okay people, over here just processing. what a WHIRLWIND the last 6 months have been. (poured all my coming-home feels into this VITA article called “When Home Is Where The Heart Is But Your Heart Is Scattered Across The World” FYI)

also if you’re just here for recommendations, there are a few throughout this post or you can also check out my other blogs:

Let me start by explaining #insoulmotion: for every trip, I have a hashtag. Rio de Janeiro in 2016 for the Olympics was #keepingitrio. My first real solo trip was #peaceplaypassion: a 6-month tour of the world where I went to Rwanda/other parts in Africa (the peace part), Southeast Asia/Australia (the play part) and Paris/a few other Euro stops (the passion part). That’s what my tattoo is about btw. There was #yoloctober in NYC/LA/Peru, #jetsetjanuary in Barbados/Mexico/Cuba, my #wakawakabirthday in Cape Town/Uganda/Kenya, and #wanderlustandwifi to kick off my digital nomad life in Central America and Colombia. Kicking things up a notch, I went back to my spirit city in 2020 for my #lifein2point0 and then my post-COVID trip to Mexico was #make2020flouncyagain.

ok that was a lot. But here’s the thing — whenever I’m not in Cape Town, I’m missing Cape Town. I’m thinking ahead to the next time I’ll be in Cape Town. It’s the only place that cures my travel bug, where I want time to just stand still.

So when I got to go back to Cape Town for Jan-March (which turned into -June) 2021, my intention was to take things slow, soak in every moment, live in the now. My intention was to live #insoulmotion.

It’s hard to even call this a trip because Cape Town feels like home to me now. This was my 4th time there, and this time (thanks to a visa extension), I ended up staying for 5.5 months. Normally when I travel I am rushing around trying to cram everything in because I have really bad fomo, but in Cape Town this time I was able to take my time. This meant days where I would just chill out, go work at a cafe, do yoga, and not much more. i didn’t have to feel guilty about my time. This meant even time where I would watch shows, which I never did while travelling before. This meant lots of “me” time. And me and my mountain (Lion’s Head) time.

I’m writing this from the plane home and I don’t even know what I’m feeling, because I didn’t have that end-of-trip panic that I normally do. It’s because this time I stayed so long that I literally could not have been more ready to go home. I miss my family, especially my niece and nephew, so much it hurts. I hate not seeing them for this long. Ethan was barely talking when I left and now he is having full-on conversations. Keira and I never feel complete when we’re not together.

There were also things that were starting to get to me about the cultural differences that made me ready to go home. Plus, I know I will be back to Cape Town. I can go back whenever I want! So no need to panic. Just ready to go home :)

That being said, it was an incredibly significant time in my life — with personal stuff, business stuff, relationships, friends, etc. I grew a LOT and I know I made an impact on a lot of people’s lives, as did they on mine. It was a special time for all of us and I have never made so many deep real connections with incredible people as I have in Cape Town. I can’t wait to see when the universe brings us back together again.

Here were some of my highlights for my time in South Africa #insoulmotion.

Atlantic Point

Like I said, the people I spent time with in South Africa have had a profound effect on me. We were together in a time when not many people are travelling, but we refused to let the pandemic keep us home and from following our dreams. So we banded together, singing and playing music at the hostel when we were in lockdown with a 9pm curfew and no (legal) alcohol sales. When things started to open up we’d go out to watch live music and feed our souls. I met people from all parts of the world, including a lot of South Africans who taught me so much. This is the 4th year I’ve come to the hostel Atlantic Point, it’s my home away from home, and it was amazing to see so many others take it on as their home as well this year. AP always attracts the best people but this year felt a little extra special with so many long-stay guests. We grew so close, more guitar, more drinks, talks under the stars, a magical getaway to the mountains, random ass morning chats, sunsets on the rocks, dancing and singing in the kitchen and the bar. I decided to start leading yoga classes and so many people joined me and we all just fed our mind, bodies, and souls. There was so much that went on, so many different storylines and intricacies, I swear that place could be a soap opera/Love Island/its own reality show at least. Petition to start AP TV.

