Archive for 2017

Damn period!

That's the first reaction when I finally said yes to the invitation to one-day getaway. Because having the first day or two was the most uncomfortable one. Let alone need to travel. Anyway, I never actually traveling in such a rush. But this time I really need the quick trip away from this crazy town. I've been wanting to go to Jogja for a while. Can't seem to find the perfect time or just the money to go. When the time is right, the money not cooperating. When there's money, the timing was never right. That's why since this trip being paid for - I just said YES to the last minute.

I miss being in Jogja and hanging out with my dear friends who live there. Since the time constraint, I'm happy yet a bit sad won't be able to meet them. I went during weekdays they're all working. I have to accept the facts.

Anyway, I went with four gentlemen. They're celebrating their work progress by going on a one-day trip. I was just the last-minute invitee.

I'm just happy to be able to take some of their pictures. Pretending to become a so-called-photographer, the least I can do to actually paid my free trip was with taking them nice pics.

These pictures of them were at the Taman Sari - a place for the mistresses of Sultan and the children, back in those days. This place open from morning until 5PM in the afternoon. My suggestion go there when the lights still up, so you will be able to take some good shoot. Still, if it's too bright there will be a chance for you to get lots of backlight too. That's happened when I was there. It was just too hot for a day in Jogja.

The least to say other than the hot weather, the ticket for the domestic is quite cheap, less than USD 1. I'm sorry didn't get a chance to ask and realize asking for the foreigner price.

PUTHUK SETUMBU

We woke up really early for the sunrise and the hike to this place. It's a bit far from Jogja about 2 hours drive alone. Depends on your driver though. The place still in ongoing construction from the road to the homestays.

There was also a ticket price to go in. Just prepare some cash when you're planning to come to this place.

A small hill for 15 minutes hikes just to see the sunrise on Borobudur Temple from the other side.

First Light at Puthuk Sethumbu

Maybe it's only a one-day trip but to be able to have additional new friends and come back to Jogja after all these years just one hell of a nice trip for me. Finished the roll in my camera too and reload a new film of black and white. I cannot wait for the result.

Morning Coffee

Gorgeous Lights

Floating Leaves

Hopefully, your week also as great as mine!

There’s hell in Hello, and there’s good in Goodbye – anonymous

Don’t break my heart before I give it to you| don’t tell me no before I ask you to| don’t say it doesn’t fit before you try it on| there’s too much to lose to be wrong

I never consider your kiss as a goodbye. But, it’s a ‘see you soon’ kiss. I know it’s going to be a long one and a half month for me, waiting for you to come back. But, it’s worth to wait. The thought of you leaving just to come back, really ease the feelings. Because I know soon, I’m going to see you again.

And it feels like there’s something here| but I wanna see it before it disappears| and if there’s something real between me and you| well are we both open to

The way you said on that last night before you drifted to the land of dream, “It’s all you...’ really caught me. Even so, you tried very hard not to show your emotion with me, but I can really see through inside. You tried so hard to keep telling me that you still have an issue with your past. Which I don’t really bother about it, the past stays in the past. While I’m here, breathe and be with you. Somehow what I believe is you still don’t want to admit, we do have a little something here.

All these possibilities| so many little possibilities| right in front of us| close enough to touch and far enough to have some time to see

The way you tricked me, mock and teased me said it all. The sweet unconscious things you said or did to me also proved that we have something here. Even I don’t want to rush to judge the feelings, but I know deep down, somehow, you do care for me. It’s the little things you said which somehow you’ll forget. But I know at some point when you said it you mean it. I’m glad I’m kind of impulsive the night we first met. But we still have lots of time in front of us.

Before you go on that plane, on the way to the queue line, you teased me again.

You said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but somehow, something about us works. Which is I can just say whatever without having to be feel something or think about it. While with the others, I’ll start to stutter.”

Those small things you said really makes butterflies in my stomach, and my heart skips a beat. Somehow I want to believe, you know it’s easy to make me happy. It’s the small things you do from the unplanned which can works like a charm to me.

You’re a wonderful person, a really nice one. Yet, you try to hide those wonderful things, behind the silliness and craziness. A true person who cares about people around him, yet you hide them for your own sake, so you’re not going to be broken again.

So, believe in possibilities. YOU CAN be HAPPY!

Song lyric Freddie Stroma – Possibilities

For me, it’s never easy to talk about myself. I don’t know why. I found it very weird. But, when you want to know about me I can quickly answer everything. So, just don’t! *biggrin* It still feel surreal that I finally leaving my 30’s – this is ever weirder because I feel like I haven’t achieved anything for the last decade. I can’t even say anything I can be proud about. Still, I really thankful for everything happened. Especially those things that make a positive impact on experiences in life.

On the religious side, I will always be grateful to God. No matter what the situation, He will always be my anchor to hold on to. Therefore, I am indeed blessed to be able to reach another age in this millennial year. When empathy is written on the social media, rather than being said directly. Where people more mobile than once before in the last 20 years. Where news travels faster than a lightning bolt, sure you experience this, also when hoax spreading more effective like incurable diseases throughout the whole nation.

