Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 460

I am grateful, for the beautiful people of Malawi.

In England I usually wake up to the sound of a song I used to like before it started startling me at 7 in the morning and telling me I need to go to work. In Africa however I started waking up to the sound of a cockerel cock-a-doodle-dooing.

Yeah I know what you’re thinking; I too thought this was just something you see on cartoons, I too didn’t believe it ACTUALLY HAPPENED. But it does, in Africa, and it made me smile every single time. But on this day, I know it’s hard to believe, but my wake up caller was even better than the village cockerel; even more in tune and even more magical.

On this day I was awoken by the sound of Matilda, a 5 year old local delight, singing the winning lyrics of Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’…

As my eyes opened so did my mouth; I woke up, grinning, for possibly the first time in my life. I jumped from my bed, mosquito net thrown across the floor, and ran outside; again, a first. I threw the door open like something out of a musical and immediately started clapping rhythmically and wiggling around the summer hut; it was classic case of ‘white person trying to dance’ but I felt so alive and so awake and I did not care. Less than a minute later, a fellow volunteer burst out the other door of the house; she was also taken over by the spirit of Shakira. We danced around the summer hut for over 5 minutes just singing, clapping and smiling; people always say the ridiculous phrase ‘I could not stop smiling’ but in this instance I genuinely couldn’t. By the end of it my face hurt but I’ve never cherished pain so much. This was happy pain; yeah, that exists. It was like a small scale flash mob had erupted in the hut but there was no organisation necessary; we did need to be told to dance around like idiots, we didn’t need to be told to ‘smile for the camera’. We didn’t need to be told. We were genuinely smiling and we were genuinely happy.

This was the best wake up experience of my life and one I will never forget; I have tried to re-create it back home in England but nobody seems to want to join in here, and strangely nobody seems to have the same passion for Shakira as that little Malawian girl.

I got these ‘oh my god I’m in Africa’ moments throughout my time there and this was definitely one of the most memorable ones. A lot of the time you kind of forget that you’re in Africa, because the people are so welcoming I think and because it feels so natural to be there within days, it’s almost like you’re home and you’ve been waiting to come here for your whole life. But when it hits you that you are in Africa, it really hits you.

Malawi; one of those African countries that everyone who just watches the news pities and fears, is probably the place in the world that I felt safest, and truly happy. It’s the 9th poorest country in the world; 53% of its people live below the poverty line, but these people should not be just christened ‘poor’ and put in a bracket. Every single person I met in that country inspired me in one way or another.

They should be treated as individuals that, despite lacking wealth and/or possessions can still make a difference in this world of ours. I went over there to volunteer teaching but I truly believe they taught me more than I taught them. They may not have taught me in an academic sense but they educated me on life and I certainly remember more of what they told me than what my teachers told me at school.

I am truly grateful that I share our planet with these beautiful people. I am truly grateful that I got the chance to spend time getting to know them. And I am truly grateful that I can call many of them my friends. I can’t wait to go back to the Warm Heart Of Africa; Malawi; my second home.

About the Author: My name is Evie Dickinson, I’m 19 and I am from England. I am, right this second, supposed to be at university. But instead I am, right this second, planning my trip back to Africa. I have only just started writing about my experiences abroad but I hope it will one day be something I can earn some money doing! I love to write but most of all I love to meet the people we share our world with that we never thought we’d get the opportunity to meet.

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Stop Food Discrimination. Enjoy the Possibilities!

For the longest time, whenever I would travel to a new place, it was just for the sights, sounds and smells.  I typically turned my nose up at any foreign foods or cuisine that I did not find familiar.  I have found that it is not only I that will travel to a destination such as Kuwait but would only eat at the familiar fast food restaurants that I knew from the United States.  I always thought, “Man, if I eat that I will probably get sick or die.”  I overlooked the potential for deliciousness by masking it with a fear of the unknown.  I call my previous way of thought, food discrimination.

