Into the mountains we go....

It's been a while since my last blog and again so much has happened.  You know...when you take life by the horns, there has to at some point be a bull on the other end.

A whirlwind of a year, back in Johannesburg, South Africa and also living in our own home.  Private, secure and so comfortable.  After 5 years of couches, boat beds, hostel beds, spare beds, and a beach, we welcome the small comforts that you take for granted every single day.

One of my personal life changing experiences this year, was our magical honeymoon to the Northern Drakensberg.  AMAZING!  Big thanks to our special ones for making it possible by contributing to our honeymoon fund.

We eventually break the honeymoon fund bottle and count the cash, R4 500!!  If you know us at all, you will know that we live a very simple lifestyle and because of our lifestyle choice we never splurge cash.  This time we could, because that's exactly what the money was for.

Surrounded by the most beautiful and happy souls, we were gifted, the use of two comfy camping chairs, a bottle of red wine and the use of a good, a beautiful hammock and a reliable car with a full tank of petrol.  Two days into our honeymoon, we were also reimbursed for our camping fees by the owner of the backpackers. With complimentary drinks at a beautiful hotel.  Amazing how beautiful life is when you live each day without expectations.

Anyhow, camping accommodation booked.  Shopping done, backpacks packed, honeymoon vehicle packed.  We departed at 2am on Thursday morning (27 October) and took our usual alternative route.  What a feeling, the best feeling in the world..saying bye bye to Jozi.

The new moon was bright and larger than usual.  That's when I realized that the mountains were calling our names.  Excitement building and much chatting with Baz whilst Joshua snoozed all the way.  Good music playing..our wedding play list.  And there the sun starts to peep across the Platberg just outside Harrismith.

Fresh air, beauty all around us, the start of the Berg ahead, the sun shining but raining at the same time.  We knew we were in the right place at the right time and for such a special reason.  We stopped on route through the pass to take a look at the levels of the dams, a sure sign that rain has been scarce. We arrived at the Amphitheatre Backpackers just after 7am.  With people there so welcoming and happy to see us again.  (we have been going there together for 10 years but Barry's history is much longer).

Day one:
Divine breakfast all around, camp set up and man does the heat set in.  The only motivation, to hang around the pool and sip on ice cold somethings, anything.... Sun set took us back to our tent, sun downers and a massive fire.  What?  The biggest, hottest and most beautiful fire I have ever been that close to.  Followed by a thunder storm like I have never seen.  Bolts of lightening leaping across the top of the berg, from the Sentinel to Cathedral Peak, like a giant sitting throwing lightening from his fingertips.  Scary but so breathtaking.

Day two:
Up early bells, breakfast overlooking that beautiful mountain and then some fishing at a local dam.  Joshua hasn't been fishing in ages, so it was a tad frustrating for him but soon got the hang of it.  The heat soon became unbearable so off we went to Little Switzerland for drinks.  A special place for Baz, so we spent time there enjoying the view, the people, hanging out with old friends.  Life is grand!

Off to the Tower of Pizza for late afternoon lunch and to escape the constant heat.  The Tower of Pizza has the nicest trees that offer relief from the heat and the warm winds.  Full tummy's and back to the backpackers to freshen up and do absolutely nothing.  Early to bed because day three was a big day for us.

Day three:
Up at 5am, quick breakfast and we are off to climb the Amphitheatre, to summit the Sentinel.  Joshua possibly being the youngest to ever climb (to be confirmed) this specific trail.  We drive up the road from the park gate, the view are something else.  Goats being herded by a local on horseback, water seeping from the mountain rocks, the paper flowers are in full bloom and the skies are clear.  We chose the right day for this adventure.

Fees paid and register signed, the long walk begins on a thin concrete pathway.  The minute we set foot on the pathway the wind picked up and the temperature dropped.  Right away, I knew that we were stepping into a special place and we were at the mercy of this mountain and all that surrounds her.

