GRIOTS REPUBLIC - AN URBAN BLACK TRAVEL MAG - DECEMBER 2016

Legacy 

THE 

GREAT 

DEBA 

TE 

Are you #TeamStay 

or #TeamGo? 

MOORE 

TOWN 

The Story of 

Jamaica’s Female 

Freedom FIghter 

Dubai Blackout 

Blackboard Africa 

Travel As Spiritual 

LEGACY NOIR 

Calivn Ramsey, Barrington Irving & The Heritage 

of African American Travel

Twelve issues completed and we are just as excited about the future 

as we are about what we’ve all accomplished together this year. 

Now let’s get into December...This is our Legacy issue, so we reached 

out to some of the people who have broken the mold in travel. Barrington 

Irving was one of the first people we interviewed and he literally 

had us on the edge of our seats while telling us his story. Calvin 

Ramsey, author, documentarian, and playwright of all things “The 

Green Book” also sat down and talked with us about the legacy of 

Black Travel. His interview is a must watch. 

In this issue we also asked several travelers to keep it real and tell 

us how we can replicate some of their experiences. Sonjia Mackey 

was the first to step to the plate with her article on visiting Antartica. 

(You know that the information is going to be good when the first recommendation 

is that you reconsider it all together.) Joseph Gordon 

also helped out by detailing how he organizes his “runcations.” If 

you have any marathon goals for 2017, then definitely check out his 

article. Looking for a new spa experience, then the ladies have you 

covered with Bath houses around the world. 

In this issue, we had to touch on the conversations many travelers 

were having after the election - stay or leave. The questions raised 

in the Great Debate article are questions we ask ourselves regularly 

and we’d love to keep sharing your insights on this idea of fighting 

through flight.So please read the article and send us a note because 

we will definitely be continuing this conversation. 

With all of that said, we want to wish you all Happy Holidays and 

Merry Christmas. We will see you all in the New Year. 

xoxo, 

The Archivists

THE TERMINAL 

H I S T O R Y 

THIS MONTH IN 

BLACK HISTORY

TRAVEL TIPS 

TOTO 

By Kamara Coaxum 

WANTS 

TO GO 

By Kamara Coaxum 

Traveling nowadays isn’t for the 

faint at heart. Add a pet into the 

fray and it might cause you to nix 

a trip before it even gets started. Don’t! 

Traveling with a pet can be rewarding 

and with a few simple preparations, can 

be as easy as finding that next flight 

glitch. 

AIRLINES 

When it comes to flying there are certain 

factors that you should consider, 

such as, cabin vs. cargo cost, airline, 

length of flight and cost.

Some of the best airlines to fly with 

pets are Delta and JetBlue. Delta has 

a track record for high on time departures, 

great customer service and fewest 

cancelled flights. These factors 

make for a smoother flying experience 

for you and your pet. JetBlue is the only 

airline to offer a frequent flyer program 

for pet called JetPaws. They also have 

an online boutique where you can purchase 

an assortment of travel-related 

products for your fur baby. 

Typically, prices for flying domestically 

with pets range from $75 on Southwest 

to $200 on Delta as either in cabin or 

as a checked baggage. 

Please note that making the decision to 

check your pets as baggage is a personal 

choice and should not be taken 

lightly. Many airlines will decline to fly 

brachycephalic breeds (pugs, shih tzus, 

bulldogs and more) because of their 

short muzzles and noses that could 

compromise breathing. If you have no 

other choice but to check your pets 

as baggage, rest assured that the below-cabin 

compartments are temperature 

controlled and pressurized. 

Depending on the size of your pooch, 

they may be able to fly with you in the 

cabin, under the seat in an airline-approved 

carrier. Some airlines, such as 

Southwest, only allow small pets on 

board and do not offer the option to fly 

them below-cabin. 

HOTELS 

Whether you fly or drive, come nighttime, 

you and your pooch will need 

somewhere to stay. Fortunately, there 

are hotels for every budget that accommodate 

pets. 

Four Seasons, Fairmont and Lowes of-

fer extraordinary services for your small 

pet. Upon check-in, your pet receives a 

bed, food and water bowls and name 

tags. They also provide pet concierge 

services and offer handmade treats 

and other pet goodies. Lowes even has 

a room service menu dedicated to pets. 

Yum! 

Kimpton, ALOFT and Ace hotels do 

more then leave the light on, they also 

provide pet concierge services that help 

you find pet friendly restaurants and 

parks. Kimpton even hosts a complimentary 

wine reception where pets are 

welcome. 

La Quinta, Best Western and Red Roof 

are great options for those traveling 

with pets. While you won’t find pet concierges 

or wine tasting, you will find a 

wonderful community of animal lovers.

Best Western allows larger dogs up to 

80 pounds. With more then 800 locations, 

LaQuinta is an industry leader 

and allows two animals per room free 

of charge. 

Typically, hotels will only accept animals 

weighing less then 25 pounds and 

only accept two per reservation. Make 

sure you call and let them know your 

pet is traveling with you. Prices for pet 

sleepovers range from free to $100 a 

night. 

silicon or fabric not only save space but 

are easy to pack. Depending on where 

you go, you may want to pack a sweater 

or boots to keep your little one warm 

and dry. Don’t forget your pet’s favorite 

food and toys, this will help them settle 

into new quarters while traveling. 

So, grab your bags and let your pet stick 

his head out the window and allow the 

breeze to whip though his fur. Have fun! 

MUST HAVES 

While pets don’t need their own suitcase, 

there are a few things you should 

not leave home without. 

No matter your mode of transportation 

you should always have your pets medical 

records with you. Just to be safe, 

make copies and store them separately. 

