Italy is and has always been a beautiful country to visit. There are so many places to view, such as Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna and many more places to experience and fall in love with. Despite the scares of travelling during COVID19. I was lucky to have a quick escape and travel to Italy, Rome last year (2020). This of course was all for a quick weekend birthday get away withTiaontour hosted trip – girlswrldtour. And it was fabulous!!!
I agreed to go to Italy because it was one of the countries on the travel corridors list, which at the time simply meant you wouldn’t have to quarantine when you were there and when you returned to the UK……
Rome is the capital city and a special commune of Italy, it has so much character and beauty including sites such as the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and how can I forget the FOOD! Pizza, Pasta and more Pizza! It was a very much needed holiday after several countries that had been planned where cancelled last year (Jamaica and Jordan) due to the COVID situation.
Can you stay in Rome, Italy for 3 days?
The simple answer is yes. (par the lockdown/pandemic situation) You can easily stay and see Rome, Italy in 3 days. Your time will of course be tight, but there is a lot to see, and if you carry on reading, you will find out what I got up too. Of course, you may not be able to do everything I did, but you can certainly pick and choose what you would like to do – when COVID permits!
Day one of 3 in Rome Italy… Arrival
I arrived in Rome in the late evening, there was some delays with the trains. Due to COVID, trains were not running like they usually do. I arrived at the Giolli Nazionale Hotel. The hotel is very central to the main tourists sites!
The idea was to freshen up and head out to Zuma Restaurant. Instead, I was surprised by Tia and the girls with balloons and a Birthday sing-song! Awwwww! It was great! I wasn’t expecting a birthday surprise and just didn’t know how to react!
After this we freshened up and as requested dressed in our earth tone** outfits and headed out to the lovely Japanese restaurant.
The dinner was lovely. I had themaiale iberico con yuzu e salsa al tartufo which was absolutely spectacular. We spent time getting to know each other with some dining games led by Channmariee and then headed back to the hotel for a night of rest.
Please note: Some countries are strict on the type of facemasks you use when travelling to their country. For Italy, it was required to wear a medical facemask.
Day two of 3 in Rome Italy… Saturnia Hot Springs
It was an early start! As we were heading to the famous Saturnia Hot Springs. The Saturnia Hot Springs is a great way to get away from Rome for a day and explore Tuscany and the Maremma. We left Rome just after 6 am and arrived there just after 10 am.
You would have thought that the place would have been empty! But no! It was completely packed! I still managed to get a few nice pictures – I think so anyway! We spent a few hours at the hot springs, grabbed some lunch in Maremma and headed back to Rome for a cooking class!!
Please note: The Saturina Hot Springs is free entry and is totally worth going for the experience.
This was my very first ever cooking class and it was great! It took us a while to get there! We found the class on Airbnb experiences. The class started with some wine tasting (both red and white). We then proceeded to make some pasta from the stretch. I was quite impressed with how quick and easy it was to make – it just needed a lot of kneeling! I added a tomato-based sauce to my pasta and finished that with some cheese and white wine… Buon appetito!
The night was supposed to end with a party (girls night in) to celebrate my birthday! But we were of course shattered from the very early rise and was summoned to my bed!
Day three of 3 in Rome, Italy… Birthday!
Today was the birthday girls birthday! yeah me! so I was mega excited! It required another early start (7.30 AM)!! to explore the famous sites of Rome, Italy! We had a quick bite to eat for breakfast and then first headed to the Trevi Fountain. We were lucky to have stayed in a hotel that was located so central because the fountain was within walking distance!
Trevi Fountain
Then we headed out to the famous Colosseum to explore some more. Along the way, we continued to take the best shots. Check out some more shots below. We then headed back to the hotel to order an Uber for the Vatican City, which was an experience indeed. We arrived just before the mass service, which to my delight was delivered by the Pope himself. I must say this was lovely for me on my birthday!
Our final stop was grabbing some lunch at a local restaurant close to the Vatican City before heading back to the hotel and catching my flight!
