favorite things of zie

withatitud:

With Shinta 💜 (Taken with Instagram at Go!Curry)

me with aptitude! mah!! 

my Villain on Flickr.

This is how much i love Darth Vader! #starwarsday

Tulehu Diaries, a set on Flickr.

The Small Coffee Shop called “Kopi Dimana?” or “Where’s the Coffee?”

Now I’m going to write you a true story of a couple I know… this isn’t any other couple you see everyday. My urge to write about them was when I actually came to them. Here it is…

As my own personal self discovery still continues to seek its happy place, along my path, at my current place where I work now, I found a sweet story of two individuals who are also trying to make a difference in the world today by owning a small coffee shop with their specialty in manual brewing of Indonesian coffee beans from the island of Sumatera to the islands of the Gods called Bali.

Ary and Ajeng, two partners and crime, set out to show the world how they would make it on their own. They builded an empire of friends and colleagues in their previous life and had the ability to work their way through the toughest industries in the entertainment world until one day, fate brought them to a point where they couldn’t continue.  Their days that were filled with the luxury of living suddenly  vanished without leaving a cent behind. This could have been the lowest part of your life, when you seem to have it all, until one day it just stopped and you had to let go of all the things you have treasured or even invested just had to go. From material things to friends, they had to just leave it all behind. It was a phase that they had to go through. And like every human being, they both fell hard, despair and with no trust in anyone or anything. But they needed to survive this hard-knock life and the only spirit they needed back then, was only to  stick together through thick and thin no matter what happen. After a long isolation from the hard-hitting ground, with only their minds to rely on, they decided they would get back on their feet again through these precious beans.

Indonesian coffee always been one of Indonesia’s great assets. The word “Java” in a cup is also known for coffee in Indonesia’s soil, shows how Indonesia’s coffee is one of the well-known coffee in the planet. Its sophisticated taste from the tropical lands, has made Indonesia heard worldwide and by acknowledging this, these two individuals plan to make Indonesia’s coffee bloom its scent and taste again in our own country and hoping one day spread worldwide. They thought about how a particular coffee brand have made it to malls and because of its brand, sadly, Indonesians nowadays tend to be more attracted to the look of its brand, rather than the taste or quality of the type of coffee itself. With a dream to fulfill, they wanted to make the people of our nation to realize that Indonesia’s coffee has a much better taste than these brands that have been sprouting out in Jakarta’s and the whole of Indonesia’s malls and plazas. A vision and mission, clearing their minds from thoughtless doubts, they started their journey.

From a distance and corner of my eyes, I would notice their presence near our office. Day by day, they would be sitting with my aunt and uncle who owns almost all of the office spaces in this area, chatting over a cup of tea or coffee, only passing smiles as I come in and out of my office. But as times goes by, I also notice, they also had this 1 small wooden table that only fitted a few coffee pouches and 4 tiny stools to sit on. Later on, weeks passes, they had a few wooden furniture, then came out of nowhere, a bar, then bit by bit, it developed and became a small coffee shop filled with tall stools, long benches to sit on and blinds to block the sun from glaring the small cafe. From then on, I realized that I was a witness to their struggles of building this small coffee shop near our office, so one day I thought, I just had to taste and see what they had to offer. And at my most humbliest mannered, I told them that I wasn’t really a coffee fanatic, not like my sister or my parents. I knew what coffee tasted like but I wasn’t a fan, nor had the addiction to coffee or what so ever. All I knew was that coffee could make me wake up for hours, it’s best when I had to work late and keep my eyes wide open for long hours of shooting. So the thought of a coffee shop near our working space, and when work seems endless, I guess, we wouldn’t mind having a small coffee shop with their various of coffee to drink.

My first coffee drink was coffee with milk, sent to my office on a cold rainy day. They offered me their house blend which they told me it wasn’t too strong back then. It was good. But with a big curiosity, I started trying the other coffee they had to offer.  From Toraja to Aceh’s coffee beans, I tried it all, and I got hook on Aceh and Bromo’s aroma and taste. It suited my personality and mood, and I would always have a good feeling after drinking it. I realized that coffee could be a regular drink for me now, especially because of Ari and Ajeng’s touch in manual brewing, it had a special touch of people who were in love with coffee. Not just making them as a beverage, but also connecting their heart and soul in making this special coffee brew. I guess this is why it tastes different from other coffee drinks outside this small coffee shop. I was addicted. Naturally. And every time, I come to work, I would head straight to this place to do most of my work here now. But what makes it special is because now I get to know these two special people and their struggles through Jakarta’s hard knock life. Each day, we would start telling stories about each other. From their successes to their failures, they have been through a lot which makes it more interesting, because I begin to realize that life is about striving to find your happiness. Tough but still its a wonderful journey on its own. With this small coffee shop and the people in it, has made me become more aware of things I have to go through in life. The people that come in and out of this small coffee shop, is also a wonder on its own. I’m pretty sure, Ary and Ajeng could see and listen from a far, the wondrous minds of each and every individuals who come and visit their small cafe and without judging. Not only to talk but to listen to what they have to say and share about their days of finding happiness. This coffee shop has become more richer than anything I can imagine.

But again, whatever happens, I think they’ll turn out fine, because they are doing this with their hearts, passion and with a little patience, I’m pretty sure, someone will come up and make their dreams come true. I don’t know what’s in store for them in the next 5 months, a year or so, but if they keep on believing that something small can make it big one day, I think that’s the only thing they have to keep in mind.You may fall hard on things you couldn’t have imagine, but when I hear their stories,  I look up to them and their small coffee shop, and I pray silently that everything they had work for all these past few years together will pay off one day.

Mas Ary and Ajeng, never give up hope, cause you both are giving me a great example of how I should view my life in. Whatever it takes, never stop believing cause if you want it that badly, it’ll come by. Dreams do come true when you truly believe in it and the Universe will show you the way.

Abi + Ficky, a set on Flickr.