How to Manage Your Blood Sugar in Hot Destinations

More tips for managing diabetes while traveling around the world from Cazzy Magennis, of Dream Big Travel Far!

I have a love hate/relationship with heat. It’s partly to do with my Irish skin; I tend to get burnt quite easily, and frequently. However, I do love the sunshine, and I love visiting countries with a warm climate and embrace long walks, BBQs, water sports and a little bit of sunbathing.

Having type 1 diabetes can mean your relationship with heat is a little more complicated, because of the effect it has on our blood sugar levels, and consequently insulin, monitors, etc.

So here is my guide on how to manage your blood sugars in the heat!

Blood Sugar & Heat

The sun is a powerful force, and it can actually cause you to fall into hypo. I don’t know the scientific reasoning for this, but it may be something to do with sweat. It doesn’t happen for everyone, but I am one of the lucky few who get to experience hypos when I am in the sun too long.

How do we manage this? Here are some of my tips for insulin pumpers and pen users!

Insulin Pens

• If you are going to a warm climate for more than a couple of days, reduce your long-acting insulin (this could be Lantus or Levemir) by around 20%. This is dependent on every individual, but if I am just lazing around in the sun for a day, I usually find this helps.
• If you are in the sunshine but also undertaking physical activity whether that be on the beach sports such as volleyball, or water sports like surfing or bodyboarding, you need to reduce your insulin even higher to take into account the low blood sugar results of physical activity. If you are spending the whole day engaged in physical activity in the sun, reduce your background insulin by 40-50% and be aware when you bolus for food that you are active and in the sun, so maybe take a quarter less than you normally would.
• Keep a diary. If this is your first time in the sun, or doing physical activity in a hot climate, then take note of how your blood sugars react to changes. You could actually start day one in a new climate with your normal blood routine, take note of all blood sugar lows and peaks, then adjust for the next day. Keep a diary on day two, and if you need further adjustments, then make them. By day three your blood sugars should behave for you.
• Drink lots and lots of water, this can help with insulin circulation and dehydration can also have an effect on your blood sugars. We don’t want to add further complications into the mix, so stay hydrated.

Insulin Pumps

The magic of insulin pumps is that they have different applications within the pump that can help when we enter a new climate, or just spending the day in the sun. These are a temporary basal rate, a multi-wave or dual bolus, or an extended wave.

These are the types that are on my insulin pump by Roche, your pump may have them under different names, but to give you an idea of what ones are useful for heat, I have explained them below.

• Temporary Basal Rate

“A temporary basal rate allows an immediate short-term change to your basal insulin for a specified period of time (30 minutes to 24 hours).” – Medtronic

This means you can reduce or increase your insulin by a certain percentage for the period of time you need it- this is very useful if you are trying to manage your blood sugars in the heat sporadically, so for example, if you are spending a day hiking in the sunshine, or lazing on the beach, then you can put your temporary basal rate and reduce your insulin by 50%- or whatever you have found works for your own body.

You can set this for the time period you are in the sun, around 10-6pm, then once this time has finished, your temporary basal rate will stop and go back to your normal basal routine! It’s a good idea to discuss with your DSN before your try your first temporary basal rate because how much you reduce depends on how sensitive you are to insulin, and how much you are already on!

• Dual Wave or Multi-Wave

“Dual Wave bolus delivers a combination of an immediate Normal bolus followed by a Square Wave bolus. The Square Wave portion is delayed evenly over a period of time. A Dual Wave bolus is useful for meals with both rapidly and slowly absorbed carbohydrates.” – Medtronic

Eating carbs in the sunshine, combined with the sunshine, and/or activity, can mean you can drop or go higher depending on your body. Check with your diabetes team on the best way you could use this wave to manage your blood sugars in the heat.

As before keep a diary and monitor what your body is doing, if you can correct it the first day, then it will be easier for you to keep smooth blood sugars on the rest of your trip. A pump allows you to be a bit more spontaneous, so take advantage of all the features it offers.

 

Also make sure your hydrated! This is for non-diabetics too, dehydration can make anyone seriously ill quickly.

Is Freestyle Libre Useful?

If you can/have a freestyle libre or CGM, these are great for (almost!) being able to predict what your blood sugar is going to do, and a really useful tool for managing your blood sugar levels while in the sun.

What is the Freestyle Libre?

The Freestyle libre is a wonderful new system that enables type 1 diabetics to scan their blood sugars instead of finger pricking. It takes a reading and creates a graph type view so you can see the pattern of your blood sugars on a 8 hour window and has arrow that will indicate whether your blood sugar will stay at the number it is at, go higher, or go lower, this is a great tool to help you catch a low blood sugar and avoid a high blood sugar.

The libres accuracy really depends on the individual, but you can usually expect it to be out by 1-2 mmol which is similar to the difference between blood glucose monitors.

