A Tropical Girl vs. Alberta — Who Will Survive?

Hello Internet Strangers,

It’s me—your not-so favorite tropical girl-export-turned-Canadian-popsicle.

So picture this: one minute I’m living my best tropical-island life—sun kissing my skin, coconuts casually falling from trees like nature’s surprise gifts, and sandals being my entire personality.

BOOM!!

I move to Calgary, Canada, where the sky throws tiny frozen insults at me called snowflakes and the weather changes moods faster than I change outfits like really... Frostbite and unpredictable sky tantrums? Tell me about it! The land where the temperature goes from “pleasant” to “WHY IS THE AIR ATTACKING ME” in about five minutes.
Guess my reputation as "Burned skin traveler" will change into "Frost bite skin traveler".

MY FIRST SNOW ENCOUNTER- AS A RESIDENCE!

My tropical soul said  “You’re going to LOVE snow!”
So I went outside in the state of mind that during my winter travel I'm in love with winter. So! Arms open, ready to embrace my new glittery winter wonderland like a Disney princess. Five seconds later? My tropical DNA whispered, "Girl… go inside." I slipped on ice. I discovered that -20°C will be my casual day during winter. And I learned that snow is only cute on postcards.

CANADIANS! WHY ARE YOU ALL APOLOGIZING?!

Nobody warned me Canadians are so polite it’s suspicious.
I bumped into someone at the grocery store.
You bump into them?
They say sorry.
They bump into you?
They say sorry.
A door swings weird?
Someone apologizes.
Ice hits your face?
Someone apologizes on behalf of the sky.
I don’t even know whose fault it was, but apparently we both committed a national offense. Like next time when someone says sorry I will reply back like "Don't be sorry! Be better 😉"

THE CALGARY WEATHER MOOD SWING FESTIVAL

Morning: Sunshine.
Lunch: Cloudy depressing.
Afternoon: Snow.
Evening: chinook winds trying to blow me back to my tropical homeland.
Weather here is like a drama queen who says: “Why have one season when you can have all of them… today?”

Oh yea! Not to mention In the first month I'm here, I dealing with non stop headache for straight 4 days! Amazing! Amazing! And the worse thing is, I literally a single fighter dealing with constant headache while still need to cook myself to stay alive.

BUT HONESTLY...

Even with the weird weather, the polite people, and the fact that winter lasts three-hundred years (or feels like it), Calgary has its own charm.
The mountains are ridiculously beautiful. It is like a dream come true, where I live in a place that most people just visit to travel.
Amazing Albertan beef! Ohhhh this is my favorite! I ate meat even way much more that I ever did back in Indonesia.
Oh ya! Another thing surprised me is, seeing people driving and actually STOP for me to cross the street. This is a like a rare breed in Jakarta. Unbelievable!
And even though I’m constantly freezing, confused, and dramatically clutching my jacket like a Victorian widow in distress…
I guess…
Maybe…
I’m getting used to it.
But don’t tell anyone.
I have a sarcastic reputation to protect.

So, Calgary! Its been nice to meet you! I like you more than I've ever thought!
I might love you by the time I discover you more.

Love,
Your future favorite tropical girl.
Lys.

Norway For Adrenaline Junkie

What more exciting than having an adventure trip full with sport?

Norway is definitely made for outdoor and adventure lovers and I am glad I decided to do my adventure to feed my adrenaline junkie soul.The decision is visit most interesting places in the arctic circle.

I start my journey by visiting one of northernmost city in the world which is Svalbard, yes! it is super close to northpole just one sail trip and jump to it.I did my first time ever arctic hike there, the snowy path is kinda challenging but thanks to Forclaz Trek 100 wide, my hike was wonderful with all grip help and great waterproofness that safe me from wet snow sticking to my feet. My hike definitely fun but yes, best part of snow hike is going down by sliding down like how kids enjoy a winter wonderland season.

After hike in Svalbard, I moved to one of the most beautiful archipelago that I've ever seen, which is Lofoten.Absolutely one step away from a door you will find hiking trail easily. Hiking everyday just simply to have different lunch view. Aren't we do hike, sweating, and dying just to have a meal up there? And guess what you got by the end of day of hike? Yes! Aurora Borealis!

