Trogir, is located between Zadar and Split and is the perfect place to go for a day trip or too spend 1-2 days. With it being a small town, you avoid the inevitable travel crowds and not surrounded by tourists coming off cruise ships. It is the best place to enjoy the atmosphere as the locals do. If you’re a lover of photography, this is the place for you.
At every corner in Trogir, you find beautiful architecture, stunning sea views, high views to see the city above. Not to mention Trogir’s Old Town was voted best city-island in the world by National Geographic in 2015.
Today’s post is a mixture of a #photojournal in my series. Check out Zadar, Croatia’s here. And also a ‘What to Do in Trogir’.
Enjoy the Sea Views
Catching the Most Perfect Spots for Sea Views
Kamerlango Castle
At the tip of the town, lies Kamerlango Castle. A 14th-century fortress, this castle still stands proud at the waterfront. The structure was built by the Republic of Venice to guard the city and control access to the harbour.
KamerlangoInside the CastleInside the Castle
The Cathedral Of St. Lawrence
The Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church that was constructed in the Romanesque-Gothic style, which can also be found in other parts of Dalmatia. This church is also listed as a UNESCO site, as well as the whole town, in 1997 as a world heritage site because of its Venetian architecture.
Inside the Church
Pantan Beach
I didn’t get to go (over- beaches). But this is a must see place .
Local Farmers Market
Located 100 meters from the bus station you’ll find a beautiful market with local vendors selling all types of goods and trinkets.
Photo Journal
Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post, xoxo.
Welcome to my new followers, it’s so nice to have you reading! This week’s post is all about Backpacker Myths that I commonly hear. Most of these comment I’ve heard from conversations explaining to people why they should solo travel. Some of these myths do not extend to all people, but I think it’s important to know that all people regardless of their gender/sexuality and ethnicity should travel. There are so many lessons from solo travel/ backing – So why not try it out!
1. It’s Unsafe
I think I’ve heard this one the most. The truth is, backpacking is very safe in fact I felt safer at times in foreign countries than I did at home. You’re more aware of your surroundings and most people you find are actually good humans.
2. I Could Never Do it
I absolutely hate the word cant. Although… I do tend to use it haha don’t @ me okay we all have our days. You can defiantly do it. Just change that mindset and you will see that somewhere in the world theres beauty waiting for you to discover.
3. All Hostels are Dirty
Uhhhhhh. I admit I was a sayer of this, until I swallowed all my thoughts and booked my first hostel in Bangkok, Thailand and it started the journey of Somewhere in the world. I also started a ‘Hostel Series‘ to debunk this myth. The truth is most hostels are amazing and resemble in many ways hotel for a fraction of the price. Such as my experience in a hostel in Zadar, Croatia.
4. I Can’t Afford It
This is a big myth, backpacking is budget travelling and thats why I created this blog. To help others travel without burning their bank account. There’s many ways to save for an adventure and I constantly post tips on How To Save on my IG and on here.
5. That’s White People Stuff
I didn’t know there were things in this life that were strictly for white people or strictly for Black people. But, this is a myth and absolutely not the truth. I encourage Black women to Solo travel especially by Backpacking! And for those of you who live off this statement, Check out things Black women Travellers want you to know.
6. It’s only for Men
Not True. There are soo many women travellers. Check out the hashtag #femaletravellers #womenbackpacker #femalebackpackers to see where the party is at!. We are here and we are travelling !
7. You Can Only Do It When You’re Young
False. You can backpack at any age. I’ve met people who were 15 all the way to 65.
8. You Can’t Shower
Another solid False: Every hostel has a shower that you can use… The question is… Are you going to use it? Most of them are very clean so there isnt any worries other then you may not get the hottest of water which you end up getting over.
9. Everything at Home will Change and I’ll Be Left Behind
One of the biggest realizations I came upon when I returned from my first backpacking adventure in Asia is that no matter how long you’re away for, no matter how much you change and how many amazing things you experience along your joinery – you’ll return home and hardly anything will have changed. The only thing that would have changed would be yourself. You learn so much, you come back a whole different person.
It’s like the whole world is put on hold while you travel – people are still in the same jobs, relationships and stuff you left them in!
