Carlotta Arona – Page 3 – It's never too late to pursue the life we want.

5 Tips for an Easier Relocation to Civilization

As some of you already know, Dom and I have recently relocated to New Zealand for awhile. We are currently living in Auckland.

This is the first time I live in a first world country in almost 8 years! The change has been drastic.

We took the decision to move to New Zealand while we were still in Tulum. It was a very last minute choice, we did not have much time to plan ahead.

Dom was offered a business opportunity that he decided to take, so we packed our bags and within almost no time we arrived in Kiwi land.

We were welcomed by rain and cold which persisted for months! Not a great start. On the other hand, it was great to be reunited with Dom’s family. Being around them was like a spot of sunshine in a land of mist.

I did not have any winter clothes and I refused to buy some! I was dressing in layers, onion style, to try keeping warm and I would’t leave my spot on a chair attached to the heater.

To be honest, up to now I still haven’t bought any winter clothes. Soon I will have to accept the fact that I will have to get ready for winter. I thought I had erased that word from my vocabulary forever.

Relocating to a new place is never easy. It takes time to adjust and to get used to the new environment and customs. It is especially difficult if the relocation does not involve tropical beaches, warm ocean, hippie lifestyle,
scuba diving and minimal clothing.

And it is even more difficult if the relocation is to a big city like Auckland and you do not like living in a city.

Oh my goodness! For me it was a proper culture shock! I had gone from living in hippy Tulum to a civilized and expensive “normal” world. I literally felt like Tarzan when he got taken out of his jungle and put in the city.

All I could think was: “Put me back where I was!” I feel like a fish out of water.

We have been here almost five months and I am still not entirely settled. New Zealand is a beautiful country but far from my idea of living my kind of lifestyle.

It takes time to fit in and to find your way in a new place, especially if at first glance it does not offer what you are looking for.

Changes are good anyway. Sometimes it’s good to do things you would not normally do to improve your way of life, knowledge and skills.

I have started to concentrate on things I always wanted to do but always found excuses not to. For example, since being in New Zealand I have started to develop my idea of working freelance from home.

I joined a freelancers’ website and really committed to follow through with this project. Now I am getting regular clients asking me for articles and translations. I am also occasionally doing some Social Media Manager work and I am working on improving my website developer skills.

These are great ways to start a life as a digital nomad, which means next time I will be on the move I will be able to sustain my living by working from a computer. And more important I will be able to live anywhere without having to worry about finding a physical job.

Even a situation that might not seem ideal at the moment, will turn out to be a productive and positive one. Patience is needed. I have to admit that most of the times when it comes to reaching my goals, I do not have patience. I want it all and now!

Here are my 5 tips to help easing the difficulties when relocating to civilization.

1) Keep an open mind – Try not to have expectations. It is good to have an idea of what it will be like, but at the same time leave your mind open. Do not set high expectations because if things are different from what you thought you will end up disappointed.

My idea of New Zealand was the one I made up in my mind when I came visiting in 2013. Of course the situation was different; I was on holiday, exploring and I knew I was here only for few months.

This time I came here for living, well at least for a while. It is a totally different story.

2) Focus on positive things – Ok, there are many things you might not like in your new settings, but surely you will find many things you like as well. Think about the little things you were missing in the old place and that you can now find in your new “civilized” country.

It could be anything, from a bottle of your favourite wine to a moisturizing lotion made from only pure natural ingredients found in nature. I can’t get enough of Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand has the best one.

I know it might sound silly but at the end of the day is the little things that count.

3) Take up a new hobby (or pick up an old one you left aside) and discover new passions – Yes, why not? Depending on what the environment offers, you can choose your new hobby. You might not even have to spend any money on it.

I took up running again and loving it! It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and to keep fit at the same time. I used to run many years ago and then stopped. I tried to run a few times in Mexico but it was way too hot and not enjoyable at all.

New Zealand is perfect for it, bonus!

I have also ordered some canvas, oil colours and a set of paint brushes so I can start painting again. I used to do it often and I was getting good at it, then I stopped. Actually they just arrived today; I will soon put my Dali’ skills into action.

4) Be patient – It will take time to get settled and organize the basic of your new life. Give yourself time. There will be days when you just want to pack your bags and jet off to a tropical beach far away from everything. Hang in there.

Close your eyes, breath and remind yourself why you decided to make this move. If you made this choice, it must have been for a good cause.

5) Make the most of it – It is easier to say it rather than do it, but it is possible to make the most of a situation that does not seem ideal to start with.

Find your strength, look around with different eyes and most of all chill out and smile. It will come the time when you will proudly say: “I made it!”.

Whatever the reason and the length of your relocation will be, surely it will be a positive experience.

Patience is the virtue.

Having said that, I think I will always be a nomad. Some people are just born this way, it must be in the DNA.

Nowadays you can buy DIY home testing for many things. I should consider one for testing my DNA, maybe my ancestors were true wanderers from all corners of the Globe.

