She is so peaceful and always with a smile on her face. Nothing seems to bother her, she just does her own thing. I want to be more like her. I’m enjoying the ocean but something is off. There is this (old) guy out in the surf who seems so arrogant, he won’t smile and keeps snaking everyone and we’re just a handful of people out. When I head up to the point he does the same to me. Like it’s all there just for him, like he is a little bit more important than the rest of us. But she doesn’t care, just shrugs her shoulders and moves on with so much grace. I want to be like that to. But instead I get angry so angry and I loose my shit and yell out. It’s a few days later and I realize I have so much to be grateful for, there is no room for small stuff from old grumpy men.
A visit to Yogya
Or Yogyakarta or perhaps Jogja, as the Swedish saying goes “loved child has many names”. She is also known as the cultural and creative center of Java. A University town with lots of funky street art and graffiti. What’s not to love?
Paradise gone wrong?
So I’m on an island just a few kilometers north of Java/Indonesia, white beaches and swimming pool like water. And yes I know we have a problem with plastic. Like I’ve seen the pictures of the plastic island floating around my social media many times. But I guess it’s like a difference to know and to see for ourselves. This makes it so more real. So I went on a snorkeling trip and ended up just collecting plastic from the ocean instead. So much plastic floating around and then look the other way – the most amazing ocean, corals and animal life. I feel so sad – where did we go so wrong? What can I do to help? This is my favorite playground, I spend so much time in the ocean and I am so extremely grateful for it. So from now I will try even harder to be a responsible traveler and eliminate the plastic I buy and use. But what more can I do? I mean there’s so many things gone wrong that need to change, like when I finish my snorkel my guide who also collected many many plastics hands me a single use tiny plastic water with a straw to drink 🙁 And on the pic above it’s batteries that I found sitting on the coral, and I couldn’t even get them all because some where jammed in the coral, seriously – what the fuck 🙁
Sunrise magic part 54
It was so bright when I woke up today and I couldn’t figure out why. Maybe the first light is just earlier and earlier I thought. Then I paddled around the corner and looked back at the full moon sitting high up shining so bright. Small pieces of nature, 10/10 and won’t cost anything. Happy me, today will be a good day 😉
The Power of Kindness
The ability to see value even in humble, unremarkable situations is essential to our happiness, or at least to our well-being. Some people seem to have everything in life but are not content because they do not see the value of what they have, and concentrate on what they still would like to have, or on what makes them unhappy. Others, instead, maybe less fortunate, appreciate simple things that many of us take for granted – good health, a fine day, a smile.
– words from the power of kindness written by Piero Ferrucci.
This very nice read was sitting waiting for me at the camp site just outside the village one day. Left behind by a Finish girl who couldn’t fit it into her backpack when she left.
And then there was change
Small things that leads to something new and unexpected. A familiar face I hadn’t seen for a while came back. I should go say hello and see why we’re meeting again, what did we miss the first time? Maybe nothing, you never know. It’s nice to have the time to slow down and see things more clear. I can take the time because I have no where else to be, we should live like this all the time. So we start to practice together – I love moving together, the dynamics of a group. Then more people came to join, and then some more. I looked so close at my own fear and judgment and I realized that it was all mine. Mine to keep, learn from, let go off or whatever I choose.
I wish I knew then what I know now
It’s like a distant dream those months I spent in the village. I arrived on a Wednesday morning, it’s trickling rain and I feel I’m in a ghost town. There is no one around, nothing is open and I’m probably really hungry. Everyone is sleeping and I walk around ‘town’, seriously town is maybe just a street or two if you feel generous. I had no idea what was coming for me back then, what this sleepy village had in store for me, the lessons to learn and the love and kindness waiting to hit me straight in the heart.
Leaving to arrive somewhere else
Hello hello to you little forgotten blog, I think I got stuck somewhere in transit between one destination and the other. Then there was a reminder the other night that sometimes it’s nice to share so let’s see. I started this year off so so nice, I keep forgetting how blessed I am. So I finally ran out of excuses (no full time job commitments or lack of time) to sit Vipassana so pretty much the first thing I did this year was to spend 10 days in silence. Away from social media, my iPhone, internet, news, books all of it was traded for 10 days of disciplined meditation practice. The hardest work I’ve ever put into anything but in return a very powerful experience. I’m mind blown by this practice and tradition, so beautiful. I always did my best to hide from meditation I guess just being to lazy to make an effort but this course made a huge change.
