Mexico ... experience vs reality

00:00:01: Do you want to live a life of freedom and adventure?

00:00:03: Are you wanting more than the daily grind?

00:00:06: Me too.

00:00:07: Welcome to The Emma Lovell Show, A place where we talk about living a life that you love now!

00:00:12: I'm your host, Emma Lovelle And my number one value is... Freedom!

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00:01:02: I would like to acknowledge and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this place, now known as Australia.

00:01:16: From here on Eugenberg country and from wherever you are listening.

00:01:19: I pay my respects to the elders past and present.

00:01:22: hello, and welcome today podcast.

00:01:25: i am your host emma lovell And i'm going to welcome you also in spanish.

00:01:30: hola bienvenido a podcast.

00:01:33: um i Am speaking un poquito espanol because i this episode is all about mexico.

00:01:43: Well I actually learned to speak Spanish from a book.

00:01:46: If you've seen Faulty Towers, i learn it form a book!

00:01:48: Um...I learnt yeah from basic six weeks of spanish book and just comment like uh just when wrote with the vocabulary.

00:02:02: in practicing that real basics I also did a very basic lesson with the dear friend who was from Spain.

00:02:10: Numbers and days of week, all that sort of stuff.

00:02:12: so some basic grounding.

00:02:13: she taught me about the alphabet really early on which helped alot how to pronounce it.

00:02:19: but where i got my Spanish down pat or down much more was when I lived in Mexico for four months, in two thousand and nine.

00:02:30: So i did intercambio exchange from UTS.

00:02:34: ,I did a semester abroad as part of my degree.

00:02:38: well it's actually an additional thing to my degree but I was able to continue my university as usual.

00:02:44: .i just did elective subjects so that it translated into my main for four months.

00:02:55: It was meant to be six, but due to swine flu.

00:02:59: so as we came very close to a pandemic I chose to leave Mexico a little bit early.

00:03:06: But it was one of the most formative times in my life and i feel deeply connected with Mexico.

00:03:13: Um... I said me encanto mejico mi Mexico is en mi corazon like Mexico's in my heart.

00:03:20: um..I really love.

00:03:22: It was quite a special trip, just gone that we actually went and took my son to Mexico for the first time.

00:03:29: My husband and I got married in Mexico In a place called Tulum which is south of Cancun And... The idea was go back every four years because We got married on Alepia.

00:03:42: So we got married On the twenty ninth February Twenty-twenty Just in time Before everything shut down.

00:03:51: It was absolutely divine timing and we had the most incredible time.

00:03:56: Most magical celebration, just perfect!

00:03:59: And so wonderful to get married by a sonate in the jungle.

00:04:05: We swam on our wedding day In my wedding dress have the most incredibly photos By white crown photography.

00:04:12: So I wanted to go back and share that with my son.

00:04:15: But in twenty-twenty four Just wasn't working out and finances Life stuff were just not permitting at the time and I probably could have forced it To happen, but we would've really stretched ourselves.

00:04:29: And it's just not something.

00:04:30: I wanted to continue to perpetuate because that's how he used to do things when i was younger as you know.

00:04:36: Just travel work-work-work Travel spend away money come back Do it all again?

00:04:43: Um, I didn't want to do under duress so We pushed it back and ended up being six years after our wedding That we went back with our son um and pretty surreal to be there that he was five years old.

00:04:55: And it was like you know nothing had changed.

00:05:00: in a way we were there with the same photographer, um We were in the same spot.

00:05:04: but we've been married for five year six years and we now have a five-year-old.

00:05:09: so It was pretty wild.

00:05:10: But I've gone as few steps ahead Um...we also got to visit Mexico twice on this troop.

00:05:18: So i just done.

00:05:18: I've been away for five and a half weeks, living my leisure life.

00:05:23: Two weeks in the US hosting a book launch For My Cousin Bill Life of Magic.

00:05:30: so those watching video A Life with Magic, hundred two years of service showmanship and storytelling!

00:05:40: And we hosted a book launched there and got all the books out over four-hundred copies, two hundred people at that book launch.

00:05:47: it was wild Lovely to share that time with him.

00:05:50: He's now a hundred and three, which is crazy.

00:05:53: But the actual original plan The reason we booked at the book launch then was because I had originally over fifteen months ago We booked To go to the Panama Canal Cruise.

