Heal the world… Make it a better place…

It was still drizzling last night when my friend and I walked the Scotts Road to have dinner. My favorite CD shop in the corner has an outside Bose speakers that played nice loud music – mixed from the 1950’s to the latest repetitive indigestive rhythm of the 21st century. We were still around when suddenly I could not help saying It’s so sad. It’s so sad. Michael Jackson’s Heal the World was on. That’s the first time I heard his music since his passing. That female-male voice of his has character. We stopped to listen a few minutes to pay tribute. What a great musician!

It’s Great Singapore Sale again! Windows have loud announcement of what they offer with big arrows to lead us to the shop (that I found it useful in some places). I didn’t check out all but it’s so tempting to check out shops where I used to buy clothes. I’d like to say I don’t need more but I must admit I could not resist the temptation to check out. Good the new trend is loose clothes (baby doll, princess cut) that don’t suit my short figure. I don’t like to look like a sand bag in such clothes. It’s much better to look petite in tight fitting clothes. Anyway, luckily, some shops gave old style clothes a heavy discount. Lucky for an old style lady like me.

Actually, the offer of “discount up to 70%” has tickled my inquisitiveness. Without being exact, I’m just curious. Being in art business over a decade, I don’t have the luxury to give my customers a heavy discount. How could that work in artifacts (not to mention antiques)? Selling old stuffs is like selling gold, the value never goes down even though it only goes up slowly. I can still handle a bit more discount like up to 20% but to 70%? That’s when I thought about how fashion industry makes money. It buys people’s perception about what’s in, what’s hot, what other people think look good… now. So when I shared that I bought a Jackie O’s style cardigan, my friend laughed thinking that I bought the cardigan because of Jackie O. No! That’s how we refer to classic style. Thirty years from now I might say Michael Jackson’s style sequined gloves. It becomes classic then. Even perhaps his white V-neck undershirt also.

So here I am learning about pricing – fashion vs. artifacts, mass product vs. luxury goods. For the latter, I found out it’s significantly cheaper here than in Jakarta. Indonesia applies high taxes for what they thought luxury. Anything that has brand is luxury although in other countries it doesn’t necessarily so. Anyway, shop around for better price and make decision. Respect the house rules.

Ah so you still want to see me yaa… My doctor told me before I left her examination room today. I told her after the incision last week that I don’t expect to see her again. She remembered! I still keep an eye on my eye that I might have looked at it too closely that I don’t ‘see’ any significant progress. Or, I have over worried. To clear the cloud, I decided to see her again before I fly back. Glad she said that everything looked fine and it takes a little more time to heal the cut. 2.5 hours and another $ note flew for a peace of mind.

No discount!!

A new hip mall built on an ex playground for teenagers. Sad!

Because I’m a strong woman…

I listened to my friend’s life story over a glass of iced tea in a cafe in the corner of Orchard - Scotts Roads that is famous for ‘to see and to be seen.’ My friend picked out the place. She just went through the first procedure of having the first radiation for breast cancer treatment in a well-known hospital nearby. I learned about her condition through Facebook. I knew her long time ago and was kind of lost contact the past five years. Our mutual friend had reconnected us a week before I left for Singapore.

It’s good that I saw her today. Like often, catch-up with friends gives me an opportunity to learn and mirror to my own life. She is a special woman. A mother of two teenage kids – in their high-cost years – who has worked and become the breadwinner the past six years. That she had to deal with a jobless husband who didn’t support the family – financially and emotionally – through the years. She divorced her foreigner husband almost two years ago. Yes, she is a tough Javanese woman. While many thought I don’t act like a Javanese, I felt very Javanese when I listened to her. I looked quite vulnerable compared to her (in my thought).

I enjoyed listening to her. This woman had such flame inside her – unique enough she had both positive attitude and negative thought. Actually, she also had vulnerable side that she tried hard to bury. She had her own idea how she got breast cancer. Her bad relationship with her ex. I followed her thought how she tried to get out of the circle but to still keep bad energy is certainly not a good idea. I felt.

Anyway, it’s just nice to see her between her appointments in hospital. She will be in town for six weeks to have radiation for 30 minutes every day except on the weekends. I care about her but I don’t worry about her being. She is strong in and out. She could handle life very well although she said she’s the one with lots of thinking, planning, and worrying. Those parts I feel familiar.

I learned the past days to be more relaxed. Like my friend said… don’t be too exact! Aha! How I often trapped in that state of "to be exact." Do people need us to be exact? They don’t actually. To be more a woman, a friend told me over online chat last night. He said it after we had been talking about male things like how to install a router, how modem works, how this and that charge… He just laughed when I could not comment anything about spa! He thought I’m a salon person with my look. I look after myself well without going to salon let alone spa. But yes I might need to learn to be more a woman. That I felt I was a 99% woman when talked with my friend this morning.

Also, I should learn more how to loosen up… A mirror has been placed before me.

A moving ad I spotted while waiting for green light.

Yack. Yack. Yack.

My friend replied to my email with subject Eye. Eye. Eye. She’s not talking about my eye but her first bacteria dysentery she got since she lives in Jakarta nine years. We exchanged about our illness and antibiotics we have to take. For her, she has to take it for two weeks! That’s when she complained Yack. Yack. Yack.

It’s yack for both of us since we (thought we) lead a healthy life. At least up to our standards. We exercise and are careful about our intake. I told her it's ironic that she caught dysentery in Jakarta not in one of her trips to a remote destination in Indonesia. Like my experience with my eye, hers must have opened her to a new dimension about what to eat. Illness doesn’t cure my over-clean lifestyle, it makes it even worse.

I stayed in again today with a few hours walk to a nearest mall to stock up fruits. I also browsed some shops but only to confirm that I actually don’t need anything. I cannot wear leather shoes in Ubud, I don’t need other color but white for clothing, what else? I only stocked up my cream for super dry skin that I could not get in Indonesia. Enough to the next four months. I preferred to cocoon in again. It needs one to two more days for my eye to fully recover. My guess.

Orchard Road looked quiet but really I didn’t have appetite to walk the road (yet). It’s better to do on Monday. I already have a travel plan for tomorrow. Travel plan here has the same time frame in Ubud – any destination needs less than twenty minutes. Not big!

A side of Orchard Road on Saturday late noon.

Do u wonder where his soul is going (to) end up?