The hike to the gully was long and in some places quite a challenge as we ascended.  The spectacular views eased the intensity of the vastness around us.  Loose stones and rocks all the way, which meant that we had to be alert at every step.  Falling down there was not an option.  The air became so thin and the wind blowing so hard, it blew right through us.  Cutting like a sharp knife.  Right there, I realized just how blessed I am.  To be in such a beautiful place with my husband and my son.

The gully was insane.  A steep 300m climb to the top.  Its okay if the rocks don't move, but they do and its scary.  Joshua climbed it with ease.  Baz kept motivating me from behind and in total took an hour to climb.

The minute I saw life from the top, I then realised that everything else is so small and insignificant.  That there is so much more in this world that we never ever get to experience.  Then I realised how blessed I am to be married to this man who has changed my life in more ways than most could imagine for almost a decade!

A walk along the top of the mountain to the top of the Tugela Falls, a few pools of water but no flow.  Scary to see just how scarce water is now.  A picnic on the top of the world. Biscuits, tea and fruit.  Just enough to get us moving, making our way to the chain ladders.

All the way, Baz has not said very much about the chain ladders.  I also chose to ignore them, hoping that they would go away. It turns out that I am actually poop scared of heights.   A fine time to find that out.  The weather is moving towards us, the cloud is low and the rain drops are sporadic but large enough to get your attention.  We stop in to take a look at the 'hut' which is just a stone structure, no windows, no toilet, just a safe spot to wait out a storm, which is a good idea.

At the hut we find two backpackers, who set out the day before to camp on the top of the mountain.  Well the beautiful storm I watched from below the night before was the same storm that broke their tents.  Barry's story of the couple that died on that mountain at that very hut motivated me to get moving.  Walking directly into the rain drops, the sun shining but the clouds coming, we finally get to the top of the 'chain ladders'.  Oh my life!  Whaaaaaat?

I wait patiently for my turn, trying to find a calming space in my mind and my body.  Barry and Joshua disappear down the first chain ladder, my heart beating super fast by now.  Adrenaline is pumping through my body.  So thankful to see Baz's head pop over the top.  I knew I was going to be okay, but I didn't realize how a climb down two chain ladders (35m high) would change my life.

Baz-man being the most amazing Guide I know, he took me down the chain ladders, slowly and always right behind me.  Left hand, right hand, left foot, right foot..and so I climbed down the infamous chain ladders.  The first set was supposed to be hardest of the two, according to Baz.  But the second chain ladder was double the length and less stable than the first one!  I could hardly breathe, the wind was howling and the temperature dropped.  All the way, Joshua is up the ladder next to me shouting...'you are doing great mom, keep on going'.  And I did it.  I really had no choice at the end of it all.

Another 4 hours from that point, the wind was insane, the trails were all of a sudden harder.  Legs and feet tired and mentally exhausted.  When the rain hit on the 8th hour and the big wind lifted Joshua off his feet, we both realised just how powerful Mother Nature is.  It was time to leave this mountain and make our way back to the car.  Shoes off, and the entire experience floods right through my body and the tears just flowed, uncontrollably until we left the main gate.  The energy I felt for nine hours is something I can not explain to you.  But inside of me, I felt my world shake and my life change.

Back at the backpackers, all we wanted to do was shower, eat, drink and go to sleep.  But as we walk through reception, one by one, wide eyed backpackers are telling us about the 'big wind'.  Sure as heck, it was the very same big wind that lifted us and moved us on that mountain.  Not showing any concern for the tents that have apparently blown away, we settle into a delicious dinner and an ice cold drink.  Yes life is grand!  We make our way to the campsite, giggling all the way, because low and behold, our tent was the only one standing!  Well done Barry Sanders, using all the tent pegs and guy ropes provided ensured that we arrived back to our spot, unharmed.

Day Four:
Off to Little Switzerland for a hike to Begonia Falls, a delicious lunch and a pony ride for Joshua.  The hike to Begonia Falls was so easy compared to our little expedition to 10 000 ft. A hike along part of the river and a picnic on the top of the falls.  So beautiful and not a soul around, except for the Green Water Snake, the baboons playing around in the area, the river crabs and all the other creatures around us.  A dip in the ice cold pool soon got us moving towards the hotel for lunch.

