Abrams Family World Travel

Chiang Mai: The Magical Care Package

TEARS welled up as I opened the box and read the card. I couldn't believe what I was seeing - and feeling. 

Such generosity touched my heart - and deeply!

The kids surrounded me, anxious to take a peak, as though it were Christmas all over again. Zenchai was so excited. 

Slowly, we pulled out gifts - such thoughtful, beautiful and considerate presents - sent to us for no other reason than the desire to share and offer a helping hand. 

Even though we've been fortunate to receive random acts of kindness on our travels, each time it restores my faith in humanity.

So how did this package come about?

Well, a long-time Ozzie yogini friend of mine asked for our address here in Chiang Mai. She said she wanted to send a little something over to us. 

I recieved a little pink card in the post one morning telling me I had something to collect from the main post office (well I assume that is what it said as it was all typed in cryptic Thai).

My first stop before the post office was my weekly yoga class. Interestingly, as I glanced over to look at my alignment in the full-wall mirror, my mind couldn't help but to wander to my grubby yoga attire. Sweat dripping down me, I could only think about how I would need some new threads before I could present a class myself. Then I was whipped back into class by the challenge of another advanced posture.

After class Claude suggested we get lunch, but the surprise was killing me. I wanted to get to the post office to collect our parcel.

Zenchai and Claude trundled through the heat into the post office. They emerged 15 minutes later with a large box. From across the road, Claude was carrying it by those plastic ties they sometimes use for packaging - it looked heavy. Claude placed the box on the front seat and Zenchai said "looks like your friend sent you nappies [diapers]." The box was from a bulk nappy purchase. 

I thought it could be feasible, but then again I knew this friend has just recently had a baby, so I couldn't imagine why she would send us nappies that she would likely be needing.

Anyway, we went to lunch (at one of our favourite places, Beetroot Stories Cafe) and over our delicious meal Zenchai had great fun guessing the contents of the box (bouncy castle, train set, chocolates, cars etc). 

As soon as we got home, I went straight to the scissor drawer and plunked myself down on the floor waiting for Claude to drop the box in front of me. I carefully opened the top to discover a card. I pulled it out and began reading. While I was reading the card, Zenchai was emptying the box with "wows" and "what's this?" 

I read the first few lines of what my friend wrote in the card and couldn't help but to blub. You see, she travelled a lot with her husband before making her family. She has been following our travel adventures, knowing first-hand that travelling is not all sunny skies, beaches or one long holiday. Travelling is wonerderful and exciting, but it doesn't come without its ups and downs, especially when you have small ones in tow. 

Out of the love of her heart (and she has a mighty big one), she and her family put together the kind of care package that they would have loved to have received when they were out on the road exploring this mighty world. 

The box just never seemed to empty! There were books for the grown-ups, cars for Zenchai, a doll for Kobra, organic tea, beautiful soaps, children's puzzle and book, dresses for Kobra, chocolates, eco-friendly water bottles for the kids, natural bug spray and so much more.

But the cream of the crop for me was the addition of some of the most amazing yoga clothes I have ever seen - yoga clothes made of natural fibers, beautiful colours and super flattering fit. My friend is importing and selling these yoga jewels in Australia. In my 12 years of teaching yoga I don't think I have ever had any yoga clothes quite as nice as these!

I was so incredibly overwhelmed - and still am. I feel so grateful, not for just what my friend did, but for having her in my life. 

"You may wonder at this random act of generosity," she wrote. "You may feel a little surprised or even perplexed. But we believe absolutely in giving at every opportunity and we fully recognise the sense of joy in giving and the power it has to uplift us as well as the recipient [you guys]."

If only the world were full of more people like my friend and her family. 

 

 

Kobra: One Year On...Her Amazing Birth Story Remembered

I FEEL like crying when I think about my daughter's first birthday. Already so much has happened in her little life. I can hardly believe a year has passed. Having Kobra in my life is one of the most magical gifts I have ever received. Even her arrival story is quite a spectacular one…

We were living in Piracanga, an eco village in Bahia, Brazil. The air was heavy with expectancy. There were three ladies heavily pregnant, two of whom were due any day, like me. The community was also preparing for an Avatar course. Many outsiders had come to participate and just as many community members were planning on attending. 

