Hello blogging world! The world I have abandoned for so long, yet I always miss the most. I still read my blog and another blog I love from time to time. Yet, it always, always feel so hard to start to write here, when you can write on Instagram caption.
2022 is coming to an end. How has your 2022 so far? Mine is... so enjoyable and...
epic.
Well, though life is not always rainbows and butterflies. Don't tell me about those storm. I know it like the back of my hand. For so many years, storms had came to my life like I was in the middle of the ocean, uncertain and hard to see where it was all going. But, as time goes by I realised that it was not always about the storms, either. Sometimes you can still see the light. Sometimes you can still feel happy.
During those hard times I learnt that happiness does not have to wait.
You don't have to wait until life is not hard anymore to be happy.
Life can always be enjoyable. Does not mean you have to be happy all the time. But, you can enjoy the hard time, as well.
a little recap of my 2022 ♡
Sometimes I wonder, when people complaining about their life, saying they want to escape their life and want to fly somewhere far away. Or when someone just came back from their holiday and say "welcome back to reality"...
Does your life feel so unbearable you want to always escape from it? If it is so, what's the point of living? What's the point of living if you only crave one short moment that only happen once in a while like end year holiday? Doesn't life should always be enjoyable? If it is not, maybe it's time to reconsider what to change about it, or what solutions could make your life enjoyable, isn't it?
Maybe a change of routines? Maybe more self care in the middle of our chaotic schedule? Maybe a good yoga in the morning? Maybe a good quality cup of coffee to start our day? Maybe meeting more friends? Maybe turning more ideas into reality? Maybe learning those skill we always longing to learn? Maybe read those books that we want to read instead one that we should read? Maybe a date to those art gallery after work with our lover? Maybe a little Jazz on a Friday night? Maybe saying no to a job we don't enjoy? Maybe saying yes to a job we always wanted to do?
Most of our life consist of what people say, mundane routines. Instead of hopping on into our private jet flying to Aman resort all the time.
So, doesn't it mean we have to work on our each and everyday, fight for it, to be worth living, instead of craving to always escape reality?
And so, to close this writing. I want to ask:
Does your days feel like reality you enjoy so much you don't want to escape from? I really hope, it is ♡
Price upon booking (March 2017): around idr 600.000 (usd 13.5)
My rate: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Last March I went to Yogyakarta for 3 days. At the first two days I was traveling solo and at the third days my parents joined me at Yogya.
I stayed at Mutiara Hotel, a quite old hotel and surely needs some interior improvement here and there to be honest, but it was clean and for that I love it, and of course the location is great, at the heart of Malioboro. I think that is the perfect location for solo traveler, to be surrounded by a lively places, the festivity of lights coming from the stores, food stalls that open until morning, coffeeshop, well everything is within walking distance and it is somehow comforting.
At the first day I went toHayati Coffeefor a pick up latte then I decided that I wanted to walk along Jalan Prawirotaman so off I go. I walked and walked along the road and suddenly I heard some saxophone being beautifully played and turned out that it was played by some musician at Via Via Restaurant, so just because I wanted to hear him play, I eat at that restaurant haha. Later I found out that every friday night at 8 pm is a jazz night at Via Via Restaurant. Too bad I was too enjoying the night I did not have any photos of it.
The second day, I visited Ullen Sentalu Museum, again. I have ever visited the museum 4 or 5 years ago but I still haven't satisfied yet. In this museum we are wandering around guided by their professional guide who will tell us the stories about each collections and we are not allowed to take any pictures inside the building. I can not look back into some photos and reminiscing it everytime I miss this place so I just went there, again!
We will be guided through the museum in a group consist of about 5 people and we are free to ask as many questions as we have throughout the tour. What I love the most is a room full of letters from friends and families, written for Tineke, a Surakarta Princess. Tineke loves a prince who is hold a lower status than her own and for that her mother did not approve of him and she was broken hearted and her friends and families try to comfort her with the letter. One of the letter said (as what I remember because we are not allowed to take picture) "You are still a student. One day you will know what pure life ties you; struggles, successes, failures." Oh, fyi, 8 years later Tineke married that prince anyway!
And I looove the story about Gusti Kanjeng Nurul. She is also a princess from Surakarta. At that time, she is so intelect, able to speak a lot of languages, great at arts, and she refused a lot of proposal because she does not agree on polygamy. One quick fact I learn from this tour is that Nyai Roro Kidul and Ratu Pantai Selatan (Queen of The South Sea) are a two different person. Nyai Roro Kidul is Ratu Pantai Selatan's head of army, the one she sents when she needs her army to do their job. How new is this information for you?