Back at the backpackers, Joshua was out and about, hanging out with his new buddy, Oliver.  Baz and I chilled in the hammock, sipping on those ice cold beers, with a view that people pay big money for.  Then I realised just how blessed I truly am.  Married to the most beautiful soul I know, in this special place, together.

Day Five:
Back to Little Switzerland to go horse riding.  Not me thank you, I learnt my lesson 9 years ago, horse riding with Baz.  Joshua and Baz, off on the trail they go.  An hour goes by and Joshua and Baz are back.  Joshua looking a little frazzled and Baz hot on his heels, heading for the loo.  Joshua shouting..'that horse ride jiggled my insides, I've got to go!'.

Goodbyes to the special people at the hotel and its time to head back to the backpackers.

We spent the afternoon with some cool people, pool vibes, ice cold beers and dinner, found us fast asleep.

Day Six:
Up early and packed up by 07h00.  This time we traveled back to Jozi via Golden Gate, Clarens and Bethlehem.  Surrounded by so much beauty, all the way.  Life is grand!  We arrived back home at 2pm.  Its always good to be home, but I sure do long for that mountain, that place, that life and that energy.

I now know that I am blessed, my life is good, I am happy and my husband is one special guy ;-).

Home Sweet Home!

So much good stuff has happened in our lives since leaving Uganda and coming back to South Africa. After two years of life on the road, sleeping in strange place, uncomfortable beds, eating weird and wonderful foods and drinking all makes of local beers, we are now home.

Home is where the heart is, so they say. Then I must have quite a number of homes across the world, because my heart lies in many places. Non the less, I am super happy to be back home, in South Africa, close to my children, my Mamma and my soul mates. Familiar shops, places, brands and weather patterns all contribute to my being comfortable and I like it.

We have been so busy since landing in Jozi on the 1^st December. Both Baz and I started working temporary contracts on the 2^nd December. We gave the middle finger to jet lag and hit the ground running. Baz worked for a sound proofing company and I worked as a domestic worker. Yep, a domestic worker, and I did it with style. What a domestic usually takes a full day to do, I was getting it all done in half the time. What a blast! Nothing like a good workout from doing someone else's housework.

Christmas time and Christine's birthday was just around the corner and we were done with living so far out of town, so I placed a house sitting advert on Facebook and BAM! Three house sitting jobs. Extra income earned and we lived in three really beautiful and comfortable homes in close proximity to our place of work.

Christmas was fantastic! We spent quality time with those closest too us (those living in Jozi), we ate, drank, ate, drank and ate some more. Joshua has a blast with his sisters and his Ouma. Come to think of it, Joshua spent most of December away from home. Always sleeping over somewhere.

We celebrated Christine's 23^rd birthday on the 27^th December. It was soon awesome being home and with my girl on her special day. Not my baby girl any more. All grown up now.

Our new year started with a bang. Baz was offered a fantastic job with really good benefits (which none of his previous employers considered). A company vehicle, cellphone, laptop, cellphone allowance, petrol allowance and and and. Baz is a happy camper, loving his new job and working hard.

My domestic work has ended and I now work on 3 different projects. All work from home positions which suites me down to a T. I absolutely love online work and social networking. Working from home allows me to look after my families needs which is so rewarding.

We celebrated Kaelah's 12^th birthday with her. We have missed her last two birthdays, which were really tough for me. I can now quite honestly say that I am a happy hippie Mamma.

Joshua has started school, just a block away from home. He is absolutely loving it. He has made new friends and his teachers are really amazing people. They love their work and it beams from them every single day.

Other than the current political challenges that South Africa is facing, it really is good to be back. Saying that though, I do miss our Caribbean adventures and all the good friends we have made along the way. Thank the universe for social networking, it has allowed us to stay in touch with our friends from across the world.

