For the last three years, I have stopped writing new year’s resolutions. Instead, I’ve set “yearly themes.” In short, 2020 happened, and people are reminded that even the best laid plans can and will go wrong through no fault of their own. It’s better to keep a goal that we can follow along as we cruise through life, but one that still allow flexibility on how it is done. More on this on CGP Grey’s video Your Theme.
Now, my theme for 2023 was journey. And what a journey this year has been. I don’t have a lot to show, but here are some pictures of my journeys this year.
View of the Jakarta MRT railway and Indonesia Attorney General Office.The front appearance of the National Library of Indonesia’s library services building in Jakarta.Small figure of Lisa from Genshin Impact on top of my stacks of books in my office desk. Grafitti depicting the Luwuk Banggai area at the Luwuk Banggai Airport.An assortment of seafood menus served in a restaurant in Luwuk, Banggai Regency, Indonesia.An after-dusk view of the Luwuk City in Banggai Regency, IndonesiaEntrance hallway at Shinagawa Station, TokyoAn entrance of the Shibuya Train Station, Tokyo.Shibuya Crossing, TokyoA view of Tokyo’s suburb area.A view of Tokyo’s skyline from the window of United Airlines’ lounge at the Narita Airport.Bird’s eye view of Tokyo’s suburbsIn-flight passenger screen on United Airlines plane showing a world map denoting the distance from Tokyo to Washington, DC.Concourse at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport.A Chick-Fil-A meal containing sandwich, fries, soda, and sauces.Outside of IKEA store in College Park, Maryland, United States. In front of the building are flags of the United States, Sweden (where IKEA comes from), and Maryland.Large-sized flags of Texas and the United States displayed in front of a factory (?).A platform in a DC Metro Station.The Male/Female Statue in front of Penn Station, Baltimore.View from the inside of The Book Thing of BaltimorePedestal of the former statue of General Robert E. Lee in Baltimore. It has been sprayed with grafitti saying FREE PALESTINE. The site is now known as the Harriett Tubman Grove.An afternoon view of the main road and strip malll in Adelphi, Maryland, United States.Seneca Lake Park, Maryland, United StatesUniversity of Maryland’s Marching band performing at an American football matchInner yard of Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Washington DC. The flag of the United States is displayed prominently in vertical orientation.Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo giving a speech at Georgetown University accompanied by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim.The National Mall area in Washington DC with the National Monument in the background.Front view of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.Entrance gate of the Chinatown in Washington DCCeilings of the Library of Congress Jefferson BuildingInner courtyard of the Hirshhorn Museum of ArtSarasvati Statue in front of Indonesian Embassy Washington DCFront view of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DCA street in Washington DCView of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, United States
I have never been to any country outside of Indonesia before, and in 2023 I have traveled almost literally to the other side of the world, with 12-hour time difference and all that. I’ve always dreamed of visiting places I’ve never been to. I’ve done that in 2023. This was truly the year of my journey.
What was your journey like in 2023? What is your theme for 2024?
