Old

I'm old, Beloved.
Inch by inch closer to the gate
Of letting all go.

the wooden structure at the end of the bridge used to be a ryokan that is not in operation anymore, it was left with its old days’ golden era — it is now deserted and decayed

a reflection of getting old?

A conversation with best friend about definition of old and our getting old.

Me (M): By UN definition we are not old yet. Old is those above 60.

Best friend (BF): That’s just to make the working age later and later.

M: So we still have at least 16 years before officially called old by the definition.

BF: By then they define old as those above 70.

M: I guest human beings push the boundary to stay young.

BF: Young and immortal?

M: I don’t want to be immortal.

BF: You will if you have children. You will want to live seeing them grow up, get married, give you grandchildren, and so on with you healthy and happy with them.

M: They want it, too? Only if I am around without any care needed from them I guess.

Both of us: πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

About the UN definition of old

Home

A home, Beloved
Where kitchen's fun and alive,
Diningroom's smiling

i’ve been living away from my parents since young age and before that i loved to cook for everyone in the family; i was not a best cook but my father loved most of what i made — now i realize why i prefer home cooking (both mine and my friends’) to the restaurant food — most home cooking is loaded with fresh ingredients, less additive substance and lots of sprinkles of love

my friends are visiting soon and i am thinking of cooking for them — excited! πŸ’•

Home

I'm flying back home
To weave a new home that's warm
And knows only you.

—-

Muraksara Nusantara — “Indonesia’s human beings” in Soetta Airport domestic arrival, in transit before Singapore

Yes, I know most of them thanks to their roles and professions in Indonesia — I respect most of them due to their integrity leaving me no doubt that human beings are created to inspire others positively, question some due to their fake impartiality whether their people or their “political promotor”

we Indonesian will never forget how these two men of two poles apart life principles fought for the birth of Indonesia that is formed from hundreds of sultanates and kingdoms — asked, I would vote Hatta first as a man of integrity for his loyalty and honesty, while Soekarno for his speech and bravery

Home

Home, Beloved,
When all faces lining up
Remind me of you.

—-

Rupa Buwana in Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Banten — faces of those people of the world who have outstanding contribution — I am still asking “why there is no Steve Jobs and Emily Dickinson? πŸ˜ŠπŸ’•

Indonesia’s 1st President and Vice President — Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta

Purple

Purple is royal,
Then royal becomes too high.
Let white be ruling.

—-

dots, lines, shapes and colours — i used to love purple until one day white looked lighter to both my eyes and head πŸ’•

when light is growing prettier

Self Portrait

How do you look, Love?
Are you as fierce as tigers?
Or as cute as cats?

—-

picture from Pinterest

selfie is a modern version of self portrait — we can be the best artist we’ve ever wanted and shown the world the best version of our interpretation of our appearance

I love selfie — it is a freedom to see myself, not always good yet that’s me πŸ’•

i tried to paint a self portrait yet the result is sooo artistic that I can’t recognise my own self πŸ˜ƒ i have a friend who is painting not really nicely but able to capture the character of the subjects — i should practice more β™₯️

I think one year is good enough to at least knowing how to capture the character, painting nicely is never my goal

goal: capture the tigerness in my catness and the vice versa ❣️😊

Forgotten

I'm a river
Forgotten when reaching the sea.
Nothing I can brag about this name.
I'm almost reaching estuary,
A transit for this memory.
I won't stop,
Home is soon to see.

—-

how great, how clear, how far the rivers can be; they will be forgotten once reaching the sea — union after separation

Picture borrowed from https://www.neefusa.org/story/water/what-estuary

Weekend

Tell me about weekend.
A basket of laundry,
A bunch of rambutan,
A nap without a dream.
As real as today's rain,
As fabulous as tomorrow's hope.

—-

what makes my nap tight — my laundry, my bone crusher πŸ˜‚

what makes my day sweeter — Malaysia rambutan! β™₯️

Home

A home, Beloved,
Where orchids bloom silently
Giving a surprise.

β€”β€”

can you see a long spike there? how didn’t I see it before my trip? it should have been around for around 2-3 weeks 😍

a bud! πŸ’•

Believe

What should I believe
When eyes don’t say the truth?
Should I believe that
Who dilutes tears with rain water?

Let’s sit together where we can chat
About why I should take your words and
How.

β€”β€”

this only happens when eating apple is not a luxury anymore or when apple is not considered edible β€” life runs in different laps based on what each individual believes

πŸŽ‰

Welcomed

The goodness welcomed
Is goodness prepared. No doubt.
Enjoy all goodness.

