reflections Archives - 8 Feets And Heart Beats

‘An Aussie in Europe’

June 8, 2017 by Robbie Smyth Leave a Comment

For my own purpose and reflection, I feel a strong desire to write about my experience of being ‘an Aussie in Europe’.

It’s a totally different experience from my travel to date, and one that I want to share here, with the hope in years to come, when I read over my musings, I’ll be able to re-live the feeling as much as look through all the beautiful photos I’ve taken along the way. And of course, the real reason for this entire blog, so my kids can re-live it all as I will over the years to come.

So please bear with me with a post that’s more about me and less about than the places we are travelling through at this point in time (and perhaps my thoughts and feelings might re-ignite some wonderful memories and feelings for you too.)

So… sitting in my Swiss buddies cozy little chalet in the middle of the Swiss Alps I started thinking about our next leg of the journey. As luck has it, and due to some changes to our itinerary, we’ve ended up with a week left begging.

As I started the search I quickly realised that there were just SO many options, so many countries within reach, within such a short distance. This realisation, teamed with a few hours of researching different itineraries, really bought home the difference of being in Europe compared to our home country. Only the act of travelling, the physical act of researching and booking (very short) flights, train journeys even sometimes buses that can take you from one country to another, brings to reality actually how big the beautiful ‘island’ that we call home actually is.

Strangely enough, although I knew it logically, and had heard other people speaking about the ease of travelling around Europe, I was totally unprepared for the actual act of doing it. I felt like a ‘Europe virgin’ a little bewildered, a little naïve, completely green yet very excitable – bordering on euphoric! For example – call me ignorant, but I didn’t know until this moment, while discussing these insights with my Swiss buddy, that there is a place here in Switzerland that you can literally stand with an arm and a couple of legs in 3 different countries, now that’s a whole new perception on playing a round of ‘Twister’ right!

When I landed in Basel I was a little confused when I reached the immigration gates. The sign pointing to the left read ‘France/Germany’ and the other pointing to the right read ‘Switzerland’. Luckily I looked up rather than following the crowd and steered my little travel team to the correct gate ending up in the country I was meant to be in. I mean it’s a crazy moment for someone who’s been bought up in a country surrounded in coastlines and expansive oceans, where the nearest border crossing is via plane or a lonngggg boat ride away.

When I speak of travelling to our nearby town, ‘only 3 hours from Perth’ my friends and travel companions look in shock and wonder – “only 3 hours and 270kms!” It comes as a bit of a shock to some when you explain that the distance from one end of our vast state to the other (state … not country!) is comparable to moving through 4, 5 even 6 European countries!

The one thing that I’ve been really looking forward to about this European adventure is the history. It felt like I’d been waiting for my whole life for this, and I just knew how much we were going to be blown away by what Europe is most famous for – its history!

The feeling that I get when immersed in history, art and architecture is quite difficult to explain to my non-Aussie mates. I know that our culture rivals any other in the world, our indigenous people and their legacy in artefacts and weaponry date back between 40,000 – 60,000 years ago, with the aboriginal culture know to be the ‘oldest continuous culture on the planet!’ This certainly stacks up against most European timelines, but the difference is that where in Australia it’s in the nature, it’s in our landscape, the vast open spaces, the brilliant expanse of our night sky, it’s in our stunning coastline, here in Europe it’s a mark left by man. It’s in the architecture, the art, the statues, the cobblestone roads – the CASTLES! The legends of the past live on through these incredible marks of history and at times the feeling is almost tangible, it’s like travelling back in time. It’s so so different to what I have been brought up with. I feel like a little kindergarten kid seeing and learning for the very first time, it entices a curiosity to know more, and that’s an incredibly captivating feeling.

So from my rambling it’s no secret how much being immersed in this history excites and fascinates me. I can’t help but let that out on occasion (like always!) and the most wonderful thing is through sharing this excitement, I’ve seen it become a big part of Jed and Deni’s experience also. It delights me to see their faces as we’ve wandered from site to site. There are times I have felt the need to apologise to them for my outbursts and the endless pauses in front of each stunning display of ageless beauty, then I look at their perfect little faces and realise that they’re getting this too – no need for apologies. There truly can be nothing better for a mumma travelling with her babies!

