Jakarta Tales Vol 10: The End

"We have left you,
The calm lagoon without a ripple,
Sheltered by a leafy mountain
From wind and storm,
For once we have woken up from a pleasant dream."

'To Sea, The New Generation' by Soetan Takdir Alisjahbana

The most unforgettable year of my life came full circle on 23rd March 2007 when I left Jakarta for a journey back home. Not that I won't be going back to Indonesia. I will. Very soon. In fact, I will be returning to the sun-kissed shores of Indonesia early May this year to resume my responsibilities at The Bakery. For how long? God knows. Forever? Certainly not.

A new beginning requires a new repertoire, of course. But for the hell of a year that it's been, it is only befitting that I break the nib for Jakarta Tales... today. And at this juncture, all I'd like to do is express my gratitude.

To each individual who I met physically or virtually - even if for a brief, split second - over the past one year, I'd like to offer a round of thanks straight from my heart. That's all I have left in me. For if it wasn't for each of those magnanimous souls, the last 52 weeks would have been worthless. They made it indelible. They made it so difficult to let go. They made it worth risking everything to do it all over again. They made me realize how beautiful life can be. They made me fall in unconditional love with the human race (women, especially ;) ).

They made it one year.

The unfortunate pauper that I am, I have nothing to offer them that would even remotely resemble the contributions they have made - knowingly and unknowingly - to my life. I pray that my few genuine words of "gracias" will suffice... as gruel. And yes, I faintly hope that I made a difference - even if petty - to their lives just as they so grandly did to mine. I don't know if they are reading this, but all I can say to them is, "Thank you."

I feel like Kevin Spacey in American Beauty, "Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember... to relax and not try to hold on to it. And then it flows through me like rain. And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Don't worry... you will someday."

And hey, don't close this window or wipe your tears away just yet. The last edition of "Jakarta Tales" you'll ever see in your inbox would be incomplete without a huge round of applause (albeit only from me), a long bow (from me, again) and a deep-seated sincere cry of "Thank you" (from me, me, me) for you. Yes. You are arguably the most honourable attendee on the list of people I've mentioned above. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back for you've finally done something worthwhile for humanity :) And for once, I have no qualms in admitting that... you deserve it. Without a doubt.

Thanks for being such patient and loving readers. Thanks for bearing through my never-ending rants - including this one. Thanks for the criticism and appreciation. Thanks for making the last one year truly blessed. Thanks for being the inspiration for Jakarta Tales. In fact, thanks for being Jakarta Tales.

But don't let out all your sighs. For I'll be back. In another avatar. Or maybe the same one. But with a different song to sing and a new story to tell. Untill then...


Sampai jumpa
From your favourite Indian in Jakarta
Yousuf