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| She said, “What are you looking at?” “Your beauty and charm,” we replied. She smiled and we continued on our way. |
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
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| Coal barge pulled by a tugboat. |
If a traveler was content to read and send email and check out a few local tours, restaurants and attractions, the WiFi signal in this distant area of Bali would be sufficient. For most travelers with the intent of escaping the digital world to some degree while on holiday/vacation, this would be fine.
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| A pig we hadn’t seen on prior walks. |
For us, with our intensive use of WiFi including streaming shows at night or as in the case yesterday’s Minnesota Vikings Football game and the second presidential debate, it was hit and miss.
Patience is really a virtue when it comes to waiting for the signal to recover when half-game, half-debate we have lost the connection repeatedly. In our old lives, Tom would have thrown his hands in the air in complete frustration refusing to wait, instead of turning it off. Now he sits patiently.
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| Steaming body of water found on a stroll. |
In this life, patience becomes a necessary element of who we are, especially when dealing with “island time” which is a reality of daily life in many parts of the world. It is only in the United States and in busy cities throughout the world that we have experienced a constant sense of urgency.
“I want it now!” is the mantra of many customers waiting for their coffee at the local barista or waiting at the supermarket to check out as their darting eyes peruse every line wondering which is shortest or fastest with the least number of items in the trolleys. Rush, rush, rush.
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| In most of the quiet places that we have lived in the past few years, there is no sense of urgency. |
Not in our lifetime. In most of the quiet places that we have lived in the past few years, there is no sense of urgency. Power off? It’s nothing to worry about. It will come back on soon. WiFi slow or not working? Find something else to do until it improves.
Chaise lounges aren’t ready by 8:00 am? No need to mention. Wait patiently until they’re done. Dinner ready too early or a bit late? No matter. We’re fine either way.
Waiting for an hour for an immigration check in at the airport? Nothing can be done. Wait. Patience prevails. Spending several hours waiting to board the ship in Vancouver while multiple cruise ships and passengers were backed up at the busy port? Read a book or play a game using the phone. No point whinging or complaining.
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| A narrow path we explored. |
This same goes for the recent package of supplies, we’re awaiting from the US. Yep, we sent it “priority express” by the US Postal Service (the only means available to this remote location), paying a premium price for this expedited shipment at US $185, IDR 2,400,930.
Today is the sixth day since the package was picked up at our mail service in Nevada, USA. Here’s the route so far (most recent is at the top):
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Date & Time
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Status of Item
|
Location
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2016 , 10:02 am |
Customs Clearance
|
INDONESIA | ||||
|
||||||
| October 9, 2016 , 9:32 am |
Customs Clearance
|
INDONESIA | ||||
| October 9, 2016 , 9:32 am |
Processed Through Facility
|
INDONESIA | ||||
| October 8, 2016 , 4:00 pm |
Departed
|
JAKARTA, INDONESIA | ||||
| October 8, 2016 , 10:35 am |
Departed
|
TOKYO, JAPAN | ||||
| October 8, 2016 , 7:27 am |
Departed
|
TOKYO, JAPAN | ||||
| October 7, 2016 , 12:54 am |
Departed
|
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES | ||||
| October 6, 2016 , 6:38 pm |
Arrived
|
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES | ||||
| October 5, 2016 , 6:43 pm |
Processed Through Facility
|
ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) | ||||
| October 5, 2016 , 6:43 pm |
Arrived at Facility
|
ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) | ||||
| October 5, 2016 , 5:25 pm |
Departed USPS Facility
|
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009 | ||||
| October 5, 2016 , 3:53 pm |
Arrived at USPS Facility
|
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009 | ||||
| October 5, 2016 , 4:53 am |
Departed USPS Facility
|
LAS VEGAS, NV 89199 | ||||
| October 4, 2016 , 10:02 pm |
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
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LAS VEGAS, NV 89199 | ||||
| October 4, 2016 , 9:24 pm |
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
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LAS VEGAS, NV 89120 | ||||
| October 4, 2016 , 2:37 pm |
Picked Up
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LAS VEGAS, NV 89107 | ||||
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| A few white chickens. |
Tom gets a kick out following package tracking for our average two shipments a year. Today is the 11th in Indonesia although the one day time difference between the US and Indonesia isn’t illustrated in this tracking process.
Now the package sits in customs as the officials determine how much tax we’ll be required to pay at the post office when it finally arrives at Malaya Beach, a 10 minute drive from the villa. We’ll see how that rolls out.
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| A mosque along the highway. |
In many ways, living this life of world travel makes us a captive audience. We don’t always have the opportunity to choose “when” and “how” situations transpire. We can only choose to be patient, tolerant and accepting.
Somehow yesterday, we managed to watch the entire football game and the second presidential debate streamed from our laptops to the TV.
Both were broadcast at the same time, so we watched the football game first (go, Vikings!) and found a replay of the debate to stream after the game ended. It all worked out well.
After many days of rain, once again, we’re outside on a clear sunny day. The humidity is lower than usual along with the temperature. The flies, after days of rain are plentiful. We’re content, grateful and delightfully enjoying our remaining 18 days at the villa until once again, it’s time to go.
May you be content and grateful for this day and always.
Photo from one year ago today, October 11, 2015:
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| A glimpse of loveliness, flowers growing under the deck in Fiji. For more photos, please click here. |