The Lagoon of Seven Colours

Bacalar!  What a place.  It had been on my list of places to go but decided to skip it when I started traveling with Raph but because I extended my trip I was able to go and I am so glad I did.

The bus ride from Tulum was only 3 hours. I headed there literally right after my PADI dives. 

I went to the ADO (bus) station to check when the buses were, I literally had time to go back to the hostel grab my stuff and leave.   I decided to walk - with all my stuff - as it was only a ten minute walk but it was hot as fuck!!!  I was in my awesome bright pink flamingo shorts and a sports bra.  I was drenched like I had just gotten out of the shower... I looked like a homeless person...I'm surprised they let me on the bus lol.

One thing I love about Mexico is the random food.  We had a stop for ten minutes and these little women were standing there with trays of some sort of tacos for 12 pesos each... like maybe 0.75 cents...yummy!!!  I love Mexico and it's food.

The hostel was awesome.  My bed looked out onto the lagoon, though it was a walkout door and was quite loud at night.  Though these days I am sleeping through everything so it really wasn't too bad.

My first day I didn't really do anything, I had to work the next morning so I basically chilled and enjoyed the view.

The next day after I finished teaching I decided to go on a tour the hostel was offering.  I thought you can stay here and be lazy or you can go be social and meet people.  We took a bus ride for about 20 minutes to another part of the lagoon - 7 colours as in 7 shades of blue - we got out and walked
around a little grassed area.  We stopped at a spot with covered huts on the grassy ground and a ladder into the beautiful lagoon where you could see the different shades of blue.  We had music, snacks and drinks.  We literally hung out in the water all day drinking our drinks and talking and just enjoying the clear blue water.  It reminded me of the water in Isla Mujeres.   One of the hostel workers brought a blowup paddle board so just before we were supposed to leave we went for a little paddle tour and the bus was going to pick us up on the other side.

It was beautiful.  The water always so clear you can see the bottom...the minerals in it are what make it so blue.  I was sitting on the front of the board while he stood up paddling.  "Do you sing?" he asked.  "No.  But you should sing for me.  That way it's more like the gondola ride in Italy." So he did. 

We stopped at this hole that literally looked like a shark!  "My personal hot tub." He said.  Yup, where he likes to take all the girls...not gonna happen be we hung out there for a bit and enjoyed being fish in a shark and then had to head out to meet the bus.  Along this part of the lagoon it got long and along the left side there were steps getting out and there were heaps of people.  It was a private club...you could eat drink and enjoy the lagoon... so awesome! What a great chill day.

When we got back to the hostel I took a jump off the dock and went for a short swim in the lagoon.  Honestly, it felt so good to be in fresh water,  the water that I love so much back home.  It is the best feeling in the world.  As I swam back I started talking to these other two girls in the water, next thing you know I am sitting on the dock with a bunch of people enjoying the view, the air, the water and the vibe.  This is how I met Chelsea.  A Canadian who is super chill but full of love and energy.  She traveled India so right away we connected - for those of you that don't know I am going to India in a couple of months which is why I have to go home.   

We had drinks, then we went for dinner with a group from the hostel and when we for dinner.  Then I literally fell asleep in my clothes as soon as we got back.

The next day Ana got to the hostel around 1pm.  We had our girl talk and really just hung out for the day but we booked a sunset boat tour.  The problem was, I felt a sore throat coming on so I wasn't feeling great.  When I had checked in there was a German girl in the bunk above me who was really sick...so who knows if I caught what she had.   Plus I had booked my dives for Friday and needed to be well.

The sunset tour was really nice the first stop was Cenote Negro, it is inside the lagoon.  There are six or seven of them - I can't remember - and they constantly pump water into the lagoon.  If they stopped the lagoon would disappear.   It was a great spot, the water a perfect temperature the shore lined with lush green trees and docked boats. 

The second stop - which I really loved - was Cocolito.  This also had a cenote however everyone was super interested in the swings and hammocks in the water, no one even swam in the cenote.  There were these cool rock like formations in the water that are some of  or are the oldest living organisms on earth.  They pump out more oxygen then 7 hectares of trees and are full of minerals...pretty cool I would say. 

Ana and I took the photo op on the swings and even got the guys to help boost us up as they were really high.  It was so great!  Again, another little paradise in Mexico that I left a piece of myself in ... it just gets harder and harder to book my flight. 

Our last stop was at Las Canales del Pirates - I think.  This is where the pirates would come into the canal to steal a tree that could be used for the ink colour - I think I have that right.  There was a man made structure to look like a pirate ship that you could jump off of and swim around and some really nice wall art.  We went with the guide to a spot where there is this special mud.  If you rub all the mud on your skin and let it dry it is supposed to be great for your skin...but man did it stink.  It was like rotten eggs and I gagged a bit when I put it on my face.  Ughh, it was awful I wanted to vomit, but after a minute the smell went away.   I don't know if my skin is any better or softer though, but I guess it's all about the experience.

Sebastian had shown up to see Ana so they went for a late dinner and I went to bed.  I was exhausted, not feeling well and had to work in the morning.

That pretty much covers it.   It was a great two days and I am so happy I got to Bacalar.  I was wondering if going there I would feel more like I was at home than Mexico but I still felt like I was in Mexico and could've stayed longer....I wanted to, but I seriously have to come home and not extend anymore.   It was also really great to get some time just me and Ana...we have to say goodbye today and I am not looking forward to it.  We have become really close and I consider her my sister.  She is going to be a tough goodbye.