It was not until a couple trips ago that I gave in because I was absolutely famished and there were not any of my normal restaurants around.  It was in Al Barsha, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and literally, the only restaurant near my hotel was a little corner cafeteria that sold local style foods.  Giving in to my hunger I approached the shop but did not go inside at first.  I was looking at the unfamiliar food stuffs on the menu and displayed in the window.  Finally my trip companion Seth and I decided that we would go inside as some of the items on the menu looked (thanks to the thumbnail images on the menu) edible to some degree.  Of course we were still being snobbish and skeptical about the whole situation.  Though all of the other patrons were local construction workers and businessmen, the gentleman at the front counter ushered us in with a very warm smile and sat us at a remarkably clean table.  He then brought us out another menu similar to the one that we had seen outside, only this one contained descriptions in English!  I remember how horrible I felt to have snubbed my nose at this man and his restaurant when now the descriptions of the menu items sounded delicious.  While I cannot remember what exactly it was that I stuffed in my face, I do know that I would have missed out on a terrific opportunity had I decided to keep going until I found those familiar golden arches or some other overrated fast food joint.  Needless to say, I frequented this restaurant three or four more times during my visit.

Since shedding my attitude of food discrimination, I have tried countless culinary wonders that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.  On a visit to Sri Lanka, we were away from all civilization for the day and would be cooked our food by one of our tour guide’s people.  I didn’t worry at all.  No matter what the cook brought out to be served, I would try a sampling and if I found it not to my liking, I would simply look for other things that I could eat.  I have learned that sampling foods is regarded as being “less rude” than just turning your nose up at the dish.  I was completely overwhelmed by the assortment of foods brought to our table.  Each meal was its own testament to my new found thought process.  Sweet and spicy mango chutney, Kiri bath (a Sri Lankan dish of coconut milk rice), Lunu miris (a concoction of red onions and spicy red pepper paste) and Aapa (Sri Lankan flat bread) are now on the top 10 list of things that I have had the opportunity to eat and would again in a second.

If there is one recommendation that I can make to you fellow travelers, it is to make sure you take the most away from any trip.  The only way to do this is to expand your horizons, try new exciting experiences, to include foods and to dive into the culture no matter what location you may find yourself.  We travel to see new, beautiful and sometimes miraculous sights and to toss out the old phrase “Been there, done that.” If you have not immersed yourself in the culture of the area you are visiting, have you really had the full experience?

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Memorial Day Weekend in DC

We celebrated Memorial Day in the US, a holiday to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. What better way to spend it than visiting the U.S. capital? On Friday afternoon I folded my Montague bike, stashed it in the trunk, and went straight ahead to Washington DC. The trip from Boston was long, and the weekend traffic was crazy, but once we arrived, all the driving was worth it.

My first must-see building was The White House. We were allowed much closer than I had imagined, and while it was also a bit smaller than I imagined… I wouldn’t mind living there .

From there, I went to visit The Lincoln Memorial. The building, shaped like a Greek Doric temple, has a large sculpture of Abraham Lincoln seated with inscriptions of his two most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. Passing through The National Mall and The World War II National Memorial, a memorial to the Americans who served and died in World War II, I came to the Washington Monument. It was a pity that it was closed for repairs and I couldn’t go up, but it was an impressive structure none the less. The surrounding area was a nice quiet green where we could get some rest after our ride.

And of course, I also visited The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, one of the Founding Fathers of the nation and third president of USA.

The Capitol of the United States was another must see. This building houses the two chambers of Congress, and the architecture was very impressive! On Sunday we toured numerous museums of The Smithsonian Institution. Everything from The National Air and Space Museum, and The National Museum of Natural History, to finally seeing the Declaration of Independence in The National Archives Building.

Positive note: ALL FOR FREE!

On Monday, Memorial Day, I went to visit The Arlington National Cemetery. The gravestones were adorned with American flags to commemorate this day, and it was certainly emotional for everyone there. Our final stop was to visit The Iwo Jima Memorial. This statue depicting American soldiers raising a flag during the battle of Iwo Jima is an iconic image, and it was great to see in person.

There are still many places left to visit in DC. The city is packed with historical monuments and museums, so I hope to come back soon! And of course I’ll be back with my bike. The city is perfectly suited for an easy and convenient tour by bicycle. Look! Separated bike lanes!? Take note Boston!

Bringing a bike along was one of the best ideas I’ve had, and since it was a Montague folding bike, I could easily put it in the car trunk and store it safely! It was very quick riding from one place to another and I was able to see much more over the course of the weekend. Visiting Washington by bike was really amazing. It’s the best way to see the city in my opinion! The worst part was having to come back home … I give my trip and A+!

About the Author: Marta Coya Roma loves to laugh, live and bike!

