Traveling from Malang is somewhat tiring. Emotionally for one, physically is relative. It’s not easy to be parted from nephew Dhana although we didn’t spend thick time together either. When I’m in Malang, we are just being in the same room with our own activities and only talking when we have something in mind. The trip was smooth but I just didn’t have energy when I got the house in Jakarta at noon.

I enjoyed my netbook so much. I had nice one-hour writing while waiting for my flight to leave. As often, I was a bit too early to get airport. I couldn’t predict well but I also like to be in airport early because we never know what may happen.

My dermatologist I saw in the evening made my day. I have been her patient almost a decade. She introduced me to a good skin care product from Paris I still use till today. I have very sensitive skin and I adore her approach. I feel like she can read my mind and look through my skin. Seems that we quite like each other. I stayed some 30 minutes chatting! About her being only child, her only son who is dermatologist himself, her 91 year old mother that had positive attitude at all times. Oh my! I believe we can sit for hours chatting about many things in life. I like her.

I have fixed some appointments to fill my two days in Jakarta. I look forward…

Here’s my piece from airport this morning.


Malang Airport: In Retrospect

There’s something cute about the airport in Malang. The easiest way to know how cute the airport is by the amount of airport tax we pay. It’s 0.6 cents compares to $4 in bigger airports in Jakarta and Bali. It has been years I use the airport actively and the tax has not changed. And more, the service is even cuter. All manual. At least the luggage handling. The weigh scale is one with hands, not digital! Porters help you putting the luggage on the scale then he shout the weight for the check-in officer keys in the computer. That’s in GA counter only, the other airline SJ uses totally manual service, even seat number on boarding pass is a tiny sticker with number like on cinema ticket on my childhood days, or handwritten. Through both counters, you can see your luggage moves from one person to other till it goes out the door in the back of small rectangular room where all the business are done. Isn’t it cute for the 21st century?

I don’t quite remember when it started using this military airport for commercial flights. If my memory does not fail me, it’s in the mid 1980s when I was still in the university. It was on and off for several times for several reasons like it took time for them to decide using the base for commercial purpose as well. Finally, after about mid 1990s, the airport keeps open for commercial flights. The complex is quite large with two rows of Art Deco houses for high-rank officers along the way to the airport. There are even a hospital and a gas station. It takes about 8 minutes from the gate with security inspection to the airport (yes, we cannot drive fast inside the complex).

The airport underwent many route trials. Malang – Jakarta route is regular since open. I heard it once had Malang – Denpasar on weekends but not in operation before I gave it a try. And when the mud volcano burst slowed Malang – Surabaya traffic, there was flight from Malang to Surabaya at $20 for must be less than half hour flying time. Also, I noticed flight to a city in Kalimantan sometime ago that I do not see the sign anymore. The airport holds less traffic since a few months ago because of damage on the runway. It was quite ambitious that the airport had three airlines flew in and out twice a day everyday so the tarmac worn out quick. Now it holds two airlines only with the same frequency, twice a day, or less?

My convenient 30-minute trip on Monday morning to the airport from home is sort of bonding back with my birth town. I forgot that trains are still in operation so when the taxi stopped for passing train, I interviewed the driver. The train to Surabaya becomes popular again after the mud volcano slows the traffic terribly. Train cuts half the traveling time at the cost of 0.4 cents! The train also goes west to some small towns near Malang: Tulungagung, Kediri, bla bla I don’t remember. I was daydreaming for a while wondering if I ever want to take the adventure of riding the train passing those small towns. Maybe if I find friends with similar idea?

I am now writing while watching passengers of GA from Jakarta disembarking. Yes, the gate is facing the runway so next-flight passengers can see all activities of that side. Malang is a small town that I can guarantee I'm familiar with at least one soul embarking or disembarking any flight in the airport. I just spotted a childhood friend, a few years junior in elementary school, walking to the terminal. A German, son of a missionary in Batu back in the 1970s, that has become a total arema (the famous football hooligan from Malang) after over 40 years living in the area. It’s cute!

The life of the airport, I mean.

See the cargo pushed by man power to the aircraft?

