Day 2. Gunnar’s 30 days Writing Challenge.

Although, this day has been absolutely amazing, I still not sure what do write today that can bring value to you. But let’s step back a little to yesterday. Didn’t I complain about three major things yesterday. And today I am saying that I feeling great.
What caused this change?
Perhaps this is the take-away that could have some value for you. I made a plan yesterday how to get myself out of trouble, and stuck to it. That made a big change.

So if you want a recommendation what to do when things are not going the way you want, perhaps make a plan how a perfect day should look like – and then try to implement it next day. This is how panned out for me.

My girls: I got up early and at least got a little bit of time with girls before they went off to school. When they came home, they each made a Duolingo lesson of Swedish/English with me (there is no Swedish/Spanish – so they have to use two foreign languages simultenously) and we listen to a Mora Träsk video.

A few minutes ago, I saw them off to bed. Anahi said she was going to sleep like Pippi, with hear feet on her pillow, which gave us a chance to practice a few more words.

I ran: I can’t believe it! First I did my pain managing meditation with the Headspace app I subscribe to, foam rolling, yoga practice and the Chigong I learnt yesterday. Then I  walked 6k on my work treadmill work station, while completing some programs for clients. Later I did run 5 k without pain.

As for the business, still no new clients signing up today, but a private client for July-August wants to do 30 days of solo birding, and that should be ready by the end of the week. Also, I am organizing the details for a group from India wanting to do Costa Rica for a week in May.  Meanwhile, a non-birding program for a group of 10-16 people from Malaysia visiting 4 countries (Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru) is shaping up. I have sent it off to Lizbet for pricing and hope to send off the prospect by the end of the week.

So while no clients yet for December, it is cooking for 2020. More so, once I send out the much delayed newsletter I have been working on with the work title: The Birding Revolution. Ha, that should have gotten you intrigued!

I also made a post for our Facebook page in the same spirit that was already posted on my FB profile.

The best part with posting on a FB page, is that one can reach potential clients trough targeted advertising. But first one needs to try to get as much organic reach as possible during some 24-48 hours. So please, go ahead with comments, share and likes. Comments weigh more than shares, shares weigh more than likes, but all interaction is appreciated.

Finally, when I opened Twitter just now, my heart sank. The secondary school in Tensta, where I used to live, will stand empty and will not host the campus of  language and international studies as was planned. It is a scandal, how it was turned into a commercial project, when it used to be a well functioning public school. Damn politicians. Integration does not seem to be a priority.

My song which soon hits 300 000 views on YouTube reflects some of the problems but also the go-go spirit of the people here. Mind you, the song is 30 years old, but it was recorded two years ago. The problems were the same then, but it has escalated now. And the politicians are just sitting on their fat asses and doing nothing or when doing something making it worse. I am boiling!
Listen to my song. English subtitles can be activated.

Enough ranting. Have a good night and see you here tomorrow.

Gunnar Engblom is a Swedish birder who lives in Peru since 1998, where he operates birdwatching and nature tours for Kolibri Expeditions. He is also a dedicated 3:04 marathon runner (Nov 2016), soon to resume training for Lima Marathon in May 2020. Currently, injured but working on rehab.  In 2016, Gunnar additionally re-launched his rock’n’roll singer career with his band Guran Guran, and in 2018 they released a new single and another one in 2019.

A new beginning.

I have slid away from blogging lately. It is very time consuming and hardly anyone read blogs anymore. Having said that, listening to podcasts with people I admire such as Tim Ferriss, Chris Brogan and Seth Godin, they all do a daily writing session and the two latter by blogging. So I have decided to give this ago by doing a personal challenge of writing for 30 days in a row. Not sure all will result in blog posts but I shall write some way or another.

Day 1.

Right now I am suffering in too many ways.  Here is the list of what it wrong in my life at present.

• I can’t run. My body aches after too much driving in Brazil, and too much sitting, without any running. On top of that my, carrying a too heavy camera on the same shoulder all the time, both in Brazil as well as the Big Month section between Jaen and Tumbes at the end of October got my neck and shoulder tight.
• I am spending too little time with my two daughters and feeling more and more guilt that I have not been able to teach them Swedish.
• There are too few bookings the coming months and this affects the economy of both the company and myself.

