Another Victoria's Secrets

On the second day we headed straight to Gunung Kidul (read about the previous day here). There's a village with an ancient volcano tourism park called Nglanggeran that won several awards for Community-Based Tourism (CBT) category. So we arrived there at around 10 a.m. along with our talco (talent coordinator) Tita. We met the pioneer guy Sugeng Handoko, who spent the whole day showing us around (more about him, read here).

the view along the way to Nglanggeran Village

some of the cacao products at Griya Cokelat

First we visited the Griya Cokelat where they process and sell cocoa products. They had us tried the bakpia (it's like a pie-cookie) and singkong salut cokelat and I think these are some of the best snacks I've ever tasted. I ended up buying two boxes of the bakpia for my snacking at home (don't give me that look please). They also have a small mart there for the daily needs supply for the whole village. So they're pretty much self-sustained though living in rural, rocky mountain area.

the view from our warung soto

 

soto ayam and sambal

soto ayam with boiled duck egg, the black and unique tempe benguk and of course, kerupuk!

We had soto ayam, boiled duck egg, and tempe benguk for lunch at a humble warung up on the hill but the view we had was spectacular. From there we climbed the stairs and went to the Embung Lake. It's a man-made lake with teal water but the view around it was the main attraction. We climbed even higher to the forest and I think it's the best part of it all. Perhaps getting more in touch with the nature or maybe it's less heated in the forest that I felt extremely happy being up there. We found so many great photography spots on our way back. So it's quite an Instagrammable place there.

the way in to the agro-tourism area

the rocky mountain of Gunung Api Purba at the northern part of Gunung Kidul

 

a joglo restaurant across the Embung Lake

 

I simply like this signage to be here outlooking the city view far below

the sign is a Javanese philosophy that reads 'to beautify the already beautiful world"

rocky mountain behind the lush greens here is just breathtaking

the man-made lake Embung

the view from above the lake

view to the other side

imagine to have this view everyday in your life!

We went back to the civilization and visited one of the villagers' house for the film production needs, then went to the tourism park. Another photo sessions there and we called it off. It was past 5 p.m. already and we headed to Bukit Bintang to watch sunset. There we met a lovely backpacking couple Sarah and Harry, and talked with them till it was dark. Then I called it off and went back to the hotel, took shower and had dinner, then fell asleep as I was dehydrated and all sun-burnt earlier on the hill. Still, I had a great time that day. Fast forward to the next day here!

It was precisely a week ago that I went to Garin Nugroho's house for a 9 p.m. meeting and it was almost midnight when they told me to go to Yogyakarta on Monday's first flight. They offered me a job as researcher for Mas Garin's upcoming documentary film. So I had a family day with my sister on Sunday, and prepared a luggage for my 4-days research trip. The schedule was to go on 5 a.m. Lion Air flight. But alas, I just woke up at 4:30!

The producer team I went with, Om Wowo, got a problem with his online taxi's car. So both of us couldn't fly and we had to buy the second ticket by our own money. I arrived at Halim airport at 6 a.m. instead of the planned 4 a.m. meeting point in Soetta airport. This made everything much easier tho: closer airport, more convenience flight schedule, and of course, much cheaper cost. We flew by the 7:25 a.m. Citilink flight and arrived in Yogya's Adisucipto airport at 8:20 a.m. Turned out, the Lion Air we were supposed to fly on, was delayed and hadn't even take off by the time we arrived in Yogya. So me waking up late and Om Wowo's car incident were actually blessing in disguise!

Arriving at the gudeg city, we were picked up by Om Yayan, who was our driver for the next 4 days and also Om Wowo's schoolmate. He drove us to Kopi Klotok, a place I'd heard 3 months ago but hadn't visit so I did now. It's usually crowded especially at meal times, but when we got there at 9 a.m. we got a comfortable spot on the terrace. We ordered the famous pisang goreng (banana fritter), jadah goreng (fried sticky rice), wedang jahe gepuk (hot ginger drink), and of course, their signature kopi klotok (special brewed black coffee).

