Memaknai Arti Al-Quran (Edisi Newbie)

Selamat Idul Fitri! Mohon maaf atas segala khilaf dan salah yang saya lakukan. Walau sudah seminggu semoga semangat untuk lebih baik di Ramadhan bisa terus berlanjut. Surprise kah membaca tulisan ini dalam bahasa Indonesia? hahaha bukan saya sok jago ‘Nginggris’ (Yah silahkan baca tulisan saya yang bahasa Inggris, pasti juga akan dikecam Grammar Nazis) atau bagaimana. Karena tulisan di blog ini berdasarkan apa yang saya rasakan (mostly), ada tulisan yang memang saya rasakan lebih enak ditulis dalam Bahasa Inggris dan Indonesia. Dan tulisan yang saya sekarang post, akan lebih ‘ngena’ saya tulis dalam bahasa Indonesia.

Di Ramadhan kemarin, kondisi saya mulai membaik dalam segi fisik ya. Keluarga saya tahu saya kewalahan jika berpuasa karena mudahnya asam lambung saya naik. Semakin tua, semakin jompo juga performa tubuh saya, mungkin karena banyak kebiasaan jelek juga yang saya lakukan yang berpengaruh ke sistem pencernaan. Tapi tahun ini sedikit berbeda karena saya menyempatkan waktu untuk mencari tahu cara mengurangi asam lambung saya. Mulai dari tidur yang berjarak dari makan, mengurangi makanan pedas, mulai peka makanan mana yang mentrigger asam lambung (saya baru tahu tiap orang bisa beda). Saya juga mulai menerima bahwa ya tidak apa-apa jika saya sudah mulai menerapkan masih ketrigger asam lambungnya naik (karena stress), yang penting saya sudah usaha. Dan akhirnya jika memang sudah puncaknya dan tidak tahan, ya saya muntahkan saja asam lambungnya. Dan yang saya pahami sejauh ini adalah puasa saya masih sah karena muntahnya bukan karena hal yang disengaja.

Di Ramadhan ini juga saya mulai kebiasaan yang menurut saya baik, mulai membaca arti dari ayat Al-Quran. Saya cukup bangga (bercampur malu) karena di usia saya yang 29 ini saya mulai mau membaca arti ayat Al-Quran saat Muroja’ah. Biasanya target saya hanya khatam saja (yang biasanya juga satu kali, tidak totalitas seperti yang lain). Tapi melihat Mbak Dian Sastro yang tahun lalu semangat membaca Al-Quran dengan arti dan juga mungkin banyak keresahan juga di hati saya, mengenai banyak hal. Yang saya rasa karena saya tidak mengerti apapun padahal sudah jelas petunjukNya ada dalam Al-Quran. Saya mulai membaca.

Saya bilang membaca karena saya merasa untuk memahami arti ayat di Al-Quran, baiknya saya harus melengkapi dengan tafsir. Lebih bagus lagi jika saya bisa membaca banyak tafsir (karena memang pendekatan memahami Ayat Al-Quran bisa beragam). Tapi daripada saya overwhelming, target saya, saya baca dulu deh artinya. Apa yang saya pahami dengan pengetahuan dan nilai tentang Islam yang saya punya saat ini. Memang beda ya rasanya saat membaca dan memahami. Ada banyak arti yang saya baca tetapi tidak saya pahami karena keterbatasan pengetahuan saya. Buat banyak orang, mungkin banyak juga yang masih belum terima bahwa di ayat Al-Quran terkesan tidak adil dalam mengatur pembagian warisan antara laki-laki dan perempuan. Memang ada ayatnya. Jika dihitung dari pecahannya, memang laki-laki mendapat hak yang lebih besar. Lalu juga ada ayat (atau tafsir saya lupa) yang menyatakan bahwa perempuan lebih rentan untuk masuk ke dalam Neraka. Pas baca ayat tersebut agak ngeri juga ya sebenarnya. Selain karena takut karena saya perempuan, tetapi saya juga jadi bertanya, “Kenapa harus perempuan yang disebut?” Walau sebenarnya lebih banyak di ayat lain bahwa siksa neraka ditujukan untuk orang yang tidak beriman, yang dzalim dan berbuat kerusakan di muka bumi. Banyak pertanyaan ini belum saya temukan jawabannya, saya harap saya bisa dapat kesempatan untuk mengeksplorasi hal ini lebih baik.

