Greetings from the Island of the Gods!
This holiday hasn’t been without its tiny chapter of drama. Of course it happened even before departing Sydney, just as I was starting to feel relaxed about our first overseas family trip.
We arrived on time, the boys were sensing that we were going on an adventure. My tummy was filling up with butterflies, knowing that I was going to be that little closer to a place that made me feel at home; at complete comfort in my own skin.
Somehow, somewhere after checking in and before entering the boarding gates, there was chaos and confusion in filling out those stupid immigration forms.
The twinlets were running amok.
Losing all concentration, I also realised that I hadn’t checked in the bag with all my toiletries. All those creams and sprays were not going to make it through security as carry on luggage.
In a wild panic, I repacked my backpack and was fortunate enough to have enough time to check it in.
It was at this precise disasterous moment, I discovered that my wallet was not in it’s usual place. It was nowhere to be seen.
Frantically, I retraced my steps, heading back towards the table where I sat and found nothing. Nada.
Wallet gone.
Anxiety kicked in.
Forever my even keel, Mr Surfer tried to assure me that everything was fine. He guessed that I must’ve subconsciously slipped my wallet into the backpack and I would see it safe and in one piece when we arrived in Denpasar.
He was wrong.
In the midst of Bali heat, with the boys exploding into extreme-tiredness- berserk mode, we jumped on our ride to the hotel, minus a wallet that held all the important cards and cash you can imagine.
I started to really beat myself up by this stage.
All those cards I had to cancel; that wod of holiday cash that I had lost. My mind was hurting from the huge whirl of worry.
Driving through the mess and madness of Balinese traffic, I paused for a moment. Outside my window was extreme poverty, hardship, dirty streets and the crowds of people who didn’t seem to see themselves as struggling.
Some were even smiling. Others were hard at work, digging and shovelling in the stifling heat. Children were playing in the streets, granted dangerously among the speeding cars but nevertheless, happily.
Everyone was just getting on with it. Soldiering through the best way they knew how.
The next day, we decided to talk a walk to the shopping mall. An easy 10 minute walk, advised the hotel staff. I guess they didn’t take into account our lack of ability to acclimitize to the Balinese sauna or the fact that we each had a toddler to carry.
We finally hit the stores and I was ready to pass out from heat exhaustion and dehydration. I sat in an air-conditioned ATM booth, hunched over trying to get the oxygen back to my head while beads of sweat poured down my face.
Getting my shizz together, I realised there were countless Indonesian mums and dads out there who did this every day – carry a 13 kilo kid but for much longer than the wussy kilometer I hiked and they survive. No, in fact, they manage to thrive.
Another humbling experience.
As it happened, my wallet was found. Nothing was taken, everything in tact.
Maybe the Gods of this magical island are looking out for me. Or at least teaching me a few lessons on perspective
Glad you found your wallet. Where did it turn up?? We take a lot of things for granted and most of them we know we take for granted. Like Internet for example.
Salz recently posted..My car will be missed..
I think I left it on a counter or on the table where I was filling out the forms. Sydney international airport contacted me to let me know they had found it…phew! And yes! Thank God for the Internet!!!
fabulous post!
Emma recently posted..Yarnbombing Vine
What a stressful start! But nothing like some good travel learning’s.
Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye recently posted..Bloggy mojo where art thou?
Nothing like leaving the “lucky” country to bring some perspective into our lives. Have a fabulous holiday gorgeous lady. xx
Lee recently posted..Mango, blueberry and coconut cake. Gluten free of course!
So glad you found your wallet and perspective is a wonderful thing isn’t it.
have a lovely holiday hon x
Julia Kuku Couture recently posted..Leonid’s Christening
Really lovely post. I’m so glad that your wallet was found. Wishing you a wonderful holiday.
Mud Hut Mama recently posted..Lowercase M Craft: Map
Wow! Such a happy ending! You have to be really lucky, I’ve never got my wallets back…
Panka recently posted..Mekkora fájdalommal jár a fogpótlás?
Gawd, I can only image the stress you were under, plus losing your purse. What a nightmare! It’s amazing how perspective can center you and help to relieve a little bit of the stress and pressure in one of those crappy situations. It doesn’t always completely go away though. So glad the wallet was found!
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Cheers to you for the way you handled this situation. I dont think I would have viewed it as an opportunity to find perspective. I would have freaked right out! Hope the only incidents that happen during the rest of your trip are happy and exciting ones.
Mumabulous recently posted..Dino Mania
Great perspectives, and it can be hard to get that when hot and bothered. And a 13kilo twin is hard to carry. Look forward to hearing more about the trip.
