Menghitung mundur, bergerak maju.
The last few days are long-weekend in Thailand. Last Thursday was may-day, while every country in the world celebrates labor work by marking the day to be a holiday. This Monday is also a holiday in Thailand, it’s a ‘Coronation Day’. I guess this is the day when the King/Queen is formally crowned as a legitimate King of Thailand monarch. That’s why, a few days back, my manager was asking me about my plan on the long holiday. Almost all of my work-colleague are taking on-leave on the Friday. Some of them are planning to relax in Pattaya, one of them are going to Vietnam, and I heard that there’s also people that going to Japan. I, myself, decided to take a rest at my apartment, just scrolling my handphone, doing nothing. Suddenly, there is a notification from Google Photos. “Relive the moment”
- Laughing out loud at a live stand-up show in Markas COMIKA
- Become a tourist in Jakarta
- Seeing Beautiful Cucumber
- Testing my Skill in a Chess Tournament
- Listening to a piano concert
- Singing Indonesia Raya with 70K Indonesian
- Watching JUMBO
- Saying (Good) Bye!
“What’s your plan for the long weekend?”
“I don’t know, maybe just staying in the apartment”
The last few days are long-weekend in Thailand. Last Thursday was may-day, while every country in the world celebrates labor work by marking the day to be a holiday. This Monday is also a holiday in Thailand, it’s a ‘Coronation Day’. I guess this is the day when the King/Queen is formally crowned as a legitimate King of Thailand monarch. That’s why, a few days back, my manager was asking me about my plan on the long holiday. Almost all of my work-colleague are taking on-leave on the Friday. Some of them are planning to relax in Pattaya, one of them are going to Vietnam, and I heard that there’s also people that going to Japan. I, myself, decided to take a rest at my apartment, just scrolling my handphone, doing nothing.
Suddenly, my phone blips. There is a notification from Google Photos. “Relive the moment”
The beginning of 2025 became pivotal moment in my life journey. TLDR; I took an opportunity to chase a dream working for an abroad company. And I realize that decision would lead into a big shift. I am standing at a cross-roads, trapped in-between a farewell and a new beginning. And in this in-between, I guess the best thing I can do is to carry no regrets: to do all the things I might never get the chance, to say what needs to be said, to hold close the people and moments that still matter — before everything changes.
And here’s some higlight of it:
Laughing out loud at a live stand-up show in Markas COMIKA
Stand-up comedy has always had a special place in my heart. I felt a bit ashamed that I had never visited the center of Jakarta’s stand-up scene, Markas Comika. So when a “COMIKA Marathon” event was announced, I registered immediately. At first, I was afraid it might be a bummer — that I’d end up sitting there alone, feeling awkward.
But turns out it was a blast! At first I picked a seat in the back, but in the middle of the show I moved to the very front chair. They had some improv shows and I had some interaction with the comics. And the jokes they throw was very funny omg. This is the place I would visit again, for sure.
bonus: A photo with Pandji dan Abdur
Become a tourist in Jakarta
I figured that eventhough I had lived in Jakarta for almost 3 years, I hadn’t explore a lot of places in Jakarta. So, I decided to give it whirl.
Turns out, Jakarta had a very deep cultural heritages and very interesting. My Journey starts with a walking tour of Kota Tua. It’s so interesting to know Jakarta’s story back from 1600s. And I just learn that there’s this business (Acaraki) that could modernize Jamu, and it was very good! I also do several photo-hunting in some of Jakarta historical spot: Lapangan Banteng, Pasar baru, Glodok Chinatown, Cikini - Gondangdia, South Quarter, and Bundaran HI, and I just realize that Jakarta is very beautiful hahaha. I also do some jogging at Ragunan Zoo, which is weird because how come a place that good only costs 6000 Rupiah!! I also have some tour on Baduy Village, which is a very new experience to me to see how the people’s life there. I never realize there’s this new way of life, and it works for a long time. My last trip is a guided tour to Universitas Indonesia with local tour-guide, and that was a blast also because i get to learn first-hand of UI students campus life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of places I haven’t visited: Mangrove Ecotourism PIK, Kepulauan Seribu, Pasar Santa, and many more. :(
I will attach some of the picture, but for the full series of “Jadi Turis di Jakarta”, I made a highlight in my IG, come see them haha
Seeing Beautiful Cucumber
I had three idols, and one of them is Raditya Dika. Fortunately, in my last day in Jakarta, Raditya Dika is working on a passion project of Beautiful Cucumber, which is a duo-band. They produces this very good song – Jika bersamamu – and I want to see them perform live haha. So, when the opportunity comes, I quickly registered to the event without further thinking (radit’s event is always a war).
