Wonderland

Good vibes, Beloved,
Contagious and precious
Keep it the longest.

—————————————————————————————————-

Years ago….. One teacher said “You do whatever you want to, but make sure what you do doesn’t harm….” Impatiently student asked,”Harmful to whom?” Teacher didn’t say anything, just pointed to one’s chest then head, and said “Go play and don’t harm yourself or your friends. Have fun, you’re good. You’re good, my child,”

Another teacher would just sang some traditional songs then explained the meaning that were full of wisdom when asked questions. Those silly children would ask so many questions about why religions were many and different, how many gods were there, why the teacher didn’t have religion, why, why, why…..

Another teacher just asked us to eat what one was cooking when we asked questions. We just did and enjoyed the food. It happened when our questions were about what Mr A or Mrs B did this and that for.

More teachers, more experiences…. And we all grew up becoming human beings who approach different things differently or sometimes uniquely although sometimes confusedly. How challenging life is sometimes!

All those learnings happened in the Wonderland! I hope the young get honourable and good teachers as we did before and even better so they build our land into real wonder! Not the most developed in infrastructure, yet with the most developed clear thinking. Not the most modern, yet the most dignified. Not the richest, yet the most caring and loving to the people. What a dream!

God bless my dear Indonesia and what’s in it. 💝

No Secret

Secret, Beloved
Ice cube waiting for warm touch—
Melts and flows: a stream
Of messages from the heart.
Read or heard of. Clean and clear—

———————————————————

No secret, it’s exposure or disclosure in the right place at the right time. I believe life is somewhat designed WYSIWYG for those willing to see life as it is. What you see (should be) is what you get.

Private is about level of security one is living. One day things will be exposed and forgiven or glorified.

Confidential is about secret recipe. One day things will get disclosed and comprehended and copied.

As simple as that. I’ve got no secret hidden. It is just about time for you to know. Either you’ll hate me or hate yourself; OR love me or love yourself for knowing “the secrets”.

May all beings be happy.

that year, when a cold caught a cold

Death Is

Long life, Beloved,
A postponed beauty each time
Sad news knocks the door—

———————————————————

Just two years ago a best friend of mine told me to stay safe living away from nuclear family. Just two days ago his name started to be a memory. Rest In Peace. You’ve been a best friend and family member. See you again. 💞💐

Long life is a beautiful dream of many. Yet what is a beautiful dream when faced with a reality that the dream might drop out anytime with no notice or sign?

If life should be shorter than expected, I hope the end meets with the point of no regret. That would suffice.

May all beings be happy.

some plants decay faster than the others which are decently fresh enough to decorate the vase

Pranata Mangsa (Javanese Wisdom)

August, Beloved
Earth is thirsty and open.
Second crop should come.

————————————————————

Pranata mangsa literally means season (mangsa) rules (pranata). It is a structured rules for farmers and fishermen in Javanese culture with which they make their plans in growing plants and harvesting the sea. This comprehension was also implemented in Sundanese (major ethnic group in West Java) and Balinese (major ethnic group in Bali). Some European ethnic groups did have this, too like Bauern calendar in Germany.

There are 12 mangsa (seasonal cycles) in Javanese pranata mangsa.

  1. Kasa (Kartika) – Jun. 22 to Aug. 1 
  2. Karo (Poso) – Aug. 2-24
  3. Katelu – Aug. 25 to Sep. 17
  4. Kapat (Sitra) – Sep. 18 to Oct. 12
  5. Kalima (Manggala) – Oct. 13 to Nov. 8
  6. Kanem (Naya) – Nov. 9 to Dec. 21
  7. Kapitu (Palguna) – Dec. 22 to Feb. 2 
  8. Kawolu (Wasika) – Feb. 3-28
  9. Kasanga (Jita) – Mar. 1-25
  10. Kasadasa (Srawana) – Mar. 26 to Apr. 18
  11. Dhesta (Pradawana) – Apr. 19 to May 11
  12. Sadha (Asuji) – May 12 to Jun. 21

The dates are adjusted every four years due to the 365 and 366 days in a year (leap year).

