A Tale of Light and Shadows in Ubud

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Every corner of the world holds a story waiting to be told, a destination longing to be explored, and a soul eager to listen.

for you to tell your story.

Contrary to common belief, emotional development is a lifelong journey that continues to evolve with each new life experience and phase of personal growth

However, it amazes me how we consistently respond to certain stimuli. Like Pavlov's dog, we are trained to repeat the same response over and over again.

When faced with trauma, negativity can become so ingrained and automatic that breaking out feels impossible.

Except that it isn´t. There is always light after darkness and as travel photographers, we chase light.

Literally.

I am not a psychologist, nor do I have to be one to understand a few fundamental realities about my own shortcomings in that regard.

It is almost impossible to get rid of that inner voice that continues to tell us day after day how bad things are for some egotic, made-up reason.

I had big plans for the weekend to go to another place a few hours from Ubud but to be honest, I was not able to get out of my room. I felt bad because I was worried about my dad being hospitalized with a tumor and about some struggles I am facing. Then I just try to put a happy face on my videos but at times it is just a facade and I feel like an impostor.

I think, “I am supposed to inspire, tell stories and take photos," but that inner voice and the worries sometimes just don’t shut the fuck up.

I am not telling you this out of self-pity but because I understand that you may be going through a difficult time too. So the stories I am sharing are all about hope and seeing things with different eyes. It is about reframing, showing up despite not feeling like it and finding meaning in mundane things and beings.

This is why these stories are about you.

Maybe you have had a breakup, a close family member passed away, a failed business endeavor or you have to support someone close to you, as in my case.

The truth is that there is always a reason to feel bad and traumatized.

It really takes no effort at all to become negative and pessimistic, more so if we allow ourselves to get bombarded by constant social media outrage. But we can consciously remind ourselves that making it worse in our minds doesn´t help anybody.

A lot of it is an illusion. There is no disconnection, and you are not alone.

So it was last Sunday, my free day. Fortunately, as we will see, I did not succumb to the negativity and instead went out to make some connections.

I decided to go visit a place called “The Ridgewalk” in Ubud. Just a few kilometers north of my hotel.

Nature always gives that to us for free, and life even throws in a surprise here and there...

The Ridgewalk Ubud is a scenic pathway located in the heart of Bali, with stunning views of lush tropical landscapes on each side and a deep river valley that runs parallel.

It offers a tranquil escape into nature, winding through emerald-green rice paddies and offering glimpses of local wildlife and exotic flora.

In short, it was a great place to go for a walk and fly my drone.

Still stuck in my hotel room, I grabbed my scooter, craving the open air and a fresh perspective, and headed for Ubud's Ridgewalk.

Parking my scooter near a dated temple, I started the uphill trek and that's when I first saw a girl smiling at me.

The girl had a relaxed, engaging presence, with eyes that suggested a friendly and open personality. She wore a loose-fitting white blouse and casual black track pants. Her hair was sleek and pulled back, highlighting her youthful features, the natural ease with which she carried herself, and the warm smile on her face.

I didn't think much of it then, but that smile stuck with me for some reason.

A few minutes later, there she was again, not sure if she followed me. As I walked past, she looked at me, and I asked her:

“Hey, how are you doing?”

"I'm fine!" Where are you going?" She replied in surprisingly good English.

"Oh, I am just walking uphill to find a good spot to fly my drone and take some nice shots of the scenery.” I reply

And without hesitation or asking, she just started to walk next to me, as if she had been waiting for the invitation.

We hit it off, talking about everything from Balinese culture to random stuff, walking together like old friends.

After a while, we found a perfect spot, and as I set up the drone, a rainbow appeared out of nowhere, adding an unreal backdrop to our impromptu hangout.

What started as a day weighed down by my own thoughts turned into an unexpected adventure and we even made plans to hang out again next Saturday.

It just goes to show that sometimes the best moments come when you least expect them, like a twist of fate or a gentle nudge from the universe—reminding me that the weight of our worries often blinds us to the beauty and unexpected connections that lie just around the corner.

It's funny how life works; in the midst of my inner turmoil, a simple smile from a stranger became the beacon that led me out of my own mental prison

As Dila and I parted ways that day, with promises to explore more of Bali's hidden gems together, I couldn't help but reflect on the serendipitous nature of our meeting.

Riding back to my hotel, the cool evening breeze felt like a cleanse, sweeping away the remnants of my earlier despair. The road stretched out before me, lined with the flickering lights of distant homes and the silhouette of palm trees against the twilight sky, painting a picture of tranquility that I had almost forgotten existed

In the solitude of my room, I replayed the day's events in my mind, realizing that the real journey isn't about the places we visit but the human connections we make and the personal battles we overcome along the way.

So, to you, my friend, reading this from wherever you are, grappling with your own set of challenges, know this:

Stay open-hearted and keep showing up, because a small act or unexpected encounter could change everything for you.

Watch the story unfold on TikTok here and see you next Friday. Thanks for reading.

If you want to support me, you can check out my print shop or click on the ad below.

Have an awesome weekend! 🤙🏻🙂

@romanlbinder

When your feel like 💩 go into nature works 100 % of the times and sometimes you even make new friends … #nature #bali #ridgewalk #ubud #in... See more

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