Must things to do in Italy, Rome for 3 days:
Saturnia Hot Springs
Italian Cooking Class
Trevi Fountain
Colosseum
Vatican City
Spanish Steps
Pincio Hill
I always say that you must celebrate your birthday abroad! Lucky for me I was able to do so as I know many people are not able to do so! Hope you are able to save this post to at some point visit Rome, Italy!
In the meantime, have you been to Rome, Italy? How long were you there for and what did you get up too?
In New York, Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of there’s nothing you cant do now that you’re in New York. Empire State of Mind- JAY-Z ft Alicia Keys.
Hahaha! Hella cheesy, I know. But I do feel like you can’t write or talk about New York, and not think of this famous song!
I adore New York City!
The streets of Manhattan give me childhood memories of Gossip Girl. The busyness, and the food. Everything! It’s a jungle with class!
For those bougie ones (like me) that love the fast pace movements of a city! Every single time I arrive in New York, I always wonder what it would be like to actually move there.
I visited New York for 3 days for my birthday in 2018, and was surprised at how much I got done by myself. New York is well known to be an expensive ciy! And to be honest with you I can agree and say that the accommodation is quite expensive!
For me I was very lucky to have a friend that lived in Manhattan at the time, so was able to reap the benefits of free accommodation!! Yeah me!!! If you have friends or family in New York I would suggest staying with them, because I hear even Airbnb’s are not that cheap!
Anyways, despite the expenses! New York can and still is an incredible city to visit. Below are 6 things you must do when you are in New York City!
Top 6 Things to Do in New York City
As my friends had to work – because annual leave/vacation days are terrible in America, I was able to explore the city on my own. I purchased a tour ticket for the day at a reasonable price and off I went solo. Here is what I got up too.
1. Empire State Building
The first place I headed to was the Empire State Building. The building has a roof height of 1,250 feet and stands a total of 1,454 feet tall. I wanted a couple of snaps at the top, and can say I was very impressed with how beautiful the city was from the top!
Visit Brooklyn Bridge
I then headed over to Brooklyn Bridge! This is an Instagrammable location and one not to be missed when in New York City.
Interesting Facts: The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City. It connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Take a Ferry to The Statue of Liberty.
I then hopped on to a ferry. Be mindful of knowing the times of the ferries, I wouldn’t want you waiting around for ages. I was able to head over The Statue of Liberty! The ferry I was on got pretty close—another beautiful site to see.
While I was on the ferry I was able to learn that New York is divided into five administrative boroughs – Brooklyn, Queen, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx. All these five boroughs were consolidated into a city in 1898.
Head over to Grand Central and reminisce on Gossip Girl
Haha! Grand Central Station will forever take me back to XoXo days when I was able to binge-watch Gossip Girl. While you are in New York, you might as well go and sit on the met steps.
Only real Gossip Girl fans will know what I am talking about.
Tour Central Park
The next day I woke up early to head over to Central Park for a stroll and some ice cream. Central Park is the fifth-largest park in New York City.
Do a photo shoot in Times Square
In the evening I headed over to Times Square! My friend has said it was better in the night, but I would still check out both!
There we have it. Have you ever considered travelling to New York City? Let me know if you’ve been before and what you got up too! And don’t forget to subscribe for more travel journals and tips!
Welcome to my fourth series: A Day with MBV In Oslo. In this post, I will be having two other travel bloggers join me! Carry on reading to find out more!
Last year I was asked by Jenna of JennasWorldView if I would like to catch a cheeky flight to Oslo for the day and of course, I said yes!
I mean, who in their right mind would say no?
JennasWorldView
We were later joined by Liz of Lei. Noire who also wanted to spend a day in Oslo! Looking back now, I can honestly say that it was a lovely day, filled with lots of laughter, plenty of shade and small girls talk. Read below on more detail and find out how we spent a day in Oslo.
Lei.Noire
Where is Oslo?
