“The temperatures are dropping and we have to start moving,” I said the morning of day 2. We had no idea of the conditions that awaited us, but we knew we had to do what we could to keep warm.

This past weekend my friends Jessica, Laurie and I decided to do a section hike of the Appalachian Trail. When they arrived at my house, Jessica mentioned that there was snow in the forecast. We all looked at each other and with confidence said, “No problem. A little snow doesn’t scare us!” From my experience, snow in North Carolina is so minuscule compared to the snow I grew up with in New Hampshire. How bad could it get?! So we hopped in two cars and drove 1.5 hours. After setting shuttle, we drove another half hour to Carver’s Gap outside of Roan Mountain, NC to start our trek. At the trail head, I slung my 33lb pack on my back and proceeded to verbally exclaim my excitement for the adventure. (!!!) The weather was impeccable, in the mid-60s and partly sunny. We began our northbound hike up to Round Bald (elev. 5286ft) and were greeted by magnificent views. Along the way we passed pleasant day hikers and further into the hike, were graced by Space Rock, a 50-something year old man who started the AT at Springer Mountain in GA on February 16 and was planning to make it to Maine by Labor Day. Meeting Space Rock felt the same as meeting a celebrity. I am in awe of people who pursue this challenge and have so much respect for their determination.

After making it up and down several hills totaling 9 miles, we settled on a spot to camp in an area called Bradley’s Gap. We set up our tents and got dinner going-a delicious chicken pesto pasta. After dinner, I decided to check out what was beyond the crest of the hill near our campsite and discovered one of the most captivating sunset views. I spent a while up there connecting with our Creator and marveling in the silence of my surroundings.

That night, we made friends with the 4 other backpackers that shared our site. We exchanged stories and laughs over a bottle of malbec and got to witness Joaquin, an Argentinean man, eat his first s’more! We kept the fire  and conversation going until about 11:00pm and then headed to bed.

At approximately 1am, everything shifted. At first the precipitation was sleet in form, but then quickly changed to heavy rain. I noticed the forecast showed that temperatures were going to continue to drop into the night and they would be around 30 degrees in the morning. As I laid there unable to sleep, small drips of water began landing on my face. I tried to ignore the fact that the lightweight tent I borrowed from a friend may not be able to withstand a night long rain storm. As each hour passed,  I noticed my down sleeping bag begin to get a bit damp and around 6am there were puddles of water collecting in my tent. It took conscious effort to keep my gear from getting wet. I proceeded to try to soak up some water in a few babywipes, but the coldness of the water and temperature of the air, froze my hands instantly. 7:30am rolled around and I decided that we needed to get out of there as fast as we could due to dropping temps, my wet gear and the need to move our bodies in order to stay warm. I informed my friends of the situation and we hurriedly disassembled our tents and shoved them into our packs.

The trails were muddy from the overnight rain and the winds picked up significantly as we entered the fully exposed ridge line. We were met with a full on snow squall that left us feeling uncomfortably vulnerable. The high winds forced the sleet to stick to our clothes and we fought to keep our footing. The highest peak of the trip was ahead of us- Hump Mountain (elev. 5587ft). We used the support and encouragement of each other along with my own personal prayers and frequent cus words to get us to the top.

After about an hour, we reached the top and proceeded down the other side where the winds subsided for a brief moment. The inclement weather persisted and stuck by our side, literally, for another mile or so. We eventually made it to the tree line on the other side and were able to get a break from the aggressive conditions. We hiked over slippery rock gardens, slid on some mud and crossed over tiny creeks. The snow continued to come down, but this time it was different. The contrast in weather from moments before was astounding. The trees shielded us from the winds and we were calmed by the sweet serenity of soft snow falling delicately on the forest floor.

The temperature of the air and the wetness of our gear was still a concern. After two hours into the second portion of the trek, we decided to stop for a quick bite to eat since we didn’t have time to fix breakfast that morning due to the urgency to get moving. I removed my wet gloves and devoured my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Jess reminded us that we needed to continue to move to keep warm and kept us focused on getting to the end. I put my gloves back on and quickly realized that it was a bad idea to have ever taken them off. Despite them being wet, they had been keeping my hands at a safe temperature, but as soon as I exposed them to the freezing temps, they became unbearably cold and I found myself panicking to figure out how to regain their warmth. Jess advised me to place them close to my skin on my stomach and then thought of the idea to use my extra socks as gloves. Thank goodness, it worked.

With socks on my hands and Laurie’s positive outlook, we continued on in anticipation of when the trail would lead us to our final destination-Laurie’s car! We passed by beautiful boulders and snow kissed rhododendrons. Our bodies were sore, cold and in pain, but there was no other choice except to push forward. Moments later, we began hearing distant sounds of car tires on a nearby road and grew hopeful. A mile or two more and we’d be there.