Safaris

Okay I still need to process this part but I went on 5 safaris this year. Who says that?? Not any other Canadian I know. But remember my New Year’s resolution, don’t forget to manifest.

My first one was Namibia, which will be its own highlight, but much of the road trip could have been considered a safari with sightings of ostriches, oryx, and a brown hyena, plus our self-drives and one 11-hour guided drive through Etosha.

Then there was my collaboration with Brett Horley Safaris, which took my safari dreams to the next level. Brett specifically designed this itinerary to fulfill my leopard obsession and he absolutely nailed it. I had my first wild dog encounter at Pungwe in Manyeleti (cue the waterworks), had 2 of the most epic back-to-back game drives of life at Dulini where we saw my leopard loves, a wild dog HUNT, male lions marking their territory, it was nonstop action. Finishing up at Savanna brought more intimate and prolonged leopard encounters — all a girl can dream of, really. Sabi Sands defs lives up to the hype. Blog post on this adventure is here!

Next was my first ever Adventurelust safari meet-up (yes i will be doing more!!), where we stayed with my amazing friends at Simbavati Safari Lodges at Camp George, Trails Camp, and River Lodge. Epic heart-pumping elephant encounters (especially the one on foot where I thought my life was ending), a hilariously too-close-for-comfort hyena encounter, unbelievable food and service, the best friendliest staff. For my first safari meet-up, it blew every expectation out of the water. Blog post on my Adventurelust safari meet-up is here!

I planned my friends a safari through Adventurelust Trip Planning and then got fomo and decided to tag along (it was my birthday. so.). We stayed at another gorgeous Simbavati property, Amani Camp, and my favourite part of this one was the R&R that came with not hopping around to different lodges. Loved the peaceful waterhole view from the pool, being able to do yoga and sit and watch the monkeys in the trees overhead. We also had some v cool lion encounters. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Simbavati does safaris right. Blog post on their camps and lodges that I’ve stayed at is here!

Finally, I got an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up to go with safari experts at Wild Eye to a content collaboration at Shumbalala Game Lodge. This one was just next level. The dreamiest dream being in an infinity pool looking out onto elephants who were even drinking from the pool. Epic epic epic male lion sightings. WILD DOG PUPPIES, MY HEART. Lion cubs drinking from a puddle at sunset, also my heart. My very own leopard spotting to top it off. Ugh. I could die happy if safaris weren’t so damn addicting and now I MUST TOP IT. But seriously, incredible time thanks to Wild Eye and Shumbalala. A pinch-me opportunity for both my brand and my safari lovin’ self. Blog post on this safari is here!

Adventurelust

#insoulmotion was a pivotal time for my brand/business/empire Adventurelust, and this is one of the main reasons why there is no way I could let COVID keep me at home. I would say this is the time in my life when Adventurelust went from just an idea to a real business. I hosted my first meet-up as a Lion’s Head sunrise hike and we had the best crew and it was the best vibes. My heart was so full. Then I got to host my very first safari meet-up, which came with a lot of learning lessons, but was pretty awesome to be able to pull off last-minute and during COVID. Then my first official Trip Planning safari, which I ended up tagging along on.

Then I announced my next epic adventure meet-up: a cruise of the freaking Galapagos Islands !!!!! It does not get more epic. People have been SO supportive and just as excited as I am (rightfully so!) and I am so so so stoked. Spots are still available, come with meeeee!! Details here.

