Candice and I found ourselves with just a few days left on Tioman Island before we were scheduled to be back on SV Millenium. Although one of our rules for the Path of Least Resistance was to not plan anything in advance and let the magic unfold, I booked a freediving course at the end of our trip before arriving on the island. We had finally made it to my dream destination and now had to leave because I tried to plan something too far in advance.
I meditated for a while and asked my soul what it wanted, do to the freediving course or stay longer at Bagus Place. It was clear that I felt an overwhelming pull to stay and I messaged the course instructor to see if it was possible to get our deposit back while Candice contacted the accommodation. Luckily, we were able to get both deposits back, no questions asked! What luck!
Candice and I packed up our things at Simukut Place and our host Din took us over once again on his motorcycle. Navigating the overgrown trails with backpacks and luggage was difficult but the minute we arrived back at Bagus Place, we knew we made the right decision. Karim and Tam showed us to our room and Candice and I stood in disbelief at the beautiful accommodations we happened to manifest. The room had been designed with an indoor/outdoor feel with floor-to-ceiling windows that completely opened up to the jungle as it was elevated above the shoreline below.
We spent the day snorkeling off the dock, having lunch at the neighboring resort, then napping in hammocks on the terrace only to be woken up by a troop of monkeys passing through the trees. As the sun began to hang low in the sky, Candice, Karim, Tam, Anna, and I all gathered on the end of the dock for the last swim of the day. With no wind, the ocean was flat and calm with a perfect temperature making it feel like a swimming pool. We lay motionless in the water, listening to the chatter of fish below and looking up at the peaks of the dragon’s horns that towered above.
The next day, Tam offered to take us climbing at a local wall he had been developing. We hopped in a boat and motored for about 15 minutes before coming to a beach that lead up to a trail carved out of the vegetation. The trail leads us to the base of a steep granite wall towering two hundred feet above us. Since I’m afraid of heights, I wasn’t too keen on climbing but offered to take some pictures of Candice and Anna as they climbed.
Each day we stayed at Bagus Place, my heart filled more and more with gratitude. How did we end up at such an incredible place with these amazing people? When we first arrived, I assumed Karim would be an older, solitary gentleman, but since he, Anna, and Tam were all around our age we had become good friends.
The end of our Path of Least Resistance trip ended up better than I ever could have imagined. The trip taught me a few important lessons: first, less planning invites more room for magic and the unexpected to happen. How much had I missed out on in my life because I had always been so focused on planning every detail? Second, trust that the universe can guide you and that amazing things can come easily. Often we are taught that good things require hard work but fail to realize that resistance can sometimes be an indication to take a new direction. Lastly, I learned that it’s okay to change plans when something isn’t working out. Had we decided to stay at the shitty dive resort because we committed to it initially, we would have had a miserable time.
I began to see a parallel between the last lesson and my time on SV Millennium. I joined the boat to learn more about underwater photography and videography and the only thing I had seen so far was a shipyard. As much as we all wanted to believe SV Millennium was close to getting in the water, I knew in my gut that it wasn’t happening any time soon. I didn’t want to let Nate and the rest of the crew down but staying to finish the boat made me feel more anxious than excited. Maybe my time on SV Millennium was just meant to bring me to Southeast Asia, connect with new friends, and save a little shipyard kitty.
I told Candice of my decision and it felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. She was sad that we wouldn’t be living on the boat together but understood. Suddenly, the discomfort with uncertainty began setting in. What would I do next? I calmed my inner thoughts and remembered the lessons of the trip and trusted the next opportunity would find me, I just have to be open to receiving it.
Sadly, our time on Tioman Island came to a close and we were all due back at the boat. Candice and I spent a couple of nights in Singapore to renew our visas and enjoy some food variety before flying back to Langkawi. It was time to tell everyone else that I was jumping ship!
