I'll take you in my backpack

Because it wasn't an early flight it was a slower start, no rush to get up, pack and head out. Unfortunately there wasn't enough rain to burn off the smog and reveal the Himalayas for that picturesque view that Rupakot offers with the 3 lakes. You will just have to google that to see what others have been fortunate to see. Rupakot is stunning, and even with smog you can see the 3 lakes, but when the Himalayas are visible you can imagine how breathtaking that view is. Next time. Because yes there will be a return visit to Nepal, I have no doubt. Breakfast. This was the first breakfast without porridge, not by choice, but because they didn't offer it. A taste of what life without porridge will be like I suppose. I wasn't quite ready to get used to that. Then it was off on the crazy dirt road to venture to the airport. On the way down we saw monkeys on the side of the road. Super cool. The way down seemed a little easier than the way up, perhaps because we could use...

12/30/17 I don't know how this happened. I remember the first day in Bali like it was yesterday. I remember thinking how I had SO many days to be here. And now it's like I blinked and it's over. I have so many wonderful memories imprinted on my heart and soul, I'm leaving here a different person, yet still, I simply don't know how my time here is over. My last full day in Bali. I went into today really consciously focusing on all of the things that are important to me here, the things that I will miss so much, making sure to take time to appreciate and acknowledge them. The amazing breakfast that Ogy prepares every day with the perfectly cut fruit. The visits from Olek when he sneaks in (and Ogy gets made at him because he dirties the floor but secretly I love his visits and his little playful personality), The offerings that get left at the villa door and all over Bali, the smell from the incense, the friendly "hellos" from people walking by that are ...

10/20/17 Typical morning here in Bali with my delicious breakfast and fruit cut in shapes of perfection. It's the little details that really make a direct shot to my heart. Is that a love language? Perfectly cut fruit shapes? Because it should be. Soon after breakfast my lovely driver Made (no Nyoman again today) was there to sweep me off on adventures. I don't know how I'm going to exist and function without Made. He's been not only an amazing driver (it's a feat to sustain your life in a car in Bali) but also a super fun human, who has no bullshit been down for some crazy shenanigans, my kind of homie. First stop on the list was Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple at Beratan Lake. This took some time to get there, and lots of driving through the countryside. I have no idea what part of Bali this was in but it was far away, I thought at one point we were driving on the volcano (Made said "no no no volcano" when I asked) we wound up a mountain then back do...

12/19/17 Today started off like any other day in Bali, breakfast cooked for me. I'm seriously never leaving. The key to my heart is directly correlated with food! Today Nyoman had to take his car for repairs so it was just Made (he's been the driver the entire time I've been in Bali). Made doesn't speak a lot of English, but he tries, and is super nice. Made and Nyoman bring fruits every single day to try, then some for snacks later in the day. The fruit to try today was this pictured below (later to be determined through some broken communication back and forth and some googling to be Salak, Balinese snake fruit). It's delicious and tastes to me like many different things. I made a video (before the death of my GoPro in the canyon) on my first impressions. First stop for the day was the Hidden Canyon (also referred to from google searches as the Sacred Canyon of Sukawati, but the sign said Hidden Canyon Neji Guwang when we arrived). Here was the expectati...