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.
Super charged young boys can beat super charged old champs just with light laughter.
—
How busy you are
Both
Covering
What should not
Be covered.
I am watching
Merrily
With a sweet smile
From
My sweet heart.
If it is true,
Show the world
With no shame,
No pretension.
Or else….
You both
Live in fake
False life
Full with false
Fake smiles.
How busy you are
Both showing me
Only me
While hiding
From most of the world.
—
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.
—
Rain is a blessing
From the sky before starting
Journey to the north.
—
Me: Boys, the rain seem to stay heavy. Boys, are you ok?
Nephews: Yes, it is fun! We just want to pee again!
Me: Don’t pee on your pants ya.
What a conversation!
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. 😃
💝
Dream home, Beloved,
A place where nature meets hearts;
Hearts warmly greet souls—
—
The conversation with a long lost friend came to a topic of “where we want to live if ending living alone?”
Living in Singapore was never part of my dream. A visit in 2010 gave me impression that I would die of hunger in a week with Indonesia salary. 😁
Now this city is a lovely second home; my impression has changed. I won’t die because of hunger but I will die because of loneliness if I stay single retiring here. I still can’t find enough friends like those in home country. There are three but all of them will retire in Bali and New Zealand sooner than me.
Residing in a landed property where gardening and backyard dining is affordable is a preference, yet I don’t have the luxury of living in such place here. And I don’t want to die alone in a locked condo found rotten after days or even weeks. Oh God, please protect me from such horrible thing. Amen….
F: I’ve always wanted to live in Ubud and it will happen very soon. I’ll open a spa with all traditional herbal from all over Indonesia. I’ll quit my job soon. I want to live my own life as me, no one can tell me to do this and that anymore! No bloody politics anymore! Visit me often! You’ll find my spa super special! I’ll give you discount! Be a regular customer! Hey! You once wanted to live in Thailand?
Me: Someone informed me about a good property in low price near my favourite hotel in Ayutthaya. Yet Thai have controversial life style I’m not comfortable with in a way. I’m too simple, sometimes too honest and can be against those status-oriented that I might not be able to adapt well. Not a true dream! Hey! Actually love to live in Kyoto!
F: You’ll die in three months after you complete second round of shrine, temple and ancient house hopping! 😂
Me: Dying of walking! 😂
What a refreshing conversation! And yes, I’ll visit her spa soon! 😍
Lesson learnt: Will only live with those I love and loving me where home is a real feel. No excuse.
Salaam…. 💝
Story, Beloved
Told through colours, dots and lines
About nature love.
—
So much miss “playgrounds” where plants are greeting freely with their stories and advices. Hallo Jogja and Bali, wait for me. 🍀
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.
Seeing morning’s sun, Warmed by noon’s, serene through moon. Only where I am.
Ever thought that where you are is not the best place on earth? Change your mind soon!
I’ve always loved Asia especially South East Asia. People might think it’s because I’m now living in that place and never go anywhere else. Yes, that’s a primary reason but there are other reasons.
Long story short, I tried short stays in different places with different climates and culture and I conclude that where I am now is the best place: enough sun everyday, relatively same length between night and day the whole year. What’s more we can find friendly neighbours —in big cities people are less warm but relatively quite friendly, access to more vegetables and fruit, food is tastier with touch of herbs, more affordable living cost, and so on and so forth.
Last but not least in where I live spirituality is a daily life blended with nature— no I’m not talking about religion, institutional religion isn’t an interest of mine anymore. People don’t have to wait until certain days to pray, God or god is just a daily reality, sacred in the heart normal topic in public. People don’t have to organise registered charities to help others; not all people are trustworthy but I love in a circle where integrity is topmost criteria to survive. People don’t have to be certified to teach spirituality class; when I was young I simply knocked on neighbours’ doors and asked them about cultural and spiritual wisdom and we didn’t have to pay a cent.
Not ideal to all, but that’s a perfect life to this person
I’ve always dreamed to have a home base in culturally-integrated-not-so-crowded city like Bali, Yogyakarta or Ayutthaya when not traveling. It’s gonna be a sweet, warm landed property that once in a while welcomes family and friends to share ideas about this fun life and their great mind. Oh, don’t forget with lots of plants and at least two cats around! Dog? Maybe, the lazy one so that we don’t have to walk it everyday 😘
Dream on, dear Self. Hug the imagination while weekend is around. 😁
Don’t forget to wakey, wakey on weekdays! 😁
May all beings be happy.
