Costa Rica

Loving life (and having my hair chewed by SOTW pup Mellow)

I'm back! OK, I've been back in the country a while - but hey, I'm back to Limbo! As you'll know if you read my last post, I recently went to Costa Rica for two weeks to do a photography and yoga course and... it. Was. Awesome. Every now and then I just get a hankering for an adventure, and this was certainly that.

When I arrived after my very long journey (13 hours, plane change in Madrid, yawn) the first thing I noticed was the smell. The country smelled.... lush. I don't know how else to describe it. It smelt luscious, green and basically how mother earth should smell. It was also very humid, which I welcomed wth open (/sweaty) arms after the cold drizzly weather at home.

I arrived at the school at about 6pm. I was greeted with a coconut to drink, had a quick tour of the school and was shown to my room. I felt so jet-lagged that I was dizzy and genuinely thought my room was swaying, so decided it was probably best to head to bed. Of course then there was the loudest, most intense thunder storm in the world, but I still managed to sleep for a good 12 hours. 

My days at the School of The World went like this: Wake up, shower, eat cereal/breakfast bar, go to photography class, wander around town, find lunch/iced coffee/fruit smoothie, go to photography field trip, take a shitload of photos of incredible things, come back to the room/hang out by the pool, go to yoga, get bitten by all the mozzies, shower again, go out for dinner, drink rum at Swell surf bar, get bitten by some more mozzies, sleep.

It was a routine I quickly adapted to. I also got one free weekend while there and am pleased to say I took full advantage. On Saturday I tagged along with some students to do a canopy zipline tour, so basically was zooming around the rainforest at a great height thinking 'I might die but this is AWESOME'. On Sunday a few of us woke up after 2.5 hours sleep (...that was a fun night!) to visit Manuel Antonio national park. We explored, made friends with naughty monkeys and racoons and swam in the sea - perfection.

Highlights: Listening to Carlos talk about art / The sunset at Playa Blanca / Stepping well and truly out of my comfort zone on the canopy zipline tour / Dinners at the Greenroom / Iced caramel macchiatos / Lunches at the Soda / Seeing parts of Costa Rica you wouldn't normally see on photography trips / Doing my first headstand in yoga (for 10 seconds) / Dancing after too many mojitos / Almost being robbed by a racoon / Thanksgiving with new friends.

I won't lie and say it was all perfect - felt a little like an outsider at the school during the first week. I'm a self-confessed introvert, so chatting to strangers (especially in the big groups we were often in) was difficult. And yeah, during the first couple of days I did wonder whether or not I made the right decision to do this - but as is almost always the case with things like that, it got better. I got to know people gradually in more one-to-one style interactions and by the second week I felt truly at home. 

I would definitely recommend going to School of the World - the staff, the accommodation, atmosphere - all of it was perfect. And the country is just stunning. I can only hope to return one day and see more :) Until then, I'll just look at these pictures...

mindful

Before I went away to Thailand a few years ago my sister gave me some sage advice for when I was out there:

"Every now and then just stop. Take a breath. Look at where you are. Take in the moment and enjoy it."

And I did. When I look back a few moments come to mind that are firmly locked in my memory. One of those moments wasn't even particularly special - we were in the back of a bus on our way to the Tiger Temple, and I stopped, looked around at the scenery and thought to myself 'holy shit, I'm in frickin Thailand!!' and I just felt a huge wave of happiness.

This Sunday I fly out to Costa Rica for a couple of weeks to do yoga, learn how to take better pictures and explore a new country. While I'm out there I'm going to make sure I do this, take in every moment and be mindful as often as possible.

I'm a big believer in the concept of mindfulness in general. Allow me to put on my 'work' hat for a minute... many studies have found mindfulness to be an effective tool for stress, anxiety and depression. 

I've downloaded several apps to try and get in the habit of mindfulness meditation, and while I have never managed to build a habit, I get the gist and use it when I'm feeling anxious or apprehensive.

