Kuliner di Glodok dan sekelilingnya - Seri 1 : Gang Gloria

Hari ini saya mau menceritakan tentang kuliner di daerah Glodok dan sekelilingnya...
Tadinya mau sambil kasih petanya dari google map... tapi kayanya cerita apa aja kulinernya di situ yaaa... nanti petanya menyusul supaya gampang nemuinnya....

Jadi pasti temen2 sudah banyak sekali mendengar kan di kawasan glodok, petak sembilan dan sekitarnya banyak sekali kulinernya? tapi mungkin belum pernah mencobanya dan pengen banget coba tp gimana cara aturnya supaya semua bisa dicobain... betul ga? (bukan bermaksud sotoy sih hihih)

Jadi pertama bagaimana cara mudah menuju kawasan itu

Pertama :
Transportasi umum,
yang mudah adalah dengan busway jurusan Koridor 1 - Kota - Blok M, teman2 tinggal turun di halte Glodok (bukan halte kota sih menurut saya, karena agak jauh jalannya kalo dari kota). tinggal berjalan menuju jembatan Glodok (Harco) dan masuk ke jalan Pancoran (atau kalo nyasar, bertanyalah bagaimana cara menuju petak sembilan... pasti org2 akan dengan mudah memberitahu jalannya)

Kalo teman2 naik kereta, cara termudah adalah turun di Stasiun Kota, lalu naik mikrolet M-12 (Senen-Kota) ato M-08 (Tanah abang - Kota) sekeluar temen2 dari stasiun Kota atau tanya Abangnya saja, minta turun di Glodok...Dan sama, setelah turun dari situ, menyebranglah via jembatan glodok dan masuk ke Jalan Pancoran

Mobil pribadi
Untuk yang mau bawa mobil pribadi ke daerah ini, saran saya kulinerlah dari pagi hari sekitar jam 7 - 8 pagi.. ini untuk memudahkan mendapatkan tempat parkir yang strategis karena Sabtu Minggu, daerah ini bukan berkurang keramaiannya malah bertambah.... saya aja yg tinggal di daerah situ agak frustasi kalo sudah jam 10 - 5 sore, muacetnya wedaaaannnnn

Itu tips and trik untuk menuju ke sana..

Berhubung banyak banget makanan yang bisa disantap....Saya akan membuat beberapa seri sesuai dengan kawasannya ya... supaya lebih mudah menemukannya
Sekarang saya mulai dari Gg Gloria

Kenapa ini dinamakan Gg. Gloria..
Karena gang ini berada di samping Gloria supermarket sebelum akhirnya terbakar beberapa tahun lalu..
Semua yang sering berkunjung ke situ biasa mengingat gang ini sebagai Gang di samping Gloria (walaupun Glorianya sudah tidak ada lagi)
Dan apa yang bisa kita temukan di Gg. Gloria ini....??

1. Kedai Kopi Tak Kie
Kedai kopi paling nyaman dan menyediakan kopi paling nikmat
Jam buka kedai : Jam 7 pagi - 2 sore..
Lokasi: Gg Gloria (patokan depannya ada ketupat cap go meh "Gloria")

Menu kopinya yang unik
1. Kopi hitam atau kopi susu
2. Kopi es atau es kopi susu

Bubuk kopinya racikan sendiri loh, dikombinasi dari beberapa jenis kopi arabica dan robusta
Mantep banget rasanya

Menu makanan:
1. Bakmie/Bihun/Kwetiau/Locupan ayam
2. Bubur ayam kampung
3. Nasi Campur
4. Bacang

Harga berkisar dari Rp 11rb - 30rb

Kenapa saya menjadikan kedai ini posisi pertama untuk berkuliner?

