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I just spent an incredible 48 hours immersed in nature. CJ and I, along with 3 other couple of friends, left early on Friday morning for an adventure in the Florida Keys.
Ponce de Leon discovered the Dry Tortugas in 1513 when he caught over 100 sea turtles there. Subsequently the islands were referred to as the “Tortugas” (turtles). During the 1600s and 1700s the area around these islands was used by pirates as a base for attacking merchant shipping in the Gulf.
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I am incredibly grateful to have been introduced to freediving and spearfishing by no other than Valentine Thomas, a freediving instructor, published chef and advocate for sustainable eating, who quit her job in London to live a simple life and to spread the word about eating responsibly and following her dreams.
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The following list is for all the dive babes and spearfishing aficionados. Whether you’re already a scuba diver that wants to get into freediving or a freediver that wants to start spearfishing, here are a few essentials to get you started or to upgrade your equipment.
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I woke in Pavones, known as a surfer's haven, and got ready to go diving. On our way to the boat CJ picked some flowers and that immediately put a smile on my face. There’s just something about wearing flowers in my hair that makes me feel like a real island / coconut girl. I mean it was a Monday morning and I was wearing a bikini on a remote beach in Costa Rica with flowers in my hair next to the jungle. It felt pretty amazing.
We were on the boat for a while before getting to our first location of the day. On the way there, we saw a pod of dolphins swimming right next to us. For those who know me, I love dolphins and the symbolism associated with this creature. Dolphins have been a symbol of protection and good luck since Ancient times. To encounter a dolphin at sea has throughout the ages in cultures around the world been considered a good omen and a great symbol of good luck. The Dolphin is an emblem of living our true purpose of living a creative life, filled with joy and fulfillment - living a life on purpose and contributing to the greater good of all. Needless to say that I felt pretty lucky and aligned in that moment.
A few minutes later, we were putting our wetsuits on and getting our dive gear ready when our captain noticed a humback whale swimming right next to our boat!!! I don’t think I ever had the chance to be so close to one of these giants. We saw the whale swim up and down, coming up for air a few times before finally diving into the depths.
CJ then got in the water, saw this monster cubera snapper and stoned it. I took some underwater pictures of him and listened to him tell the story of what happened below the surface.
This 60 pounder would have gotten dragged him around if he didn’t hit the off button. These fish usually destroy gear and break hearts, but not this day! When he saw this fish, he knew it was going to be hard to play tug of war and keep this fish from rocking up.
He was using his @neritic_diving enclosed track reel gun, pulling the trigger just as it turned its head. He watched as the shaft entered the the head of this animal, immediately sinking without twitching.
We then jumped in the water for a quick mermaid shoot and then headed back home while seeing more dolphins swim by. It’s like they were escorting us back safely.
The day couldn’t have been any better! The view was amazing, the weather was perfect and I was with my person enjoying the ocean.
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Tadoussac is a few hours away from Montreal so it’s easy to escape the city for a few days for a nature getaway. A beautiful drive at this time of year because the the fall colors are everywhere and the trees all have this orange/red hues. I have always wanted to explore my region as well as hike and see the whales in Canada and Tadoussac was the perfect location for this. The highlight of the trip was definitely sleeping in a yurt under the stars in the middle of nowhere.
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Some of you might have noticed already that I love bikinis and they are definitely a big part of my wardrobe. So here is a company I recently discovered for your next bikini shopping, you might want to save it as those beautiful beach days are already here.
Read MoreIn Valentine Thomas’ Ted Talk “Tomorrow, I could die” she asks what would you do if you faced a shark in the water? How would you react? Would you panic, would you remain calm or would you push your dive buddy in front of you?
That was the first time I faced a shark in the water while my friends were spearfishing and even though my life was never in real danger, I think I remained pretty calm. At least I didn’t push my buddy in front of the shark
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I wanted to share one of my favorite swimsuit brands I recently discovered last summer after I met Hannah while on a sailing trip.
Hülya Swim not only makes bikinis that look amazing, they are also focused on the greater good of the planet.
