Another Victoria's Secrets

This is the second and my new entry for blog contest by @VisitJawaTengah and @BlogJateng2015. My former post was about Yogyakarta (which shouldn't be part of Central Java because it is a Special District of Yogyakarta, but to us Jakartans they just 'feel' the same). My last visit to Solo was in September 2013, and I just realized I didn't post about it due to my hectic timing then.

it was past midnight when we arrived in Solo Balapan station

So let me tell you about my journey there. We went by train from Gambir, Jakarta, to Solo's Balapan. It was another few hours trip by car to Pogog village, a very secluded barren hill and the people live by farming papaya and durian (along with other fruits and vegetables), although the land there is way too dry and arid! In that trip we met Mas Jiwo 'Pogog' whose project is to bring the village's standard of living higher and farther.

talking with local people and Mas Jiwo 'Pogog'

the very barren land of Pogog

the only mosque in the village

baby papaya tree

the fruits to be sold in big cities

It is amazing how a very barren land could still produce fruits and vegetables for its inhabitants. I had such a privilege to have visited the humble 'out of nowhere' place like that and witness that act of kindness from a person who had nothing to do with the village at first but then fall in love and dedicated his life for the people on his community service program in college.

the seeds were named after the man who cultivate this kind of durian sunan

and this one, Simus Raja for Indonesian 'king of fruits'

I also noticed, during the hours of road trip, how perfectly the hills and mountains are shaping the form of pyramids with precise tilting angle in all sides. Too bad I had only my phone camera by then so it was blurry to take objects when we were moving in the car. But one thing I should add in this journey is my amazement of how a barren land with very dry earth and almost no rainfall all year could produce fruits and vegetables, and make a living to the people of Pogog.

the view was very beautiful, the air cool and fresh up there in Pogog

As the old Koes Ploes's song "Kolam Susu" had once mentioned, "orang bilang tanah kita tanah surga; tongkah kayu dan batu jadi tanaman," which translates as: "they say our land is (like) paradise; (even) a piece of wood and rock (can) become a plant"--this song can literally manifested to the village of Pogog. Or perhaps Koes Plus made the song here from Pogog? ;D

Isn't it wonderful, how rich and miraculous the land of Java is?
I know, that's why I love Indonesia so much, our Nuswantara Jaya. (;

This was my old post on May 2013 but I re-post it for the @VisitJawaTengah and @BlogJateng2015 blog contest. A little refreshing for my eyes to remind me the beauty of Yogyakarta and the lovely scenery it has. I'll make another new post but I love this post so much that I had to re-post it here. :D
Enjoy!


I was invited to come to Yogyakarta for my project last weekend, so I woke up so early in the morning on Friday and flew to the city by 7 a.m. (GMT+8) flight. Somehow I felt the flight was different with the last time I went to Yogyakarta (Aug 2011) for now I'd known much more about Nuswantara: the legend and the secrets the place holds. So I felt it was extremely magnificent to see all the hilly landscape of South Yogyakarta.

I saw from above all the strange sea landscape about 1-2 km south from the land, the weird form of hills on the savanna on the west, the magnificent volcano mountains of Merbabu and Merapi, all the range of mountains of Gunung Kidul, and finally I landed at Adisucipto airport at 7.15 a.m. (GMT+7). I was welcomed by the team and we went to Kaliurang area.


First stop was for breakfast. We went to Jl. Argo for SGPC Bu Wiryo (SGPC stands for Sego Pècèl or rice with vegetables and peanut sauce), a great place to eat traditional food since 1959 that became famous because of the students of UGM (Universitas Gajah Mada) that located near the restaurant. They even have live band playing at 8.30 a.m.!
The place really is legen--wait for it--dary!

Then we went toward north to the Kaliurang area. It's a high land of forests and villas, a bit similar to the landscape in Puncak, Bogor, West Java. They set a viewing tower from which we can see the top of Merapi volcano. But we didn't go there. This time we went to Ullèn Sentalu, a private property that made a museum of Yogyakarta and Solo Keraton (kingdom) heritages.


We were too sleepy and the museum wasn't open yet so we went first to the café at the back, having hot black java coffee and pancake. The pancake wasn't recommended tho. But I love so much the Dutch/colonial architecture, the high trees canopy and the chill air. It was both so old and so fresh that brought us to another dimension. It wasn't feel like being in Java at all.


