I have just returned from my first Motherland experience and it was NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING! We spent a total of 10 days broken up in Accra, Kumasi and Elmina and Elmina was by far my favorite area.
First off, let me say rid your head of all of the thoughts you have or someone has tried to sell to you about Africa because it is beautiful, the people are actual Kings and Queens and it is LITTTT! I personally enjoyed the food there, although I am an adventurous eater; others in my group found it hard to find things to eat because they were hesitant to try new things. I loved the jollof rice (obviously!) and often got chicken or beef skewers, plantains, curried goat, red red bean dishes, etc. I will say, we learned when we first arrived that food takes FOREVER to come because it is prepared fresh when you order, and that was not a lie. Often times we waited an hour or so for our food to come to have patience and don't go to dinner already hungry or you will be upset.
We stayed in hotels in various areas, which we found to be very acceptable. Some lacked consistent hot water and most only had one iron (so offered ironing services for a fee) and one blow dryer, etc. These are just things to be aware of if you are using to the 4-star travel accommodations you may receive elsewhere, you may be alarmed or disappointed some of the time so prepare your mind :)
The people!!! Man oh man, the people were so friendly and just welcoming, despite me not being Ghanian. Just as a black American, they open their arms and communities as if you have been part of the family for ever. We ventured out to some bars and a club in Kumasi which was so much fun.
Your money goes really far in Ghana, for example when we first arrived, I got my hair braided for $70 Cedi aka just $15!! While getting my hair braided, we mentioned we wanted to have some clothes made and the braider called a local seamstress who then brought fabric to us in the shop and we showed them what types of things we wanted made. We got clothing made that was available to pick up the day before we left... 5 outfits (including the fabric) was just $50! I was truly in heaven.
In terms of what we did while there here's a quick breakdown:
WEB Du Bois Museum, Ghanian naming ceremony and cooking class, visiting a local school, the Slave river, Cape Coast and Elmina castles (very emotional!), Accra Art Centre and Kejetia open air markets, a night out at Pitch Bar and Ol Lady in Kumasi, the Canopy walk in Elmina and Oxford Street.
I want EVERYONE to have the opportunity to experience Ghana, as they say it is the best starter African country and I agree 110%. I will definitely be returning soon and can't wait to get back!
Bali was one of my absolute favorite travel destinations! From the beauty of the land to the endless smiling faces, my boyfriend and I had an amazing time and it was perfect for just us two!
The weather was pretty hot and humid so we packed light and comfortable cotton clothing. It's also a relatively chill city, so there wasn't a need to wear much other than chill clothing and sandals or sneakers most of the time. At some of the temples, you are asked to have your legs covered so it's best to wear pants or they will provide you with sarongs once you get there.
I suggest breaking up the trip into two areas -- the main area Seminyak was perfect for going out and the more touristy activities and sites, while Ubud was much more relaxing and peaceful and perfect for unwinding and just enjoying the scenery. There is also Kuta for beach and fun combined; this area is more crowded with commercial hotels or Canggu or Echo Beach to escape the crowds and for quieter villas! We chose to stay in villas over large hotels which I would recommend to anyone. Most of the villas are way less than $100 a night and come with their own concierge front desk as well as a private pool inside! Can't beat it!
We got around using Uber (which is fairly new here) as well as taxis and renting our own scooter, which we found to be far more cost efficient. However, everyone there is a pro at riding their scooters so unless you are comfortable, I don't suggest you rent your own just yet!
Bali is definitely cheap depending on your travel style, you can easily spend only $2 on a meal in some places and American prices upward of $20 on a meal but it all depends on location. The good part is that cards are accepted at most places, so you can use your card or just take cash out of the ATM which will automatically convert your money into Indonesian Rupiahs for you.
Another awesome perk we enjoyed was getting a tour guide for the day at just $50 for the entire day. We told him what we wanted to do and he mapped it all out for us which was so fun. Most speak great English so that was no barrier as well!
Overall, Bali is amazing and I will definitely be returning either with my partner or a group of friends!
Rio was an amazing city to travel through with a group of black girlfriends! We went for a friends 30th birthday and truly enjoyed ourselves!
Flying from LA, the flight experience was decent, about 14 hours total. Once we hit the ground, we stayed in the Sheraton Hotel which we found to be beautiful. Not only did the hotel have 2 pools, but also boasted beautiful views of the city. We ventured out in the Leblon neighborhood which has fun upscale bars and restaurants. We also each picked an activity that we "had to do" in Rio which consisted of Christ the Redeemer statue (one of the 7 wonders of the world!), Rio cable car tour, famous escadaria painted stairs, iPanema beach and a fun night out in the Lapa area.
In terms of eats, you can stick to super cheap street food or high end top restaurants that could run you $150 a plate, it's all up to your pockets and what your stomach can handle! If you're a brave foodie, try the chicken hearts and popular Brazilian dish feijoada.
We truly felt welcomed as black travelers there, given that many people mistook us for being Afro-Brazilian and often tried speaking Portuguese to us by accident! Rio is truly a great place for friends, family and couples alike given all that there is to do around the city! I will definitely be returning soon!
