Author Archives: Ina´s Sabbatical

About Ina´s Sabbatical

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Living the biggest Adventure of my Life

Bye Elephants!

Time is running too fast! I’m already leaving Chiang Mai. It was an amazing experience. 
The city is really awesome; so clean and beautiful with its temples, markets, food stand on the streets and their people. I spent the weekends in this city and during the week I’ve stayed at the Maetaman Elephant Camp volunteering for and with my elephant lady Natalie and her mahout Dolo. Elephants are so big, smart, cute, funny and playful animals – you have to love them. All the elephants (about 70) at the camp are really happy and well treated. I had to bath them twice a day, sell bananas and sugarcanes during the shows, as well as the elephant paintings ( just ‘google’Hong, the elephant who became very famous because of her beautiful paintings. Hong is part of this camp), make elephant poop paper, help in the kitchen, cut banana trees (elephants’ favorite snack) and give the elephants lots of hugs and love. 
In the city I have visit a cooking school, Tiger Kingdom, lots of Spas and the markets.
I really had a great time. 

 


Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

After almost three days spending over the clouds, I finally made it to Thailand. It’s absolutely amazing! I’ll do another volunteering this time with elephants at the Maetaman Elephant camp. This weekend we spent at the volunteer house in Chiang Mai and tomorrow we going to the camp to enjoy the elephants. This will be a great start for my two and half month stay in South East Asia.


Medio tiempo

Ya ha pasado medio año desde que arranqué mi aventura. La verdad se me hace una eternidad, ya que perdí la noción del tiempo. Hace exactamente seis meses también me encontraba en el aeropuerto de JFK para abordar mi vuelo a la India. Esta vez abordaré el vuelo a Tailandia. Muchos me han preguntado que cual país y/o sitio ha sido hasta ahora mi favorito. La verdad no tengo respuesta, ya que cada destino tuvo su encanto: India y su encanto espiritual, los colores da la ciudad vieja de Cartagena, Machu Picchu un lugar impactante rodeado por los Andes, lo chic en Paris, los leones en Zambia, los vinos y los tiburones en Sudafrica, los elefantes en Botswana, los paisajes en Kenia, los safaris en Tanzania, los monumentos en Washington y el mar en Providencia. Todo ha sido una maravilla. Realmente me siento muy afortunada en tener la oportunidad de poder conocer todos estos lugares tan espectaculares. Espero que los siguientes seis meses siguen iguales. que siga la aventura!


Providencia Island

This is a real paradise!! One of the most beautiful places in Colombia.
The idea was to get some more experience in diving before traveling to the most wonderful diving places around the world. Well, this island is amazing. The people, the food, the ocean… just everything. I rent a Scooter during my stay to explore each and every corner. But I have spent the whole time under the water. It was amazing! Diving with colorful fishes, sharks, stingrays in this clear water really was one of the best experiences ever! I did four dives a day and finally the Advanced Open Water. The bad thing: I lost my underwater camera with hundreds of pictures on the last day in the ocean. Well, a reason to come back! 
For those of you, who want to spend a relaxed vacation, with beautiful water, beaches, good food and much more… go to Providencia Island, you will love it!Bild

Washington DC

This was the time to visit the US Capital. It was amazing! Beautiful memorials, buildings, gardens, museums, views and so much more! Washington it’s a city for everybody, so interesting! If you are visiting this city for the first time, as I did, I really recommend to begin with the four different sightseeing tours on the Omnibuses (Hop on-Hop off). That’s the best way to get a first impression of this magnificent city. Then, just rent a bicycle and explore everything around the Washington Monument. A must see is the Capitol, you don’t need previous reservation to get the tickets. Don’t miss the museums and their different shows. For food and shopping trips I really enjoyed Georgetown. 
The only thing I can complain about, was the weather… hotter than Africa!! Nevertheless, it was a really nice trip.Image


5 meses

Como ha pasado el tiempo! Ya llevo cinco meses en el paraíso llamado Sabático😃.

Después de que fui ‘rechazada’ de Costa Rica, decidí pasar estas tres semanas en el campo colombiano, en la finca. Fue una delicia! Leer, piscina, cabalgatas, dormir, sol, naturaleza, vida de campo y mis perros. El jueves sigo con un city trip, despues a bucear, elefantes y mucho más. Así que seguirán las aventuras! 

P.D. Costa Rica me dará la bienvenida en enero!Bild


Bad luck!

This time I wasn’t lucky at all! Costa Rica and I shouldn’t come together. Nevertheless, who can say I flew to Costa Rica and came back home the same day?!
I couldn’t enter to San Jose, because my yellow fever vaccination was (supposed to be) expired. They just sent be back home with the next flight available. I really hated the attitude from the people at migration, zero helpful, arrogant and useless! As well the people at El Dorado Airport, as they requested my international certificate of vaccination and didn’t mentioned anything, absolutely a waste of time! 
Now, I got my third vaccination, which I have to wait 10 days in order to fly again. In other words: voilá Costa Rica. Let’s see what I’m gonna to do in the next three weeks, I thing I will spend some quality time with my dogs! Dog Volunteering :-).
NOTE: if you’ are traveling from a so called Amazonas Country (Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia) to Costa Rica, you absolutely need a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Revaccination against Yellow Fever!! Bild

Bye Bogotá!

Bye Bogotá!

My two and a half break is (finally) over. Now it’s time to continue my adventure. My next destination: Costa Rica, see you there :-).


Serengeti Park – Tanzania

Serengeti Park - Tanzania

Absolutamente mi favorito!!


Masai Women

Masai Women