Caribbean Kidz - Holiday Program

What a fantastic two weeks we have had!  We facilitated a holiday program for the cruising/sailing children for 10 days.  From 08h30 to 12h30, Monday to Friday and each day we had an average of 15 children attend.  The children came from all over the world, Australia, America, Germany, Sweden, Island and of course Joshua was from South Africa :-)

We decided to host this program to introduce Joshua to the various children that sail and in turn to the lifestyle of sailing families, which is very different from those that live life on land.  Joshua made a great friend by the name of Michael and the two of them hit it off from day one!  This resulted in Joshua being invited to spend some time on their beautiful floating home and he had an awesome time.

The program was pretty easy to run as we hosted all of the activities on Hog Island and in the ocean.  The activities included:
*  Snorkeling
*  Sand castle competition
*  Jam sessions
*  Hiking
*  Bug Hunting
*  Fire Making - the safe way
*  Coconut Boats - each child had to make their own coconut boat which had to be decorated and it had to stay afloat.  The regatta took place on the last day of holiday care and it was AWESOME!

We investigated every inch of Hog Island, there are various private little beaches around the island, along with that came some interesting findings and learning's.  We identified the poisonous plants and trees and so everyone new what to stay clear of.  We were surrounded by bugs and lizards, birds, fish, squid, sea cucumbers and lots more, to many to list.

The children all had a fantastic time together, they educated each other on their home countries, the songs they sing, the food they eat and their way of life.  How interesting it all was!

We look forward to the next opportunity we have to meet more of the sailing children out there!  Until we meet again :-)

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

Life on the Ocean: Part 2

With each new breath-taking day comes more learning's, some funny and some that just take immense patience! Thank the heavens above for our very patient and ever eager to teach hosts, Capt. Steve and his wife Renata.

We have been on-board the Dixi Rollar for 12 days and so far so good. We learn new tips and tricks to living on the water, every single day. If you just follow the simple ways you will soon learn that's its all logical and easy! 
 
As promised, here is part 2 of life on the ocean along with some more tips to ensure that life on board is hassle free and easy.

8. Remember to tie every single thing down or it will blow away! The wind on the sea blows it all away, even the lettuce of your plate!

9. Use a minimum of 4 pegs per item of clothing when hanging washing. Or your washing will blow away! You will either never find it or you will feel like a right arse fishing your belongings from the water!

10. Always keep two 5lt bottles of water in the fridge, they keep the inside chilled when the fridge is off at nights or when out to town.

11. Never leave your bread dough out to rise on deck because Joshua WILL leave his footprint in it...lol

12. NEVER and hear what I say, NEVER hang your cozzie or damp clothes in doors to dry, it won't dry and you will stink to hell and back if you wear that cozzie or item of clothing again. Hear what I say... People will smell you from a distance!

13. Hold onto your eating utensils when eating a meal on deck. If you loose your fork, you eat with your fingers.

14. Your boat will stay pretty clean if you simply wash your feet and hands whenever you are near water, which is pretty easy as you live and travel on water anyway. You very rarely wear shoes so its easy to keep clean.  Just wash whenever you get the chance :-)

Ocean living is a wonderful way to live.  You are surrounded by the most exquisite views every moment of each day.  You only own what you really need.  Life is simple, nothing is big and complicated and there is no 'rat race' of big city life.  Each day is filled with new learning's and new people from all over the world.  We get to spend real time with each other, doing awesome stuff!

No TV, no laptop and no constant pinging of cell phones... this is true bliss!
 

bliss  

1. Extreme happiness; ecstasy.

2. The ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy.

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Marley - One Love

More good vibes!

Jack Johnson - Better Together

Sharing some good vibes with you :-)

Life on the Ocean - Part 1

Life here on the ocean is completely relaxed, so relaxed that today I felt a little guilty about being this relaxed. I was soon reassured that its the right way to live life and to just keep on enjoying this feeling of relaxation!

Let me see if I can describe 'relaxed' to you. In my own words.
Relaxed: To think about nothing, to worry about nothing, to want or need nothing, to sit and do nothing while you stare into the vast nothingness across the horizon.

re·lax·a·tion  

/riˌlakˈsāSHən/

Noun The state of being free from tension and anxiety. Recreation or rest, esp. after a period of work.

Synonyms rest - recreation - repose

This is the first time in my entire life that I have felt complete and utter relaxation! I feel healthier, happier and younger every day. I do think that the constant close proximity to sea water is also a secret to longevity.
A morning at the beach means a free full body exfoliation, swim in the sea, a glorious sun tan and endless chats with those in close proximity. All of this costs me nothing!

The local sailing community is so relaxed, they shower in the nude on the back of their yachts, they tan in the nude and a couple swim in the nude every single day! Too cool I tell you. I too would swim in the nude of the water wasn't crystal clear..lol

There are some very basic rules to being on a boat/yacht simply because you live life in close proximity to people so being courteous is just the right way to live.

1.  No peeking into the hatches.  Or you may be surprised by what you see.  Each cabin has a hatch and because the cabins are small, when you peek through a hatch, especially the loo and shower area, you are guaranteed to be peeking at someone in their private space.  (Advice for all children who like to take a peek...lol)

2.  Tip Toe at all times.  You have to put some thought into your weight and way of walking.  Each foot step rattles through the boat so watch how you step, walk and climb when moving around the boat.

3.  SAVE WATER!  The days of long, hot, glorious showers end the minute you go onboard.  Water is scarce all over the world, but especially when on a boat.  Catch the rain water, so you have water to rinse dishes and clothes, for washing and drinking.  Wash your clothes and dishes in sea water first and rinse in a minimal amount of fresh water.

4.  Keep it clean and tidy at all times.  Because of the close living style, any untidy area makes the entire boat untidy.  Clean up after yourself and tidy what you use away.

5.  No mobile phones on the deck!  It goes without saying!  if it slips out of your hand it will end up in the sea and you will never ever find it!

6.  Cook meals and eat early.  Because you are on a boat, your exercise is minimal after meals unless you dive into the sea for a swim.  Eat earlier so your food has time to settle before bed time.

7.  Plan according to the weather.  Choose the right days for washing clothes, visiting the main land.  Saying this though, the weather changes with the wind so planning isn't always a winner.

The sailing community is very friendly and everyone is keen to assist and advise.  The local net (radio) is on from 07h30 to 08h00 daily excepting Sunday's.  Here you will find out about upcoming tropical storms, social outings, items for sale, free or swap, which boats are new and which are leaving.  The local restaurants also advertise special meals and celebrations.  If you listen to the Net daily you will have all the info you need.

There is so much to share so we will keep you updated on all of our experiences.  For now, it's time to fold washing and have a bite of lunch.

Until next time.

Blu, Baz and Joshua