FINALLY GOT INKED UP!

Hi there my fellow tattoo enthusiast!

Today, I'm excited to share my tattoo experience with a little twist and turn. You see, not only have I acquired three incredible tattoos so far, but also the fact that my tattoo artist is straight-up smoking hot! I'm talkin' next level, can't-take-my-eyes-off-him kind of hot! 🔥 

I got my very first tattoo back in May. I waited a whole week before I posted about it on Instagram, and let me tell you, the range of reactions I got was wiiiiillldddd. From friends to family, everyone had something to say about it. You know how tattoos can stir up all sorts of strong opinions and emotions. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let's dig into the entertaining and diverse responses I faced on my inked journey. I'll spill the tea on the stories behind each tattoo and give some props to the artist for his undeniable charm. HAHAHAHA, this is gonna be good!

The Enthusiast:

Alright, let's kick things off with the enthusiasts, these are my friends who were super hyped and excited when they found out I got a tattoo. They totally embraced my ink and I love them for that, especially the ones who already had tattoos of their own. They were genuinely stoked about the design and couldn't wait to share their own tattoo stories. Their support and enthusiasm means a lot to me, made me feel understood, karena pas kita ngobrol kita jadi kayak creating instant bond for having the same enthusiasm for body art. I'm grateful surrounded by positive and open minded people like them. They're the real MVPs!

The Curious One:

Now, let's talk about the curious soul, that one person who couldn't help but bombard me with a gazillion questions about my tattoo. They were so damn curious, wanting to know every little detail like what it meant, the pain level, and even the credentials of the artist. But you know what? I didn't mind at all! In fact, it was a great opportunity for me to proudly share the significance of my ink and give them a crash course in the wonderful world of tattoos.

So, my first tattoo is on my lower arm, starting from my wrist. After days of searching for the perfect quote and sketching out ideas, I stumbled upon this simple yet profound phrase: 'To Begin, Begin.' This little reminder on my wrist serves as a daily inspiration to seize the moment and embrace new beginnings. It only took the artist about three minutes to bring this meaningful piece to life, but damn, he did it with such precision and perfection. And let me tell you, this artist not only has mad skills but also happens to HOT DAYUUM. It's hard not to appreciate the talented artist who kick-started my tattoo collection with such a meaningful piece. And yeah, it's kinda hard to get him out of my head too. Oops!

The Traditionalist:

Oh, the traditionalists, you can probably guess who they are. Yep, it's the family members and some of my conservative-ass friends. Their reactions were a mix of surprise, concern, and disapproval, no doubt about it. 

So, a day after I posted my first tattoo on Instagram, I got a furious phone call from my sister. She found out about it through someone else, and man, I wanna strangle that damn snitch! HAHAHA. She has no clue cuz I blocked her IG. I didn't pick up her call, no way I was ready to deal with her wrath, I was too scared to do that. But then she bombarded me with a WhatsApp text ike 5 pages-long-front-and-back-Rachel- kinda text. The highlight of her text is pretty much like: "Seriously, what the hell were you thinking? Did you even stop for a moment to consider how this would affect our family and our reputation? I hope you're enjoying your rebellious choice because you've definitely managed to alienate and upset me. Just be ready to face the consequences, not just within our family, but in the wider world as well"

Oh, the drama! Can't escape it, right?

Man, I totally get where my sister's coming from when she found out about my tattoo. I'm the youngest in the family, I've experienced all the highs and lows of being the baby at home. Let me tell you, it's a wild ride. As the youngest, I quickly learned that being the baby meant being both adored and tormented by my older sisters. I've got three sisters, and to be honest, I don't really get along with any of them. They can be downright scary sometimes. But the one who terrorized me on the phone? She takes the cake for being the scariest of them all.

According to her, it's not just about the tattoo itself, it's the message I'm sending. Apparently, I've disregarded our family's traditional beliefs and expectations. She's worried about what people are gonna say. They're gonna question our upbringing, our values, you name it. I get that our family's reputation matters, and my impulsive decision has put all of that on the line. But come on! You haven't even seen my tattoo in person. It's freakin' cute! People are gonna love it, I swear!

I was born and raised by a hardcore conservative Muslim parents. And living in a country with a rich cultural heritage and a mostly conservative society, people's views on tattoos can be really different here compared to other parts of the world. It's like tattoos are seen as this symbol of being a criminal or rebellious, or just not giving a damn about society's rules, you know? And those perceptions can totally mess things up because people start making assumptions and judging you based on your ink. Personally, I guess I've done some mildly rebellious stuff, but it's not like I've gone full-on criminal. It's just that here in Indonesia, people have this logic like, "Your parents are like a mirror to your soul. If they're saints, you can't be a sinner." But seriously, that's not how it works, man. I mean, I know my parents are super religious and they're always telling me, "Hey, when you're outside of house, you have to stay conscious of not trying to be a jerk." But come on, I don't always stay conscious or sober when I'm out and about, so yeah, sorry if I made a stupid decision.