Read MoreI’m a true believer that we have to follow the things that excite us because they aren’t random. They are connected to our purpose. We have to follow them and the world will thank us for it. Our dreams and our passions, our curiosities and our sources of joy, they are on purpose, and they are part of something bigger that we could ever comprehend.
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Picture by @j.kowitz
Did you know that coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate ?
Coral reefs are the rainforests of the oceans, providing a home for a dazzling array of life. Reef-building corals are the trees that form the foundation of the ecosystem.
Coral reefs play a vital role in sustaining the health of our oceans and our economy.
Even if you live far from coral reefs, you can have an impact on reef health and conservation.
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We do get hungrier at sea as we’re rarely just sitting around doing nothing, we spend all our days being active, swimming, fishing and island exploring. So we had to cook often and be creative to make meals that were going to sustain everyone.
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When I first started diving, I never thought I would ever jump in the water on purpose to swim with sharks. A few year later, here I am observing and diving with sharks in the ocean. I discovered that they are not only fascinating creatures, their symbolism also really resonated with me.
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Pigs of Paradise, Iganuas and Nurse Sharks. While island adventuring on Boom Sharkalaka here are some of the places we stopped by for a taste of the Exumas.
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Some destinations have taken the first steps toward reopening their cities to travelers, including countries across Europe and several islands in the Caribbean. I took a chance and left Montreal to go sailing in The Bahamas with friends.
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These past few months I’ve had the incredible opportunity to go sailing around The Bahamas. We started off in Nassau and set sails towards the Exumas and Ragged Island. I ended up spending a total of 5 weeks on the boat, adventuring and exploring the islands.
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Drone picture by John Kowitz
She travels because her soul yearns for her to explore—she needs to travel.
She doesn’t just travel for the beautiful places, she travels as a form of meditation. A way to reconnect with her heart and soul. It’s as much an internal process as it is an external one.
She loves the feeling of salt water in her hair and on her skin. She enjoys spending time with just herself in the rugged, rocky, snowcapped mountains. She travels for the moments alone that inspire her to just be herself—completely human.
A woman who travels isn’t seeking anyone to complete her—she is whole on her own. She travels to expand herself and how the world labels her. She’s not your conventional woman, and you can’t mold her to become one.
A woman who travels is deeply in love with herself and will be deeply in love with you. She is not here to hold back, but rather to share everything she knows and feels. She knows that to love means to be vulnerable, to be courageous, and to live in her truth.
A woman who travels lives for adventure. Not always in other countries, places, or spaces, but even in mundane tasks of her daily life. She can make anything adventure, even brushing her teeth or cooking a meal, because every moment is precious to her.
Love a woman who travels if you are looking to open and expand your mind. For she will challenge you to do this. She wants you to grow, and she will challenge you to think outside the conventional, socially constructed box of what life should look like. She doesn’t have a checklist; she listens to the beat of her heart and honors her intuition.
A woman who travels does not view this journey of life as a linear one. It’s not black and white. It has color and sparkle. To her, it is about the moments of traveling through the journey—not just arriving at the destination.
A woman who travels is independent by nature. She travels by herself, but she is also grateful to share her time on the road with others through coffee and chai, and through heart opening and healing conversations that expand her to grow and remind her why she is grateful to travel this earth.
She needs someone who knows how to be alone and appreciates moments of solitude. She also needs someone who is not afraid of the mystery of the unknown. To find the adventure in taking chances—in saying yes to life.
She needs to be challenged, just as she will challenge you to expand your mind and open your heart. She is here to grow, not stay the same. She is here to experience life, to be open to receiving it all. She wants to open her heart to life, to raw human moments.
She is not here to hide. She is here to dance with the moonlight and kiss under the stars. She is here to make mistakes, to be messy and create her own unique story. She colors outside of the lines. She lives by her own rules. Knowing that sometimes she will fall, but she will look to the sun and moon to rise again and again. She will rise all over again.
A woman who travels knows what she needs, and she will be honest with you. She is not here to remain small and to fall into the habit of small talk. She is here to understand the depth of life. She is not afraid to ask the hard and soft questions.
