What I See in Friendship

As time goes by... do you realize how trials and tribulations' absolute power somehow perfectly function as a filter to show you who your true friends are? 

What I see in friendship is its endearing ability, to hang in there, to survive waves of troubles and changes. To reach out deeper, allowing each other to grow and be even more real every single day.

We may have added hundreds of friends along the way... but the true ones somehow... diminishing.  

I am just glad that Adis Nasier here, is one in the latter category.

Jakarta 2009

Bali 2013

Three's a Charm: Going down there

Thrilled to share a few things from my recent trip to the land down under. It was a pure work-trip though, but I was lucky enough to experience these....:

I got invited by a wonderful,sweet, and talented interior designer/writer, Lynn Malone and her partner Donna to their apartment in Sydney. Lynn initially set this giant Andy Warhol book to be opened on Marilyn Monroe's pages for my eyes to caught as I walked in! A few days earlier at a charity event, I did mention to her about  my adoration in Monroe... Just couldn't believe how she listened and actually care enough to make a sweet touch for her guest. I of course,did  not miss this opportunity to pose for a shot. Thank you sweet ladies!

My jaw dropped! Ol' Blue eyes Frank Sinatra performed here ages ago at this bar by Orwell street! I almost gave the door-handle a kiss:).
(Please excuse my so-called smartphone photo quality).

Last but not least, a little reunion with a sweet friend I have not seen in years. The last time we met was almost 4 years ago, on her wedding day to be exact. And Lia is now a super busy Momma with 2 cheeky boys!

Three's a Charm; More Friends

Cindy and I. We met at a party on my first year in Bali. A year-and a-half later, I joined the company Cindy is working at and our friendship gone stronger, even-though we are now working in a different place.  She is a Cap too, with almost zero similarities with me in terms of love life. I adore her sweet soul and how she always believe in falling in love wholeheartedly, topsy turvy!

Chyntia. Almost like a sist. Been almost 10 years since we crossed path at JW Marriott Jakarta. One of the most strong-headed person I know in life. My first year in Bali was fun-filled with our sun-baking time, before she got married and move back to Jakarta. Her faith and spirit is contagious, chatty (which is why we fit because I am more of a quiet person. Trust me, I share more in writings than in real conversations!)

Aya. This was taken at the recent mock wedding video shooting last week. We do not really hang out but it was a job in Jakarta, back in 2005 that hitched us. We are now working in the same hotel again, laughing on our funny memories back then. She is now a mama of one toddler.

Awesome People Hanging Out Together: Awesome Friends

Good morning! 

This Monday's Awesome People post is not taken from the uber cool tumblr like usual... But instead, from my own image library.
This is to bid a farewell that we have renamed to a 'Till We meet Again', to Silvia (the beautiful girl in white shirt) and Nicolas-her husband. Our dearest friends who have taken another opportunity in Kota Kinabalu. 

The ladies in the picture are my besties... Awesome ladies!

This is not our first picture together and I can assure you this is also not the last. Will  capture some more moments again... maybe not soon... But we will!

 

ps: I was on my way to a work event at that particular time, so please excuse my fashion failure at the beach *grin

Taree, Tressabel, Silvia, Fiftin

Not a farewell note

Ask me what is the topic I hate the most to write about? Farewell. I hate it but at the same time it has its eery power to make me feel better. So here goes...

I learned that the value of a friendship is not merely measured by how long you have been together as a friend. It is not defined by your race, things you have in common, and ... surprisingly, not by how many drinks at a crazy fun night out you have been through together. 

When we met early last year... An effortless friendship was made. It was not difficult for me to talk to you and share stories... To laugh about the same thing and at the same time worry about different things. You even caught me off guard and cry one time (or maybe two!). I cannot tell you how much I hope you feel the same too about this friendship. The way we can talk and share things from different perspective, how you have been a great support to me by sharing me insights in life, our quiz nights, countless eating out... and how we strangely love the same type of clothes, cheese and liquorice !

