Odisseus’ Mom

As we already planned, we start our trip at Barcelona, then Madrid, Cordoba, Granada and last Malaga. I never expect that we are going to see the many faces of Spain in such a short time.

Barcelona, perhaps the most dynamic city in Spain, it gives us a mixtured between modern, dynamic, old, but also casual life of Mediterranean city. It was the host of Olympic Games in 1992. We visited the Anella Olimpica there, the Palau de Sant Jordi and also Olimpic Ring. Here we are in front of Olimpico Ring, inside Anella Olimpico, and Montjuic Hill view. 

But unfortunately we had no chance to see and visit the athlete’s camp. The Anella Olimpico is on the top of the Montjuic hill while the athlete’s camp is just at Mediterranean harbour.

The Montjuic is the city Central Park, crowded by people, they’re sunbathing, and so did us. Near the Montjuic, there is Fira Barcelona, a huge Convention Center where event like exhibitions being held. 

Plaza Catalunya, the place with strong mixture between modern and old life, doves in all around the plaza waiting for the people to feed them. People from baby, young, teenage, old, hanging around to enjoy the atmosphere.

From the Plaza with just a walk to La Rambla, I found a festivity and colourful atmosphere, artists, street vendors, tourists all together in one long avenue. I think it is undoubtedly the most lively part of Barcelona. The avenue strechts from Plaza Catalunya to the Mediterranean seaside (harbour) where Colombus Colon (Statue) erected. 

Colombus was received by the Catholic King in 1493 on his return from his voyage to the New World, and the monument was designed by Gaitea Buigas (1886). Colombus right finger points to the sea while his left hand holding a book (perhaps bible). I had a chance to take the picture in front of this monument and also the popular Las Golondrinas–a ferry carries sightseers to and from across the waters of the harbour (Puerto Barcelona).

A little  further from La Rambla is Barcelona’s most picturesque market, offers supplies with a wide varieties, Mercat La Bouqeria. This was the first place I stopped by when I arrived at La Rambla, I bought fruits there.

Gaudi Parc exhibits many of Gaudi’s art. The park is beautiful and on the top of one hill in Barcelona, we can see right to the sea from here, I believe that Gaudi had already chosed the right spot to exhibit his art legacy to the world. We took metro, stop at Vallcarca station then by walking around 800 meters on a very steep yet beautiful path we found this fenomenal park. 

UNESCO includes this park as one of the “World Heritage”.

Gaudi is the architech of Barcelona city, he died in 1926 left the garden unfinished. The park was originally intended as the garden city, the entrance is guarded by dragon (I have a picture here).

 Another unfinished Gaudi’s legacy is the Sagrada Familia Cathedral.

It is conceived as a “cathedral of the 20th century”.

From 1883 until his death Gaudi worked exclusively on Sagrada Familia. I see that even now this Cathedral is still unfinished and under it’s reconstruction. When I went to Alhambra Palace (Granada, Andalucia), I became realized that Gaudi’s paintings and architecture (Gaudi’s Park and Sagrada Familia) is also influenced by the Islam art exhibited massively on the Alhambra.  

Sagrada Familia Cathedral, from the frontside, even now it is still under reconstruction 

Barcelona seen from Gaudi Parc with the Mediterranean sea at the background 

Gaudi Parc hill. Be careful Endah, don’t fall off…:P 

Another view from Gaudi Parc to the Mediterranean Sea

From the top of the hill of Paral-lel we can also see the panoramic view of Barcelona.

Last but not least, we also had a chance to visit the FC. Barcelona Stadium (it is also one of my target, to visit famous football club stadium in Europe). Lucky enough, the stadium is very close from Sophie’s house, it was only 600 meters.

