Author: rike jokanan

Me, now here

Be The Right Element

Learning, Poetic, Those People
Fire, Beloved,
Burns. Hot. Fast. Deadly. Don't play
Until you are friends.

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Even fire can be our friend and play with us. Make sure it doesn’t burn us. How? Either be water or earth when getting along with fire, never be wood or metal.

I’ve seen how anger consumes human beings’ life. It is not easy dealing with it, especially when it is inside. Yet is anger really an anger? Or just sadness, fear or unhappiness that are expressed inappropriately due to restriction in certain society?

Or, some people don’t even know that they are in rage. They don’t know what they are feeling. What they know is they feel annoyed, humiliated, or frustrated. Been there…. 🤓

When it is unbearable, go to the park and lie down on the grass or take ablution or take a bath.

Gosh! It is no easy to deal with an angry cashier or taxi driver. Hope they solve their real problems soon and be happy so people around them are not victimised, including the customers.

Happy weekend!

May all beings be happy esp those cashier and taxi driver. 💐

fire flower – make sure your anger is appropriately expressed

Link for pic: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/flowers-fire-flame-painter-digital-art-digital-painting-wallpaper-cefyw

types of basic emotion

Link for pic: https://fairygodboss.com/career-topics/emotion-wheel

Lamp Posts

Learning
The light, Beloved
Gives sight vision, makes my eyes
See your sheer beauty.

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Last stop before going back home is Yishun Sports Hall yard where biking around the grass rings trains muscle and balance. Followed by sitting at the circle rim doing nothing just daydreaming, night outing is almost always a must-do thing to unload unnecessary thoughts.

This evening the sky is bright and air is filled with enjoy-each-moment vibe before doing laundry. The light shining through the lamp post steals one moment.

Without light, what sight can do? Without light, sight doesn’t see vision. It’s vision that builds a meaning with meaning. what does it mean?

Ahhh! Head still too full! I don’t wanna think too much. Time to daydream under the moon light—

Salam….

lamp posts in front of Yishun Sports Hall

Hey, Trees!

Learning, Map It!, Poetic
Flowers look like leaves.
Beauty naturally built:
Maniltoa trees

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Let’s go biking! The lining maniltoa trees or handkerchief trees are waiting to greet.

Weekend! Yay!

maniltoa trees along YA 2

Photo borrowed from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/sgblooms-nparks-on-where-to-catch-the-second-flowering-season-of-the-year

Need Some Stupid Conversation

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person, Those People
We are all born naked
Dressed differently in death. What—
Would we do in life?

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Would keep laughing at myself in life because there are many comic moments in life (tragedy + time = comedy) — like being born every time, nakedly honest in front of own self

And would love to live around those who can see wisdom from what we’ve laughed at or jokes in wisdom— pure laughter, no humiliation, no underestimation, but yeah sweet insult 🤪

Can’t imagine how boring to live with those who can’t even laugh seeing their face on the mirror…. 🥳

Can’t wait to meet my best people and laugh at this life, accompanied with home made snacks and favourite drinks! Wisdom, jokes, social politic gossip and some stupid “garing” guessing games as always 🤓

Time is relative so next year can feel like one hour from now!

We Are All Prime Numbers

Learning, life, love, Map It!, Poetic
What’s prime number, Love?
Itself and one can divide.
Most intimate love—

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It’s just me and the one.

The one that I’ve always missed with no reason. The one that I’ve perceived but not perceivable. The one that I’ve missed and travelled for but nowhere to find. The one that I’ve felt so intimate but so distant. The one that I’ve cried for but making me smile. The one that I’ve been peaceful with but breaking my heart.

You’re a prime number, Self, one that is greater than one and can only be divided by one and itself. The rest is excluded.

What prime number are you?

Salam…. 💝

prime numbers
the only even prime

Climbing Vines

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person
A tree, Beloved
Dies of climbing harmful vines.
Pull them to revive.

