Tag: journey

Two love birds singing
In a cage full of good food.
A choice to a love—

—

Love is…. ?

Damn! I can’t define it except that it is sometimes misunderstood with lust.

That it is often symbolised with a heart shape. Maybe most human beings believe love comes from the heart. Hey! Is that really the shape of a heart? Or just how we agree that it is a shape of the heart?

That it is discussed everywhere but also wasted everywhere.

What I believe love is a verb not a noun so without action, it is muted sooner or later. At the same time love is an energy that cannot be created or destroyed so it is there and will be there, yet it can transform and/or transfer between subjects. Compatibility (chemistry), heat (intensity), motion (intension), what else can change the form of love? (oops forgetting all the physics learnt when younger)…. Anyway, it transforms and transfers (circulates can be another word) between (or among if circulated) human beings. So, accept it.

I believe love is about interest that human being cannot select voluntarily. It is a blessing at the same time a curse. it can be love between two love birds inseparable, or Tom and Jerry entertainingly cruel for either of two, or as cold as Antarctica.

I believe love is the core power generator of life that if removed, life will disappear. Never give up love. Broken heart is just a milestone that brings a human being to deeper and deeper understanding about him/herself. Broken because of a crush? Broken because of family? Broken because of friendship? Broken because of work? Broken because of world reality? A human being can always fix it gradually with anger, disappointment then acceptance. Just don’t be broken because of yourself – you are the most precious for yourself.

I believe that the way someone loves evolves through time, and it will suit the person’s intention never not. There should not be regret of what has happened because of love. Yet it is a regret that some people still choose to constantly send covert or overt humiliation and torture to hurt intentionally and/or to disrespect further to those they don’t love, while the best way should be forgiving or clearly declaring clear disagreement. War is one of them. Yet liked or not, that is the evolution of loving.

This weekend comes with a basket full of lessons learnt, a heap of ideas to pour as blessings in writings that I can re-read someday in the future.

Thank you, Love. You are never wasted.

Alfatihah to all whom I love.

a love locket with a pair of love birds seen in Bangkok airport – I could not resist its charm! now it is a daily friend to my T key love pendant

Luck Vibes

Yellow lucky leaves
Pop up unexpectedly.
Answers to wishes.

—

Dream come true is not always with work only. It might be with some enchanted wishes, self encouragement, ranting when upset, sleeping when tired and beloved ones’ prayer — all acting as the x factor. In a package those can be summed up as human being determination.

Ignore those demotivating and/or disrespecting. They try to distract, but let them be out of the equation for a while. Just blow them a kiss. 😘

Weekend is a bridge between two islands. Walk on it slowly with a smile. Don’t forget to hum love songs. 💕

🍀

never found in my attempt to get a clover pendant to bring my birthday annual staycation wish come true; a pair of clover studs greeted me in Bangkok yesterday – won’t let a chance be a waste 🍀 i feel lucky most of the time – thank you!

Copyright

Is copyright right?
It was not needed until
The rich rob the poor.

—

Flood Lesson

Floods come with big rain,
Worsened by the blocked drainage.
Leaving mud story

—

A big flood happened in Jakarta in Feb 2007. It trapped many people in the buildings for almost the whole day (even longer in some area) or inside cars for at least 6 hours (even more in some location). Those in the office just stayed in the office. We on the road moved inch by inch as only narrow part of the road was “safe” from water — no, no, not dry at all; it was standing water almost like ripply shallow ocean.

The cause of flood in Jakarta is the extremely heavy rain plus bad drainage system in Greater Jakarta.

I was on the road back in 2007 flood day for 8 hours feeling stuck: no food or drink, no toilet (the worst of all the experiences), with random collection of songs played in a music player low bat before even I reached half of a normal journey home.

