OnTheWay: 2018

This thing has hovered around on my mind for a while.

‘Insta-tourists’ slash Instagramable places' explorers are here, there, and everywhere.

I am one of them.
My friends are one of them.
Maybe you are one of them.
There are plenty of them.
It's here, it's undeniable, it's the NOW.

For me personally, it’s always mandatory to get good pictures when I travel. I love to share the wonder of all places, esp of our own country: Indonesia, which got the least attention years back. It's been forever, since I wrote my own blog in junior high and finally introduced to Friendster, Facebook, Twitter, and so on and so forth. Eversince, photos have become my favorite media to keep memories. I've obediently brought my camera along wherever I go.

Until today, 2018.

In the recent 3-4 years, Instagram has become a BOOM. Real boom. Instagram defines a whole new way of traveling, I must say. All things about travel shift, either its business, platform, people, behaviors, and all, esp. in the business, people are making the most 'Instagramable' places possible to attract more visitors.

Yet in this piece, I just wanna share my point of view in terms of snapping and sharing memories behavior as a result of Instagram effect. I am aware that I am one of those people who get positive benefits from this platform, hence, I won't criticize much about it. I do love Instagram still. :))

This is my honest thoughts on recent (most) people's photo taking behavior, from a combination point of view as a ‘travel influencer’ as some say, and as an ordinary girl who scroll-explore-share things in Instagram as well.

Have you ever find caught in situations below:

One, we see the new and hip places in Insta. We aim to just go there to take pictures.

Two, we're influenced to do the same angles as the people we follow —as it’s considered perfect by us.

Three, we sacrifice our friendship, mood, and or SO MUCH time just because we want the ‘perfect Insta shots'.

Four, we spend another hour to sit, on the same table/room without talking, to post those perfect pics. Moments of proper editing in Snapseed-VSCO and well-researched caption making.

Five, last and not least, we tend to forget to have fun, live the present, and enjoy what meets the eye beyond the screen.

Feeling like saying ‘happens to me many times’ or 'gue banget' to one, two, or all points above??

Don’t worry, at least one point stated ever happened to anyone who's in Instagram, including me. We (un)consciously become the Insta-Tourist or Insta-Traveler whatsoever.

Why do I even bother to think about this?
It is because I am slapped at plenty of moments, if not at all of my travel days.
I continuously cross my bucketlist places, snap pictures, and work in between--yes, for sure. Can't stop won't stop, I guess. Yet, somehow I'm provoked with my own behavior or my travel mates or whoever doing any points above when we're in stunning places.

I guess I need to unlearn a bit and learn to be a pure wanderer.

Trying to be mindful, to not turn ‘working/business setting' on all the time. Putting aside the crave to get great contents in every seconds. I am truly longing to just wonder around with my pure curiosity of the new places, cultures, and people —not only focusing on the next places, angles, and poses.

Thus, I challenge myself to make time to just sit, relax, interact, or watch all wonders in front of me and nothing else. I will commit and try my best to ‘work’ and ‘edit’ only in idle time, such as when before boarding, on train/plane, morning poo, between pees, and an hour before/after bed. Haha seems a lot, ya? Well, whenever it is, allocating real talks and wonders in each travel days are essential.

The challenge is, not everyone thinks and does the same. So yes, this effort seems like impossible to happen when the people around you hold and stare at their phone religiously, or taking endless pictures with the same pose and spot. We just seem so powerless to not join their thing. The temptations are REAL, I know. Talking to each other and admiring beauty is also real, though. I guess we can mindfully allocate more time on those real shiz than the gram, if we want to :)

Traveling is so much more than Instagram or #forthegram posts. Make a portion of it, don't make it whole. Maybe we just need a constant reminder, to excitedly being a Mindful Traveler rather than an Insta-Traveler. Don’t slip your precious travel moments with yourself, spouse, best friends, or teams. Let’s explore and have some fun:)

—Written on NAM Air LBJ-DPS.
Initially allocated this free time to edit photos from Flores trip. Lol.

*All photos in this post are from my Jogja Escapade back in February 2018 to Plataran Borobudur Resort & Spa and Mangunan Area.