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Myanmar: Exotic Burma Webinar Oct 23 Join us!

Penn Alumni Travel: Explore Exotic Burma

Join Penn grad Lisa Niver Rajna (C’89) and her husband George Rajna, founders of We Said Go Travel, for a special inside look at Myanmar travel. Myanmar holds a special place in the hearts of Lisa and George. They met online because Lisa told George, “The Shwedagon Pagoda is my favorite place on the planet.” In October 2012, the duo meandered in Myanmar for 27 days and now have 45 videos of their journey on YouTube as part of their 130+ video channel. Join them for a webinar on the highlights of this unique and unspoiled land. Learn what to do, what to wear, and when to go to see the magic of Myanmar. [Penn Alumni Travel will be visiting Myanmar in November 2014. Click here for more information.]

Our 45 videos in Myanmar from last October: Click here

George and I met online because of the magic of Burma! Want to know more?

Watch this: 8b He Said She Said at Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) 

September 29, 2012. George and I met online because of the Schwedagon Pagoda. During my travels to over one hundred countries, I had visited the Schwedagon Pagoda in 2001 at sunset and it has always been one of my favorite and most memorable places. I mentioned that to George in one of our first online dating emails and he was hooked! A woman with exotic international travel in her blood that is what he wanted in a life partner. From the beginning, we talked about returning to Yangon together to see Schwedagon Pagoda at Sunset and now here we are!

Enjoy our story!

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My Traveling Experience to England

MY TRAVELLING EXPERIENCE BY TRAIN FROM LONDON

TO SWANSEA FOR DIFFERENT SHEDULES.

England’s railway network is one of the biggest in the world. We are the second largest nation in the world with 63000 Kilometers of rail laid. It carries passengers and goods throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is the cheapest mode of travel as compared to air travel and road transport. The railways promote tourism. It brings the people of different parts of the country closer. It helps in achieving national integration. The railways are the country’s wheels of progress and prosperity when it comes to travelling sector.

In ancient times, people used to go by bullock-carts and on horseback. It used to take months to reach a far-off place. But nowadays, railways can carry a passenger to his destination within a few hours.

This year, I decided to go to London, to watch live match of my favorites team Arsenal and apply my course of study at Barts and the London school of medicines. My secondary school friends owns a Sport shop at Swansea. I packed up my luggage and went to the London Railway Station in a taxi.

I reached the Railway Station half an hour before the start of the train. There was a long queue at the railway booking office. I was able to purchase a ticket for Swansea with great difficulty. I engaged a coolie to carry my luggage and went to Platform No. 5. There was a great rush at this platform.

Before the train could stop, passengers started boarding it. I was lucky to get a seat by the side of a window and am already hoping for that so that I can be able to buy the fruits before we left. The passengers threw their luggage inside the train through the open windows. Many passengers were trying to get in while others were trying to alight through the doors. There was a lot of pushing and jostling. A pick¬pocket deprived a person of all the money he was carrying in his pocket.

The guard of the train blew the whistle at 8.30 P.M. and waved the green flag. The train started and in a few moments picked up speed. The compartment was packed to suffocation. Some passengers had to sit down on the floor of the compartment. Others occupied the place meant for keeping the luggage. A few passengers could not find any space. They had to stand.

Our compartment had people from all walks of life-doctors, businessmen, government employees, bank employees, teachers and students. Every now and then beggars came to beg, hawkers came to sell books and magazines. One quack entered the compartment and offered a medicine which he claimed was a panacea for all ills and the man help me also in getting some apples from his colliques.

Some passengers in the compartment were very talkative. They started discussing politics. There was a heated discussion on the threat of terrorism in the country and how to combat it. Some teachers and students engaged themselves in discussing the salient features of the New Education Policy of the country. The problem of rising prices was another favorite topic.

By 9.00 P.M. most of the people in the compartment fell asleep. I could not enjoy sound sleep during the night’s journey because at every station, passengers kept coming in and going out of the compartment.

Once, I had to go to the toilet. I was shocked to find that it was very dirty. It looked as if it had not been cleaned for a number of days. The mirror in the toilet was missing. Someone had stolen even the tap. I wondered why people in country like England steal railway property.