A friend texted me referring to Michael Jackson's passing this morning. Or, the news I only knew this morning from CNN. It has alarmed many of my friends (at least from my observation through Facebook). We lost him – a great entertainer. I’m glad that at least I once saw him live on stage in Singapore some ten years ago, or more. I was not a big fan of him but I decided to go because somehow I admitted that he would be a legend. I also had a slight thought that he might not stay long for he had such a loud life since very young. Anything with “too” expires quickly.

So yes, my friend is talking about recycled souls we talked the other day. She asked me what’s my idea about his as he has passed now. I thought he might be reborn as a happy white woman with great talent. My friend thought he’s going to be reborn as a sad and lonely white woman who loves boys. I didn’t agree since the philosophy of ‘to be reborn’ is to finish the ‘unfinished business.’ If he is born as a sad and lonely person again then he’s not yet finished with his business. Anyway, it’s just fun to talk about something not important that cannot be proven anyhow. A breather.

I stay ‘home’ today. I have tried to be in a crowd last night and it seems my eye could not take it yet. Being in air-conditioned room and exposed to the wind make it dry. Eyeglasses help though. Anyway, I just want my eye to recover completely this weekend so that I don’t have to pay doctor overtime. Uh knock on wood!

I spent the day reading a lot especially from online material. I’m helping a friend to set up a website that I need to do a mini research so that I can compare between good websites and not-so. And since a website can link to some other interesting websites, it becomes endless because I keep clicking, reading, and enjoying. Where’s the research? I was just amazed by how people of the same idea get ‘together’ these days. It seems we are all living in virtual world.

Living the legend way…

Sad clown in MINT Toys Museum in Singapore.

Oh, so this is not a fun trip

A friend concluded on an online chat this morning. She followed my eye status that I also told her about my experience going to a lab this morning. Yes, I did my annual ‘maintenance’ that has been due last month. That I had planned some time ago. So the eye thing is really a ‘bonus’ of the trip.

Well, any trip is fun for me – for whatever reason. I don’t take incidents seriously. It has its own challenge. This visit I experienced again the strict health screening in many places since H1N1 threat is big for Singapore. Like the time when Singapore dealt with SARS, airport – the gate to their city/country – has become the meter of their seriousness to minimize the spread. And even more now since H1N1 virus stays for much longer and infects more people worldwide. They have Communicable (not Contagious) Disease Centre for people who are H1N1 suspects. It’s like a detainment from my impression especially because the government subsidizes up to 80% of the treatment cost. For a very good intention. Of course.

Yesterday and today I learned about how big the threat is – more than a bomb threat. We are required to fill in the form: name, ID number, contact number, purpose of visit, and body temperature; before entering medical premises. If we pass the body temperature check, a staff sticks on a colorful sticker to mark that we are fine. Then you will deal with paramedics and physicians wearing mask that I found it difficult to understand what they say, after their Singapore-dialect English. It’s like speaking to somebody with sunglasses, there’s a body language we miss in communicating. Anyway, that’s the situation with a lot of Eh? Excuse me? Hm?

Such treatment makes me hesitate going on a crowd especially with little wound I have on the eye. I stayed in after the lab test in the morning to give my eye time to heal. Opening the bandage this morning is like opening a parcel – I don’t know what I might see. Good that I didn’t see scary thing in the dark morning. It looked fine with a red dot still. I must say it’s a neat work. Really glad I did it here. I heard in some cases it leaves a scar. Ugh! No one wants to hear the detail of my experience.

My neighbor friend has missed me already. I don’t know how we connect but he could just smell if I’m not in Ubud. I could not sneak out safely without him knowing. He knew that I’m in Singapore for eye treatment, among other reasons of course. Today he asked what’s after eye treatment. Well, I asked him if I should do liposuction, tummy tuck, Botox, or… breasts enlargement. One thing for sure, after yesterday’s experience, I don’t think I would ever want to get Botox treatment. Injection on face? I didn’t like the feeling of half numb when brushing teeth last night. I better live with charming wrinkles later in life.

Are there any charming wrinkles, by the way?

Birds flew around a coffee shop in Orchard Road.

Keep smiling.

A friend reminded me knowing that I might be an one-eyed pirate this afternoon. It's nice and I kept that in mind but… I decided to get treatment in national hospital instead of private hospital I used to go for annual medical check-up because of the cost. I was surprised to learn about the difference yesterday. The national hospital costs one-third of the private for the same consultation (procedure and medicine costs are unknown). Also, my problem is minor. And, I want to try other hospital!

I made an appointment with the eye clinic in the national hospital this morning. Its website has helped me a lot in making decision. The pictures look good although some websites can give wrong impression too. I’m glad that I have chosen the hospital. It’s a very good one in terms of service, and it’s reasonable! Not cheap but fine. I was sitting in the waiting room of the eye clinic when thought about my national hospital in Jakarta. Said it has the latest medical equipments but said it's better to avoid to get a treatment there. A hospital where you can mingle with alley cats in VIP recovery rooms.

This is what I like about Singapore. Prompt! I sat on examination chair at exactly 1:30 as the appointed time. Again, the doctor looked impressed with my eyeballs condition. She gave good remarks. I must have had a good eyeballs and I have to believe that. She thought that my pimple is common like anybody can get it anytime. It’s not a disease, it’s just an unbalanced condition – like many things else that cause your body suffers from something? She suggested a procedure lightly… Oh shall we make incision as drainage? I saw we had no option. It’s a 'minor' procedure – minor for the one who does the procedure. I will numb your eyeball and give injection near the eye! My mind went numbed already.

So I waited for an hour outside the procedure room. All by myself. Playing with the what-if-s in mind. The Filipino nurse was kind to offer me coffee. I told her that I was too nervous to drink. Then she offered… chocolate!! Later I was glad to have this Filipino nurse. I feel at home. She stood by my side and let her hand being squeezed by a nervous Indonesian patient. It’s beyond my dream that the doctor sprayed my eyeball, then gave injection near eye, and slipped an eyeball cover under my eyelid before the knife dancing on the spot! I could not feel but my mind played its own show that made me very nervous.

The procedure took less than 4 minutes, I believe. The doctor said I was doing very well. I questioned her judgment since I felt I kicked out and squeeze the nurse’s hand hard. Oh at least I didn’t see that! The doctor calmly answered. I liked her (but I don’t want to see her again!). Young and bright! I was wobbly for a few minutes because of the anesthesia. I needed some time to get used to do things with one eye. It’s so easy when we play covering one eye then doing things. In actual fact, it’s so different! I had to be careful not to hit a pole or an open door because I could only see half of the world. Feel blessed to have both eyes functioning. Really!

