How to Have the Perfect Summer

I don’t know about you but at the end of winter, summer takes an almost mythological status in my mind. Every winter I seem to expect my life to turn into a Billabong or Corona ad as soon as the first rays of sunshine hit the ground. Anticipation of summer takes on a golden hue and I conveniently forget what it is actually like (sweaty sleepless nights and getting burnt to a crisp if I spend more than five minutes outside).

This summer I was DETERMINED to have the summer of my wildest daydreams and so I wrote a list with the aim of finding the formula for the best summer ever. I did still have many sweaty nights, sunburns, and days where I couldn’t bare to drag my slovenly body out of bed but when it comes down to it, it has been one of the best summers yet. Here are the secrets to having a perfect summer.

1. Buy a lilo and spend an inordinate amount of time lounging on it

I guarantee this will be the best thing you will buy all summer. My particular lilo was bought for $8 at the supermarket and provided me with infinite joy (and sunburn). Bonus points if you master the art of eating/drinking whilst lounging on the lilo. It helps if you have things that won’t be ruined after a dip in the sea; I highly recommend fresh pineapples which go down well with a bit of salt.

2. Stand under a waterfall

Being positioned on the tropical island of Mauritius certainly made this item on the list easy to tick off. From squat turbulent falls to soaring wisps of tumbling water, Mauritius has plenty of beautiful waterfalls for one to stand under. The one pictured is called Rochester Falls and is situated down a small dirt track on the South-West of the island. Standing under it was akin to standing under a small freight train being both painful and loud. Although the reality didn’t quite match up with expectations, there is something gloriously summery about cooling off under a waterfall.

 3. Go on a road trip

What could be more carefree and summery than throwing a couple of towels in the back of a car and driving from beach to beach with the only worry of which fruit stall to stop at. The key to a good summer road trip is to have a killer playlist at the ready. If your car isn’t full of sand by the end of the day then you are doing it wrong.

4. Have an adrenaline rush and do something new

Nothing leaves me more giddy with excitement than doing something that gets the adrenaline pumping. I’m not talking about getting chased by a pack of wild dogs but spending a little bit of money to tick something off the bucket list. For me this was doing some hardcore zip-lining. It was a beautiful experience soaring high over the jungle canopy, especially when I flipped myself upside down.

5. Stuff your body full of colourful, fresh produce

 

I’m not ashamed to say that I ate my weight in lychees over the summer. Pineapples, coconuts, and zingy green mangoes were a big hit with me over the summer too. Bonus points if you buy them from a cute local roadside stall.

6. Lie in a hammock

When you are done lounging on your lilo, drag yourself up to a hammock, throw on some music and summer bliss is yours for the taking. This particular hammock was located at La Pirogue Hotel on the East Coast of Mauritius. It was a pretty good spot to relax in between dives.

7. Spend time on a boat

If I can give you just one piece of advice it would be to hold on tightly to friends who own boats. They are the very best kind of friends. Just below friends with airplanes, and just above friends with motorbikes. Although I spent most of my days working on a dive boat, when an old friend invited me out on his boat for a leisurely lunch I quickly jumped at the chance. The day was spent anchored in the shallows of a small island with beers, colourful reef fish, and crystal clear waters. Oh and sunburn. Damn you pale skin.

8. Spend some time underneath the water

I spent the majority of my days underwater and it was a glorious thing. The sea was as warm as bath and you could easily do a 40 minute dive without a wetsuit. Every time I ventured beneath the surface it felt like the ocean was giving me a warm hug. If you have never been scuba diving then summer is the time to do it.

9. Watch the sunset

  Make the most of the long summer days by watching the sun sink behind the horizon in the evening. Bask in the most golden, ad-worthy part of the day. Do cartwheels. Take pictures. Drink a beer.

10. Just explore!

  Mauritius is ripe for exploring with fields of sugar cane, goat tracks in the jungle, and sloping mountains which offer 360 views of the tiny island. Summer is the time when you can slip away into nature without having to even pack a pair of shoes. That cave someone told you was close by? Go and find it. That craggy mountain by your house? Go climb it!

So there is my formula for a perfect summer. For those (like me) in the Southern Hemisphere, go out and finish the summer well! For those battling the cold in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope this list gives you something to cling on for the cold months ahead.

What are your essential activities for a perfect summer? I would love to know! Leave me a comment below or email me at dirtypawsblog@gmail.com.

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