Prolog

This writing will be very related to you who’s counting down to have a long term commitment, the ‘death do us part vow’, with someone.For you who don’t relate, just have fun in this honest article on how I see marriage from a bride to be point of view.. and after series of contemplation and self re-assured —“yes dear, this is happening”. Maybe you’ve been here before or will experience it in near future, whatever it is I’m gonna say this once again, you’re not alone.

Every words, every decisions we make—It’s all started from what, with whom, where, when, and how we think about it.

I used to think marriage was a virtue. It’s a social concept built for centuries, for man and woman to be socially allowed living under one roof and to be legally raising kids and bla bla bla boring things.

These ideas have been evolving until today. Now, I want to get married, because turns out.. I want to have a family of my own. I want to have and raise kids with their loving, mature, and responsible father. I don’t want to spend my old and gray days alone. Funny how this mind can change, as I remember clearly the 18 y.o. me thought these ideas were sooo out of my sight.

Those values and ideas define the decisions I make today. I don’t want to get married just because I want to be accepted socially and legally by my country. I don’t want to get married “just because”. I want it to be a conscious choice, when I am ready mentally and have the right partner to share it with.

Aaand here we go about this thing... the right partner, the major issue of everyone’s idea to settle down.

For me, this issue has been around since forever. Okay, here’s the thing, I am a Libra. If you know anyone with this star sign, I bet they believe in things like ‘true love’, pursue living in (unrealistic) daydreams, and adore beautiful and sparkling things.

Therefore in relationship, I always seek for my kind of ‘knight in a shining armor’ —which was NONE. There was no such thing like ‘prince charming’ or the ‘Mr. Right’. There was no guy who's perfect in any ways possible based on my standard. Learnt this the hard way in the past dating years.

Where on earth a perfect person exists anyway?

People are born perfect with their imperfections, including your partner. And me, you, her, him.. oh, don’t we all?

The little difference that makes us see other people as perfect human being is ‘love’. The depth and sincerity of our love to someone, makes us love him/her just the way they are. Their strengths, weaknesses, characters, all in one package.

This 'love' thing is truly an endless journey. As this kind of love is beyond that ‘stars and rainbows’ phase, where it requires all of me to let my ego down and to patiently listen, accept, and compromise. Thus, keep reminding myself that ‘I am not perfect, so does he. Just give us time and chances to love each other.’

At last, I finally realize —it is a two way efforts on this right partner matter. For a long haul relationship with the ‘Mr. Right’, one is obliged to be the ‘Mrs. Right’ as well. Both are needed to be in it together, to be in love with each other.

A dear friend once said, “don’t look for the one, be ‘the one’ "

It’s definitely not easy, however, I’m continously working on it.

—

Written on my rest day at Surabaya, after 3 days exploring Mt. Semeru with all strong women of Arei Outdoor Gear #WomeninAdventure.

As some of you may know, I'm no longer working in a company that I must say 'The Indonesia's Version of Google'. A very fun and dynamic startup, which has established being an unicorn company, and has grown so much more than before. It's been a crazy-amazing privilege to be a part of it, yet I've got bigger dream to follow --which been abandoned for quite some time.

I trusted my gut to take the step, to be my own boss, to fulfill my long awaited dream as a self-employed gal just before 2018 started. Since then, I develop my own business on my own with bunch of supports from my lifelong hero: Dad. And yes, apparently it's not easy. It's been months and the progress is little. The growth is quite slower than where I used to have in the previous company, where of course, you got the best of the best in line to make the projects done. Yet, I believe whatever I do now is better than staying on my previous state. I'll do everything to make it work, but unfortunately I have to face the fact that the $$ isn't here yet.

Eventhough I've earned good money on the side, it still doesn't enough. I have a lifestyle I need to finance, and soon, I need to finance my own 'life'. The 'life' from A-Z, as for now, I still can depend on my parents for the living expenses since I still stay at their house. It's something I've been taken for granted for years, but now it's such a luxury. Soon enough, I'll live the same luxury no more.

This year's first quarter and the upcoming quarters won't be an easy ride, I bet. Not only about this financial issue, but this whole wedding preparation thing. It's pretty easy actually, but truth to be told, it's still tough at some points. However, I do feel grateful to have great people who endlessly support me on this. I have an unbelievably caring and loving fiance, supportive bestfriends, and understanding family. They keep me stand on my feet and hold onto what's right, until today.