Membaca memang berbeda dengan memaknai. Saat membaca arti dari ayat Al-Quran, saya tandai dengan stabilo arti-arti ayat yang menurut saya bermakna untuk kehidupan saya. Paling tidak ada tiga tema yang beresonansi dengan diri saya.

Sebelum mulai, mungkin saya mau disclaimer dulu bahwa ini adalah hasil pemaknaan berdasarkan pengetahuan dan nilai yang saya anut saat ini, saya akui kurangnya adalah tidak dicari tahu lebih lanjut. Tetapi memang proses membaca dan memaknai ayat Al-Quran ini sedang menjadi topik yang sangat personal untuk saya.

1.Manusia diperintahkan untuk berbuat kebajikan

Ada banyak sekali arti ayat Al-Quran yang memerintahkan manusia untuk berbuat baik dan kebajikan di muka bumi. Ada yang memang perintahnya as it is, ada juga yang spesifik seperti berbuat baik kepada kedua orang tua, bersedekah kepada anak yatim dan fakir miskin, kepada saudara muslim. Tema ini menyentuh untuk diri saya karena saya merasa di diri saya sendiri dan mengobservasi di masyarakat, berbuat baik rasanya makin sulit. Makin banyak hambatan dan alasan untuk tidak melakukan hal ini. Terlebih ke orang lain yang berbeda dari kita misal suku, agama, etnis, atau aliran keagamaan. Prasangka dan stigma kita melekat di orang yang berasal dari kelompok yang berbeda, yang membuat kita jadi enggan membantu. Padahal sudah merupakah kehendak Allah swt sendiri untuk menjadikan umat manusia berbeda antara satu dengan lainnya. Lagi, tiap membaca ayat Al-Quran yang artinya ini, seakan menjadi reminder untuk terus berbuat baik, kepada siapapun, karena baik itu pesan dari Islam itu sendiri

2. Manusia diperintahkan untuk tidak berbuat kerusakan di muka bumi

Manusia adalah mahluk ciptaan Allah swt yang paling sempurna. Saya lupa di ayat berapa, tetapi Allah swt menyatakan bahwa manusia diciptakan dari segumpal darah yang diberikan fisik, lalu akal dan nurani. Dengan izin dan kebesaran Nya, manusia diciptakan menjadi mahlukNya yang terbaik dan diturunkan ke bumi sebagai rahmatan lil ‘alamin. Bahwa secara fitrah, manusia mampu menjadi rahmat bagi semesta alam. Saat baca ayat ini, sebenarnya saya langsung teringat ke kondisi bumi (alam) yang makin parah. Bahwa kita sebagai manusia makin tamak mengeksplor alam. Bahwa kemampuan kita mengelola alam dengan baik harus kalah dengan kepentingan kapitalisme yang tidak berakhir. Sedihnya lagi, manfaat secara ekonominya hanya bisa dinikmati oleh orang-orang tertentu saja, bukan ke seluruh umat manusia. Saya jadi inga mengenai pohon yang ditebang, hewan yang diternakkan dengan tidak baik, hewan yang diburu hanya demi kesenangan, kepada sungai dan udara yang kita cemarkan untuk membuat kita lebih nyaman. Namun saya berpikir, kerusakan juga mungkin bukan hanya ke alam, tapi bagaimana kita juga berbuat dzalim kepada sesama manusia, membunuh orang lain karena kepentingan diri sendiri menjadi sesuatu yang lumrah, mengambil harta orang lain padahal tidak berhak, merampas tanah orang lain dengan curang, memfitnah orang demi menutup dosa sendiri, membela yang jelas salah dan melupakan keadilan serta banyak lagi dosa-dosa yang kita lakukan untuk kenikmatan sesaat di bumi. Kadang saya merasa ‘apa manusia masih beradab jika seperti ini akhirnya? Apakah kita masih menjadi Rahmat bagi semesta alam?.

