OK guys.... Canada is just absurd! *and I mean that in a good way*

And then I am back again. First posting countdowns, and before you know it you are sleeping in your own bed again and work awaits next monday. But how beautiful it was! I was a bit sceptical at first. I am not really a nature person (I thought), so I was a bit anxious how Canada would fit me. But it fits me perfectly. The unbelieveble beauty of Alberta and Britisch Columbia really got to me. The blueness of the lakes with their glacier water, the mountains, the hikes, just astonishing. Keep reading for a little travel log and just some of the many beautiful pictures we could make.

Canada countdown: 6 weeks to go!

It is becoming closer and closer, only 6 more weeks to go!

Canada countdown: 10 weeks to go!

And the countdown progresses. 10 more weeks to go! Still haven't really tested our jackets. Even though it is really rainy in the Netherlands for the past few weeks. But the temperature is still quit warm so we don't really need a jacket. And going to work I am only outside for about 2 seconds jumping in and out of my car. Ah well... To warm up, 2 beautiful pictures I found on the internet. First Vancouver and second a view of the Rocky Mountains!

So blessed - New Travel spot: Canada!

One trip hasn't taken place yet, and the next one is already booked. So blessed to be able to do this! Together with my brother-in-law, my boyfriend and I are going to Canada. Starting in the city of Vancouver and then driving through the nature it has to offer to Banff and Jasper National Park. 

Ciao!

Ixis

75 days no period

It has been 75 days since my last period. Or actually my withdraw bleeding. Haven't had a normal period since I quit birth control. I did ask my doctor about it several weeks ago. I visited him for a spot on my back and while I was there I asked him about the cycle and when I should get worried. 

He explained to me that nature decides when I will get my period again and I should definitely take 6 months to a year into account. 

So, October 22nd I took my last birth control pill. Since I quit I did experience some changes:

• More pimples on my face after 3 or 4 weeks
• I did experience some emotional changes, but only in the beginning. I felt a little bit more down and confused. Like my hormones were a bit confused themselves
• My hair just felt thinner and thinner.
• I lost weight. Perhaps I don't retain that much fluid anymore
• After about 2 months my skin went back to being reasonably normal. I still have some pimples now and then, nut I also eat chocolate and stuff, so that might as well be the cause.

Sometimes I do feel some cramping it seems like. But until now, no period. It has only been a little over 3 months, so I have to be patient. It is a good thing I didn't quit birth control because we are trying for a baby right away. I think I am glad I quit now. Because if I did quit because I wanted to get pregnant, and it would take a long time to have my period again it would be quite stressful.

It is a bit stressful now too. Just because I am curious if I still function properly. But according to my doctor I should definitely give it some time. And then again. My boyfriend and I are planning to have some nice holiday trips. Thinking about Canada this year and maybe West-USA next year. And maybe then we would like to start a family. By then I will be 29/30, so a nice age in my opinion. 

Ciao!

Isis

Home sweet home

And then I am back again. Can't believe how fast the past couple of weeks have gone! Well actually, when I was in Indonesia, it felt way longer. Which was very nice. But now that I am back again. The week literally flew by. and back home it is cold, grey, flat and everything. I am back in the 'back home blues'. I always have that when I come back from a wonderful holiday. Because that was it, wonderful. We saw so many things! The crowded city of Jakarta, Yogyakarta with the beautiful Borobudur and Prambanan, the Merapi (and all the Muslims singing), the Komodo islands, the snorkling, the Komodo dragons, waking up with the dolphins, the giant bats at night. Sleeping outside on the boot. And beautiful Bali, with the wonderful temples, the great tour guide who showed us Bali at a speed of 40 km per hour, the vila's with the outstanding views. And I think I am forgetting half of the rest. It was wonderful. A real great experience, which left lots of laundry. I had yesterday and today still off to do all that stuff, but tomorrow for me the normal life also starts again. It always makes me a little sad. Which actually is a good thing, because it shows me how much fun I had and how blessed I am to go out and see the world. Of course I am happy to be back home safely, but I had such a wonderful time, it is ok to be a little sad that it is over. 

Ciao!

Ixis

1 more week - Countdown Indonesia

Almost...... just one more (very busy) week and then we go off to our holiday.

Ciao!

Ixis

2 more weeks - Countdown Indonesia

The countdown continues, only 2 more weeks to go!

Ciao!
Ixis

7 more weeks - Countdown Indonesia

The countdown continues, 7 more weeks to go. I am exited and a little anxious as well.

Ciao!
Ixis

9 more weeks - Countdown Indonesia

A new countdown! Before my contract will presumably end, we are able to enjoy a hopefully wonderful holiday. 9 weeks left before our journey towards Indonesia will start!

Ciao!
Ixis

Hello November

Hello November! If you are this warm and sunny the entire month, I am going to love you. about 20 degrees Celsius and lot's of sun. Love it! You don't expect that in November. Waauw, it has been a very quit October. Only one post. About a week and a half ago my friends and I went to see a stand up comedian in Tilburg. We all took the afternoon of this particular wednesday off and headed off to the theater. We enjoyed the city for a bit, grabbed some nice dinner and saw the show. I had a blast! As a dutch saying goes 'I have gotten a good taste of it' and now I want some more. So my boyfriend and I are looking for some shows in the near future from other comedians. We also have some new holiday plans! Considering Indonesia as our next travel location. Together with a friend who has an Indonesian girlfriend. Thinking about going there September/October 2015. Hopefully I still have a job by then, or have found a new one. Because my contract will presumably end July 2015.

