A Simple Life

Having been raised in a city, for most of my life I did not fully understand what it means to lead a simple life. But two and a half years ago, all that changed when I joined an adventurous group for a trip to a tiny island off Batam, Indonesia. Our group was made up of three families, consisting of five adults and four teens.

We travelled in a canoe, and on arrival, we waded through knee-deep water to get to the village. We had an unexpectedly warm welcome from a small community of 100 villagers. They helped us from the canoe to the shore. Once on the shore, I saw barefooted children playing happily, some with mud-covered feet and hands. The older women and men chatted cheerfully, pointing in our direction. They waved their hands as we passed by their bare and rundown huts, fringing the seashore. Although they lived with bare necessities, the villagers were helpful and cheerful.

We lived in a kelong, which is a small wooden house built on stilts in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. On most days, the kelong was quiet and peaceful. We stayed for a week to experience the simple lifestyle and it was terrific. Besides the panoramic view at the kelong, the rising and setting sun was breathtaking. The weather was cool and breezy. We were served simple but sumptuous meals of fresh vegetables and the catch of the day from the sea. Even the flies, which helped themselves to the food, were tolerable. The kelong's owner had a black-and-white television, which was so old that it did not work. Despite the almost bare room and basic facilities at the kelong, we had undisturbed sleep.

Although very different from our lives in Vancouver, the simple life at the kelong was fun too. On the fourth day of our stay, the men and the boys sailed out for deep-sea fishing at midnight. After two hours of fishing and waiting, we caught mini sharks, a stingray, catfish and crabs! What a handsome reward for our patience!

However, this trip was not solely a leisure trip. We worked side by side with the villagers - cooking food and distributing it, together with the toys, clothes and rice that we brought with us. I enjoyed blowing balloons for the children, and assisting the doctor in our group, who taught the children how to brush their teeth.

The trip was a wonderful opportunity to experience the simple lifestyle of the villagers in the small island. Simple daily activities, such as cooking, fishing, cleaning, and living with bare necessities can be enjoyable. Like the villagers, we learned to work together as a team. Although I went with apprehension, unused to leaving my comfort zone at home, I returned home, learning to appreciate the many good things we have taken for granted in a country of plenty.