Another Victoria's Secrets

Here in Bali, more than in anywhere else in world, karma comes fast. I experienced it myself, how I have to do stuff I said I won't, from place to stay at. When first came to Bali I told Mom's friend I don't like Kerobokan area, especially around the jail, and here I am, staying for more than 6 months in the area already.

Long time ago, I've declared to myself never to work in a property agency for I am so much against the nature destruction. I prefer the green stays green than to see any concrete poured upon it, adding up an already oversupply villas on the island. See now I am working at the very company I'd once detested. It wasn't a property agency when I first applied.

And now, I told people around me about the criteria I'd avoid for guys and here I am, being in the very situation I am against for. And everything I told myself not to do, is all that I can't help doing. It's just so hard to fight the temptation. Feels like everything is set for me to test the water, no matter how hard I resist to avoid.

I pull out a lesson here, that we must be EXTRA careful to say anything, to let any word slip out of our mouths. I also learn that being older means to experience more, including things we avoided or we against before. It's because our level of understanding or acceptance has reached the point so God allows it to happen to us.

Many things, including religion view and idealism I held so tight on to is getting loose on my hand now. I let go of some things and gain another. It's part of life, I guess. Part of getting old and growing up. Things are way far from the fairy tale we once dreamed about, and that's the way it is. After all it's how we learn to dance in the rain.

As my interest on Javanese wayang tale is getting bigger and I became fonder about it, I found this movie made by Dian Sastro (who starred as the main character as well), directed by Riri Riza. The movie was released on 2008, four years already and I haven't heard of anything about it till now. Amazing how uninteresting history and classics for young people and the business these days, huh?

What annoys me is the fact that Arjuna was played by Nicolas Saputra, because I prefer him to play Yudhistira, the eldest brother of the Pandawas and also the righteous husband of Drupadi in Javanese version. I am kinda annoyed that just because Arjuna is more famous than Yudhistira that Nicolas didn't do the first brother role. But then again perhaps he suits Arjuna more than Yudhistira's character.

I haven't watch the full movie anyway, so I just keep my mouth shut about it. I dunno where to find this movie anyway, even in Indonesia, but I'd love to find one and watch it full. I love Drupadi's character so much already based on the Javanese wayang version, and I wanna know if I like the humanized, Dian Sastro's version of her. If you know where I can find the DVD or anything about this, please do let me know, thank you!

I was super excited last Friday. Not just because it was a holiday and I was going to Uluwatu, but also because this very special package I've ordered came just in time I was to depart. I have been their fan for quite some time now, tracked their journey of creating beautiful things since 2010 when I found out about them. The artworks are remarkable and so original, but they also comes with price.


So I stayed patient.. until I saw this newly launched collector's edition. Couldn't help myself not to purchase them. And when it arrived, I was so joyful to add these special stuff into my list of belongings.  I really am willing to spend for such beautiful and qualified products, so this one really adds up to my happiness lately. Thank you Melissa Sunjaya for ever creating Tulisan!

Last Friday was Eid Mubarak holiday, so I planned to go to Uluwatu with Arnatt, a friend since 2001 I met at Antiokhia weekend. Arnatt picked me up at 2 p.m. and we went to Uluwatu area by bike. We stopped for late lunch at some chinese food warung on the way.


We headed to the Karma Kandara cliff, but not to the restaurant. We descended approximately 326 steps down to the beach and found rocks and stones around. So we went a little to the east and found the whole white sanded beach, and laid there for a while.

Arnatt took some pictures for his photography hunting while I was bathing in the sun. We enjoyed the last hours before sunset, only to realize that our way back to the stairs was blocked by the high tide. So we decided to ascend the other stairs, thank God it was there, that led us to Sinaran Surga's villa complex.

It was a long way up--the whole 300+ steps--and almost lost our breaths on the way. It was so tiring and by the time we were up we were all wet of sweat so we took a stop and enjoyed the sun till it was set behind the Karma cliff. We then took a 10 minutes walk back to where we parked the bike.