Do you have an experience to share? Drop me a line or post a comment below, I would love to hear about your experience.

26/01/2017

6 Tips for a Better Detox

The opinion, experience and advice expressed in this article are solely of my own.

Last week I did a 3 days detox for the first time in my life.

For the whole 3 days I was not allowed any food. I used a certified organic dietary supplement called FAST by Miessence.

A good friend of mine did it before me and recommended the product. She was incredibly satisfied with the result, so I thought: “Why not? I have nothing to loose!” Besides that, I had indulged myself excessively during the Christmas and New Years holiday so I thought I could definitely do with a detox.

The ingredients in FAST are all organic plant and herb extracts and are to be blended to make a shake 3 times a day. It is basically your substitute for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t worry if you do not have a blender. I don’t have one myself so I put the powder in a small bottle with water and shake it.

The flavour is… let’s say interesting. Quite herby and minty. It is not totally bad but it is not great either. The first day I found it hard to drink. But I got used to it and the following drinks were not as hard as the first one.

During the course of the day, you are only allowed to drink water or herbal teas. My drinks of choice were homemade soda water with lemon, peppermint tea and lemon & ginger tea.

Day 1 was hard. Towards the end of the afternoon my head filled up with all sorts of thoughts and questions about life, past, present and future and my power of concentration dropped significantly.

I had a very bad night sleep, in fact I was awake for most of it.

Day 2 was not too bad at all. I got used to the drink, I felt positive and I was looking forward to the next day. That evening I even made dinner for Dom. I made him a cottage pie and I watched him eating it. He said he tasted delicious (and I believed him cause he had 3 portions!). That made me quite proud of myself because I was able to cook a tasty meal without even tasting it!

Day 3 was the hardest. We had a family gathering in the evening with lots of delicious food and I could not eat it. I could have broken the fast but my will power won over my love for food and I made it. Needless to say that I was very much looking forward to breakfast the next day.

In summary, the 3 days detox has been a success. I did not loose any weight (I do not need to as I am already quite fit) but I lost lots of water retention, my skin looks and feels better, my mind has been much clearer, I feel more relaxed and positive and finally my chronic cough has also improved (I do not cough much anymore).

All in all, it was a very positive experience. It was hard, I do not deny it but I am very glad I did it.

Following my experience, I came up with 6 tips to help you get through the fast:

1) Stay hydrated – drink lots of liquids as in water or herbal teas. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated at all times, plus drinking could ease your feeling of hunger.

2) Stay positive – it can be easy to feel down if you feel hungry. Keep your mind focused on the end result. You might suffer a bit but it will be worth it. Try to think about things you like.

3) Do not leave your last drink too late in the evening – FAST has some herbs that give you energy, if you drink it too late during the day you might have troubles sleeping. This happened to me on day 1 so I made sure to have the last drink no later than 7pm on day 2 and day 3.

4) Think about the delicious food you will have at the end of your FAST – it worked for me, whenever I felt a bit hungry I would think about something I would have liked to eat when the detox was over.

5) Keep your mind occupied – work, read a book, practice your hobbies or have a nap. You might feel a bit low on energy which is perfectly normal, so you can indulge yourself on an afternoon nap.

6) Keep an open mind – do not have expectations about the end result and embrace the detox. Each person is different and the detox has different effects on each one of us. Allow it to work on your mind and body.

Please leave a comment or drop me a line if you have any questions or if you want to share your detox experience.

19/01/2017

Things to do While Traveling in Mexico

Things to do while Traveling in Mexico

Mexico is one of the most amazing countries to visit. It offers a variety of landscapes and activities that are often difficult to find in just one place.

There is something to do for everybody. Whether you are looking for some hiking adventures, history and culture, breathtaking landscapes, thrilling surf or world class scuba diving, Mexico will be your perfect playground.

If you have a couple of months available or more, you might want to consider traveling the whole country to experience all that Mexico has to offer. If your time is limited, choose an area or itinerary that best suits your needs.

Scuba dive in the Sea of Cortez: There are more than 3,000 marine species including Hammerhead Sharks, Sea Lions and Sting Rays just to name a few.

The Copper Canyon Railway: The track starts at Los Mochis and crosses some of the most rugged lads in Mexico. The views will be breathtaking.

Play Casino Games at Night. There are plenty of casinos you can visit and gamble in Mexico. This is one of the best ways to spend your nights. You can learn how to play in the casinos by practicing in online casino sites as you travel with a bus in Mexico. By the way bus is a great way to travel through Mexico.

Indulge yourself in culture in Mexico City: There are plenty museums and parks to visit.

Surf the waves in Puerto Escondido: This town on the Pacific Coast is home to amazing waves. Every year it hosts a famous international surf competition.

Hike the Selva Lacandona in Chiapas: You can organize a few days hiking in the tropical rainforest. There are several operators in San Cristobal that can arrange guided tours.

