Pursue a new Hobby, preferably in nature.
It is never too late to find new ways to pass time. It is empowering to create something with your hands. It feels good to connect with nature and sweat it out. And it is always enriching to explore new places and meet new people.
“How we spend every day is how we spend our lives.” Read that again. Think about it. What did you do yesterday and what do you have planned for the next three days? Fast forward to 2080, when you look back, what did you actually do? Good news is, there is tomorrow, so it is not too late to start transforming your day…your life.
Southeast Asia is arguably the best place to try new things. We have big mountains to summit and small ones to warm up on. We are surrounded by the ocean which means endless coastlines to surf and deserted beaches of all colours (white, pink, and black). We are in the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse region on the planet so it is a dream to scuba dive, snorkel and freedive.
And for those of you who are not “outdoor adventure” types (yet!), Southeast Asia really has something for everyone. Do you like elephants - why don’t you advocate and help protect them? Do you like eating - try new cuisines and perfect your homecooked recipes. Do you like sitting around doing nothing - have you thought about sitting around and doing nothing in a Unesco Heritage site or surrounded by rice paddies?
You start by going. If you don’t try, you don’t know. You are more than watching [insert streaming service] as a pastime.
We Simply Ask That You:
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Destinations were chosen based on: strong, reliable internet; access to western creature comforts; and access to a variety of adventures. Just say yes to anything and everything that piques your interest.
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If you don’t try, you don’t know. This can be a month of firsts for you. Weekends can be filled with learning how to dive, surf, trek, cook, or to just get pampered. You can even start/end your work days with nature if your office hour time zones work in your favour.
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Science says that it takes 21 days to create good habits and it is hard to start something new in old places and spaces. Use this change of scenery to be mindful and heartful with everything that you do. All it takes is one breath to centre yourself. Let’s do it. Breathe in deep, smell the fresh baked cookies. Hold, two, three, four. Breathe out, blow out the candles of your birthday day.
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As your perspective shifts and a weight is lifted off your shoulders in halfie-holiday mode, remember those heavy feels you lived with for so long and lead with love, kindness, and compassion for your colleagues, for the service staff, for animals, for everyone and everything. Be the sunshine.
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The world we live in now was designed by the 1% of the world that can understand binary and coding. We are not meant to live online, and stay continuously distracted from knowing ourselves. We are meant to connect and communicate, with ourselves and others. And that starts with learning how to just be. To just be in the present moment and appreciate the magic in each moment.
Scuba Diving
Indonesia spans over 16,000 islands, believe us when we say that one month is just the beginning. Where we will send you will really depend on how you like to spend our time. If you like jungles, it will be North Sumatra. If you like surfing, it could be off beat Bali, Java, or South Sumatra. If you like summiting, we will have to move you around a bit but you can be the tallest person on five of the Indonesians islands for a second. Then there’s diving, the best diving in the world in our humble opinion. And culture - did you know that there are over 400 indigenous languages spoken in Indonesia?
Jin’s word of warning
I started travelling before I could walk or talk. And I was lucky enough to have grown up with my aunt who let me try everything…even pushed me to try things. I did my first discover scuba dive when I was 12 (hated it) and then dived back in when I was 19 and never looked back.
Scuba diving brought me to places that would have never thought of going. I travelled to Borneo to dive the famous Sipadan. I went to Mozambique for my divemaster course. And I lived on Malapascua as a volunteer diving with thresher sharks and mantas.
When I hear of something really cool, from more experienced divers, I go out of my way to go there. Now my hobbies are scuba diving, trekking, surfing, kitesurfing or in my case, just getting dragged around! Oh and waterfalls. I like those a lot too.
