Follow the sun

Tomorrow I'm taking off. 

I'll pack my bags, hug my family and jump on a train. My BFF will be waiting for me in Helsinki and I'll get to spend an awesome day with my dearest friend before I go and celebrate Helsinki Pride before hopping on a plane and following the sun to the East. And take a shower before I head to the airport, a big plus(:

I'll be flying to Hong Kong with Finnair and then to Denpasar with Garuda Airlines. The backpack cover that I ordered from eBay came a week ago so I don't even have to go through the special check in and don't have to stress about my backpack making it all the way to Bali without losing a strap or two.

Amazing packing tip!

My future sister-in-law borrowed me 2 plastic vacuum bags so I sucked all my clothes super tightly into a roll! Amazing how much space I'll save with this thing... I'll need to go borrow a vacuum cleaner from a cleaning lady at the last place where I stay so I can vacuum my stuff again before coming home(: Strongly recommended for anyone wanting to travel with a small backpack but have everything essential with you, and maybe even that cute sundress or two you otherwise would've had to leave home! Look how cute and tight package that is, around 50cm x 20cm = 5 bikini sets, 4 sundresses, a Helly Hansen jacket, 2 shorts, a bunch of underwear and socks, 3 long sleeved shirts, 2 x harem pants, 10 tops and I think I even forgot something...(: Awesome! Weighs around 6kg. (And yeah, sure it gets wrinkly but what doesn't even when you stuff it into a backpack) Here's a quick, crappy photo of the roll just so you get the idea.

Insurance

I am the person who usually leaves everything important to the absolute last second. So today I took care of my insurances(: I have a yearly insurance for my apartment and it also includes an insurance for my luggage while traveling, up to 3 500 eur. I also need to have a separate insurance for scuba diving (pressure chamber isn't the cheapest form of treatment... nor is a helicopter ride from somewhere in the middle of the ocean to the closest city with one) so I decided to get the DAN (Divers Alert Network) Silver membership with insurance. It covers diving and non-diving related illness and/or injury quite well so that combined with my home insurance should be sufficient. Hopefully I don't need to find out in action what they do cover and what they don't...

Antsypantsy

I've been a bit antsy for the past few days and it seems to be getting a lot worse(: I've traveled quite a bit so leaving itself is easy, no anxiety or worries about anything... just happy to go already! So many awesome plans and things to do, people to meet. I'm also eager to start actually sharing cooler things  than packing and itineraries with you guys(; But thanks for sucking it up through all this preparation stuff... but now, get ready for the adventure!

Love and light,

Emma

Midsummer Night's Eve!

8 days to go.

I can't believe it. Soon the 6-month waiting will be over and my holiday will finally begin!

The 3 weeks I've spent here in the countryside have been quite interesting. It took me a week to just sleep off the most extreme stress and relax a bit. Then we buried my beloved grandpa and it was such a relief. There are a lot of things to take care of before you leave your life for even two months. It has taken the majority of my time to book accommodations, learn about the dive sites and other to-do's... I know I'll get so much more out of my trip if I'm well prepared and it also makes it that much more relaxed to have most of the stuff prepared beforehand.

But now I'm pretty much all ready to go(: I've been going to the gym and eating well to make sure I'm in good health to begin my journey.

Went to the gym this morning and made some moose tenderloin and salad for lunch... and now I'm ready to begin Midsummer Eve's celebration(: I'll be meeting up with some old friends tonight and have a few drinks and enjoy the light summer night! It's nice to get the best out of the Finnish summer before going abroad, I love the summers here... it should be just a little bit warmer, sunnier and longer and it would be pretty much perfect(;

Just wanted to say Happy Midsummer everyone and enjoy the warmth, friends & family and spread love and happiness where ever you go <3 No matter how far away you are from me and how many days, weeks, months or years it's been since we've seen each other or even talked, you all have a very special place in my heart! And you whom I've never met before: don't hesitate to comment/ contact me, there's always space in my heart for new friends(:


Have fun, enjoy! <3

Emma

Newest addition to my gear: GoPro Hero3

Heya!

I'm super stoked right now! A friend at the local IT-store in my hometown borrowed me a GoPro Hero3 White Edition to take with me for my travels(: Thank you Jari & Tietokeskus Sotkamo!

I'm going to try it out tonight. I got a harness to go with it, and I think it'll work well with both scuba diving and hiking etc activities! I think I'll start a video-divelog or something... I'll be posting a lot of videos this summer! Beware(:

I think I'll post the videos on YouTube and link my channel with the blog.

