We took a looong 8-day break in Bali. Traversing from buzzing Kuta in the south, to watching dolphins in northern Lovina 3 hrs away by car, to the shipwreck in Tulamben in the east, then to the top of 1717m Gunung Batur before settling down in the paddy fields of Ubud.
It wasn't a trip that was much anticipated. In fact, I'd call it an 'accidental' trip. Due to the annulment of a certain event, the pending commencement of the NPL and the H1N1 precautions spreading faster than the disease itself, the final decision to, 'just go!', was made only the day before.
But it turned out to be one of the most relaxing and noteworthy trips I've taken.
Relaxing, perhaps because of the pending NPL. Knowing that I will not have to face an eternity of backlog when I resume normalcy in my life is a welcomed relief indeed. It's strangely, unstressful. I can't express the ORD feel more.
Noteworthy, largely because of the variety of activities we ventured out to 'just do!' on this trip. Take a deep breath: We walked a highly underestimated 800m to see waterfalls; chased dolphins that did acrobatic leaps 2m ahead of us in the open ocean; snorkelled in skin tingling waters (most probably infested by seabugs); soaked in murky hot springs on a hot and sunny day; cooked 10 Balinese dishes in a dim and sleepy kitchen; had au-naturel Balinese massage ON the beach with the sound of waves crashing against the shore; dived through the US Liberty Shipwreck with fishes HUGE and tiny; trekked up treacherous Gunung Batur at shivery dawn to catch, well, the sunrise; observed fireflies (with thrilling girly shrieks!) in the midst of the paddy fields right at the doorstep of our hotel; rented a motorbike at US$4 to go on a search for our Bali missionary to attend church service-in Bahasa Indonesian.
Phew. Yup, that's about ALL that we did. Left out some details, but that can't be helped.
In some of the less exciting moments of this trip, such as when we just strolled on the streets, took a breather at a side cafe, pestered by a little beggar girl while waiting for our roti bakar, as I slowed to look around me and reflect on the people and the stuff we've come across, really, life isn't about the 4-room flat or the career that we subconsciously hold on so strongly to back home.
I'm not being all high and mighty about having 'seen the world'. I LOVE my 4-room flat with a park view, and I absolutely enjoy my work when the adrenaline kicks in. There is just this realisation that, in whatever we do, we have the tendency to be all caught up in it, and it seems as if, these things are so critical to us that we absolutely cannot give them up.
Not until something strucks. Which, more often than not, this 'something' is negative, impactful, personal, and probably difficult to overcome. It could be a betrayal. An illness. Loneliness in a foreign land. Or a death.
I fall into that trap as well. This cycle of just living life, holding on to my comfort zone, leaving things that can be done today to do tomorrow, fearing the unknown and hesitating to step into it. But I thank the Almighty that, He has given me countless opportunities and reminders that, as long as He is there for me, "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
Having said that, we can only hold on to that promise in verse 31, if "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). You have to trust and believe in the Lord first, then only can you trust and believe in His words, to experience verse 28.
Really, life isn't about the 4-room flat I so dearly behold, or the career that sustains my facial and spa package.
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