00:06:05: so there are cruise...I think it only happens twice a year With Royal Caribbean you can actually Go through the Panama canal on a cruise ship And my husband whenever he puts his hand up for trips i'm like Yes, okay we can do it.

00:06:17: So we put down at a pod that January twenty-twenty five.

00:06:22: um We ended up Sort of jokingly suggesting to my in-laws That they could come with us and we could turn into My mother-in-law's seventieth trip because she said she wanted To go somewhere with all of Us.

00:06:33: And then my brother-in law flew Down from Canada as well.

00:06:35: so he flew over From Australia and we All met Up In Panama and did A cruise.

00:06:39: uh It went from Panama Through the Panama Canal on a cruise ship which is just kind Of wild.

00:06:46: and then we went to Costa Rica, which is the first time I've been there.

00:06:49: First time in Panama, second time at Costa Rica And then two other places in Mexico.

00:06:54: We went to Huatulco Which was on the bottom of Oaxaca.

00:06:58: It's been into a state of oaxaca before To the city The capital but it hadn't been to the coast.

00:07:03: so its really beautiful to see another part and see the Pacific side.

00:07:08: Then we went Porto Vallarta.

00:07:11: I told you, I'm going to porto the O. And i thought it would be quite touristic but it was actually incredible.

00:07:20: so I am really happy to have experienced two new places in Mexico as well and a country that I love.

00:07:25: It's actually quite huge country.

00:07:27: when we look at the map North America is big.

00:07:32: You've got Alaska Canada The United States and Mexico are all part of north america and its actually huge.

00:07:40: So um...all them are huge.

00:07:42: So, a lot to explore.

00:07:46: But the main place we wanted get back too was Tulum and ironically...we actually didn't go to Tulum!

00:07:51: And technically it didn't get married in Tulum.

00:07:54: We stayed into LUM for our wedding which is so Cancun, Playa.com and Tulum are the main places over there.

00:08:02: Cancuna's this very famous one that is like the party place for spring break.

00:08:07: but then you go down further and it was used to be a bit more chill.

00:08:11: It's definitely grown, its rapidly growing!

00:08:14: And we chose this day a place called Porta Aventura which is just south of Playa del Carmen.

00:08:22: so...and it was very convenient because the cenote that we got married at Cenote Cristallino uh..was only ten minute drive from there.

00:08:30: So that was fantastic.

00:08:31: But it meant that we didn't technically go to Tulum.

00:08:34: Now, I technically went into Tulum because that was... We had a bit of crazy weird adventure on the morning of the wedding reunion photo shoot but we chose Port Aventura just cause wanted stay in an all-inclusive hotel this time and stayed literally basic cabanas at beach.

00:08:52: That's my first ever experience with Tulum And absolutely loved It!

00:08:55: We've stayed in All Inclusive new plan to come in a really, really pimped out all-inclusive with some girlfriends when I was living there.

00:09:06: In two thousand and nine um i've stayed in Some other basic cabanas And then I've stayed on villa in the villa behind a villa for our Um wedding where we were in same house.

00:09:20: So it's different styles.

00:09:21: but just thought We needed vacation.

00:09:25: so uh...we had Two weeks staying with family and friends in the US, which is so wonderful.

00:09:31: But this was our time to just be...the three of us!

00:09:34: We wanted it to be easy on us.

00:09:36: So we stayed in The All-Inclusive had a really reasonable rate.

00:09:41: I did look at one very near to my friend and player Del Carmen or Playa Kaa where she's living, the wonderful Mel from VitaSana Retreats.

00:09:50: It was great to catch up with her.

00:09:52: i only knew her by phone social media.

00:09:57: So she's an Australian living in Mexico and gave me some great advice about the area.

00:10:01: on how much, you know it's changed so much for six years like where would we stay?

00:10:06: But I also wanted... The idea was to go look at some retreat venues And talk with Mel About the realities of hosting a retreat In Mexico.

00:10:16: Um but you know what?

00:10:18: Realistic as always We had five full days, so six nights.

00:10:24: Five full days in Mexico and the time just went!

00:10:28: And what I wanted to talk about on this episode that long-long-long waiting was how sometimes our expectations are not the reality?