Another medical check-up tomorrow then done. I look forward to having better days in Singapore while waiting for my eye to recover. I only realized this noon that the Great Singapore Sale is on since last May. I didn’t know! But why were many shops empty and did ones hardly walk on Orchard Road? Global crisis? Anything, it gives me a brighter side of coming to Singapore to see doctors!!

The sale is on!

I trust you will heal fast ☺

My yoga teacher replying to my query if she had an ophthalmologist contact. She didn’t have. A pimple that has been sitting on the edge of my right eye the past one week got bigger when I woke up this morning. Every morning since I found out is like a surprise. It will get better or… the opposite. Today is the opposite. It becomes awfully serious!!

Actually I also trust myself that it will pass soon but of course I have to do something if it does not. I spent all morning trying to contact anybody I know if they know an ophthalmologist around. No one knew. So I contacted my airline to reschedule my trip to Singapore. I just could not wait for another 24 hours without making progress in treating my eyes. It’s been too much now after one week and I only saw a little progress that the doctor said it’s a matter of days. How many days?! I am in panic!!

It’s all odd. I packed up my stuffs not in a hurry. I prepared my trip mindfully. I just didn’t want to regret things I might forget when I move like a flash. It’s a day earlier than planned. This is an example why sometimes I didn’t delay packing because I'd never know what might happen before the day of departure. The last time I went on a trip, the power was out for hours that I had to pack in the dark. A friend told me that her bad dream before a trip is… no water for shower! I once experienced that, only it happened a night before so I managed to move before morning came. But leaving without shower could be fine but waking up late is a real nightmare. I believe.

I didn’t start my car engine for three days in a row since I stayed home. I worried a bit about the possibility of the battery stopped working this morning. I was lucky… just lucky! On the road, near Ubud still, I saw an elder couple waited for their driver changing a flat tire. I could see both looked worry. I was considering a moment to offer them a lift but the Kijang was full of big luggage. There’s no way we could fit them all in my tiny car. I said my prayer silently. Hope things are well!

So when my cousin texted me when I already checked in that he could not start my car engine… I didn’t know what to reply. I could not be luckier! Even with a serious pimple near the eye.

It looks wobbly but… still standing!!

Go steady eh?

I asked. Yep! My neighbor friend announced his formal relationship with his best mate the past one year. Seeing him with two ‘steady’ boyfriends before, I’m happy for him. It’s the end of a drama or it starts of one? Either, I’m just happy for him. We planned a celebration but he could not decide the when now. I guess he plans to take me to that fine dining Japanese resto in our neighborhood. Take me? No. We go dutch like we often did!

I changed plan this morning because of a mango! I smeared my shorts with mango while making morning smoothie. Ok, I just picked this as a reason to stay home again. I had to wash it today since I won’t have time till next week and fruit stain can’t wait! The sun was getting higher too when I finished taking stock of necklace material. Initially I planned to go to Celuk and roam some silver places along Monkey Forest.

So I extended my activity to busy around necklace. I took out more materials while, as usual, I had my laptop and the speakers on! What a perfect distraction! My two posts on both Facebook accounts got a lot of comments. My speakers were busy ding-dong-ing me when a message came in. I must say… it’s fun! There were quiet days especially weekend, I noticed. Monday and after office hours have the most traffic. And my morning is my American friend’s evening. That!

I was not alone. It happened my neighbors behind my house were having a busy day too. I could hear the interesting discussion among themselves and their tamu. I guess. There are several small houses for rent in the area. My other neighbor was also busy in-out of house. We were all busy on a nice Monday!

I become a true observer of Ubud life since I read Dragons in the Bath by Ibu Kat. A Canadian who has lived in Asia 20 years (including Ubud 10 years). She runs a column on a local newspaper that has become popular that she compiled her writing into a book. Reading something with local (wherever one’s local) setting is nice. Feeling connected. Like reading Eat, Pray, Love with Ubud as the Love setting. So yes, I read one or two articles of the book a day – not short, not long, but rich. She writes with thorough research and since she has a bi-weekly column, she could ‘finish’ a story unlike my daily blog-post. Now I know more about Balinese dogs’ behavior, what it’s like to have Balinese as housekeeper, how tokay (her way to write ‘gecko’) takes territory and could live decades in a house (arrrgghhh… I have a teenage tokay in my room), how to own a piece of land as foreigner in Bali, and some writings on well-known organizations around Bali. Nice. Enriching one’s life in Bali and Ubud specifically.

I had nice day with a lot of surprises via email and Facebook. Stay home could be merry too!

A friend shared his creativity that showed his skills using Photoshop at the same time. Thank you, DW!

Are you a black-and-white or colorful person?

Mama’s ex sponsored kid (now a woman) asked me over phone. It’s been months we didn’t communicate via any media so it’s good to hear her voice again this morning. She is single in her early 30's. She believes in astrology and that my sign is matched with hers. Anyway, she thought that I’m a good source person for a second opinion she sought when she’s on the crossroads. But before she continued, she asked me the question that it’s not easy for me to answer. What is this?

She hesitated for a while but I convinced her that I had all the time for her now. I learned the past days, learn more I mean, that people need somebody to listen. That’s the reason why we have a cell phone, an email account, and a Facebook account for larger audience. My research says the percentage of people using the media for a ‘real’ communication is pretty small. Based on my experience, of course, so far.

A cousin complained ‘hard’ the other day that I rarely picked up calls. That’s true! I don’t pick up calls from unknown numbers except international numbers. I don’t want to deal with unknown persons that might offer credit card, tour package, soft loan, and numerous others as part of living in spammed world. And also, I create a habit of not answering phone calls when with friends. I check text messages, in case there’s an urgent, but I don’t reply right away if no urgent. Anyway, she might not get my idea why I have to do those. For me, responding an effort to communicate is a must, if no emergency notice then a bit delayed response should be fine.

So yes, the woman wanted to know my opinion about her plan to change job again. She felt bad about it but of course I had different idea. Why should you feel bad if you feel bad in your present job? I asked her to consider what might be good intellectually and financially for her then make decision herself. No one can decide for her. And when we moved the topic to a private part, she told me hesitantly about her slight shift of sex orientation. I skipped to comment specifically. She just needed my ears to ease her ‘burden.’ I’m here to listen.

