Illustrated Zine - 'Where I would've been and Who I would've met'

The past few months I certainly had time to listen to song lyrics. The one that struck a nerve was by John Lennon:

“Life is what happens when you start making other plans.”

Well John, truer words were never spoken. I was on my way to have 21st birthday celebrations on the wonderful island of Bali when a rude, invisible, contagious virus stopped me in my tracks. Tracks I made – incidentally - with my newly purchased hiking boots I was baptizing for exciting hiking trails on the island.

I was going to make conversation with strangers at the airport and make jokes with the air hostesses on the plane, but instead, I was buying essentials at the grocery store and staring into many pairs of bewildered eyes – all one meter apart. I was going to book into my hotel and be amazed by the complimentary cocktails and champagne, but instead I was back home, in my own room, staring at the parking lot outside my window.

Due to a lack of inspiration and motivation I fell asleep and dreamt of the beautiful city of Denpasar with its ample green trees and plants. In my dream, I was walking the streets amidst the local food market selling colourful fruits of all shapes and sizes. I addressed the people in their local languages – Balinese and Indonesian. I marvelled over the brilliant sunset and went bike riding with my friends. The locals taught us the Topeng, which is a dance for entertainment and means “The mask dance.” How ironic, I thought when I woke up, that I could have so much fun with the Mask dance. Instead, here I was, dreading the reality of leaving my house just to avoid the suffocating Mask.

How I would have loved to view the sunset from a cliff at the famous Uluwatu temple. I’m sure the monkeys would have snatched my sunglasses from my face (as predicted by locals), but I would have laughed a laugh of pure joy and excitement! 

Oh, John, if only you knew…or maybe you did. Life did happen while I was making other plans!