Look Who's Back

Title: Look Who's Back (Er Ist Wieder Da)

Author: Timur Vermes

Translated from the German by: Jamie Bulloch

Maclehose Press Quercus-London

Paperback Edition, 2015

375 pages

Every time I go overseas, I plan to buy a book in the bookshop there. So instead of having a key chain, a fridge magnet or even a Starbucks tumbler, I have a book as the memento of the country I visit. On my Europe trip a few months ago, I bought Look Who's Back at Schipol airport, Amsterdam, first I was attracted with the pink sticker said 'Airport Favourite' then got more curious when reading the synopsis which tells what happens when Adolf Hitler wakes up now.  

This is a debut novel of Timur Vermes, a German writer. The book becomes a sensation in Germany. Sold more than a million copies. Check the synopsis here: You know his name, his face, his hair and mustache and imagine this, Berlin, Summer 2011, Adolf Hitler wakes up on a patch of open ground, alive and well. Things have changed --no Eva Braun, no Nazi party, no war. Hitler barely recognizes his beloved Fatherland, filled with immigrants and run by a woman. And he's FURIOUS when people think he is an impersonator. He's trying hard to convince them that it really is him, and yes, he really MEANS it.

The inevitable happens and Hitler goes viral, become a YouTube star, gets his own T.V. show and people begin to listen. Yes, this book is truly entertaining. All will leave you laugh a lot. Furthermore you will also learn a lot about history and stuff through different point of view. If you are not into history, no worries, the translator attached his Translator's Note at the back of the book mentioning the dates, the political party, the details of occasion and others that will enrich our knowledge.

The book has been translated into 27 languages and in December 2013, Constantin Film bought the rights to make a movie on this book. The movie was released on Netflix on April 2016 as Look Who's Back.

A satire at its best. If you are looking for a good laugh, this is definitely a the book for you.

Find more on Timur Vermes here
Find more on Look Who's Back the book here 

Eid Mubarok 1437 H

Ketupat and its partners

We spent our Eid al-Fitr in Lampung. We decided to go there on the second day of Lebaran thinking that the traffic would be less crowded however I guessed most people had the same thoughts as we finally ended up spending almost ten hours from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung. I know it's not as horror as Brexit (Brebes Exit) yet it's still tiring and traumatizing (especially for the girls who kept asking, "when will we arrive, Ma?").

At the (old) Ferry

The things that I noticed during our mudik trip was the toll road from Jakarta to Merak was okay. Not too crowded, it's still smooth. Then arrived at Merak, we have to wait for the ferry for almost 1,5 hours. I remembered during 1990s when my father was assigned by his office to Lampung and I was so familiar with Merak-Bakauheni and the ferry. I got de javu feeling at Merak and Bakauheni since everything looked the same. Old ferry, crowded with people sitting at every corner of it while ordering Pop Mie. Even Bakauheni also showed similar feeling. Nothing new. Jeez...it's been more than 20 years but the facility are still the same. The different things that I couldn't find in the old days was now more and more people went mudik using their motorcycle. One family with lots of stuff and kids and sometimes even babies. Dear God. My thoughts and prays went to them.

Other big project is Sumatra Toll Road that is still on the making. It's planned to be launched next year. But looking at the great numbers of motorcycles and cars sales in Jakarta, I don't think this toll road will make such a huge difference for next year Lebaran. No, I am not being  skeptical to our government and such, but I am just horrified seeing the heavy traffic each day. If only the government focus more on providing a reliable and affordable public transport, I guess people will start to leave their private cars at home. Hopefully this is not just a dream. Jakarta and its heavy traffic are a very serious issue now.

Tired of asking questions

By the way, we stayed at The 7th Hotel and Convention Center Lampung. Quite a new hotel that was launched by President Jokowi end of last year. Nice and clean place, spacious room, affordable price for a-four-star hotel and our favorite is their rich varieties of breakfast. We're sure that this place is one of our favorite hotels in Lampung.