Therefore, if you see me so happy and lucky wondering around on my social posts, don't pity yourself for sitting behind the desk from AM to PM-- since the struggles are also real here. We're just the same :)

CHEERS FOR US,
who work our ass off to conquer life problems and to pursue dreams for a better future,
keep calm, have faith, have good strategy, and take action!

WE CAN DO THIS 💖

--
Written from Kopi Nalar
Jakarta '18

Setiap orang senormal dan sewajarnya menginginkan constant enhancement or achievement dalam hidupnya, sekecil apapun itu. Intinya manusia dasarnya ingin bergerak maju, bukan mundur. Tapi yang sering terjadi— ketika lingkungan sekitar kita lebih ‘maju’, kita malah gak seneng, gak mau mengakui, dan akhirnya malah jadi ‘julid’ alias berprasangka buruk.

Familiar dengan kondisi-kondisi seperti ini:

Teman kantor berangkat S2 ke luar negeri dengan beasiswa

Teman jaman SMA/kuliah menikah dan langsung punya anak

Sepupu buat bisnis restoran yang hits

Teman lama jadi rajin olahraga dan post2 tentang olahraga (and he truly lost some weight)

Pernah jugakah saat itu terlintas di pikiran seperti ini:

Hah padahal dia gak pinter2 amat

Ah palingan anaknya ntar diurus nanny

Jelas lah, kan dia pakai duit/channel orangtuanya

Ala2 banget palingan cuma kemakan trend

Come on.. if we think he/she doesn’t deserve it, do you think WE deserve it?

Kadang kita merasa ide dan pemikiran kita yang paling ‘benar’ (padahal belum tentu), dan orang lain itu ‘salah’ dan gak berhak dengan apa yang mereka dapatkan atau lakukan. Titik. Kita gengsi dan malu untuk mengakui kalau kita yang ‘salah' atau ‘kurang maju' dibanding teman, saudara, atau kolega kita. Apalagi nih, ketika latar belakang dan track record orang itu ‘kurang’ di mata kita. Jadi rasanya apa yang mereka lakukan salaaah terus.

Sesungguhnya kalau mengacu ke teori relativitas Einstein, benar dan salah itu hal yang sangat relatif, tergantung dari kacamata mana kita mau melihat dll atau tergantung ‘faktor X’-nya. Seseorang yang kita anggap ‘kurpin’ alias ‘kurang pintar’, bisa dianggap pinter banget oleh orang lain. Orang yang kita lihat ‘keren abis’, mungkin dianggap ‘meh’ sama orang lain. Yang ini gak akan ada habisnya, makanya suatu hal/isu akan selalu memiliki dua sisi, atau bahkan lebih, yang bertentangan satu sama lain. WAJAR, karena faktor X setiap orang pasti berbeda.

‘Be the best version of yourself’— suatu konsep populer saat ini, yang menurut saya bisa dilakukan untuk buat hidup kita jadi lebih ‘bahagia’. Mungkin lingkungan sekitar bisa dibuat sebagai motivasi, acuan, tapi untuk menjadi standar.. hmm tunggu dulu, mungkin akan lebih baik kalau kita bisa menentukan standar untuk diri kita sendiri.

Waktu2 after office atau weekend yang biasa diisi dengan acara hangout bersama yang tersayang, mungkin bisa kita sempatkan sekali dalam berapa minggu/bulan untuk refleksi, bicara, mikir akan visi misi dan tujuan hidup kita. Kita coba kritisi pemikiran dan pola pikir diri kita selama ini. Dari situ, kita bisa tahu apa yang esensial dan yang tidak dalam hidup menurut versi kita.

Saya yakin, karena saya juga alami, di awal bicara dengan diri sendiri ini kita akan hadapi banyak distorsi, dimana kita akan banyak mau atau ingin segalanya. WAJAR, kita manusia mahkluk lemah yang tak pernah puas. Tapi dengan mengurutkan secara runut prioritas hidup, menyusun visi dan misi, dan terus diulang-ulang ditanyakan ke diri sendiri, akan semakin jelas siapa diri kita sebenarnya. Ini pondasi kuat untuk pada akhirnya menentukan tolak ukur kebahagiaan kita sendiri. Tips lebih lanjut soal self awareness ini, mungkin saya akan share di kesempatan berikutnya.

