Category: Life happens

Posted in Life happens, Places, Travel

The Last Ilana Tan’s Trip : (Early) Summer in Seoul

Posted on by arlanadya

At first, I didn’t have any intention to have trips based on Ilana Tan’s tetralogy. I started reading Ilana Tan’s tetralogy in 2009 and Summer in Seoul was the first one, the first one to be published too. I was captivated by the book. The plot is clear, enjoyable light reading and it’s something that you can repeat even after so many times. Summer in Seoul followed by Autumn in Paris, Winter in Tokyo and last one was Spring in London.

When Autumn in Paris took place in October 2016, I had no idea, I would do this four season trip. But then, life has been kind and full of surprises (good and bad) after all these times. Six months from Autumn in Paris, Spring in London granted in April 2017. It was quite surreal when I looked back how we made it to the second trip within six months. Then, after having those two, the idea of having all four came. Winter in Tokyo accomplished in early March 2018. And finally, Summer in Seoul in late April 2019.

I have been a kdrama fan for nineteen years. Surprisingly, my first time dramas were seasons related too. Autumn in My Heart (2000), Winter Sonata (2002), and Summer Scent (2003), were three of my first memorable shows from dramaland. Although it’s been a long time playing in dramaland, but visiting Seoul has never crossed my mind. The want has never been there.

Until Ilana Tan’s three previous trips accomplished. The only one left is this one and I think it would be nice having the last one as a closing. Also, following the golden rule that my late mom told me, “Finish what you have started”. Although this one sounds more like an excuse to go on another trip, but, yeah, Summer in Seoul trip planning began.

As usual, it commenced from ticket searching. Ticket searching is one of my most favorite parts in traveling. It feels like activating all my brain part and its been always testing the patience. My benchmark of ticket price is quite low. The standard from Winter in Tokyo ticket price made me set the same standard for Seoul. It should be a full board airline too.

Thus, whenever I am doing ticket searching, waiting is compulsory. The right time with the right price came eight months ago. So far, it’s the longest interval between ticket purchasing and the real trip. But, based on destination criteria, trip duration, and budget allowed, the price found was reasonable.

Summer in Seoul is indeed the lowest expectation compared to other three previous trips. For the first time too I only chose to stay for five days, while usually it’s been always seven full days. The main reason is : we tried Korean Food few times and it hasn’t suited our taste yet. Rarely fit to our liking. So, five days would be enough. Hopefully.

To dramaland to meet oppa and ahjussi we go!

Posted in Life happens, Places, Travel

The Third Ilana Tan’s Trip : (Late) Winter in Tokyo

Posted on by arlanadya

The second English post in 2018 and it is dedicated to one of the most favorite topics and things to do. Another Ilana Tan Trip is coming. After Autumn in Paris 2016, Spring in London 2017, now it’s , Winter in Tokyo 2018. Well, actually, it’s quite late to call it winter, but it was still snowy at least till beginning of the March and since I don’t think I will survive the cold during January and February, and many other reasons, so March it is. A bit pushy, isn’t it?

Like previous trips, it started when crazily cheap full airboard airline promo with DIRECT FLIGHT was found. Even the low cost airline couldn’t beat the price offered by this one with all those benefits because LCC has that long hours of transit which I consider is quite useless and wasting time. When it comes to traveling abroad, full board airlines are always better choices. Also like those previous trips, after long and days of consideration, consultation, three paxes tickets were bought.

Thrice went abroad with my little family, it was never really being planned. They were desired of course. The want is there. Some people prefer when travel to some countries which needed a visa, they will make sure the visa is granted first, then issued the ticket, I almost always go for buying the tickets first. Ticket price is more costly than visa. So when the chance and courage are there, grab it fast is always a better choice.

Unlike Paris and London which had a very strong motive, Tokyo is not really like that. As an europe minded person, visiting Asia’s countries is not that tempting. Visited Singapore once, and never have any will to return. Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia are another story. They were once home for me. But, other than that, I have not enough strong will to visit the other countries. No matter how much I like watching korean dramas, visiting the country is almost not on the wish-list.

Tokyo was once considered last year when I found, yes, again, quite good deal tickets from another full board airline. The minus was it had a transit. For 7-hour destination, a transit is such a waste. But the price was quite agreeable.

So, cheap ticket was the main trigger (actually, I often feel like it is not me who finds the cheap tickets, they are the ones who find me😄😄). No matter how often I read and heard the beauty of Japan, the happy place Tokyo is, the heart is quite hard to be moved.