So now I must say goodbye as I have to leave for my dives in 20 minutes.  I went to the hospital in Bacalar for a prescription yesterday so Im feeling a bit better.

To the sea and turtles I must go.

                                                            - Mi Vida Hermosa -

Tulum - Part of Your World

I really want to talk a bit about Tulum.  Like every other place I have been to in Mexico I fell in love...but not right away.

I spent most of my time diving cenotes, doing my dive certification and going out a few nights. 

Ive met some good people...the staff at the hostel again lol...as I spent so much time in Tulum...10 days, I kept extending...mostly to do with my certification as it took me longer than I expected - which you know from the previous blog.

This past weekend I canceled my flight and decided to take some time to clear my head.  So Saturday night I had some drinks but came home and went to bed by 130am.  I was out with my British roommates...we all got to know each other because three of them were playing a question game about geography so I piped in with an answer and then the other roommates got involved and we all became friends after that.  We sat in the room answering questions about world geography laughing ... it was nothing overly special but it's moments like this that are part of what traveling is all about.   That same night my friend Anais - this is the third hostel we have been at together but didn't really talk until the one in Holbox and became close in Tulum - who is volunteering at the hostel asked me if I wanted to go with her the next night to a private party in a cave at a cenote.  "Hells yes! Screw the beach party!"

The next day (Saturday)  Ana (Anais) her guy Sebastian and I went for lunch to this nice little restaurant.  Honestly, Tulum has so many great restaurants to choose from.  The main street is lined with shops and restaurants and street food.  The hostel is situated pretty much in the centre so everything was in walking distance including my dive school and the main bar street that we went to at night!  I don't know the name of this street but I love it!  Bars line both sides of the street, they are all lit up at night with music pumping out, culumpios (swings) at the bar and people just out on the street drinking, dancing and having a good time - no cars! It's got such a great vibe to it and it makes me happy just being there - which is why I went there more than twice...maybe three times I can't remember, but that's not the point, the point is that everything was so close to the hostel.  The ruins, the cenotes, the Oxxo, banks, groceries even the ADO (bus) station was in walking distance.  I walked around on my own without fear, feeling free and comfortable there and no longer worried...I was beginning to like it in Tulum...then it all changed after our lunch. 

We were having a great time!  Lunch was great and the three of us had a really great vibe going and having a great laugh.  We decided to go to the beach.  Ana said she went to a private beach club for free she would just buy a drink from the bar and that was it so we hopped in a cab. 

Sebastian said the day before he had gone past the beach clubs to the end where the nature reserve was and ended up at an empty beach so we changed our minds and just kept going.

OMG!!! How had no one told me about this part of TULUM.... IN LOVE I fell instantly.  A small street with overhanging trees that gave you a jungle feeling, beautiful boutique stores with clothing that I just wanted to stop and touch and look at, beach clubs, restaurants OMG!!! Stop the cab!!! Haha but no we were going to the beach...I planned to come back the next day (Sunday) - which didn't happen, you will find out why so keep reading.

After what seemed like an eternity down a shitty road with jungle on either side Sebastian told the guy to stop.  We asked to him to be back for 5pm and made our way into a private beach club - for free!

The first thing we see is a straw hut with hammocks...amazing!!!  We walk past it and up a flight of stairs and down to a beautiful empty beach.  We played around in the water for a bit but the seaweed was gross - though not as bad as Cancun - so I went back to our stuff and laid out in the sun and collected my thoughts about my up coming dives on Monday.  I was still stressed about going back out into the water and as much as I really wanted my PADI I wasn't sure if I could go back out there and do it.  I thought about how I felt when I was out there and how I reacted and what I could do to not panic when I went back out.  I went over everything in my head that Justine (my instructor) had taught me... I needed to just trust in myself and my knowledge... I needed to trust the Ocean....but how?

We went up to the beach bar/restaurant which was a big open concept hut with a sand floor and some tables.  It over looked the beach.  We had Michelada's and guacamole - the guacamole in this country is to die for, it's always made fresh - and enjoyed the view of the beach.

It was almost 5 so we needed to go out and meet our cab.  He wasn't there!  "Let's hitch-hike." Sebastian said.  "It's literally 5pm," I said "give the guy a few minutes to spare, I'm not keen on hitchiking."  However, Sebastian already had his thumb up and within seconds a car stopped.  A middle aged couple hopped out moved all their stuff into the trunk of the car and told us to get into the back...yes mom, we hitch-hiked and they were awesome. 

The couple told us they were celebrating their anniversary and were driving back to Cancun... all in Spanish of course.  Sebastian is from Colombia so he not only speaks Spanish fluently, he is fluent in English and French as well so it is helpful having him around.  They were very sweet and didn't seem to be bothered to have 3 hitch-hiking backpackers in their car.

At one point I leaned over to Sebastian, and whispered "He's drinking a beer." He looked at the man driving and started to laugh "You Canadians are so funny." 

When we got back Sebastian and I went and grabbed all our munchies and alcohol for the party and Ana got ready for work - she is bartender at the hostel bar.

I went to bed to try and sleep but my roommates were going out to get their stuff too - I had told them about the party and they were able to go as well - so I went out with them to grab a few more things and finally fell asleep when we got back.

What is that soft angel -like touch on my arm? I opened my eyes. "Emmie, we leave in 20 minutes."  Ana was waking me up because I didn't wake up.  "Shit, okay... I will be down, just let me get ready."