Javanese would grow certain seeds in each mangsa because in those particular mangsa the earth metabolism have specifically different characteristics suit certain plants to grow; and so, growing them will both maximise the crops and mitigate hazards to the soil.

And the Javanese fishermen would go to sea on certain mangsa and wouldn’t in the others or if they went, they knew which directions they would go as in certain parts of sea is in rage or the sea habitat isn’t ready to present crops to the men. Combined with the ethnoastronomy, the pranata mangsa was a powerful tool for Javanese fishermen in their golden era. No more though 🥴

Pranata mangsa was developed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of both the human beings and the environment. That’s confirmed and proven for ages!

However, this powerful pranata mangsa has been left if not forgotten by the owner. Instead the owner has started using the modern no-season farming and fishery where earth is raped and tortured to cater for the human being greed. The Javanese have betrayed both their own identity and the environment by leaving the pranata mangsa.

Do we really need so much? Or do we want so much?

Maybe it has come to a time to apologise to the earth goddess (called Batari Sri in Javanese, the one given authority by God to take care of soil) and the ocean god (called Batara Baruna in Javanese, the one given authority to take care of water)— they might have screamed for so long because of us, we who don’t care of the risks of harmful fertilisers and irresponsible sea harvesting both to us and to the earth.

Maybe it has come to a time to start healing them that are almost broken and exploding, and healing ourselves for having been greedy and selfish.

Salam….

Useful link #1: https://www.salamyogyakarta.com/pranoto-mongso/

Useful link #2: https://fpb.uksw.edu/detail_post/news/masih-relevankah-pranata-mangsa-di-era-globalisasi-ini

Be The Right Element

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

—————————————————

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

Need Some Stupid Conversation

We are all born naked
Dressed differently in death. What—
Would we do in life?

—————————————————————

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!

A Who Who Is Missed

It rains, Beloved
Orange stays bright in the west.
Wish you were here, Who?

———————————————————

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 🙏🏼

A Cleansing Talk

Friendship, Beloved
A vast ocean and its waves
Sweeping all debris—

———————————————————

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

Paradox, Euphemism dalam Wayang Kulit Jawa Kontemporer

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

Only for those knowing Bahasa Indonesia. Sorry…. 😊

Journey of A Friendship Is To Know Yourself

Time runs, Beloved
Not flies. Its feet touch the ground,
Planting you deeply
To the journey. Feel the pace,
Beloved. The end is good.

————————————————————

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 😎

Flower Buddy

Say hi to colours
Sent by the beauty across
The sea. Thanks, buddy!

———————————————————

Flowers from a colleague who has the same hobby, working accompanied by flowers. A touch of cheerfulness boosts the immunity.

Thanks, MZ!

her lotus
her today’s daisy
chrysanthemum pompom

Friends Truly Taste Summer

A gate wide opens
Out to a meadow. Summer,
Show your charms to earth.

Not that I’m happy all the time but speak happy talk happy smile happy eat happy work happy has made me happier longer than before.

So why not?

Thanks for those humble and kind orbiting around me. So blessed for being some simple waza waza for each other! 💝

It is not easy there but you can do it!

This too shall pass!

Salam…. 🙏🏼

flowers from the desert, beauty and endurance blended in colours like friendship

You The Punctuation

You are you thats you
The you thats not you the you
I think is you Who

—————————————————

There are so many yous in you You through a complex prism is able to compel one to sign an everlasting contract with no terms and conditions but saying yes to all of you

Your signature is a punctuation while mine is a dragged line called names

Youre that important that history of alphabet puts you as a technology that moves meaning

Punctuation is you

May all beings be happy

you beauty that builds meaning

July Sun

Journey, Beloved
Is wonderful flow and hike.
What a bright sunshine!

—————————————————

Welcome, July. Please be kind like how a good sister treats me.

Happy birthday, dear sis…. 💞

protea and mini chrysanthemum

A Neighbour-To-Be

One step out of gate
Is a neighbour who greets you,
Supports you with heart.