00:10:41: What i found on this trip initially is finding a disconnect with.

00:10:52: Part of that can be due to, it's been six years since I was there.

00:10:57: There is a lot development and change.

00:11:00: We unfortunately had very horrible entry into Mexico because this well known thing i completely forgot about from last few visits...I remember we have a horrible experience with the car and tool but thought its basic company Turns out it's all current or companies Especially in Cancun, but in some other places.

00:11:23: and so just by be warned I Used an aggregating website.

00:11:29: that.

00:11:29: I love they use all the time all over the world But unfortunately they don't warn you about this.

00:11:38: They say that you need this insurance and it wouldn't matter if he bought insurance through the website.

00:11:42: so you see this great rate of like the cars in a hundred fifty dollars for five nights which might be like emirates to good to be true but.

00:11:49: Prices are different all over the world and so can get really right great rates like i mean i'm getting two or three days car rental sometimes in melbourne for eighty dollars these days.

00:12:00: um just changes.

00:12:01: so, It looked like it was great.

00:12:04: Is that great?

00:12:04: We just get the car, its much easier than having to kind of deal with taxis and things.

00:12:09: but then we got there And they wanted us to pay.

00:12:12: Well They basically said we had to pay insurance and their very intimidating and very pushy and it's a well-known unfortunately well known sort of scam or Like I say That is their terms and conditions But basically sort of force you into buying these really expensive insurance policies.

00:12:30: so we went from planning to spend a hundred fifty dollars on the car, spending six hundred US dollars which is nine hundred Australian dollars.

00:12:38: So it was like...a really rude shock very like confronting.

00:12:45: I don't want having to get upset.

00:12:47: um i was speaking in Spanish and English.

00:12:49: my husband was trying to deal with that.

00:12:51: then I had to do with it.

00:12:52: so just not an ice landing unfortunately put about tasting them out.

00:12:56: Um..I know not too.

00:12:58: we won't be hiring a car.

00:12:59: there got some friends who have some drivers and things like that.

00:13:03: So, you know just by being warned for Cancun Mexico um.

00:13:10: And then we got to our place and I was happy with that Great pool kids club beach.

00:13:19: But i also knew what i was in for.

00:13:21: and as Like there's a certain type of holiday That is an all-inclusive holiday.

00:13:24: There's a Certain Type Of clientele.

00:13:26: Um They want that Holiday As well.

00:13:31: We wanted that easing, but the problem is you do feel a little bit removed from the culture.

00:13:39: But I mean it's quite...I live myself in holiday destination.

00:13:44: we're living on the Gold Coast very known for being a holiday place there always local side and also sort of more visitor-side.

00:13:53: So what I really enjoyed was like just walking from the hotel, i found a marina.

00:13:57: I walked to these little shops like just talking to people at the shops Like...I love getting to flex that Spanish muscle and speak!

00:14:06: And um..i really loved it.

00:14:08: The most amazing woman her name is Emma Funnily enough Emmanuel She was in reception desk.

00:14:14: we got on house on fire.

00:14:16: We had some beautiful connection.

00:14:17: There's another woman there you know, we just had a great chat talked about being an author all these things.

00:14:23: so then I was like oh okay.

00:14:24: Like i love this...I loved being connected to the Mexicans but hotel stuff in some of them restaurants and things were a bit maybe worn down because they're so used.

00:14:35: it's just like they just pump out food they pump our drinks They do activities.

00:14:40: So I found that way.

00:14:41: there are kind going through emotions sometimes whereas I really wanted that connection you know, but to them I just look like another white tourist and sometimes i do say no soy gringo or no soy Gringo.

00:14:56: I'm not an American because that's what they call with no disrespect my lovely wonderful american friends.

00:15:03: But They Do have this sort of um stereotype Of?

00:15:08: That go there.

00:15:08: they got a cancun in the type of holidays they Have.

00:15:11: Um.

00:15:12: so maybe i'm Just being A. i'm sounding Like a spoiled You know, I'm sounding like a elitist tourist or traveler.

00:15:21: I am a traveler not a tourist.

00:15:23: But i signed up for that...I did!

00:15:25: So I totally own it but It just made me have a bit of disconnect.. I also found out was really tired when I got there which is totally expected after very big emotional time with my cousin launching a book.