Malang, 7 June 2010 8:49 (GMT +7 hours)

Two Worlds Together

It’s interesting to mingle with a young adult. I have heard stories about my friends’ relationship with their teenage and young adult loved ones and here I am in with one. Like older women (I’m talking about myself), young adults also have their own world. So when my nephew and I get together, the two worlds need to negotiate when is the right time to start a smooth conversation.

Playing mother to my nephew, I asked about thesis he is working on the past weeks. With eyes still gluing on television, he updated me with the progress. He is going to hold his proposal seminar this Thursday. I was interested so asked further about the organizing of the seminar. I was not behaving well it seems, he stopped trying to respond and asked me not to ask while he is watching television.

Ha ha. It’s Sunday. Cartoon and cooking channels are busy airing nice shows for couch potatoes at home. I had used tricks to find the right time to have nice chat yesterday that we managed to have between shows. I just knew that even Mr. Bourdain has his show at 8 o'clock in the evening and later close to midnight another lady still cooking on television. Cable television pushes us to be in the same time zone.

I use meal time to have a nice smooth exchange. He has such big passion for food so it’s easy to talk about what he likes to cook and what he fancies. The thing is school subject does not usually come up at dining table. That’s fine! Since we both love gadgets, I can always catch him when he comes near and starts talking about websites and books he likes me to check out. Never raised children myself, it’s nice to have an instant child like him. And the fact that we are close in personality, it’s easier for me to understand his idea and rhythm. Not a big challenge, I just need to compose report for his mom in the US every now and then. I will definitely miss him when he resides back in the US soon after he finishes his study.

Ready he was, I had a chance to have a peek at his thesis proposal. He is going to research communication ethnography on the classics The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I enjoyed reading his idea. The terms have brought me back the memory of my master degree thesis on applied linguistics. We use similar approach, I analyzed the uses of implicatures (to convey an additional meaning not expressed literally) in communication. Been through his proposal, I have confidence he can finish it well especially because English has become his first language. Oh, how I miss being in school again!

Finally, we managed to do grocery shopping. My nephew was so precise in setting time we go. 1 o’clock! We left with somebody started cooking on television. I guessed he chose to leave her behind to be with his auntie. Two hours past. We were happy kids again with our goodies from the hypermarket. Especially my special cook, now he must have a long list of Italian food on his menu for the next days. Both worlds end the day content.

Pants in a student laundry we saw on our way to get angkot.

I’m in the mood of sharing since morning. It’s strange that I was inspired by Laura Calder’s website (yes, my nephew had made me checked out her website). She wrote a brief life update consists of what she does and feels. I always like to share with loved ones my experience and feelings via writing (blog or email) but there are times I feel discouraged by lack of, if no, response from them. Not that I need a praise but I wonder if my friends actually enjoy or do not bother to go through my emails. That’s when I like the ‘thumb-up’ sign on Facebook. It’s a simple way to give attention, no composing needed. But why do I need that actually? Writing is my way to empty my mind anyway.

I used Calder’s writing style to share with my good friends on Facebook. I know some who write and appreciate a piece of writing. It’s good we can create a list of friends on Facebook so I don’t have to worry about sharing my life update with "to whom it may not concern." I also sort of copy the writing style of Time’s feature about the best of Asia’s mind, body, and soul. It’s written by different writers; brief but so ‘telling’ about a place or thing. It’s nice rather than reading a full article of a place or thing. This brief format tells all about the experience, the object, and the feelings that follow. Fabulous! I am so inspired by many through reading today.

Although I missed wandering the city with my dear nephew, I enjoy every minute I spend exercising ideas. I’m laying out plans for Manila too! Finally, here is my first brief update for Facebook friends (also email-pals) I sent out before noon today.

Malang, here I come…

I was gone around 19:30 last night. It was an extraordinary travel day yesterday. I didn’t sleep well the night before and in the morning I found one of my tires flat before I left for the airport. It’s good to know my ex-staff Ketut didn’t mind to get up early and take me to the airport. A cousin took care of the tire later the day. I am blessed with nice people around me. The trip from Surabaya airport to Malang was not bad either. It was sunny and seems that the new mud bubble on the road along Porong has been fixed (though maybe temporary?). Two hours to get Malang home was not bad at all especially because I could doze riding on bumpy road.

