A short getaway to a beautiful island next to Surabaya called Madura. Despite the fact that I was kinda worried at first because of those stereotypes and that I never made a trip with motorbike before, I decided to join my friends anyway cause the places are recommended and look good! So I gave it a shot! It came to my surprise that the infrastructure is well-developed. Oh and it turned out that the local were actually very nice -dang stereotypes!! First motorbike trip and first time visit the island. It was one heck of experience I'll defo never forget. Clink the link below to watch the full video of my trip! ENJOY MADURA!
I was on my bed and scrolling down my facebook
feed when I suddenly notice SGAG’s post (pict below):
I, then, just texted my sister who happens to live in Singapore asking whether the rumour is true or not. And she had no idea.
Couple of days later my sist texted me saying that it is true
that COLDPLAY is coming to Singapore and that I’ll need Citibank credit card to buy the presale ticket. Hours
after that I read the news that the ticket sold out in a good two hours.
I was like “Okay, maybe I meant to
watch their concert only once. Maybe X&Y world tour 2006 is enough”, and I tried not to
think about it anymore –even though I really can’t help myself from thinking.
About 20 days after SGAG’s post –which around 25th November 2016, my sista’s call woke me up like
early in the morning, and I can hear excitement from her voice. She was like “HEY, DO YOU STILL WANNA SEE COLDPLAY? MY FRIEND CAN HELP YOU IF YOU
WANT TO!” and I was just like “LIKE ABSOLUTELY YEAH! Any category will do me”, and she hung up the
call after asking me to pray so that her friend can nail the ticketing traffic.
*two hours later*
RECEIVED MY E-TICKET ON MY EMAIL!
I was on cloud nine!
I flew to Singapore just 2 days before the concert -29th
March 2017. For the last 2 days I found myself hard to sleep due to the
excitement. I really couldn’t sleep like until 3 o’clock in the morning just having a flashback to COLDPLAY’s X&Y world tour concert back in July 2006, and imagining what it’d be like this time. I
was so pumped about the concert that weekend.
D-DAY! 31ST MARCH 2017
The concert was at 8pm so I spent some hours sending my niece
and nephew to school and shopping with my sista before off to the concert. I
was super excited that I was smiling from ear to ear the whole day –in the bus stop, on
the bus, mrt, basically like everywhere. My sista was like "Hey you look way too happy as if you're
about to get married ". Well, I was defo so happy cause I was about to
watch my all time fave band for the second time —after their X&Y
world tour in Singapore back in 2006.
The gate opened at 6pm but I off to the venue –Kallang Indoor Stadium at 3pm. It was pouring rain but I couldn’t care less. I arrived in Kallang MRT 15 mins later and head straight to the Stadium. The first place I wanted to find was the official merchandise booth, and found it right away ! It was drizzling and the line to the booth got no roof but again, I couldn’t care less. I got myself a hoodie & tote bag *and just got bankrupt straight away. lol *
I was on my way to find the gate when I heard COLDPLAY doing the soundcheck. I got closer to one of the gate and can see Chris
Martin! The excitement was palpable!! WHOOP! I
finally got myself in the line the gate. The gate opened exactly 6pm *so
punctual. Hands down*. It took less than 15 mins from the
security check, ticket scanning, LED wristband and pin collecting until I
finally found my seat.
The show started exactly
at 8:00 pm with O Mio Babbino Caro
by Maria Callas was played in the background. My level of happiness rose to ecstatic when COLDPLAY –Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion finally came out. I can’t help myself but jumping and dancing when they performing A Head Full of Dreams and followed with Yellow –one of my all-time fave song. It was so, so beautiful. They continued the
showed by performing Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, The Scientist,
Birds, Paradise, Always in My Head, Magic, Everglow, Clocks, Midnight, Charlie
Brown, Hymn for the Weekend, their
biggest single of all time –Fix You,
covering David Bowie’s Heroes, Viva La
Vida (click here for the short vid), Adventure of a Lifetime,
Kaleidoscope, Don’t Panic (with Will Champion
as the lead vocal), 'Till Kingdom Come, Amazing Day (which really explain the day), Something Just Like This, A
Sky Full of Stars and
Up &
Up as the closing to this amazing
concert. I love it when Chris Martin thanked all of us for spending our money on the airplane tickets and everything in order to see them that night; and on all the merchandises. He did thank all of us for that.