When we caught a glimpse of Laurie’s car in the distance, we let out an exuberant cry! We used the last bit of energy we had left to get us to her car.  Waves of gratitude came over me as I realized that we had made it through. A group hug was in order. We removed our packs and placed them in the back seat. The feeling of warmth coming from the air vents in the car put my soul at ease. It was if I was experiencing it for the first time. As we began reacquainting ourselves with modern conveniences, we decided our first stop would be at the local store to treat ourselves to a hot chocolate. The sweet, chocolatey warmth coated my soul and provided me a sense of peace that we had made it.

It was a wild journey-an epic one at that. An experience that not only taught us to take weather reports a bit more seriously, but about how important it is to be there for one another. I am so used to doing solo trips, but found that having these women by my side made me feel motivated, safe and cared for. I am so grateful for their presence and encouragement on this trip. I will forever remember this excursion and look forward to the ones to come.

The second part of my trip in Bali reconnected me with one of my greatest friends whom I had met in New Zealand at Kimi Ora almost 3 years ago. Her name is Mathilde and we consider ourselves Soul Sisters. She is a beautiful French lady, but is living in Dubai at the moment, working as a flight attendant on Emirates Airline.

I had written her about 4 months before my trip to Bali asking if she’d be interested in meeting up for a short trip. Honestly, in my head, I thought there’d be no chance with her busy schedule. After months of chatting, it seemed it was actually going to work! Instead of only have 5 days off, she was given a total of 10! On the day of her arrival, I met her at the airport with my driver and I had a sign reading “Soul Sister” for her to see upon arrival since I knew how great it felt to have a sign with your name on it. We embraced and took several moments to let it sink it. It was happening; this is going to be RIDICULOUS (one of our token sayings)!

The driver dropped us off in Seminyak, a high-end ocean front town on the southwestern coast of Bali. Our night there was spent beach bar hopping and reminiscing about our past adventures in NZ together. The first beach bar we visited was La Plancha which I highly recommend for sunset gazing! It is a color lover’s paradise. In front of the restaurant are wildy bright colored bean bags chairs and traditional Balinese umbrellas of every color. Luckily, we found a spot for two in the sea of international visitors. We ordered 2 delicious fresh strawberry margaritas and made a toast to a great week to come.

After sunset we walked the beach, browsing the other options for beach bar delight. We came across an amazing 4-person band playing on a lit stage overlooking the ocean. They were full of energy and were playing requests from the crowd. Mathilde and I sent up a piece of paper with one of our favorite songs from our NZ road trip together, “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers. They were pleased with the request, played it for us and we joined in singing.

The next day we headed to Tanah Lot, the famous temple that sits on the ocean off the western coast. We checked into the most beautiful hotel with a crystal infinity pool and the largest room I have ever seen. We also had a pretty awesome partial outdoor bathroom, which I really adored. In addition to the room and amenities, we both got a complimentary foot massage, afternoon tea and dessert as well as breakfast in the morning. All of this for only $40/night for the two of us. (No wonder this place is hard to leave). While in the pool we met a wonderful American named Dara who would join us during our temple visit. We seemed to have struck the temple on the perfect night because low tide was exactly at sunset which meant we could walk up close to the temple and walk along the coast to the rocks across the way to have the best spot for some irresistible sunset watching.

The following day we headed back to Ubud via taxi and explored the city in search of a great deal for a Gili Island getaway. After negotiating a good price with a local agent, we scored a great package the included hotel pick up and transportation to Padangbai on the eastern coast where we would board our 2-hour boat to Gili Trewangan. We began the journey sitting inside the boat where we found it hard to breath with the strong smell of gasoline blowing into our faces from the air-con vents on the boat. It was awful. We tried to cover our mouths and noses with our clothes, but it was unbearable. (Note: exactly 4 weeks later, this same boat carrying a boat full of passengers, had a massive explosion on board in the middle of the ocean leaving people badly injured. Crazy). We were able to climb up to the top deck where we found a much better scene. There were at least 20 people sitting up against buoys and rails wearing bikinis and grooving to the reggae beats coming out of the speaker. What a pleasant relief!

We made it to Gili T and after checking into our decent hotel, we rented bikes and proceeded to take a joy ride around the island. Once on the bikes, our first stop didn’t take too long to arrive at. Just up ahead, we saw a little beach with gorgeous blue water and knew we had to jump in. The dead coral that made up the majority of the beach was a bit of an obstacle, but the feeling of swimming in the ocean on a hot day on a tropical island, made every concern slip away. After our dip, we proceeded to ride in our bikinis, legs out, enjoying the wind against our dripping skin. Along our route, we found ourselves swinging on swings in the sea, eating in huts on the beach, laughing with locals, and scoping out the best sunset spot. We found it. Exile was the name. It was rustic bar on the western side of the island providing a perfect front row seat for one of the most wondrous sunsets I’ve ever seen. As the sun kissed the horizon, the sounds and vibrations of African drums began behind me. My soul immediately felt energized and my feet so wanted to dance. You may find it hard to believe, but I always get a bit nervous before I decide to dance in public. Putting the fear aside, I thought hey, why not. No one knows me anyway. 😉 I grounded my feet in the sand and felt the rhythm permeate my hips. Giving it my all, I rediscovered the African moves I had learned back in Asheville, NC years before. After dancing for awhile, I had my try at the djembe drum. Playing along side 4 other local dudes, I was able to fit right in and share my skills. Magic, pure magic. The rest of that night was filled with lots of shenanigans.

