unsaid but hopefully well written

(I legit want to have it titled A List for Nerdy-Spot Hopping but I'm not sure if that's a correct use of words xp)

Years back, I often stumble into quizzes in which you need to answer several questions about a topic and write them on your blog/facebook notes just to tell things about yourself. One of the topic was about reading and there's always this one question that makes me wonder : what is the title of the book you last checked out from the library?

My answer would always be academic reference book because that is what a library is about almost my whole life and the closest library to me is the university library. When I was a kid though, when I went to my grandparents' house, my grandmother sometimes took me to the public library and l read a lot of Baby Sitter's Club books but that's the only non-academic experience about library and its been a looooong time ago.

The last time I was in Singapore, I had this chance to totally channeling my reading-self (since I mostly exploring the city alone) by visiting a lot of books-related places. Here are the list and maybe it could be the next place on your list too.

1. Bras Basah Complex

Search Bras Basah Complex in google and you'll find that the place is often associated with books. I was interested to visit the complex after reading this post about second-hand books there. When I visit this place on my second day, I think there's some kind of second-hand book fair right in the center of the building. It was huge and the deal was soooo good (like, 10 SGD for 3 books in fair condition!).

still regret for not buying :(

I didn't end up buying for myself though (the cheapskate cell taking over) because I pack light and there's seriously no room for anything if I decided to buy anything (that was my reasoning, but I definitely regret it now -,-) so I only bought two for a friend of mine.

BEST DEAL!!

Other than that, I also visit Cat Socrates, a cute souvenir shops in the second floor of the building. If you don't have much time, you can always search the internet for shops in Bras Basah Complex, write down their number and visit them accordingly. But I believe there must be hidden gems in this complex I haven't found (and so, another reason for me to go there again).

cutest postcards and things you never know you needed :)

If you do visit here, be careful with the escalator (ha!), and took your time to explore the rows of the shops. You might get some interesting vintage shots, book related.

2. National Library

I visit this place on a whim since I need to cross the street to go to Bras Basah Complex and this building positioned right in the junction next to it, and so I decided to visit this first. National Library Singapore was a huuuuge and tall building like most office building in Jakarta. I don't even believe myself when I read that there's an exhibition on level 10 (like, what library is more than 10 stories? I surely am visiting a whole new world).

Bugis area from National Library

Anyway, since there's a security in every level in the entrance to the collection, I wasn't exploring the inside of the library because I'm not sure if I was allowed to be inside. I was just taking the escalators to see whether the library really has 10 stories or more or not (me and my messed up priorities). When I about to exit the building though, I found out this place has a fiction collection in its lower ground. So I went there for a bit and, sighed, how to have that kind of library in my own city?

fiction collection

3. Bishan Public Library

Bishan Public Library

On my first trip I was actually planning to visit this library for one sole reason of seeing a building that was featured in Archdaily. I couldn't make it back then so I did plan to visit this library on my third day.

Bishan was about 12 km from the Downtown Core (MBS, Merlion Park, etc) and I was going there by MRT and planning to went back to Orchard by bus. The library is nicely located right next to the MRT and bus station so it wasn't hard for me to find it.

book-related quotes on the ramp's wall

The building is a bit smaller than the National Library and there is no security. The first level is for magazine and a coffee shop and also a space for children. At the left side of the entrance, there's a ramp to the second floor which is the place for fiction collection and at the end of the room, there's a separate place for study with desk and tables.

I picked up a book randomly and read there, just because xp.

the book I picked up! almost staying for the rest of the day

The next two level was pretty much the same except there are some hanging study room with colorful glasses. You can see these rooms from the outside and even gets into one if there's an empty one (I was afraid though :p).

4. Library @ Orchard

What I love about this library is that it's just soooo pretty. Once you stepped inside, there's a different feeling from the hectic Orchard Road you've just been. It has this elegantly designed shelves and reading nook in the second floor (or fourth floor). The fiction collection? Wow it was mad. I mean, I even went mad for seeing books in a book fair in which I can't obtain without paying. What is the reason for me not to be mad when all the books are there for free.