I used it extensively in South America, I tested every 15 minutes in the sun with an easy scan and was able to catch a good view hypos! It does not eliminate the need for finger pricking, but definitely, reduces the number of finger pricks and helps give your fingertips a much-needed rest!

What is a CGM?

A continuous glucose monitor is a small wearable device that tracks your glucose throughout the day and night, and notifies you of highs and lows so you can take action when needed- it helps eliminate the guesswork based on one glucose reading, and it is an excellent device to help manage your blood sugars in the heat, however I have not had the luxury of trying a CGM yet due to the cost, but it is something I am definitely working towards acquiring one in the future.

Blood Sugar, Heat and Alcohol

This can be a tricky mix. If you have not mastered the art of drinking with type 1 diabetes (I say art because it takes practice to not hypo!) Then I would seriously consider speaking to your DSN before you decided to lounge in the sun and sip on cocktails all day. There are great ways on the insulin pump to help make this possible.

A temporary basal rate is a useful tool when drinking in the heat.

Depending on the type of alcohol you are drinking, your blood sugar will spike then drop again, and it has a delay of dropping off 12 hours, so you need to remember your blood sugars aren’t safe again until 12 hours after you have stopped drinking.

As a rule for myself, I try to stick to neutral spirits, such as Vodka and a diet mixer, as this won’t cause my blood sugar to rise because there are no carbohydrates in either, so I can focus on avoiding the low, with a temporary basal rate, or eating while drinking.

This is not to say I avoid cocktails, I love a good strawberry daiquiri or pina colada, but I wouldn’t drink only them otherwise I would have both a sugar and hypo hangover!

Consult with your doctor before you drink in the heat, but it’s honestly a trial and error situation, and you will eventually find a balance that works for you.

Other Tips

Despite all the planning and work we put into trying to avoid hypos in the heat, sometimes they will still happen so here are some other tips I have learnt.

• Carry extra supplies of sugar that are easy and convenient to place in your pockets, a backpack or even a pump strap- dextrose is a decent buy!
• Always carry small coinage in case you run out of sugar and need to buy a sugary drink. This has happened to me in Brazil, I was trying to adjust to the sunshine and I took a bad hypo which meant I had eaten all of my supplies that were out with me, but thankfully I had some small change ready to buy a sugary drink.
• Avoid sunburn. Sunburn can cause your blood sugars to go higher or lower, depending on your body, so eliminate the stress of this by making sure you are sun protected! This is particularly important for diabetics who experience neuropathy in their feet, you might not even realise you are burning, and it takes a lot longer for your feet to heal, so as a rule make sure your feet are covered in sunscreen before you leave the house!

• Even if you aren’t diabetic, it is super important to protect your skin at all times!

• Protect your equipment. Insulin can die in the heat as it is only made to last a particular temperature, this is why carrying your insulin pens in a Frio bag is so important if you are going out for the day. If you are on an insulin pump you can actually get really useful Frio cooling covers for them to stop your insulin pump from overheating and dying in the heat.

  Ladies, don’t put your insulin pump in your bra on a hot day, this increases the risk of insulin dying, and this is from experience when I spent a day in Rome wondering why I felt like I was going to die, only to realise my insulin had died because it was so warm! Get yourself a waist belt, or Travel Bra which has an external area for the pump that doesn’t touch your skin. 

• Get new insulin! If your insulin is damaged by heat then it can become cloudy and grainy and stick to the side of the glass, or it can go a brownish colour. If your insulin looks like this, do NOT use it.
• Keep your diabetic monitor out of the heat. They can overheat and just not turn on. I have also made that mistake by forgetting to put my monitor in the shade and it took a while for it to turn back on.
• If you take all the necessary precautions then there is no reason you can’t manage your blood sugars in the heat!

 

Please remember I am not a health professional and this advice is based on my own experience, so please consult your doctor or health professional before you try anything new with your diabetic care.

Happy traveling!

READ NEXT: Travel Checklist for Type 1 Diabetes

 

Read More

The Beginner’s Guide to Traveling with Type 1 Diabetes

Ten Essential Tips For Solo Female Travelers

6 Things to Remember Before Every Trip

How To Eat, Drink and Stay Healthy While Traveling

Travel-Friendly Workouts for Girls on the Go

The Ultimate Guide to Solo Female Travel

How to Manage Your Blood Sugar in Hot Destinations is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

from The Blonde Abroad http://ift.tt/2qBRYj4

How I Saved Money For Travel (You Don’t Need To Be Rich)

How to Save Money for Travel

Travel Tips

Want to travel the world for a while? Or just take an epic vacation? You don’t need to be rich, but you’ll need to get creative about saving money for travel. Here’s how I did it.