After a night of wild fun, we made our way to Gili Air via speed boat. When we got there, we could immediately sense the peacefulness of the island compared to Gili T. It was like night and day. We asked someone how far our hotel was and we were told about a 10 minute walk. So despite my heavy 50lb pack, we decided to walk and forego paying $8 for a horse drawn cart ride. After about 5 minutes in, I could not stand to carry my pack anymore because of its weight and Mathilde volunteered to switch for her rolling suitcase. I graciously accepted the trade. We walked and walked. About 20 minutes in, a cart pulled along side us asking if we needed transportation. We told him where we were staying and he laughed saying that it was another 30 minutes. I was furious, but my determined mind couldn’t bare to pay for a taxi when we’ve already made it half way. It was brutal and after walking 45 minutes, we made it. The hotel was in a perfect location, right on the curve of the island and it had amazing sea views. When we checked into our room, it was another story. The room looked as if it was designed by my late Italian grandmother, which gave me an ounce of emotional comfort. It was very outdated with very uncomfortable springy mattresses and the bathroom had a fake red rock wall fixture that made me want to puke every time I had to go in there. This was a part of Bali I hadn’t seen before, but it didn’t spoil the fact that we were still in paradise!

The next day we booked a 3-island snorkel tour for $8 each. We took a long, wooden, glass bottom boat out to 6 different snorkel spots around Gili T, Gili Air and Gili Meno. We saw many sea turtles and I was able to swim along side one which reminded me of my time in the Great Barrier Reef. That night we shared a plate of freshly caught shrimp, barracuda, and squid that was barbequed for us right on the beach by our hotel. It was some of the best seafood I’ve had.

The next day was our day of departure and this time we spent the $8 for the horse cart to bring us to the boat launch (actually, we got it for $6 with our amazing bartering skills). We decided to get seats on the upper deck as to avoid any possible gas fumes coming from down below. We sat next to two attractive men, both Canadians. Conversations took place, but we were so distracted by the amazing beauty of Lombok Island that we found words only got in the way of our reflection.

Once back in Padangbai, Mathilde and I got into a van which took us to our accommodation in Ubud. Champlung Sari Hotel was a pleasant surprise as we were upgraded to a superior room for our first night.

The following days were filled with exploring the city and going to the Monkey Forest where I learned it is not a good idea to touch or engage in eye contact with monkeys. They will attack you. We found an excellent café called Art Kafe where we felt at home and frequented many times while we were in the city. We loved the rustic vintage feel of the place as well as the super healthy and delicious food and juice combinations. While in the city, we decided to book a hiking trek up the famous active volcano, Mt. Batur. It is the second largest active volcano on the island and a very popular tourist activity. We bartered a really good deal, approximately $20/person for transport, a guided trek and breakfast. It was such a good deal that the man who picked us up told us not to mention it to the other guests on the tour. We agreed and smiled at each other knowing we had really mastered our bartering skills. The morning of the trek, we had to be ready for pick up at 2:00am. Yes, AM! We had to be up early because the whole point of the trek was to view the sunset from the top of the volcano. Sounds amazing, right? Well it was, but let me just clue you into the fact that it didn’t come without a struggle. We started the hike in the pitch black around 4:00am. Everyone was provided with a hand-held light source, but I opted for my headlamp as it allowed me to use my hands if need be. The first 45 minutes of the hike were easy peasy. I thought, well this is going to be cruzey! After those 45 minutes, the real ascent began. Step after step after step, we slowly made our way up this volcano. In the beginning, I felt pretty strong and confident in my abilities to complete this trek. I mean, everyone said it was easy and if so many tourists do it, then of course I could too, right? Well yes, but let me just say that the agents that sell these treks have either never done the trip or make it sound super easy so they get more sales. I began to feel each step in my quads and the sweat rolling down my back began to increase. I was in pretty good spirits most of the way, but there came a breaking point. About 1.5 hours into the ascent, I began to curse at the volcano. I kept looking up and seeing the line of lights going up the volcano, thinking they were not far away from the top and trying to gauge how much longer it would take to get there. As my group approached a resting point, the guide informed us that we still had about 30 minutes left to get to the top. At that point, I was seriously thinking of quitting. I was breathing so heavy and was running on 1 hour of sleep and NO breakfast. I was empty. I discretely shed a couple of tears as I began to break, but Mathilde assured me that I could do it so I decided to push on. We made it to what I thought was the top, but in fact it was only the first viewing point for the sunset. We could opt to stop and view it from there, but it wasn’t the very top of the volcano. I don’t know about you, but when I go for a hike, if I don’t reach the very summit, I don’t feel like I conquered it and therefore, I feel it was pointless. So despite my burning legs, sweat soaked back and grumbling belly, I proceeded on. As we walked that last section to the top, we began to see the sky change from black to a deep red orange. The changing colors were the motivation I needed to make it to the top before we missed the very thing we were there for. When we finally made it to the top, I used both my hands to wipe the sweat off my face and thanked God for getting me there safely.