—————————————————

‘ve always loved to have neighbours, good neighbours. Bad neighbours? Gosh! They are just those who don’t know how to thank for what they have been given and think that others are more blessed and happier. I had both back then. Now? My neighbours here are doors with numbers, cleaning service and security guards. 😁

Many want to live in a place where neighbours are those greeting and supporting each other with heart. I don’t mind to have a few rather bad neighbours among most good ones. And my home-base-to-be seems showing good signs. A good friend cum a good neighbour-to-be said that her friend owns a restaurant located near the home-base-to-be. A restaurant named “Jiwa Jawi” (literally means Javanese soul) is there right at the back of the home-base.

Wouldn’t it be nice that our backyard is looking out to a restaurant in a small jungle? When the food at home isn’t enough for visiting family and friends, just dial the number and get some to be delivered in no time. Indonesian food will always be one most favourite on the home-base’s dining table.

Another good news, this restaurant is a ground where people can eat, chat, camp, play, gather, pose to enjoy the day! When some intermezzo is needed, just step out of the gate and chill out there. Some friends said it is instagramable.

Can’t wait, can’t wait…. I miss home.

Salaam….

A Tree, A Friend

Dear tree, wait for her.
She’s caught up but will come back
To give you big hug.
Not that you miss her hugging.
It’s she missing your stillness.

————————————————————

Some friends are so loyal that they still touch your heart even without talking to you.

Thanks to a friend from a distance for her humble wisdom every now and then, for inspiring me silently….

a friend happily inspires one’s friends silently 🙏🏼

PENSI – Pentas Swara Indonesia

It’s just beautiful!

If young Indonesians don’t sing those songs, let them rot in hell. 🎼 At least three of those songs, guys! No worry about your out of tune — just sing! Or hum! Ok, sing in silence! 😩

🐣

Scenery, A Beauty That Prisons

Where are you, oh dear?
Mountains and oceans are passed
By with beauty glued
As memory. Beloved,
Where’s the next stop? Peek a boo!

————————————————————

When I was young; I joined spiritual workshop, class, training; read spiritual books, journal, articles; listened to spiritual preaching, cassettes, radio programs; name more —mostly informal, some non-formal, one formal not finished oh I’m blessed that It wasn’t. Whenever I was asked why I did, I would say “I wanna know God.”

Hopeless popus!*

Has anyone experienced this looking-sophisticated-but-actually-comical thing? Thanks God (s/he’d like to be censored actually) I’m not alone in this zero to zigzagging journey— from being very excitedly curious to being a drunken master. 🤪

What a blessed journey it was!
If I’m supposed to tell that young me when starting through the reading of those looking-sophisticated-yet-actually-comical random materials, I would say “Hey, Lady Haha! You should have a map but a destination is paramount!”

And I still feel so blessed!

May all haha moments be deciphered. 😊

* refer to the video of “How To Dad” in “How To Teach A Kid Curse Words”.

a pinch of salt to my life, no pepper though

Millions of Dreams

Where to go? Let’s go!
River never knows but flows.
This is estuary,
Beloved, sea welcomes you.
Black to blue is true. Slow down....

————————————————————

One of my best friends is flying to Bali this morning. She’ll live in her most favourite island for how long only Heaven knows.

We knew she has dreamt of living in Ubud without knowing how to materialise it as she’s a full time employee in Jakarta and her job requires her to sit in front of her computer for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Bali was just a holiday or weekend escapade that helps refresh before going back to the busy metropolis.

We had a 3-hour call last night, celebrating her flight to her paradise! She’s happy. I’m happy for her.

How can I not believe that this pandemic is a blessing? It has moved someone’s cubicle to her living room then to her mother’s home, and soon to a beautiful place where dreams have lingered for Heaven knows how long. I can imagine how serene and fun her productivity will be!

May all beings be happy.

Expelliarmus!

Did my father teach me how to curse? 😁

This dad has made me work hard to recall what and how my father taught us to do things as kids. 🤩

It’s Acceptance, Always

He’s a Javanese and a Buddhist. It’s always a perfect combination when someone can blend one’s belief with one’s own root. A blessings!

It’s never about what religion one holds, it’s about a good heart one nurtures.

So blessed to be born as a female human being, a Javanese, raised by parents of different religions and nurtured by complex environments, living around people of different walks of life and various nationalities and so much diversity—

Never want any other way than this. Thank you, Life…. 💝

Salaam.