There’s a popular myth floating around that travel is an expensive hobby. Certainly people who travel a lot must have rich parents, lucrative lottery winnings, or work high paying jobs… right?

Normal people can’t afford to travel. It’s far too expensive for the rest of us…

Don’t worry, I understand where you’re coming from. I used to think that way too. As an American who didn’t even know what a hostel or GAP year was, I thought international travel was only for the rich and privileged.

But after traveling the world extensively for the past 6 years, I’m here to tell you world travel is possible for the rest of us too.

How To Save Money For Travel

After countless emails from readers asking about how I’m able to travel the world seemingly non-stop exploring incredible destinations, I wanted to share some useful tips about how I learned to save money for traveling.

Because I had to learn too — it didn’t come naturally. In fact I used to be horrible at saving money.

When I quit my job in 2010 to embark on a year long adventure in Central America, I wasn’t rich. I was living in South Florida earning $28,000 a year working as a photographer for used car dealerships and nightclubs in Miami.

Incredibly glamorous, I know…

Even with my very average (American) income, and living in a pretty expensive area of the country, I managed to save $7000 in 12 months by transforming my lifestyle and living below my means.

I learned how to spend less, save more, and earn extra cash on the side.

It wasn’t easy, and it required plenty of hard work and sacrifice, but if I could do it, I’m confident you could too. It doesn’t matter if you want to travel for two weeks or two years, the process is the same.

Here’s my simple formula that will help you save money for your next trip.

We All Want More Of This…

1: Become Financially Responsible

This isn’t intended to sound judgmental. We all start here. What did school really teach you about financial planning? For many of us, not much.

Money management is a learned skill – but most of us don’t master the basics until we’re adults — if ever. I was clueless for a long time.

If you want to save money for travel, now is a good time to revisit those basics, and maybe iron out a few of those bad financial habits we all acquire along the way.

Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

You are making a significant long-term commitment that’s sometimes going to be really hard to stick to. Saving up enough money for travel, or anything for that matter, is tough on the soul and demands sacrifice, which is why so few people succeed. The right mindset is everything!

How much do you want this? Because nobody else will do it for you. It’s your responsibility the whole way.

Equally importantly, how many times are you willing to try and fail until you’ve successfully learned all the habits and strategies that will put the required amount in the bank to get you traveling?

Good. I think you’re ready for this then! (Just don’t expect it to be easy.)

2: Track Your Spending

Money itself isn’t stressful. Neither is effective money management. Not knowing what your money is doing? Being afraid to check your bank balance? That’s where all the stress happens.

The solution to this is simple.

Put aside a day this weekend, buy your favorite bottle of wine (you’ll need it), and go through all your accounts to find out EXACTLY what your finances look like, down to the dollar.

Tracking expenses is an important part of learning where you can cut back, or even eliminate your spending.

I know, you’ve probably heard this before. But have you actually done it? On a regular basis? It’s a powerful way to identify how much money you piss away every month on random crap you don’t need.

Write it ALL down. How much do you spend on food each week? Don’t forget to include groceries, eating out, bottled water, and snacks. How much do you spend on entertainment? Movies, books, music, sports tickets, dates, etc.

What about vices like alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee?

What are your monthly bills? Rent, mortgage, utilities, car payment, insurance, credit card interest, cell phone service, gym membership, student loans, etc. Don’t forget miscellaneous shopping either. Video games, clothes, pet toys, etc.

Now, grit your teeth and look it all in the face. You may be surprised at how much you’re spending. Little things tend to add up. This isn’t an easy thing to do, I know. That’s why you might need that wine.

But it becomes a lot easier if you approach saving with the right attitude. You’re not here to judge yourself or wallow in regret. Take your feelings out of the equation because they’re not needed.

This is simply about awareness. You’re looking your financial situation right in the eye and saying, “OK – this is where I am. This is where I need to be.”

If you’re like me, building this kind of awareness, and tracking everything, takes time. That’s the nature of habits – you don’t suddenly change your behavior overnight.

Track your spending like a pro with this free expense tracking app from Mint.

Stick To Your Budget

3: Budget Ruthlessly

There are two types of budgeting you need to do here. The first is budgeting your trip. The second is budgeting your life.

First, you need to work out how much your trip is going to cost you. If you know what you’re doing, your travel budget can be as low as $50 a day.

The amount is going to vary wildly depending on where you want to travel, and how thrifty you are. But for long-term budget travel, I usually recommend planning to spend at least $1500 per month.

So that means to backpack around the world for 6 months, you should have at least $9000 in your bank account before you leave.

If you choose wisely, your accommodation can cost next to nothing. Cheap flights can be easy to find if you follow these simple tips – and so on.

If you want all my best advice for ways to save money on travel, start here.

