whoa-oh!
we’re half way there!
Yup, 3 weeks down, 3 to go! I feel like I’ve been away for AGES but at the same time, not that long at all. A good chunk of my time here has been spent shitting through the eye of a needle and crying (we’ll get to that…) but I thought I’d swing by with a little round-up. Because as much as I’ve shared some deep and meaningfuls lately (turns out a LOT of alone time gives you that), I also wanted to share the highlights and lighter bits.
settling in (with Jo-shaped chaos)
Let’s start at the airport:
Visa Party: Thought I’d nailed it, nearly ended up with three. All sorted within 5 hours of landing. Tip: only use the official immigration site. Rookie error.
Airport Sprints: Picture me, sweaty and lumbering, running the wrong way to two different gates, before charging across Singapore airport like a Benny Hill sketch. Made it, with 10 mins and 1.5 litres of water to chug before boarding.
Smug Seat: Extra legroom! Until I realised it was next to the bassinets. Baby vs. 17-hour flight. Enough said.
Taxi Fails: My accommodation couldn’t collect me, so I blagged a cheaper ride at the airport. Rocked up 2 hours early, but killed time with a massage and pool nap. Rough life, eh?
the real day-to-day
This is where the rhythm set in. Nothing wildly glamorous, but exactly what I came here for: routine, nourishment, movement, and space.
Breakfast Buffet: Think fresh fruit, black rice porridge, rainbow toast, tofu, tempeh… all vegan, all lush.
Movement: A mix of cardio, yoga (yin is deceptively brutal), Reformer Pilates, and swimming. And yes, I remembered swimming can actually just be fun - no pressure to smash a 1000m slog.
Work: Both Hello Sunshine admin and the personal “stop being such a human doing” work. My therapist asked: “Have you tried just BEING yet?” Brutal. Necessary.
Rest: Books, naps, doodles, admin in between. I really am learning how to be, not just do.
belly’s gonna get ya 💩
On day 10, Bali Belly struck. Add in my period, and I thought the apocalypse was here. A week of dry bread, electrolytes, sleep, and crying through yin yoga followed. Everything got cancelled - classes, trips, plans. But weirdly, it forced me to slow right down and properly listen to my body. The universe and my therapist may have been in cahoots here…
sleep: the unexpected win
Back home, sleep is tangled with hangovers, guilt, and late-night wine witch whispers. Here, no booze on site + wine too pricey to bother = early nights with a book and just the geckos chirping. I wake up with the sun, genuinely ready to start the day. That alone feels like a reset.
move your body (wind your belly)
Sorry, got distracted… move your body - without beating it up!
When I booked Bali, I thought I’d bootcamp myself back into shape. Spoiler: nope. Week 2’s intestinal cleanse knocked that idea right out of me.
Instead, I’ve almost been forced into relearning to move kindly, sustainably:
Walks, even short ones, instead of waiting til I can go for a “proper” 5k.
Sunrise chats with beach dogs.
Yin yoga: sitting with discomfort instead of running from it.
Classes I’m rubbish at (hi, Zycle!) but enjoy anyway.
Yin or swim = daily non-negotiables.
Fighting the gremlins when my body doesn’t move like it used to.
I’m slowing learning it’s not about smashing burpees or chasing “old Jo” now. It’s about showing up, laughing through the awkward, and being less of a dick to myself.
food: nourishment, not punishment
Buffet-led mantra of the trip: “Just because it’s all you can eat, doesn’t mean you have to eat it all.” And it applies to more than breakfast - classes, travel, even my to-do list.
I’m slowly breaking up with my all-or-nothing defaults. Wins so far:
One mindful breakfast instead of multiple buffet trips.
Saving half my meal for later instead of inhaling it.
Choosing classes because I want to, not because I “should.”
Of course, then Bali Belly came and flipped the focus to what came out rather than what went in. But hey - lesson learned either way, you could say I’ve been CLEANSED!
creative sunshine
Not all of this trip is body-focused - a huge part is creative. Poolside sketching, scribbling blog drafts, doodling between swims, and even just reading for pleasure. Space to play has actually made admin easier too. Instead of dreading spreadsheets, I can smash through them after a morning of creative faffery.
Funny how that works.
extra-ordinary bits
Beyond the daily routine, some standout slices of magic:
Sunset strolls: Caught some of the best views on nights I least expected.
Grab bikes: 60p scooter rides through chaos. Genuinely calming, weirdly.
Kitty encounters: Met a family of kittens outside a temple. Bribed them with Happy Cow cheese triangles. Friends for life.
Guesthouse pups: Special shout to Blacksweet the puppy, now my daily cuddle buddy.
Rainforest camping: Slept in a jungle tent cabin with a (cold) jacuzzi overlooking the rainforest. Surreal.
Lost & found: Tried a “shortcut” that didn’t exist. Ended up doubling my hike, laughed with locals, and rewarded myself with a wagyu burger I actually digested.
Serendipity: Bumped into my future taxi driver (without knowing at the time), mid-hike and the next day, had the most enjoyable ride back to Canggu through the rice terraces. Universe at work.
the real talk
Look, Bali is dreamy - but it’s also mozzies, heat, endless sweat, dodgy tummies, flash floods, pollution, traffic, and the complicated cost of tourism. I know I’m part of that impact, but I’ve tried to be eco-conscious with where I stay, how I travel, and what I do. Worth bearing in mind if you’re planning a trip.
final thoughts
Three weeks in, here’s the real takeaway: I came here thinking I’d “fix” myself with structure, sweat and sacrifice. Instead, I’m learning that slowing down, eating with intention, moving with kindness, and simply being is where the magic happens.
As that quote buzzing round my head goes: “You can’t build a life you love if you hate yourself.” Turns out, the more I look after myself physically, the more I care for myself mentally - and vice versa. Baby steps to hating myself a little less.
So here I am: halfway there, living on a prayer… JK, couldn’t resist! Lighter in some ways (emotionally, not just poo-related), heavier in gratitude, and curious about what the next three weeks will bring. Hopefully more sunsets, more puppy cuddles… and less time on the loo.
thank you
If you made it this far, THANK YOU. Whether you read every word or just skimmed for the pretty pictures, you showed up for me, and I appreciate you.
Here’s to the next 3-ish weeks!
💛