Anyway, I spend a longer time here since I was waiting for my brother for lunch. I told you, it was a wonderful place to read. I even went there again to read in the afternoon before meeting my brother again in MBS.

Reading space with city view

If you went to Orchard Road with some friends and you prefer to read rather than to shop, just spend your time here. A. Total. Sanctuary.

5. Books Actually and Woods in the Books


This is also a destination I missed on my first trip; a hip bookstore and a children bookstore in Tiong Bahru area. I didn't spend too much time there since there's only so much time you can spend on a running store without intention to buy anything. But visiting both book store was actually enjoyable for me. Especially because both are an aesthetically pleasing store.

no taking pictures inside

vending machine for books!

Other than that, the neighborhood was kind of pretty and there are some hip eating place around too.

6. Library @ Esplanade

I visit Library @ Esplanade on my last day just before I had to go to the airport. It was an art library where you can see a room for dance practice and rows of, instead of book, audio and visual collection related to dance, music, and movie. The interior of this library is pretty but the collection itself was segmented. But it was still a good place to visit as an addition to the Esplanade.

artworks outside the library

Visiting all these book-related places makes me feel totally elated. Some people might related to this and some people might not, but in a way, it's like finding my own hiding place. Especially those library, how if I have one here in my own country, I would definitely spend most of my time there :). Cheers for better library near your area in the future!

It was my second day. I was visiting Bras Basah Complex that afternoon for the used book fair and this cute shop called Cat Socrates. Someone also suggested for me to visit some art supplies store in the complex. I didn't spend a long time there but still managed to visit everything on my list. At that time I decided that I was going to Cat Socrates again, buy some souvenirs and then off to my next destination; Boat Quay.

I was texting my friend while I took the escalator. And then... my skirt was stuck.

I stand there at the end of the escalator, pulling my skirt with no luck. Meanwhile, people started to crowd (in the top of the escalator and around me) and then a man kindly stop the escalator. A woman asked me if I was okay and the whole situation suddenly become so funny. So I smile (I'm pretty sure I was triggered to laugh) and told her I'm totally okay.

The man who stopped the escalator actually helped me pulled my skirt but since it won't budge I asked him if he had something to cut. The woman, though, dashed to the art store right in front of the escalator and borrowing a scissor for me. Meanwhile, more and more people come. Another woman asked me if I'm okay and offered to find scissor for me (I told her someone else already did) and an older man, make a comment that my skirt fabric is good because it wasn't being pulled down (lol). After a while, the first woman back with a scissor and I cut my skirt with help from the first man.

I didn't stay after that. The man finish the cut for me and unknowingly, I walked out after that. Pretty sure it was my nervous system took over, I even forget to say thank you or to return the scissor.

At that time it was mixed feelings. I was ashamed even though it was also funny and borderline dangerous. To think that I wasn't really panic at that time was kind of blessing since I'm panic in mostly everything that didn't go my way. I'm pretty sure my mindset was I'm leaving the country in 2 and a half days and no one would remember me anyway. A girl who had her skirt stuck on an escalator and keep on wearing the skirt the next day was a pretty good anecdote though. (Don't judge me, I packed light and I have planned my outfit so I have no choice :p)

When my brother told me that he won a voucher from a travel agent on his office's event, I literally begged him to take me to go with him. Anywhere is fine, I told him. I just wanted to go somewhere on a plane.

And so it was decided; he spent half of his voucher for a flight ticket to Singapore and I would go with him. The trip was scheduled at the end of February and he would attend a concert there. That's the Plan A. I was excited, really. It's been too long since my last trip and this time, I won't go alone. I already thought about where to go with my brother and how he can helped me took some picture of myself since I have very little to none photo of myself on a trip (not a fan of selfie and it's awkward for me to ask people to take it for me most of the time, even those I know).