The blogging may become somewhat therapeutic, so here are some ideas I have for reducing the suffering.

1. How to deal with the body ache and lack of training.

I have started several things that should get me back in shape to start running again.
First I am doing Yoga every day. Just a relatively short Sun Salute repeated twice. I have a Yoga app on my phone.
Today I also found recommended a good Qigong exercise to do on the Sub 3h Marathon group on Facebook.

I am also subscribing to Headspace meditation program and have start a pain management meditation cycle. On Day 7 already in the program.

Today I did two short runs taking it very easy and walking some shorter stretches 2x 1.5 km.

I have also added a short strength routine for strengthening the hip. I do some squats, clams, leg lifts and bridges.

Too keep track of all, I use Google calendar app, where you can schedule repetitive tasks to create new habits.

2. More time with my daughters.

My wife and I came back from Colombia last night, and today I only saw my daughters very briefly, but I plan to get up early to spend time with them before they go to school – and give them an hour or so in the afternoon.
Tomorrow, I will get up at 5 AM and work more efficiently in the morning and get my morning routine sorted. If this means too much lack of sleep I shall do two-three 20 min naps during the day. A guided nap app is Pzizz. Absolutely fantastic for napping.

3.  More Kolibri Expeditions/7 Wonders Birding sales to improve the company finances

We need to improve sales. There are too many up and downs. For December there are no Peru bookings at all. The programs we have scheduled around Christmas and or New Year have not sold.  What is so special with Christmas anyway. I would just want to go away and flee from all that shopping craziness. If anyone reading this agrees here are the trips you can sign up for. I’ll give a 10% discount as a reader of this blog.

Dec 22-31 North Peru getaway (10 days) featuring White-winged Guan and Marvelous Spatuletail 
If that is too long and you hate the idea of being away for Christmas Eve, here is the alternative shorter tour.
Dec 26-30. Short North Peru tour starting in Jaen. Arrive in the afternoon of the 25th or early morning of the 26th.
Dec 31-Jan 3. Scarlet-banded Barbet and Cordillera Azul Antbird.
Jan 3-8. Iquitos – White sand forest and canopy walkway.  This trip does have two  confirmed bookings, and may just fill up with two more interested.

The other thing that could get more attention is our intent to use word of mouth to spread the word of the concept of running our most popular 5 day trips weekly. You shall certainly hear more about this. Meanwhile, just check out my Facebook post from the other day…

It reads….

BIRDING PERU – ANYTIME!

Here is the idea: We offer our most popular birding destinations in Peru all year around. Three short tours of five days which run every Monday to Friday. You can sign up anytime to the most iconic Peruvian Bird Species (Marvelous Spatuletail, Condor, Cock of the Rock, Inca Tern, etc), the BEST Biodiversity Hotspots (Manu road, Abra Malaga and Abra Patricia) and Classic Peru Bucket list items (Machu Picchu, Ceviche, Pisco Sour and if you wish Guinea-Pig).

The Birding Peru – Anytime programs are perfect for:
* Anyone having limited amount of time and money.
* For non birding spouses and friends. Perfect length. Short trips both serve as introduction to birding and are not overwhelming, even if it is birdwatching most of the time.
* For Bird Photographers.
* For serious birders doing all three trips for maximum diversity in two-three weeks.

Here are the three tours:

• Manu road
• Machu Picchu
• North Peru

Check the calendar in Kolibri Expeditions website to learn more or message me on Whatsapp +51988555938 for more info.

Photo by Richard Pasquarella on Unsplash

Gunnar Engblom is a Swedish birder who lives in Peru since 1998, where he operates birdwatching and nature tours for Kolibri Expeditions. He is also a dedicated 3:04 marathon runner (Nov 2016), soon to resume training for Lima Marathon in May 2020. Currently, injured but working on rehab.  In 2016, Gunnar additionally re-launched his rock’n’roll singer career with his band Guran Guran, and in 2018 they released a new single and another one in 2019.