graphs of my Universe
Tuas, the end point Where the wheels will start gliding On the road to home....
I’ll start traveling again! I will go by taxi to the visited site and go home by bike! It is about 34 kilometers! Can’t wait for tomorrow!
I’m speaking with all exclamation marks! 😁 So excited!
None is forever. Hold the air. Thank the water. Greet the soil. Love’s now. Singapore - Feb. 1, 2021 / 00:23
Time flies in jet plane! Thought it would be forever to miss you but forever is so fast that suddenly February is here.
No Valentine’s Day this February as it means nothing. Valentine’s happens every second, forever….
May all beings be happy.
Boneless tongue can lie And taste, too. Leading the mood To where you have been.
I miss Ubud…. Spending time alone or with some friends in a place where mind can freely digest what’s been hoarded through daily interactions at times bringing negativity and pessimism against life, is one of life’s great blessings.
Missing a place and can’t visit it? Cook the specialty!
Missing someone and can’t even contact him? Me? Hmm…. Just whisper his name….! 🥰
Foraging culture Taking from nature for free. She should gratify.
When biking, I see many kinds of flowers at the side of the roads and most of them just dry and fall off. Falling in love with them, I stopped and plucked some. Did I regret….? A bit of regret, yes but then I whispered to the reservoirs that I thank them for all the freshness and beauty they lend me every time I pass by…..
May all beings be happy.
Time to pause or stop Is punctuated with marks. Pay more attention.
Ride life with the right punctuation like reading a story with nice intonation and meaningful flow of line, Beloved.
On a comma, halt for a while to breathe….
Showers of colours Splash cheery hello to time. I wish you warm heart.
Colours can bring certain vibes to a home. And so different colours of flowers create different atmosphere. Although not taking all for granted, I mostly check the meaning of flowers and wish that the supportive qualities symbolised by the flowers will be the energy filling the air.
May all beings be happy.
Scents of the unknown Lingers in the air. Muguet: Earthy, green, floral— You’ve turned spark to fire burning Dreams to fuel a sweet journey.
All people love fragrance; not necessarily perfume but yes I’m talking about it.
Let’s agree that fragrance is one of the best gifts in life – I mean…. I am not naturally smelling like flowers, but I love nice air coming into my nostrils and celebrating the beauty of nature through one of the human’s senses. Don’t you?
At times when we are wearing perfumes, we’ll subconsciously reminisce moments featuring individuals that we might or might not clearly remember.
Lemongrass mostly reminds me to Ayutthaya. Jasmine connects to a place in Erawan, Bangkok. Frangipani brings Ubud back to memory. Rose to one factory in Vietnam. Lemon brings me to my humble abode in Greater Jakarta. Sandalwood to my mother who loves sandalwood. Lavender to my father whose pomade was lavender-based. And so on, and so forth.
Recently there came unknown scents that reminded me to some people. I was browsing perfumes, and trying certain fragrances, particular moments and faces struck me stealthily. Goodness! Now I captured them through various fragrances! Moments, faces and nuances intertwined in the liquid. The memories might have been traced and downloaded by our brain! Unknown scents have empirically proved to represent impression caught about someone.
I’m now liking lily of the valley or muguet scent because it reminds this person to a most beloved. I don’t think that person splashed muguet when meeting with me but he suits that attar. What an overestimation it is! It’s ok, he doesn’t know 😂
Recommended: Go for a new experience in perfumery and investigate what scents connect you to what moments or which individuals. You might find a way to get rid of bitter past and/or revive good spirits to be happy.
Guess I know why I can’t relate well to some people that’s why they are connected to certain aroma that I’m not fond of. Probably…. Or just my superstition….
One person’s favourite scents might not be others’ ones.
That’s life.
Singapore – Jan. 7, 2021 / 23:06
May all beings be happy.
Breezy gloomy night
Walks along green-hedged pavement.
Tiptoes splash some joy.
Some night is just so good that you don’t even care about getting wet and splashed with mud. All bad thinking and feeling just go away or…. fade away.
Oh ya? Ya! Just don’t splash on others walking or running near you.
Interestingly there are some benefits of walking in the rain I just found. No umbrella please…. Read below link.
Four-letter word, Love. I take love to deal with you. With full risk I know.
God talks about love. Religion talks about love. Many people refer to divinity and humanity.
