Living the dream of waking up to the sound of birds chirping

 

Since the start of COVID-19 pandemic that made us return to Kupang from Jakarta, my wife, Edenn and I would every now and then take a road trip or go out camping over the weekends. We enjoyed seeing the sunrise in the mountain or waking up amidst foggy Timor forest. 

For fun, I used to browse Facebook marketplace just to see if anyone selling lots outside of Kupang that we could make it like a farm, enough space for Kayla and Maxi to run around and for us to wake up with fresh air, away from people and city noise. 

I didn't realise that this became one of Papa's parting gifts to me. Papa came out of hospital just before his 70th Birthday after fighting for his recovery for more than two months at Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) hospital. He came home on February 10th, to his home at Sitio Basak, Mintal and thus, began our life living at the family's farm lot. 

Mintal is now different than how it was two years ago. Even Edenn was shocked with all the developments in Mintal and how rapid the urbanisation expanding outside of Davao. The Tonel's family lot with a size of around three hectares becomes an enclave that still offers clean air and natural sanctuary for birds and other wild animals. When we took a walk around the neighbourhood, we were quite surprised to find out that the farm was already surrounded by all houses. 

For two and half months, I had a taste of rare experience sleeping with the soothing sound of rain, waking up to the birds chirping, smelling the fresh air in the morning and feeling the mist on the grass and watching fireflies flickering in the evening. Those were all just in my imagination but they did materialise as we spent time with papa for the last few days of his life. I got to experience his life in Mintal. 

Yuri

Edenn is a light sleeper, she falls asleep very early but gets up very early too, even before dawn. She always gets up much earlier than I do. We'd begin our days by having a coffee at the balcony and waited for the sun to rise. Then, I would feed the ducks and doves, before heading out across the creek to move the cows to a new grazing area. When the grass was still short, I took Yuri, our senior dog, with me. I then spent sometime cleaning the grass and bushes slowly, bits by bits until all the area was clean and tidy. Around 7AM, I returned, had breakfast and was getting ready for work. 

In the afternoon, I left the laptop around 3PM, again started by feeding the ducks, ushered them inside their 'condominium' and headed out again across the creek to move the cows back to an area that we could see from the house. I spent a bit of time slashing the bush again before returning home around 5PM and was ready for our dinner. We started our days early and tucked to bed early as well, like an old couple in their retirement. 

During these two months, I even had a chance to make vegetable gardens, well, although they turned out to be unsuccessful but I enjoyed the process and seeing how the vegetables grow. 

These two and half months are just distant memories now and I'm not sure if I could have the same privilege again to live at the farm, but still working and earning a living with my current job. It may never happen again, therefore I'm thankful of this experience. It was tough to see Papa fighting for his life in these two months but he left me with such a precious gift of an experience that will never fade. 

Thank you Pa. 



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