By the way, aside from sharing my tattoo journey, I wanted to take a moment to apologize to my parents.

Hey Mom and Dad, so here's the deal. I wanted to use this blog (which you have no clue about, but my readers do) to say a heartfelt sorry for all the distress I've caused you. I messed up big time by getting a tattoo without even asking for your permission or discussing it with you beforehand. I really didn't mean to rebel or challenge your authority. Honestly, it was all about exploring my individuality and finding a way to express myself and grow as a person. I love and respect you both immensely, and I never want to cause you any pain. 

But here's the thing, I actually have three tattoos now. Yeah, I know, it's not the best way to ask for forgiveness by dropping that bombshell. But seriously, I am truly sorry. My impulsive decision has caused you both a lot of concern and disappointment. 

Nambah satu lagi boleh gak? HAHAHAHA

Alright, so remember how I said I got reactions from a bunch of people? Yeah, it wasn't just my family who had something to say, even my friends jumped in on it. I mean, when they saw my IG post, some of them were like, "Dude, wtf? Are you trying to go to hell or something?"

Dih monyet lu, kata gua.

And then there were my colleagues at work, who started worrying about how it might affect my future job prospects. But you know what they said? They were like, "It's your decision. You do you." I found that pretty damn funny because I don't recall asking for their permission 😂

I mean, I appreciate their concern and all, but sometimes it's just fun to shake things up and challenge those traditional norms, right?

Anyway, enough about that. Let's move on to my second ink story.

Alright, guys, it's time for the next chapter in my tattoo journey! This time, I went with a quote that hits me right in the feels. It's in Portuguese and it goes like this: "Deus Tem Sempre Uma Resposta Para Tudo." Basically, it reminds me that even when life gets all uncertain and crazy, there's some higher power out there guiding us. It's pretty deep, right? It's quite the experience when the artist's skillful hand and hotness blend seamlessly into this meaningful phrase to life on my left arm. And guess what? The whole thing took less than 15 minutes! And just like my first tattoo, the pain level was like a measly 3 out of 10. Not too shabby, huh?

But before I spill the beans on my last tattoo, let's take a trip down memory lane. Picture me at a major crossroads in life, craving a change and always admiring the artistry and symbolism of tattoos. After a ton of thinking and soul-searching, I decided it was time to embrace this form of self-expression. So, armed with a design in my head, I set off on a quest to find the perfect tattoo artist. I needed someone with mad skills and a deep understanding of the meaning behind the ink I wanted. After countless recommendations and hours of scrolling through tattoo portfolios, my friend Jenny spilled the beans about her first tattoo experience. I didn't remember where and how she found this talented artist, but she assured me that he's the real deal, and the best part? His studio is just a 10-minute away from my office. How convenient is that?

So, I got in touch with this awesome artist named Simon. We chatted about designs, placement, pricing, and all the do's and don'ts. Fast forward to the day of the appointment, I got into his studio, and Simon was busy working on Jenny's tattoo. And let me tell you, I did not expect my future tattoo artist to be that hot. Seriously, the guy was like a walking piece of art himself. His tattoos were on point, his style was on fleek, and he even gave off this badass mafia vibe, but in a totally cool way. I mean, to be honest, the muse of writing this blog might just be about the artist rather than my own tattoos. Yeah, I'm totally crushing on him, lol. And finally, it was my turn. I nervously took a seat in the tattoo chair, and let me tell you, being face to face with him, just 30 inches apart, I knew I had not only found a skilled artist but also the hottest damn creature on the entire planet. 

I couldn't contain my excitement and nerves all at once. The sound of the tattoo machine buzzing filled the air, and as each stroke landed on my skin, the words "To begin, begin" started to come to life. It was a moment of both physical discomfort and exhilaration a tangible representation of my commitment to embracing new beginnings.

Oh by the way, his studio is in Kebayoran Baru, you can hit him up on Instagram @alines.simonfstudio

Now, let me share a funny story about my first tattoo and the unexpected twist that came with it. So, picture this: I'm done getting inked, and we're all busy taking pictures in Simon's studio. I head home, all happy with my fresh ink. But then, something starts bugging me. Something seems off. And just as I start pondering what the heck is wrong, my phone starts buzzing. Guess who it is? Yep, you guessed it, Simon himself. He texted me, and here's the bombshell: he forgot to include a tiny, but oh-so-important punctuation mark in my phrase. Can you believe it? The comma! I didn't even notice it at first, but now I can't unsee it. Oh well, it just adds a quirky twist to my tattoo story, right?

