Vacation Anyone?

[Bjun]

My last vacation was 10 months ago and I find myself daydreaming more and more of where I want to go and what I want to do once the pandemic is over. I can feel the exhaustion even when working from home.

Studies have shown that taking a vacation improves both our physical and mental health. Taking a break from our jobs may lower our stress, lessen the risk of heart disease, improve our outlook in life and motivate us to achieve our goals.

The good thing is that just planning a trip could help boost our mental health. Let’s take a virtual vacation: where would you go and/or what would you do if there is no pandemic?

[jcoppi29]

I'm already in a binge of virtual vacations through the many games I play that has nice sights, lots of running and jumping, and relaxing sounds -- though, nothing beats the real thing. My last was also around 10 months ago, and at this point, how I wish I took that one vacation for a whole month lmao.

These days, I'm just really into gaming with nice atmospherics, and occassional nostalgia binging by recalling the normal times. I'd probably be in a beach, catching shrimps at night with the locals for a sense of adventure.

[Bjun]

jcoppi29 That indeed sounds like a dream. A month-long vacation at the beach. Hopefully, you can do this next year.

I would like to try shrimp hunting but I rarely go to the beach at night. Something about the dark and the sea scares me. I've helped some fishermen before with their catch though, just waited for them at the shore or helped them pull their nets. It was mainly so I can free the fishes too small to be eaten. hahahah

We also have squid season here and they are very small and transparent so you really can't see them but a lot gets washed up on the shore. We use our baggy shirts to scoop them up. I've seen some guys eat the baby squids raw, just pull the head, wash the body with sea water and eat it. I've never tried it though.

[Bjun]

Gerhard Something to look forward to after this pandemic then - to go fishing! There are restaurants where you can fish for your lunch but I sometimes only get the small ones I had to set them free again.

Fishing reminds me of my brother: everytime we go for a swim, he would take his fishing gear with him. He never caught anything though. We would go snorkling to know where the big fishes are but I guess he's just not very good at it. One time he came home with catch: small fishes, crablets, shrimps and shells. His wife made a soup out of it. Fun times.

[jcoppi29]

@bjun

At the time, I was batshit scared of the dark see too, but since it was shallow and I was shooting a video for a project of mine that time, I had to face my fears, and it was surprisingly exhilarating -- a break from a comfort zone while aiming for relaxation lmao.

[mjmnl]

Last year, I've planned and booked my trips for 2020. I was able to go to Taipei this January. And now, all my other bookings are already cancelled because of the pandemic. It's heartbreaking that everything got postponed. We just have to be safe for now and prepare for our next possible vacation.

You're right, planning a trip helps improve our mental health but it doesn't apply to everyone. Haha! Some people just hate planning because of different reasons including the pressure of organizing everything in a short period of time and budgeting for the whole trip. However, since a lot of places are still in lockdown, we can probably travel normally next year or the year after that which gives us more time to plan and save up. It easily removes the stress associated with planning the trips.

If there's no pandemic, I'd be roaming around the streets of Queenstown, New Zealand. I've been saving up and planning this trip since a year ago.

[Bjun]

mjmnl Oh, wow! That would've been such a wonderful experience. I heard NZ is such a beautiful and picturesque country.

I do get stressed about planning trips and never really planned the trips that I've taken. Most of the places I've been to was just because I saw one thing I liked on IG or on a documentary and I would just book the tickets and backpacking hostels and hoped for the best. It was fun but the lack of planning really stressed my husband when we started travelling together so he takes care of the planning now. xD

[Kamille]

If I could go anywhere, I'd fly to Ireland. I've always been interested in their country's history. I've been dreaming of doing cartwheels down the hills filled with colorful lupins, and see centuries old stone walls and castles and all its many secrets, and drink authentic Irish beer in an Irish pub, and a whole lot more.

When my sister moved to New Zealand, my nerd self was screaming when she sent me photos of their hobbit town tour. We were planning to visit them by the end of this year but then the pandemic has other plans. Right now, I'd settle for a day at the beach with the waves crashing on my toes.

[Bjun]

Kamille When I was young, my aunt got married in Ireland and my parents attended her wedding. The only thing I remember from the photos was that it was really gloomy there. I remembered they went to the Giant's Causeway and I asked if they can swim there. I was surprised when they told me it was too cold. I was too young to comprehend that other places have beaches without the sand and sun. I was also told they rarely have rice during meals. I thought everyone ate rice back then and this really discouraged me from going there. hahaha

Thank you for this. Might have to read up about Irelad and see if I'll change my mind about wanting to go there.

[Gerhard]

What might be a fun activity to do while on vacation or to do in view of Covid-19? It would've been fun if it was a zombie apocalypse. At least one can see what to avoid rather than this darn virus which is invisible.

[Kamille]

You're right, it's harder to fight off an invisible virus, but I'm also not yet ready for zombies either. I'm making a mental note to get back on my cardio just in case

[Lou]

Oh my! I would love to be able to go anywhere after this pandemic is done. I always loved the beach as I grew up in the province, near the beach. Literally near the beach, hahaha. I am not much of a traveler, but man, this quarantine makes me want to travel here and there. It would be nice to see my relatives again and meet new people along the way. I miss the usual things we do before like watching movies, mailing, going to church, and eating out

[Skye]

Sun, sea, sand and surf... and no kids. I need a break from them. Even a staycation is great as long as they are taken off my hands. Even just a weekend without them.

[Kamille]

A weekend without kids. that's the dream
However, I do miss going out with my kids, too. I miss dining out, going to zoos and taking walks around the park. When this pandemic ends, I'd surely take them on vacation, right after I have my kid-free weekend.

[kdy]

been wanting that for sometime now.... I can just go on a road trip with a friend, set up a tent on an isolated beach , and sleeeeeep ....

[Skye]

That would be perfect, kdy. Sun, sea, sand, surf, and sleep. Heaven on earth.

[Skye]

Why do I keep coming back to this post? I want to go on vacation. Now. Does anyone know how to teleport?

[mjmnl]

Oh my. Me too! Every time I visit this forum I check this specific topic. Knowing that it's not only me who's dreaming of a vacation right now eases the sadness that is within me. Everyone's plan has been postponed, not only ours. For now, I just keep on checking photos and videos of the places that I'm dreaming to be in. Thank goodness for travel documentaries and travel vlogs! They make these beautiful places full of happiness!

[Skye]

And I am back here. hahaha... it's almost the end of my work week. I used to be so excited for my weekends. But now... oh well, I'll just use this time to save up for my next vacation... which will be on...

[kdy]

I love travelling. My last travel was June of last year. I promised myself I'd travel every year. The stars this year do not agree with me though. Although I really am glad I was able to go to the beach before the lockdown.

I read "The Historian" several years ago, and it has piqued my interest in Dracula. Since then I have wanted to go to Romania and Budapest. Maybe if I can save more this year and the next, then I can really go and travel to these places in 2022.

Btw, this is just me making my own travel goals. But let's see