Broken Promise

At Mt Kinabalu, December 2011

I was at Mt Kinabalu with the awesome KK LEAP team seven years ago, when I decided to make a promise to myself that I will (at least) try to travel to a place I've never been before every year. And it was the view above that made me decide to start this personal project I called "Project Wanderlust" (cheesy name, I know). I was just so mesemerised by that view, that made me come to a realisation that there is so much more to this planet that I've never seen, and have to see.

This photo was taken the day after our summit (the day of descent). Most of us were caught in a rain during via ferrata so our equipment and shirts were drenched. The next day was a clear and sunny day, and we went out of our hostel to dry our stuff. Shirts, shoes and so on. We were chatting about our climb, about random things and were just having a good time. With that view in front of us.

Climbing a mountain was never in my agenda at that point of my life. I've never expected to do it either. But we did, and it was an amazing and life-changing experience. Kinabalu has opened up my eyes to the beauty of the world and it made me crave for more. I'm not an active and adventurous person but I'd love to climb another mountain one day! And return to Kinabalu for sure.

So yes, I decided to start that personal project. I went to the US in 2012 (this wasn't planned but I took it anyway), Bali in 2013, Iceland in 2014, Australia in 2015, Tibet in 2016, Cambodia in 2017, and nowhere in 2018. Yup, I broke that promise I made to myself but it's okay!

As I've written last year, I was having a "traveler mindblock" last year. And the same happened to me this year. Also time wasn't really on my side this year, even though I fully understand why time has to not be on my side this year. And I'm fine with it. Hopefully time will be on my side next year :P

Also I used to be a wanderlust, who tells myself that I have to travel, and I can't live without traveling. Err it's still true, but I'll definitely still live without a year of traveling haha. And I came up with this last year: travel not because you have to, but because you can.

I've decided that I don't want to rely on anything to make me happy. And yes, this includes traveling.

There's a reason why I broke the promise I made to myself on this year.

And I am very sure there's also a reason why I won't break that promise again. Be it next year, next next year or whenever. Well... I'll try to not break this promise again next year :)

Happy Wedding Mel!

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Hello! Just got back yesterday from Cipanas to attend the wedding ceremony of my cousin Mel and her husband Andry! Congratulations to you both on your marriage, may you love each other more everyday and all the best for the big day... Which is next Sunday aha. Man, she's one of the closest cousins that grew up together with me! We went to the same primary school so we always went to school together every morning. And now she's married! Time where did you go to.

Bless the bakmi gods for this veggie bakmi

Anyway I went to Cipanas with Nanan and Febi (thank you Nanan for driving!). My brother went too but he's going straight to Jakarta with his family so I gotta take another car. My aunt went ahead first with my cousins too. Reached Cipanas early so we went to get lunch first at the famous Kalimantan restaurant. I think I've eaten there when I was really really young, can't remember. So thankful that they had vegetarian bakmi AKA noodles. Just noodles with oil and soy sauce but it's so damn good!

After that we went to the temple at the ceremony started at 3 PM ish. The temple (Vihara Nagasena) is such a beautiful temple! It has a wonderful interior, even though I am surprised to see paintings of Vishnu, Krishna, Ganesha, Hanuman and other Hindu Gods/Goddesses on the ceiling. 

Well the Siddhartha was a Hindu Prince after all, so no surprise! :P

Team Baros United

After the ceremony we went back to the hotel first to wait for my cousins and aunt to change before we head out again to have dinner before we go back! I had so much food the whole of yesterday so I decided to just eat the food without rice for dinner. Then after that my cousins and I went back to my hometown, while the rest went back to the hotel and my aunt to Jakarta. We're gonna rendezvous again next Sunday mwahaha. Can't wait for the wedding reception!

I only had 3 hours of sleep on Thursday night so I got knocked out in the car right away. Felt so embarrassed last night when I was talking rubbish with my cousin Febi in a convo because I was drifting away haha. Then I got knocked out once I reached home. And had a fabulous sleep last night.

Alright that's all for that short but fun trip to Cipanas yesterday! Sometimes I can't believe that my cousins and I are all grown ups now. One by one we're getting married, some of us have kids already and soon we'll be like... Uncles and aunties. Well technically we are all now haha. Well, time moves on! I wish it can slow down a little bit but nahh, it always goes on right. Alrighty I will see you again soon. 