And it was very good. They do a talk show first with Yono Bakrie as moderator, and I don’t expect I get a life-changing advise here from radit tbh. The concert also was a good one, eventhough I think I am the only one singing.
Testing my Skill in a Chess Tournament
Everyone knows I love chess, and I decided I want to do a chess tournament in Jakarta for the last time, so I registered to an amateur tournament in SCBD haha. I admit that the game was very hard and I got lucky several times. I faced some good players and a chess prodigy, but I left with a score 2/4, not bad right?
Listening to a piano concert
This is more of an impromptu event actually, because it keeps showing on my IG ads. My wishlist was actually watching an orchestra, but this is close enough I guess. So, I buy the tickets of Tony Ann concerts hahaha. And, turns out I like it. The performance was actually really magical. He had an albums called ‘emotions’ and that night is when I know exactly what people means when they says music touch your emotion. Anyway, Tony Ann has some good melody, please listen to ICARUS and REMINISCE hahaha.
Singing Indonesia Raya with 70K Indonesian
To be honest, watching football match in a stadium was always my dream since I was a kid. As a kid, I used to watch Sriwijaya FC in their golden age, with Kayamba Gumbs and Pavel Solomin at that time. My friends always ask me to join them to watch Sriwijaya FC live in stadium, but I was a broke & cautious kid hahaha. So, I think the universe heard my wish so they arrange a football match between Indonesia and Bahrain for me HAHAHA.
The match is very magical for me. First, I get to sing Indonesia Raya with all of the people there. I also get a magical moments where we scream goal and get excited to finish the match with three points in hand. I also realize that watching a football match is not that scary, I went alone and I still safe.
Watching JUMBO
And yes, I feel honored to see this Indonesia masterpiece before I left Indonesia. I watch this movie with my family, and believe me it was hard to watch it with poker face, especially on that ‘pentas’ scene. For me, I feel that the movie had some plot hole, but it doesn’t really broke the experience for me. The soundtrack of the movie was so good that it live rent-free in my head for couple of days. I am glad that this movie was made with decent quality so it could act as a gate-opener for Indonesia animation industry. Kudos to the team and I am glad that this is the last movie I watch in Indonesia cinema (for now)
Saying (Good) Bye!
And yes, of course, I spent my last two months in Indonesia trying to say goodbye to people. This was actually the hardest part — coordinating schedules with people was incredibly difficult. My final month happened to be during Ramadan, and I was grateful for the many bukber (breaking fast) events that helped me plan meetups. But unfortunately, those gatherings were never fully attended, so I still had to meet several people individually, and that’s very hard. But I was actually surprised, because I used to think it would be awkward to meet face to face. But it turned out that I preferred it that way; the conversations were unexpectedly deep and genuine hahaha. Sadly, not all of those moments was documented. I guess it was a sign tho.
Sometimes, it felt that time is so cruel. I always know that time only comes once, but I never felt it this real before. Time is painfully limited, and I had too much things to do that time simply doesn’t permit. There were so many places I hadn’t visited, so many things I hadn’t done, and so many people I hadn’t said goodbye to. But time flew by mercilessly — never waiting for me to finish it all, never pausing to ask if I were ready.
I guess it’s time, right? To finally do everything I once wished for — before this moment slips away :)
Udah sih gitu aja, bye!