I had a really bad feeling.  I didn't want to go.  I was actually having an anxiety attack.  I felt like something really bad was going to happen and I didn't want to be there when it happened...I had had a bad dream the night before and thought it was something to do with the party and I was just really freaking out.  I still got into the van and I sat between Sebastian and Ana.  I had a drink - yes in the van - and started to relax after about 10 minutes. 

For those of you that don't suffer with anxiety your thoughts are not always logical and you can be scared for no reason at all...it's not a very nice feeling and can be extremely uncomfortable when you are with people you don't know very well.  However I was really lucky to have Seb and Ana, they were great and really reacted right away when they saw something was wrong and that alone really helped me.

The party was amazing.  It was pretty open which isn't what I was expecting. I was expecting going a bit of a ways into a cave which was one thing that had made me nervous...this was more like a cavern that you had to walk down into. Not a lot of people which was nice.  Awesome lighting, good music and a great vibe.

As we walked down into the cave I saw a friend of mine from Cancun - my friend I had gone to the beach with to surf.  "Hey, Emmie! What are you doing here?"  " I've been in Tulum for about 10 days what are you doing here?"  "My friend owns this place.  How did you hear about the party?"  "I'm friends with the staff at the hostel."  "Ah okay.  Awesome"  And it was awesome!  It was really nice to see a familiar face and be at this awesome party.  It happens like once a  year and it's pretty much invite only so most travelers don't get this opportunity.  We were having a blast dancing, drinking and talking.

Ana and I had worn one piece bathing suits as we were told we could go swimming in the cenote.  Never again ... next time it is a bikini.  Being in the bushes in a one piece in the pitch black is a fucking mission ... peeing on my foot the first time was unavoidable and we literally had to get naked.  Ughhh not a smart idea, but I guess part of the experience.  We were quite envious of the dark silhouettes standing up and going pee very easily.

Ana, Sebastian and a few of the other guys left around 5 in the cab that had waited for her - she knows a driver who drove my roomies but waited for her to leave around 6.  I said I wanted to stay, that I was fine with my roomies.  So she left and I stayed.  I don't usually party super late or got to rave like parties and to me this was a once in a lifetime thing for me so I wanted to stay and enjoy it. 

At one point I needed to go to the bathroom, really bad, but bushing it wasn't working.  I asked a girl there if she knew where a bathroom was...guess what ... there was a bathroom the whole time...it would've been nice to know earlier on hahaha...oh the adventures and more difficult roads I like to take.

My friend from Cancun dj'd for a bit and when he was done he asked if I wanted to go to an after party at his friends.  So me and the Brits (roomies) hopped in the car with them.

Before we hopped in the car I went to the bathroom again - which I might add had a huge tarantula painted on the wall and I don't want to know why - and when I came out someone was holding the cutest little kitten in his hands. "OMG! Please let me hold her!" I said.  OMG... IN LOVE!!! She was super friendly.  I looked at my buddy "I think you need a kitten for your new apartment." "Emmie, I am allergic to cats"  "I don't believe you, and she is super cute."  "Emmie you can't take the kitten, you need to give her back." Just then I looked down at her, she looked at me, she reached up and touched my face and then licked me.  Oh no, please don't do that. She snuggled me. Oh please no. I looked at my friend "But..." "Emmie give her back, give her to that girl over there."  So very sadly I walked back but the girl said she didn't want her.  I looked back at my friend.  "Emmie, no." 
"I'm so sorry.  I love you little kitten." I gave her a kiss and put her down and walked to the car.  "I can't believe you made me do that."  "Where did you put her."  "On the ground."  "You put her there to die?!?!"  "Your an asshole." I said laughing.

I had to lay across the Brits as we were driving out and then they hopped out and got a collectivo back.

Collectivo's are an awesome source of transportation.  They go between Cancun, Playa and Tulum.  You can travel from these places and as well travel with them locally and they are super cheap and safe... I love them.

I have no idea what time we got to sleep but we did sleep for a few hours.  My friend had to drive back to Cancun for work so I took a collectivo back meaning I didn't even get back till about 3pm.  I felt pretty good and wasn't tired and wanted to go for lunch.  I saw Sebastian and said I wanted to go for lunch.  He said he was just waiting for Ana but he was up for girl talk.  Lol, Sebastian is awesome and he laughs like what you just said is the funniest thing in the world which makes you laugh too.

We went for a nice lunch but my hangover started kicking in.  Ana was not feeling the greatest.  She drank more that morning because it was the World Cup finals and France one so she got drunk again and went back to bed at about 2pm and slept only an hour. 

Due to my late return I didn't make it to the beach street we were on the day before.  I had planned on renting a bike and heading that way but with a hangover in the heat there is no way I was going to do it so I just chilled.  The next day I was doing my dives and leaving for Bacalar.

I felt pretty calm about my dives at this point and didn't feel stressed but after I finished my classes the next morning I was debating if I truly wanted to do them.  Maybe I should just cancel and accept the fact that diving isn't for everyone and I'm part of that group.  I didn't do that though.  My instructor had quite the company and was coming back just to do my dives with me.

I was calm but nervous.  We got on the boat which was much better than the last one and it was just me and Justine.  She told me our first dive we were just going to dive, no exercises.  She just wanted me to get down and feel relaxed.

