I had the opportunity to read the book by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray, Love before I left for my journey. I had an ex-girlfriend, who suggested that I read the book because she thought my trip reminded her of Gilbert's journey. I found Gilbert to be a very compelling author and I enjoyed reading the book that has become an anthem for women travelers. As I travel, it is one of the most common books that I see female travelers reading. During my kick off party in the Bahamas, there were five copies floating around amongst our twenty guests.
After reading it, I can understand the appeal it has to women. It is a book of self discovery and finding the balance in ones life through intentional travel. Since I didn't leave Michigan because I was unhappy with my life or because I was trying to find meaning in life, I can't say I was moved by the book as others have been. It was just a good book to me. In case you were wondering, my order of the book sections from favorite to least favorite are Bali, Italy, India. Also, I think only a female could write the section on Italy because it would sound very different if a guy was gorging himself on food and wine and then fantasizing about sleeping with a set of twins. It would sound very sleazy from a male perspective but somehow through the voice of a woman, it was very romantic.
While I was in Bali, I found myself in the small artistic haven of Ubud. It was a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Kuta. I was heading over to have lunch with my friend Vikki when she mentioned that two women from her hotel were going to see the medicine man that was written about in the book Eat, Pray, Love. The Balinese medicine man, Ketut Liyer, was still practicing his ways at the compound that Gilbert wrote about.
I was reluctant to go at first because it sounded quite hooky. It had been done before. It was Gilbert's thing and why should I tread on her ground. But then I thought of my readers and I was sure that a few of them would love to hear about the experience. So for one of the first times, I did something on this trip not just for myself but for my readers. I decided to join the three women on their journey to see Ketut Liyer.
We went to his compound by taxi. As soon as we mentioned the name to the taxi driver, he perked up and said he knew the place and took us over there. We approached the gate of a very unassuming house. There very a very simple sign with Ketut Liyer's name on it and there was no mention about Eat, Pray Love. It was great to see that fame hasn't changed him. He has however raised his price for a reading to $25 US, a substantial increase since he pre- "Eat, Pray, Love" days. Even a traditional Balinese medicine man understands capitalism!
We walked into the very simple compound. There were three sets of tourists waiting to have their palms read. The four of us patiently waited and discussed palm reading and astrology and what we thought about it. I was the last person to get his palm read so I got to watch the others get their readings. Surprisingly or maybe it wasn't surprising, each of their readings were remarkably similar. They will find true love soon, they will live to be a 110 and they will be successful and happy. As they compared their readings, I could get a sense of disappoint from Vikki's two friends that it seemed that they had a cookie cutter reading.
I went over and met with him and surprisingly my reading was very different. He took a little longer time with me and we talked about a number of topics. I won't go into all the details because I don't want to jinx it because who knows if readings are like wishes while blowing candles out. But I will give you two details because I know a few people who want the scoop. One- I will live to 110. Everybody will live to 110 according to Ketut Liyer. Two- He told me that I would find love soon as he looked at my marriage lines. But the again he also said that I shouldn't worry about it if it doesn't work out because I had a few more lines there for additional marriages. I am still laughing about that one. It was the nicest way of saying during a palm reading, "Hey buddy--you are getting married and then divorced!"
Though at first I thought stopping over to see him would be a little cheesy, I was glad that I went over and experienced Ketut Liyer. He was charming and humorous. His toothless smile warmed your heart. He was all the things you would think of from reading the book. I left the compound with the ladies armed with the new knowledge of my future. Watch out world because here I come.
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