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How to Travel During a Pandemic
My Breaking ViewsTravel

How to Travel During a Pandemic

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Travel during a pandemic….

It has certainly been a very weird travel year for all of us. Like many others, 2020 was a year that many people had plans. Plans that many were unable to meet. As a travel blogger, I had many plans to explore the world. I had plans to travel to Bulgaria (to ski, which I did!), Jamacia (first time to go to the Caribbean), Italy (birthday plans – which I did happen and I’m yet to write about), Nigeria (still waiting for the Nigerian embassy to open), and Jordan. I know I would have done many other days trips around Europe but sadly like you, and many others around the world I wasn’t able to travel and see the world as I would’ve hoped.

This year, I have to admit that I’m quite hesitant to travel the world during a pandemic. Not only is the UK in their third lockdown, but there also seems to be a general scare or ‘travel bashing’ if anyone is seen travelling. I mean have you seen the reality stars that have travelled to Dubai for work?!

Anyone travelling during a pandemic is getting it. Particularly those travelling from the UK! I get it. The UK is experiencing this quite badly, especially compared to other countries in the world. However, I do want us to be prepared to travel once we do leave the lockdown so I have written a few steps on what can help…

A new way of travelling….

Travel during a pandemic

I think it’s obvious to say that travelling during a pandemic will be extremely different from what we once knew travelling to be. If you managed to travel last year in 2020, you will already know some of the points I’m about to make. Heck! You may even have some points to share. If you do, please be kind enough to share with us all!

Check your government travel advisory

Before you even begin to start travelling and planning your trip, check the status of your government travel advisory, and follow its advice. I know many are still doing their own thing when it comes to travel, but be careful! Things are changing every second of the day and I literally mean it when I say every second! Even if the status of a country is deemed to be “safe to travel” doesn’t mean it can’t change in a second!

Depending on where you’re returning from, your government may require you to quarantine on arrival. Again it may not be the case now, but as things are changing so rapidly I wouldn’t say don’t think it can change! So, if you cannot run the risk of extra costs. I would suggest staying at home for now.

You will certainly need to consider taking a COVID test….

I think this is a given. While many of us are waiting to receive a vaccination. We must understand that taking a test is essential to travel not only for your safety but for others around the world. Travelling while testing positive can only cause more and more lockdowns and worsen the pandemic.

Getting yourself tested for some countries is essential before you travel. I have heard some people have been denied at the border due to not obeying laws. Take a test and provide the evidence so you know you can travel with peace of mind. In the UK it is fairly easy to find a testing centre.

Consider Insurance when you are ready travel during a pandemic

This is more important than ever. Get insurance. I know some people in the past have played around with this but this is no longer a joke. Travelling is no longer just an escape it’s a danger zone that you enter at your own risk. Get a travel insurance quote from a Worldwide Insurance company. Not an unknown company. Be willing to spend for your own safety.

Go to countries that have the lowest numbers

Unlike the UK, many countries have been relatively unscathed by the COVID19 pandemic, at least for now. If a destination has few cases or a low death rate, the risk of catching the virus while there is hopefully quite low.

Whatever you do when travelling be mindful to avoid crowds. Consider activities like hiking and maybe camping (not really my thing but hey). Avoid eating out in busy restaurants, clubbing, bars, concerts and night clubs.

Cover up and hold a hygiene bag….

Please consider covering up and protecting yourself. When I did Italy for my birthday last year I carried a little hygiene bag. It had:

Travel during a pandemic

You may even want to carry your COVID19 test with you here. Taking the right precautions when travelling or deciding to travel during a pandemic can really help you have a much smoother travel experience.

Taking the right steps and measures to cover yourself are essential for your travels. It will help you make sure that you enjoy your trip. I hope the tips I’ve shared above are helpful and please please do share if you have any in the comments below.

See you soon.

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Cooking & Travel Talks: How to Make Nigerian Suya
FoodMy Breaking ViewsThings to DoTravel

Cooking & Travel Talks: How to Make Nigerian Suya

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Last week I had my first Cooking and Travel and Talks Live where I made suya. I have to say despite all the nerves I think it went very well. I shared stories of when I have visited Nigeria, had the afrobeats in the background and engaged with all my audience. All in all, it was an hour of just good vibes. 

What is Suya?

I would say that Suya is a spicy meat skewer, like an English Kebab (but spicey and sexier). It originates from the North of Nigeria and is a popular dish in the West of Africa. Suya is usually thinly sliced meat marinated in various spices and then grilled or barbecued. The dish is served with extra helpings of dried pepper mixed with tomatoes and sliced onions in a newspaper.

I was impressed to see how many people joined in with me to cook on my first live! Many people missed the first live and have asked for the recipe, so I have jotted down the ingredients and instructions with some clips of the live on how to make suya. 

When did I first have Suya?

Believe it or not, the first time I tried Nigerian Suya was when I was a vegetarian. Yes, some vegetarian. I travelled to Nigeria as an adult and was constantly looked down on for not eating meat, but for some reason, I was swayed by the smells of Suya and ever since I never went back again.

