Category: Boats

Ilha do Mel

Beach, beach soccer, Boats, Brazil, Bus trip, Cool People, Exchange Students, Friends

Stands for HONEY ISLAND…

Beachy Sunsets!

It takes exactly an hour and a half by car and 30 minutes by boat to this island from Curitiba. It’s known as the prettiest beaches in PARANA. This island is the farthest my Brazilian families travel to get away for vacation. When I mention I have been to Northeast, Falls Iguazu and Santa Catalina they are shocked because some of them have never traveled out of Parana.  Compared to all the beaches I have been to in Brazil this island is beautiful, but there’s nothing super special about it.

Lean on me!
We the Bomb.com

On the first day we walked 17 kilometers… we live for the motto “do it for the picture!”

We walked 17 kilometers between the fort and lighthouse.  The second day, we found a beach cove to lay out in the sun or play soccer!

Most of you must think Brasil must be made up of beaches because that’s all I write about, but as far the exchangers, it doesn’t feel like Brasil unless we are back in Curitiba. The local Brazilians disagree, they think Brasil is everywhere but Curitiba because the weather is so bipolar and colder than every other city in the country.

Funny faces

Deep Water Soloing – Railay Beach, Thailand

Beach, Boats, Places, Thailand, Travel

Have you ever heard of Deep Water Soloing?

Deep Water Soloing is where you rock climb without a harness or tied to a rope so you can really just climb on you own at your own risk. Getting up high on the rock is easy.  It’s getting down that is the challenge.

Soaking in the warm water

If it wasn’t for one of my favorite Math/PE teachers, Mrs. Kirkland,  I probably wouldn’t have heard of this. In doing so, I asked my mom go and investigate where we could find deep water soloing. It was the best experience I have had on this trip. So far, it was my favorite day out of all the activities.

Our guide, Jason, from South Africa gave us the rules and instructions. As we all put on the climbing shoes, he promptly dove in the water to enjoy the climbing for himself. As soon as I looked up he was already at the top. Then I asked my mom to take a jumping shot of me and my sister off the boat. Chilling in the nice cool salty water watching everyone else attempt the wall I decided to try it myself. Following my moms boyfriend Jeff up the sketchy rope ladder grabbing on to the chalky wet slipper rocks. Making it across the rock wall to the steep stair case part watching jeff not being able to do it, my competitive nature kicked in and I was determined to get feather then Jeff. Jason, our guide, helped me along the way telling me exactly where to put my feet and hands.

IMG_7379Making it higher then half the men in the group was surprising to everyone. It felt awesome! My mom wanted to get a jumping shot before she tried it herself.

i would do this again in a heart beat, would also recommend it to my friends.

(check out my photo gallery on the “how I see it” page.)