And of course, not to forget to mention frozen lake is meant for ice skating, so yes! I also ice skating there with stunning mountain view and wide lake to skate. Burn a heavy lunch up there so you can back home and having another big meal while still losing weight, isn't it all women dream to eat a lot and still get in shape. 😋

Leaving the arctic, catch a breath in a city to have some christmast dinner and going lil bit away to somewhere in a mountain with great slope to ski. Myrkdalen.Unlocked new sport to discover, did my (again) first ever skiing as a tropical country girl who struggling to be friends with snow, and of course wedze saved my life from freezing, an affordable baselayer that you could ever have with great insulation, keep you warm in the middle of snowy hair during skiing.I had an amazing thrilling experience by sking in a moderade- advanced slope on the mountain, 'emergency stop' (re: falling into pieces) is happening manytime but doesn't stop me to do it during the trip, so could I say this my new passion sport? Oh! Prolly not today 😂😂 Hiking & Trekking still my love.

Well, I highly recomend you to go to Norway if you love outdoor and sport. Will I come back? A solid YES!

BEAUTIFUL STRANGER

As I always said that I will never stop solo traveling.

Scandinavian countries is one of my bucket list in a mission to see life through the world. I landed in a strange land for me as tropical country in the winter. I never expect that my solo journey would this amazing and I met so many new people during the trip.

Solo traveling might be challenging but It will leave you tons of memories and validation in myself that "look what you've got".

Walking alone in a strange places but met strangers in unexpected place and we become friends. Exploring how capable you are dealing with loneliness but in the same time universe gave you a connection between one and another unexpectedly.

I've been solo traveling for 5 years, and I will never stop. I will digging more how far I could go with all the unbelievable experience.

I know that solo travel can be so pain in the ass as you might needed someone to share you fear, food, or even room to pay. But in the same time you might found the ultimate being alone and everybody will staring at you then ask "you are alone, shall we do something together" in your destination, so I should not dying to find a person that would join my (sometimes) random journey.

Norway, is my favorite country I've travel so far. Its not because only the lanscape but also the people inside. I met really beautiful people there. From strange seal steak dinner in svalbard, unexpected roadtrip in Lofoten to impromptu skiing trip in Bergen. 

Its just the best feeling ever that people in Norway can be that warm and being generous to allocate their time with me. They made my chrismas feel warm and not lonely, they made my days bright in dark season, they made me to have comfortable life here. Or.... I just simply blessed to met them in the mid of my journey here. It feels unreal but here I am, living the best time of my life.

Surat Cinta Dari Ibu

 Selamat ulang tahun, bintang kecilku! Teruslah bersinar selalu bercahaya sekalipun langit meredup.  Dengan kecerdasan dan kebaikan hatimu,  semoga hidupmu penuh dengan keajaiban bahkan dapat membelah cakrawala tanpa batas.

Anakku yang tercinta! Teruslah menjadi dirimu yang autentik dan menakjubkan. Semoga tahun ini membawa kebahagiaan tanpa batas dan kesuksesan dalam setiap langkahmu.  

Harapanku jadilah intan, permata yang tak lekang oleh waktu meskipun di bumi ini banyak permata yang bercahaya, tetapi tak sekuat intan alami yang diasah semakin bercahaya. inilah nadirku untuk putri semata wayangku. Aku mencintaimu semurni dan setulus hatiku.

Selamat ulang tahun untuk anak perempuanku yang luar biasa. Semoga tahun ini membawa banyak keberuntungan dan kesuksesan. Aku selalu mendukungmu sepenuh hati. 

Biarlah Kasih Yesus Kristus selalu menaungi sepanjang hidup dan kehidupanmu dan memberkati Intan apa pun yang dilakukan, semoga dijauhkan dari hal-hal yang tidak berkenan di mata-Nya. Amien.

Terima kasih telah memberikan cahaya dalam hidupku, bersinarlah bagai mentari yang tak lelah memberi kehangatan.

Aku ibumu yang sangat beruntung memilikimu dengan tulus mengasihmu dan mencintaimu anakku Lysa Mauliate Permata Intan tanpa dibatasi oleh apa pun. Ingatlah aku selalu ada untukmu.

Bandung, 6 November 2023

I'm friggin 30 everyone!!!!

 Oh crap! I cant believe i'm reaching 30.

Excited, happy, thrilled, and feel lil bit old with no sleep problem. Which is what? NOIICCEEE!!!

It feels amazing how I running my life as 30s life would be totally different stage of life compared to my 20s. Im really glad I'm walking this far. Lemme show you glimps of reaching 30.

1. BEING ADULT (Fully)

You will feel "I can do this better", "Been there done that".

2. HAVE MORE OPTIONS

Since I learn, earn, achived quite much more than your basic needs. I always feel that I have more option to take which route I wanna ride on.

