The movie eat, pray, love with Julia Roberts and the Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer were for me, those kind of movies that touch you. The ones that you always come back to from time to time in search of the same satisfaction and sensation of identification, the type of film that stays with us, just like a good childhood memory or that family photo where everyone is present. It was during my high school time that I saw these films for the first time, a time when my shyness and personal insecurities were very vivid, mainly in my head.
Adding to all these qualities, there was also that basic dose of low self-esteem followed by mini existential crises about whether to stay until the end of History class if escaping and with all the money from birthdays and Christmas go live illegally in the United States to try to be a Hollywood actress.
At that age, staying in class seemed the wisest thing to do and so I stayed, while I daydreamed about the stories and adventures of Liz Gilbert and Christopher McCandless around the world.
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LEFT TO TRAVEL ASIA
Liyer Spirit House in Bali, where Liz Gilbert had her palm reading
At a certain point in my life, I was asked how could I enjoy traveling so much and feel so connected to it, when I had only experienced the world outside of Portugal once. Wouldn't I be watching too many movies or devoting too much of my time to a stupid topic?
Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe a little or maybe not at all, maybe I was feeling the beginning of something big and manifesting a future me.
The conclusion I get, in the countless conversations and reflections I have with myself in long lines at the supermarket, on car road trips by the sound of the radio and during certain parties that I regret going to, is that life is too short and I know that I could opt for a lifestyle where I would be reasonably happy, with way more stability, where things would run in a very smooth and healthy way, with just a few issues and worries from time to time, but, as much as I find comfort in that idea, dreaming and following my dream life sounds a lot more exciting.
Therefore, now I live with the intensity of someone who understands that life goes by pretty fast and that we grow, not with time, but with experiences.
I often don't know what I'll be doing tomorrow, or where I'll be next month, but it gives me the excitement of waking up every morning knowing that I'm living my best life.
Coming to Southeast Asia is now part of my story, here things taste different and there is this constant feeling of freedom. For so long I dreamed of coming here and now here I am. This is one of those adventures that is worth waiting.
I'm still getting used to the insane traffic, some flavors and the tropical whether. Some other things, I've already got used to, are my feet being constantly without shoes, the fact that I don't see familiar faces around and the kindness of the locals.
The Balinese people are extra nice, in every corner I have someone saying hello to me with a big smile in their face. They make me feel like I belong, like I've always lived here.
Maybe when I leave, I'll add Bali to the places I call home. That's what it's like to be a traveler, experiencing different lives and leaving a part of yourself in different places.
I'm excited and grateful for all of this, maybe one of these days I'll be putting my heart out talking about Japan, Greenland or Greece, but today I'm here, and this is where I want to be, Bali.