The vegetable seller...

 'The vegetable seller'

by Vincent

This painting was one of Vincent's work that sent to me by email ...   I just choose this one   without any consideration... I just prefer this one....

I wanna share it here since two days ago, 30th November was Vincent's 18th birthday... 

Happy birthday to my son!

Truthfully  I really missed him as he lived far away from me...

3 months seemed so  long  since he left us  for college at Jogjakarta... especially in his birthday  I felt so sad... and can't stopped thinking about him...  coupled when he called me right on  his birthday that he felt unwell and even went to the  doctor to get medicine... Ohh.. what so sad!! but Alhamdulillah  today he's getting better...
I believed (I hope I could)  my son could take care of himself... 

 My son, Vincent...

But I'm glad and can't wait  to see him... my son will be return home to Palembang on his school holidays around  the end of  this December...

Hope everything will run smoothly...

To all my dear friends...
May Allah always be blessed us !!

Happy belated Birthday Baim...!!

Baim

November  sounds    such  an  important month to me...

don't you know folks... in this month I've been given birth to my two beloved sons, Baim and Vincent...
Even though it's  a little late  I wanna say Happy  belated birthday to my baby son Baim...his 12th  birthday was on 16th November ago...
(actually I wanna write this post right on his birthday, but  I felt very sorry I've been busy lately...)

  

On   the next 30th November will be Vincent's 18th birthday... 

Time flies...

My two baby sons now were becoming  teenagers...
The moments when I spent my time with them  in their infancy...  now become  a mere sweet memories ...

but I'm happy and blessed to have them as my sons...
I'm hoping one day they will be  an independent person and usefull to others...

Many blessings to you my dear sons!

May all your dreams and   wishes will be coming true... Amen!!

Here I wanna  share a video  of  Baim when he played  drum at the first moments he learned this instrument..

he was at about 7 yo that time...
Isn't he adorable??? haha... enjoy it!

Obama 'Pulang kampung nih!' vs "Wedus gembel'....

 

Barack Obama

(image source from google)

A couple days ago  Barack Obama, a president of American people  came to my country in the situations which  you all known, Indonesia currently had so many trials and tragedies that befell our people.

All TV stations  almost everyday before and after Obama came to Indonesia  continuously broadcast about the news of Obama,  so the news about the Merapi  which still spew 'wedus gembel' (hot clouds) was almost stopped for a while, covered by the Obama news...

I can say   our   goverment seemed so busy to prepared all welcomed to Obama...Although my impression may be somewhat exaggerated Indonesia in welcoming this great guest.... which is usually not the case in other welcome guests from outside it. hmmm...?!

Even though   I didn't know  Indonesia  was got many advantages with the arrival of Obama or not.....   but I guess that's just a normal diplomatic visit...

However I really impressed and fascinated  by his visit...especially  by his appearance and his performance on his speech... I can see.. Obama was a very charismatic leader... His speech was like a conjured every person who was there (including me who was  watching 'LIVE'  through the TV) ... applause, such as excited cheers and rousing applause constantly blaring from the audience ... something that rarely happens when a country's leaders made a speech ...
I  can see  ... Obama is not only a president but also he was like a celebrity or even a superstar ... HA!!

 At the Mesjid Istiqlal (Michelle Obama wearing veil/hijab)

(image source from google)

I  also saw    he's  like a true democrat who really appreciates and respects the differences ...

I'm pretty impressed and felt honored  as a Muslim, when he and his wife Michelle visited the Istiqlal mosque, they took off his shoes and Michelle even dressed like a Muslim  wearing  the veil / hijab ...

Above all...  Obama may have a special relationship with  Indonesia because of his background who has lived in Indonesia  in his childhood ..

it is said his stepfather was a Muslim, who may also influence in shaping  him to become a person who really appreciate Muslims...
He also was fluent in Indonesian language,  he still remembered with Indonesian popular food  such as satay, meatballs, and fried rice ...
he also said that Indonesia has been  part of his life ... visit to Indonesia is like returning home (PULANG KAMPUNG NIH!) for him ...

I'm just hoping  the Obama's visit  or Obama's 'pulang kampung nih!'  will further enhance the friendship of the two countries .. especially could increase cooperation in various fields with mutually benefit from each other.

