Tag: journey

Romance is a dimmed space under a dome bedazzled with glowing stars.

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dear glowing stars, let’s celebrate this light warm heart…. dear clean sky, keep being a space for this light warm heart…. dear centred earth, hug this light warm heart in a serene mood forever

Love Eat or Love Pray? 🥰 (sharing)

Learning, Map It!

I can’t know anymore what makes this area special for me, whether the Masjid Sultan or Wardah Books or two favourite restaurants here. Anyway at least two are in must-visit list at the same time. After visiting Masjid Sultan to submit charity from my fellow Indonesian, today’s preferred was Hokkaido (halal) ramen as Wardah Books was closed and the Turkish restaurant was too crowded — I don’t like crowded restaurant.

FYI, Masjid Sultan is surrounded by hundreds of restaurants and shops; it is an equivalent with old-time mosque which was always built around market place in order for people to reach it in no time.

When I meet friends in this area, it is either with a statement “let’s meet up at the mosque” or “meet at *** restaurant” or “Wardah Books this time?”. There is one question that my friends and I like to ask each other as either teaser or respect: “eating 1st or praying*) 1st?” The answer?

*) praying here is not a flash pray before starting activities  like simply saying “In the name of The Gracious and The Merciful” but praying is around 5-10 minutes protocol that is normally done by fellow Muslim.

Group #1 (religious friends, they can pray “forever”, wow!): Pray first. It is more important than anything including eating. We should prioritise God who has given us everything, others can wait. Don’t make God jealous.

Group #2 (rascals, will let you pray while they start eating): Eat first. God won’t force you to pray when you are hungry. Better you eat remembering that you will pray rather than you pray and your thought is wandering around all kinds of food.

Group #3 (clown, bitter that makes all chatters jokers): Don’t ask me, I am fasting everyday because of having no food at all and so I don’t pray because I have nothing to thank for.

Group #4 (good jugglers, like Group #3 but to the next level): Why so picky? Can’t we do both at the same time? You can choose at the mosque or in the restaurant!

Some jokes are actually dead serious that the way people respond can either be considered as intelligence or harassment or abuse rather than as just fun. Yet I share mine as part of showing how religious comedy exists among Javanese Muslims (there are way more that I will never share publicly to avoid misunderstanding and misinterpretation); no harassment or abuse whatsoever. I even see philosophy in many if not all jokes. 😝

Ah! Life is so rich, why feel no good just because of one point of view?

Salaam.

About Masjid Sultan or Sultan Mosque

more than just a bookstore; my Arabic class was here by then

About Wardah Books

About ICHIKOKUDO

this is how Hokkaido (halal) ramen looks – eater can select ramen with light-consistency broth that’s why I like it yet the presentation is not up to my expectation: messy kelp, wet spoon, no wet tissue 😌

The Right Pink

Learning, Poetic, This Person

The rose apple is pink enough to be harvested. It’s the right time.

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waiting for the flight home, once again looked at the pink Lucy and once again blessed this key ring “will definitely be suddenly Lucy Van Pelt to the snobbish and to the arrogant” 😇

About Lucy Van Pelt

They Call It This, I Call It That

Or I call it this, they call it that. It is it. Pronouns that fool around—

Some know, like telling. Some know, don’t tell enjoying the fun of knowing—

Some names are easy. Some are hard. All refer to one uttered many.

Some are fooled with words, some with views, lots with both. Few are clear with both

Which one is called a blessing? Ah…. Choose a door and say your oath.

Salaam.

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they call it red anthurium, i call it anthurium

they call it golden shower orchids, i call it oncidium

they call it layered yellow alamanda, i call it alamanda

they call it fragrant orchids, i call it orchids

they call it patterned pink rose, i call it rose

Travelers


We are all
Full time travelers
Visiting space of everywhere
Staying in faraway nowhere

Oh, Beloved.
Listen to the whooshing comets
Telling you flash news
About your singing heart.

Oh, Beloved.
Look at the satellites
Showing you hopes and vibes
About your cheering head.

We are all
Full time travelers
Finding space called a home
Among houses that were loomed.

Found!
After lost—

Thank you, Love.

—

Super Charged

Learning, Map It!, Poetic, Those People

Super charged young boys can beat super charged old champs just with light laughter.

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two boys joined our group to go river-rafting

while the adults were resting after 1-hour rafting before the next 1-hour, these boys were playing

only one succeeded 😂 the other fell down on to the boat soft floor of the swift waves in Ayung River 😀

Shadow

A shadow haunts me.
How peaceful and safe knowing
One’s walking nearby.

—

it’s chicken and egg, who’s shadowing whom? me or you

Fastfood

Life pace gets faster,
Food follows the same pattern.
Time and space collide.

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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.

😘

*urap* Bali 💝 is more greasy compared to *urap* Jawa, both are superb!