At the Swansea Railway Station, I changed to the Taxi for Friends location. The journey from London to Swansea had to be covered by a narrow-gauge train. Though the compartments in this train were small in size, they were beautiful. This train followed the mountainous track in a zigzag manner. It passed through many tunnels and beautiful valleys. A cool breeze was blowing. The mountains were full of green trees, plants and grass. The scenery was beautiful. The one-hour journey from London to Swansea was thus very pleasant.

When I reached Swansea, I found the weather very fine. I thanked God for seeing me through; I would be away from the scorching heat of London. My Friend Abubakar had come to the railway station to receive me and move to his place.

About the Author: Sani Jibo: I am simple and easy going person who likes Reading, Chatting and travelling to unknown place.

I am 21 years old and from Katsina, Nigeria. Find me on Facebook or Twitter @Sani_J_Sani

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Myanmar: Birthday Wishes Part 2 (video)

Today is my 46th birthday, October 18, 2013. Last year, I donated my birthday to raise money for Solar Cookers. I asked friends in Myanmar to help me have 45 people say Happy Birthday to me in 45 languages!

What do I want for my birthday this year?

I would love you to BUY OUR BOOK! Traveling in Sin or share it with a friend!

WATCH: 34 Festival and Birthday Wishes Part 2, Myanmar (Burma)

October 18-20, 2012 We enjoyed the preparations for the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival and more singing birthday wishes on the Lake and all around town. I loved the chocolate banana pancake at Pancake Kingdom! I ate it for lunch twice!

George took me to Green Chili Thai restaurant for dinner. For my 45th birthday I worked with JWW to donate solar cookers to refugee families in Darfur. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. Together we collected enough money to help 50 families.

Birthday wishes from Australia, Germany, France, Myanmar, Thailand and USA! My article about the festival in print The Myanmar Times. This movie is from our 28 days in Myanmar (Burma) from September 28, 2012 to October 26, 2012 and our year TRIP in South East Asia, see all the videos from our trip.

See PART ONE here.

Traveling in Sin is a HOT NEW Release on Amazon! from Lisa Niver Rajna

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Nepal: Jubilation and Revelation

Nepal: Jubilation and Revelation on the Annapurna Circuit

We are hiking up a steep slippery path in early morning darkness when George slips, rolls over and pukes three times. With the light of my torch I see how pale and sick he is. George has been struggling with altitude sickness for the past few days and it is clear that this is as far as he can go. With the high camp near I go to find a porter to help him back down. When I return I see again how flushed and shaken George is. I feel terrible to leave him but there is little choice. I need to do the pass now. We say a hasty goodbye and George turns back, visibly relieved his trauma is over.

I go on hoping to catch up to the other trekkers but am well behind them. We have taken two hours to do a climb the others did in one. As the morning sky slowly illuminates the surrounding mountains I try to catch up. At an altitude of five thousand metres it is difficult to rush as any exertion means I am panting, reeling with my hands on my knees, leaning on my stick. I shuffle up sluggishly barely moving my feet with every step but am still forced to take regular breaks. Gasping desperately for air, my hard breathing scorches my throat.

Ten days ago we started the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal and every day we steadily moved higher, every day edging closer to the mountains we had come to find, each day better than the last. We followed a valley often wedged between a cliff and a drop to the river. We went through villages with groups of shy children acting as toll merchants demanding sweets, chocolates, school pens or balloons. We crossed suspension bridges every day, always swaying and bouncing and unnerving. We kept going, pushing on and upwards getting glimpses of looming snow-covered mountains in the far-off distance.

George, my hiking partner, and every other trekker shared in the growing excitement. We would discuss our wonder at night around the fires in the teahouses. We made friends easily, the joy of the journey easily breaking down any barriers.

Half-way to the pass we climbed through small forests with the red colours of rhododendron bushes bursting through the green. The air was particularly colder than the previous days and soon the forest thinned out, the terrain became barren and we entered the larger mountains. The changes were an encouraging sign of progress. The conversations also turned from excitement to philosophy. Traveling through its calm solitudes, so far removed from the tensions of civilization, clarity and hopefulness pervaded our thinking. We all seemed to be overwhelmed with grandiose ideas for the future. Our thoughts seemed to reflect the magnificent mountains we were passing through.

We walked alone or with others, talking a little but simply content to be moving and making our way. We ambled up and up. The only thing we needed to do was to keep moving, not necessarily at a fast pace but always to just keep moving. Then we neared the pass and a completely new challenge.