Don’t let the fear of being left behind stop your from backpacking, let the fear of not going anywhere force you to do it! ALWAYS remember to make memories that will last a lifetime.
10. It’s Hard to Plan
For a beginning, yes! this can be partially true but there are so many resources out there to help you have a successful trip. I also offer free travel help! if interested just leave a comment below and we can get in contact! I also wrote a post on how to start your adventure, as well as tips to find cheap flights. I got you covered for everything!
Thank you so much for reading! Have you read my most previous post? Check it out
As always with love and I’ll see you in my next post,
Let me start off by saying, I am teaching grade 1 virtually this year and gosh, am I ever busy. This has been the first time i can sit back and write something other than lesson plans. Im happy that this comes easy to me. Hopefully all of my posts have been helpful thus far, i have so much more coming for you! Anyways, here we go:
I never thought i was ever going to go Julia Roberts and eat/pray/ love my way through a place. However, the moment I got to Pai, Thailand i just KNEW this is what was going to happen. Pai is a town in the Mae Hong Soon Province of northern Thailand. It sits in a valley on the banks of the Pai River. It’s known for its nearby gorges, hot springs like the Tha Pai Hot Spring and waterfalls like Mo Paeng Waterfall.
Pai, Thailand
Here it Is… How I Eat, Prayed, Loved.
I never thought it would of come to a Julia Roberts vibe however, one thing is clear I had everything I needed at the time and I relatively still do. I wasn’t leaving a toxic relationship or having a career change. Nothing like that, it’s just the moment I got to Pai, something happened. I had a realization… that I was so focused on ‘Whats Next’ in life I never appreciated how I got the moment of my life I was in. Anyways, it started like..
I Ate…
I ate so many different foods, i explored the culture and I even explore American cuisine with a twist. But, I also took a cooking class (I wasn’t trying to loose the skill haha). I also ate foods that made me happy. While at home, i tend to eat on the 80/20 rule and that has worked tremendously. however, on this trip I wasn’t being so health conscious, i wanted to let myself be free and learn to love food whole- heartedly.
French Toast with Toasted Banana’s in Bali
Cream-Cheese Salmon Bagel in BaliI drank Poo Coffee (YES Luwak Coffee is POO ) I swam in Ice-CreamI took a Balinese Cooking class
I Prayed..
I prayed.. I prayed a whole lot. Not for specific answers- more so for direction or a little sign about myself. I wanted to know if i was heading in the right direction and if I wasn’t i was heading at least somewhere that would bring me comfort. Every so often, i received these signs of hope and they were little things such as, a dove, or a colour that reminded me about a time in my life. Praying on my trip opened the doors for #mindfulness and #gratitude and really finding solace in my own company. Being alone for me was never lonely because I was always with my thoughts and I often caught myself putting to rest some demons that were constantly in my mind.
PRE-COVID (WOW): I took a Spiritual Holy Water Bath Holy Water TempleCoffee In Love in Pai (Praying in Random Places with great views)
I Loved..
THIS right here, is where it was at. I LOVED.. I learned to love myself for who I am and my independent thoughts. I even learned to love the parts of me that require deep growth. Backpacking for my is like therapy, it’s an experience that typically involves a lot of self-reflection and consciousness because you’re alone with none but yourself. But, the greatest thing of all of it, is that you learn how amazing you can be without the materialism items or the partner or the career.
I learned to love my friends a little deeper, life a little stronger, and learn to love moments for what they are. See below some of the moments where I Loved..
Enjoying my Little pockets of Peace in Pai at #CoffeeinLoveMy best travelling girl, Alexis we for sure fell in love with each other during this trip. #GatesofHeavenMount Batur. We took an exceptionally hard route and I cried the entire way and complained and had a bunch of asthma attacks. But when I got to the top, and looked back at all the struggles. I knew there was more to life than the struggles and that at some point the view will all be worth it as long as I appreciate the journey it took for me to get there. Moments of Peace in the Mountains, PaiTrusted myself with a Motor Bike and SURVIVED – Pai
Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post! Leave a comment below what you’ve been doing!
The month of October! What a year it has been! This month I am focusing on highlighting some of the hostels I’ve been in with my hostel series. How do you even Survive a Hostel? Well, I went into a lot of details for you all in that post. So, today we’re starting of talking about Downtown Boutique Hostel.
