Author: arlanadya

Pas special, J'ai seulement besoin de beaucoup de privee
Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité

Rapot merah

Posted on by arlanadya

Baru dua bulan jadi ibu kok ya ngga sabaran betul.

Marah – marah sendiri, ninggiin suara, tapi abis itu ngerasa bersalahnya jangan ditanya.

Sedih pokoknya.

Sebulan pak dokter dinas di Ruteng jadi makin ngurus semua sendiri.

Ngga mudah ya jadi orang tua. Susah ternyata jadi ibu.

Kalo mamen masih ada, mungkin bisa dicek ibunya Langit kaya apa waktu bayi.

Selamat dua bulan, anak bucuk. Sehat selalu, makin pinter, dan makin sabar sama mamanya yang banyakan kurang daripada lebihnya.  Biarpun begitu, mamanya sayang sekali sama Langit.

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Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité

A month

Posted on by arlanadya

Writing this post remind me of how boring to read a blog and instagram whose owners only talked about their baby. Until I become one of them -__-

A month little langit is still under weight. Quite heart breaking hearing the news on the last visit. Her height and head round were all good. Just under weight. We have done the aqiqah too on December 26. Alhamdulillah.

I won’t making any excuses. I take care her alone, while still have to do all the houseworks stuff. The past two weeks was quite a drama since mbak wi, our-long-time maid decided to quit. It was really something since she had been with us for 18 years. But then, as my favorite quote said, nothing lasts forever. Maybe it was really her time to leave and I was dragged to do more houseworks.

It ruined my mood a lot. I even snapped Langit few times. Sorry, dear:(

But things have to go on. Found a new one. Still in the process of adapting each other.

Okay girl, let’s work harder and better. Keep healthy!

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A month little Langit
Posted in Uncategorized

Old text

Posted on by arlanadya

Having Langit is truly one of the greatest things happen in my life. Several times when I am looking at her, it is a bit hard to believe that this little funny girl, yes, she has many funny faces:)), is truly my daughter.

Few years back then, I had no idea of me having a child, let alone a child, even a marriage was sound too scary. I enjoyed my comfort zone with my family.

The term family now has been altered since I have my own. It reminds me how things really change, or really have to change one day. I never imagine living without my mum before. Having a child without her guiding me. I thought my life will be as I predicted. My world had been turning around since 2 years ago. Life truly happens.

The journey with le husband so far has been fine. Quarel is surely unavoidable. It is impossible not to quarel when he marries me. It has been a tough 2 years with him. Facing all the difficulties here and there, but we made it so far. Tomorrow he will be leaving for Ruteng,NTT for a month. It is the first time we have another LDR after the marriage. Not too pleasant, hoping it will end sooner and well. Amin.

It’s 5 pm and I suddenly remember one of le husband’s old text :

” Is there any slightest chance that you would be the mother of my children?”

My answer was I didn’t know.

4 years later, here I am, writing this before preparing his daughter for afternoon bath..

Posted in Maternité, The Big Three

A jungle called ‘motherhood’

Posted on by arlanadya

I just red tweets about a new mum giving her newborn other milk than breast-milk and how it made her being judged by her surroundings. Some said that she was lazy or anything. The other day, I saw a post in Instagram about a mum telling her delivery story through c-sect. She had prepared from the very start to have vaginal birth and had done many things to have it. But, in the end, she had to do c-sect instead. Then, a comment came to her account teasing about her having c-sect in the end.

Sometimes, people are really cruel. Indeed.

Long before Langit came, I have read so many articles on debating vaginal birth and c-sect,breast milk and cow-milk. How people (ibu-ibu mostly) are very judgemental towards a new mom. It said that vaginal birth is better and after that they continue judging you about how you breast-feed the baby.

When I knew I was pregnant, believe it or not, it was le husband who came up with the idea of me giving birth through c-sect. Just because I am petite and my hips really seems too small. It became more clear after seeing the blood-test result stating that I had high d-dimer. It had something to do with blood coagulation and it led to c-sect too. Not enough with those two, Langit’s position until 7 months still was not good enough to do vaginal birth. So, c-sect seemed to be my only way out.

