graphs of my Universe
A basket of fresh
Turns into a jar of fresh
For mind to refresh.
β
from this β pomelo, pineapple, mango, apple, rose apple and pomegranate
to this
added with this β not so spicy this time
both mixed into this β 45 minutes of washing, peeling, cleaning, grating fruit + grinding the palm sugar
this final packed fresh β one week + 2 daysβ morning grated fruits
Journey to a home
Through climb, prance, flow, dive and fly
Deserves a quenching.
β
a glass of lemongrass tea with chia seeds is a gift for a traveler π
What is age, dear love?
Pearls of memories of you
Shining in my mind.
β-
May 12 is my fatherβs birthday. He was born in 1939 but his physical body died years ago leaving memories about him.
Happy birthday, Bapak. May you be reborn a happy one wherever you are.
π
mango was his favourite β iβve eaten mango for 3 days to celebrate his birthday π no cake this year as I prioritised my time for something more important; sorry, Bapak π
What is work, my love?
Office, site visit, kitchen,
all rooms to fulfil.
ββ
Work is both those weekdays I am paid by my employer and weekends and holidays when I spend more from what I earn on weekdays. Both I do with all my heart and soul.
Thank you for everything.
May all beings be happy.
ironed clothes make good days of mine, thatβs why i iron most of my clothes even those for sleeping π i love myself π
late lunch after ironing π₯° my kitchen loves me π
after lunch i finished making βrujak serutβ for the next one week β one box per day π to continue morning sliced fruit during Tapa Brata, i modify it to morning rujak serut π
Bring me takeaway,
A souvenir that reminds
Meaning of a road.
β
The biggest takeaway of my recent Tapa Brata:
a silver bangle of ANICCA
About ANICCA
When home welcomes you
With unexpected colour,
Blessings are around.
β-
Home again! π
Nice to say hi to orchids that I thought to be yellow but white instead!
thought yellow but white! pretty!
the second bloom after 3 years! thank you!
all are here! full team! π
Smiling at a weekend
Makes air fresher and lighter.
A place thatβs chokingβ
β
My best friend in Ubud is an active committee member of Bali Spirit Festival; she invites me to enjoy one day free pass after my Tapa Brata for today.
She knows very well I donβt enjoy crowd well yet she insisted that I try to experience an ambiance that might enrich my life. Thank you, I am now in.
I collected my wristband at the entrance, met my friend at the media center she managed then browsed around. A lot I didnβt imagine before. Not only the offered activities and products but also the visitors and participants.
While the activities and products are still easy for me to digest, the way the visitors dress is more shocking to me; half-naked might not be for myself but I can still understand that many bule (the white people in Indonesian language) are half-dressed due to hotter temperature in South East Asia, but almost nakedβ¦
Anyway my best friend has changed my curiosity into smilesβ very wide smileβ¦.
I am enjoying my weekend!
the pink wristband for one day pass – got it free; thank you, De Nov!
the inner entrance inside Puri Padi Hotel where the festival is taking place
map
loving it!
another one
art is dominating the venue β loving it!
hungry? never worried π β more choices other than this one
my favourite!
still heliconia π
one of those blinding me (the mildest for my eyes, that almost naked lady with backpack) β this is not a beach pleaseβ¦. π i donβt have the heart to take more pictures π i know what my friend will say to me βthatβs why you canβt live in Bali, stay in Singapore, safer for your brain and mindβ
stage for the (spiritual) music performance later afternoon β not being arrogant but after so much to learn and unlearn and relearn, to me all is spiritual without label so let me skip this spiritually-labeled music
this is the safest place for me to just drink tea and browse around aromatherapy oil in the market β will spend my time here until I meet my friend again β£οΈ
on a beanie bag under a young durian tree π
will i be back next time? π Yoda said βyour path you must decide, Jediβ π
Knowing whoβs within
Behind an unlocked door. Who?
Look at the mirror
β
Loving kindness doesnβt belong to one particular religion. It is not a domain, it is universal. Thanks for the consistent reminder about it.
May all beings be happy.
Salaam.
Pak Merta Ada with 7 of 32 students in his 881st Tapa Brata β thank you, Bapak ππΌ
Life is just like this:
A line with two ends. Circleβ
Choose the best angle.