After finding a place away from the majority of the people, I took a front row seat to watch one of the most beautiful and memorable sunrises of my life. I played the song “Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay while I watched because it is a song that so beautifully allows me to connect with the natural settings I’ve experienced in Australia. Another being when I was actually watching a sky full of stars while sleeping under them curled up in a swag while in Uluru. I felt closer to God than ever before and lifted my hands in prayer, thanking Him for the beauty before me. It felt amazing to have conquered such a challenging climb and to be able to witness such a magnificent sunrise on top of this steaming volcano. I was very proud of myself for making it to the top despite my inner grumblings on the way up. We lingered at the summit for about 30 minutes and then began making our decent by walking around the rim of the volcano. It was very narrow and at points there were very steep drop offs to my left and right where I could see the decade old paths of lava still present. Hot steam was escaping from cracks in the volcano and there were even people boiling eggs in a small opening of the volcano. As we approached the downward slope of the decent, I had to spent the first 20 minutes on my bottom and hands sliding down the deep piles of fine volcanic rock. Once able to stand back up, I struggled a bit with maneuvering down the mountain safely, but my guide saw that I was having a bit of trouble. He offered his hand and assistance in getting down the steep bits. At first my pride told me not to take it and that I could do it by myself, but not a second later I was taking his hand and appreciating his kind gesture to help me. I’ve learned that it is okay to ask for help and accept it when offered.

I was one of the last people to make it to the bottom, but I did not regret going slowly as it was very difficult at points and I wanted to prevent any potential injuries.

After making it back to the hotel, Mathilde and I decided to treat ourselves to a massage. We weren’t too impressed with the service, but after my massage, I began a conversation with my masseuse who was a beautiful young lady recently married and talked to me about the pressures to have children. She polished my nails and then noticed my broken toe nail which I had cleverly broken off while riding my bike around Gili Trewangan. I had been apprehensive to remove it completely because I didn’t want to take it off prematurely, but she insisted to cut the hanging section off and she was so gentle. She immediately opened up to me and I felt like I had known her for years. We talked about relationships, children and life. She felt like a sister and even though I was only with her for moments, our connection was as if we had known one another for years.

Sadly, that would be the last time I would see that kind young woman. The next morning, Mathilde and I had to say our goodbyes. We promised we would reunite again in the next year or so in a new place where we could continue building memories together. We’re soul sisters and there is nothing that will ever break that, not even being thousands of miles away from one another!

Transitions are one of the most exciting yet frightening places to be. Over the years, I have found transitional periods to be a frequent occurrence in my life. I am always moving around, traveling to new countries and starting new jobs. I adore the fact that when in a period of transition, I am completely open to a world of endless possibilities; however, this can also be very overwhelming especially when trying to make a decision as to what path to take next. I have a handful of amazing friends whom I’ve met on the road who are also experiencing a state of “What Now?” so I thought I’d share some insights on what I feel are the stages and symptoms of transition. Let me know if you agree.

The Excitement Stage.

You’ve just spent hours on a plane and the anticipation of returning home to see your friends and family is high! Those reuniting hugs are always ones that I look forward to. After spending months to years away from home, we all know how good it feels to know you’ve made it home again and you can’t wait to see and share your experiences with everyone.

The Depression Stage.

After several days of reunions, I tend to get into a funk. The realization of being back home and seeing  most of the people my age either in a promising career, in a committed relationship or starting a family of their own can bring on insecurities. You feel behind on life’s seemingly unattainable “timeline” and find yourself in a bit of culture shock as you readjust to the realities of your home’s culture compared to the ones you’ve just immersed yourself in.

You find yourself reminiscing, daydreaming and wishing you were back in the country you had just flown home from. That magical place where life just seemed so simple and you never felt freer in your life. You crave it and start to ponder what it is you really want to pursue in life. Do I continue to live a nomadic life or join the crew of friends finding happiness in a more settled life?

The Acceptance Stage.

This stage along with the Depression stage can come in intertwining waves. I tend to ride this rollercoaster for a bit until I can figure out what my next plan of action is. The Acceptance stage is when you tell yourself that it is okay to feel a bit lost during your state of transition. You just returned home from this epic adventure and have absorbed so much information in the time you were away. It is healthy to give yourself permission to relax and use this time as a way to reflect back on the experience you had and dig into how it has shaped you mentally, spiritually, and physically.

The Oh Shit Stage.

After I’ve given myself about a month or so to go through the motions of the above stages, I tend to start the “Oh Shit” stage if I don’t see a clear path ahead. I personally thrive off having something to look forward to so when I don’t I can get into a bit of a funk. Having something to look forward to gives me an energy that I need to get through life’s rough patches. This stage represents the mental state of when we realize we need to kick ourselves into serious gear and make a move. This can come in the form of a new location or a new job.

The Discovery Stage.

In this stage, you start to get re-energized when you begin to find jobs or a location that interests you. Discovering that next step is invigorating and reaffirms your hope and trust of the process. The challenge here is that there are usually a few options that open themselves up to you and it is your responsibility to decide which one will bring you closer to what you want in this beautiful, crazy life.

