Backpacking with Kids: Korea #1

Hanok in Gyeong Ju, the place we stayed 

"Why travel with kids?

Childhood is a short season."

-Helen Hayes

Destination #1: Gyeong Ju and Busan

Ready for Lantern Festival

Beautiful Gamcheon Cultural Village

After flying for 7 hours from Jakarta to Seoul and continued by getting on and off of the bus, train and lastly by foot for around 6 hours in total, we finally arrived safe and sound in our  Hanok in Gyeong Ju. Hanok is a Korean traditional house. Although its look is traditional but inside the place is very modern completed with all up-to-date home appliances. The host is very nice, she provided us with free toast, home-made jam, milk, juice, egg and Samyang noodle (Korean noodle), what a bless.

One of beautiful spots in Gamcheon

Gyeong Ju is a peaceful city. UNESCO awarded it as a cultural heritage. It is full of temple, tombs, museum, castles, observatory, and small yet intimate cafes. 

Jagalchi Fish Market

From Gyeong Ju, we took train to Busan, a large port city in South Korea and also the second most populous city after Seoul. We dropped by at Jagalchi Market. A world famous market for fresh fish and seafood to take away or eat at the informal stalls. The kids enjoyed the fish market so much. They amazed to see how complete the seafood collection and how clean the market is. 

A Busy Busan City

Next we headed to Gamcheon Cultural Village. It is a beautiful spot for selfie. The houses here were built on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning this village the nickname of "Machu Picchu of Busan." The place is full with colorful and beautiful houses, cafes and shops. Every part of the place is decorated by the residents vibrantly with murals and sculptures. 

Luwak Cafe in Gyeong Ju

Latest destination on that day was actually swimming and enjoying Haeundai Beach. But...unfortunately the universe was against us. The rain's heavily pouring accompanied by wind and thunder. We couldn't stay long in the beach, so we had a negotiation with the kids to drop by in a Korean restaurant and have a delicious dinner while waiting for the rain to stop. Still a perfect way to end that day's adventure.

So happy to see the Dandelion flowers

"Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport."

Magical Morocco #1 (Chefchaouen)

The best  breakfast ever with olives, jams, honey, orange juice  and mints tea. 

My plan to visit Morocco has been set up since a year ago. I even had discussed this trip with my late father and he eagerly (as usual) supported me to go plus asked me to buy a red fez or  tarboosh (Moroccon hat). Eleven days before my trip, my father was hospitalized. I thought I'd cancel my trip since I couldn't imagine if something happened to him and I was not around.  But I guess my father and God had a conspiracy to make one of my bucket lists fulfilled. Four days before the trip started, my father passed away.

Aladdin Shop is the best shop for all organics goods, these are solid soaps.

So this trip was full with a mixed feeling. Enjoying the trip and a new friendship a lot however the empty feeling came when I returned to Jakarta. Usually after returning from my trip, I always dropped by at my father's house, reporting the trip, delivering the souvenirs and showing him all the pictures but...it's different now. Well...time is a healer. I am sure this too shall pass. Insya Allah.

The man with the hat is the owner of Aladdin Shop that will explain wholeheartedly about face cream, soap, spices, etc.

Back to the trip, I spent two weeks just to explore Morocco. I went to five cities in Morocco therefore I will divide my Morocco post in five parts. This trip was kind of backpacking therefore we used all kinds of public transports such as bus and train and spent eight until twelve hours on the road. The journey started from Jakarta-KL-Doha(Qatar)-Casablanca(Morocco). After flying for almost 18 hours, we finally landed in Casablanca. Not even got our full consciousness yet but we just hurriedly got into taxi and spent (shockingly) almost seven hours on the road.

Still at Aladdin Shop: The Solid Perfume

Our first destination was Chefchaouen also known as the Blue City. Chefchaouen is one of the  old cities in Morocco built in 1471. Located in Rif Mountains, this city is well known for its building which mostly painted blue.

Some said that this blue color is to avoid the mosquitos since the mosquitos don't like blue color like clean water.  Others associated  this blue color with Jew refugees who came in 1930s. The Jews considered blue color as a symbol of sky and heaven, something spiritual.

After spending 18 hours on the plane and packed in the car  within seven hours, arriving in this Blue City was such an oasis for us. A small yet intimate local house to stay, fresh yet super yummy breakfast, kind local people, almost all of them welcomed us with the greetings of Assalamualaikum, unique merchandises with a very affordable price, and the good looking local people, both male and female, their looks are a combination of several races such as Arabic and European,  what  a perfect combination.

Good food, warm people and beautiful surrounding, what else could I ask for more?
   

Tabungan Kebahagiaan

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. 

So throw off the bowlines, sail away from a safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover

--Mark Twain

It's already the 17th day of Ramadan. Yes, it does fly. Najla and Zea welcome this sacred month wholeheartedly. They are already on super LONG school holiday. When I asked what their favourite part of Ramadan is and they said, "An afternoon walk while looking for ta'jil is the best part." Never thought that this simple activities could mean the world to them. The power of Ngabuburit.