Other than that, we are all good, healthy and happy!  Home Sweet Home

Love and light always.

Blu

Email: bazandblu@gmail.com

Facebook: Blu Costello

Blogger: Backpacks and Adventures

Its the small things I miss and love the most!

Since leaving Colombia and life on water (for now), we have been adventuring between Jozi and Pretoria via the public transport system.  It’s been a hoot.  The transport system here is so much better than the countries we visited, besides the islands.  The Gautrain is so convenient and the bus services are great! This cuts out most of the taxi’s and buses we would have to take.  Our most reliable mode of transport are our own legs and feet and taking to the streets on foot is thrilling!

The weather has been fab!  Hot sunny days with temperatures hitting 33 degrees.  Some days are rainy and wet and it’s those days I am loving the most.  I craved rain for 11 months and now it rains most evenings bringing relief and washing away the dirt and hurt from the day.  Saying that, I miss the hot and humid days while in the Caribbean and South America.  Those days where I sweated profusely from parts I didn’t know I had, which I now know I have and I know how to handle with ease!

I miss those lazy Caribbean days on the beach.  Those days where it was so hot all I could do was hang out in a hammock and drink island rum with ice.  Talk to the locals and sway slowly to the island music, slowly as a result of the rum!

I miss the friends I made along the way! Those all day and all night socials on the beach then in the water, then on land then on the boat.  Those late night and sometimes all night scrabble tournaments!

I miss those sun rises and sunsets that always took my breath away, those night skies and full moon extravaganzas.  Those skies that umbrella’d the excitement, laughter, love and the music of the people!  Where the people smile and talk to each other in the local shops, where people don’t need a reason to celebrate.  Because every day is a celebration.

I miss the crazy kayaking to and from our boats.  Shhhhhh don’t tell Barry I said that because it will be an ‘I told you so’ moment… lol.  No matter how crap the day was for whatever reason, a kayak journey always made my soul smile. 

I miss snorkeling whenever the urge grabbed me.  I miss the sea life which never ceased to excite me.  I miss the scares by my own dreadlocks underwater while snorkeling!  I miss the sand between my toes and the sound of the water below and around me.

Of all the things I miss, I miss seeing the thrill on Joshua’s face all day every day!

My perspective on my life has changed and I love myself totally!  I love the way I look and feel, my soul, my heart, my mind and my body is healthy.  I have returned a little more loopy but I have a very good reason… it was the rude amounts of rum and ‘me time’ on desolate islands in the middle of absolutely no where!

I love and adore those little things that we miss the most when they are no longer there. I indulge in a hot bubble bath with a glass of red wine every day. I love that I now enjoy and ensure I have a healthy balance of ‘me time’.  I read a book a week, if however, it is 50 Shades then I read two in one week. I spend time working on my dreadlocks, I love lying on the soft green grass, I absolutely love being in the same time zone as my daughters.  I appreciate the clean crispy bedding when I climb into my soft and comfy bed in my large bedroom which has big glass windows and skylights.  I love all this space, my space!

I love that I can flush a toilet with one finger movement.  That I can walk to a shop and buy exactly what I need.  That I can pack my clothes into a cupboard and that I can wash laundry in a washing machine.  That washing day isn’t an event but now a simple and easy chore.  I love that I can listen to music and its music that I love!

Soon our adventures move up Africa and I am eager to pack my backpack and mission.  For now, I am loving my home base luxuries and my friends and family who surround me with their love and energy!  Pretoria is a fantastic city.  I am happy here J

Everyday is a celebration to me!

Blu

Fears, Tears and Kayaking!

Please let me clarify before continuing any further.  When we departed South Africa, destination - the Caribbean, I was totally afraid of water, big expanses of water, like the sea for example.  I never went close to water, never offered to climb into water for any reason, not even to take a look at my reflection.

I was totally aware of my fear of water when departing so by the time we arrived I was overly aware of the fact that we had just crossed over large expanses of water, via aeroplane and ferry.  Both being pretty okay.  The ferry ride was my first experience climbing onto a large vessel and setting off into the wide blue yonder.  I felt a little better as it was a pretty large vessel in my books.  The weather was perfect so the 3 hour journey was great.

