Ubud, Bali, Indonesia;
Reiterating my sentiments from Sunday, I really feel great in Ubud. There’s so much positive energy floating around that it’s hard not to feel great. So many good things have happened to me on this trip and today I was finally able to process it all and find a reason for it – and in all honesty, there was no particular reason; it was karma, it was Bali, and the fact I’d chosen to be positive rather than dwelling on my negativities.
Arriving here last week from Canggu, I let go of a lot of feelings that were perhaps holding me back. I cleared some headspace and thought about things logically. And as soon as I let them go, the universe brought me wonderful opportunities and I had the most amazing time – an awakening you could probably call it.
Bali, especially Ubud, and the people I met, gave me the courage to accept what was, accept the present and to not worry about the future so much…and more importantly, Ubud taught me to love myself again, to love my life and the direction I was heading and the decisions I would make; to realise I deserve more respect than I’ve been given in the past and to realise my worth. Speaking with San Fran had really helped me to change the way I looked at myself – she told me I have so many good things going for me, and so many things to look forward to, things I deserve; and receiving encouragement for these ventures from total strangers was heart warming and touching. And today I firmly concluded that Bali, especially Ubud, is my go to place. My spiritual haven. My Mecca.
I spent the morning at yoga doing basic Vinyasa which wasn’t too challenging really; I’d broken a sweat but I felt I could’ve pushed myself further, so to add bulk to my exercise and hopefully feel a little more invigorated I took myself on the Campuhan Ridge Walk. The ridge walk was essentially a 2km trail that took you over the top of the rice fields and gave you a pretty decent hill view of this part of Ubud. San Fran had told me to go early as it gets very hot and sweaty trying to do the walk closer to midday. Being the sadistic punisher that I am though, I ignored her advice and set off around 12pm, just as the sun was climbing to its highest point in the sky. Despite the walk not being too difficult, like with yoga this morning, I still broke a sweat…but this time it was a disgusting sweat – the sunscreen running down my back, my blue top soaked from top to bottom. It was a glorious success and I’d achieved exercise gold!
To cool down, I took myself to Kiss Me Warung on the other side of the ridge. The cute cafe gave a 360 view of the rice fields and I believe it used to be called Kiss Me Ketut, something to do with the book/film Eat, Pray, Love, but don’t quote me on it. Anyway, the food was cheap and the portions were huge so I enjoyed a much needed feed while allowing my sweaty body to dry off somewhat.
That evening I’d agreed to meet with San Fran again for some dinner, some drinks and some free jazz music at a place called Arang Sate. It was creeping closer to the end of my trip and San Fran wanted to make sure we spent one last evening in each other’s company before she left for Flores and I embarked on the long journey back to England. San Fran was a woman I admired, a true gem, a beautiful soul, a real live wire, and as I mentioned earlier, I was more than sure that she’d entered my life for a reason. That night though, she told me that I had definitely and clearly entered hers for a reason too. She said that last few days had been instrumental in her being able to processes her feelings, and to let go of the last of the grief for her late husband, something she’d been carrying with her for the last few years. She said she felt liberated – and that she’d finally found a path upon which she could start making her way back to happiness. As she confided all this in me I felt tears fill my eyes. This woman, this larger than life, loving, giving and generous lady was thanking me for helping her. I was overwhelmed. Wiping the tears from my cheeks I smiled a humble smile and we hugged tightly. Ubud had made impacts on both of us.
Without wanting to sound even more spiritual and cliched than I probably already have over the last week (don’t worry, I’ve not turned into a crystal worshipping hippy), that night, I really and truly felt I’d found some solace in Bali. It was as if a lightbulb had been switched on inside my head; a wand waved over the last few years; some clarity finally entering my life. And I will never forget the words San Fran said to me as we parted:
“Bali magic gives you what you need, but only if you’re open to it.”
Chasing Amy-Lou 