3. Semua hal yang terjadi adalah kehendak Allah swt

Sebagai orang yang locus internalnya tinggi, ada banyak kesalahan dan ketidakbisaan yang saya salahkan ke diri saya. Saya juga dipenuhi kecemasan dalam kepentingan duniawi. Ada banyak hal yang saya kadang tidak tahu harus bagaimana, sehingga jadinya mumet dan merasa tidak berdaya. Membaca ayat Al-Quran dengan arti ini seperti dengan tegas mengingatkan ke saya bahwa “Allah swt adalah Maha Mengatur dan Mengetahui segalanya”. Bahwa rasa insecure dan cemas yang saya alami karena ternyata saya tidak punya pegangan, padahal harusnya kepada yang Maha Memberi Kesejahteraan dan Maha Memberi Perlindunan harusnya saya meminta. Saya jadi merasa sombong dan sendiri karena saya merasa harus menyelesaikan sendiri padahal jelas apa yang terjadi merupakan kehendakNya dan kita sebagai hambaNya punya privilege untuk meminta. Allah swt Yang Maha Berkehendak bukan berarti membuat takdir manusia menjadi fix. Tetap ada ayat yang meminta kita berusaha dengan baik (Allah swt tidak akan merubah nasib suatu kaum, kecuali mereka merubah dirinya sendiri), juga berdoa karena sekali lagi atas segala kehendakNya lah semua terjadi. Jika sudah berusaha dan sudah meminta kepadaNya, sedangkan diriNya juga Maha Mendengar, Maha Melihat dan Maha Mengetahui, buat apa kita merasa cemas? Ada suatu hitung-hitungan yang saya rasa di luar nalar saya mengenai takdir yang ditetapkan olehNya kepada saya. Saya percaya takdir masih bisa berubah, kita hanya perlu berusaha dan meminta kepadaNya karena tidak ada yang tidak mungkin. Apalagi Allah swt merupakan yang Maha Pengasih dan Penyayang. Saya sangat suka dua nama Asma ul Husna ini karena terasa hangat saja. Buat saya yang rentan merasa stress sendiri, untuk tahu ada yang Maha Pengasih dan Penyayang yang memerhatikan saya, rasanya bahagia betul :”). Karena apapun yang terjadi adalah kehendakNya, saya juga menyadari bahwa untuk tetap bisa beriman, bisa berusaha menjadi orang yang baik dan tidak dzalim juga juga harus atas izinNya, maka saya mulai berdoa untuk ini. Saya yang dulu merasa sudah jadi ‘orang baik’ atau ‘normal’, jadi lebih mawas dan berefleksi diri, jangan-jangan ini hanya kesombongan di diri saya saja, na’udzbillahi min dzalik.

Itu ketiga tema yang sangat terasa resonannya saat membaca ayat Al-Quran. Ada banyak hal yang ingin lebih saya pribadi maknai dan ambil hikmah. Doakan kebiasaan ini bisa konsisten dan lebih baik, InsyaAllah.

Cibubur, 21 Mei 2021

Habis Ramadhan, Hujan alhamdulillah

Loneliness for me

I usually feel lonely. Lonely does not mean being alone for me. Majority of the time, i like being alone. Interaction with other humans exhausts me and I need being alone to relax and regroup myself. In my experience, I only had few times to be “alone” literally and most of the times I enjoy it. 

But usually, I feel lonely. Sometimes it triggers by hormone in me. When the period comes, I feel more sensitive and the need for other to understand me are increasing. Loneliness felt more like a floating experience without direction combined with emptiness. Sometimes loneliness feels like longingness to something that I don’t have. Sometimes loneliness feels like out of synchronization with other people. And I think the last one is the most common loneliness that I feel and usually because of works. 

