Ngawi

Several weeks ago, my friend Anggi took me to her father's place in Ngawi. Before the journey, she talks a lot about the place, telling how beautiful it is. I was pretty excited, but I won't lie.. at first its all about the train trip.. I mean who doesn't like train??! I know how it is oftenly late, or sometimes you have to be extra careful with your bags and stuff, but, come on..every modes of transportation always needs extra precaution. right?..riight?.. yah. Well for me, train is always the first option. There's always something about this nostalgic and romantic feeling in it.. and sometimes you ended up being so melancholic, and can't  not thinking about your life and your goal for happiness and,  jeez..what have I done with my life... 

Okay snap! Cut the train blab. Here. Pictures

So we arrive, and its no longer about the train (duh), the place is indeed beautiful. It feels like I'm going to my uncle's or grandma's house, you know like the song.. Its a very soothing and relaxing place, the kinda place where you just stop yourself for being stressed out or worried about work, or carrier, or meetings, or gas price, or  have you locked your house, have you turn of the stove, have you unplug the electricity.. I'm blabing again right?..yeeeah.

It's a great place, great people, and I've met this super size angel called Lanang, hahaa.. he is Anggi's little step-brother. He ask (and a bit force) us, to come with him catch some (very) little fish. And while we walk, he'd be like "I think this is the right place! Okay stop! Come on, you guys are so slow! Here, take this!" and we're just "Okay..." I think I'm a little scared.. In the end, we call him 'Big Boss'.  Oh, and Anggi's step-mother cook us some insanely delicious food, I was totally in heaven. Its definitely a beautiful time, too bad I can't stay long there. But hey, its only 3 hours travel (not to mention by train, yiay..). I hope I can go there again soon. There are a lot of place I haven't visited there yet . So be prepared for more posting about Ngawi! 

Love

Kiki

Simpang Banyak Julu

On April 6th, I was planning to participate in Pasar Kutu Bazaar, it's one of the part from Kopi Keliling exhibition. Me along with the other participants were expecting to make something inspired by coffee, so I start to open my picture files from my latest research trip in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, and fortunately I was placed in this village where almost all of the people there,  earns money from planting coffee. Name it, Robusta, Arabica I had it all. As a coffee lover it was indeed a heaven on earth for me. I even had chances to taste what so called the most expensive coffee in the world; the real and authentic Luwak coffee.. twice.. oh yeah, in your face, hey people whom pay 300.000 IDR for a cup of one. Ha!  *big grin

So people, let me introduce you, to one of the most  beautiful and peaceful place I've ever been; Simpang Banyak Julu. 

Simpang Banyak Julu is located in the end of the road, it is adjacent to the forest and hills. Forget your cellphone, there are no signals at all there, no probs for me. You have to drive by motorcycle 30 minutes up to the hill for signals, and it only appears in certain places. 

For me, when you go to some places, sometimes its no longer only about the place itself, but the people in it. 

Before I went there, many people warn  me about the strong and hard character of the villagers, well I don't say they were wrong, they do, but behind it, they were such a humble and great people to be with. I've met my heroine there, the amazing lady, whom insist that I should call her Umak, which actually means 'mother'. She appears in the third and fourth picture, I promise I'll make a special posting dedicated to her.

Meandwhile, I hope you enjoy some snaps I get from there. Adios!

Oh yeah, I'm still going to remind you, if you're in Jogja, don't forget April 6th 2013, I'll be at Pasar kutu bazar, in the opening of Kopi Keliling. Kedai Kebun, from 3 PM till 11 PM. See you there..

Love

Kiki

Wanderlust

One of the main reason why I temporarily took a pretty long break from draoupads is because since last year I began to re-explore my-so-called scientific side. Well, when I was in college I took Anthropology as my major, and since then, I must say it gave me a major influence in my thought and my paradigm about life and most of the thing.
And then there is this moment.. when I feel like there are many things I haven't done in my life, including traveling, exploring new places, meeting with new people and experiencing new activities. So it happens, one of my senior is calling if I can do a research, and so the story goes..

- Clouds picture from plane, after my departure from Jakarta. I always love looking clouds from a plane window, near the window seat are definitely my favorite spot seat.

- I kinda forget, wether it is Balikpapan or Tarakan, since we use connecting flight. But I think its Tarakan seeing from above

- The Bunyu Bay. One of my favorite view and my favorite spot in Bunyu Island. It was the place where my research took place. Beautiful place, only an hour from Tarakan

- Nibung Beach, one of the beach in Bunyu. The interesting thing about the beach is that, it was filled with coal! But my friend says its dead coal, so it can't be use anymore. 

- Sei Kura Beach. This is literaly the most beautiful beach I have ever seen in my whole entire life. I'm just freakinly crazy with the view, the driftwood (I love driftwood), this dreamy and whimsycal aura. Its perfectly my kind of beach.

- After the research has done, I gave myself a little vacation gift. I went to Derawan and do this unforgettable island hopping journey. I will gave you more about this vacation and my other trip on the next posting.

Right now, I can say I'm a designer slash freelance researcher. Maaan.. it does sounds good.. Hahahaa. Well, its definitely a two different world to live in, but it kinda gave me this weird balance for my soul. And note: pssst.. it also goes well for the pocket, and gave me an enough foundation for my big plan. About the plan, off course I will tell you. Just wait for the next posting ..;)

I must say, that again, I feel incredibly blessed that I'm able to do things I love..  Relaax, this is not going to be one of that preachy posting about how we must to be thankful about every single things and so on and so on..;P.  I must say, life still sucks sometimes (doh). But I guess one thing to be thankful is how we can always cope to its bittersweet journey.

Love

Kiki