Another motive might be because of Ilana Tan. Since two previous trips had been done according to her book, so the third one would make it a nice serial trip.

When Paris was pretty high in expectation and excitement, London and other 2 cities were highly anticipated, Tokyo is low expectation with medium excitement. We have no specific places that we want to visit badly, for the first time we just feel like seeing what Tokyo offers to us.

Hopefully, the offer as good as what other people said about the city. Amin!

Off we go to Tokyo!

Bismillah.

Posted in Life happens, Places, Thoughts, Travel

Second Ilana Tan’s Trip : (Freezing) Spring in London

Posted on by arlanadya

I seem forgetting about traveling-with-baby mess quickly. Remembered how I consciously wrote few months ago said that I wouldn’t have the courage to do another long haul flight(s) with the baby until certain limit of time.

Then, voila.

Tickets issued just two months after the oath. Even crazier, with longer flights. I must have been insane.

This is not on my bucket list. I have been there twenty years ago and have no intention to go back again, unless something really forced me to or something made me have to or someone asked me desperately, free of charge. Then, count me in.

So, this trip is actually not about me, but more about other members of the trip.

The last Paris trip was very memorable till I had little regret that my father didn’t join us. We offered of course, but he refused. I enjoyed it a lot and often thought about him a lot when I was there.

My brother is currently pursuing his master degree in UCL. After lots of scholarships hunting, for two years, he finally made it. So, after went back home, I urged my father to go and visit my brother in this city.
He surely refused and said what he should do there alone. I was jokingly said I could be his companion if all expense would be on him. He frowned😃.

Nevertheless, I kept searching the cheapest ticket possible. Continously, daily, on every airlines possible. I was checking certain websites regularly.

I always checked the price for three adults and one child. Why? Because my father wasn’t interested in traveling alone, while I also couldn’t go alone. I had to bring this little baby and the consequence, another adult had to go with me too. Who else other than the baby’s father?

It is surely so tempting for a hard core liverpudlian like him when Anfield is just few hours by train from there. So, these four unseparated and tangled people should travel together, for their own reasons and motive.

It started with ticket hunting of course and it was such a painful thing to do. It was really heart-breaking seeing the price they offered for our travel squad. The Paris trip expenses all together equals to tickets cost to this city only. That was too cruel.

But, it didn’t stop me. I kept searching daily and religiously. One day, in a fine morning after subuh, I tried MAS website and had a light heart attack watching the price they offered for 3 adults and 1 child. They offered half price from others than I regularly checked.

I had checked MAS before continously since it was one of the most possible alternatives and the offer had never been that shocking. Slightly cheaper than other yes, but with less advantages, such as less agreeable schedules.

I told my father about this price but I didn’t receive a proper response from him. It was surely quite a lot of money, but it was also a very good deal, if the price was the only thing we considered important.

I checked the price day by day until it’s really gone and left me with something. What’s that?

Regret.

It turned out that the regret of not bravely taking the offer was bigger than I thought. I kept thinking about that day and night. I also conveyed this to my father. As a result, it caused more tense ticket hunting than before. My leisure time mostly spent on those airlines websites, every single day.

I had certain preferences. After flying with TK twice and considered its service was just okay, I prefered other middle east airlines. It’s either QR, EK, or SV would be fine. I flew once with EK to Manchester and really impressed until I still could remember it even after twenty years later.

But then, all those three prices were totally out of reach. No matter how many times I checked their websites, it hadn’t changed much.

During the interval of my search, I found two which had promo at that time : GA and THA. It was pretty similar to MAS promo, few millions more expensive, but still within reach. The MAS promo price became my anchor price.

Fortunately, both GA and THA were not that convincing for me. GA might be good for domestic flight but I didn’t trust them enough for international flights. Seen quite a lot of complaints related to lost/missing baggages. That was one. Another one, their schedule were not comfortable, especially when you travel with a baby and a parent. Thirteen hours straight return flight sounds scary. THA was once being considered. But, after reading some reviews, it wasn’t that recommended.

So, I let both go. This time, without any regrets.

I had tried every airlines possible. Literally EVERY AIRLINES. Name it, I had tried it. No result. Even some of them had very irrational numbers.

Then, I forgot when, an idea came. Instead of departing from Jakarta, I chose Kuala Lumpur. Turned out KUL flight offered a very very reasonable price. Almost every middle east airlines offered almost half of the price that they did in CGK flight. Of course the price was displayed in MYR, but it was truly agreeable.

