#45 Magic Islands

There are places in this world that defy explanation. You feel whole there, for reasons you can’t quite name. They allow you to simply breathe, to exist, to be. For me, there are two such places. Two magic islands.

Fuerteventura: The Island That Transforms

Fuerteventura, part of the Canary Islands, sits closer to Morocco than Spain, though it belongs to the latter.

Like so many colonized islands, Fuerteventura clearly shows Western influence, but there’s something greater here — something bigger than modernity. It’s the energy of the island, raw and ancient, that sets it apart.

Fuerteventura holds a special place in my heart. Not because it changed my life, but because it transformed me. Each time I stepped onto its soil, I left as someone else.

My First Visit

I still remember my first visit in 2008. The island blew me away with its stark beauty: endless deserts, vast nothingness, relentless winds. It was uncomfortable, almost hostile, but that discomfort unveiled a strange and captivating beauty.

Fuerteventura is brutal, harsh, and utterly mesmerizing.

The island isn’t for everyone. People either fall madly in love with it or can’t wait to leave.

On the final day of that trip, I felt a sadness, unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It wasn’t the typical melancholy of leaving a holiday behind.

It was a deep, soul-level sorrow as if the island itself was whispering:

There’s another way to live.

I was changed forever. 

One Island, Many Deaths, and Rebirths

The island has a way of stripping you down, forcing you to confront what no longer serves you. With each visit, parts of my old self fell away, and I found it harder to appreciate my life in Austria. 

Between 2011 and 2017, on the sands of Fuerteventura, I made the most profound decisions of my life:

I said yes to a marriage proposal (to my now ex-husband).

I realized I needed to leave that marriage.

I decided to quit my job and sell everything I owned.

I found love again and started over.

There are no words to fully convey the meaning behind these decisions. The truth is, despite how painful and difficult each one was, every decision led to a deep sense of peace.

The island seemed to push me to my absolute limits, yet it also protected me.

It’s the only place where the impossible has always felt possible.

Deepest Reverence

Looking back, I feel an overwhelming reverence for Fuerteventura. It was my teacher, my protector, my punisher, and my safe haven.

My final visit in 2017 marked the beginning of a new chapter. I left Austria for good, knowing I’d never return to Fuerteventura in the same way.

Bali: The Island of a Thousand Faces

Bali is Indonesia’s only Hindu-majority province, a cultural gem in a predominantly Muslim nation. Though colonized by the Dutch, Bali has fiercely preserved its traditions. It remains an island where heritage and modernity coexist in an almost magical balance.

Bali, much like Fuerteventura, is not for everyone. 

It has a reputation of being a place that either embraces you or spits you out without hesitation. For some, the island has an irresistible, magnetic pull, while for others, it can feel like an unforgiving force, testing you in ways you never expected.

My First Visit

When I first arrived in Bali in 2018, I was exhausted. And the chaos of the airport, the heat, the noise—it all felt unbearable. After just 48 hours, I told my partner I wanted to leave.

Fuerteventura had always given me clarity, but Bali was different. It was confusing, overwhelming, and disorienting.

Despite my initial resistance, Bali surprised me. When I returned in 2019, what began as a two-month surf trip turned into a six-year journey. Bali is full of contrasts, which can create a sense of contradiction. It’s serene yet chaotic, nurturing yet unforgiving. One must give it time for the magic to unfold.

The Island of Gods

Bali is more than an island. It’s a living entity, a place of immense spiritual energy. And it feels like the gods themselves are watching you. And judging you. 

I’ve seen Bali’s wrath—the tragedies that befall those who disrespect it. Horrific bike accidents, blood leaking from the eyes due to dengue fever, unrelenting misfortunes. Bali doesn’t just test you; it decides whether you belong.

But for those who come with humility, who understand our little life must bow to nature, Bali is a magic place. 

Bali humbles you. Your worldly accomplishments mean nothing. What matters is your willingness to surrender to the island’s energy. 

Magic Islands

In a world overrun by modernity, places like Fuerteventura and Bali are rare. They’re reminders that life’s most profound experiences don’t come from what we achieve but from where we allow ourselves to be.

For me, these two magic islands are more than just destinations. They are mirrors, showing me who I was, who I am, and who I can become.

Go find your magic place.

It might just change your life.