Kopi Klotok

After being refreshed, we headed to Magelang. The order was to visit Kenalan Village, and so we did. There we were welcomed by Mas Kamto from BumDes (Badan Usaha Milik Desa), and Mas Seno and Mas Sunu from Balkondes (Balai Ekonomi Desa; but balkon also means balcony). It is a ministry's program for 20 villages around Candi Borobudur to empower the potential and to promote the beauty to the world. Their program includes building the inns (they call as homestay) and 'balcony' (that we call as bale) to host the guests. And each village is supported by different state-owned enterprise, so they all have different designs.

the entrance to Desa Kenalan's Balkondes

the balkon to receive guests

huge ancient rock there speaks for something..

the openness of bale welcomes guests to enjoy the fresh breeze here

talking not preaching

some of their signature dishes include my fave tempe mendoan, jenang leri, and wedang klamijoro

jenang leri is more like a Bubur Manado made out of corn flour, and wedang jahe klamijoro is ginger drink with milk

Mas Seno, Om Wowo, Mas Kamto, Mas Sunu

We talked and talked all day there on the balkon for it was raining hard for hours and we couldn't go anywhere. It was a fun, inspiring talk tho; I learned a lot from there (and if you ask me, I'd tell you in other story). After the rain stopped, we visited one of the villagers' house to see the woven bag of pandanus leaves. Oh, before the rain we also visited a house that produce slondok. It is their signature cassava crisps that are made entirely in this village. We could watch the whole processes from picking to drying to frying to packaging if we stay over in this village.

one of the villagers' house who produces slondok

(sorry I forgot to ask this lady's name)

the slondok is dried under the sun

ready-to-eat slondok in packaging with various tastes

the house that produces woven bags

gotta show off my sewing skill with this lady

Om Wowo and Mas Kamto, talking to Ibu Budi Rahayu the bag-weaver

the woven bags

The price they set for a room starts from Rp 350,000/night. It offers 3-star facility with breakfast, and the priceless fresh mountain forest air. The atmosphere was fresh and chill, and I imagine it'd make a great place to do morning yoga or late night meditation here. Might as well go back here one day to try staying over here myself! (tell me if you want to join ya~)

they have 10 inn rooms here

with a cozy 3-star hotel facility

it's nice, quiet, and chilled here

I'd spend half a day here just to sit and read in silence

looking at the balkon area from the homestay inn

(I know you'll agree with me)

We were then ushered to visit Balkondes' headquarter and we got to meet several of the experts there. These people are the ones who think and do all the programs (not a temporary project but a long-term program) of Balkondes and make sure everyone in the area knows about this. The goal is to make the villages around Candi Borobudur (that apparently are still far below welfare point) to self-sustain themselves and later can be another tourism destinations beside the famous Buddhist temple.

the headquarter of Balkondes Borobudur

pardon the poor quality but these people are the experts who work for Balkondes programs

By sunset we asked for leave and headed back to Yogyakarta. I was introduced to Om Heru, one of the pioneers of art around the Keraton area. One of his programs is Senja Bersastra di Malioboro, and he gave me the compilation book of poetry made by the Komunitas Rondjeng. He is also the owner of Rondjeng cafe at the southeast part of Keraton fort. You should visit for their super-cheap but yummy wedang (ginger drink) variations!

thank you Om Heru!

It was 10 p.m. and we checked in at Edelweiss Hotel at Demangan area. It was quite a long day for me and I still needed to compile a report for Jakarta team for the research we did that day. I was tired but thrilled at the same time for it was always a new experience to have (and new places to go) in this magical city of Yogyakarta. Carry on to my Day-2 report here!

via rabbisacks

Last night I attended one of the most absurd spiritual classes I've ever been. The community calls themselves as Paguyuban Goblok (literally means 'Society of The Idiots') and one of the class' titles is Ngaji Urip Sinau Goblok (literally translates to 'to review life, to learn to be idiots') and the one I attended last night was Kala Kula Gesang (means 'the time that I live').

Just as the intriguing titles, what we discussed in the class was extremely simple yet goes so deep and intriguing to break down our walls of ego. We reviewed life as it is, without any prejudice and illusion, which mostly blind us from the true reality. We are sometimes being too consumed by the illusion that we create and we unconsciously live in it, and refuse to step out to face the true facts of life; the reality; the life as it is.

Mas Herwi, Mba Rurit and I

Last night we talked more about responsibility. Not coincidentally, I met a book writer Herwiratno a day prior and we discussed about the exact same topic. Sometimes we are too consumed with our role, stuck with the romanticism, and being big headed that we feel that we are responsible of something/someone that we care too much about. The role of being a parent, of being a child, of being a leader, of being a lover, of being a giver... We sometimes get too deep into a case that we often forget the true essence of the case itself.


What should we do then?