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Pull away gently the harmful vines that climb a tree in a garden to stop them from growing too wildly and finally leave the tree breathless and lack of sun then die slowly….

Knowing which vines are harmful is the first step.

So excited about next year to plant a tree in the home base’s tiny garden. Thanks to a good friend in Ubud who is willing to graft her arum ndalu tree for me.

Dear Pandemic, be mild and friendly. Don’t you know I want to see my home for just one weekend. Please…. 🤕

This homesickness feels like vines that climb a strong tree.

Dear, Self. Pull them away gently….

May all beings be happy.

can’t even identify what tree it is

Useful link from which the photo is borrowed and some additional knowledge about tree and vines: https://www.nashvilletreeconservationcorps.org/treenews/what-to-do-about-vines-growing-on-your-tree

Keep Learning!

Learning, Poetic, This Person
Words don’t end as words.
They wait for context to be:
Fact? Opinion?

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Why should be afraid of using precise words —gathered in a context— clear context of statement, question, request or exclamation if it is to positively convey a message and/or to get expected responses?

I found some people are shy if not afraid of conveying messages because of unsuccessful experiences of getting the messages passed on to the others clearly. They thought the failure was purely theirs. No, not at all!

Know, Self that some people don’t have the tools to comprehend certain messages; it can be because of limitation of language, intelligence, culture, perception, intention, name it…. In fact some others simply don’t want to listen.

When the message isn’t well comprehended, an equivalent response most probably will be delivered, which is unpleasant and/or unclear one.

It is not nice to fail in communication. Only true learners never give up trying. 👍🏽

Communication is about intention as intrinsic factor (make sure it is good) and skill as extrinsic. Both take time to be mature. Yet, in whatever stage of maturity both don’t always collaborate at times.

Hell yeah! I’m talking about myself! Next time better, much better than today’s me.

May all beings be happy.

going back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – where am I, where am I?

Master Horse

Learning, life, Poetic
A horse is running
In a round. To win it not;
To serve the master—

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Am I the horse or the master?

If the horse, do I know enough who is my master so that I don’t just gallop whenever anyone other than the master whips me.

If the master, do I know enough how to appropriately engage with the horse and whether or not the horse has endurance for certain round either race or equestrian.

More importantly do I know what’s a horse and what’s a master?

May all beings be happy.

golden circle

What Is Your Coordinate?

Learning, love, Poetic
Quadrant, Beloved,
Where x and y cut a plane;
I’m the origin
Seeing you around, confused
And confusing. Layered self—

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The conversation with little brother this evening has reminded me that I’ve probably fallen in love with someone from an unfriendly quadrant— the one whose abscissa and ordinate are not well defined.

So, stand on the origin or be an origin, the zero-point-zero point. Simply will stand here and see the quadrant where my focus now is going. By standing on the pole, I’m zero, being objective about myself and anyone around me, balanced seeing negative positive, observing above below, not judging, just seeing the facts!

It feels like walking a tightrope. Balancing my observation, being honest to my own self. At the end of this rope, I’ll see his true quadrant.

I see a rabbit in you. Hope no snake comes out from you. Oops, oops! A chicken? Or a bull? 😁

No, no I wish at least I can see you unmasked. Whatever you are and so I can embark peacefully. 😋

May all beings be happy.

what an equation love is! I won’t let it unsolved anymore.

Magically Blessed

Learning, life, love, Map It!, Poetic, This Person
Magic, Beloved,
Scented, shaped, coloured. Travelled
By sea, land and air—

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There are many choices of flowers and leaves imported from Down Under recently. Protea, leucadendron, silver bell eucalyptus pods, Geraldton wax flower, eryngium big blue, eucalyptus leaves, etc appear in the flower shop.

As they don’t come every month like roses, chrysanthemum and spider lily, I grabbed them fast. Greedy? Please don’t. Let’s call it excited. 😌

These flowers and leaves prove to be not only pretty but also aromatically medicative. Imagine working breathing eucalyptus for at least one week. Ya, they last longer than roses, chrysanthemum and spider lily.