And the thing is, I will feel apprehensive before I travel. I hate the process of travelling. I know I will be fine when I get to where I'm going, but flying alone, changing planes at Madrid and rocking up to an unfamiliar country where I know no one is a little scary to me. 

So I want to be mindful at this point too. Instead of getting lost in 'what if' thoughts about the future ('what if I get lost and miss my connecting flight?' 'what if no one arrives to pick me up at the airport?') I will take everything one step at a time and focus on the present. I will enjoy having time to read/listen to podcasts on the plane. I will focus on my feelings of excitement. I will breathe and I will be OK.

Then I'll get there, see the sunshine and be mindful again because, holy shit - I'm in frickin Costa Rica!!!!

I won't be blogging while I'm out there, but I will definitely post a picture-heavy blog when I get back... until then, here's to living in the moment :) 

adventures

I met someone recently who was re-training to be a 'wealth advisor'. I mentioned to him that I was planning to rent somewhere with my friend and that I was currently living with my parents. He told me I should stay put, save more money and then buy a house. Inside I sighed and thought 'oh please FUCK OFF', but I smiled politely and explained why I didn't want to do that. 

The closer you get to 30, the more and more people/society put expectations on you, especially when it comes to money. You should be investing in property. You should be earning X amount per year by now. You should be driving this kind of car..... etc.

I think I'm actually very fortunate in the way I was brought up. Money was never part of the conversation. I was never taught that I needed money to be happy or successful even. And I thank my parents for that. Money has never been a motivator for me. Sure it's nice, and life is a lot easier when you have some - but I value happiness over money every time. And that's why, when I do spend it, I spend it on experiences.

At the beginning of the year I said I wanted this year to be one of discovery - and to me, a big part of that means travel. So I was so thrilled when my friend invited me along with her, her fiance and nine of their friends on a weekend trip to Budapest.

We went last weekend, and I think it's safe to say it was the most I have laughed all year. The city is beautiful, the food is delicious (if not a lil' calorie-laden) and the bars are INSANE. There were six different nationalities in our group and it was fascinating to hear everyone's stories.

 It reminded me what a big, beautiful planet we have here, and you can't put a price on that.

So, to summarise - no, I won't be buying a house anytime soon. I will one day (when I can afford it) but until then, I'm going to get excited about my new rented flat, I'm going to spend my money on adventures and I'm going to have zero regrets.

How do you spend your money?

itchy feet

Top L-R: Amsterdam, Thailand, Spain / Bottom L-R: Switzerland, Berlin, Dubai

Travel is something I've been brought up with, thanks to a long line of BA employees in the family. Our family holidays took us around the world, from Barbados, America and Spain to Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Dubai (before anyone had ever heard of it).

After family holidays became a thing of the past I didn't think about travelling too much. It wasn't until I saw my parents' holiday snaps from Thailand and thought 'I need to go there' that I realised I wanted to see more of the world. So, I did just that. I booked myself a month-long trip to Thailand and had a fantastic experience.

Since then, being in full-time employment has meant travel has taken a back seat. But I've still managed to get around a bit. I've hung out in cafes in Amsterdam, hiked mountains in Switzerland and, most recently, went back and enjoyed the city life in Dubai. 

I kinda decided on my birthday that this year was going to be one of exploration, and to me that means more travelling. I've already booked flights to Budapest (totally crashing my friend's weekend away) and already have a couple of other things in the pipeline. 

What I thought would be fun however is to write up a list of things/places I want to 'do' travel wise. A travel bucket-list for me to look up when I'm planning adventures - not just this year but in the future too. 

So here goes....

A yoga retreat - somewhere sunny

I've been totally inspired by my friend who spent a month in Brazil getting her yoga teacher training and am desperate to go on a yoga holiday. I think a week-long retreat would be a good start and then perhaps I could work up to a month in Brazil...

A solo adventure - somewhere sunny

I want to do this because it would scare me a little and empower me a lot. I figure once I get the first solo experience under my belt there'll be no stopping me. To ease myself into it I want to find somewhere where I can just chill on a beach for a week and just 'be'.

