Category: Learning

Resting My Case

Learning
When a lady goes,
Two dogs race with her, saying
See you again, friend!

—-

Completing the mosque night in Jakarta, I hopped to the next island. I have a holiday in lieu as I was working outside Singapore in its public holiday so why not meeting my friend in Bali to spend my Monday?

This good friend is a Buddhist, a devoted pupil of Dalai Lama. She has met him four times in person in Dharamshala. So it is a good thing to discuss about the news circulated about him; the sooner, the better for me to clear my hazy mind.

I explained to her my understanding about sexual harassment and abuse and the video that has made what might be called framing or true case depending on what brings to whom. She listened to me patiently. Then she explained to me quite long and clear about the Tibetan culture of “tongue eating” not “tongue sucking” and mostly about what kind of person Dalai Lama whom she has met and shaken hand with. She also asked me to watch the complete video, not only some part of it so I can build clearer context.

We had a long talk. Based on the chat l decided to delete my posting about Dalai Lama, not because I totally agree with my friend but simply because I don’t want to make things more unclear. Resting my case—

Waiting doe my flight with a light heart—

Salaam.

Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, my friend’s dogs

Ramadhan Odd Night

Learning, Poetic, This Person, Those People
Sleeping under dome,
Reciting signs of wisdom,
Ramadhan odd night

—-

Some friends of mine and I stayed overnight in Istiqlal Mosque on Apr 15 (25th night of Ramadhan) to focus on “sleep less, pray more”. We did much earlier as high schooler when we stayed overnight at school in 2 Ramadhan nights to sleep less and pray more to gain lailatur qadar that my friends and I believe is special night to reveal truth within our own selves.

This very time in Istiqlal 3 things were emphasised by some teachers to all of us.

  1. Birr walidayn (doing good deed to our parents) including but not limited to making them feel in ease and peace, show respect and gratitude, talk softly, pay regular visit, cook their favourite food, buy good clothes, and other good deeds
  2. Knowing one’s self = knowing the God — interaction with one’s self is as important as interaction with other human beings as tools to clearly see the core self within
  3. Loving fellow creatures is paramount in life — no choice as human beings without discrimination!

Thousands of muslims stayed in the mosque and we didn’t know each other, we just followed the scheduled activities mostly in silence or very casual salaam except talking in low voice to few friends going together as groups.

Thanks for giving me one night to sleep less and pray more.

💝

with girl friends in senior high school class — me with 2 besties 💝💝💝 night for (crazy) youngsters

Ramadhan Odd Night in Istiqlal Mosque, me and 2 good friends slept under the 3rd pillar in the female chamber (left side of the hall), there is partition between male and female chambers — felt like staring hundreds of star clusters 💝

Fragrance

Learning
Who are friends, my dear?
The perfumers? The blacksmiths?
Whoever, they smell.

—-

Disclaimer: I am not spreading Islamic teaching. I am just telling how fragrance and good friends have manifested in my life.

—-

The most frequent gift I give to my closest female circle is fragrance, either perfume or soap. Yesterday morning before meeting my best friends, I decided to browse some fragrance. As normal there is never preferred brand about perfume. It is always about a click in the heart.

Indeed happiness can cost some $/c although it might be too small and can be an insult if given as currency; yet it must cost attention and/or time to appreciate the same. So perfume is a best option — no one has complained so far.

What about soap? Only to those preferring soap to perfume

I am happy to make myself happy by making my circle happy because they have been making me happy. Imagine your friends feel good and be scented at the same time.

This I do because I follow literally beautiful hadith by the Prophet as below.

Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the parable of good and bad company is that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk will give you perfume, you will buy some, or you will notice a pleasant smell. As for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes, or you will notice a bad smell.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5534, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2628

Authenticity grade of hadith: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

couldn’t help smelling all

I See Poetry

Learning
I see poetry
In the smog gliding over towns,
In water that rustles,
In breeze of a hot day,
In wind that blows my hair,
In soil that cracks.
Not always pretty
Yet giving me colours
That make life life—

—-

this life is blessed with poetry when overt description is too narrow to interpret a vast reality 😎

Simple Joy

Learning
Is there a space
For happiness in an angry man’s belly?


Simple joy can cure hunger.
It draws smiles.
It brews laughter.
It dampens dry heart.
It cheers up weary soul.

Is there a space
For unhappiness in an angry man’s belly?

If he knows joy is as simple as
A pattern on matcha latte,
He should say “Sorry for breaking your heart,
But loving myself is a priority”.

Simple joy is not that simple
For those knowing no simplicity.

—

we asked the barista in our office to draw flower on on the matcha latte but he said it was too difficult “this time this lah, flower needs more training haha…. sorry ya” 😁 thank you, that is pretty, too

Dwarving (becoming dwarves)

Learning
Why they’re so grumpy?
Error happens all seasons.
Just take lessons learnt.

