The first place I chose to visit after leaving my job was Bali, Indonesia.
The past few months had brought a lot of changes.
My work, my relationships, and even the way I saw myself seemed to be shifting. For this trip, I wasn’t looking to achieve anything or check places off a list.
I simply wanted to rest.
And after arriving in Bali, I found myself thinking:
I’m glad I chose this place.
A Morning Unlike Japan
The tree across from my hotel seemed to be home to a colony of swifts.
Every morning, they would burst into the sky all at once. I assumed they were hunting insects.
Sometimes they seemed to bump into the fruit hanging from the tree, because the road below was always scattered with tiny pieces of fallen fruit.
I watched them while eating breakfast.
Birdsong.
The sound of motorbikes and cars heading to work.
The scent of plumeria drifting through the air.
Cigarette smoke.
A sweet tropical fragrance I couldn’t quite identify.
And along the roadside, small traditional Balinese offerings.
Even in the early morning, the air was warm and humid.
It felt completely different from waking up in Japan.
The Man in the Blue T-Shirt
On May 14, I was standing outside my hotel looking at Google Maps, trying to find a way to the beach.
A man wearing a blue T-shirt noticed me and came over.
“Go straight ahead, then turn left along the wall. You’ll get to the beach.”
I followed his directions and, sure enough, reached the sea within minutes.
The water wasn’t the crystal-clear turquoise you see on postcards.
But it was beautiful.
I waded into the water, swam for a while, and later walked along the shoreline all the way to a nearby mall.
After returning to the hotel, I took a shower, had a nap, and later spent some time floating in the pool.
Looking up at the sky, I could feel the warm air settling around me.
People I Met by the Sea
During one of my walks, I stopped at a small shelter built out over the water.
It was little more than a roof supported by posts, with the sea breeze flowing freely through it.
There I met a woman named Fifi.
She was wearing a hijab and had come from Sumatra to participate in a trail-running event that weekend. More than 1,200 runners were expected to take part.
It struck me how diverse Indonesia really is.
Here I was in Bali, talking with a woman from Sumatra whom I never would have met otherwise.
A little later, I was surrounded by a group of boys who had been fishing nearby.
Where are you from?
How old are you?
Are you traveling alone?
The questions came one after another.
At first, I felt a little cautious.
But after a few minutes, I realized they were simply curious.
Openly and genuinely curious.
That was when it occurred to me that this place was far more peaceful than I had expected.
Walking in the Warm Sea Air
The next morning, I walked along the seaside promenade.
Warm, humid air clung gently to my skin.
Every now and then, I caught the scent of plumeria flowers.
The path was divided into separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.
I also learned that the Indonesian word jalan means “road” or “to walk.”
It felt like the perfect word for those slow mornings by the sea.
Birds calling overhead.
The sound of engines passing by.
The ocean breeze.
People quietly moving through their day.
From a distance, a tropical morning seems peaceful.
But up close, it is full of sounds, scents, and movement.
As I walked, I felt unexpectedly calm.
Meeting Him Again
Later, I learned that the man in the blue T-shirt was staying at a villa hotel across the street from mine.
That evening, as I headed back toward the beach, I spotted him outside enjoying the cooler air.
When he saw me, he smiled.
“Looks like you found your way! Good on ya!”
This time I noticed his Australian accent.
It was such a small interaction.
Yet it stayed with me.
Sometimes the memories that remain strongest from a journey are not famous landmarks or tourist attractions.
They are small moments of kindness from strangers.
Traveling Without Urgency
This was my first trip abroad after leaving my job.
A few months earlier, I never would have imagined feeling this calm.
There were no deadlines.
No schedules.
No need to adjust myself to someone else’s expectations.
There was only the sea, the birds, and the warm tropical air.
And somehow, that was enough.
I’m glad I chose Bali.
At this turning point in my life, I found a few quiet and gentle days.
I think I will carry them with me for a very long time.
If this essay resonated with you,
you can support my writing here ☕
This essay is also available in Japanese and Spanish.
日本語版はこちら
Versión en español
コメント