After three hours of solo toil I come upon other hikers who have been feeling very sick and nauseous and moving very slowly, even slower than me. With their spirits faltering the news of George seems to only add to their struggle. While resting we remark on the view and our inability to appreciate it in our fatigued states. We start off again, the angle of the climb is less severe than before but nevertheless we walk at a crawling pace for the next few hours up and over small hills. We keep encouraging each other and eventually after a period of quiet desperation we reach the Thorung La Pass at 5416m.

As we are taking photos clouds envelop us and the view disappears. Almost immediately it starts snowing spurring us to start our descent. We clamber down jubilantly, joyous with our achievement and that the hardest slog is over. At the steeper parts we slide down on our bums in the snow and pause at intervals to stare out into the whiteness and catch snowflakes on our tongues.

It is understandable why there is so much said of the mysticism and spiritualism of these mountains. There is a definite power to rejuvenate and invigorate, to encourage us to take on whatever the future may hold. This strength that it passes on to the trekkers is almost tangible. We are delighted with the achievement, a monumental challenge that will end up taking almost three weeks but there is something deeper we take with us too. The personal revelations, the contentment and profound feelings we have on the way.

It is easy to be inspired in these glorious mountains but the trick is to store that wisdom and then be able to call on it in times of need. The task is to retain the harmony and use its strength in the future, to carry the serenity of the Himalayas always within us.

About the Author: Matt is a drifter under the guise of going home when he finally decides what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He happily ignores the topic and keeps on drifting.

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Myanmar: Birthday Wishes (video)

Tomorrow is my 46th birthday, October 18, 2013. Last year, I donated my birthday to raise money for Solar Cookers. I asked friends in Myanmar to help me have 45 people say Happy Birthday to me in 45 languages!

What do I want for my birthday this year?

I would love you to BUY OUR BOOK! Traveling in Sin or share it with a friend!

WATCH: 33 Birthday Wishes Part 1 October 18, 2012, Myanmar (Burma) Here is Part one! Part two TOMORROW!

For October 18, 2012, my 45th birthday, I wanted to find 45 people to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We did find many people to participate in several languages!

We moved to the Golden Empress Hotel in room 105 for $30usd with wifi, breakfast, a terraces, a large wooden staircase, pretty ceilings and a great place for celebrating!

I enjoyed chocolate banana pancake lunch with more birthday singing. In movie 34. George took me to Green Chili Thai restaurant for dinner. For my 45th birthday I worked with JWW to donate solar cookers to refugee families in Darfur. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. Together we collected enough money to help 50 families.

This movie is from our 28 days in Myanmar (Burma) from September 28, 2012 to October 26, 2012 and our year TRIP in South East Asia, see all the videos from our trip.

Traveling in Sin is a TOP TEN Hot New Release! from Lisa Niver Rajna

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Alaska: Shimmering Still

Alaska: Shimmering Still

The light in the mountainous bowl shifted so tenderly, dusk seemed to last for most of the afternoon. After three months of being on the road, putting on my backpack for a trip into the subalpine terrain of Glacier National Park felt like a welcomed break. The hours of yellow and white road paint streaming by had coaxed me into the recesses of thought that sometimes linger a bit too long for comfort.

But wasn’t that really the biggest reason for this journey?

A quest. A simplistic lifestyle. A time in my life that would seem so long, yet be so short, all in the hope that I would come out on the other side wiser and with some kind of answer.

By the time the border of Montana was crossed, questions filled the

windshield of my perspective much faster than any answers seemed to come. I was homesick, relationship sick, identity struck, and tired. Beautiful places and experiences, people and memories had filled the days leading up to this moment – but my supposed lack of expectation had led me to a greater hope for the outcome of this trip than I ever knew.

A short hike up a horse trail, I nodded and smiled as a handful of other tourists made their way down the trail. Passing another hiker who was only making a day of the destination, Cracker Lake, I pushed my pace for a bit of distance.

“Is it worth it?” the heavy-set man would ask other hikers as he puffed up the mountain trail. I came to resent that question when I heard it asked in the wilderness: if a person didn’t want to find out, then why had they started?

This was an apt question as I wavered in my resolve to finish six months of a US road trip. All the doubt and frustration that I’d met at times in the journey’s preparation were trying to creep into my mind when I wasn’t keeping watch. If I didn’t want to find out what the path held, why had I even started?