Anyway, when in Yogyakarta this museum is surely a must visit. This is a privately owned museum, so well taken care of, have a perfectly beautiful interior and exterior, provides a great historical and educational information, be ready to have your mindgasm here :)
One thing not to be missed is to spend some of your time enjoying some foods and coffee from Beukenhof Restaurant which is located inside Ullen Sentalu Museum. This restaurant is serving western menu and I ordered french toast and ice latte at that time. The ambience is so comforting and romantic I feel like I could spend a day here, sipping my latte while writing whatever I have in mind and enjoying the serene ambience overlooking the inside garden of Ullen Sentalu Museum.
At that time I was feeling so content spending the time alone with my mind, but another time maybe it will be great to enjoy some steak there with my loved ones while talking about the dreamy future.
(I am visiting the restaurant overlooking Borobudur)
Dusun Tanjungan, Borobudur, Central Java
Maybe I have visited Borobudur a lot of time so this time I would love to just enjoy it from afar for once. Anyway don't you want it? Observing life from afar for once just as how the astronauts observing their life from the space? Then maybe, we will finally be humbled by the fact that no matter how great we are, there will always be something greater?
I spent my lunch at Plataran Borobudur Resort's restaurant and enjoying some Mie Laksa. Nothing so special but the ambience is so perfect. If you happen to look for some place to enjoy a slow afternoon while sipping some tea, maybe you could visit this place.
Then finally my parents arrived and we enjoyed some dinner at Bale Raos. It is a restaurant inside Keraton Yogyakarta and serving Indonesian and Western food. I enjoyed some steak and Bir Jawa (Javanese Beer). It contains no alcohol of course. The Indonesian menus here is authentic and that night there is a music band playing keroncong (one music genre of Indonesia). I do not know whether this band always perform here or not, but that night, to enjoy the dinner with my family accompanied by the band, it was one experience I feel like only feel perfect when happened in Yogyakarta :)
Last two week, I went to Bandung to accompany my brother sort some things out and have the chance to do a solo visit to this sculpture park when he is busy. I went to Bandung quite often, I almost don't know where I have to spend my time anymore hehe. But, after I look for information about art galleries here and there, turns out there is this Nu Art Sculpture Park which have been opened since 2000 and I don't even know until then...
This Park spans in a three hectare estate and privately owned by Nyoman Nuarta, a senior sculptor who is famous with his mega project in Bali, Garuda Wisnu Kencana. I wonder when will I be able to own something like this? Haha ;)
They did not give us a map at the entrance so I just follow the sign. I guess I can divide this place like this:
There is a gallery which exhibits recent work from artist. When I visited, they display catalogue about "Slow Fashion" or you could easily know it by sustainable fashion. Yes, the opposite of fast fashion such as Zara, H&M and company of its kind. I love this catalogue very much for they try to remind us of a more balance way of living by not only see fashion through its glams and luxury way, but also through how fashion also has to do its justice to the world we living in.
The museum. Here, we can see Nyoman Nuarta's work from early of his career up until now.
The theater. Which I sadly do not enter for it is closed when I visited and there is no film that is played, but from what I see at their website it looks like a great place to enjoy independent movie! If you want to experience some, check out their website or instagram for a movie screening schedule.
The outdoor theater. While there is no theater that's played here at that time, I can enjoy the place by simply sit in the beautiful outdoor theater while enjoying the breeze and reading my book!
The outdoor park. Here we can enjoy the breeze by simply sitting at the bench, or we can walk and enjoy the statue that is placed outdoor, most of them are big!
Nyoman Nuarta's workshop. His workshop located near the river but only opened at weekend, so since I visited at weekdays, I could not see it.
The N Cafe. This cafe have indoor and outdoor area. The outdoor area gives us a beautiful and serene view of the park with its statue and also a river down below. They served traditional balinese menu, I heard its dirty duck is the best! But I came here early in the morning and still so full I did not try it, next time, maybe.
Copper and Brass coffeshop. Near the gallery, there is a really cozy coffeeshop with a glassworks overlooking the park and they put some books about gallery and art which I happily read it while enjoying my coffee.
Craft boutique. If we want to buy some knick knacks or a postcard to bring home, we can find it all here.
