graphs of my Universe
How do you feel loved?
Not so much effort,
It's just a smile,
Or a cuddle from a dog.
I'm loved,
I'm loved
Just because
Life loves,
Love lives
Here
Now.
—
before going back to Singapore, i visited my friend in Lod Tunduh – she has 2 dogs and both love me so much, wherever i sit, both will sneak around like this!
Nicely soaked in love
With flowing sweet intension
In a good morning
—
soaked in water in this Bali morning (7am) – a standing phone helped capture a moment nicely ♥️
jineng that becomes a gazebo at the pool; jineng is originally Balinese rice storage house
Feeling, Beloved
Wraps a soul in ecstacy,
A heart in jollies
—
working from remote in Bali feels perfectly energetic to fully contribute to team ♥️ at the same time feels home
i need to renew my passport (changing it to e-passport) and so i can only do it in Indonesia — Bali it is
e-passport was done yesterday at ~3pm and now i continue working from this small Balinese bedroom until end of this week
Coincidently waking up
With light breath
And open eyes
In a good morning
That calls for
Another day.
Some don't know the feel
And it's just a coincidence
For me?
How fair life is!
How unfair life is!
Be blessed, dear.
Be blessed everyday
With the blessings
That come from
Every other way.
—
That coincidence often comes as blessings might have been ingrained in me, even more.
One Coldplay-big-fan friend said to me some time ago “If you have spare ticket for Coldplay in Singapore, please sell it to me.” He really wanted to watch Coldplay in many different places. Seems to him Coldplay has brought in a lot of good meanings into his life. Not denying this possibility, I have to admit the lyrics are powerful for those wanting to look deep in to their own selves.
I said “I will but it is a very thin chance knowing this band has tremendously massive lovers.”
Sorry, friend….
Yet one fine day in January one good friend from Jakarta texted me asking if he can let me buy two Jan 30’s Coldplay show tickets as he was “suddenly” assigned for a biz trip and would not make it to be in Singapore for the show. What a blow! This friend and his wife would have met me before or after the show so I was kind of upset to hear the news. Yet at the same time I remembered that one friend would be super excited to buy the tickets.
What a coincidence!
Long story short the Coldplay-big-fan friend agreed to buy two. He wanted to watch with his friend this time.
Some time after he agreed, he texted me again saying that his friend could not fly in for the show. Honestly I felt it was another coincidence as I was also thinking of going again – I found listening to “Biutyful” live was addictive to me. So, I asked if it was ok for me to buy the other ticket: Coincidently he agreed; he must have really wanted to watch with his special friend yet he welcomed me nicely.
excited in my 3rd watch! more? no, no, it was the last for the “Music of The Spheres World Tour”, now time to enjoy them back in Apple Music 😃
So, this time we watched from above. A very stunning view with all the well-arranged illumination and performance.
Another coincidence. My friend and I didn’t say anything about which tee to wear yet both of us happened to wear the same one: Coldplay 2023 Tokyo special edition design. Wow!
We both went crazy blended with others who were as crazy as us. I don’t know when I will meet him again after the show but I truly thank him for giving me a lesson that someone can love something (in his case a band) that he is capable of explaining almost all fun facts about the band that I didn’t even think exist. Memorizing all songs’ lyrics, knowing albums and EP contents, and so on and so forth! Thank you, KM-san! God bless you. 🙏🏼
I asked him how he could memorise all lyrics. His answer was annoyingly true “If you love something, you will remember.” Damn! I just realized forgetful is my middle name especially when dealing with passwords and where I put small stuff. 😂
Jan 31 was another merry day. My niece watched with her best friend and they stayed overnight in my home after that. Her friend is a journalist who knows how to access “Kampung Badui Kanekes” that I have dreamed of visiting. To my excitement he agreed to escort me to visit the unique ethnic group in Banten anytime I want to go. ♥️
Should I underestimate a coincidence? Or, actually there is no that that we call coincidence. It is just a lesson that we never clearly see and (hopefully) later will be well learnt.
Thank You!!!!
among all this is my favourite photo – Angel Moon❣️ BIUTYFUL!!!
favourite of mine ♥️
What do you dream
Of a city
Where you drive like a snail,
Work like a horse,
Sleep like a girrafe?