-The Opening of the concert: AHFOD-
I can’t tell which part is my fave cause everything was so, so exceptional and amazing. I didn’t want to miss the show; I just wanted to witness and enjoy
everything –instead of taking selfie and updating on social media and everything. I did
take several short videos which in total like 8 minutes out of 120mins of the show
[and most of it was shaky]. Not a
single selfie was taken. I just wanted to enjoy the moment. I literally sang
every single song, like there’s no tomorrow *lol*. I
danced the night away.
Every minute of the
concert was so magical. Those euphoric moments when COLDPLAY first came, when the whole stadium (approximately
50,000 people) cheering, singing and dancing
together; XYLOBAND (the super-cool LED wristband that synced to a radio
transmitter, allowing them to be manipulated in time with the music, creating
vast rivers of coloured light); the fireworks, stunning sound and lighting.
Everything. Everything was really a one heck of experience.
Despite
the fact that this was not my first time seeing COLDPLAY, I was in awe
of it still. I really can’t find the words to describe the feeling of being at the
concert and getting to hear all of my favorite songs that has been inspiring me
for years live, in a stadium filled with twinkling lights. I did feel
emotional. Ah man! I certainly wouldn’t think twice to see these guys in the future and cross off my bucket list for the third time!
THANK YOU COLDPLAY
I
W A S ( A N D S T I L L) E C S T
A T I C !
 |
| I miss the scent of your Chanel perfume! |
19th August 2016
I told my mom that I can’t make it to the hospital
cause I need to submit my final project by the next day, but then I felt like I
really want to meet papa (my dad) so I decided to go the hospital anyway. Thank
God I just arrived right on the perfect time –during the visit hours- so I went
straight to the ICU and met papa. He can’t really talk at that moment because
it was quite hard for him to breathe. But he was moving his hands –meaning that
he wants us to hold his hand- so I just grabbed his left hand with my left
hand. It was cold (cause the ICU room is always cold), so I kept on holding his
hand.
I was there for about an hour when the doctor and
nurse asked us –my mom, brother, sister-in-law and I- to go out because it was
already passed the visit hour. The last gesture that I saw was like papa kind
of swinging his right hand back and forth (we thought he wanted to pass urine
so we called the nurse), and we off soon after that. My mom and I was off to
have dinner at the hospital canteen and back right away to the ICU waiting room
where my brother and cousin were. My mom then ask me to go home –since it was
already late and I need to wake up early the next morning to submit my final
project. So I went straight home while my mom, big bro and cousin stayed at the
hospital.
I cried for no apparent reason when I was on my way
home, and kept on crying when I reached my bed. I cried and cried, somehow felt
scared to lose my dad. And there was this voice, which I believe that it was
Jesus, saying “He’s
very much alive. I’m with him!”, and I just suddenly stopped crying
like..in a snap. I then felt sleepy and just before I went to sleep, I turned
on my family group’s notification on WhatsApp –which I didn’t even know
why.
I was awaken by the sound of my phone around
midnight. My brother, who was stayed at the hospital that night, told us that
my dad’s condition was not that well that the doctor decided that he’ll go
under the knife immediately. My sister in Singapore was awake, and my other
brother in Kupang was also still awake so we just prayed. The surgery went
well.
20th August 2016
[12:25AM]
My brother told us that my dad’s condition is
getting worse and they are doing the CPR. He asked us keep on praying but also
prepare for the worst.
[12:42AM]
Big Bro1
: Papa is GONE
Sister
: Jesus is good!
Big Bro 2
: Jesus is good!
Me
: What do you mean?
My brother just called me, Told me that papa is
really gone and asked me to go the hospital with my sister-in-law. For seconds
I felt like flying, My hands were ice cold, my heart beating so fast and I
couldn’t breathe.. I realized that my papa is gone. I hugged the pillow and I
cried…so, so loud. It was more like screaming than crying. I cried my eyes
out.