Although having breakfasting in a mall is totally not us however there're some invitations that I couldn't miss such as meeting my travel mates. Since our trip to Europe last March, we haven't met again yet. We drowned in our works and other bits and pieces. And Ramadan is the best moment, finally we could get together for a sudden reunion.  

We asked one of our friends about her next trip plan and she said, "Belum ada rencana apa-apa. Pulang dari Eropa, dompet masih kosong TAPI hati masih penuh. Sampai akhir tahun ini rasanya TABUNGAN KEBAHAGIAAN masih berlimpah, jadi belum perlu kemana-mana."

Take vacations

Go as many places as you can

You can always make money

but you can't always make memories.

14 Magical Years

Marriage is 

a relationship in which one is always right 

and 

the other is the husband…hahaha

Happy 14th wedding anniversary!!!

We are definitely Mr. Right and Mrs. (always) Right

Some Beautiful Places to Get Lost

The magnificent Museum Angkut, Batu, Malang

Still at Museum Angkut

TRAVELING- it leaves you speechless, 

then turns you into a storyteller.

--Ibn Batutta

Lanterns at Batu Spectacular Night

The apple plantation

Just returned from Malang, Batu and Bromo for weekend getaway with two friends. Feeling totally refreshed and recharged. Love the city, surrounding and all. 

The amazing Batu Secret Zoo 

The mystical Bromo

If you think adventure is dangerous,

try routine, it is lethal.

--Paulo Coelho

Horse riding at Bromo (really helpful for lansia like me, haha

Quote of the Day

Sometimes I just want

someone to hug me and

say,

I know it's hard.

You're going to be okay.

Here's a coffee.

And 5 million dollars.

#find this quote somewhere in socmed and I guess it made my day, haha..

Turning 42

At Dusun Bambu, Lembang

You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.

--Bob Hope

Quote of the Day

Do you think all this beauty and grandeur can fit in a little square of film?
Record things in your heart.
It's more important than trying to show people what you're experiencing. 

--Page 242 of Adultery by Paulo Coelho

Philosophy Quote

Pic taken somewhere in Belitung

You know you're on the right track

when you become uninterested  in looking back.

A (Never Too Late) Valentine's Quote

Ginger Factory Souvenir Shop at Yandina Qld, Australia*

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

--Charles M. Schulz via brainyquote

*The Ginger Factory is one of the best places I visited in Oz, find more about the factory here

Business As Unusual

Title: Business As Unusual

Author: Anita Roddick

Translator: Lily Yulianti Farid

Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Publication date: October 2013

Pages: 343

Hidup tanpa memperjuangkan sesuatu, sama saja dengan hidup tanpa kehidupan.
(page 12)

Saya tidak pernah tertarik menjadi perusahaan ritel yang terbesar atau yang menghasilkan paling banyak keuntungan. Saya hanya ingin agar The Body Shop menjadi perusahaan terbaik, perusahaan yang paling menarik, perusahaan yang bisa menjalankan cara berbisnis yang berbeda. Inilah yang menjadi visi saya.
(page 334)

Kami percaya bahwa kekayaan bukanlah untuk ditumpuk, tapi harus disalurkan secara produktif dan bertanggungjawab. Makanya kami memutuskan untuk menyalurkan semua kekayaan kami melalui The Body Shop Foundation.
(page 340).

My feeling towards The Body Shop totally changed after I finished reading this autobiography. Never realize that Anita Roddick is such a true activist. Her story in establishing, managing, and developing The Body Shop is very much inspiring.

Sisters

Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.

--Barbara Alpert via Goodreads.com/quotes

March Quote

"Ada beberapa tingkatan kebahagiaan. Yang terendah itu bahagia karena keinginan terpenuhi. Itu sebentar. Naik gaji, punya mobil, itu sifatnya sebentar. Kebahagiaan yang lebih dalam tatkala kita merasa berkecukupan."

--Gede Prama, Kompas, March 10, 2013

Quote of the Day

If you do things well, do them better.

Be daring, be first, be different, be just.

--Anita Roddick

Founder of The Body Shop

Last Quote in 2012

If there is light in your heart,

you will find your way home.

--Rumi

Quote of the Day

 

I find television to be very educating.

Every time somebody turns on the set,

I go into the other room

and read a book.

--Groucho Marx

Quote of the Day

....the same goes for envy, anger and insults,

when they are not accepted,

they continue to belong to the one who carried them.

via Paulo Coelho's Blog

Read the complete story here. A simple story yet a big learning. Very touching.

The Symphony of Life

Yoga is like music. 

The rhythm of the body, 

the melody of the mind 

and the harmony of the soul, 

create the symphony of life.

--BKS. Iyengar--

Year End Quote

Never save the best for later
You don't know what tomorrow holds
--Paulo Coelho--

Happy New Year, everybody....!!!

Quote of the Day

You have a lifetime of work, but children are only young once
--Polish Proverb--