As always, I'll start with the words 'seek within!' simply because it is the key. It's not easy, I know, since we're more accustomed to find the solution with-out. We usually try to find the way out of a problem, while what we must do instead is to look within. I know this doesn't ring a bell to some of you but to make it sound, you need to really seek inside your heart and ask yourself what's the real matter.

Herwiratno, in his third book 'Siklus Kenikmatan Misi Jiwa' and the upcoming one 'Perjanjian Antar Jiwa' shares his experience and knowledge about "being too responsible". We must agree that anything that has a 'too' in it is excessive, therefore overwhelming, will lose its true meaning/purpose and, at the end, become useless. The key is to do (and talk and think and eat and everything) just enough.


How do we know when it's enough?

You will know. Your heart/higher consciousness will tell you. Listen to it. Or before you can hear it, use a filter that Socrates had taught us thousands of years ago: is it true? is it kind? is it necessary? Then add to them: is it inspiring? is it helpful? You may add other filters, tho. It's really a matter of practice so you must apply this on your daily life first. The more you practice, the more you are good at it, the more you are used to it, and in no time it'll be not just a habit or a lifestyle, but also a character.


But I feel that I'm obliged to take care of other's well-being too!
What if they can't make it? What if they are not satisfied? What if...

Stop it. It's just your feelings. Your emotion. Your attachment. And it's an illusion that you believe and live in. The thing is, do what you need to do, what you can do, but not more than that. Just do what you do by giving your best effort, but don't worry about the outcome. At the end of the day, anything that comes and done from the heart will show and affect people in the soul level. They will feel it, if you give out from your heart.

So the key is to focus on the process of producing; of delivering. Don't worry about how others will take it, because it's not even your problem, it's theirs. Don't worry about how whether they will like you or despise you, because you don't work for praise and credit -- you work just to make things work and to give out your best without any hope or fear about the outcome.

Things happen for a reason. I guess most of us are already agree on that. But don't stop there. I need you to absorb the term: everything happens for a reason. Then you must know that there are intervention from the Universe in each event that happens in our lives. Then you must know that whatever the reason will help you to learn, grow, and rise in life. So don't resist it. Instead, face it, go through it, and grow from it!

So the relation with responsibility is: just do your portion the best you can do, and don't worry about the rest. People's reaction is their own growth process, it has nothing to do with us. The income / material result -- if money is involved -- is all about our rationing fortune. It is given as how the Universe says your worth. Don't bid or ask for more, because you don't know the measurement the Universe is using, and it is totally different than ours. Just believe, have faith, trust. And let go.

You may already experienced it yourself: that the most successful / fortunate events that happened in your life is those that are spontaneous, flexible, and were done without too much thinking. And when you enjoy doing it. It's because your thoughts/ratio/logic is keeping you from the infinite energy that can help you achieve/deliver the things you must do. So let go of your ego (of needing/feeding any emotion) and flow with the Universe.


What about helping out other people (or animal)? 
Aren't we supposed to be kind and help each other?

Yes, but do it only within your capacity.
If anyone come to us asking for help, do whatever you can do to help. If the request is beyond your limitation, just give out what you can, or refuse them, and suggest them to go elsewhere. If you see something that doesn't ask anything from you but you feel like you can help, or the thought of helping out comes as a command to you, then do it. If you don't feel the urge to help, then don't. It's really as simple as that. If it's not your part to help them, the Universe will use someone else to do the task. So don't worry and just chill dealing with your own tasks.


What will happen if I don't take responsibility of other's well-being?

They will get hurt. Their world will crumble. Their ego will be broken. They will realize things that they didn't before. They will learn humility. They will face their own demons. They will know themselves. They will be conscious. They will get up. They will grow. They will change. They will be mature. They will rise. They will live up to their best potential. They will be fine.

And if you think you are responsible to take a part on their life journey, don't you think you are interfering with other's spiritual growth? Don't you think you are taking over the role of the Universe? Don't you think that you are getting on other's path toward their life fulfillment? Isn't it too proud / entitled of you? We have our own path and portion in life. Try to stick with yours.


And be peaceful in your heart all the time, because you've done your part anyway.