Rumi talked about love. Ibn Arabi talked about love. People interpret their topic of love in wide spectrum: lustily physical, romantic, humanity, divinity — from the simple to the absurd. And it is always beautiful whatever the perspective is, as long as love becomes the foundation.
You can approach love from your own experience, the message is simply between Lover and Beloved. People may judge your message of love, but you are the truest judge to yourself….
From a seed of awe Grew secret admiration. Joy in painful hide Summed up by a flash farewell— I love you from where I am.
Love is actually personal experience that internally grows or flickers out based on the quality and responses. I find in my experience loving someone for many years without him knowing it until we took a farewell—he might only know he is special to me and not more; love grows but wisely stops expecting anything. Why expecting if you don’t even get the expected responses from the person and there is no entrance to learn more about the one that you love? Poor me? No, I’m lucky that love has tested me and I pass.
Yes, the most important thing is to test love, how true it is. What if your love isn’t intense anymore? How if the one you love doesn’t love you? How if you find your love evolves? All those rubbish absolutely happen. 😂
It is always good to talk about love. Love deserves a talk, in either low or high pitch, anger or soberness, silence or crowd, far or near, laze or excitement….
A bunch of roses Present flowers, leaves, stems, thorns— Where is the root, Love? It’s left in the heart, where growth Is truer and forever.
Yet for those who never contemplate or who don’t care, love is difficult to embrace and feel. The vibe can be so fake or vague without physical presence. They need definition of love, which can only degrade the quality of it. Just do….
What have I ranted about?
Too much for the last day of new year’s holiday but too good to be unsaid to start very good years ahead!
I send my best regards to you across the ocean. Happy and Healthy New Year! I love you from where I am.
May all beings be happy.
Singapore – January 4, 2021 – last day of holiday / 14:10
Rains talk about it: What is and is not; unique, Comprehensive Self. Woven with thousands of threads, Dyed in thousands of colours—
It’s about you, Beloved…. You that is understood and at the same time misunderstood….
May all beings be happy.
New year.... Again. Sigh! None planned, going with the flow— Dear North Star, guide me.
Lines, curves and dots drawn Convey meanings and stories. Quaintly logical—
I thought learning Kanji would be a mission impossible, it turned out to be a fun game. Thanks to my good teacher who has always encouraged me to practice, practice, practice. ありがとう ございます、先生。Also thanks to the supplementary books I found in Kino today!
According to the book Kanji is ideographic, not phonetic, which means that each character represents a concept or an idea rather than a sound.
There is a group of Kanji called Joyo Kanji (Kanji for daily use) that are normally learnt by Japanese during their 9 years of compulsory education. It means I’m in that teenage stage of learning and so need fun way of learning to keep motivated in a consistent concentration span.
And don’t be afraid to make mistakes! —- Ok, just don’t repeat too many ‘coz repeated mistakes are equal to planned crimes 😁
Bubble spat by fish, Exploded second it’s out. Wait! It’s voice you say?
Where does voice go after it goes out of body? Does it resemble the bubble exploding once out of fish’ mouth?
Dear, Voice. What are you? Or who are you? And where do you come from and go to?
Are you of the same thing as me?
Long weekend has twisted my brain. 😂
May all beings be happy.
Who sends secret signs? Without envelope or stamp Universe plays game.
Finding flowers at a balcony of the 15th floor has become a small miracle for me. It’s sometimes windy when it rains but I never found anything before but water at the balcony after rain. Yet it’s been twice that I received something special after the rain just recently: one piece of flowers.
They might have been flown by the strong wind to this floor, from the other two floors above or somewhere not known where.
The first was a piece of Asoka flower last week and today was a piece of Bougainvillea.
The Universe knows I love flowers so they are sent to me and I believe it’s with messages. Thank you! Hope I read it right.
Looking forward to your next readable signs, Beloved.
May all beings be happy.
I’m not an ape, dear Slapping others with gold bars. I’m a jeweller Who carves them, puts stones— for you Who slapped me with your gold bars.
Only human beings have ability to appreciate gifts. Those who do wrong to others with their gifts might be not yet human….
May all beings be happy….
Clear dew reflects you. Accept what’s before you. Wait! Is that me or you?
—
Pray that I can see you in me, and me in you. As long as the dew gives you clear mirror, it’s reflecting all that I see….
May all beings be happy.
Heart plays melodies That knock on Soul’s door. Both meet And fly together.
Temasek – Dec. 21, 2020 / 7:24pm
Crowding sunflowers Teach how followers reflect Leadership success.