It was only one day or two of misery; the next year we all laughed at each other’s story. A friend who peed in to a bottle in the car. A friend who decided to leave his car on the road and went home on foot finding the car moving far away from where it was left the next day. Some friends who cried afraid of losing chance to meet the family but the family especially children thought that flood was fun time. Many friends whose floors and walls were messily coated with mud mixed with rubbish and creepy crawly after the flood and they found stuff that were lost for years through cleaning the mud.

We’ve learnt the lessons yet it takes time to fix such a systemic issue. Jakarta, you can!

I’ve learnt my lesson too that tragedy + time = comedy. A simple equation without unknown factor except how much time is stretched. God speed!

Salaam.

simple equation, just 9 no complicated combination

Travel

Blessing is a swan
Walking, swimming and flying
Around garden lake.

—

when I was a girl, I wanted to be a flight attendant traveling around; thanks God I don’t deserve to be so I can be a passenger traveling to accompany them 🥰

Prancing in A Tunnel

A line of this heart remembers
What’s not even in memories.
Flowing clean river hidden in the sky—
The other line of this heart remembers
Only what’s imprinted through relations.
Murky pool standing around the earth—

Don’t have the right to be missed
With these limited memories.
This sky is hidden by the cloud—
Don’t have the right to be remembered
With absence of relations.
This earth is full of locked doors.

Can only miss what’s not imprinted.
Can only remember what’s hidden.
Still beautiful
Still amazing
Yet hidden
Yet secretive
Circled around between hearts
That read what’s not inky written.

There’s an end
To a dream.
It’s when coming true
Or coming dead.
And that’s the light at the end of a tunnel
Of light
Of wide spectrum
In which we’re prancing.

Choose your colour.

—

you don’t remember me, I do; you don’t see me, I do; you don’t hear me, I do; you don’t smell me, I do; you don’t taste me, I do; you don’t touch me, I do — when you close the door, I stay yet I’m blocked from you 💗

Too Good To Be True

Too good to be true,
Yet too long to be untrue;
A dangling long dream—

—

this song is an ever green for a love that is beyond reach 🥰

my sister introduced Frank Sinatra to me through this song; I love you Mbak Yuda, you’re a best sister

strong message from Banksy; thank you, Banksy!

Ocean Welcomes

Ocean welcomes all,
River flown and rain fallen.
Friends in a friendship—

—

A meet up with my first mentor training me in my current profession almost 20 years ago. He and his wife are in Singapore to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and spend this whole day to meet up with me: shopping in Orchard Road Apple Store, browsing around looking for my favourite Japanese restaurant that was found closed down since 2021, having lunch (Indonesian food in Singapore….? Oh my) walking around Orchard Road, taking MRT for fun, enjoying evening coffee in Starbucks Bugis Junction before our farewell.

This wise couple gave me a bunch of advices to be this and to be that…. How lovely this life is to have friends who are willing to share their (personal) experiences for precious lesson learning.

Thank you, Pak Donny and Mbak Maya. See you in Jakarta! 💗🙏🏽

Alfatihah to my dear friends.

three mugs, different content, enjoyed from the same table

Walk Back Not

There’s only one way to leave a forest: its edge. Throw away the doubt.

—

life is too precious to play complicated games; take away unknown factors from the equation and find a home 🥰

Yogyakarta, a place I dream of being a home when all these muscles give up the hardship – maybe yes maybe no, my bothers said; I said again “at least I know it is now my home”

Cold Breeze

Cold breeze blows softly
On weekends, and  on the leaves
Rustling about me.

—

welcome another weekend 💝

What Is Money

Not answered questions:
Those to be pinned with meanings
By them questioning—

—

Surabaya did sum up my medium-length end-of-year holiday of mine. Hosted by one best friend, this 32-hour visit meant much to me: a lot of chat and enough food.

With this best friend open discussion is a routine. Last night’s discussion while driving around the city was everything about money. We both treat money differently. She is a better financial planner, I am a learner.

We used to be curious about what money truly was. Money discussion had always been a hot topic before and last night we both finally agreed that money can be defined as anything according to the one managing it.

