Another Victoria's Secrets

me, Adit, Dita, Damar just arriving with our welcome drinks

Actually I didn't really want to post this elephant tour stuff because I had to lose a friend because of this. He was being very cynical about me posting pics with the elephant on Instagram because he thinks it's a torture for the poor animal. I actually considering his thoughts about exploiting the elephants and stuff but I don't appreciate his way to quip me on his account instead of telling the matter right on to my face (so much of a man huh).

Anyway: If you're one of those who think that elephant tour shouldn't be done in the first place, if you really want to make a change, please protest straight to the tour facility, raise an awareness, fight for a cause, or make yourself heard in any other proper way instead of sulking around on people. If you think it's important for your friends not to support such thing, please tell them right away--if you consider them your friend. They'd accept any input/critic as long as it's a right thing, is positive and delivered with good deed. Don't satirize and dramatize things because it would just make yourself lose friend(s) due to such 'heroic' act of yours.. And by what I saw, the elephants here weren't being tortured. They could eat and do things they seem to enjoy. If I saw the tamer being hard on them I wouldn't agree with them and told them on the spot.

group selfie before we go home

We left the facility at around 5 p.m. and carried home with us the whole new experience. It was really fun and you should consider especially for the rafting experience. The water is clean, not perfectly white but a little brownish (perhaps because of the rain) but the whole rafting journey was indeed cool and you just have to try it yourself.

Contact the Bakas Levi Adventure here for information and bookings.

the main gate

It's been almost two months and I didn't have time to write about this before but yes, I went to Soundrenaline 2016 this year. It was on September 3-4 at GWK and I got my 2-days ticket from a friend. I went with my vlogger friend Adit Comma on the first day and he made a vlog about that day you can watch below (I appeared there on minute 9:58 onward):


But tho I came with Adit, we went separate ways that I was watching the bands all by myself for hours. I saw Shaggydog at Louder Than Ever stage, RAN and Naif at A stage, Stars & Rabbits at the Avolution stage, and back to Maliq & D'Essentials at A stage. I met several other friends at the gig (Chika, Willy and Hans Aditya), although there were more who said they were also attending but I didn't get meet. The venue was too packed, although there were 4 different stages!

Jarwo Naif

David Naif (this shirtless act made so many girls went crazy)

I was so lucky to get this guitar pick that Jarwo Naif threw out at the end of Naif performance!

Stars & Rabbit

Kalula and Andi /rif

I couldn't afford being in the crowd too much I finally went to the Go Ahead stage below, just in time for Soundrenaline Project featuring Andi /rif, Kalula and Kikan singing. The crowd was getting crazier as Temper Trap was performing that night, but we called it a day and we (Adit and me) decided to go home as the band was starting their gig. It was the right decision, however, because my other friends who stayed till the end was stuck until 4 a.m. to get home!

Base Jam Reunion--our pop hero in the '90s

I came again the next day, just in time for Base Jam Reunion who played at the Avolution stage. I met a friend, Hans Aditya, again and we headed to see Efek Rumah Kaca performing at Go Ahead stage below. Then we headed up to Louder Than Ever stage to watch /rif, some other local bands, and then spent more time at the Go Ahead stage with Tulus, Kahitna and finally Bloc Party performing.

Efek Rumah Kaca

I didn't get to watch Simple Plan, the main guest star for the second day. I was already too tired but felt happy anyway for I met more friends there: David, Egi, Jojo, Rama, Ratu and Ical (who were actually working at the event). The whole 2-days gig was the longest music concert I've ever been (I don't remember about the 2012 Java Jazz but I guess I went only 1 day there) and also the best one because I like most of the line up (viva la '90s!). I dunno if I'd want to go to another 2-days gig it's too exhausting. But I'm so up for more live music concerts! Yay!

Wanda Hamidah, Sonia, J. Rio J. Haminoto, me, Ananda Sukarlan

I never thought I could be so lucky when Joseph Rio Jovian Haminoto, the author of historical novel Erstwhile, contacted me on Sunday last week. He asked me to be one of the speakers on his book launching on Saturday, October 29, and I said yes. I approved because of few things; I know exactly how hard launching a book could be (finding people who are willing want to moderate, talk and discuss your book); I read and really do like this book; and it's a reason for me to attend the UWRF16.

So I said yes to him, not knowing the other guest stars at that time, but happened to be the famous Indonesian master pianist Ananda Sukarlan, and--I found out just a day before the D-Day--the beautiful, smart Wanda Hamidah. After some arrangement it was decided that I had to pick up Wanda at the airport at 10:45 a.m. and we headed to Ubud rightaway.

We had lunch at Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Warung Mardika, and had a rest at the d'bulakan hotel Rio had arranged for us. At 2:15 p.m. we went to Desa Visesa to pick up Ananda Sukarlan and his partner, then went on to The Elephant for the event. The place has an extravagant view of the green Campuhan Ridge and it was already packed with people who gathered for the book launching.