β€”β€”

they don’t allow guests to bring in durian and mangosteen to the room, yet they welcomed me with fruit incl mangosteen! I love buah manggis! πŸ’•

Good Days

I’m amazed
Of the days
Passing by like trees on a street marching fast when I ride a car,they’re forgotten.
But you came like a red tree bending down
Telling me β€œStop! I remember you.”

I’m amazed
Of the days
Passing by like white clouds in the sky swimming when I look up, they’re adored.
But you came like silver cloud sprinkling light
Telling me β€œYess…. We will meet again.”

I’m amazed
Of the days
Passing by like regrets deep
down in this heart when seeing a name, it’s untouched.
But you came like a saint forgiving me
Telling me β€œTake care and be safe.”

β€”β€”

I remember that day when I took care of 2 dogs in a construction site near my office β€” now they both are relocated to other construction sites πŸ’•

a very good friend said he remembered that I used to visit dorms whose residents took care of some dogs β€” I’m glad that someone remembers me that way πŸ™πŸΌ thank you so much

I am not taking care of dogs anymore, but only donate to no-killing dog shelters where stray dogs have their days free as dogs without abuse and starvation β€” may all dogs be happy πŸ’• and may the one reminding me of a good memory with the two dogs near my office be happy

sincerely β™₯️

A Pair

You and I, my love
Are everywhere. Two extremes
Composing what’s oneβ€”

β€”β€”

everything is a pair to sum up union

we call it antonym

we call it opposite

we call it antithesis

but we also call it paradox

I want to call it separation that missed union

what would you call it?

Cheese!

When someone says cheese,
It doesn’t always mean cheese.
It is just cheese said,
Not cheese tasted.

β€”β€”

they thought I took picture of theirs after a long walk, actually they were wrong 🀭 they wasted some cheese πŸ˜ƒ

Twins

I am composed of
Twins,
Left and
Right
That dance with
The rhythm of
My heart,
Watched by
My soul.

β€”β€”

what you love brings you twins: experience and wisdom so never complain how heavy the days are, say how days are loaded with twins: experience and wisdom

one week is good to work on the day and to meet up with old friends at some night

balance is what it takes to dance the life

πŸ’•

Life in One Single Word

Flow

β€”β€”

Based on my date of birth I live under the protection of Dewi Saraswati (Goddess Sarasvati). Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, art, language and river. She protects those and inspires us studying and/or preserving those.

The most that I embrace among what this goddess is protecting and inspiring is her protection to river because river means flowing water β€” I’ve probably been forever fascinated by the idea of flowing river.

Like a river, I don’t want to get stuck in one unsolved situation not necessarily because unsolved situation is painful; it is more to me that getting stuck in one situation or being too long in an unsolved situation is boring. When it is not flowing, it is not a river anymore.

I thought someone who gets angry easily just by a small misunderstanding is scary, no.

I thought someone who gives flowers in all happy moments is romantic, no.

Dewi Saraswati on palm leaves is now hanging on the inner part of my bedroom door so when I opening it to start the day, I feel of greeting and being greeted by her after my short wish of gratitude for the sleep and for the back to wake.

the palm leaves with Dewi Saraswati is a handicrafts from Tenganan ancient village, the oldest village in Bali

I thought someone who answers all questions correctly is smart, no.

I thought someone who accepts being intimidated and humiliated is patient, no.

And so on and so forth β€” the first can be called grumpy, the second not creative, the third Ms/Mr Know All, the fourth stupid or weak…. Been there, done that. I’ve also seen a lot like that around me and I decided to step back from complimenting or approving such behaviours. No way, baby. πŸ’•

There is another nickname I give to each of them: they are all BORING, not flowing. Positively it means stability; yet on the other side of the coin it means stagnation.

Please protect me from getting bored and being boring being me. Make me loyal to life while flowing.

Salaam.

πŸ’•

About Tenganan

Good Air

Good air is good hair
Sprayed with some mist after work.
Have a good weekend!

β€”β€”

a good day is hair mist fragrance after ironing and reorganising the books β€” time to watch YouTube

we fight for who owns rendang, but we play β€œtepok bulu” together with so much fun! watch! πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

Poetry

My breathing is poetry.
It brings in inspiration,
Emits meaning.
My dreaming is poetry.
It attracts hopes,
Depicts reality.
My walking is poetry.
It steps on milestones,
Follows you.

β€”β€”

when time is coming, let my poetry be with me πŸ’•

Mochi

Can you feel the excitement,
Dearest
Of a mochi maker
Imagining you chew what
He makes?
Mochi is
His masterpiece
Presented to life
Everyday
Through the excitement of
Your teeth!

Praise
Him.

