Cloverdew Creative

Not only did we get to witness a beautiful wedding, but we also got to experience much of the culture in Central Java through our travels there. We were fortunate to have a wonderful trip all planned out for us and enjoyed every minute of every day (well, except when my parents and I got food poisoning – ick!). We took a bus trip through the countryside and up into the mountains to stay at Dieng Plateau. We arrived in the evening, after dark had settled, but could see the beauty of the gardens at the tea plantation where we were staying. When we woke up the next morning, we could not only see the loveliness that was the waterfall outside our door, but also the other mountains in the distance. It was a breathtaking view.

We got a tour of the facilities and lessons in how to process tea leaves to make both green and black tea. Did you know they both come from the same plant? Black tea is just fermented. That’s the only difference. This tea plantation has 800 tea-pickers who are all women. They grow tea for Lipton… next time I drink a Yellow Label, I’ll remember everything about how it’s processed and prepared. Mmm, tea. (I love tea. I have many favorite types and love experimenting with new blends. What about you?)

While staying in the area, we also visited a beautiful old Hindu temple that was built in the 8th century. The facades were cracked, but you could still make out the carvings. It had long since been robbed of the figures inside the shrines, but the structures themselves were still quite impressive.

On the way to Jogjakarta, we visited Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Though this temple was built in the 9th century, it is still used for worship today. There are three levels to the structure, each representing a different realm in Buddhist cosmology: namely Kamadhatu (the world of desires), Rupadhatu (the world of forms), and finally Arupadhatu (the formless world). Humans live out their existence in the first level, the world of desires. Those who have pushed away and overcome all desires live in the world of forms, where they can see forms, but are not drawn to them. Only Buddhas, or those enlightened, can reach the realm of the formless world. In addition to this symbolism, there are also panels depicting the stories of Buddhist lore, the birth and life of Siddhartha. There are 72 statues of Buddhas, which through subtle differences, represent different directions and carry different meanings. Their different purposes include: calling the Earth to witness, benevolence and alms giving, concentration and meditation, courage and fearlessness, reasoning and virtue, and the turning of the wheel of dharma. The temple of Borobudur was not only impressive, but truly breathtaking.

My favorite temple, however, was not Borobudur, but the Prambanan Temple, a Hindu temple. Prambanan was also built in the 9th century and celebrates the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Sustainer (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). (Can you guess which one I was drawn to most?) In a similar fashion to Borobudur, there are three levels: the Bhurloka, the lowest realm of common mortals (humans, animals also demons), the Bhuvarloka, the middle realm of holy people, rishis, ascetics, and lesser gods, and the Svarloka, the highest and holiest realm of gods. In the lowest realm of mortals, humans are binded by their lust, desire and unholy way of life. In the middle realm of holy people, they have begun to see the light of truth. It is in the highest and holiest realm of gods that heaven is represented. This is where the righteous go between lives on Earth. At Prambanan, there were also many reliefs. They represented the epic stories of the Ramayana.

We set for Indonesia and met up with my brother in Jogjakarta (Jogja) for lunch at Ayam Goreng Suharti, one of the best fried chicken places in Jogja. Indonesians love fried food, especially chicken and this place is pretty famous for it. We ended up waiting at the restaurant for a while since Mike’s plane was delayed. While we were there, my brother gave each of us a gift of a book that had something to do with Indonesia – mine was Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Once we picked up Mike, who is a very old friend of my brother’s, we set off for Kebumen, Yulia’s hometown, in a very nice air-conditioned bus. By the time we were on the road, it was dark and most of us just spent the drive quietly looking out the window. There were even a few snores from the back of the bus. Later into the evening, we stopped at a buffet for our first real taste of Indonesian food, which is often spicy and includes small chilies. There were lots of options with egg, tofu, and tempe, and, of course, tons of rice. Indonesians, we learned, love sweet things and put sugar in almost everything including fruit juice and soy sauce. We were able to experience this first-hand at dinner and throughout our stay in Java. When we arrived late in the evening at our hotel, we were all relieved to find that it included air conditioning. Indonesia is hot and humid (but being near the equator has lots of lush flora to be relished – pictures to come in the next installment).

After a good night’s sleep, we all were excited to finally meet Yulia in person. She was a doll! Sweet, funny, and a perfect complement to my brother. After the ladies got fitted for the kebaya, we all got ready to head over to Yulia’s parents’ house to meet her family and take part in a couple of Javanese wedding rituals.

