Bali wrapped it's warm frangiapani arms around us yesterday afternoon after traveling for more than 24 hours. Give thanks. It was all we could do just to stay awake until we got to our hotel. We decided to really splurge for the first two nights (and by splurging I mean $50 per night) and stay in a nice hotel. I was blown away to behold this magical oasis just off the busy road. There are mango trees growing and birds singing and sun shining... We were greeted by the ever smiling staff with a watermelon juice and then whisked off to our room to shower and pretty much pass right out (after room service of course, which was $7 for the both of us) into our canopy bed. Around 10 pm we were woken to the loudest thunder I have EVER experienced. I had to ask Nate this morning if I had dreamt it. I really can't stress how loud it was. It felt like the heavens were cracking open right over our canopy. Now we wake up to blue skies and birds singing, how blessed are we!... Time to order room service again!

Travel lesson # 1

When traveling by airplane, always make sure to check for a distinction between 12 am and 12 pm. DUH!!

So yesterday morning, after sleeping in a sleazy airport motel, jamming our bags full and catching the airport shuttle, then and only then, did I think "hmm maybe we should double check our itinerary!". Unbelievable. Yeah, we were a good 12 hours late. We had even seen our actual plane the night before when we returned our rental car. Needless to say, we did only what one can do, cursed a bit, laughed, and then found the closest happy hour! Thankfully we have amazing friends (love you) to keep us company and 24 hours later, here we are AGAIN, back at the airport. We still have 10 hours to go until takeoff so I guess its happy hour round 2! Ding ding. Preparing for takeoff...

The road to "the lost coast"

Onward....

And so we head onward... After almost five weeks of dedicated and beautiful works, we are heading out on the open road. We are eternally blessed to have made the bonds we did these past few weeks. I still can't believe that there were so many beautiful souls in one place, all working towards the same goal - peace and love. Thank you family!
Today we drive north. I myself have done this drive before, 12 years ago with my friend Colleen. After high school we packed up her car and headed west for a month. This was before the days of full blown Internet and cell phones. A beat up atlas and a book of cd's was all we needed. I look back on that trip with such love and gratitude. It's the trod that sparked my wanderlust. I always vowed that I would once again make the winding and magical drive up route 1, needing to satiate the curiosity of a teenage desire to live here...someday...
The road hugs the pacific coast, rugged and harrowing at times, it hard to believe that it was built by men and not giants. I imagine the redwoods extending their giant limbs and patting down a path for us to travel on. Silent and proud, the ancient wisdom of their years whispering into our unconscious...'protect us, honor us'. As we drive north these giants are to our right, the powerful rugged pacific coast to our left. Hand and hand we begin to realize the enormity of the journey that lays ahead of us...

Ones' only real life is the life one never leads - Oscar Wilde

mEDi.

down count.

22 days until I no longer tend bar.
23 days until I am 30.
24 days until our "going away" goodbye-ness.
31 days until Nate is in Cali and Lisa is married
34 days until I am in Cali.....