Pertama rasa kopinya betul2 mantap... mungkin karena cara seduh kopinya yang masih tradisional..dan pemiliknya yang sering ngobrol dengan kami (Om Latif) tidak pelit share akan kecintaannya dengan kopi..
Sejak ke kedai kopi inilah, saya juga belajar bagaimana membuat kopi tubruk yang mantap berasa kopinya..
Jadi kalo teman2 mau membuat kopi tubruk di rumah, begini nih caranya
Taroh bubuk kopi di gelas (sesuai selera), seduh dengan air panas hasil rebusan langsung di kompor (jangan dispenser) kira2 90derajat... jangan taruh gula atau susu di situ, biarlah bubuk kopi itu menyerap air yang ada sehingga rasa kopinya benar2 terasa...
biarkan beberapa menit, baru setelah itu teman2 siapkan gelas lain yang sudah diberikan gula atau susu kental manis sesuai selera... tinggal tuang deh kopi yang sudah diseduh tadi ke gelas ini... dan selamat menikmati kopi yang wenaaakkk....

Kedua, suasananya yang nyaman dan menyenangkan
Kita kan sekarang terbiasa tuh dengan kafe/ restoran yang punya wifi.... dan akhirnya sibuk masing-masing dengan gadgetnya deh
Nah ini kedai gak ada wi-fi loh.... tapi pengunjunganya senang datang di situ

Saya sih berpendapat karena mungkin karena suasananya seperti kedai kopi jaman dulu yang minimalis dan  kekeluargaan... pemiliknya Om Latif suka datang ke meja2 dan ikut ngobrol dengan pengunjungnya... dan semua pengunjung tidak pernah diburu2 untuk pergi dari kedai... semua piring di meja baru diangkat setelah orangnya meninggalkan kedai, kecuali memang mereka membutuhkan piringnya untuk bisa 'serve' yang lain
dan semua di situ jadi senang ngobrol dan melupakan gadgetnya.. paling terjadilah sedikit foto2 karena uniknya kedai kopi itu
bahkan sama meja sebelah bisa ngobrol loh.. (Pengalaman hari ini)...
Terus biasanya kalo pengalaman saya, Tak Kie juga bisa jadi tempat pertemuan yang pas untuk memulai kulineran di kawasan situ.. janjian aja di Tak Kie dan bawa temen masing2.. akhirnya bisa ngobrol seru tuh
Ini pengalaman seru dengan Pak Bondan dan Om William Wongso kulineran bersama komunitas Aku Cinta Masakan Indonesia.. (tempat kumpulnya yah di kedai kopi Tak Kie hihihih)

Acara blusukan Petak 9 dengan komunitas ACMI (aku cinta masakan Indonesia)

Jadi, silakan mencoba ya...... 

2. Kari Lam

Lokasi : Gg Gloria, dari Tak Kie lurus terus sampe mentok, langsung kok bisa lihat gerobak Kari Lam

(Lihat gambar di atas dengan ACMI, itu depan Kari Lam)

Jam Buka : Jam 8 pagi

Karinya sangat gurih sekali kalo menurut pendapat saya... jadi pas banget kalo yang hobi makan masakan kari. Ada kari ayam dan sapi

Harga per porsi : Rp 30rb/ mangkok

Kalo saya, harus 1 porsi di share berdua atau bertiga.... (supaya bisa makan yang lainnya hahahaha)

Tempat makannya ini juga antik

Model terbuka, banyak pilihan makan lainnya... kebetulan yg lainnya belum dicoba... jadi kalo mau kasih review tambahan boleh juga hihihih

Suasananya seperti food court chinese.... dulu pernah pas makan, ada Live musicnya... lagu2 chinese jaman dulu... jadi kaya transported back to old China hahahah

3. Dendeng Bakar Singapore Wee Siang

Untuk penggemar dendeng babi Singapore, mungkin boleh mencoba dendeng yang satu ini

dengan resep dari Singapore, dendeng ini dibuat lokal dengan rasa yang hampir sama lah dengan yang biasa dinikmati di Singapore... Harganya juga relatif murah loh... sekitar Rp 35rb/ 100 gram...

So kalo penikmat dendeng ini, jangan lupa mampir ... pengalaman saya: minta coba aja dulu kalo berminat... (kalo sama engko2 lebih cingcay dikasi coba, kalo sama enci2 agak kurang hahahhaha tp yah ditanya aja boleh coba ga)

4. Bakmi Amoy

Ini yang sering2 disebut oleh review2 kuliner petak sembilan dan sekitarnya

Yang dijual umumnya bakmi/bihun/kwetiau/locupan yang bisa diberi bumbu daging ayam ataupun babi, nasi campur dll..

mungkin teman2 akan sering menemukan pilihan bakmi ayam ini di sepanjang gang ini...