Introductions (Left to right: Pat, me, Ann, Jamie, Yulia)

The first ritual is that of the Sungkeman, where the couple asks permission each from their own parents by kneeling in front of them. The parents give their blessing to their children for marriage.

Sungkeman: Jamie with father, Ray, and mother, Ann.

After this ritual, Yulia and Jamie each took their turn for Siraman, the bathing ceremony, where the family members of each poured a rose-petal bath over their heads to purify and ready the couple for marriage.

Siraman: Yulia and her mother, Retno.

Siraman: Jamie and his father, Ray.

After the Sungkeman and Siraman, there was the ritual of gift-giving. Seserahan is when the bride and groom give each other gifts. There are certain expectations of the groom for the bride, mostly. He is to give the bride clothing, shoes, cosmetics, food and other things that show he can provide for her. My brother gave Yuli a lovely dress as her first gift and she thought it was very beautiful. Once she held it up for everyone to see, he pointed into the basket again. Yuli grinned and put on a pair of Groucho Marx glasses. “I’ve never been more beautiful!” she exclaimed. Everyone laughed. Then, Jamie pulled out another pair of glasses, with springy eyes, and put them on. The goofy pair of them made all her relatives laugh. And afterwards many of her relatives took turns trying on the glasses and taking pictures.

The happy couple: Jamie and Yulia.

On the day of the wedding, we all dressed in traditional Javanese clothing and made our way to the ceremony. In addition to traditional legal and Muslim pieces of the ceremony itself, there were also more Javanese traditions, including the Upacara Balangan Gantal, or throwing of betel leaves. At a distance of about 10 feet, the bride and groom stand in the middle of their parents and throw betel leaves to each other. The philosophy of the ritual tells that this is a special moment that will never happen again. The betel leaves are rolled tightly and this shows that the bride and groom are bounded and will face happiness and bitterness together. In Javanese culture, betel leaves are believed to have power to cast out bad spirits.

Then there was the Sindur Binayang ceremony. The mother of the bride covered the bride and groom with fabric. Then, the bride’s father led them to the bride and groom’s chairs. The bride’s mother walked behind the bride and groom. This ritual shows that the parents of the bride give their blessing to the bride and groom. In Javanese culture, a husband is expected to be a role model for his wife. This ceremony demonstrates how the father of the bride is a role model and how the groom should also be a role model. And the bride’s mother walks the bride and groom showing that she gives support to both the bride and groom.

Sindur Binayang

One of my favorite rituals was the Bobot timbang/Pangkon, or sitting on the bride’s father’s lap. The bride and groom sit on the lap of the father of the bride. The bride’s mother will ask to the bride’s father “who is heavier?” Then the father will say “they are just the same weight”. This ceremony shows that both of the daughter and son in law are equally accepted in the family. Then, the father will lead the bride and groom to sit in their arranged chairs.

Both are the same weight.

Before the reception line of about 300 people, there was also a repetition of the Sungkeman. There were many photos taken and a lot of music played. There were smiles on everyone’s faces. It was a beautiful and awe-inspiring day. And that was just the beginning…

Our truly international family: Mike, Anti (Yuli's sister), Hadi (Yuli's father), Retno (Yuli's mother), Ann (Jamie's mother), Jamie, Daffa (Yuli's nephew, Dewi's son), Yuli, Pat (Jamie's step-mother), Ray (Jamie's father), Joe (Jamie's step-father), Me. Dewi (Yuli's sister), Jason (Jamie's brother). Not pictured: Fais, otherwise known as Erman, Yuli's brother (he joined us for the wedding in Bali).

I just got back from the most amazing trip of my life – two weeks in Southeast Asia celebrating my brother Jamie’s wedding to a wonderful, amazing Javanese woman named Yulia. I set off on the first of April from Washington Dulles airport. I spent the next six hours mostly trying to avoid getting jabbed in the ribs by my neighbor’s elbow and thinking about how soon I would get to see my long-lost brother. When I got to San Francisco, I joined up with my parents (my brother’s father Ray and step-mother Pat) and we got our boarding passes for Singapore Airlines. Our flight wasn’t until after midnight, so we spent some time in the airport catching up.