Here's a quick shot of the harness and the camera:

Just to let you guys know what to expect(: If anyone's been using this thing before, ideas and tips are welcome!

Lovelove,

Emma

Our friend nitrox

Namaste friends,

Today I've been kinda in a bad mood. I'm starting to get really antsy about leaving and staying in the countryside with not much to do is just suffocating me right now. Well this weekend is Midsummer night's Eve which means partying, staying up until the morning, sauna and having fun with some friends! It'll make things better(:

One of the things I've been reading about lately is diving with nitrox and what the difference is compared to diving with air. I'll be taking the nitrox course, which is basically just learning the theory about the physiological effects and how to program your dive computer. It's no specialty course so there are no dives to conclude, but according to their website, Blue Season Bali will give me free nitrox fills for the rest of the dives that I take with them! 

What is nitrox?

So, basically nitrox (when we're talking about scuba diving) means enriched air. Normal air has 21% of oxygen and 78% nitrogen and 1% other gasses, whereas nitrox has more oxygen than in normal air. There are different levels of richness, so the nitrox might be 32% or 40% or something else, but usually recreational divers use nitrox with oxygen levels up to around 40%. 

What's different from regular air?

The nitrogen levels in normal air limits bottom time, amount of dives one can do in a day and makes the surfice time in between longer. The higher level of oxygen in the enriched air gives a diver more no-decompression dive time, which is awesome: more time underwater is always welcome. Using nitrox is especially useful with repetitive dives, because it requires a shorter surface interval. Doesn't sound too bad to me! Also using a gas mixture with less nitrogen we naturally lower the risk of decompression sickness. Some people say you won't feel the nitrogen narcosis as much when you dive with nitrox, but  the scientists say oxygen can also work as a narcotic in great pressure, so the narcosis in great depths is probably going to be about the same. 

So in a nutshell: Less nitrogen/more oxygen in the gas mixture one is breathing = more bottom time and shorter surface intervals

Why use nitrox?

If you're on a diving holiday and dive for let's say 6-7 days, 2-3 dives a day, the benefits of diving with nitrox are quite significant! One might need to pay a little extra for nitrox fills but I definitely think it's worth it. Also when doing deep dives to 30m or so, the bottom time is very short when you dive with regular air... sucks to just get down to the wreck or the sharks or what ever you're going to see and then have to start going back up after just a really short time.

I was diving in the Philippines last winter and I was envious of the divers with nitrox when they could stay down there with the Thresher sharks, as us "air heads" had to come up already... so I'm definitely doing the nitrox course the first thing when I get to Bali so I'll have as much dive time as possible. 

Nitrox and dive computer:

I got the Suunto D4i because it's small, quite affordable and has the gas change possibility, which means it has a separate nitrox mode. And my white version is super cute too(: 

So Suunto D4i also has the possibility to be synced with (purchase separately) a wireless read-out of your tank pressure and air time. I don't have it and won't be purchasing it any time soon, just don't really need it, I can check my air from my gauge. 

Suunto D4i in a nutshell: 

- full continuous decompression algorithm

- three dive modes: air, nitrox and free

- built-in dive planner 

- detailed graphical logs and dive data on your computer (DM4 with Movescount software)

- different color options (black, red, blue, purple, yellow, pink and white)

I've been trying to learn how to use this thing and it doesn't seen too complicated. I didn't want to get one of the bigger models like Vyper etc and then I found this one on sale for 375eur. It makes me so much more confident when I know what my personal bottom time is and I can see the exact depth all the time etc. I don't know about you guys, but I definitely think getting a good, easy to use, reliable diving computer makes diving just that much safer and more fun!(:

Been editing the blog today!

Today I finally had the energy to edit the blog and make it look cuter... I'm a newbie to blogging so it's taking me some time to get a hang of this thing. I'm open for all kinds of suggestions! 

Actually I wanted to ask if there's anything you guys are especially interested in hearing about? Throw me ideas and I'll try my very best to make your dreams come true(: I'd be more than happy to have your comments and questions and feedback!  

I'm excited to be able to start posting photos and actual travel entries in less than a couple of weeks! Hang in there(; I promise I won't let you down! 

<3 Emma

Life's a beach and then you dive.