Adding to the weight of the already soupy environment was the slight discrepancy over who would be permitted to attend my birth. Allow me to digress to two months prior to Kobra's arrival for a moment to fill in some of the background details. 

While we were in Piracanga there was one senior midwife who served the community. I met her briefly, shortly after our arrival to Piracanga. It was during that one encounter with her that the seed of doubt was planted in me. Could I trust this woman to be present at my birth in the way I needed her to be? 

Then stories of other births that had taken place in Piracanga began to pour in - birth stories that I knew I didn't want for myself or my baby. I knew exactly what I needed in the persons attending my birth. Also, on a very deep level, I intuited  (I mean I literally felt with every parcel of my being) how this birth would unfold.

Unfortunately, I don't think it is very common knowledge that those who surround a birthing woman have an enormous impact on how she will birth. So to be absolutely sure that I would not be adversely affected during my process I had to know that my midwife would be fully on board with my wishes. 

There was also the minor detail of whether she would actually be in Piracanga. She was a highly experienced and sought-after midwife who travelled almost continuously. So would she really be there in the moment of need?

These weren't the thoughts I wanted swirling away in my head weeks before I was due to give birth. Faced with these impossible questions, I turned to one of my dearest friends in the UK, a natural birth and mothering advocate. She promptly posted me her book Birthkeepers. It couldn't have arrived at a better time. I devoured the book in 48 hours and felt ultra-confident with my birthing position - to go it alone without a midwife.

I am sure that must sound ludicrous, possibly irresponsible to some, but this is my story related to my body and baby. I knew my baby and body better than anyone. I also know what a woman's body is capable of given the right circumstances (I had this experience with Zenchai's birth, too).

I felt relieved that a decision had been made. I could just get on with the late days of pregnancy. Well, so I thought. 

Of course word spread, as it does in small communities, about my 'lawless' decision. This for very obvious reasons raised the hairs on many peoples' backs. I held my ground firmly. The bones in my body told me how my birth would be (these are the same bones that told me when I first met Claude we would make children together). I was not afraid.

I reluctantly agreed to meet with the midwife once more (interpreter on hand as her English was limited and my Portuguese abysmal). The encounter was rather peculiar. She got out her laptop and showed us pictures and videos of births she had attended. I guess she was trying to show us examples of her work. But most of the images I found unsettling. She was the prominent focus of every photo, gloved hands reaching in and taking babies from beneath their mothers, like a heroine. The video I could hardly watch. I was feeling even more strongly that she was not the right match for me.

Then she packed her computer away and got up to leave like we had signed the agreement she would attend the birth. It was an awkward moment, but I called her back. It was not the kind of birth I wanted (by the way, I think I should mention for those that don't know me very well, that I am not anti-midwife, but I had very strict criteria that needed to be met). 

After she sat back down, I did a little air-clearing. I expressed to her precisely what I wanted in a midwife. If she was willing to abide then we had a deal. But, again deep down, I wasn't sure I would need her. I knew this baby was going to come fast. Claude and I, often in semi-jest, talked about how there would be no time to get her when I went into labour and I would have my freebirth as I truly wished.

Once again with things ironed out, I relaxed into the idea of enjoying my last few weeks of carrying a baby in my womb, after all this could be the last time. Just as the dust nearly settled, I came down with two staph infections on my foot.

They started out as insect bites. I must have gone crazy scratching them, causing them to become infected. It all happened very quickly. I began properly cleaning the wounds as were the resident doctor's orders. But a week had gone by and they were getting worse, in particular the one above my ankle. It had turned into a gaping wound at least the size of an American quarter. 

I was adamant that I didn't want to take antibiotics, especially so late in my pregnancy. This is when a medicine lady appeared. I began undergoing treatments with her. But it was by far the most excruciating thing I have ever felt. Each day for sometimes hours she pulled away the diseased flesh from my skin with her bare fingers. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I would wonder why all this was happening and what my poor baby must be feeling.

Everything had gone very bleak. I was at my lowest point. Would this infection heal so I could focus on giving birth? 

I was laid-up almost continually, trying to recover and not feel the agonising pain of my wounds. Self-reproach was another common emotion. I desperately wanted to be playing and interacting with Zenchai before our lives changed forever, not some housebound invalid. 