I think I’ve received a lot of blessing and healing through travelling, flowers and food most time of life, particularly recently. There is nothing better to thank but breathing deeply and chewing slowly with all heart and soul.

If not because of being blessed and loved, what else are we given all these?

Sending blessings and love across the ocean to the one dearly loved. 💝

May all beings be happy.

aromatherapy in a vase
leucadendron, the florist called it differently I forgot what
protea
silver bell eucalyptus pod – just saw them and fell in love
eucalyptus leaves – I can breathe it the whole day literally

Orchids Bring Hope

Learning, life, Poetic
Orchid, Beloved,
Surprises day with new stems.
More colours to be;
A gift from Mother Nature,
A greeting from Father Time—

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Just learnt that my orchids are happier with rain water. There has been much rain recently that hampered jogging and biking schedule; yet now I see the rain has invited more colours and beauty.

The time of those orchids’ blossom isn’t predictable; they often surprise me when the buds stem is already prominent. My sight is really getting older that often time I don’t see when the stem is in its early stage; or they are just hidden in common green.

The plants in this tiny home have always been a consolation every now and then. Both the ones in the balcony and those in the bathroom’s bay window are best friends to this person. 💝

Thank you!

the shorter stem might have been there for at least one week but I just realised it two days ago 💝

Need Some Fresh Eyes

Learning, Poetic
The eyes, Beloved,
Looking all fresh and good
When not dozing off

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Some facts can’t be clearly comprehended when a kind breeze lullaby lingers around a space, or simply tipsiness stays longer at the forehead.

It is blessed to want to sleep. Go to the slumberland and download fresh inspirations.

May all beings be happy.

inspiration of today: a bowl of foliage
foliage and some pho broth left-over

A Who Who Is Missed

Learning, life, love, Map It!, Poetic, This Person, Those People
It rains, Beloved
Orange stays bright in the west.
Wish you were here, Who?

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Sometimes the one that is dearly missed is that who never remembers us. What a paradox!

Paradox is beauty of life, contradictory realities that are given at the same time. There are plenty of hidden messages in between only clear heart can read.

May all beings be happy. 💝

thanks for everything 🙏🏼

See Beyond A Dead End

Learning, life, love, Poetic, This Person
Mistake, Beloved
Taking action with dead end.
Back to square one? No?

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Earth revolves around the sun, so each dead end experiences a sun rise a day.

What a relief!

where can I find this book; let’s go to the library

Some Cannot Be Changed

Learning, life, Poetic
Red shrimp, Beloved
Crooked not bowing; Nature
That cannot be changed—

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Lunch is an important meal; breakfast is just a tertiary “decoration”. So having nice food in the afternoon feels like seeing a green garden with fruits hanging everywhere. 🤩

the filling for today’s paper rice wrap

4 of 4 done! 1 isn’t so tidy, the 3 are excellent!

Two Sides of Beauty

Learning, life, Map It!, Poetic
A vase, Beloved
In which two seasons meet up;
Two sides of beauty—

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Some flowers last longer in a vase, others stay shorter. They glorify seasons and gratify life spans differently. Here some flowers come together in a vase and enjoy the life together, decorating a corner some time away from the roots.

How would I not thank for all faces of beauty?

Live longer and enjoy the colourful life in this melting pot, dear Self. All is well. All is beautiful.

May all beings be happy.

the pink striped daisies stay longer than predicted, red roses come to sit together ⭐️

Joy Is Always Waiting

Learning, life, Poetic
There’s a hidden joy
Behind a pile of laundry.
Ironed, it shows up.

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When finally a bucket of wrinkle fabrics pile up into nicely-layered pile of ironed clothes, who doesn’t feel the joy?

Some household chores are relaxing.

