graphs of my Universe
What is dream weekend?
Mine is
A walk in the green,
Smiles under the blue,
Jokes with warm sun,
Chats with cool breeze,
Glanced by rice herons,
Chased by crazy ducks,
Followed by spoiled dog,
Side by side with good friends,
Wrapped up with 5-cent luxury in banana leaf
And huge thanks to
Whomever-whomever.
—
I don’t need a place.
They can build a palace
To place me.
I’m not a queen,
Please gift it to someone more beautiful and loving luxury.
I deserve just a space.
It can be a table for two
To chat with me.
I’m a traveler,
Please go on a quest with me through joy and challenges to be.
Let me clean my place
For a little space.
Now and here
With or without
You—
—-
About MELUKAT
Linguistically melukat is derived from the old Javanese word “lukat” which means to “cleanse” or “purify”.
Melukat itself is understood as bathing or cleansing with water that aims to cleanse both body and mind, to refresh the spirit and dissolve away any negative influences. It is also believed to cure non medical diseases and sickness of the spirit and whether it does or not, a session bathing in holy waters will certainly make you feel good.
It is a symbol of letting go or releasing something burdening within us. It is a ritual that can be performed many times, in fact the more, the merrier as it can only lead to good things. It is also a kind of self purification that is very common by Indonesians of Hindu and Javanese Muslim in different ways as ritual.
Hindu in Bali will do it as frequent ritual, even for tourist attraction in some way.
Muslim have daily ablution (washing face/nostrils/earlobes/hands/feet) and mandatory bathing for women after menses or married couples after sexual intercourse. They also have another self purification affected by original Javanese tradition called “Adus Suran” or “taking a bath in Assyura/Suro month” in which they will do bathing in Javanese New Year’s Eve called “1st night of Suro”. Muslims are also suggested to do cleansing ritual (normal bathing with strong intension) before Ramadhan.
While in Bali why not I committed myself to self-purify? My best friend did it for Seclusion Day. I did for Ramadhan. Both of us did it for health, happiness and joy. 💝
Salaam.
There’s always a home for a wanderer. Sweet home— Sweeter than sugar.
—
Tell the sun rising and setting that I’m ready anytime: morning, night and day— to present what’s best in my humble life.
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You don’t need so much love to find love around. Make it with a little love.
—
A journey starts. A journey ends. A route is colourful when observed—
—
A loving visit beyond time and space. Salaam. Universe answers.
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Written on this soul, your footsteps making sweet songs sung by the green birds.
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There is memory shared around a round table at a starry night.
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Towers will mostly collapse of weak foundation…. Or the strongest quake
—
I can’t know anymore what makes this area special for me, whether the Masjid Sultan or Wardah Books or two favourite restaurants here. Anyway at least two are in must-visit list at the same time. After visiting Masjid Sultan to submit charity from my fellow Indonesian, today’s preferred was Hokkaido (halal) ramen as Wardah Books was closed and the Turkish restaurant was too crowded — I don’t like crowded restaurant.
FYI, Masjid Sultan is surrounded by hundreds of restaurants and shops; it is an equivalent with old-time mosque which was always built around market place in order for people to reach it in no time.
When I meet friends in this area, it is either with a statement “let’s meet up at the mosque” or “meet at *** restaurant” or “Wardah Books this time?”. There is one question that my friends and I like to ask each other as either teaser or respect: “eating 1st or praying*) 1st?” The answer?
*) praying here is not a flash pray before starting activities like simply saying “In the name of The Gracious and The Merciful” but praying is around 5-10 minutes protocol that is normally done by fellow Muslim.
Group #1 (religious friends, they can pray “forever”, wow!): Pray first. It is more important than anything including eating. We should prioritise God who has given us everything, others can wait. Don’t make God jealous.
Group #2 (rascals, will let you pray while they start eating): Eat first. God won’t force you to pray when you are hungry. Better you eat remembering that you will pray rather than you pray and your thought is wandering around all kinds of food.
Group #3 (clown, bitter that makes all chatters jokers): Don’t ask me, I am fasting everyday because of having no food at all and so I don’t pray because I have nothing to thank for.
Group #4 (good jugglers, like Group #3 but to the next level): Why so picky? Can’t we do both at the same time? You can choose at the mosque or in the restaurant!
Some jokes are actually dead serious that the way people respond can either be considered as intelligence or harassment or abuse rather than as just fun. Yet I share mine as part of showing how religious comedy exists among Javanese Muslims (there are way more that I will never share publicly to avoid misunderstanding and misinterpretation); no harassment or abuse whatsoever. I even see philosophy in many if not all jokes. 😝
Ah! Life is so rich, why feel no good just because of one point of view?
Salaam.