I was now days away from my due date. Something had to give. After very careful consideration, I decided to use very small amounts of antibiotic cream on my wounds. I was still receiving daily cleanings from our resident doctor and my midwife. Both were pleased with the progress we had started to make by using the cream. The wounds were getting smaller and less painful. As a reward for progress made, I was allowed a swim in the river (I had been dying to swim in the beautiful waters, to float and be without gravity, something I hadn't enjoyed for at least three weeks). Zenchai and I zipped merrily down to the river at low tide, our favourite time, when the water was warm and red in colour. We played and splashed. I felt like a new woman.

Returning to the beginning of the story, the air in Piracanga was feeling hot, salty and pregnant with expectation. It was three days until the full moon. The midwife had predicted that one of us with buns in the oven would be ready to pop with magnetism of the full moon upon us. 

It was a normal day. I had been feeling emotional, so decided to take a nap in the hammock. The doctor came to check and clean my wounds as usual. He asked how I was and when I tried to explain I felt all fuzzy in my head. We both put it down to my body trying to fight the infection and the heat of the day. Later a friend came by to offer me a massage. Feeling blue, the timing was right. She lovingly rubbed my shoulders, head and back and ended it by giving me deeksha. After such a treat, I felt so much better.

That evening we were going to another friend's for a bonfire party. Before we went, Claude, Zenchai and I had a quick meal up on one of the top sun decks, enjoying a splendid sunset. At dusk we made our way to the fire. Everyone was there. It was buzzing (by Piracanga standards). I saw the midwife there. She was drinking a caiporienha (typical Brazialian alcoholic beverage). I whispered in a joking way that I hoped I wasn't the one going into labour that night! 

Popcorn was being served and as I took a handful of it I thought "I am not sure I want to eat this. I really love popcorn, but if I go into labour I will be sure to throw this up and go off it for quite sometime." I indulged anyway. It was only a small chance that I would go into labour that night, right?

It was getting late and we needed to get Zenchai to sleep, so we began our walk along the moonlit paths back to our house. We bumped into a couple of visitors who were lost and trying to find their way back to their lodgings. As we showed them the way, the woman asked when I was due. I casually replied "Oh, any time now."

We all crawled into bed and retired for the night. It didn't feel like I was in bed long when I woke-up with that all-too-familiar late pregnancy sensation that my bladder required urgent attention. As I trundled over Zenchai, I wasn't sure if I would make it to my bucket (strategically placed near our bed so I wouldn't have to climb my way down the stairs each night to wee amongst any potential creepy crawlies). 

Immediately after I got out of bed I knew things were happening. I got my sleepy head straight and woke Claude from his slumber. He needed to begin preparing my birthing space ASAP. I walked out to our balcony overlooking our garden glowing under the moon's light. I bent over the railing and had a very strong contraction. My rushes were coming thick and fast. I decided to reach down and feel my bits. The sensation was unreal. It was like I had found the baby eject button. If I didn't move my hand back to the railing then this baby was for sure going to shoot straight out of me right there and then. 

I mumbled to Claude that I was going to make my way to the bathroom. I wanted to evacuate before this baby really came. I made it to the landing just in time for another powerful surge. I caught my breath and made it to the bathroom. By this point I was very vocal. Later we were told most of the village could hear my primal sounds.

I sat on the toilet. Oh, the relief to be sat there. I was having a continuous flow of rushes. Claude very meekly tried to persuade me to come off the toilet as we had an agreement that under no circumstances was I to birth on the toilet again (Zenchai was born on the toilet and I believed I had torn in that labour due to the circulation not flowing properly). I am not sure if I answered him. But he promptly began bringing the birthing mats and paraphernalia from upstairs to the bathroom floor. 

Claude then gently aided me to the floor. I got on my knees and gripped the sink counter for dear life. This baby was coming and fast. My body was bearing down and at the same time the skies opened and began bearing down sheets of rain. I reached down once more to feel myself and there was the head. It felt like nothing I have ever touched. It was wet and squidgy. My thinking brain was long gone. I began to semi-panic. Calling out "what is this I am feeling?" I felt like I had been shouting for help for hours. I just couldn't connect the dots that it was my baby's head. 