Then about breast milk, in my family, we are all the product of formula. Me and my siblings. My aunt told me often that my grandma,my mum and her didn’t produce any breast-milk at all. So often till I was really sure that I would have the same thing too.

So, I was so ready to be judged since I would give birth through c-sect and gave the baby formula after that.

But, as the due was nearer, I was re-thinking about both of things. Instead of c-sect, why couldn’t be vaginal birth if everything was fine and possible? Mostly because I felt healthy enough and still could do things at home, and outside. I even still went to the market when I was 9 month pregnant.

I kept performing real sujud in my salat because the doc said it helped fixing the baby’s position. In my salat, I prayed hard,not asking to have vaginal birth, but may Allah chose the best way for me and the baby. As long as both of us were fine, it would be ok. Eventough I was sure that deep down inside Allah knew which one I preferred, for so many reasons.

I didn’t join any pregnancy yoga or something similar at all. I even didn’t spare time to take a walk like most pregnant women did, as I often saw with their husband. Simply because I had no time and it was hard for me to do it. My excercises were just at home. Doing all the houseworks, here and there. Just that. So, if people asked me how could my normal delivery was so fast, it might be because of that. One of the reasons.

About breast-milk, in spite of things that my aunt kept telling me, I also kept trying any possible way known so I could produce the milk later. I ate daun katuk few times in a month and other vegetables, consume vitamins, honey and habbatussaudah. If later it won’t succeed, at least I had try before.

In fact, all those two major judgmental things didn’t happen at all. Allah allowed me to do vaginal birth, even with a bonus, without long-bearing pain. 6 hours only. Not enough, my breast milk was flowing from the very first day. So, until today, Langit only consume breast-milk. Alhamdulilah.

But, is that true that vaginal birth and breast milk are really without pain? NO. Big NO.

I had many stiches since it took sometime till I succeed to push her out. It was soooo hurt. Even days after that. I walked slowly and sleep untightly. I was afraid to do number two for days. I had to sit above a thick cover whether it was blanket,sajadah or a pillow. Whether sitting or standing, it hurt. After a week, it was getting better.

It is true that breast-milk has many advantages for the baby and also for the mum. But it doesn’t come easily. On the second day after delivery, my breasts largened as a result of non-stop breast-feeding. The nipples were so hurt. I cried once since I had to bear more pain. In my bottom and my breasts. Double pain.

So, it is either vaginal birth or c-sect and breast milk or cow-milk, each have its own pain and I think all mothers surely want their baby to get all the best from her.

In a jungle called motherhood, I will be trying hard to survive.

Posted in Langit Senja, Life happens

LSA : A gift from up there

Posted on by arlanadya

It took me sometime to think what to say about this.

But, let’s begin.

During the last few months of my pregnancy I started thinking about many things. Worry actually. So many what ifs occured in my mind.

What if I have to go through c-section in the end?
How can I deal with the pain? And it would surely take almost all of our saving.

What if I have to deal with it alone when the time comes and no one at home and no one be there to help?

What if something happen in the end of pregnancy while it has been quite good so far?

On the least important part, we had prepared a name for the baby but the name was one of a very certain name about the time the baby was born. So, what if people kept asking why name it like that while it wasnt born at that time.
Yep,even i worried about that kind of thing.

What if I really gave birth according to the due date on mid-december while my permission leave only until the end of january? While le husband announced another news that he might be sent out of town for a month in January. How could I even manage it all alone?

This head filled with those fears.

But then, for the countless times in my life, I once again was taught to  have a faith, a really strong faith to the one and only, Allah The Al-Mighty, after doing all the best that I could.

It was an incredible journey that my shallow mind couldn’t even think of.

Tuesday, 25 november 2014

It was my check-up routine. The doc said that it was 37 week, the baby’s position was good, but she was still a bit underweight. But since there still would be another few weeks, we had some times to manage. Just eat and wait for the time when she wants to come out, he said. It confirmed that it would be a girl.

So, i tried to eat more even the belly felt already too heavy.

