The New Place of Living

Today, exactly one week ago, I finally moved to this 2-bedroom apartment in Bundoora, an outer suburb in the north side of Melbourne. I don't know why I have always been attracted to the north side ever since I came to Melbourne. Later I found out that the north side is where most of the spiritual energy lies. You know, the hippy suburbs with hippy, but very kind society.

Ever since I moved in this place, I'm falling in love more and more with it. For the price I'm paying now, which according to the regular rent rate here is cheap, I'm quite satisfied and happy to have been guided to this place of living. It has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I occupy the master bedroom and am renting out the other bedroom to a PhD student in RMIT. The living room and the kitchen are quite spacious and there are plenty of space for furniture. There is also one car spot that is used by my housemate because I don't own a car, for now, and a storage room.

This is the living area and the kitchen. I was lucky enough that the previous tenants, who happen to be friends of my friend's, are happy enough to leave the couch and the table for me and I can pay later when I can afford it. The kitchen is now filled with equipment that my housemate and I share. Again, I'm lucky enough to have found a housemate who is happy to share the cost of purchasing all the kitchen stuff.

This picture is taken from my bedroom. As I only now own a bed and a table, that's all I have in my room. I will slowly fill it with maybe a desk or a bookshelf from IKEA, or both, and decorate it to bring a sense of spiritual touch. That is also my plan with the living area, but only until I'm comfortable enough to share my spiritual side with my housemate. You know, it turns out I can be really hippy when I'm with my close friends who know about my spiritual side.

What I love the most is the balcony! I have been wanting to get in touch with nature, you know, to be surrounded by greens, and look what I was guided to find! When the sun is out, I get a really beautiful view. Like today I woke up to this lovely and calming scene. When the weather is warmer, I will sure enough to enjoy my breakfast outside in the balcony while listening the song of the birds. If I'm lucky enough, I hope to one day spot a kangaroo in the park!

With the whole moving and settling thing, I learned something that is quite important, that is whenever I feel guided to do something, all I need to do is just put my trust in it and walk with the guidance because it would be for a greater good. From time to time I have to keep reminding myself of that lesson.

From the beginning of this moving until I have moved and now am settled, I was shown that miracles do exist. As I thought I would not get my application approved and that I would not be able to handle all this, I was shown the opposite and I received great help from my friends. As I was battling with the anxiety of the possibility that I couldn't afford the place on my own, I was sent with a housemate who happened to move in the next day after I moved. The next thing I know, one week has passed since I moved and most of the important things my housemate and I need for this place are settled.

As of now, surrounded by new energies that radiate from this place I am ready for the next guidance that will take me to the next adventure!

Until next post.

Getting Things Done

I have to admit, as much as I am excited about moving to a new place and have a lease on my own, the moving business is not so fun. There are so many things to take care of and seem to be endless, from signing all the paper works, hiring a removalist to move my stuff, and to make sure I will have electricity, gas and water running by the day I move in.

Today I spent my day off speaking on the phone and signing up contract for the utilities. Then it comes to finding a housemate. I spent hours putting an advertising for the room I'm renting out on many different websites and replying to messages about the ad. I didn't know finding a housemate can be such a time and energy consuming task. I just wish I could get it done as soon as possible.

Other than that, I think I am gratefull still for have I witnessed what I thought what was impossible is actually possible. When I seem to be stuck and helpless, miracles happen. So I'm quite positive that I would find the right housemate in time and ready to settle in. In the meanwhile, I have to get back on the mat as I have been skipping yoga for two days due to my increasing level of stress.

Until next post.

Welcoming Spring and New Beginnings

Hey, it's finally Spring here in Australia! The weather has gradually gotten warmer, although we do still have cold days, and the trees are growing leaves. I have always loved Sprig because it reminds me that Summer comes after. That also reminds me that I only have 3 months left to prepare for Summer body. (Yikes!)

Anyhow, Spring this is year seems to be quite promising for me. I am looking forward for new beginnings that could happen, in the very near future I hope. As a matter of fact, I am entering a new beginning. Remember when I mentioned about applying for a property rental? Well, I got my application approved, so I am moving on the 13th of September. YAY!

I am so happy because this would be my first time being on the lease of a property. It's a two-bedroom apartment in Bundoora and is strategically located nearby shopping center, sporting center and universities. The rent expense is slightly higher but I am planning to get a housemate. Speaking of which,  I am excited because I get to choose the housemate! The fun part is, I make the rules in the house, people! One thing that I will set out clear is definitely the pay of the rent. The next thing is, cleaning chores! I am so happy that I don't have to come home to a pile of dirty dishes and grimy kitchen.

