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A Beginners Guide: 11 Things You Must Know Before Going Skiing

Skiing was a very new experience. This year I vowed to try out new things when travelling. Although I’m unable to travel at the moment. I like to be grateful for being able to try out skiing with the WindCollective and MountNoireLdn in 2020! Yes! For those of you that don’t already know, I took a quick flight, earlier this year and went skiing in Bulgaria. Read – Bulgaria Bansko: My First Ski Weekend Trip

I’ve been meaning to write a post on the things I learnt on my ski weekend trip, but with everything happening right now. I must admit it’s been quite difficult to write about travel let alone about anything else. Below is a general list of things you must know before going skiing for the first time.

11 Things You Must Know Before Going Skiing

1. It is ok to FALL when skiing!

It took me a while to accept it. I was quite adamant that I couldn’t fall while skiing. I mean how does one fall looking cute? I learnt on this trip that even the professionals fall from time to time… so yeah it is ok to fall and trust me I did on several occasions too. People who aren’t afraid of falling over get to grips with skiing faster! So please don’t be discouraged.

2. Protect your eyes and skin

Please take this serious! Like, please! You may not feel the sun because of the white snow, but chances are being that high up you will need to protect your eyes and skin. Get yourself some goggles and good sun protection.

3. Get your body ready for skiing

I would suggest doing some exercises a few weeks before going skiing. When you are skiing you are constantly using your thighs, so it might be painful if you’ve never worked out to just jump on the skies. Try working out your muscles. Anything like squats, cardio would be a good shout!

4. Get yourself the correct ski clothing

I’m sure I don’t need to spell this out to you. It’s so crucial for you to purchase correct clothing when going skiing. I would suggest, Tog24, Sports Direct for the thermal underlayer, coats etc. And then if you wanna look super cute Asos and Topshop lol! Also, don’t forget your ski socks!

Skiing clothes
My Ski Outfit for Day 1

5. Renting ski equipment

If you’re hiring ski boots, which you should if you’ve never skied before, (just because of the price) be sure to wear thick socks when you try your boots. They usually make the bindings looser for beginners, meaning the skis pop off easier if and when you fall over. The length of your skis and poles depends on your height and weight, so worth knowing this info.

P.S. There are usually lots of people collecting and dropping off ski hire at the same time, so be prepared for queues and a bit of hanging around.

6. Apres-ski what is it?

Skiing usually slows down between 4 and 5 pm. This is when everyone heads back into town and enjoy “après-ski”, which is basically a well-deserved drink for working so hard all day! There is sometimes live music and DJ – well there was when I was there!

7. Hunger and dehydration

You will constantly be super hungry and dehydrated so have some water with you and some snacks – protein snacks all of that. It will be needed – trust me.

8. Lessons for skiing

Yes as a beginner I would advise having a few lessons. The lessons are there to show you the technique and build your confidence. I had two sessions both started in the morning around 10 am and finished just after lunchtime.

9. Correct skiing footwear

You will need sensible footwear when going skiing. This shouldn’t be so difficult. I would suggest Uggs or walking boots and if you’re like me get yourself some moon boots. I am also selling mine on Depop. So have a look. P.S. I only wore them for a few hours.

ski boots
Ski Boots

10. Consider wearing a helmet

You may want to get yourself a helmet. I personally didn’t because I knew I would be easy on the slopes – haha no I think if you’re a beginner you won’t be sliding down any big slopes – hopefully not anyways.

11. Skiing is FUN!

Remember it’s your first time and skiing is supposed to be fun and therapeutic once you get the hang of it. I have to say, I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s nice to try out something new! And I will defo be going again with more lessons of course!

skiing is fun

And there you have it! 11 Things you must know before going skiing. What about you when was the last time you tried out something new?

Do you have anything you want to share for first time skiers? Drop your comments below!

I would like to give a special thanks Tog24 for gifting me with my skiwear! Guys check them out they stuff is actually amazing. 

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6 Amazing Things To Do In Italy, Milian

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Milan is a city in northern Italy, the capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city in Italy after Rome. I did a cheeky weekend getaway with one of my best girls to Milian a few years ago.   

6 Amazing Things To Do In Italy, Milian

We arrived in Milan on a Friday ready for the weekend using Alitalia airlines. This airline was good because it allowed us to purchases cheaper tickets – being under 27 at the time. Worth having a look at their deals.