Oslo is the capital of and most populous city in Norway. It was known as Kristiania from 1877 to 1925 when its original Norwegian name was restored. Oslo is now known to be the economic and governmental centre of Norway. Oslo is primarily a city that is a little bit like London in that it’s a city that is meant to be walked. Many of the city’s attractions lie in the central part of the city. To make the most of your day in Oslo I would suggest using the city’s extensive and efficient public transportation system.
Please don’t make the same mistake of travelling on the fast train as we did. And then end up paying more than you need to. I would also advise against using taxis in Oslo. Oslo is known to be very expensive, and you’ll be spending more than you anticipated.
A day in Oslo
I started the day bright and early by catching and meeting Jenna on the train to Victoria station. It was good to catch up before the busy day we hadn’t planned ahead! Jenna had niced me with some tasty snacks, which I was soo grateful for. Me and Jenna were so busy chatting that we almost missed our coach.
You can easily catch a coach to Stanstead Airport by booking through National Express.
We first headed out to get some brunch! We hadn’t really planned what we were going to do. Well, Liz had given us a list of things that we should do a few days before, but we hadn’t agreed on a brunch location.
Lucky for us, Jenna was able to locate Gunnars, and we headed to the restaurant. It took us forever to find this restaurant! We went through back streets and all sorts! When we eventually found the restaurant we were very much impressed with what we ordered.
Brunch
JWV:I don’t really do travel logistics but when it comes to finding a good spot for brunch you can count on me. Social media is a powerful tool and I managed to find this lovely spot after a few minutes of scrolling on the gram.
We then headed to the Royal Palace in Oslo. It wasn’t far from where we had brunch, but it had started raining! Can you believe me and Jenna paid 10 pounds for an umbrella?!! Honestly, you should be smart and bring your own umbrella-like Liz did!
Historical Fact: The Royal Palace in Oslo was built in the first half of the 19th century. It was built as the Norwegian residence of the French-born King Charles III John of Norway. Who reigned as king of Norway and Sweden.
Liz:I love learning more about history when travelling. The palace is sitting on top of a hill elegant and modest. I was surprised at how close you could get – unfortunately, we could not go in as it was closed. Oslo is a beautiful, calm place – you can see more on my Oslo vlog coming soon on my YouTube Channel.
Location: Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway
Frogner Park
Liz then suggested that we should head over to Frogner Park. This park was the most challenging place to find! and I didn’t waste any time to let Liz know about it! I do apologise, Liz. Once we were able to locate the park, I was blown away by how beautiful it was.
Liz:The ladies doubted that this place existed and where ready to head back but to be fair we had been walking for a while and a random lady had directed us down a ‘short cut’. In the end, we found the park just before it got dark! The sculptures are a unique and interesting expressing of ‘human form’ by Gustav Vigeland – definitely check it out if you are in Oslo.
Jenna– Finding Frogner Park was a stressful yet funny experience. Lucky for you I caught the entire thing on video so be sure to Subscribe to my Youtube Channel. A day trip to Oslo blog is also coming soon.
The last thing we wanted to do was head over to the Oslo Opera House. I had heard how beautiful the sunset was and wanted to see it for myself! Unfortunately, google maps lied to us and we didn’t manage to see the sunset.
Final Thoughts on a day in Oslo
I think it’s fair to say that we all enjoyed Oslo and would certainly go back! A few things you might want to make note of if you are going.
Everything closes a little earlier than usual on Saturdays.
Oslo is very expensive so bare this in mind if you want to stay there!
The Norwegian currency is NOK (Norwegian Krone) so you won’t get very far with Euro. However, a credit or debit card is approved almost anywhere so grab your Monzo.
Norway has the Best Salmon so be sure to have some!
Hope you enjoyed our time in Oslo. I still have Dublin and Bologna to walk you through, so subscribe so you can stay in the loop with my monthly newsletter of blogposts!
Singapore is known to be a fine city, so when I knew I would be moving to there, I made sure that I learn all its laws and traditions.
