FIWB!

Last week, an old client reached out to me and inquired about a consulting job. When she asked how long it had been since we last met, I answered seriously, "Mbak, we now measure time in terms of pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. The last time we met was waaaaayyy before the pandemic".

I was joking, but I was serious too :)) Many of us have unintentionally agreed to this kinda time division. I wonder if that's how humanity originally establish "BC" and "AD".

Anyhow, a few days earlier, I found this on Stickies. I wrote this during night group chat with my friends in 2021 and we were drunk in front of our computer (so technically we write this together and decided to not give it a damn).

(I hid this Stickies for years. I rarely open it because I find it messes up my desktop wallpaper).

But it's funny, yeah?

I am too lazy to read my blog post archives but I remember during the pandemic, I complained a lot about work. About everything, generally. Now, It's probably been 1-2 years since we've ditched masks and returned to normal life. I've almost forgotten how it felt to be scared to leave the house for fear of contracting covid. Now I was like, damn, a few years ago so many people died from covid and now seeing us all healthy feels... unfair. The virus was deadly, and now it's been over a year since I've heard anyone report catching covid.

But the most annoying part is remembering all the time WASTED because of PSBB or whatever they were called. It SUCKS that this month I suddenly turn 37, and I totally forgot what I did when I was 33-35. 36? Oh, I'll definitely will remember this age because something *historic* happened that made me who I am today (this could be good or bad, we'll see the effects in a few years - mwah!).

I just wanted to write a bit to mess up this blog. What I am writing now is different from my original plan, because I was going to share something but nah, I'll keep it to myself for now. Meanwhile, I'll post some random photos from the past year.

Let's enjoy the LAST YEAR OF FUCK IT WE BALL!!!! Adios!

First business trip to Vietnam. Wondering if it also be the last? I like the food and the "Bandung-esque" atmostphere of Ho Chi Minh City.

And now, jumping to random days in Singapore:

Perhaps the most important thing this year is finding ways to upgrade myself because, for god's sake, the expertise I've chosen in this world is actually stressing my mind and mental health......

...... and mistakes? Made plenty. Regrets? Maybe a few. But again, this is the final chapter of FIWB, so que sera-sera. Let's see what chaos I can create next!

Singapore, January 2023.

Been a long time, hey, Singapore!

There's something so very wonderful about you and having families there! I've definitely feeling "Singaporesick" and craving a little vacation. I decided to fly to Singapore last weekend. And man, am I so. glad. I. did!

My mother and I got to see my brothers, my second cousin and his family, my aunt and her family, and more aunts. And I was honored to be invited by business partners to their offices. Since the pandemic we haven't had the opportunity to spend a ton of time with each other. I feel this need to make up for lost time and spend as much time with each other as we can. I'm not sure they are all prepared for seeing me that often, but since things are going back to normal, I guess we can consider this their formal warning HEHE.

But of course the trip came and went way too fast!

We were all definitely in catch up mode since it's been so long since we'd last seen each other. I wish I had gotten just a little more time with everyone. Luckily, < 2 hours fly goes by so quickly and I'll be making it there a lot more often just like the pre-pandemic ME! Although, the fly home wasn't comfortable. The turbulences are NO JOKE! They were terrible.

I also realized when I got home that I didn't drink beer take many pictures! I guess we were just having way too much fun to stop and snap photos. Next time I'll be pulling my phone out more often!

#LightToNightSG with Burger Ramly food stall I was soooo lucky!!

Tried new restaurant and suppa beverage. Defo gonna back next time!

Back to work so SEE YA LATER!

Istanbul - Bagian Dua.

Gue sering menekankan ke banyak orang kalau gue ngga pandai untuk bikin review liburan atau pun rekomendasiin tempat belanja dan makan karena pada dasarnya, setiap solo trip selalu gue jalanin secara mindful. Mungkin ngga banyak tempat yang gue kunjungi, tapi yang jelas gue bener-bener menikmati kemana pun gue berjalan. Untuk trip ke Istanbul lalu, gue memang punya tujuan khusus, yaitu berhenti sejenak dari kehidupan sehari-hari yang fast pace. Gue berangkat tanpa itinerary, tanpa ekspektasi, dan cuma berbekal harapan kalau selama seminggu ke depan gue bisa mengistirahatkan otak gue yang udah kelamaan mendidih.

