Hyderabad – first nights 

Traveling to India to meet up with a friend, and my first days there going to an indian wedding, what a way to start my Asia adventure. An adventure that I have had on my bucket list since I first fell in love with traveling in 2013, with an interrail trip with my the danish scouts, and with this stamp my trip starts finally.

Vijayawada in Andhra pradesh – wedding 

The indian wedding, is a massive party with something like 5000 people over 2 days, loud music, fireworks and lots of food. I was the only white person there but everyone was so nice. So first day was the wedding party here we came to bless the couple putting rice on their head and then next day was the reception, the big party day. Where the bride and groom would go from their house to the party arriving with fireworks and then go on a horse throne getting pulled from the car all the way to the big stage, where people would again come up on stage and bless them, this time with flowers, and then 3 massive food courts around the premises with different food stands. I was just following my friend who sometimes would tell me someone wanted a picture with me because the guest would first come to him to ask. 

Hyderabad – Big city, going out. 

Going out in Hyderabad, pretty much like any other big city so not much to tell here. But I did get to taste india’s delicious food, I absolutely fell in love with pani puri a snack, a hollow deep-fried crispy shell (puri) filled with spiced potatoes, chickpeas and chutney then dipped in tangy, spicy, or sweet flavored water (pani). And one thing I look forward to is to test the indian food out in Denmark, because funny this is I didn’t actually use to eat Indian food in Denmark and I usually hate rice dishes, but after having tasted all the amazing food in India that has definitely changed.  

North Goa – Party town, crazy life 

And then we took a sleeper bus to north Goa, and this is a bumpy 9 hour ride with no toilet but in a bed but was honestly almost easier to fall asleep in 4 meter waves across the atlantic, maybe just me being more used to sailing though. But we made it and checked into our hostel, Dreams, in Arambol, North Goa, the home of psy trance parties so naturally our days was more from afternoon to morning. Our days would be waking up, go to the common area outside our dorm rooms and waking up with hangovers waiting for the first one to initiate the first beer of the day and then more and more people would join and more and more beers or old monk (the indian rum) would be consumed, with all respect of cause. (Drink responsibly guys). Then we would go to mango three bar, to meet more people and find some food, my favorite food snack what chicken 65, so good and for more food, paneer butter masala with cheese/garlic chapati, roti or naan bread, yum yum yum. And I ate a lot of raw onion and lime as this you got for every meal to manage the spiciness and also helps our westerns to not get a bad case of stomachaches.  

South Goa – Volunteer, Jungle living, Canacona, Kochi, Munnar, Indian train and Christmas

After a week of partying it was time to move on, time to go to South Goa. So I found a volunteer job on a Farm and stay in Sadolxem, Canacona, South Goa. A Yoga retreat in the middle of the jungle just 15 minutes drive from the town Canacona. Here I stayed for 3 weeks over Christmas, where I helped preparing the huts for people to stay and feel the same bliss of paradise we felt staying there and making art work, smashing down an old clay sofa to rebuild and make the place Nice again. I also got to help in the Indian kitchen as we had to make our food, so I would be blending everything that I was told to blend and then 2 hours later we would all meet up and eat together sitting on the bar table, very chill. In the day time we would cool down at the river, and at night we would well still be by the river but we would make a fire and sing and chill. And when we needed to get into society we took a bike taxi and would enjoy the beach there. 

While staying here I took a weekend trip with a 14 hours train ride from Canacona, South Goa to Kochi, Kerala in 3rd class. I have done long trips much like this but in Europe, which is much more spacey than Indian trains, where personnel space is not a thing, and you have feet everywhere, which for me is a struggle, cause I hate feels in my face and guys touching me randomly when they walk by because i’m white and being white in India is like being famous. But when you take this out of your mind, life in this train is a fun experience and for me a must when in India, so much is happening, some sleep, some eat, some laugh and play songs, because not many uses headphones no no that is insta reels on loud, so I finally got upgraded to second class, not knowing I could do that in the train by talking with the conductor and got my own bed to get at least 6 hours of sleep before landing in Kochi, with the frase “chicken biryani, veg biryani” in an Indian accent, oh what fun.    

In Kochi I met up with a local from Couchsurfer and we went to Munnar the land tea and saw some waterfalls, but no elephants and because of the election, lots of people on the street with music and statements to share but no alcohol anywhere because in Asia you can’t drink and vote, apparently they want you to make sure you make a sober decision. And for my Kochi trip I took a tuktuk around town, where I saw an old school washing place still in use, a place where the washing machine is a person standing in a booth with a bath and slamming the clothes and bedding onto a block, drying the clothes outside and then ironing with heavy irons. Very interesting to see and honestly I think the guy washing had fun doing it, gave me a little extra show for the camera. And then I went around a saw all the different churches and temples, because in india and especially Goa and Kerala, there is a lot of different believes as the dutch, Portuguese and british and other where there because it was a good trading route, which is also why going to south India or more specific Goa or Kerala is a good way to transition into the Asian lifestyle from Europe or USA as there is more restaurants and such for where you get cutlery and you can get western food, which is what they in india call Fine dining. But if you ask me this is not what I want, I want authentic, local and new.     