Nah favorit saya sih di bakmi amoy ini adalah Baso gorengnya.......

5. Bebek sedap wangi

Posisi di depan Tak Kie... bisa dipesan terus dimakan di Tak Kie....

jika kamu penggemar bebek... ini worth to try... :)

Itu tempat2 yang saya sering kunjungi...

Namun ada beberapa pilihan lain...

* Depan Tak Kie...

    Ada pi-oh (bulus dimasak dengan tauco), Lontong cap go meh "Gloria", Siomay...

* ada soto betawi terkenal namanya A Fung (kalo ga salah)

saya pernah coba, kuah santannya wenak sekali... 

posisi agak masuk ke dalam lagi dari Tak kie

* ada nasi tim ayam... wenak sekali.. tapi cuma ada Sabtu minggu

   Posisi depan soto betawi

* ada otak2 .. cukup enak... terus dijual mie ayam juga

   di sini tempat makannya cukup luas dan banyak pilihan

* Gado-gado direksi....

    Pasti sudah banyak dapat cerita kan tentang yang satu ini...

    Saya belum bisa memberikan review karena belum berhasil untuk santap gado2 ini karena dah keburu 

    kekenyangan hihihihi

dan banyak beberapa pilihan makanan lainnya yang ada di situ

Selesai deh satu kapling... banyak juga yah makanan di situ...ehhehee

so saran yang bisa saya berikan... pergilah bersama teman2 dan nikmati 1 porsi bersama2... bukan pelit loh, tapi supaya bisa nikmatin semua makanan.... hihihihih...

Inilah contoh keroyokan ala saya dan teman2, dan tentu saja meeting pointnya di Tak Kie...hihihi

selamat berkuliner..... - to be continued....

My Journey to East FLores Dec 2005 - Nov 2007 part IV : The Lovely people

This is probably the longest part of the story... the story about the people....but this is the story that I can't have enough time to tell... so much to tell about them and sure the lovely one and unique one..

I really learned so much from them...and I'm grateful for this opportunity..
Thanks to Wahana Visi Indonesia that makes this opportunity to happen for me..

Now let me begin my story...

Like I mentioned earlier in another post, it was a new experience for me, being far from home, meeting new people with new culture and customs and it really scared me at the beginning. I'm not the type of people that can mingle easily among new people.. I have to see first whether this new environment will make me comfort or probably will intimidate me....If comfort, then I will be more open, If not, then I will protect myself and just do my job as best as I can since this is the work I chose...
So yes, the first month is a struggle for me... trying to see the situation and in the same time, there are a lot of work to be done to make sure that the work is suitable with the plan....

Adding with my previous post: Learning from the mistake... It really made me a quick learner how to make adjustment with everything, work is work, must be done professionally whether you prepare or not...

In spite of all the problems I had, I will tell you how I began my relationship with the whole communities and how I enjoy every minute of it.

My work is supervising pipe installation, so I thought at that time, I should as often as I can to come to the location where they install the pipe and supervise...
So yes, at least 2 - 3 times a week I will go to the field and go to the location with the field facilitator in charge in the area.
And my next problem is I cannot drive car, ride a motorcycle or even ride a bicycle... soooo if I want to go to the field, I relied on other's help on getting me to the location.

So after discussing with some staff, we came up with 2 solutions
1. If the car is available for me to go to the field, I will go by a car.. and it means i will be going from 7.00 - 8.00 AM to arrive at the field at 10.00 and leave there at least 03.00PM so I can go back to the office at least 5.00 PM ...
2. If the car aren't available, I will find a way to go to a staff's house to stay overnight, and the next morning, the field facilitator will pick me up at the house so I can go to the field...

See the map above, my route to the field is from Larantuka to Ilebura if by car. If not, a day before I have to go to Boru, then the next morning I will go to Ilebura....