We were on the island Grenada, surrounded by water.  I am backpacking on water! I never for one moment thought how I was going to get from land to boat, boat to boat, boat to island and boat to land.  On land we rely on 2 wheels, 3 wheels and 4 wheels for your general getting about.  So when living on water, your mode of transport changes dramatically and ta-da, you now have dingy's, kayaks, paddle boards, sailing dingy's.  mmmmm.... fear of water, now I am having to live on and in and around water!.  'I must be crazy", I say to myself quietly.

So we get to Lower Woburn Bay in Grenada and it's time to move onto the boat.  First step is to get onto a tiny dingy with our backpacks and food shopping.  Never mind that, the water is NOT the magical blue you see in the travel magazines.  It's a dark green with a touch of brown from the Rum Factory in Woburn.  The water is choppy and the wind is up.  Immediately I am very aware of this uneasy feeling in my tummy and in my head.  Anyway, with Barry close and the smile on Joshua's face, I realised it was time to give that fear the middle finger!

Mode of transport number 1:  A single man river kayak.  Bright yellow.  It's time for us to go to the beach, we are unpacked and ready to go.  The 3 of us must get onto this kayak without falling into the water.  Let me again remind you that I had never done anything like this before.  First you have to hoist your leg over the railing, then step right down onto the kayak, get your balance and then sit quickly.  Barry of course has no issues with this exercise, Joshua just has no fears which I am so grateful for, then you have me, a short 'arse'.  Of course when I find something funny I giggle.  This was funny and so I giggled!!  Didn't land in the water, made it to the beach and back to the boat with no hassles.

Our second mode of transport was a wooden dingy.  Oh my hat!  It was like a nut shell in water.  If you sit wrong, or you stand up too soon or simply loose your balance you WILL end up in the water.  Still not any closer to getting into the water so I do everything it takes to ensure that I don't.  Sit correctly, stand when the time is right, don't overload etc etc.  We had a hilarious dingy accident at one of the little mariners, Barry landed in the water but boy oh boy did I make sure that I didn't!

Third mode of transport was a yellow sea kayak, two man.  It was like getting from your VW Beetle into a VB Bus!  We had space, two paddles and a seat for Joshua on the back.  This is when I started having fun.  I loved every minute of this kayak.  All I wanted to do was kayak, so we did, all over the place.  My technique improved immediately, I was more relaxed about the water and it was so awesome to have a kayak partner like Barry.  Just his patience allowed me to gain confidence.  It's a sport/hobby that all three of us enjoy and will continue to enjoy on our travels.

We move onto our own little boat and had to lend a kayak from friends of ours.  Now this kayak was a machine!  Bright orange, wide base and loads of space for our little family, our laundry and our weekly shopping.  I was ready to kayak from our boat all the way to the mainland.  What a fantastic achievement for me personally.  After a few days I could feel how strong I was and how confident I had become compared to that first day on the jetty.  Kayaking to the mainland had to be done first thing in the morning when the sea and wind is calm.  Kayaking in the afternoon is not always the way to go, kayaking through high swells is pretty frightening and the rain doesn't help much either.

I have only fallen into the water 3 times in the last 8 months.  All three times involved a kayak.  On two occasions I was fully clothed and ready to go to town.  Both occasions were just as hilarious as the first.  Both right next to the boat.  And both times I had visions of big ugly creatures in the water below me.  Sailing across the seas is an amazing adventure, but there have been times where I have told myself, "you must be a crazy lady to be doing this!".

I now jump off the boat into the sea, I snorkel and I swim and I enjoy it.  If this trip has taught me anything, it was how to be comfortable in and around water.  I have snorkeled the most beautiful places around the Caribbean.  I have snorkeled in some pretty deep water too.  The sea life took my breath away!  I have spent time with dolphins, star fish bigger that your largest frying pan, pipe fish, rays, schools of fish, my list is endless.