12 days to go!(: 


So, today I've been reading about the dive sites in Bali and learning more about Sipadan and Mabul. Getting really excited, can't wait to get under the sea again! It's been 6 months since my last diving trip and I'm stoked to be stuffing my derrier into a wetsuit again.

My original plan was to get my DM (divemaster lisence) this summer, but I decided it's not for me right now. I had picked a dive operator called Blue Season Bali because they offer a very cool Eco Divemaster Internship. You can read more on the internship on their website!

http://www.baliocean.com/en/bali_eco_internship.blueseason

After I decided to change my plans I contacted BSB and and got the most warm and understanding reply. They told me I'm welcome to use the deposit money I already paid for fun diving and even told me I could spend a day or so with the interns if I want to(: How nice is that! I'm amazingly happy that I followed a recommendation of a fellow diver who completed her DM with these guys and decided to dive with Blue Season Bali, so far they've been nothing but friendly and helpful. Good vibes!

BSB is located in Sanur, South East Bali. As an area it's apparently relatively quiet and there's no party scene like in Kuta, the "party town" of Bali. (Apparently full of drunk-ass Australian tourists and noisy clubs.) I've heard Sanur has a local moniker, Snore(: But as divers know, diving and partying don't mix, so it's really just a good thing that Sanur is a bit more quiet and relaxed. Also the location is perfect for diving the best spots around and especially East Coast Bali.

I'm staying at BIG Pineapple Backpackers for 11 nights. I'll be diving most of the the days and this hostel is located close to the dive shop and the beach, and it had gotten pretty great reviews (86%, 4,5 stars) on TripAdvisor and Hostelworld etc. Plus it's super cheap! It'll be a great way to meet other backpackers and divers too, the hostel has a nice chilling area and a pool... perfect for relaxing and mingling with fellow travelers after a long day of diving(: I will review the place after staying there. If you're traveling on a budget and want to rather spend your hard earned money on diving than beach resorts, look into the hostels in the area. There are quite a few that also offer private rooms for a super affordable price - they're usually for 2 people so if you're traveling with company that's the best budget way to go! I've found cheap single rooms too, but I'll write more about the accommodations another time.

Back to the diving!

What to expect when you dive in Bali? Well, I'm definitely waiting for a few things...

1. Manta rays!
2. Mola Mola aka Sunfish
3. USAT Liberty wreck
4. Reef sharks
5. Turtles
6. Cool macro stuff like nudis etc.

Borneo/ Sipadan and Mabul:

Pulau Sipadan is a small volcanic island in Malaysian Borneo, east side of Sabah area. Sipadan is said to be one of the top 10 dive sites in the world with an incredibly rich ecosystem of more than 3 000 classified species including huge schools of barracuda and bumphead parrotfish etc. Manta rays, eagle rays, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks also visit the area. Apparently there are also a lot of turtles around, and I just happen to love turtles(:

Some of you may remember Sipadan from 2001 when 21 tourists (including 2 Finnish guys Vahanen & Fränti) were kidnapped from the Island by Filipino Islamist terrorist group and taken to Yolo, Philippines... everyone was released in the end, so no harm done, right(; There haven't been any incidents since and it should be totally safe to travel and dive in that area now.

I have very high hopes for Sipadan... I wasn't planning on diving Mabul, but one cannot dive just Sipadan, oh no. The dive operators in the area know how to make money and they've established a system where one has to dive at least 3 dives around Mabul to be able to dive in Sipadan. You also need to book your Sipadan dive permit well in advance! It's a marine conservation area and they only allow 120 people a day to visit... which is really cool, I'm not into diving in places where you see more Japanese divers than fish.

Now I'll get back to making some more travel plans(:

Love,

Emma

#TigerBlood

I salute you, dear friends! 

I'm watching MadCook (the best and most disgusting food show on earth, delivered by Madventures) and excitedly searching for information about the strangest foods I could possibly try in Bali this summer. It seems like there are quite many local intriguing delicacies that I'll need to introduce to my taste buds! Mmmmm.

I think food tells a lot about a culture. The tastes take you through the lives of the people who have lived in that corner of the world, their stories and their passions. Also the way people prepare their food and eat it tells its own story about the people and the culture: is slow cooking more common than quickly prepared dishes, do they use all the parts of the animals and fruit/ veggies, how much and what kind of spices are being used, do they eat with fork & knife or with their hands or with chopsticks, does the family dine together, is it more common to have big dinners and enjoy the food together or just eat something when you're hungry, is it common to share food from big plates or does everyone get their own individual dish... the list is endless! I think food is fascinating and it has the power to bring people together. But it also has the power to separate people, make others weird and foreign because of the differences in what we put in our mouths and what's considered to be suitable to be eaten. And even more importantly, what is definitely not.