00:15:40: all That took to get their but it took me until the last day we were in Mexico maybe even the day that we flew to Colombia from Mexico, to realize why I was so tired also.

00:15:51: And that's because i was thinking twice...I was speaking twice every single day!

00:15:58: Because when you are um speaking and like..i just have so much respect for people who are bilingual or multilingual but when your being acting as a translator uhmm....or-or just trying to interpret it is really tiring.

00:16:16: What was wonderful, as soon we landed my brain switched to Spanish.

00:16:21: And even at the immigration I was speaking in Spanish and it's really sweet makes me emotional.

00:16:25: but when husband like looked for me he is impressive!

00:16:29: He seemed to speak Spanish so knows that i can know everything.

00:16:32: But...I felt proud That I have kept that muscle going Because It has been Seventeen years since I lived in Mexico and i've traveled to many countries around the world that are spanish-speaking, it's such a blessing because you can find Spanish speakers.

00:16:52: It is the second most widely spoken language in the world.

00:16:54: if you think about all of Latin American latin speaking countries they're very widely spread and their population is huge.

00:17:05: so there is a lot opportunity for people who speak Spanish.

00:17:11: Italians can understand Spanish, sometimes like French.

00:17:14: They might not speak English but people who speak French could speak Spanish as well.

00:17:20: so I found that there's so many times in my life.

00:17:22: it has been such a blessing and help and people appreciate it!

00:17:27: And i just got such new level of respect for the person speaking two languages or are required to speak one language which isn't their own but also sometimes entitled that most people, English speakers will speak to us and we don't have to learn.

00:17:49: So I just think it's...I really try to pay their respect of at least always learning a few words in the country that i'm in.

00:17:57: But if language is banished then im going to speak Spanish as much.

00:18:07: Yeah, but I just forgot how tiring this and what was really cool though Was also like one of the cool steps when you're learning a language is that?

00:18:14: You start to think in that language because when your initially learning.

00:18:17: Your'e translating So saying i want coffee And then you go yokiere o un cafe so you are going.

00:18:24: How do say it In those words When there's actually different phrasing?

00:18:29: The way you phrase sentences and structure sentences Is different in other countries or have these differences?

00:18:36: I love watching movies where the subtitles are spanish or i know they're dubbing it in spanish and then they do english.

00:18:46: The meaning is same but the words aren't the same, oh no that doesn't really mean that!

00:18:52: That's not expressing it.

00:18:53: so its fun to see... But thats tired!

00:18:58: And had a cool thing when we started thinking first in Spanish and translate into English which was weird and I was saying things to my son in both, as well because i would love for him to learn at some point.

00:19:12: But I think that times he would get frustrated because he was seeing me differently...because you're seeing his mum but I sound different!

00:19:21: And also he probably isn't understood or he's not understanding what I'm saying..and then I'm having to repeat everything to my husband and my son.

00:19:27: so it's challenging.

00:19:29: um I'm tired....but So we spent first few days kind of at the hotel.

00:19:36: We also had this big activity to do, which was like why were back?

00:19:40: And that was to recreate The Underwater Photoshoot That We Did At Our Wedding!

00:19:45: I actually have a podcast episode all about our wedding on my podcast Lovely Travels.

00:19:51: It's Episode Twenty-Seven where cohost Darius interviewed and husband and I are alloping to Mexico doing an underwater photoshoot...which is just sensational.

00:20:03: So yeah, the reason people go to that part of the world to do these underwater photo shoots is because sonotes are these eroded caves limestone caves.

00:20:13: That then flood or the rainwater fills them.

00:20:17: so it's fresh water and they just have this most beautiful colours.

00:20:21: there're very few wildlife in them like theres some fish.

00:20:26: youre not here to see but your'e there to see The incredible way nature has carved out the rocks and the way that the light then comes into these caves.

00:20:38: And there's hundreds, possibly thousands of cenotes but they're only found in this part of the world.

00:20:43: I think it was maybe something like similar to cenotes?

00:20:47: Like you might have seen we went through a sinkhole or not a sink hole what is called insomoa...a trench!

00:20:53: We went to a trench in Samoa so it's similar But just the way the way that they have evolved is just magical.

00:21:07: And so it's a hotspot for divers, one of kind of pinnacle.

