An escape to paradise

What’s more relaxing than a day at the beach?

A day at the beach, on a deserted island!

An island a few miles from Curaçao, named “Klein Curaçao” [= meaning “little Curaçao”]. This piece of uninhabited 1.7 kilometers, with its crystal clear waters, is the perfect get-away.

My friend’s birthday was right around the corner and what better way to celebrate her birthday than a trip to Klein Curaçao.

We booked a trip on the catamaran “Black & White”, with the organization Blue Finn.

Since our last rock climbing adventure, my friend got pretty sick. I was quite worried that she’d experience the same again. So in preparation for the trip, we brought along seasickness pills, sparkling water, crackers, sunscreen and caps.

Nothing was going to spoil our R&R day in the sun!

Despite that it’s a 1.5 hour trip sailing against the current to Klein Curaçao, motion sickness can occur, luckily it went quite smoothly.

It was a well-planned and organized trip. I was baffled of the organization’s accurateness with their planning. The boat reached exactly at 8.15am, lunch was exactly at 12.30pm, we left Klein Curaçao at exactly 3pm and reached Curaçao at 5pm!

Flashbacks from the days in The Netherlands, were majority is well planned and organized.

This is level of planning and organizing is Top-Of-The-Line!

We spend the day swimming, taking a ton of pictures (you have to flaunt the escapade :)), bbq’ing and just plain chilling.

We came home relaxed and incredibly tanned.

Next trip… a sunset sailing trip!

RockClimbing

Climbing seemed too dangerous, yet it looks challenging. I was up to try it out. I reached out to the organization RockClimbing Curacao which offered various rock climbing tours, including guided tours to a few hills on the island, such as Christoffelberg and De Tafelberg. Aside from guided tours, they also offer free try-outs on Sundays.

My friend and I jumped on this opportunity and we tried it out past Sunday. While the team was putting on our gear and explaining the how-to’s, my friend turned to me and said ‘actually I’m afraid of heights’. What are the odds?!

While she was gathering her emotions, I went first.

The experience was in one word ‘challenging’. Trying to find something to grab onto, was my biggest challenge. The instructors kept shouting to let my inner child out and climb up. The only thought that kept rushing through my mind was ‘Grab onto what???’. Eventually I had to listen to my inner child and let her take over, that’s when I got the hang of it.

One of the instructors stood on the ground, providing rope slowly. When going down, you have to trust that person to give sufficient rope bit by bit, in order to go down, slowly. The magic word here is ‘trust’. In that moment, when you’re up in the air on clinging onto a rock, you have to put all your trust into that one person, whom you’ve never met before. Another challenge! I’m happy to say, that I succeeded. Going down went incredibly smooth and I cannot wait to do this again!

From this adventure ‘trust’ is the focal point. We all struggle with trusting people, being able to test this through sports, is more than worth it!

I’m relieved to say that despite my friend’s fear, she climbed the hill half way. It was fascinating to see that she overcame her fear. I’m proud of her.

It’s an experience nether she, nor I will forget!

Discovering my Inner-Katniss Everdeen

I love movies such as Hunger Games and Robin Hood; they’re full of action and entertainment. Its inspiring to see how effortlessly they fire arrow after arrow. Something I needed to try out for myself! When I saw a post online for these classes, I signed up right away.

Patience, focus, good posture and self-motivation, are a few attributes you’ll learn by practicing archery. All these attributes I’d like to put more emphasis on, thus the perfect opportunity to practice these.

I headed open minded to the class, hoping I could attend the class with sandals… unfortunately that was not the case. Quickly changed into sneakers and headed back. The first section of the class, contained an explanation of the rules and regulation of archery and how to use an arrow and bow.

The practical part was entertaining, yet a bit frustrating, as the arrows flew far from the target. Then the coach remarked that I need to aim lower (the few times in life, when aiming low is required in order to succeed). By focusing on the area below the target, the arrows hit near the target. I felt like Katniss Everdeen with the arrow and bow in my hands. Btw that was my alias for the class… Katniss!