This place exceeded my expectations and really set the bar high for hostels. I hope to come across to this place again in the future. Good news is they are currently open during COVID times however, with a different set up in place.
This hostel is one of the best, I think you’ll ever stay in. The reception is so friendly and theres a map provided to direct you around town. They also offer day tours and there is a nice kitchenette perfect for backpackers and a chill vibe.
You also receive a discount to the restaurant beside the hostel. In addition, breakfast is offered at 8 Euros.
Rating on My Scale:
Security – 10
Atmosphere – 8
Cleanliness – 10
Facilities – 10
Staff – 10
Location- 10
Value for Money – 10
Overall Score: 9/10.
I unfortunately didn’t get a photo of the front lobby, but I did get photos of all the important things!
Right when you walk in you’ll notice the Hostel Sign which will have their WIFI Passcode and Name. Usually, you’ll find this everywhere in all the hostels.
Front Entrance Sign
Then, you’ll typically find the lounge right away where you can make friends/chill out in the evenings. This lounge also had a small kitchenette to make breakfast in the morning which was nice.
The Common Lounge
Some hostels give you keys, others, give you cards. For this particular hostel, the entrance to your room was the 204- fob and the Key was for your locker.
Locker Key and Room Fob
Now, we have what you’ve been wondering about… The bed SITUATION honestly, this has been the best room I ever stayed in. Although… when i think about it the Wombat Hostel in Venice was very nice as well.
6- Female Bedroom, with windows that looked towards the streets.My Bunk was the Bottom, I LOVED that this hostel had drapes for each bunk.MASSIVE LOCKERS! To store all your belongings
The Shared Washroom with the floor. (There was more on the other side)
This hostel was very accommodating, they had both an elevator and stairs for people on the top floors.
The Hallways
Me excited for sleep after a Morning of Travelling
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay here while in Zadar, Croatia. I will for sure be back in the future.
If you enjoy reading my Hostel Reviews, please let me know below in the comments to keep them coming!
Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you in my next post. With Love,
I was speaking with a friend the other day, and he advised “I can’t travel man, our dollar sucks everywhere i don’t know.. what do you think is the cheapest place to go?” This question stuck with me because it didn’t come down to where was necessarily cheaper, but the concept we were talking about was called ‘currency arbitrage’ which means “making your money go further by using a strong currency in a country with a weaker one“.
Let’s face it.. If you’re Canadian you already know the struggle of our dollar.. IT SUCKS VIRTUALLY/PHYSICALLY EVERYWHERE lmao.. Okay, maybe I am being extra but our dollar really does suck in most places. Thus, I’ve done deep research, and talk amongst my backpacker friends and here are 12 places where Our Canadian Dollar surprisingly goes far. This list is in no particular order.. I am just listing places.
One thing, I wanted to stress is that I don’t believe there is such a thing as, ‘poor’ countries and ‘rich countries’ because CLEARY during this pandemic we have seen big countries do absolutely nothing for their people. So there’s that myth.. BUSTED. That is not to say that there isn’t many people living in poverty. Globally people are facing a myriad of difficulties in their lives however, I just wanted to disclose that identifying a country as ‘poor’ vs ‘rich’ just doesn’t sit well with me.
Below you’ll find a collection of 12 countries that may not be the cheapest in the world, but that represent the best value for our dollar – and thus are worth visiting. I wanted to give a combination of back-packer friendly and travel friendly countries. If you need help finding cheap flights to these places, take a read of my post of finding cheap flights. Surely, it will help.
Please, leave a comment if you’re not sure which country to visit based on your style or send me a email 🙂
1/10
Romania
$1 CAD = 3.13 leu
100 Romanian leu = $31.94 CAD
Romania is an ancient land, full of castles and historical antiquities, and the exchange rate presents some serious bargains for Canadians. For example, a typical meal for two in the capital of Bucharest will run you under $35 Canadian, the cost of living is estimated to be nearly 40 per cent lower than living in Toronto. Imagine that!
2/10
Croatia
1$ CAD = 4.87 Kuna
100 Kuna = $20.53 CAD
Croatia is just a phenomenal and easy country to back-pack for two. Not, to mention how romantic some parts of the country can be. A typical meal for two in the capital will run you about 289.80 kn which is just under $60.00. Keep in mind, Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive cities in Croatia and will double in price for basic things. Thanks to Games of Thrones attractions.