For Christmas we went and got Lebanese food after seeing the sunset from the hillside with a lot of other people, each having brought different instruments with them to play, one brought drums, one a trumpet. So an amazing chill vibe for the sun to come down to a perfect Christmas night. And then my days in India was about to end and I started saying goodbye to all things India and all the amazing people I was staying with here for it is time for new adventures, meeting up with friends from Copenhagen in Sri Lanka to celebrate New year.  

Tromsø, Paris of the North. Got its name back in the late 1800s, because the women would adabt the latest fashion trends from Paris, and it also reflects on the city’s sophisticated atmosphere, rich cultural life and cosmopolitan vibe, Today the nickname evokes its charm, but also its significance as an important cultural and trade hub in Northern Norway. And lots of beaytiful nature.

The citycentre contains the highest number of wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest dating from 1789. also historically if a house is red (ochre-based), being cheapest is for poor farmers and fishermen, Yellow houses (more ochre) for middle class and white (zink-based) being the most expensive for the wealthy. Today vibrant colours are used more for traditions and aesthetics. And now these colours are a cherised aspect of Norwegian architectual heritage.

The port to the arctic ocean, a mosaic port symbolizing the gateway to the arctic oceans. Unveiled in 2024 and is a great place for photo opportunity with views of the arctic cathedral. It has a meaningful local connections.

Sommarøy, A small Island in the Tromsø county, where they dont use the 24 hour clock, as we know it because in winter time they hardly have any sun and in summer time sun is barely away as Sommarøy is north from the arctic cicle line. Meaning in summer time the sun is continously above the horizon for 24 hours (also called “Midnight sun”) and in winther time it will be below the horizon, this also means that in winter time you have great chances of catching the northern lights and what an experience that is, so I packed my tent and hammock, though very happy I had my tent, as the island is light on trees and come winter time high on wind and the tent brings me closer to nature, to experience the wonders of the northern lights while on a budget.

Camping, So in Norway you can camp where ever, as long as you are 150M away from private grounds, and dont litter. So this means if you dont mind sleeping in nature or have a campervan it is a good way to keep your budget low. If how ever you have plenty of money I loves luxury such as showers, and toilets I dont know some people like that, there is a 4 star hotel that is pretty nice, but dont ask me about that, Im a nature lover and a low budget traveler i would much rather spent less on sleeping and more on experiences and such.

Hiking, to the top of Hillesøy (A mild 183m and 1,6km to the top). It was a great little hike and very interesting with the ice, and lets just say im happy there was a robe to clam to. Took me around 1h and 30m with stops to enjoy the view. A hike where I used my arms just as much especially down, as we rappelled down some of the big slippery rocks. Getting to the local restaurant after, I was feeling fine a little sore but not too bad.

Aurora Borealis, Photo dump of a few of the many pictures I took of the lights. It was truely a magical moment to witness, I felt so energized and elated, it was so amazing and way better than I ever imagine and to experience it on my first night getting here, I had litterally just put up my tent just a few hours before. The feeling of the right time and right place, luck and being blessed comes to mind. Tuesday I caught one more big beautyful show, in a starry night with no clouds so also very cold night i guess that is the price we pay to get the beautiful sky.

Boat Cruise, So I actually just found this boat to sleep on where price wasnt to much and breakfast was included turned out a boat cruise was also included + coffee and tea, so lucky accident. And a very nice trip arround tromsø area seen from the water side, with people who want you to have a great time in Tromsø and will help you to not spent too much on overprised tours and such, so this is a 10/10 recommend from me, Norwegian Fjord Explorar Line. And if you are only interested in the boat tour you dont have to stay overnight, they have 3 tours per day (the night one can be cancelled if weather is bad as this is a Nothern Lights tour). And for the people that like a little green project, they harvest seaweed that destroy Co2 and make healthy energy drinks from the remainings with natural vitamins protecting you immune defence, and the remainings of the remainings will be destilled into bio fuel to run the boat. And the energy drink taste good. Lastly the boat is the main scene for an international explorer TV series running in 20 countries, OPPDRAG NORD NORGE.

The budget: So I flew to Tromsø with SAS, with Points so I only paid the obligatory taxes, fees and other charges what ever that is in a corporate world, 266DKK, then 1h 45m busride from Tromsø. Just 30DKK one way. For my homebound ticket, I bought a planeticket for 770DKK, which is just wild that its that cheap to fly, I started looking at train tickets, but going that great a distance became easily 1000DKK and that was only to stockholm, then from stockholm an additional 500DKK, so planeticket it is, sorry earth im on a budget.

Public transportation, However driving around with buses in tromsø area is cheap and can easily be bought on the norwegian Svipper app, which can be used for all of Norway’s public buses, no need to signup just use it anomously. Also a quick note I went to tromsø citycentre to meet up with some acquintances, but the bus to Sommaroy comes by the airport so you dont have to come into Tromsø city centre. And all tickets in Tromsø area cost 30DKK and is valid for around 1h 30minutes.