Seana Smith recently posted..What I Did On My Digital Holidays
I would go nuts if I lost my wallet…that said, I have found a wallet with over $1000 in cash in it and gone to great lengths to track the owner…
Lydia c lee recently posted..Lupine Adventures – Currawong Beach Cottages
I learned a lot this past few months about taking things for granted… We are so lucky, we should be thankful every day.
Rita recently posted..Update on NaNoWriMo
Such an amazing story! I thought it was a movie or a novel, I couldn’t picture myself that things like that could happen in real life as well… you have to feel very very lucky…
Kati recently posted..A fogpótlás eseti alkalmazása
Glad you could continue with vacation and with wallet! Happens at least once in our life.
I know the thing that stuck with me most when we visited Fiji was just how happy the locals were. They had less than the least have here in Australia, but they were happier than 99% of the people you see here and had such an appreciation for life and what they did have, it was such a wake-up call for me.
Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Sunset Skies
Glad it turned up. Lovely post. x
Emily recently posted..There are things you shouldn’t do while pregnant
How stressful! I can imagine the feeling of the blood draining out of your face when you realised it was missing.
There really is nothing like perspective though.
iSophie recently posted..Poor Mrs Zebra, I think we all know how you feel.
Oh Grace I’m so glad you found your wallet, that must have been stressful. Good that you could gain some perspective on it, but stressful nonetheless. I hope the rest of your trip is as insightful and smooth sailing xx
Kelly HTandT recently posted..Words Can’t Express…
I’m glad your wallet turned up intact but it must have been heart stopping.
Beautiful post and thoughts as always Grace , with grace xo
Trish recently posted..Thankful for the Pony Tail and the kindest cut.
Thank goodness you found it! Bali is such a special humbling place. Have a wonderful time. Xxxx
Zanni, Heart Mama recently posted..iCandy
It’s amazing that everything was intact in your wallet. It shouldn’t be amazing, and it isn’t in certain places in the world, but it is to us. That says a lot about the vibe of the land, doesn’t it?
Nami recently posted..That’s What I Want
Oh goodness! Not the best start! But I love how you handled it. xx
Danya Banya recently posted..Swim like a tadpole
is always heartening the lessons we learn with life’s situations. Glad to hear that all is well..
Stephanie recently posted..12WBT – No more cake
Wow Grace! Great post, and I’m so glad you found your wallet. Lessons in perspective are a bitch sometimes… but I think it takes a special person to notice the lives and trials of others, above their own challenging circumstances. Nice one Grace. xx
I could relate too, because my mum lost her wallet last Saturday while we were browsing a market in Brisbane. After a few heart-stopping minutes we discovered she’d dropped it into a shopping bag, with a bag of organic zuchinni! 🙂
Mum of Adult Kids recently posted..The best advice I ever took
So glad aout the wallet, and love the new perspective you gained.
I remember visiting Dili a few years ago and having that same realization. We are seriously so blessed.
EssentiallyJess recently posted..Thursday Strikes Again
How amazing that it was found intact, hope you’re having an awesome holiday
Three Quarters Full recently posted..We can miss him together
The luxurious hotels are of course lovely, but one of the favourite things I did when we were in Bali a year ago was take a walk into the back streets, where things are very different, as you’d know. I stood for ages watching children arrive at their primary school on the back of motorbikes with their brooms – I presume they have to clean their school as well. And I walked down dirt lanes until the smells got too bad and the dogs got too scary and I couldn’t tell if that bony animal I was looking at was a horse or a cow. I took my teenager the next day on the same walk, so she could see where we were really staying. I’m not sure they necessarily liked us being there, but it’s important to get that perspective.
Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right recently posted..Bloggers, brands and a brunch
Oh, and your pictures are beautiful and seems like you are having the most wonderful time – I’m so pleased. xxx
Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right recently posted..Bloggers, brands and a brunch
Perspective is a wonderful thing. I hope after the stressful start you’re having a wonderful time!
Catherine Rodie Blagg @CoTaaB recently posted..Naughty Mummy!
This Holilday looks like a memorable adventure for the kidlets, I really enjoyed reading of your travels and also the lovely pictures
The Declutterbug versus captain Stingypants recently posted..Dare you enter….
Ah my old friend perspective… I love this Grace, thank you. I am off to Bali soon and cannot wait!
Phew for wallet return! Enjoy your time in (sweaty) paradise 🙂
What a great perspective to gain and one of the fabulous things about travelling to other countries. So glad that your wallet was found!
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