Intinya, konsep 'best vesion of yourself’ slash ‘happiest version of yourself’ bisa berbeda untuk kita, dia, dan mereka —which is WAJAR. Gak perlu paksakan konsep mereka ke hidupmu kalau memang deep down kamu tidak mau dan ingin, begitu pun sebaliknya tidak perlu paksakan konsep hidupmu ke mereka. Hal fundamental sampai yang tidak penting sekali pun, dari isu pernikahan, bisnis, gaya hidup, menjalin relasi, sampai warna rambut —hargai konsep diri yang mereka pilih dan tunjukan, karena itulah yang mereka percayai sebagai versi terbaik dirinya. Dengan begitu, niscaya jalanin hidup dan meraih 'kebahagiaan yang hakiki’ akan sedikit lebih mudah untuk kita.

Ketika dengar atau lihat kabar milestone baru dari relasi kita, akan menyenangkan kalau kita bisa ucapkan selamat, encouragement, atau hal2 yang positif. There’s a saying, it’s better to say positive things or nothing at all. Hayo, kita sendiri akan lebih seneng lihat komen “kurusan deh” dibanding “gemukan ya” kaan? ;)

So I guess, people have their right to pursue their own happiness, so do you.

Let them be happy, and you’ll be happy too.

Written by a lady who wish life could be as simple as drink fresh young coconut water at the beach.

2017 is my definitely golden year.

I must say I live my quarter life with wonderful madness instead of hateful crisis.

Have I told you that I love my 21st SO MUCH and the years followed? The curve went downhill from there but still, those years were GOLD. When 2017 came, which I was a newbie being 25, I was so hopeful.

Old and new to 2017 at London Bridge with the grandeur fireworks party in the sky combined with London's remarkable skyline, did I eligible for being so hopeless afterwards? No. I just didn't and shouldn't.

Then come the phrase,

"be careful of what you've wished for"

for me, it's more like

"Be more careful of what you haven't wished for. Embrace it all."

As usual, I was just being YOLO with my life.

At professional work, it's been a rollercoaster ride. I love my work and office so much for its unicorn startup environment, youthful, dynamic, briliant people, cool spaces, dope events, and all the perks of being GO-TROOPS. IMO, 2017 was the best year in GO-JEK as we exceled rapidly in parallel to our huge move to the new cool office in Pasaraya. Thus, being a part of its marketing team and GO-LIFE family was truly a crazy, fun ride.

I loved my bosses, teams, colleagues, and best friends I made along the way. Yet, at some points I felt lost in the middle. I felt numb. Dramas and words became invisible, 'cause at that point I just felt nothing and didn't give a f*ck anymore. I gave too much f*ck for too long, I felt unhappy and exhausted.

I got sick whenever I reached my table every morning. I remember I was keen to come early to just take a moment for myself. It was less people and quieter, easier for me to make up my mind and prepare each day's riots.

GO-CAFE was one of my favorite morning oasis, for its delish hearty foods for breakfast. And of course, GO-GYM, my serotonin gainer when I got the drive to jumpstart my day (oh now I miss it so much). Hence, dearest friends' frequent 'sebat time' throughout the day would be my most awaited oasis. :))

It was July 2017, exactly two years of being a GO-TROOP, and I felt like, 'this is it'. Actually, I'd thought about this since end of 2016. With some thinkings and significant people's considerations, I held my will and got back to work. Yet in few months, things were so different. So did I. Just so you know, 3 months in GO-JEK truly felt like a year. They moved and changed so fast, for its exponential growth was unevitable.

By the time I resigned in December, I was a part of LOKET and GO-TIX. So little yet remarkable time to work with all great people in there --the smartest yet humblest leaders I've ever known. It's my loss to leave them prematurely. Couldn't wait to meet them somewhere at the top, someday.

In love, I made peace with myself and my SO.

I did a lot of stepbacks to disconnect and think. Similar to my professional life, somehow I was lost in the middle. I lost myself. It's been me, myself, and I --who make the fusses all this time.

