I don’t feel super the past days, or after the food tour. I still try to figure out what might be the culprit. This afternoon I got an insight, it might be my blood sugar level goes low. It’s been long I didn’t have sugar on my diet. I often have water after every meal, no juice in resto that usually contains sugar, and normally I don’t have sugar in my tea and kopi Bali. Ha. I’ve been too hard to my body it seems. I had tea with two teaspoonful of sugar before left for airport.

I left four hours before my departure because my friend’s flight leaves two hours earlier. It didn’t matter, airport living has become my monthly routine. I flew from terminal I’d never been so it’s all new to me. I used porter for the first time in Manila. My porter was so kind and smiley. I was lucky too the check-in counter let me in although it’s still one hour away before the counter opens.  Also, my 22.4 kilos went in without negotiation. He didn’t ask about my hand-carry bags either that obviously heavy (with two laptops) and big (with two wooden frames). I stuffed my handbag a bit since I was afraid of the kilos.

I pondered a lot about 15-20 kilos we can bring. How can a normal person carry stuff weigh 15-20 kilos when a good light expensive bag already weighs 4.5 kilos. 10-15 kilos of clothes, shoes, cosmetic, books and other survival kits? How can we? My chunky stone necklaces cannot travel with me. I complain a lot about this issue already. A friend who also travels a lot and obviously not a light packer like me said that our life is segmented into 20-kilo parcels. She might be true. I have survived living out of 20 kilos every other month. It should be fine!

Terminal 2 is great. Maybe it’s just me, but I realized the ground staffs are more smiley than in the other terminal. I should not compare, they are smiley period. The building is neat and clean but not too big (six gates as far as I can see). Only a few places for shopping (very few compares to the famous Changi) and only three to four eating stops that offer burgers of any kind.

True about traveling by self opens up to a new human connection. So lack of wi-fi connection has brought me and a family from Indonesia to have a conversation. They are bound for LA from Singapore where they live. It’s an interesting exchange about what you do, what I do. She found my life story interesting, so did I find hers. Exchanging name card closed the conversation, or connection?

I am still two hours away from departure. I better get something to eat although I can expect a late dinner on the airplane. It’s going to be too late for me to eat. I will continue reading the food tour book instead of my magazine that is sold in combo (with the edition about the new Mr. President who’s going to be officiated this coming Wednesday). I have enough information about him. Another interesting life in other country.

NAIA Terminal 2, 27.6.10 18.56

Flower arrangement at Bale Dutung, Angeles City.

It’s full moon and partial lunar eclipse today. Said whatever you put out will come back ten fold. Tennn fold!!

It’s been long I didn’t blame on full moon for my being a little uneasy in cruising the day. This time I blame it more on the food tour. My body feels uneasy since I got back from the trip that I reckon as part of the hiking level of cholesterol I have the issue for so long. It might not be either since I didn’t eat that much! But for sure, I ate what I don’t normally eat.

I don’t like uncertainty and that comes along with the uneasy feeling today. I blame it on the uncertainty of… packing my stuff! I need to carry some eight frames of my collage work that I don’t know how much kilo I would end up. In the back of my mind, I know things will sort out by itself. I should not have worry about anything. Anything! Practically anything!!!

Who else is to blame? Full moon, lunar eclipse, food tour, and uncertainty?

I have my website officiated (read: paid) today. Knowing that whatever we put out will come back ten fold, I can expect my website will be fruitful ten fold. Aamiin. I’m happy that finally I can claim the dot com address. It was an endless series of thoughts in the past how I can have a website with a little help from others. I like to have full control of my things. I made it today!

I just got an idea too! I may want to fly back to Ubud as soon as Tuesday. I had big dreams of going to Palembang, then Bandung, and now? None! I promised a good friend though to watch the annual production of the dance company she works at. I will figure out what’s proper and not proper about this promise. I deal with quite many propers and not-propers these days. The past week, at least three of my good friends sent me email JUST because they ask me a favor. I’m lost what’s proper these days. I haven’t replied to any. I let the time responds the way they respond to my hallo-email (not even asking a favor).

Do I have enough things to blame now? I let the full moon passes first.

Half window buried by lahar at the church of Bacolor, the Philippines.

I still could not think of what I want to eat this afternoon. My food tour yesterday has given me more than enough taste to the next few days. I was too brave to go on a food tour but nothing to be scared either.

I decided to join one of MVP summer tours when I was still in Ubud. I haven’t traveled out of Manila enough that I need to use any opportunity to just travel. And traveling with friends, old and new, is always nice! So I join the tour to Pampanga (about 80 km, 2 hours from Manila) yesterday.

It was quite a big group, 22 ladies and 1 gentleman. We rode a nice coach that had just enough seats for us. It’s nice. I sat by the President, my good friend once lived in Jakarta but we only got to know each other in Manila. I didn’t feeling well when left Manila but it’s nice to catch up with my mate in the two-hour trip.

First stop was the 16th century church of Bacolor that half-buried in lahar caused by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. It was buried about 8 meters deep so the front door now was window of the choir loft above the was front door. From outside, the proportion of the building looks a bit out. The museum of the lahar is in the other room inside the church. I was mesmerized by the new building inside the old building. Some doors become so low that we have to duck to enter a room.

The next visit is the Betis Church nearby which was spared from the lahar flow. It was originally built in the 17th century and restored in the 18th century. It has beautiful paintings on the ceiling and in contrast to most century-old churches the floor is made of wood. It has been named a National Cultural Treasure.

After a quick visit to the churches, we went 30 minutes away to the highlight of the tour. 10 (or more)-course lunch at Bale Dutung owned by artist/chef Tayag. I liked the place at first sight! I love wood and art out of recycled things. Perfect! The artist grew passion for cooking only lately that now he enjoys producing food to sell (pure crab fat, fermented shrimp rice, vinegar, etc.) and open his house-cum-studio for people to taste Pampanga cuisine (their local).

His wife is a really good guide for the food tour. She gave introduction of the food we’re going to experience before each course. She guided our taste buds by explaining the difference of, say, with or without vinegar or with or without chili. Before the next course, she asked about our greater liking for the option over another. She also asked us to compare Pampanga cuisine with other local cuisine like Indonesia. There were at least 10 nationalities at the table so the discussion was fun!

After the fourth course, I lost track. After the fifth, the host-cum-food-tour-guide distributed frozen rolled hand towels for the aircon. It was hot though airy in the silong (space below the house; ground floor) where we sat. She showed us what to do with that frozen hand towel on our President. She rubbed the rolled towel on face, neck, head, and made a stop at eyes, ears, and temples. We followed the example at once. We had fun playing with the cold towel. We’re not supposed to unroll it so the temperature can stay for two hours. It’s impossible to unroll either since the water is frozen. It’s a brilliant idea to cool down the body temperature!

Each course was in small portion that is good. After the seventh, the host announced that’s the end of the appetizer. We’re not there yet? We’re looking at each other curious of what would be the next because the challenge had been growing. The host staged the taste from simple to more intricate so by the end of the tour our taste buds are full already. She guaranteed we would not want to repeat the course after the dessert, if we want, the food would be free of charge!