I didn’t tell my father in an instant. I kept doing my research and continous checking daily. Since it was from KUL, so I also had to find flight from CGK-KUL as well. It became more and more researches.

I kept QR and EK in my list. Both had similar price and schedule. It was uncountable how many times I counted the total price of both offers. Reading as many as reviews that I could, comparing those two. I also did sounding this to my father.

Finally, in a Friday morning, I checked both websites once again and felt this should be executed as soon as possible if I didn’t want to keep searching without result.
I told my father before he went for Friday prayer. Told him to execute this.

I guessed the regret wasn’t only on me when I let previous MAS shocking offer go. My father seemed regret about it too. Maybe not much, but he surely had it. When I mentioned the KUL flight offer on that Friday, without too much hesitation, he said yes.

Even after he said yes, I didn’t book it directly but doing more and more reading and comparisons between QR and EK. I also added CGK-KUL flights cost.

The total amount of CGK-KUL-LHR return flights for three adults and a child was very very agreeable. We had of course longer trip and more transit than direct flight from CGK. But, with such millions rupiahs differences, which could be used for other expenses, I guessed (and desperately hoped) it was really worth it. More, it would be those two best middle east airlines we would fly with. There would be no hope if I decided to wait until their price went down for direct flight from CGK.

So, with many times of repeated bismillah, the deals were made. It was scarier than clicking the Paris tickets since I did it with my father’s expense.

We came to an agreement that tickets would be on him while me and le husband would be on transport and Airbnb. The rest we go dutch.

Done with tickets, another hectic thing to do came : visa. It turned out the visa is a lot more headache than Schengen. About the visa, flights and Airbnb, each separate post will do.

Hopefully we will have a good journey this time. I have one ultimate wish for this trip : I would be very happy as long as my father enjoys this trip.

It turns out that this trip also becomes my second Ilana Tan’s tetralogy trip after Autumn in Paris last October.

Which one is that?

To Spring in London we go!

A whisper heard from a far, “keep calm, mum. Lower your expectations. Done? Have it a bit lower again, please. Enjoy your trip”.

Sincerely,

A-won’t-stop-moving-toddler bunny.

Bismillah, 24 hours trip to the west we go!

Posted in Favorite things, Life happens, Past learning, Places, Thoughts, Travel

The Third Longest Dream Unlocked, First Ilana Trip : Autumn in Paris

Posted on by arlanadya

Waiting for today feels like forever since last June. Looking back to all things happened in the last four months make the heart almost exploded of mixed emotions felt.

Let’s go through the past tunnel first, shall we?

Right after the first umra when I was 19, three goals were set to be accomplished before married :

1. Master degree abroad

2. Going Hajj

3. Going to this city

The first two were checked in the same year of the marriage, but not the third one.

This city has been My constant stomachache. Having the language teacher at home made me really familiar about this city. The books were everywhere. The language was also daily spoken. One or two or three words were often used whenever we discussed something.

First time learned the language at 11. Then, it was on and off. During high school, this was one of an elective subjects for two years. Maybe, other than me, no one enjoyed this subject at all.

It has been come closer for several chances. When we visited Manchester in 1994, we had BeNeLux and this country visa with us. Sadly, chicken pox stopped us from going. In 1996, the teacher was sent for a month summer course, but again, joined her was out of option.

The dream was off for quite some times.

Then, I started working on it seriously in 2008. It was a thought of accomplishing number one and three in one shot. Master degree in this country or other countries nearby. Wherever it would be, as long as it was getting closer to number three would be fine.

Had been applying lots of universities in The Netherlands and England and received quite offering letters. Sadly, the scholarship wasn’t available. Back then, scholarships were not widely available. Not to say I would surely get it, but at least could give it a try.

Since Europe was quite hard, then the plan was revised. Instead of doing number one and three, the focus and resources were all used on number one first. It worked better than having two things at the hands. Number one was checked in 2011, after almost two years of searching.

In 2011, life happened a lot. The wedding planning had started rolling. The chance of having number three done before the wedding day was getting thinner. While number two was confirmed, number three was too far to be seen.

In 2011 also, the news of the teacher sent to one of the city in that country broke my heart a lot. She actually supposed to go the previous year, but she had to unveil herself. She refused and declined the offer. Unbelievably, the chance came once more on the following year. This time, she was told that she could keep her veil. So, she did go. As if this opportunity was chasing her until she said yes.

