Getting a Big Fat “No” Can Lead To A Great Adventure!

My mom’s stepdad, my Grandpa Carlson, once told me a story from when he was a child. He lived in a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Manistique. A wealthy man in town was being generous and handing out silver dollars to all of the children at the gas station where they hung out and drank soda.

The man asked my grandpa if he wanted one. My grandfather was very shy so he told the man he didn’t care. Well, unfortunately, because of his response, he ended up not getting one.

My grandpa said he never forgot how it played out, especially because he wasn’t well-to-do himself. He told us what he learned from that experience is that if you really want something, you have to ask for it. Be sure to let people know what you want.

Look For Opportunities To Do What You Love

I love to travel all over the world, especially to places I’ve never been to. So when a potential opportunity came up in Global Learning Solutions, I asked if I could go with a colleague to Bangkok, Thailand to observe a mid-manager class in a global market.

I had been leading a team in the US market to develop training for the mid-manager leadership population. The plan with the job swap experience was to leverage some of the learning content created by the Global Learning Solutions Group for use in the US market.

Guess what? The answer to my request was a BIG FAT NO! Money is always a concern no matter how big a company is. Every department has budgets to adhere to, which I get.

But leadership kind of sold the job swap, in my mind at least, by insinuating that there might be an opportunity to travel abroad.  I kind of felt like I was misled. But no worries.

Sometimes You Just Have To Go For It On Your Own!

This was the BEST thing that ever happened to me! Just the thought of going to Thailand put the travel bug in my head to go see an area of the world I hadn’t traveled to yet.

Personally, I had planned to go to Bali shortly before this for a cousin’s wedding.  I didn’t go then because the wedding got moved to St. Louis, MO.

So guess what? I started to look into booking a trip to Bali to travel by myself with an adventure travel group called Backroads!

What Scares You Makes You Stronger

The thought of traveling by myself was a little scary even with a travel group. It was something I had never done before even though I had traveled quite a bit already.

I didn’t think I would find anyone I knew who would want to travel that far or could afford to go with me. It was a fairly expensive trip and a lot of my family and friends are married with children.

It’s Worth It To Pay For Peace Of Mind

It seemed worth the cost for the eight-day trip because the travel group provided:

• three guides for twelve people
• three vans to transport us to our various drop-offs and pick-ups
• state of the art bicycles and helmets
• most meals and snacks when biking, and
• an itinerary that included: white water rafting, snorkeling, cultural entertainment and experiences, and biking to 3 premium “honeymoon caliber” resorts and one casual one.

Treat Yourself To A Dream Come True

I just needed to book and pay for my own airfare from Chicago to Bali, where the trip started, and then from Bali back to Chicago. It wasn’t cheap but how often do you treat yourself to a dream come true?

Sometimes A Little Push Is All You Need

When I told my sister, Chris, about the trip I was considering, this is what she said. If she didn’t have any children and she had the money to go that she would do it in a heartbeat!

So I booked the trip of a lifetime! I didn’t know it at the time. I bought a round-trip plane ticket that included travel from Chicago to South Korea and then, from South Korea to Bali.

If I remember correctly, it was about twenty-one hours of travel with a layover. It WAS nine years ago!

There’s Nothing Like Visiting Family Abroad

Before starting the Backroads multi-sport trip to Bali, I had arranged to meet my cousin, Marianne, in Ubud, Bali on that Friday. It was the same resort I was meeting the group on Sunday to start the multi-sport adventure.

Marianne lives with her husband in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is just a puddle jumper away so to say. It was very comforting for me to know I was meeting my cousin after traveling halfway around the world by myself.

Bali was where Marianne had completed an interpretive dance internship many years ago. She welcomed the opportunity to go back to Bali to visit me in her neck of the woods.

She had been to Bali since then for conferences and her husband’s art showings as I recall. I think Bali for her is kind of like traveling to Wisconsin from Chicago for me.

Traveling To Bali For A Family History Lesson

Our weekend together before my multi-sport adventure was so enlightening in terms of family history. Marianne shared SO much with me that I never knew about my ancestors.

My mom’s mom, my Grandma Carlson, passed away in 2002, nine years previous to this trip and my mom passed away in 2005. So Marianne was my source to glean this family history on my mom’s side.

Marianne shared with me that my Grandma Carlson’s dad, my great-grandfather, was shot in the back by someone in a bar and died. From what I recall, my great-grandfather had witnessed the murder of the mayor of St. Louis, MO. Obviously, someone didn’t want him to testify in the murder trial.

A Strong Woman Can Persevere In Tragic Times

My grandmother was only three years old when her dad died. Her sister, my Auntie Jean, was two, and her brother, Walter, was only one.

To add to that my great-grandmother only had an eighth-grade education. This was a tragedy for their family both emotionally and financially!

But make no mistake, from what I was told, my great-grandmother was a VERY STRONG woman. I say that because she died when I was very little.

She managed to survive raising her children on her own by running a boarding house. She provided home-cooked meals and a place to sleep for many men who were working in the area away from their families.

How Are We Related?