The first main course was pork floss served a la Peking Duck with thin pancake (like pita bread) and spring onion and spicy sauce. I had very little to taste. The second main course was interesting. Guava soup served with steamed veggies and chilies and king prawns. Eat with banana leaf-wrapped rice. I liked the soup so much that heard even Mr. Bourdain was amazed. It tasted like guava with mushroom soup texture. Perfect! I skipped the last main course totally. It’s clam and other seafood that looked greasy.

I looked forward to having the dessert. We got an extra dessert because of our tour guide, Tibok-tibok made of carabao milk. The main dessert was wow… It took us to Paradiso before the coffee. Four and a half hours past. We were being two-hour late to leave Angeles City to Manila. We were stuck in the after-office-hour traffic after the toll road. I was half in the air already. I got headache! My system protested. Having been on lean diet for so long, my system didn’t endorse greasy and high cholesterol food. Or, my taste buds have been simplified by the diet that it needs to be adjusted?

Got home I feel rich not just in taste buds…

PS: I am now reading Tayag's culinary journal Food Tour.  It shows the wonderful life of the couple as food lover and lovers.

The Church of Bacolor.

Been two days sitting at home creating a website, I don’t mind to see the sun today. It was already hot when I stood by the road waving to taxis. I am picky, they are pickier. I have become master of quick selecting passing taxis because the majority taxis around are… not so good. And many of the good ones are taken! Like many things else in life.

Some did not show interest, maybe they had other appointment. One refused knowing where I was heading to. Diliman is about an hour from Makati. I got in one finally and I could not be pickier, it’s getting hot outside. I sipped carton milk while observing the cabin. The driver was nice to help me lock all doors manually. I checked the handle for winding the windows. It looked work! Being a Jakartan and now in other metropolitan, I’m alert to signs.

Taxis in Manila are generally clean. Only busy inside! Today I sat next to a thin pillow with Winnie-the-Pooh cover. Rosario and other religious beads are usually hung on the rear-view mirror like a shrine itself. On top of that, the furry-like dashboard cover often makes me feel sweaty. And today I enjoyed the bright red dashboard frame! Apart from the usual water bottle, today I also spotted a razor. There’s always something to observe.

I observe, the taxi driver observes (me). The first 10 minutes at least, often I can feel the driver observing me discreetly from the rear-view mirror. Familiar look, unfamiliar accent. Where's she from? Chatty drivers may ask quite instantly. Aloof drivers wait till I start a conversation, if ever, or give direction. Drivers with little English will keep observing and hardly ever ask. It becomes part of my game. I ask them to guess if they ask rather than give them a direct answer. Today, the driver’s first guess was… China. Rarely I came from China! But okay, it’s still better than the usual Thailand. For a change…

My friend I knew at the museology training last April took me to the Open University office in the campus of an old university in the Philippines. I was interested to know about the program since I could not access it on their website. We stopped by the lobby where the office is to enjoy artworks made from recycled computers. Recycled stuff always have a place in my heart so I took my time to do the art tour.

Gathered all the information from the office, we walked the campus. My friend asked if I’m interested to try riding the famous jeepney. More than happy! I’d been trying to do but hardly had a chance! It’s a really nice long car with low ceiling that walking inside bending is quite an art. We were off at a museum inside the campus. An important museum named after a major of Manila, the university graduate, who donated his collection to the university. The painting collection is interesting, many are from the 18th century. Realism to postmodern. We were lucky to have an official guide took us around. I enjoyed the mix in the collection. It has inspired me!

We ended our meeting in the museum café outside the building. It’s non-aircon but popular among the students because of the wireless connection is good and free. I realized not many places in this city have free wifi. We need voucher. In the university, the signal is weak, my friend who teaches in the university told me. So this simple and modern café turns into a get-together place. I enjoyed sitting in the heat because the view is green. So green that the color covers the whole screen when I took picture of benches under the trees.

I shall visit the campus again next time! As student already, maybe?

The green.

You invest a lot of your time online, Blogger warns.

Yes, yes, I have invested two days to work on my now website! I just got the idea to create a blog for my creation last week then I thought about other artists who have been ‘working’ with me the past decade. I want to give them a special place in my business. I set aside artifacts! I want to focus on creative people who are already there waiting to be exposed.

Set up a new blog, I got the idea to claim back a four-year-old blog to revamp. Blogger has developed its feature tremendously since I used first time four years ago. I’m happy to see and follow. I remember the days I wanted to have a sophisticated blog under other popular service among journalists but I just didn’t have the patience to go through unfamiliar settings. But look at me these two days, I just went through all the settings and new features that in the end of the day my eyes felt full of HTML code. I had fun!

The blog frame looks really nice like website created by a professional. Blogger is great too since we can convert the free service with little pay to get a real web address with… dot com! Now I waste the web-designing program I installed the other month. Nothing is wasted though, I can still use for the sake of curiosity later.

Like working in office, I sat quietly at home from 8 to 7 at least. Uninterrupted! Photoshop and HTML have eaten me! I’m so proud of Blogger and myself. Now a big amount of work has been waiting that is uploading the content into each tab. I have quite a lot of material on Facebook page that I haven’t figured out how to incorporate them in the web. This is when they talk about static and dynamic website. Now I understand.

Not just that, I also understand why we have to pay a lot for a web designer to work on our project. We buy their time! I work on my own idea and still need at least two full days to make it happen. I cannot imagine the amount of communication we have to make with a web-designer to work on our project. Let alone the time they spend to actually make the web pages ready and later to maintain. Ayayayayy…

So I have put my feet on the shoes! Now I know! I also found out that this trip to Manila is kind of retreat to me. I’m able to see my daily life in Ubud with helicopter view. To see what I need and want to do back home. I look forward to many now… I have a new toy! La la la…

Share you a bit of the web page.

It’s Father’s Day. It’s so different than last week when Saturday was the Independence Day. The weekend was quiet as many were out of town for the long weekend. Today was special. Mall parking spaces were full and sea of people could be seen inside the malls and restaurants. I never celebrated Father’s Day because it’s not a tradition in Indonesia and also Indonesian does not have local Hari Bapak to appreciate all the fathers in Indonesia, let alone the world.

So it’s quite new to me that I happened to be here on Father’s Day. Maybe it’s my imagination but I saw many happy men (must be fathers?) with gifts on their hands walking in the mall with the family. People also gathered to listen to music played by elders in a mall. It was fun, they all looked happy together. On the way back, I was mesmerized by the running text in huge size in the intersection of Makati that flashed good wishes for Fathers in the world. It’s totally new to me!

I have finalized a part of my new project with my shop. I created a total presentation of my artwork as model for other artists I’m going to feature. I plan to focus on other artists from tomorrow on. I still have two weeks before I get back in Ubud. I so look forward to being in Ubud again but I’m just happy wherever I am. Limited option is nice some time as it opens up other opportunities if we dare to look for them.

"Juggling," my gift for a father.

Sitting in Starbucks now, I’m reminiscing. My art juice is flowing very well since the past days. I created four fabulous assemblages as a start of a new concept of my shop. It doesn’t come easy to realize that I have some talents if I want to explore. I have let it buried deep for so long. Some friends have tried to convince me that I can do something with my art, or, I can share it with other art-fans with pay. In other words… my art is sell-able. How can I see that?