My fear of big and deep water remains.  I have not 'conquered' my fear.  I just have confidence to be around water and in water.  It's all a head thing, which I can control as it is my head after all.  I do have one rule though, if I don't want to get in the water I simply wont. That way I will always be fine.

After all of the fun and laughter, sometimes tears of frustration, we will now be leaving the waters for a while.  It's time to get back onto land for me.  I am craving some time on solid ground.  On a bed that actually has fresh, clean sheets.  I want to cook a meal without moving from side to side and I want a good night's sleep, without worrying about a thing....

Thalassophobia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thalassophobia (Greek: thalassa, "sea" and φόβος, phobos, "fear")^[1] is an intense and persistent fear of the
sea. Thalassophobia is a clinical phobia generally classified underspecific phobias, fear of a single specific
panic trigger. Symptoms for thalassophobia are the same as for most specific phobias.

Although many people are nervous when on a ship, this phobia is not one of the most common. People with
Thalassophobia fear being in the large bodys of water. A common case of fear of the ocean is sometimes
 triggered by fearing the thought or sight of any creature under the depth of any body of water, not just
 directed toward oceans.

Many people with this phobia fear what lies beneath them, mostly sea creatures

Life on a sailing vessel...not for the feint hearted!

I blogged a while back about life on a boat and that was merely covering what it is like living on a vessel of some sort, (I say so because we have 'lived' on many) but not detailing what it is like to be crew on a sailing vessel, which is totally different. So today I will tell you more about my experience as a crew member on board a sailing vessel.

First let me start with the correct terminology so you have a better understanding of what it is I am referring to:

1. Cabin - a bedroom.

2. Head - bathroom: small toilet, A basin and a shower head which is the nozzle on the tap in the basin. Drainage holes for the water.

3. Saloon - lounge/diningroom: definitely not a salloon as we know it!

4. Galley - kitchen: usually small, only one person at a time.

5. Cockpit - helm and seating area which is outside.

6. Foredeck - the front deck area of the vessel.

7. Starboard side - the right side of the vessel.

8. Lockers - cupboards, found all around the vessel, used to store items safely.

9. Port side - the left side of the vessel. Thanks to our sailing buddy, Shaun Tarr, who explained it like this. There is too much port left. Meaning the port side is on the left. :-)

10.Hatches - windows

Walking around on a vessel takes concentration, balance and at times good strategy! When you are anchored you are able to walk around, get boat chores done and possibly a good night's sleep. This is not the case when you are sailing, crossings or island hopping. The minute the anchor is up and you move into deep waters, the boat rocks and roles continuously until you get to the next anchorage and you lay anchor. When I say 'rocks and roles' I mean that everything moves and so do you. Walking is an adventure, to get from the cockpit area to the galley, which is 6 steps (in my steps) you have to stand up, compose yourself, find some sort of balance in your sea legs, hold onto the table, then the door, then the counter and then into the galley It's best not taking too long to accomplish this adventure. If the weather is bad, the waves are higher, the water sprays in from all angles so everything is wet including you, walking becomes that much more difficult and frustration levels increase quickly. I have found that crawling is usually best and if you can't crawl then whatever you do next just do it with style!. Eventually you don't care what your butt looks like from behind. LOL!

The doorways of all vessels are lower than those in a home. I would say only about 1.5 meters in height. It reminds me a bit of a submarine, with those small oval shaped doors that seal when they are closed. This results in a whole lot of head injuries if you are tall. Thankfully I am short so moving through on on a vessel is easy.

So back to the cabin. "ooh so I'm claustrophobic", I hear you say. Yes your are right! This is usually a small space, cramped, with a bed that is higher than what you would be used to in your home. The bed for me is usually way to high, with me being 5ft tall and all, I always need some sort of a box to stand on to hoist myself up onto the bed. The box always being Barry's camera case! Thank goodness we have had this camera case with us throughout out travels or I wouldn't have managed to get into bed at all. The mattresses are hard and thin, so please don't think that you will have a great night's sleep on any vessel. If you do it's because you have consumed way too much rum and you have passed out for the night!

