Prayer, Incense, and Raminten’s Traces at Hamzah Batik
My steps that morning began on the south side of Malioboro. The Yogyakarta air was warm, sunlight reflecting off the old buildings along the street, even though the clock was only a few seconds before 10 a.m. I accidentally entered Beringharjo Market and took a moment to soak in the atmosphere. It was crowded, but […]
A Pilgrimage to Nishizaka Hill: Commemorating the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Nagasaki
The sun was shining brightly that afternoon when I got off at the Nagasaki Eki Mae stop, one of the busiest on the Nagasaki Electric Tramway Line 1. From there, I began a leisurely stroll, along the busy city sidewalk, crossed the zebra crossing, and then turned right as the road began to climb up […]
Viewing the Lunar Eclipse from Songgo Langit, the Roof of a Beautiful Museum in Kaliurang
The Kaliurang sky that afternoon looked like a canvas painted with thin streaks of cloud. The uphill road we were on wound through the trees. We had been driving for about an hour and a half from downtown Yogyakarta, bringing us to a building whose name had been circulating in many conversations: the Anaia & […]
Meeting Lenin in Khorog
It had been over a week since we began our journey from Tashkent, traveling the legendary road known as the Pamir Highway. Now, we continued our journey from Ishkashim, a small town nestled in the quiet and beautiful Wakhan Valley, the border region separating Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The day began with a stop at a […]
Exploring Pakualaman Temple: Between Historical Traces and the Promise of Saturday Kliwon
That afternoon, the Yogyakarta sun was shining directly overhead as our car stopped in front of a large, tightly closed gate. Pakualaman Temple, a small palace that stood serenely in the heart of the city, seemed to distance itself from the bustle of the streets. From behind the gate, several servants stood guard quietly, as […]
From the Temple to the Battlefield: The Story of Three Lasem Heroes
Blue Sky Over Cu An Kiong At two forty-seven in the afternoon, our Elf stopped in the courtyard of the Cu An Kiong Temple. The Lasem sky was azure, dotted with stacks of white clouds—like a serene painting, yet imbued with depth. From Lawang Ombo—the dark historical landmark we had just traversed—it only took two […]
Following the Romance Rails of Kyushu: Three Days, Three Trains, a Thousand Stories
There are many ways to experience Japan, but one of the most memorable is riding a sightseeing train in Kyushu. It’s not just about moving from one city to another, but a journey full of details—traveling through the landscape, gazing at the scenery, and letting yourself become immersed in a small world within the cabin.This […]
