dusting off the ol' passport

[hey friends, it's been a while! long post ahead]:

It's been nearly three years to the day that I left for my last adventure requiring a passport. 

That's not to say it's been a bad last couple of years, I've just had different kinds of adventures. I packed up everything I own into a few boxes, put my kitten in the backseat, and drove to Nova Scotia to start a job at a company that I'd been looking up to since college. I had absolutely zero friends here, and all I knew was that I wanted to buy a surfboard. 

Two years later, I have my surfboard, and a rad crew of friends brought together by a love of the ocean, all things outdoors, and an appreciation for this province that can only truly be achieved by a CFA. My coworkers are like my family, and I'm lucky to work with people I genuinely like, in an environment that allows and encourages me to be creative. I know so many people dread going to work everyday, and I'm thankful to have a job that doesn't make me feel that way. 

All in all, I'm living a pretty great life here by the sea. But after about a year, I started to get a little too used to the routine. 

After I went to Australia and discovered my love of lengthy, slow moving backpacker travel, my biggest fear was always that I would never get to travel the way I wanted to anymore, once I got a "grown up job." Two weeks of vacation per year just didn't seem like enough to go shark cage diving in South Africa, surfing in Sri Lanka, diving in the Philippines, and all of the other shenanigans I have planned for my life. I had just gotten a taste of the world, and I certainly wasn't ready to stop. So I came up with a plan, and pitched it to my boss.

I don't know what put this idea into my head, but I decided on Morocco. Surf, desert, mountains, and cute camels were all I knew about this country, but I was stoked. I found a co-working space that would allow me to do my work remotely via a quick internet connection and a Skype booth for conference calls, all while living 200m from one of Morocco's best surf beaches. With a 4 hour time difference, I would work from 1pm-9pm so that I would be on Halifax time, keeping my mornings for surfing and camel cuddles. It was foolproof. 

I made a powerpoint presentation with all the details, and nervously word vomited this crazy idea to my boss; why I thought they should let me send my ideas and words over the Atlantic ocean, while soaking up the sun and paying me to do it. 

Coworking is not a new idea by any means, but in a role that relies so heavily on collaboration (and I couldn't convince my art director partner Jill to come with—believe me, I tried haha) it just didn't seem like the most feasible option. 

Instead, I will be taking some time off to travel around Morocco seeing the sights, drinking mint tea, and ending with some serious surf lessons. In an unexpected and exciting turn of events, I'm happy to say that my amazing, fearless, and badass mum will be joining me. 2017 has been a trying year for our family, so she's decided to embrace every damn day, grab life by the balls, and ride a camel into the freakin' Sahara desert. I couldn't be prouder. 

buying mum her first packpack

In terms of writing this blog, I normally travel with a small laptop that I use, however, since this trip is shorter and I will have the company of my darling mum, I will be leaving it at home. Instead, I've decided to update friends and family by posting on Instagram (hopefully once a day). Writing here was such an amazing way to stay connected while I was away on my long trips, and it gives me so much joy to go back and reread my posts all these years later. Documenting life's journeys is a huge part of who I am and how I travel, so even if no one reads this, it is more of an outlet for me than anything, and an important part of all of my trips. 

On March 2nd, I board a plane headed for Marrakech with my trusty old backpack, and an open heart. I'm almost certain this is going to be one of the biggest shake ups of my life, and I'm so ready for it. 

5 ways to Live Like a Local while you're travelling

[workin' on my travel writing!]

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To many travellers, “tourist” is a dirty word. The mere thought of organized bus tours, posed photo opportunities and cheap souvenirs is enough to turn their stomachs. We think that everyone travels differently, and if those bus tours are what gets your adventurous spirit going, then tour away! There is something to be said, however, for exploring your new surroundings as an insider, blending seamlessly into local life and observing the culture from within. Here are 5 ways to ditch the tourist mentality and live like a local.

1. Throw away your guidebook

While your Lonely Planet may tell you important info about local customs, currencies and safety concerns, it also highlights the major tourist attractions in the area, with some “off the beaten path” options scattered about. Who wants to show up to that temple only to meet up with every fanny-packed Canadian in a 10km radius? Your best bet? Chat up the owner of your accommodations or a local business owner for the best-kept cultural secrets. And if there is a big tourist hotspot you want to hit, they can recommend the best times to visit to avoid the crowds.

                          

                                           image by Angelo Juan Ramos via Flickr

 2. Avoid big chain restaurants

I know how comforting it can be to see the big golden arches when you are completely flustered by your destination (cultural differences, language barrier), but stop and think before you dive face first into that Big Mac. You can eat that at home! Being abroad is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and try new things. Head over to that street food cart. You may not know what they are serving up or how to ask for what you want, but you’ll be surprised how far a big smile can go when dealing with language differences. The best case scenario, you’ll try a new food and be proud of yourself for experiencing a new culture. Worst case? You spit out the food, and are now equipped with a hilarious story for your friends and family about how you accidentally ate beetles in Bangkok.