Pocket money, Norway is not cheap. Just to give you the gist of what it could cost, I paid for a moose burger and a can of beer, 204,42DKK at the local restaurant. However the supermarket is just up the road from the restaurant, where you can get everything, for a fraction of the price, I brought for at least 2 maybe 3 days worth of food (I dont eat that much generally) for 186,21DKK. So it is much better to go to a supermarket and buy the meat there and then cook it yourself at home, the whale meat, moose meat or reindeer meet is especially something to try here and can become a delicious meal. Fried on a pan and cooked potatos on the side with some sauce and then you have youself a nice norwegian meal without breaking the bank.

saturday means night out, Lets check out the Tromsø Night life, a lot of live music going on. its like anyother city night life, they have nightclubs, pubs and bars and it is expensive so the young people start at home drinking before going out around 23-24.

Hostel, I have one night in a boat, Norwegian Fjord Explorer Line, with breakfast and a sailing trip around Tromsø, 481,46DKK and a night at Tromsø activities hostel, which is 316,82DKK for a night. Which is cheap for a hostel/hotel room here, but not uncommon. normal prices are between 300-600DKK per night.

So in conclusion, Norway is very expensive and therefore very difficult to keep the budget low, not a lot of couchsurfers here either so make sure to have you stay planned as these will be the most expensive ones if you are looking to be in town and not out camping in the woods. But it is so worth it to catch the northern Lights, but dont need more that a week here to see it all.

Travelling in 2024

Not much travelling if you ask me though did go to Dublin in February for my friend’s birthday just for weekend so mostly party and meet ups with old friends from my dublin days, I April to Faro, Portugal with my family to celebrate my dad (seems like im just using any birthdays as an excuse for traveling) But great non the less my dad paid this and we had an amazing time, I showed them a little around as it was my 3rd time there, We had rented a big house with a billard pool by the pool and ocean view, two cars (we were 6 adults), the young car was a cabriolet. We saw the famous sunset from the southest place in europe with like 50-100 other people (I didnt count but a lot), was amazing 10/10 do it.

In June I went interrailing to Amsterdam, where I met some amazing people at “Worst hostel in the world”, tough honestly not that bad but after sitting at the owners table and talking with them I got book about their marketing about being the worst. Then I went out when 2 guys who were also staying at that hostel, and visited the coffee shop and walked to the red light district where we found a stripclup and the rest you might if you have been there if not all I can say is go have fun and be openminded I of cause also went to the rijks museum and Hard rock for a glass to my sister and also went to rotterdam to see the food market. But still have lots to see in Holland.

I had a day in Brussels, Belgium to visit a chocolate factory and the peeing boy statue. Important stuff right. And then a walking tour arround town with brussel stories in my ears, and then on to Paris to watch Denmark against slovenia, and when the game ended I went on to Cannes, the reason for my trip. The student trip, Festival of Creativity. Opening party on the beach and the RTL beach, next day, Party on a yacht then RTL beach party ending at the corner bar all free party I might add. Then danish meet up at 10am with no sleep, going to a pool party with the swedish actress community celebrating a little swedish midsummer. Then Denmark played against England so met up with all the danes at a penthouse with a view over the harbour amazing view and that one goal Denmark could be heard all over Cannes. Final dinner with my class and end party after, ending with a full day of sleeping.

But my vacation wasnt over, I went to Monaco very tired and quickly on to pisa, where I had a few days to walk around here and watch the famous leaning tower you know it the one you need to push back into place, before heading to florence, for a little last minute sightseeing and then home in a very long train ride.

After Living and working in Dublin I can also conclude that the housing in Dublin is expensive, and if you have a reason to move there be prepared for the cost and difficulties of finding a place is all im saying, though i think that as a Nordic person, it is only for the experience and adventure of it all as the salary is generally very low compared to Denmark, Sweden and Norway, this is at least my experience and might be different if you find a job with more responsibilities and higher up in the chain of work.  

But it is not all work and negativity, the people there are super nice and i loved how they say thank you, in buses especially. 

So I will definitely go back to visit the people that I met, and see some more Irish nature and history. It is a great place for people who love hiking and have yet to visit the Giant Causeway and hike Ireland’s highest mountain which I only just walked near to because of my limited time in Killarney.   

Working and living in Dublin has also giving me a better sense of who I am and what I need to work on, which is why this experience has been one I couldn’t be without with all the bad and the good.

Kilkenny, Bray, Killarney, Howth and Galway

Killarney so while in Ireland I visited a few places, all had their charm. I absolutely fell in love with Killarney, the home of Ireland’s biggest saltwater lake and also their highest mountain. The small town charm with lots of cute eating places to find you dinner, lunch or maybe just a coffee or tea for a little from all the exploring you will be doing there.

