On My Way To Self Conquest

There’s no room for comparison

The only one I must race with is myself

Demolish my old ways

Go beyond the limitation I’ve set for myself 

See way further than my previous sight 

Achieve the impossible things

Reach the highest sky 

Created For A Good Deed

We do good things not for a reward

we do good things simply because

we are created for a good deed

Amed Adventure

I went to Amed Bali and decided to drive on our own instead of using the pick-up service from the hotel we’re staying. Because we really want to experience the adventure and adventure it was. Mild one I must say.

Armed with a google map only off we go to the other untouchable part of Bali.

Three and a half hours later and oh a little stop to ask here and there we finally arrive in Amed.

You actually can reach Amed in three hours but since Phil is a cautious driver we were running a little behind, but I don’t mind it’s a new experience after seeing how Indonesian driving it’s time to consider about your safety. 

We were welcome by a beautiful and friendly staff where they ushered us to the bar for a fresh welcome drink and they show us our room that located right in front of the beautiful lush garden and a charming pool overlooking the ocean. 

The room is nice come with just the right size, the bed is equipped with a drapery mosquito net where they put flowers on the bed. It has a small couch and coffee table where they put two cups, coffee, tea, and sugar. The bathroom is clean and it has a semi outdoor shower. 

There was no TV and telephone in the room, I’m not sure is it just in our hotel or is it same to any hotel in Amed. But luckily the hotel provide some of books in the reception area. It’s quite a rescue cause I didn’t bring anything to read while Phil is so cozy with his ipad, I don’t think he would ever need a book. But even so he still pick one book from the library.
We were staying at Blue Moon Villas by the way.

There’s no light on the street so there’s no way you can walk at night.  

It feels like I’m having an early Nyepi (Silent Day) but with good company (: 

We managed to find a nice restaurant for dinner. It looks so fancy from outside 

white and big building that situated higher than other buildings,

but very simple from inside and it feels like home. 

You get to see the pantry where they prepare the food.  

Again don’t expect too much from the restaurant here,

the food was ok at least they’re trying to give their best. 

But Phil’s meal was delicious, pork ribs served with mashed potato and vegetable.

They cook the pork so nice cause it feels so tender.

Mine was ok, the fish is not fresh so it tasted a bit hard. 

Then we finished off our dinner with a sweet treat 

a home made pancake with caramel sauce served with vanilla ice cream.  

Not much of pictures I can take because I was too busy enjoying my solitude mostly with my book. 

The view is unmistakably gorgeous, 

the ocean, 

the trees along the beach, 

some traditional huts,

 we even found a very small cave that leads to... nothing actually, there’s a temple too. 

But don’t expect anything fancy and please put away “modern” from your head. 

Cause the place is small and I don’t see any infrastructure except for 

numerous bungalows lined up along the streets. 

You can see some small restaurants and simple cafes along the way,

they also have “A Spa” where we went and apparently they only have one room

err.. not so much of a room actually it’s more of a semi outdoor room.

I think they try to make this “blend with nature” concept which goes along so well with westerners.

Since the visitors are mostly foreigners.

Luckily they have a curtain so it prevents us from being a semi nude reality show.  

For activities since the place is remote and quiet you can do yoga almost everywhere,

preferably by the beach where you can also sun baking there.

They also have a bike tour activity you can do other than diving. 

No they won’t take you for a seven hours ride no ! 

They only have a couple of hours ride but it starts in the morning so it’s really good for an early bird

and no it’s not something for you to consider sleepyhead.  

But what troubles me is that you can see there’s a big gap between the visitors and the locals. Most of the bungalows are standing nicely when you compare to the local’s humble crib. You can tell how poor they are just by looking at their environment, it was very dirty especially because it’s been raining you can see a little flood that stays in their area since it’s situated lower than the main road. I won’t be surprised if they catch a cold or other disease.

Ok I’m not gonna complain about my government in my blog, let me keep it to myself so I can think of a solution and also for you fellow Indonesian.  

Anyways, here are some clothes I wore while I'm in Amed

Overall the trip was a fine one. We made it with just a google map and

at least we can proudly say “Yeah I’ve been to Amed”... 

Beheaded, Bewildered, Bestirred

Behind the scene of a recent photoshoot I'll soon post, just you wait people (:

Today I'm gonna write about the conversation I had with my sister when she told me
she was confuse about a certain thing in her life especially when it comes to make an important decision
where she has to weigh on people's advice and opinion that make her even more puzzled.

Some things are hard to comprehend and difficult to digest because our limited understanding.
Therefore we must continually upgrade ourselves.
It is too shallow to blame others for what our mind cannot cope.
And yet we refuse knowledge.
I often heard people said "he's using a heavy language" or "he's theory is just too high".
I think our incapability to digest such things forbid us from moving forward,
hinders us from striving higher.