3/10
Cambodia
$1 CAD = 2740.42 riel
100,000 Riel = $36.51 CAD
Asia is a destination hot spot for Canadian travellers and I can see why. The cost of travelling is cheaper in these countries and the people are the most friendliest you’ll ever met. If visiting Phnom Penh, a domestic beer will cost about a buck and a half, while an average dinner for two will run less than $23 CAD.
4/10
Belize
$1 CAD = 1.54(BZD)
100 BZD = $64.76 CAD
Average Hotel Price: $40
Average Cost of Food for a Day: $23 / for two: $55
Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $78
Belize is the only country in (mainland) Central and South America where English is the official language! As such, it’s an easy place to travel to. This may not be the number pick for backpackers, but for travellers alike our money will go far.
5/10
Argentina
$1 CAD = 56.92 ARS
5692.42 ARS = $100 CAD
Average Hostel/Hotel Price: $20-25 / $51
Average Cost of Food for a Day: $12
Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $76
6/10
Belarus
$1 CAD = 2.03 BYN
203.36 BYN = $100 CAD
Average Hotel/Hostel Price: $14-$25
Average Cost of Food for a Day: $7
Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $25
Belarus is considered one of the gems of Central and Eastern Europe; visiting museum towns like Mir and Nesvizh will take you back in time, and they’re both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Vitebsk is the place to be in the summertime with lots of arts festivals. Trekking fans will love the ancient forests of Belavezhskaya Puscha National Park, which is home to 212 species of birds.
And because Belarus is one of the few European countries that didn’t adopt the Euro, our dollar goes farrr HUNNTYYY.
7/10
Indonesia
$1 CAD = 11307.52 IDR
1130751.62 IDR = $100 CAD
Average Hostel Price: $10-35
Average Cost of Food for a Day: $15
Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $30
Honestly: I think people get clouded by ‘instagram photos of lavish life’ and assuming it costs an organ. In Indonesia you can ejoy the finest things because prices are super low and our money goes far !
Also, most people have no idea just how big and diverse Indonesia is as a country. Many also don’t realize that the popular tourist destination of Bali is just one of many (as in, 17,000!) Indonesian islands, each with their own flavour and sometimes culture.
8/10
Philippines
$1 CAD = 37.30 PHP
3729.58 PHP = $100 CAD
Average Hostel Price: $20
Average Cost of Food for a Day: $12
Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $20
9/10
Thailand
$1 CAD = 24.00 Baht
2400.22 Baht = $100 CAD
Average Hostel Price: $14
Average Cost of Food for a Day: $10
Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $25
Thailand is a very easy place to visit, and has been a backpacker haven for decades. It’s easy not only because it’s cheap (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket all made the 2016 Price of Travel Index’s list of cheapest Asian cities), but also because it’s incredibly friendly it’s the ‘land of smiles’ thats for sure. I survived in Thailand for one month with $300 CAD!! Cant you believe that!
If hiking through Patagonia is on your bucket list, now could be the time to go as every dollar is worth 18% more. Peak season in Patagonia lasts from November until March, when temperatures are perfect for exploring the wonderlands of Torres del Paine, Laguna San Rafael and Bernardo O’Higgins National Parks. Of course when your travelling it is always recommended you download apps, just to help you situate yourself in countries that are more spread apart in terms of activities in different cities.
Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post, xoxo.
It’s not as bad as you think. I remember talking to my friend Alexis laughing at her because I couldn’t believe she was staying in a hostel. I felt so scared for her! and I had so many questions. So i decided to re-visit this conversation and share my knowledge with you all. I also decided this would bring me to starting my “Hostel Series” which I review hostels and share photos. I am telling you all, that you’d be surprised at some of the places I stayed.
I think every traveler should try staying at a hostel at least once in their lifetime. Even if you have a luxury-hotel budget, hostels are a cool and unique experience that can result in some amazing memories. I for one have made, memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve met loads of backers that were not on a tight budget, but actually chose to stay in hostels because they prefer it and honestly, you end up having more fun in my opinion. And you read that right, they prefer hostels to luxury hotels and apartments.