At around 10.30 a.m. we started the museum tour that had to wait for 10-20 people per group. We weren't allowed to take any picture during the tour, so I couldn't share with you all the 3D paintings, old royal instruments, batik and sculptures they exhibited there. The tour was worth the price (IDR25,000 per person) but don't really believe all the history the guide say. Better wait for the extraordinary truth of Nuswantara, soon. ;)


After the tour we went back to the city and stopped at the original Gudeg Yu Djum near the SGPC and UGM. The place remained the way it was from 1946, with the traditional fire stove and big pots and everything else. It was so traditional, even the live band playing were already on their 50s-70s. They played old keroncong music. Another legendary place!


Next, we headed south to Ganjuran area and stopped at the Catholic Church of Divine Heart of Jesus, where Jesus showed himself to the people of Ganjuran and asked them to build a place for him there. People then build a temple for Him, similar to Hindu and Buddhist temple around, minus the difficult carvings. Inside, a statue of Jesus in Javanese face was placed.


We spent about an hour at the complex, took pictures and prayed in the temple. Afterward we washed our face at the holy water source at the west side of the temple. I think it was supposed to be the first step before going up the temple, like the wudhu water for Moslem, but we just did what we saw first. The church is also nice because it's open space with joglo architecture style.

We went to the hotel after that and I hibernated for about 12 hours for I couldn't sleep the night before. I woke up at around 6-7 a.m. the next day and spent the morning watching TV. They played We Bought A Zoo, Bounty Hunter and The Pirates of the Caribbean before we should go. We chilled at Viavia Traveler Café at Jl. Prawirotaman.



The café was really nice. It has a shop that sells local arts, crafts, toys, shirts and herbs. They also have travel agency around Yogyakarta and sells exotic food like shoarma with pita bread and curry with chapati beside Indonesian culinary. This is a must-go place to hangout. The neighborhood was small and cheap motels for backpackers so the prices are wallet-friendly also.


After that I had a chance to have spa massage at Jemari Menari at Jl. Suryotomo, opposite of Meliá Purosani, for 90 minutes. My masseuse had a strong power and I felt so good afterward but my friend's masseuse was a newbie so better ask how strong the pressure you want for the therapy. It was almost night already when we finished so we went to House of Raminten for dinner (more about it here).


We still managed to have supper at Gudeg Permata at Jl. Gajah Mada which starts to open at 11 p.m. onward. The place was on the pedestrian or they call it as lesehan. It tasted different than the other famous gudeg, and it also served wedang tapé. They are so worth trying. Still many other Yogyakartan food that I haven't tried, save them for my next visit. I went back to Bali on Sunday morning and, again, collapsed for a day.

I spent the rest of my Sunday watching marathon How I Met Your Mother Season 1 in my room because it was raining all day. It was also for my adaptation to be back to 'real' life as Yogya has a very different culture with Bali, especially the language people are speaking. I am kind of surprised how I could experience the culture shock even Yogya-Bali is only 600km away. That's the richness of Indonesia, I believe. :)

I spent almost all day watching this compilation of 15 videos here the other day. I like this for it has more or less the same essence (in tune) with what I believe, support my theory and project, and also enlightening in many aspects. You may disagree with me, but I suggest to take a chance and watch this. And be inspired!


P.S. I haven't watch its continual series (that are so many) and just found out that it has a FB page. Cool thing to stay connected!

www.victoriatunggono.com

I just finished creating my own official webpage and FB page. It's actually something I really like, but only do when I really am into it. And thanks to wix.com, it really make web-creating such an easy thing. I just added my own 'logo' and ta-daa.. a website is ready. Plus, I got Valentine's Day discount from wix.com for the Unlimited package. What a great deal!

Now please like my FB page here and enjoy visiting my website!

Emotions. via community

I had some arguments with my boyfriend the other day. It was because of my emotions. I was too drawn to my mixed-up emotions that I tend to do crazy stuff (not that I'm that psychopath--but I think serious dose of this could lead to that deviant behavior). I told him that I was feeling jealous/sad/afraid, etc. And he said they are not feelings. They are emotions instead.

Actually, heavy words are not my style. I like to discuss heavy topics but not using complicated words so I used the simplest word instead: I feel. This had been the word I've been taught since in the kindergarten and I feel a little odd with the word "emotion". Apparently emotions are different from feelings. Due to John Voris' writing, feelings are low-key, stable and sustained over time while emotions are intense but temporary.

