What is dream weekend? Mine is A walk in the green, Smiles under the blue, Jokes with warm sun, Chats with cool breeze, Glanced by rice herons, Chased by crazy ducks, Followed by spoiled dog, Side by side with good friends, Wrapped up with 5-cent luxury in banana leaf And huge thanks to Whomever-whomever.
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i rented a room in a Balinese banjar belonging to a family β it is living as a Balinese in Central Ubud π hey, Pongky! letβs go to the rice field, buddy!
Mount Agung and Mount Batur from distance π
ducks are herded in rice field here – beautiful scenery π
how beautiful you are! π
a farmer burning the dried rice stalk to sterilize the land β donβt say what you donβt know like carbon footprint, what he does is a natural process and nothing compared to what all the industries have done to Mother Earth
turn left
turn right
go straight
follow the flow within, dear self
hi, rice herons! i was blessed to see you π
my best friend said βthatβs your dream island in the middle of rice field!β π
she also said βare you sure not moving to Ubud someday?β i said βi love the rice field of Ubud but when i retire i guess it is gone, so let me enjoy my tiny greenery in Yogyakarta, we can always give friendly visit to each otherβ π
water hyacinths
pisang kipas (Ravenala madagascariensis)
big brands building their hotels in the valley – greenery, please survive ππΌ or you might be gone when i retire
my breakfast was for 5 cent! π nasi jinggo ubi (rice with some yellow sweet yam β clean, tasty and cheap: thatβs food in Bali and Jogja π
I donβt need a place. They can build a palace To place me. Iβm not a queen, Please gift it to someone more beautiful and loving luxury.
I deserve just a space. It can be a table for two To chat with me. Iβm a traveler, Please go on a quest with me through joy and challenges to be.
Let me clean my place For a little space. Now and here With or without Youβ
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i went melukat with one of my best friends in Pura Pacampuhan Sala on Saturday to welcome Seclusion Day and Ramadhan month β it was such a blessing for both of us
About MELUKAT
Linguistically melukat is derived from the old Javanese word βlukatβ which means to βcleanseβ or βpurifyβ.
Melukat itself is understood as bathing or cleansing with water that aims to cleanse both body and mind, to refresh the spirit and dissolve away any negative influences. It is also believed to cure non medical diseases and sickness of the spirit and whether it does or not, a session bathing in holy waters will certainly make you feel good.
It is a symbol of letting go or releasing something burdening within us. It is a ritual that can be performed many times, in fact the more, the merrier as it can only lead to good things. It is also a kind of self purification that is very common by Indonesians of Hindu and Javanese Muslim in different ways as ritual.
Hindu in Bali will do it as frequent ritual, even for tourist attraction in some way.
Muslim have daily ablution (washing face/nostrils/earlobes/hands/feet) and mandatory bathing for women after menses or married couples after sexual intercourse. They also have another self purification affected by original Javanese tradition called βAdus Suranβ or βtaking a bath in Assyura/Suro monthβ in which they will do bathing in Javanese New Yearβs Eve called β1st night of Suroβ. Muslims are also suggested to do cleansing ritual (normal bathing with strong intension) before Ramadhan.
While in Bali why not I committed myself to self-purify? My best friend did it for Seclusion Day. I did for Ramadhan. Both of us did it for health, happiness and joy. π
Salaam.
walking along Sok Wayahβs rice field the whole morning on Sunday
after a long walk, Pukakoβs drink and sweet potato is the best choice π
The sun rises, sets At two ends to tell the time To the open eyes.
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I always become guilty when my nieces say they want to be like me after breaking up romantically. They might think being single is the best choice in that situation, which is true yet nothing is permanent. Donβt be too sure about what you think, thatβs what I always tell those young ladies.
The wedding of my niece recently was truly one miracle to witness after so long she thought she would not trust marriage institution. She finally trusts a man, a lucky one as much as my niece is lucky to be married by that funny guy! π
Behind the wedding scene one of my nieces approached me and asked me questions and here is the interestingly funny abridged conversation.
N: Auntie, you still hope to get married?
Me: You?
N: You know what happened. I believe mother told you. She said to me you disagreed with my decision.
Me: Of course. You are young. No reason to not getting married.
N: You? Tell me.
Me: I am slightly different.
N: Old?
Me: Yes.
N: Are you abnormal?
Me: Like what?
N: Homosexual.
Me: No.
N: You hate men?
Me: No
N: You are afraid of being poor?
Me: I am not. But I wonβt want to be poor.
N: So what makes you single for so long?
Me: The same as you.
N: Trust?
Me: Yes.
N: Do you think I can get my trust back faster than you?
Me: Yes. Look at Dan. It took her only some years to finally getting married.
N: I hope I can.
Me: When you still talk about hope, it means you will get it.
