Loved this journey through the seasons and so special that you’ve had the opportunity to experience them all 🥰
I struggle without a winter. Although they can be long and harsh, I feel most alive in the autumn and my body appreciates the freshness and rest that winter brings. Spring and summer is always exciting though, ocean swims and flower gardening are essentials haha 🌷
Thanks Georgia. I miss the seasons and cool crisp air more than I thought I would. I find myself craving days by the fire, and the comfort of doonas. But this is where we are now, so I’m trying to make the most of it and find the little changes where I can.
I totally appreciate your descriptions of the subtelties of seasons in the tropics. 3 years ago our family moved from London, UK to Nairobi, Kenya. So, in a way, the seasons are flipped to the opposite of what they were in the Northern hemisphere, but as the equator runs through Kenya, it's more about a wet and dry season... except that Nairobi is at altitude, so when there is no sun, it is also cold. Oddly, the other day I found myself feeling jealous of the instagram post of a balmy evening in Southern Europe...even though I'd been sitting in the sunshine & swimming in our pool that day. It's hot, but it's not "summer" somehow. The cycle is different.
Oh wow Sarah, that must be so interesting, seeing the seasons play out in such a different way and how the altitude plays into it also. There really is such an incredible range beyond just wet/dry and spring/summer/autumn/winter.
Are you enjoying Kenya? I’ve always wanted to go, I spent a lot of time in my mother’s womb there!
Ah I loved reading this, it was such a vivid and evocative description of where you are. I absolutely think you have to live at least one year somewhere to experience it fully, how the light changes (does it change for you or is the sun’s angle in the sky quite steady being so close to the equator?). I loved hearing about wet and dry seasons and could feel the relief from the first droplets of rain. I (weirdly?) love humidity (!) so think I could be quite suited to life on Lombok in the wet season! I too am learning here that it is so often not as clear cut as having four distinct seasons, that there are so many crossovers/differences/unpredictable spells that it is difficult to put the seasons into boxes and that really it is about embracing the fullness of it all xx
Haha that is weird you love humidity! Weirdly for me it does wonders to my hair! With most people it’s the opposite.
And yes, totally agree you need to spend at least a year in a place to really start to understand the shifts and changes.
And yes, the sun does change positions, it’s not as obvious as home, but we have noticed it enough in the way the light moves through the house and in the garden.
I’m trying to find the joy in embracing the fullness. Thanks for your inspiration x
Ha yes, people often think I am crazy! I think that's part of what it is though...the humidity does wonders for my skin which can get quite dry. Love that your hair loves humidity, it is absolutely usually the opposite!
Congratulations on the anniversary of moving to your beautiful new home! I'm finding the seasons here (or lack of seasons here!) so interesting. The winds that fuelled the kite festival on Mertasari Beach have dropped off now, and the humidity seems to be climbing by the day. Our shipment arrived this week, and just looking at the vacuum-packed bags of jeans and jumpers makes me feel hot! I wonder how long it will take for me to start longing for cooler days... I can't see it happening yet! Thank you for the celebration of these beautiful tropical lands.
I spent a few years living on the next island across - Sumbawa, and I absolutely loved being taken back there through your words! It's so different, and you really do learn to appreciate the seasons more - even the subtle shifts we experience in Aus! It's been raining so much here lately (SE Qld), I've been feeling a little nostalgic sitting listening to the heavy downpours, reminding me of my days in the jungle of Indo!
Loved this journey through the seasons and so special that you’ve had the opportunity to experience them all 🥰
I struggle without a winter. Although they can be long and harsh, I feel most alive in the autumn and my body appreciates the freshness and rest that winter brings. Spring and summer is always exciting though, ocean swims and flower gardening are essentials haha 🌷
Thanks Georgia. I miss the seasons and cool crisp air more than I thought I would. I find myself craving days by the fire, and the comfort of doonas. But this is where we are now, so I’m trying to make the most of it and find the little changes where I can.
I totally appreciate your descriptions of the subtelties of seasons in the tropics. 3 years ago our family moved from London, UK to Nairobi, Kenya. So, in a way, the seasons are flipped to the opposite of what they were in the Northern hemisphere, but as the equator runs through Kenya, it's more about a wet and dry season... except that Nairobi is at altitude, so when there is no sun, it is also cold. Oddly, the other day I found myself feeling jealous of the instagram post of a balmy evening in Southern Europe...even though I'd been sitting in the sunshine & swimming in our pool that day. It's hot, but it's not "summer" somehow. The cycle is different.
Oh wow Sarah, that must be so interesting, seeing the seasons play out in such a different way and how the altitude plays into it also. There really is such an incredible range beyond just wet/dry and spring/summer/autumn/winter.
Are you enjoying Kenya? I’ve always wanted to go, I spent a lot of time in my mother’s womb there!
So beautifully written Tansie x
Ah I loved reading this, it was such a vivid and evocative description of where you are. I absolutely think you have to live at least one year somewhere to experience it fully, how the light changes (does it change for you or is the sun’s angle in the sky quite steady being so close to the equator?). I loved hearing about wet and dry seasons and could feel the relief from the first droplets of rain. I (weirdly?) love humidity (!) so think I could be quite suited to life on Lombok in the wet season! I too am learning here that it is so often not as clear cut as having four distinct seasons, that there are so many crossovers/differences/unpredictable spells that it is difficult to put the seasons into boxes and that really it is about embracing the fullness of it all xx
Haha that is weird you love humidity! Weirdly for me it does wonders to my hair! With most people it’s the opposite.
And yes, totally agree you need to spend at least a year in a place to really start to understand the shifts and changes.
And yes, the sun does change positions, it’s not as obvious as home, but we have noticed it enough in the way the light moves through the house and in the garden.
I’m trying to find the joy in embracing the fullness. Thanks for your inspiration x
Ha yes, people often think I am crazy! I think that's part of what it is though...the humidity does wonders for my skin which can get quite dry. Love that your hair loves humidity, it is absolutely usually the opposite!
Yes to the fullness of it all, love to you xx
Congratulations on the anniversary of moving to your beautiful new home! I'm finding the seasons here (or lack of seasons here!) so interesting. The winds that fuelled the kite festival on Mertasari Beach have dropped off now, and the humidity seems to be climbing by the day. Our shipment arrived this week, and just looking at the vacuum-packed bags of jeans and jumpers makes me feel hot! I wonder how long it will take for me to start longing for cooler days... I can't see it happening yet! Thank you for the celebration of these beautiful tropical lands.
I spent a few years living on the next island across - Sumbawa, and I absolutely loved being taken back there through your words! It's so different, and you really do learn to appreciate the seasons more - even the subtle shifts we experience in Aus! It's been raining so much here lately (SE Qld), I've been feeling a little nostalgic sitting listening to the heavy downpours, reminding me of my days in the jungle of Indo!