Open For Business

Well I was really busy the past three days, so I wasn't able to write about what happened on Wednesday :P Anyway we... Opened a new shop! Haha. So beside the current shop where we're selling farming goods and pesticides etc, we also opened a shop selling household goods mwahaha. From pots and pans, to glasses and plates and so on. It was a random idea we came up with earlier this year and it's finally come to a fruition now heh. So yes, exciting times ahead!

Business so far is doing good since Wednesday, where we opened the shop. It's not as much as the farming shop cause come to think of it, it's not everyday where people would break a plate, spoil a pot/pan and so on haha. Whereas people always need fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides etc once their products are finished. But it's okay, I'm not really into the "money". Just wanna help the locals there!

You know come to think of it, making money was never my main intention of opening the farming shop. I just thought it was a strategic place, because we're surrounded by farming lands. And thus I thought it would be great to have a shop here, as farmers won't have to go to town to get the stuff they need. Cause before the shop opened, even us (the farm) have to go to town to buy the stuff we need. The town is about 10 KM away so yeah, I reckon it helps a lot to have a shop there.

So similarly for this new shop, I just hope that my existence there would help the locals to get their household needs. Also come to think of it, there isn't a household shop nearby our area! :O 

I've always believed that the universe will help you as long as your intention is good. It may not give you an excess, but enough to take care of you I guess? Also when it comes to money, we won't have enough right heh. Think about it, we always want more and crave more isn't it haha.

Anyway I hope the new shop will run smoothly. And may it benefit a lot of people around us. 

I'm going to try my best to blog more entries before this year ends. Been busy the past week, but I guess I can breathe easier now. I hope you had a great beginning of December.

May we end this year beautifully! I'll see you soon.

Breather

Whew, as you can read from my post on Friday, it's been a crazy hectic last week of November for me. Been doing work non stop and only finishing at 5 AM. And this is made worst with the fact that I was waiting for the water tanks at my house to fill up, yup till 5 AM. I was lucky enough to be able to take some time off last night and tonight. Currently blogging to the new Novo Amor album spinning on the record player! And moving on to Olafur Arnalds' re:member next. Life is good indeed.

Feels good to just take some time off and not doing work after an intense week. Well yup, the last few days of the month has always been a busy period for me. Lots of reports and this and that. I think most companies are always busy at the end of each month heh. Anyway, December is here now. Last month of the year, and a new one is coming soon in about 28 more days eeep! Time just seems to fly faster and faster as we grow older isn't it. As Jon Koenig terms it, zenosyne. 

Alright, talking about time flying faster and faster, it did come to my attention that I'll probably just reach about a hundred posts for this year. It's okay, it is sill inside my goal of writing 100 posts in one year eh. But well, I do have plans to write more! As usual, the year end reflection, the music reflection and so on. I do have a few events for this month and I hope I can accomplish them well. 

Well, I've hit my goal of blogging for 10 years now. Even though I will always continue to blog, I'm not sure if I can blog consistently as compared to these ten years. I do also have a journal, and similar to this blog, I am also planning to fill up my journal before the year ends! I think journaling and blogging are one of the two hobbies that I still do up till today. Photography is another. I really miss playing music though, I am thinking of getting another keyboard to be put in my sis' room next year.

Okay that's all for me in this short update. Things are gonna exciting leading up to Wednesday! Shall talk about it when the day arrives hehe. Here's to a Delightful December for all of us. Time to end off this year beautifully! Also PS you have 28 more days to finish you resolutions!!!

Thankfully I have none :P

Don't Look Back

Whew, it's been such a hectic last week of November. Taking some time off to talk about the great music of November! Before continuing to do work of course. Hahaha. Alright here goes!

Great Music of November

- Line by Line EP by PREP

- Birthplace by Novo Amor (album)

- Play by Jax Jones (Featuring Years and Years)

- Foreign Hands by George Ogilvie

Song of the month: Line by Line by PREP

Alright there isn't many music I discovered in November actually. But I was really excited when PREP announced the release of their 3rd EP (and second one for the year), which was released on 9th November! Few days before their gig in Jakarta haha. Well they did say on their Instagram that new music was on the way, I wasn't expecting an EP so yes, what a lovely surprise indeed!