 Mount Merapi spew 'wedus gembel'

(Image source from google)

Meanwhile...

since Obama's arrival on 9th November  ago ,  my son Vincent was at  his granny's place in Sumedang west Java, because the college was closed for a week as the effect of the mount Merapi eruption..... He  can not  return home to  Palembang, because there was  no flights from Yogyakarta to Palembang, so he and a friend who also comes  from Palembang  and recently study at Jogja  just went to  his granny's home   by train for about 10-12 hours of travel ...

Now Vincent  is  on his way home back to Jogjakarta from Sumedang ... because the lecture will begin at tomorrow Monday..

While the  Merapi  still continued  spewing  the hot  clouds, although the eruption was not as crazy as before ...
Hopefully  the eruptions will stopped soon  .. so everyone can return back  to normal activities without feeling anxious and afraid for the safety of property and their lives...

What's Up with U.... 'Mbah Petruk"....???

Mount Merapi was spewing 'wedus gembel'

image source from google

 

Today was the 11th days since mount merapi erupted... but  it's  seemed this old guy still has not let up  his  anger...

His tantrums even seemed got more blazing day after day...

See..... burst of hot clouds and lava ceaseless gush from the mouth of this  volcanic mountain ...

even everyone could watch  the last eruption was so powerful with very loud rumbling sound ...
What a horrible... the event that never really happened before..

Mount Merapi,  this old guy  has been known and well understood by the local resident ... but now it's been  stunned them very much  on his very act of excessive ...

all wondering ... why and what's up with this old guy..!!

You know folks,   almost all Javanese people think that mount  merapi is not only the ordinary mountain.. but this mountain has a spirits or it could be said controled by some spirits which among others  called  'Mbah Petruk'...

'Mbah petruk' cloud, appeared  on the top of Mt. Merapi a couple days before the eruption.

image source from google

A couple days  before the mountain erupted, one of the local resident  named: Suswanto (40 yo)   had been capturing   strange cloud on the sky which the appearence was really the same as 'Mbah Petruk' who has been  very familiar with most  Javanese people.

The 'Mbah Petruk'  cloud has been  believed by some people  as a sign   that something extraordinary (major disaster) will happen and the community is expected to be alert and prepared...

Believe   it or not... but the fact now Merapi this old guy has been fulfilled his promise as the most active volcanic and dangerous mountain in the world.

Appearance of 'Petruk' who had been very populer on the Javanese people

image source from google

And even    now the eruptions of Merapi which commonly understood by citizens, can't be predicted anymore ... every day people seemed to be left for  waiting for  the arrival of the awesomeness of this old guy's fury...

Noone   knows...

when will this old guy stop spewing the hot lava and 'wedus gembel' (hot smoke)...
when will  the people stop suffering  in the refugee camps due to this terrible disaster...
When will I stopped watching TV looking for the latest updates of  the eruption Merapi's  news
When will I stopped thinking about my baby son Vincent who  currently lived at  Jogjakarta for college, the place where  affected by the anger of this old volcanic guy...

Oh...   Allah...Oh... my Lord!!

Your hand is only the one who could stopped them.
There's noone  was the best helper except Thou...

At least...  a little prayer from all of you, folks...  would  be alleviate their suffering ...

Insha Allah! (May God willing!)

Ooo....Nooo.... Mount Merapi erupted!!

The Mount Merapi... 

This old guy seemed never tired for  blowing  smoke which usually called 'wedus gembel'

What an unexpected...  it's been a couple month ago me  together with my family   ( here !  in our 5 days trip to Jogjakarta... ) were  still enjoy and seeing the beauty of Kali Urang , the place where was shaded by  the mount Merapi  which is  one of the  most  volcanic mountain in the world... 

And nowadays the Mount Merapi seemed   getting  a big  anger...(as what the resident said)...

yeah... sir mount Merapi  currently was beginning to rage and  has been  erupted ... spewing the lava and heat to every corner of the land wich was  sheltered  by this mountain  with  peacefully  since along time ago....

Here are our pics when we visited 'Kali Urang' (a jungle tours  that place at the mount Merapi area) a month ago.... enjoy!

 Water fall , one of the scenery of Kali Urang

Vincent, Icha, Ochi, and Baim... try to climb...

It's really horrible... the beautiful place when I visited a couple month ago was  so frenzied and chaotic recently  as I  watched from the TV .... 

 Icha, Ochi, Vincent, Baim...

Go...go... climb...kids!!

Icha and Ochi...

with my hubby...

I'm so sorry but I haven't any pic of the appearence of Kali Urang  now after attact by the eruption of mount Merapi...