Ingredients you need for Nigerian Suya

  • 1kg Beef or chicken
  • 1tsp Paprika
  • 2tsp Salt
  • 2 Maggie Cubes
  • 2tsp  Garlic Salt
  • 15 Wooden Skewers
  • 2 Tomato
  • 1 Onion
  • 3tsp Oil

You can buy your suya spice (suya pepper) in an African food store. I would always suggest washing and seasoning your meat with paprika, salt Maggie and garlic salt overnight. Below you can watch how I prep to make my suya.

The next day… 

First things first:

  •  Pre-heat your grill for about 180 degrees Celsius (375 Fahrenheit)
  • Soak your wooden skewers in cold water (this ensures that the sticks do not burn during the roasting of the Suya)
  • Add your oil and massage into your meat (this ensures that the meat doesn’t burn during roasting). 
  1. You may want to cut your meat if it’s too big. I would suggest to cut them into small pieces so that when you thread them on the sticks, they will not flap too much.
  2. You will then need to thread the fillets of beef onto the skewer sticks.

  1. Add your suya pepper/mix into a wide dish and dab the threaded fillets of beef into the spice so that the beef takes up as much of the spice as possible. Note: If you’re not keen on spice only add a little bit.  
  2. Place all the now spiced beef onto the oven rack and put in the grill to roast. As you will see in the clip below.
  1. You will then need to twist your meet regularly to ensure it doesn’t burn. The meat should take around 20-30 minutes to cook but do bear in mind that this depends on how thick your beef meet is.  
  2. While your suya is roasting, cut your onions and tomatoes and place them into the newspaper. 
  3. Remove meat from sticks and add to the newspaper
  4. Finish off with adding some more suya spice to the meal and enjoy! 
suya cooking and travel talks

Below are some pictures of people that cooked with me on my first Cooking and Travel Talks Live! I would like to thank everyone that joined in and cooked with me!

I hope you enjoy your suya – if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me! And if you would like to cook with me on my next live then follow me on Instagram where I will be sharing what I will be cooking next!

Reads: How to Make Your Own Quarantine Brunch – Blog Brew Collab

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Laser Hair Removal Changed How I Travel
My Breaking ViewsTravel

Laser Hair Removal Changed How I Travel

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As a female traveller, you always have a list of things you need to do before you go on a trip. Mine usually involves new hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and pedicure and more etc. If you are travelling and want zero body hair then you need to read this blog post because you might decide to actually consider hair removal.  And if you’re like me, one of those tasks is getting rid of body hair. I used to do this through professional waxing until someone showed me the light – laser hair removal.

After a while, I decided to go ahead with the laser treatment, and I have to say I can’t believe I let it take me so long to get it DONE! In total my treatment with Pulse Light Clinic cost me £638 with a discount! This was for underarms and full Hollywood. I’ve already had 5 sessions and can’t believe it took me so long to get it done! Even with 3 more sessions to go and being under the quarantine I still have no hair!

There are a number of things you should know before considering laser hair removal and I am here to tell you…  

7 things to know about laser hair removal

 Laser Hair removal can be painful  

I think this is the first question people ask me. I will be honest with you. Laser hair removal is not painful. BUT… it can depend on what you usually do for hair removal. If you regularly wax then you will be able to handle this easily. If you are someone that shaves then this might be a bit more painful than usual.

For a couple of days after treatment, the affected skin may become red and tender. Many people describe the sensation as similar to a sunburn. The process itself, however, is typically not painful. 

The treatments session can go quite quick  

All of my sessions have been extremely short. Before your session, you are advised to shave the areas for laser. Once you are in it’s usually a wipe down and a quick zap of about 20 minutes. With Pulse Light, this includes a good old chat with the dermatologist.  

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@itsmariammusa shares her results from her laser hair removal treatments on the bikini. This is before and after 8 treatments – Laser Hair Removal is the only solution for to up to 90% hair reduction and an investment. Say goodbye to buying razors and booking wax appointments in 8 months* depending on your hair thickness and growth. – ?Reduces: Ingrown hairs, most of our clients have reported having no ingrown hairs after 3 laser hair removal treatments. – If you would like to start your Laser Hair Removal journey, the first thing you need to do is book a FREE consultation and patch with one of our senior laser hair removal specialists. You can discuss any questions you may have and you can see how it feels with the patch test (necessary before starting treatment). – ?3 Clinics located in the City of London and Oxford Street. ?Book an instant FREE consultation with the link in our bio or call 020 7523 5158. ⏰ Open till 8pm weekdays and weekends till 5pm #laserhairremoval #lasertreatment #ingrownhair #londoner #londonclinic #legs #facialhair #face#laserhairremoval #selfcare #instabeauty #londonbeauty #naturalbeauty #skincareroutine #antiagingskincare #laser #hairremoval  #aesthetics #legs #beautytreatment #noninvasivetreatment #ingrownhair #hairfree #londonclinic

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You can’t be in the sun during treatment  

Yes, this is true. Staying away from the sun as travellers can be quite difficult. This won’t work if you’re receiving treatment. You will need to avoid sunbathing or sun exposure as much as possible before and after treatments.   