The hotel we stayed in was called Glam Milano and was pretty decent for the two nights we stayed in Milian. Below I have noted a few things you can get done in a weekend away in Italy, Milan.  

1.Sempione Park  

During the day we went to a beautiful park, called Sempione Park. I fell in love!

2.Terrazza Boscolo  

My friend suggested heading over for a drink and some food. Terrazza Boscolo is up on a roof terrace. Here you will be able to feel the wind in your hair and capture a view of the famous Milan Cathedral.  

italy milan

We were welcomed with a warm welcome and friendly service. Grab yourself an Aperol spritz and tuck into a few canapes.  

Aperol spritz and tuck into a few canapes.

3. Museo Nazionale Della Scienza e Della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci  

Head over to the largest science museum in Italy.  Here you will see so much art.  

Italy musem

4. Duomo di Milano  

Milan Cathedral is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of St Mary, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Archbishop Mario Delpini. The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete!!  

duomo di milano

5. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II  

Italy is renowned for its shopping

You have to go to the most famous shopping mall! Italy is renowned for its shopping!  The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan, Italy.  

italy

6. Take a Trip to Lake Como x  

Lake Como is in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, it’s an upscale resort area known for dramatic scenery.   It’s about two hours drive from Milan and is worth going for a late dinner.  

Italy trips

Hope you enjoyed my six amazing things to do in Italy, Milian. If you would like to keep up to date with my blog posts then don’t forget to subscribe.

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7 Things To Consider Before Moving Abroad

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Now I know I haven’t moved abroad for work or anything, so I do feel slightly cheeky writing a post on things you should know before moving abroad.

But. And there is always a but!

I still believe my points are worth considering from my experience as a study exchange student. Plus, I do plan to move abroad again, one day. And I think it’s always wise to have some tools before you consider moving abroad.

As you’ve heard me say a million times before ‘moving abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made’. I feel like it was a period of my life that I learnt so much about myself. It’s when I felt like I became whole and really believed I was capable of doing absolutely anything.  

7 Things to think about before moving abroad  

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SELF DOUBT  

Unfortunately, this is inevitable. When I moved abroad, I always doubted myself, mainly as a young black female. And (at the time) had never even lived out of her family’s home before. I was first worried about how I would be taken in Singapore. Everything I did caused doubt.

China Town

Honestly, moving abroad was and is one of the most humbling experiences. I was forced to come out of my shell overnight with very little support (that’s my opinion – which I am happy to discuss at a later date).

But moving abroad is an experience to meet people and live after a while the self-doubt will literally disappear.

MAKING FRIENDS MAY BE DIFFICULT 

I personally didn’t have a massive issue with this because as you can imagine, everyone wanted to be my friend haha! I’m joking moving abroad can be quite daunting when you don’t know anyone on the other side.

As an adult or young person, should I say, making friends can be somewhat much more tricky, and if you are an introvert even harder – in my opinion? There can also be lots of misunderstandings, you know people learning about themselves. I had this trouble while living in Singapore, and it caused a bit of friction between a few friends and me. 

Tip: I would suggest starting with an interest, I was surprised how music was an icebreaker for me when making friends in Singapore. I seemed to find similar interest with people that loved Beyonce! If you can, I would also suggest using Instagram and Facebook.  

N.B don’t be afraid to ghost someone; people appear their best selves when you first meet them. If you don’t think you click with someone, do not hesitate to keep it moving! 

YOU’LL GET FRUSTRATED LIKE ALL THE TIME  

Anyone who tells you that moving abroad is easy is just lying! Moving abroad can be quite overwhelming, and if you lose your cool – it’s understandable. If you are moving over as a student, this can be reasonably straight forward, but if you’re doing this on your own – it can be quite frustrating!  

It doesn’t stop there you then have to think about getting a new sim-card (if you already have a phone) then signing up to a new bank, the money you need to spend. Not to mention time difference. This can really test you – honestly, there were times I’m sure people thought I was just a spoilt brat! Things didn’t seem to go my way when I moved to Singapore, and I just wanted to come home!  

However, despite the little hiccups, I learnt so many things. I reminded myself that it was all a learning process. As cheesy as it sounds, you really have to take a step back and just breath! All these annoying things definitely made me a more patient person. 