Anyway, the new concept of my shop would be… featuring talented artists in and out Ubud I know well. I will create a corner for each artist to display her/his work including mine. I have held some artists’ work since long time but hardly had I featured them as individual. I have sort of treated their work as merchandise although I also provide the background of the work including about the artist. I want to do more for their arts and at the same time for mine. Put them all in foreground!

I’m quite excited about my new idea. I realized this morning it’s so nice to have something to look forward every day. In Ubud, I look forward to having retreat in Manila. In Manila, I look forward to materializing ideas I got from the retreat. My friend said the other day that it seems I need more than one home to live that I showed strong disagreement. I thought I enjoy living in one post only. I thought. Now I agree with his statement. I really enjoy changing place and scenery, not just for traveling but more… to have enough time to be in a retreat.

I still have some eight days before my retreat ends. I have told myself to finish off my new idea so that I will be really ready when I get in Ubud. I don’t have much time when I’m back. Summer has started and my staff will start her maternity-leave soon. I will be fully in charge at the shop for at least two months. It excites me somehow.

My third artwork “What We Forget”

I’m satisfied with artworks I finished today. I worked on the two frames I bought yesterday that again I canceled my plan to buy stones for necklaces. I was so into it that I only showered in the afternoon. In average, it took about 5-6 hours per artwork. But the last one I’m still working now may take longer. It’s a box-frame and I’m going to work on the 3-dimensional part.

Creating artwork is like writing. It takes time to start because I need ‘the first sentence’ that can kick the rest of the work. For others, I might look empty when figuring out what theme I’m going to work on. Most of the time I didn’t have concept at all. I take time to browse a magazine then a theme will be formed bit by bit. The actual work is not long, only some alterations on the way need extra time.

I also took time during an artwork to browse the net. I’m curious to know what other artists have done. My collage or assemblage work apparently has its own style. Mine doesn’t remind people of other well-known work before. I really like the idea of incorporating found objects in the artwork. I got both passions in an artwork: for curios and for collage/assemblage.

The other day I went to see a friend’s art exhibition. He’s been creating assemblage for so long. His work is fresh, I like it. I kept thinking after I got back from the exhibition that actually if I want I can also create such. Like many have thought apparently, what it looks so simple needs aeon to create. Like I said, forming the theme is the backbone of the work and that takes the longest part in the process. So things are not just put together and I can call it an artwork. I’m planning to make a brief background of each artwork to make the soul more visible.

Before the day ends, I set up a blog for the works. This time I want to sell my creation. My old works are well hidden in the cabinet in the house in Jakarta. I’m not going to do the same anymore. I need a good measure of what I have done. By the way, a week has passed since I put my necklaces on sale in Jakarta, heard I had sold at least 18 pieces. I am so happy! My shop also made a good sale the other day. This has been happening for several times now that my business made better sales without me around. Yay!

My second artwork, “Travel Bug.”

Now I believe that creating an artwork needs a good hands-on, not just working on the ideas. The frame I bought for my idea yesterday sat in the plastic bag all night. I didn’t know what to do. This morning I took it out and started to work on my idea. The idea developed as I started to cut and stick things. I had wanted to develop my collage work into more 2-dimension. For years I made it on a piece of paper, I want to have it more finished this time.

Been long I didn’t work on such, I forgot tips and trick to make a collage neat. It didn’t matter since lack of material had made me more creative. I made paper tole effect on the collage by leaving some parts loose. I was so happy to see my first creation that I canceled my plan to shop for stones. I sold quite some necklaces in Jakarta the past week. And just two days ago I got invitation to display my work in a shop in Seminyak! In time I want to renew my collection!

I could not help shopping for more unique frames! I found out here there’s quite selection for frames and at reasonable price too! Many are specially made for keeping 2-dimensional object like medallion so it has thick passé partout and ‘depth.’ It’s perfect for 2-dimensional collage. Today I was not that lucky though. The big bookshops I visited didn’t have wide selection. I bought two frames that have unique feature so I can play with it. I have some ideas! It keeps burning inside.

The trip to the bookshops has brought me to the most luxurious part of the big mall. I often watched the display-windows from outside but never been inside. It’s interesting, it reminded me of malls in Jakarta with high-end goods. I treated my eyes window-shopping. Walking aimlessly in malls makes me tired. After lunch, I hurried home.

Second artwork is waiting to be produced!

"The Children of War," my first artwork here.

I decided to go shopping today. The weather actually stopped me but no… I needed to buy a new pair of glasses. I lost it two days ago on a walking trip to cinema. I had it hung on my top when left apartment and it just disappeared after walking in the crowd and running in the rain. My titanium glasses I prefer not to buy again. I’d rather buy other fun things. But the glasses, yes I need! I’d like to see the world in colors. Without glasses, all look blurry.

I forgot that shops in Manila are like shops in Singapore, open at 11:00! It’s confirmed that I’m an early person. I want to get things done early but that’s not the case here. I waited about 15 minutes. There were four shops I needed to check out located on the same floor but none was kind enough to open sooner than 11:00. Of course.

I tried some frames on before decided on a funky one. Glasses for kids (!) in light blue, yellow, and green frame! It’s not among the lower prices but well enough to be under the titanium one. I save it for later. I only need the glasses for airports and cinemas. Driving also, but yea…

I got stuff I needed in two hours. I had a big bowl of salad for lunch before heading home. It’s time for me to own that branded flip-flop it seems. The shop stood right before the taxi stands. I’ve been thinking to own one for neater look but still flip-flop in Ubud. I got out the shop with really nice black-grey sling-back flip-flop for… kids! I don’t feel small (in fact I feel bigger these days) but most of my body frames still fit kids’ size it seems. So… I’m happy still!

I didn’t do much today. I got home mid afternoon melting. It numbed me for a while before shower. I have again quite a long backlog emails I need to respond. I don’t like to procrastinate but some emails need a really good attention. Meaning… my time and energy!

That’s okay!

One of the alfresco malls in Manila.

The streets of Makati are so so quiet. Today is public holiday since the Independence Day fell on last Saturday. I’m a bit confused since some offices took the holiday on Friday! That then I do not know how public holiday works here. To safe energy in this temperature, I prefer to stay home since I’m not sure if businesses are open and if my friends are available to meet. In the neighborhood, at least, I didn’t see any life.

I could say because I made a walk anyway. I needed some kits for making artwork so I walked to the direction of an office-stuff warehouse that literally like a warehouse where it stocks stuff related to paper and craft for office and fun. Of course, only big fast food restaurant chains are open. I was a bit disappointed but glad I had a look myself.

My plan to try food at food stalls by the sidewalk did not materialize as well. Here we do not see gerobak (two-wheeler wooden-stalls pushed by food vendors) but more like moko (mobil-toko or car-cum-stall) in Jakarta. The stalls, that are bigger than the standard pickup, sit by the sidewalk and it has an opening on one side to arrange the food. The cover of the opening serves as long table where people can put their plates and eat while standing. From the look, my guess is the range of food is like food in warteg (warung Tegal or Javanese style food-stop) that serves homemade cooking. Heard that Pinoy cuisine is fatty and greasy therefore I haven’t taken the chance to taste further (Bangus fish is my favorite though). My observation, any good food is usually less healthy anyway so I do not mind tasting sometime.

