Yes, October 17, 2007, I went back to the place that I took my first step to—Sei Kakap. This time, I took the correct turn (it was the left turn—I shoul’ve known it!). And yes, I did find the seafood restaurant my dad took me once—Teratai Indah Seafood Restaurant.

It was in this traditional fish market area. You can smell fish even before you really step your feet into the market itself. When I came, it was drizzling and not many people were there (I loved that kind of situation).

Before taking my step further to the sea, I firstly took pictures in a small village with very tiny damaged road and some small houses—Dusun Nirwana. The village is right next to the big river which goes ends to the sea, not far from there.

God, I was so very much excited witnessing the beautiful view and the fresh air of the sea. And seeing the river and the sea meet in the end—wow!

People there—mostly fishermen—were pretty friendly. They smiled. They answered my questions about the place nicely. They’re just so kind.When I took some pictures from the Jembatan Bintang Tujuh (the Seven Stars Bridge, to be translated freely), people sitting and standing in some boats and vessels seemed confused and curious, but some smiled at me. Some thought that I was a journalist or something. And the folk parking my motorbike before a vihara was a bit surprised understanding the fact that I came all the way there only to have fun.

Basically, the place is wonderful. But too bad that the dock there isn't really taken care of. Well yes, many people visit, especially to eat at Teratai Indah. However, I’m convinced that even more people would visit Kakap if the wooden dock is repaired a bit, painted, given the sign of the name of the place, and so on. Should all of those mending things happen after I became the minister of tourism? (hyperbolic—but I’d find ways to get more tourists there, why not)

The restaurant is also awesome, with many small individual huts to eat above the water. But, again, needs to be repaired, in particular the woods—mended and painted. Apparently the restaurant is a kind of place in which it is more normal to be there not by yourself. Many visitors there, when I came, were mostly big families, eating in buzzing sound. No wonder the resto waitresses were a bit taken aback seeing me sipping the fresh coconut water alone in one of the huts—the nearest to the sea.

Yes, that’s one of the special things about visiting that resto—having one complete coconut fruit to drink the water and to eat the fresh coconut meat itself. Astounding As the fish and prawn and other seafood there were very expensive, I decided not to eat anything. But to keep my manner, I ordered one special prawn dish to be taken home for my parents.

This heart was so much relieved—finally I saw the sea again I felt close to Mother Nature. I felt close to Lord.

And I felt close to this word you call ‘grateful’.