2025_

We did the New Year's dinner a day late. Classic.

And at this point, Burleigh is basically a second home.

When you have the whole place to yourself, you build a basecamp. Turned the couch to comfy bed with back rest, high chairs as tables. It worked.

The apartment charged me a penalty fee more times than I'd like to admit. Every single time, I'd find the card right where I left it.

New place, same-ish roommate. We loaded up the van and said goodbye to the old apartment. One chapter closed, another one opened.

The day before Ramadhan, we wrote letters to our neighbors about the early morning noise. New place, new community.

First sahur of the month. Made too much food, started too late. Meanwhile, Cyclone Alfred had Brisbane panic-buying everything.

Then we flew to Sydney to watch Indonesia vs Australia. Had to support the team.

While in Sydney, we hit the trails. Coastal walks, cliffsides, and Bondi. Fasting while traveling hits different.

Volunteering at Brisbane Roar games. Wall climbing with friends. The usual routines that make a place feel like home.

Tried to surprise my parents. Showed up at the house. They weren't home. Locked outside. Again.

Surabaya nights with the homies. Overdue catchups, late night talks. The kind of time you can't plan.

Another Eid Adha hosted at our place. Then straight into finals mode. Library sessions, late nights, the usual grind.

One last exam. One celebration dinner. Then I got on a plane.

I wrote about this trip. Read the full story →

I came here to learn. To see where the future was being built. Turns out, it's plastered on every billboard, wrapped around every bus, glowing in every subway station.

Summer solstice. Quirky Victorian houses. Golden Gate picnics. I walked this city until my legs gave up. Worth it.

The view from the top was insane. I could've stayed up there forever. Still don't know how I pulled that off.

Summer in Tahoe was freezing. Everyone on the beach in puffer jackets. Patrick took me to Applebees after the fireworks, he said it's part of learning the American culture. I hated it.

This city taught me a lot. Met founders, visited hacker houses, learned about the startup scene. The energy here is different.

Leaving SF was emotional. Never thought I could pull off a trip like this. Still don't know how I afforded it.

Family flew in from Indonesia. Spent a few days exploring Sydney together. Bondi, city walks, the usual tourist things.

Then we flew back to Brisbane. Because graduation was coming.

Grad pics with the gang. The week felt surreal. Then family flew back home.

After the chaos, Straddie with the roommate.

Part of the grad trip series. Read more The adventure · The hostels

Lake Wakatipu at sunset. Alpacas on the road. Queenstown from above. Every turn was another postcard.

Wanaka sunset hit different. Then the drives through Lindis Pass to Mt Cook.

Sealy Tarns. Hooker Valley. Tasman Glacier. Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve. Two weeks of non-stop wonder.

Stargazing in Tekapo. First time skiing at Cardrona. Met people at hostels who became ski buddies.

No better way to decompress than a quick camping trip with friends. Short but sweet.

Being back meant catching up with everyone. Jakarta friends who are still studying. High school crew scattered across the city. Late night talks with no filter.

Three on a motorbike at 2am. 4am breakfast before my flight. The kind of hometown goodbye that stays with you.

Climbing trips. Hosting dinners. The rhythm of Brisbane life resumed.

Day hikes with Penghunies. Beach dips after. Friends heading home for good. The crew was changing.

Attended friends' graduations. End of year parties. Birthday dinner. Friends visiting from Jakarta.