These sidewalk food stalls cater office staffs around Makati, the business district. Similar to the idea of gerobak in narrow streets behind the office buildings in Jakarta, only these stalls look neater. Maybe because Makati does not have jalan tikus (literally rats way means narrow alleys) to hide not so nice view of the supporting life of the office buildings? Apart from big international and local restaurant chains and these food stalls, I also spotted openings in the wall of buildings that apparently are kitchens that serve take-out lunch, or whatever food is since I did not see any menu on the wall. People are standing in line waiting to be served. This kind of service I do not see in Jakarta is quite popular here!

It was hot outside. Roamed the neighborhood half hour, I melted. I plan to start making collage again with a whole new idea. But things do not move forward as I had wanted that reminds me of what Mama used to say. She observed, literate people declutter papers slower because they take time to read. I agree. I fire up my spirit by checking out art websites that link one to another. And when I start dealing with the real used magazines, I’m totally stuck! I’m reading!!

Now how to combine inquisitiveness and productivity?

Mangan has the same meaning as Javanese’s dining.

If we don’t go out, Manila has nice weather! It’s humid and no rain. This time of the year, it’s almost impossible to stay home without aircon on almost all day. Even in the morning after 7 o’clock, the weather can be unbearable. It makes you melt bit by bit. It’s summer!

I don’t mind staying home. Like in Jakarta, there’s not much we can do in big cities except shopping and dining. I haven’t gone dining so far since we enjoyed doing things at home. But shopping yes, we did a bit. Bookshops here are big and have a quite good range, I never got bored checking out. The price is also reasonable, quite significant I must say, so visit a bookshop guarantees that I will walk out with shopping bags. How much I want to tell myself not to shop for books, I am rarely successful. Especially because lately I have good company to read Filipino literature. My friend got the books from Amazon that I believe the price will not fall under $10, here any local print is hardly priced at over $6.

Nice that since I visit Manila regularly, I come to know more and more people in Indonesia that have connection with the Philippines. This morning, a well known writer-cum-psychologist shared her joy knowing that her short story is published on the weekly newspaper in the Philippines. She explained to me how she is connected with the nation, she is half Filipino! How would I guess? I thought she is pure from Timor where her father belongs to royal family. The world definitely has become smaller that helps people from two different worlds meet their soulmates.

Yesterday we watched movie. The scene from medieval era I’m not keen to watch. Simply because we arrived late for the famous SATC 2. Watching movie has become an alternative of outings in big cities. Last February I noted a record of watching 5 movies within 3 weeks here. It’s impossible to happen when I live in Ubud, even in Jakarta because of the traffic. It’s fun though but… funny enough that I also follow the American tradition of having popcorn in cinema! It gives me a slight headache after a tumbler of MSG-ed popcorn but who can resist? Indulge now. It’s not my routine (I have started saying it for too many not-so-healthy routines now).

Today I feel inspired by Marc Jacob. I just own my first MJ handbag. A red cotton tote with funky hot print of HIS drawing, Japanese style. I thought the idea of having a really funky but affordable yet exclusive line is brilliant. I keep processing a new concept of store for Neru that I have been working on for months now. I have some ideas but it’s so hard to materialize although I know the theory of believing in it can speed up the materialization.

It’s not easy for me to believe in small things these days. I can't help. Start small, think big; that’s the message I tell myself over and over again. My logic says not to do small things but look at my shop. I might have been wasting time but again… everything has its own time!

I will challenge myself to do my part this visit in Manila. Like Sy said, I have to create to make my shop different. I like it when he said… "I believe in making!" I have to nurture back the belief I used to have. Making!

Artwork by MJ, not mine but in the same line.

I am now writing on bumpy PA flight heading Manila with a stopover in Singapore, my first experience flying with the airline. After quite emotionally tiring traffic to the airport, I was happy to enter the aircraft that looked spacious because of the sky-blue color seat covers reminded me of Kate Spade range with the 1950s ambiance. Lovely, I’m ready to go.

Familiar accent announcing this and that. As this is not a budget airline, lunch was served. It’s nice to feel at home right away when I saw the familiar bread with, I guess, chicken sausage inside. The warm hotdog was wrapped nicely with aluminium foil and served without tray, with a 100 ml of orange and water cup. So cute! I skipped the meal after a few bites. I was still anxious from the morning in the bank for an unresolved issue.

My digit-scrambler for internet banking of a bank was locked last night. It’s not the usual moment where I pressed the numbers in a hurry and didn’t think long enough. The bank officer could not help me replace the device because I didn’t have the account book with me that I don’t normally carry when traveling. The worst scenario would be I have to rely on my network to pay things while I’m away. My other bank can transfer money only but that’s not enough. I learned my lesson.

I had two good busy days in Jakarta as always. Long morning plus a day out running errands and meeting friends. Came back in the afternoon feeling depleted. The traffic is worse every visit. But meeting friends I saw less and less since I live in Bali was fun! A good friend from America I knew a decade ago is in Jakarta for 8 months working in WB. We had fun planning trips in Indonesia. It’s always nice to have travel mate to roam my own country.

And yesterday was quite a day with girlfriends. I had seriously hilarious lunch with an Australian friend. Oh my! She was more update about the latest celebrity gossip, the hot one! I only heard about it but was not too inquisitive to know further. For me it’s another unfortunate case where private video spreads through the net. My friend spiced it up so interestingly that I begged her to share the link. We giggled like school kids in her house on my way home. I ended up came home a bit too late for my next get-together. I thanked my good friend for the good giggle, not just the link. Giggling is so liberating.

I hosted three girlfriends at home from late afternoon to close to midnight. We had potluck, we had fun! It’s fun about us, we hadn’t known each other well actually. We just knew from link to link a year ago and felt click quite immediately. Last night was our session to get to know each other better with the easiest approach to know a girl, her relationship. We interviewed one. One volunteered to share her side. Then we moved to the one that is still single in her 40s. And time was up when everybody realized they didn’t have idea about my side. I timed it well!

The rest of my trip last night was fine. I realized 3.5-hour flight is not too long. I visualized flying Jakarta – Denpasar back and forth and here I am in Manila! I started reading the latest book of Anthony Bourdain Medium Raw. I’m quite a fan of his writing. Although I don’t cook but it’s fun to read about his view on food business on television and in real in America. He is such a frank writer, he just speaks his mind. Journalistically harsh, sometimes.

Manila is humid at 31º and 56% this morning. This weekend is special because tomorrow the Philippines will celebrate their Independence Day that makes long weekend here with Monday as public holiday. Mr. Noynoy’s first celebration with the nation. I got some invitations to some events in conjunction with the celebration. It’s weekend, I’d like to just reorient myself first. But I look forward to doing things here. In a new way without my good good friend around anymore.


Mabuhay!

I am now writing on bumpy PA flight heading Manila with a stopover in Singapore, my first experience flying with the airline. After quite emotionally tiring traffic to the airport, I was happy to enter the aircraft that looked spacious because of the sky-blue color seat covers reminded me of Kate Spade range with the 1950s ambiance. Lovely, I’m ready to go.

Familiar accent announcing this and that. As this is not a budget airline, lunch was served. It’s nice to feel at home right away when I saw the familiar bread with, I guess, chicken sausage inside. The warm hotdog was wrapped nicely with aluminium foil and served without tray, with a 100 ml of orange and water cup. So cute! I skipped the meal after a few bites. I was still anxious from the morning in the bank for an unresolved issue.