—-

Instagram and Twitter are full of angry people who are not able to express their anger in such a way to be well understood.

WordPress is an ideal— a peaceful sanctuary❣️

his name is Grumpy

Table

Learning
Table, big or small:
Where meal, words and energy
Entertain people.

—-

Yesterday’s lunch break chat was about furniture. My colleague who just had a house warming said that she only has a bed and dining table and is planning to buy more things soon. Our styles are so much different and I think hers has also tapped my mind.

My dining table is a wooden slab with a long bench at one side and 4 chairs in the other. If there are more people visiting (which not yet happens up to now), they should drag armchairs from the living room or voluntarily standing. 😂

Hers is a retractable table that can be as small as 75 centimetres and as long as 3 meters. She has a total of 8 in her family so she needs space for 8 in the smallest family gathering. It attracted me to have one as mine looks bulky and occupies so much of space; however, modern retractable table doesn’t suit my Javanese house and of course it is expensive. So it is just an interest in a chat with her.

my colleague’s type of dining table — modern, sleek, retractable, expensive, suitable for her luxurious condo in Singapore 🙏🏼

We also talked about beds in which we agree good mattress is paramount for our old back. 😀

Both of us agreed to invite each other in the future when there is long weekend and of course when trees of rambutan, mango, banana, matoa, chiku, and so on in my back yard are ready for harvest.

my type of dining table – heavy, bulky, occupying space yet beautiful for my humble abode 💝

Salaam.

💝

Maleman (Ramadhan’s odd nights celebration)

Learning, Poetic
Dear oh dear, it’s time to slide the curtain and see your face.

Crescent moon is here.
It illuminates my sky,
Showing your perfect beauty.

Dear oh dear, your love has perfectly wrapped my imperfect reality.

This dusk
To dawn
I pray.

—-

Javanese celebrate life through sharing and commemorating ancestors. They will find reasons to call a day sacred and so they can celebrate it with especially family and neighbours through sharing. One of the chosen moments is in the last 10 days of Ramadhan.

Ramadhan is believed to have 3 phases: 1st 10 days as the grace and mercy of the God, 2nd 10 days as forgiveness of the God and 3rd ones as liberation from purgatory. It is believed that one of the nights in the 3rd 10 days is called Lailatul Qadar (literally night of revelation or night of honour) whose value is more than 1000 months so if Muslim spends the night in goodness s/he will be appreciated with 1000 months of good deeds. Many Muslim scholars interpret lailatul qadar differently; I myself believe that it is the night when a human being becomes aware of one’s bearing the quality of humanity as well as divinity. No one knows which night it is but it is believed that the night allegedly falls on odd nights of Ramadhan: 21, 23, 25, 27 or 29.

Javanese think that it would be good to share joy at any of those odd nights. Those who are blessed with abundance will share more, they will invite their neighbours to dine in and make a basket of food to bring home for each of them. The less or under privilege will usually bring 2 baskets of food to a nearest mosque or mushola to share with others; as it is not mandatory, it is ok for them not to bring anything, their neighbours will give more to them.

The odd night celebration in Javanese is called maleman that comes from the word malem (dusk or twilight) and -an (a suffix added to a word that make the word a noun or a noun another noun with different meaning). Maleman means an activity that is conducted at dusk or twilight.

We hope that by doing the maleman we can be blessed with the 1000 months of good deed of food sharing. And isn’t sharing food the simplest thing to do with neighbour? 🙏🏼

There is one kue (small cake) typically present among all food shared in maleman, it is called apem— a rice cake made with yeast and coconut milk.

Apem is a symbol of forgiveness and asking for forgiveness with each other among the Javanese Muslim. It is derived from an Arabic word “afwun/afuwwun” that means forgiving. This rice cake is a special cake appearing in many Javanese celebration as a symbol of forgiving and forgiveness among people surrounding.

I am glad that the 3rd 10 days of Ramadhan is here. Time to sleep less and pray more for the sake of my happiness and joy.

Salaam.

—-

Nowadays kue apem has been creatively modified. Originally it is steamed; now many also fry it. I love this one of Javanese delicacies! 💝

Have a look of a few of the creations of our amateur cooks. 🙏🏼

we used to have this “apem conthong” either using jackfruit or banana leaves to both mould and wrap it — not many though make it due to its complicated process

the most common nowadays

this one is fried 😍

simple to cook but take long time to slice when set after cooked

💝

apem with Javanese palm sugar as the flavour — the sweetest one

apem kembang — my favourite 😍

Background

Learning, Poetic
It takes good backgrounds
For stories to come alive.
Time, place or colours—

—-

this is the finally-decided colour for the background; just the background after many months, making sure this gift is loved by the birthday lady — thanks for your patience and understanding, Mbak ☺️💝

Harvested

Learning, life, Poetic
Not only fruits,
It might be flowers, seeds and seedlings.
It might be leaves, woods or saps.
It might be barks, husks or roots.
It might be more.
Whatever beneficial—

What is this tree harvested for?
None—
No. Either
One:
Good deed or good time.

