We're gonna get straight into the nitty-gritty here folks. I turned 30 this year after three years of living the expat life solo, and I've learned a thing or two (or 10). Sometimes it fucking sucks and sometimes it rocks my socks. So I made a list for you, because I'm a nice person. Or because I'm a bit snarky sometimes. Who knows.me turning 30 abroad solo credit: jackson photographyHere are five shitty truths about being 30 and living abroad solo:1) You will check Facebook daily, ...
Roatan Review: Sundara Wellness Center
The latest addition to my Roatan Review series is: Sundara Wellness Center!After going back to diving full-time, my body was exhausted and sore after a few months back in the water (hey, I had been out of practice for a while!). Luckily for me, my friend Mariela Garcia suggested that I spend a day at her wellness center in French Harbor.Sundara Wellness Center follows an organic and healing philosophy, and it certainly showed in the serene setting, caring staff, and natural products. I ...
{GIVEAWAY} – Personal Planner: Never Forget Your Mom’s Birthday Again
Guys, this is not the first time I've raved about Personal Planner [ Facebook / Twitter / Insta ] and their dayplanners with incredible customization options. Actually, it's the third - I was the lucky winner of a giveaway on Andi's site (and she actually just finished running another Personal Planner giveaway - check out her beautiful 2016 planner she created), and wrote about my 2014 planner here. I also wrote about my 2015 planner here. So I'm sure you can guess what today's post is ...
Roatan Roundup: Months 35 + 36 – THREE YEARS!
Uhhhh.... WHAT? I've been on this island full-time for three YEARS? I don't even know what to say.One place I haven't been lately is on this blog. And this is why:I have (very happily) returned to diving and have been doing nothing but eat, sleep, dive and repeat. It doesn't leave much time for blogging, or anything else really, but just know that I'm underwater and smiling. And I'll be back around here soon.This isn't much of a traditional roundup, since I have had zero posts to recap. ...
Roatan Month 34 Roundup
Yeah! 34 months! Haven't died or had an island baby yet, so all in all a great success.I have been taking some time off as it's been a month of big changes. Jump and the net will appear, right? I moved to a new house which I love so much that I sometimes just stay in it all day, and I am taking on some projects and part-time stuff as I had a lot of time open up. However, I have spent a lot of that free time on watching the entire new season of Orange is the New Black (talk to me about it if ...
The Snorkeling Trip That Changed My Life
Kind of a bold title, isn't it?It's 100% true.That blurry photo is me. It's me during the second time I ever snorkeled in my life. (The first being a very sketchy set up off a catamaran in Cuba in 2005. Now that I think about it, I'm surprised I made it out alive.) I know it's hard to see, but my face is full of joy. I am at home in the ocean!I even know what day this was - February 5, 2012. I was on my very first trip to Roatan with my friend Steph, and it was our second day on the ...
Guidelines for Tipping on Roatan
Short version: yes, you're supposed to tip on Roatan. 10%-20%. There ya go!Long version:Tipping is expected on Roatan for various services. If you're visiting or moving to the island, you should have a quick read through these guidelines to make sure you're tipping appropriately! We don't like people who play the "we don't have to tip in our home country so we're not going to here" game. Labor laws are very different from many other countries and you need to remember that the legal minimum ...
Roatan Rent: What $350/Month Gets You
Roatan Rent time again! Keeping in line with all the changes I've been making lately, I finally made one that's been a long time coming: I just moved to a new place!(You may remember the other posts in this series - Roatan Rent: What $300/Month Gets You and Roatan Rent: What $400/Month Gets You. These are some of my most popular posts, so I guess people are interested in this...?)I'm on move #8 in three years here which is kind of a lot, but what can I say... I've got itchy feet! The last ...
Roatan Month 33 Roundup
Trying to get back into the habit of my monthly roundups! I also posted more than once this month, so there's actually something to put in the roundup.I've had a crazy month since I last posted. I had a visit from Alex in Wanderland, and it was a serious 'full circle' moment for me. I remember when I first found her blog - I was sitting at my desk in Vancouver four years ago looking up everything I could about Roatan, and found her posts about a trip there. I didn't know that there were people ...
Don’t Judge A Package Vacation Until You’ve Done One
When I was growing up, I watched as my friends’ families faithfully went on charter vacations to exotic-sounding locations like Puerta Vallarta and Cancun every spring break. They would come back with cornrows in their hair, stories of snorkeling with tropical fish, and tan lines in the middle of the cold Canadian winter. I never thought much of it, as my family wasn’t very interested that type of vacation.When I got older and started traveling solo and with friends, my backpacker buddies ...