Laser Hair removal means you will need to shave the areas off 

I mentioned already that you are advised to shave the areas that are to be treated. This at the beginning was difficult for me because I’ve always had a fear of ingrown hairs. However, since I’ve been receiving laser hair removal. I have noticed that I don’t have this problem.

What are the side effects of laser hair removal? 

I have to be honest and say that there are a few side effects which can appear after laser hair removal treatment. I’ve experienced some of those side effects, one of them is a constant burn and redness. You can also experience other common side effects such as crusting, a change in skin colour or possible skin infection. Anyone that is experiencing lasting side effects should consult their dermatologist immediately!  

Does laser hair removal last for life? 

I’ve now done 5 sessions of laser hair removal and so far so good! I can’t say that I won’t ever see hair again, but at least I’ve not seen any for a long time. What I do know is this, hair removal treatment can significantly reduce hair growth. After my first treatment, I noticed that my hair was a lot finer and I hardly noticed any hair.  

I’ve paid for eight-session, of which I hope to achieve more of a permanent result. I will have to do a blog post for when I finish my treatment.  

It works on all the skin types  

At a younger age, I was told that I wasn’t able to receive laser hair treatment due to the pigment into my skin. Times have changed where all skin types are easily managed. Your hair now just needs to be dark enough to be read by the laser.  

And there we have it, a few things you need to know before getting your laser hair removal treatment. There are a number of different hair centre’s you can choose from. If you want to know mine then please have a look a Pulse Light Clinic get a free consultation and if you refer a friend you both get £30 off!  

Hope this helped you and you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask away my email is: info@mybreakingviews.com  

Now you’ve read my post would you consider getting laser hair removal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

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10 Songs That Relate To The Lockdown
LifestyleThings to Do

10 Songs That Relate To The Lockdown

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In times like this, we must have a bit of banter and create a lockdown playlist. My work colleagues recently dropped some songs for a Lockdown2020 playlist, (yes, my work is way better than yours) So decided to drop some of the best ones below. 

  1. Section Boyz – Lock Arrf  
  1. Tyga – Bored in the House  
  1. Young T & Bugsey – Don’t Rush  
  1. Akon – Locked Up  
  1. MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This 
  1. The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face  
  1. Franck Ocean – In My Room  
  1. Sean Paul – Temperature  
  1. Queen – I’m Going Slightly Mad  
  1. Future – Mask Off  
Hope you enjoyed a few of the songs. What about you can you think of any lockdown related songs? Comment below.  

I will be providing you all with a list of 10 Uplifting songs to listen too during a lockdown. Want to be up in the mix? Then make sure you subscribe!  

P.S. You have all seen my 11 Afrobeat Travel lyrics for your Instagram Captions, right? 

10 Songs That Relate To The Lockdown

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6 Amazing Things To Do In Italy, Milian
EuropeMy Breaking ViewsTravelTravel Tips

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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My Travel Bucket-list: Six Destinations
AfricaAsiaMy Breaking ViewsSouth AmericaTravel

My Travel Bucket-list: Six Destinations

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If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? I’m sure we could all now use a break from the bleak weather and the reports on COVID-19. I certainly could. Let’s think about things that we will enjoy after this pandemic is over?

I can tell you where I would love to be right now. Somewhere tropical, exotic, with a sweet cocktail – sex on the beach is my fave! As we are still under quarantine I would like to make it known to the world that I still want to travel, so have decided to write six destinations I would still like to visit once this pandemic is over.

1. Jamaica is a destination

Of course, Jamacia is going to be the first on the list. I had been hyping about this trip for over eight months, drinking protein shakes and hitting the gym daily! 

Six Destinations I Want to be In The World

Jamacia would have been my very first trip to the Caribbean Island and although, I won’t be going as I had planned. I do hope I can go someday in the future. 

2.Uganda 

I have a friend from Uganda (cough, cough) that has been promising to take me to Uganda since 2006!!!

Six Destinations I Want to be In The World

It’s a dream of mine to one day visit Uganda and visit Murchison Falls National Park. I have also planned that while I am there, I will cross over to Kenya and hit the safari one day. 

3.Greece

Some of you may be shocked to read this, especially after my ordeal in Greece, Athens.

Six Destinations I Want to be In The World

However, I will never let someone stop me from seeing the world. I would like to one day return to Santorini and visit the white buildings. 

4.Budapest

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve heard one bad thing about Budapest. Everyone I have spoken to only says good things.

Budapest world destinations

I know of people that have gone more than once – that’s how amazing it is! I want to visit the spas and see what everyone loves about the beautiful city. 

5.Brazil 

I have never been to South America, and I would love to one day visit that side of the world. Maybe catch a cheeky pic on the steps of Escadaria Selarón. It’s one of those destinations that is an absolute must.

Six Destinations I Want to be In The World

6.Jordan

It’s been a dream of mine to see more wonders of the world. I still have Jordan planned for later in the year, and if everything starts to calm down, I will be able to go. 

Six Destinations I Want to be In The World

There you have it six destinations I still want to see in the world. Hopefully, things do calm down, and we can continue to see the world. What about you? What destination would you like to go to after the pandemic ends? 

As I have never been to any of these countries. I have taken photos from google images.

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