The Gallery
The Entrance of The Gallery
A Recent Exhibition About "Slow Fashion"
A Work by Nidiya Kusmaya, "Everything on The Menu-The Story of Food We Ate, Simply in Colors";
here Icelandic wool crocheted and dyed with organic kitchen waste
Notice the red sticker I wore? That is the sign we have to wear signing that we are a visitor here
The Museum
A Prologue about The Museum
Beautiful, no?
I really adore their presentation, it is as good as Singapore Art Museum!
Reform by Nyoman Nuarta
Woman by Nyoman Nuarta
I forgot the title of this work, but look at how they present it, genius!
Garuda Wisnu Kencana by Nyoman Nuarta
Those above is the plan of how Garuda Wisnu Kencana will be completed. When it is completed, it will stand 121 meters above the ground, crazyyy, no? Lord Wisnu is the source of wisdom and preserver of universal equilibrium. So, here the iconography describes human's effort to keep their lifes in harmony with nature, beautiful, isn't it? I hope it will be completed, soon, Mr Nuarta!
When I entered this museum, I could only read at the title of the sculpture and guess what is the meaning he intended to tell us by his work because I ain't given any guidebook nor there are any staff who explains to us. But at the end of museum there is this one staff who come to me and ask if I would like some explanation about works which I interested in, then we went back inside and she told me everything I asked, thank you (I forgot her name, my bad)!
I love his work which titled "Woman" and "Reform". The staff told me "Woman" shows us a woman which fully clothed look from the front, but when we look behind her she wears nothing, it means that we could not see people only from one side, for there is always two sides of everything. This I agree! Then "Reform" shows us an animal looking to the front, with man's footprints below it, it means that in the past we are, human, needed the nature for us to stay alive, but now, it is the nature who needs us, they are dying and lose their equilibrium because of us, man, no? So now is the time for us to take care of our nature. What a great philosophy which makes me wonder long after I go home.
The Outdoor Theater
One Word: Serene
The Outdoor Park
There are a lot of big sculpture here at the outdoor park. And also there are bench to sit here and there. The surrounding itself is very serene and breezy I feel like I could spend hours here, walking and reading. Moreover, when I visited this gallery it was at weekdays so not many people come by I feel like I own the place! Hehe kidding, Mr Nuarta! If you bring children here I think they will be very happy to play and run around.
Copper and Brass Coffeeshop
The View From Copper and Brass Coffeeshop
Such a Cozy Place to Spend your Time After Hours Walking in The Gallery, No?
Coffee and Eclairs
After two months of non stop learning and also months more of preparations regarding my study, I feel like I needed much much creative energy and a quality me time to keep my sanity. And that was the perfect day at Nu Art Sculpture Park. To be able to spent three hours at a gallery and museum, alone by my self so I did not need to worry about anyone who would wait for me, I was able to enjoy it to my bones, let my mind wanders to the place it has never been before, I was feeling so content. I ended the day by enjoying coffee at Copper and Brass Coffeeshop inside this park, overlooking the outdoor park, while reading book available there about Museum Nasional Indonesia (Indonesia National Museum). I came back with a fresh mind and I guess I am now ready for whatever comes next! How about you? What is the thing that makes you feel content when you are about to lose your way?
Nu Art Sculpture Park Jalan Setra Duta Raya No L6 Bandung, West Java Indonesia Entrance Fee: Student - idr 25.000 by showing student identity card Adults - idr 50.000
Check out the video for a glimpse ambience of Ubud and Seminyak
I spent 4 days in Bali, 2 nights in Ubud and 1 night in Seminyak. I have written about information on transportation, hotels, and luxury needs on this solo journey in my previous post. And here I'm gonna catch up the rest experience I got on places to visit, places to eat, and event to attend.
On places to visit. Ubud: On my second day, I visited Puri Saren Agung Ubud while I was doing my morning wander. Puri Saren's front gate usually used as a venue for traditional dance show in the evening. Unfortunately tourist is not permitted to enter it further than the dance's venue. But the entrance gate is divine already, surrounded by a serene lotus pond. Puri Saren Agung Ubud Ticket: free entrance. On my third day, I visited Museum Puri Lukisan, an art museum and gallery founded by Tjokorta Gde Agung Sukawati on 1936. This museum consist of the history of arts and paintings in Ubud, how Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati succeeded in presenting art as a good commodity for Ubud's development and new paintings and carvings from recent artist. After a long walk in the museum, they will give us complimentary drinks with choices of iced coffee, juices, or soda to enjoy in its breezy restaurant, perfect! Museum Puri Lukisan Ubud Ticket: idr 75.000/ USD 5.5.Seminyak: Of course Seminyak is more fast paced, modern, and full of hustle and bustle than Ubud. But it has its own charm. I love to end my day in its beach club, sipping drinks while watching the sun slowly disappear from my eyes leaving me a colour in the sky where my camera can't even catch its perfection. On my last night in Bali I visited Woo Bar, yes that famous beach bar in W resort. Unlike any other beach club they don't give you minimum spend, so relax and enjoy the beautiful horizon without having to worry about your pocket. Cocktails here cost around idr 100.000/ USD 7.4. On places to visit, total budget: around idr 175.000/ USD 12.9.
