Two Caminos

This is the newly refurnished Caminito del Rey (kings little road) near Malaga, Spain:

And this is the Camino del Sur (Via de la Plata), the pilgrims route towards Santiago de Compostela (also Spain):

Both of them are called Camino (“way”). Both of them are starting in Andalucia. Both of them have been on my list for quite some time.

And here I am, smiling like an idiot because I just booked my flights and ordered a brand new, blanc credential. In 2017, I’ll be pilgrim again. A wanderer on a new route, asking new questions, and seeing new skies.

For what it’s worth, it might be the start of a much bigger adventure, too.

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How about a free tattoo with that beer?

(This entry is part of the Coming 2016 side blog)

Yes I’ve heard those places exist: bars where you can get free tattoo’s when you spend enough on Heineken. What a way to support thought through decisions and proper hygiene! My stomach cringes a little when I imagine these venues and the crowds they draw. Seems like Bali is either that, or the glitzy opposite: bony models drinking fancy cocktails in expensive bathing suits, splurging on high end resorts that have swimming pools in walking distance of the ocean. Private beaches and banana boats in the sea. My stomach cringes a little when I imagine that, too. In fact I can’t decide which crowd I hate more.

So back in the days when I thought I had principles and steady willpower, I have sworn I would NOT go to Bali. I would not go to the land of wanna-be yoga teachers, regretful tattoos, cheap alcohol and high school graduates on a “spiritual journey”. I would have skipped it, as not to be confused with one of those “love, eat, pray” fangirls. Is that what it’s called? “Eat, love, pray? Eat, pray, love?” You know what I mean.

I’m not actually a beach person you see. I feel uncomfortable when wading around in a bikini. I feel uncomfortable in the fancy resorts. I find the atmosphere in beach towns inferior to that of the inland – in any country I go. I get sunburned after 10 minutes. But I like to go snorkelling for a day and toddler-like wave at the fishes. I like the idea of doing yoga while watching a sunrise on the beach. Maybe I secretly am a bit of a wanna be teacher. And I do like the idea of rice terraces and lush green hills a lot! So when I found out the weather on Sulawesi wasn’t going to be that good at my time of travelling, and the accommodation on the Gili’s isn’t as much value for money as those on, say, Lembongan… I have let go of my principles and become Bali trash.

I’m going to the island for a couple of days on Lembongan. I guess it might be nice to do a bit of nothing. Maybe take a boat ride through the mangroves. Sign up for some yoga classes. Cycle around, drink too much coconut water, enjoy the occasional dip in the sea.

I’m also going to Bali for Ubud. I guess I’m going to fit in there – with my baggy, cheap clothes and that travel yoga mat I carry around all the time. I guess I’ll like the fact that night life is on a low there and organic tea bars are on the rise. I hate to admit that maybe, it will be a place just for me: a solo female traveller with a love for the spiritual.

Damn.
Should I… like… Should I read that “Love, Pray, Eat” book after all?

Yogya

(This entry is part of the Coming 2016 side blog)

From Jakarta’s fameless countryside to the culture capital of Yogyakarta: it’s quite the leap – and not only thematically. It will take about 9 hours to traverse these 455km, mostly by train. I don’t know if it’s a good decision to go overland, but truth is flying won’t save me much time and the operating airlines seem shady – so rail road it is. The views better be nice!

I’ve heard tons of praise about Yogyakarta but funny enough, there don’t seem to be that many sights. So then I wonder… where does the fame come from? That said, I plan on taking a cooking class and maybe some yoga workshops. There are also lots of amazing temples in the vicinity. Some of those I’ll be visiting on a daytrip, but one – the one – requires more time. I’ll tell you all about that one in the next post!

So, what’s up?

Well first of all: I didn’t want to go to Indonesia. I wanted to go to more foreign, “dangerous” places. I wanted to go to Iran. India. Egypt. To trot into the unknown.

I didn’t dare. I got called names. One guy asked me if I got smashed on the head with a hammer. So yeah… I chickened out, consoling myself by telling myself: “Travel is no fun if you have to do it scared.” I’m still not convinced that I was scared enough to let the dream go. But heck, I don’t want to die. So I decided to book a trip to the land of great tsunami’s and active volcanoes instead. 2016 will be the year of Indonesia. Or, that is, Java and Bali. It will also be the year in which I’ll finally see Singapore and – if my plane doesn’t go missing – Kuala Lumpur, too.

Asia’s up. And it’s even down: below the equator. I plan on completing a few of my long standing wishes: hike above 3000 meter, travel to the Southern part of the earth, swim in that undoubtedly over-rated infinity pool. I plan on splurging on luxurious beach resorts and mini-yoga retreats. I plan on getting ripped off by taxi drivers. On drooling at street food and UNESCO temples. On backpacking in loose fitting clothes.

I’m still not sure if I want to go to Indonesia. But I’ve booked my flights and even my lodgings. I’ve booked them waaaay too far ahead. Is that a good or a bad sign?

2016 is coming. Booking.com kindly reminds me: 158 days, until my trip to Singapore. Let’s go!

By the way: meet Spot, my new friend. He’s helping me plan this next trip and might join me on the adventure 🙂

Next in Coming 2016: Clearly you’ve never been to Singapore

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What would you do if you had no fear?

I don’t really like bucket lists. To be honest I find them suffocating. Sometimes I get the idea these lists focus more on the rush to do something than on the actual pleasure of doing it.
Bungee-jump before you’re thirty, travel to Greece before you have kids, get rich before you’re dead.

Obviously, we’ll have to accomplish whatever we’d like to do before we die. But for me, time isn’t the main thing that holds me back. The most important reason why many of my dreams are still dreams, is because I keep myself from them. Because I don’t want, or dare, to make them happen, spend the money, take the risk.

How else could it be, for example, that I have been to the Grand Canyon yet didn’t walk through it?
That I’ve swam marvellous seas, but didn’t go scuba diving?
That I’ve written so many poems, but never read one out loud?

This is not a bucket list. It’s the countries I fear to go alone, the food I hesitate to eat, the challenges I’m scared to accept.
It’s all the things I’d do, if I had no fear.
Yet don’t be mistaken.
When the time comes, I’ll be brave. I’ll make these dreams a priority. I’ll make them real.

In the meantime, I thought I’d write them down here (in no particular order). A friendly reminder.
And who knows, maybe one of you cares to join me, add some ideas or help me reach a goal?

Maybe one of you cares to wonder… What would you do,
if you had no fear?