Please Sit Down with Me (pt 2)

Chilling out with the Chillun

 Courtesy of Diah R Sulistiowati

 

 Photo by Dwi Ariyogagautama

The supposed-to-be last mikrolet blew out its engine in the middle of the kampong. Everyone stepped off. Here we were stranded in the middle of some kampong and when we turned our head, its young residents flew around us. 

Mister, mister, they called us, despite the fact that we look like every Indonesian. Perhaps they called us so because most people who come there are foreign tourists. 

In an instant we made acquaintance. These chillun were just out of classroom after reciting Koran class. They entertained us while we were waiting for the next mikrolet to take us to Kalabahi. 

To my regret, I din bring along a big plastic bag of candy I left in hotel room!  

All the trees in the field Clap their Hands for You

Can you imagine that, Sem. Isaiah wrote, you shall go forth in peace and the trees and the hills before you, they clap their hands for you. How cool is that! What made him think so? It’s a great narrative, though.

I bet Isaiah traveled a lot. And he enjoyed traveling. If not so, how could he wrote that inspiring verse. When I traveled back on train, It was one of the most enjoyable train trip I’ve ever had. On my left, the rice fields, the hills and cities. And on my right side, the Java Sea. beautiful!

When I saw the trees, I thought, their trunks resembled feet of a great flock of flamingos. And I could see they cheered me. I guess Isaiah was right. They clapped their hands for me.

Antiquities Is in Vogue, also in La Vogue

Jalan Pemuda in Semarang is full of surprises. There are many old buildings. I admire the facades and I wish to see the inside. That morning after Christmas, I strolled along the street and I found this attractive La Vogue. It turns out to be an antiquity store. While I was windowshopping, the door suddenly opened. I was shocked. The owner apparently had seen me and he invited me to step inside.

It is full of antique stuff, from books, rings, photos, dolls, old world souvenirs, bottles, to paintings. Thought, I can get used to this place! Even more, the owner invited me to take a look inside and upstairs. it reminds me of that house at Jalan Argopuro, Lawang. Sturdy wooden stairs, wooden floor, large windows.

I wish to sell it, said the owner.

If I might suggest, Pak, you could turn it into a guest house. It is a very nice place, people would love it, I said.

Wide Eyed Adventure

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(photos by Diah R. Sulistiowati)

You come in the wrong time. That’s what people said to me, MbakDiah and MbakTeja. We came to Alor when the west monsoon came. The sky was grey all the time and the dark clouds kept sending heavy rain. The sea was welling up albeit remaining calm.

I could have drown in sadness and regret, but I just forgot to do so. Every thing I saw was quite new and I love the scenery. I indeed said to myself that it must be more beautiful to see them when it is not raining. But strangely enough, I just forgot to feel resentment.

All things bright and beautiful, even in bad weather.

I was surprised to find that even this old grey brain played a tune to the trip. I didn’t give command to open the file. It just played John Rutter’s song over and over: Look at the world, everything all around you. Look at the world and marvel every day…

A Village with a View

 (photos by Diah R. Sulistiowati)

Desa Takpala is every tourist’s imagination comes true. If they want some authentic things to see in Alor, then this village is what they want to see. It is located up in the hill, overlooking the sea. I could see Mali Airport and Sikka Island from up here.

How do you feel to wake up in the morning and see the beauty? I asked one of the residents, referring to the great view of the sea.

He just smiled broadly. I can see whales from here, he answered, much to my envy.

Whales?! I was shocked—and envious.

If they leap above the water, it means rain is coming, he said. And if they raise their tails, it means, we could plow our lands.

How could that be?

Our fathers said so, and I think it’s true, he said.

And who am I to argue?

Angels, We Haven’t Heard on High

The orgel (pipe organ) inside GPIB Immanuel, Semarang, is special. In the whole Indonesia, instruments like that are only a handful. This instrument is, like the church itself, centuries old. It has been repainted, I can see. It is adorned with four cherubs. Two blow their trumpets, and another two are strumming their harps of gold.

I wish it could be played and I could hear its heavenly sound. If the bells in the Notre Dame Cathedral is recently restored and rung after 160 years, why can’t this orgel. Let me write a letter to the church to inquire.

