Last year, I brought back this feature which I’d neglected since 2021: a halfway recap of my year to date, and my future projections for the remainder of it. I love interspersing my travel themed posts with personal entries, so my audience can remember that there’s a real human being behind the screen too. I can’t believe we’re halfway through 2026 already. While the recap is a little late, let’s go!
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What I’ve Been Up To For 2026
I’m happy to report that I’ve had a mostly uneventful first half of 2026. Last year this time, I was unemployed, finalizing my wedding details, and had just completed major examinations while mourning my father’s passing. This year has been softer so far. I’ve spent my time mostly occupied by the mundane details of everyday life, that is, work and home. I now have an hour long commute each way five days per week so that truly drains all my energy. I listen to music and use the drive to think, but by time I’m home, my battery is on zero. That’s why I’m not as consistent on here as I’d like to be, and why I’m not taking as many road trips either so I don’t have much to write about anyway. However, I’m grateful to come home to a loving husband and cozy home which we’re now over 80% through with renovating. We had bought a fixer-upper in 2022/23.
One goal I’d set for myself this year was to increase my blog’s income. It sounded farfetched initially given that SEO and AI changes have reduced my blog’s traffic. However, I’m happy to have discovered an affiliate marketing tool called Travelpayouts which has basically tripled my blog’s income. It’s not enough to quit my day job but it will fund new adventures soon, which is fantastic! Another goal I’d set for myself was to read at least one book per month, given that I’d restarted recreational reading in 2025 and rediscovered how much joy getting lost in a book brought. I’d only read four books for 2025, so reading twelve in 2026 was quite an ambitious target. That being said, I’m right on track, having completed six books in six months! All are from Caribbean authors, and I’ve arranged them from most to least favourite:
- Ever Since We Small by Celeste Mohammed– Set between India and Trinidad & Tobago, this book highlights the multigenerational trauma of colonialism and indentured labour in the Caribbean. I learnt a lot and truly could not put this book down from start to finish.
- A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay– Set in rural Jamaica, this book was told from the perspective of a 99-year old woman and revealed all her family secrets. I’ve never read a book from the perspective of someone that old before; it was quite intriguing.
- Augustown by Kei Miller– Another un-put-downable read, Augustown is set in August Town, Kingston, Jamaica which is an inner-city community plagued by gun violence. It had an unfortunate end, and highlighted the painful reality that there are indeed two Jamaica’s: the one for the affluent and middle-class, and another for the poor.
- Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn– This book highlighted the darker side of tourism in Jamaica which we try to forget exists. It also highlighted a family’s struggle to escape poverty, and a prostitute’s struggle with her sexuality, quite interesting themes.
- Come with the Fire by Julianne Mundle– Set in Toronto, Canada, this book highlighted the struggles faced by Jamaican immigrants trying to integrate into a new country.
- How to Love A Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs– this collection of short stories highlighted life in Jamaica, but it was quite underwhelming. I struggled to finish.
2026 Travels So Far
I still managed to have some new experiences and adventures. I visited four waterfalls in Portland, namely: Nonsuch Falls (the tallest waterfall in Jamaica), Cestan Spring Falls, Best River Falls and Dry River Falls. I explored two new rivers: Unruly River in St. Thomas and Caymanas River in St. Catherine. I checked out and featured an exciting art exhibit entitled Up You Mighty Race which runs until July 31, so you can still catch it. I visited the Morant Point Lighthouse, Jamaica’s easternmost point, which had been on my bucket list for quite some time. I also had one overseas adventure: a family trip to Orlando, Florida, the highlight of which was Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
What’s To Come In The Second Half of 2026
Many of you correctly guessed one of the new countries I plan to visit this year, and everything is set for my European vacation this fall, God’s willing. It will be my first time in Europe, and my third World Wonder (fourth for my husband! He’s been to the Great Wall of China before we met, together we’ve done Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza). So, I’m very excited for that as well as for my first wedding anniversary next weekend, and a local hotel stay we have lined up. I haven’t stayed at an all-inclusive luxury hotel in two years, so I’m looking forward to the change of pace.
Wrap Up
Thank you for making it this far. I feel very blessed to live a life I love, and I wish loads of happiness and joy for you too, my reader. Cheers to the remainder of 2026! I hope it’ll be soft and kind to all of us. Subscribe by email, follow me on Instagram and leave a comment. I’d love to hear about your year so far. ‘Til next time.
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