under the limelight of the camera's eyes

(you see.. under the limelight of the camera's eyes; the world is a little bit more colorful. Life is a little bit more exciting. The world is seen once again in detail and people develop a new way in looking. A split second of beautiful moment is captured and collected. Experiences are shared, personal gaze are opened to wider audience. We know how people arrange their table, eat their beautiful healthy breakfast, interact with their pets, spend their dreamy afternoon, gaze upon the cloud above them. We know what they read, what they see, and how it reflects on their aesthetic. Sometime it was as if people take us into their adventure. It amaze me to see how people could find beauty in the mundane, turning trash into treasure, painting life in a softer light, and get connected to new ideas. 

After all, lives are the sum of  memories. Wouldn't it be nice, in moderation, to capture a split seconds in life while living it? One day, it might be needed to help us remember.)

//my jar of memories: here// 

the silly old man who never finds his way back

(Today, I lost my Shadow.  

We became friend 13 years ago. He was this clumsy 3 years-old husky trying to adapt with the tropical environment and I was this teenage girl who was thrilled to get a dog for the very first time. We didn't get along that well back then. He was huge and our very first walk together resulting in an embarrassing tragedy when he chew and killed two of my neighbor's kitten out of curiosity. I was a little bit afraid of him before I realize that he was simply curious. 

Shadow is all about unconditional love. We had this on-and-off relationship. In some glorious day, I'll jump right away to where we keep him. But often my day seize me away and we separated for a week, months, or more. Even then, he would always be there; waiting for me patiently, hug me persistently, and gets really really excited when I'm around. He could not bark so he would howl when he hear my voice few miles away. It was as if I just left him for a day instead of two months. He never get bored, never gets cranky, never feel abandoned, never demanding, and always be so nice. Just like an old shoes, the more he spend time with me, the more comfortable we are to each other.  

Years passed and there he was through one broken hearts to another,  numerous adventures to the forest, purposeless walks, and many picnic photos together. In 13 years I had several other pets that are dear to me but Shadow is special. In my solitude, he will always be the one protecting me and my heart from any harm. He is just perfect to be my daydreaming pal and his hug is always comforting. With him, I'll take a longer walk to the unknown path and deeper heart of the forest. I know I am safe. 

Shadow, you silly old man who never find your way back home, remember me until we meet again at the rainbow bridge!)

thought // on doing your best

(four years ago I took a leap into the unknown. Back then, I asked for 'permission' from my mom and my uncle to try and live my dream for two years and if I failed.. I'll rush back to the path I was supposed to take. Then, I remember my uncle said I should never try and find a job that will satisfy him or make my mom proud. He said that I should not living up to anyone's expectation but mine and pleasing everyone else is never a good idea. He said that it is better to try and meet one's very own personal goals. That day, instead of two years trial, I was given a blank slate and unconditional encouragement from my loved ones. Since then, life has been an adventure.

About my uncle.. oh, the cleverness of him! 

What he did not warn me back then was how satisfying myself if far more difficult than satisfying everyone else. You see, people's judgement will be based on their narrow inaccurate point of view of you.. and people might have completely different value than you do. That makes their judgement can be considered irrelevant in some cases. It is a whole different case with yourself: you are *you*. You~ and only yourself will know when are you working your best and when are you just playing around with stuff. That limit is very personal. In my case, I always hope to surprise myself every now and then. When I feel like I wasn't doing my best, I failed myself. 

I remember asking a senior artist about his best artwork or one that loves the most. He said, "It is the one I have yet to create". Apparently, he doesn't like most of what he just made. He thinks that his artwork needs more time to show its hidden potential. Of course, there are moment when the time is right and he would actually like the work he made.

Don't get me wrong.. I'm happy with my life. But when it comes to job-related satisfaction and that particular feeling of achievement, I can be very difficult to myself. But.. is it always like that: to grow, you shouldn't be satisfied and settled~ go beyond your comfort zone, do your best, and never settle for what it is today. That, or be grateful? Stop for awhile and enjoy the moment or quickly asking for 'what's next'? Do I need time and space to judge things better and to breathe? 