I felt as if I was alone in the bathroom with only faint candle light even though Claude was actually right behind me. I peered out the door of the bathroom and saw a shadow. It was not Claude's. I knew we were alone in the house. I could feel my eyes getting small. I felt like a leopard protecting her den and began shouting "Who  is that? Who is here?" Claude appeared before me and told me that the midwife had gotten word that I was in labour and that she was there. (An apprentice midwife had been camping on the neighbour's land and heard my noises. She made a split-second decision to get the midwife to me in top speed.)

I relaxed and put away my claws. My focus was once more back to this baby emerging from me. Prior to labour I told Claude that I wanted to be the one to receive our baby, the first one to touch him/her, as he was the one who caught Zenchai. 

But this baby was on rocket fuel. I could not let go of the counter. I needed help and pretty damn quick! Claude motioned for the midwife to come in. And within seconds of her crouching below me our baby had entered the world. 

She handed our slippery baby to me. I leaned on my heels and held her close. I was in shock. Everything had happened so rapidly. It felt like an eternity before I properly looked to see if we had a girl or boy. Just as I had dreamed, we had had a healthy, plump girl.  I quickly asked the assistant midwife what the time was. She checked her watch. It was 11.30pm. I noted she was born on the 15th and not the 16th.

Within 10 minutes of her arrival my afterbirth came just as speedily. And as I looked down at my baby's placenta, I was half-surprised to find it wasn't another baby. Part of me had thought that maybe there were two in my womb. The midwife took a tiny piece of the placenta and offered it to me to eat. I refused (this had been another sticky topic with her as she was adamant that women should eat a bit of their placenta for all its healing powers).

I held my bundle firmly as our midwife and her assistant checked me over for tearing and despite not birthing on the toilet I still tore. She expertly stitched me by torchlight, then helped to shower me and got me ready to bed down with my new baby girl.

Claude and I had planned to lotus birth her (allowing the umbilical cord to fall away naturally instead of cutting it), but as I got into bed that night, for the second time I had visions of ants blanketing us to get to the placenta. We spoke with her about what was going to happen and then allowed the midwife to cut the cord.

The midwife and her assistant left. Claude and I looked at each other in astonishment. Had we really just had a baby? We had already decided that if we had a girl her name would be Kobra.

That night I slept with Kobra, listening to the continual rain falling. I remember waking up once and having to remind myself that I had a baby in bed with me.

The next morning Zenchai had the surprise of meeting his new sister. He had slept through the whole affair but was rather pleased to have a new sibling.

When the midwives returned we spoke about the night's events. Apparently, the assistant midwife's watch had broken and she had told us the wrong time of birth. Our clock had stopped working, too. So she asked around the village to find out if anyone noted the time they heard me stop making sounds and Kobra's first cry. They concluded that it was around 12.30am, so she indeed was born on the 16th not the 15th. But a huge part of me really thinks she was born on the 15th. I guess we'll never know for certain.

We then deduced that Kobra's birth was between 30-45 minutes from start to finish. She really was in a hurry to meet us.

This was also the time when the midwife offered me once again to eat a piece of placenta. She was very concerned for me, especially as I still had the two staph infections. She did not want it to get worse or spread to the baby. I reluctantly agreed to have some but only if it could be blended with some acai (berries) to hide the colour and taste. 

Claude was delighted to take up his place in the kitchen. He made me a placenta smoothie, which I drank without any hiccups. The coconut milk and acai totally drowned out any possible placenta taste. And, for the record, my staph infections went away almost immediately after I gave birth - no doubt due to Claude's culinary wizardry.

So in the end everything happened harmoniously. Kobra's birth was extraordinary on so many levels. And everything worked out superbly with the midwife. 

Today, I give special honour to my little rocket baby, Kobra Rain Abrams. Already at one you are a reservoir of bliss, joy and happiness. I love you with all of my heart. Happy Birthday baby!

 

 

World Travel: Avoiding Jet Lag

I have to admit that I rarely suffer from jet-lag, even when I travelled solo with Zenchai as a baby, taking the long flights to and from the UK to the US, or when I was a single adventurer trekking to and from Australia and New Zealand.

Now I also have to divulge that I do have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to easing my body through long-haul flights.

1. Jet Ease or No Jet-Lag Homoeopathic tablets - I first discovered these when I worked in a health food store in New Zealand and ever since then they have been a constant flying companion. I put Claude on to these as he normally suffers quite badly from jet-lag and I am happy to say they do the trick for him, too. They are simple to take (pop one in every couple of hours), not contraindicated with any other medications and safe for children to take.