I just hope this natural disaster will be over soon...

And for all the victims...may The Almighty will give you all strenght and fortitude..
And for the goverment I also hope could handle this situation with all the best...

I actually more  worried  because of my son Vincent who was  currently in  Jogjakarta for college... even though his place was far enough from the   disaster  area ... 
Everytime I  pray for my baby son... May Allah always protect and blessed him wherever he was...

With all  humility .... here  I also wanna  ask  you all readers to  give a little pray to all brothers who were affected  by the eruption of mount Merapi... If it could... any  little help  from all of you... will be so meaningful for them..

Insya Allah, I will also contribute some funds to help ease their burden ...

Thanks for   all your kindness,  my friends!

May God bless you !!

And I Pray for Mak Ucih...

The scenery around the village where my deceased granny lived

This pic was taken when I return home for Eid a couple month ago...

That little girl was wept bitterly, as she found  Mak Ucih, the old woman who lived alone in a little house on the riverbank has  already died... It's said that her body had been taken by her family who lived  at the opposite village.....

Mak Ucih was a best friend of that little girl.....

She knew Mak Ucih when  she spend her school holidays in her granny's home in the village... her granny also know who is Mak Ucih, but  her granny always warned her to not often  visit Mak ucih though... because her granny was too afraid that her granddaughter will slipped into the river or something... since Mak Ucih lived near the river and also a rather remote from others...

You know folks.....  that little girl was me... when still  in about 11 or 12 yo... I always spend my holidays school  in my granny's home in the village... 

Till now I always love the natural and rural atmosphere ... I think one day if I'm  getting old, I wanna lived and buy a house in the countryside area...hmmm... just a thought!!

That time I know better about Mak ucih from my granny... She said what poor Mak Ucih ... She didn't have a biological child, but she raised 2 children of her brother who fosterage lovingly ... and raising them from the babies until the adulthood, and  eventually  got married and lived happily...

but... what poor Mak Ucih... when she's  getting old and had no longer  property... her children seem like didn't care her anymore, even they let Mak Ucih living alone...
What poor Mak Ucih...!!
My little heart was deeply touched to hear the story from my granny...
so that what make me as a little girl wanna visit Mak Ucih more often... to comfort her ... and make her happy...  I sometimes I mean often brought  her some food which I'd taken secretly from my granny's kitchen...

Last time  when I visited Mak Ucih,  I've  promised   her but not told it   out yet , it's only a promise in my heart... since I saw Mak Ucih didn't have a Mukena (a special clothing for a Muslim for doing pray)  I mean she only  had one 'mukena', but it looked so old and worn... so I promise myself I wanna buy her one.. I have an idea...  asked  my mom some money for it or if not I wanna break my piggy bank..

It's trully sad that my promise couldn't fullfilled yet  while Mak Ucih was already gone...

The little me was crying that time... but also pray and pray for her...
It's make me  totally sure that Mak Ucih   has been  surely  rest peacefully with no more loneliness and suffering...
This memory was still kept good in my mind till now...

I think there're perhaps another Mak Ucih in this cruel world... I even read the story from my bloggy friend Doris, which already inspired me to write  this post ...  Thank you Doris!!  

I think you guys should read  an inspiring   post from Doris's site :  And She Prayed... I bet you will not regret!

Well... finally  from deep in my heart I  hope there will no other Mak Ucih anymore  in this world... 
And I hope one day if I'm getting old.. and being a granny ...I wanna be a happy person, not being a lonely grandma... or a poor grandma who was abandoned by our own children....   And I also hope the same  to all of you,  folks!  Amen!!

Walking under the Rain...at Borobudur temple area...

Ochi and Icha together with the Buddhist statues...

This is probably my last post about our fun story at the Borobudur temple area...

I hope you guys all still can enjoy our journey...hehe...

Actually I didn't know before that there're some other places in the Borobudur area such as the museum of old ship named  'Phinisi Nusantara', and the museum of art which had some collections of arts including paintings, sculpture, hand crafts and other art works...

Ochi and Icha in the old ship museum...

Actually there's something that make Baim wanna enter the museum in a sudden... he found the bulletin board in the corner across the street when we passed... It showed there's a human dwarf (reputedly the shortest in the world) in the museum... so Baim was so excited to see it with his own eyes...

Finally we bought some tickets to enter the museum... although I was really anxious to get back home since the weather  was so unpleasent... cloudy with light rain...

