Money

Money
Count it
Save it
Spend it

Whatever wanted,
Decided
Through a nature

They grow together.

What a show!
It gives relief
And chokes
At the same.

Hey, Money!
You’re so genuinely
Mirroring me.

—-

One wise friend told us that money will not change a human being into a good one; it only resonates what is.

Look at Scrooge McDuck. He may be naturally greedy and stingy. When he has all those dollars and coins, he doesn’t even pay Donald Duck decent salary as an employee who is at the same time his relative. His money resonates his nature!

Look at Belle. She may be naturally kind and intelligent in a small village. When she becomes the wife of a rich Beast, she is kind in even larger society. Wealth resonates her nature!

Undeniably the only matter most people want to dive in after water is probably money. It makes life breathable they said. Hilariously true, paradoxical.

Note: Money, a non discriminative belief system that will either makes someone’s life truly meaningfully valuable or vaguely temporarily luxurious. Our choice! Remember that $100 here is $100 there, no matter what one’s ethnic groups, race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, political interest, etc is.

May all beings be happy.

diving in to this – what a luxurious experience 😎

Sunset

Sunset, Beloved,
Gliding, hiding in the night
Blanketing the day—

—-

Night and day are protecting each other, a complete package, a balance of duality.

Happy weekend! 😇

sun

Kite

fly!
A kite, Beloved,
A bird all wings soaring high—
Rain, don’t fall too soon.
A kid is running, laughing.
Peaceful sky, joyful earth. Here.
run!

Singapore – May 19, 2022 / 00:26

Smile

A smile, Beloved,
Not to or for. It’s just there,
A ready bounty.

All the lyrics and the music — lyrics were recited, music was listened to. Those lyrics and music were so beautiful that they invited the best smile of the day. A smile that appeared like a good shape coming out of a foggy morning in the moorland. Until some reality struck, telling that those were directed more to a head than a heart, and to somewhere else.

Uh oh!

Well! A smile must still be kept. It is a grace, an alms, a bounty, a gift, a bonus, an appreciation; or from hidden wisdom formed through sedimentation of things annoyed yet forgiven. Or probably a smile is a package of lyrics and music — sweetly flowing. Aaah! Must be appreciated!

Put a best smile on the face and world will smile, too.

May all beings be happy.

😊

because I know any news is worth smiling – bitter or sweet

Time Zones

Time zones, Beloved,
Limit spaces with blurred ends.
Illusion that jails.

One hour makes things different.

Dear, time…. Thanks for the space you just gave for what’s called holiday. Please bless me with nice pace and good vibe again and again like always.

If I forget about your kindness, please remind me gently as I’m fragile. If I take you for granted, please remind me that I’m traveling between your two points: start and end.

Thanks again.

Me that is blessed with both negative and positive yet trying to balance at the zero ❣️

illusion that jails – time zones
sky is the limit – love?

Farmer

Farmer, Beloved,
Waiting for the rain and wind
Patiently with love.

Imagine our world without farm and farmer. Famine, thirst, drought, dead soil, dullness, colourlessness, so bored and ugly!

🌏

May all beings be happy.

not so good crop this time – soil starts getting tired of chemicals

as far as lens can see, green, yellow and blue 💓

the farmers I met when walking down the rice fields – so humble and polite, thank you so much!

Amazing Day, Today

Today, Beloved,
Filled with laughter of past times.
Bitter was, sweet is—
Time doesn’t heal. It turns taste,
Look. All is well. All shall pass.

Rendezvous with my best people, those who are always with ears to listen and to be listened to, with tongue to twist bitterness to wisdom, with foolishness to laugh at what’s not even funny but needing some appreciation.

Some people are amazing with just one reason called trust.

Blessed to have them.

Holiday is getting shorter. Let’s slow the steps and insert more meaningful conversations before it halts.

May all beings be happy.

🐣

TA – May 12, 2022 / 11:46am

Good Morning from Mother Nature

Mother, Beloved
She’s giving more than taking
No end since morning.