I was so busy doing shits I hardly listen anymore. Therefore, I tried to listen to what I really need, want, afraid of, and be thankful for. Honestly, if it's not Roland as my SO, I might not make it to where I was. He give me all I need and I couldn't ask for a better partner. I took me a lot of battleships to realize all of this. Thankfully, I was not too late :)

In travelbug, my body didn't event bother to fight the virus at all.

I FLEW ALL THE WAY TO LA, TO ATTEND COACHELLA. This one was beyond surreal. I didn't see this coming at all. I loved surprises and this one was RAD, if not the best one.

I became a Project Leader at annual Indonesia's Tourism Ministry project.

I witnessed the most beautiful blooms in my life: Japanese Cherry Blossom

I went back to Raja Ampat, explored the other part of this paradise: Misool!! Too beautiful.

I went to places. Experienced things. Met new people. Created memories.

Of course there were storms and stumbles, yet I didn't regret any of them at all.

Traveling will always be my kryptonite.

That's all I can share of my golden 2017.

Rocky roads and easy summer sea. Sour and sweet. Sun and moon. Mistakes and accomplishments. Yin and yang. The worst and the best. They were there, filled my days and nights, molding a better version of Jovita.

As I believe, we shall move to a bright clear blue sky no matter how hard the black clouds of storm try to holds us. Change is unevitable. Accordingly, a change for good is mandatory for our own good.

***

Saya menangis.
Di doa bersama dalam rangka syukur tahun baru pagi tadi, saya tidak kuasa menahan air mata.
Lebay? Not at all. I felt truly showered by His blessings. Tuhan begitu baik kepada saya selama hidup ini.

Ya, saya orang yang sangat beruntung.

Saya masih punya paru-paru dan hidung untuk bernapas, mata yang baik untuk melihat, mulut untuk makan enak, kaki kuat untuk jalan-jalan.. saya masih bisa 'hidup', dengan melakukan hal-hal yang saya cintai. Dan bisa dibilang saya tidak pernah 'hidup susah'. Kedua orangtua saya sangat bertanggung jawab dan menyayangi anak-anaknya, dimana saya selalu hidup penuh kasih dan berkecukupan, lebih dari cukup malah saya merasanya. Saya sangat bersyukur punya papa mama yang luar biasa dan jadi panutan hidup saya.

Saat ini kami sekeluarga sedang berlibur akhir tahun di Australia. It's never a dull moment creating memories with them at new places. Selalu ada cerita seru, kocak, kesel, girang, wah ada aja deh pokoknya. Saya sebagai anak pertama dengan saudara yang umurnya jauh2, makin kesini makin hepi karena adik2 saya sekarang udah gede semua. Jadi serunya pas jalan-jalan bisa dibagi bersama karena interestnya udah lumayan mirip2 dibanding beberapa tahun lalu.

Ditambah saya masih tidak menyangka di tahun baru 2018 ini saya punya titel baru, 'tunangan' alias somebody's 'fiancee'. Geezuz. Iya sih saya dan dia sudah pacaran lama sekitar lima tahun lebih. Tetapi untuk akhirnya mencapai tahap ini, saya masih shaky shaky yaya dada alias deg2an gak karuan! However, I couldn't ask for any better companion and proposal. It's been so special and I'm very happy. So, thank you my fiancee :)

Semalam kami menyaksikan salah satu kembang api terindah yang ada di dunia. Bagi saya, itu adalah kembang api tahun baru terindah yang pernah saya saksikan seumur hidup saya. Di kawasan Darling Harbour Sydney, kami meresapi warna-warni indah di langit dari atas kapal yang tertambat di sana. Berpelukan dan mengucapkan 'happy new year' bersama orang-orang tersayang adalah satu dari banyak momen di hidup yang sangat berharga. Like 'Look at us, we survived another year. It's not that bad, you know. So hello new year! Keep being yourself and stay amazing like those colors in the sky'.
Surreal.

That's why I cried like a baby this morning. I just couldn't hold this pure wholeness and gratitude inside of me.

Terima kasih, 2017.
2018, let's rock and roll.

**
January 1st, 2018.
11.01 AM - Oaks on Castlereigh Hotel Sydney

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OTWanderlust