She is not looking for someone to complete her. She is looking for someone to experience the precious moments of life with. To deeply reflect with and share her mind, heart, and soul with. She know she is enough on her own—she does not need a partner to complete her, she simply wants to share moments with you. And that is a big difference, because she is not looking to change you or herself—she’s only looking to expand.
Loving a woman who travels is an adventure of a lifetime, but it is not an easy task. It will open you up to new ideas on what your life can look and feel like. You will look at life differently by seeing life through her loving eyes.
She will show you that the journey is filled with insight and wisdom if you just take the time to notice and observe. To let go of “should” and live in “could be” or “let’s see.”
She lives in the possibility of yes, but she also knows how to and when she needs to say no.
She will ask you questions, because she wants to know and understand the true essence of your soul, what makes you come alive. She wants to know all about it and even experience it with you.
She needs someone who isn’t afraid to be loved deeply. Who wants to really feel their existence. Who can sit naked, holding hands, and doesn’t need words to fill the silence.
She is not here to live and play small. She is here to experience the universe, and to discover the magic that is hidden in every corner. She is curious and she is wise. You must honor the wisdom that shines from her soul. For it is her wisdom and love of herself that has brought her to where she is.
She does not want things. She desires experiences. You cannot buy her love, you can only be wholeheartedly part of it. She is here to share her heart with herself and others. She believes the heart is the greatest gift you have to offer. For she will open you in ways you’ve never been opened.
Because she does not want pieces of you, she wants all of you—every single piece that has shaped who you have become. She wants to be part of your story. She is not looking to erase your past experiences or her own. She knows that these pieces are what make you who you are. She honors that. She doesn’t want you to hide, she wants you to shine.
A woman who travels is not for everyone. She knows that. She is not looking for a pretty face, someone nice on the eyes. For most of the time, she leaves her makeup off so you can enjoy her natural, sun-kissed glow. She doesn’t want to hide behind a mask of chemicals on her face and social constructions around her body. She wants to be accepted and loved for exactly who she is: a naked face, a pure heart, and a precious body that has a story to tell.
But she always wants to share her divine feminine with you. She might wear lipstick, not for her lover but for herself. She might take the time to curl her hair, paint her nails, and put on an outfit that shows her sacred body. But she always knows how to take it off at the end of the day and just be herself in jeans, hiking boots, coconut oil in her hair, and without anyone telling her that she must present herself a certain way to be accepted and to be loved.
She is a beautiful, sacred mystery that you must honor.
She is more than just a social media post. Her genuine presence will touch you. Her vulnerability shines. And she’s not afraid to share that with you. She needs a mind that will stimulate her and a heart that will nourish her. Feed her the soul food she needs. Get to know her internal essence.
She is looking for someone who isn’t perfect, but who wants to be brave. She wants you to be real and raw. She is not looking for the edited version—she is looking for the wholehearted version. If you want to love a woman who travels, do not cover up for her. Show yourself—all of it.
Love a woman who travels, but also let her go. Let her reclaim her wild, intuitive spirit and give her the heartful space to wander.
Fall in love with a woman who travels to go on an adventure of a lifetime.
And, most importantly, take the time to fall in love with her mind—the wings that will carry her home to roots of her heart.
AUTHOR: RUTH KRUG via elephant journal
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Here’s to the girls who would rather stay wild and wander than settle down. The ones who have said, “I like you, but I love to travel so as much as I’d like to stay I have to go.” The girls who don’t want a “normal” life and actually refuse to live it.
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The old legend tells of a Mermaid called Mamparia Cutu. She was half woman and half fish that would sit on the black rock, golden hair blowing in the wind, her fish body shimmering green, like a parrot fish. During storm, the residents of the nearby village would hear the waves hitting the holes and the ricks like huge drums playing.
Read MoreComing back from a trip always makes me think about what is a ‘‘home’’. Is it your city? The roof over your head? The people you love?
What is it about new places that make them feel like home?
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