The heat in a windless anchorage is a killer. Avoid it whenever you can. Not a drop of air or a breeze passes through your boat. If that happens then you kick back, siesta and swim.

You simply CAN NOT have tidy cabin lockers. I have tried for 8 months now being the tidy freak that I am. You have to hoist yourself onto the bed, to get to the lockers, and if the vessel is rocking and rolling then you simply grab the first item of clothing and pull quickly to get it out. If you haven't mastered the art of removing clothes from a locker, then all the clothes come out with that one item you are after. So what's the best solution? just bundle it all up and shove it all back in, with the thought that you will simply repack again when you have time.

The head is pretty cosy, the toilet is just big enough to fit your butt onto. They remind me of the small toilets you find in a nursery school. Ideal form me, cos my feet still touch the ground! They remind me of the toilets you find in a nursery school. The toilet is usually one of those that you manually flush. So you fill the toilet bowl with water, do your business, then you pump at least 10 times, this flushes your business through the pipes, then you have to close the sea cocks (this is the valve that allows the water into the toilet) and pump another 5 times to empty the bowl again. If you enjoy reading on the toilet then this kind of toilet environment is not for you! There is no time to read while the boat is rocking and rolling. The room is also small so the stink can kill a person. It's best to do your business and get the hell out of dodge!

Your showers are usually cold, so don't for a minute think that you will enjoy a warm shower after your night watch is over. This is usually when you crave a warm shower the most. Because you are always in 'concerve water mode' its best to run 250ml of water into the basin. Soap yourself down and then use the shower to wash the soap off. You can not simply hang around under running water for the sake of hanging around under running water. If you are blessed and anchored in chrystal clear water then you simply jump into the ocean, climb back onto the boat, soap yourself with 'colgate shampoo' (the only shampoo that lathers in sea water), jump back in the sea to wash the soap off and then back on the boat to rinse the sea water off with fresh water (sweet water). If you don't have enough water on board then you simply don't shower until you do have water.

Better yet, always have a solar shower packed in your backpack! you will love every minute of your showers!

Showers in the rain are the absolute best, when it starts raining you strip to your bare essentials, lather yourself up, arm yourself with a mop and you go onto the foredeck. That way you get to shower for as long as the rain lasts and the boat gets a good wash too. Don't be shy, every other 'yachtie' also does it, some more brave and do it in the nude, others in their costumes. Warning! Don't shampoo your hair! I repeat, Don't shampoo your hair. The rain doesn't last long enough to get it out. Either way, its an experience to tell your grandkids!

By the way - You usually looked beautifully tanned, just a friendly bit of advice, the top 2 layers of brown are usually dirt and when you wash at least 3 times you will see that your 'tan' will fade...lol ;-)

While sailing, water is the damndest thing! Collect rain water when and wherever you can! from the rain, from a lonesome tap at midnight (covert operations...lol!) or you have to buy water from a mariner. The crew must always ensure that water is a priority because you don't want to get caught in the middle of a crossing without water. When it rains, you have to line every single empty container up at the water catchers and you fill them and now you have to work in the rain. So what if it's raining and you will get wet. You can deal with your bad hair do later (later never comes by the way) and the bruised ego about slipping your ass off.

The boat is only neat and tidy while you are anchored. Its easy to tidy and clean when you are not rocking and rolling. When you sail its the complete opposite, the tools are out in the event of something on the engines needing attention, so the saloon area becomes a workshop. Dishes will pile up unless you are as skilled as I am and can wash, dry and pack dishes in the middle of high swells! Plain and simple...it looks like a bombs hit it!

When you are anchored you have to get stuck in and work like a hound dog! Wash windows, sweep the carpet, wash down the floors, repack lockers, wash down the heads, do your laundry (by hand), get your laundry washed and dry, clean the dingy and kayaks, clean the bottom of the boat, feed yourselves (because you haven't eaten properly in a few days), go shopping, have a shower because you probably stink! and the list goes on.