A Devout inside The Temple

So, on that Christmas day, I went up to Klenteng Sam Po Kong in the outskirt of Semarang. I thought, it’s a kind of tribute to the ancestors. Among many things that capture my attention was this man.

He was praying and I could see he, wearing grey uniform, works there. And he is a muslim.

He was praying, eastward, among the pillars of the temple, dedicated to Confucianism. And after that, he continued doing his chores of cleaning and lighting up the candles.

Isn’t he the living example of tolerance?

Dive and Jive

 

 Photo by Dwi Ariyogagautama  

I am so overjoyed having ever dipped in Alor waters. It was a rainy day, with big waves and strong current yet my friends and I endured them all and enjoyed it. Welcome to west monsoon, said Yoga. Indeed. I only dived once but it is one of my best experience albeit brief. Definitely look forward to dive in Alor again.

Who Needs a Blue Sky Holiday?

 

One brief clear sky moment, by Diah R. Sulistiowati

Who needs a blue sky holiday? thus sings Daniel Powter in Bad Day. Who needs it anyway? I don't mind not-blue-sky holiday. Been on it. Last week, it rained hard. One hour the sky was clear, then it rained for hours. It went like that every day that we developed a rain-or-shine-here-I-come attitude from early on. MbakDiah, MbakTeja, and moi really had great times in Kupang and Alor.

An Office with a View

 

Yoga's office is literally by the sea. It has the view of the inlet, the sea, and the islands. Here, he has watched numerous dolphins and whales passing by. Wonderful, eh! An office with a view indeed.  

 

Seeing Red

 

one of the Temples, across the pond

I’ve heard this many times: Cheng Ho (aka Cheng He), a mariner and diplomat, sailed to Semarang, Central Java, long long time ago. Like seven hundred years ago. (By the way, I wonder how a eunuch aka castrato could be that great man of power!) Along, he cemented another layer of what our ancestors apparently have always had: a great sense of tolerance. Our ancestors loved him. They did and perhaps he did, because he later traveled again to what now is Indonesia several times.

A muslim himself, Cheng Ho reportedly built a house of worship—Chinese style—which later was “baptized” a kelenteng alias a temple for Kong Hu Cu or Confusianism. How cool is that. And people said, you haven’t gone to Semarang if you haven’t gone to this temple. So on that Christmas day, after Christmas sermon at Gereja Blenduk (GPIB Imanuel), I went straight there despite the fact that dark clouds were hanging above the city.

I entered the gates with thanksgiving. It is beautiful indeed. Full of red, a color signifying, among others, wealth and happiness. Here and there more temples are being built. The smell of burning incense filled the air and I instantly remembered of Engkong’s house. He used to burn incense in the morning before going to work. 

And here I stood in the center of the complex, an open space. Before me is a long pond, separating the square with a row of temples. They look charming and I wanted to go across the river, err, pond. How can I go there? I asked someone. Deep river, my home is over Jordan…

If one wants to go there, they have to buy tiket wisata ibadah or ticket for pilgrims.

I approached the nearest temple which bears a sign: remove your footwear when entering. So, I removed my shoes. Then a man in uniform approached me, asking, “What are you up to?”

I wish to see inside, replied I.

“Are you going to say prayers?” he asked.

No.

“Then go!” he barked.

But why? I inquired.

“Don’t ask, don’t argue. Go!” he barked yet even louder.

I was totally confused. I retrieved and went to the next temple. My goodness, I read a sign “Only worshippers may enter” next to “remove your footwear when entering” sign. Oh I got it! So, if you are nonworshipper, you may not enter the temple. Please remain in courtyard.

I am so sure I didn’t see any “only worshippers may enter” sign in the previous temple! I wanted to bark at that unfriendly man, yet I understood, I was only a guest here. And I didn’t want to ruin my day, but then his day! Christmas is all about sharing love and joy, eh? You bet.

I circled the temple complex and admired its beauty and history. And then it rained hard, so hard the water vapor entered the inside building in which I took refuge.

I, like other worshippers, took shelter inside. Of course, I removed my shoes and asked for their permission, “Hi, I am not a worshipper, but could I please come inside until it stops raining?” They welcomed me inside. 

 the temple, on Christmas day

How grateful I was since it rained for three straight hours, mind you! I thought to myself, “This is the beauty of tolerance. Cheng Ho must be proud of it!”