HIPPO'S RANT: About Kudanil

Melbourne, 21 July 2019

The Bluey get assembled

S.O.S!

I directly called my friends once I got the message from my ex bf that he was living in Melbourne. First person that managed to response was Marina. And of course she just laughed out loud. Errrggghhh! But somehow, she comforted me by making me finally be able to laugh at my own fate.

Another friend of mine indicated that perhaps there was something unfinished between me and him. Perhaps, they're right. One thing for sure, the room he left in my heart is still vacant. I haven't really let anybody else to occupy that room.

Good that at the time I felt that God was so unfair to me, she punched my menyek-menyekness (self pitiness) with her words,

"Ri, have you ever wondered you were on his position? I mean like, you've just started a new life in a new city and later on your ex moves to the city too. He might have mixed feeling too."

-_-

I managed to spend the whole day of my first day in Melbourne which was also my birthday to combat my exhaustion and negative thoughts. And on the next day, I decided to accept Kudanil's offer of help. I asked his help to assemble The Bluey, my bike I carried all the way from Perth. So, we agreed to meet at my current place in Box Hill on Sunday.

Prior the meeting, I just hoped that I could control my emotion. I really wished I wouldn't be over reactive, like suddenly ngegabruk (*jump to hug him. is it the right translation?) and worsened by emotional cry. Thanks God, I was quite normal.

I gave him a welcome hug, that I felt a bit awkward. Then we started to unbox and assemble my bike. While doing so, we had casual chat, exchanged some updates. He handed me his business card.

After finishing assembling my bike, we went climbing to Hard Rock in Nunawading. The gym is really cool, the walls are much higher than any in Perth. Too bad at the time we came, we couldn't have lead assessment because the qualified guy for it was not there. So we just went top rope. With my  current wrist injury and low physical fitness, I could only climbed easy routes, 15 -16, and still couldn't manage to pass any roof.

My emotion was quite neutral during the climbing time. No jokes as we used to have when we were couple. No more 'Ow you look like an angel coming down from heaven' while he lowered me down.

On the way back to my place, on his blue 4WD Suzuki  something (I forgot the type, but it looks pretty similar with Suzuki Katana / Jimmy), we continued exchanging some updates.

... how he got this job
... how is Katy's (his motorbike) fate
... his friends (Tylr and Slly, whom I met in bowling games) also live in Melbourne now
... Mrrk and Mchll broke up
... Hg gets into climbing and has gf now

And from my side, I have nothing much to share other than Zid got married last year and how I just recently knew that MasBond is the son of the director of PKT (biggest fertiliser company in Indonesia).

My emotion was still quite neutral.

But then, when I was in bed and red his business card I used as bookmark for the book I was reading,  The Push. I started to be sentimental.

Kudanil

Bachelor in environmental science

Environmental Scientist

Company xxx

I was happy, really happy to see how grown-up he is now, have good life, good job (environmental scientist, how cool is that?!?), surrounded by lovely friends. But evil part of me had jealousy. I started to reflect my own life. How destructive I'd been after my break-up with him. I carried too much baggage (which hopefully all left in Perth atm). I dipped myself into depression, I lost interest in many things. I dated many guys just for distraction, even with whom I had no chemistry at all. I once fell in love with another climber, but I was just being a bit avoidant. I was in such a limbo in my past year in Perth.

As usual, I ranted about this things to my close friends. The best response I got was from Vita.

"To be fair, it cant be compared, Ri. Everyone has their own process. Perhaps your latest year living in Perth was your lowest point, so you could say that you had been that destructive. Meanwhile, perhaps Kudanil (already) experienced much more lower stage of his life so he was much more ready to bounce back and fix his life. Scientist is just a job title anyway. We don't really know he performs (his quality). Don't be too hard to yourself. Be grateful. Look, now you live in your dream city. Anything can happen. Just be positive. Later on positive things will get attracted to you."

