Thursday, January 13, 2022

Bellagio Wedding

12/30/21

Started the year in Las Vegas and I'm ending the year in Las Vegas - this time to celebrate my friend Shannon getting married to her love, William. The ceremony was at the famous Bellagio fountains.

We all had to meet in the Bellagio lobby where we were then escorted to the private viewing balcony in front of the fountains. The officiant was personable and fun and I really liked how his first speech rhymed the entire time. Directly following the ceremony, the fountains danced to a few songs chosen by the bride and groom. My first time in Las Vegas I was quite small so all I remember (aside from my sister winning a giant purple bear, which I do remember happening vividly but did not recall that it was in Vegas) was the Bellagio fountains and I was really sad I didn't get to see them when I was here in January, so that was very nice. Then they took photos of various groups including everyone, all the girls, and all the mermaids, which included me so that was very nice as well. I was not expecting to be in her official photos because I am not family or wedding party. 

This was my first non-family wedding to attend/be invited to so I appreciate her inviting me very much. It was a lovely ceremony. 

Until next time,

xoxo,

Tasha

Monday, January 10, 2022

2021 Travels

 In 2021, I had a goal to travel more. 

I achieved that goal. 

January 

  • Nevada 
  • Arizona

February

  • Qatar
  • South Africa (Sodwana Bay - my homebase for the next couple months)

March

  • South Africa (Hluhluwe safari) 

April

  • South Africa (Richards Bay day trip)

May

  • Florida

June

  • Drink Maryland event (local but basically explore all of Maryland thru their breweries and wineries) 

July

  • local Delmarva trips 

August

  • Pennsylvania
  • Northern Virginia 

September

  • Pennsylvania
  • Qatar
  • Maldives

October

  • Maldives
  • Pennsylvania
  • Sunflower fields & rock climbing in Howard County, Maryland

November

  • North Carolina
  • Florida
  • Bahamas
  • Mexico
  • Curacao 

December 

  • Curacao
  • Nevada 
  • Arizona
Let's see where 2022 will take me. 
Until next time,
xoxo,
Tasha

Sunday, January 9, 2022

Maldiven Whale Sharks

 So I just published what I thought was a summary of the rest of my week in Maldives but I don't see any posts about the whale shark so I'm not sure what day/when it took place but we're gonna talk about it now lol 



Whale shark day we had breakfast as normal then everyone - divers and nondivers alike - boarded the dive boat to head out on our whale shark expedition. We went up on the roof and kept our eyes peeled for any large, dark shadows that could be a whale shark. 

Eventually we found the whale shark! Well, we found and lost it a couple times. But then we found it enough to get in with it! First, everyone got in on snorkel to snorkel around with it. After we swam around with it as fast/long/far as we could, we boarded the boat again to find it or another for our second swim with it. For the second swim, divers would go down on scuba (apparently whale sharks like to play in the bubbles as do I) while the non-divers could do another snorkel with it. Unfortunately as soon as we got in, it disappeared again so only those that jumped in first got about a minute with it and those in the back (where I was) didn't get to dive with it at all but we continued our dive along the reef wall in hopes it would come back or we'd find it again. We didn't. It's a good thing we all snorkeled with it at the beginning! 

A big thing for me is I really wanted my picture with a whale shark in my mermaid tail. Shannon did it in Mexico, Kat has done it during the 2019 Maldives trip, Hannah does it all the time - so I don't understand why when I want to whether here or in Mexico they don't let us? I am a very quick swimmer; I am a Divemaster; I just don't get it. But whatever I'm done booking trips like that thinking I'll get to be in my tail with it (I've swam with whale sharks as a human before, been there done that I wanted a pic in my tail but I didn't even get a pic of it and me as a human this time lameeeeee). It's disappointing but I'll get over it. At least we got to see one I guess. 

The whale shark encounter was like an all day plan so I'm not sure what else we did that day which is why it wasn't included in my earlier Maldives posts oh whale good thing this blog isn't really for you guys 

Until next time,

xoxo,

Tasha

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Finally Finishing Maldives

 One of my resolutions this year is to blog every day. I have three blogs - this one (my travel blog), a review blog, and my mermaid/conservation/marine life blog. So, if I blog every day that doesn't mean that this blog will have a new post every day, but I will try to post more regularly on here and update ya'll on finishing my Maldives stories and some of my other 2021 travels. So please bear with me. Thanks 



Okay so going back to finishing Maldives since that's where I left ya'll off on... I ended with the manta visiting our boat and the beach party. To be honest I don't remember what order things happened on so I'll be using my Google Photos to keep things in order and keep me on track, but as you know Maldives was all the way back in September 2021 so don't expect as much detail as if I did keep up as it was happening as I am supposed to do. Maybe this year. 