During this weekend with Marianne, I also wanted to get straight into my head how we were actually related. I found out that Marianne and my Grandma Carlson were first cousins because their moms were sisters.

I hope I have this correct. I was very jet-lagged that first night in Bali. But I couldn’t go to sleep as Marianne had SO much to share that I wanted to know.

Marianne had traveled to visit relatives in the United States when I was younger but those trips were few and far between. Since then, we had become friends on Facebook but you can only share so much via Facebook.

How Does A Woman From Chicago End Up In Indonesia?

The Backroads Bali multi-sport adventure was a trip of a lifetime! One I will NEVER forget.

That first resort I stayed at in Ubud was absolutely beautiful! My room had this awesome view of the landscape including all kinds of interesting sounds from nature.

There were howling monkeys in the trees and roosters “cockadoodledoing” like nature’s alarm clock very early each morning.

I also had an outdoor shower connected to my room, which was pretty unusual. AND an unexpected roommate with whom I shared my shower.

My roommate was a big old toad that scared the “shiitake” out of me when I first saw him! Afterward, I chuckled to myself and thought, only in Bali.

Biking For Divas

I rode a bike all over the island with eleven VERY interesting people from the States and Guam. We also had three guides, one of which was from California, and two local guides from Bali, who were all brimming with personality.

As I mentioned previously, Backroads rates their trips on a scale from easy to moderate and moderate to challenging in terms of exercise effort. This particular trip I was on was rated easy to moderate.

That worked out well for me because I wasn’t in tip-top physical shape from a cycling perspective, to say the least. I bought a new bicycle before the trip and was only able to get in a couple of trips on the bike trails in Chicago that October.

I referred to the cycling on this trip as “biking for divas”. Mainly because when I got tired or hot riding around the island, I would flag down one of the vans, and a guide would get out, throw my bike on the roof, hand me a cold beverage, and I’d step into an air-conditioned van.

Life is good! You just have to grab it by the balls. Bali is a beautiful place and the people are even more beautiful both inside and out.

Gear Up And Gear Down To Make It

When we were first starting out, the American guide gave us some quick instructions on riding our bikes on the island. We road on some pretty hilly terrain so it was important to know how to gear down in order to make it up some of the hills.

Sometimes I didn’t gear down soon enough so I ended up walking my bicycle up. Some of the people in our group used clips, which help save energy cycling.

I seriously would have killed myself trying to learn how to use clips on that terrain. One of the women in the group did use them and wiped out really badly. She had quite a raspberry on her knee.

She forged ahead. She was a very determined rider. She always took longer routes.

I always took the short ones.I was wiped out at the end of each day that we rode maybe because I didn’t use clips. I was more focused on taking it all in! Living in the moment.

There’s Nothing Like A Long Shower After A Ride

I remember one day early on in the trip not being able to walk down some steps very easily. I was so sore from the ride the previous day.

Then, after biking to the next resort, I went back to my room to shower before having lunch with the group as usual.

I literally peeled off all of my sweaty biking clothes. I kind of got lost in the shower just standing there while the cool water flowed over my aching muscles.

When I met up with the group for lunch, they said they were worried about me. I guess I took a really long shower. It felt great!

Easy Riders, Fast Friends

The husband of the woman with the biking clips was paced very close to me as we were both easy riders. He was NOT an avid cyclist nor was I.

We became fast friends in the van as we would always pull off the road before everyone else and have a cold one together. We didn’t mind. We were in Bali for god’s sake.

I remember getting in the van after a ride and telling him that I was listening as I was cycling to the song, the Woman from Ewogima. He laughed and said, you mean the Girl from Ipanema.

We both laughed. I didn’t care. He knew what I meant. We were so happy to have each other on the trip for the company and to pull up the rear with the group.

Experiencing A Little Local Fair in Bali

During our adventure, the group was invited to the home of one of the local guides. It was a compound in Bali.

He lived there with his family, wife, and children, which included his parents, his brother, and his brother’s family. The grounds on the compound were beautifully adorned with flowers, fountains, and areas designated for daily prayer.

The compound included a separate abode for each of the three family units. It was a simple but beautiful place.

We participated in some very interesting religious and ceremonial rituals in the garden. It was a very spiritual experience.

Whipping Up A Wedding Dinner for 400

After the ceremonial rituals, the guide, who lived there, showed us around the compound. I specifically remember seeing the kitchen. This was maybe because I’m a foodie.

He shared that his family had recently prepared a community wedding dinner for 400 people in this kitchen. I was absolutely amazed!

I say that because it was a very basic, small room with a dirt floor and a very simple cooking area. There was a large wok-like pot on a very simple stove. I can’t even imagine how they pulled that off.

Hospitality Seems To Be Engrained In Their Way

We were so lucky that he and his family were gracious enough to open up their home to all of us. We were all complete strangers before this trip.

But that’s how the Balinese are from what I experienced. They’re VERY hospitable.

Granted tourism is a big industry in Bali but their hospitality seems to be ingrained in their way of life. I’ll share more about that as the trip unfolds.