I just have a lot more clarity on my business and how to deliver my services, and where I want to take things in the future. I have a better idea on how I’m going to make this profitable, and while I’m still figuring things out, I am pretty proud on how far I have taken it in under a year, and a pandemic year at that. :)

Namibia

Namibia was on my bucket list for awhile and my friend Evie and I decided we couldn’t let COVID stop us from conquering it. It feels like SO long ago now but we went back in January for a 2-week road trip, just two blonde girls in our little lime green Jimny Suzuki, partnered with Gondwana Lodges to stay in their incredible accommodations all around the country. The landscapes were … indescribable. Like the moon. Better than the pictures. Like no other place I’d been. Sand dunes, rock formations, nothingness for days. We had the best time, soaked in the most magical sunrises and sunsets, drank wine, couldn’t stop saying how amazing it was and how grateful we were. A perfect trip (other than Evie’s false positive COVID test at the end there but we don’t need to focus on that!). Click here for my blog post on my bucket list Namibia road trip.

Self-care staycations

I went through a lot during my time here and took an adequate amount of me-time to stay centred and grounded. This meant I got to stay in AMAZING Airbnbs and experience different areas of Cape Town!

I went on my first self-care staycation to Simon’s Town, where I sent my intentions for 2021, mainly: Don’t forget to manifest.

I stayed in a dreamy Lion’s Head/oceanview Airbnb in Sea Point. Plus the beautiful peaceful Craigrownie Guesthouse, where I loved the deck view (Lion’s Head/oceanview again) and the staff. Plus two more oceanview flats in Sea Point. I have a type.

I went to Muizenberg for a couple nights and walked on the beach, soaked in the chill surfer vibes, soaked in the ocean view from the Blue Bottle Guesthouse.

I read the Power of Now, let myself watch shows, took time off from social media, facetimed my mom and the kids, did yoga, and just let myself feel like myself again. It worked like a charm.

I even did a night at the Silo Hotel, the nicest hotel in Cape Town/the world, my dream staycation. Drank bubbly, went in the pool, took bubble baths, felt like a queen in that insane suite. Whoever said money can’t buy happiness has never stayed at the Silo.

All this brought my to launch my new Adventurelust service, where I want to help other people to live their dream life and master the art of self-care: Chats.

Cape Town

Let’s have a moment of appreciation for Cape Town itself. I fell in love with this city again and again and again right up until the very end.

It is ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Cape Town is always surprising me. One time it’ll be a blanket of fog covering the sea from the top of Lion’s Head. Then there’s the cascading Tablecloth which takes my breath away every single time. Then you’ll be jet skiing and see dolphins and penguins both swimming in the water. Sometimes the clouds will look like whimsical little cotton balls. Sometimes there are the most dramatic storm clouds that look like a painting. I honestly never know what to expect, it is always taking my breath away.

I did countless Lion’s Head hikes, mostly sunrises, mostly by myself, for the soul. I walked along the promenade listening to Taylor Swift. I soaked in sunsets at my fave spots, Saunders Rocks and Maidens Cove. I did yoga under Lion’s Head and went for icy dips at Bakoven with Tam and had family frolicks in Kommetjie with her and Mark. I went shopping and day drinking with Chynna. I danced to live music and supported my talented friends at House of Machines and Selective Live. I had my fave sunset wine at Tigers Milk Camps Bay. I worked from my favourite adorable cafes like The Ladder, Strangers Club, Bootlegger, Clarkes. I ate my fave yummy food at Scheckters Raw and Kleinskys. I drank my go-to bubbly at La Parada Waterfront. I brunched at Our Local, went to drinks at Hudsons and Power and Glory and bougee drinks at Silo Rooftop and Asoka. Dancing wasn’t really a thing this year aside from at AP, but I did get in one night at Sgt Pepper obv. I walked to V&A to see the seals and the dolphins, spent way too much money at Cotton On, went to the vibiest Old Biscuit Mill and my weekend go-to Oranjezicht Market (love that rosti eggs benny).

08afb050-3c3e-4ddb-8ae7-b3460837689b 2.jpg

Cape Town will always have such a special place in my heart, it is my spirit city for so many reasons, and I am so grateful to have gotten to spend so much time there for my #insoulmotion chapter.

But now, I cannot WAIT to go home. :)

#insoulmotion: 6 months in South Africa, for the soul