Cilenggang

Cilenggang

This is Cilenggang, as I picture it in words, for I hadn’t got a camera then:

Just by going down a path through a bamboo-wood, I got a captivating view of Eden’s garden in a valley below.

And as Adam, my eyes, delightedly, enjoyed to see a verdant earth, a waterfall on the hills far away and the rice fields near below. My feet tripped, danced along a winding path, following a brook with rich vegetation bordering the sides and lovely, laughing, washing, bathing nymphs and women. My ears feasted on sounds of falling water in the rice fields and fishponds.

I deeply breathed the pure fresh air, I bought me cendol (gelatin drops in iced sweet coconut milk) of a vendor, sitting somewhere lingering on a trunk, my heart so grateful, rapturously singing, though it was just in Cilenggang, not in Bali, the island of the Gods.

And that was but some twenty years ago – perhaps some of you are not yet born - and now they’re no more. Who would miss them?

September 2012

January 2014

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

 

I Would Have God Himself Speak

I Would Have God Himself Speak

Were I “Dominee, Pendeta” that is, pastor, priest I would invite my congregation to God’s church. I then take them, no not to Bali, but to a beautiful spot, a paradise, so serene, in Cilenggang. We walk down a small winding, shady footpath, have them sit somewhere beneath a bamboo wood, listen to the sounds of water falling,  the rustle of the trees, to see the dew on the grass, a valley far away, feel the cool air, a breeze, ... while I myself don’t read the bible. I would keep silent and have God himself speak to the congregation.

And I imagined them on a little boat in a big storm in the night, in deadly peril. They all then know how to pray.

And whosoever finds his/her lover, its mate, then knows how to sing, to praise.

January 2014

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

 

He Is Just A Man

I’m very honored to have dinner with the president. So a woman proudly showed me the photo. Aren’t you awed, you fool? It then occurred to me that he is just a man despite his rank, achievements, honors, not a God. Ha. Ha.

So said opa Johan to his wife.

December 2013 

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

 

God so Loved the world

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/

Bakmi Mevrouw Pesh

Bakmi Mevrouw Pesh

To me, that is the most delicious “bakmi” or noodles in Jakarta, never so good in the whole world. Though nothing was special except its taste, served at Jalan Pos at the side walk in front of the Mrs. Pesh shop.

Eating leisurely with my woman in the evening, I ordered a bowl of warm tofu besides. The owner, a woman, served. The bakmi was in a little bowl and that was also special as that doesn’t make you satiate. Her stand was never crowded and didn’t become a big restaurant, big business.

That was very long ago, which I still remember.

And I thought of my home page, I don’t mind were there only few visitors visiting my “stand”, yet were there one visitor that very loved, enjoyed my “bakmi” am I content, proud, happy.

“Besides your “bakmi” doesn’t become more delicious were a lot of people, presidents to like it or less delicious were a lot of people, kings to dislike it. Your “bakmi” is delicious. Ha. Ha.” So said my woman, comforting me.

January 2014

This is my book. You can read it.

• http://blookup.com/en/blookshop/blook/leisurely-reading-14566/