This sport is pure concentration! I might take a beginners course…

Fitness is a lifestyle

For years, gym is a part of my day day-to-day, whether it’s in the morning or in the afternoon.

A few years ago, I incorporated early morning fitness-sessions into my morning ritual; a session just before going to work. It’s a refreshing way to start off the day, by working up some sweat.

After doing so for some years, I started to get a bit bored of the same routine, especially, since I trained by myself. Recently I moved and found a gym near my home. The switch of environment pushed me to broaden my horizons, better known as “personal growth”.

One morning, I stroke up a convo with a lady at the gym and she asked me to team up with her crew. From that day on, I’m training with a crew. Every day, we focus on a different body section. It’s exciting, fun and we keep challenging each other.

When my alarm goes off, the thought of seeing improvement and being a better version of myself, is what drives me straight to the gym.

“Be the better version of yourself”

Relax, Renew and Refresh

A day at the spa was precisely what I needed. Due to the Covid-pandemic, I haven’t taken a vacation. I was craving for some “R&R”days, Rest and Relax moments. Doing so, on the island can be challenging, as you get taken back into your routine easily.

A friend of mine was in the same jam as me, so we booked a day-pass at the spa, on the opposite side of the island. With a 30-minute drive to the spa, at an off-road area, the spa was located next to a beach. It felt as though, being at a different place all together.

When we reached the spa, we were offered a menu, from which we could we choose 4 services. We chose a (1) 15-minute shoulder/neck massage, (2) 15-minute hand massage, (3) lip scrub treatment and (4) body scrub session. Each service placed us more and more into a Zen-mode.

The premises included a steam room, sauna, ice-room, Jacuzzi and pool; we relaxed in each and every one of them!

Just before heading home, we still had a body-scrub session pending. We were offered 3 types of body scrubs, which we could use in their water-fall shower. We left clean and completely relaxed!

The ultimate Zen-escapade 🙂

Flyboarding

I did it, I did it, I did it!!!

For quite some time, I’ve been begging my friends to try flyboarding. Standard answer: ‘oh no no, I’m scared of heights’. 😦 All of a sudden one of my friends called me, out of the blue, and said that she wanted to try it. Right away I made the appointment. 

Saturday, 30 July at 11 am. 

Yes, we were set! Appointment made. 

Friday night before THE day, I got all nervious, let alone Saturday morning. Oeffff … The thought of being thrown in the air, Oh Lord… I had to litteraly talk my way thru it, while driving to the beach. 

When I arrived at the beach, my friend was superrrr excited, so she went first. I was way too nervous, so it gave me time to recollect my thoughts and nerves. 

Time was up! The instructor walked towards me, with the vest and helm. 

The moment my feet touched the water, all my nerves slipped away. It felt all so natural to twist ‘n turn between the waves. I flew up ‘n down, took several rounds in the air… It was amazing!!! 

With so many people on the beach looking and filming, of that person flyboarding (in this case me) I felt empowered. I felt like a kid again. It was my time to have fun; this was my play field. 

Stand Up Paddling Tour

On my birthday I gathered a bunch of friends for a tour.
It was AMAZING!!!

The trip lasted 2-3 hours; a motorboat took us to a station, from there on we passed by villas, beautiful mongroves and large yachts. The tour included a pit-stop in the mongroves, where we learned much about the scenery from the tour guide.

Its a beginners trip, so all my ‘inexperienced’ friends picked up the techniques in a heartbeat. And because it was my birthday, it ended with cake, drinks and a ton of pics!!! ❤

Stand Up Paddling

Recently I was browsing on http://www.curacao.com and got intriguid by the fun activities to do on the island. I never really explored the beautiful places on the island.
I often put on my tourist cap and explore the wateractivities on the island.

First thing… Stand-Up Paddling!
For the first time in my life, I stood on a surfboard.
In the beginning it’s easier to paddle on your knees, and once you get the hang of it, you can stand up.
It was a battle in the beginning, but fun!!!

It’s easier to paddle on your knees. I mainly kept paddling on my knees 🙂