YOU WILL BE SPENDING MONEY LIKE YOU’RE BARCLAYS BANK  

Let me be real with you. Unless you have some fantastic benefits, you will be spending a lot of money. The first thing I did when I landed in Singapore was head out to IKEA. I wanted to feel like I was at home, and I couldn’t do that with no bedsheets.  

Singapore money

Get ready to save some money before you go and then spend it once you get there.  

YOUR STEREOTYPES WILL BE CHALLENGED  

THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE LIKE TO IGNORE. PLEASE DON’T!

Sometimes as human beings, we have preconceived notions of how people behave or how they will perceive us. You can even have presumptions of how a place might be and more. Moving abroad wholly change everything for me. Not only did I learn so much about the culture in Singapore, but I was continually learning about other cultures and countries. I met people from America, Malaysia, South Korea, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, Canada and more. At first, I can honestly say it was a huge learning curve, but an enjoyable one where I felt like I gained so much from people. 

IT’LL BE THE BEST DECISION YOU’VE EVER MADE  

As I will always say and continue to preach! Moving abroad has and will always be the best decision I ever made. The decision to get out of my shell and see the world really changed me for the better and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  

If you’ve ever had a thought that moving abroad is something you want to do, I’ve got one piece of advice for you – DO IT! If you are in uni/college, please consider. 

What about you have you ever thought about moving abroad? What’s holding you back?  

Also Read:

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4 Romantic Weekend European Getaways for Couples

I have to say I also love a romantic weekend getaways. With long workdays and everyday life, you have to admit a getaway is a must to keep things alive and fresh. There are so many places to get away with a loved one. It can be a colourful hotspot, city breaks, charming beach towns and more.

Of course, I understand that every couple is different and has various taste when travelling with a loved one. This year I went on a few weekend getaways, some for romance and others for celebrations and I thought it would be good to start a travel couple series.

5 perfect weekend getaways for couples

Copenhagen, Denmark 

Copenhagen is a city that’s founded on the water, and you’re never far from one of the canals or the harbour-side.

You can easily see a lot of Copenhagen on a long weekend getaway. Nyhaven was a favourite spot for a stroll for my partner and me. It has pretty coloured merchant houses and plenty of cafes to sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere while the small bridge that crosses it has a collection of love locks similar to those found in Rome and Paris.

romantic weekend getaway

Note: Copenhagen is quite an expensive European country, so it’s advised to plan well ahead before going. I stayed at the WakeUp Copenhagen Hotel, which was reasonable for the price we paid.

You can find out more things to do in Copenhagen – A Day with MBV In Copenhagen

Italy, Bologna 

OASIS

Italy is a great country to visit for a long romantic weekend getaway. I would suggest Bologna. Bologna is the lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy. There is so much history and romance in this city.

ITALY

You can easily see a lot of Bologna in long romantic weekend getaways. Finestrella di Via Piella you reach the famous window on the Canale delle Moline and the bridge, both overlooking the canal. Looking out among the buildings, you can see one of the few stretches of running water.

Sweden, Arild

SWEDEN

Arild is a train away from Copenhagen. It is situated in Höganäs Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with only 522 inhabitants. I stayed in a hotel surrounded by a mountain, with a sea which I would say is beautiful for a morning stroll. The Hotel Rusthållargården was very old fashioned, with lovely stone walls and full windows.

Sweden like Copenhagen is quite a pricey country, so proper planning is useful before you visit.

romantic weekend getaway IN SWEDEN

France, Paris  

romantic weekend getaway in PARIS

Yes! Paris is one of my favourite romantic weekend getaways. Paris, France’s capital, is a major European city and a global centre for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. I would always go to Paris for a cheeky romantic getaway!

There are so many romantic activities to do like the famous Eiffel Tower, dinner at KONG and more.

You can find out more things to do Paris – France Paris: A 3 Day Romantic Trip In Paris

KONG

Thank you for reading my post. I have a few things lined up on couple travelling, so be sure to subscribe for the new blog post.

Do you have any romantic getaway suggestions – leave a comment below, and let’s add these to our bucket list (if you have one). Read the related post – An Expert Guide: What to Pack for a Weekend Getaway.

pintrest

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A Day with MBV In Copenhagen

Heyyy MyBreakingViewers, and welcome to my third edition of A Day with MBV Series.  Today I will be talking about my recent trip to Copenhagen!  I was pleased with this trip because as you know I’m one ½ of @BTravelCreators; and was able to collaborate with @Traveleatslay.  