Being in Malang one night, I realized I live different life here. It’s so different than quiet Ubud. My parents’ house located near a big campus that the neighborhood is houses that rent rooms (kost) for students. Only a few houses nearby house families. The road can be so busy with chatty students walking to campus; or motorbikes raising its speed. Like many houses in small town, our house has ‘see-through’ fence with plants instead of solid walls like big-city houses.

Inside the house, my dear nephew constantly makes creative noise with his activities. Be it in front of computer (playing games with loud tap of keyboard and music sometimes), in front of television (with news, cartoon and cooking channels), or… in the kitchen cooking! It makes the house alive! Active! Especially because we are both late night as well as early morning persons. We mingle till before midnight and meet again in a few hours around 5 o’clock. I love it!

Yesterday when I arrived around noon, the house smelled fresh cookies from the oven. My auntie was busy baking cookies for her upcoming son’s wedding that I will miss. And before too long, she shared me two jars of… chocolate cookies! I loved it though it’s floua and suga… Indulge now, exercise later! This morning my nephew prepared really nice muesli with yogurt, banana, nuts, god-knows-what-inside. It tasted super! I enjoyed my five-star breakfast! For a change of my simple breakfast a la Ubud – fruits fruits fruits!

Malang was a bit stuffy. Big garden and big house do not help apparently. Many still thought Malang has nice cool weather. I lost such impression the past ten years. But this morning started with nice warm sun but breezy. I was bitten by jalan-jalan (wandering) bug; be in angkot the public transportation, or see familiar places again? But that was not my nephew’s idea. My nephew and I are in the same group of people who enjoy staying home a lot. He didn’t seem enthusiastic about being a tourist in his own town. So here we are! Stay home and back to old mode of reading and writing – offline and online – but in Malang.

Anything, as long as we are together.

Malang, 5 June 2010 10:43 (GMT +7 hours)

My parents' house again.

Hidup memang penuh kejutan. My cousin texted me after he and Ketut dropped me off in airport early this morning. For me, it’s another day with unexpected things. It never happened before and it happened in the time I needed my car most! One of the tires ran flat when I drove out of my yard. I once thought What if? Like The Secret, don’t do What if?

It’s good I have a good support in Ubud. Often my friends reminded me about it that although I live by myself but I should not worry since I have a troop of supporting friends. It’s true and I feel grateful because of it. It warms me to know that friends just come and help when I need.

My fate got better. I was by myself in the shared-transportation car going to Malang. The other person didn’t show up. I could relax in the backseat. I didn’t sleep well last night. I must say I barely slept. It’s just strange. I felt a bit uncomfortable with the minor change of my departure next Thursday. The flight I used to take was booked out that I had to use other airline with a stop in Singapore. It means…

Before Ketut picked me up, I was standing by my car counting my blessings. After all the unexpected things happening in the past two days, I’m still lucky in many ways. I should not complain since I have options to outsmart things I don’t want to happen. To have options is the most luxury thing in the world.

It’s so nice to be with my dear nephew again. Smell of cookies in oven was all over house when I arrived. My auntie baked trays of cookies for the upcoming son's wedding. My nephew had stocked up food I like (among them is… grr chocolate!). Serving food is part of warm hospitality in Asia especially in small towns like Malang. I have prepared but I prepared to say No! Or, I need to manage my intake. How can I resist the cookies (yes, it’s floua and suga)? Coke and not a Zero? Oily perut ayam and bolu kukus that look so inviting? It’s part of politeness too that I consume what they have served. Not an excuse at all, I’m telling you the truth!

I won’t say I will start diet tomorrow but I’d like to say… I will exercise even more tomorrow! The same affirmation I have started saying months ago and still need to work on. The Secret says Just do it!

Bag tag I once thought cool but I chickened out to wear later. We live in different kind of world now.

Life is funny sometimes. Full of unexpected things. It was raining when I got up, the usual wet morning these days. I waited till a bit late before made a decision to clean car. My car was just clean and dry when the drizzle started again. I let go. It was just strange to see the sun and the rain at the same time.

