I heard that phrase several years ago. It was used in reference to how much life is changing. In the past, people looked “down the road” at their life goals, where they wanted to be, what they wanted to do, planning for retirement and career and life. Recently, with the changes in the economy, culture, concerns about health care, bankruptcy, job security, and predictions that today’s college graduate will have 14 to 15 different careers before they are 35, things have changed. The light no longer is a long range spot light clearly illuminating the path for the next 10 or 20 or 50 years. Now, it’s brilliant clarity exists for the next step! And, then the next step, and the next. No stepping forward and there is no clarity. Looking too far down the road, no clarity!
Remember the scene from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”? Here it is:
Stepping into the void of uncertainty, letting go of knowing and certainty, trusting that clarity comes with stepping and then taking that step; emotionally it feels like taking that step into thin air. When I took my first improvisational comedy class years ago, Bob Wells defined improv as: “You walk to the edge of the cliff, jump and design your wings on the way down”. Yes, waiting for the light to shine on your next step can feel a lot like that.
When I landed in Ubud yesterday morning, that phrase came back to mind. I got off the flight and said good bye to my new friend Elenore from Sweden. I went to the arrivals terminal and she went to the transit gate. Such a wonderful connection it was with her: honest and meaningful dialogue; curious and alive; entertaining possibilities; sharing dreams and areas that would benefit from change; and filling up on the Soulful interaction. And here I was leaving it! THAT moment of the trip was ending, THIS moment of the NOW was beginning.
I gathered my backpack, had the tag checked and left the airport. Outside the door, I stopped and contemplated what to do. “Where do I feel like going NOW”? I didn’t have a plan or any clarity. My options included going to Ubud by Taxi; going to Padang Bai or Lovina by bus; getting a shuttle bus to the temple overlooking the ocean at Tanah Lot; or going in to Kuta to get a ticket with Perama Bus and having lunch? I didn’t have any clear sense of which option wanted me?
Glancing toward the taxi booth with the fixed prices, I didn’t feel like going there. I walked to my right and saw a sign for “Roti Boy” which I first experienced in Balikpapan during my 7 hour wait between flights. Yum, that sounded and felt good. Before I reached there, I was approached by a man asking if I wanted a taxi? I said maybe and went inside for a bite to eat and to sit for a moment.
Finished, I walked outside and asked the waiting taxi driver if he worked with the taxi counter here. He said he did so I asked him how much a taxi was to Ubud? He quoted me a price of $300,000 rupiah, the taxi fixed price is $195,000. I laughed, told him I knew the real price and walked away as he offered lower prices to my back as I left. I didn’t want anything to do with his energy.
I opted for the adventure path: leave the airport, flag down a taxi outside or a motor bike, and head into Kuta. WIthin a few steps, another man stopped me asking if I wanted a taxi? I asked how much it was to Kuta? He said it was $60,000 rupiah, the taxi counter charges $50,000 and I was only going to the edge of town. He finally smiled and said he would take me for $40,000 rupiah and turned out to be a really nice man.
Within 10 minutes, I realized we were going to the wrong place! I asked and he told me he was taking me to Perama BUS STATION! I wanted to go to the Perama Ticket Office near where I stayed in Kuta. After several attempts to get him to understand, I finally mentioned Poppies 1 (a main street near there) and the memorial built in the memory of those who died in the bombings and told him that’s where I wanted to be now. He gracefully changed routes and deposited me outside the ticket office!
I went to the counter to purchase my ticket. It was $60,000 to Ubud and I was about to purchase a ticket when I saw the name Lovina on the pricing chart. I plan to go to Livina (for calamari and exploring) so asked about that price. The chart showed it was $125,000 rupiah from Ubud. Purchasing the two tickets together would make it only $125,000. Then, they explained that if I purchased a ticket for round trip now, it would be only $205,000 with a stopover in Ubud. I only had to let them know one day before leaving to get arrange transport onward. Perfect! I had no idea about that4 minutes ago when I walked out of the airport!
Instead of paying $195,000 rupiah for a taxi to Ubud, I had transportation for most of my trip handled! I walked down Poppies 1, turned on a side street, found my favorite little local restaurant (Warung), Gong Corner, and had a delicious lunch of tuna salad, lemon juice and dadar guling for dessert! I had plenty of time for a relaxing lunch, a browse through the DVD store, a stop to the internet cafe, and a cup of Masala Tea at an Indian Restaurant before the 90 minute ride to Ubud. Once again, perfect! Or, in the word of my friends from the UK…..Brilliant!
My old room at Dewa’s was waiting for me, a quick dip in the pool took the edge off the hottest day so far, and I quickly settled into my Ubud surroundings. I dropped my laundry and went looking for a massage. After walking for about 40 minutes and not finding any that felt right, I stopped once again and looked for “the next step”.
I was near the Palace which is across the road from the most famous place in Ubud for suckling pig called Babi Guling so I decided to have an early dinner and give it a try. It’s my second experience with that dish and I’m still wondering why people make such a big deal about it? I didn’t enjoy it that much and it kept me up last night, my body burning hot and not digesting it very well. I’ll stick to the foods I know and love. I found a restaurant here with bakery, they have a cinnamon bread and make a cinnamon French Toast with palm sugar syrup, that sounds much better. I’ll let you know when I get there.
During all that walking to and from the restaurant, I noticed a level of irritability with the men on the sidewalks that I’ve not had before. I swear, the next time I heard “Taxi Mister?”, or “Transport”, or “Maybe tomorrow”, I was going to smack somebody. The men saw me walk past the last five men on the street, all of whom asked if I wanted a taxi and STILL, they have to ask?! Suddenly, I realized I was really tired, a realization that occurred without me actually smacking anyone. Today, I was much more peaceful and pleasant.
Maybe it had to do with seeing Eddy this morning? He remembered it was almost exactly two years ago when I was last here and once again zoomed in on exactly what was going on in my body. He explained what he was finding and in reflecting back to the past weeks, understood clearly what had been going on. So much better after one session, I’m planning more work with him while I have the opportunity.
Now, to avoid being SO tired again tomorrow, I’m heading for some sleep! What will I do tomorrow? I don’t know, it’s not that moment yet. The way this entire trip has flowed, I’m sure it will be “brilliant”.