Gong Xi

Hiiyaahh.. happy neeww lunal yeall haaa...

A number of friends replied my sms with wishes for the chinese new year, may the year of the dog bring better luck and such. I don't celebrate the fest, just like to observe and sometimes amused by how people so busy connect the shio with what's going to happen the following year. Can you really depend on that?

Usually only smile reading them, until an intriguing sms from a new-met friend came 'may the year of the dog brings you a partner!' LOL, now that's a bit too much. What could possibly a year of the freaking dog brings me anything?? Let aside a partner? Some things just need to be straightened up.

08113: Thanks ci, but if that happens, that would come from GOD.
08188: Right, but you still need to put an effort!!
08113: ----- (this is when such debate needs to stop. No need for further explanation, no need to waste typing (and pulsa) to defend myself).

Anyway, for you who celebrate it, Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

useless law

The only thing I wish Balinese govt can improve (and they definitely should!!) is to enforce the street law. I've seen too many drivers are just helplessly reckless. By this I mean the motorcyclists. They're the worse!! Yes, compare to those in Jakarta even.

All the time I've lived here, I've been hit by 3 of them (and none when I was in Jakarta). First time there was this silly lady hit my car and when I looked at the rear mirror I could see her "oops" expression, and as if nothing happened, she just stroll away passed my car. The second was a small boy who I didn't wear helmet, and I bet didn't have driving licence. I gave him quite a hard time scolding him. The third was just 4 days ago. Another lady (not too silly, but I bet got issues also), out of nowhere crashed into my car that was just nicely waiting for the red light to turn green. This was worsely damaged, the back left light got smashed. Ohh fun, now I got a 'date' with the mechanics on weekend!

No policeman was present in those incidents. What would a good citizen do? I didn't really want to deal with authorities because often they take matters into their hands just to make something out of it. I realize I can't expect my scolding would change the way their reckless driving (they don't deserve a driving licence in the first place!!). Frustrating when you are so careful and mind other people's life when they don't even care and ride away as if they got 8 lives to spare.

Perhaps next time I just turn them in to authorities? At least the lesson would be more strong? Nothing about revenge, but lesson needs to be learned.

stupidness..

In one of the hectic days I had a year ago (well, not exactly a year, but it did happen in 2005, though in Dec hehee...), I went grocery shopping and my mind went everywhere. On the back on my head I remembered carrying 2 shopping bags, a wallet, car keys and a cellphone. I remembered throwing all my stuff at the passenger seat. After placing everything in place I backed up the parking lot and searched for my wallet to get parking tip.

Et voila! I lost my wallet. I parked again, searched inside the car, searched the parking lot, went back to the cashier and talked to anybody possible so anybody finds it will return it. All in vain.
Good thing I quit compiling all my important documents in 1 place so the most important document that was missing was my driving license. My ID card is safe, and my ATM was already lost the week before *grin*.

In short, I reported the loss and had a chance to go back to Jakarta. I took 1 day off to get a new license. It was a long way drive there (with all the traffic, of course), and I got a nice 'souvenir' of silly warning poster in the woman's toilet.



Back to Bali, I felt relieved to be able to drive without worrying not having the necessary document. One evening as I was cleaning up the front-passenger seat I was amazed to see my black rotten wallet was sitting there, slightly hidden. I can't figure out why I didn't see it when I was searching for it. Eventhough it's annoying, at least I got a back up DL now.

So at least my 10 year record of non-lost wallet is so far still intact ;)

stormy weather + sandstorm

The weather/climate has been bloody terrible and unpredictable these days. You got up to a nice cozy early morning, and as you makes your coffee the wind started to blow hard and rain pouring down the verandah. You could only wish it's a weekend so you can go back snuggle up in that fluffy cozy pillows.

Dragging your ass off to the bathroom, you decided to wear long sleeved shirt to keep your body warm, but as you locked the door and get in the car the sun started to peep from the clouds and you start to feel the heat creeping on your back, you realized this shirt might be a bit too warm to go through the day.

After a week 'adapting' to this confused climate, no wardrobe is wrong (saltum), wind blows as hard as it could, rain can pour down at one minute and the next minute it just stop. Seems it's such a waste devouting your time cleaning up the car, washing it until it's spit and shine.

Nice addition when one lives near the beach is the sand. Luckily i had the chance of going to Kuta when it seemed mother nature turned on the fan on maximum speed. You could clearly see sands rushing your way. You were caught off-guard, you could only turn your back so the sands don't go into your eyes. The sand quickly covered your car and bcoz it was slightly wet, it stick in the car and the best way to clean it up would be taking it to the professional, lest you'll scratch the paint recklessly.

