Repair or Replace?

Sitting in a Cognitive Studies class one day, the middle-aged lecturer came in spotting a classmate without a laptop. And he begin asking if she is not ready for class or simply do not own a laptop yet. M, replied that her laptop was sent for servicing to replace the cracked LCD screen..

Unsatisfied with the answer,the lecturer said “repairing isnt ideal in this day and age as the cost becomes lower and lower. Everyone just replace everything don’t they?”

That made me wonder if this is how life and society works today. When relationship faces problem, you replace the person instead of repair the relationship. If the watch is not working, you replace the watch and not repair what’s broken..

If we keep replacing what’s broken, would what have been built be lost & replace too?

Arms wide open.

If there was a word to describe the Javanese people or “Orang Java“, I believe the best suited word would be Welcoming.

Throughout my days travelling through the land of Java, there’s an indubitable strong character that runs in every Javanese person I met, from the ibu-ibu (elderly woman ) who’s carrying her live chicken home from the market to the bapak-bapak (elderly man) at the warung sipping on the local’s coffee while puffing away on the best filled tobacco they got. Everyone seems to have lived by a certain tradition that whoever or whatever you pass by, you smile and wishes selemat (well).

It all begin with the first Javanese person I met on a midnight train running from Jakarta’s Gambir Train Station to Yogyakarta’s Tugu Station. I have never ride a train alone that ran 8+hrs long, as much as I was excited to be away from the hustle & bustle of the city..I hope & prayed that the person seated next to be would either be 1. an old lady 2. an anti-social person 3.someone smaller built or the best one of all.. it would just be empty.

NOOOOPPPEE! The person seated next to me was 1. Not too bad of a gentleman 2. NOT anti-social.. 3.yes! SMALLER BUILT! 😀 haha.. 4.definitely not an empty seat. Prior to the train ride, I’ve landed in Jakarta 7hrs before and all that I need at that point in time just a little sleep bbbuuttt..here’s how it went..

Man seated next to me: Hello, mau ke mana? (where are you going?)
Me: *thoughts..same as you..duhh* ermm..Yogja
Man: Oh iya..ok ok.. (Oh yes..ok ok)
Me: *smile, turn away*
Man: *speaks in Javanese*
Me:*smile,turn away*
Man: Kenapa ke Jogja? (why are you going to jogja?)
Me: Oh, libur aja.. *turn away* (oh just holiday)
Man: *speak in Javenese*
Me: *finally irritated..LOL* Sorry..I cant speak Javanese
Man: Oh..you aren’t Javanese??
Me: No..haha
Man: Oh, you look so Javanese *shock face*

And so we began talking, and to my surprise, Mr E. actually works near my 2nd homestay. 🙂 Throughout the 8hrs journey, he gave me an insight on the Javanese history,Mendut & Borobudur Temple,political status of the nation and recommendation on where to shop,eat and the must-see. It felt nice to finally learn more about half my family’s culture and my granddad homeland from a fellow homie.

And as nigh turns to day, with the bakpia seller finding its way on our cabin.. The whole Taksana Malem woke up finding themselves in Yogyakarta, while I found myself surrounded by beautiful souls and amazing nature:)

the heart speaks.

Sometimes when you jet set off, thinking of fixing others broken path, you just end up fixing yours too.And the best part about is..You leave feeling more alive than ever, you leave feeling so much more love in your heart like every single aches and pain as been absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere, you leave feeling like you are brand new like a newborn baby, you leave feeling so thankful of the life you’ve been given.

This journey that I went on, was one big coincidence that started all cause of a friend who left his mobile charger here while visiting (but seriously.. just cause of a charger..i flew?). Hmm..I guess the only reason I actually flew 1126miles is because my heart spoke louder than my head did.

And  Im glad I packed up & went on that aimless journey. 🙂

P.s This post is dedicated specially to the beautiful souls I met on my journey *hearts*

the first.

God is placing great opportunities in your life…pause & appreciate them 🙂

Puncak Setumbu  facing Mt Merapi & the Borobudur temple at 4.30am as the sun slowly peeking out.

It all began with a desire from 2years ago  to watch the sunrise with my then bf,D. We never made it though, cause of the lack of sleep from a midnight train ride but I was blessed enough to be able to visit the beautifully carved Borobudur Temple all within a short 24hr trip.

This year, I finally made it but of course we the great help of some locals. Many who spoke about visiting Central Java (Yogja) or as the Indonesians call it, DIY (Daerah Istimewa Yogjakarta) would have heard/read about Manohara Hotel tour to watch the sunrise at the temple itself! However I was offered to go hiking and drink coffee at 3.45am on a hill…hmmm decisions,decisions.. of course I choose to go hiking at 3am!! 😉

Oh c’on! how hard could hiking be right? And its just a hill..cant be that high up.. HAH! wrong.. It was like climbing through a forest or plantation..I couldn’t really tell ’cause it was really dark and I had an uber tiny torchlight to maneuver up the steep hill,hence I couldn’t look around. haha Ok well maybe I was afraid something might jump out of the tall tress so I dare not turn my head left & right!

Finally! Reach the top 🙂 pitch dark at 3.50am

The climb up the hill was such an amazing experience, firstly it showed me that I needed to exercise   😛 secondly, its just something I would never be able to experience in my own country.

“No pain, No gain”

Mount Merapi & its “brother” still visible

After numerous joke by Pak Budi (my tourguide/pak ojek) about God sending a message that the sunrise would be delayed, japanese tourist “ahhhh-ing” and the rest of us sipping the local’s home-made coffee..finally..the Sun has found it place 

It was at that very point that my heart stopped and my knees weaken.. The beauty in front of me was just breathe taking. It was like the whole world had been silent to welcome the sun again to its rightful position.

That was the beginning of my full circle journey.

As my eyes betray me, I shall leave you with a quote by the humble man, Pak Budi

Till my next write..Chao 

” the thing to remember in life is not everything should be perfect for us to be happy.”