This Battered Suitcase
  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Around the Web
    • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Mongolia
      • Myanmar
      • Nepal
      • The Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • South Korea
      • Thailand
      • UAE
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czechia
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Lithuania
      • Luxembourg
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • San Marino
      • Scotland
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
      • Wales
    • North America
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Barbados
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Jamaica
      • Nicaragua
      • Mexico
      • Panama
      • St. Kitt’s and Nevis
      • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
      • USA
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Topics
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
    • Romance
    • Stories
    • Travel
    • Writing and Blogging
  • Work With Me

This Battered Suitcase

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Around the Web
    • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Mongolia
      • Myanmar
      • Nepal
      • The Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • South Korea
      • Thailand
      • UAE
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czechia
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Lithuania
      • Luxembourg
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • San Marino
      • Scotland
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
      • Wales
    • North America
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Barbados
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Jamaica
      • Nicaragua
      • Mexico
      • Panama
      • St. Kitt’s and Nevis
      • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
      • USA
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Topics
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
    • Romance
    • Stories
    • Travel
    • Writing and Blogging
  • Work With Me
Travel

Caught In Its Clutches

written by Brenna Holeman June 12, 2012
Diving in Indonesia Diving in Indonesia 2 Diving in Indonesia 3 Diving in Indonesia 4 Diving in Indonesia 5

Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

I am still in Utila, where the days are blending into one and I can’t really remember what I did yesterday afternoon or last Friday night – it’s all one big blur, one big blur of swimming and diving and drinking and laughing and lying in hammocks under the stars. I have absolutely no intention of leaving anytime soon.

I finally started diving again, after almost a year without doing so. I must say that I am incredibly spoiled, as I learned to dive in Thailand and Indonesia (where the photos above were taken), surely some of the best places on earth to dive, where I was surrounded by crystal clear waters, schools of curious fish, lazy turtles, and the kind of sharks I probably should have been scared of but I never was. Here, in Honduras, the diving is still good, but it isn’t as peaceful and meditative as my diving in the past – the ocean is choppy, the currents strong, the fish hidden or perhaps just more timid than their Asian counterparts. And yet, there is always a feeling I get when I am 20 or 30 metres under the sea, a feeling of wonder and awe, a feeling of absolute gratitude. Perhaps my favourite feeling in the world is to turn over on my back when I dive, and just look up.

I had meant to do a lot more while on this island – study Spanish, dive at least ten times, finish a few chapters of my writing course, pitch a few stories to various websites. I have once again fallen victim to the island life, preferring instead to chat with other travellers, locals, and expats, drink pineapple smoothies in the shade, and float in the ocean for hours.

But really, on an island like this, can you blame me?

*Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter!*

AsiaHondurasIndonesiaNorth AmericaScuba Diving
10 comments
1
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

previous post
Utila And The Sun
next post
The Worst Travel Ailments I’ve Ever Experienced (Part Two)

You may also like

Two Days in Huanchaco

September 22, 2012

Manitoba Skies

January 10, 2011

My Own National Geographic

April 27, 2011

All Travel is Travel

August 23, 2012

Seeing Red

May 7, 2012

Zip-lining In Costa Rica

July 20, 2012

A Love Letter to Cartagena

August 7, 2012

A Change of Heart: A Tale of Burning...

August 26, 2013

Of Bright Colours and Best Friends

July 2, 2012

Roman Red

April 30, 2013

10 comments

[email protected]&Found June 12, 2012 - 6:08 am

I have done a lot of diving in Thailand and Indonesia, too. It was amazing. So amazing, I am forever hooked to the underwater world! I understand completely how addicting it is! enjoy 🙂

Reply
Jenna June 12, 2012 - 7:31 am

I looove diving, I first went in Egypt (and saw ruins!) and then in Croatia and then went home and finally got certified in California. I must be almost 3 years now since I last went, I need to get on that!

Glad you’re enjoying the island life, sounds positively blissful 🙂

xxx
Jenna

Reply
Katie @ Domestiphobia.net June 12, 2012 - 11:31 am

I’m reading another travel blog — the couple left Utila a month (or two?) ago. They, too, had only intended to stay a short while. Instead, they stayed several months (6 maybe??), received various scuba certifications. Seems like you might have found yourself a black hole for travelers.

The first time I went scuba diving, I swore I would make it a regular part of my life. That was 6 years ago and I haven’t done it since. Your photos have reminded me that I need to put it back on my list.

Reply
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures June 12, 2012 - 2:02 pm

I learned to dive in the Great Barrier Reef and it’s just been downhill since then haha. That turtle pic is AMAZING!!! Enjoy the tropical life for me!

Reply
Steph June 12, 2012 - 4:48 pm

Love the photos! I can’t swim too well and am terrified of sharks so have never dived but I’ve done some snorkelling in Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh) and it was amazing! Would love to get over the fear, learn to swim and try diving! Can imagine it would be amazing x

Reply
[Ali] To Be Continued... June 12, 2012 - 6:48 pm

No I don’t blame you one bit – it sounds amazing! Keep on enjoying hun xx

Reply
EM June 12, 2012 - 7:07 pm

Ah – I see the infamous Three Lies of Roatan are true on Utila too…

1. I’m not drinking tonight
2. I love you
3. I’m leaving tomorrow

Glad you are enjoying the island life. I am looking forward to blurry days again.

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 13, 2012 - 4:32 am

Bailey – Yes! Such amazing diving in that part of the world. We are definitely spoiled…

Jenna – Wow, I’d love to go diving in Egypt! What a cool experience…

Katie – Oh God, definitely a black hole. You should go diving again soon!!

Andi – Thank you! I’m so jealous that you went diving in Australia, that’s always been a dream of mine…

Steph – I had a major fear of dark water a few years ago, but diving actually helped me get over it! Maybe you should try??

Ali – You know how tempting a wonderful ocean setting can be!! xx

EM – Ahahahahahah! That’s brilliant…

Reply
expatkerri June 17, 2012 - 7:16 am

island life… gah…

your photos from under the sea are stunning, you should frame the turtle and put it in your bathroom (when the time comes to decorate a home) xo

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 19, 2012 - 5:52 am

Expatkerri – He looks so grumpy! “Take your photo and then LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

Keep in touch

facebook
instagram
twitter
pinterest
youtube

Newsletter

Subscribe to get the latest updates from This Battered Suitcase!

Archives

INSPIRATION

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

About Brenna

This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

For more, click here.

WHERE AM I?

Last stops: Manitoba, Canada

Currently: Manitoba, Canada

Up Next: Manitoba, Canada (are you sensing a theme?)

Archives

Want local knowledge about Manitoba?

AFFILIATE POLICY

Please note that some links on This Battered Suitcase are affiliates (at no extra cost to you); I only recommend products I use and love. This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

INSPIRATION

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

Currently in

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Last Stops: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Up Next:  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

(AKA: STAY HOME)

Disclosures

This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com. For the full disclosure/privacy policy, please click here.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    On Ghosting (and what to do if it happens to you)

    August 8, 2016
  • 2

    What to Wear in Canada in Winter

    February 28, 2018
  • 3

    What to Wear in India

    December 15, 2014
  • 4

    Giraffe Manor: Is It Worth The Cost?

    November 22, 2017
Promotion Image

The Last time I saw you

Promotion Image

What to wear

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2018 - All Rights Reserved


Back To Top
 

Loading Comments...