newlywed's new year's morning

so, i got married last december. with my first (and only- i've never had a boyfriend before him, and we've been dating for 5 years before we finally tied the knot) boyfriend.

we're moslems, so there are few things that is definitely good about this marriage, which are :

1. now we're muhrim (a family), means i don't have to repeat taking wudhu (the holy water before the pray) when i accidentally touched him before doing the pray. 
2. i could meet him every night (when he's (or i'm) not out of town for work). and every morning after that. and i think that is a really comforting feeling.

but, there are also several things that comes in as consequences (of course), such as:

1.  my mom starts asking for a grandchild. 
2. we both need to be more tolerable about several things like my habit of getting shower after whenever i went out of the house, while he's the type of only two baths a day. i think i'm overboard about this. i need to minimize my germ-o-phobia. 

we're Indonesian, from different ethnicity. i'm Javanese and he's Minangnese. We did the wedding banquet in Javanese style, particularly in Jogja wedding costume. My headpiece was super heavy, i nearly faint (uh oh, exaggerated).
but, of course, there will be another banquet held in this January, this time with Minang wedding costume. I'll be wearing another heavy head piece (around 2 kg).
may this wedding is blessed. that tired neck of mine need a present of a lifetime happiness, for sure!

ooh i wish i have the pictures to show you (our photographer haven't send it yet).  i hope i'll remember to post it later.

i don't celebrate new year, actually. not because i'm against mainstream or what, i just don't like being up all night just to remind myself that the year is changing. however, i don't mind watching free fireworks blasting all night (and making astronomers crazy because it blinds them) from my balcony.

agh. what a morning.

i think i'll order a pizza.

 

The Nightmare

I’ve just had the nightmare. Why do I put ‘the’ instead of ‘a’ in front of it ? Because THE nightmare was about my biggest fear yet (probably) my favorite thing in this world. 

It was about school.

I could remember that I was a university student. It was dark so I supposed the dream set up at night. I was in the library. The library was kind of dusty, but full of books and fellow students.

They asked me, ‘have you finished your paper?’ I realized that they were talking about final paper, and it will be due on two weeks, and everyone was like doing their final editing, while I don’t even know yet what will I write about. 

So I was kind of hurry. I decided to make a paper about school (geez, two ‘school’ theme in one dream? That’s like a schoolception!). But when I rummaging the books, I wasn’t able to find any book that write about ‘school’. BUT I saw many – like very very many – encyclopedias! Every kind of encyclopedia a kid could ever want!

There was this set about animal, about religion, and other themes, All in bright colors and high resolution pictures.

And after encyclopedia? I found this huge pile of comic books! And I remember I picked one titled ‘Kotaro’ and it was about baseball (there’s this girl and this boy and the boy was wearing a baseball costume).

So, since I didn’t find anything, I get back to paper made by seniors. I decided I’ll look for a paper titled something related to FARMING.

Geez. 

But I couldn’t find it. The numbering, however, I could remember. It was some sort of like 1205 and 08 something. The paper was bind in yellow. I couldn’t find the paper I was looking for. And although the library was full and seems like busy, I remember that the papers were all covered in dust and spider webs.

There was then this someone who say to me, ‘you couldn’t find it, do you?’ and when he said that, I realize that I won’t have enough time to finish the paper. And I won’t graduate. 

After I woke up (and hurriedly write this), I realize that this dream pictures some of my biggest love hate I have until now. 

What I love:

• Books. ----- those encyclopedia about animal is probably the best features available from the nightmare production company (my brain). And manga? That’s just awesome
• School -----sounds weird, but I love the process of studying, learning everything new, and actually get the chance to read a little here and there from some sort of more serious themed books.
• The old ambiance of a library --- classic!

What I hate:

• Task --- in this case, a paper. That’s probably one of the reason why I hate school the same way.
• School --- yeah. Me too. Confused with this love hate relationship.
• Dust---- I have asthma. Therefore, I hate dusts. Although at some classical themed scenery (or ancient theme or indiana jones theme), a presentation of dust in adequate amount, is a must.
• Not graduating ---- although I’m not quite sure whether I’m an ambitious person or not, but I hate it if I can’t finish the job. Moreover, the job that could determine whether I’ll be able to graduate or not.