So my friend, it breaks my heart too, to realize that I was not there for you the past months... which apparently the last months of us living in the same island. Let the explanation stays between us two... I just want to thank you for being incredibly understanding.... 

And no matter how reluctant I was with this move you make ... I am standing to be the best support now and wish you all the good force the universe may carry (whilst at the same time hoping you will never find anyone who can replace me!) Haha!

Again, I hate saying goodbye... So this letter has to stop now before I break down crying... Take this as a simple way to let you know how much you mean to me and that I wish to always be be part in your life and in your family ;)...
Hugs and kisses to you...  Silvia, Nico... and someone I wish to see someday in the near future :)

To my girfriend(s)

So it has been a while. I know so. No need to go into details here, but I am back. I had a chance to talked via messenger with 2 of my girlfriends this week and there are 2 things that came out of them that still surprises me to this second.

" I wish can be as a free soul and  spirited as you are Abel, maybe it will be easier for me to handle hardships in life"

" I know you have your own pace and space, I know you have your right to either keep things with you or to share... But, try not to surprise us too much, okay?"

Those came from people I care about. So, what they say matter. A lot.

Typical me, I tend to keep it to my self, think about it when I am alone in my little loft so that I can get a well round understanding about things.

I am not that much of a free soul. Even if I am so close to it, it took me a lot to get there. Maybe you know about it. I just happen to have a very limited listening skill when it comes to negative force. That's all. So when things get hard, when people talk bad, when they laugh at my dreams, when they're reasoning my failures... All I am hearing is this buzz... bluuurp... blop and...beep. Maybe, you may want to try that. You know by heart, whatever you are facing will not affect those people's life. So, never let them do that to you.

And for that surprising step I just made? I know you are happy for me too. When I decided to let love in (after a period that some people considered as centuries), it surprise me too! I am sorry that I did not make you part of the questioning phase. And thank you for pointing this one to me- that you think of me as big deal. Somehow, it seems to be a familiar way for me to share things when I at least have a long haul idea about what it's going to bring. Your tremendous understanding is filling me with such grateful feelings. Thank you.

I love you both girls. Catch up soon.

Inspired Joy

Loving Friday: The Love of Friends

This is our second Loving Friday . And as promised, it will be about Love. I just had the most intimate (too short of time) reunion with some of my friends last night. Friends from... elementary school! Yes. Elementary school. I cannot find the words to describe how fun the dinner was, how the laughter brought me to the sweetest, funniest reminisce. Of all other things in life... I think no one can ever survive without the love of friends... yes?

Give thanks

To my sweet girls who are now busy preparing that so called turkey ;). Sorry I cannot join you for dinner tonight. My thankful heart for having you as my dearests and as a bonus- having the two of you living on the same pweety island ; Adis and Ayu.

PS: I smell an intention of enlivening a New York thanksgiving scene from the past, so hope the weather is cool enough tonight, at least. 

xoxo

Thankful Bel

Three's a Charm ; Friends

Time to post the top 3 favorite pictures again! This time, I am sharing a few pictures of my friends and I . All are taken within this particular week. 

Olvie and I

With Silvia in one of our Quiz Nite at this bar we visit every Thursday

Yosi, me and Ria at our Odalan Ceremony

Quick Catch Up

Just sharing one picture from the last little reunion over an enormous buffet lunch with some of my Bandung besties. Bandung is this little city where I was born, and I also went to one of the university there. Joe (the beardy guy) is like a big brother. I am good friends with his family too , means his other big brother and 2 younger brothers, cousins, in laws and relatives. The sweet girl hugging Joe as if he was a bear is Indira, also one of my closest, is a mother of three boys- yes, three boys. As much as she loves being a Mom, the three hour lunch was a well deserved break for her indeed :)). Another girl on the end is Maya, who actually was in senior year when Joe, Indira and I entered the university, but we get along and manage to stay in touch this far. Maya is a mother of one cute son.

Volent , my sister and Joe's cousin Lewi were there too but we did not get the picture together as a group. Too bad.

