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One Month Of Van Life In Portugal, 2020 (aka. Pandemic Vandemic!)

One Month Of Van Life In Portugal, 2020 (aka. Pandemic Vandemic!)

** BONUS: VIDEO AND GALLERY AT THE END ** It’s been one month now and I sit here on a campsite (my first in a while), 7am, blaring out Frank Sinatra’s My Way on my Bluetooth speaker. It has an…

Nick Watson28th November 202028th November 2020 Uncategorised No Comments
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Wellbeing, Mindfulness And The SCL

Wellbeing, Mindfulness And The SCL

I’ve realised that nothing is more important to work on than our inner world. The external things we splash out on only provide temporary satisfaction to influence our inner world. I run a company called Ruby Datum, pioneering in Virtual…

Nick Watson13th November 202013th November 2020 Uncategorised No Comments
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Being Present, Trusting Intuition And Living In A Van

Being Present, Trusting Intuition And Living In A Van

A few years ago, I got my first taste of van life. I bought a converted LDV Maxus, threw in some clothes and took to the road. I just drove, with no destination in mind, discovering many things on the…

Nick Watson9th November 202016th November 2020 Uncategorised No Comments
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If Energy Is Infinite, Do We Ever, Truly Die?

If Energy Is Infinite, Do We Ever, Truly Die?

I ponder this question a lot, and even though I have no true answer, take great comfort in the teachings of the likes of David Hawkins about how energy is infinite and our consciousness collectively shared. I’m about to share…

Nick Watson8th November 20208th November 2020 Uncategorised No Comments
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Relinquishing The Need For Control, The Comfort Zone and COVID-19

Relinquishing The Need For Control, The Comfort Zone and COVID-19

For those that know me well, will know I’ve recently read up a bit by Eckhart Tolle. I haven’t delved too deeply into his teachings yet, and I am mindful that perhaps not everything he says should be taken too…

Nick Watson29th March 202030th March 2020 Uncategorised 1 Comment
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Ten Things I Wish I Knew About Life Sooner

Ten Things I Wish I Knew About Life Sooner

The past 10 years have been an important learning curve for me, but 2019 has had the biggest impact on my life. Here are 10 things I just wish I knew about earlier on in life.

Nick Watson19th December 201920th December 2019 Uncategorised 2 Comments
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London: So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish And Chips

London: So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish And Chips

I’m leaving my flat in central London to spend the summer in the camper van. One week in and I feel like it’s the best decision I’ve made in years!

Nick Watson2nd May 20183rd May 2018 Devon, London, Travel 4 Comments
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Romania: The Gift That Just Keeps On Giving

Romania: The Gift That Just Keeps On Giving

The barrier approached fast as I jammed the clutch in and dabbed the brake round the first corner, the car shaking like a shitting dog, it’s way of saying “hey, I’m just reminding you of my capabilities here” – it…

Nick Watson29th June 2017 Travel 1 Comment
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Finding The Northern Lights In Iceland

Finding The Northern Lights In Iceland

It was my first time travelling with my dad since I was young. We’re similar in many ways, but don’t have lots in common. Our spirit for adventure made Iceland the perfect choice for a week long break away from the everyday…

Nick Watson6th March 201716th February 2020 Travel 1 Comment
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Out Of Devon And Living In London: Two Months In, 10 Things I’ve Noticed

Out Of Devon And Living In London: Two Months In, 10 Things I’ve Noticed

I’m 30 years old, and until recent years, have been nested in my comfort zone. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I embarked on a solo journey around South East Asia, I developed a taste for the unknown. Since…