And I will say that East Flores people really had generous hearts . Eventhough I'm just a newcomer in the area, two of my friends from local staff allow me to stay at their houses to accomodate this. And they really welcomed me like their own family member... and until now the relationship is not end just because I have moved back to Jakarta, but it just like I have my second home there...
So that welcoming homes at Boru area made it easier for me to work in the field and also I got the chance to get acquainted with the whole families every night I stay there and it's fun.. It's the most precious experience I had.. to be at home although I'm far away from my own home.....
And actually the habit of staying there is more than supervising the pipe installation... sometimes when on the weekend, when I have nothing to do at Larantuka... I followed my friend back to her home in Wolorona... just enjoy the life in the village on the weekend.... (unique experience for a city girl)

Let me give you description on how I experience my stay there in Boru area..

The electricity only start at evening.. from 6 PM to 6 AM
so no electricity in the morning - afternoon.... yeaaa no big deal with me because I have to work on the field..I didn't need electricity
But the problem came when at some times, the power supply down, they cannot supply electricity because they have some damage.. and that was something hahahhaha.... try to survive without electricity... yeaaa you will get used to it after some time

Second, no mobile phone signal... hihihihi....I'm out of reach when I'm in the field... I don't know how I survive then...... then after 1 year I guess, one of the national provider prove their promise to provide signal at sub-district level... so yes... we have mobile phone signal.... but then... when the power supply off... the signal also followed.... so my conclusion.... no assurance of mobile phone signal existence

What can I say... It's fun though... we found more activities out there just chat with neighbours and friends or go to the garden to see the crop... or just do anything we like to kill the time... and yes, sometimes we bore also... but just go to sleep then if nothing else to do :)

Baby pigs hungry

Baby pigs ate with their mommy.... :)

It really a simple life in the village, no rush or hurries... just relax and enjoy....
It is the bonus to the work environment I have... wouldn't I be grateful

Watch local soccer

on the next post I will tell you about my experiences during my work with communities...

My Journey to East FLores Dec 2005 - Nov 2007 part III : Living in nature

Learn to deal with the nature....

All my life I never lived outside my home, and I lived in Jakarta where all the facility like electricity, communication tools like mobile phone, malls, all the joyful things to live are available. Yes, I'm really a city girl...
and when you moved to work  the field was meaning that you have to get out from your comfort zone.
you can never expect anything as complete as Jakarta, it will be far far from all the luxuries you have in Jakarta, but because this is my dream to work at a new place far from Jakarta and also my trial of how to survive outside my parent's house :) (another side motivation)

At the first few months, at orientation in the office, I remember my manager told us if we want to have good relation with the community, we have to work minimal 3 days at the field, and 2 days at the office
so because in the first 6 months my work was to supervise the piping installation, I tried my best to be at installation location as much as I can.

Usually I went there 3 times a week. The distance between the city I lived in (Larantuka) to the installation location (Ilebura) was 2.5 hours by car or by motorcycle....
By car, it was easy for me... just by the help of our nice driver, Mr. Toni... I just sit tight and enjoy the view and believe me... the view is amazing...

If you get lucky, you could see the rainbow.... and pose with it :)

And now imagine you have to go that 2.5 - 3 hours ride with motorcycle... (I cannot ride a motorcycle so I'm always at the back). In my first experience, I had a wonderful friend (my fellow staff) who really understood this city girl and he tried to take a break after 30 minutes on the bike. So finally we arrived after 3 - 4 stop because of me hahahahhaha... It was really crazy experience for me and you know, that I cannot always get the luxuries of car to go to the field haha... I have to live out my own consequences ... just enjoy the pain I feel while I'm sitting that long in the bike..

During my second break in Lewolaga, I chase a baby pig #neverendingfun

Another problem I have with taking a bike.... I get sleepy on the bike! I know it was danger but I can't help it... I tried every way I could to stay awake in the bike... sometimes work, sometimes not...  I knew also my fellow staff who took me with him at the bike was scared that I might fall and sometimes they made sudden move so I wake up... hihihih... and I remember my friend said that next time he will make a seatbelt to make sure I'm not falling hahahha...

But I really enjoyed my time to the field.

To supervise piping installation was meant that I have to follow wherever they installed the pipe.... sometimes the road will be easy, sometimes the way will be hard.. I'm no hiking girl... so yes, I always need help if I have to follow the men when they did the work. 