Admittedly, this moving business has put me in so much pressure and stress. I had a few obstacles regarding this, and mind you, moving is never easy. But what I am feeling grateful is, there are people who were willing to help me sincerely. I send them my biggest THANK YOU, really. I see true friendship in them.

I am looking forward for what Spring will bring me this time. One thing that I hope for is, hopefully I get to hear good news from the jobs that I applied. I am so ready for a change in job, too. Until then, I just have to keep trying. Regardless what will happen next, I am just going to enjoy the beauty of Spring!

Until next post.

What is Yoga For Me

I found a new hobby. It's yoga. My very first introduction with yoga was in May, and ever since I have begun to practice yoga daily. Well, I always try to practice daily but on some very, very cold days during winter it was nearly impossible to get up and get on the mat. Thank goodness winter is almost over and Spring is just around the corner!

Now, three months into yoga, it has become more than just a hobby. When I first started, it was just an exercise as it helps toning my muscles and keeps my body in shape and healthy. However, gradually it is becoming a lifestyle. Spiritually speaking, yoga teaches me balance, flexibility, strength appreciation, acceptance, letting go and surrender. Often times, during the practice, I would wander why I couldn't be that flexible like the other yogis. Then I would push myself harder and deeper into the pose until I realise that I just can't, yet. So I learn to appreciate my body and listen to what it says. But more importantly, yoga teaches me how to be me and I am forever grateful to be introduced to it.

What I love the most about yoga is the various experience it has given me. One day, I came to a class of one of my favorite yoga teachers. She's a good teacher and I love the way she teaches and the music she plays during her class. Towards the end of the class, after a very intense and much faster flow we get to hold poses slightly longer and the flow had become slower, I was so caught up with my own practice, with her thoughtful words and the beautiful music, my tears just rolled down my face.

On another days, my practice took me to the feeling of agitation, anger and upset I just couldn't help but wish that the class would end soon. But through all that, I learn to accept whatever feelings that occur during the practice and move on. I have cried, laughed, fallen down on the mat, but never farted, yet, I have felt like I want to punch the instructor for making me twist, going up and down for so many times, and that's just the beauty of my practice.

Three months into practicing yoga is not a long time, I am not sure if I could call myself a yogi! Well, maybe I could call myself a newbie yogi. I still have a very long way to go and many things to learn. As of now, I am still trying to understand the "oneness" in yoga. That is, I realise, is a lifetime learning process. It is a process of going from a human being doing yoga to a human being yoga. Until then, it is all about getting my bum on the mat every day.

Until next post.

The Little Pilgrimage

How's everyone doing? I hope life is treating you all well. Even if you feel like life is being a bitch, well, do still enjoy it not any less than you should.

I have just been back in Melbourne after spending 4 weeks in Indonesia, visiting my family. Three years not going back was indeed quite a long time. The house where I grew out seemed older than what I remembered and the town seemed smaller. The people, however, seemed to stay the same. Or in my case, I have changed so much since I left the town.

Travelling back home, as I have mentioned before, was indeed a little pilgrimage I needed. Revisiting the town, the people, the family and the life I have left behind made me realise that I am so much in a better state of mind, and mental. I can tell it from the way I handled my feelings when I saw everything that had happened in the past all over again and it didn't bother me as it used to. The pain and the hurt feelings that were once rooted so deep inside me, have slowly dissipated. Yes, at this time, I think it is a pity of what had happened to my parents and my family. But it's no longer leaving a trail of bitter feelings that making me blame the situation.

As my intention of the trip was to let go of my past, indeed I have come to let go of many things of my past and it include the people who I had once a relationship with; relatives and friends. I reckon it was not meant to happen at that time because my intention was to let go of my past after all. I have also learned to detach myself from it and accept it as part of me, as I realised it now that I can never change the past and I should not live in it any longer. It's always there and it stays where it should be.

There is a quote that fits perfectly with my experience. It says, "...we don't transcend our lives; we return to the life we left behind in the hopes of something better." I did find something better from my trip home; I found myself.

Now, I have returned to my life in Melbourne and continue doing what I have been doing. Only this time around, I am heading for a new beginning. It starts from me looking for a new place and looking for jobs, still. I have applied for an apartment and hopefully I get it. Fingers crossed that I could also get the job I applied for. This time, I got a referral from the inside, which is an employee of the company. We'll see how it turns out. In the meantime, I'm just waiting and keep doing what I can for now. I have set my intentions out, said it out loud and prayed for it. Now I'm just letting it all works out, letting the universe works its way.

Until next post.