Category: Nudism

A naturist’s view on animals

Animals are nude. Just like we like to be.

I don’t know if you have animals. Pets. Dogs, cats, horses, goldfish, chickens, to name a few.

They are all naked. You’ve probably seen that. And yes, furry ones are naked too – they don’t wear additional things concealing the way they are.

nude man on horseI’ve never had a problem with an animal whilst being nude. They don’t see it. They don’t care.

Animals care about the person inside that skin. Someone who’s good to them, who feeds them and makes sure they’re comfortable and healthy.

Clothes make no difference to animals. If you have different experiences, I would certainly like to hear about them, because I only have my life to draw from.

billenkatI have two cats. They don’t care whether I’m nude or not. Them being cats and me being human however makes that I do care at times. My cats like to lie in my lap. Cats have claws and they know how to use them, so when I sit on the couch I have a towel beneath me and a double folded one on top of me. I’ve once miscalculated the speed of a cat and the sharpness of its claws, and that is not going to happen again. Trust me. It hurt enough to make the memory last a lifetime.

I’ve been nude around dogs too. Dogs don’t care. Dogs want your attention. They want to play, run after balls and sticks, and get a good rub. Again, the vulnerable part is the human. Even when dogs don’t have cat-like claws, they can leave nasty scratches. It’s all a matter of common sense. Seriously, I have yet to come across a species of animal that is impressed by clothes (apart from those that have been indoctrinated into fearing someone in a specific outfit, like circus animals. They are sad.)

naked girl with a cow

A naturist’s view on sustainability

What is sustainability?

sustainabilityAccording to Wikipedia, sustainability is defined as “the process of maintaining change in a balanced fashion, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.”

Naturism and sustainability

nude joggingWhen we look back to the origins of naturism (nudism), the movement was all about a healthy lifestyle in harmony with nature. I am convinced there are still plenty of nude walking people who share that idea in some way or other. And that, for me, already points into the direction of sustainability. The harmony with nature part already shows that naturism’s basic philosophy underwrites a world that is a healthier and better place than many areas in our current world.

A while ago I posted a blog about the fashion industry and the amount of pollution that brings with it. The clearest point of that was that wearing clothes has a severe impact on the environment, so less clothes means less crap in the water and the air.

But it doesn’t end with clothes (for me)

Mankind has taken control of the planet in a way that’s totally irresponsible. Mankind thinks they are lord and master (or lady and Earthmistress) of this ball we still live on. A tiny flaw in this mindset is that ‘mankind’ is very wrong. Just because humans feel invulnerable doesn’t mean they win everything. When air is no longer breathable and water is no longer safe to drink, the all powerful human will be finished quickly.
Humans who think that way should spend a while in the nude, outside, in nature. I wonder if they still feel invulnerable then. Naturists and nudists know the fragility of man when faced the outdoors. When there is no fabric or plastic shielding that thin skin from the rough bark of a tree, things quickly look different.

Man’s place in nature

The author nudeIf we find our place in nature again, I am convinced things can still be set to right.

It won’t be fast because we’ve been doing our best to mess this planet up for decades already, but the nude mindset would be a great help in that.

A naturist’s view on ‘days’

Days

We all know them. Workdays, weekend days, vacation days. But those aren’t the days I mean here.

Secretary dayI’m taking (or rather, writing) about all those fancy, thought up days, like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Secretary Day, Naked Gardening Day and so on.

If you post attention to them, there is a day for just about anything and so each calendar day is the ‘home’ of at least 1 special day.

Naked Day

The author nudeThat is one day I miss in this line-up. You might argue that Naked Gardening Day is Naked Day but not everyone is into gardening or has a garden readily available. Most nudists and naturists however like being naked, so a simple Naked Day would be very welcome.

How do you get a day?

Naked bike ride
Naked bike ride

The days in the list up there all have a great commercial value. Every …. day comes with gifts of all kinds. The problem getting Naked Day accepted everywhere presents a problem in that respect because it wouldn’t bring much in the view of gifts. It would just yield a lot of naked people (but by far not enough).

Still I think it’s a shame that so many occasions have their own day, whether we like the occasion or not, but this one’s missing from the line-up.

Hemispheric issue

There’s that. When would that day be? Seasons on the Northern and Southern hemisphere are opposite, so picking a day for Naked Day would be interesting to say the least. Is Naked Gardening Day also a Southern hemisphere happening or do they (or you, Southern hemisphere citizen) have their own version of it? Does it even exist on that side of the planet?

I’m interested in hearing your thoughts about this…

A naturist’s view on freehiking (notably in England)

What is Freehiking?