In the back, sitting a group of Indonesian going on a tour. I could not tell from what institution they are, I believe they are in a certain business and this is their ‘office’ tour. Then I wonder what place will they visit in the Philippines. It’s just nice to see the good energy of a group traveling together. Distributing instant noodle in cups and deciding what to do in 20-minute layover in Changi. Do not ask how often they took pictures together, on board and off board.

I continue this piece in my first morning in Manila.

The rest of my trip last night was fine. I realized 3.5-hour flight is not too long. I visualized flying Jakarta – Denpasar back and forth and here I am in Manila! I started reading the latest book of Anthony Bourdain Medium Raw. I’m quite a fan of his writing. Although I don’t cook but it’s enriching to read about his view on food business on television and in real in America. He is such a frank writer, he just speaks his mind. Journalistically harsh, sometimes.

Manila is humid at 31º and 56% this morning. This weekend is special because tomorrow the Philippines will celebrate their Independence Day that makes long weekend here with Monday as public holiday. Mr. Noynoy’s first celebration with the nation. I got some invitations to some events in conjunction with the celebration. It’s weekend, I’d like to just reorient myself first.

Manila, 11 June 2010 11:28 (GMT +8 hours)

Bromelia in Mama's garden.

Akhirnya berakhir juga duapuluhsatu hari kunjunganku di Manila. Persis duapuluhsatu hari masa visaku berlaku. Aku baru merasa kalau ini bukan kunjungan singkat kalau aku melihat ke belakang, melihat apa saja yang sudah aku lakukan. Paskah rasanya sudah berbulan yang lalu meskipun baru tiga minggu yang lalu.

Aku tidak banyak bertemu kawan lama di kunjunganku kali ini. Aku hanya sempat santap siang bersama satu kawan yang baru mengunjungi Ubud dua bulan yang lalu. Kebetulan organisasi kami juga tidak banyak mengadakan kuliah di musim panas ini. Bulan April di Filipina disebut musim panas. Satu lagi, semalam aku bertemu dengan bekas atasanku duabelas tahun yang lalu sebelum aku mengundurkan diri. Sejak dua bulan yang lalu, beliau kembali bermarkas di Washington. Sejak kami bertemu kembali pertama kali empat tahun yang lalu di Jakarta, kami sudah berkali-kali merencanakan untuk mengobrol tetapi baru semalam kami benar-benar bertemu dan di tempat yang tidak kami duga pula. Menyenangkan bercakap dengan beliau. Selama menjadi atasanku, aku tidak pernah mengenalnya sedekat semalam. Dunia memang semakin menciut.

Di kunjungan kali ini aku menyempatkan untuk berbelanja pakaian ‘standar’ seperti kaos dan celana polos. Aku lelah dengan urusan kelebihan berat bawaan bila menumpang pesawat bujet. Sementara aku gemar membawa barang-barang, bukan pakaian, jadi bawaanku lebih berat. Nampaknya aku harus meninggalkan pakaian di empat destinasi tetapku: Ubud, Manila, Jakarta, dan Malang.

Aku sudah siap untuk terbang ke Jakarta malam ini. Kelihatannya seperti perjalanan panjang tetapi tentu tidak karena hanya perlu empat jam untuk sampai di Jakarta. Yang membuatnya terasa panjang, kadang-kadang, adalah antrian lapor penumpang di bandara. Dua kali kunjunganku yang terakhir sistem komputer tidak berjalan lancar sehingga pelayanan berjalan lambat.

Acaraku untuk besok sejak pagi sampai malam di Jakarta sudah rapi tersusun. Mudah-mudahan semua bisa aku lewati dengan baik.

Pemandangan Danau Taal dari Batangas.

Waktu berlalu cepat sekali. Sudah hampir seminggu aku tidak menulis karena kesibukan dan faktor lain tentunya. Kursusku telah berakhir hari Jumat minggu yang lalu dan aku telah dinyatakan lulus meskipun tidak ada tes yang dilakukan untuk menentukan kelulusan. Aku sendiri tidak percaya kalau aku berhasil melewati dua minggu kursus dengan baik.

Hari Rabu minggu yang lalu kami pergi dengan bis besar yang bisa memuat 50 orang ke Tanauan City dan Batangas sekitar 65 kilometer dari Museum Nasional tempat kami belajar. Perjalanan dimulai sejak pukul 06:00! Aku masih setengah di awang-awang waktu tiba di depan museum, tempat kami berkumpul. Berkumpul dengan orang Filipina memang menarik. Yang pasti di dalam bis kami kebanjiran makanan sejak berangkat sampai tiba kembali di Manila yang dua jam terlambat. Bersama mereka, aku tidak perlu membawa bekal dan kuatir kelaparan karena ketersediaan makan dan minum terjamin.

Selama di Tanauan City kami dijamu makan pagi oleh Mayor kota tersebut yang masih keluarga Aquino. Sesudah meninjau satu museum kota, kami meninjau rumah kelahiran presiden Filipina kedua yang terbuat dari kayu, dan dilanjutkan dengan makan siang di museum salah satu pejuang yang berasal dari kota tersebut. Makan siang yang ditata rapi di meja panjang dengan hidangan berlimpah. Sebelum menuju ke kota tetangga, Batangas, kami dibawa untuk menikmati Danau Taal dengan gunung berapi ditengahnya. Hujan sudah mulai turun sehingga kami tidak bisa menikmatinya lama-lama.

Kami sudah mulai lelah waktu kami harus berjalan kaki menuju museum di Batangas. Tetapi kelelahan terbayar karena museum yang letaknya di gedung yang kurang bagus ini ternyata ditata sangat apik dan profesional. Kami tidak bisa tinggal lebih lama karena kami harus segera bergerak kembali ke Manila. Sebelum kami menumpang bis, kami sempat melihat rumah pastor yang telah berdiri sejak tahun 1883. Seperti kebanyakan museum privat di Manila, museum rumah ini ditata apik seperti masih dihuni. Menarik sekali. Aku tidak ingat apa aku pernah melihat museum rumah di Indonesia. Rasanya belum, dan aku jadi bertanya-tanya apakah kami mempunyai?

Kami menghabiskan waktu empat jam untuk tiba kembali di Manila. Jalanan macet karena ada kecelakaan di jalan tol. Persis seperti di Jakarta rasanya. Aku hanya duduk diam antara bangun dan tidur sepanjang jalan dalam gelap. Kawan-kawanku sibuk dengan telpon genggamnya dan makin panik mengetahui kami bergerak sangat pelan. Aku hanya membayangkan satu hal saja, mandi.

Keesokan harinya kami dibawa keliling di dua museum dibawah Museum Nasional. Cukup melelahkan karena kami berdiri sepanjang hari mendengarkan penuturan para kuratornya. Karena ruangan terbatas dan kami ber-50 di ruangan yang sama, maka penyampaian informasi menjadi kurang efektif. Kebanyakan kami berakhir dengan mengobrol sendiri. Terutama aku karena kebanyakan kurator merasa lebih nyaman berbicara dalam Tagalog. Tidak ada satu pun yang dapat aku ikuti. Aku memakai waktunya untuk menjelajahi ruang penyimpanan masing-masing departemen.