So, where was I… oh yes, sitting in that cosy mountain chalet in the Swiss Alps planning the next leg of our European adventure. The choices in front of me, especially when this little Aussie was taking into consideration the ‘distance factor’, almost made me dizzy with excitement. I thought about Paris, the city of love, but I wasn’t doing this leg of the adventure with ‘my love’ so that didn’t feel right. Southern Italy came up but I thought a week wasn’t long enough to truly experience it as I’d like to. Denmark and the ‘ultimate Lego adventure’ was also a consideration but didn’t tick all the boxes either. Then there was Prague. It has always been on my travel radar, for reasons I’m still not sure of, and 6 days seemed like a good pocket of time to wander around the city. When discussing it with my friends here in Europe there was no doubt that we needed to go. ‘The most beautiful city in Europe – you just HAVE to go!’ was the common response. If they hadn’t been they wanted to. So what’s a girl to do? I checked the travel options and had us booked on a flight from Basel to Prague an hour later. It was a spur of the moment decision that brought with it a little bit of nervousness, and an overwhelming sense of excitement – seems we were heading to Prague!

Sampai Jumpa Bali!

July 12, 2014 by Robbie Smyth 2 Comments

I knew it was going to be a heart wrenching farewell, but I never expected quite how much my heart would break, and quite how many tears I would shed when leaving this amazing Island.

I cried as I hugged my special friends, the week before, the night before, and as I got into the car, bound for the airport. I tried, and failed to keep my composure when I hugged my beloved Wayan, and found it so hard to let her go. My heart truly ached.

I cried for most the way to the airport, on the plane, and again when we were walking through the extremely clean airport in Singapore. Being in this new place, so clean and efficient, I couldn’t help but notice the differences all around me. I didn’t want to start comparing but I just couldn’t help it. Everything here was different, even within the first few minutes. It was all so super efficient and business like, even the taps in the toilets were run by sensor! (poor Deni couldn’t work that one out, and I’ve gotta admit it took me a minute and a bit of head scratching to get running water!)

It was so unlike where we just came from. Where in Bali the ‘officials’ would give you a cheeky smile, here you were lucky to get even a curt ‘hello’ from the stern faced men sporting super starched uniforms. I was missing the warmth and the smiles, and here in the Singapore Airport smiles were rare, just when I needed them the most. Liam asked me on more than one occasion how I was doing, he was fully aware that this was going to be a big one for me. All I could do was nod, I was too scared to speak for the fear that that simple act would start the tears flowing all over again. He also asked me a good question, ‘Why do you do this? Why leave a place that you love so much?’ I couldn’t really answer that with much conviction but to say, ‘I don’t really know’. Maybe it might become clearer once the sadness has faded.

There is so much about the last 18 months that has made my, or our experience so great. I found Bali, and in particular Ubud, a very easy place to live. Apart from a few creature comforts we never really went without much. And that goes for both the kids and myself. Good choice of restaurants, and cafes abound, great events and ongoing activities for the kids were aplenty.

Jed Practicing Aikido in the Mud!

Bali never failed to offer us loads of fun and adventures of all kinds. I lived with a great sense of gratitude each and every day.

Heading up to our departure, I’d been thinking a lot about what has made this time what it was, and it’s not only the tropical environment and location, it’s the people. From my crazy and gorgeous besties that kept me social (& sane), to the best neighbours anyone could ever wish for. I’ve met so many people here, all diverse in nationalities and cultures, and each and every one of them have added such a richness to my experience, beyond anything that I could ever write here.

Best Friends Forever!

Having Wayan become a part of our family has been just gorgeous – we love her so! We’ve been privileged enough to have been welcomed into Wayan’s family, and our love for Kadeks family has been able to grow deeper over this time. We welcomed our adorable baby Komang to the world, and shared another few Galungans and Nyepi’s with our Balinese families. Jed and Deni got to experience the true Balinese village life and it was all so natural.

