Yes, I know. This year has been off to a slow start for blogging. But I’m ok with that. Knowing the imminent wedding chaos is around the corner, I think I will relish in the quiet of where I am. Right now, that happens to be Indonesia. A couple days in Bali and now on the island of Sumbawa, I am a week into my adventure. Loving the heat, the white sand beaches and the sweet frangipani that seems to linger in the air.
It's all in the Details...
I love the details. It's what makes a place unique. In Italy, I loved all the intricately carved stone pillars and worn cobblestone streets... the brass door-knockers and wood shutters. Mexico is all about the ancient wood doors and iron accents, huge chandeliers left to weather in the salt air, colorful ceramics and bright fabrics. Every country, every people, every culture has a way of expressing themselves... and it usually comes out in the details.
What are the details that make your space unique to you...?
32 Days | Surfing Indonesia | Video Series
So... I got my adventure. I wanted it, I asked for it, and I got it. It's so difficult to describe a trip like this; so many incredible experiences, so many amazing moments in between. For me, one of the most important things was to be able to disconnect from my world. It took awhile to let go... of the endless lists in my head, of worrying about work emails piling up, of thinking about projects and events and commitments. It took awhile to become present to where I was and who I was with. And that's when the magic really began. For me, it's not really about the experience itself, but how it makes you feel... that is what stays with you forever. So in being present, I was then able to really feel the land and its people, and that was the real gift of Indonesia.
This is a short video from our trip. Enjoy!
...xoxo
Perfect Waves, Markets Galore & a Firefly Dance | Day 29
I walked along a narrow concrete path, worn from heavy rains and relentless sun, partly illuminated by a random, swaying light bulb. On one side, water flowed swiftly along a culvert, skillfully working its way through the maze of waterways, ultimately ruling the fate of every rice crop in the area. On the other side was darkness, a night air thick of croaking frogs and humming crickets that echoed off the stone walls and rice fields, reflecting a sky of foreign constellations. Silhouettes of Balinese cottages and temples framed the sky, majestic and angular. I closed my eyes so I would remember the sounds, the weight of the air, the mustiness of the rice field. When I opened them, the reflecting stars were dancing above the fields, twirling and spinning, the evening breeze conducting this night symphony. One of the most spectacular sights I’ve seen, in its simplicity, in its splendor. Another exquisite gift from nature. A firefly dance.
It’s never easy to fit in a month of travel with your family. Busy and conflicting schedules, lack of time and money… but at the end of it all… this is all we have. Experiences, memories, laughter, love... and all the moments in between. One life. It’s all we get, so make it a good one.
I look forward to the next adventure… xoxo
I think this is one of my favorites from the trip...
And the Adventure Begins… The Gili Islands | Day 10
We left Kuta on a whim. “Let’s just leave now and take the night ferry to Lombok”. It seemed like such a good idea at the time, but with an increasingly nauseous feeling in my stomach, I should have known what I was in for. Nothing too terrible, just a half a dozen stops on the hour drive to the ferry, throwing up every last bit of stomach acid, and curled in the fetal position in the back seat in between. We caught the midnight ferry, and it just happened to be the worst that any of us had ever seen in a third world country. For my brother, Jesse, to raise an eyebrow at it, after his coming to Indonesia for the last 7 years, says a lot. Nonetheless, sometimes you just have to grin and bear it, besides, I was in no state to pull the princess card. Travel in Indonesia is far from luxurious, but in the end, it is a small price to pay for uncrowded waves and patches of untouched paradise.