β-
They released us from the silence on May 5 at 11am before lunch time and gave us our gadgets back at 4pm. We were so excited to talk than to play the gadgets; we gathered in the dining hall and shared what we experienced during the noble silence.
We didnβt die without gadgets, no we didnβt. Yet we donβt die because of gadgets, either. Gadgets are just a tool to use wisely.
Each of us couldnβt thank more for everything.
May all beings be happy.
Salaam.
Pak Merta, our meditation teacher
Pak Kourma β our daily instructor
Pak Souca β our daily caretaker ππΌ
our last session of meditation was loving kindness meditation for daily life; the video camera was prepared for sharing session at the end
May 5 is today.
This is my second Tapa Brata and both of them are special. My first in 2018 was special because Pak Merta Adaβs teacher (Merta Ada is my health meditation teacher) a Buddhist high priest visited his retreat center and gave us blessings. This second one is because we found that May 5 is his birthday! He was born on May 5, 1957 β a long journey of a meditation teacher and healer.
Someone is also celebrating his birthday across the ocean. May 5 becomes more special today this time. A journey of a silent traveler.
Happy birthday Pak Merta and dear KU. Both of you have a special place in my heart.
For Pak Merta, we immediately prepared a green sarung rangrang. For KU I thoughtfully prepared a poem.
β-
Alone the bird flies
From a nest on a tall tree
It knows where home is.
ππΌ
May 5 2023 is when the biggest moon rises this year; Waisak (Vesak) is already celebrated in some countries (on May 6 in other countries) β my meditation teacher is celebrating his birthday, another life teacher of mine is celebrating his
an βemergencyβ birthday present for Pak Merta Ada from our class, wrapped in a beautiful fancy paper from the nearest small shop nearby to wrap a sarung rangrang I originally bought for my additional spread and table cloth β what a beautiful togetherness in this meditation class π
Alone the bird flies
To a nest on a tall tree.
She knows where home is.
β-
there is love in wing β trust the wind and the direction π
Thereβs a song to sing
With no other notes but Do,
In two tones: high, low.
β-
keep doing it in high and low
A red hibiscus
Stares at the sun, nods at night.
Counting her blessingsβ
β-
red hibiscus
If time tells the truth,
What time is it? Light is dim,
Only silhouette
β-
it takes time to colour
Is there her story
In history? Or othersβ?
A time to ponderβ
β-
relief in Rumah Makan Ayam Kadewatan
A pair of footwear,
Frictions on shining pebbles:
Road in history
β-
In sanctuary,
Where birds from paradise sing,
Clear mirror reflectsβ
β
Out of office is set meaning that work is safe-kept for a while. Only silence remains. Even my boss and my motherβ two whose calls Iβll never reject in normal situation canβt contact me. They know where I am so they wonβt contact me. π
All my postings will be automatically scheduled starting May 1.
I pray that you all be blessed with good life.
Salaam.
π
my goddess, Saraswati π
just wanna be offline for a while πΈ
i love to be with those knowing how to reflect me and themselves clearly β₯οΈ
it is safe π
accompanied by two paradise birds in Ubud before starting my sacred silence tomorrow in Baturiti
Green is what is fresh,
What is starting peacefully.
It is envy, too.
β-
What is greener than our neighboursβ grass? The sea that bears secret of love and avocado that bears secret of health.
Have a green weekend!
π
todayβs lunch π egg with peas in coconut milk, avocado and navel orange juice
Whatβs best is not best.
Better is, leaving a space
For the next better.
β-
I am never craving for best for me. Only doing my best to be better and to deserve whatever makes me better and/or see opportunity to do better.
Yet best seller book is the best for today. And one previously best seller for my best friendβ-
Salaam.
π
bestseller shelf β not my normal shelf but it was today
old book i did read at uni and want to check some details and so re-read π
curious whatβs inside π
seems promising for a discussion in a reading club
for my best friend who watched the movie but not read the novel yet
All cuts and bruises
Paint a life of a blossom
Before it decays.
