Memories

Every person has their own ways of keeping memories -or not keeping it. As a very nostalgic person, I tend to keep a lot of things (in tangible form) mostly for sentimental reasons. I have been writing diaries and journals, probably since elementary school. Filling diaries with mundane kinds of stuff, boy-crush, teen-angst, to more introspective jot downs as I grew older. My laptop, phone, and external storage are almost always full of digital photos, and there are envelopes of printed pictures on my desk. Not to forget, food wraps, tickets from concerts, postcards, are scattered in my room.

Writing has been somehow therapeutic for me. It allows me to understand my feelings and rationalize it. Just like how you take notes in class to reread it again before a test; sometimes I re-read the things I wrote to recall memories, to see if I made progress, to see if any feelings change, basically to test my-self. There was once a period where I refuse to write things down, just because I don't want to make memories out of it. Some feelings and thoughts end up being buried somewhere in me, resurface as it pleases, and leaving me without control over it. 

With pictures, it's really more of a nostalgia. There are now apps that let you know what picture you took this date years ago. On certain days, you might get a simultaneous year of throwbacks, taking you year-by-year back. Re-calling memories visually often brings my thoughts to "this time last year, everything was totally different." Different kind of pictures can trigger good or bad feelings. Nonetheless, it visually shows changes (or no changes). 

But then, the relation of memories and the phrase "moving-on" become such a tricky phrase in this context. Re-calling memories doesn't mean you lived in the past and not being present. I believe people moved on from memories in their own unique ways. These memories have been a part of one's life. Though no longer present, I personally think it will never be entirely gone because it has made us and brought us to where we are today. Basically, we're stuck with it. But one thing to keep in mind, memories of the past better not hold us back from being present and pursuing a better future.

PS: multiple exposure photo-esque sourced from JPS

Some place

"once a year go someplace you've never been before" - Dalai Lama

For a couple of times, when I have the chance, I went to explore Sentul to get some quick refreshment out of the city. One of the places is this mini waterfall, called Leuwi Cepet. There are a few other waterfalls in the area that you also can explore. By a mini waterfall, it's basically a water stream. But I can assure you, the water is clear and super fresh (compared to the hot and humid outdoors).

To get there, you can actually find it on Google Maps under Leuwi Hejo. Mind you the road is narrow with a cliff on one side also quite a steep road. Transportation wise, you better be prepared. Since Leuwi Hejo is one of the well-known waterfalls in the area, you'll see signage pointing you to the location and also the parking site.

From the parking site, you'll need to walk a few hundred meters to the entry point where you pay 15k IDR per person to enter the area. From then on, you just walk following the path. Leuwi Hejo is the lowest part waterfall. But you can choose to hike a few hundred meters (I suppose in length, not in height) to find other waterfalls. For Leuwi Cepet you also need to pay around another 10k IDR per person. There are numerous warung along the way, life vest rental, and also toilets. So you need not worry if you get tired or hungry along the way.

Maybe the video won't do much information but that's what internet is for, right?

Turns out people really do change

I used to believe, people don't change. I may be wrong. But am I?

(Case study)

There was a time last year when I lost all the clues about myself. Nothing I did feels right, even doing a habit feels wrong. Everything feels like it's just running around in circles. Seemingly, something changed within me that I hadn't realized. Things cannot be solved with the old way because I am not the same person anymore. 

Fast forward to the present day, I'm still connecting dots and trying put together every piece of puzzles. I don't think this 'change' will ever end. But then, I'd like to think of it as growth rather than change.