I offer you peace.
I offer you love.
I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty.
I hear your need.
I feel your feelings.
My wisdom flows from the Highest Source.
I salute that Source in you.
Let us work together
for unity and love.

Gandhi's Prayer For PeaceBecause of my decision to appreciate other people reach out, I got a nice email just now. A German gallery owner wrote to several people including me to appeal for donation intended for three handicapped brothers who have been under his wings the past months. They are talented young painters that are in need of support to buy painting materials so that they can earn using their talent. I sent my contribution but also gave an idea to the gallery owner to also contact senior painters in Ubud to pass down their used canvases for the brothers practice their skills before actual work on a new canvas takes place. I personally knew the brothers from my grand auntie painter since they are also sorts of under her wings. Well, I’d like to take part.

Anyway, I’d like to respond right away to anything that doesn’t need to ‘think.' Simply because I don’t like to feel I ‘owe’ someone who has reached out to me. The gallery owner wrote: ”I have to tell you: you are the most efficient and the most reliable person I have met on Bali. Thank you for this.” He thanked me for my simple email reply and I had saluted his efforts to help the handicapped brothers. For me it’s a-reply away, for him? It’s his time! If listening is so easy to do, what more can we do for others? Or not easy? It might be…

Looking back, I hope I have fallen into colorful-person category. Category (according to my young woman friend) of people who can accept other people’s offbeat ideas. I also have ideas that might sound unusual for others. It's fine because we are all colorful!

My neighbor hung a black dress on the window for three days. Not sure of the intention. Just accept the idea…

I think the Universe has sent me a message.

My good friend was happy that we finally met after months of not seeing each other although we live on the same island. It’s simply because we both are Ngurah Rai airport regulars. Our chance to be on the same island is about a week the past one year at least. She just returned a few days ago from Jakarta and I will be leaving soon. Anyway, catch up with her is opening up another world we share.

Five hours later we still sat on the same spot in our favorite restaurant in Sanur. We had gone through stories about real and virtual world. How we love our Mac laptops (she is the third person who bought my idea to use Mac); and when we heard about our office friend passed away, we talked about how fragile we could be; then we talked about a topic we never talked before (recycled souls in the world!!); finally, of course, we planned a trip together sometime next month. Yipee!

Today I shared the same topic with two friends, who are also keen believers in Google, that is Kindle! I never really thought about having one but my friend has discovered the art of having Kindle in Asia! Google helps! She found converter to make an ebook Kindle-able. She also found interesting sites that have vast collection of ebooks. For free! Hm.. so just now I talked with the other one who is still in America to also consider to have! She says she’s too old for Kindle also she appreciates the ‘purity’ of books. Hm… Polish. Polish. Polish. She surrendered in the end. She will study about Kindle today and let me know soon. She might get two for us. It’s good that she remembered how hard to find some classic books for book club. Aha!

Now I’m lost about what’s my main reason to meet my friend in Sanur this morning. My new creation! Necklaces that its pictures I posted on Facebook and resulted a sweet 'disaster'. I got order from at least three friends of friends in Jakarta! I didn’t realize the impact when I posted last night. I thought I’d like to hear a feedback (that also poured in) but an order?? My friend laughed… She only pointed at my main issue of facing the unexpected demand. I am too laid back! Uh… don’t tell me something I have already suspected myself. Great ideas without great patience!

Now what? Work on it! People watching. That’s the positive ‘downside’ of sharing an activity with the world. Comments came from Geneva, Washington, Kentucky, Denver, and of course… Peliatan. The Universe has sent a message for me to start working on my creativity and considering a new way to read books. Just Kindle-ing!

My friend who shared me her valuable thought about my first creation on bone and wood got this necklace as my expression of gratitude.

Close your eyes 10 minutes after apply the lotion…

I just remembered the doctor’s message this morning after applied the lotion into my troubled eye. My! It seems that I don’t like the idea to stop life to put compress under eye for 20 minutes and close eye for 10 minutes after each medication, four times a day, that equals to two hours. I held warm compress under eye for a few minutes while reading and survived blurry one eye for about ten minutes without rest the eye as prescribed.

Time went slow this morning. Which is good. I skipped some household chores but I rearranged closets that already took my time and energy. I also did some backlog of emails. So it’s good when I found out later that it’s still way before noon when I could sit back and enjoy what I’ve done. I decided to stay home. I had all the reasons: my eye needs rest (from dust and bright sun), it’s bright out there, I have several emails to do (still), and some necklaces to be finished before tomorrow morning. I invited a fan of my necklace to have a look at my new creation that are big and bold. She has small frame like me but likes to wear big necklace, also like me, so she could be a good person to give feedback. I look forward to meeting her.

A new phase has started. Two good friends left for Europe today. I arranged our ‘last meeting’ nicely. If my friend didn’t like ‘farewell dinner,’ I don’t like seeing each other for the last time. I’m the one who hardly look back when parted with loved ones in airport. I like to keep whatever emotion we had before we realized we might no see each other again for long time. So when my friend told me over online chat that she felt quite emotional since got up because of ‘the leaving thing,’ I knew more or less what I would like to do. Not seeing her ‘at the moment’!

Sometimes you look back on your life and think about all those things that went wrong and all the times you failed. But now the memories help you to remain grounded because you can remember positive aspects to your origins. This healthy nostalgia is therapeutic and can make you a happier person. Just don't forget to return to the present moment once you're done reminiscing.Then I’m back to do things with friends virtually. This is my first summer on Facebook. It’s fun to ‘be with friends’ traveling. Two girlfriends went to Paris with their kids leaving from different countries. A Bali friend shared his architectural trip in India. He made nice pictures that have been nicely done on Photoshop. A real artist! Well, he is. And as he is also a good writer, his mini pieces of writing have made the pictures more alive. I also followed a friend who drove across America literally to visit relatives and friends. She drove around 7 – 11 hours per day and she liked it! Whereas in Manila she’s the one who enjoyed sitting in the back seat observing the polluted city from her huge car. It’s interesting to learn how people have different way to do things in different country.

I had a nice quiet day. I don’t always check on horoscope of the day but happened to read mine this morning. It’s nice because I could see the likeness with what I felt since got up. I’m ready to return to the present moment and be a happier person.

A framed collage I presented to my dear friend in a café.

