Kenya, It’s Nice to Meet You | 2022

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Finally! I made my way to the motherland. I’ve been meaning to come the last few years, but I was never able to make it work (usually due to work). I’m so glad I was able to come this time around. Let’s dive right into the trip highlights while everything is fresh on my mind!

Mombasa

Boat Ride

10 of us boarded onto the boat with the help of a couple sailors. Once we got on, we equipped ourselves with damp life vests. We rode the bumpy waves for about 15 minutes Until we found our spot in the ocean. You could still see the beach, which was comforting. The two men manning the boat anchored it and attach the ladder to the side. The boat rocked eagerly, and hesitation settled among most of us. But Moko was the first one to jump into the water! Witnessing his survival gave us all the greenlight to proceed (ha). I was still contemplating whether or not I was going to get in the water because the waves seemed much higher further out compared to on the actual beach. I began to feel more at ease when more of us got into the water. My sister was the true catalyst– this woman is brave. She wanted to jump off the side of the boat! She was a little nervous, but she definitely was going to do it and I wanted to do it with her. Cantara’s boldness is contagious. We took a few pictures (of course) then we sat on the ledge and hopped off! It was thrilling. The water was the saltiest water I have ever tasted but, oh! did it felt amazing! I quickly found my way up the latter deep, dark water makes me anxious. Plus, I have to remind you, the waves were high! I had a crazy idea of wanting to jump from the top of the boat and my sister wanted to do the same. However, as soon as I got to the top, I lost all of my courage. It took about 10 minutes of false starting before I could gain my composure to do it. I grabbed my sister‘s hand, we count to three, took a step and jumped from the top of the boat! This had to be the most freeing feeling I felt all year… I was so glad to have shared it with her because I was absolutely scared out of my mind. Honestly, it wasn’t that high up, but it felt insane to me at the time. My heart is full and I’m happy we shared that moment together.

Haller Park

This was an activity I tried to get out of, mainly because I wanted to rest. I wasn’t excited to see zoo animals after so much traveling (multiple planes, cars, vans and trains). I tried to stay home to rest a little bit, but I was encouraged to do otherwise. I’m glad they were successful because when we arrived to the park, I saw a huge tortoise and became so excited to see what else was in store. I saw all kinds of creatures. I never saw a millipede in person and so close (cool, but gross)! I also got to touch and interact with the tortoise. My sister got pretty close to a blue-ball monkey (scientific name?). I saw different species of crocodiles, warthogs, snakes, giraffes and gazelles. My absolute favorite was the palm garden. I was I could have spent more time there, lounging and taking in the sights. This is actually one of the first things you see when you enter, and it’s towards the left. It looked so dreamy, lush, and otherworldly. The simple things always catch my attention the most. Though I love animals, I would’ve really enjoyed sitting in that garden just to read and write. It was quite rainy that day and I enjoyed the down pour. I do love a good shower.

Sunrise

Did we wake up at 4:30am to catch the sunrise? Possibly. I can’t recall exactly how early we woke up but it was not easy! Three of us jumped in the car and headed for the beach to enjoy the sunrise. We were worried that we were missing it in the beginning but when we got there, we saw such beautiful colors. It was as if we witnessed two sunrises at once. When we got to the beach there was a soft orange yellow and grayish blue tints in the sky where the first rays of the sun had touched the earth. It’s the first golden hour of the day. It was quite beautiful; it looked like the sky was on fire as the sunrise progressed. Oddly enough, it didn’t continue to get brighter. Instead, it mellowed out and got darker and then regular daylight began to show… This is when you can actually see the sun through the clouds. It sounds counterintuitive. I’ll show pictures of the sunrise as it happened.

The first picture upon arrival
The second photo
Third photo, look how bright the sky is!
Fourth picture – a calm lavender
Fifth – standard daylight
From left to right: Me, Cantara, Michael

Nairobi

Braiding

My sister had an appointment to get her hair braided and I decided to join her. How can you not get your hair braided in the motherland? My sister opted for goddess knotless braids, and I got regular extra-long knotless braids in the color #30. We both tried something different. They began with removing my large box braids and followed up with a shampoo, conditioner and blow dried my hair right after. Shortly after, the braiding began. I have to say I kind of messed up a little bit because the lady was starting my hair and I noticed the braids would stop right at my chest. I did ask for extra-long braids. I wanted them to be double that length, but I wasn’t sure if there was another process to it of which I wasn’t aware. She was about seven braids in before I realized was going on. Another lady asked if I wanted them longer and I said yes. I felt really bad for letting her do all that work without saying anything… This is a personal reminder to myself to always speak up! I’m still working on this at my big age. At least a whole section wasn’t completed before we pivoted. She reworked those braids and added extra length. Overall, it took about 4 1/2 hours all the way through from the beginning to the end. I was under the impression that knotless braids aren’t tight, but boy was I wrong! The braids looked and felt amazing they last six weeks before I took them out

