Author Archives: JJS

🇬🇧 Boats, breezes and bizarre bar encounters There’s something deeply poetic about eating your last breakfast in Bora Bora while watching the lagoon glisten in the early morning sun… and then being slapped in the face by an unusually enthusiastic … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Of snot, sea rays & snorkel sagas 🤿 After a night of sounding like an old accordion being strangled—thanks to a glamorous combo of sneezing and coughing—I heroically rose from my bed at 7:30am. Consistency is key, even in … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Clouds, tuna & a Mai Tai sunset 🐠The sea is back to her turquoise, glistening self today, the swell has simmered down, and while there are a few grey clouds in the sky, it’s still warm enough to make … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Swells, siestas and spicy regret Last night, I shattered personal records and possibly my social life by going to bed at 8:30 p.m. That’s not a typo. I skipped dinner, tucked myself in, and surrendered to the sweet siren … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Sun, stingrays and suitcase struggles Last night in Huahine, we treated ourselves to one last stroll into “town”—if you can call two streets and a pontoon that. Destination: the Yacht Club restaurant. As always, packed with people pretending they’ve … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Dolphins, burgers and the Mexican mayhem Last night, in a rare burst of energy (possibly fuelled by the thrilling memory of raw fish for lunch), we decided to go out. Yes, you read that right — shoes were worn, … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Of coco bread, coral mishaps and cocktail intentions Despite our commendable commitment to an early bedtime (a rare and noble sacrifice on vacation), the morning didn’t exactly start with birdsong and yoga on the veranda. Instead, I woke up … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Crabs, cyclones & croissants This morning, I rise before the rooster. And let me tell you, that smug feathery alarm clock was not amused to be upstaged. But needs must—we’ve got a pre-dawn rendezvous with a hire car return, … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Vanilla, rhum and wallet regrets Second (and tragically, last) full day on Taha’a, aka The Island of Sweet Scents and Empty Wallets. Today’s mission: vanilla shopping. Why? Because although we still have pods from two years ago lounging lazily … Continue reading →

🇬🇧 Sharks, rays & rain dodging in paradise (Subtitle: Finding Nemo, Losing Wifi) 5 AM. The drumroll of torrential rain on our lovely Polynesian bungalow roof yanked me from my dreams. I’d love to tell you it was soothing, but … Continue reading →