On the plane, we were impressed with everything about Singapore Airlines – the seats, which are roomier than we’re used to on domestic flights in the US; the flight attendants uniforms and demeanor; the hot towels; the ridiculously good food; the in-flight entertainment. I highly recommend using Singapore Air if you get the chance. Although I wasn’t really able to sleep, I was at least somewhat comfortable and enjoyed watching Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in my sleep-deprived state.

Singapore Skyline

Once in Singapore, we joined up with my brother’s mother Ann, step-father Joe, and brother Jason. The six of us spent a day and a half enjoying great food, drinks, modern architecture, Buddhist temples, Little India, Chinatown, many and varied species of orchids at the botanical gardens, and a sunset harbor cruise which gave us a great view of the Singapore skyline. (For more on our adventures in – and more pictures of – Singapore, be sure to read my parents’ blog entry here.)

Orchids in the Botanical Garden.

My mom (Pat), Ann, and I even had time to go to the spa and have a fish spa treatment and pedicures! The little fish felt like tiny little bubbles all over my feet. The larger ones tickled so much, we actually laughed out loud!

At the fish spa: Pat, me, Ann.

To be continued…

For me, last year was all about gratitude. Without choosing the word specifically, I had a connection with it from the beginning of the year. I started each day with a morning ritual and took on a “less is more” attitude about social media and life in general. I wrote myself a love letter, reminding myself to be grateful for everything around me. I wrote often about things I love and that make me happy. I cleaned up and out and was more grateful for the fewer things I had. I worked at it and eventually, it became habit. Gratitude was abundant.

In 2010, I chose three words as themes for the year: Learn, Create, Invest. This year, I am revisiting the idea of putting all my energy into three aspects of my life. This year, my three words are: Create, Celebrate, Simplify.

Create

• Goal word: CREATE
• Path 1 to the goal: write and continue personal blog
• Path 2 to the goal: scrapbook
• Path 3 to the goal: finish family cookbook and continue cooking blog
• Distractions: time management, lack of patience
• Steps to the path: blog at least once a week, finish a novel; build a scrapbook from scratch; collect and organize recipes for cookbook
• The finish line: write “The End.”, have sections of the cookbook mapped out
• What’s next: edit the novel, put together and edit cookbook in InDesign, continue blogging with new features and fresh ideas, move on to photography and other media

Celebrate

• Goal word: CELEBRATE
• Path 1 to the goal: celebrate with friends
• Path 2 to the goal: celebrate with family
• Path 3 to the goal: celebrate myself
• Distractions: money, time management, other priorities
• Steps to the path: remind myself that each day there is something to celebrate; rejoice in small victories; take every opportunity to socialize, treat myself, and appreciate others; in short, Celebrate Everything!
• The finish line: feeling great about myself and the world around me
• What’s next: Celebrate more!

Simplify

• Goal word: SIMPLIFY
• Path 1 to the goal: simplify self-care
• Path 2 to the goal: simplify my space at home and at work
• Path 3 to the goal: simplify online presence
• Distractions: work and home responsibilities, time restraints, lack of motivation
• Steps to the path: eat well (no nitrates, chemicals, preservatives, or hormones, eating a balanced diet, eating often but not lots at once); exercise (walking, biking, and getting out more); clean and organize often; get rid of clutter and unnecessary items; donate to charity; cut down on the number of social networks I’m involved in; step away from technology more often; take great care of myself, including a nightly and weekly beauty routine
• The finish line: feeling mentally and physically healthy, a clean and organized living space and working space
• What’s next: Keep it up!

Image credits: create – IHeart Organizing; celebrate – That Kind of Woman; simplify – The Container Store

design by Fifi du Vie

Eat Like an Artist in 2012 ♥ my new Wonderland playlist on Spotify ♥ iCal ♥ the above image from Fifi du Vie ♥ Being Erica ♥ Jay Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne ♥ Move and the world will get the fuck out of your way. – <3 Hey Amber Rae ♥ Pinterest ♥ This post about a true adventurer and his 365 photography project (make sure to watch the fascinating and moving video). ♥ the complete works of Shakespeare free for iOS ♥ Shit DC Says ♥ letterpress business cards ♥ John Legend’s cover of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep (can you imagine if they collaborated? OMG.) ♥ Adobe Bridge ♥ mimosas ♥ President Obama singing Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together ♥

What adventures are you up to? I’m brainstorming my own for 2012…

image from pinterest (click for link)

This post is part of a weekly feature on this blog called a Simple Image, which is just an image with links to the photographer’s or artist’s own website or blog.  If you would like to have your artwork or photography featured, or if you have suggestions on who should be featured, please contact me via email.

