graphs of my Universe
Do what you want
Just don’t touch my thing,
Said I.
I moved your thing
But I didn’t take it,
Said wind.
Sometimes naked words
Are taken as a wrapped joke,
Said I.
No one said anything
As it is just a blowing wind
Missing me one day.
——
two days of sick leave and when i was back to work, my cats and boxed stone were re-arranged by heaven knows who
maybe my cats climbed up or jumped 😝
original arrangement 💕
Loosen up,
Beloved
Between sunrise
And sunset.
Breathe in,
Beloved
Inhaling love,
The colourless.
Halt here,
Beloved
Enjoying void
That’s alive.
Breathe out,
Beloved
Exhaling blessings,
The colourful.
——
AgnesMo reminds me that whatever season it is, don’t forget to insert a space to have fun — thanks, Agnes although my way is so much different from yours 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
When I was a girl
I admired my mother’s beauty;
Being a juvenile,
I admired my sisters’ and girlfriends’;
When adult,
I admired my idols’;
Getting more mature,
I admired flowers’;
All of which forgetting
The beauty in front of the mirror:
Now I admire no one’s,
But I appreciate everyone’s;
All through realising
The beauty reflected in the mirror.
——
beauty after beauty
beauty refreshed
tell your beautiful self “Thank you!”
I’m high
Of thinking of
You that hums and chants
Nature of love
Spraying peace
Around my orbit.
I’m high
Of rotating on my own self,
And revolving around
You.
——
not so high a stack but it took three hours to do so — yes, i’m slow Iron Woman 😁
Sunset,
When you greet,
You greet with messages
To see an end
As a start,
To see brightness
Wrapped in some dark,
To feel some doubt
As a protection.
Sunset,
Not long after you
I will sleep
To dream what I can’t achieve,
To release what I can’t detach,
To kiss my beloved,
To travel to where your sister
Sunrise gives back
All what rest.
——
today’s beautiful sunset 💕
pretty wind chime from Bogyoke Market, Myanmar that has been light and sound reflector since 2018 — thank you for today!
I first saw his works in Amsterdam and Paris in 2017 — stunning and extraordinary! So when “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” came to Singapore, I didn’t think twice to go.
While there was so much to enjoy, the huge room where people can just relax within the expo before continuing their look-around or after doing it was my favourite.
This video was of my first entry to the room. After enjoying the Van Gogh VR experience, I went back there to enjoy the time before finally left the expo: children playing, adults chatting, some sleeping, even a lady dancing. There was serenity in this dark room full of Van Gogh’s colours virtually projected to the walls by technology.
I am blessed to be there.
Thank you!
Salam.
🐣
Evening awaits
Trippers who miss home. Hurry.
Go home happily.
——
good evening, commuters — go home happily 💕
never bored with this angle; whatever weather, whatever colour — i love to be home 💕
My life is sugar cane
That I chew in summer day
Before singing.
My life is honeycomb
That I suck in rainy day
Before whistling.
My life is a bowl of ice cream
That I dig in on a quiet day
Before humming.
My life is sweetness of heart
That I choose
Before resting.
——
i wish to be back someday to enjoy it in summer 💕
About water
That flows
Then named river
About water
Then named river
That flows
——
♥️
Power that is left
Tells outer layers of truth
That might not be true.
——
And it doesn’t matter as truth might have millions of layers depending on number of thoughts dissecting their stories.
Life is unlimited.
💕
Okayama Castle – front view
Okayama Castle – back view
super fragrant flower in Karokuen Garden
Hold your own beer,
I’m busy with my tea.
Enjoy your brewed fruits,
I’m busy with my brewed leaves.
Toast!
For long friendship
With so much drink
Without getting drunk.
——
the chairs are beer barrels, tables are a wooden board on top of piling beer crates, food are mostly beef, beverages are all things
oolong tea for me, beer for Asahi-san, peach tea for Yakisoba-san yesterday night
we told him he still had to help us with errand bags so he’d be better not to get drunk 😂
Tokumori Shrine after work today
It’s green grass back home,
Her grass looks greener, sweeter
Though. Is it the sun?