The food culture in Bali seems to be quite interesting, all in all. The most famous dish seems to be babi guling = suckling pig. Yes, a roasted baby pig that's still sucking it's mama's milk. Sounds cruel but I bet it tastes pretty awesome. Already got a great tip where to get the best babi guling, a must try! Sate ayam (chicken), goat or babi (pork) + peanut sauce skewers. Sounds amazingly delicious if you ask me(:  They used to make it with turtle too, but nowadays that's banned, which is good.

My interest lays with the craziest foods that one can have in Bali. I've heard and read about a few things that I just simply can't miss. And I promise to post videos of me tasting all of it(: 

Crrraaaaziest foods in Bali I must taste:

1. A shot of cobra blood & cobra heart (apparently the blood works as aphrodisiac)

2. Sago worms

3. Bat (apparently the locals eat them whole, with bones and all)

4. Deep fried dragonflies

5. Buah Keluak (a very poisonous seed of kepayang tree, the poison is used to coat the blow darts and  spears but boiling kills the poison - allegedly)

6. Durian (still haven't had it so I thought I'd try it this time around. A huge, spiky, smelly fruit.)

7. Magic mushrooms (100% legal in Bali) 

Then there's one thing I'm not going to try. Perhaps if I was a guy... Goat dick. Yep, Asians and their masculinity boosters...(: It's said to increase the testosterone levels and help increase stamina.

I get a kick out of trying new things. I'm kind of addicted to it, to be honest(: Well, not addicted per se, but I just love the excitement, the rush of blood to the head and the exhilaration of stepping over just one more boundary in this life. Trying crazy foods can have the same effect as trying an extreme sport for the first time(: I warmly suggest you try every single bug and creepy dish the locals enjoy. If you don't like it and manage not to vomit, it'll be a cool memory anyways. Well, even a funnier one if you actually do vomit. *giggles*

To be continued... 

Tomorrow I'll make a post about all the amazing dive spots I'm going to visit both in Bali and Malaysian Borneo! <3 

Peace out, 

Emma

Sitting waiting wishing...

Ok. I've slept, rested my tired bones and orientated to holiday mode. Ready to go! Like, now. Seriously.

15 days to go. Feels like forever... Impatient you say? Me? Never(;

So I've been trying to figure out what to bring with. I'm only taking a light frame backpack (55 liters) with me so I need to be pretty thorough with my packing process and evaluate every single object carefully... would suck to drag something with you around Bali and Borneo for 2 months and realize you didn't need it at all. Therefore, I've decided to take just the bare minimum with me. I'll share my list of what-to-bring with you guys and explain why I decide to bring these items with...

What I'm bringing with:

- iPhone
- camera + underwater housing
- iPad (decided not to bring my laptop with me)
- snorkel, mask, fins (I have small, light fins that are easy to carry with)
- diving computer (my new Suunto d4i just arrived a couple of days ago!)
- sunglasses (make sure you invest in good ones that actually protect your eyes)
- a torch/ flashlight and 2 little water resistant led torches for diving
- Fjällräven kånken backpack (it's super easy to roll up and pack with to use on day trips etc)
- Drytube (keeps all the belongings like iPad, iPhone, camera, wallet etc dry on diving trips and beach)
- a vietnamese silk sleeping bag liner
- a backpack cover/ drytube (it's very handy for the flights etc)

Clothes & shoes:
- flip flops
- cute sandals for going out (forget about heels!)
- shoes for hiking/ jogging/ walking longer distances (I'm bringing a pair of Nike air training shoes, they're super light and don't take much space either)
- 2 pairs of harem pants (THE most comfortable piece of clothing ever invented, doesn't take much space, light, doesn't matter if they get wrinkly, they're not hot but they cover you up and protect you from mosquitos and sun)
- several bikinis (I'm bringing quite many, putting on a wet bikini bottom is no fun... and in the tropic it takes a while for things to dry. Plus it's good to have strapless ones for sunbathing and more sporty ones to wear for surfing or under your wetsuit while diving)
- rashguard with spf (a MUST for snorkeling, otherwise "hello burnt, skinless back!". I have a short sleeved Roxy with a turtleneck. And of course a must for surfing.)
- beachwear = sundresses, hotpants, sarongs etc easy and light, comfy clothing to throw on to wear on your way to the beach and when you run to the near-by store to get some more water.
- a wind/ rain resistant jacket (great for diving trips, I'm always freezing after I get on the boat and it's so nice to throw on a jacket to keep you warm)
- light, breathing, long sleeved clothes to protect you from the sun and the insects & to cover up if you visit temples etc. (cotton is awesome)
- underwear (no shit, Sherlock) and socks
- yoga clothes

