KELLY'S GONE AGAIN
…AND HERE'S WHERE I'M AT.Archive for Asia & Australia 2009
Sidebar: Update on Children’s Future International in Cambodia
Hi all, I got an update from Andrew Wolff of Children’s Future International in Cambodia, the organization at which I taught kids yoga in February. He’s put together a fantastic short clip of some of our “animal” yoga sessions, and though I’ve updated the original Post #7 with the link, I’m adding it here as a sidebar…
#33. New York: Coming Home and Going Again
Week: 11
Countries: 7
Cities: 35
Charitable Causes: 10
Injuries: 7
New Friends: Tons
Photos: 800+
Planes, Trains, Buses: 53
Lost Bags/Delayed Flights: 0
Passport Pages Left: 3
Last week around this time, I was getting ready for bed in my small, sparse, hot hotel room in Pedang Pedang. Paper-thin, pastel curtains, gentle, oscillating fan, gecko song. Hard mattress, cold shower. The 126th backpack search for toothpaste. Alarm setting for seaside sunrise. I fell asleep to the deep, animated voices of my neighbors – chilled-out surfer boys, all bare feet and Bintang beer – sitting on our shared balcony and storytelling of “epic swells.” So good. So recent.
#32. Back in Seminyak: I Miss You
Is anyone else exhausted?? I am, and as a result today’s update is purely off-the-cuff — no edits, no revisions, no rethinking.
That said, the thought for today is this: I miss you. I miss you, New York, I miss you, Washington. I miss you, friends, families, colleagues and acquaintances, tap water, washer/dryer, high heels, salad, Western toilets… and, I ask, exactly what does a girl have to do around here to get soymilk in a latte?
#31. Gunung Batur: Morning on the Mountain
One of my favorite phrases in Indonesian is “selamat pagi,” which means “good morning.” I find that I say it, on average, about 800 times before noon to pretty much anyone, but it had particular importance today. Last night, after paying a visit to the Green School (a new, environmentally-sustainable international school here, made mostly of bamboo and fueled by a micro hydro-power generator) I decided to go on an early morning trek up one of Bali’s active volcanos.
What better way to celebrate the fact that I still have both of my legs after swimming with sharks this weekend, right?
#30. Candidasa: Back to Business
I’m back in Ubud now, but let’s get caught up on the last few days, shall we?
So, all of that beach decadence made me feel like I really oughta’ up the devotional practice, which fit in perfectly with my already-organized trip out to the Gedong Gandhi Ashram in Candidasa. I’d wanted an excuse to get to the east side of Bali anyway, so the location was an added bonus. My purpose there was to learn more about the ashram, understand how it fits in within the larger community structure and, naturally, provide a little bit of service while I’m at it (it *is* named after Gandhi, after all).
#29. Gili Islands: Really? Really.
Over the last 3 days, I’ve spent my waking hours as follows: approximately 1/3 on the beach, another 1/3 in a freshwater pool, and the last 1/3 sitting on the side a wooden diving boat riding across the sea, every now and then actually doing the diving, walking along the ocean floor and gently swimming next to sea turtles.
I mean, really?
I’m on the Gili Islands, northwest of Lombok, Indonesia, undergoing a PADI open water diving certification. The Gilis — each with their own distinct personalities — are my substitute for the original island retreat plan, the famed southern Thai islands, Ko Tao, Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan. Being here is, in case you might not have guessed, absolutely brilliant.
#28. Kuta, Legian and Seminyak: An Intro to Bali; Ubud: Settling In
To be honest, Bali wasn’t my first choice of last places to go on this trip. Worried about overtouristing (given its exceptional popularity), I wasn’t sure it was “sexy” enough; instead I’d considered Fiji, the Maldives, even Borneo. But, in the end, a recommendation from resident homegirl and recent Bali visitor, Alicia, won out. And for the record, AI, thank you.
#27. Cairns: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
So after spending 4 days in the Great Barrier Reef, I decided to make an overnight stop back in Cairns, where I’d flown in initially. It’s a seemingly simple town, renowned for sailing, though I admittedly didn’t get a good feel for the place because I was only there for 24 hours. But here is the highlight, and the reason for the early island departure: for dinner, I checked out a nearby aboriginal cultural park, and it was so, so worth the stopover.
#26. Great Barrier Reef: Private Island Paradise (Part II)
As promised, with more after the jump…
The Island
#25. Great Barrier Reef: Private Island Paradise (Part I)
Welcome to The Good Life. *smile* I’m residing this week on a private island in the GBR, off of the coast of Queensland, Australia (north of New South Wales, which houses Sydney). It is, as you might imagine, no joke.
The island is covered heavily in lush rainforest, giving it a tropical jungle feel, with walking trails and sparse, simple beaches. Because a resort operates here, there are also loads of activities — horseback riding, snorkeling, spa treatments, bingo — all the usual suspects. I have little to no interest in the planned program, though. This, instead, is a reflective place for me, removed from any urban sprawl whatsoever (by which I’m so easily, and happily, distracted).
#24. Hunter Valley: Good Living
Hunter at Sunset
After a long work-filled week here in Sydney for my local friends Amani, Anna and Jake — and a bustling, fun-filled 5 days for me — we piled ourselves into a rental yesterday and escaped the city clamor for a little rest and a lot of wine in Hunter Valley.
It was as eventful as all road trips should be, with multiple stops for snacks, a series of music playlists, and an empty gas tank scare (seems you really can go pretty far with the light on). We approached the yards at dusk, met by warm, quiet, phenomenal views : vivid greens vines with sun-lit top layers, rolling mountain peaks, glimmering ponds, crisp white clouds broken by soft, orange rays. Beautiful, breathtaking, gorgeous, you name it.
#23. Sydney: Monkeys, Elephants… Why Not Koalas?
Updating Post #22 with some photos of the Saturday a.m. trip to a local nature preservation center. Unfortunately I don’t have much to say here other than it’s a good cause and the animals there are really cute. Koalas, kangaroos, reptiles, tons of birds, tasmanian devils… the majority were in cages, but some hung out free-style in the children’s petting zoo. Just guess where I spent most of my time.
