The Other Side of Paradise - What You Don't Know
Tropical the island breeze, all of nature wild and free, is this where you really long to be? Before you live the La isla bonita illusion and get overly kissed by the sun, let me just present to you the reality of island-living. Behind the pristine beaches, warm and emerald waters, desolate islands, rich marine life and sunny weather, there are just some things that I don't really like, or what those travel agencies didn't tell you about.
As some of you know by now, I decided to chill in paradise and take a break from traveling to work on my travel & tours startup project, which hopefully, I could get the website up and running by the end of this season.
The grass is greener on the other side as they say, and it turned out that the tropical dream is not as perfect as it seems to be. Don't worry, I am focusing on the good things and not on the following:
Insects and Other Pests
Forgive me, I don't want to sound super whiny here, but hey, we all have our weaknesses. I can surely dive with sharks, hold a boa or handle a tarantula, but I have my top little enemies here.
Cockroaches - oh yes they are everywhere, yuck! I have this irrational fear of cockroaches and I just couldn't make peace with them, sorry. I just had enough bad experiences, and I traveled far and wide just to avoid seeing them. That even when I was living in cold and high altitude for a couple months they still haunted me in my dreams. They are my nightmare, the enemies of this world and they are so strong! Years ago, I had to call my then boyfriend just to kill those pesky creatures for me. I had to learn how to kill one on my own, but it just flew to my face. They can fly yes, they act and feel like they are butterflies when they are nothing but cockroaches. Sorry for all the hate speech! It's just years of pent-up frustration.
Mosquitoes - I'm a mosquito magnet here! I have to carry deet anywhere I go, they are so annoying aren't they? I miss those times I really didn't have to worry about mosquito bites and hanging out outdoors. Mind you, they can be deadly too.
Flies - they follow me and land on my skin, they make me feel like shit. I smell good and take a bath regularly, but they seem to be anywhere with warm weather. They can be annoying as hell.
Sand Flies - they can be your worst nightmare. If you like to sleep on the beach and there are sand flies, you are doomed. It depends on how your skin reacts probably, but I get red bites all over my body. It can be overwhelming and irritating. Sand fly bites will itch like hell and will last for several days, that it feels so good to scratch however bad for my skin.
Very Humid Weather
Since I couldn't afford thick clothing at the moment, it is nice to stick with board shorts, bikinis, and hot pants. Thank goodness as times are hard these days, less cloth, more savings! It's not really the heat that bothers me, it is having to sweat just after walking 5 meters. Yes, that's tropical for you. I miss those days when I could walk outside with nice, cool breeze on my face. It is also more comfortable traveling and walking with my heavy backpack when it is not very humid. Not to mention you are prone to rashes and other skin problems in this type of climate. Unless you can afford to have air conditioning in your house, but even that can be a luxury. It is good if you happen to be a rich expat who can build a mansion with centralized AC in the middle of the village, just avoid the begging neighbors. You have to adapt to the humid climate living condition if you really want to live the tropical dream.
Very Laidback People
I know maybe it is not a bad thing, is it? But I have much experience with them than most of you here, I guess. Just understand the weather, everything is available all-year round, fruits and crops everywhere that people have all the time to slack off and not think anymore. Blame my years of fast-paced life and the go, go, go and get, get, get mentality that I have probably brought to this peaceful place. I no longer have the patience for anything, like give me a real smile, please. Most tourists think that locals are nice and all that, but what didn't they know? Being helped out is not free, getting ripped off is common and sometimes you just don't see what's behind those smiles. Locals talk about crazy things, this whole free-time chit chat I have no patience for.
Tourist Trap
If you are a budget traveler and you don't know where the real good and cheap things are, then you might be spending more money in a touristy place. This is when the couchsurfing community comes in handy, as you get to meet some friendly locals who could teach you where the hidden gems are, like where to shop, where to eat, where to go and how to get the best value for your money. If you don't know where to go, then you will find yourself yet in another tourist trap. If that is what you prefer, then go ahead and meet other tourists, is that why you are traveling anyway?
The whole text I was nodding in agrrement.
I had a huge spiderbite the whole last week which itched like crazy and of course it was on my neck so I could present it to everybody. Nobody tells you about that shit.
I hope that's not a big bite, or your neck is not swollen. I have a friend who had a big spider bite on her foot, that she went to the hospital. Yeah, they don't tell you about these things.
No, it is already swelling off and not itching anymore.
Yes, I heard about spiderbites which can get really bad but so far I was lucky enough to only get the lite version.
As I grew up in Alaska, I was unfamiliar with cockroaches. Texas enlightened me.
I did not know they could grow to over six inches long, and lurk outside my door, waiting to pounce on me when I stepped outside at 3am to investigate a loud sound (a neighbors parrot squawked).
The lights come on, and as your head exits the apartment, an attack helicopter, er, I mean, Palmetto Bug (what they call cockroaches the size of aircraft carriers in Austin, TX) flies directly into the side of your head, and the panic sets in.
I realized after only a second that (thankfully!) the insect was just as frightened as was I, didn't bite (or lay eggs in my ear, so it's larva could eat my brain), and running wouldn't dislodge it from my head. Also, I looked pretty silly in my tighty whiteys, frantically batting at imaginary demons at 3am.
Good bye Texas!
Now I want to live in Alaska lol. It makes me paranoid and they just keep on coming back to scare me. One time, a cockroach molested me in public, it just crawled inside my loose shirt, I was screaming and dancing crazily.
I don't want this anymore! 😭
And I know what you mean with imaginary demons at 3am. I don't want to open the door anymore. 😟 I am so helpless with these little demons.
Impressing post!
Fortunately, there are places on our planet in which both the sea and low humidity combine. There is not a huge amount of insects, but there are a lot of fruits and other tasty things.
I heard this about southern Italy, the Mediterranean coast of France and the Canary Islands.
Have you ever been there?
Thanks!
Ok, I prefer the fruits and other tasty things! I haven't been, someday for sure.
You have everything ahead!
wonderfull places and nice photos , keep going more tourist places , i am waiting for next update
Good perspective on reality and not always Greener on the other side. Still, must be nice.
No doubt yes, it is nice.
LOL, I have it all here in Costa Rica (especially where I live)! I think that the humid weather is the hardest thing, it just makes any activity harder than it supposed to be. But eventually you learn to live with everything :)
I agree, we'll adapt lol.
You are creating really good quality content. Upvoted
Thanks!
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I don't care for the bugs either. Whether it's no-see-ums, sand flies or mosquitoes, they will pick me over anyone around me. Absolutely can't stand bugs repeatedly landing on me. I feel your pain.
Yeah, it's ok as long as they don't bug you, but they are bugs. Sigh, why can't we have it all, lol.
wonderfully written. upvoted :) plz also read my latest blog on one the most beautiful beach of Portugal.