A sneak peak into life in Uganda, Africa

So here I am in this beautiful country called Uganda.  When driving from the airport to the house in Kampala at 01h00 in the morning, the humidity took me right back to Grenada.  The lush green vegetation, the bird life, the heat on the sweltering days, the feeling of island life, it is really beautiful here.

We live in a ‘compound’ style manner, two families, a staff member, a full time gardener, two full time ladies working in the house and with the children, a security guard from sunset to sunrise, 4 dogs and a farm yard of hens, chicks, roosters, ducks and rabbits.  These animals provide us with endless hours of entertainment and learning.  Having these animals also allows Joshua to now be responsible for various duties which entertain and educate all day long.

We have started a food farm which will soon start producing good crops to feed the household.  Our current garden consists of, butternut, garlic, onions, beetroot, spinach, carrots and hot peppers.  The herb garden consists of chives, dill, parsley, coriander, borage, red basil chervil and chamomile.

As of August we will begin harvesting which will have a positive impact on the health of the families and the weekly spending on vegetables from the local market place.  We currently spend 160 000 UGS on fruit and vegetables on a monthly basis, which feeds 8 people twice a day along with fruit snacks in between.

The current exchange rate is:  1 USD = 2500 UGS

So with the current exchange rate in mind, we are spending, 64 USD per month on vegetables and fruit for a family of eight.  I think that is pretty damn good considering we are eating fruit and vegetables every single day!

The municipal water here is pretty disgusting.  So we are ONLY able to drink bottled water.  Some days the tap water is clear but on most days the water is brown and smells like fish.  Yugggghhhhhh!  We use tap water to wash and cook with and bottled water for brushing teeth, drinking and washing the fruit and vegetables.  The fruit and vegetables are soaked in a vinegar and bottled water solution to rid them of any farming poisons and residue from bad water that the locals use in the market place to wash the produce with.

Recycling is a part of our daily lives.  Every single packet, piece of cardboard, plastic bottle, wood, nails, lace curtains, piping and wire is reused somewhere in the house or in the garden.  All raw peels from the kitchen are thrown into the ‘big hole’ along with used tea bags.  This method produces the best compost which then goes into the vegetable gardens.  We are on ‘big hole’ number two already since the 3 June.  It’s amazing how much a household produces which in city homes, is just tossed into the bin instead of being used in other ways.

The local shops are just outstanding.  Living local is again proving to be the way to go.  They stock something of everything and if you are not fussy and happy to live local then you will be able to shop comfortably at the funky purple wooden shop down the road.  Being vegetarian helps a whole lot too ;-). 

The local market is half the price of the fruit and vegetables available in the big shops.  I absolutely love spending time wondering around the market.  There are hundreds of stalls in the Nakawa Market.  A never ending variety of, bright healthy fruits, vegetables, beans, rice, flour, maize, herbs and spices.  All sold per kilogram.  The produce is packed in plates on display with prices so the prices you see are those you pay.  There are however stalls that don’t display prices and those are usually the ones that try and charge you higher prices than those that the local people get.

The market also sells ‘used’ clothing and shoes which comes from America and China.  It’s crazy, simply because their ‘used’ is like our ‘new’ back home.  Again the prices are pretty good and even better when you shop with a local. 

My shopping buddy is Vivien, one of the local ladies that work in our house.  Vivien speaks the lingo and gets local prices.  When I refer to local prices, each item is usually 1000 UGS cheaper than what visitors and ex pats are charged. 

The food stores offer most luxuries that we find in Jozi.  Here in Kampala we shop at Capitol Shopper, which is like a Pick n Pay Hyper, it’s a two level store and the variety of products on offer is outstanding for an African country.  There is a Shoprite and a Game here where you can find Rooibos Tea if needed, otherwise the local brands are all good.  I find it pretty easy to settle into the local brands, afterall why travel to different countries and stress to find those SA brands that you are used too.  You travel to experience other countries in every way including food.

