Bahama Mamma

                 

Let me begin this post with a personal declaration of what I find utterly engulfing about the sea; as with anything so vast, its' physical manifestations offer metaphorical visualizations for living life. This type of phenomenon that I've found myself boat to water (hehe) with quite frequently lately is weather. Weather on the ocean is somewhat unpredictable, it can come out of nowhere, last ages or five minutes, be relatively inconvenient or cause whole course alterations, and can feel like a god send (like when we are supposed to wash down the boat) or like satan literally raining his rage down us (like when were on charter and our ultimate goal is to keep everything dry.) What I find to be particularly  fascinating about storms, especially when I find myself surrounded by nothing but sea and sky, is that most of the time you can actually look up and to your right or left and see a perfectly beautiful day. Each time I find myself caught in a storm, chiefly when I am frustrated with something, I am reminded to look at the beautiful day that is happening elsewhere. I note I will not be caught in the storm forever, then crack on with my day, however shitty it might be at that moment! Just a little heartfelt note to get everyone in their feelings!

I also really love sunrises and sunsets, as I've alluded to in many of my other posts. So here are a few pictures of beautiful scenes I experienced during my Bahamian month.

  

   

Bimini:

Bimini was the first island in the Bahamas I got to visit. I went three times over a period of two weeks. Each trip was on a relatively small boat, I worked on them as a freelance deck/stewardess before I landed my permanent position. Working on small boats is a completely different ballgame (or should I say watersport...?) than working on proper yachts. Small boat duties are typically broad, you have lots more responsibilities and at times work a bit harder, but being on them typically allows for a more personal relationship with owners. Every time the owners got off board, they allowed the Captain and I to leave as well and explore the island a bit!


   

Conch is a staple in the Bahamas. Pictured in the center above is yours truly atop a 5 foot high, 400 foot long pile of empty conch shells. This particular pile is outside of a beachside conch salad shack, but it is quite a common scene throughout Bimini. On my third trip, I was allowed to bring my BFF Hadley for some extra assistance. We went for a long-weekend/Thanksgiving trip. The Captain I was working with was close friends with local family and they made a delicious Bahamian feast for us! Of course every dish featured conch prepared in a different way. It was absolutely phenomenal!

          

The Dolphin House (https://www.facebook.com/Dolphin-House-Bimini-132740360135441/) was one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring things I have seen in quite some time! A local man built this house from the ground up as a tribute to dolphins. Swimming with these majestic creatures as a child left an unshakable impression on him, a feeling so strong that he's dedicated his life to acting as a liaison between the sea and mankind. The complete composition of the house is made from recycled and collected materials. There are many ceramic-ed scenes on both the outside and the inside. From time to time, he allows guests to stay in the second floor. Most of them come with gifts that he later incorporates into his creation. When we stopped by, he was beginning the third floor. It was absolutely amazing! I highly encourage you to check out the Facebook page for the house that I have linked above!

       

Honeymoon harbor was an island slightly off of Bimini that had a profound impact on me. Partly. because I have been watching Moana lately and her grandmother is insinuatingly reincarnated to a manta ray and I feel that on a spiritual level and partly because the stingray was the first sea creature i truly fell in love. (It happened at the Touch Tank at the Moat Marine Aquarium in Sarasota when I was a young lass.) It is actually more of a large glorified sandbar than an island, but on any given day there are about 50 stingrays circling it. For years people have been feeding them here so they are not shy around people. One trip, I got to explore and get in the water with the rays! I think it will forever be one of my favorite memories. At one point, there was a field of stingrays so encircled around me I could not move, but I was totally okay with embracing that moment. Rays stingers are not activated unless they feel threatened, as long as you are careful not to step on them, you remain sting free! My legs being rubbed by the stingers definitely gets the adrenaline pumping though :]

       

        

 
Bimini will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first island I visited as well as the place I was best able to immerse myself in. The ethos of the island actually reminded me a lot of my time in Tanzania. I believe this is partially the reason I fell in love with it so quickly!

The Exumas:

The Exumas are a collection of islands. From what I understand they are all quite exquisite, but the one I visited, Pig Island Beach, was notable due to its wild pig population. I have seen many Facebook videos with tag lines along the lines of "Have you ever wanted to visit an island filled with pigs? Well this is the place for you!" Although the stingrays were much more my style, I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy running around a beach with pigs of all sizes, doing pig photoshoots! Here are some of my favorite shots!

