I'm going going back back to Bali Bali!!

Very excited. I leave home (NYC) Tuesday night for the airport and my flight departs after midnight on Wednesday morning. Total travel time is just under 30 hours....which I don't mind because I am one of the few who actually enjoys traveling!

Next week at this time I'll be on Lembongan.

The first night we plan to stay on main island (Bali) then we'll run some errands and take the fast boat to Lembongan. I will be working while I am there, as will my boyfriend, but we'll still have some diving to do together and a mini-vacation to Gili Trawangen (I love it there!)

Started studying for my Divemaster although I admit I'm not 100% focused on it yet. Hoping to get some studying in with my boyfriend/instructor and do some more dives.

Out east....in the Hamptons!

I've spent the past couple of weekends escaping the city in the Hamptons. Our home is in Bridgehampton and perfect for us. Shelly's girls and husband are happily enjoying the vacation that their mother/wife so graciously planned for everyone. Anneliese (Shelly's older daughter) is learning to swim and has gone from clinging to the infant water seat to only floaties on her arms and jumping into the pool.

No trip to the Hamptons for me could be complete with a trip to my favorite extremely casual Mexican restaurant here - La Superica in Sag Harbor. Afterwards we enjoyed the view and the beauty of the numerous yachts docked nearby.

Back from Bali

Just returned from a lovely 10 days in Bali and on Nusa Lembongen which is of the southeast coast of Bali. The total travel time was just under 30 hours each way -- it felt much quicker -- on Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (departed from my home in NYC).

The first night we stayed in Sanur then took a fast boat to Nusa Lembongen. On the island Jon and Sue (who own 'World Diving' and my boyfriend knows and I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting) were kind enough to allow us to stay in their home which is pictured above for viewing enjoyment. Their home was magnificent. It made my stay visiting him that much more enjoyable since we could cook meals together and and the comforts that only a 'home' can provide.

Did 16 dives with World Diving my boyfriend moved here to be a dive instructor) there and around Nusa Penida.

The diving is incredible there to say the least. While all were drift dives, some were more leisurely then others. The views were magnificent. We saw mola mola (ocean sunfish), mantas, sharks (silver tip, reef, nurse, bamboo), regal, semi-cirle and emperor angelfish (my favorites), eels, banded snakes....and I haven't even begun on the benthics! The list goes on and on and on. Simply beautiful! It was almost my first go at underwater photography which I fell in love with.

We had numerous lovely meals and enjoyed cocktails while watching the sunset. Much more peaceful here then home in Manhattan. Such a different but wonderful way of life.

The last couple of nights we went back to Bali and stayed in Ubud at Kamandalu Resort & Spa in Ubud. At night we had great mojitos and dinner followed by live acoustic music. During the day we explored went white water rafting (I definitely want to do that again but with more difficulty and rapids!!) Let me not forget the enjoyment we got from our private plunge pool in our beautiful villa over looking the rice fields and valley. They thought we were on our honeymoon and while we never told them it was...we never corrected them either. :-)

Off to Bali soon!

Leaving in a few days for Bali to see my boyfriend and do some scuba diving. Very much looking forward to see him and getting back in the water!!

Vegas!

Birthday gift from Shelly to our Annual Girls' Weekend in Vegas was upgrade to First Class on Virgin America to Vegas! If anyone ever has the ability to upgrade on that particular flight - do it! We drank mimosas, ate cheeses, fruits, nuts, salad until our hearts were content all while sitting in our super comfortable and ultra cool seats.

The annual girls' weekend in Vegas started because of a work related conference when I was in commercial real estate. Then some friends came out the following year for a bachelorette weekend. The rest is history.

Second year - Shelly and I













This year we stayed at the new Cosmopolitan. They gave us a junior suite which was perfect for us and done with great taste! Even the wallpaper with b&w faces all over it in the closets was tres chic! No matter how you look at it though, little time is spent in the room when you are in Vegas.

Lots of food, drinks and laughter. One night we had a table and went dancing at XS Nightclub at Encore in the Wynn and the following night was Marquee.

The weather was hot and perfect for the pool in Vegas. Bizarrely enough, the last day I stayed waiting for my flight which was much later then everyone's, and the weather was chilly. Lots of wind gusts had me covering up with a towel and the pool.

All in all - great weekend.

Back from Madagascar

Madagascar was truly an amazing experience!  I was lucky enough to not only start with a cross country tour doing lots of exceptional hiking but then spend the remaining six weeks volunteering in a region and village (Andavadoaka, Madagascar) for a cause (marine conservation) that I care about while doing a hobby (scuba diving) that I love. 

It doesn't stop there:

* Volunteered in the school teaching English (or in my case simply helping out)
* Was part of a local team that competed in and won the pirogue race during Blue Ventures' Open Day.
* Participated in a guest for a homestay in a nearby village of Tampolove where I learned about various land initiatives like sea cucumber farming.
* Helped a PhD candidate with his research regarding reptiles and deforestation...
* And in the last few days we went on a camping trip to dive in another area about 1-2 hours away via pirogue. Speaking of pirogues - most all trips involved them with one particular incident being similar to the movie "The Perfect Storm".