Hari kelulusan kami berlalu dengan menyenangkan. Kami membuat banyak foto bersama. Ternyata sedih juga mendengar kawan-kawanku mengingatkan kalau kita bakal kehilangan satu sama lain sejak hari kelulusan berakhir. Dua minggu berlalu tanpa terasa telah mengikat kita. Pertunjukan kultural kelompok kami mendapat bagian di akhir dan berlalu dengan baik meskipun kami hanya sempat latihan beberapa kali saja.

Akhir pekan aku lewati dengan santai tanpa ‘menggunakan otak.’ Malam minggunya aku menghabiskan waktu dengan kawan baikku di Manila yang akan pindah ke Shanghai bulan depan. Pertemuan kami ini adalah yang terakhir di Manila. Dia akan melewatkan musim panas di Amerika dan tidak kembali lagi ke Manila tetapi langsung menata kediamannya yang baru. Aku terdiam di mobil sesudah melewatkan waktu tiga jam bersamanya. Rasa itu datang kembali. Kehilangan. Dan kali ini aku kehilangan empat makhluk sekaligus: kawanku, pembantunya, sopirnya, dan anjingnya yang akan ikut ke Amerika. Pembantu, sopir, dan anjingnya sudah kukenal sangat baik selama dua tahun terakhir kami banyak menghabiskan waktu bersama.

Aku tidak mau mengeluh karena hidup berjalan terus dan percaya kalau semua ada waktunya. Tetapi tetap aku merasa ada lobang hitam berbekas di hatiku hari-hari ini. Aku tidak mau berucap kata perpisahan, kata kawanku. Lobang dia lebih besar karena dia kehilangan ketiganya yang telah hidup bersamanya 24/7 tiga tahun lebih.

Kaos seragam kami untuk wisata.

Mengamati budaya lain selalu menyenangkan. Sesudah lima hari bergaul cukup rapat dengan lebih dari 40 orang Filipina, aku mulai memahami sedikit demi sedikit apa yang penting dan tidak penting bagi orang Filipina. Ketepatan waktu tidak menjadi masalah besar bagi mereka, tetapi merienda disajikan tepat waktu. Aku panik kalau mengetahui akan tiba terlambat, tetapi mereka bisa melenggang memasuki kelas meskipun terlambat. Ini sebetulnya berlaku di Indonesia juga dimana waktu adalah waktu, kedatangan adalah urusan lain.

Aku juga mengamati kalau kawanku benar bahwa orang Filipina santai gaya berpakaiannya. Aku tidak heran kalau melihat mereka berjalan di pertokoan tetapi di kelas yang aku anggap formal pun ternyata mereka bisa mengenakan jins, baju tanpa lengan, dan sandal datar. Aku berpikir berulang kali sebelum memutuskan datang ke kelas mengenakan jins. Nilai ini masih kontroversial di benakku seperti bagaimana kawan-kawanku dengan santai membalas pesan singkat diatas meja sementara pengajar masih berbicara. Dan mereka melakukan itu terus menerus. Kadang-kadang mereka ingat untuk mengirimnya dari bawah meja tetapi lebih sering mereka berlaku seperti kelas sedang tidak berlangsung. Sama dengan memakai komputer di saat kuliah berlangsung. Aku tidak tahu bagaimana perasaan pengajarnya melihat ini semua. Yang pasti aku ingat Mama bisa mengeluarkan dari kelas mahasiswanya yang ketahuan membaca atau membalas pesan singkat. Itu perasaanku juga kalau melihat kawan-kawanku.

Makan adalah urusan penting dalam kehidupan orang Filipina, begitu ujar kawanku waktu aku keheranan karena lagi-lagi merienda berukuran seporsi makan normalku disajikan. Antrean membeli makan siang tidak pernah kosong di lima belas menit pertama. Dalam lima belas menit itu kebanyakan kawanku dan pengelola kursus sudah duduk menyantap makanannya. Sementara aku masih sibuk dengan urusan sendiri di meja, dan baru berpikir ingin sayur yang mana. Aku hanya makan nasi satu kali selama kursus berlangsung karena satu takaran nasi mereka bisa aku makan minimal empat kali. Sekarang, paling tidak dua kawanku sudah mengikuti jejakku untuk tidak makan nasi.

Kegiatan icebreaker setiap pagi dan siang selalu menarik. Orang Filipina paling jago menghibur, membuat hiburan, termasuk menyanyi dan menari. Itu adalah kegemaran mereka yang bisa dihidupkan setiap saat. Hari ini oleh salah satu grup yang mendapat tugas, kami diwajibkan membuat gerakan satu huruf dengan tubuh kita. Jadi miriplah goyang Inul, apalagi untuk huruf ‘n’ bagianku. Kami berdiri berjajar diatas panggung dan mengarahkan belakang tubuh kita ke pemirsa sehingga mereka bisa menebak bentuk huruf apa yang sedang kami peragakan. Merasa bergoyang ngebor seperti Inul, aku bertanya-tanya apakan permainan yang sama bisa dimainkan di Indonesia?

Hari ini aku menemukan pribadi yang luar biasa. Desainer pakaian malam dan pengantin di masa lalu yang sekarang menjadi Pastor di Mindanao. Kawanku membeli buku darinya, dari situ aku tahu karya-karyanya yang luar biasa. Sekarang beliau mengabdikan diri dengan berkarya untuk jubah kepastoran yang memakai bahan dari tekstil asli Filipina. Aku mengangkat topi! Senang bercakap-cakap dengannya.

Hari ini hari terakhir kami mendapat kuliah di kelas. Besok kami mengikuti tur keluar kota, dan hari berikutnya tur Museum Nasional yang terdiri dari dua bangunan. Baru sekarang terasa kalau waktu berlari dengan cepat. Sudah hampir dua minggu aku berada di Manila tetapi belum mempunyai kesempatan bertemu dengan kawan-kawan lamaku.

Kami waktu bergoyang Inul diatas panggung.

Senin pagi heboh. Aku kembali tertatih-tatih menyesuaikan jadual pagi sesudah tiga hari absen. Tidak masalah. Aku tiba di kelas sepuluh menit sebelum kelas dimulai. Aku amati hari ini banyak kawanku yang datang terlambat. Konon lalu lintas hari Senin dari arah luar kota luar biasa ramainya. Beberapa kawan yang berasal dari museum di sekitar Manila harus menempuh sekitar dua jam perjalanan (sekali jalan) setiap harinya. Hari Rabu juga hari istimewa bagi warga Filipina karena ada ritual berziarah ke salah satu tempat (atau gereja) di daerah Baclaran. Karena kegiatan ekstra ini, maka di pagi hari Rabu bisa dipastikan ada kemacetan. Dalam hal ini, aku memilih tidak tahu sehingga aku tenang berkendara taksi.

