I think we all have the dream trip, pink and bright, and by the time it comes true you will be exploded by the joy that fulfills your inner self
Unless
that dream trip is not only filled with candies but also bitter gums and sour
lollipops.
I had
never been the person that goes everywhere and enjoying the sight. Little-me
drew anything that came to my sight while juvenile-me captured everything with
my camera. Photography becomes my thing until today and that shapes my
personality a lot. Photographs are the souvenirs that perpetuate the breaths
and skins of the places themselves. I’m easily getting lost in mind, so taking
pictures helps me to remember the experience.
But last
February, I made a heart-warming yet challenging journey.
"What if I leave my camera at home?" I said, and he raised his eyebrows
We were in the middle of discussing our trip to Jogja and we were silent for 1 minute.
"Why?" was all his effort to break the pause.
"Because I realize that whenever I go with you, my Dear, I lost my interest to take photos." I said. "It feels like your presence is worth the world itself, so you are my point of interest. Our memories together."
It's true. Ever since I date him, I have no urge to take any photos to keep me sane. As if the world was bright and I enjoy every minute of our journey. Be it a cross-city trip or only 5 feet away from my house, it will be the pleasurable one. I think it will be a great challenge for me to not taking any photos to enjoy that very moment.
"No probs," he smiled. "At least our phone could accommodate us, I assume."
I grinned like a child with a cotton candy. I longed for a trip with my partner, so you can say that the trip would be my dream one to come true. I counted the days to the d-day and imagined everything I could do in Jogja.
That was when I found out dream trip is like relationship: it's not always good, but does not mean it's the end of all
The night before he said "Let's have a good gudeg breakfast tomorrow!" but I woke up late and we ran out of the gudeg he likes. Only one plate left, and we decided to mix it with nasi kucing we bought next to the stall. He offered me to eat the gudeg but I felt bad so I let him finish the dish.
I said sorry, and he said "No problem. Next time, wake up earlier." Now he knows I'm not a morning person obviously.
We explored the paved road and it was amazing. I took the photos sometimes, but without my camera, I took the memories and ignored the symmetry or any other thing you call "aesthetic." He took me to Malioboro and explained anything I needed to know. He lived in this city once so indeed he was a good tour guide for me. Several times my mind wandered, but he kept reminding me to be focus and enjoy the sight. I was learning slowly.
We were going to Prambanan temple by Transjogja. The sun was 180 degree above us and I swear that day was very hot. I thought I got a heatstroke by then, and I was very weak. He told me to ask nearby people where the entrance to the temple was, and I could not remember it properly. We definitely took a farther route and he scolded me then.
I felt very bad. We both were not in a good condition due to the weather and I made it worse. I did not imagine our first day would be this bad. I was about to cry when he said "Let's go, let's stay under the shade." He did not mention my mistake at all.
Just when I thought my trip would be ruined, he was still there, continuing the journey. I could not be more grateful with his presence.
"You can leave your camera, but deep inside, you're still a photographer."
...was his reaction to my non-stop capturing every corner of the temple with my phone.
We played Pokemon Go -- I know, old souls -- but I could not resist the temptation of "memories" that lingered in my expanding vision. But this time, I took a lot of our pictures. The way he smiled over the camera, laughed, or even just his back when he walked... everything was good. I realized that I would not share this to Instagram -- unlike my other photographs that demand me to upload those.
It was different. It was about seizing the moment, and imprisoned it on the visual possession so you could always rewind the moment over and over again. It was not about leaving the trace, it was about appreciating the second I lived.
Maybe I'm still a photographer after all, but with his presence by my side, the purpose gets different.
And Spice Girl was right: if you wanna be my lover, you gotta get my friends
"I want to meet Prwn." he said back when we planned the trip. Prwn is my best-est friend, if that even a word. She is the person I could rely on, although the distance makes us getting hard to keep up with another. "Can I?"
I was so excited that he wanted to meet her. Unfortunately 3 weeks before the trip, Prwn said she could not meet me. I felt glum and said sorry to my Dear. He said we could find good things on Jogja.
