#tomorrow is final flight back to NM

[songofsaraneth]

germany was great but i was so so so betrayed by a kebab my last night and got food poisoned before my 17 hours of Airports And Planes and i lived an entire lifetime of misery but finally im to CO and and can escape death for a little bit hhhhh

[keepingupwithfundies]

CO 1101: La La Land

The Vuolos travel to LA, making fun stops along the way. Ben shaves his beard and decides to pull a prank on his kids. Joe & Kendra prepare for a new addition. Miscarriage TW: Joy & Austin grieve a loss. Finally, John & Abbie host a gender reveal. 

-T 

At the main house, Michelle is playing with Felicity as Jinger and Jeremy prepare to head to LA. They delayed their move due to Grandma's passing, which makes this move extra difficult. Jinger and Jeremy head off, and JB says their pace of life is going to pick up. Jinger recalls when she said it would be cool to marry someone who lived in a big city, and getting to live in LA is even bigger than she had imagined. They head off, and they will make stops to break it up. Jinger recalls her RV travel days and so she knows what to expect and it will be fun to make memories as the Vuolos. In Oklahoma, they make a pit stop to fill up on gas and change a diaper. Jessa tells a story from a drive when Spurgeon threw up all over his car seat.

Back in Arkansas, Jessa is cooking with Henry and Spurgeon while Ben and Ivy chill on the couch. Henry is talking more and Spurgeon likes to help out. Ivy is so chill and relaxed, she is an easy baby. Henry is delighted with his pancakes. Ben says he is going to trim his beard, and he thinks he might shave it off. He says it requires more maintenance at this length and it is time for a change.  Ben is curious to see if he does it if the boys will recognize him with no beard. He calls Jessa over to show her his goatee look, and then he does a hipster mustache. Jessa thinks its cute and he should keep it. He decides to dress up and knock on the front door to see what the boys do. Ben comes in, full Irish accent going, and his kids are looking at him with a lot of doubt. When they go looking for their dad, they don't see him. Ben then shows him the video him shaving, and they realize that their dad is with them. Ben thinks he did fool Henry but he isn't sure about Spurgeon. Spurgeon tells Ben he likes his beard on. Ben says he is planning on growing it back, but keeping it shorter.

Jinger & Jeremy arrive is Roswell, NM. Jeremy recounts the alien rumors about the town, and they are excited to check it out. They visit some kind of alien haunted house type thing, and take pictures with Felicity. Felicity laughs at the aliens. All the Duggars do not believe in aliens, although Abbie just says "I feel like an alien sometimes" which I found oddly relatable. The Vuolos had fun tho, and head on their way.

Joe & Kendra are upgrading their baby gear since they are expecting their second child. They got a new carseat for Garrett and a double stroller. Kendra is 30 weeks. She says she thinks this time around the baby will be earlier. Garrett is mobile now and fast- he's running around which is tricky for very pregnant Kendra to keep up with. Kendra says when the new baby comes, Garrett will be daddy's buddy. Joe and Kendra try to figure out how to put the car seat in the new stroller. They read the instructions. Kendra says she doesn't feel ready yet, but Joe says he does.

[tw: miscarriage]

Joy & Austin found out they were expecting earlier in 2019, but when they went in for their 20 week ultrasound, there was no heartbeat. Joy broke down, and Austin said it didn't feel real. Joy had to be induced, and Austin was focused on Joy being ok. When she got through it fine, Austin said they began the grieving process. Joy says they named her Annabell, both for the meaning and because it was a childhood nickname of Joy's. Elise, the middle name, went well with that. Annabell was buried out on Fort Rock. Today, they place a headstone where she was buried.  They also plant an oak sapling, which Joy would be able to watch grow near where she is buried. Austin said they have supported each other by how blessed they are which helps overcome the despair. The Forsyths pray by the new headstone. Joy says it is comforting to have the support of her mom and sisters. Lauren says she recalls when Jessa and Lauren were pregnant together and she lost Asa, how Jessa supported her and now she is trying to do that for Joy. Jessa said they had that big photoshoot with all the pregnant girls, and she is still so excited for everyone but how hard that must be for her. Austin told Michelle in the hospital that they still wanted to be happy for all the babies on the way. Joy says having the headstone and tree brought closure for her, and while it is hard, they'll get through it.

[/end tw: miscarriage]

In Nevada, the Vuolos arrives in Vegas.  Jeremy has never been before, but Jinger has been to the area before- in particular, the Hoover Dam. The Duggars talk about their perceptions of Vegas and do Elvis impersonations which is funny. Kendra doesn't know "what" Elvis is. Jeremy has decided to do the Sky Jump- and 829 controlled leap from the stratosphere building. Jinger is worried about watching this. Jeremy heads up, and Jinger tries to talk him out of it. She waits at the landing for him. Jinger tells Felicity that this will be scary, and Jinger is clearly worried for him. It is a wild thing to do and a long way down. Jeremy says he is and idiot and keeps asking what is he doing. He's got a go pro and Jinger is filming from the bottom. Jeremy is terrified, but he makes the leap and seems to enjoy it- it's actually quite a smooth and slow descent, and he is glad he did it. He kisses the ground. Jeremy says you do feel like you are free falling and it was exhilarating. Jinger says she wishes she was that brave. They go take a pic with the Vegas sign and then tomorrow they will head to LA.

John and Abbie are having a big gender reveal party at about 16 weeks pregnant. Coming up with an original idea was very difficult, and they have boarding passes for everyone. Everyone picks a pink or blue boarding pass which have 4 numbers on them. Jeremiah is going to do 3 passes with the plane: one will have the first two numbers, a middle one which will narrow it down to two passes, and the final one which will have the last number. The four numbers will match either a pink or a blue ticket, and that's the gender. (Maybe just stick to cakes?) But anyways, they all head outside to wait for the plane. Jer is taking off and heading towards the house. Jer does the first pass, the number is 82, and then everyone with an 82 steps up. Next, they look on the side of the plane and see a 7. The two last people are Abbie's mom and her sister Carinna. The plane comes around again, and they look for the last number on the other side of the plane. It's a 3, and that reveals it is a girl. Abbie and John pop pink confetti over everyone. Jer says the flight went great and he is super excited for John and Abbie. Both John and Abbie were hoping for a girl, and they're thrilled. Everyone congratulates them.

