beloved papap,

it’s really an honour to have sit next to you and mum in our 64th indonesia’s independence day. in the heroic city of surabaya, under the summer sky, surrounded by tombstones and jasmine garlands on your grave.

(c) ukirsari and nicholas

my memory will never fade. about your favourite things; work related but looks truly implemented into your own, just exactly bonding forever. after sailing pass that you always attending proudly, there’s something that i already familiar with since i was a kid;  becomes an inspector for ‘renungan suci’. a midnight service inside a heroes’ cemetery held every august 16th.

i  love the way you do the preparation after back from work. the way you clean up and polishing your sword, medals and white boots, then put them next to your white uniform and navy’s hat. it’s really brings your proudly feeling towards me as an indonesian; about our ancestors who shared their bloods to the motherland.

that childhood memory of mine finally bonding into my travel style;  i always search a local cemetery when i go travel to a country. and get a warm feeling whenever i can pay a respect towards one or more than a graveyard.  i enjoy to have sit and reading amongst the graves. especially at the unknown soldiers’ section.

you might be unknown  in this world, dad. but it doesn’t matter. you are very well known inside my heart and the entire of our family. i always proud to be part of you, in this life and forever. happy independence day, kanjeng rama.

anyway, it’s quite strange … i visit your beloved aldwych and take double decker bus nr 15, more often than ever since 2008. maybe it’s a sign from you? thanks a lot, papap. i love you so much.

benedictio dei omnipotentis patri et filii et spiritus sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper. amen.