It is normal for me to work in team. I always describe myself as someone who can work independently but also works well in team. But working with others sometimes make me feels lonely. Such as a paradox I know. I start to feel lonely, when I perceive that I only give more contribution in this work than others. I know other person in my team might be have their own business and more important matters to attend to. But sometimes I feel lonely by asking ‘why am I the only one to give more contribution?’. The feeling will be more severe, If the payment other and I receive are the same.

Loneliness also happened when I have difference standards compared to others. I rarely aim for perfection but when I involved in something, I always make sure to give my best. When doing something, I set standard that I want to achieve in the work. However, most of the times my standards are not similar with others. The standards are not only the outcome of the work but also the work process itself. Sometimes, I talk it out with others, about my expectation and what environment that I hope to be happened. But most of the times, talking about it does not solve the problem. It happened again and again.

Talking about expectation and standards, I did reflect that maybe I project my pressure towards others, that might be do not have the same pressure and expectation. It is confusing state actually. Sometimes I need to talk about it because I feel discomfort but I also worry that my talking will make others feel discomfort (and I do not want others feeling discomfort because of me). I also worry that I unintentionally using hurtful words, because I still learn to regulate my emotion when I feel discomfort. I have also tried to empathize with others’ condition, make some reason inside my head why they behave like that, to lessen my intention to talk it out. It is difficult because the expectation and standards are there, and keep pressuring me and I just can not let it go. I just want my work to be well not perfect, why do other people does not understand? Is it wrong to feel pressure like this?

Loneliness also felt when I have no one to discuss to, whether it is personal or professional matters. There is no one to ask when I get confused or simply feelings not sure. I do not have others to challenge and hone my idea. There is none to be discussed, no new information hence there is no improvement. I do not say I am the greatest nor the smartest which I am not. I just hope people will have the same excitement and independently searching other materials so we can discuss together. It just felt lonely. 

Sometimes, I think I might be in the wrong one. Maybe, I am wrong because other feels okay. Maybe something wrong for me to have higher expectation and standards. Sometimes, I am angry at myself because I should be the normal one, living without loneliness and high pressure. I just feel lonely. 

How does loneliness mean to you?

Cibubur, 10 April 2020

I’m afraid, flying high is terrifying
No one told me how lonely it is up here

Interlude:Shadow by Suga

Laika, I am sorry

I have a cat in my home. He became our part of my family for two years and it makes me feel so in love and feel loved. His presence also made me aware about the life of pet around me and animal in general. It makes me feel warm watching animal’s video on youtube. I think I projected some of my feeling to my pet, when I see animals in general. Around the noon, some video about Laika, the first dog who went to the space, come across my youtube. I know her. I think Laika, is like Neil Armstrong, he/she become the common knowledge if you are space enthusiast, you might know him/her.

When I was a children, I always excited about space. It felt like an unknown things, waiting for me to be explored and understood. I think astronouts become one of dream jobs that I have when I was in elementary schools. Space is always be an astonishing form for me. However, I know exploring space is not easy. Thus, so many trials and expedition had been in vain when humans tried to explored the space. I know some astronauts had died when they were on mission. So, when I was in elementary schools, I was very amazed, that one dog had been capable to reach space and her name was Laika. I was a little bit envious because I thought Laika had seen what stars supposed to look like from the above. In my imagination, there were also astronoauts with Laika, hold her in the leash while they explore space. My imagination could not be more wrong…..

I watch Laika’s docummentaries two weeks ago. I’ve just known that she was an abandoned dog, found in the street without owners. When Russia’s space program when to test how animal living and respond in space, she became the best candidates. She was trained and prepared before launched to the space. She looks so cute trying her suits. However, that videos made me known that it was simply suicidal mission for Laika. She was sent alone, wearing her suits and I think the suits made her tied in confined space ships. It was suicidal because there is no way Laika could get back to earth. The plan is to left her died when they monitor how Laika responded when she was out at space. The plan itself was cruel. However, she could not last long because of the overheated machine that made her space burnt. Just imagine, that dog, waited to burned, and finally dead… Travel to space is not romantic anymore for me.

it was cruel. I was in tears after watching that video. It still made me sad, thinking about that video again. I could not imagine if the same thing happened to my cat, Meowgi. I could not understand, why they can let other animal to suffer from hunger and thirst and maybe surrounded by her poop in outerspace just because we want to know. How can we not made sure her comfort? I know overheated machine was unplanned, but to imagine, waiting to die, burned out in space without capabilities to do anything because of being confined. When the results of the explosion were predicted to go down to earth, the ship debris was found but Laika’s was never been.