Wake up.
The dice is rolling,
A lucky number is falling,
You are winning.
—
i wrongly booked a hotel — it was supposed to be in BCG yet i wrongly selected the one in the Roxas Boulevard; as a result i am now staying in a hotel with a casino and the room is really not for business people, it is for those busy partying — next time i should be more careful 😎
Home, Beloved,
When all faces lining up
Remind me of you.
—-
Rupa Buwana in Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Banten — faces of those people of the world who have outstanding contribution — I am still asking “why there is no Steve Jobs and Emily Dickinson? 😊💕
Indonesia’s 1st President and Vice President — Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta
This fragrance that travels in to the breathing brings me to where unknown stories were told.
Who built you,
Dear home?
Who grew with you,
Dear home?
Who left you,
Dear home?
I feel you,
Dear home.
Today I stay with
You
To realise that
Home is where breathing feels so real.
——
my favourite room where the fragrance of hinoki wood and tatami is the strongest — I feel home 😃
thank you!
I thought I would stay in a boutique hotel made from a machiya
I found that I am alone in a two-story fragrant machiya which is 3 times bigger than the condo unit I live in Singapore — won’t stay alone next time!
THE FRAGRANCE!!! ♥️
About machiya
This life’s pilgrimage
Spiralling in to the core
Of old house within.
——
a mosque in Tokyo — Tokyo Jamii (Camii)
entrance — assalamualaikum, Tokyo Camii
mosque area – 2nd floor
i still know how to do sholat tahiyatul masjid (praying to respect mosque), recite QS Arrahman that is full of gratitudes and praises so i did it
the feel was exactly like when i pray in the temples and shrines
a feeling of home 💕
then a beautiful sister helped me with photo taking — she made me much taller, slimmer yet less me 😁 thank you 💕
time to fly home — thank you, Tokyo 💕
you make me love myself more and more, with all the wounds and scars
A pair of strong wings
Bring me to a land of thoughts
Where hope shines the light.
——
landed home after burying hope to grow with flowers and spreading love with billowing incense smoke
The light that is in,
The angle that frames, both play
To find the best view.
——
About Tugu Yogyakarta
photo taken while my friend was driving fast to avoid some motorbikes; i’ve missed the opportunity of taking its picture many times, this time no although not from a nice point of view
This blessed belly sings
And dances then soon to sleep
With a dream waiting.
——
i politely rejected an invite of dinner so i could eat alone in an izakaya – 😍 having dinner at the window while seeing people passing by bringing joy or anger after work or school brought me to a corner called “thanks god i’m alive”
💕 izakaya with a glass of green tea, carrot juice, and….
potato salad!
edamame obviously
chicken 🫣 oil oil oil!
most of Javanese love this fish! incl me! 💕😍♥️
pickled cucumber
chicken skin and gizzards! i can be joyful just with this cheap food! 😍 but i want the best sushi in town tomorrow! 😁
On a green mountain
She stands, claps and bows to pray
For what’s been wished for.
——
Day was clear, no June rain welcomed me. Black birds were cawing but not noisy when I arrived, the caws sounded more like “this woman is not important and harmless, let her do what she wants to do. Leave her alone.”
The scent of just mown grass infused stronger freshness to the hanging air and sprinkled refreshing vibe to the scenery.
A lady in the shrine shop greeted me excitedly in Japanese which made me feel like attending an oral communication test with a desperate teacher thinking “fail, fail, fail”. Yet her beautiful smile cajoled me to take one ema (wooden plaque in shrine to write wishes and prayer) to write what I wish to wish forever for me and everyone.
About ema
The most impressive that day were the taxi drivers who drove me to the shrine and back to the hotel— both were willing to find the most basic vocabulary and grammar to make me feel good to practice my pre-basic Japanese; two grandfathers who accompanied a confused granddaughter blabbering Japanese gibberish.
Yet the shrine itself was the cherry on top of the cake that day. Shrine and castle never fail me!
Thank you, Kasugayama Mountain for welcoming me and letting me enjoy the shrine and its surrounding.