We had dinner at Warung Bale-Bali and I was studying the wayang from the book Tante Cece was lending me. She is so excited when I told her I am so much into wayang and tattoo. It's like she is excited about it much more than I do.

The next day I spent at home mostly and went to Biku to meet Dewi for lunch. We then had some chill at the office because the weather out was extremely hot. I then went to Seminyak Square to buy a dress for my cousin Anna's wedding. But I ended up at Periplus and bought six books from there. But finally I found the dress I was looking for at Indigo & Rose.

At 5.30 p.m. Arnatt asked to meet for sunset at 66 Beach. I went there and Dewi was coming after. I took Arnatt for some walk to La Plancha short after the sunset. Too bad the sand is grey and too soft, unlike the ones in southern beach, all white and bigger particles. I love the latter more. The three of us then had dinner at Mbok Limbok and by 9.15 p.m. we were already at home.

On Sunday, Arnatt showed up at my place at 1 p.m. then we had lunch at Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Bu Mangku. Right after we went to Labuhan Sait area, stopped at Bingin beach. It took us 10-15 minutes from the parking area to the beach walking. But the paradise we found was heavenly. It really worth the journey!

It was still 2 p.m. and the sun was shining so hot it was burning on my skin. Arnatt took his photography hunting while I was laying with my book, trying to get myself an even tan. I was sweating and dehydrated so badly. We finished the burning session at 4 p.m. and decided to have some cold drinks at Circle K.


We headed to Balangan beach after, just for sunset. It was heavily cloudy then, but I did have my reading time before the sun came up below the dark grey cloud, shining so brightly in orangey red. We stayed until the sun set on the west sky, then soon after we witnessed the moon to show up on the east sky.

We then headed back to Kuta area, had dinner at Bebek Tepi Sawah. Two hours after, we crossed the road to Krisna shop and I bought some stuff to bring to Jakarta for family and friends next Thursday. We finished the day at 10 p.m., all tired with burnt skin but happy. We had found small paradises in three days, enough to be mood lifter for some time. Thank God I am living in the island of paradise!

After books and words I've read and heard, I do believe now that we have more than one soul mate in one lifetime. One came from one incarnation and the other came from another incarnation. From what I've learned, I came into conclusion that in one incarnation we have one person to be our spouse or life partner. But soul mates, more than one of ours are spread around the world, waiting a chance to meet with each other.

I just read a book about wayang, Indonesian traditional tale which was adapted from Indian Hindu tale, and I found a lot of characters there; all the gods and goddesses and kings and queens and princes and princesses and knights and giants and jokers, etc. I was concentrating more to the stories of goddess, as I am very interested recently to Drupadi (In Indian version it is Dropadi).

From the reading I found out that at the time kings and queens usually had children with more than one person. One princess was deeply in love with the mighty Arjuna but he told her to marry his cousin instead, another was obsessed with someone who didn't become her husband, and so on. Broken hearts, sad love stories, affairs and untold secrets aren't just ours. It happened since thousands of years ago and even in the world of gods and goddesses.

Maybe at first you will say that the kings were playboys to sleep with any beautiful woman and the queens were too slutty to have kids from different fathers. But when we go deeper we can find a more difficult love stories in it, only God knows. Maybe it was because the souls that reincarnated tend to find their match, and suffer if they can't find them, but as human we sometimes aren't patient enough to wait for that perfect match to come.

As the world is getting so old now, and the fact that I do believe in reincarnations, I guess there are now too many soul mates we can meet in one lifetime. Those who become our parents, siblings, best friends, lovers and someone special who are never ours. These people come into our lives, touch our hearts so deep, either it takes a lifetime (parents and siblings), a part of it (best friends and lovers) or even just for one hour.

