2016 - Books I've Read This Year [Migrated Post]

I've always loved fiction for as long as I can remember. To me, characters, albeit imaginary ones, speak more truth than the surface-level information and knowledge I get from most nonfiction books. As a kid I fell in love with them while trying to improve my English. I started reading more because I heard that reading improves your linguistic abilities. Then as I grew up, and I don't know if it's just me, it seems like people respect you more if you read more nonfiction than mere literature, as it implies you've acquired more real-world, practical and applicable knowledge rather than just reading for pleasure. I gave in to that impression and gradually lost interest in books at all.

This year, however, has been the year that I embraced my true self. I made a simple goal of reading 12 books of any kind to fall in love with books again, and I ended up with 99% fiction. As I said, reading was one way I take pleasure, and I find great joy in watching stories unfold and journeying with particular characters as they go through highs and lows in order to experience change. Like a cup of good tea, it's been a way for me to unwind and loosen the tangled thoughts in my head. It takes my mind off myself and watching how another character as flawed as I am faces his or her challenges. I'm glad I've taken the plunge into worlds that only exist in the mind once again, because as Einstein famously said, imagination is more important than knowledge. Reading into characters deeply has made me a more considerate and empathetic person than I was a year ago.

Here are the pieces of literature (plus one nonfiction) I've read this year, listed in reading chronological order:

Review: "The Fifth Gospel" by Ian Caldwell [Migrated Post]

"We are a religion of captains hoping to go down with the ship. Though we teach our children that the worst thing Judas ever did - worse even than betraying Jesus - was committing suicide, the truth is that what moves the lifeblood of our faith is a thumping impulse toward self-destruction. Greater love has no one than this, Jesus says in the gospel of John. To lay down one's life for one's friends."

This is easily one of the best books I've ever read. I've got so much to say that this review has bloated up to the length of a standard novella. You were warned.

The Words On the Card Made Me Cry Instantly [Migrated Post]

The chills I get whenever I listen to Pink’s “F**kin’ Perfect” immediately sprang to mind. I’m so thankful I no longer have to try, after all my life trying so hard to please unpleasable figures … and I have the rest of my life to let him know just how much my husband means to me.

Guest Post: On Relationships, Getting Married, And How I Know She's the One. [Migrated Post]

Note: It’s close to a week left before the wedding now, and I feel it’s the perfect time to reflect on how far me and 10 have come, because, let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to transition ourselves into the marriage milestone. We want to tell our story because it may help you figure out where you should be heading next in your current relationship, particularly those of you who are still pondering whether the man/woman you’re with is someone you can’t live without. This post is very special for me, as it was written by my soon-to-be husband. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading~ 

Before meeting Stacia, I have always thought that I would never get married. Because whenever I get heartbroken or get unrequited love from the girl I am interested in, I would always step up my expectations from the next girl I am going to date.

My list of criteria went like this:

1. Has to be tall

2. Has to be fair skin

3. Has to be adorable

4. Has to be slim

5. Has to have long legs

6. Has to live relatively near my house

7. Accept me for who I am

8. More importantly, has to love God

9. As a bonus, please be pretty …

I knew I was in trouble… I became critical with every girl I’m introduced to. I judged them before I even tried spending time with them… All because of the criteria I have set and I strictly followed them. I almost gave up….

But God is always kind to me. His favor never seems to stop, no matter how many times I have disappointed him. A girl was introduced to me… not as someone meant to be a potential girlfriend, but just as an acquaintance.

Stacia has fulfilled all the criteria, including the bonus, except the most important one: Does she love God or not? It turns out she didn’t… (at least not yet)

God didn’t stop there… In the past, if I found out the one I am interested in has a different faith, I stop pursuing. I didn’t want to be troubled with potential issues in the future that comes with faith differences. But this time, I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her. I decided to take the risk – I confessed to her while making it very clear how serious and devoted I am about my faith, and will never leave Him no matter what.

After some consideration, she agreed to be my girlfriend. A feeling that I have not felt for almost a decade has finally returned to me and I forgot how it felt… a mutual love. What about the faith differences? Without me even mentioning anything, she followed me to church and started learning more about Him. Again, without me even saying anything to her, she decided on her own to get baptized, fulfilling the last the criterion I have set. 

"Instead of thinking negatively about our differences, we think about how we can change, tolerate more, and adapt to accept each other’s differences."

Even though being with her has made the happiest moments of my life, I have to admit that those are not easy and smooth-flowing times. We are two very different persons, from different family backgrounds, cultures, and mindsets. It was hard to be a bridge between the two parties. I have to be a good, respectful son and brother, while at the same time I have to be a loving, understanding boyfriend and now… a future husband.

We always argue due to disagreements that arise from our differing mindsets, differing social and cultural beliefs, and differing ways of life. It’s not an easy task to merge my 30-year’s worth of teaching and experiences with a totally different 25-year’s worth of teaching and experiences. We hurt each other a lot. We made each other cry. But what I love in our relationship is that God never let us become separated. He intervenes when the problems get too serious and reminds us why we are together. We fix our problems. We find solutions. We make up.