The Vuolos finally arrive in LA, and Felicity claps. Their trip took 5 days, and they are happy to be in the big city.  

[joshuamshea84]

8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel

Updated: 7/19/18 | July 19th, 2018

Motivated people can achieve anything they set their mind to. But how does one stay motivated, especially to travel, when you are busy working and living life while your family and friends disparage your ideas, you’re overwhelmed planning your trip, or maybe just burnt out from being on the road already?

Motivation is not an unlimited wellspring but a battery that has to be kept fully charged. While the idea of travel is always inspiring, sometimes life gets in the way and then suddenly, your eyes are no longer on the prize.

Travel can be frustrating.

I’ve had my share of ups and downs. My trip to Iceland has been years in the making. I always talk about it but it kept getting delayed because “stuff came up.” It wasn’t until I finally said “enough” and booked my ticket right there that the trip became a reality. Years ago, burnt out, I went to Cambodia to recharge my batteries. I stayed in one place and watched movies and read books. Alone. It was relaxing, and one day I woke up and said “I’m ready to go again.”

When you plan your trips, you don’t think about the long boring hours on a bus, the delays, the annoying airports, dealing with snorers in hostel dorms, fending off tours and scammers, and all the other things that will suck the energy and joy out of your experience.

It becomes stressful to restart your life every day in a new place with new people. As the months go by, you find you want a hot shower, nice bed, no snorers, someone to fully understand the words you are saying, and someone to stay longer than a day.

Eventually, you need to stop and recharge your batteries. To is stay in one place, watch Netflix, and relax. You begin to crave the monotony of the life you ran away from!

It’s important to find ways to stay motivated, and, so today I wanted to share my eight tips on how to stay motivated to travel:

1. Hold yourself accountable

The best thing you can do to stay focused is to be held accountable. Being accountable to others will help make sure that you don’t fall off the wagon. They will help keep you focused on your goal, and the social pressure to stay on track will provide some extra motivation to follow through. Whether that is betting money, having someone check in on you, keeping track of goals, or having someone help you plan, just being held accountable will force you to stay focused, even on those days you don’t feel like it!

We have a great group of people on the community forums that can help cheer you on toward your goals. Or use an anticharity like Stickk, which will donate money to your most hated cause if you don’t follow through.

Accountability ensures action and can force you to follow through when a lack of energy would otherwise hold you back.

Related Posts

How to Stop Making Excuses When it Comes to Travel (or Anything Else in Life)

13 Non-Travel Books That Changed My Life

How to Change the “I’m Too Poor to Travel” Mindset

The NM Case Study Project: Shifting Mindsets and Creating Budgets

2. Research places to go

Keep reading about places you want to visit and eventually you’ll get there. It may sound trite, but by always keeping travel on my mind, I always am excited about my future trips. I’m constantly researching destinations online, reading news from overseas, looking up flights, reading blogs, and generally getting to know the world better. The more I learn about different places, the more I think, “There are so many places to see, and no time to waste! Let’s go book a flight!”

Thinking about doing something all the time will make it happen.

Related Posts

My Favorite Cities in the World

10 Destinations to Visit When You’re A Budget Traveler

My 28 Favorite Places to Visit in the USA

5 Destinations Under $30 Per Day

3. Devote time

Stuff always seems to come up, doesn’t it? Sure, I was planning to visit Iceland in May and then suddenly, May was here and I was busy. Or maybe you decide today’s the day you’re going to plan your trip but then you forget you have laundry to do. My solution? Pick a day and time you are normally not busy (i.e., on Facebook) and devote that time to planning your trip. Make it a consistent part of your schedule and develop a habit so that it doesn’t feel like a task you “have” to do; it becomes just something you do automatically.

Set thirty minutes aside each day to focus on travel or to plan your trip. Turn it into part of your everyday routine.

4. Read travel blogs

Reading about other travelers’ adventures can show you that it is easier to travel than you thought, provide advice and tips on the art of travel, and teach you about places you’ve never heard of. One day you’ll get sick of living vicariously through others, and you’ll go out and create your own travel stories. They will show you that yes, travel is realistic, practical, and financially possible.

Here is a list of my current favorite travel blogs!

5. Read travel books

I just finished Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. After reading about his epic adventure through Peru, I am so motivated to see Peru that I’ve already ordered a guidebook to the country. Peru! Peru! Peru! While reading travel blogs is great, travel books are even better because they cut deep into a destination and open it up in a way a short blog post can’t.

And in that same vein, be sure to read books about the destination you are visiting so you can get a deeper understanding of the place. You can’t understand a location’s present if you don’t understand its past.

Related Posts

7 Favorite Travel Books Worth Reading Right Now

My Favorite Travel Books of 2016

9 Summer Reads to Satiate Your Wanderlust

Join the Nomadic Matt Book Club!

6. Learn a language

Join a class and pick up a language you might use on the road. Once you’ve started learning the language, you’ll hate to waste your new skill. And the only way to use it is to travel to where they speak it! Here are some blog posts from language experts I know to get you started:

How to Learn the Basics of Any Language for Your Next Trip in Four Steps

How to Master Life, Language, and Travel

7. Take a break

If you’ve been on the road for a while, you’ve probably burnt out a bit. Travel isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, and spending a lot of time on the road can lead to burnout. That’s going to sap your motivation and might even have you thinking about home. It did for me once (I got burnt out on my first trip and went home early), and the second I got home I face-smacked myself and said, “What was I thinking!” I learned my lesson and found that a much better way to get your mojo back is to take a break. Instead of moving on to your next destination, stay where you are for as long as you need. Watch TV, volunteer, work at your hostel, start a blog, or sit by the beach everyday — whatever relaxes you.

8. Meet other travelers

Sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated if the people around you aren’t supportive of your desire to travel. Hanging out on travel forums or our Facebook travel group the naysayers who don’t believe long-term travel is possible because you’ll see from all these people encouraging you that it really is.

An encouraging environment is a better environment! And a community of travelers telling you aren’t crazy and this is possible will drown out all the naysayers in the world.