3. MORE RESPONSIBILITY

It is not anymore responsible for yourself, but also your loved ones. I know this could be an option and I take the option that I will take care my parents since I'm aware the more I grow up the more my parents getting old and have less energy and capability day by day. Why don't I take a step by making new bathroom and kitchen for my mom, and build new garden at home for my dad? No?

4. BUILD AN AUTHENTIC CONNECTION

Nothing better than having a true friend who can accept you just the way you are. Saying you are pretty everyday because they know you has pretty side in an exclusive time. It is not you that ugly everyday, they know when you will be shining.

5. BE SHARP

I know what I want, I know where to go step by step. Understand the needs, running for the wants. Understand the limit, but know how to go far the limit.

6. BE HEALTHY

This is not the options! This need to be maintained. Well fed, well work out. Because simply I wanna be aging gracefully 🧚🏼‍♂️

Trust me, being 30 is not that bad, and I never felt better than today before.

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hello my name Lysa, my family call me Intan, yes only my family.

I am a fighter. 

Some people found me extrovert, but I enjoying myself a lot when I am alone, be away from people.

The one that knows me may see me too much sugar in my body, because they never see me tired and always full of energy.

I love walking, not in Jakarta obviously.

Spring is my favorite season.

I love chill weather, an extra special if it comes with smell of pine trees.

Mountain is my life. I live for mountain and Im OK if someday I will die on mountain. 

I'm in awe of the stars and love that we as humans created constellations and mythical stories to maybe feel a little bit less alone.

I'm an omnivore who bleed coffee.

I drink whisky and wine to sleep, and beer to refresh.

My cook is good.... for myself.

I enjoy music concert or music festival.

I sing all the time, and dance everytime I heard dance-able music.

I love to see new people during my travel journey, listen to their stories, life, passion.

I feel and enjoy all the flings I had. They inspire me, yet I had butterflies in my tummy everytime I met them.

I am impressed with people who has interest, passion, and mastering something. It turn me on sometimes.

I feel like I'm 80's kid trapped in 90's body.

I'm an mid night over-thinker.

I'm a cold blood (sometimes), not because I don't care with the world, but I'm trying not to overthink something might affect my life.

On the other hand, I'm sure I can light up the room with people with same energy with me.

I'm not sure if I'm a romantic person.

I'm explosive, yes, I'm easily triggered. It might be improve by the time I get older. LOL

I'm Master of Procrastinating. PhD of Punctuality.

I've collected my fair share of colors in my life. Its my own encyclopedia of people with different variations of color.

Hei! It's me, Lysa, I hope I will get to experience many more magical moment in this planet and get to dance with so many more strangers.

Last Year Being 20's

WHOOP! Time flies and here I am aging gracefully in my latest 20’s!!

If I go back to 23 years old Lysa, I would tell her that she is brave and she can deal with all the shittiest life that she will have and she will be OK even if she is alone and far from the loved ones. You rock it, girl!

Let me share why I am saying I'm aging gracefully in my 29 years living my adventure.

After the tough pace in my early twenties, I can’ believe that I am aging gracefully, tough, and independent. All the roller coaster makes me realize that I am someone that I never imagined could be.

I realized that actually being alone is not that bad.

I realized that having a partner is not a solution to have peace within myself.

I realized that being myself and free myself are how I achieve my ultimate peaceful solitude.

I am grateful for every decision that I took.

Let go of someone that I love the most.

Refuse to start a family in my early twenties.

Away from home and start a new life and pursue my career dreams.

Enjoying my solo adventure.

If I look at to the mirror and ask what I become now, I would say;

It is me who brace myself to take the challenge.

It is me who is brave to gambling with all the uncertain things.

It is me who embraces all the situations I deal with, and puts myself first place.

I never thought I would be as proud of myself as today.

Who enjoys all roller coaster life and let life give me something that I belong, because I believe what belongs to me will belong to me, what doesn't will not. And this mindset helps me alot to deal with all shit I've been through.

If I can go back to 23 years old Lysa, I will tell her that take it easy, take it slow, and you will see that feeling, thought, and reaction will take time to prove that they are right.

If I can go back to 23 years old Lysa, I will tell her that her personality will take her to another level of ‘aging gracefully’ and she will be alright.

If I can go back to 23 years old Lysa, I will tell her not to blame people who drink too much coffee, because someday she will become addicted to good and rare coffee and she will be OK to spend so much money on coffee. 

29 years old Lysa is enjoying her independent life, freedom soul, and ultimate solitude on her own.

29 years old Lysa will be looking for another thrill before she deals in early 30’s and she will be OK.

Blessed Lysa who can survive until this point.