Sunflower is sunflower as long as it follows the sun. Thousands of sunflowers have shown me how a good leader can move one’s followers to the desired directions gracefully without violence, cruelty, humility, and intimidation — either overt or covert ones. All is with just warm ray….
May all beings be happy.
Tears are millions of pairs of legs That find their way to escape pain And hide slowly by the heat of the day. Will it be recognised? Their journeys belong to this body That grows old on a curve of age, Born and died along one same line. Will it be remembered? Don’t be afraid to let the teardrops out And release them with no doubt. They won’t leave you for nothing. They travel, They evaporate. They ship your baggage That might be excessive if you carry them home at the same time. Let the teardrops out And celebrate them with no regret. They will wait right in front of your home door. They prepare a house warming for you, They make your bed for you to rest. They unpack all your luggage That might tire you if you do it yourself at the same time. Tears are millions of pairs of legs That run to the ocean where you’ll unite with the Beloved And never be lost again.... Cherish the tears!
A free verse from a heart that cries everywhere with no reason….
Temasek – Dec. 16, 2020 / 23:17
Sometimes it’s the place,
Always the people. Stay put.
None beats inner peace.
…. and the eternal flame of Soul once again ignites the understanding that gratitude on what’s given is much bigger than what’s promised.
…. and you can never get rid of me
Forever….
God is love?
Dog is love!
May all beings be happy.
How to read your signs? My literacy is low, Your language is high. Send message, not breeze or wind. Or else, this pin won’t move out.
Not good at chess but I know this pin position is a basic knowledge in the game. Sometimes we’re put in this situation and just don’t know what to sacrifice to unpin.
May all beings be happy….
What’s talk to the hand— An attitude.... Care to self, Ignore others’ pain.
May all beings be happy….
When it’s the best. Yes,
It’s the best. When it’s the worst,
It’s still the best. Yes?
—
Every day we’re tested by ourselves if we are able to see the best of all things. The success is to earn wisdom as foundation to build the next day.
May all beings be happy.
Wanna twist logic? Learn foreign languages or Backpack with no cash.
While the Arabic won’t twist my logic so much, the Japanese is a bit of a challenge ‘coz it is a brand new thing. Arabic has been a background play since I was young although I am only good at reading and writing. In fact, Japanese is totally a logic twist and takes some resource commitment if I want to achieve my target: intermediate level in all 4 skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
As electronic learning sources are not suitable for my eyes, I decided to boost my effort through traditional way: all paper-based. Books, cue cards, dictionary, etc…
Among all those tools, there is one that I am most impressed of: the karuta card. Not the uniqueness of the cards itself as cue cards are used in all language classes but more about the age of its existence that amazes me. It is a deck of playing cards aged back to 16th century, brought by the Portuguese sailors to Japan. Since then it has been a tool for fun game, fun learning and even competitive game.
Go search “karuta” that means card in Portuguese (in Bahasa Indonesia it is kartu), and you’ll find various webs explaining about karuta from its history up to how to play it.
Found two decks in Kinokuniya bookstore today together with dictionaries that will be a company for all children books in the reading list. Fun study yay!
Let’s get the ball rolling!
You define sugar, I won’t. I prefer tasting All, and tell myself.
May all beings be happy.
Enjoy your weekend…. 💐
A bunch of roses, Send this prayer as a gift To those remembered Through air, land, water, fire in Dark, fragrant beauty. Amen.
I pray with flowers in a glass vase every week: reciting beautiful verses to those I’ve loved and remembered especially the ancestors, whispering unsaid love to those faraway, wishing they be happy everyday. Some people consider it ancient practice and not applicable or acceptable as modern but I feel more connected to my own self by doing it. So making it a habit
I love the dark mood of today’s flowers combined with my “sogan handmade batik”. It painted a shade of dark beauty with special fragrance and colour.
May all beings be happy.
You’re in the dark. Who? What? Matter? Not! It’s still you. Just some shade and light.
I’m never perfect, will never be as long as I live with and in this matter. There won’t be any absence of uncertainty. There is always a gap to bridge, a space in between, an emptiness after fulfilment…. Always between 0 and 1 – a binary system of wholeness I call it. Swinging like a pendulum from one point to another up to one extreme point before at the end of momentum thrown back to the next direction…..
Why would you stay in the day for 24 hours if you can stay cool in the dark for 12 hours after a long working day? Or the other way around with some reason?