Let’s look at Wikipedia:

Freehiking refers to naked hiking as well as a form of hiking in which the participants intentionally avoid trails and predetermined destinations. This can also be referred to as “wander hiking.”

The most interesting part for us naturists is explained further as:

The term freehiking has been used by naturists for decades to describe the activity of naked hiking. It was adopted by hikers after the sport of freeskiing gained popularity in the 1990s.

Now we’ve cleared up what freehiking is…

I had to write this post because my friend Robert mentioned freehiking a few times, and then I stumbled over this tweet:

warning signPlease note the explicit mention of the UK. This is not automatically applicable to any country. This is only applicable when you are in the UK.

If you don’t want to go through the whole twitter-clicking, here is a link to the file in question:

pdficonClick here

If that is too much for you, here are the two sections from the document which are most important for real naturists:

Police action naturists

I think this is a brilliant move on behalf of the police force in the UK. Every country should adopt this – well, every free-thinking country. I understand there will be plenty of less open-minded cultures that will never accept this, but that’s up to them. Unfortunately.

I’m really excited about this development, as will be many naturists in the UK, I’m certain of that. With a police directive like that I can envision an influx of naturists in the UK. It might even do something good for their tourism.

Now, back to freehiking itself.

Have you ever done it? Have you been in the lucky circumstance that you could drop all clothes and just go for a long walk without being afraid someone would see you and make things difficult?

Freehiking in the UK

I’m glad to say I had that opportunity plenty of times. I’ve been out for naked walks in Germany, where the laws are quite relaxed as well, in the UK (even before the police pdf was published) and plenty of times on the Canary Islands.

On Lanzarote I’ve done very long walks even, the longest around 13km (little over 8 miles). The great thing during that actual walk was that I encountered people (walking, cycling and in cars) who didn’t bat an eye. Some actually greeted me.

I’ve been freehiking in Scotland as well. The benefit of Scotland, I found, is that it’s very spacious with very few people. I had a great walk near Loch Lomond.

So what about the United States?

The US is a very large country. Still I keep hearing from many people that it USA Mapis hard to go for a naked walk. It’s something I find a bit difficult to comprehend but I am not from the US of A, so please enlighten me. I’m curious to know what makes it difficult to go freehiking. I understand you don’t do that in big cities. That isn’t accepted in most places. Is it so hard for people to go out into the open where there’s space? Is the US so built up that it’s cities and towns wall to wall, back to back? Or do most people have no car? (Which I find hard to believe, as America loves its cars.)

Do you have freehiking experiences over there? Where did you do them? Were you harassed? It would be great if you can share your opinions to help others.

Interview with Harmen Pordon

natupop

July 28th was the day it was going to happen. NatuPop at the naturist resort Flevonatuur, and the day I’d meet with Harmen and his family.

slecht weer

The drive to Flevonatuur wasn’t promising but everything turned out well in the end. Read on for the interview with Harmen.

Who is Harmen Pordon?

Just a simple,  hard working family man of 30 years from the Netherlands. Naturist since his 18th. Active promoter thereof since 2015/2016. I am married, have 2 children, 1 of whom from a previous relationship. Number 3 is expected at the end of September.

How did you end up in naturism?

After years of being bullied as a child, I asked myself how long I would let my life happen as it did. The answer was pretty simple: not long. I have gone into a self-invented process for years to accept myself more as the person I am and to love myself. When I finally reached my 18th birthday, I was looking for a way to express that. When I came across naturism by chance on the internet and as I read about what it was, my interest was triggered. My love for nature, after years in the Dutch scouting organisation, was unabated and when it turned out that you could experience this more intensely, my last missing piece of the puzzle fell into place.

Harmen and Paul

You have been maintaining a naturism blog for a long time. Unfortunately, you stopped because of your health. Do you want more about that?

When I got some pain in my lower back in the beginning of March (I also had chest pressure) I went to the doctor. After I had carefully detailed my complaints, I was immediately referred to the hospital. There they soon diagnosed thrombosis in both lungs and I was immediately stuck in the intensive care unit. That turned out to be no exaggerated luxury because all in all I spent more than one and a half week in the hospital. It was very critical. When you read my letter of resignation from the hospital, there is literally massive pulmonary embolism. My lungs were completely filled up. There was also an embolism in my kidneys. The thrombosis is not caused by my lifestyle (I am a truck driver and also smoked for years and eaten unhealthy), but because of a problem in my kidneys. I urinate certain proteins, so that my blood already solidifies in my body. The fact that I have been so close to death while I have a young family and a child on the way, was the reason that I already put my focus on it and stopped the blogs. Rather, living life, then recording and sharing life, was my thought at that moment.

