28 & 29 May 2025
These islands may be small, but they’re alive with the most unexpected creatures. I’m constantly amazed at the variety of wildlife here.
A few days ago, a giant lizard — maybe a Komodo, maybe a Monitor (still not sure which is correct) — strolled casually through camp. Another appeared behind me on the beach, hunting for food as if I wasn’t even there. The black monkeys, with their comical white-rimmed eyes and mouths, chatter happily in the treetops but never cause trouble in camp.
And then, the most magical of sightings — the flying lemur.
The first time we saw her was at dusk, gliding straight over our heads from one tree to another. But today was different. While having lunch, a flicker of movement caught my eye — she had just landed on a tree right next to us, in broad daylight! She sat calmly at eye level, and as we tried to quietly take photos, she began hopping up the trunk. Then, from her side, a tiny head peeked out — a baby!
We gasped. The little one blinked at us with wide, round eyes before clinging tightly to its mother as they climbed higher. To see such a shy creature up close — and in the heat of the day — felt like a rare blessing.
Camp has been quieter these last two days, with less work to do. Kate handed me a book she’d just finished — dragons, romance, and adventure. I haven’t been able to resist, and it hasn’t disappointed. I’ll need to finish before I leave; my bus is booked for 1 June, which means only a couple of days left in this paradise.
Beyond camp chores, I’ve had more calls with Jaco and 12 Monks in Goa. Jaco is preparing to leave South Africa and join me in Goa later this year! I couldn’t be happier — having one of my best friends here, a piece of home, a partner in crime… it feels almost too good to be true.
With two of us, he’ll step into the volunteer role while I focus on planning and hosting retreats and events. We’ll still share responsibilities, but I’ll have more freedom — and the powerful balance of a strong masculine presence to hold space during retreats.
Walking along the beach this afternoon, heart soaring and spirit light, I noticed again how the camps and resorts here are set right on the sand. Normally, high tide means powerful waves that would destroy anything too close, but here the sea is gentle, even at its highest. Today, the tide came so far in that the path from one side of the beach to the other disappeared under water, forcing us to take the jungle path to reach the jetty.
Still, it’s strange to think that a few more centimetres would have these tents floating. I suppose it never happens — they wouldn’t keep the tents here otherwise.
Sipping a fresh coconut milkshake, feeling the sun on my skin and the warm waves wrap around my legs, I walked back to camp for dinner with a deep sense of peace. For now, there’s nothing to worry about. Everything seems to be falling into place — more beautifully than I could have imagined.