Seminggu emang pendek, tapi saat beli tiket somehow gue punya feeling suatu saat nanti gue akan ke Istanbul lagi. Jadi lebih baik jangan dibikin puas.

Setiap hari, gue ngabisin waktu 4 jam di coffee shop untuk duduk dan journaling. Aktivitas itu emang bisa (dan biasa) gue kerjain di Jakarta, tapi rasanya beda pada saat lo ngga diganggu.

Dalam blog post ini, gue mau tulisin beberapa informasi jadi Para First-Timers nanti tau what to expect saat bikin rencana pergi ke Istanbul.

Week 11 of #52WeeksofMisswhadevr | Istanbul - Bagian Satu.

Cerita dan refleksi di minggu ke sebelas ini agak nyampur dengan minggu ke sepuluh karena gue alami saat solo travel ke Istanbul, tapi most of the feeling gue rasain di minggu ini.

Saat gue ke Istanbul, gue bawa journal gue dan rajin nulis di sana. Dalam sehari gue bisa 4 jam duduk di coffee shop dan nulisin (plus gue bikin konsep untuk novel kedua gue di journal yang sama). Sesampainya di sini, gue memutuskan untuk menulis di journal baru, yang akhirnya menyisakan 10 lembar ngga terisi di journal yang gue bawa itu.

Kenapa? Karena gue merasa sakit hati. Nulis di journal yang sama takut bikin gue ngga bisa move on.

(Not So) Live Blogging: Singapore Day 4.

SUPER-TELAT KAAAAN!!!! :D

Gue inget hari Selasa kemarin, sampai rumah, gue langsung beres-beres dan tidur. Besoknya langsung kerja seperti biasa. Pakai extra ngebut supaya yang ketinggalan selama 2 hari cuti bisa dikejar. Selaluuu aja gitu setiap abis liburan. So, blog post ini telat 6 hari dan ngga bisa dikatakan live blogging - still gonna write anyway!

Hari Selasa pagi, gue lumayan santai nikmatin breakfast gue di pantry hotel sambil mikir mau ngopi ke mana lagi. Salah satu rombongan anak-anak kantor gue, nge-WhatsApp gue untuk bilang kalau setelah pagi buta tadi ke Mustafa, temen-temennya udah tumbang dan memilih istirahat aja sampai jam-nya pulang. Jadi dia nge-WhatsApp gue dengan bilang, "Mbak Maya mau ke mana, aku ngikut." Gue langsung mikir untuk ngajak dia ke Baristart dan Bugis aja, supaya setelah itu dia gampang balik lagi ke Geylang. Padahal sebelumnya gue sempet mikir pengen breakfast di Common Man.

Live Blogging: Singapore Day 3.

Jawaban dari pertanyaan kemarin adalah.. Gue ngga jadi olah raga bareng anak-anak kantor HAHAHA! Barusan ini gue night run sendiri, tapi kita bahas nanti aja. Penyebab kita ngga jadi olah raga bareng adalah pagi-pagi gue bilang ke mereka kalau weather forecastnya bilang jam 9 pagi bakal hujan. Akhirnya gue samperin mereka yang baru dateng dari JB ke Orchard Road. Setelah sampai Orchard belum hujan tuh, masih panas pliket. Tapi karena weather forecastnya bilang jam 11 hujan, maka mereka mutusin ke National Gallery Singapore.. Gue? Ngintil dari belakang. Jadi judulnya gue yang nimbrung mereka.

Itu kedua kalinya gue masuk museum di Singapore, setelah beberapa tahun lalu masuk Mint Museum of Toys sama sepupu gue sebagai bagian dari bachelor party dia *duile*. Ngga tau ya, males aja gitu masuk museum di sini. Setelah dari sana, gue nemenin mereka check in. Ternyata, mereka booking hotel yang 3 bed di Geylang. Tau gitu dari awal gue remind mereka kalau Geylang ini red district. Gue pribadi belum pernah ke sana, jadi baru sekali itu ke Geylang. Bok, asli kumuh betul ya..