Puri Saren Agung Ubud and Lotus Pond Around it
The Exterior of A Building in Museum Puri Lukisan
A Recent Work from an Artist Inside The Building
Me wearing: Offshoulder Dress (Cotton Ink)
Sipping Iced Coffee in The Restaurant Facing This View
Sun Set in The Beach in Front of Woo Bar
On Best Places to Eat. Ubud: I visited Seniman Coffee Studio which is located only less than 5 minutes on foot from my hotel. I haven't tried all of the coffee shop in Ubud so I won't say this is the best, but I love it. I love its coffee and the laid back ambience in the studio supported by its rocking chair. I ordered chicken fingers and cold coffee latte for a total idr 100.000/ USD 7.4. The next morning I impulsively went to Casa Luna when it suddenly rain while I was wandering around Jl Raya Ubud on foot. I've been a loyal customer to Casa Luna, I always visit it everytime I travel to Ubud. They cook a lot of great Asian cuisine, including Chicken Tandoori, Laksa, until traditional Balinese food. This time I ordered healthy breakfast and a mineral water which cost around idr 50.000/ USD 3.7. I would say it was really cheap because those healthy breakfast was amazing! Seminyak: I had cappuccino from Expat and Cold Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict from Sisterfields Cafe for a breakfast with my dear friend. They are located at the newly growing Jl. Kayu Cendana. The cappuccino cost arund idr 40.000/ USD 2.9 and the egg benedict cost around idr 100.000/ USD 12.9. The coffee is good but I have to say that I have tried another better cup and the egg benedict was mouth watering, but what I like the most is Sisterfields Cafe open from 8.00 am and that is a perfect early time to spend a quality breakfast in one of Seminyak's hip cafe. On best places to eat, total budget: idr 290.000/ USD 21.5.
On Event to Attend. Annually, every October in Ubud you would find an event called Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF). It was a series of discussion panel, meet & greet, book and movie release, art, cooking, and cullinary session that would meet the readers with a list of writers, artist, and even poets. Every year they have a particular theme and the discussion will be around that theme ranging in topics from humanity, feminist issue, until the colour of our different languages. This year discussion session which I love the most was one called "Screen Addicts" featuring Dewi Lestari, Elizabeth Pisani, Michael Vatikiotis, and Trianto Triwikromo discussing about how nowadays society tend to love the immediecy of something social media related than to study things deeper like reading a book (you could see a glimpse of the discussion in the video above). Tips: For you who is still hesitant about traveling alone, I guess looking for an event you could attend first will give you a little confidence on yourself to go alone, because by this event you can make yourself sure that you have something to hold on to along the solo traveling journey, an exact place where you can socialize (and it doesn't have to be like UWRF, you can look for musical event, maybe?). UWRF all days ticket for student cost: idr 150.000/ USD 10.7.
Elizabeth Pisani, Michael Vatikiotis, and Trianto Triwikromo
To sum it all, on transportation, hotels, secondary (luxury) needs, places I visit, best places I go eating, and event I attend, the total budget I spent is:
On transportation: idr 1.676.000/ USD 124
On hotels: idr 1.164.000/ USD 86
On secondary (luxury) needs: idr 230.000/ USD 17
On places I visit: idr 175.000/ USD 12.9
On best places I go eating: idr 290.000/ USD 21.5
On event I attend: idr 150.000/ USD 10.7
Total of all the money I spent above: idr 3.685.000/ USD 263.3 (not included: another daily meals and snacks and budget on souvenir)
Not much, right? Considering that it even including budget on luxury needs and I chose a proper hotel and flight. See? You just have to work a little harder, save a little more each month and you have no reason of not having enough money to go explore this big big world we live in. And I may say that once a year, it is worthy to travel alone, detach from our mundane routines we so familiar with for a while, try to have a quality time with ourselves so we can understand ourselves a little better, rearrange our messed up minds, and breathing positive energy and fill it to our lungs. Oh just stop reading this post and go pack your bag, will you?