What was the memory?

Well, I studied architecture engineering. And my final paper was about building a music school (conservatory) that has this gothic architecture style. This dream probably just schoolception me about how I have this difficult relationship with school. 

oh, but I couldn't understand what was it about Farming. Do I secretly wants to be a farmer?

The Ghosts Goes On

Continuing previous post, I'll tell you another stories from the Astrawidjaja (haunted) Mansion.

please don't make me explain about the so called 'mansion' again. 

Knocking on Doors #1
Half a year after the previous activity of 'someone' walk in my bedroom to be,  and after 25 years of not having our own bedrooms, finally, the bedrooms upstairs is finished (or at lease adequate enough to be a proper bedroom).

nothing happen for a while. Until one night, when i was asleep and happily snoring (what's the verb for 'snore'?), there's someone knock on my door.

the knocking was so loud, i opened my eyes instantly. I remember i just lay there, eyes wide open, and basically don't know what to do.

to open the door? what if someone/something is really out there waiting to .. er.. i don't know.

to stay at my bed seems to be like a good option. because i don't want to run without really sure about whether the knocking was real or just a dream.

so i wait there.

and suddenly another knock - knock on my door (or my window, i'm not sure. but the balcony was bright so i can see it clearly from my dark room, and it was totally empty).

and i decided to , well despite of having fear all that moment, zoom out of my room, straight to my sister's next to mine.

i opened her door, and there she's sitting on her bed. Her face was pale, and she was holding her feet.

'what the he** took you so long?? i got cramps on my feet. and i scream but no one's coming!'

shocked by what she just said, i just come over and try to give her foot some massage to get rid of the cramps.

just by that time, my parents open the door, their face were also pale. My mom asked me, 'did you knock on my door?

of course i didn't!

.......

When we exchange stories, we found out that my sister was crying for help due to her cramped feet. But no one's coming.
My dad heard someone knocking on his bedroom's door. at first he thought it was me, because (according to them) i used to get in to their room at anytime, although it was weird because i never knocked.
He said 'Ara? come in.'
but no one replied. And then there goes just another knock-knock. Thinking that it probably a robbery, my parents go out of their room. First thing they do was checking the living room and the back yard. Since there was nothing, they went to my room.
They was shocked because my door was opened, and my blanket laid on the floor. It was as if i was kidnapped or run away somewhere but downstairs.

so they check on my sister's, and found both of us just sitting there, both look pale.
my sister due to her cramps, and me due to horror.

 In conclusion, this ghosts was trying to woke me and my parents, because my sister need help.

yeah, as if knocking on someone's door in the middle of the night doesn't have any side effect of causing terrible disaster such as heart attack.

Who's in the Bathroom #2
I got home early that day. First things i did was unlocking the back door, threw my bag on the table, feed the cat, and leave again to buy some meal for dinner.
After half an hour, i went back, and found my parents are already there.

When i opened the backdoor, my dad look at me with surprise. He said , 'ma, Ara's here.'
and my mom who was at the living room just dashed back to the dining, looked at me for a moment, then said 'So who's in the bathroom?'

well, actually, none. since my sister wasn't home.

my mom told me that when she and my dad got home, they saw my bag and heard someone's taking a shower upstairs. So they quickly assumed that it was me.
when i came back from the dinner, they thought it was my sister who's opening the back door. That's why they were surprised to find it was me. and that was nobody upstairs.

.......

even just by writing this, i got a shiver on my back.

i better stop.

argh. bye.

The Ghost of Astrawidjaja Mansion

Before i go on telling stories about ghosts that are haunting my home, few of you probably will just puke reading the tittle.
I was just kidding. My house doesn't deserve any title but 'house'. It's a small house. not truly a 'mansion' with hundreds of rooms and thousands artifacts placed everywhere and billions yards of fabric used just to cover its windows.

