A love story in the time of war
A long time ago in the past...
Mrs Sjam Haroen, her husband, and their five children left their homeland in West Sumatera in searching for a better life in Java island.
After settling down, Mr. Haroen went back to visit his family in Batu Singkarak, west Sumatera.
Unfortunately, the war broke out so he couldn't go back to Java. Forced to live separately with his wife and children, Mr. Haroen and his wife, Sjam, connected only through letters.
In one of the letters that was written with the help of their daughter (Roesmaniah), Sjam told her husband to marry another woman, realizing that they might be living separately for a very long time.
His answer was short and clear. In the letter he wrote to Roesmaniah, his words were, "I know only one woman in my life, and she is your mother".
Haroen died and buried in his homeland, Batu Singkarak, before the war finished. He never got a chance to see his wife and children again.
The daughter, Roesmaniah, grew up in Java (Batavia) where she then met Horastantie Kamarga, her future husband. They were gifted with 8 wonderful children, whom one of them is my mother, Hansiswany Kamarga.
Originally came from a beautiful place called Maninjau, my grandmother still has a share of land, which she need to take care. She might be in her age of 80s, but she managed to travel to her homeland with my mom and dad. Of course she used wheel chair most of the time with the help of Rina, her assistant, and also mom and dad.
Aldo and I tagged ourselves along with them. I always say I am partly Javanese, partly Sundanese, and partly Padangnese. But the only thing about Padang that I am familiar with is the food. Visiting the land of my ancestor was an opportunity not to be missed.
We spent our first night in Padang, the capital city of west Sumatera, continued with Maninjau lake where the relatives of my Grandma live. Our journey ended with relaxing two nights stay at Bukittinggi.
Follow the complete stories of our journey in flickr album West Sumatera 2008