I don’t know. Everything is so uncertain now…

My friend shared softly over lunch. Actually I also felt the same. It’s amazing that we really don’t know how our day would be, let alone our future. Yesterday I asked my Ubud friend if she liked to have breakfast at Oded’s organic farm for our “see you soon” meal together. But this morning I didn’t feel like doing anything (not even yoga) but looking for ophthalmologist to check my right eye that has been ‘abnormal’ the past two days. It’s not bad but it has irritated me. Something was not right.

I had time to make a simple collage for my young friend in the morning. We had “see you soon” dinner (she refused to call it "farewell dinner") last night with her family and our mutual friend. We wore our uniform necklace she made in my house last week (What? One week already?). It’s just nice. Frankly, it's harder for me to even say “see you soon” now. So it’s nice to share a salad and lemper again this afternoon before my trip to Denpasar to see a medical practitioner in a hospital in the very downtown of Denpasar. Had called some friends who live in Bali, I had no choice but to go there. They didn’t know if Ubud has ophthalmologist. There must be one but really I didn’t have time to investigate. I need to get a treatment today! That’s what I told three clinics I called in my search for help. Before afternoon passed, I decided to just jump into one of a few high-priced hospitals in Denpasar. Simply because I wanted to feel… safe in this uncertain situation!

I speedy drove downtown like I suffered bad pain. I just wanted to know what has happened to my eye. It’s good that my eyeball looked normal. Anyway, I had my first experience (I hope the only) of visiting a hospital in Bali. It’s a very busy one. It had some 8 staffs behind a small reception desk and they were all busy checking out things on computer and receiving call. Later I noticed that no handwriting needed in this hospital, all written on computer, from prescription to invoice. Of course.

Interestingly, the patients looked healthy and were… fashionable! I was very sure they were patients because some had bandages around head, legs, arms, and some unimaginable locations. They wore their holiday outfit (not shabby one but looked like out of Paul Ropp's second line) and some had interesting tattoos. So sitting in the waiting room was another experience! Bali fashion show!

So for my minor eye ‘illness’, I had to sit on a spotless white-sheeted hospital bed in emergency room. Had my tongue out for they took my temperature and had right arm being pumped by a machine to get the blood pressure. I looked around feeling like a wooden doll – stiff. The room was well equipped with medical survival of all sorts.

The doctor who checked my eye was still young. She’s barely 30s, I believe. I was pondering how she joined the hospital, she was wondering how she should address me. Ibu or Mbak? I must be about her Mom’s age but my tail might have confused the idea. Anyway, she said I have a very healthy eyeball. That’s good to know. And I had minor infection because of dirt that might have sat for a while on the spot. And the Q and A that followed concluded that I had washed my eyes too much! It became sensitive now. It’s been twice this year I heard similar comments. I’m simply too hygienic that my body doesn’t have the experience to fight bacteria by itself. Hm.

One hour drive and forty-five minutes later I got my tiny tube of medicine. It’s an antibiotic cream for eye. My jaw hung when I found out the cream worth a Big Mac (only). I was not surprised about the consultation fee that cost a new low-priced Nokia phone since I had checked before I came. It’s just last night my friends and I had a discussion about Puskesmas in Ubud. Now I wonder if I actually could get treatment and the same medicine there.

Everything is so uncertain still…

The collage I made for my dear friend.

Ok, I let you visualizing chicken…

Ikaaan! My friend and I cried. Our yoga teacher asked if I was okay. I was not. I was hungry, so hungry, that I could not do postures well. I skipped dinner and maybe lunch too yesterday. It often happened when I stayed home all day that I didn’t have the appetite to eat whatever I had in the fridge. Anyway, I was lack of energy this morning! That's when she let me visualizing chicken during yoga nidra (closing meditation).

I could only think of grilled fish and coleslaw from my neighbor warung for lunch. My third this week. My friend joined as the lunch might be our last meal together before she leaves for Switzerland for five weeks on Friday. Time flies. Time to move on. My young friend will also leave on Friday so here I am continuing my journey by myself. It’s not the end of the world, I have a series of travel and hosting friends this summer.

So yes! I had a marathon day. Attended yoga class at 9, had a ‘perhaps’ farewell lunch, shopped favors for kids in the orphanage, went home for a quick shower, then picked up my friend. We had planned a visit to the orphanage one more time before my friend leaves. I don’t like to label it as "farewell session". Neither the kids… Apparently they expected to be in another production with my friend as teacher. Cinderella maybe? It’s cute!

We had nice time with the kids. Or, my friend had nice time with them. I was just standing taking pictures and making movie while sort of moderating the session. They were happy to get personalized albums for them to keep the memory of their role in the performance. They giggled a lot in Balinese but they could also share their thought in English. It’s just cute to see how my friend and the kids interacted in their ‘own language’ but managed to get their message through. An hour passed. My brain was already full again. Of their laughter and occasional shout! It’s fun but…

We had margaritas before home with my neighbor friend in our favorite BBQ-smelly warung while waiting for my friend’s ‘boyfriend’ being packed. She got a new boyfriend some weeks ago in Tegallalang. Skinny tall statue that’s going to stand beside her when she does performance in Belgium. Nice!

So after half glass of margarita (the other half went into my friends' glasses) and shared two plates of nachos, I felt ready to call it a day! I feel tired but it’s just nice to have a day with ‘do something different.’

My friend and the kids today.

Glad to hear that!

My friend was glad to hear that I have started to make necklace again. Yes, I have committed to continue making necklace again. I have all the materials out because my young friend made necklace in my studio yesterday and I had told myself to keep everything out so I have the drive to start creating. I badly need a good kick to start again since I got a text message from a friend’s friend about my necklaces collection. She is in Jakarta and has inquired about how she can see my creation. That was last month and she sent me text message again the other day. I feel so malu!

I’m a bit panicking because I don’t have enough stock for the shop and to circulate. I left some nice pieces in Manila the other month and since I was featured in local newspapers I could not let my shop without the necklaces. Apparently the feature has drawn people to visit. A friend emailed me the other day that she stopped by after reading the column. Great!! But…

I reviewed what has stopped me from making necklace the past two years. Two years? Yea, almost. It’s about the philosophy I set for my creation. I like to make big chunky, asymmetrical, and one-of-a-kind necklace made of semi precious stone and all silver beads and locks. The issue now… like all trade in global crisis, expensive stuffs have limited space in the market. I pondered about my philosophy after reading about Primark – an Ireland based clothing retailer – that sells ‘be cheap, but chic’ clothing. Time reviews “When times are tight, customers rethink how they spend, often breaking buying habits and abandoning product loyalties.”