My week is pretty busy with teaching, laundry, growing seeds, planting seedlings, digging and spending time with Joshua.  I teach the staff different ways to get their chores done, ways that are ‘green’ and smart.  Vivien could only cook stew, beans, rice and spaghetti, now she cooks spaghetti bolognaise, pasta salads, green salads, three bean salad, filled pancakes, fluffy rice, pizza, meatballs, hamburgers… shoo the list is now endless.  The cool thing is that Vivien is now a competent cook who can cook a variety of delicious meals for a family of eight.

Our garden is huge and drenched in vegetation, which brings the most amazing variety of birdlife into very close proximity.  So close, you can clearly see the colors and markings on the birds.  The skies are alive with storks and cranes, what a sight, seeing fifteen storks all sitting in a big tree.  The birds of prey fly overhead all day every day.  From Yellow Billed Kites to Vultures!  Yip, great big ugly vultures in the trees above.

It is now Uganda’s rainy season which means rain almost every day.  If you don’t wake up to the rains then you will have a down pour in the afternoon.  Sometimes daily chores are easy in the fine rains but when the heaven’s open and the rain pours it’s time to retreat indoors unless you have foul weather gear.  All indoor work is done when we are unable to go outdoors.

Baz works just over the road from the house, which is AWESOME!  He starts work at 08h30, so leaves home on foot at 08h25 (if he hasn’t pulled an all nighter), then pops back over for tea at 11h00 and then lunch at 13h00.  On installation days Baz is on site 2 hours away and then we see him at breakfast the following morning.  It’s pretty cool having that small luxury of eating three meals a day together.  A luxury, that city life doesn’t offer families these days.

Life here in Uganda is good.  The food is plentiful, the people are friendly and it pretty much rains all year round. 

Love the life you live and live the life you love.

Peace love and happiness always. 

Blu

Bright lights, big city, bad people!

Our time of limbo in South Africa has been an adventure all of its own.  We arrived back in South Africa on the 23 January and took up residence in Pretoria which lasted all of 50 days.  The first few weeks we spent enjoying the luxuries of city life, a private bedroom with a double bed, a bath with running water, a cupboard to unpack our clothes into, shops close by, slabs of chocolate and delicious home cooked meals.  But with those luxuries of the big bad city comes the big bad people. 

Barry left for Uganda as planned on the 2^nd March and right away I felt like a part of my soul was gone.  Considering that we have hardly been apart in the 7 years of our relationship, I took it quite well I think, until my boat was rocked, my patience was tested, my faith in the universe shook and my friendship, with whom I assumed was my good friend, failed dismally. 

So here is the long and the short of it, and of course without naming names, but I know the people involved read our blog and so know who they are. 

 

On the 16^th March, Baz had been in Uganda for only two weeks, always worried about Joshua and I, missing us terribly while in a strange country far away from all that he knows and loves.  And BAM life as he knew it was all shot to hell!

Early hours on this day in March I was accused by an apparent prominent lawyer and her family, situated in Johannesburg, of being her younger brother’s drug dealer.  I endured abusive phone calls and sms’, hysterical screaming from a person who is apparently this prominent lawyer (who should in my books behave in a more professional manner) threatening me with the police and child welfare.  I was instructed to leave the property that I was renting a room at, at the time.  I was told that I was a disgusting mother and that my children deserve better. I was also told that this particular family had read my Facebook wall and my blog and that they ‘know what kind of person I am’.  

LAUGH OUT LOUD, what kind of person I am?  Hmmmmm, considering that this is the only family on this planet that doesn’t like me out of the thousands of people whose paths have crossed with me in my lifetime, I would say then that YOUR OPINION OF ME DOESN’T COUNT.

Why was I accused of that?  Because I smoke marijuana.  Yes, there you have it.  I smoke marijuana!  Do I smoke it every day? No.  Do I sell marijuana?  No.  Do I go and buy marijuana from the local guy on the street corner like a junkie?  No.  Do my children go hungry?  are they abused in any way, do my children think or love me any less? No.