The Execution Stage.

This is the scariest part. Choosing that job or place. Committing to the next adventure. Will it fulfill your desires and keep you on the track that you want to be on or is are you entering a completely new realm of life? My biggest advice: journal and meditate about your thoughts, fears, and dreams pertaining to your discovery. If you feel good about it and the door is wide open to you, just do it. You are never stuck anywhere or in any job, but it’s better to try than regret it later on. The beginning of a new chapter is always a bit scary no matter how many you’ve written in the past, but what I’ve learned over the years living this kind of life is that there are some of the most amazing places and people that are waiting to reveal themselves to you. And through these interactions, your life can be changed forever.

Stepping out into the arrival room made me feel like I had finally conquered my awarded senior superlative: “Most Likely to Be a Celebrity.” There were hundreds of people staring at me holding pieces of white paper, each with a single name written on it. Scanning the sea of names was quite exhilarating! About ¾ of the way down, I spotted my name sign: “Welcome to Bali: Erica Batstone.” It was Made! I had been emailing him for months now about my arrival and it was actually happening! I quickly got some Aussie dollars changed over to Rupiah and stepped out of the airport to greet Made.

As we drove through the busy city streets of Denpasar, I kept saying how it felt like I was in a dream. I have been anticipating this moment for months. Bali was always a place on my dream travel list and I was completely overwhelmed by the reality of it.

Along the busy road, we passed lots of gigantic stone carvings of different gods and Buddha. There were scooters whizzing past us left and right. It was a surprise to me that accidents didn’t occur more often. Throughout the ride, we engaged in great conversation about his family, who I’d be meeting very soon.

Once we parked the car, we walked down a narrow pathway to the end of the block and arrived at the most beautiful house adorned with traditional Balinese carvings overlooking a gorgeous green field complete with a river and tall palm trees. I entered the room where I’d be staying and was pleasantly surprised to see a comfy double bed with 4 posts and an elegant mosquito net surrounding it. I laid my gear down on the tiled floor and sat comfortably on the veranda outside my room. Made made me a delicious black ginger tea and I slowly sipped it while offering gratitude to God for bringing me to such a special place to begin my month long journey in Bali.

That night I met his family and ate my first homemade Balinese meal. It was amazing and filled with so much flavor and SPICE! (Very spicy, in fact, the following mornings were a bit heated on the lieu, if you catch my drift. TMI? Perhaps. :-p). We had chicken meatball soup, long beans sautéed in coconut oil with chilies, tuna sate, eggs fried in coconut oil, sambal (tomato and chilli. A condiment they have with most dishes), and of course white rice.

That night, Made and I stayed up talking about all kinds of great topics and I discovered his unique wisdom. He had a great way of creating visual metaphors in the way that he spoke which helped me to connect them to my life. We engaged in deep, spiritual, meaning-of-life type conversations for the next few nights.

Waking up the next morning felt as thought I was still dreaming, but soon realized this was my beautiful reality; however, overnight, I had developed about 50 bug or ant bites all over my feet. I had a feeling something like this would happen at some point in my journey so it didn’t really bother me.

The next 6 days at Made’s home in the village were filled with acoustic guitar singing sessions, trips to nearby temples, going to the spa, eating at a small café in a nearby village, going to a baptism, drinking arak (coconut wine, tastes like vodka, not as strong), and attending several temple ceremonies.

The ceremonies were the most memorable for me. The first one I attended was a cleansing ceremony at the large temple. Made’s wife’s dressed me in a lace top and tied my sarong around my waist. After our short motorbike ride, we entered the temple and took a seat on the stone ground. We stayed seated for about 2 hours and it was quite painful due to the small stones in the cement that stuck up at your rear. Despite the pain, the ceremony was beautiful and I was very humbled to be a part of it. The ceremony began with each person lighting incense and sticking it into the ground in front of them. Then grasping a flower, they would swipe it in the smoke coming from the incense, place it between their two pointer fingers and then put their hands in prayer while touching the base of their thumbs to their forehead. After they prayed, the women placed the flower in their ponytail or bun and the men put it either behind their ears or in their white cap. This was continued with about 3 more flowers. Once the prayers were completed, the sermon was given. Following the sermon, men and women holding buckets of holy water, a small brush and crushed rice walked around to each person. Each person received 4 sprays of holy water in their cupped hands. The first three were drunk and the last one was put over the top of their head and on their forehead. Then they took a bit of crushed rice and put it where you can imagine your third eye to be. It was a beautiful ceremony and I am honored to have been a part of it. The funny thing about the end of the ceremony was that once everyone received their holy water and rice, they were out of there! It reminded me of Catholic church as a kid. You couldn’t wait for the final sign of the cross and hymn to be sung so you could leave. I guess we are all the same really! The following night I attended the largest festival of the year with the family. It was filled with thousands of Balinese from many different villages. It was a festival to give thanks to the Gods for all they provided them with that year. There was a massive parade of people in their traditional outfits and women carrying tall offerings filled with fruit, money, rice and sweets on their heads. I walked with the parade through the temple and gazed in awe at the colorful attire and temple décor. The energy was electric and I was consumed with gratitude. Throughout the night I witnessed Legong and masked dances as well as traditional live music. It was a powerful experience and everywhere I looked I uncovered something new and exciting. Also, being one of the only 5 Westerners amongst at least 3,000 Balinese was also a wonderful feeling.