Art Gallery

The art gallery I visited is called “One Off Contemporary Art Gallery”. The main building was a two-story earthy hut from a fairytale. There were also peacocks walking around. I saw beautiful sculptures, both of wood and stone. I saw small figurines, large beautiful, feminine paintings as well as smaller prints. There were so many works of art that there was not enough space to display them correctly. The top floor had an overwhelming selection, it was impossible to go through half of them in the amount of time we had. I was only able to see all the items on display downstairs. Now… if I had known how captivated I’d become with one particular painting, I would have squirreled some funs aside to purchase the original. I suppose all things happen for a reason. The original piece was already marked as sold… and my heart was a little heavy.

Getting Sick

The last monumental experience of my stay in Kenya… was me getting sick. To this day I’m not sure what I had. Maybe it was some kind of respiratory infection… I have no clue. I just know everyone in my traveling group was getting sick with something and it finally made its way to me. I felt myself coming down with it about two or three days before I was supposed to get on a flight to go to Cindy‘s village. The day before my flight I had so much pressure in my head and face that I knew flying would be unbearable. Unfortunately, I had to stay behind. I stayed with Moko‘s cousin, Kanyi, and I was so thankful that her family was open to take me in, an unexpected stranger. They did so with such grace and amazing hospitality for which I am forever grateful. I had a lot of tea (referred to as “bawa” meaning medicine) by a company called Just Breathe. The main ingredients were garlic, ginger and cardamom along with other herbs and spice. The same company has steaming leaves that you add to hot water. The steaming was a little difficult for me because it was almost like suffocating but most of that was in my head. I really had to focus. I came up for fresh air every once in a while. The fresh menthol feeling seemed to burn the germs in my nasal passage. Between drinking the tea and steaming, I began feeling better within two days. I was almost 100% after day three. In all honesty, if I had to get sick again… I’d choose to relive this experience. Sounds strange, right? Never thought I’d type those words out, aha.

I want to give a special thanks to my family for extending the invitation (consistently, too) and making me feel so welcomed. I can’t begin to explain how much this trip has meant to me. It’s my wish and intention to create more of these memories together whether abroad or right here at home, in NC.

Thank you, so much ❤

a video

sink and float

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written June of 2022

this is the part where…

… i begin to question your love for me

… i read into certain actions, comments, and inflections

… reassurance is crucial for our survival

… i begin to see things that remind me of past hurts

… i worry if we’re sustainable for the long term

… i wonder if i’m suitable for long term relationships as a healthy partner

… i allow myself to withdraw

… I spill all my worries; you take my face in your hands and kiss my forehead

This is the part where you say “I understand. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Perhaps, I don’t need to tell you how easy it is to sink. All you need to do is be still… become heavy and you’ll watch the world above you move farther and farther away. Perhaps, I don’t need to tell you how easy it is to be overcome by dark water, noise and the unknown. You may know what that’s like all too well. Do you sit at the bottom of the ocean floor and feel the weight of your world compressing you? If you do, you know not to stay too long… if you can help it. I think we sink for a reason. I need to be able to sit with ALL of who I am… and I do. It’s not always comfortable. There’s beauty in madness and art in chaos. I’ll sink, sit and acknowledge but when it’s time again… I’ll push up toward the surface and inhale a cleansing breath, until my lungs can no longer expand. As I release, I’ll push my bosom to the sky and float. I’ll observe the elegance unfolding in the heavens and reflect.

Dragging My Feet in Naples, Italy | May 2022

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First things first: my disclaimer.

Originally, I wanted to travel somewhere in southern France to sunbathe by a beach near some rocky cliff. I was reminded on different occasions how the French do not like Americans and I realized (even if this wasn’t true) I didn’t want experience it in the slightest. I directed my attention to Italy. I imagined Sicily would have been perfect for relaxation and solitude. This was supposed to be a “do nothing” kind of vacation. Only the bare minimum so I could reset. But then I wondered when I’d come back to Europe and my plans completely went haywire. I was trying to figure out how many cities I can see within five days. I started out with six. Which dwindled down to four… then eventually one. Somehow, someway I landed in Naples. I was aiming for warmth and rich culture but Naples didn’t really scream “rest and restore”.

