We are the kindest species

They are savage. They devour human being. They are treacherous. Their all-conquering eyes dart right through your flesh, bones, and tissues. They are malicious. They've got tongues that are engulfed in flames. 

Are they some kind of hellacious animals that ready to pounce on an exposed flesh including some random lass’ juicy thighs? Is this all about zombies with supernatural powers? Unfortunately, no. They are the smartest being that have ever lived on earth. They can be gentle but simultaneously, ferocious. They're amiable but unmistakably belligerent too. 

They are two-legged creatures called humans.

Grazie, 2014

Today is day eight of 2015. How strange.. A year has just ended eight days ago. I remember very well, exactly a year ago on January 2014, I was anxious to face the year ahead. A lot of things had happened since then.

Now, I could say that 2014 was the year where I stumbled and crushed, devastated and torn, but at the same time was — by far — the most adventurous year I have ever had. Despite everything that happened within that year, with such a great humility I would say that I gained victory over each and every battle in 2014.

Nevertheless, it wasn't me who won the battle, but my God who won all my battles for me.

I decided I would have this opportunity to recall those battles in a hope they would help me to remember how fragile I was (and will always be) and how God has worked wonderfully to won my battles.

Battle 1 getting post-study work visa, Battle 2 finding permanent job, Battle 3 deciding whether to go back to Indonesia, Battle 4, Battle 5, and so on . . .

I hope this recollection of my past battles would help boost my spirit to fight through 2015. Welcome, Two Thousand Fifteen.


* All pictures in this post belongs to me.

Capitolo 2: Aqualungs

Father and daughter were as happy as a clam ◕‿◕

I am now a certified PADI Open Water Diver! Y-A-Y! * 

Before I'm exposed to this diving absurdity, I had no idea at all that diving course would only require so little time. I thought the whole diving course gonna take weeks (in my case, months), however, you could actually squeeze it into two days. 

So, what is this PADI thing then? PADI Open Water Diver course is the first step you have to take if you'd like to take a scuba diving certificate. Basically, it's the entry-level course. There's around five or so scuba diving certification; PADI and SSI to name a few (I don't know the rest). I never heard anyone got their cert from SSI, so you can just leave it out and take PADI course instead. PADI courses in Indonesia aren't hard to find nowadays. I know there are several in Grogol, Senayan, Ancol. The one that I had was at Divemasters Indonesia in Kemang, South Jakarta. Psst! From what I heard, this dive centre is the best in town!

An underwater ballad by Leslie Burke

I'm moving gently forward,

over the wild and beautiful

unexplored world below me.

I'm floating in silence,

and breaking it up

with the sound of my breath.

Above me, there's nothing

but shimmery light,

the place where I've come from

and will go back to when I am done here.

I'm diving.

I'm a scuba diver.

I'm going deeper 

past the wrinkled rocks and dark seaweed

toward a deep blueness

where a school of silver fish wait.

As I swim through the water,

bubbles burst from me

wobbling like little jellyfish

as they rise.

I check my air.

I don't have as much time 

as I need to see everything,

but that is what makes it so special.

Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus 

by Leslie Burke (Bridge to Terabithia)

Capitolo 1: Nautical baby

I think my mom gave birth to me in the ocean.

You know those water births? Some said it is less painful. Heck, I don’t know; I’m not even married yet, let alone having a child. Anyway, HEY, I’m not going to talk about water births here.

Yes, one day I just went blank and this thought popped up in my head:

I think my mom delivered me in the ocean, underwater. 

I always feel I have a special connection with the sea. Holiday time to the beach always excites me. That feeling of having your feet buried within the soft khaki sand where you get a ticklish sensation in between your toes. And then getting your feet soaked up by the breaking waves. Hmm…what an experience worth killing for.