mini break: Lovina, Singaraja

Lovely Sunday morning in Lovina beach.

Not too early, just 30 mins after six, sitting by myself in an antique wooden chair just across the ocean. Just me and the sound of the waves against the sands… still morning.

Walked toward the sun, watched it appeared slowly from the horizon. A group of fishermen just returned and were re-arranging their nets. Several young boys appeared, one of them had a fishing rod another held a fresh fish as a bait. A local couple showed up on a motorbike, took a seat on the sand and took out 2 nasi bungkus (breakfast) and ate with good appetite. What more could one want?

Sometimes one just needs to be spontaneous and be a little brave to have a little change in one’s life even for just a few moments. Life has been too hectic lately, running boss’ life that I seem to lost my own life. Hey, I didn’t come here to be overwhelmed! Where was the imagination where I want to be able to enjoy nature and beaches? I rarely go there. Maybe I hang out with the wrong crowd, where they’re more interested in going out to shopping malls or clubs or movies. If I want to go to malls or clubs or movies I shouldn’t have moved from Jakarta!

A bit later I came up to the resto and had a simple omelet with tea. Taking my time, sipping my tea while gazing at the ocean. Then continued reading some work emails, writing this and will go back to SGA’s novel. About time. I got several books piling up waiting to be read. It’s been a while since the last time I shopped for books, but I promised myself not to buy if I don’t even got time to read them. Now I’m making time.

Another couple of hours of tranquility, then I think I’m ready to hit the road again and back to normal life. A new week ahead.

Ps. I didn’t get to join on a boat to see the dolphin, didn’t feel like spending 2 hours on a boat trip, rather stay in land and write this and catching up on my reading. Definitely a must do on my next visit.

7 deadly sins of motorcyclists

If in Jakarta everybody have love-hate relationship with bajaj (three-wheeled vehicle), in Bali it definitely be motorcycles. They are absolute notorious for reckless and selfish driving. Yeah, ok not ALL of them, but most of them are just like that. It’s pretty hopeless, especially when you’ve done your best keeping a safe distant and sparing others’ lives, they seem to be carefree and have 9 spare lives.

If in Jakarta people rush around to be on time for work, for a meeting, for a date, people here (ok, most people) are notorious for taking their sweet little time. So what’s the rush??

Here are some notorious habits of Balinese motorcyclists (if not every motorcyclist) do, jeopardizing not only their own lives, but also others. You notice other points? Feel free to add them! ;)

7. FUNNY SITTING POSITIONS
Completely understood when people try to sit as comfortable as they can to endure long rides. I’ve seen women whose legs meet in the knees, then guys who seem they’re slouching on their bikes, either to the right or to the left, but the most funny position would be guys (yep, I found most guys sit funny on motor bikes) who spread their legs that literally used half of the road. It’s just so annoying to see how a motor bike could take up such space. They should start watch their legs before car pass them too close and would rub their leg. I guarantee it won’t be a fun rub.

6. PEP TALK
If you want to ride, just ride. If you want to say hello to a friend and catch up recent gossip, stop by at the nearest coffee shop and let other people pass.

5. JOYRIDE
Perhaps they think swaying is the new cool. Swaying from one side to another, passing cars and other slower motors. As reckless as they are, most of the time they just sway, without bother watching other faster vehicles also trying to pass. Safest would let them race as far away from your vehicle.

4. OVERSIZED/OVERLOADED BAGGAGE
The worse driver would go to people who insisted on taking large home appliance (such as telly, CPU), also furniture on a motor bike. Yep, it’s daily view in here. You could transport a big mattress on a motor bike, gypsum board 1 m wide (which isn’t really a lot, but definitely makes you nervous when you try to pass it). I also have seen people loading rather big chair. What’s next, bath tub?

3. BUSY BODIES
If there’s an award for the bravest motorcyclist, I’d vote for ever-busy Balinese women on their motor bikes. I’ve seen a woman who had one hand holding a large bundle (almost the size of her body) of godknowswhat up above her head and another on the steering. I think those Balinese women surely have an unbelievable sense of balance, the way they manage to hold heavy and large stuff (from household supply to offerings) on their heads and drive away. Transporting large objects is already a potential danger, holding it with your hand only ensure the accident.

2. 3 IN 1
An older guy stopped in a sidewalk and tried to load 2 small girls on his bike, one of which I suspected as his daughter and the other is her friend. Obviously it was hard enough to cram the 3 of them into the bike, then the girls were wearing kain (long tight skirt). He told them to lift up their skirts and just waited there until they figured out how to get on.

1. NO HELMET
I’ve seen too many of them!! Even in a busy street where I live (Jl. A. Yani). I don’t know how people can be so ignorant, even for their own safety. You don’t expect any bikers to provide helmets for their kids if for themselves they’re care less. Well, they should’ve known better, including if anything (God forbid) happen, they’re at wrong.

ashes to ashes ... dust to dust

my amangtua (dad's bro-uncle) passed away early this morning.
am not sure how old he is exactly, should be over 70.

feel sad, but also relieved, coz he no longer in pain after all these years. he was admitted quite often to a hospital in central jakarta, and whenever we got the news all of his bros would come along with their children. at those times, we, the kids usually regard the room he was in as a base camp. we would gather up, accompanying whoever was waiting for amangtua. we would just eat together, pray, read some verses from the Book, or simply talk. it became our hang out place.

it was always good family time. it may seem out of place, but eventhough in times of sorrow it's also chance to tighten up our ties with the ones we love.

i couldn't make it home. there's a big opening in the office and even the past few weeks everything was crazy. working long hours, the only time i went home was on the weekend. i did wear black, does it count?

i think what matters more is my heart went with them. my auntie, my cousins, all of them.

Blogger's block

More or less it's similar to writer's block. The difference is, a writer's a block happens in the middle of a writing piece (article, novel, etc), but a blogger (read: me) got stuck before start writing.

Duh!!

Nah, I got some stuff but don't think they are blog material. At least not for now. Then there's the boss factor. I just need to push myself to make extra effort mulling over stuff other than work related.

Anyway, just jotting down a few lines so you can see that I'm still alive (and kicking). Work is good and busy (yep, even in Bali :p). Social life is deem, as most of my energy is used up at work. Bali is getting more tourist crowd. So on and so forth.

Family bonding time

Finally, time for family bonding.

Mom, dad and my sister came all the way from Jakarta on road. Good timing, as they arrived Friday evening, I got 2 days with them until they fly out again back home.

Same persons, but different landscape. It’s the first visit ever from my family. Lovely. Limited time, but we made use of it as much as we could. Lotsa talk, lotsa sharing, lotsa prayer.

Then they left.. felt slightly lost for a while after dropping them off at the airport. Sigh.. I wonder if it’s better for them to just stay in Jakarta and not to visit. But after all I prefer to have them here for a couple of days if they can than not.