Another day of amazing connections and flowing experiences. Early this morning, I sat listening to the birds and then doing my doing my quiet meditation. Simply, I breathe, intend to still my mind and body by feeling a calmness, and centeredness take over. After that, I contemplate five words I choose for my experience that day. The words vary. After I finish, I often am unable to remember them. They flow in, ideas like flow, aligned, inspired, connected, joyful, appreciation, trusting everything to work out, inspiration, etc.
After I finished this morning, I thought about the “segments” of my day and how I would like for them to unfold. First thing in the morning, I choose to intentionally design the flow of my day. I prefer to deliberately choose how I would like my day to flow rather than let other thoughts creep in and mess things up. I had a brief concern creep in about taking the shuttle back to Padang and them being able to find my homestay. I decided to counter that by imagining everything flowing perfectly. I am picked up on time. People are friendly. The van ic comfortable. Great driver. Dropped off at my homestay. A good and flowing experience all around! I feel for that feeling! For me, that is the perfect foundation to lay in the morning for the rest of the day to line up with!
I woke with the sunrise and the birds. Meditated. Made coffee and sat for a while. I had a leisurely breakfast visiting with new people from Germany. I finished packing in a few minutes. Then, I had several hours before my shuttle pick-up. I started a new mystery novel and relaxed. It was lovely!!
I have a photo of this quote from the hostel in Sandakan last year: “Wherever you are, be all there!” I practiced that this morning!
Before 1:00 pm, I said my goodbyes and walked to the street to await pickup. The shuttle van arrived shortly after 1:00 and we headed back to the main office. Once there, I went in to purchase a ticket. She asked where I was going. I showed her the name and address for Padang Homestay on my phone. She looked all confused. “Which homestay?” The driver chimes in, “Yani Homesay?” I explained it was Padang Homestay. Only two words, what is complicated about that? She showed me a google search on her phone and said, “Many homestays, Padang!” They didn’t know that was the name!! Before we finished, I googled it on her phone, but that didn’t connect. Then I got an address and showed their WhatsApp phone number. She called it but not from WhatsApp and couldn’t connect. A young woman, also a passenger, stepped up to help and translate. Another employee came over to see what we were talking about. Eventually, there were about six people involved when suddenly, she looked at me and said, “OK”! I asked, “Bagus” which means good? She said yes. I got back on the van not feeling very confident they knew what was happening or where they were taking me?? I have an offline map program and programmed in a location near where the homestay. My backup plan: get off if need be, find a taxi or grab, and let them complete the journey for me.
Then, I settled into my ease and flow feeling, Things always work out.
Once in the edge of Padang, the driver veered off on a side street and dropped off one man. Then he headed in another direction. I glanced at my map, we were headed in the direction of my homestay. Down the narrow street, the driver saw the sign above indicating “Padang Homestay”. He seemed proud of getting me thee. It was so easy. I could have worried and worn myself out. No need!
Relaxing last morning at Padi Ecolodge
Bule gauntlet, what an experience!
Once here, I made arrangements for a car in the morning to the airport. After multiple conversations, I had confirmed when I came back from dinner…7:30 am?!? Pulling that up on my phone into a translation program, an enthusiastic yes and shake of the head led me to believe we are finally on the same page! He repeatedly said yes, yes, and then followed that by saying 9:00 am!
Hungry, I walked to a place he recommended, Dapur Bintang. Good food and seafood. My google map failed me! Nothing where is shown!
I asked two men sitting in their yard after they shouted “Hello Mister” to me. No help! I stopped to ask a young man and his eyes glazed over apparently at talking to a foreigner and that didn’t help
A woman standing in front of her house said hello and asked me a couple questions. When I asked if she knew where Dapur Bingang was, her eyes lit up! Then, she was frustrated at not being able to tell me more clearly. Pointing with her hands and then turning right, I had a general idea. Off I walked. I stopped to ask one more man when a motor bike stopped beside me with a young teenager driving. In good English, he asked if I wanted to go to Dapur Bintang!? Yes! And off I went…just like that. Ease and flow!!
Flowing, with ease, and reaping the benefits!
There is that feeling again. The meditation and intention experience I had in the morning manifested in my experience throughout the day! Easy. Flowing. Right place! Helpful people. Driver to get me to the right spot. Amazing “cumi cumi” dinner when I got there! Perfect. Now, I’m in my AC room repacking for my flight in the morning!
I posted the photo above of the little girl from the laundry in Bali because that is how kids looked at me as I walked through a shopping market and down the street on my way back. At first, a guarded look. I waved and said hello, they lit up! In the grocery, one small boy looked cautiously at me. I said hello and held out my hand for a fist bump. A fist pump and a beaming smile! Two young boys walking with their mother down the aisle. I stepped aside. They looked at me, I said hello. They reached up for my hand, took it, brought it to their forehead…in a sign of respect! Cool!
Walking back, I got stopped often. “Where you from?” “What is your name?” A motorbike pulled up close and stopped. Another teacher helping his students learn English asked if I would talk to his class. If I wasn’t leaving early, I would love to! A man parked his car, walked around it, and asked me where I was from. He looked disappointed and explained. He loves a song and is looking for someone from Germany who can help him translate it into English!
Men walking out of a mosque, friendly smiling interchange! Shy boys looking at me as I approached. I walked into the midst of them, said hello, and gave each of them a fist bump. They followed me down the street laughing and saying hello, and goodbye as I continued home.
Such fun! Little things leave people smiling, laughing, and happy!
The river raft above reminds me that there is a current in life that will gladly carry us along if we let go and allow it. While rafting the Grand Canyon years ago, with low water levels, I was paddling like crazy but not feeling like I was making much progress. An experienced river rafter in our group suggested I “feel for the current”. WHAT!? I started feeling for that. Suddenly, my raft was moving more easily and faster. The current did most of the work!
I like feeling for that in my daily life and letting it do most of the work!
Travel dream reality tomorrow!
During COVID, when countries were closed down and no one was traveling, I dove into computer travel. Looking in Sumatra, I discovered a small company with great principles, rehabilitating a former rubber tree plantation, and with permits to go into areas of the original forest only one other company had a permit for. I wrote to them. They wrote back. Dreams turned into plans for “someday” when things normalized.
Last year, I was going to visit there after my experience in Borneo. My knee was so bad, I had difficulty walking up and down steps so cancelled those plans. And now, I’ll be there this time tomorrow night. So surreal!
And that means, once again, “SOMEDAY” is here!! It’s SOMEDAY!! No more waiting!