I have already shared the laws but today, I wanted to go into a little more detail and share a few more traditions and cultures I learnt when living in Singapore. I have already shared similar cultures and traditions over at ElleMacUK’s website. Be sure to check it out – Customs And Traditions I Learnt In – Singapore
6 Traditions You Need to Know About Singapore
1. It’s Tradition in Singapore to leave your shoes at the DOOR!
While staying in my halls, I learnt that keeping my shoes on when entering someone home was a big NO-NO! I recall being screamed at when I walked into my friend’s dorm with my flip flops on! I assure you that I never made such a mistake to wear shoes in someone’s room again!
They don’t wear shoes in their rooms or houses. So please take off your footwear before going into anyone’s place, it’s an absolute MUST!
Also, take off your shoes before entering any temple or mosque too!
2. Give your elders respect
It was interesting to see how my customs and traditions of living in a Nigerian household would apply so well when I was living in Singapore. You don’t have to be related to everyone, but you can show some politeness. Calling an older “aunty” and “uncle” is a sign of respect for Singaporeans.
This took me a long way when living in Singapore calling the staff aunty got me lots of goodies like free food etc.
3. Keep to the left of the escalator
I’m sure standing on the left is not unusually expected for everyone. Well, except for those that live in the UK like me – yes this is a thing!
When you’re on the escalator, follow this rule religiously.
Rule: The right side of an escalator is for people walking up the steps. The left is for people content with standing and waiting.
If you’re slow, keep to the left. Singaporeans are notoriously known for walking at the speed of lightning. Trust me on this one!
4. Make sure you Q (wait inline)
Singaporean queue for everything! Literally everything!! It can be for any of the following:
Trains
Bus
McDonald’s
Hello Kitty toys,
iPhone 11s,
Favourite hawker food
The queue is done in a very orderly fashion simply because they can get quite long. Soo there’s one thing you shouldn’t ever do – and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you?
Don’t
Cut any queues!!!
I mean I think that is pretty standard, but trust me when I say some people don’t get the memo!
If you see a really long queue and you’re not sure why people are queuing. Just join the line. Chances are, there’s something worth queuing for.
5. Give up your seat
Anyone sitting in reserved seats should be aware of elderly, disabled, pregnant women or young children who may need the seat. Failure to give up your place to those who need it more than you is another big NO-NO.
6. Beware of Acronyms
“Sir, go by BKE or PIE?… Got ERP along CTE now, can ah?” – Every taxi driver.
It’s undeniable that Singapore is a land of acronyms and abbreviations.
From 4D to URA, these acronyms are incomprehensible to most foreigners. But with time and practice, you’ll be using acronyms and abbreviations like a local. Honestly, I was surprised by how much I picked up living there. If you don’t know what something means, it’s always a good idea to ask.
What a year to share the destinations of 2019, eh?! This year has been full of adventures, laughter, getting out of my comfort zone and lots of tears! From, wedding destinations, Bali swings to my arrest in Greece. I have to say this has been a year of making and breaking this wanderlust.
I will be sharing how to make 2020 the year of travels, but for now, read on my destinations of 2019.
Please note you may see some destinations I have already been to already this year – sorry not sorry!
1. The first destinations of 2019 – Copenhagen
I started off the year with a day trip to Denmark, Copenhagen in February this year. This was a collaboration with Travel Eat Slay and Black Travel Creators. I had never been on a day trip before. So was surprised to see so much and be around such great people! I couldn’t believe how much I was able to see from trying vegan waffles to seeing the colourful house and Christiansborg Palace. I was totally impressed by the day. So impressed that it only led to the birth of my series – Series: A Day with MBV…
Copenhagen
Memories in Copenhagen: Listening to music and meeting amazing people in just one day.