Harvest from life, Beloved.
Remember to sow before the next reap.


Her heart and soul is her best seeds,
And she is the farmer and the crop.

biggest lessons taken from this — not so much relatable yet good lessons indeed

a bit of hilariously heroic – good to build good mood 😃

enigmatic and dark

Good Time (light chat, heavy load)

Learning

One of them asked me: Rike, do you find it easy to get along with new people?

Me: Only when I see a shade of humbleness in them. Otherwise, it is difficult or failure at all. I don’t have good skill in socialising with those high in the sky.

One: Ahh! I know what you mean. We are not rich Japanese so you definitely can get along with us safely.

Me: Really? I am a poor Indonesian, might get treated lowly by you. Look at your history 😂

Another one: Of course, not. We are not the Japanese snobs that you might have met before somewhere I don’t know where.

Me: Did I tell you I met Japanese snobs?

Another one: No. We just thought the way you perceived us earlier might have been based on what you have experienced before. Is that fair?

Me: Wow! Smart analysis! You are not rich but you are intelligent! Thanks for meeting you this time. Let’s eat in an izakaya so we can chat lomger. Go Dutch please.

All: Good idea!

Me: No alcohol please.

Some: Good time, good deed! ☺️

Some: Good deed, bad time! 😂

It was our last dinner in Himeji and we blew kisses good bye. Thanks for making me feel welcome and protected. See you next time, dear friends!

Salaam.

feeling welcome and protected is a blessing 💝

we had very good time before going back to our places — 🙏🏼

Tired Is A Space

Learning
Tired is a space
Where this plane is in rest,
Heart is humming,
Soul is watching.
Some steps are the last steps
That envelope a message
That sums up a journey.
Sealed with a kiss.

—-

one of my most tiring trips, yet one of most memorable 💝 thank you so much

i am not craving anymore as i’ve seen cherry blossoms in this very life 🌸

warmest Japanese are here in Osaka — thanks much, dear friends 💝

Mount Fuji from above the sky

above Manila; almost home and i did watch 2 Japanese movies that have taught me a lot 😀

ok, i would love to eat it 💝

Time & Life

Learning
Time knocks on a door of life saying
“Would you travel with me?”
And a journey begins.
Time hugs its travel buddy knowing
That she might be off of the track.
Time talks to her hoping
That she is aware of the walk.
Time prances with her knowing
That she is on to where it heads.

—-

dark and bright in one frame ♥️ time is a mystery

Melodic Prayer

Learning, Poetic
No billowing smoke
Of incense she’s whispering
Melodies that free.

—-

i prayed that all that i love are happy and healthy wherever they are 🙏🏼

i prayed that their soul is reborn free and dedicated to humanity wherever they both are 🙏🏼

Reflection & Fragrance

Learning, love, Poetic
Standing in front of you,
I see love.
It is clearly reflected—
A face of mine smiling at itself.

When you look at this mirror,
What do you see?

I wish you know
You are love reflected by a clear mirror.
I wish you see
This water clearly reflects you,
A love that exudes fragrance.

—-

a pond behind Himeji Castle 🏯 i could breathe drizzles and pine freshness while seeing a school of fish swimming in clear water reflecting acceptance

Grateful Heart

Learning, Poetic
There’s always a room
For a smile to fully bloom.
It’s called day and night.

—-

Thanks for being part of this journey. Without you I won’t be a full version of a human being. 💝

hope you are healthy and happy with your loved ones 💝

today’s Ramadhan breakfast (ifthar) — cooked by myself for myself with love ❣️

Mango

Learning

Yes, I am a big fan of mango. 😍❣️

—-

only 5? gosh! at least 20 kinds are scattered in Java island alone

yes!! this mango is second best after Indonesian’s harum manis mango

hoping the tree in my backyard soon invite me for party!

Kekalapan Hakiki

Learning

Hari Raya Fitri is coming soon and I want to bring Japanese sweets to my mother’s coffee table so her guests especially the female and children will be able to experience the delicacies without going to Japan. 😘

And my big foldable tote bag functions well. 😁

This is real madness! Always happens for all Japan trips 😁

Alhamdulillah.

💝

Doraemon! 😍 i myself love it
😍
strawberry inside!
my aunt’s favourite is butter cookies! she will love it!
chocolate for anyone!
Hello Kitty chocolate for the toddlers!
for those queens
gaufres for me 🥰
yum yum for anyone wants it!
peanut butter cookies ❣️

Dream of Home

Learning, Poetic
If home’s made of dreams,
It’s green, warm and musical;
Or nothing at all.