Don’t want to leave the FC Barcelona Stadium, want to meet Ronaldinho 

Madrid, the capital of Spain, offers less variety of panoramic view then Barcelona. We only spent one day there. Our main target in Madrid is to visit the Real Madrid Santiago Bernabeu stadium and see the matador. Fortunately, from the map we found that Madrid has a famous open park, named Retiro. We decided to go first to the Retiro Park, we sailed little boat in the park’s, but since none of us had no experience in driving a boat with rows we were just like doing circling round and around, and sometimes bumped another boat, however it was very fun for the three of us. (Sorry, the picture at Retiro park is on Salwa’s pocket cam).

Cordoba and the Granada southern of Spain is the place where Islam culture, knowledge, and science, was once flourished throughout the Europe and world. The legacy presents us a lot of story and history about Islam in Andalucia and Europe. In Cordoba we found a Mosque (Mezquita) which already altered into Cathedral when Islam had been defeated, people in Cordoba call it by Mezquita-Cathedral. Ibnu Rusdi was once becoma leader in Cordoba, there is statue of him inf front of old fortress. 

One of the most fenomental landmark in Granada is The Alhambra Palace, this is the palace that I think has no match in this world. We could only say our gratitude to be able to see such a breathtaking view and history from the palace and its gardens. Alhambra felt into Catholic Kings in 14th century. (Unfortunately, all of our pictures here are on Salwa’s digicam, so that I could not attach them all yet). From Granada we wanted to continue of trip to Sierra Nevada mountain, but unfortunately our time was not allowed us to do so, since we had to continue to Malaga, a beach city, with beach as the most touristic destinations, from which we were going home to Amsterdam.

This question was from a girl I met in metro station in Barcelona. I was waiting for the metro at 11.30 pm that night to take me to Collblanc station, the nearest station where Sophie (Hana and Alex’s friend) lives.

I had decided to go to Sophie’s home earlier, wait for my friend Hana there at Sophie’s house, since it was already midnight and I had not received any messages yet from Hana telling about the time she was going to arrive at the metro station.  

I walked down the stairs which lead to underground station, picked my seat while waiting for the metro beside a young lady perhaps she is still 20’s, white, blonde, pretty, tall, and look smart. She looked at me with an interest and seemed looking for the suitable words to start a conversation. And then there she goes, asking me that question, “Are you a Chinese?” with a language I don’t understand. I replied her, “I am sorry I do not speak, Spanish….” But now I just realize that Chinese and Spanish is really sounds different, and why I came to conclusion that the girl was asking me a question in Spanish is simply because  we were in Barcelona, one of the biggest city in Spain.

Then the girl started to asked me something with different language, seemed like French, and I had to reply her again “I am sorry I also don’t speak French, I only speak English”. Then the girl started to understand that I could only speak in English. She told me that at the first time she saw me, she thought that I was a Chinese and that’s why she wanted to start a conversation with me because she wanted to practice her Chinese.

I smiled at her and told her, “I am not a Chinese, I don’t speak Chinese and never learn to speak one.” She seemed to understand but continued that I look like one.  Then I smiled again, “Perhaps it was because I had not sleep enough since the day before, that’s why my eyes became look like a Chinese eyes”, I tried to give her an explanation.

We introduced ourselves, her name was Julie, she was from Toulouse, French, and she’s been in Barcelona for work. It was nice to have accompany and friend to talk on my lonesome night trip in Barcelona, she was very friendly and kind. She stopped two stations earlier than mine, we say goodbye to each other. Finally, at Collblanc I would also met another new friend, Sophie. I could only imagine what and how she’s going to look like.    

Assalamuálaikum wr wb.

Dearest Ody my dear soleh boy, and My Passompe, 

As I already told both of you before, this Thursday morning, I went to Spain. After dinner we had one night before, I still have to prepare myself for my vacation and also (huh…) the coming exam, therefore I bring my books along with me. I went alone, since Hana could only go after her exam this morning. I took 07.04 international train from Den Haag Holland Spoor to Brussels Centraal. I did it on purpose, since I have never been to Brussels, why dont I take this chance to visit Brussels as well, even only for a short time. At 9.10 am I arrived at Brussels Centraal Station, Brussels is a hilly and old city, up and down, cathedrals, shopping center, parks, and museums covers almost the the city surroundings. I took a walk from the station to enjoy the morning there. People at Brussels speak French and Dutch. But they could also speak good English. People were nice there, two old ladies queueing at the ticket counter replied my question nice and politely. Two primary school students at the station which were on their study trip with their class said “au revoir” and wave their hands good bye for me,  when I was about to leave.