My time at Made’s home ended with a birthday cake for my 29^th year. It was a very kind gesture and the whole family sang to me. I even had a banana pancake that morning for breakfast. I don’t think they knew that was one of my favorite birthday traditions, but it happened organically. J

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the village, though at times it was isolating since I was far out from the city, but it gave me lots of time to do my writing and reflecting on what I hoped my month in Bali would be like. I can say that looking back, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Sometimes you just have to go into the wilderness alone. This is a story about my day getting lost in the untouched rainforests of Western Tasmania.

After waking to the sounds of the native birds and way past check out time, I emerged from my tent nestled in the rainforest in the sweet little historic town of Corinna, Tasmania.

That day my traveling companion, Betsy, and I decided to go on solo adventures. We had been road tripping Tasmania together for about 7 days at that point and felt we both would enjoy some solo time exploring the area. While she decided to go on a hike, my spirit was pulling me to spend time on the water and I had to obey it. I decided to rent out a kayak and explore the Pieman River. As I pushed off the shore line in my red kayak, I immediately felt at peace. I’d always dreamed of a living in a cabin on a fresh body of water with a kayak to use in the early mornings and this was one of the closest feelings I’ve had to that thus far.

I watched as my yellow oar cut through the still, mirror-like water just like a knife through warm butter. As I paddled up the river, I could hear sounds coming from the barge ferry behind me, but as I turned the next bend, the noise began to fade. I found the silence I so urned to hear. The river to myself.

According to the front desk staff at the lodge, it would take about an hour to get to Lover’s Falls, a destination they highly recommended. They told me to look out for Savage River and the shipwreck that inhabited it’s narrow channel. I passed the entrance to the river in search of the wooden stairs they said would lead me to the falls, but after about 200m, they were nowhere in site and I decided to turn back and head down the Savage River. As I approached the mouth of the river, my heart started beating fast and I began to feel very anxious. I have a pretty unique fear that I know sounds ridiculous, but it’s real and I am really unsure how it started, but I know I’ve had it since childhood. It’s called submechanophobia. It is when someone is afraid of man-made objects submerged underwater which include shipwrecks, chains, and ropes. Sometimes submerged trees give me the hebegebees too. Crazy, ey? Ya, I know.

The gals at the lodge told me that since it was low tide, I would be able to see the mast of the sunken ship above the water. I had no idea where exactly it was located in the river, so as I paddled down the river, I tried to avoid looking down into the water beneath me in case I would come across its ghostly figure under my boat. (My heart still gets going even when I think about it now!). I started talking to God to distract my mind from thinking about what was to come. As I rounded the bend, there she was: Miss S.S. Crayton. I could see a good part of the ship out of the water and didn’t dare get any closer. Luckily, there was a small dock on the ride of the river just before the wreck where I could tie my kayak up to and do some hiking in the adjacent forest. There were a few wooden steps leading up from the dock and I pondered if they led to the falls I was searching for.

I approached a trail sign at the top of the stairs and carefully analyzed it, trying to figure out which direction to go. Feeling a bit unconfident with my sense of direction, I decided to take a bit of a risk and go left. The trail was almost non-existent and I found myself entrusting neon pink plastic ribbons tied around random branches as my guide. I had to crawl under and over trees, step in mounds of thick, sludgy mud and even maneuver slippery slopes with leads of rope provided on the hills to help keep my balance. My adrenaline began to pump again-I was by myself, no one knowing where I was. I felt vulnerable because I wasn’t confident in where I was going, yet completely free and excited about the idea of exploring this unknown path through the rainforest filled with obstacles to conquer. I kept hearing voices in my head from my mom and friends telling me that I “should never hike alone” and “don’t do anything stupid.” I was on such a discovery high that even the thought of an Aboriginal man abducting me and having me as his wife to live with him in the rainforest didn’t sound like such a bad idea.

About 45 minutes into the hike, I crossed over a creek via a fallen mossy tree and spotted another trail sign. I immediately noticed the “You Are Here” sticker and realized I was very far off from where the falls were and I was totally okay with it. Getting lost on this unknown path was the better decision by far. It’s all about the journey not the destination, right? I decided to turn around and head back along the same trail. At this point, I felt bold. While making my way back to my kayak, I spent a bit of time admiring and conversing with the yellow tailed cockatoos which made sounds similar to that of a T-Rex which fit in perfectly with the vision in my mind.

After coming out of the forest, I untied my kayak and paddled back to Corinna. I loved the feeling of being solo and conquering all those different obstacles throughout my journey. I felt feelings of peace, contentment, vulnerability, fear, adrenaline and most importantly, elated happiness knowing that I had made it out alive and overcame all of the emotional and physical challenges along the way.