A foodie holiday - Italy

Italians know their shizz when it comes to cooking, we all know that, and I want to fully appreciate that by eating all the food. Maybe I could take a cooking class too and whizz around town on a Vespa... 

A city break - Barcelona/Paris

I've been to both these cities when I was very young - but I want to go back and experience them as an adult. I've also just downloaded the 'Duolingo' app and am throwing myself back into learning Spanish, so Barcelona may be just the place to practise my skills.

A taste of paradise - Bali/Fiji/Hawaii

I want to go somewhere and live the life of a beach-loving-new-age-hippy for a while. I'll meditate every morning, take surfing lessons, do yoga on the sand and start making jewellery from driftwood.

An American dream - San Fran/New York

  I don't know why but I feel like San Francisco is a city I could live in one day. I like its vibe. I went there with my parents when I was younger for a couple of days and remember thinking - yeah I dig it here (probably after inhaling a huge portion of cheesy chips in a dank alleyway). So I would like to explore that idea. And I've never been to New York, and that makes me sad, so I need to rectify this. 

I could probably go on forever, but I wont - 600 words will suffice. I'll finish with a few uplifting quotes to give you itchy feet too.... 

a birthday in bath

For my birthday this year I was well and truly spoilt by my boyfriend and taken to Bath for the weekend. I've heard such great things about the city from friends and now I know why - it is such a gorgeous city and steeped in history. 

We stayed at the Royal Crescent hotel and received the most incredible service during our stay. Joe had told them it was my birthday and when we got to our room there was a cute box of handmade chocolates waiting for me with a written note wishing me a happy birthday! (it's the little things that make a difference). 

After unpacking we went to explore the city and took a look around the stunning Roman Baths (where we saw a couple of ducks enjoying the hot springs!) was so interesting to see all the relics they uncovered. Didn't get the chance to go inside the Abby, but we got to take in its beauty from the outside.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the hotel spa for a relaxing swim, steam and sauna - heaven. We managed to find a cute little bar in the evening and had a couple of cocktails before dinner. Joe had booked us a table at the most INCREDIBLE Italian restaurant called Sotto Sotto, amazing service, romantic setting and delicious food, I thoroughly recommend it to anyone going to Bath.

The next day we took another stroll in town and stocked up on some Ben's Cookies before heading home. It was such a lovely weekend, will have to go back in the summer to explore the botanical gardens. 

Have you been to Bath? Anywhere you would recommend going?

feet first

This is such a simple and beautiful idea.....

Feet First

"While sitting on Brighton beach (England) back in 2005 with my new girlfriend Verity I suddenly thought the view of our feet pointing out to sea would make a nice photo. Ever since then, we’ve continued to document our travels in this way, resulting in a collection of over 90 photos. In 2011 the series took a new twist with the arrival of a third set of feet – our daughter Matilda."

 

(PS I discovered this on Pinterest, yes I am officially a sheep. Baaaaa, it's addictive....)

From The Archives.... Thailand

Another batch of photographs from the archives! These ones were taken in 2010 when I spent a month in Thailand. Most people saw the snaps of me drinking from buckets and galavanting on elephant rides on Facebook, but these are the images I captured that have stayed in my heart...

.....Back in the country *sigh*

Wow, that week went far too quickly! Have been home for a day and already I feel as if I've never been away. Of course I have been far far away in Turkey and had myself a brilliant time with the boy and his family.

Highlights included:

Living in a villa next to a farm complete with goats, chickens and puppy's.

Eating lot's and lot's of delicous Turkish food (mainly MEAT).

Watching content toes wiggling at the end of sunloungers in time to the drum beat of a nearby festival.

Evening meals by the river.

Boat trips to the beach.

Seeing various sized turtles.

Making friends with stray (yet suprisingly content) cats and dogs.

Meeting the cutest kitten in the world (lil cross eyed tabby).

Watching the Turkish basketball team kick ass on the big screen, then listening as the streets erupted in celebration.

Listening to live music at the Jazz Bar.

