A post for my father

 These days I feel so blue. I often think of my late father that passed away 17 years ago.

I miss him so much and want to see him in my dream if God allows. 

I remember when I was a kid my father is the one who pushed me to study multiplication. I was lazy at that time and pretended to sleep. My father is the one who taught me to play chess and many times I defeated one of his friends in chess when he came to our house.

My father is the one who give me a ride on his bicycle to look for missing tricycles. And he often bought me 'soto daging' to eat. 

When I was studying at University in Surabaya my father came to Surabaya to give me money  IDR 90,000 per month for my expenses to rent a room, transportation, etc. We always met at a restaurant in front of STTS University Surabaya. I remember I alwasy ate nasi rames with daging bali there. After giving money he will take metro mini to Bratang terminal and take bus from Pulo Gadung to go back to Kediri.

When I was having KKN (Kuliah Kerja Nyata) in one of vilages in Madiun. I rode my motorcycle with him from Surabaya to Madiun. I think he worried if something would happen to me so he accompanied me from Surabaya to Madiun.

When I was working in Jakarta, he already got sick of lung cancer. Once he was admitted to a hospital Bhayangkara and I visited him. He hugged me and I know that he cried. It is a rare thing that my father hugged me. In our family we usually don't show affection openly to each other. But I am not that sensitive back then. As a young person I think much of my work which I regretted right now. If only I can return the moment I may just resign from my work and accompany him in Kediri.

I lost a lot of moments with my Dad, even when he passed away I was still working in a stupid project in Jakarta.

Now I just realized that we should appreciate the time we can spend with family, even though it may be boring.

Now I am trying to spend more time with my kid and my wife. Life is just short. Someday I will be gone and my grandchildren may not know me. All of use will vanish one day. This is life.

I just want to say to my father that I love him and I want to hug him back.

Beautiful City of Legazpi with Mayon Volcano, Philippines (Part 2)

Continuing the story of Legazpi from Part 1, I visited the Cagsawa Ruins which was very crowded at that time. It is better to visit not during public holiday since you can enjoy the view better.  You can view Mayon Volcano from the ruins with beautiful flowers in front.

Cagsawa Ruins

View of Mayon Volcano from Cagsawa Ruin

Another View of Mayon Volcano from Cagsawa Ruins

We then went to visit Daraga Church. This church is in the Legazpi City. This church has beautiful relics on its walls and also has a beautiful background of Mayon Volcano. I really like to pray in this church and I feel that God is near me whenever I pray in old churches like this.

If you have time, I suggest you go inside and peacefully pray to God and ask Him your wishes and He will hear you.

Daraga Church

Daraga Church

In the afternoon I visited Legazpi boulevard, which is near the sea. There are many people visiting that place to relax. 

Legazpi Boulevard

Legazpi Boulevard

There is one thing that you can try when you are there: Chili Ice Cream. Colonial Creamery has a famous Chili Ice Cream that has many level of 'hotness'.  There is a store in the mall in Legazpi and you may try it before you go home.

Colonial Creamery Chili Ice Cream

Beautiful City of Legazpi with Mayon Volcano, Philippines (Part 1)

 I love Philippines so much. Generally Philippines people are kind. I worked in Philippines for about 3.5 years in total. Now I would like to share my experience when I was there.

Firstly let's visit Legazpi with its Mayon Volcano. The volcano is very beautiful with it symmetrical cone shape. I took Cebu Philippines airline from Manila to Legazpi. The travel is around 1 hour only. From the plane you can see the Mayon Volcano already when you are approaching Legazpi.

Mayon Volcano from plane

Legazpi airport is a small airport and you also can see Mayon Volcano from there.

Legazpi Airport

I chose to stay at Camalig area since it is close to Mayon. From the city of Camalig yo can see Mayon in the background. 

View of Mayon Volcano from my accommodation in Camalig

Camalig Area

Not far from the center of Camalig, we can go to Quininone Hill where you can see beautiful Mayon Volcano in the background of green pasture. I like this place since it can give a peaceful mind. You just can sit around there and quietly watch the Mayon Volcano.

Quininone Hill Camalig

Near Quininoe Hill, just a 5 minute walk, you can visit Japanese cave made by Japanese to hide from their enemy during World War 2. You just need to pay a small amount of money to tip the 'small guide" (which is a kid) to take you there. 

Japanese Cave near Quininone Hill

Another attraction of Camalig is the Saint John the Baptist Church, an old church that has been rebuilt a few times. This church is close in the Camalig center and still being used for public mass until today.

Saint John the Baptist Church Camalig

I personally like churches and I like to have a quiet moment inside the church. Sometimes I just enter an open old church and pray inside. Sitting inside this old church gives a peaceful of mind. 

Inside Saint John the Baptist Church Camalig

I also visited Quitinday Hill which has many small hills similar to Chocolate Hills in Bohol. At that time the road to this hill was still in construction so we had to park our car a bit far and walk through muddy road to the hill.

Road to Quitinday Hill

After walking we arrived at the entrance post and from there we hike a bit into the place where we can see the green hills. There is a small hut there so you sit and can take rest while enjoying the view for a while.

Quitinday Hill View