Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth

Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth

This is the continuing story of "What Happened in July". It's November, raining. and for a couple of weeks now have read The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles.

I had no idea that such a book exists. First it was my nephew, Putra, who asked me if I've ever heard of "The Secret", a DVD about the Law of Attraction. He mentioned that, because we were "in the middle" of opening a coffee shop and "building" cafe, and I told him that there are "strange" things happening to me, as if the course of events leads me to coffee. 

A couple of days after, I was searching for coffee articles in the internet, and somehow stumbled upon The Secret story in Oprah's web. There she was, Rhonda Byrne, telling her stories, and she mentioned about the book that changed her life, namely The Science of Getting Rich, given by her daughter.

Out of curiosity, I immediately searched for the book in the Scribd, found it, and read it. Something "clicked" in my head.

The "concept", the words, and things written by the author sounds very familiar to me. It was the words we as Moslem, used to hear every Friday at the beginning of the congregation.

The Imam (leader) would always say: I confess there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger, praise Allah the master of the universe, grateful because we until today could gather in this congregation in good health and so on and so on, and be patient and consistent always.

So ... according to that book, these words would make us rich.

Grateful

I started to be more grateful, and BE GRATEFUL, not just pretend or think, but behave and feel grateful for what I have received from Allah. 

And then, yesterday (Friday) during congregation, I thanked Allah like I have never before. Why ?

Remember that July story, where we asked and prayed to Allah for money, so that we could start selling ? And according to our plan that if we start selling in July, by the end of the year we might have something like 3 office branches.

Here we are today, with a financial crisis caused by the United States, and all Banks in Indonesia stopped lending money. There was one multifinance company, wanted to "borrow" 10 Billion Rupiah (from us), in exchange for thier portfolio (receivables).

Suppose somehow we got the money and already were in business since July, selling, and on top of that opened additional office branches ? Can you imagine how devastating we would be today ?

So I realized, Allah works in a mysterious way, we haven't got the money until this day, because if we had, we would be in a very deep deep trouble.

We were protected, by Allah. And that's why I thank Allah so much.

What Next

Today I didn't go to the office (at Raden Saleh, Jakarta), just went to my cousin's travel office instead. 

Started the day trying to open the remote connection to Denpasar office. Aniek was very helpful at the other end. The internet guys (Telkom Speedy vendor) didn't know how to open the port for FTP and TightVNC. I couldn't get the remote assistance to open via Windows Messenger. 

Later chatted with my HRD friend at Raden Saleh, Endar, informed me that the boss had met with the owner, talking about his resignation, and she accepted it. Just like that.

What would be our future ? Allah only knows. And we pray.

Perhaps our attitude should be like as if nothing happened, do our work and finish the job as if the business is still on. Meanwhile it is on the brink of collapse.

I can imagine the Denpasar staff morale now. Down and out, with a slight hope that the boss, at the new office, would bring them along.

What about us ? I plan to finish my program, and later sell it to other multifinance companies. What else could I do ?

Nothing but hope and wish that the month of Ramadhan will pass, and we all meet the Great Lebaran Day in full happines and prosperity, and following that, the new brave world awaiting us all ahead. Hope, wish, and a lot of prayer.

Jakarta, September, First Days Fasting

Marhaban ya Ramadhan, welcome to the holy month of Ramadhan. It's another fasting month. This year (2008) the new moon fell exactly on the first of September, and all the moslems start fasting on the same day, regardless of the sect difference.

The other day (Sept 2, 2008) our boss gathered us and said that he would quit (resign). We talked and talked, and came to a conclusion that this is the best way to do, since the shareholders seems to give up on starting this wonderful business. 

Lately came to me (to my mind) again the pictures (portraits) of "travel". And one of them is related to coffee given to me by my colleague, Ngurah, in Denpasar.

His family comes from Bedugul, and his grandma ground the coffee bean and Ngurah brought them and gave to me. Here I am sitting at 4PM in the afternoon, thirsty and hungry, and dreaming about good delicious coffee.... and muffin.

Here is my brand logo, should I enter the coffee business seriously: 

Here is another one:

Give comments, which one is better and will generate  money.

My daughter got a chickenpox two days ago and its very itchy and irritating. Especially last night, she cried and was very much angry at this irritating disease. Couldn't scratch, but my wife did an excellent job to calm her, at the end she slept quietly and peacefully. Alhamdulillah.

This morning I saw my daughter was back to her normal mental state, namely happy, nosy, witty, and smart. She seems very hungry after last night, and ate a lot for breakfast. Ya Allah, please always give health to my daughter and please heal my daugther. Amin.

Another Album

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A day in Denpasar

Early morning oblation to Gods - prepared by Wirlly

Early morning oblation to Gods - in front of the office entrance

Business as usual - Aniek, the Operation Manager counting the money

EKA - the witty happy marketing guy.....'gitu loh' ...

Ngurah - good Balinese coffee from Bedugul, beats the Starbuck's... thanks to Ngurah's grandma in Bedugul

Dewi, Arta, Teges, Ngurah, and Eka...early morning discussion and chat

KADEK - all for one, one for all... never been to Jakarta, wants to see the 'chaotic' city badly... and the girls in malls

Sunday in Bedugul

Called my good friend (ex Hudson), Junn Freddy who happens to work in Bali for more than a year now, and asked him if we could go to Bedugul to see that cute temple, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. He arranged for a car for less than 150 thousands a day, and the three of us (plus Aryo, the younger brother of Ronny) we drove to Bedugul on Sunday morning August 4. It was worth the trip ! Thank you guys, for showing me some parts of Bali !

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More pictures like this will be available as soon as I finish editing the album. I used JAlbum with Banan Album skin to produce that awesome album.  

The Place I Always Wanted See

The background picture is one of the most famous Balinese Temple located in the northern part of Bali, Bedugul. I can't describe the feeling upon seeing this famous, beautiful temple. I am fascinated by this not too big temple, perhaps its location, on the side of the lake Batur (crater), with the mountain and hills beyond the lake. Mostly foggy, sometimes bright.

Two temples, one tall the other small. Just like a mother and a baby, side by side. Remember the IBM elephant commercial, you get the same feeling when seeing this temple.


Actually there are other temples nearby, but these two temples are located outside the vicinity of the grand temple complex. And what makes it unique, it is on the side of the lake, surrounded by water, makes it isolated, untouchable, for your eyes only. People say there is a deep well inside.

Hundred times, perhaps more than that, I have seen the picture of this temple on the internet, and just can't get enough. I told myself, I have to see this temple when I am still alive. And Alhamdulillah, I have seen it.