Nevertheless, I still found  a few things to help me enjoy my time there.

departure flight
airbnb entry
allergies in italian

Pizza Making

This is the first Airbnb Experience I signed up for! I was a bit hesitant at first but I thought “what could go wrong?”. I walked about 11 minutes from my Airbnb to the meeting point. I was pleased it wasn’t too far away. Everyone waited about 20 minutes before our host appeared. There had to be a total of 15 people in attendance. My group consisted of five people including myself for the English tutorial.  We learned about the history of pizza and the ingredients used. Our host was pretty clever and he made sure we were paying attention. Everyone paired up to get hands on for the dough making process. I was paired with a woman from California. I wish I was solo; that’s the one thing I regret about this. Forced conversation makes me cringe and I imagine she felt the same way. After we made the dough, we placed it in a tray for tomorrow’s group to use (which means we would use the dough that was created yesterday). Before we began the second phase, we enjoyed a couple appetizers: bruschetta and arancini. I had a huge appetite at this point and the arancini was new to me and tasted amazing! Once we were finished we started to form our dough into pizzas. We added tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil. We all got place out pizzas in the brick oven. Now, when I tell you it was hot… I mean it was unbelievably sweltering. I’m 100% sure us being back there was a safety hazard. Nevertheless, I was glad I got to experience this.

Oh! And my pizza turned out perfect. It was the prettiest pizza of them all.
 

dough
arancini’s in the back!
before the fire
the prettiest pizza you’ve ever seen

I still had plenty of day left over after my pizza making was complete. I figured  I would head back to my Airbnb so that I could rest a little bit but on my way there I was stopped. A man, maybe seven years my senior with cute round glasses and curly hair towered over me. He asked me if I needed help and if I was lost. I said no that I knew where I was going and he asked me what I was holding in my hand. I felt wary (you can’t ever be too careful)  so I took a small step back. I showed him that I just finished a pizza making class and I realized how naïve I was. I pretty much just told this man that I’m a tourist. I took another step back. He looked at my certificate and expressed  what appeared to be genuine congratulations to me. That made me smile. I’m not sure if he was teasing. He asked for my name and where I was from. He offered to help me find my Airbnb but I said it’s OK and reminded him I know how to get back. He offered to grab a cup of coffee and I thought that was so sweet. But I was not comfortable doing so. I think you can never be too careful. This person did nothing alarming. I was either a bit paranoid or I sensed that something just wasn’t right. He let me know that he thought I was cute and he wished me a great time in Italy. I express my gratitude and I wished him farewell.

Let’s assume he wasn’t a bad guy? The way he approached me and started conversation felt different from what I’m use to back at home. There’s usually a feeling of dread if a man is coming toward me with interest. The conversation isn’t as organic at home. I didn’t endure cat calling and this man wasn’t undressing me with his eyes. The approach and light conversation was just easy. Don’t get me wrong, he could easily have been a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But I expect to be approached by wolves more times than not.

Street Food Tour

Before we dive into this, I need you to have low expectations regarding my memory.  I did not remember the names of everything I tried during this tour but I can show you pictures and perhaps you can remind me what I sampled? Overall, the food tour was a nice experience because not only did we get to try local food but our guide also showed us different landmarks in the area so the tour was a 2-in-1. The first thing I tried was fresh mozzarella that came from a buffalo. The mozzarella was wet and did not have any flavor. The second thing we sampled was pizza. The first pizza ever made and “wallet pizza“. Now, the first pizza was the same as the pizza I made the day before. Which I wasn’t entirely crazy about. I love American pizza. The wallet pizza was interesting… I believe it was mozzarella and ricotta cheese but the whole thing was fried. Something Americans know plenty about 🙂 The concept was interesting but I didn’t finish it because it was bland. The next thing we tried was the star from yesterday! Arancini. It was pasta with cheese and meat balled up with the crust around it and fried and it was so savory and just absolutely amazing. I am salivating right now thinking about it. It was the best thing I tasted while I was in Italy. Our next stop was for desserts. The first item was something like a rum cake it was quite light in flavor despite its appearance. The second item was a flaky kind of cake with powdered sugar on it. I expected that to be richer but this was also fairly light. I was pleased to have a dessert that wasn’t over powering me with sugar. However, I learned all the sugar I was expecting in the cakes was very much present in the limoncello shots. Those things were outrageously sweet and strong! I decided not to finish mine.

