Vanessa McDonald
What can a travel writer write about when no one can travel? With borders internationally, and even statewide closed due to the global pandemic, it seems that all we do is stay put.
For the past 5 years, I have constantly been in a state of being away travelling or looking forward to the next time that I go overseas.
So, what is there to look forward to now? And also, what the hell do I write about?
Continue reading “Memories of India – May 2020”It’s been probably the longest I’ve ever gone between blog posts. Why? Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m not travelling. I’m staying at home and pressing pause on life.
I’ve been trying to keep warm – an issue that I haven’t had to worry about in a very long time. I’m not working so, therefore, not saving. So it’s really just downtime. Just time to do puzzles, listen to podcasts and watch movies.
And that’s ok.
Continue reading “A time to pause – May 2020”Once again, the question I’m being asked most these days is “how does it feel to be home?”
And the answer is the same as it was the last two times I came home; it’s weird. But I think I can identify the weirdness a little easier now due to some reflection.
Continue reading “Home vs The World – March 2020”My time in Nicaragua has come to a close and it’s provided me with a lot of time for reflection. As leaving a place always does, I start to feel incredibly nostalgic for where I am and what I’ll miss at both Surfing Turtle Lodge and Carpe Diem.
Continue reading “Turtle and Carpe Diem Home – February 2020”I’m still in Nicaragua and I’m still in the paradise called Surfing Turtle Lodge. My days are still much the same as what I described in my last post with only a few minor changes.
Continue reading “Nicaragua – February 2020”I’m done. Finished. I’m outa here! Goodbye, good luck and Godspeed to everyone in the states. I’m finally leaving. It’s been a wild adventure here. I’ve seen a lot of this country from California to New York and so many of the beautiful people that live here. But I know that this is a country that I don’t want to be in anymore.
I want to go where people don’t speak English, where every day is a little bit of a battle for some reason. A place where I’m challenged day to day by myself and by the environment around me. Most importantly, I want to be warm again. That place will be Nicaragua.
This is my second Christmas away from home. Last year I spend my time in Pai, spinning fire and eating way too much food. This year, I got an all American Christmas. Come to think of it, I did a lot of the same things as last year.
Let’s start here. New Mexico was never on my list of places to visit if I’m honest. The reason I came here was because Rhea, a girl a met in India 4 years ago, saw that I was in the states and invited me to come stay with her. I looked at a map (as my geography of the United States is pretty average) and saw that from Arizona to Colorado, New Mexico is kind of on the way.
Sitting on the train to New Mexico from Flagstaff, I have some time to sit and write.
Time has really escaped me during the last few weeks. It feels as though each day has melted into one another. Which is really beautiful, but also invites a feeling of being slightly concerned too. Concerned about what I’m doing and if I’m simply just “wasting time” instead of doing something for the benefit of a career or personal development.
But it has also been really nice to slow down and relax.
First things first, I was interviewed for a podcast on all things yoga, travelling and me. You can listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music or via the following link:
Click here!
Please let me know what you think as it’s the first time I’ve done something like this. Having listened to it myself whilst in San Fransisco, I can say that I’m great at going on long tangents.
Continue reading “Podcast and San Fransisco – November 2019”