Successful people know that true education 

is what you get for yourself and by yourself. 

It's not by someone 

who gives you or tells you

~Sunday Adelaja~

When you know better you can understand better and that's when you can speak up.
Not everything you heard out there is true. So you need to know better,
push yourself to the edge, and jump to see what's on the other side.
Widen your perspective and see there are numerous of possibilities that life has to offer.
Life really is an adventure and it can't be boring. Unless you're afraid to take the challenge !

There are so much more than just this,
so much opportunities,
plenty of ways,
endless possibilities

This is why freedom provided so we can choose
how we want to live our life without depend on other people's opinion
or stuck with their comments.
And finally learn to be a mature person by being interdependent and
take full responsible of our action and decision.

Sometimes others just trying to help but their way isn't always perfect
or the only concept you must follow.
This is when we need to discern and digest what we really need.
At the end of the day we are the only person who know ourselves better and of course our Creator (:

So worry not, it's ok to make mistakes cause life itself is a never ending learning center.
It's a journey where you get to see scenery and
there are plenty of roads you must go through (people's opinion/theory).
But you must make sure you have a Guide to walk with you along the journey.

A Grip

My mind is wandering

Walking super fast

 like those people in Shinjuku

Very crowded

 like those shops in Shibuya

Not a very healthy stage of mind

But I can’t help it

Feel like I just came back

 from an absurd place

Feels so unreal

It will stay that way

 till the answer come

I need a grip 

Photographed by: Valerie

 

Charisma or Character ?

Confidence is captivating

It is powerful and it does not fade

And that is endlessly more interesting than beauty

Photographed by: Enjie

UP

So I went to Ujung Pandang the capital city of South Sulawesi after exactly a year, time really flies, it feels like yesterday.
I love the streets in this town its wider than the streets in my island and its so easy to get around cause everything is so close together.
I'm quite familiar with the streets here. Unfortunately I don't get to see much from this town but I get to taste various kind of delicious culinary here.
I even went to some school to eat their simple but of many kind food.

I took a ride on a pedicab (a traditional vehicle where the driver rides it like a bicycle
and the passenger sit in the front, it holds up to 3 people), it's a lot slower than any normal vehicle.
I expect to be at my grandma's home in ten minutes but it took me almost thirty minutes to get there.
I was on the phone with my sister when at one point she asked "why haven't you arrive?"
Just exactly the right ride to practice your patience lol !
Or is it possible that I gain weight from eating too much food that
the driver couldn't pedal any faster cause I'm too heavy ? Well I hope not !

The other thing that's unique about a pedicab is because its so slow it makes you feel like a fish in aquarium where everyone turns to see what's inside the aquarium. People might stop for bit to see what's inside the pedicab. In this case I feel like a rare fish. But I couldn't care less.

The first days of my stay was extremely fine. I get to meet my mum and my cutie pie sisters and my beautiful cousins and my grandma, I even managed to catch up with some friends.
But I dedicated most of my time for my little sisters Kezia and Kennisa.
I can't seem to keep my hands off Kezia, she's too cute ! And that's also the main reason blogging, tweeting, and texting has sort of taken a back seat.

I don't mind, not the slightest.
Cause you know time is the best gift you could ever give to others especially your loved ones !

I was supposed to stay there for three days but I decided to extend so I can spend more time with my family.
One of the thing that swallowed my time is when I hang out with Kezia, cause
I really have to pay attention to her, take care of her meal, her toys, see when she needs to pee or poo,
but most of the time you can find us cuddling anywhere.
So maybe I was meant to stay there a bit longer so I can learn how to take care of a kid, just maybe.
But eventually a woman should head there one day and I am no exception.

Now that I am home am emotionally exhausted. Physically I am perfectly fine,
I had enough sleep during my stay there unlike my previous visit.
But I always wonder why is it every time I get to the end of my stay in UP I always have a little argue
and I felt a slight of discomfort with my mum and her situation.  

Oh well every family have their own problem.
We are shaped through each and every member of our family, our closest ones that is.
I thank God for every incompatibility, for every problem that occurs
and function as an eye opener, for every friction that sharpen us.

At the end of the day it's your family who will always accept and stand for you through every trial and hardship and to this reason you should keep and stick with them through the thick and thin of life.
Fight for your family if you must and cherish not only their good traits
but you should also embrace their flaws.


PS: Please pardon the quality of the pictures,
       I forgot to bring my camera and took it 
       with my camera phone instead

strange enough but i love airport

the Star in my family

my supermom

Kennisa & Kezia

my beautiful cousins

my cous and my nephew

durian time with jemps

karaoke with little crew as company

Fadil is super hilarious

ride with me in a pedicab :)

baby kez in action

mouth watering dessert, mind you it's durian on top yummm

es pisang ijo, the specialty from South Sulawesi