Garden's, Beloved Where seasons play with the sun, Weathers with the shade.
Japanese garden layout in Winsor & Newton water colour
i’ve always wanted a Japanese garden in one spot of my yard
i contacted one Japan contractor but they offerred USD8,000 just for the designfor 11*2 size
i politely refused the offer and decided to work on the design by myself and transferred the USD8,000 to my own bank account 😁
now it is ready to execute; i’ll be working with a garden contractor to complete this task; i’ve also found moss and grain loval sources – see you in 3 months, dear Jogja
layout of behind study, near maintenance entrance — yellow bamboo bush will sing when the wind blows
layout of in front of bedroom — no grass, just moss, grain, a few boulders and shrub of hosta; the engawa is a perfect seat to contemplate either at dusk or dawn
Choice of words are leaves Falling, dancing by contexts. Seasons of meanings--
this is one of beautiful books i’ve ever read
need to re-read as after reading both there is different impression and insight i got from those two versions of translation
translation is not merely choice of words, it contains the context where the translators’ mind has been built — context can come from educational background, life experience incl trauma, ideology, etc even up to the translators’ independency towards certain topics
translation is not an accurate tool to transfer knowledge yet it is the best option for learners who need to learn something from different culture through books while they don’t master the language
but too much interference of translators’ contexts will make the translation an interpretation which will unnecessarilypollute the learners’ thinking process
the best option for independent learners is learning the language — i wish i could….
today is about books and paper — reading and throwing away all unnecessary paper
Welcome, Beloved To a home in a quiet house Where heart sings sweetly.
i trained myself rigorously today: no distraction 🤩
and then….
kitchen is always a good welcome home — let me boast my best oxtail soup aka sop buntut sapi and almost frozen pomegranate aka delima & osmanthus pudding 💕
How long How far How intense Does she endure life?
Start slow and steady, Move at constant pace, Travel farther, Rest when needed, Fix technical issues, Read and review, Keep going.
She endures to reach an end Safely, Not swiftly And that's her endurance.
i didn’t meet Sam today, she probably took a break or maybe she knew that the pool was packed (normally only 5 at this hour, 12 today) so she pulled herself back — my 30′ went fast with a lot of interruption, my next is two days from now and i wish to see fewer people so i can train myself better
Sharp eyes take a rest Just for a click before sleep. Resting from details--
doing VIP again which is so close with the stage in which spectators see what the tribune folks are curious about; almost like how my job is done: meticulous, detailed, focus-based, forcing, defining violation, root cause analysis, corrective action, management system, emotionless and in some way cruel — loved by my employer, hated by those not committed 🤠
ignoring details is almost like catching eel with hand covered with coconut oil
finding chaos among harmony is almost a curse to me; now i am pulling back my expertise to find harmony among chaos — outside my job
on the way. yosh!
to my colleagues reading this in silence you know how i love this job 🤠頑張ってね❣️
this is the closest i can be with my favourite singer whose songs were memorised by me and childhood friends like we memorised our own landline number by then
すごい❣️
Noe Clerc Trio from France — the accordion made it so much unique
other than Ring of Fire this duo is another permanent “performer”, the ones who warm the stage not less than the artists — they’re artists, too with their typical Jogjakartan jokes
see you again, syuuu!
Kuntari – amazingly incredible! i could not resist their beats that resemble Sumatran music; one nephew could not stop rocking our bench following the tempo
my God, this is my fave among those i took by myself — the hues and the moon are like magic
two of 4 founders (Pak Sigit, Mas Butet), advisors (Pak Andy, Mas Iko), the duo
🤍
I didn’t take picture of Gigi Jazz Project performing, pre-occupied with the vibe to sing along and laugh at myself due to the lyrics! 😂😍💕
a different Gigi i’ve ever experienced
this was type of source of heat for all of us — thank you, dear fire
if time allows, i’ll see you again next year, dear Bromo nature — you are amazing
Sometimes her tongue is too sharp But don't blame her tongue, It's her eyes too sharp But don't blame her eyes, It's her brain too critical But don't blame her brain, It's her rationale too weak But don't blame her rationale, It's her research insufficient But don't blame her research, It's her data too narrow But don't blame her data, It's her survey not detailed But don't blame her survey, It's her objective not well conveyed But....
She writes love poems. Yet they get angry, not knowing that She just expresses naked truth.
She hopes that she is not exposed As her poems are limited edition.
Big picture, my love Everything and every one In one golden frame. Let this one story emerge. No eagle eye. Close that eye.
doing tribune tonight — everything looks small but that’s what big picture is about ♥️ amazing❣️
my current personal project is learning how to see the big picture of matters around me as i’ve been infected with a “disease” called “too much focused on details all my life” — being picky, the kacamata-kuda* type which is very nyebelin* ☺️
Keubitbit, Aceh in ethnic jazz Nusantara — fabulously amazing 💕 unfortunately my video is a whole song so might have violated copyright when uploaded and so marked as private — please enjoy the photos (stage and lighting brought the music performance to the next level)
let’s go back to the stage after the Maghrib/dinner break
Elfa’s Singers! Oh goodness I am back to young heart and full of love!!!
Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire is a permanent performer in Jazz Gunung as this group was started by the Jazz Gunung founders. Ring of Fire will collaborate with some guests in Jazz Gunung playing the music arranged in many different ethnic music genre in Indonesia. Ring of Fire has shown to many that ethnic music genre in Indonesia is so rich by itself and enriching what’s played through it.
this year is the 16th year of Jazz Gunung Bromo; can’t wait to celebrate its sweet 17 next year 😍
There's so much here Wanting to burst Colours and fragrances That have been hiding In a deep cave For ages. It is gemstones, The petrified blood, tears and sweats Traveling with time and space: Flowing river To the turquoise sea Uniting with You.
How heavy is jar? As heavy as what is forced, Light as what is poured--
RC Gorman’s work of art
today i learnt that one typical problem can be heavy or light for the same person in different situations; or for different people at the same situation — it is always about how we carry the life
A hermit walks in To a cave in a market. His night's never dark, Day's never noisy. He's still When he moves or talks. Centered--
Today is about another batik prepared by Mbak Izzah for shipment from Jogjakarta to Singapore.
Batik Ciptoning
Ciptoning is a Javanese word composed of two: cipta or cipto and ning.
Cipta or cipto means thought, imagination, creativity.
Also….
It means to create or to manifest.
And….
The ning, ening, bening, wening means clear as of water, clear as of mind, quiet, serene.
So ciptoning can mean clarify the thought and imagination or creativity….
Or creating or manifesting in serenity or in clear mind or in quiet mind.
This batik pattern consists of ceplok (clusters) of geometry patterns formed by series of parang, wayang, gurdha (garuda) or wings pattern, bird and some isen-isen (repeated small dots or checks or lines to fill the space among all primary and secondary patterns).
I did talk about parang, gurdha and isen-isen in previous postings. Hope they still can be looked up, or else they should be googled. 😉
There are two wayang characters in the centers of the ceplok who are Begawan Abiyasa and Arjuna; one is the spiritual teacher, the other is the pupil. This is the scene when Begawan Abiyasa teaches Arjuna on how to complete a retreat. Once Begawan Abiyasa completes his task, he disappears and Arjuna has to start everything by himself. Yes, teacher will vanish when student is ready to jump alone — not needed anymore.
What does Begawan Abiyasa teach Arjuna to do?
A common retreat in Javanese tradition is a semedi or samadhi. The samadhi is usually conducted in a quiet, serene place and it is done by calming the mind, composing the body posture and focusing on nothing but the purpose of the retreat– can be anything including something, everything even nothing. That is what Begawan Abiyasa teaches him to do.
In wayang world a special retreat like this is normally done before a knight goes to a battle against raksasa or gandharwa that are representing evil energy of the world. Arjuna as a famous knight of his ability to survive a long retreat, his nature of complete human quality (including but not limited to naughtiness and ambition) and his high skills of warship; is assigned to spend from time to time for a retreat more often than his siblings; while Begawan Abiyasa is a maestro of spirituality in wayang world and so is trusted to guide a knight to face his impurity.
When doing a retreat, Arjuna uses a different name as he doesn’t want people to know that a royal family member is among the commoners doing a retreat. And that doing a retreat is a secret activity, he doesn’t want to be disturbed by commoners who want to take selfie with him. 😃
He is named Begawan Ciptoning.
Begawan can mean some: hermit, escatic, retreatant, recluse, solitaire, anchoret. In some way it can also mean maestro.
Ciptoning is to describe what Arjuna is doing during that period of hermitage. He is composing himself physically and mentally in serenity in order to achieve purity in his thought, imagination and creativity. He contemplates in silence among the crowd within himself, fighting against all distractions to survive the retreat and to finally get a clarity on how to manifest the everything or something or nothing that becomes his purpose of retreat.
Begawan Ciptoning will only end the retreat when The Undescribable blesses him with what is needed to go back to the “real world”, “to fight against the evil energy”.
When he is done with the retreat the begawan turns its meaning and value from hermit into maestro!
😳
Long story short please, Rike!
Batik Ciptoning is a special batik for those respected spiritually in Javanese early tradition. It was worn by those achieving certain levels of hermitage or having the quality of a spiritual maestro and so can provide guidance to others “lost” in the “search of meaning of life”. Those people shall go through repeated cycles like what Begawan Ciptoning has gone through with the guidance of Begawan Abiyasa.
It is now though worn by anyone who loves the pattern or one who prays that s/he is able to reach an enlightment in her/his own journey of life.
Gosh! My writing is broken pieces. Many to write but my thumbs need a retreat….
💕
my pieces of batik Ciptoning ready for delivery ♥️
Who's a knight who shoots? Archer who knows the bull's eye And bow and arrow--
Satria manah (satrio manah) is a Javanese phrase formed by two words:
1. Satria or satrio that means a knight,
2. Manah that is derived from the word panah (archery in Javanese). Panah (Noun) is changed to manah (Verb)
As name of batik pattern should be incorporated with wisdom, the interpretation can be built with some exaggeration or maybe slightly drammatical structure. And so, satriamanah is not simply a knight who shoots anything but it is intrepreted as a knight who shoots accurately at the heart of a lady.