Not enough time for us to catch up on things, but it was worth the wait. See you guys soon, hopefully with more lovely people in the picture.

Trials and Tribulations

A long and deep conversation with a best friend (tho’ by text or other messenger tools) always end up with me getting new insight. And I like that. Yesterday, I had a chance to talk over a messenger with my best friend of more than 15 years. It is very comforting yet easy to be able to jump into even the hardest topic when you are that close. Ice breaker is out of the question.

So we talked about how relationships can be overwhelmingly exhausting. She was in a destructive relationship for about 7 years in the past and now in love with a very decent man for 4 years. I must say, I love seeing how happy she is now.

Then this question comes up. Is the wedding bell will be ringing soon? Oh how I understands that she has been longing for it. Then double T; trials and tribulations– as always- find their way to push people right in the corner of doubt and hesitation. I have to disagree when she refers the 7 years was a trial given by God. As the scripture says (James 1:13-14) 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

She knew that man is not her future (for many reasons that I cannot share here), but yet, desire led her to get the idea and misinterpret all the hardships as God’s tests. I cannot tell you how "not so" secretly relieved I am when they broke up .
I am no perfection; I can say this out loud simply because I have been there.

On the relationship she is now having, I believe that God is folding her and him into perfection in God’s eyes. They both are in love and want the same godly things, they involved God since the very beginning of their bond, they move on form the past, being honest about each other’s fears and open about each others dreams.

So, girl, do not stop now. By experience I can say that wedding bell is not the final answer. Think of something beyond, dream about your grandchildren, dream about your retirement vacation where you will be sending postcards from Jerusalem, mesmerize about how you are going to tell bible stories for your great grandchildren. Wedding is just a big milestone. It is not the last destination.
We are meant to walk further and becoming a more beautifully formed being in His eyes. I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20 

Dear best-friend of 15 years...Whatever the doubt you are having, no matter how big your question is... God is standing there at the end of the long winding road with an absolute answer.  All you need to do is unload the heaviness inside you to His throne. So go ahead and do that...

Auf Wiedersehen, Sampai Jumpa!

This one is dedicated to my young, beautiful, bold and cheeky friend, Tine. I met her year last year when I first arrived in this little paradise, Bali. Tine was an intern in the hotel that I am working for. At first, she reminds me so much of the siblings form Germany that I made friends with back when I was little. She’s courageous, outspoken, cheerful and so fun to be with. She is the type of a girl who may seem like a very strong rock but will not be afraid to show her inner soft self. A real adventurer, passionate about her job and I never tell her this but ... I so envy her long legs and an array of her bikini collections and the fact that her parents own a chocolate factory in Germany! Oh yeah I am so going to miss all the chocolate bars from her too (sad face) Hahaha...

This week, she is leaving Bali to get to a crossroad that will outline her future. Up to the time I am posting this, she hasn’t got back to me about the final plan yet. Well, yes she has a lot of tempting options waiting for her because of her hard work and strong will for success. As much as I am happy for her, I am at the same time feel sad of not going to have her around again for our sun-baking time, dinner, party or a drink over a silly and crazy long conversation. I wish you the world girl! And whatever that is you are going to tell me by (darn our last) dinner time, you know the wishes will follow you through. Hugs and kisses.

White party in kuta with Virginie

The not so secret santa night; Ibu Inne, Belle, Yosi, Tine, Ria and the turtle

Just Because

woke up this morning and thinking bout you guys :)

You've Got a Friend in Me

Kevinna and Joseph (my nephew): Their moms are best friends since they were in junior high. Now the two tots continue the friendship knot.

 

 The tots with their momma

How I cannot wait to show this picture to them once they grow up

I actually overheard Joseph : Kev, please don't go to sleep just yet. Sleepy Kevin : Yes Abang, I will not...(Abang- how to address an older brother)

Sharing Ompung's Love (Grandmother- My Mom)

They share toys and pets too!

Well, their friendship by far displays the most adorable relationship ever.Do you have one?