***

If you’re like me, you go through bouts of motivation. You get super excited about a trip and then your mind moves on to something else, or the challenge of planning saps some of your motivation and you put it off until later.

But there’s only today, so use these tips to help stay motivated about your next trip.

Because one day, you’ll run out of tomorrows.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experiences.

Click here to learn more about the book, how it can help you, and you can start reading it today!

The post 8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/stay-motivated/

[tamboradventure]

8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel

Updated: 7/19/18 | July 19th, 2018

Motivated people can achieve anything they set their mind to. But how does one stay motivated, especially to travel, when you are busy working and living life while your family and friends disparage your ideas, you’re overwhelmed planning your trip, or maybe just burnt out from being on the road already?

Motivation is not an unlimited wellspring but a battery that has to be kept fully charged. While the idea of travel is always inspiring, sometimes life gets in the way and then suddenly, your eyes are no longer on the prize.

Travel can be frustrating.

I’ve had my share of ups and downs. My trip to Iceland has been years in the making. I always talk about it but it kept getting delayed because “stuff came up.” It wasn’t until I finally said “enough” and booked my ticket right there that the trip became a reality. Years ago, burnt out, I went to Cambodia to recharge my batteries. I stayed in one place and watched movies and read books. Alone. It was relaxing, and one day I woke up and said “I’m ready to go again.”

When you plan your trips, you don’t think about the long boring hours on a bus, the delays, the annoying airports, dealing with snorers in hostel dorms, fending off tours and scammers, and all the other things that will suck the energy and joy out of your experience.

It becomes stressful to restart your life every day in a new place with new people. As the months go by, you find you want a hot shower, nice bed, no snorers, someone to fully understand the words you are saying, and someone to stay longer than a day.

Eventually, you need to stop and recharge your batteries. To is stay in one place, watch Netflix, and relax. You begin to crave the monotony of the life you ran away from!

It’s important to find ways to stay motivated, and, so today I wanted to share my eight tips on how to stay motivated to travel:

1. Hold yourself accountable

The best thing you can do to stay focused is to be held accountable. Being accountable to others will help make sure that you don’t fall off the wagon. They will help keep you focused on your goal, and the social pressure to stay on track will provide some extra motivation to follow through. Whether that is betting money, having someone check in on you, keeping track of goals, or having someone help you plan, just being held accountable will force you to stay focused, even on those days you don’t feel like it!

We have a great group of people on the community forums that can help cheer you on toward your goals. Or use an anticharity like Stickk, which will donate money to your most hated cause if you don’t follow through.

Accountability ensures action and can force you to follow through when a lack of energy would otherwise hold you back.

Related Posts

How to Stop Making Excuses When it Comes to Travel (or Anything Else in Life)

13 Non-Travel Books That Changed My Life

How to Change the “I’m Too Poor to Travel” Mindset

The NM Case Study Project: Shifting Mindsets and Creating Budgets

2. Research places to go

Keep reading about places you want to visit and eventually you’ll get there. It may sound trite, but by always keeping travel on my mind, I always am excited about my future trips. I’m constantly researching destinations online, reading news from overseas, looking up flights, reading blogs, and generally getting to know the world better. The more I learn about different places, the more I think, “There are so many places to see, and no time to waste! Let’s go book a flight!”

Thinking about doing something all the time will make it happen.

Related Posts

My Favorite Cities in the World

10 Destinations to Visit When You’re A Budget Traveler

My 28 Favorite Places to Visit in the USA

5 Destinations Under $30 Per Day

3. Devote time

Stuff always seems to come up, doesn’t it? Sure, I was planning to visit Iceland in May and then suddenly, May was here and I was busy. Or maybe you decide today’s the day you’re going to plan your trip but then you forget you have laundry to do. My solution? Pick a day and time you are normally not busy (i.e., on Facebook) and devote that time to planning your trip. Make it a consistent part of your schedule and develop a habit so that it doesn’t feel like a task you “have” to do; it becomes just something you do automatically.

Set thirty minutes aside each day to focus on travel or to plan your trip. Turn it into part of your everyday routine.

4. Read travel blogs

Reading about other travelers’ adventures can show you that it is easier to travel than you thought, provide advice and tips on the art of travel, and teach you about places you’ve never heard of. One day you’ll get sick of living vicariously through others, and you’ll go out and create your own travel stories. They will show you that yes, travel is realistic, practical, and financially possible.

Here is a list of my current favorite travel blogs!

5. Read travel books

I just finished Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. After reading about his epic adventure through Peru, I am so motivated to see Peru that I’ve already ordered a guidebook to the country. Peru! Peru! Peru! While reading travel blogs is great, travel books are even better because they cut deep into a destination and open it up in a way a short blog post can’t.

And in that same vein, be sure to read books about the destination you are visiting so you can get a deeper understanding of the place. You can’t understand a location’s present if you don’t understand its past.

Related Posts

7 Favorite Travel Books Worth Reading Right Now

My Favorite Travel Books of 2016

9 Summer Reads to Satiate Your Wanderlust

Join the Nomadic Matt Book Club!

6. Learn a language

Join a class and pick up a language you might use on the road. Once you’ve started learning the language, you’ll hate to waste your new skill. And the only way to use it is to travel to where they speak it! Here are some blog posts from language experts I know to get you started:

How to Learn the Basics of Any Language for Your Next Trip in Four Steps

How to Master Life, Language, and Travel

7. Take a break

If you’ve been on the road for a while, you’ve probably burnt out a bit. Travel isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, and spending a lot of time on the road can lead to burnout. That’s going to sap your motivation and might even have you thinking about home. It did for me once (I got burnt out on my first trip and went home early), and the second I got home I face-smacked myself and said, “What was I thinking!” I learned my lesson and found that a much better way to get your mojo back is to take a break. Instead of moving on to your next destination, stay where you are for as long as you need. Watch TV, volunteer, work at your hostel, start a blog, or sit by the beach everyday — whatever relaxes you.

8. Meet other travelers

Sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated if the people around you aren’t supportive of your desire to travel. Hanging out on travel forums or our Facebook travel group the naysayers who don’t believe long-term travel is possible because you’ll see from all these people encouraging you that it really is.