N: But I hope you get married first before I do. Pleaseβ¦
Me: I hopeβ¦.
N: (she smiled and went to fetch some snack)
Sometimes youβve gotta show your beloved how much hope you have to make them keep hoping for the best. To me although I have to pretendβ¦. π
N: (she got back with some snack on a plate) Do you really hope? Itβs been 16 years!
Me: π
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never give up, dear kids β everyone has love to share
Catch my dreams, my love The ones I could not. Share the joy, my love The one I would enjoy. Letβs smile together At the road weβve taken.
You might have missed some dreams Caught by your beloved around. Weβre dream catchers Catching the ones Delivered by the brightest fireflies.
Happy for good Joyful forever.
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iβd always wanted to be a journalist, i canβt for some reason β but sheβs the one reaching my dream even much better π god bless you, Dan! π
This tongue says What belly doesnβt. Under par, Tongue shouts Then never stops complaining. Above par, Belly says Then waits until the next par. Is it fondness or fullness The ruler? Up to you, Said the Tongue Who whines about the taste.
Beloved, Youβve raised a double agent.
Ha!
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what an excessively oily aglio olio, said I β but I was sooo happy that I slept earlier π
I said to angels Near me,βTell my love thereβs love In your flapping wingsβ.
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I was about to send some pictures containing angel numbers (twin/repeated numbers) to a friend who has been in love with especially 333, 3333, 33333 and all the repeated angel number 3 when realising that that friend was not in the list. Where was she? Maybe she unfollowed me? But why?
When checking in other friendsβ lists this person was not there either, both in follower and following ones. Ahhh! Maybe she was deactivating herself?
As I donβt have her mobile number, I checked it with her best friend and he said βYes, she has done it now and then. You donβt realise sometimes your list shortens? It might be her.β
Ahhh! Ok, okβ¦. π
Sheβs not lucky. The photos with her angel number are now for you all. ππΌ
Lessons? Things unknown, Still unknown, maybe wonβt be, Solved with acceptanceβ
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Oftentimes people make the biggest mistake because they are young, because they are stupid or because they are not clear of what they aim at in life. At least that is what my core circle has agreed.
Many people reject to go for health check earlier only to find that they have really bad health problems too late to manage through life style changeβ too old or too weak and can only be managed through surgery and/or medication. This happens a lot around me. They would say βI am ok. I am healthy. No symptoms. It is just light headache. It is just small numb. It is just light coughing. It will get better soon. Blahblahblah.β And boom! Big troubles come (almost) late!
Do health check without waiting for intense symptoms. Donβt underestimate a pinch as it can be a punch.
Many people think buying property can be done at later age. They prefer buying cars, branded stuff, etc for the sake of high prestige. They would say βI want to enjoy my single life. I still can live with my parents. Why so hurry? My spouse will buy it for me later. Blahblablah.β And boom! Property price soars high in just some years and those branded stuff investment canβt cover the desired property.
Prioritise property (although at the same time some fancy stuff canβt wait). Of course this is not applicable to the haves who can buy whatever they want.
Certain people overshare for the sake of feeling guilty and trying to explain excessively. I am one of themβ once tried to explain why and why just because I was afraid of being judged. And so I shared something that I promised to myself would keep it for VVIP circle of mine. And boom! The humiliation and disrespect that came back to me has made me feel like a biggest moron and worthless in the universe. It is taking time to accept the total stupidity about (blind) love.
Donβt overthink. Donβt overshare even with someone that you love the most if there is no clear foundation.
Aaaahhh!
Life is a school whose next classes can only be entered through a bunch of lessons learnt because of failures and wrong doings which look unforgivable but actually truly forgivable. π
There is no right or wrong. What is there is only acceptance and lessons learnt.
Salaam.
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make a beautiful string of beads from the lessons learnt; then life is counting wisdom π
Sweet surprises march Silently following a season Bringing colours to the sight. Donβt hold breath, They stay quite long To give more space For wow! and whoa!
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I think I donβt give my orchids enough attention that I always see the bud rather lateβ only when they are long enough to stand out.
Sorryβ¦.
And thanks much! for giving me surprises after several years not blooming.
One by one they fall, Petals decompose to soil, Fertilising lifeβ
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when i see more fine lines under my eyes, i feel blessed that i am alive up to this age; i wish to live longer with the same amount of love or even more π there is no regret for all are signs and turns to the home π
The green of beauty was there Until the mist slithers around And hides what was seen.
Nature is a mystery Unrolls its scroll slowly As if not wanting to hurt The hands with which it is held.
The mist though will be beautiful Before it is kissed by warm air That whispers a song singing βMelt away. Morning thanks you. Day, noon, after and night truly love you. If space unvoiced between trees scripting canβt connect the dots, only light can do.β
In no time the sun is rising, Then the mist is missed.