Rafting With Woody Woodpecker Was A Lot Of Fun!

Also. while we were in Ubud, we went on a white water rafting trip. What an incredibly fun and beautiful experience! In addition, our rafting guide was very skilled.

He spun our raft around in circles with such ease as we were heading down the Ayung river all the while making the best Woody Woodpecker impersonations. He was SO much fun! You could tell he loved what he did.

Throughout the trip, no one got out of the raft as we were traveling down the river. I thought it was really odd. I had been white water rafting in the past in Colorado and Wisconsin and we always jumped in the water to cool off in between the rapids.

When You’re Not Sure, Follow The Others Lead

On the trip that day, I learned from my rafting mates that the water was probably not the safest for us to swim in. Who knew? I guess I should have studied the many recommended books they asked us to read prior to the trip.

I had decided to go to Bali kind of at the last minute when the Bangkok trip didn’t come to fruition. I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to prepare for the trip overall.

I managed. I just followed the lead of the other more prepared people in the group and stayed in the raft. Although, I must say it was very tempting to want to jump in as it was a very hot day.

Traveling Solo In Oh So Many Ways!

Out of the twelve of us traveling together throughout Bali, I was probably one of the least experienced cyclists in the group. Sometimes, I didn’t even know where the group was because I was so far behind them.

I was probably only riding ten miles per hour on average. I wasn’t in a hurry. I was on vacation in Bali for God’s sake! At times, I couldn’t even believe I was actually there!

I remember one time when we were riding, I fell pretty far behind the group. Thank goodness a local woman saw me wondering where to go next so she pointed me in the direction that the group had gone. I had to laugh. There are angels everywhere if you just pay attention.

Thank God she was so friendly because I was NOT one of the people in the group that studied our route each day. Some actually had it memorized. I was not one of them. You live and learn!

I’m seriously navigationally challenged. Ask any of my friends! I guess it’s an iron deficiency that a lot of women have, although, my mom had a great sense of direction.

Being In The Moment In Bali

I didn’t mind. I was so in the moment on that trip. I loved hearing the schoolchildren singing and playing in the schoolyard.

I saw roosters crossing the road and women carrying baskets of food on their heads as I road through a small town.

I so wished I had a Go Pro camera with me then. They were just coming out then as I recall. I would have gotten some great footage but I have the memories etched in my brain, which is still pretty vivid after nine years.

I saw beautiful rice fields waving in the warm breeze and palm trees along the seaside. I was in heaven on earth in Bali.

Sipping Cocktails By The Pool Overlooking The Sea

When we arrived at the next resort, we went swimming right after we checked in. It was evening and another woman and I had ordered these cocktails called Blue Lagoons that were served in giant coconuts that looked like frogs.

We sipped them by the infinity pool that overlooked the Java sea. Sounds like a novel doesn’t it. It was so much fun swimming with the group and getting to know each other. I learned where they were from and what they did back home.

All of them were very well-traveled, very interesting, and intelligent people. Some were couples and others were single like me. Our ages ranged from 30 to 60 years of age maybe. It was a good mix.

Traveling With A Bunch Of Health Nuts

I remember one couple in the group sharing that they owned a winery in California. Another couple was made up of a surgeon and nurse anesthetist, who were dating and working at the same medical facility.

Another couple was comprised of another nurse anesthetist and I’m not sure if her husband was employed at the time. Another woman was a project manager on a construction site in Guam and another was an attorney from New York, who was a lot of fun!

I worked for McDonald’s at the time as a Learning Solutions Manager. I was managing teams of instructional designers who were building curricula for mid-managers.

When I mentioned to them where I worked, it didn’t go over big with the group of health nuts I was traveling with. I mean it is a fast food company. It didn’t matter much to me. I was in Bali!

Snorkeling And Scuba Diving By A Shipwreck

One day after a bike ride, we stopped for lunch and then went snorkeling by a shipwreck. We were taxied in beautiful outrigger canoes to the shipwreck area where we snorkeled.

It was a windy day and there were a lot of people at the site so the visibility wasn’t the greatest underwater.  We didn’t see a ton of fish but the shipwreck was interesting and a little eerie.

The whole experience was pretty cool though. A couple of folks in our group even went scuba diving there.

A Call For Prayer And A Few Words in Balinese

Each morning at 5 am there was a call for prayer. It was a chanting or whaling of sorts.

It was very different than anything I had ever experienced growing up Catholic, which made Bali even more interesting. That’s why you travel to exotic places, right?

Each day after the call for prayer, we would eat breakfast together as we did for all of our meals for the most part. Then, we would meet by the bicycles and learn about our bike route for the day and any options of riding longer if one chose to challenge themselves.

Of course, I never did. I was lucky to make the main route back to the next resort. I’m just being honest. I wished I had been in better shape.

We also learned to speak a little Indonesian from the guides during these morning planning sessions. It was kind of cool as I love to learn new languages.

It’s always fun to be able to speak the native language of a country even if it’s only a few words or phrases. I also think the locals appreciate the effort to communicate with them in their language as we do here in the States.

Are There Dolphins In Our Midst?