What have I done?

Regards to all my friends. It's been a long time since I posted on this beloved blog, not because I didn't want to but because I was too busy with my routine work. Before that, I would like to say Ramadan Mubarak and happy fasting to all Muslim brothers everywhere.
It seems like this blog will be filled with my routine work and hobbies. I will start it with the work I completed last year and the stages. Hopefully, it will be useful and motivating.

What am I doing?

Around the beginning of August, I was contacted by the Islamic Sharia Office for a meeting to discuss the preparations for the 11th Aceh Jaya Regency Quran Recitation Competition. Initially, I did not expect to get any work at the event. I planned to attend the meeting to help provide advice if needed and then go home. It turned out not, the Sharia Office asked me to design and build the main stage for the event with a minimal budget, because the difference in concept from the previous year caused the budget to be insufficient, if the last year the event was held in the sub-district and all activities were carried out indoors, so it was more economical, well, for the implementation in 2024, the Office wanted a different concept so that the implementation of the activities was chosen to be carried out outdoors.

Why is the budget limited?
In Indonesia, all activities originating from the State Budget must have a budget plan made at the beginning of the year and can be used after ratification by the House of Representatives, the problem is that the proposed budget is usually based on the previous year's budget, such as if we budgeted 1 million rupiah for village head training activities last year, this year the budget for village head training is around 1 million rupiah or can be more according to needs, such as the work that I will do which has been budgeted previously and is reduced due to changes in implementation. It is not wrong if it is better as long as it is within the budget that has been budgeted.

First stage

I immediately made a simple design that I think is not monotonous and can be adjusted to the budget. What is it? I was inspired by an Aceh Hebat ferry and combined it with mainstream concepts such as a Middle Eastern style performance space and easy access for participants who appear.

_{Initial drawing design}
Initially, this stage will be built directly on the terrace of the Baitul Izzah Grand Mosque in Aceh Jaya Regency, this is the initial planned point 4.638659, 95.595353 (use Google Maps to see the location)

_{Documentation of work site plan}

_{layout plan}
Then we had a meeting with the Regional Assistant regarding the concept and location, according to him, we need something that looks more luxurious and emphasizes the national aspect with unique architecture, in the meeting I agreed to his suggestion and immediately rearranged the stage concept according to his direction, and the result was a much more expensive budget and limited work time, considering that I was only given about 1 month starting from the concept to the completion of the building.

_{Front view of the second alternative stage}

_{Second alternative stage plan}
After there were two alternative plans, finally I returned to discuss with the policy makers, the next meeting was with the regional secretary, I then presented the two alternatives along with their advantages and disadvantages. The first essay has advantages in terms of budget. After all, I no longer need to make a special stage because I use the terrace floor as a stage and the mosque yard as an audience area, while the disadvantage is during the construction. Because I built it on the terrace, the mosque terrace floor may be scratched or even damaged.
The second design has advantages in terms of design, but its fatal drawback is that the budget spent is much more expensive. I was forced to make a second stage because the location is in the courtyard of the mosque, so the planned building is separate from the mosque building.
The result of the meeting was to continue using the first design but separate from the mosque building.
I then racked my brain again to adjust to the results of the final meeting, and according to the budget, this was a challenge for me. What did I end up making?
A concept that was not previously thought of and was acceptable to all parties, I made a separate stage in the corner of the mosque terrace and a bridge from the terrace to the Tilawah/Quran reading room, the backdrop position was tilted and only half covered, the rest was a round wooden frame. To display the shape of the ship, I used plywood and a wooden floor for the stage.

_{Final Shop Drawing of the stage of the 11th Aceh Jaya Regency Quran Recitation Competition, by myself @kharrazi}

Location of stage construction work 4.638486, 95.595232 (final)-October 5, 2024

So I took advantage of the height of the terrace to cover the back of the stage; this really hadn't occurred to me before :)

Work execution process

I contacted several experienced carpenters and discussed the design, implementation time and budget, the result, out of three teams of carpenters, I finally contracted only one, I have actually often contracted them on construction work to complete the work and if the work has a profit beyond the target then I usually give them a bonus.

I also asked for their opinion so that this work would be more efficient and not reduce the final result.

After the contract is made, the craftsman usually immediately asks for a down payment of around 30% of the contract value. I immediately paid it off in the hope that the work would not be hampered. In my opinion, this is a healthy business and can increase the trust value of the owner because the work is progressing

November 4, 2024

First day of fieldwork

The main stage was built using a wooden frame and planks.

November 9, 2024

Still working on the main stage and starting to set up columns for the Tilawah/Quran reading room.

November 10, 2024

Finishing the floorboards and bringing the Recitation/Quran Reading Room to the location

<sub>I am in the recitation room

I am in the recitation room</sub>
I created the Tilawah room in another location so that it would not be disturbed by other fieldwork activities.

_{The process of transporting the Tilawah room using a pick-up to the work location}

I made this Tilawah room specifically so that it can be used again so that if there is a next activity it can be used, and the creation of this Tilawah room is the main key in the Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran activity, because in this room the participants will read the Quran, this room must be comfortable, not too hot and not wet when it rains, and the position of the participants must be clearly visible to the audience.

November 12, 2024

Preparing finishing materials

In the large package was the green carpet I had purchased to cover the floorboards. The roll on the stage floor is a white screen-printing sheet that I will stretch in front of the main stage; the painter had already started painting the backdrop.

The painting job went on until the evening, even though it was drizzling at night, but because the workers were enthusiastic, I was also enthusiastic.

November 13, 2024

The painting work is finally finished

November 15, 2024

This is the opening day of the event, because the opening ceremony was held at night, I had the opportunity to prepare other things so as not to interfere later, for the Tilawah room I have prepared a portable AC, decorated the bridge to the Tilawah room, put up billboards/banners on the main stage yard and so on.

_{Choir at the opening}
There was a slight problem during the opening ceremony: it suddenly rained heavily, so the opening ceremony had to be postponed for about half an hour. I was a bit worried, lest the stage collapse before the event started :D It turned out that it was just a worry because there were no significant problems with the stage :)

_{Flag raisers activities}

_{Photo of the bridge from above after the opening ceremony was completed}

_{Photo of Tilawah room with portable air conditioning}

_{My photo in front of the main stage, beside me, are the rotating trophies that are being competed for at this event.}

This activity lasted for 7 days, and after the closing ceremony, the stage was dismantled. The Tilawah room was still used for activities at the sub-district level.
I am very grateful that the 11th Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran event in Aceh Jaya Regency was a success. See you next year with another design.

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As I explained earlier, even though the budget is limited, with careful calculations and supported by responsible workers, we can complete everything and of course we will also gain profits.
For now, this is all I can write, considering that there is only a little time left for sahur, so I would like to thank you all for your support and see you again.

_{Me and those who performed at the opening ceremony as well as the Aceh Jaya district officials at the back}
Warm regards @kharrazi