I met Fya last Monday night just before she was crossing the strait to Lombok island. She mentioned that Alex and I are soul mates. That explains why he has a very special place in my heart, out of all other friends I've had for the 28 years of my life. I've known Alex since I was about 8-9 years old, FYI. And this explains the strong feelings I have for him at few previous post ago. I think I am also soul mates with Joey. I am quite certain about that, because we can read each other's mind so well without having to waste too many words spoken.

Well now I think I recently have met another of my soul mate. He was a total stranger a week ago, but in just hours of talking he said I affected so much on him and for me, I simply cannot forget him so easily. Perhaps because he makes me feel comfortable, safe and the fact that he put so many attention and affection to me. Perhaps it's even much more than that, only I haven't realize or feel it. Or perhaps I am still holding myself back from the chance of a new love.

I would really like to say that I know everything I need to know in life, but I cannot. There are still so much more that are beyond my knowledge, beyond my imagination, and even beyond my ability to understand it all. And now, facing the fact that I might meet someone I've met before--too many years ago--is somehow excites me.

I am thrilled to know more about him, because after long hours of talking on the phone we've found too many similarities and connections between us, though we have only two mutual friends in facebook--which is a truly rare coincidence to have so many similarities with each other. It was like we've known each other for a long time already, because he feels familiar. Perhaps we did met. Perhaps we were lover. Maybe we weren't meant to be together in this incarnation. But maybe not... yet.

I am wondering how fun it would be if I could practice the ring of light like what Paulo Coelho did in Aleph just to find out what or who was (or were) I before. But sometimes, it's just better to leave the mystery unrevealed. Let God do His marvelous work on us and just see the final result later. Meanwhile, I am trying to enjoy the ride.

Please welcome this new Mercedes Benz SCL 600 to our lifestyle:

I guess my posts are a little disordered, because this supposed to come before A Day in Kuta. But anyway, as we already predicted, Friday nite was super fun at Tulip. Boss invited the crowd and offered a bottle of Absolut Vodka for every group with minimum 5 girls in it. And it is a free flow cocktail all night long for ladies. So I took about an hour to get ready at my room, putting on make up helped by Anna.


We came to Tulip at 10 p.m. and met a lot of people I already know mostly: my boss, his partner, his girlfriend, DJ Rob Soundz and usual guests. I greeted all of them one by one, introducing Anna to everyone. We got our drinks and mingled with people, then Anna's ex-colleague, Irma, came with a group, and then Alex Samosir came, then later, Joseph and Justus came. It was like everyone I wanted were there and I was so happy!



Anyway, Devi made Katon Bagaskara, one of the most famous Indonesian singer for more than two decades now, also vocalist of KLa Project, to come to the party. He brought his own group and we had fun till 2.30 a.m. there but Anna, Alex and I ended up at Circle K till 4.45 a.m. I felt so honored to get Katon's attention actually, because I had never met him in person, knew him only by his voice since I was a little kid. This, was nominated as one of the greatest nights I had in Bali!

I don't know how else can I thank God for giving me so many blessings, especially for last weekend. I woke up almost midday, did my laundry and paid a visit to Anna's room. Kak Nissa was there too and we had lunch together at Anna's room. Then they went with their aunt while I headed to Kuta beach again.

There was the the Ripcurl Surf & Music Festival stage so I laid on the sand there waiting for Zaq and Zuien to join me. At around 5 pm the competition was over so we walked to The Stones near there, to support Indah's new job as PR there. She was doing this Sunset Disco with DJ Ayang KD but we were the only ones there.


So just about before sunset the three of us Zaq, Zuien and me went upstairs to level 3 where there are beachfront infinity jacuzzi. The girls chilled there while Zaq was on the pool bench. Then, just after the sun was set, Katon Bagaskara came with his friend Raymond, and--Nugie, his younger brother who is also a singer. I got so excited for having the honor to meet them both in one occassion!

After some chit-chat, Katon asked us all to join him for dinner at a friend's new cafe, but I rode my bike there so I couldn't join them in car. Katon isn't driving the motorbike so he asked Nugie to drive me to the meeting point. And, to my pleasure, he accepted! I was overjoyed inside but trying to look at least a bit cool about it.