00:21:13: spots to go is dos ochos which means two eyes and you can dive into them through the cave when you come up in another one.

00:21:21: So my husband I told him about this on our very first Tinder chat because we met on Tinder.

00:21:28: I think it went to Mexico that visit.

00:21:32: but i had been the Bahamas and he's a diver, we were talking about that.

00:21:37: Said i'd love to dive one day because this place you can go in diving the cenotes and told him all about it was like haven't heard about it.

00:21:43: so diving like bucket list.

00:21:45: And you know flirting with me is like i'll teach you how to die.

00:21:47: when will go there?

00:21:48: He did teach me how to drive for years after we started dating or not even two years have restarted dating.

00:21:54: he took me then.

00:21:56: what do they need?

00:21:57: we don't care and i cried.

00:21:59: So it was pretty incredible to then find out that you can actually get married at a cenote, and not only that but also have an underwater photographer.

00:22:07: take photos of your wedding dress in the Cenote.

00:22:14: I got to be a mermaid!

00:22:16: And my husband got me Aquaman which is just phenomenal.

00:22:22: not obviously, but the photos are incredible.

00:22:24: Deborah Ducci is a specialist at this.

00:22:26: she's the most wonderful brilliant fabulous perfect Italian woman who has been living in Mexico for twenty years and we got to work with her six years ago.

00:22:36: seeing her again was like no time had passed so we arranged that we would do this shoot But This Time Will Have Finn In The Photos.

00:22:46: So the morning...was a bit crazy.

00:22:48: And then some of those I had forgotten.

00:22:52: So I love Mexico so much, but have forgotten sometimes the frustration of the bureaucracy there and The operation they're in.

00:23:00: that's any country.

00:23:01: There's just different ways of doing things.

00:23:03: But poor.

00:23:04: and then Torah has like this Entrance let you have to have a QR code get people in.

00:23:11: And so I talked my hotel about my makeup artist coming.

00:23:15: i told them somebody has to come.

00:23:18: and They said you know, I need the QR code.

00:23:20: and they said no just call in the morning tell us the details.

00:23:23: So anyway i called them wanting told me okay get to their front desk and there like no we're not letting her in...and then women say that they are not letting me in but given the details of giving a car....anyway eventually come around.

00:23:39: she can't come into your room so it's only going for the foyer..i'm not getting my hair or makeup done.

00:23:48: And then they said, okay she can come in the gate but they wanted an extra three thousand seven hundred pesos.

00:23:53: Which is like I don't know another eighty dollars or a hundred dollars of something.

00:23:58: well maybe two hundred.

00:23:59: it was just...I'm so angry!

00:24:01: Like i asked you about this yesterday?

00:24:03: I talked to her about these..like he never said that they weren't allowed at hotel there were not allowed into my room and they won't allow pass-the-front and that your gonna charge me eighty dollars for the privilege.

00:24:13: with that apparently its happening alot with vendors over here And I was like so furious.

00:24:20: So it's like stuff that...I said, i'm coming in the front and I said to her are you okay with it?

00:24:27: Let's do make-up in a car!

00:24:28: She is just like ok.

00:24:31: The funny thing for our wedding we had blood tests again.

00:24:36: weird bureaucracy of getting chest x-rays to prove you don't have tuberculosis.

00:24:45: it's I think its HIV.

00:24:46: so you have to have blood tests.

00:24:48: So in order to have a marriage license, our marriage certificate is Mexican.

00:24:53: um like we're fully legitimately married and it's internationally in Australian recognised.

00:24:58: but yeah...we have a Marriage Certificate from Mexico.

00:25:01: uh.. We had to have Blood Test!

00:25:02: And i was like well they don't really want to go like trying to have chill out before our wedding.

00:25:06: um....I don't even wanna get up to play at all common.

00:25:09: The Wedding Celebrant came to us in a car with the nurse and we did blood tests on her back seat.

00:25:16: With the car!

00:25:17: In Mexico... So then I was like, well checks out for that reunion or redo of my photo shoot where i'm going to get my makeup done at the back of the car.

00:25:26: It just felt very mexico you know?

00:25:29: And it's like whatever.

00:25:30: so anyway.. We pull up find our place to park The make-up artist opens the trunk.

00:25:37: It's just like oh my gosh.

