Place: j co doughnuts
Poison: Americano
Favorite things: deciding no we won’t have a doughnut, then getting one for free.
Today we just walked and walked, negotiated on a taxi, then walked more.
Basically we wanted an adventure and were determined to get lost.
Yes we want to be lost in a city we had never visited before.
Getting lost rocks.
My feet are another story however.
Smile
A
Place: kula lumpur dr cafe
Poison: latte
Favorite things: their sign that promises the best coffee in the world (I should have known!)
Were in KL for a quick 10 day stint with one of our best friends who has just shifted here.
We flew out at 4am yesterday morning which was an adventure in itself, then threw ourselves into KL land.
Straight to China town, which I was spellbound by, cause it’s Chinese new year and the decorations are over the top. Enough red to jumpstart any jet engine.
Then we went to the famous twin towers, and shopped up a wedding shoe storm, however despite the hundreds of stores, I’m still a barefoot bride.
I have been thinking about the word respect. I am reading the book Love and Respect, given to us by our pre-marriage counselor.
It’s got some great points on marriage, but as were not married yet, I have been more challenged by it’s principles generally in all my relationships.
The word respect is just not used as much as it was. As a child we were commanded constantly to respect our elders. Now as an adult though, I’m really challenged on this holiday how I respect others with my words and also how people respect themselves.
The night before we flew to KL, Charl met a new friend he’s been training with and we all with Jen and my dad, went out for a night on the town.
We had so much fun and the night ended with us all swimming in hotel pools, running from one hotel to the next screaming with laughter.
A great night had by all.
However Im not a frequenter of nightclubs very often at all. I’d be lucky if I was in a pub more than twice a year, but throughout the night as we hung out in some Bali favourites, I was astounded how little respect girls had for themselves as they danced around.
I’m not a prude by any means and it’s not even about strict rules of alcohol and good times.
It’s just women showing respect to their bodies and their femininity.
As I have been reflecting on this, I’ve been thinking about the environment, how much rubbish in the third world is just dumped on the beaches and such. I’ve been thinking about my parents, how I speak to them as an adult now, but still with respect.
Just simple respect for human life and living a life of inspiration and positivity.
The book is talking about how women need love and men respect.
It’s definitely challenging me about much more than my pending nuptials, it’s challenging me about the essence of life itself.
Love one another as I have loved you.
Respect I believe is about loving ourselves as much as we love one another.
I definitely wasn’t expecting a lesson on respect on my long service, buts it’s amazing what come to the surface when you have time to think.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
Love
A
The wedding industry angers me. The way that people increase the price of goods, when the word matrimony is uttered makes me fume.
We went wedding dress shopping one unsuspecting Friday in November, my mum, Granma, jen and I. However the day confused me, upset me and made me double think the way that we would approach our big day. Are you serious when you ask me for $4,000 for a wedding dress?
We decided we would keep it Local and in anyway, cut out the middle man, and go directly to the source and support local industry for our wedding supplies.
The caterer is a local company in my home town, who donates soup every week to my mums street soup run. The flowers will be arranged by my friend who has just finished her floristry course, our wedding will be her second only.
Here in Bali, Dad and Charl’s suits have been made by a local tailor, as well as our flower girls and Bridesmaid dresses. Whilst walking the beach I negotiated my jewellery with a local fisherman, who sold me two pearl bracelets and two pearl earrings for the girls.
I brought fans, for our programs from the local markets and we found the groomsmen’s ties here in a local store, ready for our boys back home.
Not everything is possible to stay local, but we are trying to do our bit for the environment, the poor and the underdogs for our wedding.
The fact that people spend more than 50,000 dollars on their weddings and walk into their marriages with debt, really makes me wonder, just who are we trying to impress?
Even if I wore a dress from best and less, some food from Nando’s and a group of friends standing around chatting for an afternoon, my heart would be dancing still, because the wedding day is just the prelude, it’s the day after the beginning of our marriage where the real story begins.
Keep it local.
Even just a bit,
A
Place: The Febris hotel
Poison: instant coffee (desperate I know)
Favourite Things: hanging in the pool with my nieces
As I went for my daily walk this morning, something struck me….there were very high walls, keeping the wealthy in their delicately designed hotels, whilst the poor hung out right next door, the same post code on the beach.
Poverty in this day and age is not excusable. Most overpriced, underused, sea side abodes here on Kuta Beach are full of staff who are waiting for one person to come along and interrupt their boredom.
I have just been reading Newsweek magazine and one of the authors wrote ‘Living standards in medieval England were far better than some modern day countries’
The amount I spend on coffee a week is how much my local cleaner would earn in a month. It confounds me how many people are so ignorant of the poor, but continue to barter over 10,000 rupees (just over a dollar) on their fake hang bag that was made by a child in a factory in China.
This is a challenge to everyone, me included. Look over your hotel wall….Your perspective on the country your invading will change drastically.
A
Place: Rumi villas seminyak
Poison: circle K snacks
Favorite things: tin, Bryce and Charl…
Today has been the best sort of days, long lazy pool swims, lots of chats with close friends, finished with a dinner of fresh seafood served on the beach in jimbarian bay.
A holiday sort of laziness, a hue of nothing, filled with so much.
Filled with friendship and promise of hope for the future.
I love spending extended time with friends who we can just be ourselves with and talk deeply and shallowly all in one breath.
Laze around the pool with some friends sometime soon.
Your heart needs it…
Love
A