No- hostels are not glamorous. And yes, you may have to say goodbye to privacy. But hostels truly are of one of a kind experience and are absolutely worth a try. **That being said, many people have had awful experiences so just be sure to do your double checking.
There are a few things any first-timer should know before staying in a hostel. Here is a basic guide to staying in a hostel for the first time:
WHY STAY IN A HOSTEL?
The hostel experience is one that is completely different from any other type of accommodation. I will say again and again, hostels are the best way to meet people while traveling. This is ideal for solo travellers- as a hostel is a space where other solo travellers congregate, so you will meet like-minded people from all over the world. Hostels are definitely the most social form of accommodation. You are literally living with other travellers, sharing showers, essentially a university lifestyle on the go.
Anna and Nicky – Ayutthaya, Thailand
BENEFITS OF STAYING IN A HOSTEL:
It’s cheap. Obviously, hostels are much cheaper than hotels and most other forms of accommodation. This makes your travel reduce in overall fee, keep in mind sometimes you pay for what you get for. This makes hostels the perfect place for budget and/or long-term travellers. Depending on the location, a hostel bed will cost anywhere from $10-$80 a night, give or take.
Travel Longer. You can easily travel for longer periods of time when you stay in hostels. You know those people that just seem to be traveling constantly, and you wonder how the hell they can afford that lifestyle? Well, unless they are rolling in cash or are a travel influencer collaborating with hotels and tourism boards, they are most likely staying in a bunch of hostels (AKA MEEEEE). But, I just love hostels and its not only for singles you can bring families to there is many kinds of options in terms of ‘bed setting’.
You can wait until last minute to book. I remember being in Cinque Terre, and moving onto Venice I had no clue where to stay. I decided I would use Hostelworld, as a way to find a quick overnight place. If your super last minute (not me) you can book in the morning for the afternoon. The only problem is, sometimes if you’re going to a popular city the option for ‘girls only’ may be booked quick. That being said, there will always be room.
NOTE: hostels in major tourist cities do sometimes book up during peak season. Try to book at least a few days in advanced if you are visiting during this time.
Activities. Most hostels offer activities to bring the guests together and create a sense of community. Hostels may offer free walking tours of the city, day trips to nearby areas, pub crawls, etc. Usually, these activities are either free or super cheap, so it is a great way to see the area and make friends who are also staying in the same hostel.
Meeting People: It is way easier to make friends in a hostel than any other type of accommodation. This is my all time favourite part! You end up meeting people who become your family for the short time your there together (see below) the photo on me and two girls who adventured around Zadar, Croatia.
Luanna & Sheelagh I met in Zadar, they biked through Croatia and we met in different cities after first meeting in the hostel in Zadar.
HOW TO CHOOSE A HOSTEL:
Most major tourist destinations will have tons of hostels to choose from. That being said, it can be overwhelming to choose which hostel to stay at. Below you will find my top tips for choosing a hostel.
Read the reviews. This is the first thing I do when choosing a hostel. I will usually check out the reviews on Hostel World, Google Maps, and Booking. My biggest thing when it comes to a hostel is cleanliness, security, and location. One review I look for in particular is those from Black women/ Women of colour. If those factors got low ratings, I will avoid that hostel all together. Even, if I wasn’t Black I wouldn’t want to stay somewhere where people are treated based on their race/ethnicity.
Location, location, baby. Location is always one of the first things I look at when booking a hostel. I prefer to be as centrally located as possible, especially when I am traveling solo. Make sure you have a general sense of the area you’re staying in. It’s best for first timers to pick a place that is within walking distance or close to transportation.
What type of room do you want to stay in? Do you want a female only dorm? Bed curtains for privacy? Single beds? A private room? How many other people are you comfortable sharing your room with? Knowing what type of sleeping situation you want is a major part of choosing a hostel. I typically went with 6 Mixed-Bed or 6 all Female, depending on what my mood was at the time of booking.
What type of experience are you looking for? Do you want a social party or one that is quiet? Mad Monkey hostels are known for parties, that being said I stayed in one Hostel in Pai that was super small (10 beds) and it was the best partying experience I ever got.
My make-shift, privacy curtains I typically do for hostels without the curtain.
