Work Hard Travel Often #2 (1week in Bali)

This is gonna be a quite long reading story, so buck — a — lock. Although this is gonna be a fun one & full of messages, I promise!

So it’s been more than a few weeks since I am back in Sydney, Australia. Everybody was asking, “how was your quick trip to Bali?” I said, “it was great, I had the best time ever!” …but I ended up didn’t say much, because gez I don’t have all day to explain how amazing my recent trip was.

Honestly, the food was not the highlight of the trip at all. The hotels I stayed in were excellent. Love the beaches & the suburbs too! If only the heat in Bali and traffic jams were not that depressing, this would be a perfect getaway for me. But, the people? It makes this story is A WHOLE LOTTA DIFFERENT. From most of the people that I met at the Hotel I stayed, strangers on the streets & shops & cafes & restaurants & salons & whatever you name it — they just so lovely, it left me a fond mark of how nice people in my country is. Plus, I get to spent time a lot of time with my crazy cute adorable main family, also met my sister in law family that is fun, also met a lot of my big family members back at home & friends that were coming on my brother’s wedding, also met my long time no see private driver that always obsessed to become comedian/celebrity, aaand least but not last; I get to meet some of my favourite Sydneysiders in Bali too, included my x-boss (you’re welcome!).

Quick intermezzo; me and my brother had a major drama before our departure to Bali, at Sydney Airport. The story is at the immigration station at Sydney airport, they found out my brother put my wine on cabin bag… I was like speechless, but ended up exploded — just because its wine, its MY WINE, and of course it’s limited edition one. They took it, put it in the bin. Like whatchudoing asdfghjkl, HOW DARE YOU. I was arguing with the officer for quite a while just to find an option not getting my precious thang into the bin, however, my brother started to pull me out just because we gotta chase the plane. I asked the name of the officer manager tho, and he said his name is Eddie Bob. I was like,” Really.. Is that even your real name?” Because it doesn’t sound like that, it sounds more like a stripper nickname for me. Anw, me and my brother had massive arguments too on our way to our plane gate. He even yelled at me, because when I’m upset I could be an intense chipmunk. Anw, I decided to chill calm the f-down by took my time out from my brother and bought me a coffee to help my brain function better in the morning. I sneak out to call my mom too and told her ‘how not smart my brother was, how upsetting it was’. But I love how my mom responds; she asked me to be gracious, she asked me to forgive my brother because he has been too stressed with his wedding preparation, she asked me to have a bigger heart — simply because she knows I am able and I have more self-control. Just like always, I chose to obey mom. I mean.. She’s right, sometimes I gotta stop feeding my ego, for better things, for more important things. So I thought; if it’s just losing a wine that would be fine, as long as I won’t ruin my brother’s wedding. I was like end up fixing things up with my brother and I was the one who cheered him up at the airplane (while I was the one who actually is the victim, but oh well, I’ll do anything for the groom, because I know he needed that moral support more than me). We literally ended up having a good laugh about Eddie Bob, the stripper officer.

The first day we arrived in Bali, me and brother got picked up by a local driver that we already booked ahead, with my current sister in law of course (because she lives there). On that day as well; mum, sister, and my private driver flew from Jakarta too — so we spent hanging around in Bali airport for another hour waiting for them. Hectic day I must say. Physically & mentally — esp with that wine drama I had. My dad flew to Bali the next day, because just like always he always working and busy with meetings.

Oksi, if I need to share you the full story in Bali it’s gonna take me the whole day to explain it — but let me share you my experience about these people that made Bali felt special to me:

1. Mr. Paul-ARIWIBOWO — he’s our very favourite btw. A little about Paul; he’s playing a big role in my family. He’s been with our family for a long time, working on & off. I’m sure Paul made this trip 10x better. He knows how to deal with us. He cheered me up a lot & joke with me, also my fam all the time (except mom, he’s pretty scared with my mom HAHA). He also did anything that we asked & always ready. Besides a driver, he’s our personal cheerleader indeed. I’m just grateful he never have a ball to chase his dream to become a comedian/celebrity, otherwise, we wouldn’t have him as our keeper. I personally haven’t seen this guy for a long long time. He used to be our driver when I was a teenager, then quit, then back again, then quit, then back again. Mr. Paul is not perfect (even a bit messy), but from many drivers that I used to had, he always is my favourite. Why? Simply because he is a genuinely nice guy, he always tried his very best to serve us, he is super funny, patience, full of compliments, and always told me an Indonesian scary story, which basically his service to us is more than JUST being a driver. Especially when we were at Bali, he was ready 24/7 and at my brother’s wedding, he also served our guests like a boss. He ended up hanging out with everyone and do a better job even than the EO. Oh, he also danced on the dance floor too like a superstar! Twas good fun, honestly! Paul was the highlight of the wedding too, everybody that came ended up talking about him HAHAHA. Classic. Thank you for your service Mr. Paul, you’re one of a kind & forever being a part of our family. You spark too much joy, and your presence definitely made our world a better place.
2. My main family. I just out of words with these bunch, they just simply my rock. I love each one of them, grateful for them, and thankful for a short but a special bonding time. They are always full of laugh, joy, drama, and warmness. No matter how weird our character as individuals, I love that we always support each other as a family.
3. At a salon in Sanur I met this Indonesian Javanese lady that served me, she’s so kind & gentle — I am pretty sure she is half an angel (it could be rite?!). Anyway, we shared quite a lot of story and thoughts about Javanese food (as I am Javanese too btw), she told me she married an Indonesian Balinese man and have been living in Bali for more than 5 years. She also told me a story about her child. I love listening to her genuine life stories. After she’s done doing my hair, she told me I look like Mariah Carey. I gave her extra tip for a good compliment haha kidding, no she was doing a great job on my hair and I think she really deserved extra cash. I really appreciate people who do their job wholeheartedly. Oh, and I see so much hope in her eyes.
4. Mr. Made — the restaurant manager of the local Indonesian restaurant we dined in at Canggu. That night I craved some real Indonesian food (Javanese food specifically) but apparently on the restaurant we stepped in they only sell Balinese food. The food in this restaurant was just okay for me honestly, the food I ordered just taste like fish & lemongrass, but what special about this place is the front of house team. I forgot the name of the girl who served us, but she is the most joyful human being that I met for quite a while. She’s like at the age of 20ish and she’s the kinda girl who looks trying really hard to give the best customer service, so defo you won’t complain about the food to her otherwise she may lose her sparks haha. Anw, this restaurant specialty is the hospitality; the waitress is spending a lot of time with the guest — making them feel special & cared for, especially Mr. Made, he might spend more than 1.5 hours on our table just to share the Balinese hospitality. He shared his Balinese story & his life story. Surprisingly; beside fun & funny, his stories touched my heart too. He has one beautiful son that looked like adore him so much. I think Mr. Made and his kid actually live in that restaurant building because there was a time when he spoke to us, the son was coming to our table to tease him, and he said, “tidurrr, nak.” which means in English, “go to sleep, kid.” It was the most adorable quick moment and there where Mr. Made started to shared his personal life story about his son. So basically Mr. Made is a single-father, his wife passed away after giving birth to the son. Honestly, after I knew that I look at Mr. Made with compassionate eyes, his story did break my heart. However, Mr. Made is told his story very boldly seems like he moved on with the past & seeing it on the bright side instead. He also told us his story about how he raised this child and the value he planted for his loved one, so this kid will grow into a good & responsible boy. Let me be honest with ya, I was stoked to find that kind of goodness in this world. Let me tell ya, it’s rare. Mr. Made reminded me about value, wisdom, love, and time. How precious are those things? You don’t understand people until you spend time to speak with them or sit with them, heart to heart. Mr. Made also taught me to be better, not bitter — the fruitful things come with process & time. Not only stomach, but my heart was also full too after that night I came home. In a way I felt like be reminded of my roots are; I am born Indonesian, especially in Javanese culture; we born with a solid value of bibit, bebet, bobot (it means what you plant & sow is what you reap). It reminded me of my mom too, back in the days I grew up at home; since the moment I wake up till I go to bed, she wouldn’t stop talking about manners & discipline. My mom advice used to bore me to death, now I really really really appreciate it. As I kinda understand what’s the hope of parents towards their children in my culture; they wanted the VERY best for us — heart & soul — we apparently are the most precious thing in their life. I don’t get to think about value like this in day to day basis since I moved to Australia. Oh, regarding the joyful girl that served us; I gave her extra tips. Why? Because she is the young generation of girls and she needs support to keep her motivated towards what she does. I am forever supporting young enthusiastic generation, without being a skeptic or without looking at their gender.