The easy thing to open a conversation with the singer brothers is the fact that I knew their oldest brother, Andre Manika, many years ago, probably on 2004, back when I was in Bandung thru my mother. So it helped so much to bring us to closer discussions. And Raymond, who learns numerology, told me that my number is 6 (and double 4 behind it), similar to Katon's (but he has 4 and 7 behind the 6). We are the Masterminds, said Raymond.


So the group went by car, except for Nugie and I who still had to walk to the place where I parked my bike. On the way there we heard a band playing on the beach stage. I recognized it as Stars & Rabbit and I casually asked Nugie if he wanted to drop by--and to my surprise he said yes. So we turned right and watched another two songs from the Yogya band, then continued with our journey.

We went to Petitenget area, where the cafe should be, but couldn't find it--neither could Katon's and Zaq's groups. So I suggested them to go to Warung Bale-Bali at Jl. Kunti I for dinner and there we gathered again. We had the Chinese food and wine as the closure, and went home at around 11 pm. Nugie offered to drive me home--how could I say no?

So I got the honor of being driven by my singer idol since I was about 10 years old and I still can't believe how lucky I am. We talked mostly about music, and I shared him my playlist, which to my surprise none of them he knows. I felt so proud at that moment, bragging my infinite playlist (reminded me of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) to someone who is already an expert in the field. I was flying!

I was so extremely happy last night, because some of my special friends are in Bali this week. Alex arrived yesterday afternoon and stays in Fave Hotel near my place, while Fya and husband Sindhu stay in Kuta area. Joseph and his Dutch friend are also in Kuta area; then Wale--from the same circle with Joseph from Jakarta--stays in a villa in Seminyak area, and I made them all gathered in Made's Warung Seminyak.

At first was only Alex, Anna and me. We had dinner at Warung Italia, Jl. Kunti. Then after some time we had walk around the area because there was only one bike for the three of us and we ended up at Made's Warung at around 8.40 p.m. So we chilled there with jazz live music and salsa dancers after till it was around 10.30 and went separate ways.

It really is something different when you are surrounded with dearest people who care about you, and I felt like it last night, especially with Alex, my best friend since elementary years, who chose to stay nearby just to meet up with me. And also Fya, friend of Alex who told me to move to Bali last year, who is on honeymoon term--she made an effort to meet and catch up things with me.

I am just fully contented now with all that I have now: job, kost place, circle of friends, and all other blessings from God I can't really measure how great they are. Fya said I look (and indeed feel) so happy being in Bali. I do feel like home here. She is glad to see me finally 'moved on' and I surprisingly feel so alive the last few days. God sent me a savior whom I can't tell now about but making me feel superb about myself. I am grateful!

Thanks to my boss, I have quite an exclusive circle of friends here in Bali. Having my office located in Petitenget, one of the most happening street in Seminyak area (with Hu'u Bar and Potato Head located on the same area), I now linger only at this zip code, visiting Kuta only once in a while when it's very important. Other than the occasional, I live only at Seminyak and Kerobokan area.

My boss has this Tulip restaurant-bar-lounge that gives free flow cocktail for ladies every Friday and Saturday. And there's this DJ Rob Soundz who play the R n B music for us till 1-2 a.m. just before going to next destinations--Hu'u or Mint, most of the time. And there are a lot more of people who almost always come for the events, one of them is Cia, my girl friend here.


As usual, I went there again last Saturday, dressed all up in red (which was my second time wearing bright outfit all my life, first one I wore at Red Party in Hu'u a month ago) and the party was getting funner and merrier each week. I even got close with the usual guests, as I had with guests of Sapulidi bar last year in Bandung when I came there almost everyday to see my best friend Patrick.