It took a moment for my brain to register the missing punctuation mark, and when it finally clicked, I couldn't help but laugh my ass off. Instead of "To Begin, Begin," it now read "To Begin Begin." I mean, seriously, who needs a stinking comma anyway, right? Simon seemed to think so too! In that moment, I became the proud owner of a grammatically incorrect, yet undeniably hilarious, tattoo. I mean, what even is "To begin begin"? HAHAHA.

Last but certainly not least, I want to spill the petals on one of my favorite ink adventures: my stunning peony flower tattoo. After getting my first two tattoos, I decided to go all out and get a gorgeous peony flower design on my back. This vibrant and delicate blossom represents beauty, grace, and resilience, and it's absolutely stunning.

I walked back into Simon's tattoo studio (yes, I went back for more) about a month later. I was a bundle of nerves, a mix of excitement and a tad bit of trepidation. This third tattoo was bigger, longer, and a bit more complicated and painful than the previous ones. Out of all three tattoos, I have to say, my second one is my favorite. You know why? Because my special person was right there by my side throughout the entire process, offering support and sharing in this unforgettable journey. Having him there instantly eased my nerves and made it even more special. 

The buzzing sound filled the room, I closed my eyes and let the magic unfold. The sensation of the needle dancing on my back felt quite different from my first two tattoos. It was like tiny bee kisses leaving their mark. The pain level was definitely manageable, around a 5 out of 10, but boy, oh boy, as the minutes turned into an hour, I started sweating like crazy! I mean, seriously, I was dripping sweat like I was in the middle of a marathon!

But hey, no need to worry, my friends! Simon, being the awesome artist that he is not only excels in the art of ink but also in the art of distraction. He sensed my discomfort and we took a well-deserved 15-minute break. During that time, he started up a chill and lively conversation, diverting my attention away from the pain. We chatted about everything under the sun: his own tattoo journey, music, movies, the latest news, and of course, silly jokes. He even asked me about that special person I mentioned earlier.

"Cowok kamu kemana, kok gak nemenin lagi?"

Oh, let's not talk about him here, okay? He already had his fair share of the spotlight in my previous blogs. This time, it's all about giving that special spotlight for my tattoo artist.

It was 1 o'clock in the morning, and I had just gotten this stunning peony tattoo inked on my back. You know what I couldn't resist? Showing it off in all its glory! I mean, come on, this stunning artwork deserved to be flaunted. And who better to capture its essence than the artist who made it come alive? Turns out, my tattoo artist had another talent, he used to be a professional photographer for Maxim Indonesia before diving headfirst into the world of tattoos. Gak bisa nih gue sama yang gini gini, lemaaahh...

The whole process took 1 hour and 9 minutes, but hey, it was worth every second. The pain might be a thing of the past, but trust me, the memory of that experience is gonna stick with me forever.

I couldn't resist staring at myself in the mirror, taking in the sight of this vibrant peony blooming on my back. Man, it's like a work of art right there on my skin.

We decided to turn the tattoo studio into our own little photoshoot set. He grabbed a camera, ready to capture every detail, and I started striking poses. Gotta admit, I felt a bit awkward being half-naked in front of him. But hey, no need to worry, we kept it totally PG and he was super professional.

This is my third looks like. You can see my first and second on my Insta: @checheomg.

So, fellow ink adventurers, as I wrap up my tattoo tales, I gotta say, I'm feeling hella grateful for the meaningful artwork on my skin and the charm of the artist who created them. Each tattoo has its own story and holds a special place in my heart. Yeah, while it's fun to appreciate someone's physical attractiveness, but the real beauty lies in the art itself and the stories it tells. Here's to self-expression, epic artistry, and the unexpected joy of having a good-looking tattoo artist by your side on your inked adventures.

But let's not forget, a tattoo experience ain't just about the design or the pain, it's also about the people who join you on this wild ride. Whether it's a bestie, a bae, or a kickass tattoo artist, their presence can make all the difference.

Just a heads up: everyone's pain tolerance and tattoo journey are different. Make sure you choose a legit tattoo artist and follow the proper aftercare instructions for a smooth healing process. This blog is all about sharing my personal experience in a fun way, so don't take it as professional advice, ya hear? Embrace the sweat, the laughter, and the memories that come with your tattoo journey. Here's to tattoos, special peeps, and the beautiful stories they create.

Thanks, Simon. 

You deserve my respect, money and gratitude!

Michelle Tanner loves you.