When in Bali...

While in Seminyak, a 53 year old balinese woman who stood about 4’10 jumped on my back. Yes, I paid her $8.50, her published rate for a full hour massage and body scrub; however, she gave me no indication that she would start by leaping onto the table in a single bound. Following the massage, she also prophesied about my future, however, I am guessing that was a freebie because it was unexpected and not on the menu.

Oh how I love a great adventure! International travel is a personal passion of mine. My parents first introduced me to international travel when I was 5 years and since then I’ve loved being able to experience the unfamiliar. Traveling around Cuba left me with a unique appreciation for things that I might otherwise take for granted like easy access to safe drinking water and news/information. In Nicaragua, I learned that my ability to negotiate pricing is an international skill and not completely limited by my 7th grade level Spanish. I negotiated a boat tour around Lake Nicaragua, the only freshwater lake containing oceanic animal life, including sharks, swordfish, and tarpon. If you’d seen the boat and considered the presence of shark, you might have questioned my decision making; however, it was a calculated risk and a great adventure. In Barcelona, I learned to make Paella, a dish first created between the 14th and 15th centuries. I walked into class thinking it would be easy because I cook; however, I was mistaken and the recipe was far more intricate than I had anticipated. I am a firm believer that there are lessons in all life experiences, so I went with it and my reward was a delicious paella! In Sydney I “learned” that the closer you are to Asia, the better the Chinese food, a idea that could also apply to being authentic. The closer we are to our authentic selves, the better we are for the world.

I could go on and on about why you should opt for the long layover in Seoul and why Tunis is like untapped magic; however, the most important thing lesson in all of my travels is that there are gifts on the other side of your curiosities, fears and openness. On that same trip to Bali, I decided to spend my final day lounging by a pool in Jimbaran Bay. As I soaked in the sun in silence, a woman swam up to me to tell me that I looked so happy. I paused and simply responded, “I AM”. Always choose happy! Happy exploring…