Shiny New Year love list:

origin: unknown (Is this yours? Let me know so I can credit you.)

Pantone and Sephora teaming up for a new beauty line!  ♥ SARK at TEDxFiDiWomen ”Succulence is Powerful” (YouTube video) ♥ friends who are always there no matter how many miles or days come between you ♥ Inbox: 1 (as close to zero as I can get realistically) ♥ teaching my mom how to use Flipboard and getting links from her as a result ♥ Janelle Monae ♥ handmade quilts ♥ warm and fuzzy sweaters ♥ The Definitive Color Wheel ♥ these 30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself ♥ light and fluffy snow falling ♥ laughing with my coworkers ♥ my brand new Nook (thanks, bro!) ♥ my new nightstand and lamp from IKEA ♥ starting the New Year off with a fantastic brunch shared with good friends in my new home ♥ having less than an hour commute ♥ using traveling as an excuse to buy my favorite magazines ♥ Rihanna’s You Da One ♥ reading through my old blog entries ♥ President Barack Obama sings Lady Gaga’s Born This Way (YouTube video) ♥ LUSH’s Stimulating Spice Shampoo ♥ Twelve Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative Thinking (great article on creative thought processes) ♥ some wonderful inspiration from Louise Hay on how to love yourself and why you should start NOW! ♥ research and creative projects ♥ Hyperbole and a Half’s alot (must read: hilarious, especially for grammar nerds like me!) ♥ the fact that it’s Friday ♥ a Lord of the Rings (extended editions, of course) movie marathon with good friends ♥ my new Tumblr theme ♥

The Alot is Better Than You at Everything (image source: Hyperbole and a Half)

What are you loving right now?

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and I am full of it. I am so grateful for where I am in my life right now and for all the little things that help me get through each day. Following are lots of awesome things that make my days just a little brighter.

♥ Iron Horse ♥ peppermint mochas ♥ gchat ♥ a 5k day ♥ being nicknamed “Daria” by my coworkers ♥ Christmas music & movies (I must be in the spirit of the season already!) ♥ ♥ ♥ Thanksgiving right around the corner (my favorite holiday) ♥ homemade banana bread brought in by a coworker ♥ NaNoWriMo pep talks from published authors ♥ these Pantone Christmas tree ornaments ♥ Bing Crosby’s voice ♥ being grateful for pretty much everything (a place to live, good friends, family, a great church, enough food on the table) ♥ participating in an awesome spiritual swap community ♥ giving back ♥ getting a hand-written letter from my sweetheart who has been in basic training for the last 4 weeks ♥ getting out early on the day before Thanksgiving ♥ Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Green Tea (which tastes like the holidays in a cup) ♥

*image credit: lennie hanazawa

NaNoWriMo is a wonderful adventure. And it sucks. It’s a fantastic writing exercise and a terrible thing for my social life. During the month of November, I tend to drink way too much caffeine, get way too little sleep, hide away from my friends (unless, of course, they are also writing for NaNoWriMo and we end up at Write-Ins together). I spend too much money on coffee and on food, eat too much junk, and neglect to get dressed on Saturday until I’ve finished my word count for the day.

I carry a flash drive with me everywhere, am constantly looking at my word count and refreshing my score on the NaNoWriMo boards, and I compulsively save after each paragraph. When I come to a stopping point, I save the draft on my flash drive, on Dropbox, on my computer’s hard drive and back-up drive, and e-mail it to myself via Gmail.

But, aside from the eccentricities, NaNoWriMo makes me grow as a person. I had no idea I was capable of writing this many words this fast. I’m actually on par with where I should be at this part of the month, something that’s never happened before. It’s quite an empowering experience to be able to come up with an entire story with just a few prompts and your own imagination.

This story has already taken twists and turns I didn’t expect and I’m sure there are more to come. It’s really a beautiful thing to acquaint yourself with characters and just let them talk to you. Here’s hoping mine keep talking!