However, my house does has that appearances that could freak most passerby out at midnight. Although it is a small house, but its construction has started from 1996 and not yet finished until now. Due to lack of fund (we're not a rich family). The exterior is covered with big wide windows. And because of the unfinished construction project, half of the upper floor is still dark. There's this room that we intended to be our library one day, that currently used to store pile of wood beams and other building materials. The room's windows is uncovered. So people outside could see through to the empty wall.

We have this wooden u shaped stair. I could easily picture a female ghost's head looking through the stair's  from the empty library-to-be, spying on my family activities downstairs. Me and my sister's rooms are upstairs. So every time we go in or out of our room, the empty and dark library-to-be is placed at the blind spot of our eyes.

Our main gate is adorned with this big curve covered with vines of red and white little flowers that smell like a Jasmine. We called it a Dutch Jasmine. In Indonesia, scent of Jasmine is identical to either a Javanese bride's hair ornaments, or....... the scent of a ghost. *spooky background music appear*

So, how many ghosts are there in my house?

we're not quite sure about the number, but their activities are countable.

And here, I give you the stories.

Who's in the bathroom? #1
The time goes back to late 90's. When my dad's mother is still alive and stayed with us.
For your info, we didn't have a bathtub nor shower. We took a bath by drawing a hand bucket of water and pouring it over our body.

So, my grandmother usually woke up at 4 am (before Subuh prayer), and took a bath soon after that.
That day, she woke up at 4, get out of the room picking her towel, and went to the bathroom. She then waited in front of if for probably half an hour, because she heard someone's inside, judging by the sound of someone drew and poured water again and again.

Until my dad woke up, get out of his room, to find her mother just sitting there near the bathroom.
She noticed him, and look confused, and asked 'did you just woke up?' finding my dad nod as answer. and then she said 'then.. who's in the bathroom?' before realizing that the water sound has ended. And when she opened the bathroom's door, it was empty.

The tall man
it was 3 am. A merchant just on his way home from the market, carrying two big plastic bags filled with groceries. When he passing by the main gate, he saw a tall man, wearing a black robe covering his whole body, standing still in front of the gate. Even if the man was just average, those kind of black robe in the dark night, will most likely freak people out.
but the man he saw wasn't just average. he was so tall that his head reach the vines. And the vines was like 2.5 meters high from the ground.

The man wasn't moving at all.

The merchant screams like crazy, dropped his groceries bags, and ran away. My dad found his bags by the morning. with some help, he took the bag back to the merchant whose house wasn't far from mine (he already moved out now), where my dad got this story.

The girl at the second floor
we have a neighbor at eastern side of the house. Their house is a two-storey big building (twice bigger than ours) and has window facing the library-to-be.
Their daughter once told her mom, she saw a girl with a long dark hair, sitting near the window.She thought the girl was one of us, but none of us have long hair.
not to mention, she saw it at midnight.

the girl's face was covered. of course the neighbor never wanted to know any further after knowing there's nothing more than my family who lived here, and none of us want to sit in the library-to-be at midnight,

The cleaning lady
early in the morning, when my mom went to a neighbor that open groceries store (right at the west side of our house), the owner asked my mom, 'i saw you cleaning your yard at 3 when i got home from the market. Weekly cleaning, eh?'
and my mom just nod. answering it was her, because our little yard is getting messy.
while in fact, she hasn't woke up until 5 am.

The Alarm!
One night in 2009, my sister was out of town.
I slept with my parents, because none of the rooms upstairs were finished at that time. My parent's bedroom is exactly under my soon about to be bedroom.
The floor was made from wood. The room has no window, just an open frame facing balcony. The hole was covered with a wide sheet of plywood.

That night, suddenly i woke up, because i heard a noisy footsteps right above my head. When i looked to my side, my father was awaken too.
I asked him, 'did you hear that?' and he nod. just after that we heard another thump thump voice. It was just like someone is banging his feet on the wooden floor because he's angry or just stupid enough to make loud noises in middle of the night.

