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ri(pho)
Ricus Photography
Photography has always been an interest of me that I explored sometimes less and sometimes more. Here I like to share some of the pictures I made.
My Professional Journey
The Morning Milk of Lembang
A Story of Community, Tradition, and Daily Dedication | Lembang, West Java, Indonesia
Dawn in the Hills
The first rooster's crow still echoes over the hills of Lembang as Ibu Sari is already milking her cow. The warm milk flows in rhythmic streams into the pink plastic cup, while the morning mist slowly retreats from the volcano slopes. Her hands move skillfully and familiarly – she has been doing this every morning at four-thirty for twenty years.
"Ayo, Sari!" calls her neighbor Ibu Wati from the road. She too is already carrying her filled aluminum cans to her bicycle.
The two women are part of the milk cooperative that forms the heart of their small community. Every morning, the farmers meet at the old collection point with the weathered sign "KOPERASI" (COOPERATIVE).
Sari pours the still-warm milk through a fine sieve into the shiny cans. The metallic clinking mixes with the birdsong and the distant engine noise of the first ojeks (motorcycle taxis) bringing workers down to the valley. She loads the heavy containers into the woven baskets of her black bicycle – one can on the left and one on the right, perfectly balanced.
The Journey to the Cooperative
The ride to the cooperative is short, but the path leads downhill over bumpy concrete slabs. Sari knows every unevenness, every pothole. Along the way, she greets other milk farmers: Pak Budi with his motorcycle full of cans, Ibu Tini, who walks on foot while quietly humming to herself.
At the collection point, there is already lively activity. Dozens of gleaming milk cans stand in orderly rows, while the farmers gather in small groups and talk about the weather, the cows, or the children. Ibu Mega sits with her baby on her arm on the low concrete wall and waits patiently until it's her turn.
Quality Control
Pak Hendra, the cooperative manager, carefully checks each delivery. He smells the milk, tests the consistency, and precisely notes the quantity in his well-worn notebook. "Very good today, Bu Sari," he nods approvingly and enters 12 liters in the corresponding column.
From Farm to Table
The fresh milk is immediately transferred to the large cooling tanks. From here, it makes its way to the dairies in Bandung or is processed into local cheese and yogurt. But for the farmers, this is only the beginning of a long workday – the cows are already waiting for their morning feed, and in the afternoon, the whole process begins again
As Sari cycles home with the empty cans, the sun is already high over the green hills of Lembang. In her basket, the small change for the morning milk jingles – enough for rice, vegetables, and perhaps a new school notebook for her daughter.
The Heart of Lembang
The milk cooperative is more than just a business – it's the heartbeat of the community. Here, neighbors become partners, daily routines become traditions, and individual efforts contribute to collective prosperity. Every morning, as the mist lifts from the volcanic slopes, this cycle of cooperation and care continues, sustaining families and strengthening bonds that have been built over generations.
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Make every moment count!
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