Thank you for letting this heart throb seeing what can grow in silence and for letting this soul sit still observing what can leave with no trail.
I am lucky. Always.
💕
going in to the Kasugayama Shrine compound
my friend asked me in Instagram “how many steps?” i said to her “i didn’t count, i will next time” but in my heart “one third of my breath” 😀
torii at the front gate of Kasugayama Shrine
ablution station before stepping to the shrine inner area to pray
i wish prosperity and blessings for my company ♥️♥️♥️
ema: after almost 50 years living, i can only wish the loudest possible in my heart “May All Beings Be HAPPY. All my dreams come true. ♥️”
prayers are hanging everywhere, tied anywhere — people want their wishes come true; as simple as that
if people don’t believe in the power beyond powers, why do they want to pray? to boost confidence? formality? culture? i’m sure they do it because they’re sure it is there whatever people call it beyond what’s taught in religions — i pray as others do
do you know the guy standing on the hill? Uesugi Kenshin — respected daimyo in his era
About Uesugi Kenshin
there is Kasugayama Castle ruin on top of the Kasugayama mountain — i didn’t go though, maybe next time
In some frames she sees
Joy and fun. Simple actions:
Plain humanity
——
one of our young friends in Indonesia is having birthday soon and she wants wishes from overseas as present so i was requested to take picture here and later when i arrive in my destination saying “Happy Birthday …. from ….” 🥰
why bookmarks are cute? 🫣 a young friend used to bring me bookmarks whenever meeting me until she realised that i use random paper to mark my reading 😅 and i mostly forget where i insert my bookmarks so i just lose most of them 🙏🏼 sorry
many said waiting is the most boring activity — not if we know that it is for something worthy 💝 or at least seeing many airport officers do their jobs make me realise everyone matters in life
please put the trolley back after use to the trolley station, this simple act (of either you call it kindness or self discipline) helps them a lot 💝 don’t forget to give them smile 😊
With no white towel
I surrender
To the realm that hugs this heart.
I am water flowing
With no effort
To the ocean that waits for this mind.
How would this name
Say no to a call that sings love songs?
I submit everything
With a smile
And grace.
Body, mind, spirit and soul—
-
Jun 10, 2023
when the air taps my whole reality
with everything subtle and overwhelming
——
please excuse my strong arms 😀
after the Tapa Brata my classmates and I are still escorted to meditate everyday of 60 minutes for 90 days
it should be 36th day today but i only have 33 days in which i am able to do full meditation — in fact my doctor was quite surprised that unbelievable progress is indicated in better numbers from the laboratory test result after i meditate regularly — happy tears 🥹
my health is much better with calmness that is on track and harmonious thought that builds gradually
i’ve registered to next level Tapa Brata next Sep so i can get more benefits to help certain issues in this beloved aging body and to strengthen my mind
can’t wait to meet with the wise teachers who guide us and humble caretakers who help us with daily needs in Forest Island 🥰
i don’t know for sure what i can share from my achievement through meditation yet maybe someday i can help others reduce health complaints at low cost — i’ve always wanted to cure diseases with fragrance and herbs; my high intelligent friends said “pseudoscience, a crap wrapped in fancy paper”, i said “it doesn’t matter at least i can help them feel calmer and think positive”
all what happen in my life are like magic both the unexpected and expected — i hope my meditation brings more good magical celebrations to me and my beloved family and friends
and all…
May All Beings Be Happy
💕
Orbit of a star
Keeps it moving yet centred.
Devotional fact—
——
Ibu Tien Wartienah is one of the best batik makers whose work of art has spread around the globe; most of her customers are international art curators and prominent people from many countries incl our own country
she started making batik at 8 years old to help her mother who was also a batik maker; in her 66, she is the most sought-after devoted batik maker — her devotion to batik esp Yogyakartan style is second to none – her eyes were sparkling when she was sharing about batik and what she has done with her skill and art
many of my classical batik collection are made by this humble lady — i’m so blessed to keep guard her work of art and to have met her this visit; thank you, Ibu Tien — your life is blessed by many
Ibu Tien’s half done wax-blocking (nyanthing) work “Kembang Manggar” aka “Satria Manah”
i tried one batik yesterday in Ibu Tien’s home in Imogiri — trust me it is a challenging task 🤓
batik working tools
I started teaching this morning. Overall I’ll be teaching English, soft skills, art and hopefully someday Japanese. I partner with my best friend to establish a free weekend class for the kids and youth in her small library in south area of Yogyakarta. It is a community support that we humbly provide for a better leadership and communication skills of our young generation.
