Bali has inspired me to change my life and growing an important milestone from the corporate world to fulfilling my dreams and start doing what I am passionate about – photography and freelance marketing.

Things were different 5 years ago when I recalled driving every weekend for around 700 km to either see my family in Czech or an ex-boyfriend in Frankfurt. While sitting in the car, I was thinking but wishing that there must be something more than just work and driving long hours to see my loved ones. At that time, it didn’t come across to me yet.

I was listening to an audiobook called “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert and while listening; I wished I would have the same courage as she had. It’s not that I would not be happy at that moment of my life but I was certainly not in balance with my mind and body and I wanted to change but I was scared to do it.

At one point, I made enough and performed some slight changes. I found a job in Frankfurt and moved with my ex-boyfriend. I accepted a dream job in the fashion industry and grew with the best team there. Just after 6 months, things did not go well in the relationship and I realised and understood that I wanted a different kind of lifestyle and I don’t want to live with someone who works around 18 hours a day including weekends. So I packed my bags and left to start a new chapter. During the new chapter, I met another guy, Guillermo, from Spain who showed me a completely different way of life. It was an extreme change from living with a workaholic to being with a social person who has all his time for me. But where is the balance? At that point in my life, it was not there for sure.

After having known Guillermo for some time, I moved in with him to Barcelona and spent some beautiful months trying to improve my Spanish to be able to scout for jobs easier and getting back to corporate life promptly. However, there was something deep inside of me that sensed it was not something I wanted and I felt that I still wanted to explore more of what the world had to offer. I knew I had to change and do something since the past 6 years, I was only in relationships and trying to follow what society wanted me to do. I did not pursue what I truly wanted, instead, I followed society’s norm by finding a 9-5 job, moving in with my significant other, building a family, having kids, and trying to lead a happy life. I did not want this. I realised I still need more in my life than just following the structure that is forged by society.

After breaking up with Gullermo, I had this spontaneous idea of going on a solo adventure to the Island of Gods, Bali. At first, people were doubting about my decision “Are you crazy? Going alone to Bali?”. I was scared of course especially after 6 years of continuous relationships and always relying on someone having my back, it was a big leap to the unknown. I have never done anything like this before and I did not know anyone in Bali. But at the same time, I knew I wanted to do it and ride on this rollercoaster experience by myself.

Finally, I did it. I took the first plane from Prague to Doha and that’s when I met an angel, Nicol, that sooner or later was going to be my Bali soulmate. The impression of her when I saw her the first time and now was different. At one point on the plane to Doha, she got very angry with the flight attendant who gave her a new cup with every drink she asked. At that time, I wasn’t as eco-conscious as I am right now. I didn’t understand why she cared so much about plastic cups. But our friendship grew when we went to Bali and she showed me around many cool places in Bali from day one.

And the rest of the story you find in a Cocobelibook as well as free sample of the book that you can download here on the website :-)