May all beings be happy.

proud of doing it all with these hands 😎

Life Skill Is Not That Simple

Learning, love, Poetic, This Person
It takes basic skill
To be happy and peaceful.
Folding paper rice—

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Another Vietnamese cuisine came for brunch! 🍴

Thought it would be easy and fast to fold rice paper to wrap some veggies and meat. Thought it would take only basic skill of folding paper like making origami heart.

Yes, it is pre-basic skill of folding the paper yet the skill to control what’s inside the heart is not that basic. The intention to fold tidily and the urge of immediately eating nice food collided hard just because of a thin layer of helpless wet rice paper. It felt like now or never. Drama! 😂

Today’s target of eating 5 wraps didn’t happen. The rest of the filling became a bowl of salad.

Sorry, dearest paper rice. I failed you. No, no! 3 of 5 is 60%, more than 50% means winning in democracy. 😂

Next time better! 💝

yummy! will work better tomorrow for lunch 😊

Delicious Weekend

Learning, Map It!, Poetic
Weekend, Beloved,
Clear, nice, fresh— How can’t it be
If it’s cooked with love?

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First Vietnamese food from own kitchen. Next one should include bone to make perfect beef flavour. And the chili please, the crown of perfection should be a kick not only a tickle!

Still this weekend is delicious with a big bowl of pho bo!

If I may say Vietnamese pho is the only noodle soup that can beat my dear Indomie! Respect to the soul who concocted this recipe hundreds of years ago.

May all beings be happy.

pho bo a la Indonesia 💝
mung bean sprout, ngo ghai leaves, Thai basil and lime – why Thai basil? sometimes I am wondering why some fruit and vegetables are called “Thai~” while the plants are naturally originally South East Asian! ones can find them in Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia not sure in Singapore (at least in Cold Storage imported from Vietnam or Malaysia or Thailand or Indonesia) 😎
oh my, it is such a betrayal to cook Vietnamese pho using Thai pad thai rice noodle…. sorry, Vietnamese pho; couldn’t find you yesterday
and my betrayal is complete with the Thai fish sauce…. Vietnamese fish sauce, where are you? my friends in Vietnam said their fish sauce is stronger than the Thai. Fish sauce is the secret of pho bo taste!
after all herbs and spices flavours are blended into boil, filter it to find the clear broth – friends in Vietnam said it takes overnight boiling to reach certain consistency and taste. sorry, didn’t have the luxury, 1.5 hours is good enough!
herbs and spices – love it! 💝

Balance Means Complete

Learning, Poetic
Desert’s, Beloved,
Scorpions’ home. Oases—
Crops are rich and sweet.

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Walking on a rim with smiles and cries is now, drawing a circle from one start to one end— a point.

A close-looped cycle, dear Self. Are you in?

flowers grown in dry land – beauty and endurance 💝

Free Day

Learning, Map It!, Poetic, This Person
Rest day, Beloved,
Free— Stay away from workplace.
Let it be messy.

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Just wanna be free, don’t care about dirty house and all the mess. Just wanna take time to do nothing—

Welcome Saturday night! Let’s browse recipe for Sunday! 😎

leaving weekend as weekend, without touching anything at that corner

A Cleansing Talk

Learning, life, love, This Person, Those People
Friendship, Beloved
A vast ocean and its waves
Sweeping all debris—

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A friend visited me at my lunch break. A short talk made the day.

About her retirement plan to hop from one city to another from one country to another with her husband, future visit to my home base, future visit to Ubud, her sons and the menace, my future plans, health and healthcare, vaccination, and everything….

Our longest talk after 2 years of not going someplace together! She brought our favourite kue from Bengawan Solo! 💝

Couldn’t believe it could happen only in one hour. We must have talked as fast as flash!

⚡️

Bengawan Solo jajanan pasar delivered by a friend today

You Is The Limit

Learning, life, love, Poetic, This Person
Freedom, Beloved
Is gauging limitation.
How low can you go?
How high can you fly? How long?
Life’s integrated limits.

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There is always the next level of things. Perfection? Some say yes. Some say it is freedom, up to self, don’t care about others, want more, and everything.

No one can stop one except one’s self.