I smoke marijuana because I choose an alternative lifestyle, I choose NOT to take anti-depressants, I choose to make use of alternative medicines instead of taking those harmful drugs prescribed by doctors.  I choose not to educate my son in accordance with that bullshit that is taught by the corrupt school teachers of today. I choose to stay away from anything to do with politics, I choose a life of travel with my life partner and my child because we choose not to conform to the norms of society.  And my hairstyle of choice… dreadlocks. 

 

Hmmmm… could that be the reason why this family chose me as their scapegoat instead of actually taking their own son to task and ensuring that he takes responsibility for the choices that he makes in life.  Ensuring that the police were involved in the so called 'bust', instead of trying to entrap me into something that, I actually had no involvement with.  Instead of buying and lying their way through life?  What kind of future does this boy have?  The mightier you are the harder you fall, so they say.  So let the mighty then fall hard.

Wow, how sad that one family, just one family can be that shallow and overlook the fact that their son is actually the drug dealer and addict.  How sad that one family believes that they have a right to try and destroy good people with accusations when they in fact are the ones who are the very example of those who are destructive and ooze evil into society.  How sad that this family believes that their son is innocent and everyone around him are the ones to blame for his drug soaked lifestyle.  Phew!

Anyhow, so since the 16^th March, Joshua and I have been doing the best we can with the little that we have had and boy have we done real well.  We are super blessed to have some very special people in our lives, people who came forward and opened up their homes to us. Friends, who actually live up to the status of being our friends.  Friends who took us in, offered us support, advice and always put Joshua’s welfare first!  Real special people who have a real special place in my heart.

Joshua and I have stayed in five different homes in the last 8 weeks!! Not an easy way to live as every home has their own ways which are not our ways. But yet they made space when they didn’t have any and they did so without judgement.  Travelling with our backpacks, camping mattresses, a sleeping bag and a pillow, we backpacked like true champs.

I am so grateful that Joshua is the free spirited boy that he is, because 99% of today’s children would not have survived this adventure the way that he has.  Always smiling, always doing his bit to make this adventure exciting and happy.  Always taking time out of his busy day to put his arms around my neck and squeeze me so tight while reassuring me that “everything will be alright Mamma”  What a boy he is.

 

The saddest thing for Joshua was coming to learn the truth about his 'friend', this youngster, who was the reason why we went from being safe and settled while Dad is up Africa, to being home-less, unsettled and real sad at times.  It’s a sad lesson to learn at the age of 5, but he now has a very good understanding that he is NOT to trust anyone, not even his friends because it’s usually those closest to you that will hurt you real bad and let you down in life.  Our boy is now so much wiser.

So here we are, our last few days in Jozi.  We are in a good place, we are packing, shopping, packing and shopping some more.  Joshua and I are extremely excited to be joining Barry in Uganda soon.  Another awesome adventure is about to begin.  

Grateful, to be showing the middle finger to those who have been the cause of some heart-wrenching moments during the last few weeks.  Sad, to be saying farewell to those that we love and miss the most while we travel.  Super excited to be reunited with Barry again.

Today I say thank you to those of you who have opened your homes to Joshua and I, for one night, a weekend and up to two weeks.  Thank you to those of you who have taken us out for a meal and reassured us that all will be good.  Thank you to those of you who have bought us a few groceries and ensured that we have been fed and taken care of.  My list of thanks is endless. 

My most important thanks go out to Barry who is thousands of km’s away and has supported me and believed in me every step of the way.  Who has continued to love me unconditionally and who has motivated me to just keep on going.  This man, who has sacrificed so much for the greater good of his family. 

And me… I am stronger, more spiritual and I am even more convinced that our choice in our alternative lifestyle is the right way and the only way!  People will befriend you and they will stab you in the back whilst acting in a cowardly manner.  Those people are the very kind that I dismiss out of my life without hesitation.  I see that we are surrounded by nasty and destructive people.  Those people have no space in my life.  Ever!