Kuliah hari ini menarik. Pembicaranya pensiunan pegawai Museum Nasional yang telah mengabdi selama 40 tahun. Beliau juga pematung lumayan terkenal di Filipina. Kuliahnya mengenai bagaimana memajang barang di museum. Aku agak mengantuk waktu kuliah diberikan karena beliau tidak mengemas materinya sehingga terdengar menarik dan 'hidup.' Untung merienda menyelamatkan kantukku. Merienda yang disajikan setiap 1,5 jam memang luar biasa. Waktu terasa cepat karena kegiatan wisata tekak (bagiku) ini. Kami diberi waktu 10 menit saja untuk mengambil dan menyantap merienda yang ukurannya aduhai. Hari ini merienda pagi menyajikan suman (seperti ketupat tetapi dimasak dengan santan) yang disantap bersama gula pasir putih! Aku waswas karena camilan disini luar biasa menarik dari sisi rasa dan ukuran, aku tidak mau berurusan dengan ukuran lingkar pinggang di akhir kursus.

Sesudah menyantap separuh buah mangga dan suman, kuliah dilanjutkan. Aku masih berkutat dengan rasa kantuk waktu saat santap siang tiba. Kawanku sudah tahu apa yang aku suka, dia melaporkan kalau ada dua lauk sayur hari ini. Masakan sayur disini selalu diberi ikan asin dan udang kecil sehingga rasanya cukup tajam. Dan menurutku, sayurnya dimasak agak terlalu lama sehingga lemas dan tidak kriuk. Sudah dua kali aku hanya menyantap sayur tanpa nasi yang harga per piringnya RP 4000. Banyak harga yang masih mengagetkan aku. Kadang-kadang aku tidak percaya sampai harus berkonsentrasi kuat untuk menghitung apakah aku terlupa satu angka nol. Bayangkan, untuk jarak yang lumayan jauh dengan waktu tempuh 45 menit, aku membayar taksi sekitar RP 24000. Hal yang tidak mungkin terjadi di Jakarta.

Rehat siang terasa agak terlalu panjang karena dalam setengah jam kami telah selesai santap siang. Satu jam berikutnya kami hanya berputar-putar tidak tahu apa yang hendak dilakukan. Museum tutup di hari Senin jadi kami tidak bisa melihat-lihat museum juga. Aku menghabiskan waktu dengan mengerjakan pekerjaan rumah untuk besok yang sudah diberikan pagi hari tadi. Kadang-kadang aku bisa kreatif dan efisien di waktu yang terbatas, terbukti lagi waktu…

Kawanku mendesak aku untuk mempresentasikan tugas praktikum kami siang ini. Mereka benar-benar serius memberi aku tugas ini. Dalam sepuluh menit aku sudah mendapatkan konsep pameran (fiktif) yang hendak kami lakukan. Kawanku yang pengajar di salah satu sekolah seni begitu bersemangat membuatkan gambar tekniknya. Jadi kami bekerja bahu membahu untuk mewujudkan hasil kelompok yaitu pameran senirupa lima desa di Ubud! Ubud: Symphony of Expressions. Kawanku pandai dan aku diluar dugaan tidak merasa gentar. Benar kata mereka, kalau kita menguasai medan, kita tidak perlu waswas. Dan saking tidak waswasnya, aku nampaknya lupa menyampaikan beberapa hal. Tetapi hal itu pun tidak muncul di sesi tanya-jawab. Jadi, selamatlah aku!

Aku menghabiskan separuh malam untuk mengerjakan pekerjaan rumah untuk kuliah besok. Bagaimana hidup bila tidak ada komputer?

Kawan-kawanku yang sedang sibuk menggarap bahan presentasi kami.

Tiga hari tanpa sekolah rasanya cepat berlalu. Mulai besok kegiatan di museum berlangsung kembali selama lima hari penuh. Aku sempat merasa kecut tetapi sesudah melihat lagi programnya ternyata aku bersemangat karena dua hari pertama untuk membahas dua hal menarik mengenai permuseuman, dua hari berikutnya kami mengikuti tur mengunjungi museum-museum di luar kota dan di kompleks museum tempat kursus berlangsung, dan hari terakhir adalah penutupan kursus dimana kami harus mengumpulkan tulisan mengenai kesan-kesan penyelenggaraan kursus yang dilanjutkan dengan pertunjukan kultural oleh masing-masing kelompok.

Dua hari yang sudah berlalu aku berjalan-jalan di pertokoan, hari ini aku tidak ingin kemana-mana. Aku mengerjakan tugas akhirku sampai kira-kira 70% selesai, 30%-nya akan aku tulis sesudah empat hari mendatang berlalu. Paling tidak beban besar sudah terangkat. Aku tidak bisa membayangkan menulis di akhir hari yang melelahkan minggu depan.

Selain itu, aku juga berkutat mengakali kaos kenang-kenangan kursus yang harus kami kenakan pada hari Rabu waktu kami mengikuti tur ke Batangas (konon dua jam dari Manila). Aku merasa ciut melihat kaos polo pembagian ini, selain bahannya yang tidak menyerap keringat, juga ukurannya yang 1,5 kali lipat dari ukuran kaosku. Karena datang terlambat, aku mendapatkan kaos berukuran S untuk pria! Tidak bisa mengeluh, aku mencari akal.

Aku memotong panjang kedua lengannya sehingga tidak nampak seperti baju pinjaman. Aku juga memotong panjang kaosnya sehingga panjangnya pas pinggang, lalu memotong bagian depannya menjadi dua! Ya, aku memutuskan menggubah kaos polo ini menjadi jaket dengan simpul di perut. Rencananya aku akan memakai dalaman katun berwarna sama yang kebetulan aku punya. Dengan rancangan ini, aku mempunyai pilihan untuk melepas kaos polo ini bila kegerahan di dalam bis. Perlu waktu sehari untuk menggubah rancangan ini karena begitu dipotong, aku tidak bisa menyambungnya kembali. Untung gaya kaos yang dipotong gunting tanpa dijahit telah menjadi tren kaos mahal akhir-akhir ini.

Temperatur di Manila sedang panas-panasnya. Di pagi hari temperatur sudah mencapai 30 derajat dan suhu meningkat perlahan sampai siang hari. Kelembaban tidak begitu tinggi sehingga cocok untuk mengeringkan pakaian tanpa matahari. Tidak seperti di Ubud, pakaian yang aku cuci di pagi hari bisa kering sebelum siang berakhir. Menyenangkan sekali!

Aku belum mempunyai rencana bagaimana melewatkan malam ini tetapi aku sudah bisa membayangkan ritual pagi hariku yang seperti tentara bersiap berangkat perang.

Salah satu lorong di museum.

45 RULES OF LIFE written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time enough time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative (dying young).

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside, every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Ini daftar hal-hal yang harus diingat yang masih suka aku baca sampai sekarang untuk mengingatkan aku untuk tidak terlalu serius dalam menghadapi hidup. Belakangan aku memperhatikan kalau aku merasa semakin dipenjarakan oleh nilai-nilai yang sudah tertanam dalam diriku. Mengesalkan sehingga aku harus mengingat nomor 32, janganlah berlaku terlalu serius terhadap diri sendiri karena tidak ada orang yang begitu. Entah benar atau tidak terjemahan filosofinya.

Aku masih juga keheranan pada orang-orang yang hanya mengambil (bukan dalam arti fisik). Di satu sisi aku kesal, di sisi lain aku berkaca. Sudahkah aku memberi? Sudahkah aku berekspresi dengan baik sehingga tidak mengesalkan orang? Dan ada beberapa sudahkah lain yang berkecamuk di kepalaku. Ironisnya lagi, dulu aku mengira persoalan ‘memerah satu arah’ ini hanya terjadi di kulturku karena aku mengira kultur lain lebih berbudaya. Ternyata tidak. Hal ini tidak ada kaitannya dengan kultur, ini urusan manusia dengan manusia, darimana pun mereka berasal.