You’ve got 16 months before you leave? Great! Your monthly savings goal is 1/16th of that total – and you need to budget successfully to put that amount aside every month, more or less, until you hit your target.

Now the big question becomes – how are you going to hit that target?

First step: create a running budget, assigning strict numbers to recurring expenses – and stick to it religiously. Some expenses are fixed, for example, your rent (although, keep reading below for one way to lower it).

Other expenses are flexible, like the money you spend on food every month, or socializing. The trick with these is to make sure you always know how much of your budget is left, so you’re not a victim of “phantom expenses” that nibble away your hard-earned savings without you being aware of them.

Going shopping? Decide in advance how much you can afford to spend, and use the calculator on your phone to total everything up as you walk round the aisles. Going out with friends? Withdraw cash, and leave your cards at home so you can’t blow your budget.

Budgeting effectively isn’t scary. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. When you have complete control of your money (and not the other way round), your confidence will soar – and you’ll work even harder towards your goal.

Check out this terrific set of free online budgeting classes to master the basics.

4: Reduce Unnecessary Spending

Grab a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle of it. At the top left, write “NEEDS” – and at the top right, write “WANTS”.

Now place everything you spend money on into one of these two columns.

Be as brutally honest as possible. Do you need Netflix right now? Do you need that cappuccino you always have on your lunch break? What about those beers on Friday night? How about new clothes?

Consult your spending diary that you’ve hopefully been using. How many of those daily entries were things you actually needed? Will your life end without them?

Once you’re finished, look at the “WANTS” column – and write down how much they cost, next to each item. Now total them up. That’s how much you can instantly start saving every month if you cut all these out.

The final step here is simply to stop buying those things you don’t need. I know, it’s harder than it sounds.

Our extremely effective and profitable marketing industry will try its best to convince you to buy that Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino. Don’t let them win. It’s time to take control of your finances right now.

I Cook A Mean Risotto…

5: Develop Habits That Save You Money

How about getting up a little earlier, skipping the bus and walking/riding a bike to work instead? Ever heard of ride-sharing? What other daily expenses can you replace with money-saving habits?

What skills can you learn that will cut your daily costs?

I’ll give an example. By cooking your meals instead of buying them prepared, you can save thousands of dollars every year. Which is exactly what I did when I was saving money for my own travel adventures.

You don’t have to give up excellent coffee and tasty avocado toast — just make them yourself and save money.

Cooking for yourself, especially lunch & dinner, can save somewhere between $6 and $11 per meal – so if you previously spent all your time eating out, you’d save between $125 and $230 every week just by cooking.

It’s a skill that puts decent money in your pocket. Plus, it’s fun too!

6: Cut Accommodation Costs

This is extreme – but also extremely effective. If the place you are renting (or own) costs a lot of money, how about taking on a roommate to share the rent and bills? What about two roommates?

If that’s not an option, and you’ve got a year or more before you hit the road – why not move into a smaller apartment, or a cheaper neighborhood? This is one way I was able to save money for my trip.

By moving into a cheaper neighborhood on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, sharing a small house with 2 other roommates, I was able to save hundreds of dollars on accommodation every month rather than living in the much more expensive city of Miami.

Other travelers I know moved in with their parents for a few months to save money. Or they rent out their homes and move somewhere cheaper. Obviously these aren’t ideal situations, and may not even be options for everyone, but I just want to open your eyes to the possibilities.

Sometimes you need to think outside the box to make your dreams come true. And drastic measures can be uncomfortable, but effective.

Who Needs A Car?

7: Sell Your Crap

If it’s worth good money and you can’t travel with it, then is it really worth hanging onto? In my case, I took a long, hard look at my car one day, decided to sell it, and bought a used folding bicycle to replace it.

Instant injection of much-needed cash! Not only from the sale, but also from canceling my auto insurance and no longer needing to buy gas.

Instead, I purchased a public bus pass. Sure, my commute was longer. Riding my bike to the bus stop in the rain kinda sucked. But you know what? I was dedicated. I was determined. Wearing a poncho and riding in the rain isn’t the end of the world. Other people do it, why can’t I?

In addition to my car, I also sold my DJ turntables, sports equipment, and some furniture I really didn’t need. Everyone’s “crap” will be different. But we all collect it in one form or another.

Sites like Ebay & Craigslist can help you sell your stuff for extra cash to build up your travel fund.

8: Other Ways To Save

No, simply quitting avocado toast and frappuccinos isn’t going to pay for 6 months of travel. But, when combined with other money saving lifestyle changes, it all adds up to make a big difference.

Stop Going Out

Instead of spending too much money at a club or movie theater, invite friends over to your place for a movie night. Get outside and go on a hike.

Cook More

Now is a good time to learn the art of cooking. It’s entirely possible to buy low-cost, healthy ingredients, and cook your own tasty meals at home.

