Lulu on the Loose (2024)

09/08/2024

Valentin’s sharpnose puffer
Saddled puffer
Black saddled toby
Canthigaster valentini

Or I call him cutie who let me take a photo of him 😚

📍 Bira, Indonesia

Dive with .life 😍

02/08/2024

A sweaty weekend of: cute outfits, new friends, aching muscles, and loooooots of dancing with my partner in crime 💃🩵

Thank you .festival 🥰

06/07/2024

Obsessed with this reticulated chromodoris 😍

📍 The Wall, Kambing, Bira, Indonesia

Thank you .restoration and 💕

21/06/2024

The story goes:

In 1754, a mother and her blind deaf daughter got caught in a storm and sought shelter. Guided by a strong force, they hid in a cave in the area where they saw an image of the Virgin Mary on one of the cave walls.

The girl opened her mouth and shouted at her mother to look at the image, and realized she could hear herself too. It is believed that the apparition of the Virgin Mary cured her. Soon after the news spread that there were healing powers at this special site, and an old blind man was curious to find out more about it. He traveled far and wide to ask people to participate in his mission to collect enough money to build a chapel at the place where the Virgin Mary had appeared. The old was successful and his miracle happened- he was able to see again.

Whether you believe the story or not, the Santuario de las Lajas is a marvel build above a river in a valley you can access through cable car or by driving (most of the way). It’s absolutely stunning and a great pride to Colombia.

My family loves going to visit and pray so I was able to join them during one of their trips. At the end of the day, they have a light show ending with the Colombian flag colors making the visit even more memorable for a proud Colombian girl like me 🤭😍

The air is crisp, water clear, no trash on the floor and the waterfall is quite peaceful to sit next to 😍

18/06/2024

Do you ever get emotional whiplash from remembering how proud you are to be related to someone AND how glad you are you kept them alive and helped raise them (and that they survived all the times you sat on them)?

👀 📸 Lemo Lemo, Bira, Indonesia

I took 59 photos yesterday and my brother said 2 were nice (also damn hard to please) 😅 But then he got inspired and I woke up to his incredible edits 🥹😍😭

Y’all my little brother is so damn talented and smart (future engineer 😉) and funny and kind and I love him and now I have tears in my eyes because I helped raise him into the incredible adult he is becoming and I couldn’t be a prouder older sis.

Follow him .photos

The labyrinth-looking photo is a gorgeous brain coral. These are hard corals which means they are reef building. In other words, even when they die, they leave behind a limestone skeleton that other corals can settle on and grow on. Brain corals are super hardy too 😉

The mushroom-looking is a montipora. They are also reef building BUT these are a bit flaky so be SUPER careful when you swim around them or they will break. They make some of the most beautiful fields because it looks like a cabbage field under water. They also come in many colors 😍😍😍

Stay tuned for lower quality edits but same level of coral love 😘

24/12/2023

The ultimate health remedy is here 🧠 Can we just normalize food gardens INSTEAD of useless and capitalist grass?!??

📍 (FREE) Kebun Kebun Bangsar, KL, Malaysia

It’s called URBAN GARDEN and I hope it’s here to stay! This community garden is in Kuala Lumpur! A busy city but in this little haven, you could feel at peace among the okra and the ducks.

More and more people have started cultivating small gardens right in the city to reconnect with nature, discover a new hobby, and rediscover the joy of growing something with their own hands.

But they aren’t just agricultural innovations! They are the remedy for the body, mind, the planet, and urban communities. You can grow your own food, eat seasonally and cleanly, have a beautiful place to socialize AND better yet, a place to hide from annoying humans 👀👀👀

22/12/2023

Gift joy, memories, and laughter 🤭 💕 🎁
NOT trash, fast fashion, and future landfill fillers!

Merry Xmas my loves ❤️🥰

19/11/2023

Am I officially Malaysian?

No one believes I’m latina and I might know why 😂 Last night was but one of the many times where I have felt so loved and welcomed in the new country I now call home 👀

For anyone who didn’t know, I moved to Malaysia in September 🙈🙊🙉 But from the very first time I visited last year, I have felt safe, loved and welcomed.