*sate lilit* is Balinese special skewer; the stick should be lemongrass

*balado terong* – not so good in the most recent restaurant but still better than French fries 😄

Old Bone

Old bone works so hard
To chase young heart. Worth doing
For meaningful life—

—

that’s not alcohol, that’s green melon flavour syrup 😀 my two brothers could get mad at me if I feed them the R-OH substances 😊

they rock! i now be a careful rider 🙃 “where’s your young bone, Mbak?!” 😂

Morning

Learning, Map It!

Morning gives her vibe with fragrance of dews to start a day that is bright.

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our view is a small *pura* (Balinese Hindu temple) for the surrounding villagers at Dedari river bank to pray when they are nearby and a bit far from their houses

Sky’s Blessing in Uluwatu

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!

heavy rain + heavy wind the whole day which only stopped right before until almost after Tari Kecak show, hundreds of human beings from different parts of the globe experienced the same happening that might result in different memories— a nostalgic one with these boys, splashing our bodies and bags in hugs with blessing sky water 🥰

the start of show, the blessing water took a break

in Javanese and Balinese tradition Rama and Sinta is a couple adopted to depict true love — in my opinion, no! I think it was boring to be a wife of a great (almost) perfect king so Sinta purposely put Rama in a love trial to test his love by letting herself be in a kidnap trial without fighting back against the kidnapper and all its drama 😄

Rahwana came in his own *buta* (giant) form to kidnap Sinta and he failed

Sinta was kidnapped by an old weak polite beggar who was actually Rahwana

Jatayu, the bird that visited Sinta in Alengka’s palace

Anoman Obong — in Javanese and Balinese culture Anoman is considered a monkey demigod who is very very very old butq energetic in moves and young in heart 💗 fyi, “Anoman Obong” scene should be with sunset background in normal weather 💗

almost the end of show, restart of blessing water from the sky

I Left

I left my flowers behind a closed door to be beautiful stories.

—

home alone and still continuously blooming; when I am home, they will be a history of blooming flowers left behind a closed door — employ some adjectives to make a factual history an extraordinary story 💝

Challenge

Being young in heart is a challenge for those who goes aging sweetly.

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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. 😃

💝

nephews = protectors? no, annoying boys 😘 waiting for the rental car — my official driver and navigator

Gliding

She’s riding the wave
To the North Star. She’s gliding,
Conquering her wills.

—

Love Rain (haiku for lunch)

How she loves pink rain!
Glistening in the blue sky
Swaying to the earth—

—

rain colour is pink 🙄 if you wear pink glasses 🤭

Moon to Cat

Hey, Cat. You smile cute, calming the mood. Wave to me. I am wholly yours.

Hey, Moon. You shine bright, showering the night. Greet me. My paws are all yours.

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Ouch Call! (ranting)

Learning, Poetic, Those People

A stroke of a brush is how universe started. A surprise that lasts—

—

Certain friend is good at the same time destroyer of mood. I have one who can leave me“ouch ouch ouch oooouuuuch” for at least one week. This person loves ouching friends as an ice breaker but to some of us he has made it to the next level. This time he ouched me romantically, the worst of all my ouch experience from him. Call one “ouch caller”.

OC: Ready for a forced holiday? Have fun! Don’t work every night, just every two nights.

Me: (1st ouch) Hmmm ok, Sir.

…. Blah blah blah

OC: How is your romance? Get rid of him. He doesn’t even care about you. Don’t be stupid. You are not a door mat.

Me: (2nd ouch)

OC: What type of man do you want? Am I not good enough?

Me: (3rd ouch, but I have to say something) Hey, hey! Not a good time to talk about romance. Painting here and don’t want to lose vibe in the head.

OC: Tell me then. Handsome? Healthy? Rich? Hard working? I… Am… Everything!

Me: (Laughing like crazy as this person was very right about himself) Are you a sales person of your own product?

OC: Yes! And I’ve been selling my quality to you for the past how long with no buy in. You’re getting older and older.

Me: (OUCH OUCH OUCH) Ok, ok. I have to explain. I want someone whom I can be comfortable being with even when both of us don’t like the same things. Can you, Mr Cruel Oucher?

OC: What! Of course not! When I go to party, you have to go to party with me. When I go to the gym, you have to go with me. When I cook, you have to cook all what I want. Blah blah blah…. You have to do what I like to do! If necessary you should give up what you like to like what I like.

Me: (Still couldn’t stop laughing) You are not. You are not that right person. You are just my ouch person.

OC: Is he still that person?

Me: Yes.

The next is the most ouched one but probably the most accurate to describe a fact.