 We got out to the site.  Honestly, sometimes if you ask you shall receive.  It's like the heavens heard my prayers. I could not have asked for better conditions.  The water was so calm compared to last time and I could literally see down 14 meters from the boat!  I got this. We got in the water and swam to the boy that had our line to get down.  I took a minute to get my bearings and take a few breaths.  She gave me the OK sign, I nodded and she did the sign for down and down I went, and down, and down and down.  I made it to the bottom with no problems and no stress.  OK she signed.  OK I signed back and we swam.  I looked up.  I could see the top, it didn't feel that deep at all in fact, I felt really safe and knew if I absolutely needed to I could swim to the top.  There was also another dive group so that made me feel even better.  Though,   I did panic a little.  My goggles kept filling and I was getting salt water in my nose she grabbed me looked at me and told me to relax... so I did and got them emptied.

Honestly, it was amazing.  We saw crabs, massive coral, trumpet fish, blue fish that looked like they had a light on in them because they were so bright, barracuda, parrot fish ... it was awesome.  It was amazing at the fact I could swim really low and look at them really close up and then swim higher and see everything from the top angle, I felt like an astronaut in water. 

Now...when I first dove in the cenote I sang Part of your World from the Little Mermaid in my head.  this time it was full blast hahaha.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I would love to have music playing while diving so why night make my own soundtrack to the Little Mermaid. The thing is, I did feel like I was part of the world of the fish and the coral.  I was so excited I wanted to cry... I couldn't believe I had done it!  We came up.  Hopped on the boat and went to another site for my second dive.  I loved this one!  Instead of swimming around this one you had to swim up and down because this one was set up in rows, but it also had some caverns which we couldn't swim through while getting the Open Water certification but I did make myself comfortable for a minute on my knees so I could look underneath and see all the fish.  I swam below,  beside and above the coral swimming backwards to look behind swimming down to get a closer look.  It felt fantastic and I had no issues emptying my goggles this time.  I was so happy I wanted to jump for joy!  I gave her a big hug and cried a little when we got to the top!!!  I did it!  I fucking did it!!!  I wasn't scared anymore, I had felt so safe and calm in the water!  Another thing I can check off my bucket list.  This was a huge challenge for me so getting my certification was such an accomplishment that I am very proud of and so excited for what the diving world will bring me.  It opens up so many more opportunities... so much so I have decided to extend my trip one more time hahaha.  For two reasons one is obviously because I want to dive but the second is because this is my true test.  I need to know that I can actually do this and that I am okay and that my fear isn't going to come back.

Justine hooked me up with her friend who does dive trips so I have booked a dive for Friday in Akumal! Then I am going to Cozumel.  I know I know but I just need a bit more time before I come home.

I am currently in Bacalar, a place that has been on my list and just absolutely in love with it here.  I am just waiting for Ana as she is meeting me here today, but; Bacalar is another blog so you will have to wait for this one.

Take care and dive safe.

                                                           - Mi Vida Hermosa -

Cenote's and Inspiration to Dive.

Tulum has been great and I have been busy, pretty much since I arrived here.  I was meeting up with a friend for a night and we played drinking games and got drunk...something I haven’t done in awhile...I was pretty good at not drinking after my Birthday lol. This means, Saturday was a write off and we just chilled by the pool but I ended up befriended two of my dorm mates and we planned to do a day trip on Sunday (the next day).

We were going to two Cenotes and the Tulum ruins.  We rented bikes from the hostel and rode to the first Cenote in 10 minutes.

Calavera.

This one was on my bucket list.  I had seen it on Instagram and looked it up and put it on my list of things to see in Tulum.  It was a great way to start the day.  It was a smaller one but really pretty and refreshing though the fish were hungry and we got nibbled on. There were holes that we could jump through into the water...the boy took that opportunity I just took video of it.  Water and heights aren’t my thing and together they are more challenging for me.

The Grand Cenote

This was beautiful  but very touristy.  We went in on the less busier side and swam through a covered but it got a little cold as we were shaded so we went to the other side.  There were bats up above  and some birds.  One part of the cavern roof came low and the bats were moving...”vamos.”  I said to the guys, I wanted out of there quickly and out of the bat attack zone,  I am not a fan.

When we got to the other side, there was a rope going into a covered area that was pretty dark and I wasn’t sure about going into it but I followed the guys in. 

They had snorkels  and masks so they were looking around underwater. “Here,” said Marc.  “Try with my mask.”

“HOLY FUCK.”  I said bringing my head back up.  I was totally not expecting what I saw.  There   and areas that lit up with the sun.  It was so beautiful and made for some great fun and photo ops.  We were there about two hours and even got to swim with some turtles.

were stalactites

Next we went for lunch as we had had a full morning of swimming in Cenotes and still had our visit to the Tulum ruins ahead of us.

Tulum Ruins.

These were impressive!  The area in which they are is massive and it looks like it’s own paradise, it almost has a jungle feel to it.  Every which way you look you can see the buildings or tops of them peeking up through the palm trees in the distance.  We ended up running into Raphael so he joined us and we walked down to the beach area.  If it hadn’t of been covered in seaweed it would’ve been much better but the different colours of the seaweed from a yellowy orange to a black red gave it an interesting look. 

We maybe were there an hour –could’ve  been less – and decided to leave as we were exhausted  from our full day.  The heat and riding a bike are really not my favourite things in the world together and my butt was sore as they are not the greatest bikes in the world but It was a great day!!!

The next day Raphael and I planned to go to Dos Ojos - a very well known cenote – and Marc and James were goint to Chichen Itza.

This time we had to take a collective, this great bus system – minivan system – that pretty much takes you were you need to go – even to Cancun – for super cheap. It makes traveling around easy and affordable.