About Masjid Sultan or Sultan Mosque
About Wardah Books
About ICHIKOKUDO
We are all
Full time travelers
Visiting space of everywhere
Staying in faraway nowhere
Oh, Beloved.
Listen to the whooshing comets
Telling you flash news
About your singing heart.
Oh, Beloved.
Look at the satellites
Showing you hopes and vibes
About your cheering head.
We are all
Full time travelers
Finding space called a home
Among houses that were loomed.
Found!
After lost—
Thank you, Love.
—
Super charged young boys can beat super charged old champs just with light laughter.
—
Life pace gets faster,
Food follows the same pattern.
Time and space collide.
—
My nephews always want fast food. They said it is good and fast. On the contrary I am not a big fan of fast food. So we always go to fast food restaurants first for them to eat then they’ll drive me to local restaurants for mine.
It takes longer time but giving fair treatment to all fellow travelers are the right thing to do.
Salaam.
😘
Old bone works so hard
To chase young heart. Worth doing
For meaningful life—
—
Morning gives her vibe with fragrance of dews to start a day that is bright.
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Being young in heart is a challenge for those who goes aging sweetly.
—
Traveling with those adventurous always energises me. Otherwise, I prefer (mostly) traveling alone so I can do whatever crazy as I wish.
Enjoying Bali with these two young human beings bring the 5-years-ago me who would move around as if having high power unlimitedly charged. After hibernating because of the dear virus, I want to have my young fun again with my nephews like I did the same fun with myself back then.
Let’s have fun go mad, my dear boys!
Remember, boys! You can smoke cigarette. You can vape. But you can’t alcohol. 😃
💝
Perfect is a cake baked with heart and soul for those waiting patiently.
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There is nothing perfect in material thing. Perfect lies in the patience of queueing buyers and in the chef’s dedication of making the best cake for those patiently waiting. And more…
It looks like just a cake but there are more than stories of recipe behind it. There is love of mother to her child. There is trial and error of a chef for her best cake. There is a rent that the shop should pay. There is a smile after every bite of the chocolate chiffon cake. There are best materials supplied by many different shops whose owners commit to customer satisfaction. There is mood that demands stability. There is a city that will be remembered because of this cake. And so on, and so forth. And all happen because of heart vibrating love with any reason possible in this life.
What looks simple or trivial knocks loudly if we lend some listening space.
Salaam.
💗
—
Where can food be good
With less taste or little garnish?
It must be a home.
Morning is welcomed
By a tray of whatever
Turning to a best.
—
Swinging steps to gates.
Washing hands and mouth. Flying.
Whispering. Amen.
—
Morning is about
Chirping birds, calm sea, soft breeze
Greeting these senses.
—
Drag me to your heart
Even if it hurts my head,
Said I.
I know you’re teasing
Even when I mean it,
Said I.
I smile in silence
Letting you laugh in joy.
Sad I’m.
Enjoy it.
Enjoy your days,
Said I.
I walk away
Leaving the last piece of my heart.
Dragging my luggage
Alone.
Smiling.
Winning
Against my own sigh.
To you, who secretly teasing again and again and again and again. Thank you. Life is full of fun. 💗
—
Small thing is cherry
On a big cake, red and brave
Savouring the day.
—
How can you travel
Without any gloom and stress?
Take a window seat—
—
Journey to the self
Takes a long and winding road,
Worth doing. Half done—
—
Human beings’ journey to understand one’s self is often unpredictable. I never wanted to visit Mecca and Medina yet because of my devotion to a mother, I agreed to go to ensure that she was safe and healthy. And the result was tremendous evolution of self. 💝
To Ibu: I miss you much today 😘
Alfatihah
The night’s getting old.
The light’s getting bright. Road’s, too.
Breeze’s humming hymns.
—
After a long day, I invited the two friends working with me to have dinner together. Not a treat, just a shared dinner as each of us are bound to integrity pledge— Go Dutch! Respected and appreciated! 🙏🏼
A Lebanese restaurant was recommended by one of them whose girlfriend loves eating Lebanese and Turkish food. The other agreed with any. And so we drove to Halab Penang, a Lebanese restaurant located in Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street).
Being a Christian, one prayed religiously before eating, the other one also Christian yet didn’t seem to whisper any. Me? I know my Beloved hears me even when I speak with no voice. 😊
Thanks for today! Remember, dear friends the power of “only positive vibes are entertained”. 😊
See you next time.
Alfatihah for you both. 💕
Swaying then rocking,
You disguise either message
Bad or good. Still blessed—
—
Garden of the death
Where pray and wish are whispered
To eternity—
—
Don’t let anything and anyone be a happiness snatcher even if they hurt you unintentionally or intentionally.
—
Feel good is successfully deciphering the codes in my life.
rike jokanan 
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