Live Blogging: Singapore Day 2.

Semalem gue tidur-bangun-tidur-bangun. Agak ngga nyenyak tidurnya karena Singapore emang lagi panas banget. Padahal AC hostel udah lumayan dingin. Setelah subuh, gue buka Instagram dan sempat ngelihat Nicky Byrne (satu-satunya member Westlife yang gue follow) posted foto jadulnya Westlife. Trus pas tidur lagi, gue mimpi kalo konser Brian McFadden diselenggarain untuk ngobatin penonton yang kecewa sama konser Westlife Jakarta 6-7 Agustus lalu. Eh, gue belum cerita ya soal konser Westlife yang kacau ini. Next time!

Pagi tadi, walaupun suhunya sekitar 34' C gitu, gue keukeuh morning run di sekitaran Boat Quay sampai Raffles Place. Pulangnya pas lagi breakfast di hostel, gue lihat board pengumuman "What's Up Lion City" yang nge-list event, discount, dll, yang lagi happening di Singapore. Di situ tertulis BAYBEATS MUSIC FESTIVAL *ealah... bikin kangen nge-band!* dan gue cari infonya -tentu saja- via Google. Pas scroll line-upnya loh kok ada band-nya suami temen gue! Langsung lah check via WhatsApp ke orangnya, ternyata bener! Akhirnya kita janjian buat ketemu sore-sore di TKP, yaitu di Esplanade.

Live Blogging: Singapore Day 1.

Jangan ditanya kenapa gue ke sini lagi. Bulan April lalu, saat gue nerima passport baru gue (and it's e-passport btw!), I was like, "Yeay I just renewed my passport! Good thing because my photo already looks like I need vacation!" maka langsung kepencet lah tombol purchase ticket untuk menyelamatkan jiwa gue dari masa-masa kalender buta warna selama 5 bulan. Gila kan yah, dari Juli-November ngga ada tanggal merah di weekdays?!

Biasanya gue berangkat pagi ke Singapore, tapi pas beli tiket beberapa bulan lalu, ternyata ada keberangkatan sore yang harganya lumayan jauh lebih murah. Sekali-sekali coba aja nyampe Singapore udah menuju gelap biar ngga langsung pliket di hari pertama. Mungkin jadi agak rugi waktu ya karena hari pertamanya ngga maksimal, tapi karena gue lagi pengen slow pace jadi santai aja lah.

Singapore: Why I Keep Coming Back.

Gue berharap punya penjelasan yang bagus kenapa gue sering pergi ke Singapore. Atau punya cerita yang bagus setiap kali gue pulang dari short gateway ke sana. Atau punya jawaban ketika ada orang nanya, "Gimana awalnya lo bisa sering ke sana? Lo pengen banget ya tinggal di sana? Apa sih yang bikin lo suka Singapore padahal di sana mahal-mahal banget?" (FYI, pertama kali gue ke sana pas masih usia 3 tahunan, tapi sejak tahun 2009 gue ke sana 1-3 kali tiap tahun).

Truth is....

Setiap kali gue ke sana, gue ngga punya plan mau ngapain aja. Gue ngga punya wishlist mengenai barang-barang yang gue pengen beli. Gue ngga bawa baju-baju lucu untuk foto.

Business Trip.

Pulang dari business trip Semarang.. selalu nongol satu jerawat gede di pipi atau dagu gue.

Dua kali bolak-balik Jakarta-Medan.. besoknya selalu migren berlebihan.

Ke Jogja, ke Bali, ke Solo.. ngga sempet jalan-jalan sama sekali karena fokus sama kerjaan dan langsung pulang setelah selesai.

Tapi kalau ke Makassar.. gue happy banget karena cocok sama local cuisinenya. :D
Eh, ke Samarinda-Balikpapan juga seneng! Meskipun akumulasi perjalanan darat dan lautnya lumayan lama, tapi pas pulang bisa bawa kepiting!