Wednesday,26 november 2014

I went teaching as usual. Then go home. Then, at home i felt something unusual. I felt some pain on my hips like that one I had during period. Then for some short times i feel my tummy was cramped. Firstly, I didnt take it too seriously. But, it was getting often.and hurt. Le husband came and checked. He said it might hurt but its ok. Still nothing about the birth phase. That day, i felt something in my heart. A thought occured that she might want to come on Friday. The best day in Islamic calendar. While there was another thing, that Friday was the last Friday in November, it was the same time when my mum left 2 years ago. 

But, it was just my wishful thinking. As the thought occured and the pain is getting worse, I prayed harder that she would come at the best time that Allah chose.

Thursday, 27 November 2014

The pain was no longer there in the morning. So, i still had a thought to go teaching. But, le husband told me not to,just in case. So I dropped it. Then, it was 08.30 when the pain started attacking. Then, it came continously and it was getting worse and worse. It lasted only 30 seconds till a minute, but it was soo hurt when it came.

After dzuhur, I phoned the hospital to register for another check-up on next Tuesday. Then, I asked the nurse too what signs that showed me that I had to go to hospital. Then she asked few questions and my answers were yes. She told me to come.

Even after the phone call, I still had a doubt to go. I told my dad I might ask him to take me to hospital when this pain was getting unbearable. At 13.00, I decided to go. It hurts like i dont know what and too often. At least they can check there and gave me some solution. I still phoned my aunt asked her how to manage this pain when it came. She said nothing. You have to endure it. Well,okay.

I arrived at the hospital at 13.20 and directly being examined by the Emergency unit doctor. Then, she said that it was already step 3. The uterus had opened 3 cm which means that I was already doing the birth phase. It was 1-10. Mine was already 3 and in other words I had to prepare to give birth at the maximum by next morning. So, they didn’t allow me to go home. My dad administered me to the hospital.

I was already in my room at 14.45. I wanted to explain in words how the pain felt at that time, but no idea. All I could do was sitting on a chair next to the bed and hold on to the iron stick next to it and grabbed it so tightly when the pain came. I no longer just squeezed something soft.

At 15.45, the doctor came and checked. It was already on the 4th  stage. So he said it might come at 10-11. I was stunned. An hour ago I prepared to do the labour by the next morning, and now it would be just few hours left. I was getting nervous and scare as the pain was stronger and stronger.

At 17.30, the water broke. It means that delivery was very near. The nurses checked and it was 7th stage. They hurrily prepared the delivery room and moved me there. Le husband came with me.

I could remember well how hard to endure the pain. As the stage kept going up, the cramp was getting painful. I think painful sounds too easy. It was true that people said that nothing hurt more than what a woman feels during delivery.

In the delivery room, we had to wait until it was the time to push the baby out. Remembering that time, I am speechless. I just squeeze le husband’s and the nurse’s shirt when the cramp came. Squeezed it like I could tear it.

It took me quite sometimes until I succeed to push the baby out. All people there kept encouraging me to push harder, until at one moment I was almost give up.
It was truly truly painful.

It was at 19.35, Thursday night on 27 November 2014 when Langit Senja Almakirana came. No further explanation.

You know what, my mum left on the last Friday of November 2 years ago. Langit came on the last Friday of November 2 years later. She was truly a gift from up there.

All these process that I’d been through, I realized that we had nothing to do for the result. All we have to do is just doing our best. What happened on that Thursday was beyond my best expectation.

Worry about have c-sect? Not happened.

It usually takes longer for the first child. Two days even some of them have to endure the pain in a week or two. Me? 6 hours.

Worry about how we pay the hospital bill if there’s something wrong? All the doctors who helped the delivery didn’t charge their service at all,even the room. Grace á le husband as fellow doctor.

Me having a wishful thinking that Allah would allow her to come on Friday? Checked, checked, checked. Subhanallah.

Worry how when she came in the morning,night, or even a bright day? It doesn’t fit the name we prepared for her. But, she came very close to it. So, Langit Senja it is.

But, all those things didn’t happen freely. My delivery was quick much more because I’d been moving and doing a lot at home. I cleaned up the bathroom on Monday, brushed the floor while sitting on the chair.