An encouraging environment is a better environment! And a community of travelers telling you aren’t crazy and this is possible will drown out all the naysayers in the world.

***

If you’re like me, you go through bouts of motivation. You get super excited about a trip and then your mind moves on to something else, or the challenge of planning saps some of your motivation and you put it off until later.

But there’s only today, so use these tips to help stay motivated about your next trip.

Because one day, you’ll run out of tomorrows.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experiences.

Click here to learn more about the book, how it can help you, and you can start reading it today!

The post 8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://ift.tt/2LwDZpb via IFTTT

[theladyjstyle]

Updated: 7/19/18 | July 19th, 2018

Motivated people can achieve anything they set their mind to. But how does one stay motivated, especially to travel, when you are busy working and living life while your family and friends disparage your ideas, you’re overwhelmed planning your trip, or maybe just burnt out from being on the road already?

Motivation is not an unlimited wellspring but a battery that has to be kept fully charged. While the idea of travel is always inspiring, sometimes life gets in the way and then suddenly, your eyes are no longer on the prize.

Travel can be frustrating.

I’ve had my share of ups and downs. My trip to Iceland has been years in the making. I always talk about it but it kept getting delayed because “stuff came up.” It wasn’t until I finally said “enough” and booked my ticket right there that the trip became a reality. Years ago, burnt out, I went to Cambodia to recharge my batteries. I stayed in one place and watched movies and read books. Alone. It was relaxing, and one day I woke up and said “I’m ready to go again.”

When you plan your trips, you don’t think about the long boring hours on a bus, the delays, the annoying airports, dealing with snorers in hostel dorms, fending off tours and scammers, and all the other things that will suck the energy and joy out of your experience.

It becomes stressful to restart your life every day in a new place with new people. As the months go by, you find you want a hot shower, nice bed, no snorers, someone to fully understand the words you are saying, and someone to stay longer than a day.

Eventually, you need to stop and recharge your batteries. To is stay in one place, watch Netflix, and relax. You begin to crave the monotony of the life you ran away from!

It’s important to find ways to stay motivated, and, so today I wanted to share my eight tips on how to stay motivated to travel:

1. Hold yourself accountable

The best thing you can do to stay focused is to be held accountable. Being accountable to others will help make sure that you don’t fall off the wagon. They will help keep you focused on your goal, and the social pressure to stay on track will provide some extra motivation to follow through. Whether that is betting money, having someone check in on you, keeping track of goals, or having someone help you plan, just being held accountable will force you to stay focused, even on those days you don’t feel like it!

We have a great group of people on the community forums that can help cheer you on toward your goals. Or use an anticharity like Stickk, which will donate money to your most hated cause if you don’t follow through.

Accountability ensures action and can force you to follow through when a lack of energy would otherwise hold you back.

Related Posts

How to Stop Making Excuses When it Comes to Travel (or Anything Else in Life)

13 Non-Travel Books That Changed My Life

How to Change the “I’m Too Poor to Travel” Mindset

The NM Case Study Project: Shifting Mindsets and Creating Budgets

2. Research places to go

Keep reading about places you want to visit and eventually you’ll get there. It may sound trite, but by always keeping travel on my mind, I always am excited about my future trips. I’m constantly researching destinations online, reading news from overseas, looking up flights, reading blogs, and generally getting to know the world better. The more I learn about different places, the more I think, “There are so many places to see, and no time to waste! Let’s go book a flight!”

Thinking about doing something all the time will make it happen.

Related Posts

My Favorite Cities in the World

10 Destinations to Visit When You’re A Budget Traveler

My 28 Favorite Places to Visit in the USA

5 Destinations Under $30 Per Day

3. Devote time

Stuff always seems to come up, doesn’t it? Sure, I was planning to visit Iceland in May and then suddenly, May was here and I was busy. Or maybe you decide today’s the day you’re going to plan your trip but then you forget you have laundry to do. My solution? Pick a day and time you are normally not busy (i.e., on Facebook) and devote that time to planning your trip. Make it a consistent part of your schedule and develop a habit so that it doesn’t feel like a task you “have” to do; it becomes just something you do automatically.

Set thirty minutes aside each day to focus on travel or to plan your trip. Turn it into part of your everyday routine.

4. Read travel blogs

Reading about other travelers’ adventures can show you that it is easier to travel than you thought, provide advice and tips on the art of travel, and teach you about places you’ve never heard of. One day you’ll get sick of living vicariously through others, and you’ll go out and create your own travel stories. They will show you that yes, travel is realistic, practical, and financially possible.

Here is a list of my current favorite travel blogs!

5. Read travel books

I just finished Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. After reading about his epic adventure through Peru, I am so motivated to see Peru that I’ve already ordered a guidebook to the country. Peru! Peru! Peru! While reading travel blogs is great, travel books are even better because they cut deep into a destination and open it up in a way a short blog post can’t.

And in that same vein, be sure to read books about the destination you are visiting so you can get a deeper understanding of the place. You can’t understand a location’s present if you don’t understand its past.

Related Posts

7 Favorite Travel Books Worth Reading Right Now

My Favorite Travel Books of 2016

9 Summer Reads to Satiate Your Wanderlust

Join the Nomadic Matt Book Club!

6. Learn a language

Join a class and pick up a language you might use on the road. Once you’ve started learning the language, you’ll hate to waste your new skill. And the only way to use it is to travel to where they speak it! Here are some blog posts from language experts I know to get you started:

How to Learn the Basics of Any Language for Your Next Trip in Four Steps

How to Master Life, Language, and Travel

7. Take a break

If you’ve been on the road for a while, you’ve probably burnt out a bit. Travel isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, and spending a lot of time on the road can lead to burnout. That’s going to sap your motivation and might even have you thinking about home. It did for me once (I got burnt out on my first trip and went home early), and the second I got home I face-smacked myself and said, “What was I thinking!” I learned my lesson and found that a much better way to get your mojo back is to take a break. Instead of moving on to your next destination, stay where you are for as long as you need. Watch TV, volunteer, work at your hostel, start a blog, or sit by the beach everyday — whatever relaxes you.