The soil there is red soil... so imagine when it comes for rainy season.. it will be slippery to walk there especially if the road were not easy...

Finding new piping route with the technician (see the background-some itchy stuff are waiting)

Yes. at some points I have to go down t here and hike up again... (tough road)

The most difficult part was to hike to the water capturing. It will be like 30 minutes hiking (something I hate and avoid the most possible hahah).. 

I managed to video some of the road to go down from the capturing...

(only at the end you will see the view, because I have to manage taking the shoot and carefully walking hihih)

Once we had to go there after raining, and because it was really slippery, they said probably not best for me to hike at this moment.. and I was glad I followed their suggestion... hihihih

A lot of experiences with all the nature while I'm living there.

Because Australia is near to East Flores, we felt a glimpse of winter on mid year... the weather so nice and cold enough...it just like using air con without electricity.... so those months were the most wonderful time of the year...hihihiii

Do you know that the sun rise at different times during the whole year?

My rent room has hole in the wall like a ventilator, so the sun can shine into my room.

From the first time I stayed there for a few months, I was kind of get used of the sunshine as my alarm to wake up in the morning.. It usually at 6 AM so it was a perfect time to wake up and prepare to go to work.

One morning, I kind of wake up suprised because I felt the sun already came. I thought I was late, so I was in a hurry to take shower and everything and just found out after that it's still 5AM... 

Yes, the sun rise 1 hour earlier than it used to.... hahahhahah

I learn it the hard way...... 

Yes, living in nature made you realize what you will miss when you lived in city where no window and no clean air....

My Journey to East FLores Dec 2005 - Nov 2007 part II : Learning about mistake

After I learned to adjust myself how to live and adapt in the first month, next the real challenge come.

First challenge I had was how to make a difficult decision.
It should be easy right, just see what is the right thing to do then make that decision.
My problem is after graduating frrom Environmental Engineering at 2000, I never work at that field so about 6 years. So theoritically I knew what is the right thing to do, but being lack of real experience, there's something I have to carefully consider.
I remember I discussed with my friend from university about the problem and how to solve it and what is the main impact for every possibility.

Then finally I made the decision on this problem.
And BANG! next problem is how to communicate that if your decision is not a popular decision among your fellow friends.

Besides lack of experience working in water project, another lack of experience is I never work in the field before. So I didn't know what reaction I had if I told the community my decision.. and I understand that my fellow staff were also unsure on how community will react if the decision will cause them to rework the pipe installation...
I really think hard about this, because I just felt all alone in this decision and I felt really depressed.
Just remember one night, my roommate just told me... Just leave it to God, if this is the best decision for community although it will be hard to do for them, God will help to give understanding to community's heart
I followed  her advice and suprisingly for me, God grant me peace at that night after few of sleepless nights.

Yes, if your life is in smooth way, you just feel prayer is a regular thing to do. You know God answers prayer but just feel like everday pass by as ussual. If you have problems, then you realize that God truly is able to help you get through your problem. It's the first lesson I learned the hard way, how to surrender to God and let Him do His way and I can say professionally.

Next step, God moved me to talk to one of the staff who has influenced to talk to community. Because I know some fellow staff are questioning my decision, so I'm afraid how to communicate wisely, how to make him join my decision so we could all in one voice to talk to community. But that night, I was amazed on how God worked. I try to talk about my decision and my fellow staff agreed with the reason and finally support my decision... and after we talked to community, they understand and were willing to work together for it..What a relieve... A sweet ending story....Never thought in my mind that after my surrender, He open the way one after another...

Until now, I can never forget the feeling the moment I was told to pray by my friend and the relieve I felt right after the prayer. and not because of my prayer has been answered right away but because I believe whatever happen next, God is in control, not me.

Challenge by challenge came during the first 6 months... It was really crazy.. sometimes it just how to communicate with community, but the scale of challenges were getting higher and higher, but because the first lesson I had "Do your best and let God do the rest", I was able to walk from one challenge to another.
and today what I can say is during this first 6 months were my biggest school of life lesson and exam to move to another level and I'm glad to have that opportunity... :)

Bitterness

Today I want to share what I remember about bitterness that stuck in my mind for years… and it surely changes my attitude towards bitterness.

