Arriving

Confucius says: "The path is the goal". But is he right? If so, why is arriving oftentimes so much more satisfying?

We always arrive somewhere, but supposedly the path to happiness lies in enjoying the path. We where quiet happy, when we arrived at Bali in Seminyak. Our next path leads us to Ubud, the cultural center of the 5,700 square kilometer stretching island. Our driver is an uncle of the driver we met last time and he is a source of wisdom. Sure handed he navigates through the packed streets of the seemingly endless city covering the south of Bali. My theory: you need to become wise, if you need two and a half hours for a stretch of 30 kilometers ... or at least very patient 😅.

Seemingly everybody is ... wise, patient or coping. The traffic is, as I remember almost calming. Everybody is polite, the horn is only used to signal your presence without being seen and a lot of the people greet each other while passing by. "Actually I like it better, if it is going slow", our driver admits. So: the path is the way in Bali?

To be honest, maybe this needs a little bit more practicing. We are pretty happy arriving at our villa in Ubud in the heart of nature. In this green oasis we will stay for a few days full of tranquility - we arrived.

In nature, the concept of arriving does not really exist. Evolution, the driving force in nature is the backbone of a process - a path in our analogy. Still species seems to be fixed beings with unchanging attributes. But this .. is an illusion caused by the glacial time-frames in which evolutional change is happening most of the times. Look at this time -frozen beauty and learn: maybe experiencing the changes around in slow motion, wandering the path in a slow trot is the way to happiness.

Agriculture is a perfect example of how the journey and the destination are intertwined. The months of hard work, planting, tending, and waiting culminate in the harvest. The satisfaction of arriving at the harvest is immense because it represents the successful completion of a long and often challenging journey. Each seedling’s growth is a small step towards the ultimate goal, and the harvest is a testament to patience, effort, and care. But the path here seems to be very stony.

Agricultural processes.

Spiritual arrival, well I cannot write something about that, being a nonspiritual person. But at this point everyone should be confused and stuffed up with paths and arrivals, so here comes ...

Ubud

Navigating Ubud with Max in a stroller is an adventure in itself. The sidewalks are a challenge, resembling a rugged parkour course with their broken stones and uneven surfaces. Pushing the stroller over these obstacles is a workout, testing our patience and determination. Opting for the streets, on the other hand, feels like tempting fate. It seems like a choice between:

• fits, you get tenaciously hobbling over the sidewalks, and
• destiny in form of certain death in the traffic of the streets.

Despite the challenges, exploring Ubud is a rewarding experience. The vibrant culture, the welcoming locals, and the stunning scenery make every outing memorable. We’ve learned to embrace the slow pace, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of this beautiful town.

In Bali, it seems, the path and the destination are equally important. Each moment, each step, each pause contributes to the overall experience. And while arriving at our villa in Ubud was a joyous moment, the journey here, with all its quirks and challenges, made it all the more meaningful. Maybe Confucius was onto something after all.