Life of a wise can be as light as shooting a heart; yet as hard as shooting at the right spot so that it won’t hurt the heart; it even will make the lady fall in love harder with the knight.
Is that even possible?
I don’t know. Not a knight, am not a wise knight. A lady, am the lady whose heart should be shot by a wise knight. 😁
Another fun fact this batik is usually worn by the groom-to-be’s parents when they are officially proposing the bride-to-be in front of her family. The groom-to-be may also wear this batik when he is with his parents during the marriage proposal. Unofficially? the man can propose the woman personally before introducing to each other’s family.
What batik should be worn by the bride-to-be in the marriage proposal? It is batik semen rante. What is that? I will talk about it next year when the semenrante is ready to ship to me by Mbak Izzah. ☺️
This batik has given me a light heart and a good laugh after a long day.
Don't overestimate me, Beloved. My victory won't be like yours.
You win a business tender. You build a business empire. You rob the hearts of the best men. You steal all eyes with your body.
No, I don't. I win a big basket of laundry And make them stacks of folded clothes Wrapping me in daily commute to office or To fields where I squeeze my wisdom out of best standards or Just at home wander around digging what I can boil.
There's no dilemma. There's only heart Rocking in a sea of abundance Misunderstood as distraction.
Sit still, Beloved When world is noisy and busy With laughters and cries.
i thank god that my dilemma is only between whether to read some books or to iron my clothes — not so complicated and i it only happens at the weekend; the rest is just to work and to enjoy after work 😘
it is what it is as weekend is a list of household chores in silence
This lunch is coming from That evening noisy kitchen. This calm evening is coming from That afternoon hard work. This glorious afternoon is coming from That morning humble smile.
That that passed Has left What is blessed.
full set – いただきます❣️
tempe, beancurd and duck — all fried; btw, i thought it was chicken until i chewed the flesh 🫢 i’m such a bad chef who didn’t check the label, just took it from the fridge and threw it to the boiling water and tadaaa!!! 😁
Hi Pretty! Your timing is mine. You greet me when I've lost hope That you're still excited to bloom. Life is mysteriously turning Hopelessness to light steps To what's called Keep going.
she paused her blossom after some time moving to the balcony — the shower area didn’t offer enough sun by then
just this afternoon when checking the leaves, i found her flowers❣️ you never give up, dear orchid
Friendship Is one fragment of life That keeps me alive. It hits me so warmly With friends' openness. It hits me so sadly With their secret battles.
There is a way and There is the other way To meet again Always one day.
Fauzia Fatchan or Fau or Uud is a great friend of mine. She was one supporting badass in uni time; she was an objective wall between those cheating and those with integrity. Her critical thinking would make those cheating to know their “no worth” and at the same time make those with integrity to humbly stay composed.
She’d been my best discussion buddy in all topics! Politics, social, economy, culture, religion, spirituality, education, poverty, conflict free mineral, business, sex, romance, etc. She would tell me I was misled when I had insufficient data to say my analysis. She would tell me excellent when my opinion outsmarted hers.
She yet would laugh her shits out when I broke my heart romantically.
“You are more valuable than those underestimating you or ignoring you!” That was a voice echoing until now.
She is the one I name a perfect friend!
I haven’t talked with her for the past 4 months as we both had been tremendously busy. She’d been managing her rare earth mine in one of big islands in Indonesia.
She is now battling against a rare disease, leaving no chance for me to hear her voice anymore.
I called her through video call by her brother’s help. I believed she could hear, she didn’t say anything but she moved her mouth everytime I called her name like saying something.
I love you so much, dear best friend.
I love you as an honest friend.
I love you as a proud Indonesian.
I love you as an extraordinary human being.
I love you as you!
Dear, Fauzia Fatchan. Even if I can not meet you again, I am honored to have lived as a human being knowing you.
See you again in eternity, my dear…
❣️
If we both have time, we will meet again, that was what you said in our last conversation.
I am sorry that I told you all my battles while you’d been in the same one, my dear. Please forgive me.
From a broken hearted friend because of your condition….
Is there anyone Before & After Me Leaving Without permission?
None--
It is a consent that forms Life, A period where You & I Meet at a dot on a ring.
salam, dear shrine where heart and soul escort body to whisper all secrets
Kameyama Shrine
before cleaning – looked like birds loved to bathe and leave some feathers as token of gratitude
after cleaning – no one asked me to clean this, i just felt that i needed to give Japan a small token of gratitude and Kameyama Shrine be the one to receive it
always praying someday I can come back to that shrine. I will tell her that she did give me amazing vibe in my whole visit in Kameyama. Shrines, mosques, temples, churches and other places where human beings whisper their heart and soul out have always been a charm to me.
enso – there’s a dot where two extremes meet and form balance to ensure life flows
rike jokanan 
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