A half-year of living dangerously

Well, not really, technically. As much as I hope this second half of 2011 would be adventurous, I don’t plan it to be dangerous.

But, I did leave my job and bare myself into a journey back to my roots.

And if you’ve been wondering why I’ve been away from this blog for a while it is because I was busy finishing some tasks and preparing for a handover at work as I resigned from my job late in July.

I’ve been happily unemployed as of 1 August 2011, and took an afternoon plane to Bali on 4 August to play tour guide for my friend’s friends from Kenya. I got back from Bali last night. My stay in Bali was short and sweet except for the part where my back and shoulders got sunburned because I didn’t put on any sunblock.

So, what I mean by ‘a journey back to my roots’ is that I will be going to Yogyakarta. My parents are from Central Java/Yogyakarta and of all the female grandchildren from my mother’s side, I’m the only one who’s never lived in Central Java (there are 18 grandchildren. only 5 are male. i’m the youngest.) And I felt a strong calling for me to go and live there, at least for a while. I will temporarily base myself and stay there as long as my money permits. And while I’m there I’m gonna take a dancing lesson and learn Javanese dancing. Basically, I will immerse myself in Javanese culture and arts as much as possible. I will also take this time to rethink of my life’s goals and priorities. I’m not getting younger – nobody is, I know – and I’ve been keeping myself busy by working and just living my life as it flows. I came to realize that I haven’t really got a time to just sit back, look at my life from a distance, and reflect on the things I’ve been doing in the last few years.

I will also go traveling around Central Java and beyond. For a start, The Dieng Plateau is the first place I’m going to visit. Other places to visit include Karimunjawa Island, some coffee plantation in Yogyakarta, and some other destinations that would surface once I’m actually in Yogya.

So, with a little bit of money, a huge faith, a strong will and an adventurous journey in mind, I am going to take that morning train to Yogyakarta on 15 August and live the remaining months of 2011 ‘dangerously’, or adventurously, for that matter.

Wish me luck, and I’ll keep you posted.

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