We have very very very limited budget but we commit to help the community not only to welcome but also to design bright future.
Pray for us.
May all beings be happy.
children class this morning — very very basic communication skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking — what a sweet fun session! 💝
these two girls were the youngest students today 💝
…
Passed the crossroad;
Grasses are greener,
Flowers are prettier,
Breeze is thinner,
Morning is fresher,
Day is busier,
Night is calmer,
Birds are happier,
Cicadas are louder,
Fireflies are brighter,
No snake, no crocodile, no tiger.
Passers-by smile at each other
With neither pride nor prejudice.
End is farther,
It doesn’t matter.
It’s a low key path
After a detour from a glowing avenue.
She is humming the softest beauty with light breathing while celebrating the richness of abundant blessings.
No other ways are nicer.
——
Campuhan Ridge Walk 🥰
She cleans the mugs
From which we drink,
She swipe the stains
Of tea and coffee.
She moves the mugs
To humming machine,
She unloads them out,
In to drying machine.
She smiles to us
We smile to her,
She says hello
We say thank you.
She asks me why
I drink so much,
She guesses I’m thirsty
Or the aircon is cold.
She’s a guardian
Of the white mugs.
How life is hilarious!
Among those who are serious!
—-
i like talking with certain cleaning ladies assigned in the pantries near my section and the gym, and seems that they love doing it, too. there is one particular loving it the most, a (probably) 25-yo lady with a syndrome making her not talking clearly and processing messages rather slowly yet she is the friendliest. today she told me how many mugs she has to wash (helped by machines) everyday and why there are many more on Tue to Thu. she said many employees like to use more than one mug (each mug for one tea flavour) and she’s wondering why. when i said “i use one mug for one tea flavour because i don’t want to mix the taste, i am sorry”, she said “no, no, then it is ok lah” 🥹 what a blessing to talk to a humble human being — not so much thought processed and so much fun enjoyed 🥰
thanks for taking good care of our white mugs! 🙏🏼
Smiling at a weekend
Makes air fresher and lighter.
A place that’s choking—
—
My best friend in Ubud is an active committee member of Bali Spirit Festival; she invites me to enjoy one day free pass after my Tapa Brata for today.
She knows very well I don’t enjoy crowd well yet she insisted that I try to experience an ambiance that might enrich my life. Thank you, I am now in.
I collected my wristband at the entrance, met my friend at the media center she managed then browsed around. A lot I didn’t imagine before. Not only the offered activities and products but also the visitors and participants.
While the activities and products are still easy for me to digest, the way the visitors dress is more shocking to me; half-naked might not be for myself but I can still understand that many bule (the white people in Indonesian language) are half-dressed due to hotter temperature in South East Asia, but almost naked…
Anyway my best friend has changed my curiosity into smiles— very wide smile….
I am enjoying my weekend!
the pink wristband for one day pass – got it free; thank you, De Nov!
the inner entrance inside Puri Padi Hotel where the festival is taking place
map
loving it!
another one
art is dominating the venue — loving it!
hungry? never worried 💝 — more choices other than this one
my favourite!
still heliconia 💝
one of those blinding me (the mildest for my eyes, that almost naked lady with backpack) — this is not a beach please…. 😎 i don’t have the heart to take more pictures 😏 i know what my friend will say to me “that’s why you can’t live in Bali, stay in Singapore, safer for your brain and mind”
stage for the (spiritual) music performance later afternoon — not being arrogant but after so much to learn and unlearn and relearn, to me all is spiritual without label so let me skip this spiritually-labeled music
this is the safest place for me to just drink tea and browse around aromatherapy oil in the market — will spend my time here until I meet my friend again ❣️
on a beanie bag under a young durian tree 💝
will i be back next time? 😁 Yoda said “your path you must decide, Jedi” 😂
Sky invites me
To swarm around a show
That is glistened with colours
In a Saturday night.