Bray, the first place I visited its about 20 minutes outside of Dublin by train and went there to meet up with a bunch of CouchSurfers for a festival on the beach. Wasn’t there for long but had a great time.

Kilkenny was one of the first places I visited whilst there, it is famous for its medieval building and castle. It is also known as “Marble City”. I took the tourist bus taking me to the original Hollywood, the birthplace for the Hollywood we know in LA. We also visited the nation park in Glendalough, with the ruins of the monasterio de San Kevin. Here you can also spend a good day walking around the lake. We then found our way to Galway to see the famous cliffs of moher and then I got dinner in town before heading back to Dublin.

Howth the end station, 2 stops from where I ended up living for the majority of my time over there. There is a nice hike up the hill where you can get a view over Dublin and the ocean.

So thank you Ireland for the great experience and hope to see more of what I found that Ireland can offer.

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and throughout its modern history it has been a major commercial and industrial centre. Also the place where titanic was designed, build and launched.

When there I recommend to try the market first as it isn’t open for that long, it’s a great place to find your lunch and a lot of great stuff to browse through so watch out you might some money here.

After we went to take a black cap to learn some of Belfast history (told from the Catholics side) but a very good time and they also go through the Protestant side so you can see it but in a more drive through way. And just go to the tourist office near the city hall, as some of the offers on the internet is not to be trusted.

The city’s history have occasionally seen conflicts between different political fractions who favor different political arrangement between Ireland and Great Britain. Since Good Friday (Lang Fredag in Denmark) agreement on April 10th 1998, the city has been relatively peaceful and major redevelopment has occurred. It ended most of the violence of the troubles and ethno-nationalist conflict that has been happening since the late 1960s.

It is a wild story, and our guy spoke things like being imprisoned like it’s life which it was, luckily not so much anymore. Now he spoke with a very Irish accent which was great for the authentic of it but a bit difficult to understand. But we saw the freedom wall, the Murial and visited a museum where we saw a little of how was, how people snuck in cameras and newspapers.

After we went to the city hall but it was about to close so browsed trough pretty quick but had a very nice interior and then lastly Victoria square to see the view from top, this also gave us and idea of why all the souvenirs had two yellow cranes on them.

We didn’t get to see the titanic museum, which wasn’t high on the list as none of us was that big fans of the film I mean it was nice an all but very mainstream. And then you can also kiss a big fish statue thingy which is near the museum, and is supposed to give you wisdom, it is also called the salmon of knowledge and is based on the story “the boyhood deeds of Fionn.” About a fish that ate some hazelnuts that had fallen into the well of wisdom, and gained all the knowledge in the world. According to the tale, first person to eat the fish would inherit all of its knowledge. It was constructed in 1999 to celebrate the return of the fish to the river Lagan.

And that was my first trip to Belfast, a great trip with no expectations as we planned it a day before and ended up going with my at that time Danish colleague who were going back to Denmark to study.

And bonus it’s summer down there in February and generally much better weather that here in Ireland, sorry. And another fact when traveling there, the plane ticket might be a bit spicy at very long but hey it’s to the other side of the globe, but it is super cheap everywhere especially for people living in north Europe. 

Roodepoort 

So I was based for the first week at my friends house in Roodepoort a city in Jo burg. And first thing I noticed driving from the airport was how black people were walking on the side of the highway and crossing, now this is something I never see in Denmark except if extreme situations, but down there completely normal no one bats an eye.

A good idea for your trip rent a car or travel with a tourist group, as public transportation sucks. There is a train going from Jo burg airport to mid town Jo burg but if you want to see the city, go to Pretoria (one of South Africa’s capital cities) by car. You can take Ubers but price for renting a car would be cheaper in the long term. 

I also went hiking on the geological trail at the botanical garden here in Jo burg, a 3,5 km walk to the view over Witwatersrand and a waterfall at the beginning of the trail. In the garden you can enjoy a picnic or go to the restaurant. 

I visiting the very big casino, Monte casino, where you can win or loose your money at the game area, or if you have kids go to the arcade or watch at movie at the cinema and then find some food at one of the many restaurants around. It is like a city in a building, very beautiful.

We went bowling, without shoes, weird. But in their defense it was at a bowling center where pro come train and bring their own equipment. And then a night out in the local area, a very nice trip getting to see where my friend grew up. 

Pretoria

In Pretoria we saw the Voortrekker monument and the union building where a statue of Nelson Mandela stands

On May 10th 1994 with a crowd of 100.000 people, the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president after the end of apartheid, and his vice-presidents Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk heralded the beginning of a new era in South Africa

After seeing the views here and saying hello to the nelson Mandela stature, we went to explore the Voortrekker monument. And people that walked from Cape Town to Pretoria for a very long time and with wagons fighting with the Zulu’s. It is an wild story showed amazingly on the walls as a timeline and in the basement you can go see more artwork about the journey they had to take

Cape Town 

I then flew to Cape Town, where I had 3 days of exploring, table mountains, cape of good hope, penguins and a day driving around town

1 day I spent hiking the table mountains, a 1000m climb on a stairway made of rocks (surprise). On the top there is a big national park where you can walk a bit higher and enjoy the views all around Cape Town. And a restaurant/bar. 