Eat local food and drink Tequila and Mezcal: Mexico has some of the best food in the world and of course it is the home of Tequila and Mezcal. Indulge yourself!

Discover the Cenotes of Quintana Roo and Yucatan: This is the only place in the world where you will find these underground caves/sinkholes filled with fresh water. If you are a certified scuba diver, do not miss the chance of a unique scuba experience.

Dive the reefs of Cozumel Island: This is another of the top scuba diving places in the world. Deep dives, drift dives and amazing visibility will take you into a different world.

Snorkel with the Whale Sharks: If you are visiting from June to mid-September do not miss your chance to swim with these gentle giants. They can be found off the coast of Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy.

Bus is a great way to travel through Mexico. ADO offers a great service connecting the Country. Some overnight journeys can be very long. Playing online casino games is a great past time when not sleeping.

05/01/2017

Palenque Archaeological Site – A Must Visit

Another must see when exploring Chiapas is definitely the world famous Palenque archaeological site.

I had been to the site before on my previous trip to Mexico in 2002. Finally, I was able to visit again with Dom.

Set in the middle of the tropical jungle, Palenque archaeological site is one of the main examples of a Mayan city of the classical period.

This ancient city saw the heights of its civilizations between AD 500 and 700. It was discovered in the 18th Century.

I would strongly suggest taking a tour with one of the onsite certified guides unless you have done much reading yourself. as a result, you will be able to understand the site better.

The Site

It takes approximately 2 hours for a thorough visit. As a suggestion, I would say to visit the site later in the day. It is less busy and you might get a great price for a guided tour.

The site closes at 5 pm, allow enough time. We arrived around 3 pm and the guide offered to take four of us at half the normal price.

As we did not have much time, Dom and I did a same day return trip to Palenque from San Cristobal which included a stop to the Cascadas de Agua Azul. We enjoyed it but it was a very long and tiring day.

If you have time available, do not rush your trip and spend a couple of days in one of the hostels or guest houses close by Palenque. It is also a great chance to immerse yourself in the jungle and if you are very lucky you could spot (or at least hear) the local Jaguars.

Best Time to Visit Palenque Archaeological Site

You can visit Palenque all year round. In the summer it will be hotter with high levels of humidity. Winter months December to March will be cooler. Palenque is in the middle of the jungle, so mosquitos hang around all year. Bring eco mosquito repellent or long sleeve and long pants light clothing.

21/12/2016

5 Things to do in San Cristobal De Las Casas

You can do many things in San Cristobal. This beautiful colonial city is nestled among the mountains of Chiapas – Mexico. I visited San Cristobal De Las Casas for the first time in 2002.

I loved the place. This mountain town looks almost magical thanks to its colourful buildings and cobblestones streets.

Finally, last year I went back with Dom. The city had not changed much. Probably there were more tourists, nonetheless, its unique character remains the same.

Most of all, we had fun walking up and down the quaint streets and enjoyed people watching while seating sipping a coffee or wine. In addition, we also went horse riding and then we drank more coffee.

San Cristobal is the perfect spot to base yourself while exploring Chiapas. Furthermore, I especially recommend it if you are planning a few days trekking through the Selva Lacandona.

5 Things to do in San Cristobal and Around

Have a coffee in one (or more) of the many coffee shops

Chiapas is famous for its excellent coffee and San Cristobal is full of small quaint coffee shops. As a result, you can spend hours sipping delicious coffee while taking in the aromatic smell.

Our favourite coffee shop was probably Libre Cafe, just around the corner from our hostel. It became our favourite place to drink coffee. Furthermore, they had excellent coffee and also amazing brownies. There were a very chilled atmosphere and hippy vibes with great tunes in the background. As a result, we really enjoyed spending time there.

Walk around

Since San Cristobal has many pedestrian friendly streets, you can easily stroll along and discover the many local shops, bars and restaurant. Seems like the colourful buildings and equally colourful people are the city’s trademarks.

Finally, you can end your day with a glass of wine or any other drink of your choice at one of the bars. Many bars offer a special of one beer and one mezcal.

Visit the museums

If you are a fan of museums, San Cristobal offers a few dedicated to the local arts and culture. Centro de Textiles de Mundo Maya is definitely worth a visit and it is especially relevant if you wish to find out about the textile production of Chiapas.

Visit San Cristobal’s Cathedral

You can take a tour of the Cathedral in the main square. Many churches surround this beautiful colonial city. If you fancy a hike, you can take a stroll to the top of one (or more) of the hills surrounding San Cristobal.

Horseback riding

You can organize a half day trip to San Juan Chamula, a small Mayan Village, by horseback riding. It is definitely worth visiting this little village and the tour is very good value for money.

Where to stay

There are plenty hostels, guest houses and hotels in San Cristobal.

We stayed at 13 Cielos Hostel. The location of the hostel is convenient right in the middle of town. It is like a little home away from home, the owner Fernando is very friendly and super accommodating.

There is also a fully equipped kitchen if you want to save money on meals.