Why would you mind missing someone for at least an hour a day if it can make this life more vibrant? Just don’t hate….
Why would you regret your broken heart as long as you don’t hurt anyone’s pride? Just don’t forget to love yourself….
No matter what and who you are some time of and in your life, you’re still you. Be you! Be more whole you every time…. A true you
May all beings be happy.
Good Swisss fondue is Not about cheese, bread or wine. It’s all chat and friends.
I missed one of my friends, Mrs Fondue whose face suddenly “flew around” for the past 2 months. Her number wasn’t active anymore. Called Mrs Fondue because she was the one introducing me to cheese fondue. Trying to contact people who worked around her with no result, I finally planned making cheese fondue and praying for her good.
Fondue was well served, not with the expected consistency but the taste is almost the same with my very first fondue in Cafe du Soleil.
Yet I could not enjoy this second fondue, even with air conditioner set to low temperature to bring autumn to this small living room. Still failed…. There was melancholic ambience striking me suddenly. No goosebump though 😁
The first fondue tasted greater than this. Maybe because I enjoyed it with Mrs Fondue who invited me to that “traditional” fondue cafe whose air was filled with warm laughter and greetings to the visitors.
This Mrs Fondue was an amazing yet unpopular lady, had done so much to help refugees from dangerous situation. We were amazed with what she and team did. Such a brave lady yet motherly and sweet she was!
She was a wise yet fun lady. She’s probably 15 years older than me but we could still chat like we were of the same age. Lucky to have met people like her in my life!
I’m praying for you, Mrs Fondue and family. If you are still here, I hope we still can see each other again. But if you’ve crossed the bridge, hope you’re smiling receiving my beautiful messages. Enjoy your fondue!
May all beings be happy.
I can read but I Don’t know what I read and I Don’t stop ‘coz I like What I read. Sounds strange but I Like to read hidden meaning.
Reading is fun even if you don’t know the meaning of what is read. When learning a new language with totally different structure and alphabets from what you are fluently using everyday, the excitement is there. I was so excited when first time learning writing Javanese alphabets in my childhood and I mostly knew the meaning because Javanese has been my mother tongue; while Indonesian has been second (primary) language. Then Arabic gave me the second excitement when I was around 17. And now, Japanese gives me another excitement and a taste of frustration.
Mastering language is about internalising logical thinking of a culture, the logic of a nation. Why in one particular language structure a predicate is located at the end of a sentence while in the other it is somewhere else. This frozen brain has to work hard to know how Japanese digest facts and blend them into grammar. And all the sweet apology and courtesy all over the language now make me question if they are truly kind in heart or it’s just a muscle of articulation. Forget it. Just learn and know how to use it.
The excitement is here coz I read like a kindergarten student -loud, confident but dreadfully un-melodic”. Yet I love it! Even when I had to finish the super short story Ikkyu-San in 45 minutes. I keep mixing up among ne-re-wa, i and ri, nu and me… Good heaven! (Did I mean bloody hell?) Courtesy please 😂
I also have Yotsuba! for my next. But hey, that can only be started after reading Ikkyu-San smoothly with melody. When the melody and pace are right, read more books! Then get dictionary….
My colleagues in Japan already offered their free time to chat with me in Japanese when I’m ready. When? I don’t know…. 😂
May all beings be happy.
At times you can share,
Others you shouldn’t. It may hurt.
Different point of view—
I haven’t shared food pics very often in Instagram since some good friends contacted and told me how hard it’s been for them to make ends meet in this pandemic.
One of them said he once had to lower down his pride by agreeing to receive a donation from Australia to feed his wife and children. Sad….
Another said to me “Oh, how nice to have time and cook whatever you wanna eat. Hope we can have that privilege.” I was shocked when she said that as what I had known she had a very good tourism business, and now I knew that she got tremendously affected by this pandemic. Tourism has been hard hit in this period of time.
Not one or two but many came to me to borrow money to survive their business. Double sad! I had to apologise and politely refused to help. Just last year I started limiting lending cash to others. Not that not trusting people but yeah I have been cheated financially by those called friends. Ya, I was stupidly generous and irresponsibly stupid 😂 It should come to an end.
So, with all those reducing showing food pictures in Instagram is the best I can do to help. It is to clear up the jealousy and also to look ordinary. People think you have much money when you eat well. They never know how hard you work for the food on the plate.
May all beings be happy.
rike jokanan 
You must be logged in to post a comment.