coriander in pho

When I was a kid, my late grandma always said, “excuse me…“ whenever we walked passed some abandoned gardens or some kind of forests.

I asked her why; she answered — and apparently it’s really common among Javanese folks — that the forests or some abandoned places might have some invisible residents. We as humans need to respect them, as they know more about the place than we do.

I feel this is not only specifically on Javanese culture; but also on many many many cultures and beliefs outside Java.

Next time you hike on the mountains or in the forests, don’t forget to say hello — and always always always pick your trash along the trip. Be mindful.

(I also just realized I forgot to draw the cat’s tail 😅)