Mas Chandra, Mbak Wanda and me before the session

At around 3:30 p.m., as scheduled, the program opened by Sonia, one of the curators of UWRF, and then Wanda read the synopsis. Then I talked about the book from the perspective of both a reader and the writer of Gerbang Nuswantara. After me, Ananda gave speech about the possibilities of this book from the perspective of a musician/music composer. Then some of the audiences were asked about their opinions, too.

The event was a success from my point of view. There were press attending also, and the audiences who never heard about this book said they were interested to read about the book--which is a good thing. I don't know when Metro TV would broadcast the program but I'll let you know when they do. I guess before that you all need to read this book as well.. It's highly recommended!


Check the videos here.

Adit, Dita, Juno, Cecep and me

This trip was from last week. Just after the Balangan trip, we went on another trip the next day. As Shasya went home the night after Balangan, the remaining group was Adit and Cecep. But Adit got his best friend Dita and her Korean friend Juno along with us. So the five of us went far to the easternmost regency of Bali: Karangasem.




First, we stopped by at Taman Ujung. It is the magnificent water palace built in 1909 by King of Karangasem, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik or Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem. Dutch architect van Den Hentz and Chinese architect Loto Ang worked together with an undagi (calling for Balinese architect). The water palace belongs to the palace but they allow public like us to come and visit.



So we walked around the 10 hectares land that has a big rectangle pond and a house in the middle of it. There is also a post on the higher part of the garden where we can see the view of Mount Agung, eastern sea and the whole complex of the water palace. We should climb hundreds of stairs to get there (you can see me taking all those stairs on the clip below) but the sight is extremely rewarding.



After spending two hours at Taman Ujung, we went on to Amed. We stopped by at Sunset Point on top of the cliff after the Jemeluk Bay, and moving on for our initial destination: snorkeling. There is a vintage mail post drowned about 50 meters from the shore and we could peek into the corals and fishes through the goggles.


It was a nice experience--and I'm saying this because I'm not a fan of underwater world. Perhaps if you love the seas so much you'd spend hours inside there and find more stuff than what I saw there and you could say it was marvelous. I spent only about 10 minutes in the waters and it was too late for snorkeling. The best time to do this is in the morning with lots of sunlight that gets into the water. Please don't blame me.


Anyway, check the clip below to see how Taman Ujung and Amed look like from up above:

Lately I've been traveling with a poet/videographer friend Putu Aditya Nugraha. He is a Balinese 'social media influencer' who just started his vlog--or travlog as it is a travel vlog. So we had fun and he documented all of our trips on videos. It is also a way for us to promote (Balinese) tourism--that Bali isn't just about beaches. This one, though, was from our trip last week to Balangan Beach, Ungasan, South Bali. We went with food blogger Shasya Pashatama and another twitter influencer Cecep. Enjoy the clip!

I forgot to announce it here; my friends and I managed to settle a new web containing information about Bali and how to survive living there. The target is domestic (Indonesian) immigrants or backpackers, that's why it's written in Indonesian. But if you wanna ask anything about it in English, just send email to balihacks@gmail.com.

Basically it's all based on our experience being immigrants in Bali as well, so we'd like to share some info with the newbies. The web was launched on October 22, so it's just a week old now (;

Check it here.

This island is my home.

Since 2012 I've been going back and forth from Jakarta to Bali, trying to settle down on my own. Yes, I much prefer to live in Bali, but somehow I still have some kind of emotional bond with my hometown that made me have to go back to Jakarta once in a while. I don't really have much here except that I rent a studio apartment to stay and a motorbike to get me places. These have made me claiming Bali to be a place that I call home.

I may not get to live here forever either; who knows where life would lead you to, right?
But having to always missing Bali every time I'm away makes me ask myself this question: why do I love Bali so much? What's keeping me in this beautiful island? Why does it always calling me to come back, even that I didn't grow up here?

So I'm listing my reasons here, of why Bali is such a home for me:

1. Every place is within reach: the city, beaches, mountains, lakes, cliffs, forests, rice fields, waterfalls, temples.. I can simply ride a motorbike within 2 hours to get to every tourism destination and don't even have to stay over the night if I go early in the morning. And it's easy to rent a car if I'm not in the mood for a bike ride. Also, they're affordable!
2. Everybody is here: the local Balinese, migrants from all over Indonesia, tourists from all over the world.. It's the best place to meet everyone and learn about the world from them. Plus, almost everyone is going for a holiday or work in Bali, and eventually you'll meet your friends or reunite with old mates here. One can never be lonely in Bali.
3. Everything is so serene: Most of Balinese are Hindu and the religion taught peace, karma, and love. I think these are the foundation to such peaceful life--the peace that starts from within. Although it's not so good when it comes to business (that people are so slow here) but it's good for soul (and heart) repairing. The 'Bali therapy' is simply what tired souls need.
4. Freedom for everyone. I just feel free from any judgment, moral obligation, or any social system that applies in both Jakarta and Bandung where I lived. I can wear any outfit that I want, from bikini and flip-flops to evening dress and high heels. I can stay single and befriends with anyone, I can go all week or stay at home.. But most importantly, I'm stress-free!
5. I can focus on myself. Being away from the family means more time for myself. It's not that I don't care about my family; in fact I care too much that I need the space and time to be on my own to keep my balance. I am a loner sometimes, and I need my solo moment once in a while. Being in Bali, with all my physical, emotional, and social needs fulfilled, is a blessing.

