24 Hours…in Tortola

I arrived Tortola around 4 p.m. on a Thursday. I had never been to the British Virgin Islands, but will never forget being herded around St. John and St. Marteen as part of the cruise ship brigade back in 1999. I was sure this would be a little more enjoyable.

There’s something unique about island life – it’s a slow (casual) way of living, and a foreign concept to the rushed and panicked Americans (like me). Everything and everyone is friendly in the islands.

Even customs was an enjoyable experience. Continue Reading…

24 Hours…in Mexico

The beach, the tequila and the ocean air breezes through your window. The palm trees sway in the wind and the smooth sounds of the salsa waft through the air as you watch couples stroll by your ocean-view villa. You sip champagne as the sun sets over the ocean.  You have one night in Mexico, and it’s all yours.

The Riveria Maya is an intoxicating section of Mexico’s Gulf Coast. The white-sand beaches, private cabanas and moonlight massages create a sexy atmosphere even a single gal isn’t immune from. Room service is on the way – five cheeses, a bottle of Malbec and a hot brownie sundae appear and grace your in-room dinner table.

The water from the pool outside your room glimmers as mosquitoes fight their way through the humid air.

One glass of wine down. You find yourself lying in the day bed on your private deck, the open bottle placed perfectly within arms reach as you watch for shooting stars, guided by the man in the full moon.

A deep breath and the smells of chocolate-covered strawberries and jasmine flowers fill your senses. One night in Mexico is fast becoming the moment of solitude you’ve been seeking.

The Nightwalker Children

Note to readers: Medical travel and volunteer travel (voluntourism) is fast becoming an important way to help those less fortunate, and it’s a program that is near to my heart. What better way to spread good health than by helping those less fortunate? The Nightwalker Children are a group of kids in Uganda who walk from town to town in the dark of night to avoid being trapped into a life of violence. Thanks to medical travel volunteers, these kids are cared for and put on the path to a healthier life…

The ‘nightwalker’ children in Northern Uganda travel from town to town in the middle of the night to avoid being abducted and forced into a life of violence. They sleep on dirt and their clothes are tattered. They are orphans seeking refuge from a life of constant running and torture. They haven’t had a good meal or a proper night’s sleep in years. In fact, most of them don’t know if they’re sick, infected, or carrying a virus. Most have never seen a doctor or, just as importantly, a dentist.

We likely share the same memories of dentist visits as kids. The twice-annual 30-minute check-ups and occasional drillings are a memory we won’t soon forget.

But imagine a world without toothbrushes, bubblegum toothpaste, or mint-flavored floss. Imagine a mouth full of cavities and so painful that you aren’t able to properly chew your food. Imagine not having your teeth at all. It’s a familiar reality for children around the world, but thanks to volunteer efforts from our local dentists, underprivileged kids in impoverished countries—including the nightwalker children—are being treated to free cleanings, free supplies, and a new outlook on dental hygiene. Continue reading on Medical Travel Today…