I have just returned from my first Motherland experience and it was NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING! We spent a total of 10 days broken up in Accra, Kumasi and Elmina and Elmina was by far my favorite area. First off, let me say rid your head of all of the thoughts you have or someone has tried to sell to you about Africa because it is beautiful, the people are actual Kings and Queens and it is LITTTT! I personally enjoyed the food there, although I am an adventurous eater; others in my group found it hard to find things to eat because they were hesitant to try new things. I loved the jollof rice (obviously!) and often got chicken or beef skewers, plantains, curried goat, red red bean dishes, etc. I will say, we learned when we first arrived that food takes FOREVER to come because it is prepared fresh when you order, and that was not a lie. Often times we waited an hour or so for our food to come to have patience and don't go to dinner already hungry or you will be upset. We stayed in hotels in various areas, which we found to be very acceptable. Some lacked consistent hot water and most only had one iron (so offered ironing services for a fee) and one blow dryer, etc. These are just things to be aware of if you are using to the 4-star travel accommodations you may receive elsewhere, you may be alarmed or disappointed some of the time so prepare your mind :) The people!!! Man oh man, the people were so friendly and just welcoming, despite me not being Ghanian. Just as a black American, they open their arms and communities as if you have been part of the family for ever. We ventured out to some bars and a club in Kumasi which was so much fun. Your money goes really far in Ghana, for example when we first arrived, I got my hair braided for $70 Cedi aka just $15!! While getting my hair braided, we mentioned we wanted to have some clothes made and the braider called a local seamstress who then brought fabric to us in the shop and we showed them what types of things we wanted made. We got clothing made that was available to pick up the day before we left... 5 outfits (including the fabric) was just $50! I was truly in heaven. In terms of what we did while there here's a quick breakdown: WEB Du Bois Museum, Ghanian naming ceremony and cooking class, visiting a local school, the Slave river, Cape Coast and Elmina castles (very emotional!), Accra Art Centre and Kejetia open air markets, a night out at Pitch Bar and Ol Lady in Kumasi, the Canopy walk in Elmina and Oxford Street. I want EVERYONE to have the opportunity to experience Ghana, as they say it is the best starter African country and I agree 110%. I will definitely be returning soon and can't wait to get back!
Bali was one of my absolute favorite travel destinations! From the beauty of the land to the endless smiling faces, my boyfriend and I had an amazing time and it was perfect for just us two! The weather was pretty hot and humid so we packed light and comfortable cotton clothing. It's also a relatively chill city, so there wasn't a need to wear much other than chill clothing and sandals or sneakers most of the time. At some of the temples, you are asked to have your legs covered so it's best to wear pants or they will provide you with sarongs once you get there. I suggest breaking up the trip into two areas -- the main area Seminyak was perfect for going out and the more touristy activities and sites, while Ubud was much more relaxing and peaceful and perfect for unwinding and just enjoying the scenery. There is also Kuta for beach and fun combined; this area is more crowded with commercial hotels or Canggu or Echo Beach to escape the crowds and for quieter villas! We chose to stay in villas over large hotels which I would recommend to anyone. Most of the villas are way less than $100 a night and come with their own concierge front desk as well as a private pool inside! Can't beat it! We got around using Uber (which is fairly new here) as well as taxis and renting our own scooter, which we found to be far more cost efficient. However, everyone there is a pro at riding their scooters so unless you are comfortable, I don't suggest you rent your own just yet! Bali is definitely cheap depending on your travel style, you can easily spend only $2 on a meal in some places and American prices upward of $20 on a meal but it all depends on location. The good part is that cards are accepted at most places, so you can use your card or just take cash out of the ATM which will automatically convert your money into Indonesian Rupiahs for you. Another awesome perk we enjoyed was getting a tour guide for the day at just $50 for the entire day. We told him what we wanted to do and he mapped it all out for us which was so fun. Most speak great English so that was no barrier as well! Overall, Bali is amazing and I will definitely be returning either with my partner or a group of friends!
Rio was an amazing city to travel through with a group of black girlfriends! We went for a friends 30th birthday and truly enjoyed ourselves! Flying from LA, the flight experience was decent, about 14 hours total. Once we hit the ground, we stayed in the Sheraton Hotel which we found to be beautiful. Not only did the hotel have 2 pools, but also boasted beautiful views of the city. We ventured out in the Leblon neighborhood which has fun upscale bars and restaurants. We also each picked an activity that we "had to do" in Rio which consisted of Christ the Redeemer statue (one of the 7 wonders of the world!), Rio cable car tour, famous escadaria painted stairs, iPanema beach and a fun night out in the Lapa area. In terms of eats, you can stick to super cheap street food or high end top restaurants that could run you $150 a plate, it's all up to your pockets and what your stomach can handle! If you're a brave foodie, try the chicken hearts and popular Brazilian dish feijoada. We truly felt welcomed as black travelers there, given that many people mistook us for being Afro-Brazilian and often tried speaking Portuguese to us by accident! Rio is truly a great place for friends, family and couples alike given all that there is to do around the city! I will definitely be returning soon!