And one of the souls that have contributed is my fairy godmother who just said “wear a black bra” and dressed me in this beautiful kebaya. The kebaya is a traditional garment that beautifully and tactfully accentuates the sensually of a woman. Needless to say, I’m in love.

Thank you to the global community that continues to welcome me and make me feel loved ❤️🥹🥰

Also Bobo, are you looking for a model? 🤣

31/10/2023

I think I was a fish in my previous life 🐠 🌊

Ever so grateful to be able to dive with .diving 😭 Beautiful reefs, dedication to coral restoration, delicious vegan food, and spectacular humans. What else can I ask for?

Missing my

📸 .photography

15/10/2023

This Thailand photo dump is dedicated to seasonality ✌🏼

Last photo is what tourists expect to see 😉 But I consider myself an explorer instead. Potato potato, right? NO. For me exploration is judgement and expectations-free. Mother nature said it would rain and I said “my shoes dry quickly”. Big Buddha was big and majestic and I had a great time on the journey as well as the destination.

Ah and the fashionable poncho is still with me keeping me dry 😉 we don’t believe in single use plastic, do we?

By the way, if you are wondering how to move around in Thailand, checkout 12Go to book comfy buses:

https://12go.tp.st/ebciMFVG

🇹🇭

03/09/2023

A few thoughts about travel. I realize now I have been a nomad since 12 👧🏻

That was the first time I put my life in a bag. Back then it was in search for a better future, a vision only my parents understood at the time.

But in hindsight that was the umbilical cord that needed to be cut to become the explorer I am today. After all, I haven’t felt at home since that day. And I have packed my life in a bag more time than I remember.

But I don’t explore passport stamps, I explore human behavior, traditional practices, cultural enrichment, gastronomic labyrinths, and human progress.

It’s in mindful exploration I have learn about human connection to nature, empathy with others and myself, mental health, a hope for a better future, and amnesia of a dark past in order to move to a bright future.

What I have learned along the way is what drives me to be more outspoken about injustices, to invest my energy where it can have impact, to help how I can, and to keep educating myself.

As a climate activist I am acutely aware of my carbon footprint and make conscious efforts to minimize my footprint anywhere I go. But I stand by the belief that we cannot find creative solutions with narrow mindsets and theoretical knowledge. Immersion and first-hand learning will always be more impactful.

And who know? Maybe somewhere along the way I’ll find home.

So that’s why I travel. Why do you?

✨ #

10/08/2023

⭕️ Profit over life ❌

🌿 Our economic system, fixated on profit above all, has propelled us toward environmental devastation. But the consequences stretch far beyond melting ice caps and rising sea levels. They intertwine with poverty, inequality, and systemic racism, forming a web that engulfs us all.

✊🏽 Climate justice isn't confined to saving our planet; it's a movement that beckons us to mend the torn fabric of society. So let's dig deep, embrace uncomfortable truths, and weave together the threads of environmental responsibility and social justice. Our fight against the climate crisis isn't just for a greener world—it's for a fairer, more compassionate one. Let's nurture the seeds of change and watch them grow into a future we can proudly pass on.

25/06/2023

A photogenic global queen in the wild 🌍 👸🏻 💁🏻‍♀️

I’ll just leave this here as a reminder that most social media posts are 0.1% of all photos actually taken and they rarely reflect what we truly look like… because let’s be real, NOBODY walks around with a sexy smizeeee or a subtle pout, chest out, butt out etc 100% of the time!

Also this is the body, the messy hair, and the oily face that has supported me through thick and thin and has earned the love and acceptance of everyone who matters. So I loooove it all even during the short moments when I don’t.

Love ya baiiii

18/06/2023

Extreme adventures are all fun and good but what about a sweaty, free day?

Key points:
1. It was all free 💃
2. I was able to ride a bike which was more eco-friendly AND I got my workout of the day
3. I shared this moment with a new friend made during my stay in the Thai monastery

While staying in Pai, Thailand, I visited 📍 Santichon Village and had a blast! I had roasted chestnuts for the first time, experienced village life since this was located outside the town, and caught the gorgeous sunset.