For those of you who don’t like climbing you can take the cable car both ways or one way if you just want to hike one of the ways

I then went with the hop on hop off tour bus to see and hike the cape of good hope and see the penguins, very cute animals but watch out they bite (didn’t test it just trust the guides). At the cape of good hope a baboon was walking around, who by the way does like to steal your food. I walked to the light house and enjoyed the views of the two biggest oceans meeting while getting some very clean Antarctic air. And then walked to the other point seeing some ostriches on the way and lastly the seals. 

And my last day there I took a chill time just driving around with the hop on hop off route buses and getting some stories and saying more of Cape Town. It drove by a very nice fishing theme restaurant, the mariners, where they had great service and food. And then to the beach and hotel area where I enjoyed a hurricane at the hard rock (had to buy the glass, I mean). 

For traveling around in Cape Town I do recommend using the hop on hop off buses as you get around, and hear some great stories about the place. There is also a wine tour that I didn’t have time for. It is also a cheaper way to see Cape Town. 

Finally I also recommend the long street backpackers hostel, it is cheap, close to every and with a great atmosphere to meet new people. If you want to go for a more luxurious time the Nelson Mandela hotel. But no matter what hotel you choose i am sure you will have the best time here and I will definitely go back

I have learned a lot and it’s been great to be back on Crete after 20 years rehashing some of the memories. Crete is a Mecca for nature lovers, hikers and historians. And though I don’t get to walk the Samaria Gorge as it’s closed, I hope to walk Imvros gorge and I’ve seen the old town of Rethymnon and Chania. Learned some Greek, tasted lots of Greek food and wine.

Looking forward to see what is next for me.

Dagene går lidt ind i sig selv og vi opholder os mest bare på og omkring bådene, besøger nykommende både på dinghy’er og sup boards og snorkler rundt for at se på skildpadder og vrag som ligger lige under bådene. Og havde det ikke været for julelysene og julesangene kan man godt glemme lidt at det snart er jul, men for en som mig der hader kulde er det så skønt at ligge og tage sol på sup’en eller sidder på stranden og nyde udsigten.

Og så har vi været på rum destillery, st. Nickolas Abbey. Hvor vi var rundt på deres 400 hk med lokomotiv, efterfulgt af en smagning af deres 5 års rum. Det er en ret vild, og lang historie der starter med 2 naboer der ender med at den ene bliver forgiftet.

At finde et sted og få drinks og feste er ikke altid nemt, har 2 gange gået op og ned af stranden ved Carlisle Bay uden at kunne finde andet end lokale barer hvor man kun kan købe Banks, den lokale øl og servicen er ikke ret hurtig her, fra man bestiller mad til man får der går der snildt 1,5 time, men så kan man jo bare få en øl mere som en af dem så fint sagde. Vi har så tilgengæld haft bedre held med at holde privatfester med besøg fra nabo bådene, hvor der bliver drukket masser rumpunch og øl.

Vi har ikke været så meget på land, prøvede igår at tage ind på strandbar men alt var lukket, fandt til sidst en meget lokal low key strandbar hvor jeg fik en rumpunch, som er deres signature drink. Vi får også drukket en masse af deres signature øl, Banks. Nu siger jeg jeg masse slap af alt med måde :). Vi har bestemt os for at vasketøj i spanden ombord da de nærmeste møntvaskerier er små 2 km væk.

Befolkningen hernede er super venlige og vil meget gerne vise os rundt til de lokale supermarkeder, og de rigtige steder at gå på bar. For luck og better word hash er basically legalt så det kan lugtes på de fleste barer. Og der er fuldt maskepåbud på gaden også, og man får målt sin temperatur hver gang man går ind i en butik.

Idag skal jeg ud og se om jeg kan få se lidt mere af øen, den er 30km bred og 50km lang, så det er en lille ø.

Vi er blevet en god stor dansker Camp der ligger for Anker, samme sted hvor vi besøger hinanden med dinghyen og hygger med dykning, snorkling og masser badning. Vandet er gigant varmt hele dagen det er så luksus. Og vi har de smukkeste solnedgange. Vi har også fået hørt lidt historier fra de andres ture over atlanten, som har lydt ret meget vildere end vores tur, men langt mere ødelagt og noget der bare måtte repareres i 3-4 meter høje bølger. Flere har mistet sprutter på grund af fiskeri.

Vi er 6 voksne ombord og 2 børn. skipper: Jakob, admiralen, Pia og deres sønner Benjamin og Marlon. Familien der ejer båden og er på vej rundt om jorden. Også er der Anders, far til Sigrid og Christian Sigrids kæreste. Og sidste men ikke mindst Mig.