That is how the story begins.
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Thanks, Michael for allowing me to repost this picture to illustrate my verses. God bless you.
Fly, leaf with the wind Pushing you to where you go For joy and safety.
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near the wing, near the emergency exit β both safe area yet the most critical for action, while extremely sleepy; it doesnβt matter, the passenger (in mask) sitting next to me said βlet me open it in case of emergency, you may sleepβ β what a nice flight: sleeping in a calm flight, guarded by an unknown angel ππΌ
Prime time must be secured, Said they. Wait! In what definition? Time to get mature? Time to board the flight? Time to earn TV ads?
Time to be patient.
Itβs this time Yet No time primarily.
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At young age I was told that there were 3 types of need: primary, secondary and tertiary in which primary included shelter, clothing and food. Now my primary need increases to 4 with internet connection added. On the same floor of my apartment there are at least 17 wifi links connectible or locked including mine. My motherβs house has been installed with wifi so she can enjoy more information and entertainment, her grandchildren can play games freely when staying overnight, her daughter (me) can work with ease when visiting and (i guess knowing my motherβs (over)generosity) so some next door neighboursβ children can sneak the wifi to browse around from their homes.
While GOOD internet connection is a primary need in some places, it is still secondary in some others. Outside Singapore (even when traveling to Japan) I feel βtorturedβ by the low speed. In Indonesia (oh people will all have patience as their super power after dealing with the internet connection outside prominent cities) and other South East Asia countries (please, Singapore might be a European country lost among us) good internet connection might be secondary or even tertiary.
Uh and oh are my normal expressions when I spend my holiday or long weekends in my motherβs house. My nephews and nieces who visited me in Singapore has claimed βThere is no word βloadingβ in your home. In here you have to wait for a while because loading is a must process. Be patient. Be patient. Be patient, dear. Hahahaβ¦.β π
And yes, some work cannot wait but have to wait until I arrive home because internet connection is not yet a primary service every time everywhere.
Salaamβ¦.
i told my nephews and nieces to be patient in some situations; yet when dealing with internet connection for work, everything nice about being patient is just a meme to me π
Time is a fortress Protecting from memories Of love that once bloomed.
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i bought a rose to tell myself that some emotions will soon fade away like flowers that wither through time π₯ especially with very slim memories in store π
Met In a circle Glowing In their own lights. No disco ball, No loud music, No expensive wine, No trendy bar, No dancing floor, No smoke, No things fancy, No luxury, Noneβ Oh! They are not that innocent. They gossip those funny facts, They laugh at each others And at others, They munch baskets of food, They drink gallons of water, They sip wine to tipsy, They speak loud and lots, They enjoy some music, They gather humbly. They oopsy WE do it worse Just differently from other decent parties. Ordinary weβ
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recent hot party with good friends; thank you, dear humble life π
Between green and blue There is this heart. It adorns this white soul. They adore each other. One hums melodies to the other. The other recites lyrics to the one. One by one the stones are strung. A strand, two strands, three strandsβ They are jewels that embelish. They beautify the beauty.
Colours, hues, shades, tints In a garden strike the eyes Wandering within.
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I am on an emergency short leave to visit my mother as my mother is sick. A sister called saying βshe doesnβt want to eatβ, βshe canβt sleep wellβ, βshe doesnβt want to visit her doctorβ, βshe thinks it is her timeβ, blahblahblahβ¦. Alamak! Although sometimes we think she can be a drama queen, we start to think seriously when she canβt sleep well.
The second day of my visit she already watered her plants that line along my sisterβs narrow garden. She sang along while walking in her house. She ate one big chunk of fast foodβs fried chicken that my nephews insisted taken away for her. She has been back to her nature after meeting her children and grandchildren whom she missed who are now laughing with her at every breakfast, lunch and dinner time.
This morning she happily greeted the newspaper lady delivering her favourite βJawa Posβ, the lady said βgood morning, Ibu, you look radiant againβ. She also had a short chat with her front neighbour about rain, cats and plants.
I think sometimes you just need to meet someone to be healthy. π
Yesterday morning I joined her watering the plants and took pictures of some of the blooms that have always made us all smile.
Salaam.
java tea β we call it βkumis kucingβ here
jasmine sambac, everlasting fragrance β her favourite
zinnia, the humble beauty
white bougainvillea, the tough beauty
orchids at the left side of the gate β βyour sister is a good gardener, she has made your orchids happily bloom!β she said
What can a gift do? Dance in the heart of friendship, Rest in the friendsβ soulβ
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Kinokuniya has much bigger collection than the bookstore in Changi airport; yet the books I buy for my friends are all from this airport. Is it because my search of books wanted by friends is always ready here? Or is it impulse buying? π
It doesnβt matter which one as long as it is for a good friend.
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