I’m writing this final Camp Bliss photodiary post from the comfort of my lounge room. The air is cool here in Melbourne and rain is falling freely. Ubud already feels a world away, my newly made friends are safely in their home countries and I’m missing them terribly. Ubud was life changing. I know that’s a really cliché thing to say but I can’t explain it any other way. I’ve never fallen so deeply in love with a place in my life. It was so culturally rich, full of life, colour and laughing people. People who worship beautiful gods, are so honest, respect their land and live so happily with so little. In the mornings I was greeted with a warm sun and a cold shower, and by the afternoon the storms had rolled in, thunder shaking my bones and rain pelting down creating music in the puddles. I danced and danced in the rain, I photographed and filmed the droplets. I was fascinated by the bugs, the lizards, the bats, the frogs, the fireflies, the monkeys, all living together in wild nature. I’m a ghostly pale girl who isn’t not very outdoorsy, but in Ubud I was wild. Barefooted, matted hair, adorned in colourful clothes and sun-kissed skin.
Camp bliss meant so much more to me than just packing up and going on a holiday. Since I was a little girl i’ve been struggling with sickness-inducing anxiety. It is a constant voice in my head telling me what I can’t do, what could happen if I do something, how staying in my safe little house is the only thing I can do. After this trip, I can honestly say I have never been more proud of myself in my entire life. When I was sixteen I told myself I would never let my anxiety control me, it would not stop me from living. And so, against all odds, I do things that terrify me everyday and for that I am eternally grateful. To pack my bags, travel across the ocean by myself, meet up with people whom I had only met briefly (most I had never met at all), and explore a country so very different to my own. It may have taken all my strength, but it has also given me more strength than I could ever have imagined.
colours on the street of Ubud.
little hidden oasis, peeking in from the street.
beautiful bella photographing on the street.
i fell in love with this sweet, little bead store. the woman who made all these beautiful necklaces told me she makes them from recycled glass, and i showed her my sea glass necklaces.
we stopped by the markets to buy some gifts.
bella was treated like a celebrity by a group of tourists who all had their picture taken with her.
ubud food appreciation. delicious meals for less than $5, all fresh and vegetarian.
raw lasagna and herbal ice tea.
melanie’s raw ice cream pie. tasted like what dreams are made of.
some of my favourite places at our villa (and i would spend hours sitting and dreaming).
a cafe called cafe. one of my favourite places to eat for their delicious drink called a lavender spritzer.
secret gardens.
watching bella photograph heidi for her on going series.
sunrise.
sunset.
sweet little bahli having an afternoon nap.
painting with water colours on our front doorstep, feeling endlessly inspired.
heidi’s amazing creation.
rest in peace, sweet little bird. the poor thing was ill and we looked after her until she found peace.
bella photographing dom and lilly-mary in our pool.
these two are so gorgeous.
on my last day I had a few errands to run, heidi and I jumped onto her scooter and rode into town. this was my favourite shop in Ubud, and I bought a few more goodies.
we stopped by Mingle, one of our favourite place for cocktails.
michelle and jareth, cutest couple ever!
my final morning in Ubud, watching out the window of the van to the airport. saying final goodbyes on the steps of the villa was so hard, tears streaming down my face while hugging some of the most wonderful people.
waiting on the plane. i began to read “Eat, Pray, Love” which is proving to be a wonderful book.
a little gif of my last view of indonesia.
i spent most of the first flight reading and watching out of the window. there were some of the most incredible clouds i had ever seen, i’d never felt so lucky to be alive.
peering down through the clouds, first sights of Singapore.
boats in the storm.
I’m coming home with new friends, new experiences, new outlooks and a new love for this world. Thank you all for helping me to have one of the best experiences of my life so far.