5. The girl who did facial my face & did my manicure at Plataran Canggu. This is where I stayed for days and where my brother got married too. If I’m not mistaken, the girl name who served me is Indah. She is 19 or 20 years old — she also told me she started working when she was 12th yrs old to support herself, her brothers and her fam (whutttt?!). Shits do get real when you open your eyes and ears in a country like Indonesia and many other develop countries I believe. Indah left school only for work to support her lil brothers she said, as she wants her brother to go to school. For a moment I was speechless as I don’t know what to respond to her story, I just can imagine she is a sacrificial sister with a selfless heart. At some point, she asked me, “are you actually a celebrity? Because you look good and look like one on television.” With her innocent face. I was like laughing and I said that I am not, I also said, “you look beautiful too, dear!” Indah did a great job at facial my face but not with a manicure — as one of my fingers end up bleeding quite a lot haha. However, I end up gave her extra tips too. Not because I can or I feel more adequate because I think she might need it and it will motivate her. Looking to a poverty issue does break my heart, often I feel moved. I also told her that she did a good job, she must keep going in whatever job that she loves. Well, met Indah made me pondered; what do I expect from 19–20yrs old girl — although I paid a premium price for the resort, basically Indah just a staff. She doesn’t get much from her work and still need to support herself & her fam. Trust me I usually the girl who liked to complain when things didn’t meet my expectations. However, I feel like nowadays the world needs more compassion rather than criticism. I feel like the world needs more people who not just speak to make a difference, but people who ready to walk the talk instead. As a working girl that has been working since 18th yrs old, I know being independent is not an easy task to carry, especially as a young girl.
6. All the guests that I met at my brother’s wedding; family, groom & bride’s friends — some of my brother’s friends I know them quite well already. They’re super sweet! I had a short chat with them individually at a wedding ceremony & dinner, we also were dancing & karaoke-ing at the wedding party. With good amount of wines that we consumed, we all seem had a blast! Especially the groom & the bride, for a moment they were dancing passionately & sang out loud, taking over the stage & microphone (my brother said; “I paid a lot for this, I don’t want not making the most of it.”) while actually, he looked hilarious a.k.a drunk but yeah hahaha hope he had the best time of his life.
7. My very best friend; Susan Hioe. I guess I haven’t mentioned her name in here. She was coming to my brother’s wedding too! So basically our Bali bonding time is not really planned, we just happen to went to Bali in at same week. She was going on holiday and I was going for a family event. So so so glad able to meet her once every year at least! Most of the time I wouldn’t able to keep up my long-distance friendship just because I am bad at it. But with Susan is different, as I don’t know — she looks like the most careless person you’ve ever met, but deep down inside she is the kindest soul. Anyways, grateful she always present in my life’s big event!
8. Sydneysiders that I met in Bali. Well, that’s actually my brother’s friends, my best friend, and my x-boss. Of course, they have a special place in my heart. They’re like people you spent some time with for quite a while, then separated by life decisions, and you got a chance to meet them again but only a short period of time.
9. Another beautiful stranger that I met in Airplane from Bali-Jkt-Syd and Uber driver in Sydney. No joke, I won’t forget the short memory they spent in my life. Why? Because I end up have a real genuine conversation with them. They are one of the kindest, warmest, and sweetest. You don’t meet strangers like this often okay, trust me I know, I have been living my solo life in Australia for more than 8 years now, also met too many strangers from all over the world that traveled in this country. Anw, let’s talk about the first beautiful stranger first! The girl that I met in Airplane named Indi; she’s a student from Croatia that living in Sydney atm. We spoke all the time at Airplane, from Bali til Jkt; mainly about Bali and how nice the locals are, also about our life and work in Sydney. Indi is super warm, she is shown an example; as a stranger, you don’t need to play in it cool. She was super caring and always smiling all the time too (not that I wasn’t), but she helped to passes a lot of things from a flight attendant in our tiny seats. I was re-reading a book ‘Come Matter Here’ by Hannah Brencher, she was like asking me about that book as well. Ha! It’s actually a Christian book, but I didn’t say it hahaha, but that book is about building an adulting life in a place where you are at the moment. To help our instant thinking towards the next destination & the next big thing in life. The book is also revealed; it’s