2. Keep hydrated - Drink plenty of water before your flight and during your flight. As tempting as the free alcoholic beverages can be, avoid them (coffee and tea too). They dehydrate you, thus feeding your body's temptation to slip into jet-lagged state.

3. Move about - Get up and stretch throughout your flight (if you are drinking lots of water then you'll need the loo anyway!). Doing simple movements such as touching your toes, rotating all of your joints (ankles, knees, hips, wrists etc) and stretching your arms overhead are great ways to keep the body relaxed, stimulate your circulation and kick start your immune system. ( I even know one yogini that does handstands on her long flights!)

4. Pack your own food - Everyone knows how awful airplane food can be. It is best to avoid the lifeless, processed trays of garbage they pass around. We always pack a cache of supplies. Some ides are fresh fruit (apples, oranges, blueberries etc), nuts and seeds, rice cakes, sandwiches, fried rice, falafel, hummus, raw pizza (made in dehydrator) and the list could go on. Keep it simple and fresh. For those wondering, yes you can get most food items through airport security. I once even got lentil soup through. 

5. Know when to sleep or stay awake - sometimes the desire to sleep for an entire flight is too hard to say no to. I always try to stay awake on a flight if my final destination has me arriving in 'their' evening time. This means I am ready to sleep when everyone else is. If I am arriving somewhere in 'their' morning (like US to NZ) I sleep at least the majority of the flight. If I know I will need to sleep on a flight, I will stay up late the day before my departure.

6. Use aromatherapy essential oils - there are many ways to optimise your flying experience using therapeutic oils. Lavender is great for calming, relaxing and inducing sleep. While peppermint can recharge and re-energize you. I often use a synergistic blend for immune enhancement to help support my system to keep any bugs at bay. Remember almost all essential oils are antibacterial and antimicrobial, so placing a drop under your nose will purify the air you are breathing. 

Here are some random items that can come in handy to ensure you have a pleasant flight: eye-pillow/ eye-mask, socks, earplugs, Emergen-C (a powder sachet that is added to water, fab for rehydrating), Chamomilla homoeopathic liquid or tablets for babies and children (I used this religiously when Zenchai was a small babe to help keep him settled).

Wishing you a jet-lag-free journey! Let me know how you get on.

         

Our First 12 months On The Road: Natural Travel Remedies

Whenever you travel, you expose yourself to health risks. Each country has its own strand of germs and frequently sitting on aeroplanes alone can make you vulnerable to bugs.

For children the risks are probably higher. Youngsters under five haven’t fully developed their immune systems.

Yet for most of 2010 we, as a family, were relatively illness-free. We picked up parasites while in Ecuador – and got rid of them – and all of us had colds after we arrived in Vilcabamba (Ecuador) last March and Buenos Aires in October.

It all seemed rather ironic at the time that we were walking around with noses streaming in the so-called Valley of Longevity like we had opened a mucus factory, yet were breathing in clean mountain air and surrounded by beautiful scenery.

But it’s possible also that whatever bugs got into our systems had done so in Quito, where it is polluted and the traffic heavy. Colds are not a sign of poor health, but an indication your immune system is functioning and eliminating invaders.

For colds we don’t take anything and let it run its course. For anything else we take homoeopathic remedies. We now travel with three kits from Helios: the nursery kit; travellers kit; pregnancy and birth kit. This provides a remedy for almost anything.

But for the parasites Jamie and I took MMS (Miracle Mineral Supplement) and it did the trick. Zenchai took a herbal parasite-cleanser for children. So we’ve been pretty fortunate.

Our first line of defence is always taking good care of ourselves – getting enough exercise, sleep, good food, sunshine and fresh air. We eat what we consider a healthy vegan diet – plenty of fruits, vegetables, greens, nuts and pulses. We try whenever possible to eat organically. Neither of us smokes or drinks alcohol either.

We try to maintain a high level of hygiene. We wash all our food before consuming it and cut the skin off if we know it's not organic. But sometimes it’s not enough and when eating out or, in some cases, from street stalls, you can never be certain how the food has been treated or prepared. For cases of diarrhoea or stomach pain, we always carry with us charcoal tablets. Also in our arsenal we have oil of oregano capsules, which act as natural antibiotics (as does eating garlic), plus probiotics for us and Zenchai (probiotics maintain healthy gut flora).