Now the last night was a surprise for me because I do not remember reading this in the itinerary. We made our way over to a gelato shop and I was able to order my affogato. This is my favorite dessert and one of few ways I’ll consume coffee. I loved watching it being made I was highly pleased with this being my nightcap. The tour continued on but I had to walk back to my Airbnb by myself and I didn’t want it to be too dark so I went ahead and I left for the evening.

mozarella
wallet pizza
Arancini has my heart
the cakes
tooth decay in a cup
the best dessert in the world

Boat Tour

Looking back I probably wouldn’t have done this again but I’ll share why I enjoyed this experience, first. I got to sail a boat all on my own! Well… kind of. The sailor was still there keeping an eye out but I did learn how to sail or at least learned how to keep the boat in the right direction. And the view was so beautiful. The water was gorgeous and the geography right by the water was breathtaking it was a beautiful day! The sun was out and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. (I have an awkward tan on my ankles to prove it).

I never sailed a boat before! The only thing that would’ve made it better was if I was either completely on my own or had a friend with me because it was just me and the sailor out on the water. And that’s just not something that I would encourage women who travels alone to do. I was never in danger there were moments of discomfort and a little bit of awkwardness  but at the end the day it wasn’t horrible. I can tell that the sailor was very comfortable talking a certain way with women and that part is what made it 2.5 star experience. Also I got a little seasick on our way back because we were going against the wave so we were rocking more. Also the sailor hit someone else’s boat as we were docking back in so that was awkward but other than that I had a pretty decent time out there on the water.

not as strong as turkish coffee
boat and sky
imagine the view from there
gorgeous water
lil ol’ me

All in all, I did challenge myself by coming out here. I’m not sure if I would choose to go on this vacation again if I had a chance to do it over just because I was in a weird headspace and I would’ve rather relaxed by the beach near a beautiful view instead of in Naples but that doesn’t mean that the city doesn’t have much to offer it just means that I didn’t plan this out the right way and that Naples isn’t really for me. But that’s just something I’ve learned–  every vacation isn’t going to be outstanding but you can still take away good moments.

a video

Hello Arizona – First Time Out West

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It’s been a while since I made a trip post. Hopefully, I can find a way to shake off the rust starting with this trip to Arizona – my first of the year (:

I went from January 4th to the 8th. My flight was an early one. I learned that if a seat upgrade is more affordable than the luggage fee, you may as well treat yourself a little bit and save your coin. I flew from Raleigh to Atlanta to Phoenix. The last leg was about a five-hour flight. I was disappointed in the meal, but I loved my flight attendant; she was quirky and sweet. Upon arriving to the Phoenix airport, you can see the mountains in the background, and they were huge! This is my first time, mind you, on the West Coast so I hadn’t seen anything like this in person. I was excited to discover the landscape. No time was wasted after checking into the Villa – I headed straight over to the Sonoran Jeep Desert Sunset Tour. The tour guide was quite knowledgeable, and the facts were fun. I’m much more of a visual consumer than I am auditory, so I kind of got burnt out listening to him talk. 60° in Arizona felt like 30° in North Carolina. I learned that it’s because there’s no humidity in the air making the atmosphere less cozy. So, it was really only comfortable in the sun. I wish I had on a toboggan, scarf and gloves but I made it work. I was very hungry and quite tired by the end of the event. I went to a steakhouse nearby called Prescott. Nice ambience but not the kind of place you wanna go without being a little dressed up.

During this trip, I noticed I actually like to work out during the day, preferably min-morning. I enjoy going and being consistent but when I’m home, work gets in the way. But if there’s a facility two minutes away from me (walking distance) then I’m there! The following day, I went to the gym, grabbed breakfast at First Watch (which was amazing, I love eating there) and then I hit the road for Sedona which was about 2 1/2 hours away from Scottsdale. Let me tell you… I had every intention on planning what hiking trails to go on but it just did not work out for me. I struggle-planned a lot of what I got to do in Sedona. That’s my biggest regret with this trip. That city is so beautiful, and I only got to see a very small fraction of it by accident. I also did not have proper hiking gear besides my boots. Next time, I’ll join a hiking group that way, I’ll be around more experienced people and get to see more. Nevertheless, I made it work! I got to hike along Boynton Canyon and checked out the sunset at the Airport Mesa. Upon my descent, I noticed one parking spot opened up for a highly popular viewpoint. Quickly, I pulled in switched my boots and climbed to the top. There was a soft dark glow in the sky and the lights from the city below gave a soft glimmer. At this point, my hunger was rather demanding. Earlier, I chose which restaurant I wanted dine at, but I changed mind. I’m so happy with what I chose! The restaurant is called las Tortas Fuego, and it was DELICIOUS.

