I was in sad shape by the time I reached my room. It’s almost as if I wanted to fit in — weathered, worn, exhausted and dirty. Thirty hours without sleep and three hours until check out, I needed to devise a plan, and quickly. Rest and relaxation were at the top of my list, so I settled on a quick break in Bali.
Ubud is said to be the island’s heart and soul (now, having been, I get to differ… just a little ), surrounded by rain forest and rice terraces. A place you retreat to when you want calm and quiet, where art, culture, and healing collide. You can eat, pray, love until your little heart’s content or your pockets are empty. Yoga? You bet. Vegan and Vegetarian fare? Practically everywhere. Patchouli oil, baggy pants and Birkenstocks? Well, of course. Welcome to hippy heaven, my friends. All jokes aside, it really is quite lovely.
In a daze and hacking up a lung, I hopped on the back of a motorbike, then boarded a ferry. Once on the other side, I hired a driver, as four hours on a bus was out of the question. I needed a backseat to sprawl out in for some much-needed sleep.
The driver I selected was incredibly sweet. He mentioned having a wife and daughter, and that long-distance drives, such as mine, are a blessing, for they pay the bills, but that it’s hard to be apart. The look on his face when I suggested we bring them was priceless. He was overjoyed at the idea – so much so, I thought he might leap across the seat and squeeze me. It was the least I could do. A very small gesture to help keep his family together. Now, was I thrilled to have a baby on board? Not exactly. But did I see the value in doing so? Absolutely.
When we arrived at my villa, I could hardly believe my eyes. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. The space, the setting, the pool – all magical. For two nights, I lived in the lap of luxury and loved every minute of it. In fact, I loved it so much, I didn’t see the need to leave. I’d swim and soak up the sun for hours on end. When I grew tired, I’d nap under the umbrella or move to the swing. When I became hungry or needed a drink, they’d send someone to me. My only job was to enjoy myself… and enjoy myself, I did.
