Journal of Nightmare 1: A Strange Party

Woke up from one of my countless nightmares at dawn. It was an exhausting dream as always.

This time it's so clear and gets even weirder. Should I make journal about nightmares? I have it almost every night anyway. At least writing it down will be fun 😂

I was in a small party. Everyone was a stranger and they all wore similar brown batik, as if it's someone wedding. I was one of the guests, too.

The room felt suffocating. I looked up and stared at a stranger, a tall guy I never seen before staring back at me.

I asked him with my eyes, "Who are you?"

He remained silent and stared at me more intensely.

We stood so close to each other, as if don't want to let go of each other.

Then I saw my ex stood up across the room. I recognized him immediately, but his face look like a stranger somehow. He smirked devilishly and I can't move my eyes from him. But I'm holding the tall guy in front of me tighter. "This one in my arms is my boyfriend," I whispered to myself.

The room turned into chaos. Everyone was running around. A male guest stood next to us was stabbed by another man, with a small knife. It sank deep in his abdomen.

I took my boyfriend's hand and we ran from the chaotic party. Turns out, it's a very spatious restaurant on the hill. We have to go up and down many staircases before manage to go outside.

We ran as fast as we could, passing a female guest with headscarf who asked herself, "Why couldn't I run faster?"

I wonder what kind of dream analysis it can make 😂

Happy New Year

Happy new year, me.

You did great last year.

Life hit you as hard as before, but you cry less.

You keep your sanity most of the time.

You manage to achieve many things between all those mess.

New side job, few million rupiahs, new laptop, photography, excellence in job, great time together with your very best friends. Those were fantastic achievements for 2020.

You stressed a lot, depressed a lot and it affected your health sometimes. But you got through it with dignity. "I won't crawling at my bed like a weakling, feeling defeated," you said. And that's what you did.

So, let's do it again this year. You have many ideas and goals this year. Let's go kick some asses.

Thanks for The Coffee

We always have that kind of mixed feelings about each other, I'm sure about it.

We won't always get along, I don't even know if we're still get along. I decided to stay away to give both of us time to heal.

But one thing that never change, I always have something related to her to be thankful for. Back then, I was thankful for the honest answers for my questions and the plain truth. Lately, it's for her recommendation of coffee beans. I'm officially a coffee drinker now and I thank you for that, lady.

Life sucks for women like us, but I hope you will always stand tall and tell it to fuck off.

Vertical Horizon's Everything You Want

Today I mumbled Vertical Horizon's Everything You Want over and over. Over and over. But the lyrics was altered.

He's everything I want, he's everything I need, he's everything inside of me that I wish I could be.

He said all the right things and exactly the right time.

But he means nothing to me and I don't know why.

I guess I'm just troubled, too complicated to appreciate your simplicity. All I know is broken things, the lips that I kissed were painted with lies, your pure soul is alien to me. So believe me when I say you're too good for me. I just don't know how to love anything that's not colored in black :)

One Man Show with No Audience

Funny how people like me being loud when no one listening or watching.

Funny how I restrain myself so much on social medias and post on this personal blog almost every hour.

Well, I'm secretly a performer. But my show will never have audience. That's how I like it.

Mirror, Mirror on The Wall

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Tell me, am I unworthy to be loved for my true self?

Am I doomed to be a replacement of someone else for eternity?

Every humanbeing walks on the embrace of mother earth, carrying invisible weight inside.

That person holds the rock of sadness for years, took light steps, as if the world means nothing to him.

She sews the bleeding wound called disappointment, while staring at the sun, as if challenge the world.

You understand, and it's enough for now.

Maybe you'll never be able to tell him how selfish he was, taking you for granted and then blame you for making him doing so.

Maybe you'll never have a heart to tell her how the word 'replacement' and 'copycat' cut so deep inside you.

They're more miserable than you. You feel bad for them.

You understand and it's enough for now.

You admit that you still pray, someday he will make peace with the demon inside him.

You know you'll forgive him someday, though you don't need to let him in your life again to do so.

You know you'll always count her as a friend.

You hope that she will find true happiness someday.

It's all good and that's enough for now.

Now it's time to back off, step aside, and talk to the reflection in the mirror.