                           

                                          image by Ingsoc via Wikipedia

3. Like home, but different

If you want to experience a culture like a local, think about what you do at home, and adapt. Experience how people go about their daily lives in a different country. Go to the grocery store, see what foods they have that are different or the same as at home. Go see a movie even if you don’t speak the language. Sit at a small café, listening to snippets of conversation and watching as people walk by. Learn a bit of the local language, or take a cooking class to create a famous cultural dish. Sometimes when travelling, you need to just slow down to be able to absorb the experience.

                                     

                                          image by Nicole Cohen via sketch42blog

4. Life is a runway

Take to the streets to see what fashion trends the locals are following. Treat yourself to a new outfit at a trendy boutique and strut your stuff with the best of them. Nothing says tourist more than an “I HEART OKTOBERFEST” tee. Plus, North America is often a few months behind other countries trend-wise, so when you come home you’ll be looking fashion forward, and have a souvenir you won’t be embarrassed to wear.

                                                       image by Elinnea via Wikpedia

5. Talk, talk, talk

Nothing immerses you more into a country’s culture than speaking with its people. While making sure you are safe and trusting your gut instincts, sometimes it pays to strike up a conversation with a friendly shop owner or vendor at a local market. They’re often the best sources for well kept cultural secrets, folklore, and even great restaurants that most people walk right by. They can help you learn the language, and if you’re lucky, might even invite you over for dinner or to a cultural celebration! This is very prevalent in India especially. You never know when you’ll be the guests of honour at an Indian wedding, or cast as an extra in a Bollywood movie!

                                                       photo by Bryanna Bradley via Facebook

While people travel for different reasons and with different agendas, one fact remains the same. Travel is an escape from your reality and a departure into a different culture. While some people rush around to check things off of their sightseeing list, and some people choose to travel slow and take it all in, the real thrill is in the unexpected adventures and experiences of the journey. By living like a local, you can make the most of your trip, learning new things and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Whaddya at b'ys?!

Hellooooo from St. John's! I've been here for just over a week now and I'm loving it :) it's so great to be back working in a creative capacity, especially with my roomie from college, Yvonne, to show me the ropes. We lived together in Toronto for two years in the "Birmingham Basement". This summer I'm staying with her and her boyfriend Noel in their house in Paradise, NL. Not even a joke, it is called Paradise, and it really is - I can see the ocean from my bedroom window! Also joined by their fur children Pete, a 140lb Greater Swiss Mountain dog, and two kitties Henry and Jack :)

I'm working with another CABA as my partner, Cristina. We sit in our little corner with our heat lamp and eat all day, send snapchats back and forth, and laugh at each other. Needless to say, we get along very well hehe ;)

I'm still getting used to a regular 9-5 Monday to Friday work schedule. Mad props to all normal functioning adults who do this... Holy jeeze I'm tired by the end of the day haha coffee is my best friend! 

I haven't done too much touristy stuff as of yet, just a wicked hike up Signal Hill on the weekend, and a nice long walk on the track by the beach with Yvonne, Pete and our friend Ashley and her Great Dane named Ajax! Lots on the list though, I'm going have some busy weekends!

It's been pretty cold so far, I always wear a wool sweater but I'm slowly adjusting. Its been pretty sunny on the weekends so that's all I need!

Been looking into doing some diving here and wow, people are just so nice! I posted on a dive Facebook group and within one day I had about five people offer to take me out on their boats! My mainlander "don't trust strangers" red flags were going off, but you just have to get used to the fact that people are very nice here haha!

Other than that, not too much else to report. Loving it so far, but not an official Newfoundlander because I haven't been screeched in yet! Maybe this weekend ;)

Think warm thoughts for us!

Love from the Rock xx 

Home again, home again

Well, I've been home for about 3.5 weeks now and I have to say it's pretty nice. But my feet are getting itchy again already! Ideally, I'd be headed off to some tropical location (perhaps Palau if money was no issue) to further my scuba diving levels and basically dive all day, everyday. Since I'm not in that dream world, I will have to happily settle for a new adventure in moving back to Toronto. Since I've been home, I have had two interviews for internships at ad agencies which is very exciting. If I am a successful candidate, I'll be couchsurfing my way down to Toronto by mid May while looking for a room to sublet for the summer. 