00:25:44: Oh, my gosh turns out.

00:25:45: she'd left her entire makeup kit at the hotel in a day before doing someone else's make-up.

00:25:50: so when I said i didn't get to tell them actually.

00:25:53: I did end up going too long because we then had to drive me and the makeup artist two to whom forty minutes away pick on the makeup and drive back.

00:26:03: I was just by this point will also still have any trouble with.

00:26:05: the gate would hide an anti for today to help us with The the photo shoot just in case Finn got cold or was like needing entertainment, so We she couldn't get in the gate either and that I was trying to deal with Finn turn it back to bag.

00:26:22: I wasn't gonna be able come back.

00:26:24: It was very stressful a lot more stressful than our wedding day.

00:26:28: And then really think for future would not want to stay one of those gated places.

00:26:33: They're just very, very strict and so like any of your all-inclusives as well.

00:26:37: And then we went to visit our friend the day before in play a car and they were so strict about... We had to have the QR code.

00:26:45: get into it I think.

00:26:46: Yeah even people living there.

00:26:47: that's you know a gated community but Very hard to have visits and very frustrating to getting out of place.

00:26:56: So It does force you kind of going up just staying here and saying i don't want do anything next time will stay somewhere where Just bit easier access and not so structured.

00:27:07: So anyway, we got back.

00:27:10: We pulled up near a petrol station on the subway.

00:27:14: Eight forty in the morning eight o'clock in the Morning.

00:27:16: she does my makeup for twenty minutes.

00:27:18: I look phenomenal.

00:27:19: She's amazing.

00:27:20: So cool done Sort it.

00:27:23: Matt picks me out with the nanny-in-the car.

00:27:25: now Finn and we drive ten minutes to the cenote.

00:27:30: just it's always going to be an adventure you know and I'm just, you know he was going there like why didn't i do the one?

00:27:36: we just have a holiday.

00:27:37: well never got to do this thing but to get there and to be that sonatae.

00:27:42: And to show Finn where.

00:27:43: oh i want to cry now when mommy and daddy stood and got married Like It Was Just Surreal!

00:27:48: It was so weird..it was like...It was like The Day No Time To Pass.

00:27:54: We've Just Been There The Day Before But We Have A Child.

00:27:57: Now We it looked the same and so yeah, I'm being was really excited to do the photos And we got.

00:28:06: we did some out of water photos which is good.

00:28:08: I was very reluctant to that because i just wanted To get him in the water before he go over It.

00:28:12: but as soon As you're going on The Water He Was Quite Cold um?

00:28:16: He Did Well Going Down.

00:28:17: So What We Do Is You Go One Two Three Or Go down Just Under The Water Surface You Breathe Out.

00:28:25: so if Anyone Watched The Videos Who Breathe In?

00:28:29: breathe out all the way so that you're not going to puff your cheeks and go And then You smile and hold it back, but you know what swimming?

00:28:41: So it's not as hard.

00:28:42: Just literally duck down.

00:28:43: stay as long as you can come up But the timing is there.

00:28:49: It's me my husband My son All going down at same time or holding with breath at the same time Or smiling a certain time looking at the same time and then photographer.

00:29:00: And I'd sort of forgotten because, i guess we were doing more like a family posing in the start once we went under... The magic of photos is that it's just kind of you're underneath but all looking at camera and posing.

00:29:13: now this looks weird.

00:29:14: so had to remember look each other lovingly.

00:29:19: It was complicated with three people than my husband on our wedding day completely in love glaring at one another.

00:29:26: Um, so kind of knew too much in a way.

00:29:29: Uh and then we have the light person as well.

00:29:32: So then Deborah's partner was there holding the lights.

00:29:35: We actually had five people trying to all coordinate To go under water at the same time.

00:29:40: It is quite miraculous really.

00:29:44: So Finn did really well but wanted to get out soon after.

00:29:47: One of the fun things that ended up happening.

00:29:48: Was I just The friend Ian?

00:29:52: he said um Oh not the friend.

00:29:55: the partner Ian said are you?

00:29:59: You should go and jump off that rock.

00:30:01: People were jumping of a rock, I was like haha he's five!

00:30:05: Like good distraction.

00:30:07: Anyway at one point you really wanted me And i changed dresses twice.