——
There is a proverb in Indonesian “rumput tetangga selalu kelihatan lebih hijau“ that literally means neighbours’ grass always looks greener. And yes, that’s always what I feel in many countries outside Indonesia and Singapore yet at the same time I miss to be home in either Indonesia or Singapore where sun is both indulging and heating.
I am truly “green-eyed” some time. And I so much miss home.
🧑🎤
dancing orange
orange in joy
yellow having a chat
it’s just sweet!
inspiration for the garden right in front of my bedroom; right size to copy — thank you!
Love is not leaving.
Kernel then seedling then tree;
Stays yet multiplies—
——
After some journey and some work finally dinner was here now and it was an unforgettable one.
This long dragged day is nothing compared to today’s dinner. A dinner accompanied by a poem.
Yes my life is full of flower.
Thanks for the blessings!
Salaam.
♥️
sure it is about flowers — thanks much! i feel a tiny love bouncing and getting bigger and bigger in my heart when eating
they put it under my green tea; what a sweet creativity this restaurant demonstrates — will never forget this!
Those nodding orchids
Complying with breeze flow hum,
Dance then fly away.
——
life is just like that ♥️
found the ID: Brassavola Great Egret
the other one finally bloomed yesterday, both dancing together since then
the slowest to bloom among the gang yet the most gracefully dancing
Celebrate today
‘Coz there won’t be tomorrow
Everyday’s today.
——
Weekend is packing and doing household chores while enjoying rhythm of the rain.
♥️
some for today with grapes before going out after my success with laundry and this lovely jadah
voila! i will bring some for my next week biz trip ♥️ we call it JADAH or TETEL or ULI
steam for about 30 min, 45 min max if softer texture is preferred — while it is hot, pound it slowly until it becomes cake
add grated coconut
up to this consistency
boil it with coconut milk added, salt is optional based on taste preferred
glutinous rice soaked in water for at least 30 min
This love is a math
With numbers operated
For an x to solve
——
The x is always the most stubborn to solve. Or, just not even wanting to solve 😊
Summer is calling
With tint pallet of the east.
Bright. Fascinating.
——
colours
Dress up,
Beloved
Even when you work remotely.
Dress up,
Beloved
Even when you’re alone in the cubicle.
Dress up,
Beloved
Even among the crowd; wave your hands with genuine smiles.
Dress up,
Beloved
Even if your style’s outlandish; be busy with how your story can go.
There’s sun spotting your colours.
There’s wind kissing your scent.
There’s moon drawing your silhouette.
There’re stars showering you with breathing confetti.
——
all my path is catwalk on which i walk presenting a designer’s masterpiece — no excuse of low performance, any chance to walk is to display the best of my designer’s pride
my style is work of art that might be differently interpreted and appreciated — it doesn’t matter, people see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear although they can’t lie to themselves
i love my style more and more everyday
♥️
Walking the aisle
Two smiling earthlings can’t stop waving hands
To us
Who wonder
“They were toddlers we hugged,
Now they read solemn vow?”
It is a happy day
When we pray, laugh and eat together
Witnessing happiness that proceeds.
——
Matt, my best friend’s youngest son is getting married today! Matt and Cheer, Tante Rike happy for you 😘😘😘 send me all our pictures ♥️
cheering with groom’s mama after eating 😂 day is good with those looking forward to bright days ♥️
My poem for you
Is not in the words.
My poem for you
Sits on the bed of this heart.
The words that you recite
Is what language can say
About what is still,
Admiring you from a secret place
That keeps everything
And keeps flowing.
——
some poem is better utterred on canvas
a small play for a toilet at home; an intermezzo to take a break from the gift painting in progress
There’s a crook
I can’t understand.
It is when I saw
You in silence
And said in heart
“I find no reason in
You for me to love but
What is this emotion?”
There’s another
I can understand.
It is when I felt
A warm summer
And said in heart
“There’s enough reason to love
You in silence
That forever blooms.”
No reason is needed to love
For love is blind.
Yet there’s reason to keep the love
For love is the only kind.
It’s time
When it’s time.