Shop Around

Did you compare prices while grocery shopping last week? Did you buy the cheapest toilet paper? Are you shopping at places like Costco & Amazon?

Cut Your Landline

I can’t remember the last time I used a landline. Cellphones work just fine. Switch to the cheapest provider, with the cheapest plan possible.

Ditch Your Cable

TV is a waste of time. Stop paying to live vicariously through shows, and make your own life more exciting. The internet is full of free entertainment!

Quit The Gym

No need for a gym membership when you can go running, hiking, or practice bodyweight exercise routines outside while enjoying nature!

Slash Your Shopping

No, you don’t need the latest smartphone. No, you don’t need new clothes every month. No, you don’t need 5 different shades of lipstick.

Reduce Utilities

Turn down your air conditioning and use a fan or wear a sweater. Unplug electronics when not in use. Take shorter showers.

Do You Have Any Talents You Can Sell?

9: Make More Money

Everyone wants to earn more money, right? Well it doesn’t grow on trees, but there are opportunities, even if you already have a full-time job.

Find part time work on the side. Maybe as a waiter, bartender, supermarket cashier, etc. I worked as a nightclub photographer 4 nights a week, putting up with drunk entitled assholes…

It doesn’t need to be an amazing job! Just something to boost your income. Do some research, and figure out what kinds of part-time positions match your skillset & talents.

Selling arts & crafts on Etsy. Stalking garage sales & re-selling on eBay. Walking dogs. Tutoring students. Babysitting. Audio transcription. Playing music.

The only limit is your imagination!

Check out Reddit’s Side Income Wiki for examples of how other people earn extra money.

10: Review Your Employment

Not earning enough money from your current job? Maybe it’s time to ask for a raise (as long as you can prove you actually deserve it). What makes you an important asset to the company?

Alternately, why not attempt to re-negotiate? Ask if there’s any way you can cut back your hours, or work from home a few days a week, so you can use that time you would normally spend commuting… on your side job.

If those aren’t options, you can start looking for another employer who pays more. Train in your spare time for something that pays better.

You’re not a slave to your job — if you don’t make enough, shop around and find a better place to work.

I know I’m making it sound easier than it is… but I never promised this would be easy. It’s not.

11: Earn As You Travel

This is a nice short-cut. If you can earn money as you travel, you won’t have to save quite as much. This is what I did. Before I began traveling, I’d built a small online business selling eBooks about topics I was knowledgeable on.

I managed to squeeze a money-making opportunity from my limited free time – which reduced the amount I needed to save for travel, as I could earn income on the road.

Because I was earning about $1500 per month from my online business, I left to backpack around Central America with only $7000 in the bank — confident I could continue working from my laptop.

Selling ebooks is no longer how I earn income. These days I make a good living from my travel blog. But that took a few years to accomplish.

How can you earn money online? Well there are all kinds of ways.

Affiliate marketing. Freelance writing. Graphic design. Computer programming. Becoming a virtual assistant. Language translation. I don’t know what skills & experience you have. But there are options.

For more details and ideas about how to earn money while traveling, make sure to check out my travel job guide.

Saving Money Won’t Be Easy!

Saving money doesn’t come naturally to most people. Nearly half of Americans don’t even have a $400 emergency fund.

The formula is simple. Live below your means, and save the rest.

Yet implementing this formula is not always easy. There are social pressures. We’re bombarded by marketing. Our willpower is lacking. We make excuses and lie to ourselves.

Others may have additional roadblocks — like obligations to support loved ones, student loans, debilitating injury, chronic disease, or a lack of job opportunities where they live.

If that’s the case, it may just take longer to reach your savings goal.

Following through is the difficult part. I know, I’ve been there. If this was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Resources To Get You There

To help you start saving money for travel, I’ve included some of my favorite resources below. These are useful tools for learning how to track your spending, budget your life, save money fast, or earn extra income.

YNAB – Excellent budgeting software & system to help you get out of debt and save money.

Mint – Popular free app for tracking your finances and managing your money.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich – My favorite book about becoming financially responsible & independent.

Remote Job Directory – Wonderful resource that lists websites for finding a location independent job.

The $100 Startup – Inspiring book that highlights 50 people who built their own businesses with minimum investment.

The 4-Hour Workweek – The book that convinced me to enter the world of online business and entrepreneurship.

One Last Piece Of Advice

As you’ll discover when you’re traveling, things rarely go exactly to plan.

The ability to think on your feet and adjust your trajectory on the fly is an important skill for travel, and life.

Expect many course corrections. Don’t be surprised when obstacles get in your way. Life is messy and the best-laid plans have a habit of fraying at the edges, or falling apart completely.

That shouldn’t matter though – you’re committed to this, right? You’ll find another way to get there. The specific plan you choose isn’t important… the destination is everything.

