Tomorrow is a public holiday here, known as Nyepi or Balinese’s Day of Silence. We aren’t going to waste it by staying at home and slaving for our job. Instead we will join the crowd in Brastagi Highland which is 2 hours away from Medan city.

It’s been a while since I last spend a night at the cool-fresh-air-town. It will be a great getaway with the family and a chance to have a short break from computer. But we will still be able to online from the mobile-phone. Well, can’t live without Facebook and Twitter.

So, yesterday was Sunday and also the first day of Hari Raya Idul Fitri. The town was super quiet. Almost everyone was out of town since most of the shops and companies are closed until Wednesday. Internet connection was so smooth that the page for term life insurance rates loaded faster than usual.

Initially we planned to stay for a night at Brastagi highland but the hotel’s room was oh-so-expensive, starts from IDR 1 million which is double the usual price. *sweat* Stay and chill at home seems to be the best choice.

But, my Bro was super boring at home, so off we went to The Hill Resort – also the place where I had my outdoor prewedding photos – after lunch just for a short getaway. Traffic was so smooth that we arrived the resort within 70 minutes drive or so. It was gloomy and felt somewhat cold.

I was busy taking pictures of the swans when someone shouted my name. I turn my body and saw a very familiar figure. I couldn’t help but to shout back,”Ah-ma!!” which is her nickname since highschool. Both of us was like,”Can’t believe will meet you here!” and walked into the white gazebo to catch up with each other, from I-heard-that-you-are-getting-married to her-stressful-yet-happy-life-as-a-wife-and-young-mum to gain-weight topic. Not long after that, it started to rain.

Ever since she married and moved to Jakarta, we hardly see each other. Furthermore she doesn’t have facebook account but good thing is, she comes back few times in a year. The last time we met was on February this year.

Look at her cheeks and her Dora’s hair. So cute and pretty!!!

It was also my first time seeing her more-than-one-year-old-daughter. I have a mixture feeling, my first time being referred to as ie-ie/auntie by my friend’s daughter. I am old. Arghh!!

Anyway, it looks like law of attraction does work. It was on saturday when I went out with my friends, talked about Sibolga and I mentioned about ‘Ah-ma’ blablabla. Jan also mentioned about doesn’t want to be referred as ie-ie but jie-jie. Then the next day I met her! Coincident or what?

I wanted to post pictures from the holiday but I think I’ll post it at Medan Daily. Anyway, I’ve just dug my blog’s archive and realized that going to Brastagi Highland during the Idul Fitri holiday has been quite a ‘tradition’ for us during the last 3 years.

Nov 2006. Family dinner at Grand Mutiara Hotel

November 2006, I went back home for a week (my last year in college) and went to Brastagi Highland with my auntie and family whom came from Jakarta, my family, and grandparents. That was my first time met up with my cousins since year 2000. We stayed in Grand Mutiara Hotel.

Oct 2007. With cousins.

October 2007, I went to Brastagi Highland with my family. I was working as a packaging designer and had a one week holiday. We stayed in Grand Mutiara Hotel again and coincidently saw my Ku-ku there.

Front view of Grand Mutiara Hotel

October 2008, I went to Brastagi again with my family and stayed in Grand Mutiara Hotel again. I am a ‘free man’ now. I mean, freelancer.

Whoa, 3 years in line, same destination, same hotel. You may want to ask,”No where to go for holiday already hah?” The truth is, YES! Brastagi Highland is the nearest holiday destination from Medan (2 hours journey by car) where you can stay and overnight there. Forget about Pantai Cermin (Mirror Beach) cause it is no where near fun or relaxing for me. I wish we have other destination like Orlando golf or cleaner beach. *dream on*

While for the hotel itself, it’s because we like the room and the services there. Besides that, we get discount price (about 30%, depends) almost every time.

I wonder if I will go there again with my family during Idul Fitri holiday next year.

I’m back from 2 days holiday at Brastagi Highland. I still miss the cold weather, the green scenery, and the relaxing lifestyle. Oh.. heaven…

With such a cold weather, it wasn’t an issue for me to walk an ‘extra’ miles. I hardly exercise nowadays. Put a computer and a treadmill in front of me, I’ll opt for computer. Gotta change the habit, I know.

Let me lazying around for today since it’s Sunday. Will post more pictures tomorrow. Too lazy to edit.

I’m going to Brastagi highland with my family. It is 2 hours away from Medan, my hometown.

We’ll be staying at our favorite hotel, Grand Mutiara, for a night.

Will be back tomorrow afternoon or evening.