It’s 12:00 p.m. and I’m sitting on my balcony after a delicious breakfast. Last night, I arrived on an island that had been on my bucket list for a very long time. Back in 2020, I had already planned a trip to this beautiful island when—yes—something threw a wrench in the works, something that threw a wrench in the works for years. But no looking back—just living in the moment.
A few months ago, I realized the world was wide open again, which made my travel heart beat faster. It had already been 8 years since I’d last visited my family in Australia. That prompted me to plan the best time to travel and organize the rest of the trip around it. November—that was going to be the month!
But since I was a little fed up with long trips, connecting flights, and not being able to sleep well on a plane—which means you arrive at your final destination exhausted and are no good for the first few days—I’ve decided to do things differently this time. I’m going to break this trip up! But since Bali is on the way to Australia, I definitely want to include it in my trip.
Jakub and I travel a lot; we take lots of short trips (usually within Europe) and are always working while we’re out. Our schedule usually looks like this: breakfast, work, and then around 1:00 or 2:00 p.m., we head into the city—or wherever we feel like going. After dinner, we go back to the hotel to do a little more work, so we get the best of both worlds. Our work doesn’t stop—we keep our clients happy—we just do it all from a slightly sunnier location. Win-win!
But now, after years of working nonstop, it’s time to really take three weeks off, to unplug—and today, my first real day of vacation, is going better than I expected. I don’t even have to force myself to unwind; it just happens naturally. This weather also helps you unwind quickly, because the humidity is high—really high! Even without doing much, you’re sweating profusely, and the sun isn’t even out yet.
Getting back to the planned trip, I’ve split it up. I booked a trip with Qatar Airways to Bali, and the best part is, I have a layover in Qatar! Looking at all the options, I see that an 11-hour layover is possible, which gives me enough time to book a hotel for the night and get plenty of sleep. If you’re thinking about doing this yourself, keep in mind that not every country allows you to leave the airport during your layover—tip of the week! I’m booking my flight from Bali to Perth, my final destination, with the budget airline AirAsia.
Three weeks—how am I going to plan this to get the most out of it? I’m willing to spend a few days traveling just to make my trip as relaxed as possible, so that I’ll be fresh and full of energy when I arrive in Bali and Perth—at least, that’s my plan, and based on the schedule, it should work out. And guess what? It’s actually true!
On November 24, I took a flight to Qatar—it turned out to be less than a 7-hour flight; it probably had a tailwind, so I arrived there at 9:00 p.m. local time. It was a relaxing trip, and as you may know, I always work with the Law of Attraction—and as it turns out, it’s working fantastically well again this time!
On November 23, just before going to bed, I visualized my travel day. Exactly the way I wanted it to go. Everything had to go smoothly—I wanted a relaxed flight with plenty of space next to me, no hassles, etc. Everything went exactly as I had planned.
After arriving in Qatar, I got to my hotel at 10:00 p.m. I really should be in bed, but given the time difference and the adventure waiting outside, I decide to head out for a bit anyway. Someone had suggested I check out Corniche Park; luckily, it’s just around the corner. First, I’ll check in, and then I’ll head out. One step outside, and I’m immediately honked at by a big, fancy car with a couple of oil sheiks inside, I think. That sets the tone right away, hahaha!
At 11:00 p.m., I order another vegetarian paneer—since everything on the menu is chicken—and finally fall asleep at midnight, with the help of a sleeping pill, mind you. At 5:30 a.m., my alarm goes off again, and with a hangover from the sleeping pill, I roll out of bed to get downstairs as quickly as possible, hop in a taxi, and off to the airport, because now the next part of my trip is about to begin: Bali!
Doha Airport in Qatar is next level! So beautiful, so chic—the selection and even the art. Everything is next level, exactly as it should be (if you believe in the power of the LAW and want to grow to the next level yourself). The food selection is fantastic; I’m always surprised at how most airports seem to cater mainly to bad food. Poor quality, little variety, few vegetarian options—everything that makes traveling not exactly healthy. But Doha gets it right, and I order a delicious coconut-based breakfast bowl with fruit to eat later on the plane.
The flight takes just under 10 hours; this one is also very laid-back and exactly as I’d planned. At the airport itself, I’m immediately greeted by none other than: mosquitoes! I know I’m incredibly popular and incredibly tasty, but the fact that malaria is prevalent here makes it a little less fun. No matter where I go, I always come back completely covered in mosquito bites. As a precaution—to avoid having to take pills—I bought a good mosquito repellent; I just hope it works! Both are toxic, but I chose the lesser of two evils, I hope!
The drive to Ubud takes an hour; it’s a long drive, and looking at the map, it could have been much shorter, but the fact is that it’s incredibly busy, even at 11:00 p.m., which makes it hard to drive fast. And on the last part of the trip, the road gets bumpier, which makes driving fast a bit harder too. Even though it’s pitch black, I can tell the hotel has the vibe I was hoping for. Peaceful, jungle-like, spiritual, and relaxed. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, so I can admire everything in daylight. I booked a room with a balcony so I can enjoy the jungle in complete peace and privacy—that means a lot to me right now. I work hard, a lot, and sometimes long hours, so peace and privacy are a breath of fresh air—allowing me to be with myself in silence, right here in the present moment. In the room, an offering awaits me: a small bowl filled with flowers, plants, and things I don’t recognize. Everywhere along the road and at the airport, I’d already seen all these little bowls with flowers, sometimes with some incense. They turn out to be offerings to the gods they worship here. You can feel the love that went into making them, placing them, and the intentions behind them. At 2:00 a.m., I finally fall asleep, only to be woken up by the alarm at 10:00 a.m. Breakfast is served until 11:00 a.m.—hurry up? Oh no, I’m here to relax—so I get dressed and walk very slowly to the breakfast area.
What I see is amazing. The scents, colors, and sounds. The peace, hospitality, and friendly people—all surrounded by spirituality. Breakfast is prepared with care, and you can tell it’s on another level—different from what they usually serve at hotels like the Hilton, where I was recently for work in Barcelona. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty to choose from, but I wouldn’t call it truly healthy. Here, it’s different—there’s an abundance of fruit and unique breakfast dishes. I opt for a dragon fruit bowl with—you guessed it—dragon fruit, which has a gorgeous pinkish-purple color, toasted coconut, fruit, and granola. The view is incredible—by the pool, where the beautiful flowers from the tree above are floating in the water—it’s a picture-perfect scene.
I take a walk around the grounds and decide it’s time to head back to my room—still a little tired, but also curious, because of what I just came across…….
A large, black insect with a loud buzzing sound. I was startled—it was so big—and then I quickly had to remind myself of my training: animal communication. Everything has a soul you can communicate with. What made me get scared for a moment by this fascinating little creature? The sound, the size, or maybe what it’s capable of doing? I took a deep breath and looked around the room to figure out what kind of animal it was. Then my eyes landed on a Google list of 20 dangerous animals in Bali. I really shouldn’t have looked at that! But this big guy isn’t on the list. So what is it, then?
Unfortunately, I’ve already forgotten some of what I learned in the course I took in Groningen last year, so I immediately sent an email to Symone saying that I want to sign up for the year-long program! I can’t wait to start working as an animal communicator, but first, it’s time to rest! I’m looking over the long list of treatments I can get here—from massages to beauty treatments. I’m thinking of treating myself every day, but first: a little more rest and time to enjoy the view from my balcony, where I’m writing this right now. Hearing the sounds intensely, truly seeing the colors, watching those animals. Squirrels running playfully through the trees and branches. Really being in the NOW for a moment and enjoying the island’s energy. Will you enjoy and feel this with me?
With love, Priscilla
