eyes wide open

capturing the journey... people, places, plans, and the voices in my head...

[roopigott]

Finding bliss in the change of the weather and the movement of the day here in #kampot. The floods stripped the roads and flooded land and I have truly never witnessed such destructive winds first hand - but the fish loved the chance to swim up the main road, and the bullfrogs sang a week long chorus. - - - And now, the sun returns over the mountain and lifts even the most desolate scenes. - - The frogs stopped and watched as I pulled up on my motorbike, killed the engine, and stood in the silence of the morning. - - Loving these days. - #sofreakingfortunate #kampot #sunrise #wanderlust #wasprettyscaredforawhilethere #freshstart (at Kampot Town) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn8BGP3A00J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gg21ayhjzgtx

[roopigott]

It’s all relative. - One day the safety of the harbour will feel threatening. The bubble of safety will be disturbed by the smallest of feelings. - So instead, jump with me into the water, and swim. Sure there are sharks, but the sharks are beautiful and soon you will love them. - It’s all relative my dear. - - #itsallrelative #graffiti #kampotgraffiti #cambodia #travel #risk #sharks #safety #wanderlust #balancebyroo (at Kampot, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn7xk-vAxUz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14addmlhwsv7y

[roopigott]

A room with a view. #roomwithaview I had a few days #wandering this amazing #abandoned hotel in #Croatia during the Radiant Retreat’s retreat with Han. It’s on the beautiful island of #Hvar and was used as a holiday retreat for children and families of the government. It’s been empty for years, since the war. It was an awesome #exploration, as much of the original content is still around. Food, children’s books, clothes, reception files and documents. It was a fast education for me of a #war that burned on through the 90’s, but one far enough from my old safe self back then that allowed me to ignore it - especially as laying in the dirt in reception are postcards of the hotel in its former glory. Laughing kids and smiling faces. Come on people, give each other some #love. 😍 let’s spread some #peace you little buggers. Xx (at Jelsa, Croatia)

[roopigott]

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“Idiot walks down empty beach in Australia” I spent an incredible month in #australia with with some #incredible people in March this year. Well mostly one amazing person. But I took almost two weeks off alone in a #campervan. I got #lost deliberately every day. I saw things that changed my world view. I was mostly #alone. Never seeing another human for days. Every morning I would swim in waves like I’d never experienced before. Huge huge huuuuuuge. and nearly drown. Always setting up my go pro on the beach so that I could catch the chaos or so that someone knew I went out of this life laughing my head off. One day I surfaced surrounded by dolphins. I was only missing a #unicorn for full bliss. However, this evening, on Durras north beach, I was so alone and I was loving the sunset. I was a bit mental having not communicated to anyone for a while and had taken to talking to the wildlife. The connection to life, the planet and the universe was so clear and tangible. It was so simple. Blissful. I will never forget this wander. This day and the whole thing. One of the best things I have ever done. I only wish you’d be there too. #wanderlust #sadlysolivagant #imissyou #thegentleartoftramping #dolphins #fuckthehashtagpolice ;) 😂😂 (at Durras North)

[roopigott]

#washitallaway #change is so fucking hard. #today, the first morning of real #movement towards the person I really want to be, was #plagued by my own #stupidity & actions & my #addiction to my #routines & #reactions , much of it driven by a need #tobeloved #tobeheld. To be held not just #physically but #spiritually and #mentally. It physically aches as I type it. I’ve created my own reality and I got me to this point so I have no one else to blame without resorting to blaming my #death & my #paralysis & my mental state... even there I slip them in to reduce my own responsibility for this situation. 2nd time this week. It’s addictive. And it’s a well worn #groove that I can go to. We all have these grooves, these #paths #recurring #reactions habits that take us to patterns of behaviour that fool us into thinking they are normal or even #acceptable (There’s a whole other conversation here about what is normal and acceptable and of course blame) but what I mean is that we #convince ourselves that it’s ok. It’s ok to pull the eye mask over our eyes in the mirror and hide from our own reality and from our own #truth But here i stand now - waist deep in the cleansing waters. With a chance for change. Aware of myself. I’ve had so long to study this thing called #roo. 46 years. The last few years have heightened this focus. Losing the wonderfully #magic @one_twisted_eye to my own #idiocy and #paranoia Losing the #awakened and truly awesome @_anyanica_ who’s name I struggle to type without my heart breaking.., losing her to my own fear of losing her. (My god I loved dancing with that girl) Losses all caused by my own fear, somehow #selffulfilling my own destiny to lose them. Ah man this is hard to write. Knowing ourselves in such detail today can make yesterday’s actions seem foolish. But right now I can only travel one way through time and space, so as much as I long to fix what I broke, I cannot. I can only create something new. And therein is my lesson. Look forwards. Be the best you can be. Be grateful. Be #humble They loved you. You’ll be loved again. Love yourself today and build from there. #washitaway