Message of Love

What happiness brings?
Smiles, grins, and message of love
From long unmet friends—

———————————————————

Two cute jars of Lebaran cookies and a beautiful message from my dear niece whom I haven’t met for more than one year due to this pandemic and some illness, while we live only 5 kilometers away.

Thank you for much of love, Sasha!

Thumbs Up To The Young!

What about now, Love?
Now’s the time. Maybe no later—
Happiness can’t wait.

🐣

There is moment for every experience, there is expiry date for every life.

Young people, be vibrant, idealistic and fiery.

Grab the chance to be the agent of change! Change all the dead skin! Don’t change the sacred soul!

Young generation, you’re just gorgeous! Very much thankful to be young before and still feeling the vibe until now through all what I see in you!

I never regret of getting older every day ‘coz when I was young, I was on the side of those needing the loudest voice!

May all beings be happy. 💞

Sunshine

Without knowing it,
You’ve made me happy. Truly
You’re the sunshine. One—

————————————————

It is almost time to sleep and I am not waiting for another sunshine because the only one sun is shining every hour around this rotating globe. That’s enough to be happy to have a 24/7 sunshine.

Let it share its light spreading hope everywhere it is faced by all opening eyes on earth. Not an empty hope— 🐣

Weekend is always a sweet space. Oops nope nope…. I mean it is sweet except with the awaiting laundry….. 😩

How Happy Are We

So you need to move
To be happy? Yes. Move to
Your kind heart. Stay. Smile.

———————————————

I had a group call with some good friends and we asked one favourite friend how she could be always light and calm even when she didn’t have enough materially.

Just as a description about her (with her consent): This kind, humble, strong, cheerful, a bit crazy lady is a widow with two children (both finished their education and are now working to support themselves). Her husband left her without anything for another woman. She works a lot of temporary jobs to survive. She lives in a very small rented house until now. She earns less than USD500 per month. She supports her brother who is physically impaired. Yet she is the one that we run to for advices, wisdom, consolation and she never complains to us, her friends.

She said “Maybe I was born to be happy, happier than all of you hahaha…. Let me put it this way. I’m light because my life is simple. I know I don’t have that much others have and that’s why my happiness measure isn’t the same with theirs. I don’t even think of what you think of to spend a holiday. I know you get upset when your food isn’t good; I think good food is about something edible, clean and filling, not about palate.

And I’m calm because I believe people appreciate me the way I am. Some people think too much about how they look and start behaving pretentiously. I’m not. This is me, carefree, open, comfortable with myself. And I don’t want to hurt others. People might not like it; I just need to be nice and stay away.”

“Are we your friends, Mbak?” We teased her.

“Stupid question! Yes! Because you appreciate me not with money but simply with friendship although you girls can look very ugly when very busy; annoying when very stressed! You just need to go back to this!” She put her right palm on her left upper chest where heart is.

This type of friend makes us real. One who appreciates others not through what is materially defined and knows that one one’s self is appreciated genuinely.

I don’t have to move to Finland or Denmark to be happy. Of course not with nothing. A good laugh and some chocolate (good chocolate I mean) should be the least. Honestly I still want to at least travel there! 🤪

May all beings be happy.

this is the video reminding me to our beloved friend – God bless the video maker/uploader! 💞

He Is Zero Today

When moments collide,
Time slows down, space enlarges.
A coincidence?

——————————————————

Based on solar calendar, it is my father’s birthday today. Based on lunar calendar it is his death commemoration.

Mathematically the two calculations are crossing, astronomically celestial bodies are in moving in harmony, momentarily it’s just a coincidence. To his family it’s a special moment— celebrating a point when an important human being’s life in the world is started and ended.

God bless you, Bapak. Happy 0th birthday! Are you watching me? Thank you. But no need, just take a rest, I’m safe now. 😘

my favorite taste, not his coz I eat it not he😁

Cycles

Under the green leaf,
Crawls then sleeps. Wake up with love.
Fly, Butterfly, fly.

Metamorphosis of egg to caterpillar to cocoon before butterfly is beautiful and relevant with the cycles of human being’s life in all aspect.