Gosh! I am so grateful to have a wise friend like Vita. Cant thank enough to her for having successfully lifted my spirit up. I keep reminding myself the promise I made to commit in inner peace, growth, self love, and gratitude. And one of path I should take is stop comparing myself to other, moreover to my own ex boyfriend.

Anyway, I am so happy to get The Bluey assembled. Can't wait to stroll around with her. As Einstein said, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

Cheers!

-ari.sita-

MELBOURNE EVENT: Tommy Caldwell & Kevin Jorgeson Live on Stage - Melbourne

Melbourne, 20 July 2019

I am lucky. So damn lucky!

A day prior my departure to Melbourne, I joined Melbourne Rock Climbing FB page. There I saw a post from Nicole Vaughan that volunteers for various roles needed for Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson Live on Stage - Melbourne (Astor Theatre). I messaged her immediately to secure a spot. I offered myself to help for both afternoon and evening events. And yup, it was granted! 

In between two legends

I started my volunteering at around 11am. I helped the team to organise the magazine and banner display. Then continued as gate keeper to scan the ticket of the patron coming for this event, plus encouraged them to enter the prize. Prior the end of my duty, I saw both Tommy and Kevin casually entered the theatre and not many people recognised them. LOL!

The organiser, Adventure Entertainment, was so kind to let us, volunteers, to join the session. The show was started with an introduction, then both Tommy and Kevin shared their climbing backgrounds and about the Dawn Wall project. It then continued with the screening of the Dawn Wall Movie, with 20 minutes intermission in the middle.

After the screening, there was Q&A session. I though that it will let audiences to launch questions to those two legends, but unfortunately not. All questions were asked by the moderator. But still, it gave meaningful perspectives about climbing. There was one topic I really love.

Q (more or less): What do you guys think that we, Australian climbing community, could learn and adopt from your experience?

A: Climbing is more than just our physical ability to scale the crag. As climbers we have to aware, to take care of our environmental. Be environmentalist, be conservationist . Respect to local community and authority as well. We are lucky that in States (USA), we could work hand in hand with many stake holders so that we could resolve or at least minimise any issue, especially about the accessibility to the crag. 

Big applause to both Tommy and Kevin, not only for their achievement to climb the Dawn Wall but also their humbleness to share their experience and insights in rock climbing.

I continued my volunteering into the second shift. I was appointed to help distributing the goody bag to the VIP guesses attending the Meet and Great Session. There they could see those two lads up close, have little chat and photographs. Politely I asked Emma and Nicole (the volunteer coordinator) whether I could join the line or not. And they said, "YES!"

Yeay!!!
But then, when my turn came to stand in front of Tommy and Kevin, I lost my words. I admitted to them that I had starstruck syndrome. LOL! I asked them to sign my event T-shirt and The Push (book by Tommy Caldwell, I purchased earlier).

OMG, I was so, soooo happy! Can't thank enough to Adventure Entertainment for giving me this beautiful time to meet the living legends in rock climbing. I wouldn't hesitate to offer myself to volunteer on another event.

 

Cheers!

-ari.sita-

HIPPO'S PHOTO GALLERY: Birrarung Marr

Melbourne, 19 July 2019

After I finished the free walking tour, I met a stranger who took me for a short walk to the Birrarung Marr, the park located in north bank next to Federation Square.

'Birrarung' is the traditional name of the Yarra River; and 'marr' refers to the mist that sometimes settles over the Birrarung. Loosely the words are often translated to 'river of mists'.

And below are some shots I took during the walk. Enjoy!

Sunset in Northbank

Deborah Halpern's Two-headed Angel, Birrarung Marr

The Federation Bell

Near the Princess Bridge

-ari.sita-

MELBOURNE TO DO: Melbourne Free Walking Tour

Melbourne, 19 July 2019

On my second day in Melbourne, I decided to join free walking tour organised by I'm Free Walking Tours. This tour runs twice a day (10.30 AM and 2.30 PM), every day (except Christmas, 25 December). The tour lasts for 2.5 - 3 hours and starts from in front of the State Library of Victoria and ends at Southbank. No booking required.

