CRASH

Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia

Today I made the impulsive decision to rent a motorbike.

I figured that on a small island things couldn't go to wrong. Before I begin telling this story I should confess that I do not know how to ride a motorbike.My experience of riding such machines is limited to a small three wheeler Yamaha when I was 8 ( I crashed that too). But I put that to the back of my mind and decided to give it a go anyway. I managed to start the damn thing and take off down the rocky gangway. Within  a minute I glanced at the flashing petrol gauge and realised the bike had no petrol. 'that's fine' I thought "I will take the bike back'. Then I made a discovery. In the short time I had been riding I had managed to get lost. I decided I should ask someone for directions. But I was to make an even worse discovery. I had forgotten where I was staying.

I tried to stay calm. 'The Island is only 2 square kilometers, it can't be too hard to find". But it turned out it was. I bumped in to an Aussie tourist who was friendly enough to join me on my scavenger hunt. All we had to do was turn my bike around and retrace my steps (so to speak). Easy does it, no need to panic. As I was turning the bike around I pulled back to hard on the accelerator. SMASH, I managed to crash the automatic bike that a four year old can drive. I had performed this stunt for half the village to witness. The bike was relatively undamaged, but my pride was shattered. I dusted myself of, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

Then I saw the sign, "Nanuks Bungalows 100m". The damned sign had been there the whole time.

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia

Travel is unique because it is like nothing else in the world. You can find pleasure in unexpected places, and you never know what to expect. Something wonderful can suddenly become painful. Travel makes you reevaluate everything you believe in and question who you are as a person. Yet despite the challenges and heartbreak travel can bring, there is also so much beauty and joy. 

This leaves you wanting the board the emotional roller-coaster again and again, regardless of the whiplash.

Fields of Bali

Bali, Indonesia

The Art of Haggling

Seminyak, Indonesia

I am a terrible haggler. I think I have sucker written on my forehead. The western guilt I used to carry on my shoulders has lessened since I first started traveling. Unfortunately this has not improved my ability to barter in the slightest. I think a key factor that contributes to my hopeless haggling ability in Maths.  I suck at Maths even more than I suck at haggling. The other big factor is that I hate saying no. The word seems so toxic when it come out of my mouth.

Today I tried to buy some cheap flips flops to cover my naked feet. 450,000rp the young Balinese male said. I stared at him in a daze, 'hold on isn't that 40 Australian dollars' I asked myself. 'There is no way he would even try and get me to buy a pair of rip off thongs for forty dollars' I told myself. "Maybe it's 4 dollars and the argument in my head continued' My dazed look set me up. He began smiling broadly ('"this dumb broad is considering it'", is what I am convinced he said to his mate beside him).  Finally I reply with "that's to expensive". Then the supposed fun began. I got the price down to 100,000rp which was still 10 times more than they were worth (even in Australia). I handed over the money, because I  am way to nice. I smiled at him and said "I know you are ripping me off", he smiled smugly back. So I marched of in my rip of, Rip Curl thongs, cursing myself. 

I have had to walk back past him three times already today and he smiles and waves and tries to get my attention. I call back "these flip flops are hurting my feet, I think I was better of bare foot" He laughs, and so do I. I am hoping my bartering skills develop soon.

Flying Away

Sydney, Australia

My homeland always appears more beautiful the day I am leaving it behind. Even the suburbs appeared pretty this morning, basking in the dawn light. In a couple of hours I will be boarding a plane for Indonesia and my mind is racing.

It was only 56 days ago that I arrived back in Australia after my travels through Africa and Asia. I experienced and learnt so much during that time away. Coming home was a roller coaster of mixed emotions. It was a struggle to process how all I had experienced could fit into my normal life. I returned to work, and I realise now that I wasn't the same person. Living the same life was not going to fulfil me. My job suddenly became soul destroying

Last week I had a car accident. I lost control of my car on the freeway  and skidded up an embankment at 100km's p/h. The car somehow self navigated its way around a concrete wall and small trees. The paint from my car soils the concrete wall, evidence of how close I had come. My car rolled several times back down the embankment throwing me around like an out of control amusement ride. Miraculously the car landed back on it's wheels. I walked out without a scratch, the angels had protected me that day. 

But I was shaken with the realisation of how quickly it could have been all over. So as I set of for Indonesia today it is with the recent reminder of how short life can be. I will make the most of every moment