Time’s bringing good acts.
Places add good vibes to it.
How I miss your peace.
Singapore – May 25, 2020 / 22:29
—-
I miss two places the most right now: Bali and Ayutthaya. Once this circuit breaker is exited, those two will be my destination.
May all beings be happy.
I love Bali, one of 17,504 islands in my beloved country, Indonesia. It has become my playground for the past several years. There is always thing to do there: meeting friends, joining some retreat programs, attending music concerts or festivals, visiting family or just doing nothing by the rice fields or seaside. I mostly go to Bali with my friends, at least two of us, maximum five of us.
But, wait! This writing is not about me. It is about a tour guide who has always accompanied us in Bali. Yes, I’m promoting him for anyone of you who happens to visit Bali.
His name is Lasia Wayan or “Bli Jerry”.
He’s always the driver, tour guide cum photographer for all of us. So far we haven’t decided to replace him with anyone else – just fyi, if he is not available, I’d just take taxi and not call other tour guides or drivers. He has become a kind of mascot for us. He drives us to any destinations we want to go to. He explains about that location in his own way – such a hillarious man. He also takes picture for us.
Yes, he is also a photographer. He is a Canon person, while we are Nikon people. But he would confidently grab our cameras and shoot for us.
“Ok, please get ready, Ladies…. One, two, three….!”
“Aen twee drie!”
“Satu, dua, tiga!”
“Un, deux, trois!”
He is using any language he remembers. No, no he does not speak many languages — he masters English but knows a bit about some others’ survival level.
He is a funny guy but we love him as a friend – he is a helpful and friendly Balinese. Seems that he is lvoed by other clients, too. Even one of his client from France has created a website to collect his work.
Interested to see? Here it is….
http://www.jerryphotography.com/portfolio.html
And, here is his picture.
=== (versi Bahasa Indonesia)
Aku cinta Bali, salah satu dari 17,504 total pulai di negara yang sangat kucintai, Indonesia. Bali sudah semacam tempat main beberapa tahun belakangan ini. Ada saja yang bisa dilakukan di sana: ketemu teman lah, ikutan retreat, nonton konser musik atau festival jazz, anjangsana sepupu-sepupu, atau sekadar santai nggak ngapa-ngapain di pinggir sawah atau pantai. Seringnya kita ke sana barengan, minimal dua orang maksimal lima orang.
Tapi tunggu, tulisan ini bukan tentang saya atau Bali, Tulisan ini dimaksudkan tentang pemandu wisata yang selalu menemani kami selama di Bali. Ya, saya sedang mempromosikan dia kepada Anda yang ada keinginan mengunjungi Bali.
Namanya adalah Lasia Wayan atau “Bli Jerry”.
Beli Jerry selalu menjadi supir, pemandu wisata sekaligus juru foto kami. Sampai saat ini sih kami belum ada rencana menggantikan posisi beliau dengan yang lain. Jadi kalau dia sedang tidak bisa mengantar kami, biasanya kami ambil taksi, pergi sendiri tanpa menyewa supir atau pemandu wisata lain. Dia udah jadi maskot buat kita. Dia nyupirin kemana kita mau pergi. Dia menerangkan tentang lokasi yang kita kunjungi – caranya menjelaskan biasanya dicampuri kelucuan-kelucuan. Dia juga memotret kita.
Yes, dia adalah juru foto. Dia ini orang Canon, sedangkan kita semua orang Nikon. Tapi tetep aja dia pede ambil kamera kami buat motret-motret kita.
“Ok, tolong bersiap, Ladies…. One, two, three….!”
“Aen twee drie!”
“Satu, dua, tiga!”
“Un, deux, trois!”
Dia sih pakai bahasa apa saja yang dia ingat. Dia sih nggak menguasai banyak bahasa, cuma Bahasa Inggris tapi dikit-dikit beberapa bahasa dia bisa survival level.
Bli Jerry ini lucu banget tapi kita sayang dia sebagai teman lah – dia sini termasuk orang Bali yang suka menolong dan ramah. Kelihatannya pelanggan dia yang lain juga menyayangi dia juga. Sampai-sampai ada seorang pelanggan dari Perancis yang membuatkan dia situs web untuk mengumpulkan foto-foto hasil jepretannya.
Pengen lihat? Ini dia….
http://www.jerryphotography.com/portfolio.html
Foto Bli Jerry ada di versi Bahasa Inggris di atas.
Temasek – January 10, 2016 – 5:01pm
rike jokanan 
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