—-

This morning I saw my mother cleaned our slim long patch of plants and Mother Nature showed the beauty along the patch. Many herbs and flowers are presenting their prime time. Some of them are preparing their exhibit and yields. Many of them are of no bloom after last month.

I didn’t help her. Let her enjoy the cleaning, let me take some pictures. 😝

Some neighbours passed by and greeted us, exchanging some light chat about the neighbourhood. One of them came to us bringing a bowl of nasi jagung (steamed corn grain) before she went teaching.

A short visit with long lost warmth of a real neighbourhood

May all beings be happy.

one of the aloe vera pots – we harvested it to make some drink 🤩
red lemongrass ❣️ oops my sister said it’s sugar cane 😃
cabe rawit hijau – green bird chili
cabe rawit merah – red bird chili
zinnia
layered zinnia
cream zinnia
kumis kucing 🐈🐈🐈
tapak dara
cepokak
rose obviously
jasmine sambac

and so on….

nasi jagung from Bu Yati, thank you!

Indonesia – May 10, 2022 / 07:28am

You? Where?

You? Where, Beloved?
The omnipresent through air,
Undefined calmness—
Breeze that caresses the leaves.
Breath that blows prayer for you.

—-

🐣

breeze and breath sync up to calm things down

Blinding Light

Blinding, Beloved,
Light when too bright. Dimly bright
Suits these eyes searching
Luminosity and cracks
Following path to a home—

—-

Sometimes light disturbs eyes because its intensity is way too high than what’s expected or needed by the eyes. eyes can only tolerate and work well with enough light. So the more isn’t always the better.

May all beings be happy.

Changi Airport with its lights – this one is a favourite ❣️
❣️
so much thing to miss for the past 2 years, this garden of giant bright dandelions is one of those – let’s fly home

If I’m Missed, ….

I’m a nut
In a gigantic machine.
Even if I’m missed,
The machine still works wonder.
And so be it.

I’m a grain of sand
In a far vast sand dune.
Even if I’m missed,
The land still spreads wonder.
And so be it.

I’m a drop of water
In a cask of wine.
Even if I’m missed,
You’re still having happy hour.
And so be it.

I’m one in billions
In this spinning plane.
Even if I’m missed,
It won’t mean less greater.
And so be it.

Life is so fragile
Yet so dense
Like a spider web
Wrapping a prey
Before it’s dissolved
Away….

And
You are
Written in this tiny matter—

….. so be it.

—-

ribbon wrapping around me, continue living either secretly or openly

Temasek – May 4, 2022 / rainy morning, 4:50

Spread of The Day

A wise teacher said:
If you have a space for shelter,
A plate of rice for meal,
A job for a living;
That’s when you’re blessed.

I couldn’t say a word
To deny.

It’s true
And
Only true.

—-

Enjoy!

today’s spread 🥰 – less than last year, not much time to cook 🐣
specialty for Lebaran – opor 🥰 minus fried shallot that makes it less special to me 😎
😎 not the biggest fan of beef, but this one is super good
want more❣️
💓
🥳

Different Days for One Date

I learn
Life is about counting gates of moments.
It’s not what I celebrate,
It’s how I celebrate.
They call it this,
I call it that,
It’s a day dyed with red, blue, yellow
Yet
Really the day won’t describe its own color when asked.

One more day to celebrate!

—-

It’s not unusual Ramadhan is closed on different days by different groups of Muslim esp. in big country like Indonesia. One group may close Ramadhan on 29th day, the other on 30th. It’s not a big deal (although some noisy people like to debate about it) but it’s not simple things to explain. Overall the difference is due to 2 different methods of seeing the crescent moon visibility in the horizon – one group is using mathematical astronomy (computation), the other physical observation (telescope).

This year most of my family in Indonesia celebrated the Eid yesterday, I in Singapore today.

Without further ado….

Hari Raya Puasa = Hari Raya Idul Fitri = Lebaran = Riyaya = Ba’dan = Eid Mubarak whatever they call it, it is here to be claimed and celebrated, not debated. 🥰

Celebrate moments that are given in life including this festivity. Every moment is a gate to another moment before entering the next gate of moment. After entering Ramadhan gate, now Syawal gate, what’s next? Any should be simply a gate to start or to restart or to continue.

a common greeting in Eid: May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.