8. Meet other travelers

Sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated if the people around you aren’t supportive of your desire to travel. Hanging out on travel forums or our Facebook travel group the naysayers who don’t believe long-term travel is possible because you’ll see from all these people encouraging you that it really is.

An encouraging environment is a better environment! And a community of travelers telling you aren’t crazy and this is possible will drown out all the naysayers in the world.

***

If you’re like me, you go through bouts of motivation. You get super excited about a trip and then your mind moves on to something else, or the challenge of planning saps some of your motivation and you put it off until later.

But there’s only today, so use these tips to help stay motivated about your next trip.

Because one day, you’ll run out of tomorrows.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experiences.

Click here to learn more about the book, how it can help you, and you can start reading it today!

The post 8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel https://ift.tt/2LwDZpb

[isthespiceoflife]

H4thOJ!

Fireworks? Never a bad idea on the 4th, esp in Jersey City right on the water!Did I mention Snoop Dog’s performing? Yep Ummm...but if it’s too played out...how about pool party/bbq? Always in season! Catch Brasstracks (DJ set) @Dream Hotel on a Happy 4th, if you’ve never partied -- compliments Corona Electric Beach, like it’s your LAST.

On NOW, “Represent: Hip-Hop Photography” at the Smithsonian (in D.C.), running ‘til May 5, 2019. U got time!

Opening exhibit reception for artist Olimpia Zagnoli’s “Cuore Di Panna”, May 25 (this Friday) in LA @HVW8 Gallery, RSVP.

It goes -- Fall, Winter, Spring... Summer! Well, U all know if U lived thru NY’s winter, how harsh weird it was. We’re in 80+ degree weather in Spring, yet there seemed to be NO TRANSITION. Which means, let’s get out-side, I mean right here in NY! Riis Park Beach anyone? There’s been so much going on nationally n’ internationally, from Kanye’s ‘free thought’ as a precursor to promote his latest music, NBA playoffs is heating up, then there’s the ever-revolving media circus surrounding this madman, not to mention his staff. Ummm...what else? So much going on, I need a RED BULL! See some below beats, if U may -- including some treats rockin’ from Cali, to JA. And don’t forget, Cinco De Mayo this weekend passed, esp if you’re not Mexican!

The WORLD CUP 2018 hits Russia this summer, June 14 to be exact is kick-off/opening ceremony. Don’t be surprised to see this symbol instead of yesteryear’s “Bolting”, every time someone from the African diaspora scores, celebrating ‘black excellence’ n’ living out loud, the ‘wakanda’ dream!

From Side Hobby, to Cash Flow: Shooting for Brands! This Saturday, May 5 (don’t worry you can drink after U elevate your photography career) in NYC! 

Art150 = Jersey City -- so venture outta ya ‘hood this weekend, n’ hit up the JC!

Not to be missed, in Red Hook (yes, Brooklyn), the “1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair,” kicks off TODAY (5/4-5/6)!

Tonight’s your last chance to catch the Grace Jones flick, “Bloodlight & Bami” @BAM.

U won’t wanna miss this (n’ no that’s not Jazzie B from Soul II Soul, it’s Comrade Cav)! UK II BK, going down @Black Flamingo in W’Burg w/DJ Misbehaviour, tomorrow Fri, May 4.

Wait ya turn boy!? Missed that? Then go to this “Everyday Afrique” (Memorial Day) @Output!

Schomburg Talks: Carnival traditions in the African Diaspora thru the lens of T&T. On June 20th, “Consecrating the Consequence -- Masquerade, Performance n’ Spirituality in Carnival” happens @Schomburg Center for Research in BC, from 6:30-9p. RSVP.

After almost a year after a mishap in immigration/passport issues, this tour is finally on n’ happening. Tricky is here in the U.S., catch him as he promotes his latest 2017 Ununiform album, if U can (below dates)!

5/3 - New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza - Tickets 5/5 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick - Tickets 5/6 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Longue - Tickets 5/7 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry - Tickets 5/9 - Denver, CO @ Marquis - Tickets 5/12 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos - Tickets 5/13 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge - Tickets 5/14 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre - Tickets 5/16 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine - Tickets 5/17 - San Diego, CA @ Music Box - Tickets 5/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre - Tickets

Yea, this May 10th David Bowie event @BK Museum, will soon sell off! A Music video binge on some of Bowie’s best.

Celebrity photographer & director Markus Klinko presents: “2000s” -- an exhibit open to the public (June 14-30), @Mouche Gallery.

X Gallery and EnFoco join together to present “Queer Eye” -- a photographic artistic exhibition celebrating LGBTQ Pride month, opening June 1-30 w/an artist (Lola Flash) meet n’ greet on June 14.

Join these two house music master DJs (Chicago’s Roy Davis, Jr. + France’s Franck Roger) in Paris @Glazart, June 9. Peep all the invite info, and no I don’t have flight info haa!

Cuco’s Tour Dates:

5/5-6 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House

5/26-27 - Cleveland Square Park, TX @ Neon Desert Music Festival 

6/1-3 - Randall's Island, NY @ Governors Ball

7/21-22 - Exposition Park, LA @ FYF Fest

8/2-5 - Grand Park, Chicago @ Lollapalooza

8/3-5 - Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal @ Osheaga Festival

8/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine

8/10-12 - Golden Gate Park, SF @ Outside Lands

A rare happening, Fishbone’s on tour (see dates below)!

Thu, May 24/18 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet's Fri, May 25/18 - Las Vegas, NV - Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival Sat, Jun 23/18 - San Diego, CA - 91X Beer Festival Fri, Jun 29/18 - Los Angeles, CA - Levitt Pavilion, Downtown LA Sat, Jul 14/18 - Ventura, CA - Surf Rodeo Festival Sat, Jul 28/18 - Tokyo, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival Thu, Aug 23/18 - Silver Spring, MD - Fillmore Fri, Aug 24/18 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl Sat, Aug 25/18 - Worchester, MA - Palladium 

BRIC’s Opening Night Concert n’ Gala feat. Common, hits us June 5. Don’t sleep, it’s FREE. It just sounds (n’ he looks) fancy!

Annually, most equate summer in Europe n’ the U.S. to...? Yes, outdoor reggae festivals! And this one’s been growing bigger n’ stronger each year, in Monterey. California Roots Music & Arts Festival is hitting 9-years old, w/a line-up that’s special.