WHERE TO BOOK A HOSTEL
The hostel website: Third-party apps get a percentage, so I strongly recommend booking your hostel directly through the hostel’s website, if one exists. *Travel Tip* It is usually cheaper on the website of the hostel to book with.
Hostel World: Although I think it’s best to book directly through the hostel’s website, I always look at Hostel World first just to see an overview of my options. I also use this app to read reviews right away which has been very helpful for me. Hostel world is a great tool to use to compare reviews, location, and pricing among the hostels in the area. I typically used this form on my first backpacking journey.
Hostel Bookers: An alternative to Hostel World. Check out both websites to compare prices, and check out different hostel options.
Booking.com: Booking isn’t just for hotels – you can also find hostels here!
Airbnb: Yes, you can find hostels on Airbnb! Sometimes it may be someone’s apartment that they have converted into a small hostel. You can use my code to receive up to 75$ CAD off your first stay and $20 CAD to use towards an experience worth 75$ or more!
GETTING SLEEP IN A HOSTEL
Lol….
Well, you CAN get sleep. But, if you are a light sleeper I recommend booking a private room. OR investing in some really good head phones. Shop my Amazon store for all your back-packing needs.
Top Bunk vs Bottom
This really depends, I’ve done both. Typically, I like the bottom and when there is no curtains available I hang my towel/ the hostel towel up and create this barricade which allows me to have privacy to change/ read or journal at night.
If sleep is a priority for you, do not, I repeat, DO NOT book a party hostel. Party hostels are usually easy to point out, based on reviews, pictures (if there are a ton of pictures with giant groups of people, wearing pub crawl t-shirts, and shot gunning beers or doing shots, then yeah, odds are it is a party hostel.) A lot of party hostels will have written on their website, “If you a good night’s sleep is your priority, then this is not the hostel for you.” Etc. Here is a perfect example of a party hostel-it is pretty obvious.
Bring earplugs. These are a life saver for light sleepers.
It’s also a good idea to wear an eye mask if you are sensitive to light. Lights can commonly go off in some dorms so this keeps you sound asleep.
Friends I met in Hvar, Croatia (Pub Crawl)
MEETING PEOPLE IN A HOSTEL
Making friends is super easy in a hostel. However, you do have to put yourself out there a little bit. For all my shy/introverted readers, this may mean getting out of your shell a little. The common room in a hostel is the best place to meet fellow travelers. If there is a group of people talking, just go up to them and say “Hey what’s up, my name is _____.”. Eventually, you end up meeting friends that you can go and travel with.
Another great way to meet people in a hostel is to go on a pub crawl or event the hostel is hosting. This way you meet people who are staying in your dorm/ the hostel.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW:
Shower shoes are a must. You will be sharing a bathroom with a bunch of strangers. Always have a shower shoe to avoid foot fungus and other things.
Search reviews: For my sisters, try to search for reviews from Black women/ women of colour. This will help you gauge the environment.
Laundry: Almost all hostels offer laundry services or you can find a nearby place that can do it for it and some places even deliver.
Some hostels require a small rental fee for towels. Research this on the hostel website before you arrive, just so you won’t have any surprises.
Many hostels will accept cash-only payment. Make sure to have cash on you when you arrive (most will accept payment at various times)
Peak seasons will always be more expensive. Try avoid visiting certain places during their peak seasons (Google search)
HAVE FUN
Hostels can be the most amazing experience! Just remember to try and have the most fun while staying there.
Thank you so much for reading, don’t forget to like/ leave a comment. It means so much to me and I’ll see you in my next post.
After seeing photographs of this beautiful area of Italy for years, I finally got a chance to go and witness it myself. On the seaside, you can find five towns that are filled with beauty, food, color, history, and culture . It’s one of the loveliest places I’ve ever been, and of course I fell in love with it. I thought, I eat, prayed and loved my way in Pai. But it turns out I did the exact same thing here. Even with the odd rainy day, I wished I spent a longer time here. A special shoutout goes out to Franco my hostel host for creating an amazing experience and making everyone feel like family. Enjoy these shots of this picturesque region of Italia.
If interested in a Part 2: Comment down below, I love hearing from you wonderful people.
If any of these photos fancy you: Pin it to you Pinterest Board. I appreciate all the love.