How about you, dear reader?*) 

(*) of course.. only if there is anyone at all who actually read this blog.. lol! 

eat. go. do. // kaliurang

(for generations, my family have been living in Kaliurang~ a resort area located on the valley of an active volcano in Yogyakarta. When I was a kid, there are two seasons that I am familiar with: the tourist season and the non-tourist season. The tourist season means less privacy, noisy crowd everywhere, and it's pretty much the busiest time for the business. At the other side, it was also the best time to cuddle, read, and do the 'Disney/Ghibli movie-marathon' with my little sisters at home. While the non-tourist season would be more normal with school tasks, indulging days of unhurried routine, big playground just for us native kids, and  the perfect time for a quiet walk in the wood with a book to read under a big tree. 

Then, there comes a time when my life started to be built downtown and I took things for granted~ the fresh air, the scenery, the comfort and beauty suddenly translated into a long daily trip to go through. Luckily, that phase didn't last long. After the wedding, my husband and I decided to build our nest in this fresh-air little town. Having him as a new comer makes me see things in different light. This time, I mark the private-public territory in a bolder line: work at the city and home at the mountain. Suddenly, there is a newness in everyday life, enjoyable crisp peppermint wind, and instead of excruciating distance~ I start noticing how magnificent the volcano looks like as a deep black humps against the sky on our way back home every night. Things are exciting once again. 

If you're in town, come visit us in our little yellow house and I'll take you around!)

//eat//

breakfast: 1/ during the weekdays, try nasi rames mbak Ninik or Gudeg bu Aris in front of the central children park.. of course, you got to eat it picnic-style inside the park for a true Kaliurang experience. 2/ climb a bit (of stairs) and eat pecel with noodle at the traditional market of Tlogo Putri while watching silly wild monkeys going down from the hill~ so kitsch, it's so fun! 3/ opt for the more traditional breakfast with 'meniran' made by mbah Noto and fritters to be enjoyed in privacy. // lunch: 1/ for a long lunch in an old-style house, try Vogel's 2/ if you're more into Chinese food, try ordering 'seninjong' at restoran Joyo's. It taste amazing and the portion is big enough to share! 3/ Try the old-style bistik at Warung Podjok. 4/ if you feel a bit fancy, go to the hidden restaurant Beukenhof and embrace the magic! 5/ have some honey toast and fresh milk with an amazing (!!) view at warung ijo // dinner: 1/ try tongseng kopyok or rica-rica at Mbah Ganis. 2/ chose between Pak Po's roasted corn, Dislam meatball soup, or chicken satay at Pak Raji in front of the busy night food-stall in front of the central park and wash it down with warm ronde or a teapot of traditional tea at Warung Poci Astomulya.  

//go//

1/ Ullen Sentalu museum is a must. It's surreal! 2/ climb the Plawangan hill and discover all the Japanese Caves (make sure you get your photo taken by pak Dasri). 3/ there are always a hidden path, secret garden, or private places you can visit when you're going with a native. 

//do//

1/ take a walk! It's the perfect place for that. 2/ find the wabi-sabi feel and go house-watching. There are a lot of beautiful old-style villas and abandoned houses, abandoned swimming pools, or anything whimsical that is instagram friendly and fun to explore. 3/ shop for antique at Joyo antique shop! 4/ visit the flower nursery, buy a bunch of cheap fresh flowers that will last for weeks or get your photo taken. 5/ play a little adventure game off the beaten path and get lost in the nearest forest. 6/ hike with a bunch of stranger early in the morning to watch the sunrise at the other side of the hill. 7/ take your favorite book and find a garden or any place to read while daydreaming, cloud-spotting, or bird-watching. 8/ find some place high enough to watch the light change from the glorious golden sunset to dimmed city-light from afar, watch the moon rise and star gazing.. 

