Coming Home, The Big Comedown - Any Advice?

[Sabina]

Dear All
I know I'm not alone on this one, but I always suffer a real low when I come home after a holiday. Returning from my first trip to Tobago was no exception, in fact it was definitely the worst I have ever felt after a holiday. I'm sure I don't need to go into the reasons why I loved Tobago so much as you have either already seen it for yourself, or are soon to find out. But I found it really hard adjusting to life back here as I felt totally immersed in Tobago life and loved everything I experienced there. I found the saddest part of coming home was realising that resistance is futile, no matter how hard you try to preserve things, there's no escaping having to get back into the old grind. Dark, cold mornings, the rudeness and attitude of many people, the rushing around, even having to put on proper shoes and socks! Soon the simple life, friendly people and beautiful landscape I visited all seemed a million miles and a million years away, like it was a dream.
Anyway, I decided I needed another fix and am going back in April , but this time for four weeks and although I can't wait, I am dreading the coming home. I'd somehow like to prepare myself without having to hold back from fully throwing myself into the experience.
So, to get to the point, does anyone have any tips? I've not done the 'travelling thing' before and I can only imagine what it must be like returning from several months or years travelling around the world, but how do those guys cope? Maybe I just need more going on in my life here at home, I don't know! If anyone has any thoughts, advice or simillar experiences they'd like to share on this subject, it would be really good to hear
Many thanks,
Sabina

[Kevin Hampson]

Hi Sabina,

Think yourself lucky some of us only manage to get out once a year. Any way some things that may help.

Log on to my Tobago every day at least twice. The regulars soon become like mates and recognising the places and people is great.

Share your experiences and join in the posts when you can

Write a long report on you holiday and post it on Mytobago, it's just like living your holiday all over again.

Send you holday photos to Steve the chances are he'll post them on the site and that's a real buz.

Keep smiling, when did you ever see anyone looking grumpy in Tobago.

Have a great holiday April is not too far away

Regards
Kevin

[Steve Fifield]

Kevin makes some good points. I would add:

Knowing that you can visit again, and again is the best medicine. You don't feel the same sense of loss after the 3rd or 4th visit, as you know that you can always return again some day, and by then you have many friends in Tobago and in the forum.

The forum definately gets you as close as you can be to Tobago from your home. Talk about the things that you really enjoyed here.

Steve F.

[Jane H]

Hi Sabina,

I agree with Kevin & Steve - the mytobago forum is a great way to keep in touch with the island and it's magical atmosphere. It's good to hear of other people's experiences and get ideas for things to do, places to visit etc next time. And you'll find that this is one of the most friendly forums on the net - so do join in.

But if all else fails -

draw the curtains and shut out the ghastly British weather;
turn up the central heating;
put some steel pan music on the CD player;
make yourself a lonnnnnnnnnnng rum punch (there's been lots of discussion about the best recipe on the forum!)

then - sit back, relax and dream!!!

Jane (9 weeks to go and counting!)

[Paul Tallet]

Rumours abound that a man thinks about sex every several seconds.

Maybe I am an exception although I do think about it a bit

But Tobago is with me all the time ... and to help cope with the problem, you need 'memory hooks' ...

Music ... that reminds you, play it in the car, at home, on the PC while you work.

Money ... that you earn/save for your next trip.

People ... with whom you share your experiences, other forum members here are a good start.

Souvenirs ... I still have Rum Punches from last year in my drinks cabinet ... !!

Dreams ... count those chickens climbing into the Almond Tree for their night's sleep whilst listening to the sound of those exquisite waves pounding on the beach ... and wake up listening to the voices of the local community greeting each other as they pass by in the morning.

Sheer bliss.

Cheers

[Sabina]

Hi Kevin, Steve, Jane and Paul
Thank you all for your replies. I was hoping for one reply when logging on just now but I got four! I think you're right Jane, this does seem to be the friendliest forum on the internet!
It's definitely true that this site is the closest you are going to get until you are able to return. I sat down for a good couple of hours one evening last week looking through the forum. Reading people's stories brought a huge smile to my face as they brought back the feelings I had when I was there and I realised that I too had been lucky enough to experience the magic they were talking about.
Posting photos on the site is a great idea, I will aim to do that when I get back from my trip. I've already paid HMV a visit and stocked up on some soca and dancehall! And the rum punch definitely has to be done!
Thanks again all, you've cheered me up!
Sabina x

[Emma]

I hope that you have not left just yet as there is a great CD that is available for sale in the airport when you are sitting in the lounge about to board your plane there is a small stall toward the back which is selling it.

