Borneo with Happy!
As I come up on my fourth month, and nearly 8th in Asia. I find my life not even closely resembling what it was even just 6 short months ago. I went from life in Thailand in almost total isolation to Bali, the most vibrant of the Indonesian islands. There is no doubt that tourism has changed Bali. But you can’t buy culture. To find it you must penetrate deep within the social hierarchies of the island. Indonesian is the most sacred of traditional cultures and yet the most westernized, despite it rigid religious conformities. Its a duality that can leave you spinning.
I find myself living the island life, driving everywhere on my motorbike and surfing the evenings amongst the renowned surf breaks of Bali. In this world life moves fast. In four short months I have gone from observer to participant simply by process of Bali’s magical initiation. I’ve fallen in love, been disappointed in love, left a lover and found other meaningful relationships. The whole reason why I moved to Bali because I experienced a bliss that I did not think was possible in the world. Surf trips around this beautiful island, lust and love, memorable nights out, and the company of good friends. And so I was shown the height of happiness to be experienced. SO, I stayed. Is there a better reason than that?
In total I’ve moved about 15 separate times, found myself on the island of Borneo, Lombok, and Lembongan where I’ve stored away good memories and wild experiences for the grandkids. Its my own Bali story that is still being woven together. In the last three weeks my life in Bali crumbled around me because of what I had thought would be life changed without warning before my eyes. I had to say good bye to someone. I wasn’t sure that I was ready for things to change. It was fast and and it was drastic. I’ve learned that time moves fast on this island and recovery is quick and seamless. I subscribe to the philosophy that is bali wants you then there’s no point in fighting it. Bali will have you. If not, your time here can be over in the blink of an eye. I’ve become aware of Bali’s transient nature. People who live here are always the first to ask when meeting new people, “how long are you here for”. Its the question that assumes an end point, negates permanence. I’ve become bored of answering the question. Because there is no real answer to it. I’m here until the day comes where I’m done. And I can’t see that just yet. And since Bali is a land of spectacular lows and marvelous highs, this is the island of reinvention, discovery, creativity and ingenuity. So far, my ventures have taken me to a new level of possibility of what life can be and what life here already is. I’m writing in concepts because that is how I view them at this time and how most of us permanent island dwellers see it.
Life here feels abnormal in a way that one can only fantasize about in the west and life in Thailand is but a distant memory. Perhaps, simply a necessary part of my transition to this part of the world. In my mind, I can see myself old and grey and still living in Bali. The world is shifting and I have merely found my place in it.