Best of luck – and I hope to see you out there! ★

READ MORE TRAVEL TIPS

The 33 Best Travel Friendly Jobs
This Is How I Get Paid To Travel
Advice For Students Who Want To Travel

Have any questions about saving money for travel? Drop me a message in the comments below!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Photographing the Northern Lights

On my most recent trip to Iceland, I saw the Northern Lights for the first time and it was INCREDIBLE! As amazing as the lights look in photos, nothing will prepare you for seeing such an overwhelmingly beautiful sight in person.

The Northern Lights are definitely a phenomenon you’re going to want to catch on camera. To take a great pic, I highly recommend bringing a good camera with you and learning a few tricks before you get there.

While I’m not a professional, I do love learning new photography skills and have picked up a lot of useful tricks along the way. My shots have really improved over the years, and I’d love to share a few tips with you guys.

Ready to get started? Here’s a beginner’s guide to photographing the Northern Lights!

Where and When Can I See Northern Lights?

I traveled to Iceland (twice!) in order to see the phenomenon in person. Despite Iceland’s popularity as an aurora destination, it’s actually not the best place to witness them. You are more likely to see the lights in the northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada and Alaska.

The best place to view the Northern Lights firsthand is a far-northern latitude within 65 degrees to 72 degrees, which is considered the”Northern Lights Zone”. The best time of year to travel to see the lights is in the winter months, November to March, due to low light pollution and clear atmospheric conditions!

The Perfect Weather

Weather is a key component in photography, and the right conditions are essential for seeing the northern lights. If you’re going with a guide, he or she will be able to recommend the best times. If you’re going solo, you’ll have to know how to read the forecast.

The most important thing is finding a night with the perfect level of cloud coverage.

You’ll want a relatively clear night, but you also need just a few clouds because the lights are only visible when they bounce off of clouds.

The Icelandic Met Office website will show you the aurora forecast with a map of the cloud coverage, and it’s one of the best planning resources. It’s important to be away from any light pollution, so plan on getting out of the city.

Generally speaking, your best chances of seeing the northern lights are during the autumn and winter months, so you’ll want to bundle up and pack a lot of patience– the lights are illusive.

Reading the Northern Lights Forecast

While ultra-useful, the aurora forecast isn’t the easiest thing to read. It’ll show a map of Iceland in whites and shades of green. The dark green areas are too cloudy while the white areas are too clear.

The light green areas are ideal. Additionally, you’ll see a box on the top right of the page that shows a number from zero to nine. Anything over six means you’re more likely to see the northern lights.

Spend some time experimenting with different times and locations until you figure out your best shot at seeing the phenomenon.

The Equipment

Camera: Using a quality camera will make it infinitely easier to get the perfect shot. I’ve been using a Fujifilm X-T2 for a while now and I love it. While I was photographing the Northern Lights, the wind actually blew my tripod over and shattered my lens, but my ultra tough X-T2 took the fall like a champ.

Its sturdy build is a huge perk for me while I’m traveling.

Lenses: My personal favorite lenses to use for night photography are:

• FUJINON XF18-55mmF2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Zoom Lens
• FUJINON XF10-24mmF4 R OIS Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Anything similar for your personal camera will work great!

Extras: A shutter release cable is a great addition for shooting the lights, though a self-timer will also do the trick. It prevents the camera from shaking when you press down on the button, so you end up with a clear, in-focus photo. A bottle of wine or flask of whiskey are also recommended while waiting out in the cold

Check out My Travel Photography Gear for a full rundown of my equipment!

Shooting the Northern Lights

Bundled up and ready to capture an amazing pic of the northern lights? Here’s what you’ll want to do:

Helpful Tip: Every camera has different settings, so you’ll need to read up in advance on how to access the manual settings for your specific camera.

1. Set up your tripod.
2. Use your widest lens to capture the perfect view. Wide angle lenses work great — just be sure you have close to an f/2.8 max aperture.
3. Turn your camera to full manual.
4. Adjust your aperture to f/2.8. But make sure it is no higher than f/5.6.
5. Set your ISO between 800-3200. You’ll have to adjust based on your camera and conditions.
6. Set the focus. Infinity focus if you’re only shooting the sky, otherwise, you’ll want to focus on your subject.
7. Set your camera to a 2 or 10-second timer or use a shutter release cable— you don’t want the camera shaking! The timer is also essential if you’re self-shooting and want to be in the shot.
8. Leave the lens open for 10 or more seconds per shot. You’ll have to play around with the length of exposure depending on how strong the aurora is. Anything over 15 seconds will result in star movement.

It’s easy to get caught up in trying to capture the moment but you really don’t want to miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the northern lights with your own eyes. Practice shooting the night stars in advance to familiarize yourself with night photography.