Rain almost falls
But is held until the show ends
Simply to tell me
You are welcome.
These steps walk me
To where blessings are.
These breaths inhale me
To where peace is.
Among the crowd I find a calmness
With my own self I find merriness
All is well
All is good
I enjoy Saturday night in Central Ubud.
i normally stay rather far from city center of Ubud but this one night i wanted to stay in the city where dance performances are located in many different spots — this is the side gate of Puri Saraswati Dijiwa Ubud opening to the lotus garden
tonight’s performance in lotus garden was Tari Janger (janger dance), maybe next time 🙏🏼
i wanted to watch Legong Dance performance so i walked to Pura Saren Ubud which was 200 meters away from where i stayed
was the first to enter to get a seat in the 1st row and later found it was not at all the 1st row 😂
seeing the preps is already exciting!
musicians were getting ready
Tari Pendet (welcoming dance) — i learnt this dance as a child, felt like wanted to laugh remembering how funny i was dancing with my sister 😂
Tari Topeng #1 — sorry i don’t know the name; watching with many types of spectators whose joy might be over the limit and blocks others’ view 😂
Tari Legong – the primary show 👏🏼
Tari Legong — i wanted to watch this simply because i have a sleeping gown with legong dancer on it 😀
Tari Oleg Tamulilingan
Tari Kupu-Kupu (butterfly dance) inserted as part of Oleg Tamulilingan
Tari Oleg Tamulilingan (dancing bees)
Tari Oleg Tamulilingan (dancing bee)
Tari Topeng #2 — sorry i don’t know the name
we didn’t know who was behind the mask but he did perform so well and we enjoyed it 💝
thanks for the show! 🙏🏼 happiness is an ambiance shareable with those we don’t know and we probably don’t care to know — God bless all 💝
Light is reflected,
Brings various sensations.
Bright colour spectrum—
—-
I bought rangrang woven fabric for bedspreads, table clothes and other home decoration as alternative of vibe in my humble abode other than linen, Merauke ikat and batik series.
It is always exciting to decorate home. I think this is where a home owner should be wiser as the temptation to beautify a home feels more desperate compared to owning branded things. Dead serious!
Rangrang woven fabric was once fabric for religious ceremonies, yet now it has become a cultural commodity that are liked by many.
Anyway, rangrang woven fabric offer unique colourful art. It is called “rangrang” because there are “rangrang” (tiny holes/gaps) among the woven thread. Rangrang woven fabric is allegedly a symbol of transparency. Yet technically the gaps or holes among the woven threads are because of fewer number of threads used in some lines.
This fabric also has sufficient thickness that it won’t be too flimsy to spread on the beds yet won’t be too heavy for curtains.
The dominant colours on rangrang woven fabric are brighter spectrum of red, yellow, purple, blue, green. Love them all!
The most common patterns of rangrang woven fabric are basic geometry such as curves (commonly called bianglala/rainbow patter), triangles, squares.
square
triangles
some curves (bianglala/rainbow)
rangrang = holes among the weaved threads
Rangrang used to be a prima donna back then in 2010’s that made it as expensive as hundreds of USD per piece, while now I could buy it for USD50 per piece.
This woven fabric should be conserved as fewer and fewer weavers are productively making it, most of them are older women whose children don’t have the same passion to produce this beautiful art work. One of the conservation effort might be for ordinary people to buy this fabric.
I am happy that I found 4 more sheets of rangrang woven fabric are needed. There is a reason to go shopping either in the market or directly to the weavers.
💝😁
rangrang = holes among the weaved threads
About rangrang woven fabric
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
Pink joy greets in breeze
Showering earth with blessings
Of cherry petals.
—-
a surprise at the gate! 🥰
trust me it made my day! 💝
showered earth 💝
neighbour’s sakura 💝
thanks for the blessings!
thanks for the blessings!
thanks for the blessings!
thanks for the blessings!
thanks for the blessings!
Their eyes see pig pink.
She sees cherry blossom pink.
Pink can be anything, anywhere.
Not anyone though sees beauty in pink.