We know different types of friends and their behaviour towards money. There are friends who meticulously count money (stingy), friends who think money is a symbol of welfare (social status), friends who consider money is everything (arrogant), friends who consider money is treasure (stupid), friends who consider money is nothing (careless), friends who don’t believe that money is a thing (maybe almost dead), friends who have little money (poor), friends who constantly borrow money (lazy). Complete experience. 🙂

What is money to us? We both don’t have special place for money at the same time we have special space for money. It is a tool. It is the replaceable at times, the irreplaceable at others. It is what it is with given context. We both agree that a question of “what is money” doesn’t need an accurate answer; it just needs honest response. Answer is too rigid and feels like a reaction; response is more flexible and almost a wisdom. Example? If having money makes us think we are more respectable than others, that is an accurate answer. If having no money makes us think we are less than others, that is an accurate answer. If having money makes us more functional as human beings in some situation, that is an honest response. If having no money makes us less complaining and harder working, that is an honest response.

We both don’t expect to be in forever comfort by having so much money yet don’t want to live uncomfortably because of having not enough money. We simply want to have sufficient amount as what is needed in life.

This visit puts me back on track that “life is just like that” at the same time “life is worth fighting for and beautifully living” with good will and a small touch of power from money.

Before driving me to the airport, she commented on my eyes.

BF: Have you put eyeliner?

Me: No

BF: Told you to always put eyeliner. You have one?

Me: Ya

BF: What colour?

Me: Brown

BF: No, no. Try blue.

Me: (frown on my forehead). I don’t have blue one.

BF: Try this. (handing a blue eyeliner to me)

Me: (reluctantly putting blue eyeliner on both eyes)

BF: Look at that! Brighter eyes! Ok, take it. Wear blue eyeliner more.

Me: Ok, as long as not green that turns me to a green-eyed. How much is it?

BF: I am not selling it to you. A tiny token of friendship. Not everything should be paid with money. Thanks for the birthday gift, too.

Thank you. Happy birthday, Madam Scorpio.

See you again.

Salaam.

Manusia

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person

Manusia mengembarai langit
Manusia menyusuri cakrawala
Tidak untuk menguasainya
Melainkan untuk menguji dirinya
Apakah dia bertahan menjadi manusia,
Tidak untuk hebat kuasa atau perkasa
Melainkan untuk setia sebagai manusia.

(Emha Ainun Nadjib)

—

Good morning, Surabaya. You did a lot of moulding to this human being. Thank you!!! 💝

thank you 💝 for making me a human being; I won’t give up moulding this self to be loyal to being humane

On The Move

Off days on the move
Between cities, finding me
Missing one city—

—

This evening we sat down in a cafe which is never my favourite to do. A new friend said “Singapore is the least favourite city of mine.” and I didn’t mind. Yet suddenly something knocked on my heart; it triggered me to miss a home.

The orchids that greet me with no complaint. The books that wait for me patiently. The laundry that stand by until I let them sit nicely in the cupboard. The floor that shines after some mopping. The air that hugs me through rain and shine. The warm feeling of safety and security.

How I miss myself in a home which I officially call a home. A weird feeling about Singapore that is truly now to me a home.

See you soon, my humble abode. 💝

Salaam.

missing a pink lily, I’ll get one when I’m home 🙂

Visit

Learning, life, Map It!, Poetic

Garden of the death
Where pray and wish are whispered
To eternity—

—

gate to the bathing pool for women; women should at least take ablution before entering the graveyard complex

gate to the graveyard complex of kings of Mataram; visitor can only enter this enclosure by wearing Javanese apparel: *kemben* for female and *surjan* for male

as I didn’t want to wear *kemben*, I preferred not entering the graveyard complex and decided to take some pics (with my bag) under a tropical fruit tree called *kepel* aka *Stelechocarpus burahol*

Friendship

Learning, life, Poetic, Those People

Hello, dear friendship.
This ship is sailing smoothly,
Storms don’t ruin our cruise.

