Around this time ten years ago, I was unemployed and broke. My efforts, dreams, and ambitions of being a web developer came crashing down as I hit a number of consecutive let goes leaving me demotivated, depressed, helpless and of course, with not much money. However, in that dark time and chaos, I decided I needed a break and to take a trip. Yet with the little money I had, I had to make do with my means if I wanted to do any kind of international trip.
My choice: The Bahamas
Why The Bahamas?
With only a few hundred to spare (which I was grateful to even have), the Bahamas was the perfect choice for me. Even though hoards of Americans flock to this country, it was the most conveniently close country to where I was at the time, New York. (Bermuda doesn’t count as itʻs not a country. Hush, itʻs actually really expensive).
While I could have easily done a cheaper excursion to more affordable places like the Dominican Republic from New York, The Bahamas at the time was actually up on my list of places to see next being that I had lived in Florida prior to New York. But the real reason I chose Bahamas was…
Rose Island: A Literal Slice of Paradise
Because I donʻt like cruises, I actually flew into the capital island of Nassau. But it wasnʻt Nassau island I was drooling over. I did all I could to visit the nearby ROSE ISLAND, the true highlight of the trip.
–> We took the Sandy Toes Full Day Tour and was absolutely worth it.
–> There is also the Half day tour which is a couple of hours shorter to, your know, avoid sun burn like I had 😉
A narrow stretch of sand and blue sea that seemed like the best getaway and mind reset to figure out what I needed to do next in my life. The sacrifices I needed to be mindful of to be able to do what I loved most, TRAVELING. As easy of an excursion this was compared to what Iʻve done in recent years of travel, sometimes raw and rugged travel begins from innocent experiences like this.
Travel: I Do it MY WAY
Those cruises that come out of Miami harbor bound for The Bahamas seem so fun and convenient.
….Yea, I didn’t do that!
I actually flew into Nassau, hired a cab on the spot and stayed in a 3 star hotel on an off street. Not so much because of budget, but because I like to do things my way, a philosophy and style of travel that has remained the same over these years and I love it. Yet taking this leap into such an innocent trip gave me that chance to better understand that.
And as far as travel goes…turned out, only 4 years later things would turn itself around. And I would live that ultimate dream of so far traveling 39 + countries and then some around the world, living both in New Zealand & Hawai’i.
In the end…
Sometimes those small trips have the greatest impacts in our lives, and we donʻt even realize it til much later. Ten years later, I would not only be continuing to travel, but am officially retracing where I left off with my career and getting back into it.
Thank you Bahamas.
