KUTA - 21th of July - 9:21
In Kuta, a lively village nestled along the shores of southern Lombok, I settled for grounding rest. Two weeks unfurled in the company of lovely souls. Time hastened its pace, solitude found no sanctuary and moments to write were absent. Let me now, after all, speak a humble ode to each of them.
Emily, a bloom tinted with the colour of lemon zest. Dwelling from the same city of Antwerp, our encounter found place at Padangbai harbor on Bali’s eastern coast, where we embarked on a shared boattrip to Lombok. She brought with her a fragment of familiarity, abundant joie-de-vivre and a profound friendship nurtured over only five days. Following a six month journey of free wanderings, she bid goodbye to return back home.
Francesco, an embodiment of candor and rootedness. Words do not fail him, yet he chooses them carefully and wisely. His gaze upon the world and its citizens captivates. Firm in his own convictions, he espouses a rare respect for diverging views. ‘Live and let live’. It was amidst a surf session in Balangan's waters that our connection silently flourished. His Sicilian temperament and directness sometimes fastidioso - that’s how he often calls me -, but intriguing and unique.
Betty and Wout, two cherished souls from Antwerp. Their tender love alive as a story of inspiration. Betty's genuineness and openness softens anyone near. Her recounting of how my yoga class resonated deeply with her shall forever linger in my heart. Then there's Wout, an amiable friend infused with a generous dose of humor. His cheerful nature never failed to uplift my spirit. Two moonlit evenings at Pizza Shack birthed a beautiful friendship. May the splendor of life favor you both in Aussie.
Felix, a modest and endearingly sweet soul hailing from Munich, destined to find solace in Berlin's embrace upon his return. Amidst Ekas's tumultuous waves - a remote break that tested my courage - his timely intervention rescued me from the strong current after he patiently taught me about surf. We shared mouthwatering ciabattas from Granita, indulged in (perhaps too many) cigarettes, and bared our souls through intimate exchanges of personal anecdotes.
Then came Nate, the fourth soul of Antwerp whom I once knew from the familiar grounds of my homeland, yet had long been separated from. His very presence, an aura of serenity enveloped the surroundings, offers tranquility and conscious attention. Reuniting with him on foreign shores felt like a harmonious alignment of the cosmos.
At the end of my stay in Kuta, there appeared a wondrous being named Sky, a radiant angel from the US. As I passed her the torch of yoga teacher at the hostel, I witnessed a divine spark ignite within her. Her tales of compassion towards a local woman, and the subsequent fundraising she embarked upon, kindled a fire of inspiration within my soul.
With a second American, named Evan, I crossed paths once more after a first rendezvous in Munduk one month before. Shattering the preconceptions of American caricatures I unwittingly had with his ‘down to earth’ presence. Thanks to his discerning lense that captures the beauty in every petal and the story within each human, he fungates as a katalysator to delve deeper into my own creative nature.
On this island afar, I find myself unfurling a new facet of my being, one that is unguarded and communal. Here, there exists a sanctuary free from the shackles of judgment. No weight is given to titles, age, abode or possessions. The essence that dwells within, that innermost core of our beings, is the sole currency of worth.