In all honesty, at times I felt guilty because I was receiving so much that I felt like I should be giving even more.

The cherry on top was that I formed some life long friendships....

...and found myself in the start of a new relationship with an incredible man....or did it find me?  I guess it is true - when one least expects it, it happens while you are doing something you love or in the least likeliest of moments.  For me - in a small fishing village thousands of miles away from home. 

I wrote more about my trip mostly discussing the principle about doing what I loved while giving back.  I hope to circulate it before posting on here for others to read.  For those of you interested to learn more about the NGO - Blue Ventures - I went with and possibly join an expedition, the website is www.blueventures.org

Fins

Got the Mares fins. The color wasn't correct but I like them. Very super hero-esque.

Rounding Second and heading for third base....

Need new fins and smaller sized dive boots.  In addition, I am waiting on my first aid kit to arrive, it if arrives?  I got an emailing saying they didn't have it but offering a different one instead.  I responded and haven't heard back from them. Tonight is my final airline purchase and is my return flight to the capital to catch my flight back to the US.  Believe it or not, I am pretty much packed, vaccinations are complete, scripts filled, approvals granted....wow, I am really heading for third base!

I'm looking forward to this journey.  I'll miss my job and of course my friends and loved ones, but I am excited!  My life has truly been about experiences - some good and some bad...and several were incredible. Rarely would I ever considered exchanging on though.  They have been my building blocks from which I have grown. 

I am hoping to blog while I am there, though on the NGO's website.  Hopefully my friends and family will be able to learn of my adventures before I return home.  Once I return home time to focus on returning to work, continuing to develop the company I am helping to build, and quite possibly consider opening the doors to my love life which are currently closed for renovation. (But only to someone who is worthy...)

Next trip will need to be full of restaurants, night life, nice resorts and adventure. :-)

Madagascar Expedition Preparation

My roundtrip ticket is confirmed with travel insurance of course, departing NYC in February and returning from Madagascar in April.  I need to get my photo taken this weekend for my Visa so I can send my application on Tuesday.

Equipment shopping has been easier thanks to scuba.com, swimoutlet.com, and diveprodivegear.com.

Today's shopping list includes:

Wetsuit - must finalize

Duffel Bag

Mosquito Net (pre-treated)

Water Purification Tablets (most likely iodine)

Dive Knife

Dive Torch (aka flashlight)

Return Legally Blonde Scuba Barbie Fins (although I like the style....actually I'll probably keep them)

Dive Watch

Arrived already:

Akona Titanium Dive Boots

Delayed SMB

Oceanic Ultra Dry Snorkel

Reel

Black Fleece Beanie (to keep my post-dive wet head warm)

Dive Slate + Pencil (note- must order more pencils)

Save-A-Dive Kit (i.e. extra mask straps, fin straps, o-rings, etc.)

PADI OW and AOW Manuals (required to have on site)

Elta MD 50+ SPF (might return)

Dragon Organix Biodegradable Spray Hand Sanitizer that fights against MRSA

DAN Insurance

Waterproof Holder for my Kindle

Small Drawstring Backpack (great to toss in a magazine, spf, towel, and go to beach)

En Route:

Rashguard/short sleeve - Black/ Blue

1mm Reef Shorts - Black/Pink

Mack's Dry-n-Clear Ear Drying Aid

Straw Fedora Hat (to block the rays)

Cotton Strapless Dress - Black (simple, comfortable and easy to pull on in the evenings)

Beach Sandal - Black

Rashguard - Blue/White

Board shorts - Black

Recent Developments

A lot has and is happening with life.  I am writing as much as possible and even moved the YA draft to my laptop, which is a huge accomplishment for me. (I prefer writing with a pen in a moleskin journal.)

Nevertheless between work, my art, my writing, friends, family, holidays and planning my upcoming adventure, my time has been limited.  I am happy though which is what matters the most. 

I am not dating by my own choice.  I grew tired of too many Mr. Wrong(s) when I know what I want.  I'd rather be accomplishing something important, or at least working towards it. I've been in love once in the past couple years.  Unfortunately, there are claims that the timing wasn't right.  It was quite a spark though and one that hasn't left me.  I don't think it will.  For that reason, I don't know if I buy the excuse of timing or not.  If the feeling was at all mutual, you don't let something like that go.

Upcoming developments:
1. Reef Conservation/Scuba Expedition that I am taking in February.
2. Additional non-profit work.
3. New media/documentary company that three of us started - one is an old college friend 
4. My "day job" which I enjoy the challenges and learning experience of....
5. Art - would love to do a show in the by end of 2012, hopefully incorporating pieces from my upcoming expedition and donate portion of proceeds to charity or maybe back to the inspiration for the pieces.  If I am able to show pieces that people created there, their profits are theirs to keep. :-)
6. Manuscripts - will finish this YA one, find an agent and complete/publish; would like to officially be an author in this decade; not just once but multiple times.