OC: Then you have thin hope, thin chance. Not compatible. You don’t even know how to party. You don’t even know how to drink except that weak wine. You don’t even know how to flirt. He might not like reading. He might not like art and literature and walking. He might not like biking. He might hate you singing. He might hate you writing. He might hate you touching your hair again and again. You are not his physical type of beauty. He might hate you with your job. He might hate you being honest and independent. He just doesn’t like you as you. Oh! So relief I could say all these finally.

Me: (OUCH OUCH OUCH OOOOUUUUCH and this will last long) You’re right. Very right. Time to stop your ouches, Sir.

OC: Then you still say no to me?

Me: (Mild ouch but I got impatient) You? I can’t tolerate a die hard nerd like you. You cook better than women. You manage money too well; you are stingy! You love your nephews and nieces more than anyone else, you won’t care about me. You work too hard. You eat too much healthy food, I love deep fried. You ouch people too much. Listen. Don’t call me just to ouch me.

OC: Ok, ok. How are you?

Me: Fine.

OC: Broken heart still?

Me: (ouch) Not really, just a bruise and scratch. Will get over it soon.

OC: It will be gone. For you not too soon though because you are not intelligent in romance. Be patient with yourself. (He was calming and that is when everyone likes him, a calm nice guy — unfortunately came too late after too many ouches happened.) Describe how you think about that person and let’s start the real conversation of today.

Me: My universe

OC: I want to throw up! You imagine him as a Chris Martin? Hahaha!

Me: Never heard of him singing hahaha!

Then we started to chat without ouches for almost two hours — a very nice two hours. A good friend to me is that who ouches me but still makes me comfortable with her/his genuineness.

Thank you! 🤝

Chris Martin is My Universe 😁

Disclaimer: blogged with this ouch caller’s consent with one condition “no exaggeration” which is not accepted like he never said “I want to throw up” and never said that he is handsome and rich although he is rich but not handsome 😊

Friends & Love Stories (ranting)

Learning, Poetic, Those People

See this pendulum
Swinging between two far poles
Knowing each other—

—

Someone called me and asked if we could have a dinner. We hadn’t met for many years. Knowing this person was in Singapore, I excitedly agreed to meet. Meeting this person, I was given a shock. This person looked weary and older than one’s age. The excellent appearance and posture was totally gone. That time I felt so blessed for for being me.

Me: I am not a marriage advisor, dear. Not even ever married yet! (That’s after a very long ranting from the friend stopped).

SO: But I know you are the most suitable one I can talk to.

Me: Oh…. (damn wrong, whispered to myself)

SO: …. A broken marriage… !@#$%^&*()_+=-::’<>,./?~~~~~~~~~~ What should I do?

Me: Oh…. (proven wrong talking to me, whispered to myself)

SO: …. Divorce is painful…. !@#$%^&*()_+=-::’<>,./?~~~~~~~~~~ What should I do?

Me: Oh…. Ummm (starting to show sympathy) I understand how you feel in this situation. Must be painful. Your own stress, the other one’s stress, your children, other people’s impression and words about you, your work….. Everything seems not at your side. I can understand you feel unwanted, useless, bad, irresponsible. Yet decision was made. You just should face it. How? Not sure if my word is reasonable and responsible but I think you just need to keep being you: working as before, doing activities that are still accessible, talking to your children like before, talking to your ex about the children….

SO: You don’t know! It is not that easy!

Me: Oh…. I am so sorry. I might not fully understand it is not that easy. I am so sorry for my ignorance. (told ya I am not the right person, whispered to myself)

SO: How would you survive alone all this time? You seem so happy with your life. Sometimes I regret for getting married too young. Look at you and X and Y and Z. All the singles are happy.

Me: (Oh! A sudden death! I know this would come but too soon, too soon. Let me find the right words. Whispered again to myself ) Ummm…. I think it is not that easy too…. Ummm…. I am happy, yes. Not always, but most of the time I am. Yet I also probably started hard.

SO: You don’t seem ever in hard time.

Me: That’s what you see. !@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@&%%%%%%%%%%%%%.

***this is there, whoever the person is***

SO: So do you think I can survive?

Me: Of course. Although our problem is not the same, I am sure you can. Don’t underestimate your ability to cope with the hardship of life. You are stronger than you think. You just don’t know it yet.

***forgive yourself, don’t be too harsh to self (talk to the hand, Ma’am)*** 😝

SO: You really don’t want to get married?

Me: (This question I never like, never like, never like; whispered to myself, but need to find the best words that won’t cause any further question.) This is out of context; you should not ask me this question. Not that I don’t want. It’s just about time.

SO: Do you fall in love?

Me: Ok, now you are asking me question about me.

SO: I feel good when knowing I am not alone.

Me: (Make sense, but why me oh my God!) Ok. Ok. I can make you feel better. Yes I fall in love and break my heart. And I don’t want to break my heart again.

SO: So you don’t want to fall in love again?

Me: Of course not like that. I fall in love again and again.

