22. Chasing rainbows in Krui

So, as you could gather from my previous post, I was struggling a bit mentally with a few things. But I’d like to catch you up on what we’ve experienced so far during our trip.

It was a beautiful flight from Bandar Lampung to Krui. Seeing the jungle from that height is spectacular, but the cherry on top was a stunning rainbow running across the treetops. I’ve never seen a rainbow from above before. I wondered: Is that how God sees us? From above, all-knowing, seeing the whole vibrant picture, while we only see the rain?

We were greeted by our friend Shane from AKS Surf Lodge. We first met him in 2023, and he and his wife, Swara, have become great friends. They even spoiled us with a lovely barbecue one evening—I ate lobster tail for the first time in years!

Our first few days were spent indoors, as Krui wanted to remind us that it was rainy season (in case we had forgotten). Forced to slow down, Vicus even taught me a little poker. To my friends reading this: don’t think you can invite us for a Poker night just yet! I don’t think any of it really stuck.

We also visited our friend Koni at Ujung Bocur. Originally from Germany, Koni met her husband, Joko, while they were working at a surf lodge in Bali. They’ve since made a life for themselves in Sumatra and have two beautiful daughters. Koni has truly embraced the island way of life; they eat from their garden, and she strives to leave as small a footprint as possible. They recently bought a horse, and brushing him reminded me why horses are so often used in therapy. There is something incredibly grounding about spending time with such a majestic animal.

When we prepared to head back on our "sturdy steed"—AKA the scooter—the back wheel was completely flat. Vicus had to head to the nearest mechanic, while I was more than happy to stay with Koni, talking about everything and anything. Just before we finished solving all the world's problems, Vicus reappeared, and we made our way back to Krui.

Most mornings start with a cup of coffee. I’m not sure if it’s factually correct, but apparently, Turkish law in the 15th century allowed women to divorce their husbands for not supplying enough coffee! If this is true, I fully support it—though Vicus is safe for now, as my caffeine needs are well-met here! Following my coffee, I go for a walk or jog while Vicus surfs, usually followed by Pilates and an online lecture.

Most afternoons, we stop at Mowning Coffee for a second cup and a slice of their legendary cheesecake—it’s just small enough that you don't have to feel guilty! Mowning feels like the local watering hole; we always end up connecting with people from all over—America, Brazil, South Africa, you name it.

On Christmas morning, we took the hour-long scooter ride to Liwa to visit friends at the Pentecostal church. I’m always humbled by what they do for their community with so little. They wouldn't let us leave without sharing a meal; I’ve learned there’s no use protesting, as a “small plate” doesn’t exist in their vocabulary!

Our drive back wouldn't be complete without rain, and we got soaked. On the way, we spotted monkeys along the road. Just moments before, I had been hyper-aware of the discomfort—the cold, the wet, the shivering. But once I saw the monkeys, I was so preoccupied that I barely noticed the rain had stopped. It reminded me of a Tony Robbins interview where he discusses focus: we see what we look for. If we look for the good, we get better at identifying it. That shift in focus was the perfect headspace to carry into dinner that night with our newly made friends.

Yesterday we checked into BeOcean. It’s lovely to be back; it feels like reuniting with old friends. I’m finally starting to calm my mind and be truly present in the moment.