I thought I am kind But no, Dogs are kinder. I thought I am strong But no, Dogs rock my heart. I thought I am me But not Yet. Dogs know who they are, They live as dogs As they are. I live as what I want to be, Even When being inhumane human Is what gives me benefits.
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watched this movie in today’s flight and cried — how dogs’ life is more genuine than mine🙏🏼
They’re flying Around colours and shapes In a garden Where the gliding fragrance And dripping nectars Invite them To celebrate One phase Before the next.
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in Subak, Ubud wearing new clothes from Sukawati market (only for SGD30) and butterflies in my tummy 😁
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—
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i went melukat with one of my best friends in Pura Pacampuhan Sala on Saturday to welcome Seclusion Day and Ramadhan month — it was such a blessing for both of us
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.
walking along Sok Wayah’s rice field the whole morning on Sunday
after a long walk, Pukako’s drink and sweet potato is the best choice 😎
I said to angels Near me,”Tell my love there’s love In your flapping wings”.
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I was about to send some pictures containing angel numbers (twin/repeated numbers) to a friend who has been in love with especially 333, 3333, 33333 and all the repeated angel number 3 when realising that that friend was not in the list. Where was she? Maybe she unfollowed me? But why?
When checking in other friends’ lists this person was not there either, both in follower and following ones. Ahhh! Maybe she was deactivating herself?
As I don’t have her mobile number, I checked it with her best friend and he said “Yes, she has done it now and then. You don’t realise sometimes your list shortens? It might be her.”
Ahhh! Ok, ok…. 😊
She’s not lucky. The photos with her angel number are now for you all. 🙏🏼
Lessons? Things unknown, Still unknown, maybe won’t be, Solved with acceptance—
—
Oftentimes people make the biggest mistake because they are young, because they are stupid or because they are not clear of what they aim at in life. At least that is what my core circle has agreed.
Many people reject to go for health check earlier only to find that they have really bad health problems too late to manage through life style change— too old or too weak and can only be managed through surgery and/or medication. This happens a lot around me. They would say “I am ok. I am healthy. No symptoms. It is just light headache. It is just small numb. It is just light coughing. It will get better soon. Blahblahblah.” And boom! Big troubles come (almost) late!
Do health check without waiting for intense symptoms. Don’t underestimate a pinch as it can be a punch.
Many people think buying property can be done at later age. They prefer buying cars, branded stuff, etc for the sake of high prestige. They would say “I want to enjoy my single life. I still can live with my parents. Why so hurry? My spouse will buy it for me later. Blahblablah.” And boom! Property price soars high in just some years and those branded stuff investment can’t cover the desired property.
Prioritise property (although at the same time some fancy stuff can’t wait). Of course this is not applicable to the haves who can buy whatever they want.
Certain people overshare for the sake of feeling guilty and trying to explain excessively. I am one of them— once tried to explain why and why just because I was afraid of being judged. And so I shared something that I promised to myself would keep it for VVIP circle of mine. And boom! The humiliation and disrespect that came back to me has made me feel like a biggest moron and worthless in the universe. It is taking time to accept the total stupidity about (blind) love.
Don’t overthink. Don’t overshare even with someone that you love the most if there is no clear foundation.
Aaaahhh!
Life is a school whose next classes can only be entered through a bunch of lessons learnt because of failures and wrong doings which look unforgivable but actually truly forgivable. 😘
There is no right or wrong. What is there is only acceptance and lessons learnt.
Salaam.
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make a beautiful string of beads from the lessons learnt; then life is counting wisdom 💝
One by one they fall, Petals decompose to soil, Fertilising life—
—
when i see more fine lines under my eyes, i feel blessed that i am alive up to this age; i wish to live longer with the same amount of love or even more 💝 there is no regret for all are signs and turns to the home 💝
The green of beauty was there Until the mist slithers around And hides what was seen.
Nature is a mystery Unrolls its scroll slowly As if not wanting to hurt The hands with which it is held.
The mist though will be beautiful Before it is kissed by warm air That whispers a song singing “Melt away. Morning thanks you. Day, noon, after and night truly love you. If space unvoiced between trees scripting can’t connect the dots, only light can do.”
In no time the sun is rising, Then the mist is missed.
That is how the story begins.
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Thanks, Michael for allowing me to repost this picture to illustrate my verses. God bless you.
Fly, leaf with the wind Pushing you to where you go For joy and safety.
—
near the wing, near the emergency exit — both safe area yet the most critical for action, while extremely sleepy; it doesn’t matter, the passenger (in mask) sitting next to me said “let me open it in case of emergency, you may sleep” — what a nice flight: sleeping in a calm flight, guarded by an unknown angel 🙏🏼
Time is a fortress Protecting from memories Of love that once bloomed.
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i bought a rose to tell myself that some emotions will soon fade away like flowers that wither through time 🥀 especially with very slim memories in store 💝
Met In a circle Glowing In their own lights. No disco ball, No loud music, No expensive wine, No trendy bar, No dancing floor, No smoke, No things fancy, No luxury, None— Oh! They are not that innocent. They gossip those funny facts, They laugh at each others And at others, They munch baskets of food, They drink gallons of water, They sip wine to tipsy, They speak loud and lots, They enjoy some music, They gather humbly. They oopsy WE do it worse Just differently from other decent parties. Ordinary we—
—
recent hot party with good friends; thank you, dear humble life 💝
Between green and blue There is this heart. It adorns this white soul. They adore each other. One hums melodies to the other. The other recites lyrics to the one. One by one the stones are strung. A strand, two strands, three strands— They are jewels that embelish. They beautify the beauty.
Colours, hues, shades, tints In a garden strike the eyes Wandering within.
—
I am on an emergency short leave to visit my mother as my mother is sick. A sister called saying “she doesn’t want to eat”, “she can’t sleep well”, “she doesn’t want to visit her doctor”, “she thinks it is her time”, blahblahblah…. Alamak! Although sometimes we think she can be a drama queen, we start to think seriously when she can’t sleep well.
The second day of my visit she already watered her plants that line along my sister’s narrow garden. She sang along while walking in her house. She ate one big chunk of fast food’s fried chicken that my nephews insisted taken away for her. She has been back to her nature after meeting her children and grandchildren whom she missed who are now laughing with her at every breakfast, lunch and dinner time.
This morning she happily greeted the newspaper lady delivering her favourite “Jawa Pos”, the lady said “good morning, Ibu, you look radiant again”. She also had a short chat with her front neighbour about rain, cats and plants.
I think sometimes you just need to meet someone to be healthy. 💗
Yesterday morning I joined her watering the plants and took pictures of some of the blooms that have always made us all smile.
Salaam.
java tea — we call it “kumis kucing” here
jasmine sambac, everlasting fragrance — her favourite
zinnia, the humble beauty
white bougainvillea, the tough beauty
orchids at the left side of the gate — “your sister is a good gardener, she has made your orchids happily bloom!” she said
What can a gift do? Dance in the heart of friendship, Rest in the friends’ soul—
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Kinokuniya has much bigger collection than the bookstore in Changi airport; yet the books I buy for my friends are all from this airport. Is it because my search of books wanted by friends is always ready here? Or is it impulse buying? 😂
It doesn’t matter which one as long as it is for a good friend.
rike jokanan 
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