Back in NL

Thanks for all your support, condolences, prayers, your time, ears to listen, shoulder to cry on, all kind of supports means a lot for me.

After what happened with Meta, people from the company where I'm doing my final project, together with people from the university, bought me a ticket so I was able to attend her funeral. It was very sweet of them. Many thanks to them.

I arrived after the 'peak' emotional time. The first three days were the hardest. Hearing people recounted about what had happened during those days made me cried.

When I arrived and went to my uncle, he pointed to the coffin and said, "Adikmu sudah nggak ada, Vit." (your sister has gone). It really touched me to hear his choice of word -- adik -- sister, instead of cousin -- it made me felt even closer to this family.

She was so young, yet what happened has united two big families, working hand in hand supporting her family. According to her mom, her spiritual condition was at the peak condition. She loves Jesus very much. Surely she is in heaven now. It was quite a relieve (considering the situation) that she died on the spot, she didn't suffer. Her face was so beautiful and peaceful.

It was good for her -- not so good for us who were left behind, but if we love someone, we would wish the best for her, wouldn't we? And she is happy with Jesus. She is home. What else could we expect?

RIP

Meta, may her soul rest in peace.
Meta, my cousin, died on a motorcycle accident today. I'm speechless.

Betara Kala

Got an email:

Ada yg blng SBY hrs potong 1000 kambing spy bencana alam berhenti. Wah nasehat aneh. Dalam legenda Jawa ada dewa yg bernama betoro Kolo (Kala) adalah kuasa supranatural yg paling jahat. Anak2 dilarang keluar sore hari karena nanti kena tulahnya betara Kala. Ini sebenarnya terbawa dari India karena betara Kala adalah penguasa waktu dan kita tahu sang waktu sungguh berkuasa karena dg berlalunya waktu semua akan binasa/hilang/rusak. Jadilah guyonan sekarang ini sang betara menjadi penguasa Indon, makanya banyak bencana.

(If anyone needs a translation of this, please contact me.)

I remember one painting I saw in Tropenmuseum on my birthday -- in 'het Kwaad' exhibition. It's about Mahakala -- same meaning as Betara Kala -- A supreme power that holds time.

Why do I like that painting? Mahakala is painted as a very powerful being, sitting in the middle of a giant clock. And everything else in the painting bows before him (not literally bowing, but it reflects the supremacy of Mahakala).

Terantuk kaki sendiri

Hehe ... bukan pepatah, tp literally. Tadi lg jalan, begitu kembali di udara terbuka (tadinya menyisir gedung) eh tau2 krn angin jadi terantuk kaki sendiri.:p