Nick Watson15th February 20176th March 2017 London 1 Comment
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Olhão is nice. Was great to enjoy the final days Olhão is nice. Was great to enjoy the final days of restaurants before lockdown ☀️
Checked into @shapeless_coliving in Lagos, made so Checked into @shapeless_coliving in Lagos, made some cool friends, loving life in the sun right now ☀️😎
Had the best new years with good friends in Lisbon Had the best new years with good friends in Lisbon. Already very excited about 2021 and the opportunities it is bringing already 🥰 @j0n1b1 @wattkris @jamie_osborne
Good times with good people and a fire to bring th Good times with good people and a fire to bring the warmth and energy. I come into 2021 with no expectations, just to fully embrace "what is". LIFE IS GOOD 🤩
Waking up early to watch these incredible sunrises Waking up early to watch these incredible sunrises and taking a cold dip in the sea could be one of the reasons I have been loving life so much these past few weeks!
Christmas was very different this year. The compan Christmas was very different this year. The company was great, the food delicious and I even managed to whip out the decks to spin a few tunes 🎉🎅🕺I've also started to take a morning dip in the sea recently. All I can say is WOAH! What an energetic way to start every day on a high ❄️😅
The past few days must have been some of the most The past few days must have been some of the most intense both physically and emotionally in order to grow as a person. I went to visit Sagres, then planned on staying at Salema Eco Camp, however my intuition was screaming at me to drive to the mountains to reflect on a few things following a heated conversation.
I got there and met some van-lifers living off grid, with little social media or much in the way of technology. Initially I felt un-welcomed but decided to stick at it. I felt it would help me grow, although at the time it was quite uncomfortable and I couldn't figure out why. I made some great friends, and one of them was brutally honest about a part of my character that everyone has been too polite to point out before, or even notice.
I've done some cool things over the years, and have some great stories to tell... It's the persona I've created, the character that is "the adventures of Nick Watson" which I just can't wait to share with people, in order to be liked and respected.
One of the people was telling some opinions about the universe formation and I just couldn't wait to tell him a similar one I had. He shut me down, saying "you really didn't properly listen did you? You can learn a lot from listening to people."
It's a skill I thought I had mastered by taking more time, pausing and reflecting during conversation but I had not been properly engaging. This brought about such a huge realisation, which I've sat with for days.  Just in the past week I've really realised how much more knowledge and wisdom there is out there by truly engaging with people, and not taking "my agenda" to the conversation.
I wrote that on a note that night, and threw into the fire during a very special winter solstice.Sometimes we get so good at protecting our ego that people don't even notice. It's time to put it in its place, not have an agenda, pause, immerse into a conversation without judgement, and listen.
Waking up every day to the sound of waves rolling, Waking up every day to the sound of waves rolling, then taking a 30 second walk to the beach for sunrise. What an amazing world we live in 🌄
Flowing Flowing
Sometimes the timing can just be perfect. Sometimes the timing can just be perfect.
Finally hiked the Seven Hanging Valleys trail in P Finally hiked the Seven Hanging Valleys trail in Portugal after having been here a few weeks now. I was not disappointed!
Trying to avoid endless sunsets on my IG, but thes Trying to avoid endless sunsets on my IG, but these are too good not to post! Every day I'm greeted by pure bliss. ☀️
Why do I love Portugal? The sunrises and sunsets m Why do I love Portugal? The sunrises and sunsets may have something to do with it 🌅
I love the pace of life here, the stunning beaches I love the pace of life here, the stunning beaches, good energy and of course lots of warm, glorious sunshine
Well, that was a shaky moment! I drove off the ro Well, that was a shaky moment!
I drove off the road on what looked to be a gravel layby, however several metres after leaving the road my van sank deep into what turned out to be clay.
The wheels were about 30-40% in at the front. I jumped out and as I walked, thick clay sucked my feet into the ground.
I let the van be for a second as there were no cars coming past in what was a very desolate area. I grabbed all the branches I could find and made a makeshift "track" back towards the road from branches (cutting my hand open in the meantime), which was a good 12-15 metres due to the turning circle.
I jumped back in, revved the engine high and dropped the clutch into second gear, clay spraying everywhere and the engine roaring to life.
As I moved towards the road, I saw a huge kerb back to the tarmac, bigger than average with a dip filled with water just before. I couldn't stop now, or could find myself in a worse situation. I gritted my teeth and slammed hard into it. The front of the van flew up into the air and touched down to the road, and as it pelted forward the back made a huge BANG sound. Plants and pictures flew off the walls, cupboards emptied their contents and I dreaded to think what the underside of my van looked like. Surely the tyres didn't survive? Did my LPG tank hit the edge? I had to drive about 3 miles before I could find out, as there were no places to pull in. My hand dripping with blood by now, running all over the place. My seatbelt bleeper reminding me to buckle off incessantly banging on. I finally found somewhere to stop (a dirt road) and fortunately there was no external damage, just a messy inside!
I was a bit shaky so decided to sit down to meditate. I draw in one deep breath, and *BEEP BEEP BEEP* - a 4x4 had come out of nowhere and wanted me to move 😂
Wow, wow, wow.... What a day! But worth it for the incredible views.
Algarve with no tourists is a once in a lifetime o Algarve with no tourists is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to really soak it in 🌅
There was always that incessant voice in my head r There was always that incessant voice in my head raising alarm bells about vanlife, telling me it could be dangerous, isolating and get boring, especially venturing out alone. But no, it's been anything but that. I trusted my intuition and it brought me to some of the world's most incredible views, I've met some inspirational people and had the time of my life. Plus, I've learned to surf better!
Knowing the difference between intuition and fear has being a great challenge recently. I feel like when you try rationalising against something, but the feeling to do it (or don't do it) keeps coming back, that's intuition. After a while, you just know, instantly.
I've been here a month now already and it's flown by. Who knows what the next few weeks hold, but I do know I'm very happy right now.
Sines was good to me. Stunning sunsets and the per Sines was good to me. Stunning sunsets and the perfect surf rolling in for days. Didn't even need a wetsuit 😍🌊🏄☀️
It turns out my van isn't much of an off-roader 😅
At what point do we stop living, and start survivi At what point do we stop living, and start surviving?
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