Arriving in Bali felt like an out of body experience. I had dreamed of this place for so long and while driving through the bustling streets, with motorbikes jetting by and seeing ancient temples along with massive handmade stone carvings, I was knew I was right where I needed to be. Arriving at my host family’s home was unreal. It was nestled in the corner of a small village called Bedulu and it overlooked jungle like flora.

Exhale. I was in heaven. The 4-post bed was adorned with a beautiful mosquito net and my balcony allowed for a beautiful space to do my writing and reflecting. I was welcomed with a delicious black ginger tea, which I proceeded to have each day. My heart was open and ready to receive all that this place had to offer and teach.

While staying at the home, I was able to truly witness Balinese culture and participate in several ceremonies during the week I was there. As I observed this new world around me, the one word that kept coming up was Intention.

Each day the Balinese make offering baskets out of palm leaves and in those baskets they put flowers, rice, money and anything else they want to offer to the Gods to say Thank You for all they have given them. On top of the offering baskets, they put a burning invent to attract the Gods. They put these baskets around their homes usually in their family temple, by the kitchen, the family room and at the 4 corners of their house. When they place the offering baskets down they sprinkle it with holy water by means of a flower between their fingers. (This water is gathered from the springs in the nearby temples). They pray while doing this and I have loved watching the women do their offerings on a daily basis. Whether it is while I am walking down the street or eating breakfast at my hotel, I take a moment to reflect on their act of worship and their intention to practice gratitude everyday. A great lesson indeed.

Everyone has a different vision of what this looks like. While living in semi-isolation and in a contemptuous work environment, I have begun to dive into what quality of life looks like to me.

I have been working a job that has me questioning what is important for me to live a purpose-filled and balanced life. I am finding that my current situation is not providing  the necessary needsa. I am left wondering if it is worth sticking around for and whether it’s for the right reasons.

In fact, that job itself isn’t too bad. It is in a field of interest (event planning and management) and I have pretty decent hours (well that was all about the change when they changed my job and my hours! I was now working reception and arriving at work at 5:45am! More to come on this). It’s more the life that I live outside of work. I live about a 15-minute drive from work in a place that is in the middle of nowhere. Without a car, there is little opportunity to do much exploring and getting a ride to the grocery store is like hitting the jackpot. I used to moan and groan when my mom asked me to run to the store to grab something and now I would do it in a heartbeat! It’s funny what we realize we have taken for granted when we are in new, unfamiliar environments.

I spend my days off praying that the phone will ring with someone wanting to invite me on an excursion. Sometimes things work out better than planned, while other times I am restricted to paths leading to old reservoirs and unpromising nature trails to pass the time. I came to this region for the landscape and outdoor opportunities, but my interaction with it has been minor and it’s making me rethink where I want to be.

Walking to the closest town or trailhead from my house would probably take me 4+ hours. Based on where I live, all outdoor pursuits are very inaccessible without a car.

In addition, there is no wifi out where live, well unless you have a smart phone data plan. And yes, I still have not joined the smart phone bandwagon. I am a proud owner of the simplest Samsung phone you can get. It’s amazing how we expect wifi to be everywhere and I kind of think it should be, but I am learning that it isn’t always the case.

So I am left to ponder what those things are that I most desire in my life to feel balanced and complete.

1. A Sense of Community.

This desire is getting stronger the more I move around. It is possible to have even as a transient traveler, it just takes a special group of people to make it happen even if it’s only for a season.

2. Access to Outdoor Spaces and Exploration.
   Living near a walking path, a lake, river, the ocean, a park or hiking trails always gives me a feeling of finding balance wherever I am. I like to find my quiet place in nature in whatever location I find myself in.

3. Connection to Friends and Family.

As every traveler knows, it is imperative to feel you can connect with friends and family. It keeps you grounded and instills love and encouragement when you need it most.

4. Something to Believe in and Belong to.

Whether it’s a spiritual community or practicing sustainability by supporting the local farmer’s market, it is essential to feel like you belong in a group of like-minded people.

5. Opportunities to Engage in your Favorite Hobbies.

As many people know, I love to dance and listen to live music. Being able to have classes to take and venues to see local gigs in is one definitely something I look for in my happy place. Even a local café is something that gets my wheels spinning when it comes to writing for my website and pondering the road ahead.

Now that I’ve shared some of mine, I’d love to get some insight on what aspects you desire in an ideal living situation that offer you a balanced, fulfilled life?

Please share below or on my Facebook page. 🙂 Thank you!

After spending just 4 days in Melbourne, I was craving nature! The city offers so much variety in things to do and food to eat, but my soul is never fully satisfied in a city which is something that I have learned along the way. While still in the States, I used the site Helpx.net to  contact a flower farm owned by Lisa and Steve Kingston in Woodbridge, Tasmania. I had always wanted to do a bit of farming and I thought it would be a great place to do it. For about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week of work, I’d be given a place to stay and a 3 meals a day which is great because I’d virtually have no expenses. It is such a clever way to travel if you don’t have tons of money to do so.

