graphs of my Universe
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!”
A home is a breath
Haled in and out, slow and deep
Kindling sparks within.
——
Home is a house that I build very slowly with deep thought. The amount of energy put there is a number one priority about my future — I even pause almost all my personal travel plans this year in order to totally focus on this project full completion.
Bless me, dear Life.
Thank you!
💕
This is magnificent! So much money and thought must have been put to finally materialise this home. Very unique and serene! The “99 doors” must be symbolising the 99 attributes of God in Islam, the 99 names reflecting feminine and masculine qualities of God in the teaching. 🙏🏼
Do i wish to have this type of home? Javanese modern, yes but my home would be much smaller and humbler. 🙏🏼
The only resemblance of this one to my mini Javanese home is the wood that were bought from antique collectors, the greenery and the homey atmosphere. The rest is just two poles apart.
I am thankful to have a second home that shows the me in its character (my tiny home in Greater Jakarta is an industrial mass production that is definitely not me)
And I am charmed by the Javanese home belonging to Ms Farah.
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 😁
I stand on a sheet of paper
Full of flying poems
That tell me
That life is just like
That.
I stand in front of a mirror
Full of dancing shadows
That tell me
That real is just like
That.
I stand across the bridge
Full of swimming hopes
That tell me
That memory is just like
That.
I stand on a piece of heart
Full of singing loves
That tell me
That dream is just like
That.
I stand next to a bucket
Full of listed completions
That tell me
That failure is just like
That.
I stand with myself
Full of cries and smiles
That tell me
That success is just like
That.
Be just right,
Not less,
Not more,
As life is just like
That.
——
I never wanted to visit Korea until one colleague sent me a photo of library near our office in Seoul. Today he reminded me again about the library and told me to go there soon as he is moving to another location soon and might need to travel long to bring me to the library.
But he also said “Library is just like that. The most important thing is its collection, not its building.”
“And the building is like in the photo? Just like that?”
“Yes. It is just like that. You’re still welcome to Korea though.”
“Sure! Scheduled.”
🙏🏼
thank you!
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 💕
Written on a board
Dreams as deep as memories—
Now is calling me.
——
i wish to write this in one ema for JLPT N5 😂 someday 🐣 yet i don’t want to lose my today, the best day i have every day 💕
In a bottle of perfume
You are the heart note.
In a cup of coffee
You are the acidity.
In a full course meal
You are the entree.
In a life of a human
You are the love.
——
stronger with YOU
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 💕
It’s one fun day out
When colours race with the light
Depicting good moods.
——
life is a gambling for those betting against it
♥️ weekend well spent
💕 much to learn in silent colours
sunflowers ♥️
what do you see?
Van Gogh’s bedroom in the asylum
i brought this home together with some souvenirs 💝
While some think selfie as an indication of mental health issues (spectrum of narcissism, unhappy personality, having no friend and so on and so forth), I think it is the best indicator of self acceptance, self confidence, ability to enjoy aloneness, and ability to well capture any possible angles. I also see selfie as another kind of painters’ self portraits.
I believe my opinion is not the right one but I prefer holding it with good will and positive pride. And so my Instagram account is a bin of selfie photos especially when I am in a trip — yet only those I have met physically are welcomed to befriend there. 🙏🏼
While some selfies are truly liked by my family and friends, some others are criticised mostly because of angles that (they said) make me look not pretty although what they said is never an issue for me. I know that life is not always of best expected (often not) and I truly love the way I have looked over time.
♥️
What makes me love selfie even more is that I can manipulate them using Apps; not changing my face to look beautiful (damn there is no need and possibility for that — I am as beautiful as I am) but using them as canvasses to play colours and light.
getting lost? selfie!
super tired? selfie!
loving the day? selfie!
not always happening but accepting what is is a daily goal to me ♥️ selfie!
trapped in a small space yet wanting to capture wide angle 😉 selfie!
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
The main cable’s cut,
Power surge’s down. Light’s off.
Ruin of pride sprawling—
——
Mori Tadamasa — the owner of Tsuyama Castle
not taking high IQ to learn that many if not all the daimyos and above were human beings thirsty of power
human beings are both individual and social, original and political, psychological and cultural, good and evil; let life be fair at the right time and the right place to me — i just want to be humane and nothing else 😊 avoiding people with intrigues is paramount even if they are the ones that i love the most 😘
life of non aristocratic is more interesting to me where politic is just about how to stay in self control with some occasional sparks of witty explosions and to gracefully stabilise the society ♥️
rebuilt part of Tsuyama Castle’s Bitchu Yagura (viewed from not so nice a point) — you don’t have to look pretty or grand all the time, dear Castle 😍
when i saw the high stone walls of this castle, i could imagine how it was strongly fortified
just with 6 ruins of hundreds of castles in Japan I visited (Asahi-san has visited 75 and counting) and it is already clear to me what kind of culture this nation was built upon and what type of aristocratic people started the build — all nations are blessed in different ways
this is how beautiful Tsuyama Castle scenery was in one sakura season (foto borrowed from tsuyama.kokosil.net) — i’m blessed enough to see it in Jun ♥️
thank you, Tsuyama 🙏🏼
Note: Castle is open from 8:40am to 7pm Japan time
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!
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 😊
This head, Beloved
Is full of colours
That suck all memories
To an abandoned landfill
Where poems dance in joy
Recycling precious moments
Into glowing beads
Jingling around a neck,
Chuckling on millions of love wishes
That scatter on a table.
——
yeah! this is one busiest corner of my head everyday! messy yet full of love 💕😀
Mountains to climb
As seas to sail
Diving deep in to the oceans
Knowing to go and to fail
——
7 Mountains (60%)
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
The price of good life:
A cluster that can grow wild
On the grey tree bark?
——
which is more precious? bark of the tree or the fungi growing happy? are they mutually enriching each other?
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 😀
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
💕
Lightning is so quick
Striking sight with its brightness
Before earth goes silent.
——
Love is sometimes a sight that attracts the eyes, strikes in less than one minute, blinds the eyes for some longer time before gradually clears the mind again. Gradually yet surely 💝 with intensifying silence and lack of reciprocity. Life will be back to its true beauty.
May all beings be happy.
in this case a writer is either a loyalist or a stupid! both not equivalent with the brilliance in his/her writings 😂
What’s romance, my love?
Is roses stay in the branch
With no disturbance.
They’re unpicked until falling
Gracefully kissing the earth.
——
Yogyakarta is one of the most romantic cities on earth, where life is automatically slowing down and love can be felt sweeter, simpler and longer; my friends said “the most romantic or the cheapest?” i said cheerfully “i love cheap things that make me happy including cheap friends, people with high maintenance cost please go away” 😄
one serene night in Stasiun Tugu
No scent is missed,
No inhaled air is empty.
The scent is a box of coloured mist
To bring in imagery.
These nostrils celebrate days
Through haling the loaded air
And propelling power through stories,
Millions of stories shared.
——
can’t leave without scent, good or bad
and its evolving fragrance, softened before dried
sadly this leaf was not so nicely scented 🙏🏼 thrown away
batik has a good scent as it is washed with lerak (soap berry)
frangipani, a flower that is popular as graveyard flower in Java island ♥️ sweet fragrance of the death
i miss the scent of the thin air by the rice field under the blue sky 💝
rike jokanan 
You must be logged in to post a comment.