wanderlust @nayamoeda - Tumblr Blog

Les Feuilles Mortes

I’ve been in Melbourne for a year. Despite its fast-changing weather conditions, every season brings its own stories for me. It’s not that I don’t want to drop a few lines on my blog on a regular basis or brag about Melbourne’s urban coffee culture (I don’t drink one tho!), it is just........I was in awe of my current life. I’ve listed down things I’d write on this blog, jotted more and more notes down in my mind but I just knew that dozens of ideas could be blown down in a snap.

Mount Oberon, Australia (April, 2017)

For as long as I can remember, my last autumn experience was in Leura, New South Wales in May, 2012 when I was on my way to the Blue Mountains and trees begun to pop with warm hues.

So to cut the long story short, when the autumn season came this year in Australia, the vivid memory of the rare joy of playing with autumn leaves brought me to Mount Oberon last April. Unlike other tropical persons, I did not really see the pleasure of playing with the fallen leaves anymore. I depicted autumn as the season of a chance, that particular chance for you to see flowers in full bloom before they lose their petals. There is this sense of an ending; and for some odd reason it does not disturb me at all.

I wish I could engage in an intense conversation with nature; with autumn, with the trees, the lake, the geese; questioning the perfect mixture of absolute red with the right tiny amount of yellowish brown; about life, death, and above all, about sincerity.

People want to be at their brightest on their highest rung of a ladder, worrying how to preserve what they’ve achieved before they go into free fall at the drop of a hat. But autumn taught me to fall when I’m ready, even on my brightest days and embrace the beauty of being vulnerable at my lowest point. Autumn told me that our time is ticking and just like the fallen leaves, time would turn us into different shades of colors.

Sometimes, I’m red. Sometimes I’m gold.

Sometimes I hang on the tree. Other times, I choose to fall.

Trip with Me!

Anyone keen to join me for a road trip from Adelaide to Coober Pedy 10-14 February 2017? We're gonna drive to experience the outback. 2 seats available. Contact me if you're interested :)

Time Machine

1989

There you were, sitting by the window contemplating your past, dead hopes, fiasco, anything but victory. You said you lived in the present but the most visionary phantom in your mind was the truth about life after your death.

I once asked you to come over to my haven, I said dinner for two on the balcony of my old flat would be nice and that time I was not into dumbing down the meaning of life for you, because, you know, we needed to stop taking things too seriously sometimes. But still, you refused to leave your sanctuary. You and your shabby window, you served no purpose just by staring out of it.

“Don’t you realize that the window is covered in morning dew?”, my voice broke the silence.

“Well, window condensation?”, it took you more than a minute to find that particular term. And unless I heard your voice shaking, it sounded to me more like you tried to impress rather than correcting me. I still remember one day in 1960 when Rochelle took us to lunch at the lakeside gazebo. You were still shorter than her and you couldn’t even tell the difference between geese and swans, between pistachio and almond; she thereupon burst into a fit of laughter because of that. Little did I know that Rochelle’s laugh belittled your ego, that you had been trying so hard to impress everyone ever since.

---

1965

Ah, Rochelle, the loveliest lady who lived in the next aisle.

You said I’d be green with envy once I meet her, since she had everything I wanted; beauty, charm, brilliance, and your attention. For every inch of her skin was as comely as fine silk, and her lips were so delicate that you desired to steal her time to share a passionate kiss for hours.

You were only 14 years old that time and Rochelle was twice as old as you. I knew you didn’t want to risk yourself being treated as a joke if you told her honestly how bad you desired her romantically.

---

1976

I cringed at just how arrogant you were. Not only did you put your needs above others, but also how you took my presence for granted. I refused to write about another mess of broken hearts. I know it might be hard for you to admit that it was her farewell to you, no matter how hard she whispered adieu, a second before her very last breath.

But every time I found you sitting by the window looking at that narrow aisle in the corner of the road, I died a little inside.

---

1990

Ah, Rochelle, I should’ve known that even my whole self couldn’t hold a candle to your presence in his eyes. If only I could turn back time.

Love,

your mirror

Hello kak Naya , I'm your junior from college. I know everyone knew you as one of the brightest students at college, you are a perfomer also (violin), & you also love to travel, joining international conference representing the country. Salute!!!! But how to manage your time Kak? Because you were also 'gaul' 😂😂 thanks Kakkk

Hiiii it’s been quite awhile since the last time I wrote a new entry on my blog hahaha hiiii too bad you didn’t mention your name and batch!