The daily grind from Indonesia
Changing continents and changing life (or at least life style). So easy to get into the groove of just surfing, eating, some sleep, and then all over again! Local boys did this cute edit the other day 🙂 Two more months of this is on the agenda!
60 Days in Indo – Tourist Visa – How to
Hello hello, next week I’m off to my favorite surf destination once again, and this time I decided to apply for a 60 day visa with the Indonesian Embassy in Sydney before I left to save me at least one painful visa extension. Most travelers are eligible for a 30 day visa on arrival which is free and non extendable upon arrival. If you feel like you might stay a bit longer it might be worth applying for the 60 day visa before leaving. Here is what you need to know.
You need to print and fill out the application and attach a photo of yourself. Then take your application together with your passport, a printed itinerary (including return ticket), recent bank statement and if needed proof of Australian residency and make the trip to the embassy in Maroubra (if you’re in Sydney) between 10 – 12 AM to hand in your application over the counter and you pay the $70 fee via EFTPOS. To easy they tell you to come back 3 days later after 2 PM and pick up the passport with your new 60 day visa and you have 90 days to enter Indonesia. Let’s go surfing 🙂
OUUUPS – I DID IT AGAIN
I was to rushed with the feeling I wasn’t doing anything to 100% so I decided to leave that office job that took up most of my hours. Taking some time off to do what I enjoy. So heading back to Indonesia for some surf in a few weeks. And let’s see where to go from there 🙂
The South and Me
Back in Sydney it’s getting colder and darker and I’m just spending to much time in the office and there’s not enough daylight left. But then she comes the weekend – weekend warrior number one and two gets up just after 5. Load the van up with the last things and off we go. I know where I want to go, no need to check somewhere else this morning. I can feel it’s going to be good. And yes we’re slow, the drive takes three hours with a coffee stop or two. When we get there there’s no rush just 10 odd people out and the sun is starting to heat up. We get ready and then it’s two hours of fun in the sun, crisp cold but so much fun. It’s clean oh so clean – thank you south, you always deliver 🙂
Indo <3 love - Part 389
I always come back it’s way to good not to. Easter holidays this time, I’ve surfed so much the last two weeks. It’s been so good I’m grateful for all the waves, sunrises, creativity, laughs, the people, new and old friends. Surfing in torrential rain and heavy thunderstorms. Waking up in the middle of the night by a shaking earth. Being so close to nature. The rhythm of live. Practicing yoga on my porch in the tropics, body and muscles so warm. Aduh! Thank you universe! Landed back in Sydney this morning feeling I’m in a bubble.
This makes me want to go logging!
The rain outside is torrential – I’m rugged up with tea and a cold watching surf clips and thinking it’s time for travels 🙂
ROAM from Kelia Moniz on Vimeo.
LUNAR by Onde Nostre from The Seea on Vimeo.
Karina Rozunko from Ed Fladung on Vimeo.
At the Australian Open – But not really
Sydney has been so wet this week, been pouring down with rain and still is. Hello Autumn – I’m waiting for your clean conditions. So I’m watching the Australian Open in surfing just the live stream online not keen enough to get out. Happy Saturday! Swell is big and Sally Fitzgibbons just made it through to quarter finals in Manly. I might have to make my way across the bridge for finals day tomorrow.
Should never have left the Island
Aduh scored her again! I’m so happy – yesterday was fuuuun on south coast 🙂 Not like last weekend but still fun waves, had to wait a bit for the set but when they came long peeling and glassy. Watching the moon go down and sun come up. MAGIC. Life is amazing when you’re actually living it. Then coffee and more surf. Decided to head back home early, I’m covered in a sea lice rash looks like I’ve got chickenpox.
Maybe I fell in love with the Island
Girls trip for the long weekend! Was magical one. I give you random car park hang outs, $1000 sunrise, few dolphins, amazing people, funny locals, to much coffee, lots of living! And I scored one of my best surfs in Australia I think – I’ll be back soon pretty little Island.
Starting the week of x 2
Tiny little NE swell with no wind and 30 degrees, perfect for the log and just nice to stay in the ocean because it’s summer weather. Few morning bumps and then had another session after work in Wanda for sunset, just fun 🙂 Love it!
Dawn Patrol – 2 FT NE, WIND N
Heaps fun this morning, same sand bank as yesterday, just a few people out. Mellow take off on the high tide into clean, long lefties!
Best surf of the year so far :)
All week has been Easterly – wind – swell so onshore so straight so closeout. This morning just light winds, South West, super glassy conditions, only 2 ppl (Saturday morning!) out one was me and the other one I can share waves with anytime. Thank you universe! (& Swellnet for the photo)