Rahayu,

_/|\_

Found these symptoms on Pinterest, I'm triggered to post this on my own personal blog. The reason is to remind myself of the process I'd go through, as well to inform you guys what'll happen once you are beginning your spiritual journey. This may happen in random order. Plus, I'm gonna translate them in Indonesian for my readers to understand better. Recheck these symptoms with your own experience:

via theawakenedstate

1. Melihat / Merasakan Energi

• Melihat pendaran cahaya dalam jangkauan penglihatan
• Cahaya berkelebat
• Sensasi gatal, menusuk, atau geli
• Sensasi berdebar, gemetaran, atau berkedut
• Pelacakan/gambaran terhadap suatu benda atau orang
• Sensasi merinding atau bergetar dari kepala sampai kaki
• Kehangatan yang tak bisa dijelaskan pada tangan atau kaki
• Melihat warna pada frekuensi (udara)

via theawakenedstate

2. Pergolakan Emosi

Anda akan merasakan perubahan dua polar emosi yang ekstrem dari euforia ke depresi seakan Anda merasakan bahwa emosi ada di luar kendali Anda. Ini adalah hasil dari perubahan hormonal Anda melalui sistem endokrin.

via theawakenedstate

3. Krisis Identitas

Terjadi sebuah pengasingan diri dimana Anda tidak lagi memahami diri Anda, siapa Anda, apa jalan hidup Anda, atau realitas itu sendiri. Ini adalah esensi dari penguraian, ada sebuah ketakutan mendalam kalau Anda tidak bisa menghadapi realitas materi (nyata) karena semua orang di sekitar Anda masih terjebak dalam ilusi. Ini adalah awal dimana ego mulai kehilangan pegangannya terhadap kesadaran Anda.

via theawakenedstate

via theawakenedstate

5. Kegelapan Malam Jiwa

Kegelapan malam pada jiwa adalah bagian alami dari Pencerahan; proses terkelupasnya kulit lama kita. Kita merasakan ketidakmampuan untuk terhubung karena Semesta meminta kita untuk melihat ke dalam dan mempertanyakan diri sendiri, realitas kita, dan tujuan kita di sini.
Sebuah katalis yang memicu kehancuran ego sebagaimana alam bawah sadar kita menerobos keluar.

via theawakenedstate

6. Selaras Dengan Peristiwa Langit

Ketika Kesadaran kita berubah, kita jadi lebih selaras dengan frekuensi dan - pada gilirannya - frekuensi Bumi. Ketika kita lebih sadar kita mulai memperhatikan pola halus terutama dalam fase bulan dan penyesuaian bintang-bintang (astrologi). Karena semuanya terhubung melalui efek riak, kita jadi sangat terpengaruh selama peristiwa ini.

via theawakenedstate

7. Peningkatan Kemampuan Batiniah

Ketika kita Tercerahkan, indera kita tidak hanya jadi lebih peka tapi intuisi Anda juga membimbing Anda melakukan hal-hal yang sebelumnya tak pernah Anda bayangkan.
Anda mulai mendengarkan insting; penyesuaian atau pola jadi sulit untuk diabaikan; Anda mulai bisa memprediksi peristiwa sebelum terjadi; mengetahui hal-hal sebelum Anda sendiri tahu; mimpi Anda punya makna dan memberi tanda; dan Anda terhubung.

via theawakenedstate

8. Ingatan Masa Lampau

Ingatan jangka panjang masa lalu Anda kembali. Selama ini ingatan ini terkubur dalam di Rancang Agung jiwa (soul blueprint) tentang siapa kita dalam berbagai masa kehidupan. Ingatan ini bisa kembali dalam bentuk kilasan balik, penglihatan, lamunan, atau potongan dari masa lampau. Ingatan ini begitu jelas dan nyata sehingga membuat Anda kebingungan karena Anda menyadari hal itu tidak berasal dari kehidupan yang Anda jalani sekarang.

via theawakenedstate

9. Kilasan Ke Realitas Lain

Perasaan seakan Anda sedang hidup di realitas ganda secara bersamaan atau kehidupan paralel. Waktu jadi lebih cair karena masa lampau, masa kini, dan masa depan menyatu. Anda merasa seakan sedang berjingkat di antara banyak dunia atau bergerak dalam beberapa realitas berbeda secara sekaligus. Biasanya ini diikuti perasaan disoreintasi karena tidak membumi pada fisik karena Anda sedang membuka diri Anda ke garis waktu berbeda dalam mengartikan realitas.

via theawakenedstate

10. Melihat Bentuk Asli Orang Lain

Ini seperti konsep cermin yang bisa melihat pantulan orang lain mengenai kehidupan masa lampaunya melalui aura energi mereka. Sebagaimana kita semakin kuat kadang kita bisa melihat kekasih atau bahkan orang asing dengan wajah berbeda yang membuat sesuatu dari kehidupan masa lampau atau kehidupan paralel mereka mendatangi kita.

