in this chun jie, also known as chinese lunar new year, the beginning of spring festival or xin chia, i found myself in the serenity of thousand red candle lights within a temple in the old quarter of tangerang.
boen tek bio (c) ukirsari 2012
in fact, i surrounded by clouds of smoke. heat in the atmosphere as everybody light the red candles up and pray for the goddess kwan im, transliteration of avalokitesvara. but i was there, distant apart. all i remember just the goddess of mazu that i had visited almost a year ago in taipei, tainan and kaohsiung at the trip of ilha de formosa or taiwan, republic of china. she’s my favourite goddess just like i adore st nicholas. both are the patrons of the seafarers. and as my beloved dad was a navy to whom i always so proud of, and then my beloved ones bear the same name, so anywhere in my destination, if i am able for contemplating or at least praying with my own—even i must admit that i am not a religious one—the churches of st nicholas or temple of the goddess mazu will be on the list.
it’s just like i absorbed the line of kahlil gibran’s in his bestseller sand and foam; remembrance is a form of meeting. so in those churches or temples i can figure my dad, i can remember all nice things in between us, or if i go by my own i can remember my beloved ones very well and wholly … all nice thing that i don’t need to explain by words since it’s just like fresh air and i just need to take a deep breathe. love, sometimes doesn’t need a word to express isn’t it?
on the way to pangong tso, ladakh (c) ukirsari 2011
back to my latest experience regarding chun jie, it was a surprise when i stepped out from the temple to see a seller offers chinese bric-a-brac souvenir. not about it’s genuine or fake, but have a look … i found a bracelet made from mini coins with chinese inscription just like nicholas and i bought in pangong tso. a tranquil lake at the height of 4,350 meters above sea level on himalayan plateau, nearby the border of india, pakistan and tibet! in a small souvenir shop that owned by local army. how strange to see it right on my nose at this very day, even can be understood completely how the chinese traders and artisan make the stuff to be sold all over the world.
i just can think it’s a good sign, as a traveler i will be blessed to go again. so does my beloved ones. life sometimes full of signs that need to be solved. and all my pray at that chill-out night—errrr, without any rain drops, something unusual—goes to me, nicholas, family, people we love including all family members who already in heaven; that love will embrace all of us so dearly and closely, enjoyable life and energy to travel, especially for two of us. i know i am picky about a destination, but it’s caused i know my (our) limitation and budget. no need to play havoc by visit places based on cheap ticket offers nor popular destination by others. i just need to be me, and to be us, on the way of travel that we love to do. since life is a never ending journey, as i stated as my own motto-grotto. tan-ne yir rul tog tukh boltu ji. amen.
davay … davay ….