I breathe in—and breathe out. Hmm, I’ve missed this so much. The sun on my face, its warming rays radiating on my skin, the smell of delicious foreign spices, and the rumble of tuktuks and motorbikes driving around. I’ve arrived in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, from where I will depart for the Blue Indigo Retreat. The retreat is located northeast of the city, along the riverbanks of the great Mekong River.

At 13:45, I am picked up by a tuktuk driver arranged by the retreat—Mister Tom. As the first English-speaking Cambodian I’ve met so far, I’m very happy he’s giving me a ride. As we drive out of the city, he tells me all about life in Cambodia, and I’m already learning so much about their culture, traditions, and habits during this one drive in a tuktuk.

As we drive, the urban landscape gradually fades into the countryside, with towering buildings and highways giving way to traditional structures and bumpy roads. After about an hour, we reach the riverbank of the Mekong River, where we enter a pond to cross to the other side.

Finding its source in the Tibetan Plateau, the Mekong River stretches for an impressive length of almost 5,000 kilometers, flowing through six nations. With Cambodia being the fifth, I am intrigued by the long journey the waters in front of me have already traveled. I visualize how we are both on our way, on our own journeys—the water and I, each traveling our separate paths. And yet, here our routes intersect as I pass the Mekong by ferry while sitting in the tuktuk with Mister Tom.

As we reach the other side, we continue our drive northwards, upstream along the Mekong, its currents carrying us deeper into the heart of the countryside.

For another thirty minutes, we pass through many small villages, with their beautiful pagodas and lively markets. I feel the calming influence of the surroundings, noticing how this place aligns with my purpose for coming here. After joyfully gazing out from the tuktuk for a while, Mister Tom slows down and turns left. From the white sign at the roadside, I can tell we’ve arrived at the Blue Indigo Retreat. A narrow, unpaved road leads us toward the entrance.

As I walk through the porch of the retreat, I am welcomed by an oasis of serenity and tranquility. Draped in greenery and opening up to the great Mekong River, the retreat reveals itself with a magical presence that leaves me in awe. I feel how this environment physically opens up space for mental growth. My intuition was right; I’ve arrived at the perfect place to reflect, step back, and continue my inward journey. I’ve arrived in paradise.