Indonesia, Part I

I will try my best to summarise the past 6 weeks but I am well aware it won't be an easy task. If you are ready, here I go.

On July 8th I left Portugal early in the am. It took me 4 flights and 36 hours total to get to my final destination: Makassar in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. I stopped in Barcelona, Singapore, Jakarta, and when I arrived in Makassar I was 7 hours ahead in time (I am in GMT time zone). 

I lost almost every single flight, and the longest flight (from Barcelona to Singapore) was an ordeal, since we had a lot of turbulence and I am very sensitive to motion. By the time I arrived in Singapore I had already threw up 2 times, and I would throw up again when landing in Jakarta. 

I remember I had the worst impression of Jakarta's airport, easily labeling it as the worst place I've ever been. It was hot, the smells where rather intense, I was tummy sick and nothing was in my favour.

I landed in Makassar at 10pm (local time) and that was the occasion where I met Amber (my future room mate) for the first time. She came along from China with Juliana, who would eventually spend some time with us too. I cried that first night. By that time I had already called my mom bemoaning and telling her I was not capable of doing what I had set for myself. 

I also met Sike that night. I was supposed to stay with her just for that one night. On our first night, I remember putting my feet up on a wall where she had a mundi map, and the three of us spent about an hour together setting expectations, talking about our dreams and getting to know each other. 

The next morning I didn't want to leave. It was a whole lot of trouble, but I stayed. 

The first meal I had there was some kind of rice, with a stock, and pork (both sweet and savoury). I absolutely hated it - haha. 

Of course eventually I found lots of food that I liked, otherwise I wouldn't have come back home with extra 8 kgs... My personal faves are perkedel jagung, perkedel kentang, java noodles, bali chicken and fried rice with pork!!

In the first morning, Sike played Lost Boy by Ruth B. and that song will forever make me think of Indonesia and that morning. I played it often while away from home.

Eventually I realised that Fransiske likes to listen to music in the morning or while in the shower, and by the time I left, Perfect by Ed Sheeran or You and I by Ingrid Michaelson where the elected.

Cuts From Indonesia

Samalona Island

So far, Indonesia has been an adventure. More to come.

I cannot illustrate and even less begin to explain to you how life is in this place. What you see here for sure is an ice cream shop somewhere in a western, developed country. But the true is it isn't. This country is a place that makes me question everything. And I really mean everything. But I'll talk about that later. 

For now, I'll leave you with this cute little ice cream corner called KYOUCHII in Makassar. For a moment, you almost could forget you are in the middle of nowhere. 

Before I Go

I'm leaving to Indonesia in less than a week. I will stay for a month and a half, on the other side of the world. In a new world. 

Before I go, I want to enjoy every second of it. I want to ride my bike at midnight, grab a cheeseburguer or surf the waves under a starry sky and a full moon, sit and have an honest talk. No pretending. And when I come back I want to do it all the same, no false starts, no second chances, all new, all over again. And I dare myself, not to stay the same, but still being me. 

As I am today

She likes to walk alone and she walks fast. She likes to run at dusk when it's chilly and preffers a soft drizzle of rain falling on her face while doing so. 

Mornings are her favourite part of the day and when she wakes up she likes to listen to music, but preferably after breakfast, while making her bed before leaving for college. 

She doubts her feelings and her likings somedays. Sometimes she feels very secure of herself. She's usually energetic but is becoming lazier as the time goes by. 

She usually takes a nap after lunch. Or before dinner.

Her favourite film is "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain". Admires left handed people and likes to celebrate little milestones. 

Travelling excites her, but tires her so much too. 

Can't imagine a future without children of her own.

She's scared by the unkown and likes to be in control. She also hates surprises. Don't do it. But appreciates spontaneity nonetheless. 

Her favourite place is a park near home. 

She has cut her own hair twice. Once when she was a child, the other a week ago, at 21yo.

She owns a pink kanken which she adores. 

She has never left europe.
She also hasn't read a book for two years now, which makes her immensely sad.
She has began Tolstoy's "War and Peace" about 5 times and has never finished it.
Her favourite books are "Amor de Perdição" and "The Portrait of Dorian Gray".
Until this day, she's never liked peas, although she can bare them to a certain point. 

People Who Inspire Me

While growing up I've met a few remarkable people. Which one was incredible and unique in their own way and I think that's beautiful. Naturally, some will always have more impact on you than others. Some you will connect with and some you won't. And that's just fine. 

Eventually I've realised that there are these two incredible people in my life. It happens them to be both ladies and both close to me, which makes me feel so dang special.  

Even though it took me some time to realise their full potential, since then I just knew they would do great in life. Doing whatever they would be doing, having no matter who by their side, and leading their lives no matter the place, the only constant in all of this is time: they'll always be the best at what they do.

Because they do it for love, they do it passionately, or they would not do it at all. They do it with enthusiasm and curiosity and they are never content. They also have their doubts and their mishaps. Still, they'll soon be back at their feet. 

All of this because one of that people is my sister, who is now in Prague attending a conference and let me just say I am the proudest sissy in the world. She's a young scientist leading scientific studies and researches on sexuality, she is now a published author (whoop whoop!) and I love her. I love you I.! 

pics from two weeks ago when she came to visit