I just turned up in front of the statue of Sir Redmond Barry and met the crews on bright green vests. For this tour, my guide was Laura, a friendly Australian girl from Victoria country side who comes to Melbourne to study.

Just find these green jacketed guys in front of The State Library of Victoria

In total there were around another 20 people joining this tour. This tour covered not only major landmarks and histories of Melbourne but also the current on-goings of this city. For example, the reason why the trees in Carlton Garden (and other gardens/parks) are covered with steel blanket. The answer is to prevent the possum to climb them. That animal was considered harmful for the tress. The council spent lots of money for that blanket, which unfortunately seems like ineffective. We could still see possums occupying the trees. And many other fun facts, tips and tricks shared by our guide. I felt so lucky to have Laura as my guide because she was so knowledgeable and funky. Her dad jokes were hilarious.


This tour fee is based on how pleased you are after the tour. So in the end of the tour, you could just slip the money to your guide's hand. If you're not satisfied, or just simply thick skinned, you could just go without paying anything. But hey! Come on!

I personally recommend for anyone coming to Melbourne, whether for vacation or just moving in, to join this tour. It worths a lot to get to know this city better. For more detailed info, check their website here.

Happy city strolling!

-ari.sita-

Birthday Note: Hallo Melbourne!

Melbourne, 18.07.2019

Yeay! Safely touched down Melbourne on this birthday of mine!

As I have bragged a lot, both in real conversation and social media posts, to live in Melbourne is one my lifetime resolution. And I was so proud of myself for being able to give it as a birthday gift for myself.

Prior to my midnight flight departure, I had chat with my friend Marina. I told her how excited and liberated I was for taking this decision. I was so much ready to redesign my life. I was hot happy during my last one and half year in Perth. I lived in depression, loneliness, ungratefulness. I was the worst version of myself during that period of time. And realising that I only have one more year left to stay in Australia, I decided to move to the city I dreamed of, Melbourne.

The plane landed in Melborne at 6AM. Still a bit jet lag, I tried to manage to claim all my baggage, including The Bluey (my bike) on the box. I texted my Air BnB host to ask whether I could check  in earlier or not (before 2PM). Unfortunately he said the earliest time I could would be around 1AM. So wanted it or not, I got to wait at the airport because it was impossible to stroll around with all my baggages.

I visited the airport cafe to have my breakfast: chicken avocado roll and a cup of latte. I opened my Mac to start writing the Birthday Note I had drafted on my mind since last few days ago. I already gathered some beautiful quotes to be part of it. But then... as always, man plans, GOD RUINS IT.

I got DM from my ex bf,

"Hey Sita, I just thought you should know that I am living in Melbourne now. If you need help with anything please let me know."

DAMN!!!

God, seriously?!?

I was so annoyed. Why should he tell me that?!? Why didn't he tell earlier? or later? At least not today?!? Not on my birthday. I was totally crushed, because he was one of reason I decided to leave Perth.

But well, to be fair, Melbourne was not the right choice for me to move if my main  goal was to move on. In this city I shared sweet moments with him on early of our relationship.

He gave me a lift and pick me up from Coldplay concert I attended at Etihad Stadium. We got fines for parking in wrong spots. We celebrated 2017 NYE party here, with drama before, I gave wrong information about where he should pick me up after I had city strolling and my phone died so I couldn't correct it. Another drama happened after. We couldn't find our van key so its alarm beeping at the time he opened the door to get outside to pee.  Then he decided to pee on the jerry can that we had modified as our shower. Yucks!

Oh God! There are so many other moments that I could clearly recall.

BUT... I have to stop romanticise everything. I should keep moving on. I should remember the promise I've made for myself, the promise to commit in inner peace, growth, self love and gratitude

As @thefemalehustler IG post said:

"Remember, most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust your attitude, and all the extra stress is gone."

So I held my chin up. I sip my coffee. Then I sincerely whispered to myself, "Happy Birthday, Ari! Que sera, sera.What ever will be, will be. Keep living the everlasting journey..."

-ari.sita-