Entering the museum and found the human dwarf... I can see Baim was not too excited as before... He even blurry right after he saw the dwarf... HAHAHA... he looked scared like watching a horor... whereas I wanna shot him with the dwarf as memento...  so Icha who finally dare to pose with the dwarf...

Here're some pics of us... enjoy!

 Baim posed with the wooden animal sculpture...

Icha posed with the dwarf...

with my daughter Ochi, at the ship museum...

 Baim posed in front of 'Phinisi Nusantara' ship...

Time was getting late, but the rain has not subsided, so we decided to run crashing the rain... Luckily there're some people who rent the umbrella... so we hired a few umbrellas and buy a plastic raincoat  for Baim...

See... we jogged through the rain mists toward  the gate.

But still can snap snap... under the rain... hehe...

Ochi, Icha, Baim walked under the rain toward the gate...

Oh damn!! when we got in the gate... we're puzzled to find our car park....we went round and round...even enter the market which sell many souvenir items and also crafts typical of Borobudur...

I tried to call my hubby asking where the position of  parking... but it didn't worked... so by following the instinct  eventually we found our car park where my hubby and Vincent waited us there as well... oh...Alhamdulillah!!

My three kiddos posed in front of the market...

posed with my daughter Ochi around the market area while looking for our parking...

Let's Jump....!!

Icha, Baim, and Ochi...

Still in  the Borobudur temple area....

After we descended  from the temple in a hurry because of  the rain which fallen in a sudden ...

we walked toward  the park around the temple ... Alhamdulillah (thanks to Allah!) rain was falling only a moment ...

Seeing the beauty of the park....we didn’t  want to waste the opportunity to take  some pictures ...

I told to my three kiddos: Ochi, icha, and Baim.... how if they posed  while jumping  ....I think it would be great  if I captured them with jumping posed... haha...

While  giggling Ochi, Icha and Baim then jump and jump... And I captured them also with crazy giggling...

Some people who passing around us staring with the strange eyes... but I can see they also giggling... but who's cared...??

 It's unfortunate that the camera I used was only a small digital camera ...

Actually  I'd love to have a camera like what Betsy have... ( I usually walk around her blog, seeing  and enjoy her amazing pictures which really fascinated me...!!).

Insha Allah one day if I've got some money... I wanna buy one, so that time I could take pictures with more better result... Just pray for me, folks... ok!! hehe....

 I hope you all enjoy my kiddos, Ochi, Icha and Baim in  their jumping pose... (or probably in their giggling pose?!)

I always love to see them on these pictures... 

Oh... Nooo...!! The kiddos want me to jump too...

Look!! What an ugly jumping  pose....!! HA... !!

The momma with an ugly jumping pose...

At The Borobudur Temple....

Posed with my daughter Icha...

Among in our 5 days trip to Jogjakarta, we visited Borobudur Temple... the largest temple in Indonesia which is a Budhist cultural heritage... Borobudur is  also the one of the seven wonders in the world...

Borobudur located in Magelang, the central java, about 40 km from Jogjakarta... More about  Borobudur, please click here!

At around 3.00 pm we began to enter the area of Borobudur temple... the weather was slightly cloudy... but the visitors were quite a lot  because that time was still in holiday feast of Eid...

Vincent was felt unwell... so he decided not to join us to go to the Borobudur temple area... finally he and his dad just have waited us in the parking area  while looking for the delicious resto which so many spread there... so eventually only me, Ochi, Icha and Baim who entered the temple area...

 Icha in front of the Borobudur Temple...

 

Posed at one of the stupa of Borobudur Temple...

Actually Me, my hubby and Vincent have been already coming to Borobudur several times  in the past..

But Ochi, Icha and Baim have not been seeing Borobudur yet...so I wanna them to know and see for certain how the shape of Borobudur temple which often discussed in the lessons of history  in their school.

Oh.. no... What a very bad pose...!!!

Icha....

Unfortunately the weather was not too friendly... After we reached to the top of the temple... rain began to fall ... we haven't had time to look around the stupa or reliefs that are very historic... we went down and left the temple with a little bit hurry...

The photos we've taken were not too much.... and not  too good...

but hopefully one day if  we got another chance to come to Borobudur again...  I promise myself to take more photographs with more good angels... Insha Allah!

Baim...

Icha  take Ochi with her BB...

Icha with Ochi...