The next day I had to work remotely. It was nice working in a different location while still being productive. During my lunch break, I worked out for 30 minutes then headed to In-N-Out Burger for my first time! People have said before that it wasn’t worth the hype but I thought it was pretty tasty. Somehow, someway the fast food tasted clean. I thought they were quality burgers and fries. I went back to work and by the time I was off it was 3:30 PM (EST). I had a lot of time to spend. Why not spend it at the Biltmore Square Fashion Mall? I have a newfound adoration for Burberry and decided to b-lined to Sunglass Hut to find my new fixation. I ended up buying them the next day when I was in Phoenix.  Shopping in different cities is fun even if you go to the same stores you have at home. The location and memories are attached to the item you purchased and it ends up being meaningful. While I was at Sunglass Hut, I hopped over to the fragrance bar at Macy’s. I sprayed a piece of paper with the YSL Libre Intense and fell in love. I kept that little piece of paper for a few days just to make sure I really loved the scent. The next spot I wanted to check out was the Desert Botanical Garden but by the time I arrived I was too late for the last admission block. I looked up what else I could do in the area and there was a comedy show going on. The comedian was Keon Polee and he was someone I used to follow on Instagram. I skipped over to the venue, I was seated, order my food and got my laughs in.

Friday was my last full day and I was determined to enjoy myself as much as possible. It’s so funny because during a majority of my trip I kept going back-and-forth about whether or not I wanted to get my nails done. I had chipped neutral polish on my nails so it wasn’t obvious, but I could tell they needed some TLC. I eventually opted to get them done. After work, I googled a highly rated nail salon near me and I came across a Plush Nail Bar. I showed my nail tech a picture of what I wanted. He understood the assignment! He executed my very specific request and I fell in love with my baby French manicure it was so cute he did an amazing job. I cannot hype him up enough. After I got my nails done, your girl was hungry. I went right back to First Watch and ordered one large blueberry pancake with a side of chicken sausage patties (which are bomb). I was catching up on Euphoria while I was waiting for my food. I spent 30 minutes in the gym and then I got ready to check out the Botanical Desert Garden. The weather was perfect. The flowers, the views, the variety of cacti, all of it was amazing to see and was so informative. I didn’t know there was an aloe vera plant that grows on a tree. I think it’s called aloe vera majesty. I checked out the whole garden and stopped in the gift shop to pick up a couple of items. I still had some day left and I read somewhere that the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall was the largest mall in Arizona. I certainly got lost while trying to exit. It would have been nice to go with a friend (I was a bit overwhelmed). They had high-end designer stores as well as your shops for everyday clothing… aha. I suppose that can be the same thing depending on your lifestyle. I was famished when I left so I didn’t put thought into dinner. I went back to In-N-Out and ordered a double-double with my fries then called it a night. A part of me feels a little bad that I went to the same place twice to eat. But it was still kind of new to me, so I didn’t mind.

That about wraps up my experience in Arizona. I imagine I’d like the weather during Spring and Autumn; the temperature may be ideal for me. I liked going during the winter because it was definitely warmer compared to North Carolina but only if you’re standing in the sun. I did not like standing in the shade even if it was 60° because it felt so cold.

Anyway, the state was beautiful and I’d love the opportunity to come back.

a video

Vibing Out in Chi-Town

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You do you know this is my favorite city, right? I’m very much OK with going back every year. 🙂

The trip got off to a rough start because I was running late to the airport (I was trying to deposit some funds but the two ATMs I went to are not working). But everything worked out. When I arrived, I looked up prices Uber and Lyft. Initially, they were about $50 but when I was ready to secure a trip, they jumped to $75. I was appalled. I paid about 65 bucks for a taxi and I spent over an hour in traffic even though the hotel was 12 miles away. This was my first time experiencing Chicago traffic.

I was very hungry when I arrived, I was hungry when I waited in traffic, I was hungry when I check in and I was hungry when I waited for an elevator up to my room. I stayed at the Warwick Hotel on Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.) There was a wedding reception taking place that day which is why it was so busy. While I was struggling to wait patiently for my turn on the elevator I made acquaintance with a couple who was waiting behind me and we ended up meeting a few times during my stay. Once I got settled, decided I would go find food immediately. The last time I was in the city, I kept seeing a restaurant called Wow Bao and it was the first thing that popped up when I searched for food so I made a beeline straight there. I got the food, rushed back to the hotel, got cozy and ate while watching Family Guy. I would stay at this hotel again because it was in an amazing spot and everything was within walking. That evening ,I had plans to go see Hasan Minhaj at the Chicago theater. I took on the scenery while walking there. The line was unreal but once they finally open the doors it moved rather quickly the show started an hour after the expected time but it was worth it. This man was brilliant and very funny.

