Sometimes the best journey happens without a plan

Each of us has unique ways to find inspiration. Some find it by sitting in the park, listening to music, journaling or exploring the environment. For me, I always find my creativity by backpacking or being on the road. So, yesterday, I took a short road trip and avoided screen as much as possible.

This post is my recounts of the journey, how I found out my grandpa has cancer, and how easy it is to travel; sometimes the best journey happens without a plan.

It was the first time after many months I had the courage of taking a public transportation and squeezed myself inside a public bus. Since it was muslim holiday festival, the bus had no empty seat. So, I and several other passengers weren't seated until about an hour.

I stood up for an hour next to the front door and the bus driver on the right. It was definitely inconvenient given I hadn't had a good sleep the previous night. However, I found it was amusing listening to people's chatter about the holiday. All they talked about was how crowded the streets are or how suddenly people are out there crowding the streets.

In this biggest muslim festival, people visit each other house, especially their relatives. This challenged the idea I have about modern day kinship. I thought people don't visit their family as much anymore. But during this festival, I was seeing my indonesian friends visiting their families and friends. Perhaps it was only in my family where we don't care of anything whether there's holiday or not. Needless to say, the reason I traveled that day was also visiting my grandma.

I personally find family gathering to be inconvenient. That is because in my dictionary, family meeting equals to being interrogated and often " publicly shamed". " Have you graduated?" " what is your job? " " who is your boyfriend now? these are very personal questions that will often come up during this situation.

Anyway, back to the road. As I got seated on the bus, I observed my surrounding. I recalled days of my past travel and how I craved to be on a foreign land; figuring things my own and having my mini adventures. But my day dream was over as I heard the bus guy said I am nearing to the terminal. I quickly messaged my brother to pick me up. As I got down from the bus, I suddenly heard a song titled " never go back" by Dennis lloyd. I recently love that song and it videography.

As soon as I reached my grandma's house, she greeted me with her warmest smile. I've not been seeing her since last year. She hasn't changed a bit, still chatty and active despite being in her 70's. During our talks, she often tease and hope, I'd marry an air force pilot or a soldier. I often just smile because I might break her wishful thinking. I get where she comes from, she married my grand father who was an air force pilot and wished at least one of her grand daughters would marry one. Then, we got into the dining table and she told me one of shocking news. " Grandpa is suffering through cancer".

Despite I wasn't close to him, I feel pretty sad. It is the first time, I hear something relatively close to me suffering through cancer. I was wondering, " how the hell did he get a cancer?" He was a sporty man and pretty active until his early 70s. But I might know one of the cause, he was an avid smoker even until his early 70's. Then, I realized my father is an avid smoker and next time I have the chance to meet him, this should be a warning to him.

Then, I decided to leave at around 6 p.m as I was afraid that I wouldn't get a bus. Eventually, after waiting for about an hour, I got a bus. On the way back, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. I am ready to go back being productive and moving on with life. This short trip was much needed since lately, I got way too busy and spent a lot of time on screen.

The following day, I slept almost the entire day and decided to walk around the market. The story will come next.

[macchiata]

_{Img source pexels.}