Dag 1: afrejsedagen

Dagen hvor alle både skulle afsted, for at ramme den berygtede pasatvind. Hele dagen forinden blev brugt på rengøring og oprydning af båden, en nat i havnen for at fylde diesel og vandtank og en afsluttende middag på marinebaren.

Vi kom afsted ud af havnen 11.30, ikke uden at fylde op på øl selvom vi måtte give 1€ pr øl, men i tilfælde af at vi skal i karantæne på båden når vi ankommer til Barbados måtte vi sikre os et fyldt barskab. Og inden vi kom helt ud af Bugten måtte halvdelen af besætning inklusiv mig også lige hoppe i baljen inden bølgerne blev for høje. En dejlig forfriskende bad at ligge sejladsen ud med.

Første måltid var frokosten som bestod af en tunsalat lavet aften forinden og et stykke pitabrød og aftenmåltidet pasta kødsovs med kødsovs også lavet forinden. Og kogt vand fra havet for at spare på vandet og strømmen, det smagte udemærket med naturligt salt.

Nattevagten gik nemt med vindror og selvom der var både omkring os vi de langt nok væk til at det ikke betød noget og er alle på vej samme vej.

Dag 2: hvaler i sigte?

Man skal lige vende sig til at det gynger godt i båden, og at lave frokost er ikke lige noget man gør, men vi fik lavet nogle fine madder med tun og makrel (på dåse, vi har kun fanget en plastikpose). Og nogle små tortilla pizzaer med tomat, hvidløg og ost. Mums! Til aftensmad fik vi ris med chili con carne, men først var der hvaler i sigte, fra cockpittet så alle stoppet alt hvad de havde gang i og så stod vi og kiggede efter hvaler, vi tror måske det var spækhuggere, men de var lige langt nok væk og for høje bølger til at man rigtig kunne se dem så vi håber på at spotte nogle tættere på.

Ellers er der Idag blevet hygget med lydbøger og film og så blev der lavet den lækreste chokoladekage, sådan en rigtig snasket en og der er lavet ekstra til nattevagten, mums! En af gasterne fik ramt en knap der satte en alarm igang igen og igen og igen uden at der er nogle farer. Vindroret kører stadig, med en lille vindændring på et par grader mod vest, og vi sejler altså stadig med agten for tværs. Også er der kommet mere afstand fra bådene herude, men vi kan stadig se nogle af dem på radaren.

Dag 3: 1. Advent og det betyder risengrød

Så blev det den 1. Advent, og fra min side en træt en vågnede sent, 10.30 og fik startet med en kop kaffe og kom op på dæk til at det var tid til at ændre kurs og sejl, fra agten for tværs til lens med genua og fork ude til hver side af båden og så er det bare en 9-10 dage med denne sejlads med kurs mere eller mindre direkte mod Barbados. Efter sejlet var sat, var det tid til frokost et par rugbrødsmadder med leverpostej og makrel, samt lidt rester fra igår. Det var min tur til at tage opvasken, den bliver taget i spande på dæk med havvand og et hurtigt skyl ferskvand for at spare lidt på ferskvandet ombord. Der er sar madplan op hvor vi skiftevis laver mad og tager opvasken, laver man mad tager man ikke opvasken og omvendt også er vi 2 og 2 pr opgave.

Også kunne jeg tage ror vagten mens drengene og deres far gik ned og spillede Playstation, og de andre lavede lidt træning på dæk. Også var det ellers tid til et bad, en af gangen med en spand havvand på badedækket bagtil.

Til snack har vi idag havregrynskugler og i dagens anledning risengrød til aftensmad.

Dag 4: Mandag er nu ikke så slemme

Mandage er nu ikke så slemme når de bliver holdt på en båd på vej sydpå. Idag har jeg sovet længe og stået op til rorvagt, frokost og lidt opvask, hvor de tidligere på dagen måtte kæmpe med endnu en blue marvin som desværre også vandt og neglede en sprutte mere.

Ellers en stille dag med afslapning og solbadning. Vi fik os en snak over vhf radioen med en forbipasserende skonnert der skulle til Skt Lucia sammen med Arken kapsejladsen, de havde lidt mere held med at få fange fisk end os. Aftensmaden bestod af ris og thai gryde med kød og grønt, super lækkert.

Vi har nu tilbagelagt 600 sømil, med en gennemsnitsfart på vil jeg sige 8-9 knob og 3 meter bølger lige i hælende på os der er fede og ride på, men får også båden til at gynge ekstremt meget så det er lidt svært og falde ordentligt i søvn når man ruller rundt i køjen.

Dag 5: mahi mahi og regn

Jeg stod op 10.30 da jeg blev for træt af at hoppe rundt i sengen, og kom ud til nyheden af de andre havde fanget en lille mahi mahi på 3kg så aftensmad og en lille snack til imorgen var reddet, Wuhu.

