Life Less Ordinary

As the sun peeped over the horizon, I gazed out at the rice fields. My heart raced at the thought of departing on an adventure tour to Lombok that I no longer had the desire to take. Having arrived in Ubud only three days prior, I felt deeply drawn to Bali and the transformative magic that filled the air. A serenity that often seemed elusive satiated my soul and gripped me at that moment. I had two hours to decide—to stay in Bali or to go?

There are many reasons people visit and never leave this invigorating place. In Bali, each day brings a fresh start and another opportunity for peace and tranquility. Balinese Hinduism is special, and the gift of daily offerings that sprinkle the doorsteps, temple entrances, street corners, and random crevices of Bali prove it. Fragrant smells and vibrant colors from flowers, rice, coins, candy, and more fill the leaf-woven baskets. Before sunrise, the Balinese people remove the heaps of love scattered from the previous day. They tirelessly clear the path for a new day of gratitude, prosperity, and sharing accompanied by a fresh display of colorful offerings. Each creation is as unique as the souls in passing.

After awakening early one morning, I opened my door to breathe in the fresh air before jaunting off to yoga class and there stood an enchanting Balinese woman on my terrace. She carried a large platter of daily offerings on her left arm and gently placed a beautiful Hibiscus flower and burning incense at my bungalow entrance. I smiled and greeted her with a cheerful, "Good morning!" She timidly grinned and nodded her head in a humble manner before turning and walking away. In that moment, a gracious splendor lit my face. Serendipity intervened with a gift of peace made just for me.

With my two-hour decision window ticking down, I reflected on the first few days of my solo journey to Indonesia—zipping around the vivid cluttered roads of central Bali on a scooter, sharing exotic travel stories with fellow nomads over ginger-spiced coffee, and chatting with a Balinese medicine man, who remarked, “You’ll get married soon if you want to be and have three children.” I had so many new pearls to ponder.

As I sipped my banana juice next to the glistening rice fields, I waved goodbye to my Lombok bound tour group with a plan to reunite in the Gili Islands. Swimming in exciting chaos, the blank slate called to me. With an open mind, peaceful heart, and my favorite polka dot bikini, more Bali bliss beckoned!