Next up on my Google Photos after the beach party night is a picture of my bed glowing green underneath because I thought that was cool so I guess I spent more time listening to music while the boat moved from one location to the other. 

There are also more dive videos but nothing out of the ordinary. While I traded some spa for more dives, I was still there to mermaid so I went on about 2 dives a day and 1 mermaid excursion a day. The next mermaid we did took us to another private beach, but we did underwater shots this time, woo hoo. I've swam literally all over the world and man, that had to be the saltiest water I've ever swam in. I couldn't last very long due to my eyes burning so bad! However, I did bring 2 outfits, my mermaid tail obviously as well as a Christmas outfit I really wanted shot underwater and would have gladly sacrificed my eyes for but they didn't give me another opportunity. I was disappointed about that but at least I got to swim at the beach. 

After the photoshoot the divers came to join us as well and we had a cocktail party on the beach. It was a fun time. The palm tree and drinks made the sunset (honestly I think southeastern US sunsets are prettier but the Germans made it seem like this was the best sunset they've ever seen). The crew also relaxed and that was the most they've talked to us I think. It was dark/late when we got back so after dinner I just went to bed. 

The next day we did another shark dive. There were tons of silvertip reef sharks, a few sleeping baby nurse sharks, and some grey sharks. I love sharks so it was great! I'm not sure if this was Fish Head or if the shark dive I already told you about was Fish Head, but I just reread what I wrote for the other main shark dive and I didn't mention Fish Head and I feel like I would have if that was it so I'm going to explain it now and we'll say it was for this dive. So Fish Head is where years ago, fisherman would go to fish (duh they're fishermen) but when they'd reel in the line, all that would be left is the fish's head because sharks would have eaten the body before they got it back to the boat. Now that I've typed it all out, I remember that Fish Head was actually a place that had sharks in the past so it wasn't one of our shark dives but anyways whichever dive we did at Fish Head I was like "cool so that means there'll be shark teeth from all the previous sharks" and I found 2 shark teeth during that dive which was super exciting and made my week. Yeah, pretty sure I do remember already telling ya'll about that but whatever. 

Anyways same day, not sure if it was the same dive or the next dive, we had to perform an emergency rescue. Jens the videographer is a big boy so he has large lungs that use a lot of air, plus carrying the video equipment causes him to use even more air as well. He was at 70 bar so we were already on our way back when our guide ran into the guide of the other group, so he sped off super quick to go show the other group a ghost pipe fish. Then Jens's air was suddenly only at 20 bar so our guide gave Jens his octo and our entire group started to make our way up but we kept swimming while ascending so we could still see things and did our safety stop because there was enough air left. Additionally I barely use any air so Lydia and I were prepared to give Mizzy and Jens our octos if Mizzy's ran out as well. Ariane took Jens's camera equipment, Lydia deployed the SMB, and I was prepared to offer my air hose to whomever needed it next (like I said I was still almost completely full). We made it back up to the boat safe and sound with no real problems and the guide said it was the smoothest rescue he's ever done, go team. 

That night was our last night aboard the Scubaspa, so we had a celebratory party onboard where they gave us a free drink woo hoo! They also had sushi and dumplings for dinner and it was the best dinner of the entire week. 

The next day my flight wasn't until late so the took us to Hluhlue Resort to spend the day because due to the rona, no one was allowed into the city. Which is unfortunate because that's why I booked such a late flight so I could explore Male on the way back, but oh whale. 

So we get off the boat and there is a shuttle to the hotel but Europeans like to walk and they're like "it's right there we can see it" so for some insane reason we walk to the hotel??? I'm mad about it tbh. & I tell them I'm taking the shuttle back to the hotel. So eventually we make it even tho we're all sweaty and gross and they give us a hotel room in pairs (I shared with Emma) and a coupon for a free drink and 20 minute spa massage. So we go refresh in the room then head down to the pool and beach. We end up going in the pool and it's a bit cold but oh whale. 