What made it was pretty heart-breaking, it was me who had been trying hard for almost two years, but why it seemed the teacher, who didn’t do anything to go, was the one who could go. It wasn’t fair at all.

Right after Hajj, a month after, it was the wedding day. The hope of accomplishing all three had totally gone. The chance of going within visible time was pretty zero, with le husband’s residency on the running. Until the wedding day, when the teacher was no longer here, number three was still left untouched.

Two years after marriage, the baby came. The hope was even more fading. Let alone that far, going somewhere near for couple of hours now is even not easy knowing this little baby is waiting at home. In the wildest and worse thought, number three was halfly given up. Although, the thought of dying without going there gave me a broken heart.

God has always had a funny, unexpectable, and mysterious way in fulfilling our wish. This year fasting month brought a greater blessing than we expected.

It started when the idea of homecoming to Solo was popped. Since le husband is already in his last year of residency, the schedule has been quite loose. For the first time in four years, we went for a trip by plane. Although the cost made our saving screamed a lot.

Right after bought the homecoming tickets, an idea to check the cost of number three ticket came into mind. Did it as a guilty pleasure, like I have always been doing whenever remembering number three.

Checking several airlines, it turned out one of them currently had some promos. As the curiousity was getting higher, destination and some dates were typed. Nothing serious, just wanted to check how much it would cost.

When the monitor displayed the price for two adults and an infant, the first reaction was…numb.

Such price, return, for three person? Seriously?

It might be not that cheap, but calculating quickly on my head, it was doable. At least, affordable for us. The dates input had been chosen, according to my schedule.

Couldn’t help staring at the monitor for some time. The tab had been opened for a whole day. Went to bed sighing and thinking, it would be still impossible.

The day after had never been the same. It made me checking the website every single day. Reading a lot of reviews. Comparing to almost every airlines possible. Discussing things with le husband, my father, and also my saving account.

For at least 12 days ahead, I had numerous disturbed sleeps. While le husband kept telling me just clicked and bought the tickets, while the courage was there. Telling me that I had been longing for this too long. Maybe it is really the time.

The courage came after sahoor in Ramadhan. The tickets were bought. Never in my life I spent money that much on something. For a stingy person like me, the amount spent was too scary.

Strangely, this time, instead of guilt, it felt good.

Those tickets bought were the first real thing I have done about number three. Although few months later I am still paying the debt for it, it is worth all the pain of having debt for.

The next morning, passports were being registered online and after two weeks, the new passports were ready. Passport done, the next step was one of the most important things about number three. One process which sucked almost your energy, time, and money : Visa application.

Preparing for visa was one of the most exhausting yet enriching steps about number three. It made me do lots of reading, if not to say too much reading. Almost all available articles, with any possible keywords were being read. Made sure I didn’t miss anything for my visa documents so it would be approved or before that, at least no document missing when we came to submit it.

One week after documents submission, the passports were returned. Opened the sealed envelope in front of the locket, opened the passport and… the stamp was there.

It was really there until I really wanted to cry.

The visa was there.

My permission entry to enter this country was granted.

Then, (Maybe), it is really the time.

———————
For me, it’s not a simply mere vacation. Nor an ordinary family trip.

It feels like going for another smaller Hajj. Going to the place which make your heart beating fast and has been giving you a constant stomach ache for almost three fourth of your life.

The place where you almost read everything about that, speaking the language (trying hard) like its people, knowing something about this place more than any common knowledge.

When usually people are having at least two or three countries to visit with their visa during their travel time, I (we) decide only to visit this one country, in this one city. I won’t be a hopping tourist. (Well, it’s actually a soft translation of the money is limited;))).

This one might sound too mainstream for many people, but not to me. It’s the place where some parts of the teacher’s soul lived. By the teacher, I have been talking about my mother.

The teacher who had been teaching me not only about the country and its language, but the more importantly, she taught us about having dreams and working on it until we make it.

Half of this journey, maybe about showing her up there, this time, I finally make it for my third biggest dream. She knew for sure I have been longing number three since a very young age. Sadly, she is not here to cheer with me like the previous two. But, I hope she would be proud to see everything that I have done to make this one real.

The initial plan was going alone, strolling here and there, taking pictures, resting for coffee and cake near the river, shopping till the wallet drop, visiting places on the list every single day all day long, having a day trip to the nearest cities, and many more of self-pleasing things. An ultimate self trip to end my 20s.