I have always believed in KARMA and phew, I must admit, I don’t feel an inch of sympathy for those who have karma knocking on their doors, if not already, then soon.  The karma bus is on route and I am the driver ;-)

Bring on our new adventure.  Time to leave the bright lights of the big bad city behind.  Time to go where we are always happy. Time to continue our African dream xx

Remember to educate yourself before you accuse someone.  It will save you from and those around you from a whole lot of hurt.  Don't be a coward, if you want to know then simply ask.  Don't go and spread nasty rumors because at the end of it all, it is you who is un-liked, not trusted and your life will be filled with loneliness and bitterness.  

Peace, love and happiness always!

Blu

Life up Africa - Uganda!

Kampala the capital of Uganda, what a vibrant pulsing city. It seems never to sleep, I've traveled all hours of the day and night and the energy never changes. You can get anything you want here, just don't expect to find it in the likely places, there is a game a shopprite, but there are a thousand small shops in every nook and cranny. 

Ten thousand motor vehicles crowd the hand full of roads and twice as many Boda Boda (100cc motorbikes) local transport. All viaing for the same inconceivable space. No such thing as road rage here, find your hole fit in it and keep going.

The first thing that struck me about Kampala and Entebbe is how clean it is, clean in terms of litter. After spending the last year travelling south America and the carribean and noting the amount of trash every where it was a pleasant surprise to see a country take pride in its towns.
Saying this there is sand a red sand with a dust that covers everything everywhere, you can't escape it. It makes everything feel old and tied a dirty dusty Africa.

Ugandans what a nation, self opinionated, racist and stubborn, yet content, not worried about much, other than there business.
They are pleasant clever people willing to laugh and share life.

Being on latitude 0 is on bucket list, turns out its not far from me, living on the equator is not what I anticipated, I thought it would be hotter, rain more but the contrast is not so great.

Now working in Uganda, is an experience,, not to be taken for granted every thing is a challenge and if you can't think on your feet then this place will break you down, nothing is what it is and just because it worked yesterday doesn't mean it will work today. 

So I'm three weeks in and a whole bunch of weeks to go, what cool place, what a cool job and what an adventure.

Until next time
Eyes up

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

Christmas in Cartagena, Colombia!

Christmas was super special, with skype calls with people that I miss dearly and simply cant wait to see again when we are back in South Africa. We also received heaps of messages and comments via Facebook which were just awesome. It's so important knowing that people actually miss your presense when you arent a hop skip and a jump away.

On Christmas eve we went to the ATM to draw our last R200 to buy food for dinner and Christmas day lunch. There we had R490 instead, someone had deposited R290 into our account in Johannesburg the day before. What an awesome surprise! We bought what we needed and ate like royalty.. well as close to.

Father Christmas found Moonjoos and the Sanders- Costello clan. Christmas morning was magical. Joshua woke up at 6am with his cousin Faith, calling him on Skype. He flew out of the cabin and straight to the computer to say hello and merry Christmas, Feliz Navistad (in Spanish), and then he saw his pressie under the tree. His eyes grew big, looked at the plate where he place and ice cold beer and a traditional Colombian cookie. Just a quarter of the cookie was left and the beer replaced with a handwritten note from Father Christmas.

"Dear Joshua, I have heard so many good things from so many people around the world and this makes me proud. Thank you for the beer and cookie, I saved you a piece of my cookie to share with you, and I saved you a sip of beer too, it's in the fridge." Lots of love, Father Christmas.

Joshua ate the piece of cookie and drank his sip of beer and then opened his pressies. An awesome water pistol from Captain Brett and the Moonjoos Station. A small bag from Colombia which he uses to carry his UNO cards, a car, an army man and his bean bag. A holy stone necklace. A packet of chocolate and toffee lollipops, and a packet of fruit sweets. All small enough to travel with which is a blessing!

Christmas lunch was delicious. Barry did the cooking this year. Baked potatoes, cold meat, white sauce, fresh tomato and salsa. Full tummy's and it was time to siesta!

Travelling takes you away from those traditions which you have with your family back home. Thank goodness for skype, which allowed us to connect with some special people. Home sickness always hangs around and is a reality. With Joshua and Barry making it so special, I did just fine :-).