Then, when you finally see the lights, you can be relaxed and let your camera do the work while you enjoy the fantastic sight in front of you.

Things to Remember

Seeing the Northern Lights is not guaranteed– that’s the magic of nature! Don’t be disappointed if they don’t shine for you. I didn’t see them on my first trip to Iceland, but on my second trip, they outdid themselves!

At times, the aurora can be hardly visible to the naked eye.

Your camera will always capture a more vivid display of lights than you will see in person. If you catch a slight tinge of color in the sky, try setting up your camera. You might be surprised with what you capture!

READ NEXT: The Best Photography Equipment for Travel Blogging

 

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The Beginner’s Guide to Photographing the Northern Lights is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit The Seychelles

Sainte Anne Island

Sand Bar at Sainte Anne Island

Mahé Island

Baby bird on Cousin Island

Bird Viewpoint on Aride Island

Mahé Island

Big Sister Private Island

Big Sister Island

Big Sister Island

Silhouette Island

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort

Silhouette Island

Silhouette Island

La Digue Island

Vanilla Plantations, La Digue Island

Anse Lazio Beach, Praslin Island

Anse Lazio Beach, Praslin Island

Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Praslin Island

 

The Seychelles Islands had caught my eye long ago, so when I decided to make the move to Cape Town, I knew that the archipelago would be high on my Africa travel bucket list. I was so excited to explore the picture perfect islands and dive below the crystal-clear, turquoise waters.

When I was finally able to make the trip, let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

I arrived to the dreamy destination on Air Seychelles, and spent a week exploring the islands of Mahé and Praslin, along with Silhouette Island. I stayed at the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, as well as the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort, which I would highly recommend.

Following those adventures, I was lucky enough to spend another week onboard the Crystal Esprit Yacht to explore more of the beautiful archipelago. We visited less-traveled islands like Sainte Anne Island, Cousin Island, Aride Island and even Big Sister private island. We also visited La Digue, which is one one of the three, main inhabited islands.

Besides the beaches, one of the biggest highlights of the trip was hiking to the peak of Aride Island while sailing with Crystal Esprit, and looking out upon the endless sapphire sea. At one point, our guide called out into the distance, and all of a sudden hundreds of frigate birds went sailing into the horizon. We sat for nearly 20 minutes completely awestruck by the countless birds sailing before us.

I couldn’t sum up my experience better than to say, the Seychelles Islands are paradise.

READ NEXT: A Guide to Mahé Island in the Seychelles

 

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A big thank you to The Seychelles Islands for hosting me during my time in the Seychelles. As always, thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit The Seychelles is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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Exploring Seychelles with Herbal Essences’ bio:renew Collection

This post was written in partnership with P&G as their newest Herbal Essences brand ambassador. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own

I’ve been a long time fan of Herbal Essences so, of course, I jumped at the chance to be a brand ambassador for the new Herbal Essences’ bio:renew Collection.

At the minute, I’m working my way through each collection to find my favorites. I brought the Herbal Essences’ bio:renew Coconut Milk Collection with me on my recent trip to the Seychelles to see how it could stand up to the heat and humidity of the islands.

Before we dive into the Coconut Milk Collection, let me give you a quick overview of the entire Herbal Essences’ bio:renew collection. First of all, what I like the most about bio:renew is the fact that it’s free of parabens, gluten, and colorants. Every bio:renew collection is made with a signature blend of aloe, sea kelp, and antioxidants.

For me, the highlight is that Herbal Essences includes an antioxidant called histidine. It protects your hair from damaging elements when you wash your hair. Traveling through polluted cities, swimming in chlorinated water, lying under the sun, and generally just giving my hair a beating when I’m traveling, I try to do as much as I can prevent damage.

Like other Herbal Essences collections, you’re can customize your bio:renew pick to your hair type. With collections that hydrate, repair, and add volume, there’s really something for everyone here.

And the smells are incredible!

Coconut Milk Collection

Seychelles is a beach lover’s dream and I spent a good amount on my time there exploring the shores and diving. While it was great for my tan, it wasn’t so great for my hair. The Herbal Essences’ bio:renew Coconut Milk Collection was perfect for giving my hair a boost of hydration.

The shampoo rinses away all of the sand, salt, and chlorine while the conditioner replenishes parched locks. The bio:renew Coconut Milk Oil-Infused Crème is another beach bag essential. It’ll give you instantaneous hydration, super shine, and that oh-so-important frizz protection.

Helpful Tip: Before you dive into the swimming pool or ocean, wet your hair and saturate it with conditioner. This will prevent your hair from taking in chlorine and other harmful chemicals.

Remember, your hair is basically like a sponge. If you fill it up with good stuff until it’s totally soaked, then it won’t be able to absorb any of the bad stuff.