She came on Thursday night (in Islam, a day starts after maghrib.So, thursday night is officially Friday) much more because I read Surah Yassin on the few last months of pregnancy every Thursday night.

I don’t write this to show off anything. But, I truly believed, everything happened above were nothing about coincidence. There were a result of something.

So, dear Langit, may you always be protected and blessed in your entire life. Welcome, my little princess:)

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Posted in Uncategorized

Mood Swing

Posted on by arlanadya

Pengen nulis pake bahasa Indonesia lagi.

Bulan ini piano udah cuti jadi tinggal sekolah. Minggu ini masuk minggu 36 insya Allah. Semakin deket,semakin deg2an dan.. bosan. Dan itu kayanya buat sumbu makin pendek. Dasarnya emang galak, makin kesini makin galak ternyata. Beberapa hari terakhir kesel terus dan emang ada aja yang ngebuat kesel. Pembenaran? Emang.

Kalo udah agak tenang biasanya browsing lagi. Selama hamil ini, semua keluhan yang dirasain PASTI langsung search di internet. Dan semua ada. Literally semua. Dari yang fisik sampe psikologis, yang artinya ibu-ibu hamil di luar sana juga ngalamin hal yang sama.

Pagi ini abis baca satu posting di blog ibu2 yang nulis betapa beratnya jadi ibu itu. Anaknya dua. Sebenernya banyak baca ada untung ruginya. Di satu sisi bisa belajar mungkin dari orang dan mungkin jadi lebih siap2 lagi atau di sisi lain malah jadi makin parno.

Kaya belakangan ini karena udah sebagian besar di rumah, rajin baca-baca tanda-tanda persalinan, cerita melahirkan orang-orang,dan yang sejenisnya. Selalu meringis tiap baca atau denger cerita orang tentang sakitnya melahirkan. Terus terang sampai hari ini belum bisa men-set pikiran yang bisa sedikit ngurangin rasa takut. Jadi, sementara cuma berdoa tiap solat semoga dikasih kemudahan,kelancaran, kelapangan, dan kesehatan kalo waktunya dateng. Berdoa sih bukan cuma kali ya.

Hal lain adalah sering elus-elus perut sambil ajak ngomong si baby,
” sehat terus ya, kepala udah di bawah aja, biar ibu lebih mudah keluarinnya, ibu sehat, papa sehat, semoga nanti dikasih kuat dan sabar yang banyak untuk nahan sakitnya”

Terus terang, dibanding minta ga sakit, lebih milih minta dikasih kuat dan sabar untuk nghadepin itu. Kayanya lebih realistis aja.

Melahirkan itu satu hal, hari-hari setelahnya itu lain lagi. Udah coba kerjain dan siapin apa yang bisa dikerjain sekarang. Berusaha ngerjain sebisanya dengan sumber daya yang dipunya since I don’t have the luxuries like my mum had 30 years ago.

Luxuries disini maksudnya support system dan bala bantuan. Dulu ibu punya nenek, tante susan, semua om-om, papa, tetangga yang sama2 punya anak kecil dan.bisa diandelin, dan lain lain.

Sekarang, ibu ngga ada, mamanya bintang pun jauh, tante susan jauh, tetangga deket pun bisa dibilang ngga ada yang bisa diminta tolong, uang ada dan cukup meskipun dibilang leluasa pun ngga karena pak dokter sekolah dan sekarang udah cuti di piano yang artinya berkurang pemasukan sementara pengeluaran bertambah.

Ini ngeluh apa bukan sih maksudnya? Ya apapun itu deh namanya, cuma perlu cerita aja. Biar nanti-nanti kalo dibaca lagi kapan-kapan bisa inget semua yang udah dilaluin.

Jadi, siap-siap ya buat petualangan selanjutnya. Semoga dimudahkan, dilancarkan dan selalu sehat. Amin!

Posted in Uncategorized

November Rain

Posted on by arlanadya

Not a song title. But it is literally rain a lot in this month. This also the month when my mum left 2 years ago.

