From Bang Bang Bangkok to Bali to visit my friend Bruijntje for the English readers “Brownie”. Damn, arriving and seeing that face of my friend and going from one warm hug from Supa straight into another from Jordy as my welcome here. It instantly feels amazing. Time seems to stand still in friendship, that’s what I witnessed up close with Supa, and now I feel it myself too.
Jordy lives here with his girlfriend Annemijn and their daughter Louie, who’s almost 1.5 years old. Upon arrival, there’s a massive rain in Bali, and in the taxi it’s absolutely pouring. The forecast is quite extreme, with weather alerts even issued for some southern parts of Bali. We’re hit with heavy showers, and heaps of rain but that’s all it is, no drama or extreme situations luckily for us. Staying indoors means spending a lot of time together. I immediately feel at home thanks to the warm, family atmosphere Jordy and Annemijn have created, and pretty quickly I become part of little Louie’s cuddle ritual. It’s magical to see what parenthood can do, I’m observing a beautiful family, and I can feel that Jordy and Annemijn approach parenting with real maturity. Conscious attention, consciously no phones around Louie, consciously hugging, running around, and even consciously taking turns with diaper duty.
Because of the rain, we spend a lot of time together, and I get to witness their parenting up close. Honestly, I also love holding a baby or child, I feel the power of a child’s smile. Jordy is a real capitano, so he also makes time for himself. And as the athlete he is, he takes good care of his body. So it’s time for a massage on this rainy day, just relax, lovely. In the evening, we go out for dinner, just the three of us, because Annie also occasionally gets a break from motherhood thanks to their nanny. So off we go for dinner together. Life isn’t bad here in Bali, we’re enjoying it.
The next day I head out on my own. I’ve been to Bali before, about 7 years ago, and I’m staying in Canggu again. So this is also a trip down memory lane for me in terms of restaurants and cafés. What stands out is the extreme busyness and how built-up it has become over the years. That day I have some thoughts on my mind, questions and doubts about how long I should stay, where I want to go, whether I want to explore more of Bali, whether I should do something. Climb a mountain? Discover a new area? Meet new people? That familiar urge to explore kicks in again—“discover, explore, adventure.” I’m realizing it’s a strong character trait of mine.
The answer always comes and I often connect that to something unexpected, because life unfolds the way it’s meant to. And that unexpected moment arrives quickly. I go for a walk, withdraw some cash, and I’m a bit hungry. I withdraw the equivalent of €100 which makes me a millionaire—pretty nice feeling for an easy €100. Then I cross the street and step into a local warung to grab something to eat. Without suspecting anything, I sit down at a long communal table, with three Balinese men sitting across from me. I put down my sunglasses, phone, and wallet, take in the busy surroundings, and watch the endless stream of scooters passing by like a caravan.
I get up, walk to the counter, and put together my meal: rice, tempeh, rendang, vegetables in coconut milk, fried potatoes, and a well-seasoned chicken leg. Delicious, I’m enjoying it, and it brings a smile to my fac. This smile I reflect at the men across from me. One speaks broken English, the other not at all. He asks where I’m from. “Balanda,” I say, using my Indonesian vocabulary. He asks where I’m staying and what I’m doing here. A perfect moment for me to proudly say I’m staying with my friend Jordy, who plays football for Bali United. His jaw drops, and he tells me he’s the father of one of Jordy’s teammates. We start talking, take a few selfies, and share some laughs.
Dear people, this is one of those encounters that feels unexplainable when you think about the odds. That I sit down in a local warung and end up meeting the father of one of Jordy’s teammates. I’ve had more of these moments during my travels, and I now see them as confirmation that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. So this also takes away the doubts and the questions that I had earlier. Everything happens for a reason. It makes me feel even more grateful that Jordy is my friend—otherwise, I wouldn’t have had this encounter.
The next day I decide to go to the gym. Fitness is definitely a passion for me , just like a healthy lifestyle. I go to Reload Sanctuary, a massive new gym that opened just a month ago. I’ll be honest, Bali is known for its beautiful men and women and fitness culture. Time for Stan to test that out during a Brazilian Booty class at Reload Sanctuary. Honestly, it’s an incredible gym, spacious, huge pool, sauna, restaurant, big lounge area, it has everything. And on top of that, definitely some eye candy. I do notice I’ve gone from Bang Bang Botox Bangkok to Bang Bang Botox Bali. Oh well, it’s easy on the eyes, and those hip thrusters and tight workout outfits are definitely motivating. Of course, there’s a bit of seeing and being seen, and the ego deserves some balanced attention. No guys, I’m not a celibate traveler. I enjoy looking around. The sun comes out in the afternoon, I spend the whole day there, and make full use of all the facilities including the view.
In the evening, Annie is taking care of Louie and Jordy and I go out for dinner, just the two of us. I’m grateful for the depth in our friendship, even though we don’t speak every day. It’s beautiful to see how our conversations have grown, especially about Jordy’s life and fatherhood. We come to a shared conclusion: life is all about balance. Jor, my dear friend, you can keep this one. I think you’ve grown tremendously, in big steps. I love you.
The next morning, the four of us go out for breakfast, and I really feel the power of being present, with 100% attention and intention. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, try to be present. Seeing a child up close really helps with that. For those wondering, “Does this guy even work?” Yes, Jordy trains in the afternoons, with the schedule adjusted because of Ramadan. So mornings are ours to enjoy together. Win the morning, win the day. It also gives me peace of mind, confirming I’m in the right place.
When Jordy heads to training, I hear that Niels is in the hospital with an intestinal infection. Niels is a childhood friend of my younger brother and used to come over to our house a lot, a sweetheart. When I hear he’s in the hospital, there’s only one thing to do. This time I choose Niels over the Botox girls in Bali, so I hop on a scooter from Canggu to Denpasar. What I find there is thankfully a smile, not a dramatic situation. I can immediately tell he’s doing okay he explains he’s there to rule out a few things related to his intestinal issues. Totally understandable in a country with different hygiene standards and facilities. Niels is allowed to leave the hospital, and I feel that my presence and hug contribute positively to his recovery. Get well soon, Niels!
It’s Friday, which also means the weekend is celebrated in Bali. Jordy is unfortunately injured, so no match for him. Lucky for me, though, it means we can go out for a proper night like the old days, which has been a while for me. Black Sands is on the agenda, and everyone looks good here, well dressed, beautiful people, including Jordy and Stan. Pizza and beers on the menu, a guaranteed recipe for a good time. Soon, two Dutch girls sit next to us, and we chat about work and Bali and life in the Netherlands. Not long after, Stan sneaks off into the rain with Amber. Amber reminds me that Dutch girls can kiss very well too and despite the pouring rain, we don’t let it distract us. Actually, it makes it more romantic. A great night.
The next day, a slight hangover, a perfect way to close out the month of February. Time flies, and I decide to visit a café I used to go to a lot during my previous time in Bali: Crate Café. Seven years ago, I had a little holiday romance, Canadian Maya. We always met at Crate Café, which looks exactly the same. Unfortunately, the surroundings have completely changed. Where I used to lie romantically overlooking rice fields, everything is now fully built up. It’s fascinating to see how Bali has changed, yet it still remains a magical place. It feels good to be here, and this feels like the perfect way to wrap up part one of my Bali journey.
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