I had to catch the train which goes to Charleroi Sud (South) Station and from there took a bus Line A which goes to the Brussels South Airport. It was a small airport, (I also consider Tegel International Airport in Berlin as small, since it is smaller and less busy than Schiphol, Amsterdam). People was queueing for check in and so did I. It took 1 hour 25 minutes to arrive at Barcelona, Girona Airport. Girona locates out of the Barcelona, a province at northeast of Barcelona. I took shuttle bus, 1 hour 20 minutes to reach Barcelona centrum. I kind of like this city, it warmer than Den Haag, the transportation system is very good and give clear direction, thank God I could arrived savely here and not being lost. I met a girl which also took the same flight and bus with me, her name is Salma she is from Belgium, she speaks French and little English, she has a short course study in Barcelona. She gave me her phone number at the time we separated at Catalunya  Metro Station, “Just in case you have a trouble here, just call me at this number”, she said.

I follow Dinas direction to go to Ideal Youth Hostel, the place where she stayed at Barcelona 4 months ago. Finally I find it, here at Liceu. Fortunately I also found an internet cafe which is very save and clean next door to the hostel. Right now, I am waiting from Hana which will be arrive at 11.25 tonight. I have not booked the room yet, since I consider to meet Hana and then stay at her friends (Sophie) apartment here. Hopefully the metro here operates until pas midnight, so that I could meet Hana at Collblanc Metro Station, at least I hope they operate until 1 am like metro in Paris.

When I arrived at Liceu, Plaza Catalunya at 6 pm, coming out from underground station, I found myself in the middle of the crowd, a cozy one. In front of me a huge open market called Mercat de La Boqueria, it seems it is quite famous here because people stop and take pictures here. Merchants are selling fruits, flowers, suvenirs, etc. I entered the Mercat and bought one kilo of grape, it is very sweet, I like it. Then I took a little walk and found myself had already entered a souvenir shops. Gaudi Park and Sagrada Familia Cathedral is the most famous landmark here, the shop I entered had a good price for Gaudi and Sagrada souvernirs. No need to wait longer I already found myself paying for some souvenirs, I could not resist the temptation, they are very nice and beautiful.

Now, I still have to spend my time here, at least to wait for Hana. I think this is the time to get back to the readings since the last time I read them on the train, but first I have to find a good and save place to sit. Wish me good luck both for my trip and my exam (of course..:), Ody and My Passompe. May Allah SWT bless our family. Miss you both a lot. I wish my little story could be a light heal for our separate times.

With love,

Wassalamuálaikum wr wb

This week has been a colorful week for me. I kind of enjoy it, even though something bothers me happened, I got a little bit irritated by one of my friends attitude, but I learn to let it go. Monday, I work almost all day to finish my RMD assignment, it took three full days to work on that assignment since Saturday until Monday (the due date). On Tuesday, I had a leisure time, me and Herni walked to the centrum and eat Turkis pizza there, buy some food supplies, and cook for our dinner. The 4 Musketeers Philipinos students at ISS are: Cates, Jason, Rommel, and Agnes, they invite us to have dinner with them at Jasons room at Gondelstraat, Scheveningen. We cooked sayur lodeh and sambal goreng tempe. He had dinner until 10.30 pm. This is my second time to have dinner with Philipinos, the first I had at Cates room at Bazaarlaan. Here are some pictures.