When crossing from one country to another you are out at sea for a few days and nights. Our first long crossing was 4 nights and 5 days, this was from Curacao to Colombia. Just when I thought I was equipped to handle night watches and possibly crazy weather, NOT! On the first night during my watch, 11pm to 2am, we sailed right into a rain squall. The wind was crazy, the rain was pouring, the swells were high, I was soaking wet, I couln't see through my eyes with the amount of water pouring down my body! And through this chaos you have to watch for giant tree logs in the water and tankers. Ha ha ha! anyway I survived that episode, at the end of my watch i dried off, put on a sarong and attempted to sleep. Thats not easy when the waves are crashing and everything inside of the boat is creeking or knocking.

On the 4th night, Joshua, Barry and I went to sleep leaving the Captain to handle the watch, we sail into another squall, which lasted the entire night or so it felt, we didn't close our cabin hatch properly, a huge wave hit us from the port side and swoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, we were woken with about 50 litres of water pouring onto the 3 of us. What a way to wake up! Wet, ice cold, 2am, dark, waves crashing, the Captain cursing! What a crazy experience.

"Well at least I you're in paradise." I hear you say. In my mind, paradise = peacefulness, tranquility, splendour. Well yes, that does very much exist and I have 'lived' that way for the last 7 months. Now we are anchored in the harbour.' We are anchored right off the Old City and the Town with rolling suburbs behind the high rise buildings lining the promonade.

As you, who live in the city, have taxi's, busses, bicycles, people etc etc, so we on water have 'water taxi's, fishing boats, speed boats, power boats, yachts, dingies, cruise ships, tankers.. etc etc. There isn't a quiet time on these waters. The rocking and rolling here is driving me crazy..lol. Like when you hike and climb to the top of the mountain and that wind just blows and blows and blows? Like chinese torture at times :-).

Saying that though, not always chinese torture. Every day continues to be an adventure, the awesome always outweigh the 'crap' days. Every morning we are greeted by the most beautiful sunrises and blessed good night with magical sunsets.

Life on the water. With only a few days to go until we finish on Moonjoos, I am both sad and extremely excited. Sad because I already miss that peace, tranquility and splendour but I carry it with in me, the smells, the sounds, the views..the very place where I discovered a whole lot more of myself. Extremely excited to be taking all I have experienced and learnt from the Caribbean and living on boats, to the city, back to my daughters, my family, friends and everyone we encounter, especially on our next adventure!

Travel, journey, have adventures, open your world to something new every day!

Blu

　

Backpacks, Adventures and Zip-lock Bags!

It took us only 30 days to reduce our entire existence down to 1 backpack each. We arrive in the Caribbean and our lives now revolve around zip-lock bags.

Every single thing involves water, we live on a boat, we motor to the mainland with a dingy and our primary transport is a kayak which takes us from bay to bay, boat to island and boat to boat.

We have a zip-lock bag for our mobile phone, money bag, lip ice and sunblock. There is another zip-lock bag for a towel, sarong and Joshua's t-shirt. The third zip-lock bag has fruit and snacks.

You don't leave the boat or land without all your belongings in a zip-lock bag. If you do you will suffer the wrath of salt water and beach sand.

Besides that, it is summer and its the rainy season. You can bet your bottom dollar that you will get caught in a rain shower along your journey whether it be on land or out to sea.

If you are walking the streets on the island and the heavens open, all you do is dash to the closest Rum House and take cover with the locals. There are at least 3 on any one road so shelter is easy to find.

The locals welcome visitors with open arms so feel free to take cover and enjoy a hearty chat. Friendliness is free of charge.

Back to the zip-lock bags... If you meat up with a friend, guaranteed she or he will pull out their famous zip-lock bag. Too hilarious for words.

If you are keen to send us a parcel then please pack in a couple of zip-lock bags too. They are guaranteed to come in handy :-)

Backpacks, Crocs and zip-lock bags are now our way of life and its just too cool!