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Bali dogs
Stray dogs common in many countries, particularly 3rd world countries. Don't ask me why this one is pink! Well, it's been exactly 6 months abroad now. I left my job 8 months ago and spent some time in the US before and over Christmas/New Year's. Part 1: South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile), Part 2: Asia (Thailand, Vietnam), Part 3 Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia). Here I will briefly sum up part 3 as I have done with the other sections, but I will also sum up my final impressions, since this is "supposedly" the end.
New Zealand may have to be the winner for natural beauty. This is extremely tough to make the call on, but it does seem everyone is asking me for my favorite. Every turn in the south island seemed to hold something completely new and still astonishing. The people were warm and easy to be a quick friend. The attitude seems pretty laid back. The only tough thing here was the US politics being such a common and sore subject, moreover the hatred for George Bush and sometimes, meaning the hatred towards Americans. I found this more on the west coast and in small towns, but nevertheless unfortunate and worth mentioning since so prevalent. This was a small part of the experience though; the
overall experience was Kiwi hospitality wins.
Australia is pretty damn great too, although completely different. Whereas New Zealand was rugged and mountainous, Autralia was living the beachy life, at least where I stayed. Australia is huge, and I didn't make it to the west coast or the central areas. I found the people very warm. They are quick to crack jokes and help you out if needed. They enjoy their cocktails and like to have a good time in life. In cities, such as Sydney, work ethic is strong, but seems more balanced than the US. The entire east coast is one beach town to the next. Beaches are gorgeous, surfing is a part of the culutre and a way of life for all ages to enjoy, from grade school on up, both men and women. The northern part of the country is completely tropical and lush. The outback is farmland, some mountains, but not extreme like NZ or western US states. Kangaroos are around and comparable to our whitetail deer in the midwest. Crocodiles are pretty common in certain areas of the ocean and rivers. Other than that, life in Australia is the most simliar to the US
Indonesia statue
the powerful elephant out of all countries I visited, maybe just a bit more "cruisy" as the Aussies say, meaning more laid back and easy livin' kinda feel. That's another funny thing, they definitely have their own language, as they shorten every word and add an O or Y to the end of it, even for people's nicknames, pretty funny.
Indonesia was a late addition with the yoga training. I spent all the time on the island of Bali. (Photos in this entry are entirely of Indonesia.) Rice fields are everywhere, it is green and lush. The people are super friendly. Women wear the sarongs as skirts and always are carrying something big and heavy on their heads with perfect balance. Small villages have the dark skinned children running around always super eager to yell hello to you. They also like to always ask you where you are going, and usually you aren't going anywhere, but everyone wants to know. Sometimes they ask for money, but it's not too bad. Stray dogs are everywhere and some not so friendly, especially when out of the town area. In Ubud, life is healthy and spiritual. The offerings to the gods are set outside all
the shops in town, as well as people's homes every morning. This week the local ruler's son will be cremated and the whole town will go to the funeral/ceremony in town and then to the cremation. Overall, this is a place of beauty and goodness and there is just simply something special about it, no other way I can say it than that.
As for the WHOLE trip and my experience....I can easily say was undoubtedly the best thing I've ever done in my life! I thank every person that helped urge me to go and for your support. I was skeptical and even a little scared or intimidated when I started out, not sure how it was going to all work and not to mention, going all alone. Looking back, it was so easy and so rewarding. I would recommend this to everyone! Traveling like this is life changing and amazing! And in my opinion, going it alone is the only way to do it. Sure, I had times I was lonely, but those times were few and far between and only forced me to be more outgoing to meet more local people or other travelers. There were
some hard times, when things didn't work out, travelling frustrations, getting ripped off, feeling ill, not knowing how to do things, how to get places, where to go or how to communicate (language barriers), but this becomes so miniscule and the highs are oooooh...soooo high! I can honestly say my heart was so deeply fulfilled. I thought of my loved ones, family and friends with more love and appreciation than I ever have. I thought of each person often and what a wonderful impact they have had in my life, special times we've shared, what I've learned from that person. I thought of myself and how I could be a better person, how I could show more love, more kindness. I saw other countries ways of worshipping a higher power, saw amazing natural beauty and had to think of what the higher power or "God" means to me. I questioned and analyzed and came to find my own truth...or at least work towards finding that truth, which will forever be unfolding. I know I did find love and beauty for life and world we live in, the beautiful surroundings from sunrise to sunset and the beautiful people that make everything
working in the paddies
He is yelling at us that he wants money since we're taking the picture. all that much more special.
Please indulge me allowing me to extend a deeply sincere thanks to those in my life. Thank you so much to every person that touched my life on my travels, as you have touched my heart and it will forever be there. Thank for for those at home, as some of you have followed my travels, sent emails, remembered me, cared about me and kept loving me. I swear with everything in me that I love you all back so very, very much and appreciate that you've been in my life. Now I'm home, maybe for a while, but who knows with me...the wind could always blow and change my mind. 😊
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