Is it touristy? YES. But it’s also worth it for a few hours of low-cost fun. Morale of the story: travel doesn’t have to be expensive 💃 💰

07/04/2023

The beauty in kindness 🌟

Solo travel, while it’s been a positive life-changing experience, has had plenty of downsides from feeling lonely, sad, insecure, overstretched. One of the most difficult feelings has been experiencing something beautiful only to turn to the side and see there’s no one there to share it with. As much as I enjoy my alone time, the human urge to share is ever present.

That’s why meeting was the highlight of my weeks in Sukhothai. He and his wife were helping out with the Loy Krathong festival and upon meeting, they immediately embraced me. They introduced me to the local vendors, invited me to dress in the traditional attire, showed me what to eat and made my experience unforgettable.

They didn’t know that earlier on the day we met, I was near the verge of tears. I felt so happy to have made it to Sukhothai yet I felt exhausted and lonely from traveling alone while working every morning. And there they were, these 2 angels with bright smiles that lifted me up with their kindness.

Thank you for all the warmth and kindness! I will be sure to pass it along 🥹🫰🏼

05/04/2023

Take a deep breath, in gratitude to coral reefs 🪸

Here’s why:

Corals produce HALF of the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere. The symbiotic relationship between corals and algae, zooxanthellae, make this phenomenon possible. Coral reefs may cover less than 1% of the ocean floor BUT they are CRUCIAL in the existence of all life on earth 💙

A symbiotic relationship is a mutually beneficial interaction between two different organisms of different species. Zooxanthellae (algae) living in the coral cell carry out photosynthesis which provides the corals with food and energy. In return, the corals provide shelter to live, as well as carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. So, it is actually the zooxanthellae that produce half of the Earth’s oxygen while being in a symbiotic relationship within the structure of the coral reefs! 🌬️

Coral Cookie: Did you know that it is zooxanthellae that provide the awestruck colors to the corals? 🌈

Supporting coral restoration projects like .project in any capacity ensures we keep the oxygen flowing. This could be as simple as liking and sharing this post, or clicking the link in Gaia One’s bio 🔗

📸 .photography

05/03/2023

Temple run through Chiang Mai 🏃🏻‍♀️

12/02/2023

A girl on a yellow plastic chair

07/02/2023

Sometimes you collectively check out a guy.

Sometimes he and his girlfriend turn around and you all make 👁 contact.

Sometimes embarrassment is captured by the 📸

🥂 to friends, strangers and weeping willows.

30/01/2023

As a huge fan of street art, Penang hit the spot 😍

Here are a few of my favs

26/01/2023

Kek lok si temple deserves not 1 but 2 posts ✌🏼 It is one of the largest Buddhist temples in South East Asia after all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So here are my favorite photos from one of my favorite places in Penang 😍

12/01/2023

Just a digital nomad pre-20k pounds of street food and much much happiness 🤤

17/12/2022

Ni de aqui,
ni de alla
Como la india Maria

04/08/2022

New YT video is up 🎥🥳 👇🏼

Meet ! The Colombian brand that is making sunglasses, watches, cases, purses and more out of recycled plastic and biodegradable materials!

The reality is we all need objects from time to time and thrift shopping isn’t always going to help you find what you need. So when you do need to buy something new, I love finding brands that help you be more eco-conscious AND support local single mothers get jobs.

If you are in Cali, pay them a visit and tag me on a photo with them. It would make me really happy 🥰

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkXIGtEMO9E&t=272s

07/07/2022

Way to go .booksellers for supporting my choice to refuse plastic cups and serving my order in my own tumbler! ☕️

50billion coffee cups are thrown away a year in the US alone! 🗑

And surprisingly, lots of stores refuse to serve you in your own cup because their plastic cup is their way to measure quantity to be served. Imagine how much trash would be reduced if this small process was changed?

So support your local shops for adopting more sustainable practices! 🪴

28/05/2022

You know what’s better than doing a cleanup? Doing a spontaneous cleanup with family. Sun + quality time + a cleaner neighborhood.

I’m glad I was able to share with my aunt a little bit of my passion for waste reduction/management and to talk through my environmental goals.

Full Youtube video available now 😘

Lulu on the Loose