The Sun Rises

June 1. The sun rises on my last twenty-four hours in Southeast Asia. I am at Shangri-La, the mythical Eden, and also a luxury hotel on the island of LapuLapu. Luxury hotels are a pretty new experience for me. Usually, I don’t stay in hotels, because I just see them as a place to catch a nap, and hell, I can sleep in my car for free. When I am traveling, I usually vie for an air B and B, because I like to feel like I am at home. But this hotel life is pretty awesome.

When we got here, my brother and I rushed into our swimsuits. It so reminded me of growing up with him. Checking out the pool was our first priority as kids. We skipped the pool and went right for the ocean, because I don’t get to the beach everyday. As always Kevin got right into the water, not hesitating with the sudden chill of the temperature shift, meanwhile, I slowly immersed myself, exclaiming about the cold, and the FISH swimming around me. Finally, I got my head wet and swam out to join my brother. This actually says a lot about our personalities, but I don’t want to overthink that right now.

My brother had found a rock that had something growing on it. We didn’t know what it was, but we thought it might be a sea animal, so we respected its space. Then we swam out to a platform that was set up for diving, or maybe just a destination to swim to in deeper water.

While we were standing on the float, some teenagers asked if they could join us. The girl started chatting us up. She was very friendly and thought Kevin and I were a couple. When we told her we were siblings, she commented on how different we looked, which we didn’t reply to. I am pretty sure that’s a comparison that’s been made our whole lives. Then she started talking about where she lived and how it was boring, especially for “(no offense, I don’t mean to be ageist)” elderly because of all the hiking. Kevin and I were both polite, but we both had the same inward reaction. Elderly? Hiking? We’re from Colorado! Bring on any damn trail, we can do it. We left the float to her and her cousins and we swam back to the shore and then analyzed being called elderly. Just for the record, we are NOT elderly.

Dinner was an Asian buffet that I am going to miss when I get home. I have had sushi or squid everyday since I have been here and it is so fresh and amazing. Last night the squid was grilled and it was fantastic. There was also a show of native dancing and ice cream for dessert. Then we went to an arcade. We played Pac-Man, pool, pinball. My nieces played air hockey together and seemed so happy. We might have been staying at a five star resort, but it was like being with my brother when we were nine and ten and spending the night at a roadside motel, discovering new things and making the most out what was in front of us.

In a way, I think it’s ironic that I am ending my trip at the Shangri-La, mythical Eden. I have been on an inner and outer quest to find more joy in my life and find where I really belong. I realize that it’s not about where I am, or what I am doing, it’s about connecting with what is my heart. And being brave enough to listen to where it is leading me.