Bali and Lombok with the Family and Maud

Last month was definitely one of the highlights of my travel. My parents came to Bali to visit me. Even though I didn't miss the people back home that much, I was stoked to see my parents again.
While waiting at the airport of Bali I couldn't find my parents but then I saw my sister!!!!! I didn't know she was coming too, what a surprise. Then I saw parents, a big hug and my body filled itself with feelings of gratefulness. So happy that they are here.
Then after half an hour Maud also arrived, crazy how perfect everything worked out. Seeing Maud here as well and travelling with her for about a week.

The first hotel we went to we booked before, the rest of the travel is going to happen the way it will happen. Just taking it day by day. Showing my family how I was travelling last year. I know my mum has some difficulties with not booking anything up front.. what if we don't find anything.. we are with five persons in high season!! But she surrendered to it and I just hope that nothing "bad" will happen.
After the first day chilling at the beach we go to Nusa Penida, a little island next to Bali. It's still undiscovered by the amount of tourist visiting Bali every year. In December I visited this island with my friends as well. With a scooter we explored the beautiful views, steep kliffs and white beaches.
Then we're off to Lombok, climbing the Rinjani Vulcano, 3726m above sea level. We go with a group, guide and porters. Bargaining is what you need to do in Indonesia, it's crazy how much they ask and what would be a normal price. They started at 3.2mln rp (€220,-) and in the end we paid 1.2mln rp (€75,-). It's a game which is sometimes fun and sometimes really ennoying.
Anyway.. the climb was really heavy. Walking in traffic jam to the summit is normally not really my idea of hiking in nature, but here it had something nice about it. The hike to the summit started to 2nd day at 3am in the morning. The view was amazing, a beautiful sunrise which we could see from above the clouds. On my way back to camp I ran down with my guide, it was playful running jumping sliding, taking over each other. Within half an hour we where back. Both exhausted but with a big smile on our faces. We waited for the rest to return, it was obvious that everybody had a hard time with climbing the summit. The altitude made it even harder, some people got altitude sickness, with headache, dizziness and being nauseous. We went down to the lake in the crater and had a swim in the hot springs close to the camp.
The next morning my father and Maud had difficulties with the altitude, we needed to climb 600m up and then all the way down to the village. After a lot of breaks we made it down. Happily most of the hike was in the shade. Beautifully through the forest, with amazing trees, plants and monkeys.
Time to say goodbye to Maud!! It was really nice to see her here. After all the travels we already made last year's we grew a bit a part. But now I saw that was just necessary to develop ourselves and it doesn't change anything in our friendship.

Then a few days chilling on the beach at Kuta Lombok. Driving to some quiet bays and surfed the (for me) perfect waves at Gerupuk. Constant 5ft waves rolling in so nicely!! I wish it was this way in the Netherlands...
And we're off for 3 days to Amed, a beautiful place for snorkeling and diving in the north east of Bali. The life underneath the water is impressive, the coral is still alive. It's the last spot for Ivy on this holiday. Enjoying the Balinese sun for the last time and then it's time to say goodbye. I'm so happy that she came to visit, thinking back on our life. Always happy together, never had a single fight and even though we don't see/speak that often our connection is so beautiful and strong! I'm blessed with my family!! Always unconditionally been supported and able to speak my truth.
Off we go again, we visit eco village for a few days. They work to become completely self sustainable and we get a tour through the fruit farms in the surrounding. It's really quiet here, I realise that my yoga/meditation practise almost stopped last week's.  So this is the perfect place to pick it up again. In the morning and afternoon I do my practise with the sounds of the forest in the background.
After we go to the Beraran lake and the rice paddies at Jatiluwih. Endless rice fields! We arrive early in the morning, still without other tourist it's amazing and we had the luck to have a nice sunshine which made it even better.
The last few days we spend in Canggu with it's surfer vibe and a lot of "perfect" bodies walking back and forward on the beach just to be seen. What are humans a funny, crazy, un-understandable species. Where did it go wrong in evolution... haha.
Well anyway, next to the fact that I got a bad toothache we had a great time. Ate at some really nice vegan places and saw some pretty amazing sunsets. Then the time came to say goodbye for now to my parents. Grateful, blissed, loving, caring and so many other beautiful words to describe this part of my journey.
The last few days I spend in Berawa beach garden hostel, where I stayed in December as well. This time I wasn't drinking, smoking and going out a lot, which made it a totally different experience. One time I went out, and I had a great time. The music was good, I was just dancing by myself the whole time. And after a few hours I had enough and went home. The last few days I was surfing every day, but the waves where way to big for me. Happily I love the whipe outs just as much as standing on the surf board.

Off to Australia!! Still no clue what I need to do over there. I just know that it's time to get out of my bubble with all spiritual people who love working on their sef development, who are awake and interested in healthy food, exercise and self reflection. Who see all species as equal just as most (I hope) people see other cultures as equal.
For me it's time to confront myself again with western societies where materialism and money are goals and means for happiness.

Love Sven