We rose up from bed.
I shake my mom;s arm,  tried to wake her up, while my dad already zooming out of the bedroom picking a short blade (he usually use it to chop woods), and yelling at someone he (thought he) saw going downstairs.

When my dad goes upstairs, my mom went to the living room. And suddenly she yelled, 'Papa! there's a robber climbing our fences!'

My dad run to the living room. He opened the main door. Shout to the robbers who apparently shocked, jump down the fences outside and ran away with their motorcycles.

after those robbers are away (none of us saw any of their faces, and none of us called the police), we went upstairs. thinking there's another one (maybe).

but my bedroom to be was like totally empty. The plywood wasn't moved an inch. and the thick dust were just plain there without any trace of anyone stepped on it.
My dad was confused. he was so sure there was someone.
Because he saw him. He couldn't remember his face, but my dad was sure that man (yes, a male), was wearing a short and literally went downstairs calmly before my dad chase air.

there was no sign of any trespassing at all on second floor. The man who was loudly 'walk' in my bedroom, was just alarming us about the thieves climbing the fences.


to be continued...
actually, i'm just so sleepy to write anything more than this.

A Trip to Japan - Hiroshima

I was expecting to meet a Godzilla (you know, for it to come and do some awesomely acts like throwing cars and smash buildings and stuff).

too bad, i didn't met him at all. *sigh*

Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka were all free of Godzilla, and there were none of the Power Rangers either T_T

so I finally made it to Japan ! yiey ! *victory* after so many Himura Kenshin (both cartoon and life version by Satoh Takeru) fantasies, and so many dream of having my own kimono, i finally made it there !

I went to Hiroshima first, and have fun visiting a shopping district there (forgot the name, d'oh), they got this cute store, that has every kind of make up and body/face/hair treatment products for (mostly) woman!. there was even an alley specialized for eye make up!
although i'm not a make up fan, but the packaging and colours were just so awesome , so Japan-ish!

but highlight of that day, of course a short visit to Hiroshima castle tower (a very very short one, because it was already noon, and they're closing for that day), and i managed to draw something, that although it's unfinished, i think it's still pretty neat.

Hiroshima Castle Tower

That was the re-sketch of my original one, ink over pencil. although the original was more 'sketchy' (using a blue inked pen, the only one i brought for the whole trip. what an idiot).

a little from Hiroshima. I'll share another one from Kyoto and Osaka, as soon as i have the chance (and mood, and will) to post again.

bye for now!

My Meal in Hong Kong

Last February, I was having a business trip to Hong Kong (sounds cool, eh ? "business trip" ? eheheheheh) when introduced to this wow way of feast.
Basically, it was just a lunch. a formal lunch. But i can't help my self calling it a "feast", for the enormous amount of dish they served.

so, what did i have for lunch ? here's the list :

Appetizers:

1. Fried peanut
2. Spicy fried Tofu (with garlic and red pepper)
3. Some kind of a very tender sliced beef, chilli sauced

Main course:

1. Peking Duck’s skin, with wonton dough as wrapper
2. Steamed shrimp
3. Fried pigeon
4. Peking duck’s meat with water salad as wrapper
5. Squid tempura
6. Fried rice with salted fish
7. Sauteed baby kailan
8. White rice

Dessert:

1. Fried lunar cake
2. Sliced fruit consisted of kiwi, strawberry, watermelon, melon, papaya
3. Sponge Cake
4. Chinese bakpia

and that, ladies and gentlemen, all in one single lunch.

As a Javanese, I used to have rice with meat as side dish, and some soup. that's for one meal. add a portion of fruit and cold ice tea, the lunch is already perfect.
Imagine what i felt when faced with this kind of lunch.
Not to mention , they served the rice last. ahahahah.
I was shocked.  -_-''

most of the fried stuff was served with many fried garlic and fried chili. I just love it.
And beef as appetizers ? what kind of luxury that is for me !