actually started from where we are, as if we run to the next destination without finishing what we started, we eventually will face the same thing again and again. Anyways, that book is based on Hannah’s life story, her faith & relationship with Jesus — which for me I can relate & take her pieces of advice a lot. Indi told me she will read that book, oh well, I hope she will, and I hope she will like it too. Back to the story! Many things I shared in Airplane with Indi lead to better conversations, and I can’t deny I need some of her words of the comforter as a new member of grown-up girls. She’s studying physiology btw, so no wonder right she can answers most of my questions well. Somehow I felt like just done a therapy sesh, but in Airplane, for free. Some of her words seem like a healing balm to my heart and surprisingly without many awkward moments we become the best bud in while we waited for the next flight and until we arrived in Sydney too. We also laugh towards so many things that we found hilarious in Indonesia. Trust me, there’s a lot of things I found strange in my country, even as a native Indonesian.
10. Next, let’s talking abt another beautiful stranger! The most memorable Uber driver, I forgot his name. Anyways, as I forgot something inside the airport, he waited for me for around 20 mins! What an angel that he is, usually Uber just being rude and reject you straight away, but not this man. After he waited for me patiently, we were chatting to get to know each other where we are from. So this man is from New Zealand, yep one of my favourite country that I just visited. I shared quite a lot with him, I kinda enjoyed reminiscing NZ and made him lost focus took a wrong route hahaha. I was like, “Nah that’s fine, you’re okay Sir.” He felt so guilty and I was like so chill as I just came from a short holiday. At some point in the conversation, I told him what happened in Bali too, that I caught a bouquet of flowers at my brother’s wedding. A sentence that shocked me from him was, “I think you’re ready to get married, he must be a lucky guy!” I was like, “Sir, I am a single, most of the time I spend is at work, I don’t even have time to find the nice man yet. I always work too much.” While I was giggle. That conversation leads to another conversation, he shared to me that he has two sons; one of em is a good boy who works hard overseas, another is bad one who only spending his money for a bad girl. First I don’t know how to respond, but as I learned from Indi; our words can become a comforter for other people right? So I spoke to this man, to not worry about his other son, that eventually that son will learn from his lesson, especially because he is a good dad. I also said that when I was little, I was spoilt & pretty bad too, but I decided to change because of my parents, especially my mom. Plus I would like to have a better future, that’s why I have to fight for what I want. His response was gold, I felt like he was motivating in many ways too. As to be honest, I might need that. The funny bit about this long ride chat we had, he drove one of my chef friends too before; Kesia. That man, remembers that Kesia is such a hard-working girl that works for the renowned chef in Australia; Peter Gilmore. He said, “that girl was so lovely!” And I was like, “she’s my mate! She is Indonesian too! But she already going home for good! I used to work with her in Peter’s restaurant too for a bit but now not anymore.” Then he asked,” where are you working now?” I answered, “now I’m working with Matt Moran’s restaurant in his new venue in Barangaroo. Then he said, “I can’t believe I am driving such important girls in the chef industry. You girls must be working so hard!” I was like, “oh yes sir we are hahaha.” Not that I need that validation but yeah we do sacrifices most things in life as a chef, I even actually need a break after 8 years but I can’t do it yet. When I arrived at the destination, he said to me, “don’t touch any of your luggage, let me carry everything! You have been working too hard.” I was speechless. Moreover, he ended up saying goodbye by hugging me so tight, “you’re a good girl. Keep going, okay!” How can I forget that uber driver? My best uber experience ever. I wish you can give 500 stars to the very special ones.

It’s so strange for me; surrounded by people give me so much joy & energy. There’s just something about human connection that I’m just sucker with — I love to sit and talk with people and just simply have genuine conversation caring for each other; either way it with strangers, good mates, or family members. To be fairly honest; To find something like this in Sydney is rare, as we all busy, especially me and my work is just a pretty much non-stop boring story that everyone usually always hears and the reason I always M.I.A.

Moments like this made me feel alive, made me remember who I am, and made me remember why I started.

Often times we are so caught up in our busy lives and forget how to live. Even how to care. Towards everyone. Even towards ourselves. When I am tired of my work, I often say, “I do hate people.” Also, try to ignore everybody. But, that’s not how we should live, is it? We work to make a living & be part of the community to contribute, not just to tick all the tasks & ignore the essential things in our surroundings.

My short trip to Bali has awakened me and made my dry bones come alive. This is not the beginning of the year yet, but I am ready to begin again. Thank you for people that are so so so kind along the way, my cup is full, and I am ready to pour again.

Look I know this is a long story for a one week trip, but I hope my writing can be inspiration and blessing to some people who read this.

Kish.