Dos Ojos

To be honest I wasn’t that impressed with Dos Ojos.  It is two cenotes – dos ojos meaning two eyes – and they are both kind of covered and with lack of sunshine using a mask and snorkel really wasn’t as exciting as the Grand Cenote.  Plus, it is not cheap to go,  they charge a lot of money so I was disappointed as I had been told this was the best one.  Raphael liked it but I told him the underwater view was much better at the Grand Cenote.

I was already not impressed by the amount of money it cost us...considering once you are in and have paid you have to pay for transportation as the cenote is still 3km away and the guy scammed us.

He said it’s a rate of 100 pesos so the more people we have the cheaper it becomes for us.  So Raphael found two more people.  We were then told if we find more than four people he was still going to charge us 25 pesos per person.  I looked at him and said “you really like to scam people don’t you?”  “it’s business.” He replied. “You’re just an asshole,” was my response and Raphael laughed.

“Okay, let’s get a guided snorkel tour.” I said, I didn’t want a disappointing day so I decided to give in.

Then, it all changed.

It was us and a really nice young Italian couple and we had a great time.  It was amazing. The underwater caverns, the stalagtites and stalagmites.  We could sometimes see the divers with their flash lights.  I had only seen things like this on Planet Earth with David Attenborough. 

I of course was the only one wearing a life jacket but I was worked about getting tired, though sometimes I took it off to swim a bit lower and use my light to look at the caverns.

“Okay,” said our guide. “Now into the bat cave.”  “Oh perfect! I love bats!” I said sarcastically.

We had to swim in a line and go through very narrow hangings of stalagtites.  You have to be careful not to really touch them or bang your head so you have to look in the water and look above you.  However when you look in the water it was completely different.  It seemed narrow and small above us but was deep and beautiful below us  with more caverns.  Then we entered the bat cave and I was not scared at all...in fact, I found it very peaceful.  The bats were tiny and just sleeping upside down.  You could see guano in some spots, and sometimes they would fly around but they never came close to us.  The cavern was big with a high ceiling but again underneath us was a different world.  We stayed in there for a bit admiring the world of the caves.  Then we followed our guide around the outskirts of the cave.  He stopped under some smaller stalactite formations.  You could see the moisture droplets at the tip of the limestone which over time will form the stalactites.  This is something I have only seen in my favourite episode of Planet Earth – Caves.  It was amazing to see this first hand and I was quite excited.

When I looked down and saw the divers I really wanted to be down there with them and enter into the caverns.

When we returned from our dive I asked if I had to be certified to do the dive and I was told yes.  There was a girl there and she said, you can get certified with Koox (pronounced Koosh) in three days and then do a dive.  Tell them Ayla sent you.  I was so inspired but my snorkel I felt I had to do this.  It has been on my bucket list for 8 years.  It was now or never.

When we returned I located Koox in my map app.  It was an 8 minute walk from the hostel.  I signed up to get my PADI certification then and there.

Now when doing your PADI training your confined dives are usually done in a pool however, my confined dives are in a cenote.

I was nervous my first day..it’s a lot to take in.  However, no one else signed up so it has just been me and my guide Justine who is amazing!!!  She has been so great and really patient with me as I freaked out a little my first dive.  It took me three times to get down but I finally did it.  The cenote didn’t look like much from up top but it was really awesome below.  You can see the roots of the trees coming through the overhang of the rock which looks like flat ground when you are above.  There were huge fish bigger than my cat and lots of little fish, I even saw a crab on my second dive.

My first day was 1 dive and day two was two dives and it was exhausting.  With all the safety exercises I had to do and my first dive of the day being two hours I was exhausted during the second dive so we had to cut it short.

When I got back I went straight to sleep for a few hours, got up for dinner and went back to bed.  I was feeling awful, my head was spinning and I felt like I was in water when I was in bed.  I was feeling a bit nauseous – didn’t help I was hungover.  I went to sleep, woke up early for classes but still was not feeling  100%, I actually felt hungover.  My head was still spinning.  I knew that I needed to feel confident when doing my dive and the fact that I am stressed out about it I wasn’t in any condition to dive today.   When you are not confident or 100% mistakes happen so we postponed my dive until tomorrow morning but I still had to write my written exam.

I studied all day by the pool and headed to the dive school for 5:30pm.  Justine and I went to a restaurant, did a review and then I wrote the exam.  90%!!!  So I am happy with that.  We talked, I had a nice pasta dinner and she reassured me about the dive tomorrow.  Plus I am going to have a dive buddy tomorrow.

So tomorrow is the big day!!! I do my dive and I am nervous and a bit stressed, but I trust Justine and the knowledge she has given me in the past few days.  My dive tomorrow also means I cancelled my flight home hahahaha.  I am just staying an extra week and will be home next weekend I promise.

Wish me luck!!!

-          My Beautiful Life -

Dog Love and Glowing Experience - My Perfect Little Paradise

Holbox.  A small island North of Cancun.  Beaches, hammocks, small sand streets, golf cart Taxi's and a great vibe.  I really loved it.  It is my type of place, and a place I could see myself moving to.  The only problem is the WiFi.  It's awful,  you can message but not send or upload anything and my last day we had no WiFi at the hostel.  With being digital I need to have access to good WiFi,  I even took Thursday off work so I could go there.   Other than this it is perfect.

It's really quiet during the day but the streets come alive at night and there is a great buzz in the air.

The first day we had beers and just hung out in the amazing hammocks in the water at the beach.  With the swaying of the hammock and the movement of the water it actually felt like I was moving across the water...it was perfect especially with the beer I had.

