My big WHY – reconnecting with self in Sumatra
But there’s more to it than that…
A personal commitment to myself many years ago gave me the opportunity to travel to Sumatra. After the end of a relationship I was in Indonesia on a soul searching mission and was invited to go to Sumatra. “Wow” what an opportunity, I'd always wanted to go there to climb a volcano and see an orang-utan, "let’s go!!"
It was amazing, and truly life changing for me and it opened up a new world of insight and experience, even though I had travelled to Indonesia many times before. Exploring the jungle, tubing the jungle river, climbing the volcano, motorbike trips, seeing orang-utans and wildlife and meeting the people - absolutely awesome.
I found the person I thought I’d lost.
It changed my life. It allowed me to reconnect with who I was, who I thought I’d lost, which is why I was in Indonesia to start with, to find me, without the clutter of my normal every day, familiar life to distract me, my life which at the time felt as if it was falling down around me and I had to make it "ok" again. I connected with people who are now like family.
Even though our cultures are different, at heart we are all the same.
They pray to a different god, they wear different clothes, they don’t own flash cars or big houses or much at all for that matter, sometimes have dirt floors (which they keep clean)….. they speak a different language, eat different food, have different ways of doing things and look different...and they are just like me.
People are people and no matter where we go. We all smile the same and this impacted on me greatly. Without realising it they helped me pick myself up with a renewed sense of self and personal strength (to say the least).
Even though we live in 'the lucky country' we can still feel disconnected.
Here in Australia we are very fortunate and have so many things available to us but sometimes we still feel disconnected with who we are. How would you be without these familiar things around you which we sometimes use to define ourselves? Would you recognise yourself without them? Would you be ok with who you find when the external clutter is removed? Take away the running hot water, electricity at the flip of a switch, a washing machine, the sound of the radio and TV in the background, the hairdryer, the fashion statements and makeup, the iPod and mobile phone, the familiar faces? How would you be without the familiar things you surround yourself with? Would you be "ok" just being with you?
Experience Sumatra is a mix of "fun stuff" but it is also, subtly in the background, a way to reconnect with yourself. Our programs discourage the use of computers, mobile phones, iPods and contact with the world that’s at home eagerly waiting to hear your stories when you return, so that you can immerse yourself in the new experiences, sights and sounds with your group and just be 'you' in another culture and experiencing what it has to offer.
I’ll never forget the bootcamp program where one of our Sumatran guides spent hours assisting a member of our group down the side of the volcano, due to needs of the participant. That evening as we celebrated our success, and our "bootcampers" birthday, at a local restaurant I can remember watching these two having a chat… it made me smile because they spoke different languages but the heart connection was so clear and at that moment I acknowledged that for me that is what is was all about … and it was so powerful and so priceless and no language could do it justice, and no language was needed.
The world needs more of it… we all need more of it.. its connection :)
I hope that through Experience Sumatra I am able to bring cultures and people closer together, develop friendships and connections while sharing amazing experiences with people who care. To be a guiding hand so that others may experience what I did alone and now chose to share with those who wish to join me.
Our Mission - "To develop empathy and understanding between cultures - to enhance a sense of global oneness through fitness, fun and adventure on our journey of self development, personal achievement and discovery."
Experience Sumatra offers a selection of specialised (bootcamp, womens etc) fully escorted, packaged small group experiences to Sumatra. These experiences are a mixture of specialised program activites, cultural and adventure activities which are a whole lot of fun and an amazing experience.
Join us in 2013 for Bootcamp Sumatra... a mix of fitness, local cultural and adventure activities at the edge of the jungle. Suitable for most levels of fitness these programs are 8 day, fully escorted, small group, packaged experiences. 