Thank you, you’re too kind and I’m still on my learning process but noooo i do not have any specific tips regarding to your question. Really, you just gotta love what you do and commit to your goals :)

Warmth in Winter

I have a thing about Christmas

view from the London eye capsule

Despite the coldness of a handful of snowflakes, grim mornings to wake up to, or the nights I fell asleep with unfinished prayers keep spelling that one name in my head; I love the atmosphere of Christmas where glitters and gold are everywhere, how the idea of Santa Claus can bring so much hope in children’s eyes, and how tangible the bittersweet of winter complements such ambiance.

As I have told you before in my previous post about December, where I passed through that month backwards, in a way that I decided to start anew while others were busy making another resolutions to achieve in 2016 ( I mean, how many of our resolutions have we been transferring from old list to a new list, for years on end?), but, I’ve successfully crossed two essential items in my bucket list: UK Trip and Scholarship, both came into blossom in December! I bet you understand how it feels to figure things out in other 11 months last year, it was draining yet full of lessons.

Hold your imagination in check, the winter I am telling you here is not the one with thick snow that gently falls on your eyelashes! Those windy days in early December in the UK was enough to make me put on an extra inner-wear under my coat.

Christmas atmosphere in London

Ever since the first day I came to London, I’ve known that my upcoming blog posts about the UK here would not be about the UK Trip 101 (ALERT: you won’t find things like how to survive in the UK, how long it takes you from this point to that point, planning the UK trip, how to get UK visa kind of stuff in this post) because, how can I say.... My trip to the UK was full of randomness! I just wanted a trip that’s very far from home after not going abroad for a year. Then I let the universe took its course and.... voila, my best friend also informed me that she would graduate in December! What’s next probably you may assume, I got caught up in the euphoria of speed as this trip just happened randomly to my sense. I skipped those chances to reflect, to take notes, to pay more attention to any intersections, to look left or right, I just carelessly had fun!

For me personally, Christmas is about sharing the warmth and joy. Regardless of your religion or faith, let’s look closer and smell deeper the atmosphere when December comes: Christmas festivities enliven the season!

I grew up in both Christian and Muslim families, and we gladly tolerate each other’s differences.

For my Christian family, Christmas is seen as more than just the day when Jesus Christ was born, but Christmas is also perceived as one ‘sacred’ time where they have to specially set aside for family bonding, so, this is that kind of ‘warmth’ I am talking about.

While for my Muslim family, Christmas is just another day in December with more presents and ribbons. What makes it special is, we may join the crowd and celebrate the warmth under the Christmas tree or mistletoe.

However it just saddens me since the proliferation of Islamic extremism threat has been spreading for more than just a decade until now. The stronger the threat, the more extra layer of safeguard security must be added during the Christmas period. My Mom said, even the mutual suspicion is there, we just have to be humble and wisely separate between what we truly believe and what we enjoy celebrating. This is what I refer to as ‘joy’, a feeling of true happiness that we may feel within. Because if we detach ourselves from our identities and barriers that have entitled to us, we can see this life in a bigger picture where everything is connected, so that we are able to experience life’s joys sincerely if we are in peace.

Christmas atmosphere in Edinburgh

I love long trips, especially by train.

Yes, I am that kind of person who loves to contemplate during a trip. I can sit for hours looking at the window, having my earphones plugged in perfectly when the trees seem going behind. I enjoy how traveling by train gives me chance to relive my memories in my imagination, so I could innocently wear my nostalgic persona to revisit my past...again, in my imagination. And if you played the song I put above, that was the song I played on repeat during my train trip to Edinburgh, Scotland from Huddersfield.

I am also the one who prefers to pay a visit at a coffee shop or a jazzy lounge late in the evening with one or two other chairs occupied by anyone from my past or present. Deep talks, cheap jokes and unforced connections stimulate me. And freezing Edinburgh last December forced me to spend more and more pennies at coffee shops.

Train. Coffee shop. Christmas. For these three cohere into one harmony, you have no idea how peaceful my December was!

#UnitedKingdom #Scotland

December

Hello, 2016!

After all the hard work and sacrifices, I am stoked to start this year, to see another possibility, to get into places I’ve never been to, (and if you let me to write things down the list will go on here! )

December might be the last month of the year, yet for me, last December was the time I decided to start anew. It is not every day you can see the audiences are full of praise for you after the show, sometimes you have to be that particular superstar who reflect on your mistakes after the show, in order to perform better in the next show.

2015 was not really my year, but to say I’m not grateful for anything is an overstatement. I came across with so many life events which are maybe listed on the list of disappointments 25-year-old must deal with, not to mention that I’m in the point in my twenties where quarter-life crisis has no difference with period mood swings, in terms of frequency of occurrence.

