Shifting Sands

"The word art implies putting everything in its right place. If you understand the meaning of that word, the real art is not painting pictures, but the art of putting your life in its proper place, which is to live harmoniously. When you have put everything in yourself in its right place, you are free. Putting everything in its right place is part of intelligence. You will say we are giving a new meaning to that word intelligence. One must. Intelligence implies reading between the lines, between the words, between two silences, between speech, listening with your mind all the time alert to listen. You hear not only with the ear, but also without the ear".
KRISHNAMURTI
Freedom from the Known


I always feel so impressed with the way some people are able to create beautiful homes and calm spaces for others to to come and be together. Relaxation with just a smattering of style.

Having travelled to and stayed in hundred's of beautiful lodges, camps and boutique hotels in both Africa and India, an appreciation of what makes a place stand out in one's memory starts to emerge.

Why does the essence of a place remain with you long after you have left?
Why, when asked 'what was so special' is it often difficult to articulate?
And how is it that one person may really 'get' a place whilst the next remains relatively untouched?


Tourism pioneers Fiona and Kevin Record stumbled upon Ibo Island by chance about 10 years ago..

"We will never forget that first arrival. Under dhow sail at night with phosphorous bouncing off the water we slipped silently into the ancient harbour of Ibo. The trade buildings reflected off the sea and in the moonlight Ibo appeared to us like a lost city."

In 2006 they opened Ibo Island Lodge.

History plays an important part in the feel of a place. The lodge is made up of three mansions, each over a century old, with walls a metre thick and high, lofty ceilings. It sits on the edge of a beautiful bay dotted with fishing boats. Bright green palm trees sway in the wind and frangipani trees creep and flow around the balcony pillars.


Ibo Island Lodge has a special energy.

My room was blue (of course) and called Nkwazi meaning 'moon'.

It was straightforward but elegant. It was the sort of room that you can't hide from yourself in as it just seems to reflect a truer picture of you than what the mind spins out. The pieces of furniture had been beautifully hand-made by the local community using indigenous teak and mahogany.


Being here was like trying on a pair of brand new shoes in a shop only to find that the leather is already creased in all the right places, moulding snugly around the heels and giving space for the toes to spread.

There were excursions organised, which were all great, but once the the mind has taken a back seat, there is no need to go anwhere. One just feels like making the most of the break in self-criticism. To stay still and enjoy the surroundings...

The swimming pool...


The flowers...


The shady balcony with its view of the sea and warm wind blowing...


The roof-terrace where dinner is served, sundowners enjoyed and dusk envelops the scene with such an energy of love that there is just no more mental fighting to be done.

Laughter echoes across the bay and for a moment, time (or mind) stands still...



As I sit at my desk in a rather scruffy (but improving) flat in Hertfordshire and dwell on this beautiful place that gave me such sweet, although temporary, relief, i'm struck by how my perspective has changed.

I used to experience a great need to travel to exotic destinations. The adventure and excitement allowed me to escape from the unsatisfactory nature of my real life, which, at the time I did not acknowledge. I remember all too well that deflated feeling on return as the realisation hit me that what was possible 'out there' did not marry with the reality of the way that I was choosing to live life. Conflict between the internal and the external weighed heavily on my shoulders.

And so here is a typical Sagittarian traveller, aged 41, born on a Thursday (Thursday's child has far to go.....) and working in an industry which relies on people's need to escape, feeling that the interesting jewel is not 'out there' but 'in here'.

The definition of adventure for me, like Krishnamurti's definition of intelligence, has shifted.



Sometimes the intensity of this journey causes me to spring into one of my characteristic grooves or escape routes but then, if it was easy, where's the adventure..........?