Ever since we left University, my friend and I had made extensive plans to reunite somewhere in the world. After 5 years, we finally decided on Bali. We were both excited and geared up to make the most of this little vacation!
But at the very last minute our plans got cancelled, and I found myself solo in Bali again! (Yes, for the second time). Instead of wasting time being disappointed, I decided to utilise the week to reunite with myself!
So I kept my luggage in storage, took a backpack and was soon on my way to Nusa Penida.
I rented a bike at the place I was staying at - It's called Cemok Cottage!
And decided to just go with the flow...
For the first time ever, I neither had an agenda, nor a checklist. I didn't even have Google maps downloaded which was a very difficult situation for the Monica Geller aspect of my personality!
But it worked out perfectly for me!
I could stop wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
I could sit and listen to the waves crashing over the rocks. I could luxuriate in the salt-laden fresh air. And after my hectic routine back home, I could simply breathe!
One beautiful morning I stumbled upon an isolated beach that I had not seen listed in any of the guide books. I sat with my feet buried in the softest cleanest sand possible and found myself face to face with this weird looking stone. Or was it a coral fossil? This was one of those rare moments when I wasn't worrying or stressing about my work or life...but simply enjoying the place I was at.
I didn't have plans, which meant that I didn't have a list of restaurants with me (normally that is detailed to an extend to which specific dish I should try). So I happily explored local joints whenever I felt like it and found every meal satisfying! I had lived in Jakarta a little over a month so I safe to say, I love Indonesian food. And I was in Nusa Penida, of course I never ordered a meal without seafood in it (what else do you expect from a Bengali who grew up in Goa?)
Also, let me point out here, that since I was all by myself it was okay to stop sometimes just for the view <3
So if you find yourself in a lonesome day like this, it's okay to just follow your heart and not a map. And if you're like me and carry a notebook with you. Write something down. Something that you're feeling in this moment. Something that you saw in this moment. Something that you can read in a few days, months, years and smile at the memory.
And take that selfie since you won't have people around to take those 'Insta-Worthy' photos! Which by the way, is never a bad thing. I personally prefer less (or no crowds) cause only then you feel (and sometimes can pretend) that this place, the one at you are at right now, that is making your heart so happy, belongs to you. Get what I mean?
See? What I meant? A person can be lonely and feel lost and alone. And somehow when that person travels alone. She feels a sense of freedom. She feels alive. She smiles and she cries. But she finds small moments that make her happy. Yes, that person is me.
Signing off here with a little bit of that thing we call 'hope. I hope reading this made you smile...after all we could always use something everyday that makes us smile. Right? I also hope the world gets over the situation we are all facing right now... cause only once things are better we will be able to step out. Step out to see the world.
I hope that once this world is a better place I get to discover a bit of myself on another lonesome day like this one in another part of the world.