Franglo

Let the real journey begin, meeting with my group in Ubud and learning who I will travel with for the next ten days on a Wellness Journey through Bali.

I hired a driver through the hotel to take me to my next destination. Puri Bagus Jait is a beautiful resort about half an hour out of Ubud in the jungle. The previous couple of days in Bali were holy days, meaning all the villages were decorated with offerings and multiple streets were closed for celebrations. My driver took roads in Canada; we would consider bike paths closed to traffic. It was a harrowing drive, but I arrived.

Bali money is different; when you go to the bank machine, you take out 2.5 million dollars, about $220 in Canada. We all know that mental math is not my strong suit; I have my spouse for that. I run all the household finances, but he pays all the bills when we are out, so I don`t have to calculate tips. After a few days in Bali, I realized I had not tipped my driver enough and felt terrible about that.

Before I left, I upgraded my accommodations to have a room by myself. It was my 50th birthday trip, and I did not feel like sharing. My room was a fantastic little bungalow with a porch overlooking the jungle. I could sit and have a coffee and listen to the sounds of the birds. I had a four-poster bed with a mosquito net, as most people do in tropical settings. A very romantic setting for my solo trip.

I went down to the pool, and some of my group members were already there; everyone was so welcoming, and conversations started. A bunch of us decided to do the afternoon guided meditation, and we officially met everyone at dinner.

Who was our crew? We had three from the UK, a couple from Australia, one from Ireland, two from the USA and four Canadians. I did not know it then, but I was about to have the most magical experience with this group of humans.