Veda #33 : The Rain's Smell 11:08 PM

Day 33
"Do you know what is the rain's smell?"

A few past months was the beginning of our rainy season, and up until now, maybe it always raining everyday. Lucky for me (and for you) who have a garden or live not in the center of the city (that lacks of soils and trees), you can always smell the rain and the soils. Somehow it's very vibrant and refreshing. But did you know actually what caused this and what its name?

The smell of rain in the dry grounds officially called Petrichor. More specifically, petrichor is the pleasant smell that often accompanies the first rain after a long period of dry weather. It was named by two Australian researchers, who discovered that the smell is an oily essence emitted from rocks or soils. The oil is a complicated mixture of at least fifty different compounds, rather like a perfume. (i wonder if it is gonna be a hot selling item if there are actually a perfume makers who want to make petrichor as their fragrance)

It turned out that the oils are given off by vegetation during dry weather and absorbed to the surface of rocks and soil particles, to be released into the air again by the next rains. There has been some suggestion that the smell may trigger reproductive behaviour in kangaroos and other marsupials. And for most human, they described the smell as pleasant and refreshing, and help to trigger human's memory that connected to creative side. (as for me, it definitely connect to "sleepy" side)

The word comes from Greek petros, a stone, plus ichor, from the Greek word for the fluid that flows like blood in the veins of the gods. So next time you're gonna say "i love the smell of rains", say this instead : "I love the smell of petrichor".
there, you're officially sounds way better, plus 10 for you. :))
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Veda #7 : Street Vendor a.k.a Pedagang Kaki Lima 10:44 PM

Day 07
Question by : None - "Why Street Vendor in Indonesia called with Pedagang Kaki Lima (Five Feet Merchant)"

Street Vendor Lego Art by Sean Kenney

Note : Only in Indonesia :)
Simple question tonight, why actually street vendor in Indonesia called Pedagang Kaki Lima (or translated Five Feet Merchant)? Were they actually have 5 feet?it's impossible. Many people had their own joke and understanding about this name, the most popular one is because usually this merchant using a cart with 3 wheels to bring their goods, with those 3 wheels plus 2 of their feet, it makes them 5.

Other story said that this street vendors are illegal seller (not illegal according to their goods, but it's about how they put their "shop" in public places such as pedestarian, without proper consent), so they must prepare themselves to run fast if someday the police do screening at those public places.

But a story is just a story. Now i'm gonna reveal why they called Pedagang Kaki Lima. Well, not revealing actually, but at least this is the most logical explanation to this term.

Pedagang Kaki Lima, first introduced at us when Netherland was under Britain's administrative policy. At that time, General Governor of Netherland at Indonesia, Sir Thomas Raffles, instructed "left side traffic system" which means the automobile and anyone using the road must take left side of the road. He also announced about building a pedestarian walk at the outer left of the road, measured 31 cm in height, and 150 cm in width.

Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles

This 150 cm width equal to about Five Feet (remember, Netherland was under administrative policies of Britain, that's why tehy also use Europe measurement). By the time goes, merchants one by one start to sell their goods at the pedestarian. So that's why the merchants at that place called "Pedagang Kaki Lima" or "Five Feet Merchants"

This is so Indonesia...hohoho

Satisfied? :)

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