Well like I said in my previous post, there isn't a single song that I dislike from PREP, and their 3rd EP is no exception. It's such an awesome and another feel good EP as usual. I would say it's kind of a marriage between their first two EP? But then again, every PREP song is unique on its own. And so far I can't really pin-point their music. Like when I recommend them to my friends, and they asked back with "what does their music sound like?" I would say I don't know man, PREP sounds like PREP hah!

Novo Amor released his debut album Birthplace back in October actually. I just discovered this back in early November heh. I think it's such an incredible debut album from him! I like how the tracks seem to flow one by one throughout the whole album. And gosh I love his voice haha. I remember discovering him through his song Anchor last year I think, when it appeared on my recommended tab on YouTube. Been looking forward to more music from him, and this album doesn't disappoint!

Jax Jones released his song featuring Y&Y a few days ago and it's such a great tune! Love how the visuals of him and Olly dancing together really fits the song well I guess haha.

And one of the new singers I discovered this month is George Ogilvie! My Spotify radio was playing when his song "Foreign Hands" played. I love his voice and also the lyrics of this song! Clicked on his profile to listen to more of his music and damn, I instantly become his new fan haha. Another song that I like from him is Surveillance. Looking forward to more music from him.

Right that's all for this month's great music! We have one more month to this year and hmm come to think of it I don't really have new music to look forward to in December heh. Well usually I just listen to the songs that accompanied me throughout the year, and to also reflect on the music of 2018. I'd say 2018 is a fantastic year for music whoop! Lots of surprise releases and also discovered quite a few new artists/bands. Stay tuned for my great music of 2018 post next month!

Alright, it's been quite a hectic last week of November, and I still got a few exciting days ahead of me. Stay with me, universe. Lets push through everything to a beautiful fruition. I hope you had a great November! Let us all end this year beautifully shall we :) See you soon! 

26 Years Young

I know this sounds weird, but there are time where I actually have to remind myself that I'm a 26 year old man. Not because I feel old. But because I feel like people around me don't think I'm a 26 year old guy. Or maybe because my mind thinks/feels people around me acts that way hah!

Maybe it's because I'm brought up in a traditional, family-oriented Asian family, where child-parents relationship is always kept at an all-time high haha. Or is it because I was brought up quite strictly when I was young. So even up till today, I behave like a "kid" to my parents, even though I'm big now.

Okay there's something that happened that made me talk about this haha.

So yes 10 days ago I went to see PREP in Jakarta. I only told my parents that I'm going to Jakarta a day earlier (the plan was to go on the 15th) 3 days before the trip (on Sunday). I don't know why but... I'm "scared" (?) to tell my parents that I'm going to Jakarta for a gig? And guess what I actually told them a white lie heh. I told them that I'm going a day earlier to meet my friend, a secondary school friend from Singapore whom I never met in a long time. Well I did meet Wilus for the concert HAHAHA.

And also I didn't tell them that I am taking a train to go to Jakarta, because our driver is going to pick my worker's wife who will be joining us for the shopping errand on Thursday. And also I'd seriously rather take the train cause it's much more comfortable and also reliable (no traffic jams with trains heh). On Tuesday night, my mum asked me what time I was leaving tomorrow. And I told her that I'm taking the 1030 AM train. And she was shocked. She was like "Alone? How are you going to go to Jakarta from Bogor? How are you spending the night?" and she looked worried and everything.

I was like well mum I have taken so many trips to Jakarta by train alone and I know how. Also I'm meeting one of my workers there (cause even though I know how to go to Jakarta, I don't know how to get around the city haha). I was feeling rather annoyed cause I feel like I'm being treated like a kid -.- I was like telling my mum "Mum I'm big already, you don't have to be so worried seriously"

But well to be frank, my parents are never over-protective of their children. Just that sometimes they get worried about me doing things "out of the norm". Since I usually go to Jakarta with a car. Also there's this weird thought that they have, where I shouldn't do things alone. I remember back in 2013 when I told them that I'm seeing Sigur Ros Live in Jakarta they're both like shocked. They even asked if I want my sister to go with me, even though she obviously doesn't want to cause it's not her kind of music.

Like I told them in Singapore I always do things alone. I watch movies alone, I eat alone and I'm fine. I don't always need someone to accompany me to do things. I think nobody absolutely needs either.

So yes returning to my first point - sometimes I have to remind myself that I am a 26 year old man. This incidence made me think of two things. Firstly, why do I have to feel scared to tell my parents whenever I want to go somewhere/go out of town to do things? Secondly, why do my parents still feel worried about me doing some things, and treat me still like a kid?