Feelings tell us how to live while emotions tell us what we like and dislike. Feelings indicate the right or wrong way to be while emotions indicate the good and bad actions. Therefore the love we have toward each other is a feeling, while the jealousy, sadness or fear of losing another are emotion. I--he said--shouldn't do anything reckless based on emotions but to think carefully before taking an action--which we girls mostly find it harder to do.

via johnvoris

I hate it so much that my boyfriend can always say the right things, even if I insisted how right I was before (which would never make me Mrs. Always Right as other wives in the world) but I love how correct he is that I know I can always count/lean on him. I know how capable, strong and real he is that I know, he is the right person for me. I think that's what made me fall for him. He always has the right answer to everything--even when he doesn't know.

John Voris wrote on his website as follows:

The difference between emotions and feelings is crucial to your personal growth. If you are dissatisfied in your life, know that there is really nothing wrong with you, and there is nothing to fix. Rather, there is only something to discover about yourself. The practice of Psyphology: psy·phol·o·gy (pronounced sahy-fol-uh-jee) is one of the few methodologies that makes a distinction between emotions and feelings and it can aid you in that discovery. The uniqueness of your feelings can provide you with a new understanding, that can lead to many positive changes for you.

I think he is right. To know the difference between feelings and emotions could really make a difference on what to do next, because emotions are temporary and never worth to be the base of any action. By knowing these differences, I could be better in the future. I bet the world will be a more beautiful and peaceful place to be if we all know and aware of this ;)

via baltyra

Sabda Pandhita Ratu, or "the words of a queen (or king)", is one of Javanese' philosophy. The complete saying is as follows: sabda pandhita ratu, tan kena wola-wali, and berbudi bawalaksana. It means, "once the words are said, it must be done and do not changed". Berbudi bawalaksana means "to hold on to the words/promises; the unity of the words and actions". It means the loyalty to our own words.

Sabda Pandhita Ratu does not apply to only queens and kings, but also to all people whose soul of the knights, born of knight's blood (the ksatriya caste) and whomever wants to do things right. The more perwayangan (wayang stories), epic Indonesian/folklore stories I read, the more understand I am to this concept. A gentleman (and also a lady) is judged by his/her actions--that is based on his/her words. The more capable one sticks to his/her words, the more noble he/she is.

During my visit to Bali last week, I talked to few people with broad knowledge and high spirituality. I've heard about this before, that we--the chosen ones--should be careful with our mind, words and action. But last week I got more convinced by this friend's words that the ancestors are watching my every step in this living world.

I don't have any sixth sense or such indigo sights. I am a normal person. But to know (literally and consciously) that the ancestors are watching, made me realize how powerful my words could be. If I say bad words toward others it could give them bad consequence. But if I use it wisely and for good causes, imagine what could've been!

Of course we don't need to being watched to do noble things, to apply this philosophy on our daily lives. It's just nice to have a confirmation, as a reminder that we are not alone in this world and that our behavior/actions are being supervised to determine our future ('the afterlife' and karma theory). I think it's just nice to know that the gods and ancestors are looking at our every step. Don't you think?

Ari Wicahyana of Tantraz Comics Bali and host at Periplus

fried chicken with sambal matah at Periplus Café

I just came back from my 6 days vacation in Bali. I went there with colleagues at Jan 28th and attended the launching of Blazing Red, Baladeva #2, Chronicle of Calonarang at Periplus, Ngurah Rai Airport. At the launching I met some Balinese friends and introduced to new people. One of those was bli* Ari Wicahyana, as the man behind Tantraz Comics Bali. The launching was also supported by Nugie, who performed his single, Nuswantara (which is used as Baladeva's soundtrack).

suckling pork at Babi Guling Chandra (the famous one, tho I prefer Pak Malen's)

We spent the night eating pork at Babi Guling Chandra, meeting another friends (Bli Indra, Bli Nurhadi and son Komang) and ended up chatting at Starbucks Sanur till midnight. We talked about Nuswantara's ancestors, the history and culture in Indonesia, especially in Bali. I got a lot of knowledge that night, expanding my mind in those late hours and feeling how small and clueless I am in this world.

lawar (vegetable) starfruit leaf, suckling pork, fried duck, lawar pare, pulled chicken, garang asem chicken, fragrant steamed rice, sambal matah and other chilis

Nyoman Sumerta Art Gallery

this one really caught my eyes

The next day, we went to Bebek Tepi Sawah for their invitation for lunch. We met the owners, Bli Tunik Sumerta and his father, Nyoman Sumerta--and their family. There were also friends of Bli Tunik (Bli Mang Goes & Bli Gogon) and together we had a tour to the painting gallery. Bli Tunik has a collection of Balinese fine paintings that worth hundreds of thousands rupiahs. And they are indeed such fine art!

