unsaid but hopefully well written

I visited a best friend from high school when I went to Bandung yesterday. It's been about a year since we last met and now she has a baby boy. He was seriously cute and my friend is seriously adoring him (like, of course XD). We fell into our usual lengthy-talking (as long as my time allowed) about how her life had been an upside down in a beautiful way, how she had planned things and that she is beyond happy to have it changed because of the bundle of joy called a baby boy, and that she had a place to print and bind book that she would like me to know.

Also about my latest job and my concerns about them, and about my latest favorite band, and about my traveling plan.

And about her online shopping habit, and how I didn't read anything right now, and how she didn't finish a lot of her reading material and how she rarely read fiction nowadays.

Then we talk about having agenda book for 2017 and then I admit to her that I didn't write anymore. I do write in my blog, now and then (and in my other blog mostly reblogging things), but not a full-length writing about feelings and what is happening to me and whatnot. I told him I get rid of all of my diary (literally burn all of it) not too long ago after stopped writing on them back on my university days.

I told her that it's kinda weird to start again right now. Though I didn't exactly tell her that there are feelings I didn't want to revisit in the future.

She told me that she too, stopped writing. That she thought as time goes by, she grew even more introverted. And I told her that being that way make me feel like there's nothing worthy to share, like I want to keep it all for myself and if possible, forget it.

I sighed at that and wonder why I didn't write or read like I used to. Do you just grow out of reading and writing that easily? Or do you just mature and deal with things differently?

I didn't have any travel goals for the past three years. I just went somewhere and coming back home. I don't plan a trip with friends either since most people choose beaches or mountain as their getaway trip and while I appreciate the beauty of nature, I'm pretty clear about what I like to do when I travel. I like to take public transportation like locals, looking for city scale models, wandering around the city, and having the sense of being independent (since I don't have to depend on people when I wanted to reach a destination and just hop on the public transport (and that was my take of being independent :))).

Meanwhile, I will stick to my current plan for 2017.

 1. Semarang and Yogyakarta

I have a friend in Semarang and I have promised her that I would take the train to visit her. To tell the truth, at first, I have no interest in traveling inside my country because of the whole thing about being independent traveler and my interest in a city. But nowadays,  I've been thinking that I need to take my chances.

And for Yogyakarta, I hope my friend would take me there (take your chances, right?) and maybe we can visit the Upside Down House.

2. Seoul

Okay, this is silly but when I thought I have finally finished with my korean addiction, I stumble upon this band that is holding two concert every months for 2017 (SCREAM INTERNALLY). That is the major reason, but mostly, I just want to be there again.

3. Singapore

My brother is going and of course I HAVE TO tag along. Besides, I wouldn't miss a chance to plan a trip and visiting the neighborhood I haven't been to on my last trip.

My first 2016 moments would be about reading. I read this and feel entitled to make a post about my reading in 2016 since I'm a self-acclaimed self avid reader.

In summary, two milestones of my reading on 2016 were me purchasing a bookshelf and going to Big Bad Wolf. Also I didn't keep track of my reading in Goodreads so that I didn't aware of how much I was reading this year. At least I got some of my instant favorites.

First of all, my first bookshelf.

Before this, I didn't have a bookshelf. I used to put all of my books on a closed cabinet and overtime it got full and I have piles of books I just bought and another were scattered in my room so I can just pick them up anytime when I want to need them. But then I had a major clean up and decided that I don't want to have my books scattered all over my room. And since I didn't have my bookshelf yet, I put all of my books in two boxes and put them away for a while. Trust me, for a person who got excited on the idea of book's spine, that wasn't exactly a good experience.

On the beginning of this year, my family went out to department store and while I stay at home I told my father that I might want to buy a bookshelf. So he updated me of the models on sale, I decided on one, and he went home with a bookshelf. Little did I know that buying a bookshelf requires me to be a bit impulsive (and less thinking). The same day, my father build the bookshelf (I was so sure I can do it myself until my father takes over) and we moved it to my room, after getting rid of my old closed cabinet.

I remember that I wasn't in a very good mood that day and arranging books into the shelves got me so happy. I mean you have endless choice of arranging my books. By title or author's alphabet, by size, by year of purchase, by series, by publishers (local and import), by language, by colors... I decided to go with the size though sorting by colors would look so pretty.

Up to now, I have rearranging my books twice and keep it filled up. I'm pretty sure I'm up for another shelf next year.

The second one is Big Bad Wolf.

I went to Big Bad Wolf 2016 twice. The first one was on early days with a friend of mine and the second one was a week later with my family. I had to admit that I didn't buy that much (only 4 books for me, three of them I didn't really into). But the experience of going itself was fun. Well, you got to be in a hall full of books in good condition and cheaper price, I even lasted for hours twice not buying things and just looking. That's how enjoyable going to a book fair for me.

Also the books I purchase on the BBW 2016 inspires me to read a more diverse genre. Recently I only read young-adults with light love story, and I don't really into those I bought on BBW. Maybe I just need to branch out of my genre.

Of all books I read this year, I have several that was a memorable experience. And here they are :

1. The last two books of Gallagher Academy by Ally Carter.

I have the first four book in translated version and really enjoy reading it. For the last two, I got it on e-book form. The story hasn't lose its charm even after years that I instantly hooked by Cam and her friends' story since the first page.

2. First and Then by Emma Mills

I wasn't going to buy this actually. I'm about to pick another (one of them was Sophie Kinsella's Finding Audrey) and decided on this one mostly because it's cover and it's back cover's synopsis. Turns out I'm loving this book to theb point of reading it in one sitting. The book is witty, with story not only about teenage drama but also about growing up.

3. The Unexpected Everything and Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

I read the books without expectation at first and that what makes it better. Especially Second Chance Summer. Spoiler alert, though it sometimes annoying how the main character was hurting people around her because she was hurt, it was all part of growing up and coping with her own emotions.

4. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

My favorite one. I can't believe that this is actually a book about a girl suffering from mental illness because I laugh so much and so hard. The book is funny and deep at the same time.

5. Riuh by Kinsia Eyusa

Once, a long time ago, I found this uber cute short-story on tumblr and I've been following the blog ever since. Not too long ago, she open a pre-order for a book of her writings and I just can't miss the chance, so I jumped on it and not even regret anything. Riuh is one of the best written thing I have ever read, and it makes me happy. Because, you know, read things that makes you happy even if no one understand why would you be happy reading that (unknown).

Hope to read even more awesome book next year and cheers for more diverse genre.