Gentle Trace

Something felt different in me these past few days. After my mother’s surgery, many of the household tasks she used to do shifted to me. It wasn’t that I was asked to take over temporarily—but somehow, the urge to help came strongly, even without being told. I didn’t just deliver food to my grandparents—I also helped clean their home. My grandmother often wets herself, so the house often smelled of urine. They’re both elderly, and while they can still do simple things, they’re no longer able to clean for long. Because of this new routine, I became more disciplined. I woke up at 3 a.m. for night prayers, had an early breakfast (not sahur), then prayed at dawn. After that, I took a morning walk from 5 to 6, visited my grandparents, came home to feed the cats, clean their litter, tidy the house, and help cook. With all those early activities, I managed to leave for work earlier and arrive on time. I used to reach the office at 9:30, even though work starts at 9. Strangely, with this n...

Just a few quiet moments from Mount Bokong. No big story—just the view, the air, and how it felt to be there. These photos are a small trace of that day, taken with my father's old digital camera and my not-so-great photography skills 😅.

October 10th One of my colleagues told me about her plan to hike Mount Bokong in Batu, East Java. Hearing that instantly sparked my curiosity, and I started asking her a few questions. Maybe she noticed how interested I was, because she ended up inviting me to join the trip. Honestly, I’ve always wanted to try hiking again. I once climbed Budug Asu near Lawang—if I’m not mistaken—and it left quite an impression on me. So, without thinking too much, I said yes to her invitation. But then she mentioned she’d be going with her boyfriend. That made me hesitate. I’d be going alone, and I didn’t want to intrude on their time together, haha. She added that a few others would be joining too—her boyfriend’s friend, the friend’s wife, and the friend’s mother. So, there would be five people in total. That made me pause again. I didn’t know any of them, and I was worried I’d be disrupting their plans. But my colleague had already asked her boyfriend if it was okay for me to come along, and he...

After leaving my friend’s house, we headed to Wlingi Dam—a place I had once explored during a field study with my classmates. This time, though, we lingered at the casual hangout spot. Back then, it was all about the office and the hydroelectric station. When we arrived, we found a small café and several cozy hangout spots along the edge of the dam. The view was stunning—lush nature all around, with a soft breeze that felt almost coastal. Many of the spots were already taken, but luckily, we found a shaded corner under a tree, safe from the afternoon sun. Our spot, under the tree   To secure a spot, we had to order food and drinks from the café. In return, they gave us a mat and a small table to place our meals. Once we finished setting up, we unpacked our provisions. Our host brought out some of the food she sells—pizza, cheesecake, brownies, and donuts. I only brought six homemade donuts, haha. After arranging everything on the table, we started taking photos of the food. We trie...

It’s a rainy and gloomy day, but I’m back with part 2 of my Wlingi adventure. A little drizzle never stopped a good story.

Hi, I’m Shaqin. I enjoy quiet things—like taking photos, writing, and making small handmade crafts.  I also work with maps, water modeling, and field surveys. My job is technical, but I like to make it clear and kind for others. I believe in fair work, slow creativity, and learning step by step. This blog is my calm space to share stories, small moments, and things I make with care.  Sometimes it’s a donut. Sometimes it’s a diagram. Sometimes it’s just a quiet thought from the day. my painting :P

Wlingi. A small town I used to pass through only with my parents. This time, I went without them—just me and a friend. It felt like a quiet step toward independence. I’d always traveled with family before, and I often got car sick, which made it hard to enjoy the journey. So, this time, I chose the train. I booked the ticket through the Access by KAI app and picked the local train—the cheapest one. It took longer to arrive since it stopped at many stations, but I didn’t mind. It felt like part of the experience. My friend in Wlingi had been craving my homemade donuts. I’d promised to make them for her, but we hadn’t had a chance to meet. So, I started making them at 2 a.m on d-day. I’m not sure if this counts as a tragedy, but my mixer broke—so I had no choice but to knead the dough by hand. I swear my right arm grew stronger that night. Somewhere in the middle of the process, I paused to pray Subuh. Honestly, it doubled as a much-needed break from kneading. By 6 a.m., the dough was re...