It sounds like a fun plan! I'm excited already. Except that it wasn't what happened.

It all started when my brother, who didn't had his passport yet, postponed everything until the last 2 weeks before his flight date. I already told him that I wouldn't buy ticket until he got his passport, so I have nothing to worry, except that I might not be able to go on a holiday. He was totally laid back as if the only thing he needed was his flight ticket (not a chance). And I didn't want to do anything for him since WHY DO I HAD TO? lol. nope. I just wanted to see how this would ended up to.

When he finally applied for his passport, it turned out that he can't confirmed his payment. It took us three days to called the immigration office and got an explanation that we had to confirm the payment manually by email since the site is glitching. Long story short, I confirmed my brother's payment and he got the interview scheduled on Monday, the same week of our supposedly departure day.

The drama continues with him forgetting his original birth certificate on Monday and on Tuesday, it was raining in the morning that he can't go to the office. He went on Wednesday and of course the passport won't be ready on Friday. He then proceed to change his flight to the third week of March.

And though I was still excited to go, I wasn't preparing for anything either. I bought my ticket only 4 days before departure, pack my stuff and book my hostel just the night before, I didn't even exchange my money. At that time, I was half nervous of leaving (even though I was excited at first, my mood swing like that), half annoyed because my brother refuse to go to the money changer for me (but he eventually did, I threw a fit), and... I don't know... I just suddenly ready to cancel everything.

The start of this (not so) sibling trip isn't so smooth already. The next morning, I woke up very early to catch the airport bus and my brother woke up too and told me that he can't go, he caught a flu.

.

.

.

.

Wow.

He was joking, of course, but it wasn't appropriate! Looking back, I might over-reacting though. But still it wasn't funny.

***

What makes it even more not so much a sibling trip is because, even if we were in Singapore for the same 4 days, our flight was different. My brother would fly after his office hour while I'd be arrive at midday. That first night, after successfully arriving, bought my Tourist Pass, checking in at the hostel, obtain a SIMCard, and exploring Kampong Glam, I waited until it was time for my brother's plane to land, which is around 9. I sent him directions for the hostel but he didn't had his internet connection and it was his first time alone in another country and I can only wait and pray that he won't get lost or stuck in the middle of nowhere because the MRT service stopped.

So, when he finally arrived, like an hour before midnight, I was totally relieved.

The next day, we didn't get to explore the city together because I started very early and he went back to sleep after getting a breakfast. We were actually planning to visit Marina Bay Sands for the iLight exhibition but he cancelled it because he was tired of walking (at least I got to be on Boat Quay again).

On the third day, we met at noon and had our lunch at (guess what) KFC. After that we went to Toys'R'Us and met again after 7 to finally visit the iLight. I got to explore the whole thing, though, thanks to me misreading the route from Boat Quay to Marina Bay Sands that it took me more than 15 minutes to arrive. We got to the final part of Marina Bay Sands' Light show and he told me that he actually walk the (more or less) same distance as mine yesterday, for the same reason xp.

I had my dinner at KFC again and on our way home, when I asked him where he had been, he told me that he would randomly took a bus and got off somewhere he found interesting (that was Henderson Waves at Mt. Faber Park and Chinatown). Wow, pro tip. That explains how he survive the city on his internet connection and his tourist card. Also, how we have totally different way on traveling :D.

Selca proof shot (cuma buat dikirim ke grup rumah biar percaya ada pergi barengnya :D)

A friend of mine, had started pottery since early this year. I went to her house once around two weeks ago because she was offering a free class (not so much official, maybe in the near future though :)). She taught me and my friend couple things about hand-building (pinching-pots) technique in pottery. Little did I know the potter's wheel, the one we usually see in movies, is actually a tool and it wasn't pretty much necessary except for speeding up the process (said my friend).

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.