After the show got out, I longed to return to the hotel and call it a night. But, the people I met while checking in invited me out to go barhopping. A part of me just wanted to rest and the other part really wanted to make the most of my vacation so I got over myself and decided to meet in the lobby. We ended up going to a bar called Streeters Tavern. We had some drinks and played beer pong — it was a good vibe. The three of us witnessed a bit of drama as we were leaving and we wanted to stick around a little bit just to make sure nothing bad happened. Eventually, it was deescalated.

The next day, I got a late start. Unfortunately, I spent a lot of time inside during the morning while I waited until the people I met were ready for the day. My objective was to be less dependent on other people and explore on my own– I’m working on that. I’m glad I met them because they added value to my trip, though I am still learning how to navigate completely by myself. I knew it would rain and I still wanted to wear the outfit I packed (it was cute!). The outfit would have been perfect if we didn’t keep trying to go different restaurants without a reservation. I had to walk far and the heels were not comfortable after a while. And then it start to rain. But ya girl brought her cute dark green raincoat, so I was all set! After that, I wanted to take a nap. The plan for the night was to check out another comedy event (but I didn’t plan on that one: the couple invited me out). I reached out to one of my friends who went to the same college as I and he agreed to come. We all went out for dinner. The vibe was chill, friendly and welcoming. We hopped over to the Laugh Factory for the evening and got to check out a handful of comedians with different humor styles. Some jokes were just dark but other comedians had the laughs coming nonstop. After that, we all went our separate ways: my friend Anthony went back home and the couple continued their night. I had to go back to the hotel because I had to wake up early for my flight back home. :/

Of course,  I wanted to stay longer but I’m glad I got to check it out before it got too cold. It’s likely I’ll return to Chicago for another solo trip and check out some touristy things.

See you soon, Chi-Town 💋

a video

Escape to The Dominican Republic

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Ah… so this is long overdue. I won’t attempt to recall every moment, detail and activity from my time in the DR. I left at the end of August and stayed a few days. I landed in Santo Domingo and made my way up to Sosúa. Though I won’t provide play-by-plays, I will reflect on how I felt before and during my trip. My birthday is September 7th. A few months before the 7th, I had several ideas for what I wanted to do with my friends… As time went by, I began to feel overwhelmed. I didn’t want to orchestrate anything. I wanted to remove all stress and expectations from my life even those associated with birthday plans. The odd (and somewhat sad) realization was that most people forget or won’t celebrate you unless there’s something planned. I guess most of us need an invitation to do so. I wasn’t sure how to take that… a part of me took it personal but I’m actively working on my ego.

Back to the trip.

So… the DR wasn’t planned. I was griping to one of my friends about my state of mind and he invited me out (he was already going). I can’t begin to tell you how happy I was! While he was working, I was lounging. All I wanted to do was relax. I didn’t want to think or decided anything. I wanted to escape all of that. It was nice sightseeing, basking in the sun, exploring and trying new food. — which got better each time we went out. Though I’ve become more comfortable with traveling alone, it was nice to have company overseas. I don’t take it lightly that he offered to share his space with me and I’m thankful.

A few days of waking up, rinsing off and jumping in the pool or lounging in the sun with zero obligations was a calm reset I didn’t realize how much I needed. It was overdue. In fact, from now on, when I travel, I want to have less plans. I typically don’t have an itinerary but I do have activities/places I’d like to check out. I just don’t want the pressure to get it all done.

Where’s the fun in that, anyway?

a video

The Fact of The Matter

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written 5.5.21. @ 12:00pm

we need each other

we never stopped needing each other

we need touch encouragement affirmation and reassurance

we didn’t arrive here alone

we were assisted

– why do we think our “need” for company (which we became so use to) is suppose to just go away?

we need each other

we weren’t meant to be alone

we need one another for healing

we don’t have all the answers strength and warmth on our own

– why do we cry? what benefit is there besides a signal to others around us that say “i need you”

we need each other and this will never stop

a video

Boston, MA | Summer 2021

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“So what made you come to Boston?“

Just because…”

“Really? That’s pretty cool.”