Back to the ferry. Weak and nauseas, I climbed the stairs to the top deck, as we weren’t allowed to stay in the van in case a truck, all of which were dangerously overloaded with supplies, might “tip over”. Words cannot really describe this ferry. It is impossible to accurately express the stench that burned your nostrils and made your stomach churn, the hot, humid air that seemed to permeate your clothing, or the way the layers of built up grime caught a hold of your flip-flops as you walked. It was a 5 1/2 hour ferry ride and I barely had the energy to stand. After haggling with some “employees”, we managed to buy ourselves a small 6’x 6’ room with a bunkbed. I crawled to the top and opened a port-hole, trying desperately to ease my nausea with deep breathes from the somewhat fresher ocean air. My brothers and father all attest that it was best that I was in this half delirious state, in fear I may have been aware of what had been crawling over me while I slept. I awoke slightly better, laughing together at the corner my brothers were forced to sleep in, loving them even more for their sacrifice. Next came another drive along the western coast of Lombok. Soon, white sand beaches and lush palms came into view. We jumped in a boat, packed to the hilt with locals and fresh fruit and vegetables, which took us through clear turquoise waters to the spectacular island of Gili Trawangan. With the first step onto the powdery, white sand beach, any memory of previous night’s experience was lost.
But the real question is, what's up with that creepy poster of the baby???
The Gili Islands consist of a trio of spectacular, coral-fringed islands off the northwestern coast of Lombok. With no electricity, and the only mode of transport being horse-drawn carts and bicycles, everything seems to slow down to its own ‘island time’. And it truly is paradise. Literally meters off the beach, the crystal clear water is teaming with a plethora of exotic reef fish and sea turtles. One day we rented bikes and rode around the island, finding the beach easier than the sand swollen roads. Another day we kayaked to the next island, almost completely deserted, and snorkeled the clear waters in solitude. But I think hands down, my favorite memory will be midnight swims in phosphorescent drenched water under a sky filled with more stars I’ve seen in a lifetime…
Ok, it is really hard riding in the sand with no hands... harder than it looks, I swear!
Bali Roadtrip | Day 6
Indonesia is an amazing country. Its history, environment, and cultures alone are so comprehensive, as visitors, we can only hope to try and scratch the surface of the complexity of it all. The life of Indonesia is a complex tale of discovery, oppression and liberation. It is the world’s largest archipelago with over 17, 500 islands and a population of 245 million. The landscape is a varied terrain of peaks and valleys, with some of the largest peaks being snow-capped all year round, but in most areas the skyline is dominated by volcanoes. It served as a crossroad between India, China and beyond, a convenient midway point where cultures crossed over and merchants met and exchanged goods. However, as a result of the seas and rough terrain, travel within Indonesia was restricted and thus resulted in the nation’s distinct cultural entities.
So many cultures, religions, ethnic groups and languages, and yet the one thing that unites them all is an openness and friendless I haven’t experienced anywhere else in the world. They are a truly beautiful people.
Escaping Kuta, we traveled west to a surf break an hour away, staying in a local losmen overlooking rice paddies, and a black sand beach with a fun right hand break at the river mouth. Watching the sun rise over this scene was stunning. There was a serenity that seemed to hover alongside the morning mist, bringing a calm that I haven’t experienced in a long time.
Returning to Kuta to catch a flight to Sumba, we discovered the plane “broke” and we had to change our plans. The first lesson of traveling… go with the flow, and enjoy what presents itself!
Finding the Beauty in the Chaos of Kuta | Day 3
Kuta is chaos. There is no way around it. The maze of alleys will suck you in like a black hole. Always staying longer than you planned, you will leave having consumed more alcohol than you ever thought possible, be wearing cheap knock-offs, and have at least one injury from a motorcycle accident. However, on the positive, you will feel a freedom like never before. Kuta doesn’t judge. Here, the crazier the better. I see people arrive wearing their hesitation on their sleeve, and within days, they are different, or moreso, they are no longer afraid to be themselves. With parents and friends on the other side of the world, it is a place to find yourself, or reinvent yourself… and if you don’t like what you find, you can then be whatever you want… whomever you want.
But in the end, it is chaos, and after a time, it must be escaped. The exhaust, the noise, the partying, the constant harassment from vendors… I start to crave the real Indonesia… the one of black sand beaches and rice paddies, of jungles and small villages. So in my search for authenticity, I walked Kuta at sunrise, and to my surprise, was able to find simplicity in her chaos, patches of beauty among the tourist façade.
