Song of the Open Road (thank you Walt Whitman)

Written in 1856 by Walt Whitman, perhaps my favorite poem. It’s long, and I won’t recite in entirety.  Walt is encouraging us all to find moments to break free, explore and step away to travel. And he concludes by inviting … almost pleading … that we join him on the open road.  Count me in.

Song of the Open Road (modified and shortened version … apologies Walt)

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me

leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune,

I myself am good fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, 

postpone no more, need nothing,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

You road I enter upon and look around,

I believe you are not all that is here,

I believe that much unseen is also here.

Here is realization,

Here is a man tallied — 

he realizes here is what he has in him,

The past, the future, majesty, love

If they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them. 

Gently, but with undeniable will,

divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.

I inhale great droughts of space,

The east and the west are mine, and

the north and the south are mine.

I am larger, better than I thought,

I did not know I held so much goodness.

All seems beautiful to me.

Camerado, I give you my hand!

I give you my love more precious than money,

Will you give me yourself?

Will you come travel with me?

Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

Sharing with my young nieces and nephews in mind. Perhaps one day you’ll question whether it’s worth strapping on a backpack to explore, or if it’s better to go to an “all-you-can-eat-everything-included” resort. Hope you choose the backpack and get out there. 

Now for some pics …

Naughty Nuri’s BBQ was really good. May not win Memphis in May BBQ competition, but darn tasty, spicy and required 17 napkins. 

Had an in-home dinner prepared by local cooks (Dikha and Kadek). Fresh fish, squid, prawns, clams … total cost was $100. Inexpensive, authentic Balinese, and delicious. 

Fresh coconuts after 2.5 hour massage. You may roll your eyes at getting a massage while in Bali, but geez … for about $100 ($50 for each of us), Leah and I both had a relaxing experience that was unique and tranquil. 

Long hikes and rice paddies everywhere. 

Bali is starting to get ready for Nyepi, otherwise known as Silent Day, on Wednesday March 22. There will be a big parade and festival the night before, and you can see the large paper mache “monsters” in the background below. Here’s the skinny. The Balinese believe that if they throw a big party the night before Nyepi, then bad energy + spirits will be attracted. But once these bad spirits show up, it’ll be Silent Day and they’ll look around at one another and say ”Well, I guess nobody lives here and there’s no need for us to stick around. Let’s go find someplace else to deliver our bad juju.”  And that’ll give the Balinese one year free from the evil spirits, until they do it all over again next year. 

Until our next post, Sampai jumpa … “see you later” in Balinese. 

Brice (and Leah)