——
my orchids after one week left home alone
welcome! my orchids have taught me that flowers bloom when it’s time; not to be seen, not to be picked, not to be admired; they’re blooming simply to bloom — there’s only one reason to understand: it’s time
what is her ID? unknown and still beautifully blooming
with a line of my white shirts hanging as the background, this oncidium is gonna be yellow
another stem of oncidium waiting for its timing to greet me with yellow
dendrobium peeps again — thank you
dendrobium from the same cluster in the same pot that keeps greeting me with health and happiness
You’re my best omiyage
From wherever Nihon
I visit.
You’re my desperate love songs
I sing
From wherever corner of the world
I sit.
You’re my sweet mystery
That I can never solve.
Why
Oh why,
Dear
Omiyage?
I present
You to only
Those that I love.
Wrapped in white
Ribboned in red
Wished in indigo
Dear
Omiyage
——
Japanese omiyage is the same tradition of Javanese oleh-oleh in which local souvenirs are brought for others after traveling to a specific place or simply when visiting. So it is not just random souvenirs, omiyage or oleh-oleh is a token of experience sharing and caring friendship from someone to someone else.
A sweet gesture that will be perfect when done with sincerity and mindfulness—
Salaam.
Niigata rice, the best omiyage for good friends this time — humble ladies, see you tomorrow 🙏🏼
About omiyage
Look! It’s blue on green
Burning spirit to trueness
Of living simple.
——
I love the rice field sprawling along the train track in Japan. It brings feel of peace at the same time reminding me that there are still those who are willing to live as farmers even (according to my Japanese friends) with not so high income.
God bless farmers without whom we won’t live.
Salaam.
irrigation that travels like blood in body
the clouds that travel by the wind like dream in mind
Life’s a swift transit
Where tripper’s redirected
To where home resides.
——
before going home i made myself a rush to visit this three-tier turret of Takada Castle
behind the pink
behind the white
behind the purple
and right in front of it
I see you, beauty
When I walk or sit or rest.
You’re sheer, true yet mute.
——
beauty is everywhere, dancing in silence 💕
It’s ever summer
When smile is sweet, words are true.
Then sun is joining.
——
thanks, Jasmine-san for bringing me to this place!
summer
pottery is never too cute
it is free opener; two for one diner
my 1st nato in life which was ummm…. and sticky yam or something which was amazing
one of my colleagues who is loving Japanese food will be so happy to finally see me eat sashimi without throwing up 😂
i love tempura and this is one of the best one i’ve ever had!!! and much cheaper than the ones in Singapore ☺️
yesss!!! Joetsu rice is the best and so is the sushi! 💕
sushi, sushi, sushi!
this fish cake that i’ll never be able to recook! perfect!
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
I used to fly the life
Faster and quieter,
Passing by blue sky,
White clouds over the lands and oceans.
Yet now I ride mine
Slower and merrier,
Passing greenery and buildings.
I heard others chat and laugh;
I am not curious about the convo
But I enjoy the laughter.
I will arrive slightly later
But happier,
Friendlier,
And luckier.
——
riding Shinkansen is more exciting than flying, I used to fly from one city to another in Japan but not anymore although recommended for some areas — always get new things in each ride! 💝
i feel lucky always and today i see same combinations of numbers appeared repeatedly that has made me feel even luckier — although i don’t know, i prefer to believe that it is a good sign before i forget it 😄
Hakutaka 555 departed at 844
sometimes i am superstitious 😁
yet i thank him for making some of my superstition sound scientific 😁
Do you believe sun will rise in the east?
I don’t need to believe because I know it does.
Do you believe your mother will love you unconditionally?
I believe it? I know she does.
Do you believe love will guarantee your happiness?
I do believe it will.
Why?
I do believe because I don’t know.
——
i know Doraemon has a magical pouch from which he pulls all what he needs to either solve problems or to entertain Nobita — i believe he will give Nobita lessons learnt to wise up including giving him rather dangerous disaster, yet i know it is just a story
i believe i need to replace my Doraemon bag with one cuter one as i know someone would love to use this Doraemon bag for her weekend hangout 😀
rike jokanan 
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