Let’s get into it then!

This trip was hella jokes, where does one even begin (I am literally beaming as I write this!) We had someone blasting music throughout the day. This really added to the mood and the weather in Copenhagen was good considering it was the end of February.  

I can’t remember how much I spent on the day. However, I have shared on other trips a good breakdown of costs (just this one I haven’t – I am truly sorry).

Sunday Munday  

We started the day with some grub! What? A girl has got to eat! This was in my opinion, an easy journey to the restaurant called Sunday Munday. This was a restaurant for waffles eaters and get this EVERYTHING is vegan. This was great for me as I decided to go vegan for the month and it was my last day.  

Nyhavn Harbour – coloured houses  

Every time I think of Copenhagen, I always imagined seeing the pretty colourful houses. So when we landed, I was like I want pictures near the colourful houses and that we did! What I loved about the colourful buildings was the richness in colour. It really showed me that there is colour in the world. Which resonates with MyBreakingViews statement

Building Colour Into Your Travels

Interesting fact: Nyhavn is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants. 

Cost – £0.00  

Manon Les Suites – the hotel  

Whilst eating at the restaurant Sunday Munday. A staff member suggested we should head over to the Manon Les Suites and so we did.  The hotel in one word was breathtaking and I will be certainly going back and staying at this hotel! When I am rich of course!

Travel Tip: It is always good to listen to the locals. They should know their country a lot better than a tourist.  

Cost – £0.00  

Christiansborg Palace 

It took us a while to find this place and it seems the lifts/elevators in Copenhagen are slightly old fashioned. When we finally got up there you could see a good view of the country.

Interesting Fact: Christiansborg Palace is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Danish Prime Minister’s Office, and the Supreme Court of Denmark. 

Cost – £0.00  

Dinner at Skipperkroen 

We got a bus back to Nyhavn (colourful houses) to see if we could find somewhere to eat. We wanted to unwind while we waited for our plane. Note: There are quite a lot of restaurants in this area.

Now, remember when I said I was practising being a vegan for the month! This was a struggle when we got to this restaurant because they didn’t even know what it meant. I ended up having potatoes, some bread and veg – they added some fish. This clearly showed me that they didn’t know what veganism meant. I didn’t eat it ask anyone!  

Cost – (more than £30 for veg potatoes and some bland fish)  

I hope you enjoyed my third series A Day with MBV in Copenhagen. I will be sharing my A Day with MBV in Ireland ….. subscribed so you can stay tuned!

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10 Places to Visit For the First Time Solo As A Black Female

I am always asked what countries are safe to travel as a black solo female. If we are real with each other, being a black female in this world can be extremely hard sometimes. So, it always makes sense when I’m asked what countries are safe to travel solo for the first time! I recently spoke on Travelling Perceptions & Safety: Why I don’t Allow the Experiences Stop me From Seeing The World?

As I said in that post and will say again … the media often likes to label black females, particularly in certain countries, that I won’t point out. We are often labelled as prostitutes, or even worst ghettoized for the colour of our skin. The melanin can be hard for them to handle sometimes.

When I travel by myself I never feel like I’m on my own. I have never really understood why, but I believe it’s because I always end up meeting someone on my solo travels. That’s not to say that I don’t emphasise with people that travel solo for the first time. I can imagine if you haven’t travelled solo before, it can be quite daunting. There are several countries or even places you can visit solo as a black female.

My cousin suggested that I write a post on places black females feel safe to travel too. So as I do. I have tapped into 10 black female travel bloggers, who share places they themselves felt safe travelling too! If you are a black female seeking to travel solo for the first time, I’m sure this post is for you. 

The melanin can be hard for them to handle sometimes.

10 Places You Should Travel Solo For the First Time As a Black Female Traveller

1. Char of Memoirs and Musings says – Dubai

Dubai is safe because the crime rate is low. You won’t find much petty crime here because it’s not a walkable city. Unwanted attention does exist but it’s more common in Deira and Bur Dubai. I’ve been to Dubai twice solo and not had any issues! ???