The image is getting dull and blurry.

Mixed up with someone else's face.

She cries a river, begging for your attention in silence.

She needs you the most.

So tell her right now.

Smile, because you're the most beautiful when you do that.

No, don't change yourself just to be the opposite of another person.

Yes, being you is good enough for life.

Chin up, because you deserved to be loved for who you are and you will.

4 Nasi Goreng Kaki Lima Paling Ngangenin di Kota Malang

Sebenarnya saya agak malas kalau mampir ke kafe/kedai/depot/rumah makan lalu pesan nasi goreng. Kayaknya ini pilihan makanan paling 'aman' kalau kita belum pernah menjelajahi daftar menu. Tapi lain ceritanya kalau makan nasi goreng di kaki lima.

Kalau kata saya nasi goreng dan gerobak kaki lima itu jodoh paling serasi. Rasanya ada sensasi tersendiri saat menunggu nasi goreng dimasak sambil memandang kendaraan yang lalu lalang di jalan. Apalagi pas aroma bumbu yang lagi ditumis kebawa angin. Makin keronconganlah perut ini.

Nah, di kota Malang ini banyak tukang nasi goreng kaki lima yang menurut saya makanannya jauh lebih enak daripada nasi goreng di kedai franchise-an. Berikut ini beberapa di antaranya.

Nasi Goreng Kambing - Sop Kaki Kambing Ex-Gajayana 

Nasi goreng kambing dengan potongan daging ekstra plus emping. Photo: Dok. pribadi

Warung kaki lima ini sebenarnya nggak ada namanya. Di depannya pun cuma tertulis Sop Kaki Kambing & Sate-Sop Kaki Sapi. Tapi ada yang menyebutnya Sop Kaki Kambing Pak Kin atau Sop Kaki Kambing Ex-Gajayana, soalnya dulu sempat mangkal di sekitaran Stadion Gajayana.

Meskipun menu andalannya sop kaki kambing, nasi goreng kambing di sini enak banget. Nasi gorengnya berwarna cokelat gelap dengan potongan daging kambing yang besar-besar tapi empuk. Dikasih emping goreng melimpah pula.

Minyak samin dan bumbu rempahnya nasi goreng ini kerasa banget. Porsinya juga mengenyangkan. Buat penyeimbang rasa, jangan lupa ditambah acar timun dan wortel yang disediakan terpisah.

Harganya memang nggak semurah nasi goreng pada umumnya. Tapi ini nasi goreng pakai kambing, lho. Harganya sepadan dengan kualitas, kok.

Kelihatannya kaki lima yang satu ini juga cukup legend. Buktinya turis asing pun makan di sini. Saya kebetulan ketemu sepasang pas mampir ke sini.

Alamat: Jalan Kyai Tamin No.101, Sukoharjo (warung kaki lima pertama yang terlihat kalau belok dari Jalan Laksamana Martadinata/Lonceng)
Jam buka: 18.00-23.30
Harga: Rp30.000,- (plus jeruk anget)
Go-Food/GrabFood: Go-Food only

Sego Goreng Jowo MAREM

Sego goreng Jowo di Nasi Goreng MAREM Galunggung. Photo: Dok Pribadi

Saya nggak tahu kenapa, tapi Jalan Galunggung itu kayaknya spot wisata nasi goreng di Malang. Di sepanjang jalan ini banyak banget tukang nasi goreng yang ramai pembeli. Salah satunya ya Sego Goreng MAREM ini.

Warung ini langganan mahasiswa dan keluarga. Menunya aneka jenis nasi goreng, dan mie goreng ala Jawa. Bisa request pedas atau nggak.

Menurut saya nasi goreng Jawa di sini rasanya khas karena pakai bumbu uleg yang baru diracik begitu ada pesanan. Baru ditumis saja aromanya sudah sedep. Mesti sabar nunggu, karena bumbunya diuleg satu per satu.

Semua menu di sini disajikan dengan suwiran ayam, bawang goreng, acar, dan cabai rawit hijau. Sampai suwiran ayamnya pun berasa bumbu, jadi nggak hambar.

selain nasi goreng, mie goreng jawa dan nasi goreng ikan asinnya juga recommended. Harganya murah-murah, kok. Rata-rata Rp9.500,-. Paling mahal cuma cap cay, Rp12.500,-.