The next day I went to meet up with Raphael at the beach but the weather wasn't the greatest and I decided I wasn't really feeling it was a beach day so I told him I would meet up with him that night to check out the bio-luminescence.

I walked a block and decided to check out that part of the beach.  There was some sort of structure in the water with paintings on all sides that I took some photos of and I was just enjoying myself when out of the corner of my eye I saw what I thought was a dog with three legs.

I saw two dogs, one leaning against the other but the one dog seemed to have an injured leg.  I took a picture to show all my dog lover friends the support one dog was giving the other, I thought it was sweet, but I was also quite worried.  I walked away for a bit and looked at the beach until I saw a couple walk up and look at the dog. "Hablas ingles?"  I asked the woman. She said a little bit.  We started talking about the dogs but I didn't really understand what she was saying.  In broken English and some Spanish she said, cold water and ice helps.  I kept watching the dogs, I felt bad as the one dog couldn't go anywhere because the other one didn't seem to be able to stand without support.  "Todos los dias? (every day)?" I asked.  She smiled "no todos los dias."  She said the ice and water helps maybe for an hour.  I was a little confused but watched as her husband came out and she took the cup of ice and water and threw it right on the dogs.  The dogs leg seemed to be attached to the other one and then the were both free and the one with the injured leg - or what I thought was an injured leg ran away on all fours.

Now before I continue, does anyone know where this story is going?  Maybe my dog lover friends already figured it out....but I was still clueless.  I was confused about what had happened and the guy was trying to explain it to me.  I then started to clue in but wasn't quite sure.  He finally said "Pornography, dog porn!"  Hahahahahah they were having sex!!!  And me, like an idiot stood there taking pictures, I'm such a pervert hahahah.  It had crossed my mind but I did not think dogs had sex in this way.  Oh well another thing to check off the list.  Take pictures of dogs having sex...check....I already did with the sea turtles why not dogs. 

My dog afternoon was not over. 

I found a nice little cafe and decided to have a nice lunch by myself which I quite enjoyed.  The sandwich I ordered was amazing.  They don't even charge you to switch tomatoes for avocado, nor do they charge you for a side of mayonnaise.

I was eating away, minding my own business when all of a sudden I looked down to my left and there was the dog - there was a dog at the restaurant though I don't know if it was there as all the owned dogs just wander around freely and enjoy life, some even hang around at the hostel.  He was staring
at my sandwich with intensity.  I started to giggle.  He looked at me, I looked at him.  "Hola amigo, no puedo lo siento." I dropped his head right on to my hand and I don't know if it was a nibble or a lick but he was definitely telling me he wanted my sandwich.  "No puedo amigo (I can't, friend)."  I was giggling and petting him.  I'm not a dog person but seriously look how cute he is.  He just sat there and when I was finished my sandwich he just stared at my empty plate.  He then moved to the other table...and I thought we were friends.

I ended up getting a little lost.  Well, you can't really get lost in Holbox, it is so small, I was just one street over, but nothing looked familiar.  I checked google maps as it works without Wifi and check to see where I was and I was fine.  In fact it was nice to get lost and just wander the street.  I looked in shops and enjoyed the vibe of the streets and this is when I fell in love with Holbox.  Yes I know, I have fallen with yet another place...there are pieces of my heart all over the country but this is truly a place I could settle for awhile.  Teach in the mornings and enjoy the rest of my day going for bike rides, enjoying the beach, lay in a hammock...totally my kind of lifestyle.  I felt so safe walking the streets.  It was the first time in Mexico I didn't have panic in me while walking the streets alone, it felt so great and I felt like I was home.

That night a bunch of us paid for golf cart taxis and went out to swim with the bio-luminescence.  It was awesome.  It was like having your own personal spot light when you walked through the water.  You created trail whenever you moved. When you hold your arms up to the sky you can see them twinkle down your arms. My bathing suit twinkled, everyone twinkled.  And the sky  was WOW!!! It was so clear....there were bio-luminescene in the sky and stars in the water. 

There were also mosquito's...ugh so many.  You get eaten alive at night.  Bug spray is a must.  They attacked us as soon as we got out of the water. At night they drive around with trucks that spray this stuff to kill them but its still awful.

We started in the sea and then went to the other side to the lagoon where the bio-luminescence was better...but here is what I don't understand.   In the lagoons in Mexico there are crocodiles, even where I went paddle boarding.  Now alligators are aggressive and will kill us, however, they don't come out, apparently they don't like the noise so they don't come around at night, it's during the day.  I don't know it just sounds weird to me I was just super careful even though I knew I would never see one coming lol.  It was a great time and absolutely beautiful.

There was a sweet dog at the hostel he was part chihuahua and something else, people that he was a bit "retartarded." His head was big and he walked funny but I had some ticks so I think they were affecting him but he followed me around and licked my and wanted cuddles...he was so cute.

My last day I really just hung out by the pool and relaxed.  I met a nice Canadian on his first solo trip...late 50's... so I showed him around and we went for dinner and a couple drinks and then I packed and went to sleep.  It was nice to be out at night and see the streets vibing.  I totally love it there...like...sooo much, my perfect little paradise.

I am now in Tulum waiting for a friend.  I left super early this morning so I could get some internet, write this blog and relax before they arrive.  It's gonna be a few days of Cenotes and beach parties so stay tuned (watch on Snapchat and Instagram).

I'm on my last stretch of my trip so I need to make it great!!!