Protoje has a new LP (A Matter of Time), pushing “No Guarantee” n’ is on tour w/Chronixx, see dates below!

MAY 24, 2018 - SUBTERRANEAN - CHICAGO, IL - BUY TICKETS MAY 25, 2018 - SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL - CHILLICOTHE, IL - BUY TICKETS MAY 26, 2018 - UNION STAGE - WASHINGTON, DC - BUY TICKETS MAY 27, 2018 - CONEY ISLAND AMPHITHEATER - BK, NY - BUY TICKETS

Awwww...that’s Ziggy Marley w/his lil’ ‘Ziggy’, he’s going on tour -- to promote his latest Rebellion Rises, see dates below:

UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

Dates:                                   City:                                                       Venue:

6/8/18                                   Napa, CA                                           Uptown 

6/10/18                                Carmel, CA                                         Sunset Center

6/12/18                                Jacksonville, OR                                Britt Pavilion

6/13/18                                Seattle, WA                                        Seattle Zoo

6/14/18                                Portland, OR                                      Portland Zoo

6/16/18                                Kamas, UT                                           DeJoria Ctr

6/17/18                                Winter Park, CO                                 Hideaway Park

6/18/18                                Aspen, CO                                           Aspen

6/19/18                                Albuquerque, NM                 Villa Hispana Outdoor

6/20/18                                Phoenix, AZ                                        Van Buren

6/22/18                                Santa Ynez, CA                                  Chumash

6/23/18                                Sacramento, CA                                 Ace of Spades

6/24/18                                San Francisco, CA                             Sigmund Stern

8/23/18                               Bellvue, CO                                  Mishawaka

9/1/18                                   Vienna, VA                                         Wolf Trap

+UPCOMING EUROPEAN TOUR DATES!

It’s incredible how fast this movement grew into something actually cool, over just a few years. It WAS poorly organized, poorly attended n’ pathetically not a true reflection of the carnival zest from Trinidad, representing in LA. But that’s recently changed, also incorporating other cultures from across the globe! Don’t miss from June 21-24 in H’wood, the Hollywood Carnival & Parade + ‘nuff activities surrounding this better soca-infused weekend of LA Carnival’s non-stop bachannal!

Hop on, but don’t hop off ‘til it docks. You’re invited, btw...this is a one-time only summer event, don’t lapse.

If you’re performing at one of Brooklyn’s coolest venues, National Sawdust, there’s something really cool about you. And that’s why U should check Underground System on Sat, June 16 @7p. Hopefully tix are still left!? If not, there’s 2 other upcoming shows (see below) too!

Feeling a lil’ nostalgia living in NYC, for the Pacific Ocean, Venice Beach n’ West Coast Gangstarr rap? @Project Parlor in BK, every 3rd Saturday, from 3p-8p, Str8 West Coastin’ got ya ‘chronic’ needs!

Above, catch the duo -- Adrian Younge + Ali Shaheed Muhammad aka The Midnight Hour w/band in NYC on Weds, June 20 @Manderley Bar (McKittrick Hotel). And below, back in their home-base of LA, catch them on Saturday, June 23 @Lodge Room. These shows should be a top priority, if music is your thing, ya feel me?

This year, Reggae Sumfest organizers are really kicking up some dust in branding this year’s festival (July 15-22 in Montego Bay), to be their best yet. For instance, it has now expanded to 8 days of real authentic Jamaican entertainment n’ food, amongst other forms of entertaining one’s self ;-) 

See lineup + schedule below.

Sun. July 15   Sumfest Colour-Fest Beach Party @Tropical Bliss Beach | Doors Open: 3pm | (Ticketed)

Mon. July 16 Sumfest Street Dance @ Hip Strip, MoBay | Gates Open: 7pm | (Free)

Tues. July 17 All White Party @ Pier One Restaurant & Bar | Doors Open: 8pm | (Ticketed)

Wed. July 18 The Blitz “All Black” Party Feat. Safaree and Stefflon Don @ (Venue TBD) | Doors Open: 8pm | (Ticketed) 

Thu. July 19 The Inspire Awards @ Iberostar Hotel | 5pm-9pm | (Invitation Only) 

Thu. July 19 Reggae Sumfest Presents: Irish & Chin's World Clash 20th Anniversary @ Pier One Event Center | Doors Open: 8pm | (Ticketed) Tony Matterhorn, Mighty Crown, Ricky Trooper and Pink Panther!

Fri. July 20 Sumfest Symposium @ Montego Bay Conference Center | Time TBD | (Free) 

Fri. July 20 Sumfest Festival Night 1 @ Catherine Hall Event Centre | Doors Open: 7pm | (Ticketed) Popcaan, Aidonia, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Spice, Tommy Lee Sparta, Agent Sasco, Ding Dong, I-Octane, Stonebwoy, Harry Toddler, Yanique, D-Major, Kemar Highcon, Dance Expressions, Govana, Tosh Alexander, Shano, Jah Fabio, Kim Nain, Rygin King, Vanzo, G Don V, Press Kay plus special guest stars 

Sat. July 21 Sumfest Festival Night 2@ Catherine Hall Event Centre | Doors Open: 7pm | (Ticketed) Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Cham, Capleton, Raging Fyah, Jesse Royal, J Boog, Fantan Mojah, Keznamdi, Empress Ayeola, Naomi Cowan, Jah Dore, D’Yani, Stushi, plus special guest stars.

And everyone in NYC -- young n’ old, has to hit up at least one of these, come summertime. See below, or FULL line-up here.

[sailingbrisa]

Panama and the trip up the coast.

Tomorrow we head back to Panama to pick up a guest and then decide our next adventures. I think the next week looks pretty flat so we will probably start heading for Costa Rica via Venao and Morillo! Cummon waves. Be good to us!

 The four hours back to Panama city was quite routine… with virtually no wind at all we just seem to motor sail everywhere in Panama. OF course we are here right in the middle of rainy season … also surf season, but renowned for huge thunder storms and no wind. So far this week we have been pretty lucky with dodging the storms. We grabbed Tania, who showed up for a long weekend with us and headed back out to the little island to explore some more.  We motored back again in glassy calm weather, but this time with Tani to keep us all entertained. We arrived and anchored in the same little spot… and set about looking around the little island and scaring all the crabs.