We have all made ‘friends for life’, and there’s no doubt, and it gives me a sense of relief to know that somewhere along the way we will meet again soon, somewhere in this big wide world of ours. Friendships like this are just too strong and the connection too deep to say goodbye, as Jed told me once ‘I don’t like goodbyes Mum, I’d rather say ‘seeya later’ Well said, my boy – well said!

It’s been a few days now since our departure and between Singapore, Legoland, 3 flights, numerous taxis and a bus ride, I’ve finally had 5 minutes to reflect.

I’m pleased to say that the tears have dried up and I’m left with an almost overwhelming feeling of enormous gratitude to everyone and everything that made our last 18 months such an incredible experience.

Thank you … Thank you … Thank you … To you all – and ‘seeya later!’

Until next time – Satu Lagi my friends!

Easter in Amed

May 6, 2014 by Robbie Smyth 2 Comments

At this moment I’m in the process of compiling a list of ‘Things to do in Bali’, directed specifically at families. The one thing that’s struck me, while digging deep for this information to share, is the joy that my family get out of ‘adventuring’. By this I mean to go beyond the countless adventure and water parks, and the enormous playgrounds that are set up for the holiday makers, and take the road less travelled. Dare to push the comfort zones – cause that’s where all the fun is!

Of all the places we’ve been so far on this fantastic journey, the treasures unfold and the best memories are made from the times that we’ve ventured off the beaten track, and Bali has certainly been no exception.

During our first 6 months we took to the East coast to discover Amed and its surrounds, and it was wonderful. I loved Amed, the quietness, the almost remote feeling, the very accessible snorkeling spots with fish ‘galore!’ I wrote a post on this a few years back, actually it was about this time 4 years ago, and I’d like to reflect on that and share it with you …

(For those who have read this little travel tale before maybe it will tempt you, again, to take that side trip next time you spend time on this great little Island.)

‘Our Easter Adventure – Amed’

Monday, 5 April 2010

It’s Liam’s birthday today .. and I forgot! It was Easter this weekend gone … and not a chockie egg in sight! Funny that the things that we put the most importance on at home hardly even hit the radar when you’re travelling. Yesterday the most important thing for the day was getting my babies back to Ubud, safe and sound! We managed the safe … but not sure about the sound?

We’ve just been on a great adventure!

Amed was the destination. It’s an area on the East coast, which is made up of a collection of fishing villages. It’s all mountainous and very lush and green, then black sand (which gets bloody hot!) and the most amazingly clear water. I thought Rotto water was clear, but this was something else! The shorelines were lined with colorful fishing boats, hundreds of them, all pulled up onto the beach, resting from the mornings fishing adventures. It was quite a sight when we rode around the corners of the coastal roads, breathtaking actually!

From what I’d read, and the couple of pictures that I’d seen, I had created a picture of Amed in my mind, I imagined that it was one town with skinny little boats lined up along the beach, that wasn’t the case. It was so much more than that. It was bay after bay after bay of fishing boats, literally hundreds of them, lining the coast. An amazing site – colorfully decorated white boats filling the jet black shores. It certainly makes you stop and think about how tough they do it here, imagine how many of them are bringing in their catches each morning to sell at the local market? No wonder they love chartering us around! easy money.

… so we get to Amed after a 4 hr journey (that should have taken 2!) and put our one, yes 1, cabin bag (for all of us for 3 days – impressive huh!) in our new, very decadent hotel room at ‘Onlyou’ and go in search of the fresh seafood feast that had kept me going on that lonngggg journey in. We found it – Sama Sama Cafe sits right on the beach and serves the most delicious and fresh seafood – yummo, it was worth the journey! It also had the best ‘front yard’ for the kids to play in (the ocean!) something you really appreciate when dining with 2 young children.

