Don't Stop Believing : 2012-07-15

A part of me doesn't want to blog about Bali. On three separate occasions I have attempted to write about Bali but ended up staring at a blank screen. In some ways I want to keep my Indonesia experience to myself because the country now means so much to me. I discovered something powerful about myself in Indonesia which has given me a new found sense of strength and freedom.....

My journey in Indonesia began in Kuta, Bali which is a crazy city full of drunken Australian's, just like lonely planet says. The Australians go to Kuta to escape reality just like Americans and Canadians run to Cancun. There is no judgement here, just stating the simple reality, of what Kuta really is; a crazy party town with lots of restaurants, clubs, girls in short skirts and buff guys walking around in muscle shirts. I spent my first three nights in Kuta, with a Brazilian friend whom I met on my plane from Singapore, Ronaldo. We spent three days eating delicious sushi, drinking beers on the beach at night and chatting about life. Ronaldo you taught me so much about myself and so much about love. With endless gratitude - thank you!

I really enjoyed Kuta because there is a Bikram studio in Kuta so I was able to wake up, walk to yoga, and then walk to the beach for lunch. The studio is a small space with only 12 classes per week on the schedule, one teacher, and 2 - 6 students per class. It is very intimate but tranquil space. It felt amazing to get in a few classes and bend my body again. (I had some beautiful pictures of the studio but now no more).

After a few days in Kuta, Ronaldo and I, headed up to the Gili Islands for the full moon party. We met an English and Italian couple on the speed boat whom we became close with immediately. The four of us partied it up for the full moon party and explored Gili T while waiting for my girl friend to arrive from Ubud. Tori (whom I met in Malaysia with Jesse Crawford) arrived in Gili T, with another fellow American Jessica. The three of us had the most amazing time in Gili T, going to the moon and back, walking the island, becoming Charlie's Angels and meeting awesome locals. We saw the most beautiful sunset, and for a brief period the sky was missing the moon. We were able to see every single star in the sky. I have never seen nature in a more beautiful way. After about an hour of staring at the sky, the moon rose and filled the sky with its ever shinning light, diminishing many beautiful stars.

In many ways, Gili T resembles Kuta but in smaller form. The locals call Gili T, condom island, due to the amount of tourists that go there to party. After two days with the ladies on Gili T, Jessica and I, escaped to Gili Air which is much more our style. We rented a cute little bungalow ten steps from the beach and got bikes to take into the village everyday. Gili Air is a much more relaxed island with way less tourists and no dance bars. We spent our days snorkeling around the three islands, taking a diving course, making friends with the locals, reading, chilling, talking about the universe/life/love/everything and eating phenomenal food. The beauty of Gili Air took my breath away. I feel in love with the island so much that I have put it on my bucket list to buy land there. The island has not boomed like Gili T or Bali and the atmosphere is tranquil, relaxed, slow, beautiful, transformational, and welcoming. Maybe one day I'll build a yoga retreat, a guesthouse or simple a home to escape the cold Canadians winters. Regardless of what occupies the land, one day I will own my own space on Gili Air...

After Gili Air Jessica, Tori, and I headed back to Kuta to celebrate my 26 Birthday. It was one of the best Birthdays a girl could ask for. We woke up to breakfast by the pool, then spent our morning getting pedicures, Balinese massages, and shopping. After absorbing some sun we got dressed up and headed out to dinner. Following dinner we took in some free happy hour and then met up with some friends from Gili Air. It was an awesome day with phenomenal company and many great memories. We met a ton of awesome people that night and partied until the sun rose of the ocean. I feel extremely blessed that Jessica and Tori came into my life. Together we experienced Bali, the Gili Islands and I got to share my birthday with them. You ladies are phenomenal! We only knew each other for a few weeks but I feel like we have been friends forever. I cant wait till our paths cross again. Unfortunately somewhere in the night my camera disappeared with all of my pictures from four months of travel. At first I was devastated at the loss of my photos but then I remembered how lucky I am to be on this adventure and how grateful I am for all the good experiences and people that come into my life daily. My camera held the visual memories of my trip but nothing can take away the memories created as they will always be within me and the experiences continue to shape my future. These are the photos I have from friends and instagram of my time in Indonesia