SO: With whom?

Me: With my eyes. With my lips. With my hair. With my morning. With my job. With my…. (I saw the person got annoyed but I continued with more things) Hahaha….

***fall in love, be in love, don’t be ashamed of your feeling; it is a blessing although the beloved doesn’t care —not good enough one— or doesn’t know —tell or leave as simple as that*** 🙃

SO: Is it that easy?

Me: Nothing is easy automatically. It takes practice and time.

SO: What if I don’t get married again in the future?

Me: That’s too far away. Think about what you can do today.

SO: Do you think I still have a chance to get married?

Me: Of course if you want! Just find the right person.

SO: How can I find it? How?

Me: (Oh my God, help me before I can help others. Whispered to myself while finding the best words for this troubled person; even an intelligent person can be as dumb as this in one’s bad time) Hey, hey! If I know how to get the right person, I would have been married much earlier. This question is irrelevant.

SO: Hahaha……! Sorry, sorry! Hahaha……..!

Me: (Ok, at least I made you happy, whispered to myself. Mostly smiling among listening to the ranting, I enjoyed a perfect night — no rain, enough breeze…. Hours can feel like minutes…. On and on and on and on until midnight. Whispered to myself.) Cinderella has to go home, my friend. Or else, she will be back to be Cendrillon.

***been there done that and not anymore***

SO: I feel so much better. It feels like I find myself again. Maybe I was too preoccupied with not important things that I thought I lost the person I had known so long, myself.

Me: I might be like that in the same situation, maybe worse.

SO: Thank you very much.

Me: (I didn’t do anything. Just sat down and listened and responded to you. Whispered to myself for how many times heaven knows) The least I can do. It is good to meet long lost friend. Welcome back.

***there is always reason to be happy; make it! it takes time but your happiness is the ultimate goal of your life; self align!***

Dear friend, I know you’ll read this with a smile. Get better. See you some day. When meeting me again, make sure you look nicer.

Lesson learnt: Be patient with those facing fresh-from-the-oven problem. Don’t judge. Be a good listener. Don’t try to be a perfect advisor because you are not. Be yourself. Don’t get offended, someone in trouble may unintentionally disturb you.

Music

History’s a script with which she commits a dream to be in a home.

—

thinking of you is drawing note in life; one at a time… 💝 i just want a home, not more not less

letting go off you is drawing note in life; one at a time 💝 i just want a home, not more not less

Love

Learning, love

Love is dark chocolate. Heart throbs, eyes wide open then dehydration comes.

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😃 love no matter what, it is not wasted even when the loved one doesn’t know or doesn’t care 💗

Good Will

Who will give good will
Will be given good will then
Everyone feels good.

—

when you requested one person to take your photo but everyone volunteered 😂

Travel

She travels with all galaxies and intentions to find a home. Sweet.

—

all are rotating and revolving, traveling to find a sweet home; wherever home is, they travel — ***everlasting*** home is here now 💝

Wings Slap, Water Splashes

Love, your wings hurt me by slapping water. Fine, you’re having fun. Get drunk.

—

ripples, waves and wings— turbulence featuring beauty 💝 enjoy the drunk in silence before enjoying the drunk among the crowd 🍄

Love Songs

She hums rhythms that no one can enjoy
But those hearing the thin breeze
In the falling dusk.

She recites rhymes that no one can feel
But those touching beads of dew
In the brightening dawn.

Not sending wishes anymore
As whispering is louder in her own ears.
Intention might be misunderstood.

Not delivering messages anymore to you
As journaling is clearer to her own mind.
Linguistic might be multi-interpreted.

She sings love songs sweetly
To re-orchestrate in many genres with the paradise green birds
She keeps safe gently in heart.

She rewinds her heart slowly
To become millions of forever notes turning into eternal air 
She meditates sacredly in silence.

How beautiful love is with love songs
Unheard!

—

this heart is loaded with notes of love songs that can be played only by those in love with each and every second ticking on the clock ⏳

Thanksgiving

Fruition has marked the days of drying bloom then farmers sing and dance.

—

my thanksgiving celebration is every day 💝 mini tumpeng to celebrate my calm day; thank you!

tumpeng is compact coned rice, a very meaningful shape in Javanese tradition – a climbing up to strive a goal

Blooming

Continue blooming. Time brings seasons and moments unwrapping secrets.

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The best secrets are those explained by the beauty of silence of the blooming orchids. Thank you, Gusti Allah for all your love and guidance. I’ll keep all secrets secret like I take care of all my beloved orchids. I’ll keep all love love like I take care of my own self.

Salaam.

Quarter

Life is a quarter
With many doors to access.
Ever rendezvous—

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me, Mel the mother of groom and Choo photographed when we were having good time after the wedding matrimony 💝 souls meet for a good reason, no bad reason at all 😘

Love Is