We spent the next couple of days swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful waters of Amed. We chartered a fishing boat from our local friend Leo and went snorkeling around the Japanese wreck. It was fantastic! Jed was able to jump in and hang onto Liam or myself and check out the sea life. With his ‘gobbles’ on, the only time he had his head above water was to catch his breath so he could plunge back down under the surface to check out the fish again. What a great experience for him. The look on his face when he spotted the ‘Gill’ fish (straight from the movie Nemo!) was golden. It’s times like that you really experience the joy of travelling with children. The incredible thing is that when we started traveling Jed was very hesitant around water, playing it safe with no real confidence. What seemed to happen was that when he was snorkelling, and discovering the incredibly beautiful and animated underwater world, he totally forgot about his resistance to swimming. It’s like the experience of being underwater allowed him to just ‘be’ in the water – naturally and perfectly. From that day on his confidence grew along with his love for water.

A great tip that a fellow traveller gave us in regards to teaching children to snorkel … take a pair of ‘Floaties’ (floating devices for the children’s arms) or a floatation vest. It allows the kids to move freely in the water without having to hold onto your back. It also allows you to keep them at arms length at all times.

We headed off just after lunch on Sunday. I was thoroughly enjoying the ‘scenic route’ when the dark storm clouds came thundering over us. Our journey, which we thought would take 2 hrs, turned into 5, in the pouring, pouring rain. (When it rains here IT RAINS!) That 5 hour journey is a story all by itself, one that I may elaborate on some other time … or maybe not!

In short, we got back to Ubud safely – just! We were all absolutely drenched from head to toe with no accommodation booked, and 2 very tired and hungry children, but yes, we were safe!

On reflection, Liam and I decided that we are both really grateful that we have the time to be able to get off the beaten track to see places like Amed. It’s not a place that most would consider visiting on a 2 week holiday and that’s a shame. It’s a beautiful, raw side of Bali that’s worth taking a few days to experience.

So, do yourself a favour …. venture off that beaten track, and push the boundaries a little, you won’t regret it!

March 21, 2014 by Robbie Smyth Leave a Comment

… Hold on tight, yet relax, drop your shoulders and engage your personal shockies – pay attention to the process, the here and now, avoid as many potholes as possible (because there’s bound to be a few!)

… Never take your eyes off the road, look forward – never look behind, whatever’s happening back there has nothing to do with your wellbeing in this moment

… Don’t use your mirrors – they’re reflecting what’s behind you and stealing your attention from focusing on what’s ahead – your destination – and getting there safely

… Relax and become a part of the ebb and flow, don’t go against the tide, you’ll come unstuck

… Keep an eye on those who are doing it successfully, and comfortably and learn from them. Watch the locals! Forget everything you’ve ever learnt, and re-learn the ‘local way’

… Be prepared – Always keep your rain poncho in the seat and NEVER leave home without your helmet!

… Ride with your head high, enjoy the wind in your face, wave to the smiling faces on the way past, and show gratitude at every turn – what a wonderful journey this life is!

https://8feetsandheartbeats.com.au/life-like/

The Decision To Change Our Path

September 27, 2010 by Robbie Smyth Leave a Comment

I am living my dream.

I’m a mother of 3 – I have 2 amazing sons and one gorgeous daughter, I’m a wife, a trader, a student, and a daughter. I’m a graphic designer, a sister, a friend, a searcher and I’m passionate about travelling!

I want to share with you my story, and by sharing this story I hope to encourage, inspire, and instil the belief that dreams can become reality, It’s not just a fancy, new age saying that’s put out there to sell books. It’s available to us all, we just need the right tools to implement it into our lives

My dream has always been to travel the globe, to book a one-way ticket, no time restraints, to experience new cultures, new countries, an endless array of different places, cuisines, language, people. I longed for my children to grow up knowing that this wonderful world is their backyard. To never be confined to one place, one job, one way of thinking. To be free to explore, discover, learn, and indulge in everything it has to offer.