2. Another day trip to Prague
In May 2019, I joined Travel Eat Slay for another day trip to Prague, Czech Republic! Again, not knowing what to expect with such a big group of people. I went along to see some of the most beautiful sites in Prague. The city has such fantastic street art and is hella cheap! The city is known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colourful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock. Want to know how my day went? Read: A Day with MBV In Prague
Views of Prague
3. Returning to my second home – Singapore
One of those destinations that will last in my heart forever. There are numerous famous attractions within the city-state, notably the Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Sentosa Island, Orchard Road, Jewel Changi Airport and the Singapore Zoo and more of which I will be touching on next month!
Arriving in Singapore made me very emotional and brought back so many damn memories of a study abroad/exchange student. The modern city-state fed me memories of a time when I travelled more than ever (which I still need to write about). The fantastic food and late-night chats and early morning flights around South East Asia are only good memories!
Lessons learnt in Singapore: Don’t be afraid of moving away from home, take the opportunity when it arises.
4. Another place I call home – Malaysia
A quick trip to be a Dulung girl (a bridesmaid) for a special friends wedding. Another destination that I am yet to write about. Johor Bharu is one of those destinations that I will forever consider another home. The Malaysian state of Johor sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a causeway across the Straits of Johor connecting it to Singapore, it’s a gateway for exploration of that island nation.
The city holds a special place in my heart because again, it was a country that welcomed me and fed me well! Hahaha! Stay tuned for content!
Me with the Bride and Groom in Malaysia
5. The Instagram Island – Bali
Still, in South East Asia, I decided to continue my destinations to Bali. I have always dreamed of going to Bali and regret that I only went for the 4 days. The Island is home to religious sites such as cliffside Uluwatu Temple. To the south of the Island, there is the beachside city of Kuta has lively bars. The Island is also known for its yoga and meditation retreats.
The culture, learning about the locals, drinking natural avocado coffee, eating their food and breathing their air made me fall in love with this Island. Bali. I will certainly be coming back again! Thank you for the welcomeness and for allowing my solo destinations memorable.
Lessons learnt in Bali: Don’t allow anyone to stop you from taking that solo trip. Make next year your year of destinations.
6. Solo Day trip to Ireland
I continued my solo travels with another day trip to Ireland. Dublin is the birthplace of writers like Oscar Wilde, and home of Guinness beer and has the famous prison called Kilmainham Gaol.
It was a much-needed break where I learnt so much history about Ireland and the views they have of the British people – eek! I will touch on this on MBVs Day Series (maybe next year). I enjoyed this solo day trip because it was cheap and I could do what I wanted when I wanted. I decided to get Airbnb Experiences and was glad I did. Stay tuned for my day trip to Ireland. Read 7 Fantastic Tools That will Have You Solo Travelling with Confidence.
7. Tears in Greece
When I think about Athens, Greece, my stomach turns upside down – literally. A trip that was supposed to be a smooth run, where I met my partner’s parents and enjoyed the sites of Athens. It instead turned nasty when a guard was malicious to make up a lie, a false accusation against me. I will never forget this trip because it was the first time that I was reminded I was a black female. The positive on this trip was the truth came out and the support I received from my community.
It was a time that you all came together for me and supported and prayed for me. I will never know how to thank you all for your support. There are so many people to name and be thankful for. But trust and believe me, you will forever be in my heart.
A much-needed trip after the experience I had in Greece, Athens. It was a very different trip to Copenhagen when I visited in February this year. I arrived with my boyfriend and met up with family and friends to be a bridesmaid yet again! I was a little anxious from Greece happening so soon before but felt safe with my friends and family around me.
If you are looking for Danish fashion and design, culture and the Nordic cuisine then you need to head over to Copenhagen in August (the best time to visit in my opinion). I haven’t written about this entirely, but I have said it’s a destination to go with a friend, solo, or with a partner. Read: 4 Romantic Weekend European Getaways for Couples
In Copenhagen
9. Sweden for the first time
From Copenhagen, I woke up early and got a train to a small and beautiful village called Arild in Sweden. Historically the village was mostly concentrated around the chapel and the shoreline. However, it has recently been extended uphill towards Kullaberg, which has now created height differences between the various parts of the village.