Thank you so much for reading and I will see you in my next post, don’t forget to like/comment it means the world to me.
Let’s talk about solo travelling for Black women. The fear of sticking out, facing racism or fetishization makes solo travel especially daunting. Today, I want to encourage you to travel alone as a black woman by sharing 5 reasons why you should. To be honest, travel is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it can bereally empowering.
As a matter of fact, solo travel has the power to transform your life. Case in point: traveling solo in Thailand opened my eyes to travel and inspired me to take chances and blog my entire experience. Head over to my instagram to see my Bus Chronicles which often shows the reality of backpacking and dealing with buses haha.
1. There’s Not Many of Us
Our voices, our stories, and our experiences deserve to be heard. I challenge you to take a scroll through instagram and search hashtags such as, #backpackers, #femalebackpackers #femaletraveller #girlstraveltoo and what do you think? Hear me out though, I LOVE that women are doing the damn thing. That being said, it is important that Black women and Women of Colour are exposed to these spaces too.
2. You Deserve to be a Trailblazer
Imagine, what the first female backpacker felt? Imagine what the first black female backpacker felt? Probably nerves, shoot! Everyday as a women we have to become trailblazers in our communities. I encourage women to be Trailblazers in their own communities/ families.
When, I first decided to solo travel and told my family- the reaction was not what I expected. There was a lot of questions and my mom was NOT on board. But eventually, everyone was amazed at my journeys and were inspired by the courage I had to change the path in my life. You can travel as a Black women and you can inspire other young Black/women to follow in your foot steps. Encourage young girls to DREAM BIG and to TRAVEL and see what this beautiful world has to offer outside traditional norms.
My sister & I on an Adventure in Ontario
3. Despite Racism, YOU CAN
I talked about racism in a previous post but, I wanted to emphasize this again. Racism will always be around. We cannot control how people treat others unfortunately but we can control, our responses. Some people will always be ignorant and that’s a fact.
However, with all the ugliness in the world there is beauty and often times on my journeys, I wasn’t faced with racism. Questions at time yes, but not that much racism. I learned to love the world again by back-packing because there are still good people out there waiting for you.
To sum this up- WE CAN TRAVEL LADIES
Chiang Mai, Thailand- Surviving the Sleeper Train
4. To Find Your Purpose
Everyone deserves to find their purpose, including you sister. Now, I am not saying, that I ‘found’ my purpose travelling, i simply found the answers to key questions in my life. Such as, what I wanted to do career wise, what my goals were, why I tried to please everyone around me. Often times, Black women are warriors in our communities taking care of everyone and forgetting to give the same amount of energy to themselves. I encourage you, Black women and all women to also give yourself that 110% energy you give everyone around you. I promise, it will do you wonder’s.
5. To Make Make Memories That will Last a Lifetime
Wether it is solo travelling within your own country or deciding to travel abroad, it is important that you make memories, that will last you a life-time. I unfortunately lost my cousin Chantel in February of 2020 and if there was one thing that she taught me it was to make memories that will last a lifetime. We as Black women have so many barriers in our lives and anxieties to worry about. But, the one thing that brings calm is making those memories to bring us back to a place of comfort. It is so important that we travel the globe and share our stories and then create memories that remind us that we are Superhuman’s in our own way. That we too are trailblazers and most important Human.
My Cousin Chantel, Rest in Paradise My Angel
If you have anything to share to fellow Black Women thinking about travelling please comment below!
Thank you so much for reading, don’t forget to like/ leave a comment. I will see you in my next post!
I want to express that my experiences shouldn’t be symbolic of the entire demographic of black women, but that as a black woman, these are various things I’ve experienced, noticed, and would like to bring attention to by sharing my experiences and what I’ve learned. Please note: I am not an expert, but I learned the ways by self- teaching.
I WANT TO BE VERY FRANK: I’M DISAPPOINTED THAT IN 2020, THIS TOPIC IS STILL RELEVANT. It’s a shame to see that women of color like myself aren’t traveling more often, so much so that when looking at the landscape of travel bloggers and bloggers, I’m one of a handful. That being said: traveling is a privilege, one that women of colour often do not always have.