Alamat: Jalan Galunggung No.11, Gading Kasri (200 meter arah utara dari lampu merah Dieng)
Jam buka: 18.00-23.00
Harga: Rp9.500,-
Go-Food/GrabFood: -

Sego Mie Warung Pak Bandung

Sego mie, racikan nasi goreng mawut mie instan di Warung Pak Bandung. Photo: Dok. pribadi

Masih di ruas Jalan Galunggung, terus aja ke arah utara sampai ketemu lampu merah persimpangan Jalan Bondowoso-Jalan Tidar. Di sebelah kiri ada nasi goreng Galunggung yang selalu antre itu. Di seberangnya ada Warung Pak Bandung.

Warung Pak Bandung yang cuma lesehan di emperan toko ini punya menu andalan sego mie. Dibuat dari mie instan yang diracik ulang menjadi nasi goreng mawut.

Penyajiannya di mangkuk putih yang biasa dipakai tukang bakso dan mie ayam itu. Selain mie dan nasi, saya juga menemukan potongan ampela, kubis, sawi, dan telur di dalam sego mie. Bisa pesan pedas atau nggak.

Sego mie ini adalah makanan nostalgia buat para alumni UM, terutama yang dulunya ngekos atau punya isi dompet cekak. Sampai sekarang pun saya masih sering kebarengan segerombol mahasiswa kalau makan di sini.

Makanan di sini memang cocok buat anak kuliahan. Bayar seporsi tapi kenyangnya setara makan dua piring.

Alamat: Jl. Galunggung No.76, Gading Kasri (emperan belakang Pizza Hut Delivery)
Jam buka: 18.00-22.00
Harga: Rp12.000,- (plus es jeruk)
Go-Food/GrabFood: -

Sego Resek Kasin

Sego resek plus sayap ayam. Photo: Dok. pribadi

Warung kaki lima ini cuma menawarkan satu menu, yaitu sego resek yang berarti nasi sampah. Warungnya pun diterangi lampu sederhana. Meja kursi juga terbatas. Tapi pengunjungnya serasa tumpah-tumpah.

Sego resek yang selalu laris manis ini bisa dibilang termasuk kuliner kaki lima legendaris di Malang. Berupa nasi goreng mawut ala Jawa yang dibumbui bawang-bawangan, kecap dan penyedap. Dimasak bersama potongan mie kuning, kubis, tauge, dan suwiran daging ayam. Terus disajikan bersama bersama irisan telur rebus yang digoreng, suwiran ayam, potongan usus, timun, dan bawang goreng. Bisa pakai tambahan lauk seperti sayap ayam, kepala ayam, dan ampela. Ampelanya digulung usus goreng. Menggoda sekali.

Keunikan dari sego resek ini terletak pada cara memasaknya. Satu penggorengan berukuran raksasa dipakai buat masak belasan porsi sekaligus. Kompornya masih pakai arang dan kayu, jadi aromanya benar-benar khas. Pelanggan bisa makan di sekeliling wajan, sekalian nonton atraksi si bapak mengaduk-aduk nasi goreng.

Paling enak mampir ke sini pas warungnya baru buka, karena masih gorengan pertama. Bumbunya pun masih nampol banget. Jangan ngeluh kalau makannya senggol-senggolan, ya. Justru di situlah seninya.

Porsinya pas, sepadan dengan harganya yang juga murah banget. Paling mahal cuma Rp13.000 dan itu sudah pakai suwiran ayam yang banyak.

Alamat: Jalan Brigjend. Katamso No.4, Kauman (50 meter sebelah barat perempatan Kasin)
Jam buka:  18.00-22.00
Harga: Rp9.000,- (tanpa lauk)
Go-Food/GrabFood: -

Sebenarnya masih banyak nasi goreng kaki lima di Malang yang enak dan bikin kangen. Tapi untuk kali ini kita cukupkan saja dengan membahas nasi goreng yang sudah saya ulas di atas. Kapan-kapan kita mampir ke warung kaki lima lain lagi dan icip-icip.