Preparing for Grenada III

So, tomorrow the time has come and I'll head off to Grenada. But as I have just finished the shopping part, getting new bikinis, shorts and some other travel essentials, now,  the most annoying part is due - packing.

Even though packing means that your going on holiday, I really dislike gathering everything I want to take with me in my room and then squeezing it into a way too small suitcase - unpacking less important things and starting all over again until everything fits - grrrr!

Well, right now I am sitting in between piles of clothes, bikinis and shoes, blasting my new favorite playlist on youtube (getting into the tropical holiday mood - oh yesss!) writing this blogpost and looking up things I can do while I am visiting Grenada. Hello procrastination! haha.  But there is so much cool stuff to do that I can't wait and will now fiiiiiiiiinally start to pack my suitcase before enjoying a last pampering afternoon. Have I mentioned that there is no shower on the boat I'm staying on?  This is gonna be quite an adventure, but I will try to keep you updated and also share some pics on my instagram with you.

Cheers and happy holidays!

Em

Preparing for Grenada II

Having been on happy pills for the last week makes me feel as if I will handle the flight in two weeks just fine. Although, I had some problems with the side effects at first, feeling sick and dizzy all day, it now operates well. However, I still can't believe they put me on that kind of medication. I never thought I would ever need them. But well, here I am with my happy pills. Feeling good and prepared.

ginger me matching the grand canyon

So, next up on my travel preparation list is my sun allergy. As a ginger (yes, I am naturally red headed, have freckles and could be a vampire according to my skin tone - except I'm not sparkling like Edward Cullen when I'm in the sunlight) an allergic reaction to intense sunlight is almost preprogrammed in my genes. Hence, whenever I'm facing the sun I get red and swollen arms with ugly, itchy and burning blisters all over them - YUK!! 

But not on my watch - not anymore!

Again, I went to see a doctor (guess the people at the health insurance already love me...aah NOT - for seeing multiple doctors in a week, haha) and for the first time they checked and prepared me properly. As, the last time I have consulted a medic about my sun allergy he told me that I probably have just touched a poisonous plant and that there's nothing to do about it. No wonder that I'm not very keen on seeing doctors!! Pf! 

Saint George, here I come! 

But this time they really took time to see me and gave me a diet plan to detox, drops, creams and cortisone pills for the worst case. Goodbye sun allergy and off to my personal favorite point of the preparation list - shopping! 

See ya, 

Em 

Preparing for Grenada I

As you might already know I am going to spend three weeks on a Caribbean island starting in 21 DAYS! And guess what - even though I'm very excited to go there, I'm not even close to being prepared. You may think now.. it's the Caribbean, what is there to prepare for? But for me it really is  quite a lot!

First of all, I have to figure out how to get on that 11 hours flight across the Atlantic Ocean with my flight phobia.
When I was a kid, I really loved going somewhere by plane and was excited every time I saw an airplane in the sky. However, some day, when I was about 18 years old and on my way to Paris, France, I sat in the plane and just panicked. I have no clue about what was different to this flight or what has changed in my life to cause this reaction: All of a sudden, I started shaking, my hands were sweaty, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think clearly and inside of me I felt this terrible fear for my life. Although, the plane wasn't even hitting turbulence, I just couldn't calm myself down.
Since this trip I have never again been able to enjoy a flight. I have tried progressive muscle relaxation therapy, music and other entertaining distractions, not sleeping the night before, valerian  and meditation, but nothing could keep my heart from racing, my hands from sweating or my mind sticking to the obsessive thought of the plane crashing.

Today, I haven't sat in an airplane for 7 months and just catching a glimpse of the flight mode icon on my phone, not to speak of actually getting on an airplane and being locked in there for 11 hours, makes me FREAK.
To avoid this quite uncomfortable situation in February, I've started doing extra sessions of yoga practicing Pranayama and Savasana (Breathing and Relaxation) to comfort myself and shorten the time it takes me until being completely calm. I'm also going to see a doctor this week to get some tranquilisers for the worst case, hoping that I won't need them. But tbh, I have no idea how to get over this fear and back to enjoying  flights.

Help!
Em

Next stop: Grenada

Aaaaaahhh.. I am so excited! I have just booked my flight to Grenada, the next place on my bucket list, departing on 4th February 2016.

As I was told, this is one of the most beautiful islands in the southeast Caribbean Sea, popular for its rum and chocolate, but also the colourful carnival in August, which I'll unfortunately miss this time. 

Even though, I thought this trip couldn't be more exciting - it can, as I will be staying on a sailing boat for three weeks and so be able to return to some of my already discovered Caribbean happy places, like Tobago, with the breath taking horse shoe rief. (say whaaaat!) 

But I will not spend my whole time with sailing. By exchanging travel tips with friends, I found out that there is this weekly hash, a kind of treasure hunt leading across the island to the most hidden and untouched spots, which I will definitely check out, besides pursuing my newly discovered passion for kite surfing and body boarding further.

One of my happy places in Martinique

But to keep myself from exploding of happiness and excitement right now, I will stop this here and start counting the days: 29 to go. 

Then we'll find out if my buzz was justified and what else this beautiful island has to offer. If it'll join my list of happy places? We'll find out soon!

See ya!

Love, 

Em