Just before we departed to Jogja, Prwn texted me she would be on a poetry reading I would attend to. What a coincidence! He said that the destination would be the priority, and we went to the bar with the pounding heart. I had not seen her for a long time, and this time, two of my love would meet each others!
We arrived before she came. We sat on the floor enjoying poetries which some of those we did not understand.
And when I saw her hair, I got really nervous. "WHOA IT'S HER" and never had I imagined to meet her at time like that. She hugged me so tight, and I almost cried. She greeted him and said "Thank you for being a good guy for Marine" and wow, that heated my heart. I flushed and grinned.
She read her poetries with a musical touch. It was good to see her after she battled with her own problems. We took a photos of three of us and definitely I would pay anything in this world to be exchanged with that moment. We threw a farewell and it was like a dream to enjoy that very moment.
On the way back to the inn, he said, "I'm glad I met her. I don't know, so glad. She looks like you. You both are terribly same. Just taking different path, but still, be there for another."
That was a praise I treasure so much.
And what is an adventure without troubles?
The two-days trip was also acquainted several challenges.
We both are dedicated Pokemon Go player (as I have stated beforehand) and there was an event on the day we went to Gembira Loka Zoo. So we tried to catch a lot of Pokemon. It was not easy, and the sun again was very hot that day. We both got emotional easily. Just a little problem ignited either of us. We went out from the zoo with the feelings of distress and agony.
Also, his father requested several uncommon Wayangs and we couldn't find it. He said "It's okay, let's find what's available" but I insisted to go to find the requested ones. He nodded. He said if that one did not work, then we had to return. That time, I was very sure I would find it because I really wanted to.
Only to get us into another trouble.
The place was not far from our inn, but the sky was so cloudy. He said "It's going to be raining" but I hardheadedly said "Just take a walk! We will make it in time."
Okay, the mentioned shop did not sell what we look for, so we had to go home. But again, I insisted. "There is no point of taking a trip if we do not enjoy it by walk."
I realized it was a naive statement when we caught in a heavy rain. It was unexpected (my argument) but he said at least we could anticipate it. He got the point and I could not defend myself. He was right.
And I still wanted to visit the bookshop I longed for. And yet he was willing to take me there, and got us soaked even more so we had to turn back in the middle.
He did not say anything when we parched by the cafe.
If you want to know your partner well, ask them to the journey, and that includes YOURSELF
But this journey strengthened our relationship, because I learned a lot everything I needed to know about him.
Back on the zoo, waiting for the Go-car, we tried to cool us down. He was the one who spoke first, telling us to go to the Bakpia shop in front of us. In the Go-car, he said sorry, and I cried. Not because of our anger, but glad we faced the hardship and helped us how to face it on another day. I learned how to take care of him in the same situation and he did, as well.
In the cafe, he offered me a cup of hot lemon tea, my favorite.
He said "Must be hard for you to hold yourself from going to your favorite bookstore. And you need to appreciate yourself."
Back again, I cried. How he considered my aspiration and forgave me for what I had done.
I learned how to control myself from pursuing something impossible, and save it for another day. I learned my partner so much and assured myself I could go with him on another trip.
The trip was not all about candies, but also bitter gums and sour lollipops. It was not the rosy colored flower, but each was the fragment of the bigger puzzle that assembled into beautiful diamond. It was the adventure that molded me into better self, and getting know my partner on the best and worst situation.
Clearly, it was the good escapade of self exploration. You could learn the whole thing on psychology major about quarter life crisis or the human development, but you only learn YOURSELF and your PARTNER by having that very adventure.
I could not wait for another journey and write it down so it will inspire others to persist.
Hi, Miss adizmarine.... What a philosophical story with full of self reflection in the journey. I love how you and your partner stay side by side though the weather is not always sunny (may be literally), and it only proves that both of you are a match made in heaven. I hope I get your wedding invitation very soon *peace! ^^
BalasHapusThank you very much, Miss! I hope that all the good wish goes to you as well!
Hapus