PROJECT WANDERLUST: Traveling Home and Indulging Olden Days

to start it off, i would like to refer my thought to one of my fave quotes ever, from one of my fave films, ever as well, LIKE CRAZY, when Anna said:

"... but it's nice being away, i think it's important to get away from where you've grown up for some of your life ..."

despite loving it, i just have to go home. i mean, i have stayed far away from home due to job thingy, for - like - 2 and a-half years, and it makes going home is not a casual thing for me.

i like that - being away from home, and the idea of traveling home.

and, quoting - because, honestly, most of the time i can't get my words on the line, i find myself quote a lot, from music i listen to, movies i watch, books i read, people within my circle, even from online stores i shop sometimes; and then being inspired, like "hell yeah, that's exactly what i'm feeling/thinking about!". suddenly, i feel alive all over again.

wan~der~lust;

- noun 

a great desire to travel and rove about

i got enchanted by that very "quote" from COTTONINK, one of my fave web-stores, which helps me to understand a certain feeling occupying me from the very beginning of my "new" life as someone who stays far away from home and enjoys traveling so much, until recently - that feeling is just getting stronger. going home is just another to-do list, but it assures me that i am about to travel more and more - worldwide!

May of 2014. i went home. short days off. and, i was completely happy!

morning flight is always awe!

i could feel the morning breeze along with the mist which blurred the big glass windows of the shuttle bus. yeah, despite the fact that riding motorcycle through cold air of morning to airport was something of a heroic act and quite a "nuisance" for the rider. instead of getting to the airport on office's count, making it together with my partner in crime was really worth the misty morning. *thanks, my Arif!

the next exciting thing on board was finding myself sitting near the window, and alone!

on previous flights, the airplane was fully-seated and awkward moments with people sitting on the same row with me always happened - just small talks, tho! there was that typical passenger who always seemed to have things to talk about and had me jump into conversation, no matter how i really wanted to enjoy the flight on my own. or else, there was that good-looking guy who was totally cool and ignorant, right on my side, but he wouldn't bother to just glance at me a little.

honestly, it was more comfortable to sit alone in a 2-row or 3-row seat, despite its inability to release such anxious feeling within me when the plane started to take off. it was just miserable. but, after some seconds, when the plane was already stable up in the air, i felt so much better that i sat cozily and peacefully while waiting for breakfast on board: Java Chicken Curry with yummy chili sauce, fresh water, milk and chocolate muffin. for someone who didn't travel by airplane occasionally, i found that this was definitely something - to enjoy, to take into my memory.

the air inside the cabin was always a little too cold for me, but the short-timed flight didn't make me go to the toilet to pee - and, talking about it, i really had never ever been to toilet in the plane; hoping that i would never have to do that, because in my mind, it must be horrible and complicated - considering that sitting just calmly and nicely while the plane is on board is a morally honored attitude - at least that's what i believe.

after a transit flight at Soekarno-Hatta International airport for about an hour (from Banjarmasin) - and i always enjoy being in that airport, i landed happily in Yogyakarta - the place with which i always have a lovely long-term memory. i had ever lived in Yogyakarta for almost 5 years and got enchanted by the whole thing about the city. magically spell-bounded!

it was Saturday nite, and i roamed the city just happily!

starting with a neon-light nite: fancy cycling - it was cool and fun!
after a round cycling, we sat somewhere in the park nearby under the bright nite sky, and had traditional Wedang Ronde, a very delicious gingery hot drink with soft marshmallow-like dough called ronde. the drink was sweetly satisfying.

the next morning, i woke up energetically to roam the famous Sunday morning market around Gajah Mada University (UGM). this was heaven! and also my favorite place to visit when i lived in Yogyakarta. back then, i loved wandering around to explore some local delicacies and cute stuffs which are handmade and cheap.

i planned to have some Sate Ambal, just like what i had years ago - but, i failed. Sate Ambal is satay or kind of barbecued dish with special sauce made from chili and tempeh. remarkably delish!

instead, i had Lontong Opor and warm sweetened tea for breakfast.

then, i took a walk around my campus: The Faculty Of Cultural Sciences of UGM.

i felt like i was tracing back my memories. i walked silently and slowly - capturing everything while recalling my memories. it felt like every inch of the place was very special despite the developments of the area. how glad i was!

at dinner time, i met one of my students who studies in Yogyakarta. it was really good to meet her and see that she has grown a little bigger, as a college student.

the afternoon was completely adventurous! i went to water park, and swam and enjoyed the amusement park - as if i were a wee kid!

as for swimming, i have always been tagging myself The Little Mermaid, so water adventure is always awesome.

after those fun rides, i went to grocery shopping - and i loooveee this very much!

as a girl, i kind of mastering household thingy, such as doing chores and all those things related to girly thingy - except, of course, cosmetics. errr, i do care about skincare, but i have never been a person (a girl) who spends some money for make-ups. i would rather go for skincare products, although most of the time, they do cost a lot. i fancy maintaining the interior of, specifically, my room - because i haven't had my own house, and keeping it neat and clean all the time. i also fond of cooking, as well as eating a lot. as for shopping, i like grocery shopping better than any other kind of shopping.

i can spend hours pushing trolley and loading it with fresh apples, tangerines, grapes, broccoli, salad greens, extra virgin olive oil, pasta, tomato sauce, red rice grains, oatmeal, eggs, milk, cheese, or chips - and all that i like! it's also nice to have window shopping - capturing stuffs which are non-Indonesian origins, such as from Italian, Spanish, Indian, or Chinese culinary. for me, those groceries, herbs, and edible stuffs are exotic!

i got back home on Monday morning - spending about 5 hours on the road by a travel agent's minibus car. it was a sunny afternoon when i stepped out of the car. my eyes captured green paddy fields and my head turned to look above: a big blue umbrella sky.

i am home.

i spent some days at home to do some tasks, such as re-issuing my ID card and preparing documents and things for my wedding day, due on June the 12th. when my dad prepared me a bowl of chicken porridge for breakfast, i felt like i hadn't gone home for a long time; i felt like i have always been at home.

when it came to going back to Banjarmasin, i felt the in-between of hopeless and excited. it's not that i like to stay at home, but i did want to stay a little bit longer. also, i didn't really like the fact that i had to get back to work. but, it's nice to know that i was about to travel by train - in executive class of Turangga wagon, from Yogyakarta to Surabaya.

as far as i can recall, it was my first time to be on board of train. and, my very first time to be at Gubeng railway station in Surabaya, East Java. i got chance to explore the city, and found out that Juanda International Airport is amazing. i stayed a while at terminal 2 of the airport, and there were exciting things i have never known before. it was an experience i would never forget - as well as many other experiences which i keep in mind.

at the end of the day, i realized that i really have such guts to roam the road, to travel the world, with a pinch of wanderlust thingy within me.

i am looking forward to my next traveling moments - always am.









pictures: google.com, private documents