Laptops Nappies and Paradise

I was never naïve enough to think that Bali would be forever, and yet, without a doubt, am still heartbroken at leaving.

We spent about 14 months in Bali. When we arrived, we thought we’d be there anywhere from 6 months to a year. And from time to time, as that year drew close, we plotted and dreamed about why it might be better to stay longer. We considered all our options. But honestly, there are so many wonderful places in the world to experience that we weren’t ready to be tied down to just one. Being closer to home and our families in a place where our son could learn Spanish really appealed. And although I would love to be one of those women that feels she could give birth on her own with just her resolve and inner strength to keep her going, that’s just not me. So, when we decided to have another baby, doctors and hospitals and ultrasound machines sealed the deal: we had to leave Bali, atleast for a year or two.

Inevitably, although we have a lifestyle that would allow us to go back at anytime, saying goodbye to Bali, even if for a while, signals the end of one part of our lives, one that we really enjoyed. As much as we could go back to Bali in a year or two, and probably will, we won’t go back to the same house, to the same routine, and maybe not even to the same group of friends. Our family will have grown, our business (hopefully!) will have too, and our desires will change. So, as much as it saddens me, it’s time to say goodbye to Bali atleast for now, atleast for this time of life. So, excuse the sappiness, but this post deserves a bit of an ode to Bali, and the wonderful year that we had there.

What I will miss the most:

1-       The boardwalk along Sanur Beach. We had a pretty grueling workload this year, and sometimes we were even a bit frustrated and dejected, but as soon as I got on that boardwalk and started walking, looking out on the beach, watching local Balinese fishermen and kids play, I felt ready to face the world again. I can’t remember another place where I was able to get that immediate sense of calm in such a thoroughly satisfying way.

2-      Pantai Indah, a little warung that is as simple as it gets. Tables along the sand so our son could play on the beach while we had lunch or dinner. Basic Balinese food. And ice cold Bintang beer and peanuts. When we went there (which was a lot!), one of the staff would always come out and escort Timmy into the kitchen- he’d emerge minutes later with a giant slice of watermelon and a huge smile.

3-      Yoga at the Yoga Barn in Ubud. When I arrived in Ubud, I had done a little bit of yoga but was not a fanatic by any stretch of the imagination. Doing yoga for a couple of months in Ubud made me get the draw and why some people are so enthralled with it. The yoga studio looked out on rice fields, and during class you could hear ducks quacking outside and milling about (you could also see giant lizards suspended from the ceiling, but that’s why it’s good that you close your eyes so often in yoga- less fear of having a gekko land on you unexpectedly). I truly got the “Eat, Pray, Love” thing here… the idea of retreating for a couple of months and thinking and re-evaluating life sounded fabulous. Alas, with a toddler and a business, it was more of a once a week thing but fantastic nonetheless.

4-      The morning song “Bale time” at Cheeky Monkeys. Our son’s school, Cheeky Monkeys, started each day in the Bale with singing and welcoming the day (and finished the day the same way).  Pak Made, one of the teachers, would bring his guitar and all the kids and teachers sang songs like “Wake up, warm up” or “Ba Ba Black Sheep”. You could just see that they were having fun. Watching Timmy get started with his day singing and clapping and dancing all around just made me happy. His days were full of songs, and laughter, and friendly, caring teachers.

5-      $7 massages. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not. It really is the going price for a Balinese massage, and small shops with massage tables  line the streets of most of the towns in Bali. Dave and I had a Saturday morning tradition of a massage to start the weekend. That’s going to be pretty hard to replicate at the going rate in most cities!

6-      Friends!When we arrived in Bali, we felt a bit like we were the only people crazy enough to leave their jobs and move to Bali. But we weren’t! The fellow wanderers we met in Bali were easy going and laid back, but smart and hard-working and goal-oriented. Inspiring!Made me realize that instead of being apologetic about this maybe stupid, maybe brilliant thing we were doing, we should just enjoy it and revel in it.

So, for now, we say goodbye… and onto our next adventure! Mendoza, Argentina. A few days from now we’ll be starting over, looking for a house, for daycare, for a new favorite restaurant and silly, practical things like grocery stores and the best internet provider. Excited and nervous and energized for our next adventure, just like we felt when we moved to Bali!