As a super creatures, we, human, always think we are above all. Hence it was justified using other species as trials for something unknown. But for how long? Do we have that unlimited greed? And that might be the reason why our forrest has been cut down and why we do not think the well being of other species. Why we can easily poluting our water and air. Why we focus only to our comforts without realizing that we live together, not only with other human, but also other species.

I, sometimes, ask myself… Does God disappointed when he decides to make us a mercy for all creation?

again, I am sorry Laika T,T

Cibubur, 2021

For Kim Joo Hyuk Ahjussi

Today was started by bad news. One of my favorite actor, entertainer and the one who started my fandom in K-Culture, Kim Joo Hyuk, had died because of Car Accident and I am shocked and sad… Like sad until I called Emi-eonni to release my sadness on to her (Thank you Eonni).

I saw Kim Joo Hyuk first at 2 Days 1 Night Season 3, my most favorite Korean variety show until now. Because I watch the 3rd season from the start, I know how each person developed, how they formed the group and how they become care to each other between winning-losing games, hunger-fulfilled feeling and Kim Joo Hyuk become the first bias in this variety show. He was an Actor through and through. He was awkward at first (because he is the eldest and have large gap age between members) and don’t know how to make others laugh. However, with times, I saw him being comfortable with others, being the Eldest Hyung that every one can relied on and he is always tried his best to make others laugh with awkward-dork-gutaeng-attitude that everyone loved.

I think one of the reason he tried variety show, despite his actor status and his fame (in Korean being actor is really a serious matters, you have image to keep on and there is some risks that job wont come to you when you joined variety shows), was stagnant state he was in. He was admitted as one of the best actor in South Korea but at that time He doesn’t know where to do and where to go in terms of acting. I think being in 2 Days 1 Night bring some resolves, confidence and strength for him to continue acting. In one of interview, he stated that, “Before I don’t know how to become the Great Actor that I wanted to, but now, I know what I need to do”. He added that he didn’t love himself much. That is why he keeps challenging himself to try something new

It proved that he never stops to learn and trying his best. In one of 2 Days and 1 Night, members told everything that they hope happened 7 or 10 years later, Kim Joo Hyuk, despite being single at that time, dreamt to have his own little family (a pregnant wife and two children which the eldest in 2nd grade of Elementary School –> which is impossible) and acting with Brad Pitt. I know that he was brave enough to dream big despite teasing from the members. His down-to-earth character made him more relatable to many people.

Can you imagine how sad I am when he decided to leave 2 Days 1 Night because he wanted to focus on acting? However it was fine, I could see him from his movies and he was doing great. In one and two episodes 2 Days 1 Night, I still could see him care about members and being a reliable Hyung we loved.

And this kind Ahjussi, again, made me sad and brokenhearted when he passed away yesterday. I wont see his great acting, his gutaeng behaviour and him trying his best in everything anymore. I am mourning and this day become so gloomy for me.

I hate this situation. This is reason why I selectively become a fans of something cause it drained my emotion when something happened with someone/something I adore. I do invest a lot of emotion when I become a fans, though I know it is wrong, but I cant help not to feel it 😦 I think there is some psychological system that explained it. Well I’ll revise this article once I found the theory. But for now, let me mourn, kindly let me express my loss with this writing.

