Dad, you would have turned 71 today and we [your kids and grandkids] would have planned a little surprise celebration with a candle-lit cake like we did last year and the years before. You would have acted to be surprised but genuinely showed appreciation.

Making you happy was easy. All you wished to have was us around you on your special day or any given day. I just wish that I had spent more times with you. I just wish I could make you happier and prouder of me.

Today, with tears running down my cheeks, I sent you a long prayer wishing you not to be so lonely there. I know you can hear me, Dad. You are not physically here, but I sense your presence. So I want you to know that I love you more than you had ever known. I love you 'til the end of time. Just wait for me there, Dad. Until then, I send you my love through prayers. Happy Birthday to you in heaven.

***

Read more »

I love getting lost in the woods where there is no cellular signal detected, only me, my husband, trees and creek around me. The hell with civilization out there.

*****

Read more »

There is peace, even in the storm ~ Vincent Van Gogh

Read more »

Walking down the small paths among rice fields brought back all nice childhood memories. Although I was born and raised in the city, I spent most of my holidays in this small village in Garut, West Java, where my grandparents lived. The house they owned was modest, but large enough to have six grandchildren to stay for a week or two. They made us a swing made of a used tire on the backyard. They fed us with veggies, fishes and chicken meats from their own farms.

I loved coming along with them to work on the farms, helping them picking cloves, chilies, fruits and veggies while the boys helped grandpa fishing or carrying firewood for barbeque. Life was simple back then: we just ate what we planted. And for a city girl like me, that was called luxurious.

Read more »

Flood engulfed Jakarta... again. I remember the last flood I had back in 2002, just before I left for California. We had like a week off work because all access roads were covered by flood, the water was so high that we couldn't even spot the traffic light poles anymore. From the air (I just happened to fly to Singapore at that time), Jakarta looked like a gigantic brown-colored lake. No one could imagine that there were actually houses on the bottom of that 'lake'. It saddened me that I had tears flowing down my cheeks without me realizing it.

This year, I experienced the same thing: big flood. It was NOT as bad as what happened in 2002 and, fortunately, I was NOT the victim (I never had been actually), but it still saddened me to see those people affected by this tragedy.

Since all access roads were covered by flood, our office was shut down for like about a week or so. And due to power outage, we stayed at the hotel downtown. During this stay-at-home (or hotel) time, husband and I went to visit the flood victims at the nearest reachable location to lend our hands. We brought them food, clothes and most importantly: vitamins and medicines.

My husband examining a kid affected by the flood

Since the doctors and/or paramedics had not visited this location yet, my husband gave them first aids. We visited them several times until it was safe for them to return to their homes.

The flood victims at the evacuation center

* * *

Read more »

This is my third visit to Singapore since returning to Indonesia. And every time I visited Singapore, the weather was not friendly at all, heavy rain pouring the whole time I was there. I guess I have a bad luck visiting this country, eh?






... and yes, this time I have a picture of myself sitting by the famous Marina Bay Sand's infinity pool. Photo was taken by my co-worker.

Read more »

Finally, a quiet night at last! After a whole week filled with deafening music and loud speeches blasting from the campaigns of governor candidates that lasted almost 24-hours a day, we finally will have some rests tonight. What a relief!

Read more »

Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk ~ William Arthur Ward

Read more »

BURNING SKY

Rainy season comes late this year, so March will likely be a wet month when it's supposed to be a dry one. But I have no complain because I am one of those who find comfort in the sound of rolling thunder and the sight of blinding lightning. Today I found the sun setting behind the rapid moving dark clouds, creating a burning-like sky and I've just gotta to have this moment captured!

Read more »

Is there anything more fun than enjoying sunset with good friends?

Read more »

Sometimes I just don't have to go anywhere to find serenity, I just need to sit right here at home, on my porch, sipping a nice lemon tea while enjoying the night lights of the city where I live. Life is good.

Read more »

Serenity is when I was away from the city, walking on a lonely beach waiting for the sun to set, only the sound of the waves and flying pelicans that I could hear.

Pin It

Read more »

The morning at Jenkinson Lake is tranquil, peaceful and relaxing. It's worth 4 hours driving from the city.

Pin It

Read more »

One beautiful weekend morning at Lake Merritt, California. Its serenity and calmness invited me to stop by to take pictures before continuing my trip to downtown Oakland.

Pin It

Read more »

When the temperature here reached above 100^oF (well, it never goes below 80^oF here, mind you) I wish I could jump and swim the South Fork American River where my husband and I often spent our summers and falls. Oh, I wish... I just wish we could go back there someday, just someday!

Read more »

The one-minute writer's today prompt: MOUNTAIN

Back then, when I was little, it took us 8 straight hours by train to go to the above place where my (late) grandparents lived. As a kid, 8 hours was like forever. But as soon as I set my foot on this land, the trainlag vanished. The cool breeze, the fresh smell of fertile green grass and the sound of crickets just wiped my weariness from the long ride.

From the train station, a horse carriage took us to my grandparents' residence and when I got there I spent hours on the porch just to enjoy the view right in front of me. The green rice fields, the mountains, the birds flying, the occassional water buffalos eating grass, the ducks, the sound of the water running from a tiny creek and the fog that slowly covered the mountain in the evening. The local people would wave "hi" to me when they were passing by, even when they didn't know me. For a city girl like me, these were all luxurious things that I would cherish, forever.

Read more »

This is what the sky looked like today. Dark clouds hung over Jakarta, lightnings stroke and thunders roared. Just the way I love it.

Read more »

The one-minute writer's today prompt: AVAILABLE

What do I wish available where I live here in Indonesia? Well, there are A LOT of things I wish available here, but among others here are the two I want the most:


A U T U M N

CALIFORNIA POPPY

Read more »

This is my second time visiting this island since I returned to my home country, Indonesia. And even though I have visited this land of Gods so many times now, but still I want to go back there again.

Read more »

I feel ashamed that here I am, who claimed to be a Jakarta-born-and-raised, has actually never set foot on this museum. Not once! And that's not even the worst part! The worst part is that this place is actually located not too far away from where I live! That's right, so much for calling myself a Jakarta native!

Read more »