Good morning, you awesome people!
About 4 weeks ago we said goodbye to start our little adventure in Indonesia! Now we thought it's time to send you a few lines and try to find words for the indescribably beautiful things we have encountered here:
1...2...3 Departure! Berlin--> Frankfurt--> Kuala Lumpur--> Banda Aceh --> Ferry --> Pulau Weh!!! (Phew^^)
'You can snorkeling, you can diving, you can relaxing - on Pulaaaau weh'
In a small cafe by the sea, there were self-painted pictures of the wonderful underwater world on the wall. A young man from Banda Aceh sang these lines with a wide grin on his face. His friends joined in the chorus and an older lady, perhaps his grandma, unexpectedly swayed her hips. We have arrived! Surrounded by palm trees and jungle, white sandy beaches and the sound of the sea in our ears, we are enjoying this wonderful time. Time has suddenly become relative when you can just relax and enjoy
it.
We still feel the wind of home at our backs, which has brought us here, the hugs of numerous farewells, all the wishes and warmth with which you sent us on this exciting and intense journey. Pulau Weh is truly an oasis of relaxation, peace and beautiful views. Picturesque views of turquoise water, small islands and the sound of waves and birds singing in the background. It is relaxing to see the leisurely pace of the people, who go about their activities with a smile on their face, always ready for a chat and paying attention to make sure everything is alright. The people here laugh a lot, tease each other and have remained childlike, that's how it seems and that's how it feels. The children play with us and are the best teachers for Bahasa Indonesia. So we let ourselves drift, Toni discovers the incredible underwater world while diving, swimming with turtles, octopuses, sharks, giant moray eels (like Ursula in Arielle Oo), and rays, while Jasmin practices diabolo or balances on the slackline or snorkels on the beach. We eat at Mama Jungle, the best cook on the island. With a big grin on her face, she hands us a plate and makes sure we get plenty of her delicious tempeh and get enough to eat. So it is easy to slow down here, to arrive and to let go. We discover waterfalls that are only there for us in that moment, find lonely beaches, and explore the island on a scooter in the sunshine. Our view on the start of our project is positive, something we have been eagerly anticipating for so long.... and we can tell you: WOW! We have been in Indonesia for almost 4 weeks now and it couldn't be more beautiful. Knowing that this is only the beginning creates excitement, curiosity and a strong desire for more!
We have already met great people here, some briefly, spending every day with others, and perhaps we will see some of them again in the future.
In the upcoming posts, we would like to share some of these stories with you, as they are about happiness, about life itself, about the importance of never growing old, why children should play at the beach, why saving is nonsense, and why dogs don't have it easy here... but more on that later :)
In the post Bukit Lawang Trust, we will tell you how we arrived at the project, the great experiences we have already had, and above all, how incredibly joyful we were about your donations.
Love&Kisses
See you soon!