 Later in the day we surfed a little again, but the waves were very small. I grabbed Tania and went trolling and she caught her very fist fish ever. Now she was pretty distraught at having hurt the little snapper and was really worried I was going to eat the little thing right there and then… however we let it go and it swam off none the worse for wear, but with a great story to tell his friends.

 He time passed slowly and we ate great food, talked and read and slept. The three days went by too quickly, but Tania was a breath of fresh air for us all and as we motored back to drop her off we all realized that this was also the last time we would be pulling into Panama city for a while. We dropped Tania off in an Uber on her way to the airport, after a stop in Casco for skin cream.. some thing she likes from the supermarket there and then I went to the lawyers offices to drop off my passport for the final stages of my permanent work visa for Panama.

 The next morning early, I left for the immigration offices to have my photo taken and Ross and Elwin left for Super 99 supermarket to stock up for our trip up the coats towards Costa Rica. We had decided to go that afternoon up to Punta Chame and see if there were any waves, but instead we got thunderstorms, rolly, sleepless nights and absolutely flat water. The next morning we headed for Playa Venao, knowing we would arrive after dark, never a very good thing when you’re heading for a new anchorage. We threw out the lures and before too long started to hook into tuna and a medium sized Pacific Mackrell. We managed to hook and release a decent number of fish, but had to keep three yellow fin tuna as the sushi bowls were almost empty. Ross and Elwin were reeling all day long it seemed. At one point we were surrounded by at least 100 dolphins. They were swimming to Brisa form all directions… the water was filled with them! It was the most dolphons I had seen at once since living in Hawaii in the 90’s.  One of the highlights… we had a strike on the biggest reel… sounded like a decent fish so we stopped the boat and I grabbed the reel… but saw pretty early on it was a log…. Jajajja. At the same time the other lure was sinking and it also got a hit…so I played up the fish I had ( the log fish ) and gave that reel to Elwin to pull in while I went and got the gaff for Ross. It turned out he had hooked a yellow fin…. Oh yeah more sushi!

 As darkness fell we were passing a point called Punta Mala…. Bad Point! Well tonight it turned out to be just fine.. calm, with a slight head current to slow down our arrival.

 We were now only about a mile off the coastline and getting pretty close to Venao at about 930 or 10 pm. I always turn on the radar at night… just in case there’s something out there and this time it saved us some grief I think. We were only about two or three miles away from Venao, when the radar painted something in front of us at about two miles out…. I looked at the map.. looked at the chart, looked at three gps’s. looked at them all again to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating and turned to avoid something that only showed up on the radar and had no light.  As we got closer Elwin and I both clearly saw the black shape sticking up out of the water like a ghost submarine that wasn’t on any charts. Scary to think that if the radar wasn’t on we may not have seen the thing until we hit it……. Gooooood Radar. We went back the next day and discovered that it wasn’t a submarine, but the plastic fishing bases used to farm fish at sea. No  lights and I am certain had we hit them significant damage to the boat.

 I had brought a new speargun last time in Panama,  a Riffe Euro 120. Man it was hard to load, but let me tell you .. that thing is an amazing spear gun.  We took it out to the fish farm to gie it a spin….but no big fish there. I cant wait to get out into some big fish with that thing. I don’t think it is actually a spear gun… I think it is a tomahawk missile launcher!

 So finally we pull into Venao and get in close to the beach and the headland there to hide from the swell and the wind, drop the anchor and go to sleep with the sound and promise of surf in the morning… something we hadn’t done a lot of yet. 530 am and im in the water paddling to the beach… followed by a little walk down to the break… and its.. not that good but still awesome fun. We spent a full week here enjoying the little bit of civilization, pool, food, Joels awesome Eco Venao coffee shop and roaster. The Surf Dojo in Venao looked awesome.. kids all over the place all learning to surf and by the end of the week I felt like a kid too. When we were done surfing. we would load up our electronics into the waterproof bag, Id paddle board it all to the beach then we would walk up the beach to the hostels and use their internet and eat hamburgers.

 One day while walking through one of the restaurants.. I look over and see Quiro… and old Red Bull workmate. Unbelievable. Now he is working for Celina the hostel chain all through Central and South America. We hug and say hi and make plans to hang later. WOW> Surprise. I walk into the surf shop and there is marketing girl … yesus….. she is also working for Celina. Amazing reunion. Loved it.

 Sadly Ross had to leave us on our last day in Venao. Family issues had cut his trip with us short by a couple of weeks and we walked up the beach and dropped him off at Celina to catch the bus back to Panama and a flight up to NYC.  Hugs on the beach and he was off! Was an awesome time with him onboard and super happy he came and caught his first marlin and made the passage with us from St. Martin.

 The next morning early Elwin and I pull the anchor and motor out of Venao… to go across to Punta Guanica, about 12 miles away…  remember we are now a motor boat not a sailboat.. there just no wind here …. But as we arrive we see there isn’t much of an anchorage, dirty brown runoff water and no waves…. So  we set sail ( of so we set motor )  for destinations unknown.. with no real plan other than to enjoy the dense jungle vistas on the coastline and to catch some more tuna as again we seemed to be a bit low… The coastline was rugged…. nasty rugged. We passed Cambutal, 411, Playa Negra, Hercules and not a wave to be had. Onshore light wind and pretty heavy rain were the norm for this long day…. We motored all the way up towards Isla Roncanor and as we prepared to round the corner into Playa Naranjo we were joimed by a pod of dolphins. Very dark and with very small fins. First time I had seen dolphins like that. They took off after  a short while, but always a fortunate thing to have dolphins play on a voyage. As we got to Playa Naranjo, the place we thought we would anchor for the night, we found ourselves in an exposed anchorage with onshore seas and wind… so we kept on going and headed for Isla Cebaco.. about another 24 NM up the road.

 Again this put us inline for a night arrival into another new anchorage… now becoming the norm. We motored in and found the chart to be pretty far off as far as depths went, but it was very nice and calm and in a light drizzle.. that hadn’t really stopped all day we dropped the anchor and cooked lamb chops and rice. MMMMM.