00:30:13: Debra was having fun with being the mermaid Just getting different shots Being artistic.

00:30:20: But Fing just didn't want to borrow it.

00:30:22: We had the nanny there but she...Fing just wanted money of course.

00:30:26: so he literally at one point like swam and supported to be with me.

00:30:29: then he sat with um Debra's partner who was holding the light uh and we told him about this jumping off the rock.

00:30:37: So, I'm posing doing these poses trying to focus flick the hair look at the camera look away float the dress breathe don't breath don't pass!

00:30:48: And my son is jumping off a rock For me to drop or something and he and Matt did it, and I was here.

00:30:57: so much fun.

00:30:57: He's so adventurous.

00:30:58: It wasn't amazing but like just so surreal.

00:31:01: So anyway turned out to be a wonderful experience with her new wood Exhausted after um And yeah felt really great to be back in touch for Mexico.

00:31:11: we went to a cenote another day But all of this would tell you the story.

00:31:15: Um, and i think its Wonderful to have a reason to travel.

00:31:21: We had that reason to go back to Mexico.

00:31:23: And we have the purpose of getting those beautiful photos and sharing it with my son, showing him a really special important place for mum and dad.

00:31:34: Twice now I would love to live in this area not forever but definitely something i thought about before But as always I don't, i didn't think indefinitely and that really confirmed it this time.

00:31:52: I'd love to go and stay there for three months.

00:31:54: We have a visa that allows us to do that?

00:31:56: I'd Love to go spend three months in Tulum.

00:31:58: I really loved the energy down There.

00:32:00: so as I'm glad we visited port of Ventures And glad he did they're all inclusive but his trip served us But...I Really want to live like a local!

00:32:10: I really wanted sort more low-key um.. I haven't seen Tulum.

00:32:15: how much has grown I think.

00:32:16: So what really?

00:32:19: It almost felt like I was, did I glorify this place?

00:32:25: Like it's one of my top five places in the world which is saying a lot.

00:32:28: I've been to eighty countries and many times you know have i romanticized that how they built up or had They build it up And its lost their romance.

00:32:39: But what so important for me when I travel is that connection with the people, it's a connection to nature and land.

00:32:48: So one of these other days Lovely Mel came down.

00:32:51: we just walked up.

00:32:53: there was another beach in my area.

00:32:56: We went for walk on the beach And looked at this incredible ecosystem.

00:33:02: The colours are water.

00:33:05: How yeah the beach and jungle and mangroves all sort of come together in this area.

00:33:10: I was like, oh that's what i love.

00:33:11: we went to a cafe which had green juice Like Yeah This Is What I Love.

00:33:19: So My plan Was To Go And Look At Retreat Venues But I Quickly Realised We Just Didn't Have Time.

00:33:25: After All The Huha With Getting In And Out Of The Venue.

00:33:27: I Think We Also Had A bit Of Fear Of Driving Around Because We Didn'T Want To Like Damage The Car At All the fear of like losing a deposit and having to pay their insurance, all that stuff.

00:33:39: But also I wanted just be there with my son or husband.

00:33:43: And then i thought yes it would great see the venues but know they area...I trust Mel..i trust my other local friends who knows hotels in venues well.

00:33:55: I certainly wouldn't ever run one in an all-inclusive style, there's some really great retreat venues in that region.

00:34:05: That are more nature-oriented and more boutique...that's the things I'm looking for.

00:34:13: but i almost thought do i want to run one here?

00:34:18: And i didn't go.

00:34:19: see the venue.

00:34:20: is it meant or worth at all or will even happen?

00:34:25: And absolutely, I will.

00:34:31: But i'll show people the Mexico that l love and that is culture That's connection to land The incredible indigenous communities like ancient cultures they have in that region They both are Mayan and Aztec To take them into the Sonate and just natural simple beauty the best tacos since Vichy and um fresh amazing food that... And the food was good at The All Inclusive.

00:35:04: It's it was good.

00:35:05: but there is nothing like just going up to a little taco stand, getting four tacos for like four dollars and putting in a bit of lime and coriander and onion and having a corona.

00:35:17: Like they play their best places on the roadside with red plastic chairs.

00:35:24: You see the locals there, not too basic but a pretty open simple restaurant with these bright red chairs and you're like that's a winner.

