It’s a new month and an important one for me. I’m turning 30 this month… and yes, of course that’s on my mind. In a positive way, fortunately. I feel stronger than ever, so I’m starting the month off right with a new gym visit. Nirvana is on the menu today. Annie works out here too, and I’ve also heard good things from Niels.
I head out nice and early for a yoga class and immediately feel that this gym suits my character more as soon as I walk in. A yoga session to start the day, followed by a handstand practice class. This gym is quite large and more extensive, with lots of different spaces, and I feel more comfortable and relaxed here. It’s more spread out and also designed with chill areas and workspaces. After my class, as I walk around, I spot a familiar face, Caroline, the ex-girlfriend of Joram (my friend in Amsterdam). We sit down together and catch up on each other’s lives. A beautiful conversation. I had already seen her driving earlier this week, and we’d been in touch on Instagram, so the meeting wasn’t entirely coincidental. That doesn’t make it any less fun we really enjoyed catching up.
In the end, a perfect day at Nirvana: a yoga class, handstand practice, sauna, relaxing for a few hours, a book and to finish in style, Caro and I wrap up with a conditioning class, just like how we got to know each other through CrossFit back in Amsterdam. A perfect day. At the end of the day, I call home, because on the first day of March my dearest sister has her birthday so a family call!
The next day, a lot of doubts start creeping back into my mind as I wonder how my next adventure and phase will unfold. I know I want to go to Australia. I want to travel from Adelaide to Sydney. In Adelaide, I plan to visit a friend of Pelle more on that later. The doubts keep me occupied, but at the same time they make me more aware, and I observe what’s happening. Doubt means action. So I book my ticket and know that on March 4th, at the end of the day, I’ll be flying to Adelaide. Once I make a decision, I notice the doubt gradually fades throughout the day. In the evening, the three of us end the day nicely with a feel-good movie. It’s Julia Roberts Week earlier we already watched Eat Pray Love and Pretty Woman, and now Notting Hill is on the program. Lovely.
Back to Eat Pray Love for a moment. I feel like my trip has become an extended version of that story. For those who don’t know the film: in it, Julia Roberts donates money for her birthday to a Balinese woman and child to build a house. If you think that only happens in movies, you’re wrong. Let me have your attention for a moment.
My mother has a friend, Marja. And Marja is an amazing woman with a passion for teaching toddlers. That’s her profession in the Netherlands, where she runs her own preschool. Here’s the connection to the film: during a holiday in Bali, Marja invested in Sari. And not just randomly, she invested in someone with a dream. Sari wants to teach children English in Bali to improve their opportunities in the world. On my mother’s initiative, I decide to visit this school. Sari gives me a tour and speaks with immense gratitude about Marja and how she runs the school here. I meet Sari, her husband, and her son. It’s not big, it’s not perfect, it’s not massive and it doesn’t have to be. When you do something with passion, every result is worth admiring. The same applies here.
At that moment there are no children, as they only come later in the afternoon after their regular school day. I’m grateful for this visit it made my day, just as it made Sari’s. If you’re interested in teaching English in Bali, feel free to reach out. Dear Marja, amazing. An inspiration to many in how you positively impact Sari and the lives of others. Respect. I’m glad I made this visit at the very end of my time here. That evening is my last night, and Annie, Jor, and we close it off nicely with a Japanese dinner.
My last day in Bali revolves around Indonesian-Dutch connections. I squeeze in one final gym session, and afterwards Jordy picks up an outfit for his wedding. Linen is the theme. Linen is winning. I stop by my favorite Crate Café, and while sitting there, I’m reminded of a former client of mine when I see someone drawing. This former client is from Indonesia and once told me about how he teaches his daughters through self-study, and how one of them is incredibly creative with digital drawings. It’s nice to see how that thought brings me back, and I send him a photo.
After I finish eating, I meet YanYan for a coffee, my Indonesian number two. She has just arrived in Bali, and her partner Vin is already in Lombok, where she’s heading next. Yan and I have a great conversation about my journey and our lives. Then it’s time to close Bali and I do so with a lot of gratitude. This remains a magical place with so much energy, and I’ve definitely felt it here. I’m recharged and ready for a new adventure. To complete the circle, I leave during a rainstorm, which I see as a symbolic and beautiful ending.
Terima Kasih Bali!!!
In light of Jordy and Annemijn’s wedding, I want to share one more thing. I came to Bali for my friend Jordy, and in my previous blog I definitely expressed my love but I consciously left something important out: dear Annie. Because behind every strong man stands an even stronger woman and yes, that’s Annie. I’m writing this with their wedding at the end of May in Lombok in mind. This feels like a prelude to what’s to come.
I’ve also seen Annie grow tremendously, which is why I’m spending this time with her before she stands at the altar. I’ve truly enjoyed Annie. Taking things calmly, giving lots of attention to Louie, quietly doing some work on her laptop, not too much, just enough, and with intention. She moves around the house like a true mother, makes some spontaneous feminine purchases for herself, for Louie, and for Jor, and goes to the gym whenever she feels like it.
Her quote of the week, by far: “Oh guys, Jamie Vaes is also at Parklife.” Wonderful, slightly dreamy, yet grounded. Motherhood suits you beautifully, and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a beautiful woman up close. This week, Annie has blossomed into her own version of Julia Roberts.
When Annie asked me earlier how my trip was, I said it felt like an extended version of Eat Pray Love. She said she hadn’t seen the film, my jaw dropped. That week we watched Eat Pray Love, Notting Hill, and Pretty Woman. Dear Annie, to me you are a mix of all three films and your own version of Julia Roberts. Natural beauty, gentle, clear, feminine, curious, dreamy, and above all incredibly kind. A big kiss and thank you for this week!
That’s it. A different ending than usual but no less important…
See you soon from Australia!
No responses yet