And, ladies: embrace beach hair!

When you’re in and out of the water, it’s impossible to keep slick, shiny locks so just go with it. Rather than trying to create a chic style, opt for a hydrated, cool messy ‘do.

Stay tuned for more of my adventures around the world with Herbal Essences this year!

 

Exploring Seychelles with Herbal Essences’ bio:renew Collection is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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Visiting Giraffe Manor in Kenya

Visiting Jordan Wine Estate in South Africa

As I’ve told you before, I am crazy for South Africa’s Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch, in particular, has so much to offer and is refreshingly different from any other wine region I’ve traveled. It’s also quickly becoming my new favorite weekend getaway from Cape Town.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to visit Jordan Wine Estate on a few occasions.

This place has been making world-class wines for almost twenty-five years and has quickly built up an impressive name for itself, with a reputation for great food, wine, and accommodations.

Here’s my experience visiting Jordan Wine Estate in South Africa!

The Estate

While Jordan Wine Estate has been in operation only since 1993, the history of the farm actually goes back more than 300 years. The land has changed hands many times and was first acquired by the Jordan family in 1982 when Gary Jordan’s parents purchased the land. A decade later, it was taken over by Gary and his wife Kathy.

This husband-and-wife duo has been on a mission ever since to make amazing wine while also helping women in the UK and South Africa by establishing an initiative to bring them into the wine industry to start their own careers.

With its location just fourty-five minutes outside of Cape Town in the gorgeous Stellenbosch region, Jordan Wine Estate is slowly changing the world of South African wine. And the location, by the way, is breathtaking.

From the hillside vineyards, there is a sweeping view of Table Mountain, False Bay, and the Stellenbosch Winelands.

The Wines

Jordan Wine Estate has a few different ranges. There’s the Chameleon range, which was created to cover the research costs involved in the conservation efforts developed to protect the Cape Dwarf Chameleon. Preventing these little reptiles from becoming endangered is definitely a cause that we can all drink to.

There are also the estate varietals, which you can buy on-site or online, and the Bradgates, which are only available in the Jordan tasting room and a limited range of restaurants and shops. Finally, there are the Reserve wines, which are the real stars of the show. This range features the 2015 Nine Yards Chardonnay, 2013 Cobblers Hill, and 2014 Mellifera Natural Sweet.

So you’ll definitely want to try these while you’re there!

Find your favorite at one of the Jordan Wine Estate’s classic tasting and cellar tours, where you can check out three to six different wines. Here’s some of the more popular experiences:

• Classic Wine Tasting: 6 wines — R50
• Tasting of their 3 Reserve Wines: Nine Yards Chardonnay, Cobblers Hill & Mellifera — R120
• Harvest Tour Experience: experience the harvest activities in the cellar, taste juice and fermenting wines from tank, plus additional wines — R180
• Wine Safari: tour of the vineyards in an open, safari-style Land Rover, with stops to experience the spectacular views of False and Table Bays — R400

I was lucky enough to check do the wine safari on property, and to experience the “Synergy of Soul and Soil at Jordan” as they say. It was truly stunning, and the wine was some of the best I tasted in the Cape Winelands.

Jordan Wine Estate has a delicious selection of Jordan Estate olives, fresh breads, and locally cured meats. So, I would HIGHLY recommend adding on the cheese and/or meat platters to your tasting experience– you won’t regret it!

(Source: Jordan Wine Estate)

The Food

If you’re craving some fresh baked bread during your time at Jordan, head over to The Bakery. You can choose from a selection of charcuteries, breads, dips, cheeses and pastries.

If you’re looking for more than a light snack, head over to the Jordan Restaurant. This place is all about locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. There’s a vegetable and herb garden right outside the door along with a wine-barrel fish smoker and wood-fired oven.

On the restaurant’s tranquil terrace, you can take in some of the greatest flavors from around the world. The famous Chef George Jardine is in charge of the kitchen and has led award-winning restaurants in the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia.

(Source: Jordan Wine Estate)

Accommodations

After loading up on amazing food and wine, you’ll want to do nothing more than curl up in a comfy bed and call it a night. Fortunately, there are suites nestled inside of the Jordan Wine Estate. With panoramic vineyard views, the Jordan Luxury Suites have an effortlessly chic boutique hotel vibe.

The suites have added touches like Egyptian cotton linen, Nespresso coffee machines, and complimentary Jordan Estate wine—all with a veranda perfect for lounging and taking in the view. Most rooms also feature a free-standing bath and fireplace in a separate lounge area, which is a pretty great selling point.

After all, is there any better way to end a day of wine tasting than with a long bubble bath followed by some unwinding in front of a fire?

SHOP my wine-tasting style essentials!

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Visiting Jordan Wine Estate in South Africa is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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