women-only home spa

Actually I'm still on my recovery phase from the typhus + dengue fever combo I got last month. But last Tuesday I felt fit enough so I decided to go on a trip to Mengwi. The next day I got so limp, weak and exhausted. I tried ordering a home massage from Go-Massage application but couldn't get any masseuse. I really needed a massage so I browsed online for another option... which led me to Wangi Spa, a home spa only for women.

I ordered for an hour of full body massage and another half hour of reflexology. Within an hour after my phone call, a masseuse came with her massage kit: a big stone bowl for hot water feet bath; a plastic box containing portable speaker, aromatherapy container, lotions and oils; a mattress and its cover; and a hot water flask.

She started by giving me a disposable panties and a batik cloth to cover my body while she lit the aromatherapy candle and play relaxing music from the speaker. Then, she washed my feet in the stone bowl. It's like having a reflexology parlor in my very own room. I then laid on the mattress and she started the massage. It was a perfect 1.5 hours as I expected it to be, and even better from other massage centers because I don't have to ride home after. The best thing is that I could fall asleep right after the therapy!

After it's all done and my body was all refreshed, the therapist even gave me a bottle of jamu kunyit (turmeric drink). The prices are IDR 135,000 for a 90 minutes body massage and/or reflexology, while a 60-minutes body scrub is only IDR 85,000, plus the masseuse transportation. I'm super relaxed and refreshed after the therapy and definitely would be their loyal customer. You should try it!

the entrance, garden and playground

After giving two 50-minute classes for Dyatmika Junior High School last month (that I shared my experience of being a writer to those 14-year olds), I took another challenge to teach primary school kids art. The summer program started earlier this week at My After School Club, with Master Art theme for the week. I taught 2-D and 3-D arts with other teachers in the first 2 days.

I was scared at first, knowing nothing to handle 6-12 year olds (that are not my cousins) but they gave all teachers small seminars of children psychology and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. That, combined with my experiences with my younger siblings and cousins as I grew up--and my general knowledge of psychology--made me pretty much well-prepared for the teaching. The reason why I'm taking this freelance job is not about the money, but the idea of helping shape good characters for the kids through playing.

waiting area

The Club aims to bridge the problems that working parents have with their growing up kids. School usually ends at 11a.m. to 1p.m. and children wouldn't have adult supervisions until the parents go home, so they could come to the Club instead. It is not an extra-curricular or course program. It is a place where kids can have healthy lunch, get helped with their homework, and develop their art and nature skills with light practices. There will be no extra lessons for them, only creative and active ways to kill time and to get them away from gadgets.

kids are meant to play actively outdoor

The implementation of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People will also be applied here through daily and casual interactions, that we all aim to shape future leaders from their childhood moments. I think this is the main reason why I'm supporting this program, although I'm only active for their summer program for now. I want children to spend their time learning by playing, being active, proactive and creative, blend in with nature, before time will come and introduce them to the real world, technologies and problems.

the art room--they also have the music room

This is a CSR to me, as an act of giving back to the others of the blessings that I have for having happy childhood, although I didn't have all the facilities the children have today. Plus, I guess I'm doing pretty good with children, thanks to the experience I had with my younger cousins back then. Of course, being a teacher is never a one-way education. Being a teacher--next to being a parent--is a privilege to have us taught simple things from the kids.

explore new things and don't be afraid to get dirty

Through my 2-days experience I already witness the 7-8 kids play, get excited to some things, lost interest and tired of other things, get competitive, accusing the others to cheat, being accused of cheating, play fair, laugh, cry, get mad at each other, comforting the ones who cry, take sides, not taking sides, make up with each other, following instructions and requests, being responsible and other things.

library and indoor playroom

If there are things that I learn from these kids is how easy they are to let go of anger within half hour in order to be able to go play again. How they cherish the fun more than holding grudge, is one of the best things we can learn from them. Letting go, based on my own experience, is one of the hardest things any adult can do in life. I guess it's good to have interactions with kids from time to time, to rise our inner child and just let loose. Although being a regular teacher is never on my plan or intention, it is fun to do this once in a while.