The best present I received was to speak to my girls and then my Mom. Mom only has a basic mobile phone without the bells and whistles that you and I are used to. So when my friend Christopher called my Mom, placed her on speaker phone and then connected to us via skype, and I heard her say "hello my lovie, merry Christmas", I new all will be just fine. Oh how I have missed chatting and being close to my Mom. Christopher rocks!

The streets, buildings, boats, cars, trucks, busses and taxis, the horse and carriages, everything is drenched in Christmas lights!  Every night there has been a Christmas pageant at the old fort which is a few meters from the boat.  The fireworks displays at night are just breath-taking, like nothing I have ever seen.  Every single person in Cartagena have been in the Christmas spirit since we arrived here on the 2 December.  Can you imagine, 23 days of celebrations and music all around us!

With just 26 days until we fly out of Caracas, Venezuela, we have a whole lot still to accomplish on our 'to do list'. Our backpacks are packed, and we are in full swing with the boat jobs that must be done by the 10th January. We are also working to raise money to get from Cartagena, Colombia to Caracas. Its going to cost us $550 USD.

We are so looking forward to this adventure. We have been on Moonjoos for 15 weeks now and living on water since June this year. Life on the water is magical but I am so ready to sleep in a comfy bed that doesn't move, to have a good shower so I can wash properly and smell good afterwards, and to enjoy nature along the way.

Then we fly from Caracas to Brazil to South Africa! Bring on the African sunsets, braai's, friends and family!

　

 

We are now in Cartegena, Columbia!

Dropped Pin near Caribbean Sea http://goo.gl/maps/4MwkH

All good people meet at Nimrods!

That I now believe wholeheartedly!  All good people meet at Nimrods, that's no lie!

Let me first tell you a bit about Nimrods.  Its a fantastic Rum Shop that is situated in lower Woburn, on this magical island called Grenada in the Caribbean.  Nimrods sells all sorts of necessities such as milk powder, eggs, bread, condensed milk, fruit, muffins, cooking oil, tea bags, ice cold beers and of course a good hearty rum!

The staff and owner, Sep, are friendly and happy people!  They welcome you in and enjoy having a good chat!  You will always find someone playing a game of backgammon which Joshua is now learning to play.

The kitchen serves delicious meals daily and Friday nights is the BBQ on the deck.  Their prices are affordable and even more so for families with healthy appetites!

We have met the nicest variety of people there from locals to sailors to visitors of the island.  I had the privilege of meeting a wonderful lady and writer by the name of Nora Dunn who has a fantastic blog called The Professional Hobo.  A great read and jam packed with useful and humorous  info for travelers! 

Nimrods is now our pick up and drop off point, the local buses travel past there so this makes getting around so easy to do. 


After a visit to Nimrods you are guaranteed to be remembered and usually by name!  After a couple of visits you will be well known to the locals. 

Nimrods is one of our absolute favourite places to hang out and if you are ever blessed to visit this island, be sure to make a turn at Nimrods.  If you don't know where it is just ask the bus driver to take you to Nimrods, everyone knows where it is!  And I mean EVERYONE!!

If you are looking for good people, food, conversation and vibe, then Nimrods is the place to be.

 

Ship Jumping, Dingy Accident and Siesta's!

It's time to grab a cuppa, sit back, feet up and enjoy my Caribbean ramblings...

We have 'jumped ship' as my cousin Lawry so put it.  Well yes we had to jump ship, the Dixi Rollar is setting sail soon for Brazil and then onto South Africa. Our travel plans include a trip back to South Africa in March 2014.  This year we travel the Caribbean, so with that in mind we jumped ship right onto a beautiful Bavaria called the Inanna.

The Inanna is a fantastic yacht!  We have been blessed with a comfy and private cabin, which earned huge points from me.  The yacht is large which allows for more people on board, a maximum of 12 passengers.  The Inanna is equipped with all you need including access to wifi, a flat screen television, access to a laptop, sufficient water supply and true sailor's, Jason and Gro, who own and sail this yacht.