A few of the things on it are:
Steel pans
The sounds of sunset and sunrise
The birds
The waves lapping against the shore

Trust me, when you are back at home and you hear it come on you are instantly reminded and feel happy at the memories.

[Sabina]

Oh no! I had left already and have just got back and had I checked my email whilst out there I would have definetely bought it! Oh well, never mind. Lovely idea though....next time!!

Kind Regards

Sabina

[Wendell Grosvenor]

You're lucky you are Sabina!. I was born in Trinidad and because my dad was in the Customs I spend a lot of my childhood in Tobago. You can image what a wrench it is for me to return to the UK every time I go to Tobago.
The ways I have of coping .... Rum helps - in fact reality is a state of mind caused by a definecy of rum (my dad introduced me to rum being involved with Customs and duties and stuff ... from a nipper and I'm glad he did), Music - particularily good when taken with rum, Notting Hill Gate carnival - an opportunity to combine rum, music maybe the odd roti, hot sauce and more - a little jump up, followed by a little limeing perhaps, all in the comfort of yer very own UK.
I'm back in tobago next week and already I'm planning damage control for when I return to the UK. A few rum punch parties in the Surrey hills (it'll be summer then), a little music maybe is the nearest thing I can get to 'Sunday School' to help with the withdraw and the re introduction back into polite society.

Wendell

[Linda P]

How long are you staying for Wendell? we fly out on 19th May for two weeks.

Sabine, create your own tropical oasis at home with big house plants - the kind that grow in the gardens in Tobago and keep a check on the holiday channels for any programmes about Tobago.

Linda

[Wendell Grosvenor]

Hiya Linda,

We fly back 19 May pm probably on the plane that you come in on. If you could find the most 'Tabago facing' steward/stewardess ( with a taste for rum) you could leave their name in the pocket of the seat - And we can continue where you left off. Happy days!

[Linda P]

Have a great time Wendell and leave some rum and Carib for us!

[M Smith]

The greatest cure in my book is to plan your next holiday on the plane coming home! This is one of my mother's great pearls of wisdom and it works for us every time. Most of us cant afford to go somewhere like Tobago more than once a year but planning ANYTHING even a week somewhere cheap week where you will find some sunshine will mean you always have something to look forward to.. a holiday in the 'waiting room' we call it....

[Henry Prempeh]

Dear Sabina,

join the club we all share your pain when it come to coping with the return home (even if it is sunny Scotland )
Laughing). I agree with Paul's advice re photos, or better yet video camera. Take as much footage as you can. Every time we look at ours it brings a stupid smile to my face, the waves gently splashing, the kids playing in the surf, the blinding sunshine, the coconut water, the curry crab and dumplin, sigh. I think I need a fix!! Off to the video with me....

Henry

[Paul Tallet]

I wish there could be a live webcam (preferably looking down Castara Bay).

That would ease the withdrawal symptoms somewhat.

Regards

[Neil Roberts]

Mr Tallet,...... that would be wonderful! Kind regards, Neil Roberts.

[David Watkins]

Perhaps Ancle could oblige you Paul!
190 days to go
David

[Annabelle Oconnell]

Have just been reading this forum, and what i felt when coming back from Tobago in sept 2004 was also the worst ever.... and I've been lucky enough to travel quite alot over the years! However as mentioned before be glad you are able to plan ahead and know you are going again.

I was hoping to go this year but finances don't even permit one week's holiday in Europe let alone the Caribbean. UK summer not looking too good so far either. Let's hope for change... (big sad sigh...)

But hey I can keep looking to this forum in the meantime, and next year it's definitely going to happen - gotta get that pay-rise!!

[Paul Tallet]

Yes Annabelle

It is hard ... it's the flights that can kill it off ... but remember, the Tobago way ... there is and always will be another day.

And yes David ... Ancle is one of the obliging kind and always does it first ... but he needs faster lines on the Internet ... I guess the race is on !!

Regards

[Annabelle Oconnell]

Words of wisdom I shall bear in mind Paul whenever the blues attempt to bring me down

Live webcam on Batteaux Bay anyone? If you could just place it in the lovely spot towards the end of the beach (right hand side) between the two palm trees....