The mochi maker

β€”β€”

a ball of mochi that I skipped as I was too full after gobbling all other dishes β€” yet I didn’t forget to bless it and the maker

I don’t know who made the mochi yet they truly a group of human beings that amazed me with the softness and roundness of this mochi

see you again! πŸ’•

Crazy

I am crazy about nothing.
You are crazy about her.
A good combination,
Let’s enjoy our own show.

β€”β€”

one Japanese friend sent me a picture of Tokyo Dome of Nov 6 saying β€œNo way you were in Tokyo Dome on Nov 6; you should have seen me among people!”

this Coldplay huge fan friend has watched in Tokyo Dome both days, one day in KL and will do in up coming 2 days in Bangkok

he said he failed to get ticket for Coldplay in Singapore

gonna be 5 times? he said he is crazy; I said β€œyes, you are!”

sent him my location on Nov 6 β€” totally different view and my concentration was to just enjoy the concert; even my friend shot my video β€œtrance dancing and singing along” πŸ˜‚

I am crazy about now and here and sometimes I lose interest to anything around me especially when there is no serious alert sent to me β€” ahh sorry for being so focused 🀭

throwback Tokyo Dome Nov 6 β€” cheers for the day!

Take A Break

Sleep, sleep,
Dearest
As night is welcoming,
Morning is preparing
Another day.
Breathe, breathe,
Dearest
As stars are lullabying,
Moon is cradling
You for the sun.

β€”β€”

signs of true sickness of mine is when throbbing and piercing headache stays almost 24 hours and leaves me not even care of taking off things from hair and ears after work β€” yet that is when lying down on bed is a reward πŸ’•

sleeping without even bathing is a blessing ❣️

Be

Be as happy as
You define.
They do laugh,
You might only smile.
They walk in high fashion,
You might go with a style.

β€”β€”

should be perfectly done, otherwise your days will be mostly miserable πŸ’•

Decisions

This path is smooth,
Many have traveled on it.
A lot of hearts were here
Singing hopes through time.

When sun goes down,
This path is glowing.
Many souls were here
Whispering love through space.

Sun will rise again,
Another day will come.
This heart is here
Promising to grow with the flow.

This heart is deciding
Every step is counted
And dedicated to grow prettier,
Making the path smoother.

β€”β€”

what’s broken can be amended and still beautiful

seeing how life is generous, I can fall in love with the same face again and again; yet when health is getting from bad to worse, I feel this heart is broken now and then

yet life is still generous, so I decide to fall in love everyday πŸ’•

Let The Rain

I was given love;
Rain of love.
I was given blessings;
Rain of blessings.
I shared
And got poor,
Losing love, running out of blessings.
I was broke,
Left out in the dark
Even by those who earned some from the rain.

I am given love
So much love.
I am given blessings
So much blessings.
I don’t so much share,
I want to play alone with the love and blessings.
I am rich,
Strolling the path full of flowers under the rain.

Let the rain pour away
To those genuinely passing my way.

β€”β€”




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Farewell Party

Farewell party
Is tasting the best of mood
That is remembered.

β€”β€”

lunch on my last day in Kyoto β€” a set of Japanese washoku πŸ’•

I won’t be back for work in Japan anymore so I will be back next year in my personal trips; yay! 😍😍😍

About Aoi-Jaya

About washoku

Tongue Twisted

This tongue is twisted
By taste and a language
For a little while.

β€”β€”

I’m having lunch now and remembering one lunch on my first day in Kyoto. Lovely!

appetiser β€” too lovely to eat up 😭

Yuba Sashimi (sea bream tuna) β€” πŸ’•

clear soup made in an individual Dobin β€” no spoon is needed, you drink the soup with the lid

grilled Spanish Mackerel β€”- I could eat another one πŸ’•

Yuba Oke (their specialty)

steamed tofu with vegetables β€” verrrry good!

rice, miso soup, pickles β€” still good but the least I liked 🀭

dessert – persimmon πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•

About Shozankaku Matsuyama

Colourful

Life is falling leaves
Layered colours to decay.
Colourful beautyβ€”

β€”β€”

my life is like a stack of ironed clothes: colourful!

household chores done for today πŸ’• ready for packing

Ultimate Commitment

I can only love me
As me is the closest
One
To
You.

β€”β€”

hello, bitter reality β€” I will take care of you as I commit to myself πŸ™πŸΌπŸ’•

how much hurting the sarcasm, euphemism and talking numbers people intentionally sent to me, it will just hurt themselves πŸ™πŸΌπŸ’•

I won’t send blessings anymore as blessings are free for them to earn by themselves πŸ™πŸΌπŸ’•