We got the train to the wedding with Omio because it was closer to Copenhagen airport. One thing I will say is Sweden has to be one of the most expensive countries I have ever been too in my life ( a bottle of water was £2!)! I will, of course, be writing about this for you, so be sure to subscribe and stay up in the mix.
Views of the town in Arild
Memories in Sweden: Being a bridesmaid in Sweden and giving a speech to my beloved friend, which made me cry.
10. The City of Love Paris to celebrate my Birthday
I have been celebrating my Birthday abroad for the last 8 years! I go on and on about how to Turn Your’ Birthday Into A Lifestyle With These Tips. My trip to Paris was a lovely weekend getaway for me because I was able to behave like a BIG KID and head over to Disneyland Paris!
The city is the 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed with wide boulevards and the River Seine. Want to find out more about the trip to Pari? Read France Paris: A 3 Day Romantic Trip In Paris.
11. Bologna for a day!
Another day trip! I think you can tell I went on a lot of day trips this year! The city of Bologna was absolutely beautiful known to be lined with arched colonnades, cafes and medieval and Renaissance structures such as City Hall, the Fountain of Neptune and the Basilica di San Petronio.
It has so much culture, history and PORK! The first-day trip that I where I saw some sun and was introduced to a tour guide. Again another piece that is waiting to be tweaked and published for you all to read. For now, enjoy the photography!
La Piccola Venezia
Lessons learnt in Bologna: That the fountain of Neptune in Bologna has an optical illusion.
12. Oslo for another day trip haha
A day trip that I was not expecting even to happen, but was glad to be asked! When Jenna of Jennas World Views asked me to come along to Oslo, I couldn’t really so no could I? Ha! To be honest with you I was itching for another trip! Another capital city which is known for its green spaces and museums. Not necessarily on the cheap side but has some fantastic sites. Content again will be coming to you soon, so head over and subscribe.
I was starting to believe that I had no content written for any of my destinations of 2019!
Liz and Jenna with me in Oslo
13. Riga for a travel conference
Riga I thought would be my last destination of 2019. A city that is considered a cultural centre; home to many museums and concert halls. This was a very different trip for me – my first ever travel conference abroad. I had never been to Riga, Latvia and thought it would be good to experience both in one go! You know kill two birds with one stone or flight!
Oh my! The coldest country I have ever travelled too in my life! It was -2 degrees! Although it was cold, I was glad to experience the Christmas markets and have brunch with a few amazing ladies that I usually only speak to on the socials lol.
Gdańsk is known for having several historical attractions, such as the Royal Way, a famous promenade street of Polish kings, along with historic cathedrals, medieval ports and heaps of cool cafes. I will be doing a Christmas special on my Instagram so head over and don’t be shy to say hello!
Christmas in Poland
Lesson learnt in Gdańsk: Don’t be afraid to share your experiences and lessons learnt with people.
Thank you to you all…
Thank you to all of you for the support you showed me while I was in Greece, Athens. I will never forget what you all did, and you all have a special place in my heart. I love you all.
And
Thank you for planning most of my day trips Caroline of Travel Eat Slay they have allowed me to see Europe in a different light.
Final Thoughts on my destination of 2019…
And to you, all, thank you again for reading my destination of 2019. I visited 14 countries this year! Wooow impressive I will say.
I have left each country with a memory or a lesson. Every destination has opened my eyes in one way or the other (some more than others for obvious reasons). Would I change anything? Maybe. Yes? Actually No. All these things happened for a reason. I don’t exactly know why, but God does. I have also met some fantastic people (online and in-person) along the way which I will never forget.
I hope my journey tells and shows you that you can travel and you shouldn’t ever allow anyone to stop you from seeing the world. You are in charge of how you see the world. I hope you subscribe and stay tuned for my post coming on How to make 2020 a Year of Travels.