—

Four are (fake) backpackers. One is (true) camper. We all sail together in a ship called friendship.

Alfatihah.

💝

a visit to a best friend’s youth center, this woman dedicates her life to accompany those needing support; the main house is for the classes, sitting room and kitchen; the front is a *pendhopo* for bigger discussion group plus tiny *senthong* for library

a visit to a best friend, a Javanese dancer cum lecturer, the wife of a late most well-known puppeteer in the country and the mother of a most sought-after teenage puppeteer in the island 💝 god bless her and family 💗 dear photographer, why do you always block me in group selfie? 🙃

Yuki after playing with my dress 😍 hey, you’ll meet a vet , you’d better watch out 😁

Feel Good

Learning, Map It!

Don’t let anything and anyone be a happiness snatcher even if they hurt you unintentionally or intentionally.

—

Feel good is successfully deciphering the codes in my life.

final hunt of interior doors and window done!

4 windows, 3 doors – not easy to find lovable ones in tact in high quality; thanks to an antique collector who is willing to let go off his collection to me 🙏🏼

Green Backyard

Learning, life, Map It!, Those People

The green yard behind
Is where greets and smiles soft-land
On the plate and glass.

—

Jiwa Jawi’s my backyard – found that the owner is a good friend of my best friend’s. she briefed me about the environment and seems that i can only raise cats, not dogs 😁

torch ginger aka *kecombrang* one of the major herbs grown within Jiwa Jawi, the more than 15,000sqm-garden-home

with neighbours to be after 6-hour chat filled with warmth laughter and experience sharing 💝 I humbly thank you!

A Home before A Home

Learning, Map It!, Poetic

Wondered about home.
Has wandered finding a home.
She’s learnt she’s a home.

—

Feel good is feel home wherever she is.

not bored (yet) with this place, d’Omah is my *omah* before my *omah* is fully ready for weekend getaway

Mbah Petruk, you’re not supposed to be in my bathroom – ladies only 😆

Good Chat

Learning, life, love, Poetic

Good chirp of two birds
Fill the air with random songs
Above golden trees.

—

Time flies when we spend it with those we love. How would I not thank this life for giving me abundance of them? Good to have a holiday at home before spending more holidays outdoor faraway from them after this. 💝

I am blessed. 💝

installation art of two golden birds – good time is a chat of two sisters remembering the sweet and the shit 😊

Be A Dog

Bob, Learning, Poetic

Excitement rises.
A dog runs after food bag
Full of dental sticks.

—

If you don’t feel good, walk a dog and run with it when it runs for food. You’ll feel a real excitement. Trust me.

Wishing to feel good every single second like a happy dog. 😁 Prepare good saving of energy!

😁 Vietnam dog is exactly the same as other dogs: toys, food and other dogs

A Cycle

Learning, Poetic

About a nation
That’s almost collapsed and dead.
Life has a cycle.

—

Holiday is always a time to have a small discussion about trivial facts that grows to a more serious discussion about bigger things like a damaged bridge topic growing to a discussion about a nation that starts to collapse slowly and surely.

Nothing is forever. Even if you think you are better, smarter, swifter and richer; it will end either with your fall or your death whichever comes first. How cruel! No, that’s just a cycle.

a damaged bridge (a hot yet stupid discussion on the train from Jakarta to Yogyakarta) – I love stupidity 😁

Sweet Smile

Sweet smile always blooms
To season and deck each day.
Keep it, don’t waste it.

—

not the best airline on earth but always one of my favourite airlines 💝 its flight attendants’ genuine smiles remind me that there is always warm heart at home 😊

My World

Learning, Poetic

My world lies within
Wrapped by the senses without.
A hidden heaven—

—

a window nook, where a book turns into a world 🌥️

Feel Good