If feels like December when the rain falls every day that feels damp in the house. There’s something I don’t enjoy much in the wet season. Wet season? Who can tell these days, it’s June and wet in Ubud (that I don’t think it applies to the rest of Bali)? What can’t I enjoy? Smell of damp in the house that is quite annoying since I could not locate the source. I end up using aircon often like in summer. I feel not so good about it but I also need to dehumidify my stuff. It’s a constant issue of living in this lovely but humid town.

And so how do the unexpected things continue to happen this morning? I was so proud of myself to be able to start the day so early when I drove out around 9! I rarely if never failed to be on time but there were times when I had to cut my plan to be on or in time at least. So yes, my pride vanished instantly when I realized I forgot my hair dye at home. For the first time, I had to drive back to fetch something.

And the bank officer nicely reminded me to always bring an… ID! The ibu-ibu in me had simplified handbag in the morning and she could only remember to bring enough cash and an ATM card. Not even driver license! It had been long I didn’t feel inadequate! Anyway, she was nice to just proceed with the renewal of my account-book with a few verifications. In Bali, we need to have KIPEM (local ID that is more like permit to stay) but we cannot use it as a ‘real’ ID for banking. I managed to get my local driver license using that KIPEM actually. Yea, we never know!

I had nice hilarious moment with my color stylist, as always. He colors my hair and my day once a month. Just love him! Another beautiful soul in Ubud. I managed to find gifts for my loved ones before lunch with a good friend-couple in their favorite café. By 4 o’clock, I had gone to three cafés to meet friends. I had quite hectic last day. Even now I haven’t packed my clothes properly. I just printed my ticket. After all the unexpected things since morning, I was so brave to have my air-ticket printed in last minute.

Now I look forward to start my usual four-week trip!

I enjoy my new netbook so much that I look for this sign wherever.

Many of my friends have started issuing dates of their summer leave. Before too long I will be the last one standing in Ubud. But glad, it won’t happen! I will also leave, sooner than I had expected. Things moved so fast that plan was made in a snap. In two days, I will be out of Ubud for the rest of the month.

Been in Ubud almost five solid weeks, I have started to dance to the town-rhythm. And the thought of leaving soon has made me dive into the atmosphere even more. I inhale deeper breath, I listen to gamelan even more, I absorb the green of the town into my memory, I see gebogan (tall offering on dulang) as a work of art not just a part of Balinese life. I could not help texting a good friend yesterday: I love Ubud. I really do!

I talked with a cousin while ironing a heap of laundry this morning. The last batches. It was a nice catch up as often. And as often, a conversation leads to a business. Hung up the two-hour call, I rushed preparing 12 necklaces to send to Jakarta before 15:00. A cousin will open a boutique in an up-market mall on Saturday and was in need of a jewelry supplier. I don’t mind helping. It’s also nice to get a chance of having my creation exposed in larger scale.

I spent all afternoon sitting on the floor packing the leftover necklaces for Jakarta. Nothing left in Ubud as I’m ready to make a new line, new collection. Reset. Refresh. It’s exactly three years last month since I launched my first collection. It’s time!

I had my only shower of the day at twilight. I scratched my legs a lot. Now I have to admit that dust gives polka-dot motif on my skin. For years I didn’t want to admit since I always believed any disease comes from mind especially symptoms connected with allergy. Using positive affirmation works for some allergies, not with dust. Maybe it's time to get out of this humid damp house for a while to recover.

With all the pros and cons of leaving a place called home, I look forward…

A view I'd like to keep in my memory. Entrance of Museum Puri Lukisan.

This is to celebrate the 100th post.

Yea, but what’s for? A friend sighed when I suggested her to buy a netbook for the rest of her journey in Asia that still goes for good three months or maybe more if she decides to go to China till March next year. She is now working on a website she wants to do and some other works, also for a scholarship she applied she needs to blog and network (Facebook and Twitter).