It turns out I am going with another two people. One of them is a baby, which gives me a lot of concern. Double and triple preparations, while having less and lower expectation. Instead of the strong 20s, it’s the less agile 30. God truly gives all my dreams checked, according to His will, not mine.

Dream then work on it to the fullest, I am the one who will decide the result, He said.

Then, let’s accept the result.

To the city where my heart has been constantly wrenching for after Mecca and Medina, here I come. I’ll see you there, Mom.

October 25, 2003 : the departure day of the journey when the three dreams were set.

October 25, 2016 : the departure day of the third and longest dream.

Missions accomplished.

Bismillah, off we go.

My First and Second are here.

Posted in Life happens, Thoughts

Running Once Again

Posted on by arlanadya

It’s not a literal title. I am not a runner, nor a fan of running. The word here refers to the current situation where is being well described as running.

Ramadan is here. Years before, Ramadan always brings something different. Something fun, exciting, meaningful, and gives that warm feeling.

The last four years, after all those big things happened in 2012, life has been pretty plain. It’s all about work. Maybe the only major change is having Langit. Other than that, it’s totally about working and saving. Never been to anywhere for the last four years. Literally nowhere.

This year, Ramadan surprisingly brings some unexpected circumstances. If all is going well, I will have the very first mudik during my 30 years of living. We’re going to visit Yangti on the second day of Idul Fitri insya Allah. This will be the first time for Langit to be on the plane, which gives me quite concern.

One thing always leads to another. Other than that, we happen to prepare another bigger journey. For me, it’s the one who has been becoming my constant stomach ache for a long time.

One first huge step was made and even that already felt like an accomplishment for me. Knowing how much and how long I have been holding back. Thinking that it will come very much later than sooner regarding the situation we’ve been living in for the past few years.

Made that first huge step was scary. But, it was as if the universe let it happened. Few past weeks feel surreal, exciting, yet full of worries. The next big step is being prepared and it consumes lots of energy, time, and of course, money. Can’t go with details about this until we (hopefully) really make it.

Chasing a dream is not like playing around. It takes determination, persistence, and your strongest faith to do your best and leave the result for Him to decide. And here I am, using all my resources to go here and there, until we reach the final destination.

I am going to have a faster speed after Idul Fitri. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely pray May this time, it’s really my turn.

Amin.

Posted in Life happens, Thoughts, Travel

The Road to An Unachieved Dream

Posted on by arlanadya

Today, Wednesday 15 June 2016, as early as 4.45 am, I was securing the very first real step to my most longing dream for years.

Among three, this is the only one I wasn’t able to achieve before marriage. I have been doing lots of things to be here, not only once thinking about to let it go, but in the end, I know I will never be able to really let it go. It won’t leave me. It will keep haunting until it is unlocked.

The past four days have been like a war inside my heart and mind. The battle between to do or not to do has been very intense. Doing a very massive researches using every single possible keywords to assure this time, it’s really the time.

Calculating between the loss and the gain then finally, sincerely asking The One and Only for Him to take care this one longest dream until the end. Ask Him for all blessing to make it happen.

I wish my mum were here, so she can really witness that I am working on this one dream. No one knows better than her how much I want this. I am really going this time, Mum.

I will, Insya Allah.

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:)

image

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 Langit Senja, Life happens, Maternité

A Perfect Gift (insya Allah) at The End of A Decade

Posted on by arlanadya

Whaaa, it’s been quite a while since my last writing. Been quite busy these days.

 My sister is getting married next month insya Allah. The most sad news came from a very best friend whose wedding was cancelled,right 3 weeks before the date. Truly heart breaking. But,then, may Allah give her strength and replace it for someone better in the near future. Amin.

We had our first anniversary last December. Alhamdulillah. Hope we’re looking for more more years to count. Amin. 

I’ll turn 30 by this October insya Allah. Long ago, 30 seems soo old and far. And now,  I am counting just other few moments to it. As stated in my previous post, I have no regrets in these past 10 years of my 20s. I almost had all what I have been dreaming of. Altough the lost I had can be considered pretty enormous too, but it still truly one of the best decade of my lifetime.

To add all those blessing, Allah sent me, or us,another present. Yes, Alhamdulillah a little us is on her/his way. A baby to be insya Allah. It’s still early. We’d just known it last week, on April 24 and haven’t checked it to the doctor yet. 

To be able to reach this point, I just want to be grateful and more more grateful in the future. May Allah keeps everyone’s health, make it easier for all affairs, bestow us with His blessing all the way. Amin.

So,maybe more (baby) stories to come later then;)