We arrived at the hospital around 01.00AM, and I
went straight to the ICU. My bro was busy handling things, I saw my mom was in
front of the ICU desk. My cousin was also there with some of our relatives. I
approached my mom and she hugged me..and we both cried. My dad’s body was still
exactly at the ICU room when I left the night before. It’s just his body was
already covered with white cloth. I stepped in, but I can’t help it that I just
stood at the end of the bed..and started crying. I stood there and I cried, and
cried, and cried for hours.
After finishing all the hospital administration at
around 4am, we brought my dad’s body to a funeral place to put on the clothes,
get the coffin and all the things needed. I was with my mom in the
ambulance..and Surabaya was so quiet. It was too quiet that I pinched myself
many times to make sure whether it’s real or not. We were kinda busy cause we
had to catch our flight at 11am that day. So we went back home, packed our
stuff and went straight to the airport. I still felt everything was so
unreal.
During the flight, I can't help myself from
thinking about so many questions: why now? why can't wait till I face my
thesis defense next month? or my graduation? or my wedding? why him? why the
one who means the world to me?
 |
| My mom and first big bro at Eltari Airport, Kupang |
 |
| Me and my second big bro at Eltari Airport, Kupang |
When we arrived in my hometown, Kupang…there were A
LOT of people there: family, relatives, friends, colleagues, etc. They were
with us from the airport all the way to my house.
 |
| Family, relatives, friends and colleagues are on the way from airport to my house |
 | |
|
I didn’t see my dad’s body, even after they opened
the coffin at my house. I got to see his body later that night. It felt….I
don’t know how to describe the feeling when you see the man you love the most
laying in a coffin. It was so hurt that I went numb. I just stood there, and
tons of memories just flashed through my mind: quality times, holidays,
laughter, phone calls, texts…and tons of other memories of us. I felt like I
lost all the air in my lungs.
 |
| Papa's Coffin |
FUNERAL SERVICE.
I didn’t really sleep the night before the funeral
service. I just sat and chatted around the coffin with my two cousins till the
dawn. I fell asleep on the sofa next to the coffin. My mom woke me up 3 hours
later since we had to get ready for the funeral service. I knew that it was the
final day to really say goodbye to papa that I didn’t feel like doing anything.
The funeral service started at 10am, and we got to deliver our eulogy about
papa. Each one of us: Mama, Sister, first big bro, second big bro, and I in front
of hundreds of people who attend the service.
 |
| Mama's delivery her eulogy about Papa for 36 years of marriage |
 |
| Delivering the eulogy |
A FINAL GOODBYE.
The most emotional part was when they were about to
close the coffin. I knew that that’d be the very last time I see him for the
rest of my life. My family didn’t really have the tradition of touching the
corpse, but somehow I put my right hand on my papa’s hands and I was kind of
talk to him..in my heart. I was like
“Papa, thank you so much every
single thing that you has done for me. Thank you for working so hard for me. Thank
you for being so patient with me, for always be there for me. Thank you for loving
me. You’re the best dad anyone could ever ask for. Papa…I can’t bear the pain of
saying goodbye to you. Thank you, papa. I love you. Until we meet again in
heaven.”, and they closed the coffin just seconds after that.  |
| My niece, Rebecca was crying out loud and shouting, "OPAAA. I want to play with Opa! I can't play with Opa anymore!" |
 |
| After closing the coffin |
 |
| Carrying the coffin out of the house |
 |
| Some procession of the official ceremony |
I wish I could freeze everything at that moment,
but well….I wish! There were another ceremonies at my dad’s office –since he
was a former president of a university, and was still a lecturer at that
moment- so they held this official ceremonies for him. There was another
service –graveside service- and then they lowered the coffin into the ground.
That was it. I was on “numb mode” that I felt like flying.
 |
| The students of the university stand at the roadside to pay respect to Papa |
 |
| The Professors pay respect to Papa |
 |
| The Professors pay respect to Papa |
 |
| Graveside Service |
Two
days after the funeral, my mom, sister and I went to my dad’s office to take
his files and all that. Just before I entered the room, my dad’s colleagues
approached me and said, “You
must be Suzan, Professor’s youngest daughter”. I nodded. One of the
colleague then said, “Oh
dear. Professor always showed us many pictures of you. He shared many stories
about you. Aww you must be his dearest child.”. I couldn’t say anything, and suddenly I can’t breathe.