Dear Kim Joo Hyuk Ahjussi, Thank you for teaching me that dream and wish is a fair game, no matter how old you are, how worst the situation is, as long we try our best. You are gonna be missed :”””””

Senayan, 2017

After deciding I won’t work effectively if I didn’t let these sadness out, somehow 

Sorong and Manokwari, Trips to Diversity

Alhamdulillah, I finally unlocked Papua (West Papua, actually) in September 2016. I got chance to visit Sorong, Sorong Selatan and Manokwari to spread the information about KIP (Kartu Indonesia Pintar). I visit those places with staff from Directorate of Senior High School and really we had blast time there.

For someone who never interact heavily with Papuans, it really is exciting experience for me. As you know, at that time, the distribution of KIP didn’t do well. Moreover, there are so many people who complained that they didn’t get KIP or didn’t know how to use it. When we share the information through meeting with school principal, some of them really scold us because of it. However, interacting with Papuans make me realize that diversity really exists and it is beautiful. Though I was scolded, I know that they don’t take it at hearts, we still can interact amicably after meeting it’s done. In my humble opiniom, because Papua has suffered for a long time, the Papuans want to be heard.

Beside the process of spreading KIP’s information, I have good experience travelling in Sorong and Manokwari. In Sorong, I was accompanied by beautiful lady named Sayang. I called her Kak Sayang (see my photo with beautiful lady). FYI, She was just given birth a week before we came. I can’t imagine  if I was her. However, she treated us well. She showed us the beach in Sorong called Tembok Berlin (since it was bordered by a wall). We drank coconut water there. She told me that this place would be more active at night since there would be many fisherman who open ‘instant restaurant’ here and we could eat fresh fish from the sea (I don’t have that chance, unfortunately). Kak Sayang also accompanied us to Gift store. It sold Koteka (please look for more information in google if you don’t know), root-made-bags, and batik. I bought beautiful batik from the store.

In Manokwari, We also had chance to take trip around Manokwari. Mostly, we visited Beach. Manokwari was known for its white sand beach. We got introduced to a lady that can call fish to the shore just by using whistle. At first we didn’t believe it, however, after 15 mins, Many fishes come to the shore, too bad my camera couldn’t capture it clearly (see my last pict). We also had chance to visit Mansinam Island. It was said that this island is become the main source of Christian religion in Papua. At the top of the hills, there was Jesus sculpture (almost the same with the one in Rio de Janeiro). I think if you are christian or Chatolic, visiting this Island would be a pleasure experience since it was so authentic.

In Manokwari, there is one place that I would like to visit but didn’t have time to do it. It is Pegunungan Arfak. When I look up at google, it was a natural preservation in Manokwari. It was more special since there are some traditional tribes that lived there. I really want to see and know how they live,  what they wear, how they interact, anything related to them. However, the trips to Pegunungan Arfak takes three day trips and I should rental special car (the car that allows you to travel around highlands) that was sooooo expensive if I traveled alone. huhuuhu, I should say goodbye for now but I’ll be back to visit it for sure. Manokwari was also known for its fresh sea fish. My companion bought two octopus and some fresh fishes. Luckily, our guides was kind enough to wrap them hence we didn’t face the problem when we go home.

In my opinion, visiting Papua is a must when you like to travel. Manokwari and Sorong are the one that I can recommend if you are not keen of traditional way. Hopefully I’ll have chance to get back there. I will, insyaAllah.

(Senayan, 2017, when I do miss travelling so much)

Good Food, Good View, Good Life (Experience)

 

South Sulawesi is a place that I frequently visit in 2016, compare to other Provinces in Indonesia. Besides Enrekang, Tana Toraja and Toraja Utara, I got chance to visit Makassar (heol, people know, but trust me that it will be different as I will tell you in this article), Pangkep and Gowa. This lovely places is a target of my research in gender topic with Aa Andi, Mbak Ari dan Mbak Tanti.

Though the population is Districts, in fact, we only choose two villages in each District to represent the topic, however, since it is not a research report, I won’t write the detail for you. In Makassar, we got chance to take data in place called Kodingaren Island. It was located two-hours-trip from Makassar by boat. Don’t imagine Ferry or Speedboat like Jakarta to Thousand Island, it was literally boat that was made from wood. The departure time itself is so rare. From Kodingaren Island to Makassar city, the boat will only departure at 6.30 am and got back from Makassar to Kodingaren Island at 10 am. There will be no boat that will sail after that since the wave condition is soo dangerous for sailing.