And on Wednesday, like we (me and Herni) had organized, we had a praying together (solat gaib) in our room for almarhuman Chandras mom, and Diahs grandma, then followed by dinner together. I organized the agenda and Herni organized the cook. We cook at the afternoon, we invite all Indonesian students at ISS which is about 20 people and the 4 Musketeers from Philipinos, also Aki from Japan. Well, its also a “farewell” for our beloved friend Chandra, since she has to go back to work for RCTI. But its ok, we will always remember the good times we had together. 

I cooked sayur pare with tempe, hehehe… very Indonesian right??? :) Also ikan asin and sambal terasi, but our guests enjoy them very much… Well, it seems that it was made with and receive compliments. Thanks guys…:) We organized it so that everyone could contributed. Herni cooked ayam cah jamur brokoli, Dina and Avi prepared pempek Palembang, Mirna with her Padang empal, Ita with her Chinese cap cay, Mas Dayat with rice, Budi with his ayam goreng kalasan, Kay with her Bihun goreng, Tono with his lumpia, Adrian and Mas Wira with their fruit desserts, Chrysant with her slagroom, and Chasan as our Imam solat. It was very exhausted,but we were all happy and cherish a memorable times. See you soon Chandra, be tough girl! We love you and will miss you. Here are some pictures.

Me: from Liceu, Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona.

O Captain! My Captain!

by Walt Whitman

I

O captain! my captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the stead keel, the vessel grim and daring.

But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red!
Where on the deck my captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

II

O captain! my captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up! for you the flag is flung, for you the bugle trills:
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths, for you the shores a-crowding:
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning.

O captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck
You’ve fallen cold and dead.

III

My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will.
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done:
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won!

Exult, O abores! and ring, O bells!
But I, with silent tread,
Walk the spot my captain lies
Fallen cold and dead.

To my Passompe also those who love “Dead Poets Society”. Remembering the hard times, you have finally passed during your thesis work (alhamdulillah…). This Walt Whitman’s poem was also being quoted at “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), in one dialog between Josephine March and Friedrich Bhaer.

Mr. Lioe Hesseling in Radio Nederland sent me a message. He said he’s going to publish my writing about “Pengalaman di Belanda” on Ranesi. This is the second time where my writing being publish there. He said,  he likes my story, “Kinda funny one, keep on writing and sending us story.” Well, thank’s Mr. Hesseling, I’ll try, I’d like to keep on writing my story being living in your country.

Assalamu’alaikum wr. wb.

Dearest my dear soleh boy Odisseus. How are you today? I’m sure you are doing just fine there. Everyday I receive messages from your daddy and auntie, telling me how you are. Yesetrday morning (which is still in the middle of the night here in my place), your daddy sent me a message:

16/03/06. 06.48: “Ody lagi mandi, tadi pas aku datang dia ngomong “mimi tutu”".

I’m very surprised to know that you are already be able to say some short words, with your own pronounciation. I take “mimi tutu” as “drink milk”, something that you usually do in the morning before you have your bath. Alhamdulillah, that’s all what I could say, I could never be able to say exactly how my feeling is to know that you are fine and keep growing well, I could only say my gratitude to Allah SWT.

This has been a hectic week for me and all my friends here, almost everyday we have presentation to prepare, group discussion, assigments, etc. Actually this is the last week (and today is the last day) of term 2 at ISS. Next week we will have study recess week, it’s given to us, to be able to concentrate to study for our term 2 exam. But apparently most of us would use those days in two different ways, first to have a short holidays, relaxing ourselves after weeks of hectic and then come back to start to concentrate to study our materials.

Your daddy asked me to go to the doctor to check out my condition. I told him something that apparently made him a little bit worried about my health condition. I consider myself is still ok, I’m feeling much better after recover from cough, fever, and sad feeling when your daddy left. Thanks to Herni which quite good in taking care of me. I hope I have a little suprise for you and your daddy, which yet I’m not very sure about that either. Just keep praying to Allah, wish to be given all things best for us.   

With love, Mom.

Wassalamu’alaikum wr. wb.

