12:01am is the start of the next dream, as today I take off to a bucket list exotic destination. Time to truly escape and wander into the unknown. Anything is possible with a little extra effort and the desire to make things happen.
Never underestimate the power of your dreams.
Have you ever searched for a long layover? Well I scored big time en route to my 3 week adventure in New Zealand by finding a 33 hour stay in Tahiti!!! AYKM?!?! The PERFECT midway point in my long quest to the complete other side of the world.
Let’s go!
The Fijian islands were where I always daydreamed my honeymoon would play out so this was a no brainer in starting off my big 2023 travel wish list.
Where is that elusive destination you have always had stuck in the back of your brain that you never truly believed you would conquer?
Why not start my Norway active vacation with a scenic train from Oslo to Bergen to really appreciate this majestic landscape?
I gambled a bit and for once it backfired…..
My direct flight from Orlando was delayed due to a tarmac issue so I missed my original train by 15 mins. Now what to do? No chance of getting a refund or transfer, so I opted to buy a ticket on the next train (or not since it was already sold out). There was only 1 premium seat on the second rail and I snatched it. A few hours to spare, so I enjoyed the comforts of pizza and a milkshake prior to exploring a few of the touristy highlights around Oslo Sentral.
The six hour trek meandered through countrysides and numerous lakes, including a beautiful sunset peeking out from beyond the distant islands. I managed to work a little, start a new pleasure book, took my first vaca nap, dug into my snack stash, made multiple cups of hot chocolate, relaxed with a brand new playlist and enjoyed the serenity of jetting off on a new journey.
With the six hour time difference, I was still wired when we rolled into the Bergen station at 11:30pm. I proudly travel light (with only one big backpack and my small hiking pack), so the four minute walk to my hostel was a welcome ending to day one of my last fall vacation.
Every destination is a new adventure and equally mesmerizing. As Walt Disney once said, “if you can dream it, you can do it”.
I’m always scouring articles, feeds, apps, pictures and any visuals that cross my path so that I can stuff my 34 current travel wish lists in my phone’s note pad. From hiking trails that can’t be missed to recommended local hole-in-the-wall diners to hidden waterfalls to iconic sunrise plateaus, I’m addicted to adventure travel and immersing myself into the next grand trek!
Way down on the South Island of New Zealand in the quaint beach town of Kaikoura is a very unique wild dolphin experience.
At a very uncomfortable 4:30am wake up call, our group made our way to the main office to get suited up in our thick wetsuits & brave the safety briefing with one eye open. Then we were quickly whisked away to the docks to board our own boat out into the densely fogged horizon.
After a 15 minute joy ride, we spotted our first pod of these majestic creatures. We were told early am was when they were most playful, so our hopes were sky high and we all plopped off the back into the icy waters.
To entice the dolphins, we were instructed to swim in circles, dive down and make squealing noises. If you could only imagine 15 adults squealing away in the middle of the great big blue…. truly one of those moments I will never forget!
Over the next hour, the dolphins weaved in and out of us like they were threading a needle. They gracefully sliced through the waves with boundless, playful energy and no one wanted the morning to expire.
After we slipped off our awkward wetsuits, we grabbed a spot in the bow and braced ourselves for a show. They didn’t disappoint, as if they knew we were waiting with our video cameras to be oohed and aahed with extremely enthusiastic jump, flips and splashes.
And to think these mammals are not enticed by food or trained in anyway, no do overs or cookie cutter performance….. truly a once in a lifetime excursion!
Why would you purposely schedule a 33 hour layover??? By definition, it is a break in a journey and I love finding these hidden gems that really jump start the first day of vacation.
Besides the common sense that it breaks up an uncomfortably long trans-Pacific flight (my first ever), who wouldn’t jump at the rare opportunity to visit one of the most photographed archipelagos in the world?
Plus anything I can do to ease the inevitable effects due to severe jet lag is always welcome. It was kinda hard to comprehend that on my westward quest I would be 5 hours behind my home base of Orlando, FL on my short Tahiti leg, but the very next day continuing the adventure to New Zealand I would then be transported to 18 hours ahead. Still doesn’t make sense.
And French Polynesia doesn’t require a separate visa. Bonus points for no stress.
Despite a 5 hour delay before this trip of a lifetime even started (due to an airline strike in Paris delaying our plane), I passed the time in LAX’s new terminal B with a complimentary stack of nachos, a brand new music playlist and closing out some work loose ends.
Finally getting the green light to board, I trudged to the back of the plane along with all my fellow budget minded travelers. While I was dreading my horrible middle seat assignment for the 8 hour flight, I was pleasantly surprised to have the row to myself… winning! I spread out and tried to calm my excitement to catch a few zzzs (being mildly successful actually), knowing that I would arrive now at 3:40am into paradise with only 28 hours to go explore.
Let’s go!!! That’s still 28 hours more than most people will ever enjoy, so I don’t intend to waste even a minute.
I’m currently 30k feet above at 11:45pm in early November en route back home from a quick weekend work trip in Connecticut and I’m in full blown planning mode. My 2023 calendar is an open canvas and I’m feverishly blocking out weekends for all new adventures.