 The next morning we went ashore and found the lazy little fishing village to be filled with friendly people. We walked all around and tried to find fruit… in the shops or on the ground.. or anywhere.. but none to be found. So back to Brisa and lets head for Catalina to check the surf. We motor sailed until it got windy… the joke of the day was me doing my laundry before we left , hanging it out to dry and then having it rain all day… as the wind increased we sailed at cruise speed for the first time since 200nm out form Panama…. Amazing to move without a motor running. It got quite windy and rough so instead of continuing we detoured out to Isla Goberadora and hid in the lee there for an hour or two until the wind dropped. We zipped the last 4 miles to Isla Santa Catalina and dropped anchor in the lee in about 20 feet of water quite close to the beach. This turned out to be a lucky thing as a bit later the wind started to howl again, but we were tucked in nicely out of the way. A little rolly, but a lot better than Venao. The next morning we awoke to glassy conditions and surfed Santa Catalina alone with Elwin. Not epic conditions, but great fun.  We went back to Brisa, ate, watched NZ win 2 of three Americas cup races, then F1 qualifying… not sure why, but my phone works better here than in the city. Great internet!

 Then we hiked around Santa Catalina.. it had changed a lot since I had been there last. More buildings and businesses, lots of dive shops and a pretty decent supermarket! On the hike we Passed a great big mango tree and I started fighting with the bees for the mangoes as they fell out of the trees. Perfectly ripe and fresh and no pesky stringy bits stuck in my teeth. Sweet as sugar! I picked up a few and took them with us on the hike and am thinking that tomorrow before we go Ill need to go back and fill a bag up with those things. Amazing.

 We hiked a long way… a bit hot but not bad and saw the beach. On the way home we brought a huge bottle of soyu… a pineapple and salt. OK now we are good to go. Back to the break for an avo sesh, but its gotten a bit more crowded than this am….I grabbed a few waves, but onshore, bumpy with a little crowd isn’t really my thing so I left Elwin surfing… yep he will surf anything. I did a little work on the boat, cleaned the kitchen and went back and got him. The lifestyle on the boat is pretty interesting. Its 805pm and I’m exhausted, ready for bed and excited to think that tomorrow am we will jump up, surf, steal more mangos and then weigh the anchor and head for Coiba, with the plan to arrive in Costa Rica Thursday and be in Pavones by Friday PM.

 The next morning we scored a few waves.. I manager to get my first barrel of the trip and a couple of good solid waves.. but the crowd is very centralized there and even though it was only about 20 people… it was still enough. So we pulled the anchor up and headed out to Coiba…. With no real plan of where we were going or what we would find other than there is an old prison out there we wanted to see. It was an easy sail out there with lots of dolphins…. But for the first time in ages not any fish! We anchored out in front of a pretty little beach and at the end of it was the old prison. WE were not really sure who we were supposed to pay the park fees to, but we had heard it was expensive to see Coiba! WE took the dingy ashore and walked up the steps towards the prison and were greeted by the police officer in charge of the prison there. We provided them with our passport numbers and were told it was free to visit Coiba as long as we stayed out of the touristy areas to the north….. No worries! The guy took us all around the prison.. showed us the history and gave a great tour for us. I guess they don’t see many boats because the whole team was super nice to us and let us go and do anything we liked. WE walked up to the old grass runway.. still used sometimes and as we were about to leave the officer came and picked mangos with us. We ran back a bottle of rum,wine and $20. And gave some very large size fishermen a ride back to their boat and departed for the south end of Coiba. As we neared the end of the island we saw a little peeling wave and anchored about 500 yards away in front of a beautiful beach. WE greabbed ur boards and headed over to the little wave. It had a very shallow rock right at the takeoff point and a sneaky little current that kept pushing you towards that rock, but it was a quality little wave. We both rode a lot of good waves and dragged ass back to Brisa just after sunset. There was a strange whistling noise that we kept hearing.  Not too sure what it was to this day but we did go to have a look and make sure it wasn’t castaways. Coiba is a pretty uninhabited marine park… and we were defintly in the middle of nowhere with no one around. We both had a great sleep and went off to look at Isla Jicaron just a little further south. We anchored between the main island of Jicaron and a little Jicaron to the north in the channel between the two and went to the beach to have a look. Was a bit sad when we looked up in the trees and saw tons of plastic bottles washed up. … but much like the Caribbean side of Panama.. man has left his footprint even in the most remote parts of Central America. Elwin hiked up a river for a while and lived. No spiders snakes or poisonous frogs got him and I snorkeled around the beach… and was amazed to find a very healthy reef and fish population with hardly any urchins and no lion fish! We went back to Brisa and grabbed the three prong and the new Riffe Euro 120 and took Noisy Taco out to look at a little rock outcrop. We dove in and straight away had a white tip shark escort. They were nice and friendly enough…. But I am sure they would of loved for us to have shot something for them… so we said hi ( dutch for shark ) and went to look further east in a beautiful remote bay. There were incredible channels between the rocks and a lot of healthy reef and fish everywhere. Everyone can relax as we were not eaten nor did we shoot anything with the guns yet…. In the time it took us to go there and look around it had gotten quite windy and our smooth anchorage was not boucy and rough with us on a lee shore… so we decided to head off around to the bottom corner of Jicaron and a nice protected anchorage. We threw out the lines on the way and caught two big tuna with a great double hookup! With enough fish onboard to feed us for a week or two we sailed into the anchorage and were greeted by a military patrol boat and chase boat also anchored out of the weather. It was a great anchorage though with offshore wind and beautiful dense tropical rainforest all the way down to a gorgeous beach. After another great sleep, Elwin went hiking up another river.. and I grabbed my mask and flippers and went off in the dingy to explore the untouched waters on the north east side of the island. Again amazed by the fish here… thousands of them. I guess this is what the world looked like before man overfished the reefs. Literally snapper and parrot fish and turtles and rays and Trevally all over the place. I think more fish per square meter than anywhere else that I have been so far. Great job on the protected area Panama! That afternoon we pulled anchor and in glassy conditions motored out toward Montuosa Island and the infamous Hanibal Bank.