Have been gloomy these days. Either it is pregnancy hormonal or others, I become quite teary. Lack of sleep might cause this too. Some days, it really frustrates me for not being able to sleep, while still have to wake up early and prepare everything.

My mum, she often said long time ago that everything will be much harder when it is my turn to live my life. She meant a real life. And it turns out to be true. It is truly a hard work and tough. I wont bragging about things that I should be grateful for. I want to point out that it is truly not easy.

When your life is not only about you. When you have to put others’ needs above yours, when you have to take care almost everything while at the same time you have your work too. It has been not easy at all, especially to make everyone is happy.

My life after my mum left so far has been spent to take care others’ stuff. Sometimes it is so tiring and ngeselin. While everyone in the house can just do their own bussiness outside, go home, have some rest and repeat the same thing everyday.

I miss my selfish years..

Posted in Maternité

8 bulan

Posted on by arlanadya

Perasaan semakin campur aduk di 8 bulan ini. Seneng, takut, khawatir, gelisah, bingung. Banyak hal yang kepikiran. Banyak hal yang mau dikerjain. Tapi, mobilitas udah terbatas banget. Mau kemana2 atau mau apa musti nunggu orang. Taksi ada,tapi ya bangkrut juga kl musti naik taksi terus. Kadang-kadang agak  frustasi juga biasanya ngurus apa2 sendiri,bisa kesana kemari,sekarang jadi bergantung banget sama jadwal orang lain.

Belum lagi cuaca yang sampe hari ini masih tetep panas plus perut makin besar. Keringetan ngga berenti padahal di rumah. Bahkan tidur pun keringetan:-(

Malem yang pas bulan-bulan awal jadi saat yang ditunggu,sekarang jadi saat yang pengen cepet dilewatin. Ngga bisa tidur. Kombinasi kegerahan, posisi yang serba salah, dan lain2 bikin malem terasa panjang banget. Bolak balik hadap kanan kiri, duduk, keluar kamar, pipis, subhanallah, berat ya emang jadi ibu itu:'(

Tapi…

Dibalik semua hal yang disebutin di atas, masih banyaaaaaakkkkk sekali hal yang musti disyukuri. Alhamdulillah sampai hari ini semua sehat. Masih bisa ngurusin kerjaan dalem rumah kaya nyiapin sarapan pagi2,makan malem
Alhamdulillah masih bisa ngajar dengan baik.
Alhamdulillah biarpun iya mahal, masih ada rejeki buat naik taksi pulang pergi.
Alhamdulillah bisa tetep makan dengan enak tanpa ngerasa mual dan muntah.
Alhamdulillah sampai 8 bulan ini selalu ada jalan dan rezeki untuk semua hal yang dihadapin.

Di atas semuanya, Alhamdulillah Allah sudah kasih kepercayaan untuk hamil sekarang. Setidaknya, kegerahan, pegel-pegel, ngga bisa tidur, masih jauh lebih bearable dibanding orang lain yang musti berjuang lebih keras untuk bisa hamil.

Beberapa minggu lagi insya Allah perjalanan baru dimulai. Semoga Allah selalu kasih kesehatan, kekuatan, dan kelapangan dalam segala hal yang ada di depan.

Amin.

Posted in Life happens, The Big Three

A Farewell Note

Posted on by arlanadya

The last day of my 20’s.
I am having a new number insya Allah in few hours. How does it feel?

To be honest,

It is scary.
It has been great along these 10 years. People say that 30’s will be more exciting. I hope mine will be too. But, I will start the new phase by having the most important role as a human. A mother. That what scares me most, I think.

Not to say I am not happy or grateful. Maybe I think about this too seriously. But then, who is not?

Having a child is like a lifetime job that you are never be able to resign. Since the due date is getting closer (I am currently in my 32 weeks), I have more doubts and anxieties about this. There are too many and I can’t even elaborate.

I just have my faith in me that helps me a lot to carry on. The faith and my belief that I will never be alone to go through everything.
No matter how rough the road ahead, there will be one thing that always be near with me. One that is the help of all affairs.

Laa haula wa la quwwata illa billah.

I recite this one sentence very often along these months..