The quote is from the book “Purpose Driven Life” Chapter 3. Here it said:

"Listen: Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it. You are only hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, learn from it and let it go. The Bible says “To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do” – Job 5 : 2 (TEV)

So.. just press “Move on” button. Learn from it and let it go. Your life is much more beautiful than your bitterness. People will come and go, just let them give color to your life, not control to your life 

My journey at East Flores Dec 2005 - Nov 2007 Part 1: the Beginning

Lately, I've been thinking of the precious time I had when I was working with Wahana Visi Indonesia in East Flores during 2005 - 2007.

Only 2 years (really short time) but with a huge experience for myself that help me to understand more about life and all its beauty..

That's why now I share to you all these stories, good times, and sometimes probably bad times, based on my personal experience and the beauty of children and comminities there who I miss the most

Hope through this journey, you can feel what I feel and learn that simple things in your life will enrich your life forever...

So we will start at the decision I made and the fear I had as consequency of the decision

I was learning in college about Environmental Engineering and after graduating, I never worked in that area.

Then while I was working already in Wahana Visi Indonesia, I heard this opening of water project team leader in East Flores.

While thinking to apply, I could say I brought some fears with me. 

First, I had never went away from home all my home. I lived in Jakarta, Indonesia my whole life. The farthest place I have ever been was only Bandung, back in my childhood, it was only 4 hours by cars and the longest time I have to spend there was only 2 weeks max.

So I didn't know how I would have to live outside my home...

Second, I would go to a place where I didn't know anyone before. I only knew it was the place where Wahana Visi Indonesia worked and they had a special program to help communities get clean water, but that's it.. I didn't know how I will work there, what to expect, who will be my partner in work, will we get along at work?.. It's clearly totally blank for me..

But I said to myself, "This is what I dream when I apply to Wahana Visi Indonesia at a very first place. If God provided me with this opportunity, why should I be afraid? just go and see what happen"

So I apply that position and God grant my wish :)

Let me tell you first about where is East Flores and how to go there

From Jakarta where I live in, we have to take the plane for 2 hours to Bali, and from Bali there's a connecting flight for another 2 hours to Maumere.

Maumere is in Sikka district, the middle of Flores Island. From there, it's still 4 hours by car to Larantuka, the capital of  where I will stay for work and it is such a winding road. If you're not strong enough, you will get carsick. and usually that will happen the first time you go by road to East Flores from Maumere...

So this is when my journey started...
In December 1, 2005 I flied to Maumere and got picked up with the people from East Flores ADP. Thank goodness, the driver back then (Om Toni) was a very good driver and understood the first time traveller like me need smooth driving and good music so I could relax and arrive there with good condition :)

And I remember, he gave me Manado music by Tantowi Yahya, which later on I became interested to learn Manado language (at least from the song)

Here are some pictures I took at first time I arrive in Larantuka on the way to the office
This is the uniqueness of the city... one side is the sea

The seaside 

Another seaside from the city that is close to Adonara Island

Another side of the city is mountain 'Ile Mandiri'. People said during rainy season, just be careful of the flood coming from the mountain, because it will bring big rocks in the flood...

Me and Mount Ile Mandiri

In short stories, that whole month is my orientation month there. Getting to know where the office, who the staffs were, including the field officer who will help me with this water project, the progress of the water piping installation (yes, they have started the project before I was accepting this role) but still I was feeling lonely since it was December where everyone was also busy preparing Christmas and I cannot go home because it was my first month there.... probably the most lonely time I had was in the end of December where the office closed from Christmas to New Year and I just stuck in Larantuka because I feel like I cannot go anywhere by myself because I didn't know anything anyone there..

And the worst thing happened next is the rainy season. It was so different from Jakarta...

The rainy season there was really heavy and scary for me... it hit really bad at the roof so everyday I just got scared because of the rain

Others have told me to listen carefully during the heavy rain.

Because Larantuka is located between mountain and sea, the rain would probably cause flood and not just regular flood. The flood was coming from the mountain and it probably brought rocks (big and small) to the cities.. So they warned me, if I heard sirene or information about the coming of the flood, I had to follow with other people to the rescue place. So if it rained, don't sleep too soundly.. 

