In Indonesia, there are so many beautiful places known for their natural charm. You probably know that Bali and Labuan Bajo are among the most famous and most visited by tourists. But actually, Indonesia also has limestone hills that are just as stunning as Pamukkale in Turkey. The difference is, over there things feel more organized - the government really supports cleanliness and tourism development. As for the heat? Both are equally scorching. Maybe Turkey feels even hotter, especially when you're distracted by those sharp-featured, handsome/pretty faces. Hehe…
In England, they have Stonehenge - an iconic megalithic structure that's perfect for photos, with layers of mystery behind its history. Indonesia also has its own mysterious stone phenomenon: Ponari. Ever heard of the Ponari story? If not, just Google it. Hehe… But I'm not here to talk about Ponari or to compare tourist destinations between countries. Every place has its own uniqueness and adventure. What I really want to share is my journey of meeting someone mysterious.
He was someone who loved reading. I met him - and our very first conversation happened - at the airport. That morning I had the earliest flight for a business trip. Since I arrived much earlier than my departure time, I decided to have breakfast at Excelso. While enjoying my meal, I opened my laptop and prepared my presentation.
Somewhere in between, my eyes accidentally caught someone sitting diagonally across from me. He was quietly sipping his coffee while reading a book titled Chicken Soup. Then suddenly, he closed his book, and our eyes met by chance. I quickly looked back at my laptop, pretending to focus. Moments later, the boarding call came through. I shut my laptop, got ready, and stood up to leave.
As I passed his table, I noticed he was gone - but the book was still there. Thinking he might have forgotten it, I picked it up and brought it to the cashier, just in case he returned to look for it. But to my surprise, the cashier said, "That book is for you. He told me to pass it along."
Since I was rushing to my gate, I simply thanked the cashier and carried the book with me. On the plane, I examined it more closely. At first glance, I thought it was a cookbook (haha) - after all, the title was Chicken Soup. To pass the time, I decided to flip it open. That's when I realized it wasn't about recipes for food - it was about recipes for life.
The very first story? The Golden Buddha.
To be continued…