By now I have read two new trends of spending for fashion in the crisis. Luxury items become in demand – surprisingly – for the reason that the goods are long lasting. In the other hand, ‘cheap n chic’ is also in demand for people can keep following fashion trend with being ripped off. So… good news! But… in my case, it seems that I only have one option during crisis and that is the second. Cheap and chic!

The other month I made necklaces with the new philosophy in mind but… I made mistake since I also catered people’s demand for smaller size and less funky necklaces. When I look at my creation today, I just know that I better keep my style but using lower priced materials. Forget about making smaller and less funky necklaces because – maybe I feel – there’s a less demand for that.

So I finished seven necklaces today using tribal ethnic materials like bone and wood. I plan to still use silver lock instead of metal although I keep the spirit of ‘cheap n chic.’ There’s a limit I want to set for my creation and nice things could not be cheap.

That’s fine too!

A set-up shrine in the middle of rice fields in Bongkasa.

I feel like enter a shop!

My young friend commented when she entered my house for the first time last Thursday. It’s the beginning of our 3D/2N together. We just picked a project to do together during her stay with me. She had 440 pictures to stick on 20 albums as gifts for the kids participated in Snow White performance and I made a collage to frame for the orphanage office. We shopped for the material the day before. I felt like a school kid with an art project to do in a team.

My friend was ah uh since the first album took about four hours to finish. I enjoyed teasing her by reminding her about the time she would need to finish the rest 19 albums. I joined to help her on the second night after I spent almost half day to finish my own project. It’s nice to work non-stop without meal break. The two nights we were together, we had dinner at home. Simple meal: toasted brown bread with cheddar cheese plus olive in oil. My friend loved her 'discovery'. We only went out to have lunch in a nearby café run by my neighbor painter. We went out simply because we both craved for fish! It was a really good grilled fish! We stocked up snack before home. My friend ate fruit more and I snacked more!! Exchanged diet!

My friend’s 20-album project finished in the end of the second night – passed midnight. I was happy for her for she got a good kick from me. I worked fast to fix double-sided tape on each picture for her to fix on the album. She liked to say that she felt like working in a factory. Repetitive and non stop. For me it’s like meditation, only with giggle since I had her around. She slept late that night and woke up late on the last day but I let her had extra sleep she deserved.

As promised, I took her for a walk to the organic farm 20 minutes from my house. It’s my new track since my Ubud friend introduced me to the place. It’s not far but enough for a good exercise and the reward in the end of the walk is just fabulous. Good and fresh breakfast! We had good unplanned program. On the way back, we stopped by Blanco Museum that my friend was wow-ed by many things: cockatoos in the garden, the building, the paintings, and of course the erotic installations in the special room in the end of the museum tour. I’ve been touring the museum many times but really… I still felt excited every time I made the tour. And nice that I often had Milo as guide in the erotic collection room. She is so good in telling about the work and engaging the audience! Been living in the premise since 9 years old, she knows about the philosophy (and the story) of each artwork and the family very well.

My friend, with my help, made necklace to close our 3D/2N. It’s a reward for her to have finished the 20-album project during her stay with me. I let her creating her own necklaces while I fixed the collage I made. I got an idea how to fix when we were in Blanco’s studio. It’s always nice to visit a new place and reflect on what we are doing back home. Like to have my friend around that has given me chance to reflect on many things. She reminded me how often I change clothes in a day. I hardly noticed but yes… I like to always wear fresh clothes and Ubud has made me change a lot. And there are several other things she helped me to see myself like a mirror. I could not remember what are they now but I know it will come one by one.

Later she told me that there must be something in the house that made her dream a lot and vividly. We discussed about tete momo when she was here. Ghost in the Ambonese legend? One thing for sure, I miss the ghost of her after I took her home later in the afternoon yesterday.

She got up early!

I know you’re going to say that!

My young friend responded to my Simple pleasure! My new mantra since she bought a red leather wallet that has excited her since then on. It’s so nice to see such expression. I know the feeling of buying ‘the right thing.’ It’s a simple pleasure!!

Today we went on a mini shopping trip in Tegallalang. We have a project of creating gift for the kids in orphanage where my friend taught drama class for a month. It’s a gift for taking part in the Snow White play showed in the end of her teaching. The kids were so good in memorizing script in English. They took the play seriously. My friend is really proud of them. That I’m also proud of my friend for being able to teach the kids in language they still learn to understand. Both parties deserve two thumbs up! Deserve to receive gifts too? Yea.

We were quite lucky today since we didn’t have to make more than three stops to get what we needed. Tegallalang is a long road with so many crafts along the way. It’s overwhelming. We need to have a strong concept of what we want if don’t have time to roam around. I changed my concept for a frame to a much better one. My gift would be for the orphanage office – a collage for the office wall so they can show the kids’ activities to donors-to-be or just visitors. I’m excited about our ideas.

I thought we just made a short trip but four hours just passed when I drove home. It’s an all-in-one trip of finding something, having nice lunch, and enjoying a peaceful village on a detour. The weather was pleasant too. Bali has entered its 'winter' season this month.

Now I need to project the project. A dateline has been set!

Nice view in my friend’s neighborhood. So natural, so ‘homy.’

But we take our time, right?

My young friend reminded me when I look worried about how time had passed. Yesterday we were in an excursion to Denpasar that turned out to be a 12-hour trip door to door. I had more than two errands to run in Denpasar so I planned the trip, like always, I have to have more than three errands to run – but two is okay too – to make the trip.

I finished the two major purposes I made the trip in less than an hour. I got a bonus too! My friend sang for me using a hardware store’s keyboard. Apparently she missed playing music the past few weeks she’s holidaying in Ubud. I wish we could stay longer in the store to give her chance to play music longer but we had started talking about what to eat since we were still on the way to Denpasar. We were not ‘that’ hungry but definitely needed something to… eat! And we ended up spending almost two hours in a nice resto by the beach. It was not breezy but it was just nice to sit and talk in a place looking out the ocean. It’s a good company that counts!