It's Carnival weekend so we are guests on the Inanna for the next few days and then the actual 'crew' work begins next week.  We will be officially signed on as crew which ensures we are not deported which could have happened if we weren't offered this opportunity.  The law here in Grenada says that we have to be signed onto a sailing vessel as crew, at all times!

I am very keen to get started with my crew training.  Sitting under a tree on the beach all day isn't my idea of stimulation and motivation.  Sitting under a tree on the beach for most of the day is guaranteed to result in an ice cold rum and coke or a Carib beer, and of course one will always mean a two and a three.  Then the remainder of the day is just a complete party.  You are thinking that that's also not a bad idea but let me tell you that it often is a bad idea, all in 'hind sight'.

Our Kidz Club program has been a hit!  We have the next few days off to rest and  enjoy Carnival, then we kick off again next week Wednesday.  We now have 5 students for Conversational English lessons, twice a week and it is going really well.

We had our very first dingy accident a few days ago.  Now that was just to hilarious!  Off we go to Whisper Cover to use the wifi and have a fanta each.  The jetty on the one side was jam packed with dingy's so we eye out a free spot on the other side.  Off we go put putt putting along into the opposite entrance, the plan was for Barry to grab the side of the jetty, cut the engine and we would slow down and 'park' with ease.  WELL we put putt putted in, and somehow with Barry standing up to grab the jetty and Joshua and I still seated, we all ended up on the one side which resulted in the dingy tipping to the same side, next minute SPLASH and Barry is in the water and hanging from the jetty and Joshua and I plus the dingy end up put putt putting into the mangroves.  Of course everyone along the jetty and in the restaurant heard the big SPLASH and all came out to have a look.  There I was totally laughing my ass off, tears rolling, Joshua hanging on for dear life and Barry soaking wet and hanging from the jetty... waaahahahahahahahahaaaa... too funny!

With access on the yacht to wifi, I will be blogging more often.  In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy my siesta's under the trees on the beach :-)

Peace, love and happiness xx

My life on the road as a woman!

Coming from South Africa and travelling various parts of Africa, the safety of women and children always come's up in discussions and is more often than not a concern for most.  Travelling as a family is very different from backpacking as a family.  With your entire existence in your backpack, your hat on your head, a map and your trusted feet and legs to take you to your destination, with the odd good deal and you get to take local transport of possibly even a taxi. 

The very first time I felt uneasy and felt I was always looking over my shoulder was whilst travelling through Venezuela.  I think the language barrier was a big contributing factor which I look back on now and laugh heartily about!  We never bought a Spanish dictionary before we left South Africa and on arrival at Caracas airport, there are no shops that sell dictionaries.  So there we were with our fingers in our ears for the first 2 hours.  But as I always now find myself saying.. faith does move mountains.  And there before my eyes, stood a person that spoke v e r y s l o w and basic English, from there on everything worked out as planned. 

A 10 minute walk in the searing humidity and hot sunshine to the local departures ticketing offices.  Each one a small cubicle with a no English, irritated looking person.  From there we hopped on a local bus which took us to a hotel on the one side of town.  From there a cab to the long distance bus station.  In between all of this driving and sight seeing, there are just hundreds of scooters and old style motor-cycles.  The drivers and passengers either wearing no helmets or cycling helmets...lol!  They add to the chaos, people everywhere, all busy with everyday life. 

At the station and there we waited in a pretty dirty, stuffy, loud and busy multi level 'spaza shop' style area.  Meat being cooked and sizzled in close proximity, stray dogs lazing about, others playing with eachother and some just watching the people go by.

Three hours pass and we finally board our luxury liner bus.  This was a welcomed relief to our tired bodies and over excited minds.  Our plan was working, we enjoyed a good nights sleep in comfy seats.  A 16 hour bus ride and we woke up to the most breath-taking views of the jungle, green and beautiful as far as my eyes could see, ahead, up and behind.

