Intention setting and meditation!
I start each day with a meditation. I like the idea and feeling of beginning with a quiet mind and quiet body.
From that place, after 15 minutes or so, I “feel” forward into the day and literally intend or design how I would imagine things to flow that work best for me.
Some segments of life are simple. Getting into my car to drive somewhere, I feel into what experience I want to have! I choose to be relaxed, patient, aware, enjoying my drive, letting others drie however they please, and choosing my own energetic driving experience!
That is an example of only one small segment of my life in the course of a day. Traveling, I practice that each morning!
Quick update…really slow internet here. I did make it to Padang! Really loved the area with Ricky’s Bungalows on the coast. Awesome!! Tomorrow I travel to Bukittinggi. Weird as this has been a “dream” for many years and now, suddenly, I’m going to be there in a few hours!
From my homestay, I am close to everything. They offer laundry service at low prices. And the manager called the shuttle bus company, they are coming here to pick me up and take me on to Bukittinggi! If I have faster WiFi, I’ll write more from there!
“Khan …. taught her that in silence with body and mind still, a depth of understanding may be achieved that is not available to one who languishes at the mercy of life’s relentless chatter! “
From Maisie Dobbs, “The Mapping of Love and Death”
Once connected!
Once I have sat for a while and feel still, I connect to the quiet inside me, the place where Spirit resides, and carry that forward to lead my way through the day. I feel balanced, connected, and aligned and I intend to keep that feeling throughout the day.
Starting there and maintaining it is much easier than trying to stop wonky energy and align from there! I like the easy and reliable path.
The morning I was leaving Kuala Lumpur, traveling with uncertainty, I sat when I woke up around 3:30 am. A method of simply focusing on my breahing, feeling my mind quiet and being present works for me. Before I finish, I feel my energy flowing ahed of me through the day.
What kind of experience would I like to have? Others have random unconscious thoughts that set the intention. Worry, anxiety, fascination with things failing, etc. I hear things like “Oh, they are so unreliable”. “Drivers often don’t show up or are late.” “Customs and immigration can be difficult”. “Traffic is really terrible!” Find your way around the KLIA2 airport can be exhausting!”
Setting those outside influences aside, I focus on what I want! What experience, out of all the possibilities available, do I choose for today. Then, I feel my way through the segments of the day. Feeling the experience of these words is important!
“Wow, wasn’t that an awesome experience I had traveling today!” “Everything works out from!” “A great driver shows up on time and we have a smooth ride to the airport!” “Moving through the airport is a smooth and enjoyable experience!” And so forth. I’m not too analytical about choosing feelings but rather watch, like a movie in my mind, what images and experience comes up!
I had scheduled a driver but hadn’t received confirmation. Late at night, I got confirmation. Ready very early, I checked and saw a message that my driver was early! I was in the car at 4:15 rather than 4:30, at the airport in 35 minutes. On his dash, occasionally lighting up like a flashing neon light, was a statue of Kwan Yin. Among other things, she is considered the goddess of compassion and shows up whenever assistance is needed! Cool!
About 12 minutes after arrival, my bags were checked, I was through security and finished with customs and immigration. And I was on my way to the gate, a long walk, with plenty of time to spare! Easy peasy!
Noticing little connections that help me on my way, I smile at my intention working for me. It’s as if my intention is literally paving my way ahead of me.
A custom agent helped me find a transfer desk for answers about my upcoming trip. Agents at a help desk pointed me to the terminal and explained it was all the way to the end. Along the way, I found a fountain with a nozzle for filling my bottle with water. Boarding as the fourth person in line, I quickly got to my seat. My row was empty, I could stretch out for my flight!
I hadn’t taken time to find breakfast but that was OK. Then an agent with a cart stopped by me row, called my name, then handed me a breakfast I didn’t realize I had ordered!
So much of travel and my life is related to this brief simple little exercise every morning. Going through life intentionally is important to me!
Now for...the rest of the story!
After a long morning, I’m sitting on the porch of my bungalow outside Padang, Sumatra. It is a community based business. Local people work here and come to talk with guests to learn English. Lovely idea!
Reaching here was a bit of a challenge! I have and will continue to write about the importance of patience and flexibility in travel. My recent experience highlights how important that is! Adapting to the moment and making new decisions is equally important!
I scheduled a ride with Grab in advance for a 4:30 am pick-up this morning to go to the airport. Late last night, I received confirmation. Great!
Near 3:30 am, I saw a message from Ricky’s Bungalows asking me if I had made driver arrangements. Yes, I had, one with them, over a month ago. They responded quickly, assuring me that their driver would meet me at the airport. Cool!
But only cool if it really worked! After clearing immigration and customs in Padang, gathering my backpack, finding an ATM and getting cash, I was out the door of the small airport early. Immediately, I was swarmed with drivers offering me a ride! Fortunately, I had one coming…so I thought.
But, there was no driver waiting and no response from my WhatsApp messages. After 75 minutes waiting and walking the length of the airport looking for my driver, I booked a ride with Grab! Now finally! Time to go! So I thought!
The first Grab driver confirmed and then canceled. The second driver did the same thing. And the third driver and confirmed and then cancelled. Finally, a fourth driver was on his way. However, he didn’t speak any English and initially was not going to drive me until I showed him on my map where were going. He did NOT know where we were going!
So off we headed. He was a very good driver.
Ninety minutes into our drive, we turned off onto the tiny side road indicated by the map. After stopping three times to ask for local help, being told where Ricky’s, the driver dropped me off there. Reluctantly! Verifying that I was OK! He drove off and shortly, I discovered this was the location for the old Ricky’s Bungalows and was now closed.
So, here I was standing in a remote village with people who did not speak English knowing, somehow, this would work out. I walked down the street and saw a woman sitting in front of her house. She waved me into her yard. After some discussion with her and her mom, and me pronouncing RICKI properly in their way, recognition lit up here eyes.
Then, she told me I need to go somewhere, in Indonesian, which was completely unclear! I appreciated her helpfulness! Gestures, smiles, pointing, looking at a map and she went inside to pick up phone. The phone was dead and would not turn on.
Next, before she went to look for help, she asked me if I wanted something to eat? I’ve been moving over 8 hours this morning by then and was too tired and thirsty to want food.
She walked down the street, stopped at a couple neighbors, then came back into her yard. Saying something I did not understand, she held her hands in front of her like she was gripping handlebars and turning a throttle. “Vroom, vroom!” she said! I understood.
Their boys played and were entertained by me. About ten minutes later, I heard a motorbike coming. He introduced himself as Pepe. He apologized! We got on his motor bike and, after about 5 minutes of driving on very steep narrow roads, we arrived here at Ricky’s!
The manager came and apologized! The previous schedule manager was let go and the schedule was a mess. He apologized again. Immediately, I met about six of the staff who gave me their names and are eager to help! Awesome energy here!
After a long journey, close to 9 hours, it was 11:00 am here! I ordered breakfast and coffee, Pepe carried my pack and showed me my bungalow and I met more staff who wanted to interact!
This is definitely an experience and I’m very happy to be here! It’s not a tourist destination unless chilling out, swimming in the ocean, snorkeling, and interacting with locals is something you enjoy! Now, as the sun is dipping lower and the extreme heat is dropping, I’m relaxing to the gentle sound of waves as high tide begins to turn and head out!
Flowing, I had a feeling things would work out!
Somehow, I believe related to my morning meditation and intention, I knew things would work out. After having lunch, I hung in my hammock and dropped off to sleep! Perfect! What a great spot!
I’ll post photo’s when I have a reasonable connection for that!