A dear friend of mine once told me about being at 40. She was indeed glowing when she told me about her stories. I mesmerized by how she can tell me how fun yet challenging at the same time. The difference with my situation only the marriage part.

I am single, happy and ready to mingle

Friends have been wondering and family member doesn't even ask me again about this status. I'm sure I have lots of them curious, but I am sure also the time is not right for me to distract myself from this kind of situation. I believe being in a relationship takes more of your time and attention, while my parent still needs more attention at the moment (yes, I still lived with them until this very moment)

Sometimes it's kinda scary to think about how time flies really fast. I still have a lot to achieve, dreams to fulfilled which I don't even know where to start.

So, thank you for all of you who remember my birthday - which I never put a reminder in any social media I have. Thank you for all the prayers and wishes, I am glad I have you to share my day with. Never been party goers or going out to celebrate, I'm more a laid back person to spend my day contemplating about my life.

For the past weeks, I've been struggling with life issues. Therefore, I have been writing anything yet. Also, I feel my mood also going away. Been trying hard to sit in front of the computer and learn to write anything, didn't work.

So, as usual, I'm just going to watch my favorite TV serials online or anything on youtube, to get my mojo back. Still not working very much. But, today, I feel like I need to write something. Even though this one is a bit personal, but at least I write something in here.

I've been reading a lot of positive article about the power of positive thinking and change the bad feeling into positive energy, try to learn 5 mins meditation daily too. Somehow this one works a bit with me. I feel calmer in facing the issues I mentioned. I learned to channel my grumpy energy to something more positive, or at least I try to realized when I feel sorry, I need to direct the bad thing into something else more positive. It's not easy, never been easy to try something new with yourself. But hey, everything should start somewhere.

That's when I come to realize the word HOPE. The name exists at the last Pandora Box after everything evil were out if you know the story of it. So, I search thing that can give me more support for myself. Being myself and feel the love again. Some said, if you want someone to like you, one need to learn how to love themselves first. To me, this is the hardest part.

Argue with mom, slashing her with my rash comments or high pitched tone were one of the things happening. Again, every time it happens always leave me with a dent in my heart. I know I hurt someone I love deeply, but I can't seem to bring the words sorry to her because I didn't build that way.

Then hope also given by my dear friend Reza, he is my savior for the issues for the time being until I can repay him. I don't know how in the next future, but as for now I pray and hope for all his works and projects runs smoothly.

If you always think that you experience the worst day, NO. You need to stop thinking like that. You need to change it. Nothing good comes easy, they said. Therefore, this action also not easy to apply on yourself, because the hardest thing you can try to conquer is yourself.

Try to find your core when you're down, in any way you can. Some seek for God, some in the party, some in the solitude maybe you just haven't found your way yet. Never give up on yourself, that's what I want to tell you. Because once you give up, nothing will ever show.

Stand up and never give up no matter how hopeless you feel with your situation. Believe, there will always be a way up when you try to channel your energy to love yourself MORE than you usually do.

Stay positive,

I never count calories, but I eat so well - Alicia Silverstone

I am thankful to have such incredible people in my life, who has the same hobby with me. Some of them like to eat and take pictures.

This week, I have an experience with some friends to eat out at Gerobak Betawi - Sunter in North Jakarta. It's the newest outlet they have, among the other 2 places. Since this one is closer to my house, therefore I choose this one.

The Interior at the Veranda

The place is very comfortable and the interior very comfortable look. They have two areas for smokers at the verandah, and the other one is air conditioned. Being here with friends was like you're inviting them to your home, not a restaurant, because of the interior.

The high ceilings give some rooms for the wind, and even though Jakarta is a little bit hot, they put an electric fan up above to cool us.

At least that's what I feel since I'm not really a big fan of an air-conditioned room. But, for those who cannot stand being outside because of the humidity a little bit high, you're more than welcome to eat inside.

The inside interior is even cooler than the outside.

I arrived earlier than the rest of my friends, of course. So, I asked for the menu. Since it's a bit hot and a little bit lost when I get here, I need a drink. Something with ice and not too sweet. Then I suddenly I really want to drink 'cendol' a perfect drink for me as a welcome drink, I might say.

What is cendol? It's a dark-green pulpy dish of rice or sago flour worms with coconut milk and syrup of areca sugar, and this one they add cubic cutting of jackfruit.

It's very refreshing to be able to drink this in the middle of the day and just pretend this is the appetizer before the big meal is served.

I also order this teapot of tea, because at this kind of restaurant they served the best tea in the house. It smells good, bitter and they use the 'stone sugar' not the regular one you use to have, using paper wraps or even melted sugar.

I also love all the menu, you cannot stop to try everything on the menu. Perfectly cooked! Especially the 'nasi kucing' it's a small size of rice with some spicy chicken or fish with some spices. It's sooo good! If you happen to be around the area, please stop by to come and try to eat here. They open until midnight daily.