via theawakenedstate

11. Kecemasan / Serangan Panik

Arus energi dalam diri Anda bisa begitu berlimpah saat ego kehilangan pegangannya, dan ini bisa membuat otak Anda bekerja lebih cepat dari tubuh dan membuat situasi yang disebut konsep 'pemikiran lubang hitam'.
Persepsi Anda berubah dan dengan itu muncul keinginan untuk jatuh pada roda pemikiran masa lampau dan masa depan, yang bisa membuat Anda ketakutan dan kehilangan.

via theawakenedstate

12. Tidak Ada Getaran Rendah

Ada sebuah keinginan dari dalam untuk membuat Anda dikelilingi oleh orang-orang dengan pemikiran serupa dan hubungan yang sehat. Anda sudah tidak bisa lagi menolerir lingkungan dengan getaran rendah, perilaku dualitas, atau hubungan tak sehat yang beracun. Tubuh Anda ingin pergi dari konsep dualitas tiga dimensi sepenuhnya, karena sekarang Anda berada pada penyesuaian dengan energi yang lebih tinggi dengan paradigma baru.

via theawakenedstate

via theawakenedstate

14. Kejelasan Komunikasi

Anda merasa lebih selaras dengan mendengarkan kesunyian. Anda bukan jadi gila tapi Anda merasakan keinginan untuk berbicara dengan 'suara dari dalam' ini atau mendengarkan kesunyian. Banyak yang mengalami perjumpaan dengan roh pembimbing atau berkomunikasi dengan malaikat dengan cara seperti ini. Keterhubungan menjadi hal bawaan dan alami bagi kita sebagaimana kita membuka diri kita sebagai saluran penerima ke dunia roh.

via theawakenedstate

15. Pelebaran Waktu

Konsep bagaimana kita melihat waktu jadi berubah sepenuhnya. Kita beroperasi dari persepsi indera yang lebih menyatu antara masa lampau-masa kini-masa depan. Waktunya adalah sekarang. Kesadaran Anda berjuang untuk tetap pada pola pikir masa kini. Waktu tidak terasa seperti punya struktur lagi; segalanya sangat cair.

via theawakenedstate

16. Sirkuit Pendek Otak Kiri

Kesadaran adalah melewati proses penyambungan kembali jadi semua yang beroperasi di belahan otak kanan kita lebih tersorot. Ini artinya empati, ingatan spasial, kemampuan batiniah, dan kemampuan Anda mengalami penglihatan akan lebih kuat. Sementara itu fungsi otak kiri akan mundur dan melemah.
Otak berkabut. Ingatan berdatangan kembali. Tidak bisa fokus.

via theawakenedstate

17. Merasa Tidak Terhubung

Kesadaran Anda menginginkan Anda mencari jawabannya ke dalam. Sebagaimana frekuensi Anda berpindah, ketertarikan dan hubungan Anda berganti, Anda menarik hal-hal sebagaimana Anda adanya. Persahabatan dan hubungan lama Anda akan pupus dan Anda menginginkan hubungan yang lebih sesuai secara jiwa. Kita sedang melepaskan ikatan karma dari keluarga jiwa kita. Kadang kita harus melepaskan orang-orang dalam rangka bertumbuh dan berevolusi.

via theawakenedstate

18. Melihat Ke Dalam

Ini bisa jadi keinginan untuk bermeditasi yang datang tiba-tiba, bicara pada diri sendiri, atau jadi lebih mawas diri dengan pemikiran Anda daripada mengemukakan opini Anda setiap saat. Pada dasarnya Anda jadi lebih telepatis dan selaras dengan persepsi pikiran dunia di sekitar Anda. Anda menjadi pemerhati pemikiran dan perasaan Anda, jadi penonton di antara dunia-dunia.

via theawakenedstate

19. Saat-Saat Penuh Kegembiraan

Begitu Terbangun, Anda merasa lebih damai dengan diri Anda sendiri dan realitas Anda. Hal ini menciptakan saat-saat kebahagiaan dan euforia.
Anda jadi bisa melihat jelas di balik ilusi dari keterpisahan dan tahu bahwa Anda tidak pernah sendiri.
Kita semua dipimpin oleh Semesta di dalam diri.



Rahayu.
Namaste.