Possibly the worst health issue we had to deal with was an infection Zenchai had to his penis while in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador. The poor guy’s little Black and Decker was swollen like a balloon and he was in pain.

Naturally worried, we took him to a local doctor (this was the first time he had visited a doctor since his six-week baby check-up) and she prescribed him a steriod cream and antibiotics with the order that he not go into the ocean for a fortnight (which was the entire time we were on the coast).

Without being dismissive of the diagnosis, Jamie and I questioned whether to administer the prescription as we are naturally cautious regarding the over-use of antibiotics and steroids. Instead, we opted first for the natural remedy colloidal silver gel which we applied throughout the day and night. This had immediate results.

The penis episode was worrying and so, too, was a bout of vomiting and diarrhoea he had following a long bus trip from Canoa to Quito at the end of May. For several days he couldn't keep food down (we think it was almost certainly the parasites). But we stuck it out, made sure he was properly hydrated and, sure enough, he got well enough for us to travel back to London. In those moments, though, you do get concerned it could be something more serious.

Of the three of us, Zenchai also suffered most from mosquito attacks, especially in Ecuador. For whatever reason, they loved the taste of his blood and he was covered in bites at one stage even though we applied a citronella-based repellent. To help ease the discomfort, we used lavender essential oil and/or calendula homeopathic cream.

In Croatia, to a lesser degree, they got him again (although his bite count was reduced by the use of Mosquiten patches (a natural German product with the main ingredient being green tomatoes).

As we prepare to head to Brazil, where the climate is tropical, we are not only armed with mosquito nets, but also Neem, an essential oil more powerful than citronella and which works well with the latter for added protection.

Let's hope that does the trick.

World Travel: Bugs, Parasites etc...How To Fight Back

Venturing to far-off countries and third-world nations carries its share of risks. So many people are terrified of catching this or that and, consequently, stay put.

When travelling you encounter climates and habitats you are not used to. Hygiene isn’t always first class. You experiment with local cuisine, sometimes off the street. And often you are fending off attacks from predators of the insect variety. It's easier to remain at home, right?

But we didn’t want to play life 'safe'. We knew before we conceived the idea of leaving England to explore the world - or what we could of it - that there were risks attached. And sure enough, on our first long stint abroad, in Ecuador, all three of us ended up with parasites.

These little critters are easily caught, especially by children, who play with everything, often picking up things with their hands and then sticking their fingers straight in their mouths.

Fact is, though, that a large percentage of people in the ‘cleaner’ western world are carrying parasites and probably don’t even know about it.

But we had very clear signs (I won't go into graphic detail) in Ecuador and immediately had ourselves checked out. The procedure was simple. You visit a chemist, receive a sample bottle and take it to one of many laboratories. The time from when we dropped off the samples to getting our test results was about two hours. In England, months later, when we had the same tests – to be sure we were parasite-free – the procedure was a matter of weeks (after the first samples had somehow got lost in the system).

How did we clean ourselves out? Firstly, we were offered and advised to take the pharmaceutical route, which is understandable given that parasites can be dangerous to hang on to.

But we opted to wait until returning to the UK, which was a matter of weeks, and then went for a more natural regime, MMS (Miracle Mineral Solution), and, for Zenchai (in addition to small doses of MMS), Cedar Bear Naturals parasite cleanse for children.

The jury is still out on whether MMS is legit or not. It is, effectively, Sodium Chlorite.

To become effective, it has to be mixed with citric acid, the ratio being 1:5 drops and can be taken with water or fruit juice (only apple, pineapple or grape).

When Sodium Chlorite is mixed with citric acid you get Chlorine Dioxide, which shouldn’t be confused with Chlorine – the two are chalk and cheese.

Jim Humble is the man who discovered MMS. He used it to cure himself and several others of malaria. Since then, he has used it to help people overcome many other viruses that we are told can only be eliminated by taking more powerful drugs.

Consequently, Humble’s work isn’t widely appreciated. He sells his product quite cheaply for starters and only via the internet, his premise being that he wants to help heal people rather than make tons of money. But the proof is in the pudding. And after taking MMS our results came back negative, showing that whatever bugs we had picked up in Ecuador had well and truly been zapped.

