Start of the dream is when I am saying "staying with you here in Maldives is the same as staying with him in Bali at the same price. As he is much better than you, I would go there. Then I see two paths to reach Bali from the point I am standing in. I am in downstream of a river, there is an island in the middle in the upstream, parting the river to go round about on the left and right. I have to choose which route to take and I choose to go to my right. Its a then that I start swimming and see that the river is muddy. The swim is not difficult, it is easy even though it is against current. But I keep wondering why water is muddy and why am I not feeling tired. I am not sure if the water is like this always or is it only today. It is cloudy and grey clouds, it is certainly not night. But unable to tell what time of the day it is. While swimming, I wonder if there are certain animals under this muddy water and feel a little scared, but I continue swimming. I donot know where the destination is, how long I should swim, no details like these. Soon, I see an animal on the water surface, I feel it is a crocodile and I quickly climb on to the shore to safety. Once I am on the shore, I see that it is not a crocodile, but an elephant. I have a sign of relief, but wonder how and why the elephant is there like that in this muddy water. The elephant then looks at me as though putting me on the shore by stopping me swim was it's job and starts to swim away from me, going upstream against the current. Now I am stuck, unaware where to go though I have an idea how to go back, but I can't swim. I need to take an alternate mode to get back home. While I am wondering, I see an alone woman walking next to the river. She covers her face with a scarf as soon as she sees me. She looked like an African woman, voluptuous. At first I think she is a prostitute. I show her the elephant underwater and we both chuckle as the sight, as even she hasn't seen am elephant under water like that ever. I now ask her for directions to go back home. She asks me where I stay and I am unable to remember the name of the hotel I am staying in. I am struggling to remember. Instead, I give her the name of the famous Krishna temple of Udupi and say that is the place I am staying in, but she is unable to locate where that is. She doesn't guide anything and goes away. I myself think how to proceed and try to get back using a boat which I realised can be an alternative option. Next scene, I am following someone who says they will take me to the boat. I see they are taking me down the ladders and I find it uncomfortable and feel like I am cheated and I start to climb up and walk back telling them I will find my way, thank you. On the way I see people judging me, young children seeing me and whispering because I will not have clothes on my body. It is broad daylight now. Like school children boarding the boat to get to school in school uniforms and people starting their day and work. I have the bare minimum bikini on. I finally on my own find a bus and sit amongst the crowd like that. Crowd is seeing me. When the bus reached a certain junction, I get down as the bus was taking a different route not towards my home. I take the curtains of window in the bus to cover myself as I need to walk in the street to reach home. But the walk back to my home was still long. As soon as I start walking, I realise that out of all the things I was carrying in my hand all this while, I discover a scarf which I could have used to cover myself long ago without undergoing all the stare, discomfort till now. Here ends the dream while I reveal in my left hand help high, the long grey scarf/shawl my friend had gifted me for Christmas in 2022.
Dreams can be rich with symbolism and personal meaning, often reflecting our inner thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Your dream appears to encompass themes of choice, self-discovery, vulnerability, and the search for direction or purpose. Here are some potential interpretations of the various elements in your dream: 1. **Choosing Between Paths**: The beginning of your dream, where you have to choose between two paths to Bali, may symbolize a decision you are facing in your waking life. The comparison of staying in Maldives versus Bali indicates a weighing of options based on perceived value and personal connections. Bali may symbolize a past experience or relationship, suggesting nostalgia or regret. 2. **Swimming in Muddy Water**: The muddy river may represent the murkiness or uncertainty of your current situation. While swimming upstream (against the current) suggests perseverance and resilience, the muddy water might symbolize confusion or emotional struggle. Your ability to swim easily despite the murkiness may indicate an inner strength and determination to navigate through challenges. 3. **Encountering the Elephant**: The elephant may symbolize wisdom or a hidden aspect of yourself. While it initially appears threatening (as a crocodile), it turns out to be a significant and gentle creature. Elephants are often associated with memory and emotional depth, reflecting perhaps a realization or insight you are gaining about your situation. 4. **The Woman by the River**: Your interaction with the African woman could represent the search for guidance or connection. Her covering her face could symbolize feelings of vulnerability or social judgment. The laughter you share around the elephant may signify a release of tension or finding humor in the absurdity of life’s unexpected situations. 5. **Struggling With Identity and Judgment**: The discomfort of being underdressed while being judged by children suggests feelings of vulnerability or insecurity in your self-image and how you perceive yourself in social situations. It may reflect a fear of judgment from others or anxiety about exposing your true self to the world. 6. **The Scarf**: The grey scarf that you end up holding represents a sense of comfort, protection, or identity that you may have overlooked during your journey. It symbolizes your ability to shield yourself from vulnerability, suggesting that you possess the tools you need to navigate your challenges, even if you didn’t realize it initially. 7. **Uncertainty of Destination**: Your struggle to remember the name of the hotel and your realization that you need alternative ways to get home implies a search for grounding and clarity in your life. It suggests that you may feel lost or uncertain about where you are headed and highlights the importance of finding your bearings. Overall, this dream seems to express a journey through self-exploration, decision-making, and the complexity of your emotions and identity. It encourages you to embrace your inner strength, seek clarity, and recognize the tools and support you have within yourself to navigate challenges. The elements of the dream reveal deeper layers of your psyche, perhaps calling for reflection on your current life choices and experiences.