If somebody asked me what I remember the most about my
childhood, then the answer is traveling and books. Two things that still haunted me until my
present day as a parent, mom of two.
My travelling experience has began even before I was
born. It started when my Dad assigned
from Jakarta to Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi.
The whole family flew to strange city they never think before, with me
still in womb. My Mom was 8-months
pregnant of me back then. Not long after I was born, Mom and me flew again to
Jawa to visit my Mom’s father who was ill.
His last wish was to see me, the granddaughter of his first
daughter. Yup, my Mom was the eldest of
her sibling. And that story told to me many
times, by my parents when they’re still alive.
After 5-years stationed in Ujung Pandang, my Dad reassigned
to Jakarta. Ever since I remembered how
my Mom addressed her concerned to Dad.
How worried she was if the institution where my Dad works, would assign
him to other city. Which happened few
times again in the following years. His
job made my Dad to move to Balikpapan and stayed there for another three
years. Not that Mom reluctant to move
along but more concerned to the arrangement of moving. For her, moving means looking for a new house
and new school for the kids.
While for us –me and brothers-, moving means new house and
new friends. And new city to
explore. Which all are exciting !
Despite of the chaotic caused by moving from one to other
city. It gave us the chance to see Indonesia where back then travelling is
still considered as luxury needs. People
barely do travelling in 70’s and 80’s. Since
Dad also like travelling, so school break means vacation. Can be staycation or trip to certain place
nearby. No wonder since my youth, I
already familiar with Gowa, Pulau Selayar, Bantimurung, Lapangan Karebosi, Pantai
Losari and Fort Rotterdam. All names are
famous in Ujung Pandang.
When we move again to Jakarta, our vacation mostly around
West Java. Drive around Bandung, from
Tangkuban Parahu to Ciater hot water.
Braga was very dear to me. Every time we went to Bandung, we always stay
at Hotel Braga because it was my Dad’s favorit place. We used to walk around Braga to Alun-alun
Bandung. And Dad would explain about
Gedung Asia Africa when we passed by.
In another trip, we went to Garut to see Candi Cangkuang and
Situ Bagendit. In other family vacation,
we spent the day off at Pangandaran. I remembered
we also had creepy vacation when we stayed at Samudrera Beach Hotel, Pelabuhan
Ratu. When Dad in Balikpapan, I got the
chance to see Kerajaan Kutai and visit Samarinda.
Another thing that my parents spoiled us, was book. They would say no to toys, but not to
books. Both of my parents provide
unlimited access to books. They used to
buy the children a books on regular base.
Good mark from school also means more books. The better your score, the more books you’ll
get. Both of them, specially Dad, always
encourage us not to limit ourselves to a certain things. His words leads us to are not liking a specific
genre.
What my Dad used to teach us was to link between what we have read with the actual view. For instance, when we visited Situ Bagendit. He asked whether we still remember the story. Or when we visited Kerajaan Kutai, what we know about it. By doing so, somehow he trained our logical thinking, to make summary. Sometimes story is not just a story. There is fact we could see or learn. Otherwise it is called a fiction.
Now, the fashion of reading is not only attach to me but also to the kids. Somehow, I imitate what my parents did to me. I prefer buying them books rather than things. Like my Dad showed me, we also try to visiting places that our children have read from their books. So when we are visiting Candi Prambanan three years ago, they are not only just studying history at school but also see witness the artifact in person.
The joy of travelling my parents gave me was really got into me so much. Fill in my childhood with a pleasant plenty of stories. Stories that I share to my kids now. The same joy and experience I want my children have. And that is the reason why we are doing it now. Reading books and travelling together to new places as much as we can. Create our own stories for them to pass on their descendant.
Hari ke-4, 1 Day 1 Post Challenge
6 comments
Senang sekali baca ceritanya mak ^^ hal-hal di masa kecil yang akan selalu dikenang dan dibagikan untuk anak-anak. Traveling dan book, dua hal yang saya senangi juga, dan sekarang suka dilakuin keluarga kecilku.
ReplyDeletePindah-pindah tempat selain bikin sedih tapi banyak pengalaman dan cerita ya mak. Bisa kunjungin banyak tempat juga.
Karena saya masih kecil, jadi pindah-pindah itu lebih banyak berasa enaknya daripada nggaknya. Padahal, pindahan rumah itu repot banget 'kan..
DeleteWhat a lovely and memorable childhood you have with awesome parents whom let you enjoy all of the experiences.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely. One of my best period, ever!
DeleteMbak Ratnaaa...itu fotomu unyu banget..
ReplyDeleteTernyata aku pernah unyu-unyu, ya?
Deletehehehe
Hai ^_^
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