Villas of Bebek Tepi Sawah

We had another tour to the villas and finally a coffee break at the villa's coffee shop before we went back to the city. We had a stop at Bokashi Therapy at By Pass Pesanggrahan and had a body massage for 1 hour and heated therapy for 30 minutes. The latter one was new for me, where I had to lay down and buried in the big pond of dirt mixed with fermentation of herbs and minerals, creating organic compound such as heated enzymes at 50'-70' C. We'd ended up sweating like pigs but it works like a detox. You should really try this one!

We then went to Kedonganan for dinner invite by Bli Indra. We had seafood bucket of crab, lobster, prawn, calamari and oyster. Bli Nurhadi and Bli Ari came by after and we spent the night chatting and laughing.. I don't like the taste of the seafood in Kedonganan. This was my second time and I still disliked it. But with great friends, we had such a fun and memorable night.

honey chicken, capcay and tofu with red rice - buffet menu at Warung Kecil, Jl. Duyung, Sanur

Sanur beach

I spent the whole next day talking about work and stuff, then after my colleagues went back to Jakarta, I extended my time in Bali and stayed at Ana's place. The next day, I had lunch at Warung Kecil at Sanur, then after Ana left with her cousin, I had some coffee at Sanur beach front, until my next meeting with Bli Ari and Mbok Ida at Coffee Zone.

lawar papaya, suckling pork, pulled chicken, lawar starfruit leaf, fish satay, sambal matah and urutan (pork sausage)

That night, Bli Ari and Bli Tunik invited me to come to Bebek Tepi Sawah again, for Bli Tunik's youngest sister, Suartina's birthday. I came with Mbok Ida and met even more friends there. I had another big portion of pork and lawar that night, was full and happy when I went back to Mbok Ida's place and stayed the night there.

Badung market, taken from Kumbasari market

 

pork satay plecing & soto

The next day, we went to Kumbasari Market and Badung Market to hunt for stuff. I liked some, but I didn't buy anything due to the limited time. We had lunch at Sate Plecing Arjuna (another pork satay and soup) at Jl. Arjuna. This is one of the legendary Balinese culinary in Denpasar. We then prepared to go to an event in Balinese wedding processions.

family of the groom were waiting outside because the house was small

me and Pupuh the bride

offerings for wedding

We went to Bli Nurhadi's place at 2 p.m., and the procession, called as Ngidih Nak Luh (asking the daughter) was being held there. It was the procession of letting go of the daughter from the family, to continue her journey of life with the groom. After this, the groom will make a (bigger) wedding reception later on the following days/weeks.

mba Djodja broke her leg when she was playing with the dogs

The event finished slightly before 7 p.m. and I ran my way back to Mbok Ida's house, change my clothes, and sped up to Mas Ado & Mba Djodja's house at Batubulan. I've promised them a visit, and Mba Yanti was there too with her husband. We spent the night chatting by the pool in their new villa-home and I reached Denpasar again by midnight.

mixed chicken and rice at Merta Nadhi Jl. Tukad Yeh Aya

For my last day, I spent it first in Ubud (after breakfast nasi ayam at Merta Nadhi). We went jewelry-hunting around Ubud Market, Jl. Gootama, Jl. Dewi Sita and Jl. Hanoman (and had quick coffee breat at Tutmak). Failing to get much, we headed back to Denpasar and I dropped Mbok Ida at her house. I went to the airport for 6 p.m. flight back to Jakarta, and my holiday was finished with it.


This was my first ever holiday in Bali that I met only native Balinese for the whole 6 days. I met Jakartans only Ana, Mas Ado and Mba Djodja, which had spent so many years living in Bali. And this is also my first time spending time in Bali not touching Legian/Seminyak/Kerobokan at all. I spent time mostly in the East and my only beach moment was my 1 hour coffee break at Sanur.


During the time, I learned a lot of new things, from the history, culture, language/accent and habits of the Balinese, which would be great for my writing research. I believe my next visits will be full of those stuff, too. What I value the most is the lesson of life, the answer of my lingering personal questions for the past one year I had that was finally answered at the fifth day of my holiday. This was what made my vacation felt complete.


And what I can share with you, is the habit of Balinese at the feast. They never finish their food, leaving almost half the portion on the plate. Mbok Ida couldn't tell me why--it's their habit. Perhaps because they can only eat small portions or just out of politeness (different standards applied in different places). I learned to leave some on my plate since that night of feast with all Balinese to keep me from feeling (or to let the host know that I was not) too gluttonous.




*) bli = the designation for young male in Bali. For female, we use 'gék' or 'luh'.
**) matur suksma = thank you.