"Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow."
~ Anita Desai
9 Fun Facts about Me,
Anne McCormick
1. I am originally from the small town of Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, in Canada.
2. When I first came to Bali in 2006, I didn’t want to travel at all. A friend of mine bullied me into going to Bali, saying it would change my life. He caught me at a time when I felt I needed a new experience, so I agreed. Lo and behold, my life did change!
3. I keep coming back to Bali because it makes me feel free to be… me. Everything happens outside in the open air, and even when you’re inside the doors and windows are wide open. This transparency is reflected in the Balinese people themselves, who are openly caring and attentive to one another’s needs. At first, I thought their culture was a little intrusive, but then I realized it was just different… in my culture, the doors and windows are always closed and locked!
4. I have a young granddaughter, and it’s difficult to leave her behind when I come to Bali for months on end (she grows up so fast!). Although it’s hard to leave my loved ones behind, staying in Bali makes me a better person when I come home. I’ve learned a lot about self-care in the past few years!
5. Most people assume that the craziest thing I’ve done in Bali is drive a small motorbike in busy traffic, but it’s not! Bali is the home to giant swings that sail out over cliffs and canopy below. I've swung on a few of those... luckily there are smaller swings to work your way up!
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6. When I’m not exploring the wonders of Bali, I love spending time with my friends and family, having big laughs. I love playing cards and board games, and I’m a voracious reader.
7. Bali has taught me the ingredients to having a good life. I’ve learned that taking care of yourself first is one of the most important things you can do, especially when it comes to doing things for your mental and physical health. I know that as women, we feel selfish if we spend money on ourselves when we have other people to take care of, but in my experience, you have nothing to give if you don’t give to yourself first.
Bali also taught me that doing things outside your comfort zone keeps you happy and excited for what’s to come. If you don’t have this, you end up in a perpetual state of waiting for something to happen to you– what are you waiting for?
8. My friends would describe me as funny, kind, considerate, tolerant, and easy-going. They would also describe me as a pain in the ass ;)
9. One of my favourite places in Bali is Tanah Lot, which is a temple built so close to the ocean that when the tide rises, it becomes partially submerged. It is amazing to see this temple “floating” in the ocean. Tanah Lot has beautiful grounds with many walking paths through tropical gardens. At sunset, I like to find a place to sit with a view of the temple and watch the people react to the giant waves, trying to get photos of themselves with the temple without getting wet as the sun sets into the ocean.
The main purpose I chose to discover Bali with Anne was because of her friendly personality and her caring nature to bring an authentic experience to those who have never traveled to Bali. Her passion for the country lead to her devotion to extending this experience and sharing it with others definitely resonates with truly who she is as a person. She delivered a tour that was not regimented and with a more relaxed pace so a person can truly live in the moment when experiencing a culture that does not thrive on fast pace.
~ Rachel B.