At first, I have no expectation by visiting Kodingaren. Mbak Ari dan Mbak Tanti only fulfilled my thought about how hard to get there and I didn’t look any info to it. After two-hours-trip with slee-wake up-sleep cycle, finally, we arrived aaaaand I was veryyyyyyyy happpyyyy. WHY?

The Island is sooo blue, beautiful and I was so excited to explore the island. When the boat docked, the sea is so clean (hmm, yeah there are definitely some rubbishes float or settled on the beach, however, the pollution is not thick so the sea water is so clean) and I could see Nemo below the dock. In Kodingaren, we should do questionnaire surveys to some people and we can finish 41 people in 5 hours. Because there is no boat after 12 pm, we decide to stay at Kodingaren Island. We don’t get any Inns and homestay. The leader of Kelurahan was so kind to lend us Balai Desa in the beach for us to sleep. And tada! that is why I can get beautiful photos of sunrise at the beach

Another Island that I visit is Mattiro Baji in Pangkep regions. Not like Kodingaren, it only takes 2o minutes trip for Pangkep Port. That is why, I think the water is not as clean as in Kodingaren’s. That is too bad actually since the Island is also beautiful. I can see the shipwreck from far away. The sky is blue, the weather is so nice for Sea-trips. In Mattiro Baji, a couple are so kind to offer us some fish and crabs as you can see in photo above. Unfortunately, I didn’t eat the crabs because of my allergic 😦 (Well, I’ve just realized that me eating crab doesn’t show any allergic reaction, aiisshh). However the fish is soo goood hence it compensates the crabs

Those experiences really teach me that usually I get beautiful experience in unexpected ways. I kinda hope that in the futures, life will be so kind to get me more good experience. Pray for me, will you?

Balikpapan, going to sleep

 

 

 

Trips in The Land of The Death

 

Visiting Toraja, is one of the exciting moment in 2016. It is unplanned, like most of trips that I did before in 2016. In September 2016, I become a part of team that has task to campaign and spread information of Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) for Ministry of Education and Culture. Luckily, I got to choose region that I want to visit and yeaay, I directly choose Enrekang, Tana Toraja dan Toraja Utara as regions that I should visit.

Business trips itself was planned to be held in 5 days. We landed on Makassar  on 8 pm and continue the journey by using rental car to visit Enrekang first. It takes 6 hours trip to reach Enrekang and in the morning, we directly had to show in front of District Government and principals to tell them about KIP (and practically beg them to help us register student’s KIP in education’s data portal). After that, we directly go to Tana Toraja.

In websites that I have looked, they said it only takes 8 hours to reach Tana Toraja which I had spend 6 hours to reach Enrekang, therefore the rest should only take 2 hours right? However, rainy condition and muddy road let us take 6 hours more to reach Tana Toraja. There was a time when I had slept, then woke up then slept again and the cycle continues. However, on the way to Toraja, we passed the Butu Kabobong and chalk stone that looks exactly like my macbook’s desktop background. The view were so beautiful. Butu Kabobong is like yellow hills that were spread beside the road that people use to go to Tana Toraja (see 1st and 2nd pictures). We spend the two days to promote KIP in Tana Toraja and Toraja Utara, the event finished around 2 pm.

Then, I decide to spend one day alone, without my partners in Toraja to travel. My partners decided to go directly to Makassar on the 4th day since they have flight to catch tomorrow. I don’t know what comes into me, but I was sure that I would be fine, alone (If my mom knew, I know that business trip won’t be in my list anymore hehhehe). To travel in Toraja, I decided to rent a car from hotel. The price was rational and around my budget. However, if your budget is so tight, you can rent motorbike that only takes 1/5 from rental car budget. Unfortunately, I can’t ride motorbike.

