Skip to main content

Why travelling is the best teacher & what I've learned in Indonesia



I haven't mentioned this on any of my social media but I spent the last 2 weeks in Indonesia. I was based in Bali and also travelled between islands. I was beyond excited for this trip because it was my first time travelling to Asia or even outside of Europe!

I realized that travelling can teach us a lot about ourselves a long time ago, but I have to say that this trip was the most meaningful and beneficial one I ever took.  It wasn't that big of a surprise, I knew that I'd experience a full-on culture shock as soon as I leave the airport and was excited to see what will come out of this new adventure.

Today, I'd like to share with you some of the things I've learned or realized, thanks to Indonesia.

I spent the majority of my time in Bali, a picturesque island that became a top travel destination in the last couple of years. The dominating religion in Bali is Hinduism, the world's oldest religion according to many scholars. If I were to describe it in three words based on my observations, I would say it's peaceful, full of respect and festive, with holy ceremonies taking place in Balinese temples almost every day of the year.

What really struck me about the Balinese culture are the values and beliefs these people hold. These have a foundation in Hinduism but cannot be fully attributed to religion, it's all in the Balinese culture and mentality: people over there place a really high emphasis on values such as family, community, gratitude, faith, and prayer.



I'd say that gratitude & faith are the two things I was able to take out of my trip. The local people are grateful for every new day, and see it as a new chance, a new beginning. They thank God for food, health, and shelter (by way of floral offerings) things we often take for granted. Of course, it might be argued that their world is a little more simple and they're less distracted by material things, which gives them more time to reflect on life and pray. But that's not necessarily it - I think it's all down to time management and the values you hold.

I feel I have a busy enough life but I don't see why I wouldn't be able to dedicate 10 minutes daily to express gratitude, think about what I've learned in a given day, what I'm happy about, etc. and this is something I will hopefully start doing soon!

Apart from that, the trip has given me a clear mind. I was able to forget about my worries for the 2 weeks I was there and became more aware of my surroundings and the present moment, which I've learned to appreciate.

So to sum it up, I think travelling is important and opens your eyes to new things and feelings. We can learn so much from other cultures and often use this knowledge and skills in our day to day lives.
What was your most memorable trip or a trip you feel taught you the most?

- Primavera

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why seeking validation from others will only harm your self worth & how to stop

We all have insecurities and we all look for validation from others whether we'd like to admit it or not.  It often starts in our early life when we feel the need to fulfil the expectations imposed on us by our parents. Later, it escalates into seeking approval of our physical appearance and behaviour by our peers and partners and eventually, the need to appeal to our colleagues & superiors at work might also come into play. This search for validation becomes addictive and we quickly develop a need for more.  But what's really scary about this is the fact that we're letting other people take control over how we feel about ourselves by allowing them to define whether we are attractive enough or smart enough. This is beyond wrong, I mean, how can we value the opinion of others above our own?!  Moreover, constantly seeking validation makes receiving disapproval a very painful experience and stops us from moving forward and aiming for our goals. Ultima...
8 comments
Read more

''When you go back home''

I am not one to be easily offended. In fact, I think that we've all become very aware. Every joke and every comment we make is carefully curated, positioned in a way that has absolutely no potential to be taken as deragatory by whoever we're speaking to.  Political correctness or not, I love how awake the society has become through all of this. The empathy that emanates from some of us when speaking to someone coming from a minority group, or experiencing difficulties that we will never go through ourselves.  But I can't help feeling hurt when assumptions are made. It bothers me when someone assumes how I feel, who I am or where I seem to belong.  It stings, when someone asks me when I last visited ''home'' after 15 years of being an expat. Because truth to be told, I have no ''home'' in my native country. HERE is my home. Here is where I belong, where a piece of me will stay even if I choose to move somewhere else in the future. The slightes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Find your inner child, and learn from them

Our level of responsibility increases as we grow older. We change, inside and out, develop new relationships and focus on the future.  Future education, jobs, relationships, maybe buying a house. That's all well and good, we have to keep growing, learning, progressing....that's human nature.  But while we try to find our feet in this new stage of life, let's not forget about the inner child. It's that priceless part of you that is absolutely unique, raw, and selfless.  As per the Oxford Dictionary, the term 'inner child' refers to  ''a person's supposed original or true self, especially when regarded as concealed in adulthood.'' Why connecting with your inner child is important - 2 key benefits: 1. Becoming more curious, motivated, and energized... The inner child and its curiosity, creativity, and zest for life are uncanny. The sad part? We tend to lose a lot of these traits as we grow older.  Reconnecting with the inner child allows for the...
Post a Comment
Read more