The baby pigs were absolutely adorable! The crew was allowed to check out the island at the end of the day. We did not have any food for the piggies, but they were very social. I am really happy I paid this island a visit! Next on my list is that island full of cats in Japan!

Nassau:

Nassau is one of the most well known islands in the Bahamas because it is home to the waterpark, Atlantis. I unfortunately did not get a chance to check to park out, but a number of my crew did and the reviews were stellar! I did get to see it from the water though and it is absolutely massive! Nassau is also one of the biggest islands in the Bahamas. We were busy the entire time we were there, so the bulk of our exploring was done during breaks throughout the day. I did get to see some beautiful beaches, and go free-diving so I could not complain one bit! 

             

Freeport:

Freeport was another island I got to do a bit of exploring around. There was a restaurant close to where we were docked called "The Shark Restaurant," it was a sushi restaurant. During dinner hours, the restaurant owners throw food over the side every hour on the hour and it attracts quite the frenzy of bull sharks. Watching them ravish through the waves for meat is quite the site to see. One night we went during a storm and seeing their fins break through the white caps was ominous but also very neat, nonetheless. As I watched them in all their glory, Fins by Jimmy Buffet played on repeat in my head.

The remainder of my free time spent in Freeport was spent on beaches, in restaurants and at bars! After my month in the Bahamas, I can most certainly give it a 10/10 review, would recommend and can positively say I will be going back! Because I enjoyed it, and because most of the yachts spend their Winter season, or at least a portion of it there.

Thanks for reading everyone! Until next time!

                     

2017, what a year!

Greetings readers! It has been quite some time since I have posted anything. What's been occupying a large chunk of my time lately, and held me back from reaching out, happens to be my biggest news as well..... wait for it...... drumroll please! ..........!! I finally got a job! For the past month (and a bit,) I have been working on a 65 meter (213 feet) motor yacht as a deckhand. The boat is a privately owned charter vessel, she is called Double Down and she is absolutely B-E-A-utifulllllllllll. I joined the crew in Freeport, Bahamas. Since then, we have sailed to three different islands of the Bahamas as well as a shipyard in South Florida. I am the only American on board (which I think is pretty rad) and our crew is additionally made up of people from England, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, the Phillippines, South Africa, and Canada! Living aboard, especially on a vessel that travels so frequently, is a very unique experience. Living and working with extremely talented and charismatic people wills everyday to be a rich learning experience. Before I stepped on this boat, I was SO excited about the propositions for the reality of yacht life. I had no idea it would be as fulfilling as it has turned out to be. And for my time on this boat thus far, I feel grateful beyond a point I can explain in words.

ANYWAYS, New Year's has always been one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. In all of my 22 years, I've not missed one midnight. (Although one year I fell asleep and had to be woken up for the ball-drop by my BFF Kayla). The parties have never disappointed, and they have gotten exponentially better as I've grown older. This year was no exception to that rule! The crew and I began our celebration with Crystal and Dom Perignon champagne (the first time in my life I have ever had drinks of this price range.) At midnight we all went onto our bow, took a champagne shower and all the boats in the marina blew their horns. There were fireworks in the distant night sky as well as crowds cheering from all the hotel balcony's. Needless to say, this New Year's was one for the books. However, this New Years's, although the party was to die for, the ringing in of 2018 meant so much more to me than the celebration. It felt like a true turning point. It is the beginning of something so uncertain, whimsical, and serendipitous for me. And I know at this time next year, I will be looking back on the year in total awe.

2017, I can say without a doubt, has been my most memorable year thus far. I bought a car. I graduated college, (that was a big one.) I travelled to Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North and South Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, 5 different islands of the Bahamas, and road-tripped across the US to Florida to begin my new career in yachting. I had my parents together for the first time in my adult life. I said goodbye to many of my best friends. I said goodbye to the region I grew up in. I got my scuba instructor certification. I took a total gamble on yachting. I've met and become close friends with people from countless countries. And I have started to become the person I have always wanted, but never knew I wanted, to be!

My mantra for 2018 is "Let yourself feel however you feel. in a non-judgmental way, but remember you have the power to change it." 2017 brought heaps completely new things my way that I was not entirely sure how to deal with. (Reference my previous posts, or do not hesitate to ask me about what these things are!) But I have gotten through all of them relatively unscathed!

I simply wanted to give everyone a quick update and let you all know to be on the look out because I will be posting more often this year! My posts will likely be a bit shorter, but thats because I will be OTG (on the go) so frequently! 2018 is going to be a kick ass year for me and for you! I can not wait to hear about all of your amazing memories made this year!

~Until Next Time~