Checking in... 1st week of vacation.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." ~Saint Augustine

In one week, I have flown across the sea, tasted my way around the world, met princesses and old friends and have overall had a magical time. The only thing not-so-great is the fact that I feel as though I've been walking forever... oh my weary feet! I'm enjoying each moment, the cute guy makes a wonderful travelling partner (it's interesting travelling with someone who is not a family member), I'm freezing in hot, sunny weather and definitely having a good time.

Sharing my joy with you... xoxo

peace,

Ren

Vacation...Day 2.

Vacation Day 2... I think I'll be doing free writing for the rest of this vacation. Five minutes of writing each day. It's something I can do.

Sometimes though it's just easier to do things without planning... that's what today has taught me. Things don't always go according to plan, perhaps sometimes it's just better not to have a plan. It's unfortunate that I like planning (lack of career planning aside) what I want to do. Day by day I think it's best to know what one is going to do for the day. 

That hasn't really been working out for me though. I really need to just let go and go with the flow. What will be, will be.

The mother isn't feeling so fabulous... so, instead of a day of pampering, today turned into a day of cleaning. I guess it's a different kind of pampering? We do not have pretty nails but my mom now has a squeaky clean bedside table and dresser. 

I've learnt that whatever hoarding vibes I have came from my mother. Weird reversal of roles today. I have memories of her cleaning my room and me complaining about her throwing out stuff... today I was cleaning her room and she was complaining about me throwing out stuff :s Ergh?

Tonight the cute guy and I are invited to a Christmas... thing? Shoeaholic's mom's workplace is having an event and invited us. Then we're going to a tweetup at a sushi place. Yay. 

Plans... some change, some stay the same (hopefully). 

peace,

Ren

Vacation... Day 1.

Stream of consciousness writing for five minutes. That's what I'm doing at this moment and in this post. I'm on vacation! This doesn't mean that I have left home... that I'm travelling far and wide - though I'd like that. It just means that I had ten vacation days left for the year and when combined with casual and compensatory days the result is that I do not go back out to work till January 2nd.

January 2nd!

Three weeks of no work! I want to figure out what I want to do work-wise. At some point I'd like to be able to figure that out. I have no plan. No major career goal. There is nothing that I can particularly see myself doing. 

Is this how it is for everyone?

I've been snappish with the family. I'm out of sorts. The parents are getting older daily it seems. Suddenly, I look at them and they are old. I look in the mirror and I look the same but then older. Age is a funny thing. I think I read somewhere that it is only humans that measure time and thus only humans that live with the dread of the end. The End. 

The cute guy is adorably cute. Behind all cute that I have imagined guys can be. There are no words yet to describe what I think of all of this. Am content to just be in this space with him. 

I can write a lot in five minutes. 

It's Christmas time... mistletoe and wine... I've always wondered what it would be like if there were mistletoe in my country. If it were one of our customs. I do not like wine.... except for when it is used in cooking. 

Vacation Day 2 tomorrow.

Hope all is well with you world.... if it isn't or even if it is... all my love to you.

peace,

Ren

Apparently I don't look tanned...

"If some people didn't tell you, you'd never know they'd been away on a vacation." ~Kin Hubbard

My response to that is that if I were to take my clothes off then one would definitely see where my tan lines are.

 

Tobago is beautiful... a more relaxed and rural version of Trinidad. The people were friendly, the sea was everywhere you looked (it's a tiny island...) and the food was a good version of our own home-cooking. This does not mean that our mini-vacation was without its stresses... as my brother says I can't operate without some idea of a plan... as in if no one says what they want to do then I'll very well tell everyone what we're doing. It can be awkward, it could also be fun. Wondering about some of what we did on our trip to Tobago? You can look at the photos when I get around to posting them on Flickr or ... see below:

• stayed at Kia's Across from the Beach in a studio apartment ... comfortable, close to popular beaches and has it's own Garden Cafe (had breakfast and dinner on varying days... yum).
• walked over to Store Bay with my mom, rented chairs from a guy called Gerry (Jerry?) who was both friendly and helpful and who told us as we were leaving that if we were to return and could not find him to walk right on over to the bright blue umbrellas and have a seat... Store Bay was most excellent with its very calm clear waters and surprising lack of people...
• ordered pizza from La Cantina - Tobago's authentic Italian pizzeria - my brother and I had a good time checking out the authentic wood-burning oven and the skills of the guy making the pizzas.
• rented a car and drove to the Tobago Cocoa Estate where I experienced The Most Fabulous-tasting piece of chocolate I've ever had. My brother and I also took a tour of the estate which was both entertaining and educational. Much thanks to Mrs Gobin, our estate tour guide.
• had lunch at Jemma's Seaview Kitchen where the vegetarian lunch option consists of every side they were offering for lunch. Friendly service, fantastic view of the sea and really tasty food :)
• braved the overcast, gloomy-looking skies and drove to Englishman's Bay - stopped to have breakfast at a coffee shop in Castara.
• got lost on our way back and ended up at Footprints Eco Resort and Spa ... it's hard to get lost in Tobago when all the roads connect to each other and you  can drive around the entire island in a day... but, we got lost. Mainly cuz Tobago has very narrow (though very well-kept) roads that go up and down in the mountains... it's hilly and curvy and there are sometimes sheer drops on either side of the road - I'm not really fond of heights and that did not help with map-reading or figuring out directions. After successfully arriving at Englishman's Bay both my mom and I decided we couldn't take the up and down, winding roads and just really wanted to get back to our apartment... luckily we took a wrong turn and ended up at Footprints - which I'd wanted to visit but decided not to because of the driving. Footprints was amazingly spectacular and both mom and I spent time in the jacuzzi before my brother told us we had to be on our way.

Ah Tobago, I feel like I've just gotten started getting to know you... must definitely visit you more often.

peace,

Ren