We will be arriving in the UK soon. We have had a lovely time in Bali staying with a family in central Bali, learning more about life in a village there. Our last day was special, because it was my birthday. Our hosts surprised me with a ceremony usually performed for such occasions in an intimate family setting, involving blessings, flowers and incense, and special foods and home made decorations.
We then traveled to the island of Nusa Lembongan where Sophia and Benjamin and I surfed for a whole week. We celebrated Benjamin's birthday there. This time together provided a very good space to reflect on our year so far. Surfing is a good metaphor for what we tried to achieve by taking Sophia, Benjamin and Helena on our adventure around the world this year. The waves are out there, you may get a push every now and then to help you; but ultimately you have to catch them and ride them, as best as you can. And then you have to paddle back to where the waves break to do it all again, because it is such a cool thing to do.
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We are now less than one week away from going back to the UK. When we were in New Zealand we decided we wanted to visit the Buddhist monument of Borobudur in Java, as our last travel destination prior to coming home. The people of Java are predominantly Muslim and we arrived yesterday on the last day of Ramadan, which finishes with a huge party and holiday. Last night at 6 o clock, the small town of Borobudur and surrounding villages erupted with sounds of joy and fireworks. Everyone was out on the street. The mosques all through the valley were full with people celebrating and singing. The minarets exclaimed. All night long, from all corners, the sky was filled with the chanting of GOD IS GREAT. We didn't have much sleep, but who needs sleep when contemplating this eternal truth. Our host's chicken, terrified by the night's ordeal, refused to lay an egg that morning.
This morning we climbed up the Borobudur temple. Walking around its various levels which symbolise our earthly lives, and our struggles, we finally reached the top level which symbolises heaven. We walked around the central stupa, the symbolic boundary between heaven and earth. We were surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, which last erupted in 2010. The fields and valleys below were still misty, the sky was blue. The fireworks and minaret calls continued to exclaim GOD IS GREAT. Filled with such divine abundance, we are now ready and inspired to go home again after such an amazing year.
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We then traveled to the island of Nusa Lembongan where Sophia and Benjamin and I surfed for a whole week. We celebrated Benjamin's birthday there. This time together provided a very good space to reflect on our year so far. Surfing is a good metaphor for what we tried to achieve by taking Sophia, Benjamin and Helena on our adventure around the world this year. The waves are out there, you may get a push every now and then to help you; but ultimately you have to catch them and ride them, as best as you can. And then you have to paddle back to where the waves break to do it all again, because it is such a cool thing to do.
.JPG)
We are now less than one week away from going back to the UK. When we were in New Zealand we decided we wanted to visit the Buddhist monument of Borobudur in Java, as our last travel destination prior to coming home. The people of Java are predominantly Muslim and we arrived yesterday on the last day of Ramadan, which finishes with a huge party and holiday. Last night at 6 o clock, the small town of Borobudur and surrounding villages erupted with sounds of joy and fireworks. Everyone was out on the street. The mosques all through the valley were full with people celebrating and singing. The minarets exclaimed. All night long, from all corners, the sky was filled with the chanting of GOD IS GREAT. We didn't have much sleep, but who needs sleep when contemplating this eternal truth. Our host's chicken, terrified by the night's ordeal, refused to lay an egg that morning.
This morning we climbed up the Borobudur temple. Walking around its various levels which symbolise our earthly lives, and our struggles, we finally reached the top level which symbolises heaven. We walked around the central stupa, the symbolic boundary between heaven and earth. We were surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, which last erupted in 2010. The fields and valleys below were still misty, the sky was blue. The fireworks and minaret calls continued to exclaim GOD IS GREAT. Filled with such divine abundance, we are now ready and inspired to go home again after such an amazing year.
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