That's the best warning you had when you were in new place hahahahhaha

so I remember my heart was pounding so badly when I heard the rain started so heavy at night

and every night, the same situation happened hahahah.. what an unique experience I had in my early time there... really not good impression :)

So after first month, hmm I just wish with the coming of new year, things will go smoothly 

And then... the next journey began..... :)

It’s been 6 years…..(My Mom's Legacy)

Today is exactly the day 6 years ago my mother passed away.

From the day she died until now, I think I never wrote anything about her.

But in the remembrance of her in this 6^th year, I feel that I have to write something…

It’s not a sentimental story, but just an honest story about my mother’s legacy in me

I believe what I have become now is because of her big influence and teaching in my life.

If I can stand on my own feet and independent, it is part of her legacy in my life.

I remember since I was a little girl, my mother, who was a volunteer in our church, bring me everywhere to join her in all her activities. I remember that my priest called me “Little image of her” because he saw the resemblance of her in me, especially the cheerful and talkative (yes, that is who I am since the very beginning.. until now I guess…)

I remember I was asked to join fashion show competition in wearing national/ traditional clothes in the church. My mother prepared me to wear an uniform… and they gave a time to practice so I know the way and how to do it. I remember that time I’m still in kindergarden. When I reached the stage, I don’t want to move unless my mother will walk through me all the way (yes, I am scary at that time)… since this is a competition, no way my mom could walk me all along the way… I would have to walk by myself… so the practice session is a failure.. no matter my mom tried to persuade me, I stop walking after I reached the stage…

And the time of competition come…. I think my mom tried to find a way to make me walk the stage without her companion.. so I remember she said like this to me “I’m sorry. I cannot watch you walk the stage, because I have something to do. Just remember what we have practiced before at home.. do as it is…” and yes.. I’m hard to say no and whinning because my mother wouldn’t allowed that.. so I listened and tried my best to walk alone there and just tried to finish my part there… after that it will be over… What I didn’t know was that my mom never leave the place and her word was only to make me brave enough to walk alone.. She got me but her action made me win the first prize J

Another thing that she loved to do to me was asking me to the market. First, she just showed me around the market, this shop to buy what, this shop to buy other, etc, etc, etc. and she always introduced me to the owner of the shop and asked me to remember his/her name, so next time she asked me to go by myself I won’t get lost…  at the very beginning, I often asked… why me? My mother just simply answered…”Trust me, it’s for your own good” But later on, I found out, I love being in the market because I find my playground in the market hehehehe (yup it’s me) I can sit and talk with the owner just to feed up my curiosity on anything… and later I realized, that order made me to go shopping or travel by myself or even later on surviving on the work place outside Java… J

I also remember how people talked about how my mother is full of compassion on helping people. And sometimes I also joined her or she shared about someone who needs help. She has a really big heart to care for others when they are suffer, and I remember 2 days before she was gone, she joined also the church teams for visiting people in sickness and she told them that it is probably her last visit with the team. I’m glad her compassion influenced me to help them whenever I can although not really as much as hers..

But on recent days, what I remember now is how my mom took care of her father in Bandung when she had the chance to visit him there. And I’m lucky that almost in every school holiday (the long one), I had the chance to stay there at least 2 weeks and without I realize probably I watched just in general back then how she took care of her father patiently and somehow it stuck in my mind, like she’s telling me that when your parents need help, you should be there and help whenever you can…

Although I know, I’m way too far from my mother’s patience on taking care of her father, I think my decision on quit my job and took care of my father also was influenced by the example my mother has given. Although so many times, I question my decision and sometimes doubt whether this is the best decision I ever made, but at the end her example made me realize probably this is the best thing I should have done right now.. and just give my every worries to God to be settled..

Just a simple things and thought she taught me all my life on how to be responsible for my life and I’m proud to say that I can be who I am right now because of all the influences she has put in my life, and I can’t stop telling more and more stories about her

Although it’s been 6 years since she was gone, I feel that she is always stay with me.. her legacy will always in my heart and in my action so she can still be proud of me like I love her and very proud of her...I love you Mom…

August 3, 2007 - 2013