Visiting Kuntum Nursery

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After taking Rafif to school, as usual I hang out with friends who are the parents of Rafif’s friends at TK Ibnu Hajar, Masjid Raya Bogor. For me, hanging out with friends is fun because we can exchange stories, experiences, recipes, shopping info, education info, and all things about housewife’ s concern.

That day the weather was rather cloudy at Bogor. We talked in the shade of a tree in the courtyard of the mosque. Our small talk was flowing, as I said that I wanted to plant betel and aloe vera, a friend offered me to visit the Kuntum Nursery in Tajur, Bogor, Indonesia.

Because it was still early and we still have time while waiting for the children , We decided to go there. Actually, I have never visited the place.

My friends showed me the way to the place. From Padjajaran street we go towards Tajur. Bud Nursery is located on the right of the road. Entering the parking area, we have been already feel the coolness of the place. On the right there was a small shop that sells seeds, honey, herbal medicine, flower pots, compost, growing media, fertilizers and others.

There was a path from the front of the store toward the back of the nursery area. When we got through it, the green scenery of plant set in pots or in plastic bags to greet us.

There was a unique little shop called "Cemal Cemil". When we entered, we saw various small-wooden toys organized in bamboo trays . There were

wooden windmills, wooden drums, bekel balls, small soldiers made from plastic, a small gamelan and others. Then there were also various vintage snack that were often encountered when we were kids. There were Brem (made from the essence of fermented cassava), ginger candy, cookies with various colored sugar on top, chocholate, and others. I'm interested in buying brem, the price was Rp. 5000, - each box. When I was a kid, I loved to enjoy eating brem which melt when inserted into my mouth.

We continued to look around. This time we went into a kind of semi-permanent building, which was filled with the potted plant. Then, there was one more semi-permanent house that full of some kinds of small cactus. Then there's the small bridge and a artistic wooden building with beautiful fish pond in front of it.

The fish pond was filled with beautiful fishes such as koi and goldfish. Just like understood, the group of fish approached us, hoping that we would throw food.

In the artistic wooden building, there were furniture , household knick-knacks from wood and stone being sold. There were also food fish sold at Rp. 2000, - each small plastic bag. So visitors can buy it to feed those fishes on the pond.

When the fish food was spread , the fishes in the pond were getting crowded stampeding food untill their mouths gaping. Really funny!

There was another pool at the back of buildings. The pool was filled with Garra Rufa small fish, commonly used for Fish SPA therapy. When the visitor’s feet entered into the pool, then the small fish will eat the dead skin found on the feet. The Rates for Fish Spa was Rp. 25.000, - per 20 minutes of therapy.

There were various kind of furniture being sold. There were chairs and coffee table, chairs and dining table, unique drawers , console table with mirror, wooden shelves, cabinets, wooden fruit plate, wooden boxes, and wooden rice scoop. There were also rehal Al Qur-an from wood, frame, candle holder, bowl and trinkets made of stone.

I bought rehal Al Qur-an which the color was dark. The price is Rp. 60.000, - Then a set of scoop, and wooden sodet consists of 3 pieces for Rp. 7000, -.

On the left of the entrance there was another fish pond , which its fishes can be lured. Visitors may fish in the pond. They sould pay for Rp. 30.000, - per kg of the fish they got.

Beside the fish pond, there was a food court called "Teras Air". Unfortunately when we arrived, the place has not open yet.

Sitting on the edge of the fish pond, we has small talk. I wanted to come back to this place with my husband and my children, someday. Rafif must be very happy to see the fishes in the pond.

When it was time to go home, I took time to buy betel plants and aloe vera, along with pots and its growing media.

That day, I got new experience to find another interesting place to be visited at Bogor.

IT IS FUN BEING A HOUSEWIFE

Once, after giving birth the first child, I had become bored housewife whose activities only at home raising child. Because I had worked before marriage, I felt that being a housewife wasn’t really something to be proud of. My life seemed to revolve there only, it was like walking but stand still. I felt just like left behind in the appeal of friends who work outside the home. I became more foolish day by day, that’s what I felt. I tried to find a job, but none that seemed appropriate.

One day I met a friend. She was a doctor who was continuing her education to obtain specialist medical degree. We hugged each other and laugh because it was long time no see. Our chat flowed. When I told her that I was only a housewife, she said, "How lovely, you make me jealous!. I am sad, because now I have to sacrifice my time with my husband and children. My husband works in another area, my son leave with my parents, and I ... I should spend my time in this hospital, even sometimes I have to go to another area doing research for months. Just imagine my family, what kind of family I have? ... "I saw the sorrow on her face. . then I tried to comfort her. "It’s oke, you do this for the better future, don’t you?”

Although the meeting was short in time, but it gave quite an impression in my heart. Humans are always unsatisfied with what they had. They always feel others are more fortunate. Since then I was determined to be the thankful one, so I can enjoy my life more.


Okay, maybe I did not feel comfortable with a routine at all. So I tried to find other activities, beyond the routine as housewife. I love English, so I chose to join an English course in a Language Institute. As a result, I felt my life more passionate. I finished the course until the highest level.