After the pool we go to get lunch in the restaurant because I'm starving. I get a steak sandwich and it is amazing, much better than 99% of the food we had on the Scubaspa. Once lunch is finished, we go to the spa to redeem our coupons. The drink is the same ginger tea they had onboard but cold instead of hot or hot instead of cold I forget which was which but they were both basically straight ginger so I couldn't drink either because it literally burned my throat. But whatever it was free. After our 20 minute head/neck massage I go to the beach and Emma goes back to the room for a nap. The beach is pretty packed because the entire football team of I forget which country is also at the hotel due to the no exploring the city rule. I think Sri Lanka? Anyways so I go back to the pool where I meet up with Kat and the gang. Then they start doing cheer stunts and don't include me on them despite me being a cheerleader as well so I go back to the room to take a warm shower and have a lie down. 

When we are ready to leave, the whole gang is there to give us a grand goodbye as we board the shuttle to the airport for our flights. 


I get to Doha and I am exhausted and do not want to spend another 10 hours in the airport for my layover. It takes going back and forth to several different desks, being sent literally all over the airport, but I finally get switched to the flight that leaves within the next hour. It cost $200 and I didn't get a row to myself but it was worth it to get home literally an entire day earlier. I'd go to Maldives again, but after being so many other places in the world I do think Maldives is overrated. We saw whale sharks, mantas, and lots of other sharks so that's all great and it's definitely the best place I've been for mantas but in terms of overall I preferred South Africa and French Polynesia. 

Until next time,

xoxo,

Tasha

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Welcome to the Madness

 If you're new here, welcome! 

My name is Tasha and this is my travel blog. 

It is not politically correct, grammatically correct, or any other form of correct-ness. Some of it is immature, some of it complains to much, some of it makes you wish you were me. But newsflash - it's not for you, fool. 

So basically my grandmother gets mad that I don't tell her about my adventures so here she can read my literal thoughts mostly as they happen. If you want to read as well, go for it but as I said it is just my thoughts written out so if you don't like it you can leave. 

If you think I have a cool life (did I mention I'm a professional mermaid?), feel free to give me a subscribe and a follow on my socials: 

@mermaidtasha on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

@tashanicole97 on Instagram and Twitter 

Thanks ya'll! 

Until next time,

xoxo,

Tasha

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Manta Manta

 Omg am I sore! I hurt. Bad. Everywhere. Oh whale, more fun today! 


Because I got the scuba and spa package, I only have 3 dives left, so instead of going on the morning dive I went to sunrise yoga. It was, um, interesting... it was like breathing and stretching and not really what I would consider yoga but more of a warm up for dance class. It was also really windy and the mat kept blowing everywhere and I probably won't be doing it again. I didn't want to stay for the whole thing but didn't have an excuse to leave and it would have been rude to just go. 

I went to my room and jammed out to some music until our jacuzzi/roof photoshoot at 10, with a little breakfast in between. After the photoshoot, we were still in transition so I just chilled. After lunch I got word I could trade 2 of my spas for 6 dives. A little later in the afternoon I confirmed with cruise manager, Max, so now I have 2 spas and 12 dives (was 4 spa and 6 dives). What great news! Unfortunately, I didn't get this until the afternoon dive was already heading out, but I wanted to do the mermaid shoot anyway - we were finally headed underwater! Unfortunately, due to the storms of the past few days, the visibility was just not there so we couldn't do this. I was once again worried about the time as I needed to be back by 4:45 anyways for my sunset dive. So while disappointed, I was also a little relived because they decided we would go back to the boat and hopefully do underwater off the back of the boat instead. This way I would not be so pressed for time because I would already be back on the boat. Sadly, the visibility there was no better so we still could not shoot. After changing into normal bikinis and wowing Branden with how many bathing suits we all brought, Ariane, Karina, and I went swimming off the back platform while we waited for our dive time. 

When we went down for the dive it was daytime, but when we came up it was a dark night. Underwater we observed life switching over from day to night. I saw a whitetip reef shark, eagle ray, turtle, nudibranch, and tons of banana fish. My tank was once again very low, and Katharina and Ariane fixed/lifted it underwater 3 times. It was also the reason I've been having buoyancy issues upon ascend and descend apparently. When I got back on the dive boat, the entire dive team staff looked at it until it was fixed. When I tried it out in the pool when I got it to make sure it worked, I did not put the strap on correctly and my father kept warning me it was falling and I was losing my tank but I was like "it's fine" but it was not fine and it's my fault, oopsie, but it's fixed now. Should work a lot better/easier. When we got back to the boat, people had already left for the beach braai. I was deciding if I wanted to wear what I had put on or change outfits when I heard footsteps of everyone running to the back of the boat, where the dingy that would take us to the island docks. Thinking the boat was leaving for the island, I decided I had to just wear what I was wearing and ran up. But the boat was not even back yet - instead there was a manta swimming off the boat light! Flip after flip, the young oceanic manta performed for us for hours. When the dingy got back, I took it to the beach BBQ and when we got back later that night the manta was still there, flipping for plankton. 