The memories just flashed through my mind. Again.
PAPA'S VALUE IN LIFE.
I'm so proud to have dad like him. He was always passionate to do his work and always responsible with everything that comes with it. He was really concerned about education that he always encouraged the youngsters to pursue their study and dreams. He cared for those who are less fortunate. He was also..really determined.
I'm so proud to have dad like him. He was always passionate to do his work and always responsible with everything that comes with it. He was really concerned about education that he always encouraged the youngsters to pursue their study and dreams. He cared for those who are less fortunate. He was also..really determined.
I was always by the side of the coffin so I can see
and hear how their expression and what they say when they see my dad's body. There
was this old man who approached the coffin. He looked inside the coffin, stand
still, shook his head, and cried silently. He stepped closer to the coffin, and
whispered, "Terima
kasih, bapa." ("Thank you, Sir."), bowed
and approached me. I was so moved with that. Later I remember that he was the
security at my dad's office back when dad was still the president of the
university.
The other one was our former house assistant -Ka
Femy. She came from a very poor family, and worked our house assistant for
years. She then married to my dad's security -Oom Frans (no, not that old man).
Both Oom Frans and Ka Femy were crying so hard..and loud. Ka Femy came next to
coffin, sobbed and said, "Sir,
you've taught us important value in life. You've educated and help us a lot
that now we have a better life. I didn't get the chance to pay it back. You
haven't meet my daughters..You haven't taught them they way you taught me and
my husband. Sir, where can we find another man like you?", and
she continued crying.
From the wake service and funeral service alone I
can tell that his life has impacted so many people in this world. Not just that
he was a very smart man, but the value and passion that he had was something
that impacted others. He didn't life his lives for himself alone. He lived his
life to the fullest that he somehow broke the stereotype that Timorese is lazy.
He studied hard and was very responsible with everything that he had that he
finally be the role model especially in education. There were so many people
came to the service, from the Governor to anyone else. They lost someone they
look up to. I must say that I'm
proud of you, Papa.
BEST PLACE.
I’m so happy that he’s free of pain now, that he
can finally rest. I now understood that when Jesus told me that my dad’s very
much alive and that He’s with my dad…didn’t mean that papa’d still be alive
here on earth. It’s that he’s now alive…with Jesus. He’s with Jesus now..and
I couldn’t be happier for that.
 |
| Daddy's work trip a.k.a my holiday trip to Lombok |
 |
| Family Holiday, Amsterday - December 1996 |
 | |||
| On my graduation day. He was so happy (and proud) that I graduated with honour (Cum Laude). |
A LOVING DAD & GRANDPA.
He was not the most perfect human being..yet he was the best dad anyone could ever ask for. My relationship with him was special -he never even raised his voice on me. He just went silent instead whenever he disagree about something (that was really how he treated me, like only me). He didn’t always express his love for us –his family– with words, but with actions instead. He’d say “I’m proud of you” once, but he’d keep on telling stories about how proud he is, to his colleagues over and over again. He was not the richest man in the world, but he made sure that we didn’t lack of anything important. He was the best sharing mate (my dad, mom and I were always a team), which happen to the best mate to hang out with as well. It's obvious that he was so smart that he became my mentor, personal professor, advisor and lecturer. He made sure that his children can achieve as highest degree as we can. He had been a living example of how to be responsible with life, to walk the talk, to respect others, to help others, to have integrity, to work hard…yet still able to relax and enjoy your life. He left us with strong foundation in life. I couldn’t thank God more that in this very life….He chose to send me into this family..and to have Prof.Dr.Agustinus Benu, MS as my dad. :)
 |
'TIll we meet again, Papa! X
|
p.s: I tried my best to keep it as short as I can when describing about how great he was as a dad.
I could write thousands of pages if I want to describe the details, :p
.jpg)