Beside English course, I do the aerobic exercise and body language at least 3 times a week. Then I also need to spend some time taking care of my self with the message, body SPA and cream bath once a week. Normally it takes about 3 hours doing those activities in the beauty salon. But since my husband complained about spending too much time there , I found the “win-win solution” . I decided to do the body care at home. Once in a week, a beautician come to my house to do the message, body SPA and creambath. Although the activities take 3 hours, but I ‘m still at home, with my three kids and also with my two maids which help me taking care of the kids.

Other activity is writing. So I write anything that comes in my mind on my blog. It was my friend the late Hendro Darsono who taught me to create a blog. Thank you so my, my friend. I will always remember you… I hope you live hapily there in paradise.

Now, I live my life as a housewife with sincerity. I no longer feel left behind with friends who work outside the home. With the internet, I can find the latest news, trending and various knowledge.


Like today, I start the day with great excitement. Get up early, do the morning prayer and cook breakfast for the kids. I help the kids to prepare them to go to school. The next activity is take a bath and have my breakfast. After taking my children to school, I go to the gym. Gymnastic and fitness workout are the activities that are very useful for me. In addition to health, exercise also made me feel happy. I am determined to stay fit so I can take care for children and serve my husband properly.

Shopping for daily necessities the next activity. I do that before picking up my children from school.

While waiting for the children in the parking area, I greet my friends on Facebook and Blackberry messanger. It is fun that I could still interact with my friends although we are separated by a far distance.

After praying dzuhur and having lunch, I "fell" into the kitchen. The children made the request of pempek and tekwan. Those are the traditional food from South Sumatra which made from fish and starch flour. So I create their order with joy, even let my youngest boy “help “ me swirl the flour. Actually he is just playing with the admixture. Ha..ha..

The most enjoyable part is when my kids like my cooking. Glad to see them eat pempek enthusiastically.

Shopping in the supermarket can be very exciting. I took my kids there and the they start racing to find stuff and put them on the trolley. Anin is busy looking for egg noodles, while Dea and Rafif seek their own milk. But they also do not miss the opportunity to buy their favorite food: ice cream.


In the evening, I accompanied the kids learning and doing homework. There are two things that I get. First, I can help children learn. Second, I could build a closeness to them. It is very important for mother and child relationship.


All and all, I really feel grateful for everything I have.. Good husband, healthy children , a happy life, Alhamdulillah. No more desire to work outside the home, leaving the children. Now, I really enjoy being a housewife.

Debt Problem

That afternoon my phone rang, there was an incoming sms. Soon I red it, apparently from one of my friends whose her kid was in the same school with my son. Her sms was rather long, explaining that she was in trouble and need the loan money. Finish reading the sms, I felt headache. Was this the symptom of stress?

Have not replied the sms, my phone rang again. This time also from one of my friends, a new friend. "My family was in the hospital, so I need a cash loan of 3 million only. Can you help me? "As soon as she said. After I said that I should ask my husband first, then the phone was turned off. My stomach was queasy.


The total in this week there were 6 people who intended to borrow money from me. And all of them makes my head dizzy. It’s not without reason I felt so.


Starting from the previous years. There were dozens of people from various strata of life with a variety of reasons come to me and my husband. They owed the sum total to 9-digit numbers. And almost all did not or have not returned the money.


Some came with tears, and promised to immediately return the loan money, then disappear swallowed by the earth. There was a close friend like a brother, borrow money, then moved without saying goodbye. There was a childhood friend, borrow money, then there was no news anymore. There was someone apparently very pious, God was always mentioned from his words, the hajj has been many times, but it turned out when it's dealing with money, it was so hard to return the debt. In short, from the rich to the poor, from the pious to the infidel, from old to new friends, there's no debt on our that were successful being returned!
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Because of those bad experiences, each time I hear the word "debt" or "borrow money", I get headache and queasy stomach. I and my husband were no longer able to increase the amount of money we owed. It is a dillema. If I do not give the loan money, the friendship is disrupted. But If I give it and then the loan money do not be returned, the relationship also goes bad . Indeed, debt can damage the relationship.


Finally I take the middle road. If there are friends who want to borrow money for reasons that make sense, then I would offer a certain amount of money that I give with sincerity as a charity, of course not at the amount of money to be borrowed. If he accepts, it could be a field of charity for me and my husband.


Then, I don’t want to save money in excess amount in savings. It's better to pay the money in insurance premiums, property, or deposited. So if one wants to owe, I do not have to lie by saying "no money" because it is in fact there is no money.


One friend suggested, when giving loans, there should be a guarantee in the form of goods (eg car or house) and equipped with the agreement. The proposal was great, I think. But for now, I'm still traumatized to give more loans to others.


Too bad there are still many people who think is not important to pay their debts. Yet debt will be accounted for on the day of eternal life later. The obligation to pay the debts mentioned in the following hadith:

From Abi Hurairah r, a. Said that the Messenger of Allah said, "Whoever wrongdoer to his brother that faith of his property or part of it, he must finish it today (in the world) before the coming day when the dinar and dirham not give any benefit. If he has good deeds, the charity was given to his brother who was treated unfairly. But if he does not have a pious deeds so that his brother’s sin is inflicted upon him. "


(H. R. Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Daud)


So remember the words of a friend "No property would be brought by the dead people, but there are people who die carrying someone else's property ..." very ironic.