The beach was done up so lovely for our beach party. Tea lights lit the way from the boat to the dinner tables, and the ambience was beautiful. A beach bar was set up as well as the BBQ buffet. The shrimpers were huge, mini lobsters for sure, but they were soggy and not very good. I had a mojito but had to get up several times to have them add more simple syrup to sweeten it up. After dinner there was no beach party, but we all boarded the dingy to go back to the boat for a party on deck. 

However we still had our party crasher on the back of the boat! So instead of a deck party, we hopped in and took turns partying underwater with the manta (while keeping our distance buffer as best we could in the current). Eventually the photographers jumped in with us, and after a while I got out to change and join the no longer existent deck party. After some dancing, it was time for bed. 

Until next time,

xoxo,

Tasha

Friday, October 8, 2021

Mermaids and Sharks

 Hola! Buenas dias mis amigos! Una otra dia en el ScuaSpa en Maldives con las sirenas. Esta manana, me despierto a las sies para mi secunda dive! This dive was to s a shark cleaning station. (also please ignore my inccorect spellings and such as I don't know how to get accents or the upside down ! on my American keyboard) I applied the advice from yesterday and didn't have much problem getting down, yay learning! 

The vis is still ... not... Idk how to describe it, like I can see the sharkies far away-ish, but the colors are not there, but like they are but not bright like other reef dives. 

Anywhos it was a much more exciting dive than yesterday. Tons of whitetip reef sharks, even some pregnant ones, a few blacktip reef sharks, and some grey reef sharks. There were also more schools of different types of fish than I had ever seen, which was really cool. I also saw an eagle ray. In Soddie we saw eagle rays like everyday but they're on the bucket list for these people so I guess they're rarer than I thought so that was special. I didn't see a turtle but another group did. Some of our team had to go up early for air but they let the rest of us stay for longer so that was lovely. It was a good dive. 


Despues del dive, comemos breakfast then Emma did my makeup for our first photoshoot. She did amazing; I want to take her home with me and have her do my makeup all the time. I look amazing. We went to the beach for semi-dry photoshoots. I live at the beach so I wasn't excited for beach photos but these girls are from Germany and Sweden so they rarely have the opportunity for such. We were split into 2 groups because there are 2 photographers so everyone can get done quicker. I was first to go in my group and Lille was a great help with making sure I was posing right for the best picture. After Lydia and I finished, the boat was back to collect us so I felt really bad that I went first and took up the time when I have a beach at home. But the second boat back didn't come back until much later so I think they let the girls finish their shoots as well. It was also really windy so when we weren't being shot we had to help hold equipment so we didn't have any time to swim for fun or GoPro videos. The island was not that great and I hope we go to better ones throughout the week; this one is just sand, coral chunks, and trash. No greenery and kinda painful to the feet. 

My worried face! Scared the night dive would be cancelled again.
Lunchtime was when we came back, then we were supposed to do group drone shoots on a different island but the weather was not in our favor. I am going on the night dive at 5:45 so I was worried about time to get back, then I saw the clouds and was worried the dive would get cancelled again (was supposed to be yesterday but cancelled due to weather). Have no fear; it all worked out! 

It rained too hard for us to go to the island, so we did group photos on the bar instead. I was mostly okay sitting there but then when it was time to get down, my legs were weaker than after 6 hours in tail at MarlinFest. When the divers from the afternoon dive got back, it had finished raining and the sky cleared up for us to do our night dive! 


Off the jetty of a nearby resort, food is dumped nightly into the ocean. Therefore, sharks and rays know to linger at said jetty for their nightly meals. It is an active jetty so divers have to be extra careful for boats. We all took flashlights down and sat on the sand in a semicircle as we watched the sharks and rays play. Dozens of nurse sharks and probably 3 or 4 Jenkins whiprays. The nurse sharkies swam right up/past me! See, I didn't need to spend all that money to go to Bahamas to play with nurse sharks; I can just do it right here in Maldives. Oh wait, this is much, much farther than Bahamas and probably around the same price. Oh whale, at least now I finally got to hang with the nurses. When we got back, buzzing with excitement, it was dinnertime. After dinner, a nurse shark joined us on the back of the boat! I guess she just couldn't get enough of us. It was great. 

Until next time,

xoxo,

Tasha