How someone finds a potential and amplifies the potential with any resources that one can think of such as schooling, taking courses/training/workshop, reading, listening, watching, contemplating, consultancy…. Oh some others who don’t have clear thinking include their actions of cheating, stealing, breaking the law, stepping the integrity lines, backstabbing, etc.

It is like witnessing the eggs sheltered by some shade of plants and with the weather and pressure, they are pushed to crawl out of the shells. Here it comes one hungry caterpillar, playing happily, eating this, eating that, eating these, eating those, eating everything. This caterpillar can only stop eating when one feels numb and one’s fullness melts away and wraps itself to sleep. The things one consumed liquifies it like ice thawed in a plastic bag.

Sleep soundly, hungry caterpillar and don’t wake up until someday your fluid self come into form, embodied into a totally different creature. The butterfly you are!

There was a time when an employee is so preoccupied with what one is doing, as if one is wrapped in a system that trapped one doing the same thing like no choice is given. One does it everyday until finally not having to think of how to do it already. One might feel the job is ingrained as a thought, a feeling, an intuition, movement, the life itself. Trained skills and talents make an art, the integrity shapes wisdom. A job—when has become a dedication— will not betray a human being.

Hope someday mine becomes one. It is never about how high I climb but about how deep I dive into the commitment of making what I’m doing a wisdom and benefits for those we promise to protect and support.

I think it is ok to be one hungry caterpillar, looking greedy and craving for more knowledge, experiences, adventures. As long as it knows where poison lies, it is safe to chew and swallow anything. No no not anything…. Select wisely, Beloved.

I remember Steve Jobs said “Stay foolish, stay hungry”. That person really knew what he was doing. Many people might have thought negatively about him, laughed at what he was doing, called him crazy, kicked him out for having different ideas, backstabbed him to stop his annoyance. Those people just didn’t know that that guy was a hungry caterpillar processing into a cocoon before butterfly. Amazing human being! God bless time when he was alive and forever.

Hmm…. Perhaps he truthfully made himself hungry by fasting and foolish by learning and unlearning.

God bless you, Steve Jobs and the people around his belief about staying foolish and hungry.

Salam….

you know what colours will be yours

Add Acceptance To Each Plan

This night gets longer.
More dreams linger in silence.
Lid the bucket list.

————

I pray to have enough time to be able to visit all places in my bucket list as 2020 and 2021’s trips are unchecked. If only dreaming is stoppable,

Thanks God I enjoy getting lost walking or biking that’s the best option in this cute island.

May all beings be happy.

🍀

Plan as if you live forever. Accept today as the best gift.

Language of Dreams

Almost given up:
Milestones to reach the final.
Language of dreams

Japanese is almost as difficult as Arabic but I didn’t find hard time learning Arabic as the brain was much fresher with more time to focus on lessons by then. I almost gave up this Japanese lesson as I felt too slow. Until today mixing up between シ and ツ still happens again and again. Different forms of adjective and noun when tenses change still confuse me. The crazy kanji has also tortured me. Why did I even learn this language? 🤪 Drama! 🥰

But hey! I won’t stop until I can read and compose beautiful poems in Japanese. Too much a dream? Ok, I won’t stop until I can present the company’s Code of Conduct in Japanese! Making more sense! 😁

If the teacher isn’t this good, I might have given up earlier. The Sensei is such an expert of Japanese language and culture that she can make me understand why those Japanese I’ve met have behaved so strangely not as I expected Japanese I thought would be. 😝

Some people are just so “like that” regardless they are Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Singaporean or any other….. Life is so interesting, take it easy!

God bless all….

One of the easy thing I was frustrated of….! What a stupid me! Look at the ugly frustrated hand writing! 🥶

Friendship

These two sisters are best friends. True friendship is precious and beautiful: relaxing, joking and teasing around, no prejudice, no pretension, agreement, disagreement, entertaining, no gaslighting, at the same time enlightening.

They talked about regret to let go, connection among all things, the death, relationship with parents and siblings, misunderstood religiosity, God’s love, being stupid, making mistakes and so on and so forth.

God bless these two sisters and true friendship on earth.

Shahnaz Hague and Soraya Haque, God bless you.