                                                                           - Mi Vida Hermosa-

Places to See and Paradise x2

The day after my cenote tour I decided to go to the bar with some of the volunteers from the hostel.  I got in for free because I wasn't drinking (I am on antibiotics).  I ended up running into the people from my tour which was really great and hung out with them.  It was nice to go out and see people I knew instead of just the staff from the Mayan Monkey - as much as I love them.

The next day, heaps of people from Mezcal ( our other hostel) came and chilled out by the pool.  I had woken up late and missed breakfast but was looking forward to cooking up a pasta lunch.  I had gone up to the bar for something when Johnny (one of the guys from my tour who had actually walked me home the night before) walked into the bar.  We said hi  and I said "are you hungry? I am cooking lunch!"  So I ended up with a lunch buddy.  The funny part is that when he went back upstairs the other guys thought I was just a random girl that offered to cook for him hahaha.

We all chilled by the pool that day.  Enjoying the sun and having fun conversation.  We (of course) went for tacos and then one of the guys (Raphael) asked me "do you want to go to Isla Mujeres tomorrow?"  "For sure," I said.

By the morning we had a group of 16 of us heading to Isla (Mujeres).  Rounding up 16 people is not an easy task but we got 4 cabs all at the same price, 16 ferry tickets and all 16 of us on the ferry.  Team work!

The ferry ride was interesting.  Seven of us went up to the roof of the very where there was some (not so good) live music playing.  We tried singing along but it just didn't work.

And then there were 7. We couldn't find the other half of our group, we waited but were unsure if they had actually got on our ferry (which we did we later found out) so we walked across the street and rented ourselves 2 golf carts so we could drive around the island.

Our first stop was the most incredible water I have ever been in...even better than the Whitsunday Island in Australia.  The clear water going from clear, to light blue, to turquoise with a backdrop of a blue sky...colours so perfect and bright it looked like a filter on Instagram but #nofilterneeded.  It was breathtaking and we were all like kids at Christmas playing in the water.  I could've stayed there forever. Not only was it the most perfect scene but the temperature was perfect as well.

We walked down to the lagoon which wasn't as nice so we decided to hop in our carts and take a drive around the island.  I don't know why it is but golf carts always seem so much more fun than cars especially when they are at full speed - because you are still going super slow.   

We were waved down by some people on the side of the road.  They were offering for us to go into a beach club for free all we had to do was buy lunch.  So we drove in, parked the carts and walked down to the restaurant.  Almost $20 for a pizza!!! I know this is pretty normal but not for Mexican standards especially when you can get a full lunch and a beer for under $7.   We left.  A staff member said "you don't want to stay for the best pizza?!?"  "It's a little pricey." I said. "That's because it's the best pizza!"  "Not for that price." The place was empty anyways.

We kept driving.  Damon had a speaker so we had music playing in our cart which of course makes everything better.   We saw a little street to our right so we turned around and parked the carts.  We walked down to where there was some construction going on.  The guys walked passed it and peeked down the side of the building.  We could see a pool and what looked like a beautiful private beach. "I'm gonna hop the fence," said Raphael. "I want to get some pictures."  Ummm not me. Damon and Oskar went with him.  I went back up to the others and told them so they went in to the place (which was a resort) and we were told we could use the beach if we ordered lunch.  The only thing we couldn't use was the pool.

It was stunning, a blue pool looking out on to the beautiful perfectly blue water that is Isla Mujeres.  Tons of pictures were taken and I took some time to just enjoy the refreshing water.  After about 20 minutes the waiter got mad that we didn't buy lunch so we were asked to leave.  But Sherri kept mentioning a restaurant we had driven by and wanted to go there for lunch.  It was her Birthday so I was totally down for where she wanted to go.  I took the keys and hopped in the drivers seat...yup, sure did.  I would like to add that I am the better driver out of the guys :).

It was nothing special, it was pricey but we were hungry so we stayed.  

Before we go on I would like to mention that at this point Mexico was dry...dry as in no alcohol (unless there was food).  There was an election so night clubs and locations that sell alcohol such as OXXO (like our Mac's Milk) were not selling until Monday.  To be honest, not having any alcohol while out for two days was great...I mean not even a beer, it was great!!!

As we were leaving, the waiter  comes up to us and says that we short changed him so I went to check the bill. "Donde esta la cuenta?"  I said.  "No," he replied.  I looked at Raphael who is fluent in Spanish and Oskar who is Mexican and said "there is no bill."  So they started asking the waiter where the bill was but he refused to get it or tell us where it was.  

All we wanted was to see the bill and check to see who didn't put in enough, to see where we went wrong.  We had no problems paying what we owed but we wanted to double check it.  The others kept offering the money and we told them "no, we are not paying until we see where we went wrong, until we see proof." 

A huge argument broke out and the waiter said he was gonna call the cops which Raphael, Oskar and I were fine with...but it was an empty threat, the guy was trying to scare us and it didn't work.  It then got physical.  Oskar had the bill fold with the money and said he wanted to see the bill, the water got aggressive with him so now a scene started.  I walked up to another table that was obviously watching.  I told the woman the problem and she said "they have to give you the bill!"  A few minutes later some other guy from the restaurant came up and just told us to leave, so we left.  

Unfortunately when we took the round-a-bout we lost the others we tried to find them but no such luck.  And then there were three.   We stopped out at a look out, hopped over a wall and climbed up one of the zip-lining towers to get some good pictures.   We then kept driving as we were going to go to the Mayan Temple that was at the very bottom of the island.

The Temple itself wasn't much to see but where we were was incredible.  There were stairs we could walk down that led you around the edges of the island.  