Other than work-wise, I have been visiting with lots of friends that I have missed over the past two months which is lovely! Before I left, I made sure to put some money aside for when I came back, because when I got home from Australia I was in the red and didn't even have money to put gas in my car to go job hunting. It was seriously depressing and I was convinced that I would be unemployed and living at home for my whole life! Luckily, I came across the job posting for Alice's, and it all worked itself out as I knew it would. I definitely recommend this to anyone going on an extended trip, leave some money at home that you cannot access while travelling for when you get back, you will be happy you did :)

I've also been doing loads of creative outlets such as painting, needlepoint, as well as experimenting with jewellery making with the shells I brought home from Central America. All of these things are turning out quite well, and I plan on selling my jewellery when I have a collection built up, along with doing hair wraps! I've also been back into eating much much better than I was while traveling and am feeling great! I sure missed my morning smoothies :) 

As much as my feet, heart and soul are longing to be back on the road, I know that now is the time for me to buckle down and start my career. Hopefully with time and experience, I will be able to not only travel for work, but maybe relocate somewhere altogether! Who knows what the future holds? For now, all signs are pointing to Toronto, the bright lights and big world of advertising. Wish me luck! I'm ready to jump in.

Until the next adventure,

Soph

My favourite welcoming committee <3

Guess which one is mine? #mermaidlife

Ometepe and beyond!

Hola amigos! I've been too busy hanging out with my momma to update my blog, but now as I sit here by the pool on my last day in Central America I figured it would be a good time to recount my adventures! 

After San Juan del Sur, Siw and I headed to isla de ometepe home of two spectacular volcanoes. Most people climb one or both of the volcanoes, but the hikes are between 8 and 12 hours in 40 degree heat aka not my idea of fun! We chose to look up at the beauty from the beach haha our experience of ometepe wasn't bad, the scenery was spectacular, the waters of lake nicaragua were warm and soothing and we met some lovely people. There were just all of these small things that didn't work out too well, which when compounded, seemed like the end of the world haha needless to say, we were pretty relieved to take the ferry back to the mainland. I'm glad that I went to ometepe but I think that a bit more research and planning would have helped us immensely! 

Once we reached the mainland, we were going to spend the night in Rivas and head to Costa Rica the next morning. Well, the taxi driver told us that the border would be closed the next day because of semana Santa, the week leading up to Easter that everyone has as holidays. So, off to the border we went! We left Nicaragua and headed into Costa Rica, had one last street food meal eaten at the bus station and within an hour, it was time to say bye to my travel buddy Siw as I was headed to Liberia and she continued on to San Jose and then Panama. The trip wouldn't have been the same without her and I am so lucky we crossed paths! It was sad saying bye, but as soon as I got off the bus I had to deal with the fact that it dropped me off on the side of the highway. SO RANDOM! I found my way to the hostel I had booked and settled in. The plan was to stay in Liberia for the week until my mum arrived on Saturday. There isn't much going on in liberia so I took the public bus to Tamarindo for two days and checked into a hostel there!

Those two days I had chillin in tamagringo, as it is affectionately known, were really awesome because I got to check out everything before my mum got here and got readjusted to being in a touristy area with shops and restaurants that aren't overrun with chickens! Haha 

I met two cool people from Toronto, Steph and Aurimas and we rented a surfboard one day (which I waxed with PINK wax!) and hit the waves. It was so much fun! Then we had sushi and they continued on their trip. I'm heading back toToronto this weekend and I think we will meet up. 

One thing about costa rica is that everything is super expensive!  It was such a shock coming from Nicaragua so I'm glad I ended my trip here! Since tamarindo was so busy for semana santa I wasn't able to book a room Thursday night so I headed back to Liberia until Saturday when my momma came!!!

We checked into our beautiful hotel and have been relaxing and eating great food and hangin out together! It's so nice o get to spend some time with her since I haven't seen her in two months! And it's nice to not be in hostels anymore haha

One day I went diving with pacific coast dive centre which was awesome! It was great to be diving again and although I didn't see a manta ray, we saw some beautiful fish and eagle Rays it was amazing! 

We also went one night to a beach to watch pacific green sea turtles nesting. It was such a magical experience, out there with the bright stars and no lights to see these four foot long turtles come out of the ocean, find a good spot to dig their nest, and then watch them dig through the sand and lay the eggs. It was just so cool and something I will never forget in my whole life! So special that i got to see it with my mum! 

Today is our last day in paradise, we are hanging out by the pool, going to have one last dip in the ocean and having our "Friday night pizza" tradition at the Italian restaurant at our hotel. Tomorrow we are on the same flight at 1:30 but I'm getting off in Toronto and she is headed home to Ottawa.

Central America has been so good to me, and a piece of my heart will always be here, in every wave, piña and beautiful sunset! I definitely recommend travelling in Honduras and Nicaragua for backpacking and Costa Rica if it is in your budget is so beautiful! 

Now on to a new adventure as I look for my first "real" job in advertising, and hopefully a big move to Vancouver or back to trusty T.O!!! 

stepping on stars

I am so far behind on this thing, I will try to remember everything I've done!! 