I had that short exchange at least 3 times throughout my weekend in the city. Sometimes curiosity and the want for new surroundings is enough to get away from your hometown. Once again, my friend Tiffany and I just decided on a weekend, a place to go and we went! We only had 48 hours to spend and we tried to optimize our time as much as possible. Here’s how it went:

June 25th

I woke up super early to catch my 6:30 flight. The temperature was warm in Greensboro, North Carolina but in Boston, it was kind of cool: the high was only 70° and the low, 61°. My connecting flight was in Atlanta. I met Tiffany at baggage claim once I arrived to Boston. We wanted to take local transportation to our hotel but we had a really difficult time figuring out which bus it was (even though a complimentary option was advertised for surrounding hotels!).

We got an Uber to the hotel and agreed that our appetite was through the roof, so we headed to a place called Shake Shack. While I was there, I should have looked at other peoples meals so that I would’ve known how small the burgers were… I would’ve gotten a double or at least fries and a milkshake. Surprisingly, the one mini burger turned out to be quite satisfying.

Afterwards, we got ready for the sunset boat tour and walked to the harbor. Our tour guide was informative (and easy on the ears). It was cloudy and quite chilly – my breath was visible! Unfortunately, the sun wasn’t interested in a grand departure, so we didn’t get to see rich colors while on the water. I learned a bit and I’m glad I opted in for the tour because originally, I wasn’t interested in absorbing a history lesson.

Next up, we caught an Uber to go to dinner at a restaurant called Local 149. Our driver was so obnoxious in a way where he wanted to seem like the big champ that everyone liked but his comments were arrogant, problematic and douchey. Who brings up politics with a complete stranger? It was quite the gamble. Anyway – he drops us off at the restaurant and we get a table. I was famished! I ordered a plate of coconut Thai chili mussels and a fried Flutternutter (something new I tried and enjoyed immensely). Tiffany wanted salmon but after some encouragement, she tried the mussels…. and swapped her order! Our food was tasty! We were satisfied and had regained energy to begin the night of fun.

We stood in line for about 15 minutes, striking up conversation with locals. We thought we were in line for The W but we were actually in line for another venue. The other spot charged a $30 cover which we weren’t interested in. Feeling a bit defeated, we decided to walk around to see what was there and we stumbled upon The W anyway (we thought it was closed or limited to hotel guests only but they let us in). There was an awkward moment at the bar… fortunately it was amended with free drinks. The DJ was so good! We found our spot amongst the crowd and enjoyed the music for the rest of the night until closing.

June 26TH

I slept in until about 10 AM – we had a long night before and there would be a long day ahead of us. This was the last full day in Boston, so we had to make the most of it! We realized last night, that the place we Ubered to was fairly close. Brunch was definitely within walking distance. Today was the day I’d reach my step goal ;). Originally, we had ours eyes set on Lookout Bar for brunch but the dining area was full. Read: secure reservations before big city trips. I asked the host if he could recommend another place and he mentioned Committee so we went there instead.

Once again: since I’m out somewhere new, I want to try something new! I got a Greek styled omelette, called “kayiannas” and a large not-so sweet pastry called “bougatsa” which would’ve been amazing with hot tea. Everything was just right: new, pleasing and just enough. I’m glad there weren’t any leftovers during our stay because we didn’t have a microwave in our hotel. After brekkie, the idea of drinks at Lookout Bar came back to mind. It was such a lovely view. Time was spent sunbathing, drinking and taking in the scenery before resuming our trek.

The next stop was Boston Public Garden. Or is it Boston Commons? Upon arrival, we heard a liberal activist bringing people together while encouraging unity and acceptance. There was an available bench near Frog Pond where we saw a lot of children playing in the lake and a couple of park patrol security riding on horses. How fitting. There were a few playgrounds. You could see the different activities happening as people socially distanced themselves… and it reminded me of what life was like before COVID-19.

Chinatown was the final stop for the day. It was a 20 minute walk from where we were. Just our luck, we happened to enter through the back of Chinatown so, we explored it in reverse. Once we got to the main entry, pictures were taken and compliments were received. After resting for a bit, it was time to look for a place to eat! We went to the Spice House and I got some vegetable dumplings.

After eating, I was in dire need of a nap. We took in plenty of sun, gotten plenty of steps so it was time to rest before heading out for dinner and getting ready for the early morning flight back home. There was a bar close by called Roxanne’s. We learned that most of these places require reservations (of course I wouldn’t expect anything less). We got comfy at the bar and I got fried buffalo cauliflower and she got mac & cheese dish. We had some pretty interesting drinks: mine had coconut milk and tasted light and refreshing. The night cap was a great way to end this quick getaway, especially because there was reflection and shared aspirations for the future.