How did your wife respond to that dramatic situation?

Pretty intense. Honesty makes me tell that she is in a depression right now. She slowly scrambles up, but because of all that we have experienced over the past 2 years, my recent illness was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She is living a fairly withdrawn life at the moment and focuses mainly on our family.

harmen and paul

How are you now?

Good. The thrombosis is under control due to medication and since mid-June I have been working again completely. Recently I got an infection on my leg, of which in the first instance was thought of hosiery. Since I do not have the corresponding effects, I suspect it is something else. I am currently taking antibiotics to treat the infection. That, too, is a good thing. Of course it was again scaring.

Do you have plans to start blogging again? I know you had a lot of followers on your blog.

My Dutch blog Open & Bloot will come back anyway. It calls to me. In what way that comes back and how Santana plays a role in that, I still have to decide. Also because with us both naturism at this moment still a bit on the back burner because of everything that has happened. The English blog “Bare Thoughts” does not come back. I have already discussed so much there that I feel there is barely any original content to add. It feels closed, while the Dutch do not yet give that feeling. However, the English blog remains online, so my message can still be shared. That is simply too important to remove, I think.

Harmen en Paul

Thank you, Harmen, for this interview!

Best Nudist Escapes Around the World

A guest post by Zack Davisson

Nudist travel
Nudist travel

For many people, a vacation is an opportunity to escape, unwind, and relax. But in a world increasingly perpetuated with an obsession to be “connected” at all times, the care-free holiday is disappearing. How many likes did my photo get? Do I have any work emails waiting? How do I look?

For those seeking a true getaway, sometimes turning to a naturist, or nudist, holiday is the breath of fresh air they were looking for. Surrounded by like-minded people, free of judgment, naturists enjoy the chance to leave the material world behind and embrace a trip consisting only of themselves and their destination. Nothing else. For those looking to throw their inhibitions to the wind, we, along with our friends at AllTheRooms, have arranged a list of ideas for around the world, clothing-free holidays.

Hidden Beach Resort

Hidden_Beach_Resort_By_SunshineIdeally located on the Mexican Mayan Riviera, the Hidden Beach Resort features luxury accommodations all within view of the Caribbean. As an adults-only hotel, Hidden Beach caters to both couples looking for a romantic retreat and nudists looking for a community. The highly-praised staff also host fun events nightly.

Sunland Holiday Village

Sunland_Holiday_Village_by_TripadvisorA nudist take on glamping, Sunland emphasizing everything “au naturel” with a focus not on full-service luxury but rather embracing the nude lifestyle in a peaceful, natural setting. Located on the relatively untouched Limestone Coast of Australia, don’t be surprised if you’re joined on the beach or in the bush by a kangaroo.

La Jenny

La_Jenny_by_Gold_AdvisorOne of the largest naturist destinations in Europe, La Jenny, found on the Atlantic Coast of France, has a family-friendly atmosphere where adults can enjoy a round of golf while the younger crowd enjoy the resort’s Kiddie Club. Outside of La Jenny, visitors take advantage of convenient access to the world-class vineyards of Bordeaux.

Caliente Tampa

Caliente_Tampa_by_CalienteResortsMuch of the United States seems to have notably stricter regulations around beach nudity, but there are some world-class nudists options in the country, many of which are either in Florida or the desert of California. The pick of Caliente Tampa is a nod to those who are potentially looking for a rowdy atmosphere, as the resort enjoys a rich nightlife schedule to go along with its many activities.

Lemon Tree Resort

Lemon_Tree_Resort_by_AgodaThe relatively new Lemon Tree Resort, opened in 2016, has been so successful the owners are currently working on opening another Phuket-based nudist resort in the near future, named Peace Blue. Guests at the Lemon Tree enjoy friendly BBQs, movie nights, numerous nude sporting activities, and day trips to a naturist island.

Vritomartis Naturist Resort

Vritomartis_Naturist_Resort_by_TripAdvisorVritomartis, on the historic and stunning Greek island of Crete, boasts an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. Potential guests are assisted through the booking process based on whether they are first-time naturists, occasional naturists, or naturists with years of experience. Once at the resort, visitors are greeted by ocean views, numerous leisure activities, and a location in proximity to multiple nude beaches.

Zack is a recovering technical recruiter who traded in his suit and tie in Silicon Valley for salsa music and a passion for writing in Medellin, Colombia. When not writing for AllTheRooms you can find Zack with his nose in a book, puttering around nature, or getting ultra-competitive while watching Jeopardy.