So that was fun, better to keep away from the beach for sometime, no problem, as I'm a mountain person myself. You gotta admit it's nicer to snuggle up in a cozy weather than in a sunny sweaty day ;).

? where is home ?

The search for "home" gets more intense lately. Right before Christmas I insisted of going home (ie. Jakarta) although i know very well there won't be special treats or jolly holiday. I could've gone vacationing somewhere else, but the idea of being home with my parents and sibblings (and nephew) was exciting by itself.

Spent 10 days in Jakarta, went back to Bali, work for a week then off to Jakarta again. My boss sent me for a training.

I can't really tell what the training did to me, but during and after I had a huge yearning of going "home". They say home is where the heart is. Where is my heart? I might say one part is in Jakarta, and another part is in Bali. At a point I went really deep into my heart and see what's there, something that's been buried all these years, something I've denied just for the sake of surviving.

It wasn't an easy path, it wasn't easy to admit it was there, lying unnoticed, ignored, starting to rotten, like a fire lost it's spark. Leaving me icycold.

So all these times, that home is within me. That part of me that was lost and deserted. It's not easy to go home. Exchange one thing with another. Letting go of the old part and embracing the real one... I'm going home...



Another summer day / Has come and gone away / In Paris or Rome / But I wanna go home / May be surrounded by / A million people I / Still feel all alone / Just wanna go home / Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you / Each one a line or two / “I’m fine baby, how are you?” / Well I would send them but / I know that it’s just not enough / My words were cold and flat / And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane / Another sunny place / I’m lucky I know / But I wanna go home / I gotta go home / Let me go home / I’m just too far from where you are / I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life / It’s like I just stepped outside / When everything was going right / And I know just why you could not come along with me / This was not your dream / But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come / And gone away / In either Paris or Rome / And I wanna go homeLet me go home / And I’m surrounded by / A million people I / Still feel alone / Let me go home / Oh, I miss you, you know / Let me go home / I’ve had my run / Baby, I’m done / I gotta go home / Let me go home / It'll all be alright / I’ll be home tonight / I’m coming back home

"Home" - Michael Buble

uneven scale(s)

a friend buzzed me with the most unexpected news "i lost 3 ks!!"
"what??"
"i lost 3 ks"
"yeah, what 3 ks? laundry?"
"weight, you dummy!!"
*clap*
"what did you do? starve yourself"
"i don't know. i didn't do anything special"
"are you sure?"
"well, the scale is sure"
"which scale?"
"the scale at the gym"
"you can never ever trust a scale at the gym!!"
"why not?"
"well, i've been a member in 3 gyms, and none of them had the right scale"
"no, i believe the scale. it's been true since i join"
"that means it's been broken before you join"
"you're just jealous"
"haha! go weigh yourself in another scale!"
"i don't have a scale"
"jangan kaya orang susah deh!!!"
(whoaa... who can help translate that??)

interesting start of the year

when most (?) people are so excited to start their new year, my "all new spirit" has depleted only after 2nd day. so much for "new".

hit with a not-so-good information regarding work early morning, then got depressed all through the day with the new change. to be frank, i was rather disappointment as the primary arrangement wasn't consistent with the application. more disappointed with the person who initiated it didn't bother to tell me on my face. so lame.

went home feeling a bit jaded, i decided to went grocery shopping. not much, mostly fruits. decided to get a blender (i always have juice for breakfast when i was in jakarta and whenever i go back), so that should quicken my fruit intake and less work out on the jaws.

long queue on the cashier, then got them ready to be loaded in the car. backing up, i automatically reached for my wallet to get 1000 for parking. and voila! i lost my wallet. i searched everywhere possible, talked to the trolley guy, talked to the information to have it announced of missing wallet, talked to the security to no avail. on that split second between cashier and car it disappeared. pooh!

i was not amused.

still there's always a bright side. i only lost my driving licence. my atm card was already lost 2 weeks ago & i always put my id card (ktp) on a separate pouch. such a hassle, now in 1 month time i've to go back and get a new sim.

frohes neues Jahr!

Time seems to move real slow, almost stand still.

no wild party
no drunken people who do crazy things
no fireworks
no "auld lang syne" sing along
no toast

BUT

family bonding
share
prayers
delicatessen

It's an old tradition in the family year after year, so predictable I honestly didn't miss it last year when I spent the crossing of the year in Bali. I think the youngsters could've been more active and propose more interesting way if we really want to do this together again. Well, I know my (only) granny is old and may not fit to travel far, but a change of venue not too far, like in P. Seribu should make it more exciting. More money of course, but hey, granny may not live for another decade to enjoy life with us!

Just an idea.