“I am a muslim woman and I wear hijab. I choose to wear hijab - a head scarf and modest attire - because the practice is integral to my religious beliefs, and because I am proud to be a muslim woman. In Islam, both men and women are encouraged to dress modestly, thereby allowing a person to be judged on the content of his or her character, and not on physical appearance. To me, hijab is a symbol of my confidence and self-respect“. New York Post, March 2nd, 2003 as quoted in Vivi’s homepage.  

Waiting for my second time to be able to stay again in your warm and cozy spacebox. Get well soon my dear sister, may peace and Allah compassion be upon you.

For: One dear sister in TU/e, Netherlands, with love.

Most of all to wear hijab is clearly written in the Quran:

Surah An-Nuur 31:
And say to the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullfied, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to God, O you believers, that you may succeed.

Surah Al-Ahzab 59:
O prophet, tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.

I have considered something. I think I’m going to take a break for a while, a month maybe, therefore I have decided not to write for a temporary moment for my blog. Right now, I think I’d be able to resist the temptation not to write for quite a long time, but later I don’t know perhaps this decision might still change. I need a time for myself doing a self contemplation and focus on the coming exams.

Today, I’m going to the Hungarian Embassy to apply for my visa for my study visit on April, I’m going to visit Center for Policy Studies, Central European University, Budapest Hungary. Assignments, readings, essays, not to mention exams are coming, I have to focus on these things first.

But, I still have a nice thing to do despite all those things above, during the study recess I’m going to Spain. I’ve been planning this trip since the beginning of this year with Hana and Salwa (yes, we are members of Tour de Holland Team, remember?). Hopefully, my trip this time will give me a new refreshment, like usual, eventhough I might have to bring my reading materials all through the way, and my laptop to finish my essay, I don’t mind.

Ok, Barcelona, Madrid, and Cordoba, I’m coming, and Budapest, you are next. My friend Salwa gave me a naughty idea, since we already planned to visit Cordoba, which is very close with Gibraltar, why don’t we continue our trip there. Unfortunately, that won’t be feasible to do since the three of us have to face exams right away after the trip. So many things want to be done, but so little time available.

Sesungguhnya segala sesuatu itu selayaknyalah seimbang dan pada porsinya. Beberapa hari ini gw mengalami beberapa kejadian, yang kemudian membuat gw berpikir bahwa selayaknya gw seimbang dalam segala sesuatu.

Jadi inget salah satu hadisnya Rasulullah Muhammad SAW (salawat dan salam semoga senantiasa tercurah bagi beliau–yang dengan sepenuh hati gw cintai dan gw coba terapkan teladannya), yang isinya kira-kira kalo disampakan pake bahasa umum: “Dalam beribadah jadikanlah sekan-akan itu ibadahmu itu adalah yang terakhir sehingga tercipta kekhusyu’an dan kedekatan dengan Allah sebagai Sang Rabb, dan dalam bekerja lakukanlah seolah-olah kamu akan hidup selamanya.”

Atau hadis Rasulullah Muhammad SAW lainnya yang juga kalo disampaikan dengan bahasa umum, kurang lebih berbunyi: “Ambillah bagianmu di akhirat. namun jangan lupakan pula bagianmu di dunia.”

Ya, gw belajar dan kembali diingatkan aja sama Allah SWT (alhamdulillah, Allah dengan cara-Nya yang seringkali gw sebagai manusia lemah dan biasa nggak paham) melalui beberapa kejadian di beberapa hari terakhir ini, akan dua hal tersebut. Beberapa kata-kata dari suami juga teringat lagi, betapa ternyata melalui kata-katanya gw ikut pula tersadar akan banyak hal, kayak gambar yang berjalan di muka gw. Sekali lagi, gw diingatkan.

Semoga ya Allah, hamba-Mu yang lemah ini senantiasa mendapat rahmat-Mu, untuk memahami arti apa yang terjadi, mengambil hikmah, bertindak dengan bijaksana, dan nggak mudah putus asa.

Amin. Hamba yang tengah dilanda kelelahan.