By : Vikra Alizanovic
Lebaran this year somewhat feels a lot different from the pasts. Probably it was because we hadn’t gone to our hometown for Lebaran in quite a while. This year, we’re going to my grandfather’s in Baturetno, Solo, Central Java, and in Lamongan, East Java.
We were off from Jakarta about a week before the big day. We travel by car. The trip was fine and fun. But having a long trip while fasting is not very easy. Although there is a rule in Islam that says that travellers may choose not to fast during the travel, we choose to keep fasting. Our first destination was to my Uncle Daris in Solo, who is my mom’s younger brother. We only come by to say hello, because we’re gonna see each other again anyway later at my grandpa’s house. After that, we went straight to Baturetno. My grandpa and my step-grandmother was really glad to see us. We stayed there for about 5 days before my other cousins, uncles and aunts all gathered there. My father went to Jakarta first because his holiday hasn’t started yet. He’s coming again one day after Idul Fitri.
On our 2nd day there, we go to Jogja to meet my Uncle Ahsan, my mom’s youngest brother. We stayed there for a night. Uncle Ahsan drives us around. He knows I enjoy eating. That’s why he always managed to take us to great food places. The next day we went to Malioboro. It is a traditional shopping district in Jogja. It usually sells souvenirs, clothes, and stuff. Most are Batik. From Malioboro, we went back to my grandpa’s.
Funnily, at the road, in Wonosari, I was stopped by a police. It was a really bad luck. First, because I haven’t got my driving license yet. The officer claims that I run through a red light. Well, I might have, because the road was empty so I don’t really care if there was even a red light. I let my mom do the talking. Finally, we’re let go. Don’t know how. And then we continue on to my Grandpa’s.
One thing that I love the most about spending Lebaran in my hometown is the meal. The meal is just extraordinary. Opor Ayam, Oseng Tempe, Jangan Lombok, Tongseng. Delicious. While staying in Baturetno, I almost never missed Tarawih pray. Hehehe. And finally, the big day arrives. All my cousins have gathered. In the morning we pray Ied together. After Ied, we shake hands with each other forgiving sins we have made in the past. And then after shaking hand with everyone there, we eat Lebaran meal there. It is rice with fish or tempe or eggs, packeted with banana leaves. It was delightful.
Lebaran this year somewhat feels a lot different from the pasts. Probably it was because we hadn’t gone to our hometown for Lebaran in quite a while. This year, we’re going to my grandfather’s in Baturetno, Solo, Central Java, and in Lamongan, East Java.
We were off from Jakarta about a week before the big day. We travel by car. The trip was fine and fun. But having a long trip while fasting is not very easy. Although there is a rule in Islam that says that travellers may choose not to fast during the travel, we choose to keep fasting. Our first destination was to my Uncle Daris in Solo, who is my mom’s younger brother. We only come by to say hello, because we’re gonna see each other again anyway later at my grandpa’s house. After that, we went straight to Baturetno. My grandpa and my step-grandmother was really glad to see us. We stayed there for about 5 days before my other cousins, uncles and aunts all gathered there. My father went to Jakarta first because his holiday hasn’t started yet. He’s coming again one day after Idul Fitri.
On our 2nd day there, we go to Jogja to meet my Uncle Ahsan, my mom’s youngest brother. We stayed there for a night. Uncle Ahsan drives us around. He knows I enjoy eating. That’s why he always managed to take us to great food places. The next day we went to Malioboro. It is a traditional shopping district in Jogja. It usually sells souvenirs, clothes, and stuff. Most are Batik. From Malioboro, we went back to my grandpa’s.
Funnily, at the road, in Wonosari, I was stopped by a police. It was a really bad luck. First, because I haven’t got my driving license yet. The officer claims that I run through a red light. Well, I might have, because the road was empty so I don’t really care if there was even a red light. I let my mom do the talking. Finally, we’re let go. Don’t know how. And then we continue on to my Grandpa’s.
One thing that I love the most about spending Lebaran in my hometown is the meal. The meal is just extraordinary. Opor Ayam, Oseng Tempe, Jangan Lombok, Tongseng. Delicious. While staying in Baturetno, I almost never missed Tarawih pray. Hehehe. And finally, the big day arrives. All my cousins have gathered. In the morning we pray Ied together. After Ied, we shake hands with each other forgiving sins we have made in the past. And then after shaking hand with everyone there, we eat Lebaran meal there. It is rice with fish or tempe or eggs, packeted with banana leaves. It was delightful.
And then when we’re back home, we start ‘sungkeman’. It is a tradition in which we kneel down before our elder and ask for forgiveness. We start from the elder, and on to the younger making a line. Mostly people would cry. Maybe I’m just not that kind of person. -____-
The next day, my dad came. We were all exhausted. Guests are coming like an endless rain, it never stops. Hahaha. But in the night we had a good time. We set up tent in front of the house. We grilled fish and cassava. It was delicious. I enjoy eating grilled fish.
And then the next day we packed and prepared to leave. None of us were excited to leave. I know that everyone still wants to stay. 4 days was just too short. But we all have our own things to do. We had to attend the other family meeting in Lamongan. Om Daris’s family must attend their other family meeting too in Solo, and Om Ahsan’s family must attend their other family meeting in Jakarta. So, we bid farewell to Akung, and off to Lamongan.