After settling and setting up camp, Cracker Lake turned into a wild playground. The frigid turquoise water of the glacier-fed lake reflected the sky and numbed my aching feet. Glaciers held tight below the lip of the mountain bowl, trickling its ancient waters over cold stones that gathered into echoing cascades. The sun dipped low, casting a yellow-orange radiance over that jagged lip, showing off the iconic strip of lighter and darker granite that rolled along like a banner announcing “I am Glacier National Park and I know you will always recognize me.”

My eyes wandered to a mountain goat who skipped and hopped effortlessly on a seemingly vertical cliff. He picked his way around half of the bowl to meet another goat grazing on the invisible ledge plants before turning on a point and going back. This stuck me as quite the effort to simply say hello. He walked below the glow of the setting sun and everything became still – except for a shimmer in the sky.

I squinted and turned to face it, not quite able to make out the cause. The camera lens was barely strong enough to see these tiny sparkles clearly: seeds. From the next valley to the west, the wind came sweeping up and carried the cold scent of autumn. The grasses from the sunny side were exploding with seed pods ready to disperse and the wind happily caught them for the ride. They drifted up 1000 feet or more to burst across the ridgeline and into the air above me, only noticeable because of that moment of setting sun at a perfect angle.

I sat mesmerized by the rare and awesome sight. Knowing that this unique moment was a reflection of my journey as a whole, I knew that traveling the path I’d chosen was worth every moment, every emotion, every ache, and every joy… even if I didn’t find all the answers for my questions. Gratitude for the entire journey stood in the spotlight instead: time in nature, time with myself, experiencing life in its uncertainty and sweetness, and everything that made it possible in the first place.

I think of it every day and I would do it again in a moment.

About the Author: Cristen Jester is a Writer, Biologist, Life Coach, Medicine Woman, and new Mom. She resides in Nixa, Missouri, and thrives off of time with her family, the outdoors, and travel of any kind. Say hi or learn more about Cristen on her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/cristen.jester, or her blog, Adventure + 1 at http://adventureplus1.com.

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Mozambique Swimming with Dolphins Adventure Part 2

Mozambique Swimming with Dolphins Adventure Part 1

The skipper quickly gained our trust as he effortlessly negotiated the breaking waves. When clear, he cut-off the engines so we could remove our life jackets. And we all began our eager search for dolphins, and there they were, a pod of 14 bottlenose dolphins swimming close to our boat.

Courtney, owner of Halo Gaia, entered the water first to engage the dolphins. One of them reacted for a short while, but it seemed they were still sleeping. Did you know dolphins switch off half their brain whilst they sleep? The decision was for us all to get ready and enter the water with them. The skipper manoeuvred the boat and the next moment we were in the water. Some of our group enjoyed the dolphins as they swam alongside them, my daughter and I found ourselves above the dolphins when they decided to dive deeper and we watched the pod descend below us. It was a surreal moment, in a blink of an eye they were gone, swallowed up by the inky blackness of the ocean depths. Tired after the excitement, we headed back to the boat and were hauled in one by one.



On the return journey, we stopped over a reef for a snorkel where we saw a variety of different fish and turtles. My daughter age 9, and my son age 14, thoroughly enjoyed the launches, even though they each experienced slight sea sickness on the return journey which could be likened to a rollercoaster ride. The skipper negotiates the waves and then rushes directly towards the beach with such speed that you are convinced that you will be thrown over the prow of the boat when it inevitably comes to a sudden halt. As predicted, this sudden halt does occur, yet our bodies managed to defy physics and we stayed safely in position on the boat.

The following day’s trip was less stressful as we all now knew what to expect. I mentally prepared for a rear-end attack, yet this time was pleasantly surprised that I had managed to enter the boat without a repeat of the previous day’s humiliation. Although the inevitable ungainly wobbly on the side of the rubber duck seems to be unavoidable. On this trip we saw a humped back whale in the distance. We visited a different reef. Again we were rewarded with a variety of fish. At one point my whole body became a mass of stings from the water infused with Zooplankton. Interestingly the stings continued for a while once out of the water back on the boat. It was an uncomfortable sensation rather than a painful one.



Our final evening was the perfect conclusion to an enchanting trip, a friend had brought along twelve hot air lanterns that we launched from the beach into the night sky. There we stood, in the glow of candle light, fourteen friends having grown ever closer by this shared adventure.

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