You are what you eat, and you are what's eating you.
KKASeperti etika memakai telpon genggam yang semakin kabur di dunia timur dan barat, ternyata etika dasar seperti berterimakasih pun juga semakin kabur bahkan… menghilang! Aku terkejut dengan kenyataan urusan yang terakhir tetapi aku tidak mengada-ada. Sekarang, menerima ucapan terimakasih buat aku seperti anugerah karena langka! Apalagi kalau itu dalam hitungan hari yang sama. Wah! Jangan tanya urusan pinjam-meminjam. Lebih baik aku tidak menerima tawaran untuk meminjam daripada gagal ‘transaksi.’ Seberapapun aku santai urusan hal-hal tersebut karena aku tidak mau termakan, aku tetap terbelenggu karena pola yang sudah ditanamkan orangtuaku. Dan sekarang aku terjepit karena aku tidak mau menjadi ‘you are what’s eating you.’ Benar kata kawanku di dinding FB-nya beberapa waktu yang lalu.

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. Aku pergi berbelanja hari ini. Niat ini sudah ada sejak dua hari yang lalu. Tidak biasanya dan benar… Aku masih juga tidak telaten berbelanja. Aku maunya cepat-cepat sampai di rumah lagi. Walhasil aku hanya melihat-lihat di dua toko kegemaranku dan aku memborong empat pasang alas kaki untuk balas dendamku yang tidak jelas. Balas dendam kepada keadaan, kepada diriku yang it’s always me that ends up getting wet. Puas rasanya!

Senang hari ini sekolah di pusat pertokoan!

Jendela di museum di Manila.

Petualangan minggu ini berakhir sudah. Lega rasanya. Tiga hari pergi ke sekolah tantangannya lebih besar di perjalanan menuju dan kembali ke rumah. Taksi yang aku pesan untuk menjemput setiap pagi tidak muncul kemarin sehingga aku sedikit terlambat tiba di kelas. Akhirnya aku putuskan untuk terjun ke setiap petualangan dengan setiap taksi yang aku naiki. Aku mulai hapal seribu jalan menuju museum termasuk gedung-gedung yang menjadi tanda aku berada di jalan yang benar. Aku belajar pasrah dan percaya kalau pengemudi taksi tidak mengelabuiku. Sejauh ini, aku beruntung!

Materi kemarin dan hari ini sama menariknya. Sesi pagi diisi oleh kuliah mengenai teori dan sesudah makan siang dilanjutkan dengan praktikum dengan bimbingan. Kemarin kami belajar cara memasukkan obyek ke koleksi beserta cara memasukkannya dalam katalog. Kami diminta membawa satu obyek untuk dianalisa keadaan fisiknya lalu dicatat dalam katalog. Sesudah mempraktekkan obyek sendiri, kami harus menimba ilmu di dua seksi lain. Obyekku yang berupa tempat kapur dari Timor masuk di kategori etnografis. Aku menuju ke meja botanikal untuk mendengarkan tutornya memberi penjelasan bagaimana tanaman diawetkan lalu dimasukkan dalam koleksi museum. Sesi ini mengingatkanku pada masa kecilku dimana aku dan kakakku gemar menjepit daun diantara halaman buku-buku tebal Mama dan Papa. Kalau aku ingat-ingat, jangan-jangan dulu kami tidak memakai prosedur yang benar sehingga menodai halaman buku mereka? Entahlah.

Meja kedua yang aku kunjungi adalah meja senirupa yang dipandu oleh tutor yang menarik. Pria Filipina berusia setengah baya lebih yang mengenakan barong yang panjangnya ekstra untuk alasan mode. Pipinya nampak memerah karena pemerah pipi, pembawaannya super halus, dan aku… mengagumi cincin-cincin besarnya! Kami membahas mengenai nilai sebuah lukisan. Mengetahui aku dari Indonesia, dia berhenti sejenak memberi kuliah lalu bergosip mengenai presidenku yang pertama yang dikenal baik di Filipina. Aku menikmati bagaimana dia menanyakan ini-itu dengan kerlingan-kerlingan nakalnya.

Pagi ini kelompokku kebagian membuka hari dengan permainan (ice breaker). Salah satu anggota kelompok kami yang berusia 24 tahun (pengajar SMA) yang mempunyai ide lucu ini. Kami dibimbing menyanyikan dua bait lagu ceria sambil melakukan gerakan yang dipandu olehnya. Gerakan ini diulang-ulang dan semakin lama semakin konyol. Di akhir gerakan ke tujuh, mungkin, kami berjalan dan berputar seperti bebek. Aku salut pada kreativitasnya. Aku beruntung mendapatkan enam kawan baru di kelompok ini, mereka pendiam tetapi aktif dan kreatif!

Hari ini kami belajar mengenai bagaimana menyimpan, memelihara, dan merestorasi obyek. Pembicaranya dari salah satu museum privat, penuh gaya dalam membawakan topiknya. Mataku terbuka lebar sejak pagi sampai makan siang. Kami belajar banyak mengenai ragam ancaman terhadap obyek di museum dan cara penanganannya. Di akhir sesi, pembicara memberi kami tugas untuk dikerjakan dalam sepuluh menit lalu dipresentasikan. Kami kebagian cara menjaga buku kuno yang berada di Perpustakaan Nasional.

Sudah tiga hari ini, listrik padam di jam makan siang selama tiga jam. Hawa di ruangan jadi tidak tertahankan panasnya. Apalagi hari ini ada sesi pemotretan lagi yang diadakan di tangga museum, alias dibawah terik matahari yang konon mencapai 39 derajat! Bak selebriti, aku pun diminta berfoto dengan berbagai kelompok. Mereka senang sekali mempunyai kenalan baru dari Indonesia! Aku senyam senyum saja mengikuti kemauan mereka untuk berfoto di sana-sini.

Batukku masih saja bertengger di hari kelima. Kepalaku pening setiap sore karena tegangan batuk seharian ditambah duduk di taksi selama empat-puluh-lima menit kira-kira. Sore ini sesudah kelas berakhir, aku diajak kedua kawan baruku yang pertama untuk menyantap merienda (lagi). Kawan-kawanku ini rupanya bersobat sejak kecil hingga usia mereka yang diatas 65 tahun sekarang. Suami salah satunya turut bergabung. Lucunya pasangan ini mengenal baik pasangan yang aku kenal juga di Jakarta. Makin terasa dunia makin sempit.

Aku menikmati waktuku bersama mereka tetapi pada saat yang sama aku harus merasa tidak nyaman karena harus mencari taksi di puncak jam sibuk dan berada dalam taksi yang membawaku melalui rute yang tidak aku kenal. Aku tetap pasrah dan percaya tetapi aku juga punya Rencana B bila ini dan itu terjadi. Tiba di rumah setiap hari menjadi anugerah sendiri sesudah berada di ketidakpastian. Untung besok kami diliburkan karena besok adalah hari libur nasional. Seninya kembali ke bangku sekolah!

Gedung museum yang aku kagumi.