We made it to Grenada where the highlights included: 

- a super nice hostel called the oasis that had a pool, free pancakes and bananas!

- taking pictures of all the crazy coloured walls and doors

- climbing to the top of a cathedral and getting a 360 view of the city

- drinking juice in a bag

- getting hopelessly lost in the local market

- buying some lovely had made jewlery 

Grenada was awesome, a nice change to a city after being by the lake. 

We left with jack and Alice on the chicken bus to rivas, where they headed to isla de ometepe and we took another bus to San Juan del sur. Once there, we hopped on a beach shuttle to stay for a few days at playa Maderas. We stayed in perma tents aka "the doghouses" at Matilda's right on the beach! It was so cool and we heard the waves crashing at night. We watched the sunset, and as it finally went down, the bioluminescence came out. It looked like there were fairy lights in the waves! Every step you took on the sand was stepping on stars. It was so amazingly beautiful and something I have wanted to see my whole life! I feel so lucky to have seen it :)

The next day I rented a surfboard with Nicole, a girl we met there, and we took turns going for some waves. It was so fun! Then Siw and I headed back to San Juan del sur for the next four days. 

In San Juan, we went ziplining, watched amazing sunsets, and went to the pub crawl called Sunday funday! It was hilarious, all of these people getting hammered and bopping around in the pool haha I was a sober spectator but the people watching was the best lol we went to three different bar/pool/hostels including the beautiful "naked tiger hostel" up on the hill with an epic view of the sunset! We also went ziplining which was really fun once I got over my initial nervousness. 

We also got tattoos yeeeewwww!

I also ate a poutine and had a Caesar at the Canadian bar called the loose moose, how cool is that?! 

After a lovely four nights in San Juan del sur, we were ready to move on to ometepe, which I will leave for another post.... 

Really looking forward to coming homeeeeee on April 11th! ( sick of all my clothes now and living out of a bag hehehe plus I just miss you all!!! ) 

Loads of love!!! Xx 

Rice and beans and public buses

I've been in Nicaragua for almost a week now and am really digging it! Sarah and I parted ways on Sunday, she heading to Guatemala off to a yoga retreat and I headed to the colonial city of Leon in nica. It took me two days to get there but that is what trips to Central America are made of... Long ass bus rides of varying degrees of comfort. I splurged and took tica bus which is like greyhound back home since I would be on this bus for about twelve hours. The border crossing was easy and I got dropped off in Leon at a hostel I had no reservations at. Of course, they were full. Ended up at Bigfoot hostel which is basically a party hostel but I ended up sleeping heaps because I got a cold. Highlights of my time in Leon include:

- visiting the 300 year old cathedral in the centre square

- finding the lady behind the cathedral that everyone talks about on trip advisor who makes the best street food ever

- my inner Cheryl Strayed perishing instantly as I hiked for one hour up the Telica volcano with a bad head cold and almost died

- looking into the crater of said volcano after watching the sunset and seeing lava 

- finally buying one of those cute colourful bags everyone had in utila 

- ordering my first drink en Español 

I met this cool girl from Denmark in my hostel named Siw (pronounced like Sue) and we decided to travel together for a while since she is going the same way as me. We went to the surfing turtle lodge in las penitas, where we did not surf and we did not see any turtles lol the waves were maaassssiiivvveee and we had just missed the last babies hatching. BOO! I did end up doing lots of hair wraps and making some moolah so that was cool :) it was a beautiful place right on the beach and I could hear waves crashing from my bed and feel the sea breezes on my face. Heaven. 

The next day we decided to go to Laguna de apoyo, an imploded crater lake near Granada. Again, I had no reservations booked but I figured something would work out. We were joined by new friends Anna from Germany and jack and Alice from the uk. We got there by public transportation which was absolutely hilarious, we are so lucky that both Anna and Alice speak really good Spanish! We ended up walking around for about 5km total trying to find a place to sleep. We eventually ended up at the estacion biologica which is more of a research centre that happens to have the most ghetto accommodation known to man. Buuuut by that point we just wanted to put our stuff down and go to bed! But not before having a swim in the lake. I was so sweaty and gross from being on packed buses all day and wandering around like Mary and Joseph because all the inns were full I just ran down to that lake and jumped right in! It was so refreshing and made the whole journey worth it.

Today we have a full day to relax in/by the lake and tomorrow we move on to Granada for a few days then off to ometepe! 

Hope spring has sprung at home and that everyone is well! I'll be flying home April 11th with my mama from Costa Rica but stopping in Toronto for a few days, so really looking forward to that! 

Peace, love, and gallopinto (rice and beans!) 

Soph xx 

Also... I found these beautiful kittens today!!!!! So happyyyyy