What’s next, I still can recall that gloomy morning in February when my boyfriend was about to fly to East Nusa Tenggara for Medical Internship Program for a year, there I started to sense that 2015 wouldn’t be my cup of tea. Didn’t mean to sound clingy, let’s look at the bright side, I’ve successfully managed to cross off some small (but remarkable) bucket list items:

1. UK trip (Yeay, I made it to London, Birmingham, Huddersfield, Edinburgh & Glasgow!)

2. Successfully locked down a National Scholarship (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education or LPDP, click here ) to study at the University of Melbourne, Australia (another yeayness!)

Later on I would post some photos from the UK and how Christmas atmosphere was almost tangible there. Also, if you want to discuss about how to secure LPDP Scholarship, please feel free to ask me here: nayamoeda(at)gmail(dot)com , I will be more than happy to help you! :)

See ya!

#Europe #notetoself #LPDP #LPDPScholarship

Hi! First of all, beautiful tumblr page <3 I would really love to travel a lot when I'm done with school but unfortunately I'm really afraid of flying. I have been flying some times but I kind of started to fear it A LOT. I would rather walk wherever I want to go then ever fly again... Do you think it is possible to even travel wanderlust-like only with a car and train and walking? :/ sincerely, Anica~

Hi there, thank you and sooooo sorry just found your message and just got a chance to reply! :(

1. Do you have any particular reason for not flying? Or perhaps you had any experience related to extreme turbulence during the flight--which is traumatic? as for me, I tend to overcome my fear by flying over and over again, I will embrace my anxiety. But if your reason is related to your health condition, you’d better avoid it.

2. Traveling for me is more than just moving from one place to another and this can be 15,000 miles away or just a stone’s throw away from home. It’s about the experience and value you bring after. So yes, you may explore some of the options in or around your home! :)

Took this photo from my balcony. You can see how close my home is to Mount Merbabu yet I’ve never been there :/

How do you have the courage to travel alone? and how come do your parents let you to do that? Because I have quite a hard time to convince my parents to let me do solo-travelling. Thank you.

I am an only child. I’ve been convincing my parents my whole life that I’m quite independent. I am not a spoiled brat, I did pretty well in school, and I walk the talk. It is the TRUST in general that you must earn :)

A Note to S

Sydney, Australia (December, 2014)

Dear Sydney,

I always have a thing about you. Regardless of how many beautiful cities I’ve been to, you know you’re the one I keep coming back to.

Sincerely,

Not just your passerby

Annual Stop: Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia

Some of you may know that “Moeda” is actually my family name. Coincidentally, in Bahasa Indonesia, Moeda means young, so that some of my friends thought my parents took their creativity a step too far to wish me to be forever young by giving me this “Moeda” name :p

Nusa Tenggara Timur is where Moeda comes from, Pulau Rote (the southernmost island in Indonesia) to be exact. However, since visiting Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara province) seems to be my family’s annual routine, one day I wanted to go there without any family interventions and such things that would hinder me from enjoying the best of my dady’s hometown has to offer!

September 2014 marked the beginning of my first trip to Nusa Tenggara Timur without any family purposes involved, yeay!! I chose Komodo Island in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara to be our destination. But first and foremost please forgive me for not going to give you too many details about this trip for at least these two particular reasons:

1. There have been so many people going to Komodo Island and surround, I mean yes tho it might be very beautiful, but it is not that kind of holiday destination you can fully consider hidden paradise. So you may not find it hard to get there and explore!

2. Well... as to compensate, I will give you the contact and the person in charge who will take care of your whole trip to Komodo island! :)

Started from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. All activities we did in Lombok was according to our personal plan.

After spending a night in Lombok, we were picked up by a driver at the hotel. It was 1-1,5 hour drive from the city of Lombok to Bangsal Harbor, the meeting point.

If you have experienced any kind of motion sickness like dizziness during a boat trip, it is recommended to take a medicine or two before go on this trip since it would take one night of sailing before stopping at Moyo island, Satonda island (my favorite spot to go snorkeling!) and Gili Laba island.

Play with green algae in Moyo Island

Strikingly beautiful, Gila Laba offered us a stunning point of view to enjoy Komodo islands that spread down below. Although it took time to hike Gili Laba, but trust me, the hike is worth the view and....... photos, for sure!

The next day was the actual time to experience a day with the real Komodos :$

Komodo National Park!