I was happy to know that we’re going to have lots of time to do stuffs (chat and shopping!) but then I was a bit in sort of panic after our stop at my friend's bead shop. I picked up my order and my dear friend got an idea to create her performance costume. We started cooking the idea with my bead friend who together with his staff helped her materializing the idea. It was a nice process that everybody enjoyed. Time just flew. My friend was right! We took our time! Happily!

I started doing math since we needed to be at my friend’s house in Sanur before 7:30 pm. We wanted to see her six 1.5 month-old puppies. It was almost dark when we headed for the hypermarket to do grocery shopping. Anyway, we made it! In the end of 12 hours, we had done all. The shopping was great. The puppies were cute and adorable! What a nice trip!

Today was also another full day for me. Like often, attending yoga class entails having lunch with my dear Ubud friend. It’s a catch-up lunch since we were not in town last week. Exchanging stories about our week in Ambon and Jakarta. What fun!

In the evening, I went out with seven friends to a cafe to listen to a Singaporean jazz-bossas singer who came to town. Good singer but… only sang covers. I hope she sings her own songs someday. I understand that many good musicians started with other people’s music.

Oh wow! I might have a busy week! It has started…

My young friend’s creation on her as model.

Yes. My lifeline is back.

A friend was so happy to have the Internet connection back. I also hung on the same line since the connection down in the morning. I called the Help Desk twice and as always it's connected to Jakarta’s Desk that didn’t know anything about what’s happening in this part of Indonesia. They offered help to guide me to reset my modem and when it didn’t work out they said I let you know. And of course they might never let me know so I checked a friend out to see if we were in the same boat. We were…

Growing and subsiding, filling and emptying, ending and beginning again,
this is the cycle of the world.
This is how we must understand
the great duty that falls to everyone, and the universal order that governs all things.
Chung-tzuIt’s interesting how I often take things for granted. That I assume things always work the way they are supposed to. What fun to read today’s wisdom to remind me that many things have two sides – yin and yang. Hey, now I talk like I was in a desperate situation. I was not since I still keep an alternative for Internet connection that I would discontinue subscribing tomorrow. My mobile Internet that costs twice of the speedy connection and works one-third speed. Later I might be one who also gasps when the connection dies again.

It’s a merry Sunday compares to Sunday last week that felt so quiet. My Balinese neighbors might have a big project to do together. They worked while chatting and laughing since morning. The swimming pool not far from my house might be full of kids. They shouted and played with water since afternoon. And a rented villa in front might host a group of youngsters. They laughed loudly. It’s nice to realize that everybody enjoyed the day off to do things together.

I stay home and free myself from doing things-I-have-to-do except helping out a friend to formulate a framework of his future website. It’s a quiet discussion since we did it online. No sounds of hammer, laugh, and shout. It’s just a quick efficient discussion between things to do. I continue reading offline materials: some magazines and a book. Who needs to be connected all the time? No one but… to have an Internet connection work gives a secure feeling.

That is for sure.

This hand-painted fridge – Balinese motif – has lost its original function as a cooler but still serves as a cabinet. Seen in a cozy eating-stop serves vegetables from the organic farm in Subak Sok Wayah, Ubud.

You give that to me I make the standard!!

I was hanging laundry in the sun when I heard my neighbor’s friend shouted. After over a year of having no neighbor, the past three months I live with a loud neighbor. Loud? Yea. I don’t know why this woman produces noise. She’s an early riser like me. Her morning yoga produces sound either from her loud instructor from tape or herself! Yea, she moves while producing ah ah ah and that could go more than half an hour before the light comes.

That’s in the morning. When she talks on the phone, she talks loudly and in such manner that she sounds annoyed. Anytime of the day she sounds the same. Often I wondered if she ever giggled and talked about silly things. Haven’t heard so far. And when her friend (later I was informed that he is her boss) came, he is even louder and what amazed me is… he could talk non-stop for over an hour with theatrical tone. Exaggerated and excessively dramatic tone! Again, I often thought they were practicing a Broadway performance. When they watched DVD? You don’t want to hear.

Today is special because they got together to try a recipe. Maybe? I knew from my landlord that my neighbor’s boss is going to open a restaurant. And the constant loud conversation, especially on the weekends, is part of interviewing staffs. I guess. But today I heard the sound of busyness in the kitchen and saw people coming in carrying groceries. And the loud instructions? Don’t ask me. It’s on and on till afternoon.

I’m glad that I had arranged an evening out with my young friend. It's a refreshing break after a day being in a kitchen! I took my friend to see Ubud more. We roamed Monkey Forest area starting from Neru. I liked to hear that she intended to go shopping! Wow, I also need that. It’s been long I didn’t shop in Ubud. I was more than happy to show her around. And even more after she bought a nice red wallet in the first shop I showed! Yay!

It was nice. We had nice chat over drinks and a brownies, walked passing the forest, and stopped at some shops. It was spontaneous when we decided to watch kecak and fire dance twenty minutes before the show started. Without plan. We managed to find a restroom and something to nibble before got in the venue. I think many things work nicely with the ‘just do it’ spirit.

I had really nice time with my young friend. She is young (like I could be her Ibu if I had her in my twenty) but I could also learn from her. Or, I'm open to learn from her experience so I know where I stand now. Or… things like that.

A fragment in the kecak dance show this evening.

Life moves on, darling!

My girlfriend in Jakarta reminded us after she talked about our good friend going to move from Indonesia in August. It’s bad news for her as she lives with her good friend like sisters for almost 8 years in Jakarta. Later she realized that she is luckier since she has life in Jakarta, London, and Tel Aviv; while our friend will just live in Tel Aviv after Jakarta. Viewing it from any perspective, nothing is eternal and life moves on; the choice to be happy is ours.

I also felt Life moves on when saw my travel mate’s back after we hugged goodbye in Denpasar airport. She continued her journey to Yogya. We met first time two weeks ago, then we were in some nice occasions together, and we had nice time in Ambon. She continued her journey and I? Enjoy the rest of your life! That’s what she told me before we parted. I felt like we might not see each other again. We may or may not!

My life has been back with household chores and attending yoga class at 9. My body was still stiff when I awoke in the morning but got better after wiped car dry and mopped the floor. Yes, I need physical activity after two days of staying in hotel room. And more, after developing a new habit because of spending time with friends a few days. I once liked to have ice coffee after spending some three days with a German friend. Then I craved for chocolate after a few days of sharing chocolate bars with a friend. What else? Apple pie, peanuts, ginger… On the trip to Ambon, I ate snack quite a lot that I didn’t usually have just because my room mate ‘needed’ to nibble every now and then to prevent herself from crankiness. Ha. For me, I chewed because there’s nothing else I could do in a hotel room and snacks were available on the table. That’s what I call ‘developing a new habit.’