Is the end the limit? Not sure; yet it must be sun and moon the cycles integrate.

Beloved, if you allow, let me just be better than my own self before. Nothing more, nothing less.

May all beings be happy. 💝

thanks for the sugar; how many people mustn’t have sugar and I’m still free to consume it – isn’t it a blessing? 💝

Paradox, Euphemism dalam Wayang Kulit Jawa Kontemporer

Learning, Those People

Mencari kewarasan di antara kegilaan. Ketawa sampai perut kaku! 😂😂😂😂😂

Only for those knowing Bahasa Indonesia. Sorry…. 😊

Not 100% Clean

Learning, life, Poetic
Is she that clean though?
No! Flower blooms from rooted trees.
Dirt, bugs surround her.

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Human being is human being. No one is perfect. No one is clean. If someone looks perfect, it is just the lenses are focusing on one’s good parts or the lenses are damaged unable to see all details or one is just in a lucky blind spot. What a blessing to look perfect! — whatever the cause is

Making mistakes is a perfect description about human being. The perfection overdoes though when the same mistake is repeated — too many times will kill!

*sigh*

May all beings be full-bellied. 💝

burnt mackerel, salty veggies soup and cutie buns with some ants is a set of perfect imperfection I cooked today

Sleeping Is Farming Dreams

Learning, life, Poetic
Night blankets sweet dreams,
Lullabies and keeps them safe
Until morning comes
To reap every grain dreams yield.
Dreams, soar high and come back true.

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Dream sweet and wake up true.

May all beings now be peacefully sleepy…. 😊

dream as sweet as jasmine

Guarded

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person
Swaying gently down,
Feather falls off from the wings
Flapping. Angel smiles.

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I used to pick up feathers met on the way to school, office, home, everywhere. Feathers have been good signs to me for years. There has been a feeling of being protected.

Superstition? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not.

Now? Still believing that feather present is the presence of protection, but I stopped hoarding. Just look at the feathers, pray for protection and greet the guardian angels, and walk on with a bunch of blessings.

May all beings be happy.

🪶

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-feathers-propel-birds-air-history.html

Thanks for The Space

Learning, Poetic
There’s a space to read
A message…. Deciphered, it
Will turn to insights.

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inspiration makes simplicity beautiful

Journey of A Friendship Is To Know Yourself

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person, Those People
Time runs, Beloved
Not flies. Its feet touch the ground,
Planting you deeply
To the journey. Feel the pace,
Beloved. The end is good.

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Today’s video call with 6 best friends was at least 2 hours of stupidity in the brink of wisdom.

The talk of health of some of us and overall healthcare in our country has become both joke and contemplation.

One of us said that as a father of two he doesn’t want to be selfish thinking about his health too much. He wants to give the best to his children and if he has to leave them forever, his family won’t suffer of having too little. This oldest of all of us is always the funniest yet the wisest.

One of us said that whatever medical complaints she has, she wants to handle them now. She said she’d better know the diseases how much ever bad they are and do possible treatments soon rather than later when she is older. What a good anticipation!

Another said that he still enjoys everything freely. He called while chewing donuts with heavy chocolate and sugar toppings! What a joy!

Most of us don’t have serious medical issues except that the pandemic in the country is more happening that fear of it is more deadly than the virus itself.

Blahblahblah and hahaha continued when we talked about religions. Those who are religious made fun of us who are “not clear”. And we teased them who are “too clear-cut”.

Fun 2+ hours! Mood booster to welcome another week!

Hope we are all completing everything well.

Take care, crazy good friends! You’re blessed.

Sure we’ll still meet again in a better time! So sure!

💝

just-put-them-in leucadendron and pink striped daisy is ready to welcome the productive week 😎

A Basket of Stars

Learning, Poetic
A basket of stars
Sprinkled down on us tonight
Are words of comfort.
What do they say when twinkling?
Is there star dictionary?

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May all beings be happy…..

thanks for the beautiful bloom again