Those happy faces :p

Rinca Island

Kelor Island: last chance to swim and snorkel before continuing a night trip to Labuan Bajo

After a series of island hopping, here came the last night on our boat trip before continuing our trip to Labuan Bajo--the last stop of the whole trip. It was somehow funny how we could fit in and blend in very well with other passengers in the last night. We should have got to know each other before but that was a part of disadvantages of going on a vacation in groups. Not that I want to compare with the perk of traveling alone where we are forced to fit in, but you know, people just can’t maintain an overnight friendship :p

Labuan Bajo. Our last Timorese sunset.

Thank you, September!

A note to the readers:

Hi, I know there has been growing demand on Komodo Sailing Tour over the past few years, and I’d like to tell you that, it’s possible to do in limited budget!

If you want the itinerary, my friend would like to help you! Just drop an email here: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +6281366651909 (for 4 Days 3 Nights tour from Lombok - Komodo Islands (Flores) - Labuan Bajo)

The earliest departure will be 29 April - 2 May 2015

Book your seat now, wanderers!

#Asia #Indonesia #travelogue #NusaTenggaraTimur #Komodo

Getaway Magazine, August 2014

Hi, everyone, find my article about traveling in Jordan in Getaway Magazine, August 2014 Edition.

Yes, perhaps it’s another late-post update to announce it here :( But no worries, you will still can read my writing about Jordan there, here -> A Slice of Jordan

However, if you still have a copy of the said magazine, find me in “Explore” section, on page 35! :)

L-O-V-E

Jakarta, March 2015

Not long after I finished my work today, out of the blue I felt like I had to open my drafts folder. A universe conspiracy it is, I found my old unpublished writing. I remembered I wrote it 2 years ago after contemplating a major break-up I had. Funny how a lesson learned from a brokenhearted story has brought me to the point that I am now capable of loving myself even more :)

Him : Even when in love, I can be completely lost when I let fear take its course, as if have a map in my hand but the room is dark. But as long as she stands beside me, getting lost is not a big deal.

Me : Getting lost together in the darkness does not make you found. You have a map but chances are, you will turn left when it says ‘right’.

Him : Unluckily, that is my only way to get love. Being in love is addictive. You know, when you are in love, a cup of black tea needs no sugar.

Me : You don’t fear that your black tea might taste bitter when you’re in love, because love is what makes you fearless, even fear of death. That is why, when in love, you can be so happy that you could die.

Him : And I know it’s impossible to make someone happy when I’m not even in love with myself.

Me : There is so much more to love than just falling for a particular someone. I tell you, the love I am talking about is far more rewarding than that : it is to taste the sweetness of your bitter black tea. To see hidden beauty in every single thing you see.

Him : I see your point, the ability to fall in love with life and to give love to the universe.

Me : And it will be given back to you, unasked for. Even more.

images source: here, and here

Enam Jam di Chambery

Menjelajah bagi saya adalah menemukan; sebagaimana mengunjungi, bagi saya adalah mengetahui.

"Nanti kujemput kalian berdua si stasiun Chambery, sesuai jadwal tibamu di sini"

Pesan terakhir yang masuk ke ponsel saya di pagi yang sedikit mendung itu hanya saya balas dengan anggukan dalam hati.

Bergegas, saya dan seorang teman menyusuri petak-petak blok menuju stasiun Porta Susa. Kami berencana mengunjungi Chambery, sebuah kota kecil di balik bukit di Perancis dengan mengendarai bus yang memang menjemput para penumpangnya di Porta Susa Station, Turin, Italia.

Jangan dikira untuk mencapai salah satu stasiun besar di kota Turin, Italia ini kami tidak menguras peluh dan usaha. Segala cara kami tempuh demi mengimbangi kemampuan berbahasa Inggris warga Turin yang terbatas. Namun sungguh saya tidak melihat ini sebagai batasan atau sekedar seutas rintang dalam berinteraksi, buktinya kami dapat tiba di stasiun Porta Susa jauh sebelum waktu yang kami perkirakan.

Sembari berjalan, saya menyisakan ruang untuk pikiran kecil saya yang sedang tergelitik. Menurut saya orang Italia secara umum sangat senang membantu orang lain, termasuk turis. Kami bisa sampai di stasiun ini pun berkat bahasa tubuh dan ekspresi seorang wanita renta yang dengan keterbatasannya berbahasa, masih berusaha menunjukkan kepada kami jalan menuju kemari. Sekali lagi saya belajar, mungkin bahasa hanyalah sebuah media, sedangkan maksud adalah tujuan.

"Hey, dimana? Aku sudah di Chambery. Kabari aku ya!"

