospitality.

As an inner turmoil that appears at once while watching these sheep fighting competition, on the one hand is, how pity if we see the sheep which is also God's creation, competed to contest the power of each, and show, whose sheep are more superior on the battlefield. But on the other hand, this event is a cultural heritage that has lasted a long time, and has become part of national identity. In addition, the personality and fighting soul had been owned by those sheeps, so it had become one of the positive points why this event continues until this very moment. It has become an instinct for the ram to demonstrate his strength, and people who facilitate it.

So, which point of view would you choose, mate? Cultural heritage, or feel concerned about the presumption of exploitation of fauna in the world - particularly in Indonesia? It's all up to you, guys! (CS)
Special Thanks. to source http://www.bandungreview.com/en/articles/index/detail/node/bandung-style-good-dear-sheep-475

Monday, June 6, 2011

A Little Story about Distro & Clothing in Bandung


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Before Bandung became a heaven of Factory Outlet for domestic tourists and foreign tourists, Bandung is known as a heaven for Distro and Clothing first. Well, if you observed, sometimes many don’t quite understand about those two terms which indirectly make Bandung a city that had its own standards in the world of youth fashion. Clothing itself is a term for a company producing apparel with its own brand which then can develop their products not only sell clothes only, can deliver new products supporting the lifestyle such as cool watches, belt, glasses until MP3 players. While Distro which is stands for distribution store is store that distributes products from Clothing itself, Distro could be said that the official supplier of Clothing products.

It all started with the emergence of the creative community of Bandung’s youth in mid 90s. Reverse music studio on Sukasenang Street is the embryo of the birth of Distro and Clothing today. Starting from selling accessories related to the music like tapes, CD, poster, artwork and import merchandise, Reverse who also a pioneer in Bandung indie music label began selling local goods to support the community of rock music and skateboarding in Bandung. From there then came another Distro that sells special items such as skateboard items like Hobbies and Mossy which sells T-shirts of foreign band.

When the monetary crisis hit Indonesia in 1998, Reverse who usually selling of imported goods can no longer continue its business due to the soaring price of the dollar. Thanks to that, in fact the founders of Reverse such Helvi initiative to establish his own Clothing business called Airplane. Also, along with two other veterans of Reverse, that is Dxxxt and Marin, Helvi established the record label who is now already familiar called Fast Forward Record. Yep, transformation of Reverse from Distro into Clothing Company until have a record label makes the creativity of youth in Bandung getting recognized at that time. From 347 Boardrider.co (now become 347/eat) who established in 1996 and was followed by Ouval Research in 1997 until Anonim, Flashy, Harder, No Label, Monik, Riotic and many more.

Yep, indirectly Distro and Clothing Company development in Bandung is supported by evolving youth scene at the time, starting from the music scene, for example Riotic who dominate Punk music scene in Bandung, then Bandung youth street fashion from the skater until biker, Bandung transformed into a city who continues to produce local brands, which until now has been recognized almost all over Indonesia until foreign countries. While previously many local brands which stand on its own, but believe it or not, in fact, the term of Distro or Clothing became known when brands who mentioned above appear.

The key is in terms of concept and design which are obvious. Yes, that's what distinguishes Clothing and Distro with products displayed at the Factory Outlet. No copycat from the origin design of leading brands outside, product exclusivity also is characteristic of Distro and Clothing, usually marked with a limited edition who sells only 50-100 pairs of products, That's what distinguishes Clothing and Distro among other conventional fashion industry in Bandung. Besides, the close relationship between the Clothing Company and the people who had engaged in the world of local scene like music or hobbies like skateboarding who makes the spirit of Clothing and Distro getting recognized by youth in Bandung. Not to mention a few record labels which were born from Distro made ​​its own distinguishing features. For example Fast Forward Record who previously mentioned, then Linoleum Record who lot of sheltering metal bands and many more.

But unfortunately, Distro and Clothing developments based on the spirit of idealism youth in Bandung who wants to create a brand with a different concept from other it's been pretty covered with the presence of other Clothing who only sells for profit only. Though all of that comes from the spirit of why distributions or Clothing was established. Formerly, the people who come to the Distro that aim to find something who doesn’t exist in places such as shopping centers and department stores, something specific, different from others, therefore the location of the Distro and Clothing was sometimes not as strategic as shopping centers in general, secluded location and there was a purpose why they opened a place there, so people who came there looking for something not just window shopping only.

That is a little story about why Bandung became a heaven and a pioneer of Distro and Clothing in Bandung. In accordance with the development of the styles of the youth, Distro and Clothing will continue to grow until there are no limits. Yes, Bandung is the city who always emerge, welcome in Bandung guys! (AG)

Special thank to source. http://www.bandungreview.com/en/articles/index/detail/node/a-little-story-about-distro-clothing-in-bandung-474