And there we pull up in the furthermost town of Guiria!  It felt like we were in a desert town, with no water, searing heat, dust, strange smells, some friendly people and others that really made me feel uneasy.  This is where Joshua and I stayed in the hotel most of the time, where we viewed from the safer place.  This was our own choice as we are aware of the human trafficking concerns across the world.

It was a welcomed relief to board the ferry for Trinidad.  There we were welcomed and assisted along the way by local people and officials.  We walked along the main street at eight in the evening and sleep soundly for the night.  Leaving Trinidad posed to be a bit difficult with all the searching of travelers but it's their process, we complied and we then took another three flights until we landed on the Island of Grenada.

This is where we are currently visiting whilst sailing the Caribbean.  Here I felt instantly at ease when we entered the airport.  Immigration and customs officials were all helpful and eager to give you assistance.

Here I am able to catch a local taxi from one side of the island to the other, by myself, with no worried.  That is for me, amazing.  How many of you catch local transport in your city?  I can visit the beach with Joshua and not have to watch over my shoulder in fear of being robbed or raped.  Here I can walk through the bush from one bay to the next by myself. 

This Spice Island, Grenada is a wonderful destination for travelling families, for those of you who prefer to take the road less travelled, for those of you wanting a taste of the Caribbean way of life.

Our life is now a journey, in Crocs, with a backpack each and a whole lot of faith and courage.  This journey we take together, Barry, Joshua and myself, in my heart and soul...Kaelah, Christine and you, no matter where you are in the world :-)

I wish you a magical day!

Blu

Our latest news!

We have had a pretty busy week which is awesome, simply because we love to be busy! The more productive you are the more motivated a person is. I did however have a day of doing absolutely nothing which ended in me feeling home-sick! Home-sick? How can a person feel home-sick when you no longer have a home... :-). I felt home-sick for chocolate, yogurt, home made biscuits and joko tea! I also felt like having a chat with my girls but the lack of internet connection on our side makes it a tad difficult! Some encouraging words from around the world and a good nights sleep and I was right as rain the next morning. Our internet connection will soon be resolved and all will be good again. We have fast realised that, Its time to start growing our own veggies! Trekking all the way into town is an adventure via dingy, taxi, walking, taxi, dingy and by the time you have bought what you need its been a 4 hour round trip! And your mangoes are bruised :-( anyhow, so Baz has been gathering items for the water catcher, he's dug a hole to recycle peels and tea bags. We have also got a good starter collection of seeds, paw paw, avo, pumpkin, beans and watermelon. This week we will collect the old tyres to begin planting sweet potatoes and garlic. The week ahead is going to be awesome! Our holiday programs kicks off on Monday and runs through until Friday, 08h00 to 12h00. The theme is Coconut Boats and Seedlings. We will also be cleaning up Hog Island, enjoying jam sessions, swimming and snorkelling. The age group starts from 4 years right up to teens. We are super excited this upcoming week! As you are aware, we are raising funds to sponsor us another day in the Caribbean! Sponsorship doesn't always have to be in the form of money, it can also be in the form of goods that we can barter with or plant. There are a couple of items that we need personally which you can't get here on the island. Below is a short list. If you would like to contribute to our travels through the Caribbean then we would greatly appreciate it! * Chocolates * Seeds (must be sealed in original packaging) - parsley, peppers, carrots, gem squash, rosemary, basil, origanum, spinach, any will do. * Tea Tree Oil * Lavender Oil * Citronella Oil * Rolling Tobacco - Drum Light Blue * Small Hemp Rizlas (unbleached) * Small Liquorice Rizlas * Joko Tea * Rooibos Tea * Ziplock Bags We will have our postal address finalised by next week so I will be sure to upload the address for you. If you would prefer to make a monetary contribution then please contact us for the banking details. Last but not least, I have received my first online marketing work from a South African based company. Online work is a great way to make a steady income while travelling. This work kicks off on the 1 August and I am super excited! I earn a commission on each sale which comes from my marketing. With that in mind, if you have a small business that needs some online marketing to be done, and you simply don't have the time, and you are willing to pay commission on sales then please email me, no matter where you are in the world! The email address to use is: bazandblu@gmail.com. Okay, definitely last, we set sail in a weeks time! Yes we do! The moment we have been waiting for! we will be sailing from Grenada to Union Island. Too excited about this upcoming adventure! Watch this space for photos and video footage! Its 22:15 and its time for bed! Its been a long, hot and humid day. Time to rest my body, mind and soul! Until next time! Blu