My heart is red
Yet it feels ever pink.
—-
cherry blossoms along JR Kobe Line 😍 — almost ten times visiting Japan and this is my very first experience of cherry blossoms
Where is sun when sets?
Where is moon in the day light?
They share love through time.
—
Interaction is about reciprocity; even when we are alone, we are interacting with some tool of life or with the deep self within.
When it is not reciprocated, interaction is not genuinely true.
Salaam.
a grandma with her grandson
a mother with her son
family gathering
feeding two grandsons
let’s climb!
hi, dove! said the little boy
what’s in the water? said he
bubbles!!!
what is that over there? ahh hope! ☺️
am i your headache? no, you are my universe 😂
don’t move, just smile! someone is taking our picture ☺️
she is asking her cam to see what she sees 🙏🏼
our daughter is playing, i am sitting near her
hey! clear up! i am gonna land!
electrocution my a**! 😁
Is it the shadow
Or the real you show to me?
Distinguished beauty—
—-
i can’t remember which one is the shadow and which one is the real — i don’t want to observe further to find which is which
what i know the castle is beautiful day and night 💝
Is it tug of war
Or pendulum played within?
Two polar extremes—
—-
decision making is about choosing
winning one interest…
….and letting the other conform
there shall be a stop at one balanced point at which the momentum reaches its maturity or its exhaustion 💝
A bubble’s bursting,
United with the free air.
Would you please join me?
—
Although Kyoto has a lot of impressive shrines, my favourite is not there. Mine is Izumo Taisha in Shimane prefecture about 343 km from Kyoto.
When visiting other shrines in Japan, I was so aware of being in Japan. In Izumo Taisha I got home: sunny, green, serene and unexplainably blissful. There were many visitors but my senses didn’t absorb their presence as if the hot air and bright light muffled their noise and wrapped me in a safe bubble bursting when my last step left the shrine front gate.
Romantic!
a long walk from the gate to the shrine — i remember it was a scorching hot day in August 2018 and i was humming while walking 😇
ablution, my daily ritual that i find also so soothing in Japan shrine especially in Izumo Taisha
torii 💝 a gate to the shrine yard
this is Izumo Taisha! 💝
shimenawa (sacred straw rope)
i only go to this coffee shop with my colleagues, but i wholeheartedly believed drinking Starbucks coffee was a nice thing; only in Izumo! right outside the shrine complex
Castles small or big
Stand on a hill among trees
Wave to the white clouds.
—
Matsue Castle, from afar (2018)
Matsue Castle, closer view (2018)
there is no reason to not thank life for making me me; with all the ups and downs, zig-zagging, winding roads, flood and quake, fake and genuine people around; i survive and become more and more relaxed — like Matsue Castle, my life is small, humble but strong enough and sweetly suitable for me 💝
Jeepney
On the busy lanes
Tough and in style
Like a rascal
Chasing
Wild kites
—
What about Manila that makes me feel home other than those dedicated working partners and turon (fried banana)?
Jeepney!
My childhood town used to have public transportation exactly like Philippines’ Jeepney; we called them PC (pronounce as “pay say” in English phonetics). They were everyone’s favourite for the space, air circulation and low price. Pak Sugeng was one PC owner cum driver who became all women’s sweetheart for his patience to wait for those women doing their errands in the central market and his helpfulness to lift all the shopped goods. What a good day it was!
Now Philippines is the blessed country with Jeepney. These ex wat vehicles during World War Ii are truly reliable and strong means of transportation for the people there. I took Jeepney once when having opportunity to visit Lapu-Lapu City in 2012. I think I paid for PHP50 for the ride!
Jeepney should be kept as a social heritage. It is unique, historical and supporting the life of those surrounding.
This vehicle is relevant for those with high resilience and survival spirit like Filipino and Indonesian!
Thank you, Manila and its surrounding for the friendship and lessons.
💝
silver Jeepney
green Jeepney
turquoise Jeepney
Quezon City’s traffic: look at the fragile egg tray that is paradoxical with the sturdy Jeepney
pink Jeepney! 😍
hey, light green Jeepney!
it was so stable and confident! it is Jeepney!
rike jokanan 
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