Saya tercekat. Lima detik saya habiskan untuk mencerna angka pada jam tangan saya, setidaknya hampir enam puluh menit saya habiskan dalam tidur di perjalanan ini. Ah, saya lupa memberi kabar pada kawan saya di seberang sana, bahkan ia sudah sampai di Chambery dan siap sedia menjemput kami.

Berat katup membuka mata melawan kantuk, bahkan ini sudah kali ketiga saya memaksa mata dari hasrat tertidur yang tidak kunjung takluk. Sedetik setelah membalas pesan singkat kawan saya tersebut, saya melempar pandangan ke luar jendela. Wah, saya tidak hentinya memuji lekuk alam diantara dua negara ini! Perjalanan menuju Chambery yang terpaut tiga jam dari Turin ternyata semenarik ini. Semula saya sama sekali tidak mengharapkan apa-apa selain melepas rindu pada kawan lama di ujung sana, bahkan saya berkali-kali mengucap syukur bahwa ternyata perjalanan singkat ini berujung pada kisah layak tulis.

Satu dua kecup saya daratkan seraya menyambut kawan lama saya yang sudah tiba terlebih dahulu.Setelah sekilas melempar sapa dan bertanya kabar, kami bertiga mulai mengayunkan kaki.

Chambery adalah sebuah kota kecil di balik jajaran bukit dan pegunungan, dimana hijau biru menjadi padu, kakek nenek menjalin asmara kembali. Damai.

Sebenarnya semula saya khawatir akan penyesalan yang mungkin datang akibat berkunjung ke sebuah tempat yang jauh dari kesan wisata. Hey, saya berada di Perancis, mengapa saya tidak mengunjungi Paris atau Lyon, Nice atau Chamonix atau apapun yang biasa tergambar indah dalam kartu pos? Tidak, saya kemari bukan tanpa sebab dan tujuan. Keterbatasan waktu lah yang membuat kami harus cukup puas dengan Chambery.

Akan tetapi kekawatiran saya tidak terbukti. Ketenangan dan keramahan Chambery membuat saya belajar memahami bahwa dalam sebuah perjalanan, menjelajah ke tempat-tempat yang jarang diketahui banyak orang rupanya memiliki kepuasan tersendiri bagi saya, seolah rasanya saya menemukan sebutir mutiara dalam lautan. Menemukan keindahan yang jarang tersingkap oleh banyak mata. Menangkap potret kehidupan lain yang belum banyak tertangkap kamera.

Berbeda dengan mengunjungi apa yang telah diketahui, Chambery memberikan arti menemukan kepada saya.

some photos were taken by Jennifer Bako

#Europe #France #travelogue #Chambery

Kesan pertama baca blog lo pertama kali,kayaknya travelling ala lo bisa dibilang 'wah' dan jauh dari budget yg pas pasan. Mungkin akan sangat membantu kalo lo bisa sharing pengalaman dengan tema mininum budget kali yaa. Kedua,sejak kapan seneng travelling?apa selalu ada budget rutin dan dari uang pribadi? Apa ikutan program tertentu? Atau gimana?thx.

Halo, makasih ya, tapi blog ini memang tidak ditujukan untuk acuan budget (minim atau max). Tujuan blog ini adalah tempat saya sharing pengalaman berupa cerita dan hobi menulis saya, rincian harga juga tidak selalu saya tampilkan.

Lalu, saya selalu menyesuaikan budget saya dg tempat tujuan traveling, kalau budget saya sedang pas-pasan ya memilih untuk menunda traveling atau cari tempat yg sebanding dg budget saya :) suka traveling sejak balita, tapi mulai rutin sih sejak 2010 ya. Iya, saya selalu menyisihkan uang untuk traveling. Kalau pergi dengan keluarga, biasanya sebagian ditanggung orang tua.

kak Naya, makasih ya Kuil Artemis-nya sudah sampai dengan selamat :)

Hope you like it :D ..PS:*I can't reply one by one, and the request goes on and on. Sorry my friends, the giveaway has been closed since 30th September 2014. Thankyouuuu so much anyway* :) :)

Kak Naya,terima kasih banyak postcard dari Jepangnya. Sudah saya terima hari ini,sepertinya sudah ada beberapa hari yll,namun pas saya di luar kota. Kak,selamat ulang tahun :)) semoga panjang umur&diberikan yg terbaik oleh-NYA.aamiin

Just read this!! Too sweet, terima kasih ya. Semoga semua yang terbaik buatmu juga :)

Thanks a lot ka Nadya :) Semoga melalui September dengan hati senang... :)

It's almost been a month since the last time I opened my tumblr. Thank you, September selalu ceria! Have a great day :)

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