We found a spot where the guys hung there feet over the edge and took a nap and I just sat and listened to the waves crash and watched some snorkelers.  It was a perfect spot; in fact, we were at The Cliff of Dawn.  The eastern most part of Mexico.  The first spot in Mexico to get touched by the morning sun.

We wandered the paths for a bit and then decided to head back to the beach as we wanted to be there for sunset.

On our way back we got flagged down.  We were late bringing the golf cart back so they went out to bring us back and then we had to pay for a full hour for being late. Geez, kicked out of a resort, a fiasco at a restaurant and a search party all in one day hahaha ... more things to check off on this trip.

The water didn't seem as perfect at this time of day but we had an amazing time.  We sang, we did handstands, the guys made a naked lady out of sand, we took photos and watched the sunset...the perfect end to the perfect day.

We caught the ferry around 8pm to head back to Cancun.  This time instead of live music they had some dance music so we had a dance party...again, no alcohol just totally buzzed from a perfect day.

The taxi's were charging too much money so we walked half way back and then found one that we were willing to pay however we returned too late to grab our bus to Valladolid so Raphael and I had to check back in for the night.

They were a little surprised to see me at the reception in the morning ... I had to explain that yes I am leaving.... "see I am wearing my backpack I am leaving right now."  I was then told "Emmie you are now Mexican!"  Hahaha with how dark I am right now it could be possible.

Raphael and I were heading to Valladolid a town an hour outside of Chichen Itza.  Our buddy Damon joined us!  We got to the hostel around 11am, checked in, went for lunch and hopped on another bus to Chichen Itza.

I was having bank card issues again that I sorted, or should I say thought I sorted out during lunch but got them sorted the next day thank goodness.

Chichen Itza - Bucket List Day #2

I wasn't excited...I was a little worried.  I don't know what I had hyped up but it was a place I wanted to go to and I was hoping to not be underwhelmed.  Plus someone had told me it didn't live up to what they had expected so I was unsure...however!   

It was incrdible!

We unfortunately didn't have a guide.  By the time we decided we wanted one it was closing in an hour and the tours with the guides were two hours.  But;  I had a question for the guide and here is the information we were given.

Chichen Itza is built on another city.  The Mayan's believe that old cities had good energy so they built the new cities on top of the old cities.  

Up until 2005 you could actually walk up the steps and go into the temple and see the statues but people started defacing it with graffiti so they shut it down so now you are only able to walk around the outside of the buildings - you can't even get close enough to touch them. 

You don't need to touch them though to feel the great beauty that they are you can just see it and feel it.  We spent an hour getting pictures on a side of the temple where the steps are crumbling and right before the place shut down we sat down on the grass just looking at the incredible temple and took it all in feeling at peace.  Another wonderful place to check off my list but also a place that took my breath away just like Machu Picchu.

One of the greatest things I got to do that day was video call my mom and show her the temple.  She got to see it with me, it made me a little emotional but I didn't show it.  Technology has changed so much since I started traveling and I have been so grateful for it this trip, especially when I can share moments like this with the ones closest to me.

We said goodbye to Damon as he had to head back to Cancun because he was flying home the next morning and we headed back to Valladolid.   Raphael decided to leave the next morning for Holbox (prounounced Hallbosh) and I was going the next day.

Lucky for me the next day over breakfast I met someone going to the Pink Lakes, and I am always down for a day trip (well most of the time).  So off to the Pink Lakes.

My new friend was Nuhba and we had a blast...we laughed the whole entire day over nothing, just silly random shit.   We spent most of our day on buses and by the time we got out there we literally had 20 minutes to take pictures before the last bus came, or we would have to hitch-hike which I was not down for.  There were guys offering motorcycle tours but I wasn't keen on them and we didn't have a lot of time so we snapped a few pictures and left.

They are actually quite interesting...really pink water - natural of course - which is caused by an algae.  The water is blue in the morning but when the sun comes out and gets hot it activates the algae causing it to turn the water pink.  They are also privately owned as they get salt from the water.   

We were gonna try and go to see the flamingos on our way back but we were on the last bus so we had to miss them.  It took a few hours to get back as we had to wait an hour and a half in the next town for our other bus so we went for dinner at the same restaurant we had lunch at.  It's a quaint little place called Ricardo's with really great food.  Super cheap for a lot of food including little appetizers they bring out when you order drinks...two thumbs up from me.  

The next day I left for Holbox Island.   A place with hammocks in the water and it is said to be a paradise.  I went with my friend Virginia that I was supposed to meet in Bacalar and decided to skip it.  However we ended up at the same hostel in Valladolid so decided to come over to the island together.

So here I sit looking out at palm trees and a pool surrounded by backpackers.  I wasn't keen on the hostel when I first arrived.  I walked over to Raphaels hostel to watch the Soccer game and then we headed with a bunch of others to the beach...one being one of my dorm mates at the Mayan Monkey.  All of the people we were with were staying at the same hostel as me so it was nice to meet some people and have decided to not switch to Raphaels hostel - which is where I had been planning to stay for awhile but I can't be fussed to move - and stay here.  

Yesterday we walked down to the hammocks on the beach and just relaxed with a few beers.  It was literally heaven.  The water isn't like Isla but the hammocks definitely make up for it.  Seriously, who ever invented hammocks was a fucking genius and pray to you for you are my God.

Today we are heading to more beaches and then going to see the bio-luminescence.  Now I'm living the island life in Mexico.  It's a dream.

                                                            - Mi Vida Hermosa -