FRIENDS IN THE TROPICS
Many times, through the years we talked about the idea of travelling in a warm country as a group of friends. I travel many years mostly in solo and it is great way to get immersed into new worlds and cultures mo doubt, in fact it’s the best way to travel to be transformed, but I must admit it was easier to meet people in my 20s & 30s that it had become at my age. There is a bit less random bumping into people unless you make the effort in enrolling in some type of activites, I saw my share of gorgeous sunsets by myself and eating at tables alone. So, in the last few years I made the move to go join friends who were travelling in countries I was in or close. I have to say it brought a lot of joy to do so. Just motorbiking as a crew, having nice dinners and witnessing beauty together.
Well, this year, stars aligned and a staggering number of 26 friends manage to free up their schedule to come live an experience in community vacation for a week, 2 weeks or 3 at the max. (although many were working during the day as digital nomads). Nonetheless most of us would take break at end of day to go have a swim in warm ocean and watch the sunsets. What was the purpose of this experience of togetherness? None of us had a definitive answer, but we all felt it was a continuity of nurturing friendships in a different context. We usually see each other at summer parties, birthdays and events through the year for a night or a moment but rarely we see each other in a daily routine and sustained gathering.
Some of us know each other for 20 years and with others it is more recent... It created an opportunity to deepen our connection, share and motivate disciplines like morning meditation, stretching and movement from 6h30 to 8h30 am. Free time after, sharing meals (we did have cooks for lunch and dinner, so we manage to eat together most of the time. We did go to short adventures, created parties, concerts, and sound healing etc..
What we didn’t know is, would it be by moment tense? Would there be conflicts? At this number and with lots of strong personalities we could presume it would be normal. but it never did. There was an incredible harmony. It was impressive, this was an experience of self-regulation, coherence and sincere joy of wanting to spend time together as much as we could. To be together in nature swimming in warm waves was a new way to interact between us as friends and a true bliss.
Here are a selection, a representative of a bunch of moments as an homage to theses friendships and the interactions of trust and love that emanates from these photos. We knew we were lucky to be there and maybe we will never live another moment like this, and I know many others friends who have like to join, so to see these images could somehow be bittersweet or inspiring or both.
May the coming times bring more heart, love and harmony. It’s the best thing that can be and we sure need a lote more of it.