Time came when I have to make the ultimate decision… the most important decision of my entire life… The proposal. I asked God, family, friends, and everyone else about this. What to consider, what to think, what to prepare. I was planning to propose after 2 years of dating, but I decided to rethink and get prepared for another year just to be extra sure and clear out any doubts. True enough, I only became more confident about making her my wife as I love her even more, not like a girlfriend-boyfriend love, but a lifetime-partner love. I proposed.

Post-proposal didn’t make our relationship less harder. We fought about even more serious stuff, sacrificed more, stretched comfort zones, increased expectations, faced with greater responsibilities, and got to know even more about each other… the good and the bad and yet more differences. But having gone through all that is proof to me… a proof of commitment and love towards each other. We worry about each other and only want what’s best for both of us. It is tiring and frustrating at times, but we make it through it all, thanks to God who continually binds us to become stronger than ever. These days, instead of thinking of breaking up after each major fight, we calm down, try to understand each other, and work together to find a solution. Instead of thinking negatively about our differences, we think about how we can change, tolerate more, and adapt to accept each other’s differences. All this will not go this beautifully unless God’s hand is working amongst us.

And here we are… Just a few days from being married… Who would have thought that I would get married when I was still in my position and situation a few years back before I met Stacia? I was picky and difficult when it comes to love – I won’t consider any further if I can’t picture myself with a girl in the future. Who would have thought that I would meet a girl of my dreams who accepts me, cares for me, and loves me? Who else would take me on this adventure, to laugh and to cry with me, even sharing my burdens? It has been a difficult process, a journey with plenty of turbulence, but with God’s grace and strength, we flew past through it all and has now arrived at our destination, embarking upon a whole new adventure.

Review: "Playing With the Grown-Ups" by Sophie Dahl [Migrated Post]

I'm not surprised that the average Goodreads ratings for this book is a so-so 3.24 out of 5 stars at the moment I'm writing this review. It reaffirms the fact that taste is relative, because I actually really enjoyed the simple plot and the complicated characters. It's a plainly beautiful story.

Great People [Migrated Post]

My eldest brother recently taught me that great people aren’t larger than life after all. They’re just people with whom you leave feeling greater than when they found you.

Biku [Migrated Post]

Brunching at one of my favorite places in Bali, Biku. Tea, books, aromatherapy oils and other hippie novelties – the stuff of my world.

My favorite! Biku’s specialty Alexandria Tea: Green tea, mint, vanilla, carthame

Potato fritters from their new all-day breakfast menu … TOTAL YUM

The classic Biku deluxe beef burger. Hubs said it was the best burger he’s ever tasted since his days studying in the U.S. (aka ages ago)

Orange cake

Pistachio cake

I’d rather have a gelato than a piece of cake at any given day, but this flourless almond cake was a winner. Must try!

Day Well-Spent: Sari Organik, Alam Bali, Utama Spice, Bridges, Gelato Massimo

For sure I’m coming back to the Penestanan area the next time I come here. So many facilities for eat-pray-love retreaters, namely vegan cafes, yoga homestays, and psychic reading houses. Plenty of rice paddies along the 800m walk toward Sari Organik Cafe, and so we took just as many pictures. The next time round, I want to try out Cafe Pomegranate.

I think we were the only local patrons in the afternoon. The rest of the tables were surrounded by foreigners who looked like they’ve never seen open rice paddy fields before xD Hubs had his Balinese nasi campur and I super enjoyed the tofulafel platter myself. The veggies are refreshingly delicious, nothing too fancy though, just the way I like them. We also enjoyed the uber fresh spinach quiche to satisfy our still-hungry stomachs. Hubs was curious to try out the homemade wine of the season – the sweet potato wine. It was heavenly; tasted like champagne but sans the gassiness. I finished off everything with a nice acidic lemon mint tea with honey on the side, served hot.

Buuuuurrrnn.

Took us roughly an hour to reach Alam Bali, one of the dozens of agrotouristic destinations in Denpasar. We’ve been to tours like these before, but Alam Bali is probably the hilliest ones of all. I just love hills and mountain views.

Freshly pooped kopi luwak beans

The sensational brew

R-L: Balinese Coffee, Ginseng Coffee, Vanilla Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Ginger Tea, Lemongrass Tea, Mangosteen Tea

Second round of Ginseng Coffee. We both loved it and we bought it for our home later at the gift shop~

Seems like every time I come back to Bali, I always stop by the Utama Spice flagship store in Ubud. Like, every. Single. Time.

Wos River

The love of my life

It’s clear to see why Bridges is a culinary destination just by seeing the views. It’s got seven levels, out of which the bottom-most has the best river views. The food itself was okay, though nothing too impressive.

Dessert time always means gelatos for me :) Long line as usual at Massimo in Suntur, but totally worth it~