What about you where did you go this year? Let me know in the comment section below. Do you have any regrets this year/ what was your fave destination of 2019?
Returning home for Christmas this year? Well, lucky you! I can’t lie and say I do not hate from a distance!
I’m afraid I will be watching you all enjoy the sunshine while I stay in the cold with my headscarf haha! Although I won’t be enjoying the sun with you lucky people this December, I thought it would be good to share a few tips you may want to consider or keep in mind before returning home to the mother island this year! So as usual, carry on reading…
I hope these tips can help you with your holidays and if you have any suggestions on returning home share in the comments below.
5 Things You Should Consider Before Returning Home This Christmas
1. Get your vaccinations
I am going to state the obvious – get your vaccinations!! It’s already December so I would like to believe you have already sorted this out, but if you haven’t book that emergency appointment, please.
I travel back home at least every two years, so these usually last for me, but if you’re unsure of what you need, contact your doctors immediately!
The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Nigeria and Ghana: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio and tetanus.
Don’t forget your malaria tablets! And please don’t go and spend a fortune in Boots or Superdrug. Head over to Asda the pills are much cheaper than the other companies. I usually get the daily ones, but there are other options for you to choose from. Speak to your GP for more info.
2. Be mindful of the weather
The Harmattan is a season in the West African subcontinent, which occurs between the end of November right through to March. It is characterised by the dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind, of the same name, which blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. The name is related to the word haramata in the Twi language, meaning the temperature is cold and in most places, it can also be hot. This all depends on local circumstances.
Be mindful of the weather. When I was last in Nigeria (in 2017, which seems years ago now)! I didn’t really feel that it was actually hot. The locals kept going on about haramata time, which made no sense to me. I later realised that it is actually a thing. If I was you, I would be sure to prepare for this weather and don’t just pack for summer clothing. I would also suggest wearing glasses, which may help protect your eyes from the dust!
3. The Shows
Shows and events will not even stop from the moment you arrive in the motherland (without me)! Yes, I am hella hating! Returning home involves some form of turn up. And you know us Africans know how to enjoy ourselves!
In Ghana, you will have Afrochella and the Year of Return. Nigeria, (my motherland) will have a million events to attend. And I am sure the rest of Africa will have some fantastic things planned for those returning home. So please enjoy for me, and make sure you do Instagram lives for me so I can really enjoy well!
In all the fun, please please be mindful of your safety! The level of security is not always monitored as well as us Westerner know it to be so please ensure you make the necessary arrangments for your own well-being.
4. Power Bank
You are going to be out most of the day and night! You know recording for yourself and me of course! Please, you will want to record everything for me to see.
Be sure to have a power bank and even consider collecting a sim card while you are out there! Honestly, you and I both don’t want to miss out on live videos and content! Give me content please and take two power banks!
Get yourself a Power Bank!
5. Be aware of insects
Please note, I was invited to cover the We Drifters event and kindly gifted with a set of pyjamas. All views are my own.
Insects and mosquitos don’t play out there! I was literally chewed alive while I was out there in 2017! Just take a look at this huge bite!
A mosquito bite picture
I was recently invited to an event with a company called We Drifters to hear about four women’s travelling experiences. The owner Naudia shared her story of how she began building her brand, which led her to create anti-insect sleepwear.
At the end of the event, Naudia was kind enough to gift me with the sleepwear. The sleepwear is made of bamboo fabric and technology, which keeps the insects away!
I will definitely be wearing mine when I travel to Jamacia next year. And of course, give a hands-on experience of what it was like! If you are interested in buying yourself an anti-insect sleepwear kit, then buy yours here.
Thank you for taking the time to have a read of my 5 tips in returning home. I would also like to thank We Drifters for my gift and inviting me to such a powerful event.
Do you have any tips to share? Go ahead in the comment section below. Either way, I hope you all enjoy yourself and make sure you take explicit videos and pictures so I can be at home enjoying in my headscarf!