Should you be interested to register your kids to the Club, contact them here, or visit them at Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 93, Denpasar, Bali. Their Summer Program is still going for 2 more weeks before the Lebaran (Eid Al-Fitr) holiday and 3 weeks after. Then, they will begin the after school club for the new semester. Let's give children the childhood they deserve!

It's been almost 5 months that I'm back staying in Bali again, after 2 whole years living in Jakarta due to some personal and project problems. Going back to my dream island is something that I didn't expect could happen so soon. I was thinking that the soonest I could go back here maybe after another 5 years in Jakarta. But then again, I'm back here!

In the past 5 months I've experienced so many things, much more than I did in the 2 previous years when I lived in Jakarta. It was the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2015 that brought me back. I was pennyless but fortunately a friend offered me a holiday ticket to Bali--and I took it. So I flew to Bali with him and his family, bringing a big suitcase to fit my needs for a month. I was planning for a 3-weeks holiday.

Arriving in Bali, I stayed in Sanur with my ex-roommate. It made me had to go back and forth to Ubud for the first few days by motorbike (because Uber services didn't want to drop me there) and luckily my publisher came from Jakarta to support me with accommodation. My book launching went well and we had fun in the UWRF but we didn't spend the last day in Ubud because my publisher wanted to explore Seminyak.

I didn't go back to Jakarta with my publisher but stayed in Sanur at my roommate's for another month. She traveled a lot back then so the room was entirely mine. I rented a motorbike to get me places and meeting with people. I did some writing, spent hours in cheap cafés all day just to keep me sane. I needed money so I looked for a job.

Then, by early December, I got a job at an art gallery in Seminyak. I thought it would allow me some peaceful time to write when there are no guests (like how I knew it should be at other art galleries) but I was wrong. The art gallery I worked at didn't give me a rest at all. I couldn't write at all and it made me kind of stressed. So I quit the job after 2 months.

I began to regretting having to work at the gallery but when I think about it, the job taught me much about patience, humility, and how to survive when I hit rock bottom. In order to be a leader, first I had to be a servant. And like what people say: when you're down under, there's no other way but to go up. And so I did. Slowly I regained my pace to get up again. I got much better job starting by mid January, so I did a double "full-time" jobs for 2 weeks.

A thing about my new job is way much more than I thought I could have. It allows me to write about anything that I want--anything. And I can work at anytime that I want, anywhere that I could be. It's a mobile job because I stay in Bali while my offices are in Jakarta and Yogya. So yeah, this is the best job that I've ever had. It gives me freedom in any way to do the thing I love the most: writing (while exploring Bali). And though I thought the job is keeping me from finishing my second novel, it is indeed increasing my writing skill and sharpening my senses for the upcoming projects.

I still have discussions with my spiritual gurus. In a discussion he said that last year was a challenge for me. It was a declining path for me as all things went so wrong and I got totally broke in every way possible. November was my lowest point and in December I saw a light--but my actual inclining point started on January. It was all so true of what he said (which he said by early November).

Actually it pains me to know that I have to start over from zero again: work, place to stay, the furniture, motorbike--and even friends (my old ones are now spread everywhere else). Now I had to find everything from zero again, but I am thankful for getting a privilege of having kind friends (new ones too) around me. They lend me their rooms, motorbikes and even some bike rides. Just at the time when I need it, all are provided for me.

Now that I got all the privileges that I "deserve", it's because I dealt with all the difficulties with patience. I got through all the desperation, hard times, stress, bankruptcy and loneliness quite well (yeah I called all of my family everyday to keep me feel accompanied and to get through the lonely nights but I guess it was okay) so I guess it's a "payback" time. So the starting over isn't really bad at all. It just means an upgraded life, in other perspective.

I really am grateful for the life I have now. The past five months had been hell, but I'm so going up and above from now on. And I got travel buddies to accompany me exploring Bali on weekends so it's just getting even better here. Above all, I just want to thank God for giving me lessons and to remind me of being humble all the time. Remember that the road of life is spinning and nothing in this world will remain the same. Be thankful and spread love everyday, I think is really the simplest key to a happy life.

me and my new friend at my other new friend's café

wardrobe: LBD by Forever21, slip-on by Toms and kaftan outer by NurZahra

I thought I was going to spend my Christmas alone here in Bali because I couldn't go home and my friends here are mostly Muslim/Hindu. But last Saturday I met this girl Christine who would spend her Christmas alone, too, so we agreed to spend it together this year. I picked her up on Dec 24 afternoon for Christmas Eve mass at FX Kuta Church at 6 p.m.

Metis Restaurant with garden view

me, ready to finish my big lunch!

my lunch: roasted turkey with pork stuffing, cranberry sauce and potato gratin

me, James and Mba Liz at Metis

James, Mba Liz, me and John at Mano