Gate after gate before finally the grandest gate ⛩

this is always a favourite object – gate

once more…

Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1443H

Warm Snow

Hi, Purple Crocus.
You must have been hugged by snow,
Now rise joyfully.

—-

How is it possible for a seed to grow if not because of a warmth hug from Mother Earth blanketed by white snow?

May all beings be happy.

I’m so blessed with such a looooong weekend that I say it again and again and won’t stop playing with colours.

✍️

when time allows, colours play as much as they wish to

Roses

Roses, Beloved
Gift born by Mother Nature.
A beau with sharp thorns—

—-

When you love a flower, let it stay in its tree until it passes away by the warmth of the day prince and the coolness of the night queen. It deserves nothing but appreciation; admiration is too fake for a shirt life of a rose.

Weekend, weekend! Very looong weekend!

🐣

keep practicing, not for perfection but for character 💓

Watching Beauty Decomposed

Beauty, Beloved
Bodily fades. Beauty stays
Only as value:
Commitment, integrity.
Forever? Yes, forever.

—-

I won’t exchange anything in me with anything from any other beautiful, rich, sexy women who look happier and more successful because I love the way Mother Nature presents life through this very journey.

Watching physical deterioration is provoking yet amazing. Seeing my own picture from small girl to adult mature, it takes courage to tell myself that who was radiantly strong has grown to this dully weak. At the same time it takes courage to tell myself that who was carelessly egotistical has grown to this wisely humble.

Thanks so much for all the lessons and gifts. I won’t regret. 🐣

May all beings be happy.

Dedicated to: scammers who never stop trying stealing from others in one way or another – if you don’t have money, just stop shopping, don’t use others’ to satisfy your impulsive buying, lazybones!

this old guy is clear and accurate, the other two favourite: the apartment doorman and the psychologist – different spectrum of covert beauty

A Gift

A gift, Beloved,
From hands with a heart tested
Through time to well shine—

—-

Giving is one of human nature that can fade away if the hands and the heart are let be corroded by calculation and distrust.

It’s a gift to have hands loaded with loving and caring heart or heart equipped with loving and caring hands with very little if not any calculation and distrust. Train yourself, dear self to be generous. Just don’t get trapped by scammers who never stop trying to leak tanks. 🙂

Alfatihah.

first medium size canvas (30×30) – preparing a painting for one good neighbour in Singapore

One Step At A Time

Never miss a step
Taken to reach the last point.
Just enjoy. And joy—

——

Enjoy today’s experimental bread. Not the best but truly an enjoyable process. Should have been only one potato

Fasting is always about hunger, thirst and on hold of many things. But it’s worth doing, its breaking is worth waiting.

May all beings be happy.

🐣

🤩 more mozzarella please
😍
🙂
mashed potato and mayonnaise
first and third layers are mozzarella
not as easy as thought
one should be better
rested for 1 hour

Perfect

Perfect, Beloved
Indication of moments,
Not about others—

——-

I thought there was perfection but then life showed me that the only thing truly modified by the word perfect is time or in some situation called moment. Other than those two creatures are never essentially perfect, they are perfect through some agreed points of view.

When it is over, it is perfectly done – time is up. When it is cut, it is perfectly completed – time is up.

And I accept a “time is up” sincerely or forcefully. A let go. A move on. A celebration. A moment to remember. A memory to save.

Oh life…. A set of perfect moments you are!

Thank you!

how do you hide imperfect look? make it black and white, that’s exactly what some human beings do to judge others – black, white — or, slice the thing, don’t see big picture and perfection is as if there 🧐

Singapore – Apr. 19, 2022 / 21:03

Life As I Like It

Good life, Beloved
Surrounded by them most loved
In green serene air—

—-

I like to tell some colleagues that I’ll be the host for our reunion dinner in my home 15 years from now. It must be a good time to talk about how we’re doing what we’re doing.