β
i was so young and innocent, a loved friend of many, a hated enemy of some β i was so much blessed π
life has brought me travel through labyrinth of life with traps and turns that cut and torture yet i am still a loved friend of many, a hated enemy of some β i am still so much blessed with cuts and bruises π iβve lost much but i find myself
no one shall erase this happy girl within β a blessed soul that travels through space and time ππΌ thank you
Time flies on a plane,
Moves backwards leaving a home
To meet whom are missed.
β-
Time to visit mother. Although I visit her every three months, a visit on Eid Mubarak is always the most special. It is when my brothers and sisters meet me and most of extended family members gather in our annual reunion.
It is exciting to have a full day chatting, laughing, remembering good memories, eating specialties cooked by the host, joking around and of course praying for our happiness and joy so we all can meet again the following year.
Thank you for another year.
π
pink orchid in Changi Airport before my flight
pink orchid left home β not merrier but fresher than the Changiβs π₯°
yellowish white orchid left at home
it is gonna be broken white with purple β they are always happy although left home π
i guess it is gonna be yellow β they are always happy although left home π
Light is reflected,
Brings various sensations.
Bright colour spectrumβ
β-
I bought rangrang woven fabric for bedspreads, table clothes and other home decoration as alternative of vibe in my humble abode other than linen, Merauke ikat and batik series.
It is always exciting to decorate home. I think this is where a home owner should be wiser as the temptation to beautify a home feels more desperate compared to owning branded things. Dead serious!
Rangrang woven fabric was once fabric for religious ceremonies, yet now it has become a cultural commodity that are liked by many.
Anyway, rangrang woven fabric offer unique colourful art. It is called βrangrangβ because there are βrangrangβ (tiny holes/gaps) among the woven thread. Rangrang woven fabric is allegedly a symbol of transparency. Yet technically the gaps or holes among the woven threads are because of fewer number of threads used in some lines.
This fabric also has sufficient thickness that it wonβt be too flimsy to spread on the beds yet wonβt be too heavy for curtains.
The dominant colours on rangrang woven fabric are brighter spectrum of red, yellow, purple, blue, green. Love them all!
The most common patterns of rangrang woven fabric are basic geometry such as curves (commonly called bianglala/rainbow patter), triangles, squares.
square
triangles
some curves (bianglala/rainbow)
rangrang = holes among the weaved threads
Rangrang used to be a prima donna back then in 2010βs that made it as expensive as hundreds of USD per piece, while now I could buy it for USD50 per piece.
This woven fabric should be conserved as fewer and fewer weavers are productively making it, most of them are older women whose children donβt have the same passion to produce this beautiful art work. One of the conservation effort might be for ordinary people to buy this fabric.
I am happy that I found 4 more sheets of rangrang woven fabric are needed. There is a reason to go shopping either in the market or directly to the weavers.
ππ
rangrang = holes among the weaved threads
About rangrang woven fabric
Breathing the same air
Under the same sun and moon,
All pray for good days.
β
Sharing is not only about self satisfaction and social support, it is also about gauging how much I dare to let go of what heavy and significant. Trust me giving will not make you poor.
This monthly food sharing is about Ramadhan odd night and night of revelation (lailatul qadar).
Salaam.
π
When a lady goes,
Two dogs race with her, saying
See you again, friend!
β-
Completing the mosque night in Jakarta, I hopped to the next island. I have a holiday in lieu as I was working outside Singapore in its public holiday so why not meeting my friend in Bali to spend my Monday?
This good friend is a Buddhist, a devoted pupil of Dalai Lama. She has met him four times in person in Dharamshala. So it is a good thing to discuss about the news circulated about him; the sooner, the better for me to clear my hazy mind.
I explained to her my understanding about sexual harassment and abuse and the video that has made what might be called framing or true case depending on what brings to whom. She listened to me patiently. Then she explained to me quite long and clear about the Tibetan culture of βtongue eatingβ not βtongue suckingβ and mostly about what kind of person Dalai Lama whom she has met and shaken hand with. She also asked me to watch the complete video, not only some part of it so I can build clearer context.
We had a long talk. Based on the chat l decided to delete my posting about Dalai Lama, not because I totally agree with my friend but simply because I donβt want to make things more unclear. Resting my caseβ
Waiting doe my flight with a light heartβ
Salaam.
Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, my friendβs dogs
Sleeping under dome,
Reciting signs of wisdom,
Ramadhan odd night
β-
Some friends of mine and I stayed overnight in Istiqlal Mosque on Apr 15 (25th night of Ramadhan) to focus on βsleep less, pray moreβ. We did much earlier as high schooler when we stayed overnight at school in 2 Ramadhan nights to sleep less and pray more to gain lailatur qadar that my friends and I believe is special night to reveal truth within our own selves.
This very time in Istiqlal 3 things were emphasised by some teachers to all of us.
Thousands of muslims stayed in the mosque and we didnβt know each other, we just followed the scheduled activities mostly in silence or very casual salaam except talking in low voice to few friends going together as groups.
Thanks for giving me one night to sleep less and pray more.
π
with girl friends in senior high school class β me with 2 besties πππ night for (crazy) youngsters
Ramadhan Odd Night in Istiqlal Mosque, me and 2 good friends slept under the 3rd pillar in the female chamber (left side of the hall), there is partition between male and female chambers β felt like staring hundreds of star clusters π
Who are friends, my dear?
The perfumers? The blacksmiths?
Whoever, they smell.
β-
Disclaimer: I am not spreading Islamic teaching. I am just telling how fragrance and good friends have manifested in my life.
β-
The most frequent gift I give to my closest female circle is fragrance, either perfume or soap. Yesterday morning before meeting my best friends, I decided to browse some fragrance. As normal there is never preferred brand about perfume. It is always about a click in the heart.
Indeed happiness can cost some $/c although it might be too small and can be an insult if given as currency; yet it must cost attention and/or time to appreciate the same. So perfume is a best option β no one has complained so far.
What about soap? Only to those preferring soap to perfume
I am happy to make myself happy by making my circle happy because they have been making me happy. Imagine your friends feel good and be scented at the same time.
This I do because I follow literally beautiful hadith by the Prophet as below.
Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, βVerily, the parable of good and bad company is that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk will give you perfume, you will buy some, or you will notice a pleasant smell. As for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes, or you will notice a bad smell.β
Source: αΉ’aαΈ₯Δ«αΈ₯ al-BukhΔrΔ« 5534, αΉ’aαΈ₯Δ«αΈ₯ Muslim 2628
Authenticity grade of hadith: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
couldnβt help smelling all
Why theyβre so grumpy?
Error happens all seasons.
Just take lessons learnt.
β-
Instagram and Twitter are full of angry people who are not able to express their anger in such a way to be well understood.
WordPress is an idealβ a peaceful sanctuaryβ£οΈ
his name is Grumpy
Table, big or small:
Where meal, words and energy
Entertain people.
β-
Yesterdayβs lunch break chat was about furniture. My colleague who just had a house warming said that she only has a bed and dining table and is planning to buy more things soon. Our styles are so much different and I think hers has also tapped my mind.
My dining table is a wooden slab with a long bench at one side and 4 chairs in the other. If there are more people visiting (which not yet happens up to now), they should drag armchairs from the living room or voluntarily standing. π
Hers is a retractable table that can be as small as 75 centimetres and as long as 3 meters. She has a total of 8 in her family so she needs space for 8 in the smallest family gathering. It attracted me to have one as mine looks bulky and occupies so much of space; however, modern retractable table doesnβt suit my Javanese house and of course it is expensive. So it is just an interest in a chat with her.
my colleagueβs type of dining table β modern, sleek, retractable, expensive, suitable for her luxurious condo in Singapore ππΌ
We also talked about beds in which we agree good mattress is paramount for our old back. π
Both of us agreed to invite each other in the future when there is long weekend and of course when trees of rambutan, mango, banana, matoa, chiku, and so on in my back yard are ready for harvest.
my type of dining table – heavy, bulky, occupying space yet beautiful for my humble abode π
Salaam.
π
It takes good backgrounds
For stories to come alive.
Time, place or coloursβ
β-
this is the finally-decided colour for the background; just the background after many months, making sure this gift is loved by the birthday lady β thanks for your patience and understanding, Mbak βΊοΈπ
No billowing smoke
Of incense sheβs whispering
Melodies that free.
β-
i prayed that all that i love are happy and healthy wherever they are ππΌ
i prayed that their soul is reborn free and dedicated to humanity wherever they both are ππΌ
rike jokanan 
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