The night after I told my parents that I'm going to Jakarta a day earlier (with lots of relief), I asked myself why do I have to be "scared"? I was like... Adhi, you're a 26 year old guy and you should be able to make decisions on your own. You should be able to go to places you want to go to without your parent's consent. Sure, informing them is important too, they know what you're doing. But sometimes I feel like do I even need my parent's approval to do things that are leisure in nature heh.

Which reminds me of something. When I was in Singapore, I know someone from the UK who traveled across Southeast Asia alone by herself when she was 18. Also how I have a friend from the US who went to India alone by himself when he was 20 I think. Okay I'm not sure how the parents of my two friends react when they tell them they're going to travel. But you can see the difference right haha. 

Here I am, taking a train to Jakarta, which is like 4 hours of travel time from my hometown, and my mum is worried like as if I'm flying somewhere far heh. And you know what the weirdest things is? They're never worried about me when I was in Singapore! Maybe it's because they know Singapore is safe etc. And also the fact that they couldn't see what I was doing when I was in Singapore (oops).

I mean... I went to Sweden alone to meet my sister in 2009, and I did have my fair share of solo travel experiences to places I've never been before .Even though yes, these decisions are still met with a pair of wide eye from my parents, but... You get what I mean. I am old enough to take care of myself.

I know it's the nature of parents to get worried of their kids. They want their kids to be well, to be safe and so on. But I think it's also important for parents to have trust in their children, that they are old enough to be responsible for themselves. Like I seriously won't do stupid things that would do harm to me. Also to those who know me, I am a very paranoid person. I will usually do quatro-checks to make sure that I'm not doing something that would be detrimental to me and others.

Also perhaps, maybe I'm not the only one who experiences this. Perhaps a bunch of my Asian friends are experiencing the same thing too heh. But well to be honest these days I don't feel as "scared" as last time. Now I don't even ask my parents for consent. I just told them "Mum, dan I'm going to ______". My dad would most of the time go "oh okay" but my mum sometimes will look apprehensive heh.

Well whatever the case is, I still respect my parents. Although I wish that sometimes they can give me more space. We live in a world with contrasting cultures and beliefs. If you compare my scenario to the scenario of people in the Western world, you can't help but to also feel puzzled to justify which one is more rightful? Well only life can find out haha. And yeah, I think I'm still going to give myself bouts of reminders that I am a 26 year young man. Or 26 year old man. Or both.

Full of Dreams

A Head Full of Dreams

Last Wednesday while I was in Jakarta for PREP, I took the chance to also catch the Coldplay documentary "A Head Full of Dreams" which was showing for one day only worldwide on the 14th of November! When I saw the announcement I quickly bought a ticket from CGV, which thankfully has a branch in Pacific Place. Also thankfully the timing didn't clash! I caught the one at 16:30.

Well I would say it was an amazing documentary. I'm so thankful that Matt Whitecross, the director of the film, decided to document the life of Codplay since their beginning. The documentary really shows how Coldplay was formed, their trial and tribulations, and of course their journey. From doing gigs in a small pub, to sold-out stadiums worldwide. It literally is a movie about a head full of dreams!

There's no way we can deny that Coldplay is one of the greatest bands of my generation. A lot of people around the world grew up with them. And I am pretty sure they will be like the "Beatles" of our parents. Like how my parents talk about how much they love the Beatles in their 50s. When we are in our 50s, we'll probably talk to people about how much we love Coldplay haha.

There is also a central theme, in my opinion, that surround the movie. It is about manifestation... Am I the only one who thinks about this? I like how Chris Martin has this image of the band. How the 4 of them will be big in 20 years time, how they will get signed, and this and that. And somehow all of these words come true! Of course, the band has worked really hard all of these years. There's also a theme of not giving up, of always having hope. Which is essentially what their latest album is all about.

I was a bit surprised when Chris said that "this is just a beginning" at the end of their AHFOD tour in Sao Paulo. But after watching the documentary, I truly understand what he meant! :)

I hope you can give this a watch, it's on Amazon Prime videos I think. Their live album and DVD is coming out on 9th December! Thank you Matt for making such a beautiful documentary of my favourite band on earth. If the universe allows, I want to see them live one more time :)

Ending off this post with the lyrics from A Head Full of Dreams!

"When you get a head full of dreams, 

you can see the change you wanted

be what you want to be"