Min rorvagt startede 11-13 og jeg fik min kaffe mens jeg holdt øje med at vi sejlede den rigtige kurs og ikke sejlede ind i nogle, da vi efter frokost og lige inden min rorvagt sluttede fik endnu en mahi mahi på krogen, det blev en brag kamp mennesket mod fisken og 7 minutter senere havde vi en 6 kg mahi mahi fisk liggende på dækket endnu større end den første ja faktisk så stor at Benjamin, den mindste ombord var ligeså høj som fisken, mums så er der lækker fisk til aften, frokost og endnu en aften.

Vi sejlede forbi nogle regnbyger, så vidt muligt imellem dem så vi hare kunne følge regnen og kigge på det udefra, men man kan ikke sejle så tæt på den slags vejr uden at få lidt dråber selv og vinden blev også lidt sjov af det så der er blevet rebet og afrebet sejl hele dagen, så sker der da også lidt. Min rorvagt fra 23-01 blev specielt spændende da vi blev forfulgt af en stor byge der satte vindhastigheden op på 13-14m/s. Og et vimdror der ikke helt kunne følge med så den røg ud og man måtte styre båden tilbage på kursen.

Dag 6: 1. December og de skide sværdfisk

Første låge i min exit julekalender åbnes og gåderne ud af grotten er igang. Idag har været en lidt sløv dag for alle ombord med lidt forskellige skavanker der er stadig lidt søsyge ombord, men bølgerne er også høje og vi glæder os til at de bliver mindre fra idag af.

Vi havde en sværdfisk på krogen i formiddags, men den skulle i hvert fald ikke med ombord så rev sig ret hurtigt fri med halvdelen af linen og en sprutte, nu 2 mistet sprutter på sværdfiskene. Vi har næsten fået spist vores 9kg mahi mahi fisk med stor fornøjelse. Også så vi delfiner til aftensmaden.

Og når ja så er Nissen flyttet ind under trappen, der er lidt af en drillenisse. Den er dog måske blevet ramt lidt af nautisk ubehag så har ikke været så meget på spil endnu.

Dag 7: Point of no return og nautisk ubehag hos de sejlende

Så nåede vi midtvejs og kan nu begynde og tælle ned på dagene på søen, bølgerne bliver mindre og det tror jeg nogle er meget glad for da der er lidt nautisk ubehag tilbage hos de fleste ombord. Jeg ligger med de værste mens smerter og har det mest bare hårdt over det så skal måske ikke klage.

Vi er ved at have fået spist det sidste mahi mahi fisk vi fangede i starten af ugen og der bliver spist mindre, men stadig ligeså lækkert mad som normalt. Så mistede vi bådens ynglings sprutte marlon Rouge og sætter antal mistede sprutter på 3, plus en mistet fiskestang. Det begynder at være nogle dyre fisk vi fanger, men giver en god spænding til dagen.

Dag 8: pagne fest og chicken Masala

Jeg fik lidt vand fra en bølge på min rorvagt natten forinden. Da båden i en dønning skiftede kurs, af en lidt uforklarlig grund, som jeg gætter på er at vinden hoppede da vindroret stadig var på, men jeg fik os tilbage på kursen og alt var godt. Lidt vådt men tilbage på kursen.

Så er alle tilbage på benene, og vi kunne fejre at vi kom halvvejs igår, med pagne fest og chicken masala, der gik rent ind efter mange dage med mahi mahi, var kylling og en god cremet sovs en god ret. Idag har næsten alle også været i bad og jeg måtte ofre min hårbørste til de store havguder, mon Ariel bliver glad for den? ;p

Vi har erfaret at havvandet måske nu alligevel er en tand for saltet til at bruge til at koge pasta og ris i, da vi ville lave en hurtig pasta salat med tun eftersom den tun vi havde fanget ikke var klar til servering og så har vi også erfaret at lave mad gerne tager dobbelt så langtid som der hjemme når der hele gynger og man hver gang man stiller noget fra sig skal finde er sted det ikke glider væk fra ved næste bølge. Vi når stille og roligt igennem exit julekalenderen uden hint tak og er startet med at se Krummernes jul med børnene.

Dagene går lidt ind i hinanden og jeg er begyndt at vende mig til at det gynger, dog ikke så vant til at kabyssen gynger sådan når jeg laver mad så det kan godt komme til at ligne det gale køkken lidt. Dagene for mig er planlagt omkring min rorvagt kl 11-13 og igen 23-01, men når man ikke har noget på programmet end at vi skal have noget mad på tidspunkt, så når vi det vi når og når vi det ikke idag så når vi det jo nok imorgen.

Også er det fra i morgen tidligt at vi når punktet at vi kan køre på motor hele vejen uden at løbe tør, ikke at udsigten siger vi har behov for motoren da der er fortsat god vind.

Dag 9: mere fangst!

Ligesom vi sad og spiste det sidste fisk vi havde kom der 2 mere fisk ind, en mahi mahi på 3kg og en barcuda på 5kg. Dette bringer vores totale fangst ind på 6 fisk, 4 mahi mahi, 1 tun og 1 barcuda og i alt 20,5kg fisk. Mums.