Though not soon, ‘m looking forward to a long life to make it happen.

See you in a green serene garden, fellas! 🥳

water, greenery, away from parties – life as I love it 💓 – one spot in Singapore Botanic Garden 😍

Temasek – Apr. 19, 2022 / 19:33

One Way To Forget

Away from real life
In real life: watching movie—
One perfect weekend!

——

Good movie is not always that with good cinematography quality, to me good movie is one released and on when there are many to run away from for some time in real life. Sitting in a huge space among those we don’t know feels like a freedom with responsible limit: we enjoy ourselves and try our best not to disturb others who are enjoying the same thing with us in different way — some people scream watching some scenes, I simply close eyes and block ears; some giggle, I laugh loudly; others eat and drink, I enjoy Fisherman’s Friend, and so on, and so forth.

Life is full of blessings if we can see it from the right point of view.

Salaam.

the best place to run away from reality: theatre 🥰

Temasek – Apr. 17, 2022 / 21:15

Strokes of Colours

Woven coloured threads
Build a spread of table cloth,
Freshening guests’ eyes.

——-

While white is the most beautiful colour, bright colours are good choices to brighten most days!

Welcome, tired eyes to a realm of colours.

Salaam.

70% of Kembang Ganyong

Singapore – Apr. 14, 2022 / 21:00

Quietness

It’s dark, Beloved,
I’m afraid. Where should I go?
Walk through the shushed wind.

————

One wise teacher said,”Your path might be dark and you can’t see anything but don’t worry, my child as the hearing works without the light.

Listen. Listen carefully”.

at times I should thank the pandemic…. for making this area the least crowded, so quiet, only sound of water then hair dryer…. the rest is silent air❣️

Singapore – Apr. 13, 2022 / 21:22

History of A Tree

You have to believe
Nature lives with you, ruling
Games in which you are.
See colours. Watch shapes. Seasons,
Patterns count the scores to make.

Fruits rot. Flowers sere.
Leaves fall. Trunks topple. Roots die.
This plant is a name
In encyclopaedia,
Memory of its climbers.

——-

This body has expiry date. I’m seeing it deteriorates in time. What will be something of me left behind?

Temasek, Ramadhan 11 / 5:55am

dear sun, when you’re down, where are you and what are you doing?

Palate The Great Influencer

I want to not eat
But get full. My palate says
“Go talk to the wall”.

—————————————————

My palate is greedy yet very loving and worth loving. It tells me to eat more tasty food although I’m not hungry. In Ramadhan it whispers to me, coaxing me to “collect good-looking food” on the day to reward my good deed through breakfast (ifthar). Damn good influencer!

Dear, Ms Palate. At least please support my weight loss program. 😚

pizza, good when rather hot — ordered at lunch time in the office at 1:25pm
heated pizza at home at 7:12pm — good? slightly dry but good!

Drunk Without Drinking

Intoxicated
Without drink, just dream of you.
Sensing from afar—
From a distance it is you.
The true you? A perceived you?

—————————————————————-

I learn about fasting gradually, starting from child’s fasting to earn presents then knowing it as shoum then as shiyam. All refer to the same activity but have different level of loaded meanings. In Arabic when word is added with one letter, the type of word changes, the voice changes and the depth or load of meaning also changes. The word صوم (shoum) has three letters, while صيام (shiyam) consists of four letters. Therefore, the word shiyam has a deeper meaning than the word shoum. There are even some circles that distinguish the meaning of the two words.

The word shiyam means to refrain from things that cancel (eating, drinking, sexual intercourse) performed with good intention, while the word shoum means leaving things that cancel fasting or not talking. In the Quran the word shoum can be found when Maryam the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus) intended to stop eating and talking after the birth of him. While shiyam can be found as an instruction to do fasting in Ramadhan month.

I wish my fasting flies to the place where even Angel Gabriel (Jibril) can’t go in then my fasting goes back bringing me better understanding of how a human being should serve the living.

May all beings be happy.

❣️

my big breakfast of today, oops greedy stomach 😘