She thinks there’s no point of blogging after the scholarship is announced. She doesn’t want to spend time writing knowing that no one will read. Good point! I often thought about it too. I’m writing a lot to… nobody! Hardly one reads my blog, not even close ones. How did I know? They ask things I have written on blog. They rarely if never comment on unusual remarks I made about my day. They don’t know what I’m up to, what bothers me, what's my plan… And funny enough, they demand to know about my days! Ha.

I’m also a good email writer, I know that very well! And the same, people don’t have time to read an elaborate email. Now I learn how to write life update in journalistic style that is brief pointers instead of elaborate paragraphs. I enjoy it when they write back asking about details of a pointer.

So, yes, what’s for? The same question of what’s for is still streaming in, asking why I took museology training last April. Can’t we just do what we want to do without particular purpose? Is any training wasted if we just do it? If we have additional knowledge? When the same friend asked why I did museology training said she enjoyed helping out in the museum in Sweden, my eyebrows raised. Never mind. I’m glad for I got email from the Indonesian liaison with a museum in Leiden about the book about to publish and they reserve thank-you copies for us who helped with the project. I am in!

I learned that many think writing is a great idea and important but hardly one likes the idea of writing. Even travel journal that I thought traveling is the best moment to record. They thought there’s no point to write since they are not going to reread what they have written because they want to enjoy the moment, the NOW! Do you think I reread my diary books and blog posts from years ago? So here I am, I don’t even read my writing! Maybe they are right in the end. What’s for?

Why are you walking up and down the rope, ants?!

I packed up necklaces I plan to sell at discounted price last night. For packaging, a good friend suggested individual boxes instead of sheer pouches I have used since the beginning. I ordered quite a lot of boxes that turned out so neat. I was happy till I finished putting each necklace in a box and saw a stack of boxes. Not just that, each box has bubble sheet inside to keep the necklace in place during transporting, and to keep it clean… Ziplock helps!!

I am truly overwhelmed by the packaging. I feel not so good about it because putting the necklaces into individual boxes means creating… waste! I know my product is supposed to be presented in a nice way but how can I deal with this packaging dilemma? (You can actually Google packaging dilemma, it’s an issue these days.)

For me, even without excessive package, I am still going to buy stuff I like. I accept nice packaging if I buy for others as gift. Often I feel sorry to have to stop a shop from going into the procedure of packing stuff I bought. There’s a high-end batik shop in Jakarta that caters mostly Japanese so super nice packaging is necessary. The shop uses layers of recycled papers to wrap every piece that I respect it as part of presenting their exclusive product. What I do then is reuse the papers because I don’t have the heart to stop them from presenting an artwork to their customers. In this case, I cannot refuse, but I reuse. I hope my decision helps the world a bit.

It may sound odd but I decided to give my necklace-fans the choice of getting the necklace without box but sheer pouch. They can always use the pouch for storage. I’m trying to be good to the environment, not to exercise cost cutting. It has impact on the cost in the long run yes but that’s not my initial intention.

I am a forever tourist in Ubud, it seems. Whatever I wear, whatever I carry, whatever accent I speak, I look and act like tourist for Balinese. I don't mind because I admit I still see Ubud from tourist’s eyes. Been living here three years, I still take pictures a lot, anything I find on the way. And this noon, me and my good friend visited Puri Lukisan I hadn't been very long time. A sculptor from Mas shows his work with the help of an art organizer in Jakarta. It's a bit unusual since I don't quite see the business in organizing an exhibition without sales. I don't know, maybe I'm a novice in the industry.

The exhibition is super, and on top of enjoying the exhibition, it feels so good to know that I live in Ubud. I enjoyed the green garden with lotus pond with the beginner’s mind. Later over lunch, my Balinese friend told me that the local usually don't walk around in their own village. They go to other area if they want to relax. My friend could not find the reasons why. For me, there’s nothing wrong to be a tourist in my own town.

I spent all afternoon giggling with three girlfriends. We threw a get-together for a friend who is going to roam Europe for six weeks next week. We are truly happy for her as it is going to be her first time visiting Europe. And it’s good to have a netbook handy since many conversation topics lead to life in the net. Today we learned more about CouchSurfing; how to make a good profile as couchsurfer and how the network works. Amazing! How come the world shrunk into a netbook size?

The sculpture of Darlun.