Hygiene & meds:
- sun block + after sun (I've noticed sun block is usually super expensive anywhere with a beach and tourists, it's also hard to find the good, water resistant, high spf kinds, so I rather bring it with me)
- hair treatments like moroccan argan oil and deep conditioner (if you have long hair like me, it's essential to condition and treat your hair if you're constantly in the sun and sea water, otherwise you'll return home with a headful of hay)
- travel size shampoo & conditioner to get me through the first days and find a place to purchase some more
- personal prescribed meds (make sure you have enough for the full travel period and bring the prescription with you, just in case)
- tummy medicine like Imodium, just in case
- antihistamine
- a small ER bag with a few band-aids, disinfectant, elastic bandage etc.
- mosquito repellant and mosquito clicker (it's amazing, releases small electric signals into the skin and stops the histamine production = no swelling/ itching)
- a few make-up products (I might want to throw on some lipstick for the night out once in a while... otherwise these won't be needed)
-tampons (girls, these can be super hard to find in some destinations...)
- basic hygiene stuff + toothbrush + hairbrush
- vaccination card

Note to self: Remember to check that you have every single cord and battery with you before you leave... and take the adapter with, it's in the top drawer. Also need to purchase a couple of memory cards.

Whoa, it seems like a lot of stuff but I know it's possible to travel light and still have everything you need with you. I think people always pack way too many clothes with. I'm just going to have the essentials and do laundry a bit more often (there are a lot of laundry services around and they're cheap).

Did I forget something? I bet I'll find something to add to the list, but it should be quite ok(:

Starting to get very excited about this thing(: I realized I've found quite a few cool objects that can make traveling a lot more comfy and I thought I might write about them next time... I'm also super proud of my new Suunto d4i and will write about that later too, once I learn how to use it properly(: I got the white one, it's so cute!

I've been booking/ planning my dives and just got my Sipadan dive permit sorted out! They only allow 120 divers a day to Sipadan so one has to book it in advance! The only sucky thing seems to be that I cannot find a dive shop that would provide only Sipadan dives, but one has to do at least 3 dives Mabul also to be able to dive Sipadan... I didn't really plan on diving in Mabul because I didn't want to spend the money but hey, it's going to be three incredible dives more in my log book so I'm not complaining(: Very much waiting for the Sipadan-experience, they say it's one of the coolest dive spots in the world!

I've also contacted some people over the internet and already found some cool peeps and got amazing tips on where to go and what to do in Bali & Borneo(:  I think the coolest tip so far has been Tacos & Tattuesdays near Canggu: buy a taco and get up to 20 mins under the gun for free! Just how amazing is that! I love both, tacos and tats, so it's pretty much the coolest concept I've ever heard of(: Been wanting to get a small thing done, so maybe I'll go have a taco before I head back to Finland.

I'll make sure to post again soon, let you know how the preparations are going and share my most handy travel-items with you.

Light and love,

Emma

Indonesian visa FYI

Yeah...

it turns out one can only apply for a tourist visa for 60 days max. My travel time is 64 days. Well played Emma, well played. *shakes herself by the hand and taps on the head*

Well, after a few carefully chosen swearwords I decided to pick a close-by destination and just get out of the country fir a bit and renew the 30-day-visa one can get at the airport after arriving to Indonesia. It's all about the attitude really, and I'm such a hustler that I always manage to screw things up, so I'm pretty much just a self-educated problem-solver and solution-finder(:

It'll be fun and I hear diving in Sipadan and that area is pretty amazing! Tips are welcome!(:

Note to self: Next time you decide to travel somewhere, check out visa information etc before you book your flight tickets, dumb-ass.

Peace out,

Emma

Countdown begins: 24 days to go!

Hello darlings!

