A R U M

Reality Escape

Hi ...

It is March already. I can't believe I've gone through the first two months in 2018 with nothing and gain nothing. I still busy with work, busy dealing with my mind, busy finding motivation, and busy with my 'short term' interest habits, like you know, having interest in some particular things that will not going anywhere. Ehm ...

So, I went to Madiun two weeks ago in golden week. Can I really call it golden week when the day of holiday are in Friday, Saturday, and Sunday? Nah, whatever ... I went there to meet my Grandma from my father's side, who just live together with my aunt.

Our plan at first is to celebrate me and my Grandma's birthday together, well we share birthday by the way, in the last day of February, but, February has golden week (?) in the middle of the month which is Chinese New Year on Friday. Our bithday is on Wednesday two weeks later, in the middle of the week and I can't not come to work for a week full didn't I? End of story ...

Twelve hours of journey by train ... Madiun doesn't have public airport ... and I am doing nothing there ...

I . went . there . for . four . days . but . I . just . lazying . around

"That's what happen when you out of town when you're feeling useless" -protip

Well, my purpose went to Madiun other than visit my Grandma in her two weeks early birthday, is to run away a little from my works, so I take a leave from works for three days. Stress just got me since the beginning of the year, so, I need stress reliever. Out of town. *Fail

I just found out that Sri Ratu Plaza, the place that used to be the only mall in Madiun just closed down. Well, Madiun has two malls, that Sri Ratu Plaza and Sun Plaza, I guess ... and now, Madiun just have one ... and it is far from my Grandma's home. Madiun is a small town that you should have a purpose to go out, like to buy something or to visit someone, kinda like that. The only day I went out is in Sunday, to visit other relatives, graveyard, and other place that basically just souvenir shop.

There's a campaign for general election that time, I forgot is that for Madiun only or for the entire province, but the campaign is really loud. My aunt told me that, in Madiun or in any other part of East Java, I guess, the candidates and their parties will hold prize full events. Do you get what I mean?

Ehm ... they'll hold events which people can win any prize, in Bandung usually like television, cellphone, or things like that, but in Madiun they can win cars or residential property. It's not for one or two person, but kind of many. What a 'politic', pleasing the society with that kind of prizes.

And the campaign car ... they added additional speaker, the big one, in and on to a car and drove it around the town with their party's march. Hmh ... the noise pollution though ...

I went home on Monday evening by train ...

Bludder Tjokro is really good, try it when you visit Madiun, in national holiday it'll sold out right away, pre-order it. End of word, Madiun maybe just old-fashioned town, but this place isn't bad, not a tourist destination though, just for people who wants in a quiet place but still have city feeling in it (cars noise or internet access).

Protip (this is really a protip), if you visit this place, bring or rent a car, motorcyle, or bicycle. They just have taxis and becak, no public transportation like bus or subway. Well, you can walk around the town, but seriously? Madiun is really hot and there's just small amount of pedestrian, so your own vehicles just the best option.

Random pictures ...

PS : My writing is still bad and my English isn't getting better, so ... sorry (?)

PSS : I tried to move into another platform of free blogging website

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, by Arum Ambarjati

LIFE EVENT

End of Year Activities | 2017

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, by Arum Ambarjati

SELF THOUGHT

2018

Hi ...

And happy new year. How's your new year's going? Hope everything is fine and you're not doing anything illegal in new year. I just back from Jakarta at 10.30 so I spent the rest of the time trying to sleep. But, fireworks ... in the end I went to sleep at 01.30 ...

Uwaaah, I can't believe it's 2018 already. All I can remember is I should done 2018 resolutions before the first January, but, yeah here I am ... still trying to figure what should I do in 2018 and I didn't make any 2017 resolution either. To be honest, I'm scared of 2018 and I can't believe I've passed 2017. So, if I have new year resolution, can I, at least less scared of 2018? Well, I make a couple resolutions though, here's the lists :

Going out more, like travelling or something

Since I started working in 2017, I become so busy and don't have much time to travel, even to a some new places in my hometown or new movies, that's why I need, at least going to museum or art space once a week. #salaryman24/7

Read and write more

I always love and enjoy both reading and writing, but since my university day, I forgot how much I love that activities. I used to write a novel when I'm in elementary school until high school, but then stopped, so I'm trying to make a debut in a free writing platform in 2018. Please wait ...

Get better at English and article writing

Well, I did so-so job in blogging. My grammar still not good and I still use the same vocabulary over and over again. I can't describe the things I review in some blog post and still confused what to write. In some other post I seem not really don't know what I really write and I need to improve the way I describe something.

Learning other langaunge other that English

This one, haha, I try learn some Japanese by my self by watching a lot of anime and dorama. Should I take a class?

Be wiser

A complete hit to me is just don't make any decision from one side perspective. I'll work on that.

The last, well, this is not the last, I probably add more another resolutions, but for this post, this one is the last.

Stop overthinking

I need to see a therapist.

Bye ..

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, by Arum Ambarjati

LIFE EVENT

Morning Walk | Malioboro

Hi ...

Morning walk is something that I rarely do. Why? Because of work and because sometimes laziness prevent me from doing something that good for body. But, this day, my mother forced me to come with her to do a morning walk.

Work for 12 hours a day makes my body stiff and not comfortable to use ... to use? Haha ... and I thought this isn't a bad idea (yes, of course ... morning walk is always good for you health). I came here, Malioboro, in my first stop while doing mudik or trip to grandma' place when Lebaran comes. I arrived the night before and that day is the last day of Ramadhan, so I'm still fasting.

Well, my hotel is near Malioboro, just side by side and in front of Tugu Station called Abadi Hotel Jogja. We basically walked from hotel and come back to hotel by becak. Becak is always one of my favourite ride in Indonesia and if I visit town in Central Java or East Java, I should ride one.

Started in north area of Malioboro. Oh, I forgot, Malioboro is one of the busiest road in Jogja, because Malioboro is a shopping road like in Orchard Singapore, but at this time, nearly empty. The last time I came here is in 2016. Usually not much different between year and year, but this year, Malioboro is shining new. One of the pedestrian is still the same, shopping road which is the destinantion for tourist who loves shopping, but the other pedestrian changes better. It is cleaner and nicer and I personally more comfortable walking there.

All of the shops are still closed when I get there. Look your surrounding, that's what people said, and yes I will not regret what me and my mother found in the busiest road in Jogja. Grapes. When you visit Malioboro don't forget to look its canopy. These are real grapes and I've been to Jogja, to Malioboro so many times I just realized this.

This hallway is the pedestrian that not for shopping area, and this is a lot cleaner and nicer. People can just hang out there, taking photo, or just enjoy the road. Malioboro is a place where people doing for cultural days, so maybe this pedestrian can be the place for cultural events.

We met this grandpa who sells kemoceng ... what is kemoceng in English? Duster? Yea, kind of. His name is Slamet, just call him Pak Slamet. He made these kemoceng and he said that all of these kemoceng have a year warranty. Well, if you meet him in Malioboro, buy one.

Past this Pecinan or China Road (?) China Town (?) gate. Interesting isn't it? With bright red and green, different roof, and dragons in its sides.

Malioboro is famous for changeable statues, like this rooster statue. Try different month and it is already different. And Jogja is one of city with high treaditional artsy people, kinda similiar to Bali which is strong with its culture.

And Pasar Beringharjo is the last destination of our morning walk, and we take becak afterwards. You want cheap clothes with batik motive? Here is the place. I suggest you to go the innermost of this place. The deeper you go, the cheapest you get.