Napping on the edge of the boat after a hard days fishing.

Bliss. We're already thinking about next year's getaway, our thoughts are currently leaning towards Me-hi-co! (that's Mexico pronounced in an overly excited Spanish accent btw). Check out my 365 project for more photo's :)

Out of the Office....

Just a quick post to say goodbye :)

I'm heading off on holiday tomorrow night/ early Monday morning so this will be my last post for a week or so. I'm flying far far away with my beautiful man and his family for some last minute sun, relaxation and good food. The aim is to return fat, tanned and content :)

I'm sure I'll have lots of pretty photo's and stories to tell when I get back, so keep your eye's peeled.

Have a brilliant week people xo

(Images via We Heart It)

Back to life, back to reality.....

Hi honey- I'm home :) The last month sped by and I can't believe it's over and I'm back in my red brick home tapping away on my dads trusty PC. Thailand was, in a word, Uhhh-may-zing. Had the time of my life and only wish I'd had more time to write about it here, unfortunately the Internet cost money and with no job to come home to.... I was a lil stingy.



No matter, I will tell all now. I say all- I mean most, I'll be here for months if I wanted to tell all, so instead I'll do what I do best- make a list. A list of highlights from each place during the month!




Bangkok:

• Meeting everyone then proceeding to the red light district of Bangkok on the first night.



• Having our welcome meal at Cabbages and condoms restaurant.....



(That's a condom Christmas tree in case you couldn't read the sign...)



• Hitting Kaoh San road and racing tuk tuk's to a ping pong show on the second night. Gotta get the full experience right?

Kanchanburi:

• Gorgeous setting by a river.







• Lovely pool, good for making whirl pools in :D



• Spending every night in Sugar Member bar, and celebrating the owners birthday with an amazing free buffet.







• Temple day, Getting my fortune told there...I'm gonna have a baby boy one day apparently :o.... Getting blessed by a monk and seeing crazy colours during meditation!





• Seeing the food market and learning to cook Pad Thai.



• Waterfalls.... (lots of waterfalls).



• Tiger Temple, getting to stroke about 50 various sized tigers!




• The views from the Death railway over the river Kwai.



• ....oh and of course the two cutest puppies ever Cookie and Tofu.

Sanclaburi:

• Rural and remote town with friendly locals who always gave us a smile and a wave :)

• JACK!!! The best dog in town, followed us everywhere (even to classes) and attempted to protect us from other strays- legend in dog form!

• Secret party in Eddies Tree House....shhhh!



• The legendary 7-11 with its apple slices and kit-kat bites!



• The lake with bamboo raft to sunbathe on, and the odd swimming cockroach if you were unlucky!

• P Guesthouse and it's ice lemon drinks and chicken sandwiches (yum).




• Teaching for two weeks! The kids singing happy birthday to me and giving me sweets on my bday.




• Toy restaurant and its cheap and delicious meals, the vegetarian bakery with yummy chocolate cake, nom nom nom.



• Birthday party on a boat releasing lanterns for good luck.









• Ice creams on the way home from school...every day.



• Grandma's laundry service!



• Elephant trekking and bamboo rafting (and the hilarious DVD that came with it!).






• Canooing across the lake, visiting the Mon side for a festival.




• Being invited to a local party with live music, food and jewellery hehe.

Koh Phangnan:

• Beach week! Fantastic resort, living in a beach hut for a week and waking up to this view:






• Spending precious time in the hammock.



• Partying on the beach at Hadd Rin every night.



• FULL MOON PARTY !!!
  
  

• The shopping....oh the shopping.....



• The sunsets!




• Getting a bamboo tattoo- cherry blossoms on the inside of my forearm.


• Buckets, buckets and more buckets.

So in summary- good times were had. Sad to be home, but happy to see everyone especially my family and Antony. He even arranged a surprise welcome home meal with all my closest friends! Was such a good night. Now I'm back it's time to get back to the real world and finding myself a job and figuring out when and how me and the boy can move our asses to Brighton.... Wish me luck :)