Saturday, October 31, 2009
Haji Lungsuran
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Anak-anak dan Seni
Friday, October 23, 2009
Bukan Iklan Terselubung
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Menu Ikan $50
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Rambutku Ternyata...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Mari Memasak Sup Tom Yam!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Simpati
Monday, September 28, 2009
Senin Pertama di Dunia
Friday, September 25, 2009
Selundupan
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Mudik by All Means
For those who live away from their home town, meaning the place where they were born or growing up, or simply where their parents and most of relatives live, mudik seems to be the ultimate journey of Ramadhan. In fact, it is likely to be the most anticipated journey of the whole year. People tend to save and spend for this particular occasion. No wonder people do all possible means to be home in Idul Fitri, the festive season.
For the reasons above, I need to mudik because my mother, the only parent I have now, has been living in Bukittinggi for the past five months to babysitting the first and so-far-the-only grandchild of hers. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a so-called home town aside from the city where I spend my life now.
Then I did this twenty two-hour driving trip to Bukittinggi, West Sumatera. It could have been faster, though, if it is not for the extremely poor condition of the interprovincial road. Normally (well, normal means some ten years ago) it would take only seventeen hours or so.
I should confess, though, that I was hesitate to go. I desperately needed the holiday to take a serious break at home. Do nothing. Having a distant trip during vacancy is just like having another tiring activity after ones during otherwise. What I needed was a time to sober from those hectic schedule before embarking to the new one after lebaran.
Yet that wasn't the case. I decided to go after all, kinda last minute decision. And what I saw during the forth trip has taught me valuable lesson.
People do all means to be with their immediate and extended relatives by lebaran. If they don't afford the public transport, whose fare in this season is almost double the normal, they would go by every possible vehicle to bring their family along. People riding motorbikes, not only two but also three or four passengers on a bike; not to mention the heavy baggage. Some are quite fun convoying, some solitaire. They go through hundreds of kilometers of lousy road, terribly dusty and hot during day-time and rainy and cold during night-time. Some would do anything to be able to bring every member of the family in affordable price.
Suddenly this fellow man with his family stroke my feeling. He transformed his motorbike into this kind of vehicle. There is a one-time-one-meter box attached to the bike, accommodating two adults inside in squeezing mode. When we passed through it, I saw through the door opening the wife sleeping in a very awkward position holding a baby. There was also a young girl inside. With the man were two of their sons, both were below ten years old. Whilst one was sitting before the man, the other one was behind him. What a jam packed vehicle. And vulnerable. Yet they seemed so easy and worry-less. In fact, they were happy.
Ouch! I was ashamed of myself. This man obviously does anything for being with his family. Why didn't I? How could I possibly thinking of disregarding mudik whilst I can afford a far more comfortable journey in a comfortable car, bringing everything and everyone I might want to bring along, and hiring somebody to do the driving? Why so fuss? Why tantrum? How could I wish something whilst I've already owned something better? How could I be so ungrateful?
Wish to have a serious break in lebaran? C'mon! Gimme a break. One better excuse, please.
Dear God. Forgive me for being so ungrateful.
So here I am. Enjoying my mudik surrounding my beloved family. Sleep well eat much. Meet and greet everybody that I keep forgetting and remembering. Gosh. There is a lot of them, and I keep changing names when referring to them. Now she is an aunty (etek). Now she is a sister (uni). Now he is an uncle (pak etek, mamak). Now he is a brother (uda). Uh-oh, she seems an aunty, and I referred to her as “Mak tuo,” when I found out that she turns to be an “Uni.” Alrite, don't think! Play safe, call everybody Uni or Uda when you forget who he/she is; people are pleased to be assumed younger. Change when you are corrected, produce a big grin as though you've been confused. Ta da! That was not so difficult after all.
So, guys. Having mudik this festive season? And were you looking forward to doing it?***
Bukittinggi | Selasa, 22 September 2009. Mudik singkat di kota yang super duper padat selama lebaran membuatku terpaksa menjadi tikus mondok selama empat hari ini, tidur enak makan banyak. Ah, ternyata besok sudah harus kembali. Time flies when you are enjoying. Tak lupa aku ucapkan selamat Idul Fitri buat para sahabat, taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum. Mohon maaf lahir dan batin.
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