Jakarta-Bekasi-Karawaci. From Southgate Residence, to Kemang Village, to Pakuwon Mall, to Kemang View Apartment, to Karawaci, then BSD. All in Sunday.
Some Sundays feel like a gentle inhale and exhale. This one felt like a long, winding laugh you can’t quite control but wouldn’t trade for anything.
We were still in the staycation bubble at Southgate Residence, half-floating in that weekend fantasy where time doesn’t exist and alarms are optional. The plan was simple: join online church at the private cinema room at 10. Easy. Peaceful. Holy, even.
Of course, reality had other plans.
When everyone stays up too late watching random videos, doomscrolling, and pretending tomorrow doesn’t exist, there is only one possible outcome. Woke up too late. Naturally. We scrambled out of bed like a family who forgot an exam, except instead of textbooks we carried our messy hair and hunger pangs.
We managed to start service at 11, still half-asleep and definitely starving, but there’s something endearing about worshipping together in a tiny private cinema while clutching your growling stomach. It felt raw. Honest. Real life faith.
Once the final prayer ended at noon, there was only one thing on our minds: food. And since we had promised Denny Santoso and Fellin we’d meet them at Lippo Mall Kemang Village, that became our next destination. Sure, AEON was closer, but promises are promises.
We stopped first at The People’s Cafe for lunch. They had a food bazaar right outside, and it looked tempting with all the colors and smells, but the sun was blazing. So we opted for the safer, cooler option inside. Comfort always wins on a hungry Sunday.
After lunch, we walked over to Thai Street to meet Denny and Fellin, who were already settled in and ready for dessert. Mango sticky rice buy 2 get 1? Say no more. We ordered that plus drinks, and before we knew it, two hours had passed. The conversation went everywhere from fengshui tips to naturopathic remedies. The kind of chats that are random on paper but perfect in the moment.
By 3 PM, we said our goodbyes and hopped back into the car. Next destination: Bekasi.
Yes, Bekasi. From South Jakarta. On a Sunday. I know. The commitment.
But this was important. Our mandor had finally finished renovating the apartment, and since he was leaving for his hometown for a week starting tomorrow, today was the only day for handing over the keys. So off we went on our mini pilgrimage from Jaksel to Bekasi.
Standing in that freshly renovated unit felt like exhaling after holding your breath too long. Finally. It's ready. It’s clean. It’s fresh. It’s rentable again. If you’ve ever waited on renovations, you know the relief. It’s like getting your house back after lending it to many versions of chaos.
And yes, consider this my shameless plug:
For rent: a two bedroom apartment right in the heart of Bekasi, across Pakuwon Mall, near the toll gate, walking distance to the LRT station. Only 2 million per month, including IPL. Perfect for students, small families, or anyone who wants everything within reach. Contact admin here.
After locking up and thanking the mandor again for his work, we drove out of Bekasi and, going home? Nope. Not yet. Apparently this Sunday still had one more chapter.
Our youngest needed to be dropped back at her dorm in Karawaci. So we made one final loop through the Jakarta maze, dropped her off, hugged her tight, and only then did we start the real journey home to BSD.
If someone had looked at our route on a map, it would’ve been ridiculous. Like we were doing a Sunday marathon across Java. But in the car, between the laughter and the yawns, it all felt strangely right.
Sometimes grace just looks like coming home at the end of a long day, kicking off your shoes, and knowing you did your best with the hours you were given.
I wouldn’t call it a perfect Sunday, but it was a full one. The kind that doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else, because it made sense to us.
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