Besides visiting the graves, Tana Toraja was famous with The Land Above The Clouds called Laloi. I do want to visit that place. For me, who hasn’t got chance to climb a mountain, to be in a land above the clouds will be a nice experience for me. I have woken up since 3.30 am and BAMM! it was raining so heavily and It hadn’t stopped until 6 am. Then my plan was ruined :”(. Really, I was sooooo disappointed and I knew one day travelling is not enough in Toraja.

However, it didn’t stop me to continue grave-visiting trips. The driver picked me up at 8.30 and luckily I got knowledgeable driver so he also acted as Tour-Guide for me. We visited Londa, Lemo, Kambira, Kete’kesu and Bori as a grave sites in Toraja. Personally, I think each grave sites has its own characteristics. For example, for Londa, The grave site is a chalk cave so you can put the coffins inside the cave or making a hole in cave walls. For Lemo dan Kete’kesu is  a wide chalk wall (actually it looks like a cliff if you see from above). The torajans buried the coffins by making a hole in the wall. One wall can be used by more than one coffins. Kambira is a baby grave sites that use tree as a coffin for those who died at baby age. My tour guide said the practice was common for lower level of torajans (like slave or commonal). For Torajan nobles, they could easily buy gold teeth to be planted in baby, so the baby soul will live, however, for commoners, buried baby in tree means a hope that the baby will still grow as long as the tree was alive. However, the practice had stopped. In Kete’kesu, they were also a bunch of Tongkonan, traditional house for Torajans.

At first, I thought the Torajans really live in Tongkonan, then how can this small size house can contain the whole family (really, the biggest Tongkonan that I saw in there is only around 100 m2)? It turned out that nowadays, Tongkonan was used as family meeting place instead place of living. Tongkonan was usually surrounded by  house of family members who owns the Tongkonan. I really was touched that this traditional house contains beautiful meaning for life and death of Torajans. Usually, wood pillars at the front of Tongkonan House was hanged by buffaloes’ horn that was sacrificed during death ceremony of family members. According to my tour guide, the buffaloes’ horn that was hanged as a symbol of stairs (really it looks like a stairs) that help souls to go to the sky. The Tongkonan’s roof itself looks like Buffalo horns. It was the symbol that The Torajans was a descendant of the sky (The Almighty One) that should go to the earth before the time that they should go back to the sky by embracing the Death. That is why they celebrate the Death, because embracing the death is the only thing that they can do to go back to the sky. I really was touched by that. I feel like there was a longing feeling from Torajans to meet the sky after the Death when listening to the story and I was soooo lucky that I had chance to see Rambu Solo, the burial ceremony.

I feel like there was a longing feeling from Torajans to meet the sky after the Death

The Torajans, really celebrate the Death, in my opinion, more than birth, marriage or holy days. They sang, jumped, did some dance by holding the coffins together before putting in Tongkonan-coffin-likes, and last held buffalo fight in the honor of the Death one and then sacrificed the buffaloes and pigs for the Death one. Sometimes burial ceremony takes a week. Burial ceremony itself is a must in Torajan people, so don’t be surprised if you see the preserved dead body inside Torajan house just because they still haven’t got any money to buried him/her.  Burial ceremony is a pride, a proof of Torajan’s status in society and a proof of Torajan’s love to the death one.

Burial ceremony is a pride, a proof of Torajan’s status in society and a proof of Torajan’s love to the death one.

Besides cultural sites, Torajans was also recognized for its beautiful scenery. You can visit Lolai, as I’ve described earlier. You also can visit Batutumongga, a village in the uphills and you can see Toraja’s regions from above. I didn’t have chance to visit those places, unfortunately. I think two days trips are the best time to spend the time in Toraja. So, to sum it up, Toraja’s trips really  a remembrance of the death for me. Death should not be a sad moment, but a welcome gate to meet the Almighty ones for them, and for me moslem, a looong (hopefully peaceful) rest before I met you, Rabb.

Balikpapan, while waiting for Evaluation Time

Ps: the source of information of this article is My Tour Guide in Toraja, so I really welcome your feedback and correction regarding this.