I flew down to the main city of Hobart and was picked up by Steve at the airport. I immediately fell in love with Tasmania as my eyes were flooded with greenery, mountains, and bodies of water! Such a refreshing site after the concrete jungle. Most people said it would remind me of New Zealand compared to other parts of Australia and they were right; however, I still think NZ is the prettiest of them all!!

We proceeded to head to town where I’d meet Lisa and the other gal, Naoko, who was also a helpx worker.  We ate dinner at a restaurant called the DrUNkeN aDmiRAl and ate delicious fresh seafood caught right off the shores outside. We finished the night by uninstalling floral arrangements that she had at a huge corporate event. There were two more events to follow for this same group that she was making arrangements for one being for an 80’s theme dance party and the other at a very quirky museum for a night of regal entertainment. Since I am in the event industry, it has been such a rewarding experience to see the floral side of things. Lisa is quite amazing too! She grows all of her flowers, only purchasing 10% from other farms to add to her arrangements. So she grows, picks, arranges, delivers and installs all her own flowers! It is one of the best operations I have ever seen. There are not many florists in the world who grow and arrange their OWN flowers! It is such a pleasure to be a part of the process. Her primary focus has been on preparing bouquets of flowers for her market stall on Saturdays in Salamanca, but word has spread and she is beginning to get more corporate and wedding events. I have even been able to help her with how to price her flowers for these types of events. She was undercharging and I have helped triple her earnings on some recent events. 🙂 She totally deserves it!

My daily routine here at the farm is quite nice! We start working in the farm at 8:30am where we do weeding, flower picking and processing; feeding the cows and chooks (chickens), etc. At 10:30 we break for tea in the garden. We work until about 12:30/1pm and then have lunch which have been a delicious spread of bread, pestos, cheese, fresh garden veggies, avocado, and homemade jams. After lunch we continue to work for a couple more hours and then Naoko and I are finished for the day. I spend the afternoons writing, reading, checking email, etc. There is not much to do outside of working on the farm since we are in such a remote area, but it is so stunning and peaceful. I also love witnessing their efficiencies on the farm. We picked wheat today for floral arrangements and the wheat that we could not use, I fed to Honey, the cow. She was so excited! Old bread goes to the chooks. They also use a wood stove/oven to not only cook their food, but to heat their entire house as well as the water! It is so amazing to witness this type of sustainability.

There is even a 5 star restaurant and event venue just a mile down the road that Lisa provides flowers for. She mentioned to them that she had an event manager staying with her and they asked her if I wanted a job! I have met with the event coordinator and I think I’ll do a trial there next week to see if I can help them out a bit. My plan is to stay at the farm until late December to help them with their chincherinchee crops (pretty tall white flowers) and possibly do 2 events a week at the venue down the road. It is a top notch establishment that uses only the best local ingredients and everyone around here has nothing but spectacular things to say about it so I think it could be a wonderful opportunity for me to learn a bit more and help them out in the process! I love the ways God surprises me and brings things into my life that I so desire, but yet had no expectation of them actually coming into existence. I thought it’d be very hard to find an event manager job, but this one has just sort of happened out of the blue and so soon! 🙂

Life is good on the farm. Even with the dirt under my nails and the lack of hot water at times, it is quite a beautiful existence and I have been inspired to one day have my own farm with veggies, animals, and flowers, of course! 😀

…and I’ve never felt more ready. Preparing for my trip to Australia has been such a different experience compared to when I was getting ready for my year in New Zealand just 2 years ago. I am more prepared when it comes to the logistical side of it with visas, credit cards, travel insurance, bank accounts, transportation arrangements, etc. More importantly, I have experienced so much peace and assurance that this adventure is one that God wants me to embark on. To many people, what I am about to do just seems crazy, but to me it feels normal and I absolutely love that. I have overcome so much to get to where I am today that to be able to feel an overwhelming sense of peace and readiness is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve received before my trip. I have had some amazing people standing beside me as I mentally and spiritually prepare for this trip and many of them have confirmed my purpose while in Australia.

After meditating on my visions for this trip, I have felt an urge to serve and practice loving others. In the initial stages of planning, I was going to play it safe by beginning in a city and finding a job and an apartment. This would’ve been fine, but I something deep down was telling me to challenge myself a bit more and find a way to serve others, but in a way that I did not expect much in return. I began looking through the helpx.net website and emailed a couple of farms looking for people to help them with gardening and feeding animals, etc. I began conversing with one in particular that is in Tasmania and runs a flower farm that creates beautiful arrangements for weddings and events. Since I have an interest in events, this was not only a great opportunity to serve in a different way, but will offer me a glimpse into the world of floral design. I will work for them daily in exchange for housing and food and will do my very best to love on them while I am there, offering my help wherever needed.

I will most likely be there for 2-3 weeks. I am leaving the next step to God and the people I meet along the way as I feel it is through them that I receive the most inspiration and direction. Being this flexible and open to the unknown has been a growing process, but I am so excited to be at a place where I live by faith and trust in a God that loves me and has my back 24/7.

Here’s to an EPIC adventure!

Cheers USA,

Erica