We still carry with us the MMS supply in case we come under attack again - one bottle can last a long time. And sometimes we take it as a matter of precaution, because just one drop can help even when you are feeling the onset of a cold.

There is plenty of information on MMS in the public domain and it’s up to each individual to conduct their own research.

 

Kukljica: Thorny Start to the Day

Maybe you don't know how easily grossed out I get over silly things. It isn't one of my endearing qualities. Therefore I don't crow too loudly about it. 

Due to my queasiness over having my feet touch seaweed (weirdly, I have no problem eating the stuff), I squirmed a little too much one morning when climbing up the pier from the sea, trying to avoid caressing anything remotely slimey or furry and ended up kicking my toes into a sea urchin. 

As one could imagine I was not a happy duck. As a matter of fact once I was safely out of harms way from all the sea creatures on dry land, I believe I stomped off, one-footed in a mood to the house to begin 'operation urchin removal' with my tweezers. 

By lunchtime I could laugh about it. Although not all the barbs were out of my toes, I wasn't in any major pain and we decided to get on with the day - quills in my toes and all. We got in the car for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks to head to a beach we were unacquainted with. 

Claude was driving when I felt a horrible pricking on my hand. I looked down and there was a big, fat wasp stinging me. In my urgent-wifey-not-so-cool voice, I urged Claude to pull the car over so we could get this mighty guy out of the car and off of me. 

So when the car was off the road I got out in a mild huff and ushered the wasp out. 

Once back in the car, I was feeling irritated at Claude for not pulling the car off more quickly and Zenchai said "Look! An apple tree." In my irksome state, I nearly dismissed him, but then looked up and there was a beautiful fig tree with fully ripened fruit hanging off the branches, practically calling to be picked. 

Quickly out of the car we got, immeasurably excited about Zenchai's discovery. Most of the other fig trees on the island will not be ready until August, so we couldn't believe our stroke of luck. Greedily but gently, we tugged the figs from the tree, filling a shopping bag. 

All thoughts of sea urchins and wasps had magically been wiped away in that moment. 

Finally, back in the car, stocked-up to the hilt with figs, we made our way to the unfamiliar beach. There we found total refuge and were rewarded with a lovely, warm, sandy, shallow sea water that we could all relish together. 

A thorny start to the day with possibly a fairytale ending? You decide. 

Abrams Family Travel Tips: If you have the pleasure of being spiked by a sea urchin, once the initial shock has passed there is no need to fret too much. Use clean tweezers to remove as many of the spines as you can - this can be tricky as they have reverse barbs making your job more tedious - sanitise the area with hydrogen peroxide (I used colloidal silver gel) and just let nature take its course. Sea urchin needles are of similar composition to our bones and they will over time dissolve or our bodies will eliminate them. To aid the process you can try applying vinegar compresses, soak your feet frequently in the sea (or use Epsom salts) and I read you can wrap the area in duct tape. Most important is to keep the area clean. If you are in a lot of pain or there is sign of infection then use common sense and go see a doctor. 

My injury is fairly nominal. I tweezed out as much as I could, have been soaking my feet in the very salty Adriatic and applying colloidal silver gel. I still have some semblance of spines in the tips of two of my pedal digits, but it can take weeks, even months, for the spikes to dissolve or expel completely. 

Hopefully there is no need for me to write this, but obviously I am not a doctor and the above information provided is based solely on my experience and what I found on the internet regarding sea urchin injuries.

Getting Bugged?

 

Back home in England (yes, I still regard England as home) I often see people get freaked out at the sight of an insect invader in the home. But out here, in our rural and rustic home in the hills, we’ve learned to live alongside them.

Each day we are visited by ants, massive bumble bees, moths, dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, butterflies, mosquitoes and flies (no-see-ums).

The mosquitoes and flies bite, which has caused some frantic itching (see picture above), but we’ve managed to limit the casualty list by investing in a decent bug repellent and heal the wounds by rubbing in potable alcohol or peppermint oil.

However, with all the other bugs we just learn to live side by side. After all, they were here first!

Abrams Family Travelling Tip: Remember to pack a high quality citronella essential oil (a large bottle) during the rainy season for any destination that is mosquito/buggy-prone.