An Implied Answer

hannanabila — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:13:00 GMT

Why this aqua age girl stares at me? Does she know I’m lost? In a maze of Old Jerusalem traditional market, I sit and stare back at her with smile and think that the look she have could make a future beauty model in my home country. With a flat face mimic she walks toward me and pointing shyly at my head trying to give polite instruction of how I should cover all my hair with scarf. My hand is busy holding a tab keep trying to find a way back to hotel, instead of fixing my head scarf properly I start to type “What’s your name?” she replies verbally “Ishra.” I ask more “Do you speak English? Are you from Jerusalem?” she says “Yes, Palestinian”.

The news all over media has brainwashed my thought when I hear that asking for a clear status country, Palestine. I was eager to ask her “Are you okay? Do you feel safe?” but I hold my tongue from many questions and give my scarf a better covered look on my head. She asked me if she can borrow the tab I’m holding. Without instruction Ishra (surprisingly) knows how to use map application and shows where we were and asked “Would you like to see more of Jerusalem?” Without doubt I respond “Yes, guide me.”

We went to Mosque Salahuddin another historical mosque in Jerusalem. Hidden quite far from the main street; the mosque got an important history as she explained "This is also my school, Madrasah". Number of kids are there reading in a modest class with old furniture and others are playing on the small mosque's field although it's a holiday time for them. Ishra explains mosque school is their favorite place, I guess silently it's because that's where they can mark their territory, play freely, and learned. She introduced me to her teacher, parents, people she knows that we met along the way.

They enthusiastically asked about my country of origin, not a single word of religion or political matters while me from outside where they live would like to know because I need to be enlightened from what I saw and heard. On that moment the lost soul inside changed into warm simple happy feeling. Ishra probably knows what I very much would like ask her, and without words or long explanation she showed it through our half day trip. Right in the moment before our unexpected encounter ends, she read my mind and says "Palestine and its people are beautiful; I would like to live here forever." I smile but sad to say goodbye.

Photos: My Scholarship entry - Piodalan ceremony : It happened sacredly and peacefully

hannanabila — Wed, 9 Jan 2013 09:37:00 GMT

Documenting experiences through photography is what I do to perpetuate moment at a time. My wanderlust youth allows me to photograph honest moments that happened and collect the memories inside pictures I made. Passion to create meaningful photograph grows obsessively inside of me ever since. I was born in Jakarta, Indonesia 24 years ago and live there. Owning a blog is my humble milestone of how much I love to share as it got more visitors and questions. Without doubt I know this is something I would like to do in long time : photographing and sharing. This scholarship looms large in my mind. It would not only give once in a lifetime experience but also to become an inspiration for others who start like me and make them touched by images I captured. To tell the enchantments of mother nature with words might be easier, but to be able to say it through pictures is something else, it's priceless. The sincere goal is to keep on learning , contributing and take a part in photography world. I believe it's possible to change the world through image and make a history from it. Most of all I'm just truthfully obsessed with discovering and capturing happening moments. Sincerely, Hanna

Hanna and the joy she found

An Implied Answer

Photos: My Scholarship entry - Piodalan ceremony : It happened sacredly and peacefully