Travelling with young children

I have always wondered how many families out there simply choose not to travel because they have young children.  Well that seems to be a common thought for quite a few families in South Africa and I refer to South Africa simply because I lived in various parts of South Africa during my 3 decade stay.

Travelling with Joshua has been nothing but fun!  We have been travelling with Joshua, Kaelah and Christine for the last 6 years and it has all been a breeze!  Planning ahead and packing wisely is what will ensure you a happy and hassle free journey.

One of the secrets to a happy travelling child is to teach them from a baby to sleep in various places.  This has been our saving grace with Joshua.  He sleeps anywhere at anytime without wanting his bed at home.  Now that we no longer have a permanent home, Joshua finds it easy to sleep wherever he lays his little head.

Flying with a child is really awesome.  From the time of arrival to book in at the OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, the airport staff to notice of Joshua and treated him as a 'mini passenger'.  Boarding the plane and spending a solid 18 hours flying, the air hostesses always made a special round to check if he was comfortable.  The attention on all modes of transport have been very much the same with fellow passengers keeping him entertained and vice versa.

Packing a a biggy!  Joshua's daypack had a change of clothes and two spare t-shirt, a pack of UNO, a set of wax crayons and a soldier.  His fellow travel buddy being his little stuffed turtle, 'Squirt'.  Included were a couple of sweeties from Ouma and Christine (for the road), his water bottle, tissues, wet wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste and Tee Tree Oil for all types of scratches and bites.  That was it, and it kept him well entertained and prepared for his 5 day backpacking trip from South Africa to Grenada.

As of Sunday, we move onto the Dixi Rollar.  Joshua has his allocated space on the yacht and will settle in right away.  We will be joining a community of sailing families.  Some families have children and some have cats and dogs on board.  Yes you read correctly...cats and dogs!  The coolest sailing pets around I tell you.  Most have more travels under the collar than most of the humans on this planet.  From all over the world they come and each has their very own personality.

The local people absolutely love Joshua.  They always engage in a conversation with him about all sorts and his happily takes part.  We allow him to adventure, explore and speak to the people along the way... afterall that is how children learn.

Keep a close eye on Joshua Liam.  This young boy of ours is truly an amazing adventurer :-)

Joshua Liam Sanders - 4years 3 months old
Young adventurer and Eco Warrior

Our new gadget - Blackberry to Smartphone!

We have been 'technologized' and its absolutely wonderful! Off to the Caribbean with easy communication back home and to our cyber travellers.  My only worry was communication and thanks to some very special people, it is no longer a worry.

Here are our contact details, no matter where you are in the world, we are connected :-)

Facebook: EcoBlu Edutainment
Skype: EcoBluEd
Email:  ecoblu@hotmail.co.za
Email:  bazandblu@gmail.com
Blog: Backpacks and Adventures

We have only 6 days left in South Africa.  Our backpacks are packed and ready.  We are growing more eager by the day, to get this adventure started.

The last few things on our 'to do' list:
- learn how to use our new gadget
- collect outstanding money
- write a letter to Crocs

We will be at the airport pretty early on Sunday to meet with some friends for coffee and farewells.  We also get to spend some time with Kaelah which will be awesome!

Its early to bed tonight.  The Yellow Fever jabs have knocked us for a six!  The side effects are horrible to say the least but for the best.  Only rest will sort us out.

From the 3 June we will be blogging daily so keep an eye on us and join us on this cyber journey to the Caribbean.

Please share, like and comment, you are also welcome to donate 100 bucks in your currency to our travels which will be used to 'buy us another day in the Caribbean'.