I'm Emma, nice to meet you(: Almost 26 years old, I've visited 26 countries (some of them multiple times) and counting. I've worked 6 months in Dubai, UAE, studied one semester in Daegu, South Korea and worked one summer in Bulgaria. Indonesia will be country number 27. I'm a university student, don't ask me when I'll actually graduate...(: I have a permanent travel bug bite and it itches constantly if I try to stay still. I have an Advanced Open Water Diver license and am officially in love with diving and Southeast Asia!

So July-August 2013 I will be exploring, diving and tasting Bali and will also make a two-week visa-run to Malaysian Borneo in between... here I will at least dive at Sipadan and see the Orang-utangs! But why am I going to Bali? Why am taking a couple of months off of my regular life? I better give you a little  background story here, before we start our journey together(:

So here we go... After 12 or so months of shit hitting the fan, stress, cold & dark winter (well excluding a little diving holiday to the Philippines) and working as a kindergarten teacher (sure it was fun but never again!) summer has finally arrived. I packed my bags, sublet my apartment in Helsinki and hopped on a train. I'm spending June in my hometown with my family, haven't been here for more than a week at the time since I was 19, so almost 7 years ago. It's super nice to be able to spend some time with these nut cases before I go explore Bali & Borneo. I'll be spending most of my time planning The Trip, learning to use my new camera & housing, booking accommodations and soaking in as much information as I can before the adventure begins.

Planning this trip hasn't been the smoothest of operations, well nothing with me really is(: I believe the best inspiration is last minute panic(; Originally I was going to go to Bali to do my Divemaster course with Blue Season Bali for 2 months. I booked the flights and payed the booking fee... and then shit got rough. Downer alert! My parents decided to separate and my grandpa died, I was stressed out of my head and just pretty much overwhelmed with all of the shit that was going on in my life and started to feel like I didn't have the energy to do the Divemaster internship this summer. Downer ends! I still really wanted to go to Bali and travel and enjoy myself so I changed my plans(: Life happens and the ones ready to adjust will survive and flourish(;

What will I be up to you ask... well let me enlighten you my friends!

Tattadadaaadadaaa!!!

The Itinerary:

I believe it was such a great decision to not go for the DM right now but just travel, explore, fun dive and chilax for a couple of months in the loving warmth of Southeast Asia! I couldn't be more excited(:

My flight leaves Helsinki on 29/6 and arrives in Denpasar 30/6. Found pretty awesome flights, first there via Hong Kong and returning via Singapore, total time 16,5h/ one way. Not bad, say I! So first I'm staying in Sanur at BIG Pineapple Backpackers until the 11th and diving with Blue Season Bali. I'll post a more detailed dive-plan later on(: *jumping a little in my chair* On 11/7 I'll drag my ass and belongings to Ubud and stay in Dani Homestay until 27/7. On that day I will hop on an airplane and fly all the way to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo. I will return to Bali some time mid-August and spend a couple more weeks under the Indonesian sun before I head back home on 1/9. What a journey it will be! <3

To-do's:

Bali:

* climb Mount Batur
* try white water rafting
* scuba dive with Manta rays and Mola Molas
* scuba dive at the USAT Liberty Wreck
* learn surfing
* try the craziest foods in Bali (including cobra blood, bats, worms, dragon flies and poisonous plants... maybe even certain magical mushrooms)
* visit monkey forest
* see the rice terraces of Ubud
* enjoy a Balinese spa

Borneo:

* go say hi to the cousins aka Orang-utangs
* scuba dive in Sipadan
* climb Kota Kinabalu (well at least a part of it...)
* explore the rain forest

(to be continued...)

With this blog I want to share my adventures below and above the surface. I'll be sharing the highs and lows, goods and bads, moments of joy and moments of "fuck it" as a solo traveler. I just got Canon g12 + underwater housing so I'll be taking photos (hopefully I'll learn the secrets of underwater photography fast) and videos, tasting and trying everything and also sharing some tips on how to experience Bali on budget.

I think traveling is one of the most if not the most efficient way to learn about life and people and most of all oneself. I travel with an open heart and I'm more than happy to share this awesome (fuck yeah, had to throw a little self-high-five just now) adventure with anyone who happens to be interested and I hope it will inspire you to get out there and explore this brilliant planet of ours, above and below surface! I will be talking about diving a lot, but I will cover a lot of other stuff too. Diving has been such a humbling experience for me, it's such a beautiful and complex world down there. For those of you who still haven't tried it: just do it. It will change your life(:

"To move, to breath
to fly, to float
to get all while you give
to roam the roads of lands remote
to travel is to live"
- H.C. Andersen

Light and love,

Emma