Tahiti 🇵🇫 & New Zealand multi-sport 🇳🇿
Bonaire diving 🤿 🇧🇶
Big Bend NP, TX 🏞
Cuyahoga NP, OH 🏞
Duke basketball 🏀
Sedona or Kanab 🥾
Banff 🇨🇦 & Glacier NP hiking 🥾 🏞
Madeira hiking 🥾 🇪🇸
For me, the planning is equally as invigorating and important as the actual journey. The anticipation drives me forward and the loose shell of an itinerary just naturally oozes out as my next masterpiece. And I’m rarely disappointed!
So many destinations and grand ideas on my ridiculously long bucket list, but I proudly knock more than a few off every year and NEVER look back!
Growing up I was so insecure and didn’t have the courage to do anything by myself. So how does that young, naive chick evolve into such an independent, world traveller who jumps at any chance to get totally lost in a new adventure?
Maybe it’s because I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it. And I reserve the right to change my mind without notice or apology. I totally get that can be annoying to some people….. well, most people.
Or maybe it’s just I have very little patience for people, any people, over an extended period of time. My “me” time is deeply coveted.
I also began to notice that I was so worried about my companion enjoying the escape that my own joy was being stripped away layer by layer.
Hence, I have learned that traveling solo doesn’t make you smarter or better than anyone else, but it does force you to get out of your own way and reset your own personal tolerance gauge.
My first venture into the unknown was a doozy, as I flew to Africa and had aspirations to conquer the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was a life changing (successful) trek and I’ve never looked back.
Ever since, I’ve upgraded to two bucket list trips each year and I can’t get enough. It’s amazing how your perspective can change when you find your passion. It is a blessing beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
Live in the moment.
Step out of your comfort zone.
Be selfish.
Many people ask me “why travel alone?”. And my retort is “why wouldn’t you??”.
When I’m in the work zone, I’m laser focused and nothing can derail my drive. An event planner is always on and with many functions in different stages, it is a huge puzzle with very delicate layers all stacked together with pressure building as the days until showtime tick down.
My job is to bring the vision to life. With all the variables in play, many of which are not in my control such as weather and travel delays, it is a constant and daunting game of chicken we have to navigate.
It is addictive but all consuming. Not for everyone but I thrive on it. The more the better.
I can go hard 15-20 hours per day if necessary for about 2.5 weeks and kick it into another drive. It is truly a gift that I’ve learned to harness over the past 25 years.
But watch out after, as I retreat and need “me time”. I totally shut down and will easily sleep 16+ hours straight. A weekend as a hermit is the only cure for my total exhaustion.
Always living in fast forward, it can be very hard to let go and have a so-called normal day. Keeping that delicate balance is a tricky and somewhat rocky slope to navigate. A solid release is critical for your own sanity and so you can remain at your best when it matters most.
I’m fortunate to have too many hobbies and always have a plan to disconnect. Whether it be taking off on a spontaneous road trip, slamming a racquetball late at night, launching my jetski into a calm river, shooting a few hoops, researching a new bucket list vacation, baking a favorite recipe, diving into a crime novel, creating a new trip scrapbook, binging my fav rom coms, riding the local single track bike trails, creating new music playlists, cracking a fresh break on my pool table and on and on…..
Find your release.
Embrace it.
And never take for granted taking care of yourself first.
First day of vacation in Norway and I immediately hit the funicular to explore the upper cliff side of Bergen, known as Floyen.
The views and weather were stunning on a gorgeous September day. There were plentiful hiking trails and I enjoyed the trek to the hidden lake. Then I climbed through troll forest and opted to stroll back down to town. I purposefully got a little lost and enjoyed a quiet afternoon weaving in and out of the colorful block houses lining the fishing town.
I perused the old fort and my clumsiness was in full effect, as I twisted my ankle jumping down from the wall into a full face plant. I rebounded without a soul seeing the embarrassing moment, and limped my way back through town to enjoy a Snickers waffle ice cream while watching all the boats pulling back into port.
Then it was off to a new hotel to meet my 11 fellow travelers for our 7 day Norwegian adventure.
It’s hard to genuinely surprise me. I can usually read the clues and between the lines, so this year’s annual birthday pilgrimage was an unexpected highlight of the year.
Due to recent hurricane damage, being hit by a distracted driver 2 days prior totaling my jeep and a busy fall work schedule, we opted to stay close to home and frequent a favorite watering hole beachfront in Daytona for an extended weekend of girls’ time.
After a morning of pool time and snack picnic overlooking the pounding ocean waves, I was told to get comfortable before catching an Uber to a local restaurant. I was expecting to watch the sunset from a bar table but became instantly giddy as we boarded our own sunset catamaran. AYKM?
They know me too well…. the perfect birthday present/experience to just slow down and breathe in life with some of my favorite people!
The next two hours we soaked in a beautiful fall afternoon with local seafood, calm inter coastal waters, our favorite tunes, lots of laughs and a perfect sunset melting over the horizon.
FearlessAdventures 