Well, welcome aboard, three-O:)

Posted in Favorite things, Travel

Morning reminiscing : On travelling

Posted on by arlanadya

I am constantly missing something these days. Traveling. Never been anywhere,literally, for almost 2 years. I miss airports, packed-luggages, stamped-passport and everything about it.

Recently, little brother-in law has just departed to Manchester, pursuing his master degree in UoM. Went with his pregnant wife to the very same city I had been exactly 20 years ago where my father pursued his master degree.

Since it is impossible to go anywhere right now and maybe still (quite) impossible in the next few years, maybe reminiscing some of my traveling experiences done with my family in past years will do :

1. June 1994, Manchester,UK

Have written about this completely in the previous post. My very first flying experience abroad by Emirates. It was beyond awesome.
Visited several other cities too such London,Sheffield, Harrogate, Buxton, Bath, Blackburn, and Stockport.
It brought more than a mere experience of living abroad or vacation for me. It had greater impact which benefits me in so many things in my life in upcoming years.
It was 20 years ago, yet, those days still vividly pictured in my mind like it was just a week ago.

2. October 2003, Saudi Arabia

It took 9 years until our second big trip together. It was right after my birthday that we were leaving for Mecca and Medina to do our first Umra.
Since we flew with Gulf Air, we stopped by and stayed for a night in Manama,Bahrain also. Two nights actually, depart and return. It was quite a bonus.
Couldn’t helped crying while seeing Ka’bah for the first time. Live. I felt so small. Not forget to mention, it was not an ordinary Umra. It was a-Ramadhan-Umra. Having experienced Ramadhan Umra was something special. It was double bonuses.

We enjoyed break-fasting together in the mosque. Came only with a glass of tea and few dates but returned to hotel with youghurt,bread,and any other food given from others. Tarawih prayer was done in 23 raka’at and I was not able to keep up with that. Exhausting:-(

Strangely, we had more energy to walk around the shopping malls after tarawih for hours:-))
All the market and shopping malls were closed during the day in Ramadhan. Instead, they started opening after Asar till sahur.

I decided to wear jilbab after returned. Another thing that proved traveling brought more than merely going to some places. It went far beyond that.

3. May 2008, Batam-Singapore

After returned Umra, I started having a long-term traveling plans. I started saving for Hajj and visiting other countries. Not long after I returned from Umra, I got my first permanent job as a piano teacher. So, it helped a lot. I saved religiously and buying US Dollars once the balance reach 10 millions rupiahs. Yes, thinking about that right now, it was quite unbelievable that I had almost USD 6000 few years ago:))

Singapore was the first country I went with others without any of my family members. I went with my dad collegues, staying in a budget hotel, wandering on the Orchard Road by myself, visiting Borders ( a-most-fascinating book store i had ever seen), Takashimaya, Isetan, the famous Merlion statue, and stopped by Sentosa Island using cable car.

I remember a quote from Ibnu Batuta, if I am not mistaken, saying, “Traveling, it makes you speechless then turn you into a story teller”. Something like that.

It is definitely true. When I came home, I couldn’t stop telling everyone at home about my first ‘solo’ trip until they had it more than enough:))

4. November 2008, KL,Malaysia

Just 6 months after my Singapore trip, I had another chance of going on ‘solo’ trip. It was the most impulsive trip that I have ever had. It came suddenly out of nothing.

Started when me and my family plan to visit my grandma after a wedding reception. It was just an usual visit on Sunday. Then, one of my aunt was there too at grandma’s house. I didn’t know how it began, suddenly there was a convo that my aunt would leave for KL on Tuesday for a confrence. Nothing special with that.

What stunned me at that time was she suddenly asked me to join her. Told me that I just needed to buy the tickets and I could stay in a-5-stars hotel where the confrence took place with her. She said that I just needed to prepare for the tickets and some pocket money for 4 days.

My heart was racing hearing all those offers. But, the problem was I had my job and it was too sudden. How could I obtain a permission from my principal in one day notice? It was Sunday and she planned to leave on Tuesday.