Vi har haft 31 grader idag og har hygget med solbadning, exit julekalender og fiskeri. Også fik vi en lille snak med en over vhf’en der lå et par sømil fra os, og på vej mod Skt Lucia. vi har nu ca en 4. Del tilbage og jeg er blevet godt og grundigt detoxet fra telefonen og de sociale medier, den bliver kun brugt som kamera og den er nu begyndt at brokke sig over pladsen.

Vi kan mærke at der er lyst længere tid om aften og omvendt om morgenen, da vi stadig kører på Cap verde tid indtil vi får net på telefonerne, og de kan begynde og fucke med vores hjerner.

Jeg er spækket med oplevelser og ved næsten ikke hvor jeg skal starte når skal beskrive om turen. At sidde og kigge udover havet og følge bølgernes gang er noget af det bedste og mest terapeutiske at gøre, tid bliver tabt og ting bliver tænkt igennem. Og med flyvefiskene flyvende i overfladen er smukt og idynisk at følge, sjovt når de kommer ind og båden og man finder dem liggende på dækket morgenen efter, en af børnene oplevede at vågne op efter at en flyvefisk næsten ramte ham en nat han fik lov og sove i cockpittet.

Dag 10: elektrolyter og kaffe er min ven

Vi har sejlet 1675sømil nu og har omkring en 400sømil tilbage. Vi sejler omkring 150 sømil i døgnet, så der er en 2-3 dages sejlads tilbage.

Vi havde i nat en forfærdeligt masse regn og sjove byger så der blev åbnet og lukket luger hele natten fordi det stadig er pænt varmt. Og så har vi indstillet fiskeriet lidt mens vi får spist det fisk vi har fanget, da vi ikke helt kan følge med. Vi følger også de danske både på vej til Barbados og kan konstatere at der er nogle både der har ødelagt mere end os, men listen over ting der skal shoppes og laves på båden bliver nu lang på sådan en tur.

I andledningen af 2. Advent har vi fået banansmoothies, havregrynskugler og julekonfekt til eftermiddagssnack. Mums. Og til aftensmad får vi fish’n’chips med vores frisk fanget barcuda fisk. Også har Nissen været forbi mælken, og farve den blå, ikke godt for en træt mig der vågnede til rorvagt og skulle bruge mælk til kaffen men ikke kunne finde havremælken i køleskabet, når nu drilleriet er indstillet til børnene.

Dag 11: kursændringen

Så kom vi tæt nok på Barbados til at skære op på agten for tværs, med 300-350 sømil tilbage.

Natsejladsen var ligetil i nat og jeg faldt hurtigt i søvn. Og vi har idag haft masser sol, og læsning på dæk og vi glæder os til at komme hjem og matche hud med vores blege venner xD vi fik spagetti carbonara til aftensmad og så kom delfinerne på besøg til lidt show, sammen med utallige flyvefisk der slog smut med sig selv i havoverfladen utroligt skøn udsigt. Til snack er der lavet lækker snasket chokoladekage og så var der stadig havregrynskugler og julekonfetti tilbage fra igår. Mums.

Et spil catan med den ældste søn og hans far, vundet af mig. Og så op til en fisk på krogen lige inden krogen blev taget ud af vandet, en lille mahi mahi med masser kampgejst og en lidt skuffet fisker efter kampen. Men en fisk er en fisk og vi glæder os til at spise den. Også er jeg gået igang med at læse fifty shades of Grey igen da jeg har fået set og hørt alt andet jeg har hentet til offline brug.

Det er ret vildt at jeg kan sidde i shorts og bikini top, som jeg har gjort hele turen, dog har jeg lige en lille trøje eller jakke på til nattevagterne da der nogle nætter har været nogle regnbyger forbi, men man man kan mærke den varme vind. Og at ligge og kigge op på stjernerne der et vil syn, der er mange tusinder stjerne man aldrig kan se inde ved byerne, elsker det.

Dag 12: Sidste dag på vandet

Så har vi Barbados indenfor rækkevidde, og rammer målet imorgen formiddag. Og vi forbereder os til landgang med rød neglelak og så skal vores røde shorts også findes frem, spændende.

Vi har heller ikke mere grønt tilbage, men masser kød og løg til aftensmad fik vi mexi mad, tortilla med kød, kål, quakamole og Jalas. Og til frokost egg fry Rice, standard frokosten her ombord, også var der igen delfinshow til aften.

Det er lidt vildt at tænke på at vi de sidste par dage ikke på noget tidspunkt og nu så tæt på at være fremme stadig ikke kan se land og bliver lidt sjovt at komme på land efter så lang tid med grund der hele tiden bevæger sig.

Dag 13: Ankomst!

Vi noget frem og brugte dagen i havn med røde shorts, øl og lakrids piber, mens vi ventede på myndighederne så vi kunne blive testet og checket ind på øen. Virak fra Frederikssund lå ved siden af os og kom ind lige efter os.

Vi har sejlet turen på 12 dage minus 50 minutter. Ialt 2162 sømil med en gennemsnits fart på 7,5 knob.