But naaa… I don’t develop snacking after Ambon trip. I’m back to my diet with lots of fruits. I missed it. Normal life has resumed.

A beach near Allang village, Ambon.

Sorry, I’m cranky!

My friend left a bank counter quickly. It was not a good morning for her – and for me too. The past two days she didn’t feel well in the morning that I thought because of her body sympathize. Our young friend was still not well yesterday so I believed it might have affected my friend. It’s strange how our body could be unaware. But no, later she told me that she has problem with blood sugar level that she needs a boost in the morning to calm down.

Anyway, it was a hectic morning. My friend had to get cash that she became – what she felt – cranky after visiting two banks and talked with the bank officers. I could not help since she had her own system to sort out. Fine. I went the other direction to find a car for us to go to Allang village where our young friend relatives’ live. We had planned the trip to the village since we left Bali so we made sure it happen. And since our friend was still not fit, we also considered Plan B and Plan C for the day.

Glad our Plan A worked with a slight alteration. My friend really wanted to adventure the Ambonese way. Go to the village on public transportation (angkot). I liked the idea but… Later we found out that angkot only leaves when all seats are occupied. I had an idea to buy out the seats to make sure they leave but… The idea might not work since angkot might not show up in the village after 1 pm! In that case, we have to take motor taxi (ojek) to return to Kota Ambon. My tall American friend freaked out of the idea to be on a motor. For me, I simply opted out.

We rented a car. We were lucky to have a nice smiley driver to take us. It was not a long drive but strange that we didn’t realize the landscape of the island from the look from the other side of the bay. It looked just flat on the map too – of course. It was raining hard when we arrived in the village but we preferred to continue the journey – climbing hundreds of steep stairs to reach the family house. Literally hundreds stairs! I walked the first leg quickly since the size of the stairs was just perfect. They asked if we want to rest before the second leg. No. And the second leg was the toughest. The size of the stairs was just odd that it slowed my pace. It was quite tiring especially because of the downpour.

We were half wet but okay. The family received us with super warm treatment that we felt awkward. They offered us dry clothes for change, the father wiped dry our shoes, and on top of all they prepared elaborate lunch for us! What a nice treatment in one rainy afternoon. We stayed a couple hours before off to a white sand beach a few minutes from the village. Yes, we walked down the slippery stairs in the drizzle. It was less fun since we already knew what to expect.

The beach was super! I dipped in knee high while collecting rocks. I’m not keen on collecting shells. The rocks decorate my bathroom now. Yes, we flew back to Ubud very early in the morning. I enjoyed every bit of challenges faced during the trip but I’m also happy to be back!

And ready for the next challenge…

The monumental stairs in Allang Village, Ambon.

You look pensive!

I was eating salak while looking around our room in our new hotel. We moved in to a hotel listed on the best five in Ambon by a website. My friend asked me after she finished checking out how things work in the room. Actually I didn’t know what I was thinking but it seems I processed something. The room is so much different than what we had behind. That’s when I started to have a conversation with myself: what do I need? I came up with a list of advantages and disadvantages to move downtown.

My friend grinned after listening to my explanation why I looked pensive. We got what we want: to be downtown. Although… yes, the place is not beautiful. Sometimes when we are traveling we have to negotiate on or to trade something to get what we want. We have got what we want! That’s it!

Our young friend was still ill since morning so she stayed in. We roamed the hilly city in a becak that of course he only pedaling around friendly contour. We continued our exploration by walking. Ambon is not big but the hill is quite steep and some places look so far although actually are not. The downtown was not as busy as we thought. The only mall they have is… loud! Lots of shop, lots of people, and lots of different loud music! We were kind of stranded because it’s downpour outside so no choice. Walking like a mouse up and down in the mall where anything was so confusing.

We decided to just walk back to hotel in the rain with umbrella. It's a great walk even after we split because my friend could not cross the busy road. My fault. I was just too confident and realized later that she could not make it. But that’s fine too, we had different adventures. And more in the afternoon after we got together again. For some reasons, even as Indonesian I found ‘difficulties’ in communicating with the Ambonese. The dialect must be but it's so interesting how we use word and construct sentence differently.

We had nice dinner in the hill looking out the island from higher ground. It was nice and 'different'. Today is our last day on the island. We already have plan for our last day. Another day, another adventure.

Ambon has such a nice contour.

We found so many surprises so far…

My young friend excitedly exclaimed in the end of the day. We were sitting in a hotel restaurant in Ambon that took forever to finish an order. That we could understand because the hotel is still soft open – literally half open since many sections of the hotel are still under construction. But we were with good company. Nothing to complain. Except we realized later that we are actually in the middle of nowhere. Stay in hotel is the only thing we can do after finish the day.

Anyway, yes, we are in Ambon after 8 hour travel from our doors in Ubud. Good that I decided to go with my young friend who travels to visit relatives and that our new friend from New York join is a bonus. It’s nice to adventure into a new place together. Start zero together. Our young friend was ecstatic when I took her to airport lounge and I was wow-ed by Makassar airport – the hub of eastern Indonesia. Who expect to see 'Hong Kong International Airport' in this part of Indonesia? I wouldn’t be surprised if this modern neat airport is in Bali. Or, I might not be happy too because Bali airport is already nice with Bali flavor in it. Anyway, I felt like people who never travel when walking while looking up enjoying the steel construction and the immensity of the space. It’s so brilliant to have such airport in a hub city of Indonesia. Hm… Where was I these days?

It was after rain when we landed in Ambon. I felt like I landed in Kalimantan or Sulawesi as far as I remember. The vegetation looked the same and the cows were everywhere. It’s nice! The driver drove slowly to let us enjoy the bay that splits the Ambon Island. Yes, we studied hard later the map of the islands. What is Ambon, Kota Ambon, and what’s in the other islands. This is the only way to pay attention to a place. Be there!

We spent the evening yakking in the room. It was drizzling outside and we barely could do anything. We spent time online to study the place and find a new place downtown near the city’s action for the rest of our stay. We only visit Ambon two full days so it would be nice to see the real activities in and around.

Now I look forward to starting the day.

The airport in question.