[roopigott]

Taking time out from playing like a kid in the sea to practice my mbira. Surrounded by favourite things. Not bad for a man who owns nothing and lives nowhere. Worked almost every hour of the last 10 days in Singapore, so it's time to play... - - #wanderer #balance #explorethisworld #mbira #SUP #getlost #sofreakingfortunate #balancebyroo #greece #athens #wherenext #liveyourlife (at Gulf of Corinth)

[roopigott]

#wehaveliftoff #takeoff #yetanotherflight #wherenext #wanderer #explorethisworld #missyoualready (at Changi Airport)

[roopigott]

Tough day on planet earth... - - - #toughdayonplanetearth #explorethisworld #wanderlust #wandering #solivagant #eyeswideopen #balancebyroo #lovenotfear #radiantretreats #peggytheunicorn #unicorn #greece #eviaisland (at Edipsos, Evia Island, Greece)

[roopigott]

What? Just pull over here? Like here, now? Can I? Can life be this free? I can stop here? In any moment, and make it mine? ... ... In any moment. You can. Stop now. Recognise the beauty in this moment. Whether you're looking at mountains or looking at the blank faces on the tube on the way to work. Just stop, go inside, see the beauty of this moment and recognise that you need nothing more for this instant. Let the peace of the moment in the space between the breath consume you. Be your own slow mo for just a second, feel the world slow around you to a pause, be wholly in this moment, be free. Love. Then laugh. Laugh. Laugh. ... ... 😂 😂 🤣 🤣 #pause #meditate #stop #eyeswideopen #balancebyroo #explorethisworld #anewday #anewway #perfect #lovenotfear #wanderer #wanderlust #solivagant #thegentleartoftramping (at Ellinokhóri, Korinthia, Greece)

[roopigott]

"English man spotted running health and yoga retreat at luxury villa in Greece, looking way too relaxed. Surely he needs to grow up and act his age soon... and wear some proper clothes." - 🤣 - 🤣 - 😜 - 😜 - Have you grown up yet? Too soon? Do you have the balance in your life to enable you to just play for a while day? Even an hour? How do YOU find your balance. X - - #explorethisworld #greece #eviaisland #yogapants #coconut #growup #wanderlust #wandering #ageisjustanumber #balancebyroo #nevergiveup #dontactyourage #yoga #veganpower #balance #shavedhead (at Edipsos, Evia Island, Greece)

[roopigott]

I travelled this beautiful road earlier today in Greece, and at the end found the ruins of a 12th century monastery. An accidental turning. A miscalculated map. Whatever the reason, the journey and destination were perfect for the day. Where did you wander today? Were you meant to find that place today? 😍 - - - #explorethisworld #wandering #thegentleartoftramping #lovenotfear #eyeswideopen #balancebyroo (at Ellinokhóri, Korinthia, Greece)

[roopigott]

Pick up your board and run into the rain. Run into the heart of the storm. Feel your heart beating again. Feel yourself come alive again. Laugh loud, dance across the sand, and jump into the heart of experience. #eyeswideopen #wanderlust #lovenotfear #lightening #sofreakingfortunate #sup (at Roviaí, Evvoia, Greece)

[roopigott]

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Most times, it will come to you if you wait. Don't stress. Sit. Wait. Watch. What a beautiful universe. #wandering #lightening #wanderlust #balancebyroo #thegentleartoftramping #waitawhile #explorethisworld (at Rovies Beach)

[roopigott]

Making art of night lights across the sea. #croatia #kastelstari #midnightmischief #eyeswideopen #wandering #sorryaboutthehashtagsfacebookfriends (at Trogir Beach)

[roopigott]

Who knows what will be around the next corner... over the next hill... get off the beaten path my friends. Come wander with me. Croatia, I never once imagined you would be so beautiful. #thegentleartoftramping #wandering #wanderlust #eyeswideopen #solivagant #croatia #getlost

[roopigott]

Dirty pirate boy steals boat at Plitvice Lakes #croatia #plitvicelakes #pirate #dirtyboy #eyeswideopen #wandering (at Plitvice Lakes National Park)

[roopigott]

Exploring the forest and reservoir while getting my fix of #freeletics to balance my day #clapclap #wanderlust #crossfit #eyeswideopen #sofreakingfortunate (at Bassin de Champagney)