Sama siapa lagi bicara kalau nggak dengan Dad..

Dad, sudah cukup lama tidak bertemu

Sepertinya aku tahu sekarang susahnya menjalani hidup - jika tanpa iman dan prinsip

Tapi dunia seperti ombak besar Dad, menerjang dari segala sisi - membawa ke pasir pantai

Sayangnya pasir siang itu panas...

Kadang Dad, ingin bertemu untuk bertukar pikiran

Kami ingin hanya menumpahkan.... yah .. anak-anak yang tidak punya tiang....

Hanya sekedar untuk menenangkan hati, kata demi kata yang sering menyadarkan

bahwa semua bukan milik kita

Hingga aku malu... sama pemiliknya...

Dad, mungkin mungkin senang di sana. Kadang kami membicarakan senyummu

Membicarakan kekuatanmu, membicarakan uluran tanganmu,

yang selalu menjembatani dan menjadi pintu damai kami

Dad, sampaikan salam kami padaNya - agar kami juga nanti bisa duduk bersama

Minum teh sama, dan aku... ya ... aku akan lagi bercerita seperti dulu...

mungkin soal teman, soal sekolah, soal kerja... dan dia..

dia akan duduk mendengarkan Dad...

mendengarkan setiap uraian kata dan amanahmu... untuk menjagaku

Mungkin nanti Dad tidak perlu menjemputku dari kerja, atau diantara tumpukan kertas..

memesan nasi soto... dan diantara kerja, mendengar keluhan... mungkin nanti akan lebih indah

Mengingatmu Dad paling tidak membuatku, membuat kami berpikir, bahwa kekhilafan yang kami ciptakan, kemarahan yang hadir, emosi, nafsu.. semua itu seharusnya bisa kita hadapi.. dengan otak, dengan perasaan, dengan tidak membiarkan harkat dihina, dan dalam jalurNya...

Hanya saja Dad, semoga uraian ini membuat aku, membuat kami, semakin kuat dan dewasa

Semoga saja membuat kami bisa membuka hati mereka yang juga gundah....

Seperti kegundahan kami pagi ini....

You Saved Me

Recycled

After quiet sometime

Today is the day Dad has been gone for quiet sometime - Still time feels just like yesterday.
For the strongest man I have known in life - I should be strong too, Captain Putra and the girls will also too.

Dad, now we are even more understood - that we have to just uphold the rights, not to fear, be positive and move forward - 'Cos you are our idol.

Hope 'they' will too.

Miss you Dad.

Sarah Anna of Wallingford

It has been almost 20 years of friendship between me and Sarah Anna - and 'little - not so little anymore' Polly. The friendship that was only started by simple mickey mouse watch and bead bracelets. It was in the IB Art class in Schenley, 8th period, in between jeans, pottery and paint - we actually got to become the longest and most multi cultural friend.

The conversation continued over some great home made chocolate chip cookies of Wallingford, made by Sandra and fresh milk in the kitchen.

I remembered Polly came home in her white shirt and shorts that summer and zoomed to the TV room, which again by surprise we both found that we have this craze for Sesame Street show - why not! we are the kiddiest high school girls at that time - but we ejoyed it.

Now, me with kids, a husband. work, and running around between dishes and laundy... all grown - Sarah Anna with her Four Starr Frame Shope in Stonington, photographies and bird nest hunting.. also grown. Indeed we hardly put any flowers on our shoes anymore, or play with water sprinklers, or share some coins for french vanilla ice cream... Today, we share the peach, art work, drive (gosh.. never imagine 20 years ago that we would actually change our bike rides to car rides - will never give up biking though!), organic yoghurt, talk about life, politics, guys, family, religion, work.. EH! work ...(sigh), laws .... just about everything! But the magic is still there!

Coming back to the U.S. in 2000 was a BIG surprise. Never imagined it - then coming back again in 2004 was another surprise.. and recently, just last September.. it was like an omen!!! and.. the magic is still there! Just like meeting at Yum Wok intersection and right away go to Shadyside for window shopping or look at cool cards. And yet.. we found ourselves still love each other greatly - and yet we found ourselves, when we are together, never become grown ups! We are still the same girls from 20 years ago who just love each other so much - from the heart and mind.

Sarah Anna! miss you bunch!

Short Stop in America Land

Sarah and Sarah and

Sarah...and peace!

'Sarah Anna', again the name that immediately strike into my head as I got the info for the training in Washington DC. The training, splendid! would be valuable, the reunion! That is also not less important. Soon after arriving in DC, immediately my head was filled with thousands of little plans. Call Sarah, set meeting with Sarah, tell Sarah hotel info, call Hoa and Nga, plan a day with Hoa and Nga, or even more.

The day at FSI was as always, busy as students and just love seating there in their yard watching the geese walking here and there. Late summer breeze was blowing into my face and there I was, talking with FSN from Palestine and Netherland, from Afghanistan and Israel.... , Tokyo and Seoul.. it is amazing, here we are working for the same institution and we can keep the peace there. If only the world can be transfered with the peace in our little FSI community.