Let's see what November will bring. Going to the end of the year. Hope the winter will be soft as last year. Christmas is around the corner. Although, with this weather you wouldn't say so. 

Ciao!

Ixis

A week off - tagging along with a colleague

Next week (including this friday) I am having the week off. So time for relaxing, some 'me-time' and doing fun stuff. I have promised myself to go shopping, to bake, to finish my photo book from our holiday last year and all that sort of stuff. 

Next to that I have asked a colleague if I could tag along one time. This is a colleague in a field of expertise which I think I am interested in as well. As I wrote about it earlier here in 2011 and here in 2012. That is how time flies. Wauw.  

My colleague's job is about social support in the community, public health. So much more oriented towards my master's degree at the university. As I work at a government organization we have HR as well as the social domain.Next thursday I am allowed to tag along with her for an appointment. I am very curious to see how this goes and if this does cover my interests. If so, I can start moulding my career in that direction. 

Ciao!

Ixis

New york city baby!

A little update from the thriving New York City! Waauw! We have been here for almost 6 days. So much to see! I love it! Had to get used to the crowdiness at first but now I just go with the flow!

Ciao!
Ixis

A little break - weekend at sea part 2

This weekend me and my boyfriend went on a trip together with my parents and my in-laws. Spent a nice few days by the sea, just like last year. This time we enjoyed Leiden, Noordwijk, Katwijk and Lisse. We saw some nice flower fields. Which is very common for the area. All the flowers are grown for their bulbs. Which is one of the great export products of the Netherlands. And due the the soft winter and early spring all the flowers and fields were in bloom. A lovely sight! Of course days like these fly by and before you know it, it is time to come home again. This evening we are going to have a final diner together as the conclusion of the weekend. 

Ciao!
Ixis

7 more weeks!

7 weeks and a couple of days before our holiday! And hopefully then I can do the same as on the picture above. The last few weeks the whether here has been very nice. Even very hot at some point, but lots of sun. I love it. The summer feeling! Unfortunately the fact that I have to go to work ruins it a bit, but hey, we have the weekends. Speeking of work, I have reached the half year milestone again. Last year this milestone was a focus point for me. As I wasn't feeling sure and comfortable about my work, I insisted of giving it some time before I started judging. These same feelings are here today in this second job. It makes me look back with melancholy to my former job. Eventually I did start to appreciate my former job, but only when I left I think I truly did. You only know what you've got until it's gone, goes the saying. Another cliche which is true. This job is a good way for me to gain more experience and find out what I want to do in life. There are aspects in this and my former job which give me energy and aspects which take energy. The experiences give me the opportunity to learn from them and in a way shape me, so if I have to or want to find a new challenge I can search for one with lots of those things that give me energy. Something I got from reading about job crafting. Enjoy your weekend!

Ciao!
Ixis

Portugal!

Hope this is a picture of Portugal, like the description I found with it on the internet says. Because that is what I want to show. A picture which I hope to see with my own two eyes. After some more information from the travel agency and some thinking, we decided that the 2 options left, weren't it. Some more looking and advise from the travel agency led us into another direction, Portugal. A country which is long, offers culture, nature, sun and the beach (more or less a mix of all the things we like in an holiday country). It is a great country to rent a car and travel from north to south or south to north and meanwhile see lots of things. We decided to go by plane and land in Porto, and return from Lissabon. Now the fun part can start as we can decide what to do in between :)

Ciao!
Ixis

Brrr... Let's find a holiday!

I just keep wining about the whether. Last sunday we had a beautiful spring day. I think it was about 20 degrees, which was just great for a day at an amusement park and for a BBQ. But the days after where just very cool again. Thursday it was like 10 degrees, which is really cold for the time of the year! Well wining about it doesn't change anything, so my friends and I decided to look for a vacation! Dreaming away with beautiful pictures of the beach, the sea and the sun, but also some mountains and green grass. Love it! Now it is up to the planning of which weeks the four of us can all have a few weeks off at work. It's going to be around the end of July or more towards the end of september beginning October. We still have to figure it out. We were having doubts about where we wanted to go, Cuba, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand or a little bit more close to home with Egypt, Greece, Switzerland. We narrowed it down towards central or eastern Europe. Probably something like CYprus or Montenegro. Next week we have planned to make a visit at a travel agency. Hope we have agreement on the holiday period and we can make some decisions about the location :)

Ciao!

Ixis

Easter Eggs

It's Easter this weekend. And every year my mom and I have this tradition of coloring up some eggs to create the easter eggs! Of course the ones made from chocolate have been in our cabinets for a few weeks, but as it's almost Easter, the 'fresh' ones have been coloured too! It always gives nice colours and the picture above is (just like the colored eggs) homemade. 

Easter is a very cultural and historical holiday linked to the crusification of Jesus. Judging the easter eggs and when I was little the easter bunny, like other holiday's, Easter has been very much commercialized. Even though I am not an active praticioner of my faith, the symbology of this happening/holiday does touch me.

For everyone, Happy Easter!

Ciao!
Ixis

Gran Canarian pictures - Puerto de Mogan

This year I went to the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria to be more exact. Visiting this beautiful and warm island I also visited Puerto de Mogan. This lovely little picturesque fishing village is set at the mouth of a steep-sided valley on the southwest coast of the island. The canal-like channels linking the marina to the fishing harbour have led to it being nicknamed "Little Venice" of the "Venice of the Canaries". It truly was astonishing.

please click further for more beautiful pictures
Ciao!
Ixis