I enjoyed Boston I want to see more of it when I return.

a video

D.C. | Summer 2021

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Another big city, ladies and gents.

My friend had recently moved to Arlington, VA. I imagined it’d be a little difficult moving to a new city and starting over. So I chose a weekend to head up there and see her. Although I’m used to flying, I figured I’d drive since it was within my five hour road trip limit. The drive made me wonder if I’m gonna bring my five hour limit down to 4 1/2 hours. Ha! We’ll see! I left Friday after work, around 1 PM (or at least that was my intention). There were a couple of moments when traffic slowed down. I went during Fourth of July weekend. I reached her place around 7 PM. After a long drive you don’t really want to go to anything but relax and eat so that’s what we did.  We drove to a strip-like area in Shirlington and went to an Indian restaurant. I ordered a vegetable dish and extra garlic naan (which I love!). After staying up for a bit to chat, I hit the hay. Ya girl was TIRED.

After taking her dog, Georgie, out for a walk, we headed to brunch. The place we went was called Chadwicks, located in Old Town Alexandria. I forgot what I ordered (it was probably French toast because that is my all-time favorite) but whatever it was, I inhaled it. There was a cute poodle mix that sat near us – I had to get a picture of him because it was still a puppy and he was big and fluffy. After eating, we headed over to the waterfront park. Plenty of people were enjoying the weather, kids were running around and a band was playing music. It was so lively! We checked out Old Town some more and took some photos by the marina. We came across a shop called Lou Lou and decided to pop in (mainly because it was SO hot outside). The vibe was cute and hipster. There was a swing photo op toward the left after walking inside, (good marketing, btw). I usually don’t make impulsive purchases and I’m not big on souvenirs but if something speaks to me, then I’m all in! There was a plaque about King Street and it said you can reach the end in about 15 minutes but it certainly didn’t feel like it. During our stroll, I took a couple of pictures near Franklin P. Backus courthouse (I was impressed by the architecture so I had to stop). JuJu got Boba tea and we also made a pitstop in H&M. I imagined we’d have more time to check out a few more shops but the sky looked a bit intimidating so we headed back home to rest before heading out again.

That night, we were determined to go out! So, we pre-gamed a little bit (2 shots), requested an Uber and went to a club called Decades. Upon arrival, I realized the crowd was bit younger (but pretty diverse). I prefer a place with a more classy atmosphere, space to dance, converse and get comfortable (I’m more so into lounges). It was a spur of the moment kind of choice – but not bad. They played decent music but it was way too crowded and people were pushing on the way upstairs. I was completely turned off by the bouncer’s attitude (gag!) I just don’t ever wanna go back to this place. BUT. JuJu seemed to really enjoy herself and that mattered more to me than everything else that night.

The next day was Fourth of July and I learned that my friend, Sezin (who used to be my neighbor while I studied abroad in Turkey) didn’t live far from JuJu. Sezin picked me up and we went to a restaurant in Southwest Washington called Coladas. We spent time at the Wharf marina in DC. It had to be about 7 years since the last time I saw her, so we tried to catch up as much as we could while exploring the area. I stopped at Praline Bakery to order vanilla and Oreo macaroons . Afterwards, we took a mini tour of the area: we drove through Georgetown University, drove by the National Museum of American History, the National Mall, the Holocaust Memorial Museum and The Smithsonian Institution Building but we couldn’t get close to many of the places because they were blocked off by security.

When I got back to my JuJu’s house, we thought it’d be a good idea to check out the pool. It wasn’t very hot anymore and much of the pool was in the shade by the time we got there so we didn’t get in. One of her neighbors recommended checking out Ruth’s Chris in Crystal (a small city not too far from Arlington). We didn’t have any plans for how we’d spend the Fourth of July so that was good timing. We went and found seats at the bar. There was about an hour left until the sun set. We had a great view because the restaurant had panoramic windows, so we got to see fireworks happening in different areas. The only downside was that they were small. It was a stress-free, relaxing way to spend the holiday.

Slipping

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written 4.25.2021

I want to sink my nails in and pray “please don’t let go”

I wanted to silence any doubt or worry in your mind

and yet

I wanted you to do this on your own

Deep down I don’t want to convince anyone

The more you squeeze the less they hold on

This feels like bad karma

I don’t want love if I have to plead for it to stay

I need to have enough grace and security on my own that I feel comfortable releasing a person

no matter how much I want them

So I’ll practice relaxing my grip – no holding on for my dear life

I’m use to holding my breath but I need to welcome the exhale

always exhale

if you feel someone slipping be sure about it… and let go.

_______________________________________________________________

a video