Then there she was, Sarah! We were just too happy and thrilled but the reunion was not all that dramatic since we had to follow another car to go to Hoa and Nga's. Anyway, DC is DC.. but what was fun was the walk like the old days. And also was fun to again enjoyed the cusine of House of Hoa (Hoa..I want more recipe!..nope.. fix that.. I want more spring rolls!) hee hee

Returning to Stonington was pretty calm. Simply went to Four Starr Frame Shop, attended a cocktail party at Howard, bake some ginger bread cooklies (Sarah did that really), stamping 200 postcard.

The trip was ended by solitair trip to San Fransisco. I love the city! Reminds me of what Dad always said: Go to Golden Gate! Awesome! and it was...

Our Brothers': Malaysia and Singapore :)

Another Exploration with You

Another Exploration was in 2006 and 2007 when Putra was just about to depart for USM. We thought, hmm.. this is about time we should just explore some part of the neighboring country, Malaysia and Singapore. It will be just like college again, more just like college since we will not bring Dasha and Aqila along. Thanks to Air Asia, we managed a pretty cheap trip across the Melacca Strait. Then another exploration was with the girls, making sure they can adapt to our travelling style.

Looking back to 2006, as we arrive at Kuala Lumpur, it was just totally 'go with the flow' we did not have any hotel reservation - simply took the shuttle from the LCCT to Pudu Raya Station. Cool! We arrive at nigth and starved with hot meal. Luckily food was no problemo in Kuala Lumpur, even with the strong spices we can handle (we thought) as we dived into the cuisine of Nasi Mamak. Ayam Chappati, briyani rice, teh tarek - we were all set. I was totally fit, even though the rain was soking my outfit, but I was fine - we were just like happy kids with the rain.

Scrolling the isles of Bukit Bintang area, we finally found what became out favorite guest house - Eight Hotel (Hotel Delapan) - the coziest guest house for us. Located on Tengkat Tong Shin Road, in front of it are lines of restaurants. The management often put out tea light candle on its porch at night, just easy atmosphere to chat.

Kuala Lumpur was great, we explored Genting Higland as well, to prepare to take the girls there, which we did later on by August 2007. Even though many have said Genting is tacky, but to me, I think it is fine! Hey, where else can Medanese take their kids to experience rides, correct? Certainly not to Jakarta I say, too far!

In 2006 we tried the bus to go to Singapore. In 2007 we took the train from KL Sentral - which is much more convinient. Teh train took 10 hours, which allowed us to sleep in. Arriving in the morning for immigration check then proceed to hotel.

Our option in 2006 was in Little India. 2007 was changed to Bugis Junction area, much closer to lots of food and hang out to see the city. Definitely a place to go to.

We tried below:

Penang:

If arrive by plane: taxi from airport to Sungai Penuh Station around RM 30

If arrive from KL: at Sungai Penuh Station, taxi to Cititel is RM 30

Where to eat: Sup Kambing nearby Cititel

Place to stay: Cititel (with voucher booked from Medan you can get better rate)

Where to go: too much! Rumah Nyonya, George town, Bukit Bendera, Komtar, Feringhi, Tj. Bunga

Kuala Lumpur:

If arrive by plane: taxi from airport to LCCT to Pudu Raya Station (there is a new shuttle that hit directly to Bukit Bintang) around RM 8-9, every hour

Where to eat: too much, just explore!

Place to stay: well, we have experience staying at Hotel Delapan (we love), Allston Genesis (so-so)

Commuter: Monorail is located nearby, just walking distance.

Where to go: China town, Shops at Bukit Bintang, KLCC, Batu Cave, Petronas Tower, and many more...hey, easy! just browse through the internet :)

Advise: don't worry if you arrive late in Bukit Bintang, it is packed almost all night long 24/7!

Singapore

If arrive by train: then take the closest MRT from the train station (will update you on the name later) and go to wherever your hotel is located

Where to stay: we are cheap, as long as hotel has nice bed and bedroom we are fine. Damn! Singapore can be so expensive. So we stayed at Fragrance in 2006 and Seven Storey in 2007

Where to eat: Now this you have to be careful. As Moslem, we chosed Halal restaurant. There are a lot though in Bugis Junction. They even have Ayam Penyet. In fact, my first time to try Ayam Penyet is in Singapore. Crazy heh?

Where to go: get some nice shower, take a walk on pedestrian, which you can not do in Medan - We went to the Marina, then to Merlion, then to China town, back to Little India. Not to forget Science Center (is definite for the kids), Sentosa Island, temples.. gosh! Just too much, we have not even get them all done. We will though - why not!

Commuter: MRTs are available -and cheap - strongly recommended

Advise: Get worry if you arrive late in Singapore, even though it is very safe to wonder the city at night, but hey, not too many place I know are open at night, except bars.