So what happened next during the other meeting ?

That's right, another feast, this time, i didn't bother to divide which is which, so, i'll just give you the list of several dishes i could remember :

1. Fried rice
2. Fried noodle with mushroom
3. Spicy thin slice of beef
4. Fried Peking duck
5. Rice cake
6. Fried tofu skin
7. Fish ball with wasabi
8. Sauté vegetables
9. Some other sauté green vegetables
10. Vegetarian pao
11. Shrimp dim sum
12. Seafood fried dim sum
13. Beef meat ball

So, next time you have the chance to visit Hong Kong or perhaps Taiwan and China, there are three things involving meal that you probably want to remember, here you go:

1. always look for a chance to try a full feast for lunch or dinner, like what i had.
2. you have to only take a very small amount of every dish. Make sure you taste them all, and not being so greedy at the very first dish they serve. Because it's your lost if you can't taste them all. Eat like crazy when you already taste everything, and know what you're craving the most. 
3. if you're a moslem like me, don't forget to ask the meal that only contains Halal ingredients. Ah, and don't forget to eat only normal cattle. (please don't touch the shark's fin).

 happy meal in Hong Kong !

Ps :
it's a polite way to move your fore and middle finger as if you're knocking the table, when someone is pouring the tea to your cup.
i was told, that it was the Emperor's way to say thanks to anyone who pour them tea, because it is forbidden for them to bow to others, they then just find a way to "bow" their fingers as their way to say "thanks".
anyone knows better about this ? let me know.

Being a Complicated Me

When I was younger, way younger than now, I used to have something I'd like to call an "identity lost" phase.
That is when I don't really know what I really want to do, who I want to be, etc. But the biggest question was, who I really am.

Those who knew me from childhood, will recognize me as a very active little girl, who likes to talk and talk to anyone she met. Love dancing and singing and have no fears to scary things like dentist or blood. Who act as an adult by teaching others to sing. Who act as if she knew everything.
Those who knew me from high school days, probably will take me as a very snob person. Who's brave to face seniors, still an amateur singer, and always appear as if she's full of confident.

My university friends will think of me as a boyish girl who's careless to the world. Who could speak and mingle easily with boys. Who's quite eccentric by outlook and a confusing singer.

And now, my colleagues at work (and bosses), think of me as a very loudmouthed girl. who's not afraid to speak, many times at wrong occasions.Who's actually a good spoke person and MC, and creative design, but reject order as much as accepting it.

My recent office friends always think of me as a very confident girl who's definitely not sensitive, and is a stubborn.

With all those descriptions above, I wasn't really sure about myself. I used to try to find scientific description about me. I try with "bipolar" , beep, that's not it. My mood do actually easily goes up and down in just seconds. But not as extreme as what a bipolar person shows.
And then I think of, having a double personality, but again, I guess that's wrong. Because I never lose any conscious and fully aware of what  I'm doing or thinking.

...

So i tried some personality test on internet, and i found that i'm an INFJ (Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging) type of person, according to Myers-Briggs Personality Type.
and i find this description really fits me :

INFJs have been mistaken for extroverts, as they tend to possess multiple personalities due to their complex inner life; however, they are true introverts.

this is (maybe) one of the answer.

For girls who used to ask me "how could you be so easily talk to the boys and even the seniors and hanging out with them ?", well, ladies, i didn't 'easily talked' or 'hanged out' with them. I was just basically sat alone (reading or listening to music or day dreaming as every other introverts love to do) there at the canteen, and then they came around, making loud and noisy chit chat while took seats around me and simply said "hi" to me without any attempt to get me involved in their conversation. As me, I was simply said "hi" back and responding to their miserably confusing chit chats as I thought what a normal conversation should be, and pour out my views whenever it's needed.
Just that.


another one :

INFJs tend to be easily hurt, though they may not reveal (except to their closest companions). INFJs may "silently withdraw as a way of setting limits" rather than expressing their wounded feelings—a behavior that may leave others confused and upset.

see ? I'm a very sensitive person.
Few months ago, I told my colleagues, and nobody believed. Some of them showed me the look of horror as they tried to figured out was there any sentences or acts that somehow offended me.
I know it's hard to believe, that I'm a very very very "take it to the heart" type of person. That is easily offended, and hurt. I just tried to silently withdraws myself, instead of getting angry or pout, just because I don't want to hurt back those who have offended me.
So, dear people, if you say something rude or talk about me behind my back, or what ever bad, and you see me just smile to that, please note, that I smile so that I won't hurt you. However bad I cry inside.