2. Aitza of Petitely Packaged says – Porto

As the second-largest city in Portugal, Porto offers a friendly and vibrant atmosphere. From wine tours in the Douro Valley, hiking at a nearby national park, hopping on a boat, or simply eating one’s way through the city their countless activities to meet people or get lost on your own in Porto. The public transportation is easy to navigate and English widely is spoken, so even if you find yourself unintentionally lost you likely won’t need Google to translate.

3. L of Franglais27 Tales says – Paris

Central Paris is rather compact and so it is easy to navigate by foot which makes it relatively safe for a solo woman traveller. Plus, there are lots of museums, galleries and other sights that are easy to visit or cinemas as well. There are also neighbouring cafés and restaurants in most locations meaning that it would not involve a long journey if venturing out in the evenings. You would just have to be as vigilant as you would be in London when travelling alone.

4. Elisha of Elisha Jade says – Shanghai and Bejing

I felt super safe in Shanghai and Beijing. Whether I was riding in the back of a tuk-tuk at 4 am or jumping on the metro, the Chinese metropolises were very secure. It is a surveillance state so you do trade off privacy for that sense of security.

5. Chi of Thoughts Of Chi says – Prague

I believe that Prague is safe due to it being a popular destination for tourists so it’s rare for you to feel secluded during a solo trip. Also from my trip, the attraction staff are very accommodating for solo travellers in terms of taking pictures of you and giving you in-depth talks about the city in general.

Also, the fact that there are a ton of attractions to go throughout the city and the transport links are reliable and easy to use.

6. Tay of TaytheTravelista says – Cartagena

I recently took my very first solo trip and as nervous as I was I couldn’t have made a better choice of destination – Cartagena. The people are extremely warm and welcoming and although they don’t speak much English, the love is felt! The streets are ALWAYS full of people, so you never really feel “alone”; and Uber/taxi makes it very easy to get around the city.

Cartagena is also very budget-friendly, so paying full price for things you’d normally split with a friend isn’t a big deal. Not to mention, Cartagena is pretty popular among solo travellers so the likelihood of you connecting with other solo travellers is extremely high. Just an FYI – you will fall head over heels in love with the place!!!

7. Joyce of Diy With Joy says – Phucket

I travelled to Phuket, Thailand for the ultimate solo birthday trip and purposely chose to stay in Patong for the first half of my trip as this beach resort town is famously known for its bustling nightlife, variety of activities, markets and plenty of restaurants. Although I was by myself, I never really felt alone because I met a lot of friendly faces from around the world and the Thai locals made me feel welcomed into their country. I felt really safe venturing out at night, often strolling through the night markets and had my first solo nightlife experience in Phuket which was surprisingly amazing!

8. Ri of Ri The Blog says – Colombia

I thought Colombia was safe because there was constantly police around everywhere (granted its Colombia they could be corrupt cops). The people seemed so relaxed about their belongings and that that to me was a sign that the city didn’t have problems with petty crime.

9. Tateendah of Footprints and Poetry says Tanzania

I found Tanzanians really friendly, no one catcalled me either in Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar which is very rare. I didn’t book any tours and the resort I stayed in the capital helped me to arrange them, in Zanzibar they even walked me to the beach for my prison island tour.

Someone even offered to go with me to the South Island (as they were also going there) so I can get on the right public transport but I couldn’t stay that long. People were open to conversation if they spoke English, from the restaurants to the taxi drivers. The only issues I had was trying to convince people I don’t speak Swahili.

10. Victoria of The Stylish Trotter says Japan

I went to Japan solo but meeting people was a breeze with Couchsurfing & I felt so safe. This country is one of the most safest countries in the world because it is indeed safe. Transportation is accessible & easy. People are very cordial in Japan and you don’t feel people staring at you because you are a foreigner and black. It’s a win-win all around in my book.

Oh and one more! It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t suggest one of my own countries right?

Adebola of MyBreakingViews says Singapore

I think ya’ll get tired of me speaking about Singapore. It was the first country I travelled too as a student and to some degree as a solo traveller. As a student, I ended up living there with no trouble for 7 months! Honestly, Singapore has been the most welcoming country for me as a black female! I went back again this year after six years and couldn’t believe how welcoming it was. I wasn’t bothered when I walked around the city by myself.

P.S Get yourself some durian and tell me what you think? hahaha

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