thought // good distance

(lately, life feels like a feast with too many treats on the table. It is amazing~ yet, a careful consideration is needed to decide what will actually end up on the plate. In time like this, a good distance is what I need to see things clearly; to hold the pause button for a little while and reconnect to all that matters.) 

the tale of beton

(once upon a time, there was a spring surrounded by six villages. Everyone from those six villages lives a harmonious life. Everyday they walk to the spring to get fresh water supply as well as to meet and to greet. Back then, nobody mind the distance.. but time is a strange thing..  

one day, people start complaining about the distance from their village to the spring. They could not afford the distance anymore.. they need to save more time to do more things that could not be wasted on walking or talking. There was only one solution: a modern watering system. With that solution, comes a price to pay: a village. 

that village was the nearest to the spring. There were only few houses and a small street that connects that village to the five other villages. The people in this village are the sweetest of them all. The moment they learn that they need to sacrifice their village-- their houses, their territory; they agreed. From then on, the village become a small reservoir called Beton. 

yes, you can still see the street sign and the bridge connecting this old village to the other two. You can even walk on it, crossing the lake through the old street. On a dry season when the water level is a little bit lower, you can even see the roof of what used to be people's houses. When you wandering on a water bike around the reservoir, remember that you actually are wandering on top of a village-- above people's roof, and their houses are underwater.. how whimsical is that?)

//notes//

visit beton?  

-- please note that this place is a bit hidden. If you're planning a visit, make sure to ask around and bring companions. (click here)

another story  

-- have you read the tale of the sixth borough? It's a bedtime story for grownup.. one of the best! A magical story about a lost neighborhood of NYC. (click here)

thought // the breakfast club

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast. 

// John Gunther //

(Breakfast time is one of my most favorite time  of the day. I love to wake up earlier and steal a bit of me-time before starting the day with my beloved one.. cooking something healthy that should also be pampering to be enjoyed in a quality leisure time.  I, wholeheartedly, believe that a leisurely breakfast is the beginning of a happy day ahead. No wonder that the white queen of Alice's Wonderland believe in as many as six impossible thing before breakfast. Morning is the time for light, hope, and pure joy.

When I'm eating out, breakfast is still one of my most favorite meal time. Have you ever try going to a chain restaurant that serve breakfast? Chances are, you will meet all types of people with their masks off. It is the time of the day when the nice-scented office worker mingle with sleepy-faced family or a group of friends still in their jogging pants or pajamas. It is socially acceptable not to dress up during the breakfast time: the day is still very exciting and too early for judgement.

That is how The Breakfast Club at Lir begin.  

The Breakfast Club, as some of you might be well aware of, is the title of a celebrated 80's movie about five students from different cliques gather in a Saturday morning detention and develop friendship despite the different stereotypes each of them carries. At Lir, I want that hopeful time of the day to be celebrated in a way that strangers and friends gather; letting the warm morning sunshine, indulging menu, and conversation to bring happiness for the rest of the day. 

Instead of handling the club myself, I invite other people to host The Breakfast Club. They call themselves: The Aunties. The Aunties are three bright young ladies who become the think-tank and hostess of The Breakfast Club. The Aunties prepares not only beautiful sight and various types of indulging breakfast for everyone; but also honest hospitality and warmth. Their motto is to serve 'a bowl of joy'. Their first day of hosting ~before the heavy volcanic ash rain hit the city, left me smiling ear to ear. People were actually gather in one long table and become friends with those who was once a stranger. Even when the milk is to be served cold, the breakfast time should always be heartwarming, right?) 

// care to join the club? //

ig: @auntiesbreakfastclub

t : @theaunties 

or just come to 

Jl.Anggrek 1/33 Baciro - Yogyakarta 

Every morning 6.30 am to 11.30 am (except Wednesday)