...

INFJs tend to be sensitive, quiet leaders with a great depth of personality. They are intricately, deeply woven, mysterious, highly complex, and often puzzling, even to themselves. They have an orderly view toward the world, but are internally arranged in a complex way that only they can understand. Abstract in communicating, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities.

highly complex and often puzzling even to themselves ? That is just so me.
that's why , daydreaming, or some deep thinking act on bus, or even writing this self - confusing - article on blog that not many read, is just some normal activities for the INFJs.

.........

last note,

With a natural affinity for art, INFJs tend to be creative and easily inspired, yet they may also do well in the sciences, aided by their intuition.

just remember, that although i'm capable of doing several things (creative design or public speaking), doesn't mean i love doing it. It's just because i'm quite an intuitive person that act as a dry sponge, easily absorb new knowledge and skills.
but then, i'm also like a wet sponge, easily squeezed out of its content of knowledge and skills.
the sponge has no feelings about those it absorb.
in other words, don't push me.

i'll do what i can and able to help. so please pay me back by not asking to much from me.

------

oh oh, i also hate those who talks behind my back. I'm a very intuitive AND sensitive person. I know when there's a ghost surrounding me, so I'll definitely know when there's people talks behind my back.

If you want to say something about me, be it bad or worse or worst, please just say it in front of me. I'll probably just cry inside, but seriously, that will be fair for both parts.

.........................

*Sigh*

Irit Listrik Campaign - #1 Plug Out

this is my first week to start an Irit Listrik Campaign - #1 Plug Out

as you may already knew, turning off your unused electronic devices is a cool way to reduce energy consumption. The thing is, plug out their cables are even cooler way to save more energy !

i have already plug out all of my unused cables at home, but i never do that at the office except for big holidays. So here it is, i'm plugging my pc's cables out after used at the end of my working day, everyday.
imagine the saved resources, not to mention, the one we used to waste on weekends !

this is how it looks , my plugged out pc cables

Jakarta and its citizens

as many other capital ever existed, or until now do exist, in this world, is basically a huge melting pot.

Although we probably unlike New York where you can find many nationality, race and such, but we basically are very plural. Not just in our physical appearance, but also in our habit.

that theory applies to this total different habit of waste management. 
I personally hate those who can't keep this city clean. They think that it is normal to throw daily waste and garbage everywhere. Mostly, to the river.
the stupidity level is just so high, i can't picture them with a singe tiny brain.

I know that there are many of us, who actually care about the environment. Not only keeping the house clean, but also the city, its river, its streets, its air (you know, those who rides bicycle to work, and use public transportation vehicle on daily basis -- even though they can afford a car ?), but hey, these men (and women) only, isn't enough to keep this city survive.

there's even more plenty who care nothing about this city.

Not to mention, those buildings (and malls, i hate to have too many malls. seriously, why not library or theater?) that just kept on build, dried out the environment so fast, that it can't any longer support the people.

ergh.

i mean. this heavy flood we're having ?

you can't just blame the rain for sending you so much water ?
they only do what they do for countless zillions of years. We can't change the habit to fit "greater needs" ?
tell the rain to stop,  and when this city is dried out, we'll soon find out who needs what the most.

geez.

for you, white collar people with fancy clothes that is still littering everywhere just because "others do it too", shame to yourself.
A tiny wrapper waste of a candy, could lead a bigger flood than what we're having now. Trust me.

so, my dear fellow citizens,

Let's change.

Now.