00:35:33: Four tacos on a plate?

00:35:36: Corona or Pacifico beer?

00:35:39: Perfect!

00:35:40: I want to show people that simple rich Mexico that i love...and will.

00:35:53: And also, you can do both.

00:35:54: You can stay in a really beautiful boutique, fabulous comfortable very well taken care of place and then I could take people out to show them that side of it that i've seen.

00:36:04: we can go see the ancient culture ,we can see there is great fabulous party life in Cancun and Tulum.

00:36:12: but sorry not Cancún...I don't like that!

00:36:16: Play it or come.

00:36:19: And it's okay for that trip to have had a plan and to have expectations.

00:36:26: For the reality be different, I'm proud of myself listening my body.

00:36:29: what i needed knowing this is one hundred percent not my last trip to Mexico definitely not first but will never be my last.

00:36:39: We went twice more two parts on that trip.

00:36:45: having many more visits, many more experiences and adventures in Mexico.

00:36:48: But I would really love the opportunity to take people and show them there's some magic there you know?

00:36:55: There is real magic in that area And i want to share it.

00:37:01: So watch this space!

00:37:03: Mexico twenty-twenty seven.

00:37:06: It will be second half of year We're gonna go.

00:37:12: Last year actually kept a lot secret the destination that I was planning, Bhutan.

00:37:17: That i have for this year.

00:37:18: Bhutan and ended up being Nepal as well because we postponed from last year...I'm not going to do that this year!

00:37:23: I'm NOT going to keep it such a

00:37:25: secret!!

00:37:25: I'm gonna talk loud and proud about the

00:37:27: plans!!!

00:37:28: Um..i want to bring you along for the journey.

00:37:29: so if you've ever looked at my retreats um....you've looked at me.

00:37:33: adventures or travels all gone.

00:37:35: how does Emma Do This Pleasure thing?

00:37:36: How is she traveling for five-and-a-half weeks with her husband &

00:37:39: son??

00:37:41: And how's your business still operating?

00:37:42: Well THAT'S pleasure and that's what the Blaser Life retreats all about, they're finding what you want to do.

00:37:48: What your harmony is going into an incredible place feeling connected to the place-to yourself two others um...and then deciding what you wanted in going after it.

00:37:59: so I decided i wanted to meet a person take him to those cenotes Have him teach me how to dive and I did that.

00:38:08: And then decided on get mixed male elope to Mexico.

00:38:11: We did that, and i decided on take my son back My child back one day?

00:38:15: And i didn't even know That who that child would be at the time that i declared that.

00:38:18: and Then here he is beautiful little Finn and He came in.

00:38:22: he dove the cenotes with us and You Know.

00:38:26: so im gonna declare it.

00:38:27: we are going on a retreat To Mexico will be in beautiful Tulum and around that region, you'll get to experience the magic.

00:38:34: And reason.

00:38:35: I love this country so much!

00:38:39: You can decide what you want for your future.

00:38:47: That is Mexico, that was just some of the reflections I had.

00:38:51: I wanted to share that because sometimes you see only in the highlights reel or fancy pictures but there are ebbs and flows.

00:39:04: so it's really nice to debrief with how you can work with me, head to my website and the level.au If you are interested.

00:39:16: I do have a course as well called The Bleach Alive Plan where we can start doing this already.

00:39:23: otherwise we could do it in person on retreat in fabulous destinations.

00:39:29: so thank-you for listening.

00:39:32: Gracias!

00:39:33: Buendía until next time.

00:39:36: Hasta la weba.

00:39:37: Thank You So Much.

00:39:38: Thank you for listening, lovely one.

00:39:41: I hope this has inspired you to dream big and start creating a life you love today!

00:39:46: If you love what your hearing don't forget to follow and rate on Spotify And Rate Review & Subscribe On iTunes.

00:39:54: It helps other awesome people To find this podcast and get motivated and inspired as well.

00:40:00: Want us stay connected?

00:40:01: Come join the Live A Life You Love group on Facebook Or connect with me on Instagram mllvl.edu.

00:40:07: The same is my website but all the details are in the show notes roughly.

00:40:12: I'll see you next episode for more inspiration, motivation and freedom singing now.

00:40:17: go out there and live a life you love.