1. We Barley Exist
I am not kidding, going through my travels there was always excitement when I saw another female black traveller. Especially, one that is back-packing. Of course, there are black women traveling the world every single day, but the ratio to everyone else traveling is minuscule.
2. We Experience More than Cat-Calling.
Of course, all women have to deal with the annoying and entitled action of rude men catcalling as we casually walk around, even in our own cities. There is so many videos of men harassing women as women are simply walking or minding their own business.
Often times, on trips fellow Black travellers had told me experiences of being cat-called and men blowing loud kisses or getting extremely touchy. However, this kind of treatment isn’t only limited to foreign travel but also extends to our Home countries.
I once read “There’s a sense of respect that white women receive without knowing it” which is very much true for travelling women of colour. That being said: Black female travels have far more anxieties than the average cat-calling.
3. We surprise people.
Because of all of these preconceived notions about black women/people around the world, when we travel, we’re helping soothe the worlds’ ignorance about us. The more we become present in the travel space, the more we’ll change “ugly black women” stereotypes. I’ve had several conversations with men and women who are genuinely surprised at my ability to not only travel but to step into countries where Black people are not often seen. Now, this is not easy but I truly believe inserting ourselves in places where we have not been seen before can allow for exposure and representation.
4. We carry more weight than the average traveler.
This is just a fact, because there are so few of us out there traveling, when we come back from a life-changing trip, we swallow the moral duty to share our experience with the world, and more importantly, to other black women. Whether I’ve come back with stories of racism, praise, ignorance, or friendships in uncommon places, I always want to share my journey. As it’s in most women’s nature to help causes, and people, I feel personally responsible to bring up our kind.
I started this blog with the hopes of encouraging others to travel and learn what this beautiful world has to offer.
As a travel blogger, I feel this burden more with each new subscriber or reader. We carry the weight and responsibility of speaking on behalf of our entire kind. But let me correct myself, this is defiantly not a burden because I love writing about my experiences with you all.
5. We are seen as ugly in most countries.
Despite the high level of harassment we receive, we’re not seen as beautiful by most of the world, mostly because societies simply aren’t used to our thick hair, brown skin, and curvy bodies. The stereotypes that societies hold on to about black women never have the words: beautiful, graceful, or intelligent, attached; something that I’ve learned through microagressions.
Now: among my travels I have only received one comment which made me feel uncomfortable however, I’ve heard this statement a lot in my home country of Canada. I was traveling between countries one time and at the border the Agent advised “Wow you’re gorgeous for a Black women”. Now… I did not like that, but this statement wasn’t surprising to me because of the normative storylines society has created about Black women/People. That being said: I smiled and proceeded to walk away, I think if I wasn’t in a foreign country I would of directed that. But these are comments that Black women are often faced with. Indicating that Black women are commonly ‘ugly’ which also aligns with comments “You cant be full Black”. These microagressions Black women carry through travels and their daily lives.
6. We’re Scared
To up and travel is just not a luxury: We have so many things to think about. Such as: Are they praised in Cuba? Are they honoured in Portugal? Are they shunned in Denmark? Can we go to Germany? We have questions on what being a black woman means globally and we empathize with our sisters.
7. We’re Role Models
Breaking stereotypes and stepping outside our comfort zone. We ultimately become role models and story-tellers for fellow black female travellers. We inspire others to step outside their comfort zone and experience this beautiful world. It’s about changing the reputation of black women everywhere
8. We Can Do it
Despite, the barriers we CAN DO IT. We can travel, we can backpack, we can create communities, we can build friendships and most importantly we can be unapologetically beautiful and free.
Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post. Please leave me a like/comment xoxo
As a teacher, I am constantly meeting the learning styles of all my students and most of that stems from tuning into the multiple intelligences of students. That being said, this week’s post is a little different. I am sharing with you my ‘5 MUST SEE’S IN VENICE’. I made this video a couple of months ago in the middle of quarantine and I felt that it was only fitting to share it with my new followers on this platform. If you’re wondering why I went to one of the most Romantic places in the world, check out my blog post here on Why you Should Solo Travel!
Special shoutout to all my new followers on here!
Thank you to everyone who has recently followed/liked/commented and subscribed for email notifications. This means so much to me and I can’t wait to share all my experiences with you! Let me know in the comments below if you enjoy a mixture of videos/ short blogs.