It even seemed more impossible at that time where my partner was currently in Australia for student exchange, so I was alone in-charge for the class. If I left too, then no teacher in charge for the class for several days. And, I just started working there only about 4 months. So many impossibilities laid over head.

I spent the rest of Sunday thinking over and over about that. It was a very rare chance, but yet, how I could conquer all those impossibilities. What reason to be explained to gain the permission. It was really an experience;))

I went to school on Monday with a very heavy heart. Mentally prepared to talk with my principal. She was ok actually and I was pretty close too, but she could be very strict. I had prepare my reason and truthfully, I had said yes to my aunt on Sunday night. Should remember that I could be that insane in the past years:))

I talked to my principal slowly, telling her that I had to go for immediate and urgent family matters for three days and apologized for this sudden notice since the bussiness also came suddenly and could not be delayed at all. It was very important for me to go.

At first, she was very surprised. Leaving the class for three days, when my partner was not there too, maybe she thought I didn’t have my consciousness. But since I have started everything so I had to go all the way. Then she started to slowly accepted it by asking me if i could shorten it for two days or even one day. I told her that it was quite impossible since the ticket had been issued and etc.

I think it was very true that everything that should be yours will really go to you no matter how,when, and where. This trip taught me that. I left my principal office with her permission and simple order that I had to prepare everything while I was absent. I entered the room as if carried a big rock in my heart and left with my as-light-as feather heart:D

I flew with Malaysian Airlines this time. When I remembered again, I think it was not an economy class since the price was quite expensive and it was very spacious. So different with one I went few next years when I went there to study.

Arrived at KLIA at 11 pm and had a taxi to the hotel. My aunt had her, i dont know how it called, but a malaysian young man that once stayed at her house for a months before, so this man had escorted me and my aunt during our staying, not always, but most of the time.

Thanks to him, I went to many interesting places. He took me to Istana Negara, eating a delicuous rojak nearby, bought me a ticket to go up the famous Petronas Twin Towers, yes I went up there to the 42nd floor, tried sate Kajang, went to Putrajaya at night, and many other places. It was the very first time too I rode on two-doors BMW, with a guy that I just known in few days,alone:))

I also had my literally solo trip there. I went to Melaka with a tour group by bus. I went alone while my aunt had her confrence. It was a one-day trip. Oh, I was also recently broke up with le husband that time. Our worst one. So, during the trip, I had a very good time to think about everything happened. It was a great escape.

What funny was, 4 years later, around the same month, I went to Melaka for the second time with that one I broke-up with,while he was visiting me when I studied my master degree. Sometimes, life is truly beyond belief:).

Melaka was like a historical city. I went to the famous chirstchurch, and eformosa ( not sure about the spelling), the deserted castle-like from Portuguese colonial.

I also had unexpected lunch date with a Turkish man from the tour since only both of us were moslem while the tour leader chose a non halal chinese restaurant for lunch. So, we had our lunch in Secret Recipe together and had small talks which made us almost missed and being left by the bus back to KL:))

I had to go home earlier than scheduled when my mum called from Jakarta that I had passed the test on Bappenas and had to have the next test on Saturday morning. So, I had to change my flight to Friday evening so I could attend the test the following day.

Since I arrived at KL so late at night, I had not have a chance to look around the airport. But, blessing in disguise, thanks to the flight change, I could wander around KLIA by my self before take-off. I bought small gift from Harrods, went to other terminal by the train inside the airport, it was really exciting.

I really hope I can be as good as my parents to my kids later for them not to miss such experiences and opportunities in their life later. I really hope I could give them better than I had.

5. June 2010, Istanbul,Turkey and Second Umra

I had a chance to visit the Holy cities for the second time on 2010 and this time it was plus Istanbul. It was so exciting. We flew with Turkish Airlines.

Stayed for 3 days at Istanbul, visiting Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and cruising Bosphorus strait. It was crossing the border between Asia and Europe.

We proceeded to Medina from Istanbul and stayed for 3 days then continued the journey to Holy Mecca to perform Umra.

I didn’t have so many memorable moments on this trip. It was fun but it felt a bit different. Dunno what.

It might be only 5 trips, but the benefits stay for tens years ahead..