A naturist’s view on parks

Parks for naturists (and resorts of course)

As a kind of follow-up on my post on nudist colonies I’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of naturist parks and resorts. There’s even a good chance you visited one or more. I was thinking about parks and resorts one day and a thought popped up: Does size matter?

Does size matter?

This is because there are parks and resorts in many forms, shapes and sizes.

montalivet

What is small and large in this context? I guess that’s what you’re used to. Depending on your area a club with 100 members can be large, whereas a resort with 400 members can be small. Look for instance at the giant resorts in France, like Montalivet or Euronat, each of which can house thousands of guests at the same time.

Those are resorts where you can shop, dine, walk and bike in the nude for your entire stay.

So what’s your choice?

Do you like big parks? Small parks? Any kind of park? Or do you dislike parks and so on in general?

A naturist’s view on “colonialism”

Nudist “colonies”

Remember that expression? It’s from long ago. Hence the title of this post. Colonialism. I really wonder how many people in the world still think of nudism/naturism and ‘colonies’ as belonging together. I for one really dislike the expression. It makes it sound as if nudism is something dirty that should be put away, like there used to be leper colonies.

Open air nudists
Exercising together at a naturist resort

Resorts, parks, clubs, beaches

Those are the places that naturists and nudists entertain these days. Instead of colonies we have resorts and beaches. Places where we can be ourselves, even with loads of people still not understanding what we’re about.

nudist friendsHow much does a name for your favourite place affect you? Are you okay with being in a ‘colony’?

One might argue that it doesn’t matter as long as a colony looks like this, but for me there’s power in words, and names are words too.

I’m not offended by this word. People can’t offend me because I won’t let them. I think it’s insulting, which is much worse as that hits me on a personal level. (Being offended for me means not being able to cope with something in a mature way.)

I have visited several nude places, like the naturist park Flevonatuur (Dutch) and the local nude beach. I’ve been to the naturist part of the North Sea beach near Zandvoort in the Netherlands, to Vritomartis in Crete and to Charco del Palo, a naturist village on Lanzarote. None of them have anything to do with a colony. They’re great places where great people can hang out in their favourite, great lifestyle.

I really would like to hear your opinion on this word. Maybe I make too much of it. I know that ‘nudist colony’ is an ancient expression. I know it’s still used by some. And as we speak of this: do you think there would come a new word for a naturist place in the future?

 

A naturist’s view on dick pics

What?

Yes. Dick pics. You saw that. A few days ago I heard a podcast in which, among other things, was a mention of dick pics. Before you jump to conclusions: this is not an invitation to send them in. Quite the contrary.

So why a blog post about dick pics?

In the podcast they talked about the fact that women who dare to show themselves online in a naturist forum or on social media, either dressed or undressed, are amazingly quickly ‘treated’ to images sent by a certain kind of gentlemen. Images, as you have already guessed, of their penis.

taking a dick pic

Hearing this, I wondered what goes on in the mind of people who do that. They’re clearly not naturists because naturists know better than to surprise people with pictures of certain parts of their anatomy.

A picture of a man’s penis isn’t something most women aren’t waiting for. Following that train of thought, I suddenly wondered how the average, non dick pic sending man would interpret such a surprise. Would you, sir normal nudist or naturist, appreciate a series of images of erect penises as a welcome to a naturist platform? I would absolutely not appreciate that.

Confidence or the lack of it

Woman sex object

Many people wonder why there is such an apparent absence of women in the naturist scene. I think dick pics are part of it, but by far not all of it. They are one expression of the sexualisation of women that’s been going on since far too long. For women it’s difficult to show themselves in this world. Look at how girls in school are being told off if they wear something ‘too revealing’. The daughter of someone I know was sent home because the shoulder straps of her top were too thin; they would ‘sexually arouse’ the boys in her class. How stupid is that? Is it any wonder that children of now are being trained to think that any part of a female body that shows skin has to do with sex? How do women feel when they’re pushed in such a situation?

What’s the reason behind dick pics?

I may be entirely wrong here, but I think they are sent off  by either immature people or by those who think that naturism/nudism focusses on genitals. And boy (or girl), how wrong they are. These people mistake our lifestyle with porn, as so many do. Distasteful? Yes. Disgusting? Yes. Disrespectful? Certainly so! As we know, naturism and nudism is about being free from clothes.

If someone gets ‘treated’ to a dick pic, please send them a link to this blog post so they may learn something. I doubt the message will arrive where it’s supposed to go but never give up hope. Not all of them think with the little head.