Last week, DJ Rob brought me this huge Old Amsterdam cheese as a souvenir from Holland as he went home for a week or so and came back to Bali stuffed with cheese. I am so blessed with so many people loving and caring for me, so many blessings I received thru my surroundings tho it was in form of cheese or some invitation to some parties. Anything it is, it's a blessing God grant me and I am so thankful for that.

There is only one minus thing in Bali for me, as I've stayed here for about 8 months now: the island has only two movie theaters in one place! So we should queue from noon time to get night's show ticket to get best seats, racing with thousands of people of the whole Kuta, Sanur and Denpasar area to watch not so up-to-date movies. That was not cool.

But recently they open another XXI theater in Beachwalk, sparing us Balinese people two more regular theaters and one premiere studio. That made me, Anna and Kak Nissa (Anna's cousin) jumping triumphantly for getting not just more chance to watch movie, but also a glimpse of Jakarta's ambient in the open space shopping mall. They got lines of well known fashion boutiques and restaurants available there.


I went to the mall with Anna and Kak Nissa last Sunday, eating and chilling at Nanny's Pavillon for hours, then Mario (Cheryl's cousin) joined us until almost sunset. Then Kak Nissa's former student, Diandra, came with her friend Zia, and joined the group. We then moved to the Kuta Karnival on the shore and spectating the sun to set on the horizon, which is never less beautiful no matter how it does everyday at the same hour.


After some sea breeze, we went back to the mall--Anna finishing her work at Starbucks while I did a little shopping for myself. I also met Raymondo, one of my schoolmate from Bandung, in coincidence at Eat & Eat. He was on an ongoing interior project for Tony Roma's and stayed in Bali for two nights. That was a really long and good day for me, I was contented.


I went back to the mall the next day with Dewi, my only colleague, to watch Taken 2 at the theater. We had dinner at Bon Chon before the movie and went searching for helmet for Dewi at around Kuta area, but shops were closed back then. So we went home, contented as the day before, and I was excited because some of my best buddies are coming to Bali this week. So happy!!

I had been sick since Wednesday last week, but I couldn't help to get excited last Saturday because I had booked a haircut at Rob Peetoom Hair Spa. This is an international salon from Amsterdam, Holland, and Paris Hilton was doing the campaign during her stay in Bali. Vincent Langedijk, the ambassador of Rob Peetoom, was doing my hair and made it lighter with more movement, as he said it.


After the hair, he also suggested that I take the Anastasia eyebrow treatment, a wax treatment done by Lia. It is another Rp 300,000 (exclude tax) worth but Vincent gave it as a compliment for me. I am both honored and happy! I now feel beautiful and full of confident, thanks to Rob Peetoom Bali team. I would come back for sure!

I got an invitation for a small gathering from Tim at his villa. So I came with bottles of beer and met a group of people hanging out there. Aaron from Perth, Steve and Madeline from California and Rina, Slamet and Angkon (all Indonesian) who have been living in Bali for years now.

I learned something from Madeline, that California is getting lack of water now. Madeline is working for the government and giving some sort of campaign to people how to safe water, etc. I think it is a good thing to know and start doing the safe environment thing by ourselves without waiting to be lacking of water first.

We all (minus the couple) went to La Plancha for some DJ event and went home before it was too late. I woke up refreshed the next day, did some shopping at Ace Hardware, adding some more stuff for the room and spent the sunset time with Anna and Dewi, back at La Plancha.



On Sunday, Anna and I had lunch at Bunana and spent the whole afternoon at Warung Bale-Bali. After some glasses of rose wine and a platter of shrimp roll, a long lost photographer friend, Frans Hambali, came with his producer, Oline. We then spent the night chatting and daydreaming together, and had dinner at Warung Italia next door. Then their friends Andeeta, Uli, Nadya came joined us till 11 pm.

I was tired and sleepy by then, but feeling energized from the ideas to be made we were discussing about. I would start such new life now, being on my own soon which has a lot of pro-cons and also the guts I didn't realize I had it till now. But I know God will always be with me. And I will just flow.