Cikini dan sekitarnya

It's a fresh start.

And it's not just some meaningless jargon. It really is fresh.

I was always afraid of change, of moving to a new place (even though it's only several kilometres away), of a new environment.

But, as a young adult with logic, I know that somehow change needs to be embraced.

So exactly two weeks ago my Mom rent a truck and we moved my things from my room at BSD--I've been living there for almost 1.5 years--to a new room at Salemba, Central Jakarta.

The place is too perfect since it's a walking distance from National Library, is in the same street with Gramedia Matraman (the biggest local bookstore in Indonesia), and is strategically positioned around many other libraries as well as museums.

I wake up everyday feeling blessed, watch some national news on TV (I never really had TV these past 3.5 years) before hopping on to Bajaj, to my office in Menteng, just near the everyday's hubbub of Cikini Train Station.

I don't seem to care how expensive Bajaj is compared to Kopaja, since I feel too immersed with the view along the way, with no tall buildings, and with train station, old cafes, many other things that shape the personality of this part of town.

On Wednesday morning I'll go to nearest yoga place behind Sarinah to have my Iyengar session (for spine alignment) and eat famous Bubur Ayam just in front of the ruko.

On weekend, I watched a play at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, bought fruits at Menteng Huis, sipped some coffee at Tjikini while exploring the historical books at the cafe's book shelf.

Once a week, I meet my research partner at Black Canyon Coffee, discussing things from marketing journal to provocative fascism article while posting sticky notes to our investigation board.

At work, even when I have a bad day, things are still very rewarding. It doesn't take me long to feel comfortable and to adapt to my first full-time job. Now I know how fulfilling is when you're content with your work. It just flows naturally.

And so it's a fresh start.

And it's not just some meaningless jargon. It really is fresh.

Who says change is painful?