I learnt today that 6.30am is the one of the most beautiful times in Pai. While most travelers are still sleeping, I have been privileged to witness the beautiful ritual of the monks wandering through the quiet streets of this quaint little town, situated in the ‘golden triangle’ in Northern Thailand. I learnt that monks still rely on receiving alms for most of their food. The monks leave the monasteries early in the morning. They walk single file, oldest first, carrying their alms bowls in front of them. Laypeople wait for them, sometimes kneeling and praying, and place food, flowers or incense sticks in the bowls. The monks do not speak, even to say thank you. The giving of alms is not thought of as charity. The giving and receiving of alms creates a spiritual connection between the monastic and lay communities. Laypeople have a responsibility to support the monks physically, and the monks have a responsibility to support the community spiritually. I will never tire of the splendid sights of the Monks, the rich orange robes, their calm and mystical presence, a picture of spiritual freedom and contentment.

It’s September 27^th 2010 and I’m sitting in a café surrounded by walls made from wheatgrass and secondhand books. I’m the only customer, but this little café will soon be bustling with travelers and locals alike. The foods good, the tea’s a plenty, and the vibe is just right – a good mix of eclectic and groove.

I can’t believe that it’s been 7 months since we left Perth. 7 months since we liquidated our lives and started on this incredible journey. It seems like a lifetime ago… and it seems like yesterday!

The actual decision to follow our dream was an easy one, yet it took 10 years, a whole lot of searching, and the challenging task of learning to listen to the powerful external and internal forces that have guided us over that time! It’s a challenge … and a process … and not for the feint hearted!

Liam was working off shore and spent almost as much time away as he did at home. This had been our life for the 10 years we had been together. We had 2 mortgages, 2 cars, a boat and all the toys that come with a ‘nice’ income. It looked great from the outside, and we were having fun, but on the inside the questioning stirred in both of us. We were incarcerated to this ‘egoic state’. Bigger house, better car, more, more, more, and there isn’t true choice in that. We were becoming very conscious of what was really going on behind the scenes and within the walls of our ‘comfort zone’.

When Liam was away I missed him terribly, and then our 2 beautiful children were born in quick concession. The need, and the desire to have him home was becoming almost unbearable. Our ‘comfort zone’ had become pretty damn uncomfortable and we knew that there must be more than this.

To add to this feeling of restlessness my 14year old son, Brock, had recently began living with his dad so the tie to the schooling system was now gone. Looking back now on what was one of the most difficult times of my life, I realise that it was just everything lining up, all of the everyday restrictions were being pushed aside, taken out of my control, questioned… or just evaporating!

During this period of restlessness Liam and I were participating in a program called Money Mastery. The program challenged and questioned everything that we perceived as ‘the truth’. It gave us the tools and confidence to take the road of enquiry, and get closer to the answers to the age-old questions of … purpose, clarity, truth…

Mind boggling yes! Life changing – absolutely!

Then the day came, the timing was perfect! Liam had word that the rig that he was working on was about to be stacked, (which in the oil industry means out of contract) and he was to be made redundant. While his colleagues lost sleep and busily started applying for new jobs we were quietly doing a jig at the freedom that this situation had given us!

We could now ask the question…. ‘what do we really want to do with our lives – right now?’

Travel was always on the agenda. Initially it was about my desire to discover Europe, to visit my long lost relatives in Germany and do a little searching to find out about my fathers ‘forgotten’ childhood.

We discussed a trip to Europe, but that meant a good chunk of time for me. I just wasn’t into the ’10 countries in 6 weeks’ sort of travel, I wanted to experience it in what I’ve now discovered is called ‘slow travel’. I wanted to be able to take our time, settle for a while in a place if we liked it, move on if it didn’t suit our needs, unpack our cases for a bit, and give ourselves, and our children, the gift of unrestricted time.

As you have it though, my dream had been given fertile ground to develop and before long our plans moved into Indonesia, Asia, China and across the Trans Mongolian railway into the Eastern Block of Europe. We didn’t ever really put a time on it but I found my self saying ‘about 2 years’ to avoid the questions that would follow an ‘open ended travel plan’. The ‘pleaser’ in me didn’t want my beloved family and friends to experience any pain around our departure.

So the decision was made. We would leave in Feb 2010, which gave us one last summer in Perth. The rest of the plans would evolve as time went on …