*image credit: andy teo

A list of gratitude and wonder:

♥ having breakfast with three beautiful deer, grazing in the morning sunlight ♥ opportunities to interview with interesting organizations ♥ Lark Rise to Candleford (who doesn’t love a period drama?) ♥ testing out fun recipes from foodie blogs ♥ picking apples and making homemade apple butter ♥ good friends who rescue you from going stir-crazy ♥ ending the evening with a phone call from my sweetheart ♥ being able to do something nice for someone else just to put a smile on his/her face ♥ pumpkin spice lattes ♥ fall temperatures and being able to wear sweaters ♥ putting together a playlist on Spotify for the express purpose of writing ♥ spending a full day outside with good friends at the Renaissance Festival, wearing pretty garb, watching a production of Hamlet, and enjoying music ♥ LUSH’s Dream Cream (with every essential oil good for your skin in one lotion… it’s decadent and scrumptious) ♥ Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s autumn scents (Pumpkin Latte, Sugar Skull, Samhain, etc.) ♥ leaves turning many colors, falling, and crunching under my feet ♥ It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! ♥ homemade cheddar, shallot, and chive scones and broccoli cheese soup ♥ the start of NaNoWriMo ♥ Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups ♥ having a job ♥ making holiday plans ♥ all of the fall colors ♥ pedicures ♥ drinking wine and socializing with some great people ♥ firing up the fireplace to keep the house warm ♥

*image credit: jek in the box

Here are just some of the things that are making my life a very sweet bowl of cherries:

♥ VLC ♥ Imelda May‘s new album, Mayhem ♥ new lenses for my glasses ♥ lynda.com ♥ my new 10-pound weights ♥ a clean and clutter-free desk ♥ homemade simple syrup for my iced coffee ♥ (free) Goodies from FontFont ♥ Nubby Twiglet’s Organization Methods: Tips and Tricks from a Virgo or How To Organize ALL THE THINGS (as a Virgo who would LOVE to be this organized, I had to recommend it!) ♥ Kate Spade’s simple, fun, and colorful Wedding Belles collection ♥ downloading albums from bandcamp ♥ actual cherries ♥ music reviews in BUST magazine ♥ road trips ♥ Ben & Jerry’s Red Velvet Cake ice cream ♥ Operation Sparkle Wedding which will support two great friends in having a legal fairy tale wedding in upstate New York through purchases of wonderful, magical items like Glamourkins, stories, and beautiful decorative wearable fabric flowers ♥ the Body Shop’s Strawberry Body Butter ♥ looking through old journals ♥ cupcakes ♥ the kindness of friends and strangers alike ♥ listening to old mix CDs and rediscovering who I was at different points in my life ♥ hugs ♥ Trader Joe’s ♥ driving the back roads of Virginia ♥ Wunderlist app for iPhone and the idea from a friend of taking a screen shot of my to do list and using it as my screensaver ♥ great interviews ♥ new possibilities on the horizon ♥ being told that my creativity is one of my best virtues and that I have excellent writing skills ♥ PG Tips with sugar and cream ♥ opening all the windows in the house ♥ being blessed by a family of deer in the back yard ♥ feeling like I’m in just the right place ♥ being visited by friends from faraway places in my dreams ♥ the smell of autumn in the air ♥ cards by Papyrus ♥ receiving handwritten letters ♥

What’s in your bowl of cherries?

A list of great things and things I’m grateful for:

♥ sunny days ♥ Great Big Sea ♥ learning my way around a new part of the country ♥ Dirty Gold’s EP – Roar (pretty much obsessed – I play it at least once a day) ♥ Bodoni font face ♥ researching best practices for small businesses ♥ all the little things we usually take for granted (fresh water and food, a roof over my head) ♥ my awesome friends made through social media ♥ reading awesome material, like the Dark Wife (a revisionist retelling of the myth of Persephone),  the Adventures in Manifesting course materials, and Danielle LaPorte’s Spark Kit (affiliate link) ♥ Ghostly International ♥ Gala Darling’s Body Pressure in the Blogosphere: Bloggers Speak Up ♥ updating, editing, and reworking our family cookbook ♥ registering domain names ♥ big sunglasses ♥ getting out the first 500 words of fiction in what seems like forever ♥ large, dangly earrings ♥ Chocolat ♥ 30 Rock ♥ gin & tonic ♥ Google+ ♥ learning PHP coding language while finding my way around the back end of WordPress (Thanks, Smashing WordPress!) ♥ getting up with the sun ♥ looking at pictures that remind me of great times with great friends ♥ cups of coffee in every shape, size, and variation ♥