—-

exhausted like heaven! the toilets and cleanliness imprison me, the railway system bids me a farewell — not a perfect home of mine 💝 Singapore and Indonesia is the best home of mine 💝

home is where new dreams are ready to come true 💝

dandelions ready to fly 💝

Climb

Learning
There is great mountain
Not deserved to climb
How much ever best view will be up there.
There is good hill
Deserved to walk up
How much ever others give up its ordinary view.

She decided to walk up the hill
And found some big trees
With singing birds and hopping squirrels
Enjoying the breeze.
There is enough space to have a picnic
Until the sun sets beautifully.

—-

there is elevator in Osaka Castle so i should not skip climbing the castle as in Himeji Castle (said my colleague); yet i still didn’t as the queue was too long — walking the garden then having a fine dining with a good friend was a much better choice 🌸

thanks for your Osaka vibe; proven that Osaka is much warmer than Tokyo 💝 see you again in June

My Heart Is Leaping

Learning, Map It!, Poetic
My heart is leaping.
It opens its windows, breathes the joy.
It celebrates parties,
As invited by beauty that pops out out of life.
It claps hands.
It taps feet.
It dances love songs.
It sings “Ode to Joy”.

My heart is leaping.
It turns my sadness
To joyous moments,
Leaving tiny gap to
Contemplation and regret.

—-

do you see that breathing the pink fragrance 👁

camellia ~ symmetrical layers

sakura near castle boulders

pink sakura ~ hanging blessings

sakura tree ~ almost end of cherry blossoms

As Bright As Healthy Sight

Learning
Healthy sight sees bright
That blurs by cloud of the heart.
Clean it with blessed soul.

—-

Osaka Castle behind the bush 💝

Osaka Castle back side 💝 before short rain

Osaka Castle behind the pine tree 🙏🏼 after short rain

Busy

Learning, This Person, Those People
Busy explaining
Busy pretending
Busy threatening
Busy flexing
Busy building what’s hiding
Forgetting what’s to be true.

Ah!
That’s normal
As I’m a human being.

Time has come to being human
Maybe one more week
Or one twilight
Or months
Time can be so biased
For me who is
Busy being someone else.

—-

Rike, try this one! you’re too busy with the deep fried, this one is healthier and there’s egg your fave 🥢

Pink Castle

Learning
It’s light, Beloved
Making visible or not
And sight that’s healthy.

—-

How can people be so hateful that they are happy to grow hatred not only in their own heart but also in others’? I don’t think their mothers taught them to; or so?

God bless haters with light that makes them pink forever and never be other colours. 😁 So they be constantly in love and experience how it is to truly love 💝

Salaam.

so pink!

Heart of A Coward vs Sweet Heart (comedy made serious)

Learning
Piglet or monkey
In the heart of a sweet heart
Will turn to blessings. Coward
Use them as misleading bullets.

—-

Last night we talked about how people differently react to animal nickname or association: from laughing to shouting.

One of us complained when another of us said “Oh baby so cute! Your little monkey!” The rest of us agree that those who associate others with animals with bad intention are simply coward who fail to clearly and accurately say what they want and about that we won’t care just laugh at those merrily:

In our culture associating someone with monkey is an insult, while in UK telling a kid monkey means cuteness.

In one culture a pig might be sweet like Ms Piggy of The Muppet Show; however, people here will definitely consider the person calling or nicknaming or associating others with pig or piglet an insult. Not only animal, it can be anything: animals, movie characters or any other things intended to be negative is of course an insult.

😂

What about dog especially female dog? Cat? Bird? Etc!

At the end all of us agree whatever it is, it goes back to the intension and culture appropriateness. Some heart is simply wicked and cowardice — not enough courage to show adoration because of lack of education (not about formal schooling) or lack of cross cultural understanding or simply being arrogant and ignorant: in one of my friends’ terminology that type of person is called “raised by ignorant, grows ignorant, will die ignorant”.

Act more, babies. Pig or monkey or Barbie or stormtrooper or the soldier’s boss. You’ve entertained me so well. 🥰

🐷😂

Faded Away

Learning, love, Poetic

The longing has gone
Too far left by trueness.
No plate is prepared,
No wish is grown,
No intelligence is to decipher message
As heart is numb by laughter
And ridicule.
No number symbolises,
No alphabet pronounces,
All are faded away.
There’s only mine on its way.
Dandelion,
Bring it fly
To where it roots beauty,
Peace and eternity.

Only love remains
For the journey
That appreciates
Not a point
That fades away.

—-

i’ve met dandelions in many different spots; all of them are blooming new dreams, totally new, leaving the blur ones — prayer heard and soon coming true 💝