Your vet should be able to print out 

a report with up to date vaccinations 

and medications. If you’re flying with 

a pet, the airlines may require you to 

have this. Don’t forget their rabies and 

ID tag. 

Your pet’s comfort is a top priority so 

be sure to have a comfortable carrier 

for them to rest and relax in. You will 

need one to fly with your pet and whether 

you have one for your road trip is 

up to you. Leashes and harnesses are 

necessary for walks wherever you go. 

Bring a spare in case one gets lost or 

destroyed. Collapsible dishes made of 

Kamara has been an avid traveler 

her whole life. She has 

traveled to over 40 countries 

and has lived in Abu Dhabi, 

UAE and Beijing, China. She is 

currently learning Arabic and 

aspires to become a member 

of the Traveler’s Century Club 

within the next five years. Kamara 

lives with her fur baby 

Cinnamon in New York City.

GLOBAL FOOD

BY JANNA ZINZI

After a long flight the first thing 

most of us want to do is eat. Being 

“hangry” is never a fun way to 

start a vacation. Airport food is notoriously 

underwhelming and overpriced, 

and there are usually lackluster options 

close by. But Maui is an exception. Da 

Kitchen’s decadent Hawaiian “soul 

food” is only a five-minute drive from 

the airport. It is the perfect welcome to 

Maui, literally giving visitors the local 

flavor of the island. 

Da Kitchen is an unassuming, family-friendly 

restaurant tucked away in a 

strip mall a couple of miles from Kahului 

Airport. However, it’s been a Maui 

institution for 16 years which explains 

why there’s always a line. Between the 

two locations (the other is a take-out 

spot in Kihei) they serve 1500 to 2000 

locals and tourists each day depending 

on the season. But don’t let that deter 

you, it’s worth the wait. Grab a plastic 

chair outside and read a free copy of 

“Maui Time,” the free weekly alternative 

newspaper to find out what’s good 

on the island.

out container, and serve it on a real plate 

along with table service. “No one was 

doing that when we first started. We pioneered 

the fancy plate lunch,” shared 

Brown. The menu comes from the type 

of food they ate when they were growing 

up so they tweaked each dish to make it 

unique and bring out amazing flavors. 

According to Tomita, he comes up with 

recipes while he is sleeping! 

The Notorious BIG Moco, Kalbi Ribs, 

Fried Spam Musubi, Chicken Katsu, and 

Hawaiian Plate are the most popular, 

representing a variety of contemporary 

Hawaiian cuisine. I’m regretting not 

trying their famous Fried Spam Musubi 

(grilled spam on a bed of rice wrapped 

in seaweed and then fried) especially 

since it was featured on the Food Network’s 

“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” 

The staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating, 

certainly embodying the 

“Aloha spirit.” Their extensive menu of 

“Hawaiian soul food” is a collection of 

Hawaiian dishes representing the fusion 

of numerous ethnic groups like Japanese, 

Chinese, Hawaiians, Filipinos, and 

Koreans on the islands. Da Kitchen uses 

fresh, local ingredients and offers gluten 

free options. The owners, longtime 

friends, Les Tomita and Mariah Brown, 

wanted to have a restaurant that took 

the typical Hawaiian plate lunch, which 

was always served in a Styrofoam take 

Spam gives me the heebie-jeebies but 

when I saw it on my neighbors table, I 

was envious. Instead, I chose the “Polynesian 

Paralysis” with fish tempura, 

their signature Kalua pork, fried rice, 

onions, brown gravy and a fried egg 

on top. I also got a side of kimchi because...digestion. 

It was both flavorful 

(especially that tender and juicy Kalua 

pork) and plentiful! I ate it for lunch and 

had my leftovers for dinner, breakfast 

the next day plus an afternoon snack. 

Let’s just say I visited Da Kitchen two 

other times during my five days in Maui 

ordering the same meal and then trying 

a solid but boring ahi poke bowl. Stick 

to the “Mocos” to really experience lo-

cal Hawaiian fare. Food, both in restaurants 

and grocery stores, can be quite 

expensive in Maui, but Da Kitchen gives 

real value for your money. 

Tomita and Brown have come a long 

way since their opening in 1998 when 

one of their partners took their investment 

money and disappeared. They had 

no restaurant experience and almost 

closed their doors because of debt. But 

thousands of locals petitioned them to 

stay open so they renewed their lease 

and have been feeding folks ever since. 

In the years that followed they were 

invited to participate as local chefs at 

President Obama’s Inaugural Luau in 

2009 and say how honored they were 

to represent their state in Washington 

DC. Da Kitchen has been featured on 

the Travel Channel and in numerous regional 

media outlets. It is now a thriving 

award-winning business, and Tomita 

and Brown are looking to open another 

location in O’ahu. 

So, when you land in Maui, don’t let anyone 

tell you differently: eat at Da Kitchen. 

Their Aloha spirit and savory dishes 

will take you from hangry to happy.

Janna Zinzi is a travel, arts 

and culture writer chronicling 

fierce folks making positive 

change and creating joy in the 

world. She is also an artist, activist 

and co-founder of @GoddessesRising. 

Follow her adventures on 

Instagram: @goddessjaz.

SHAKING UP 

SHANGHAI 

BY THE URBAN MIXOLOGIST, 

BRUCE “BLUE” RIVERA 

Historically, the traditional drinking culture in China 

involved drinking shots of alcohol called Baijiu 

(also known as Shaojiu, which means “burning 

alcohol”) over long periods of time while screaming 

“Ganbei” meaning “dry cup” in mandarin. Baijiu looks 

exactly like vodka or gin and is predominantly distilled 

from sorghum. 

Baijiu is produced all over China, but can taste very different 

based on the region it was created in. For example, 

in southern China, it is made from rice grain; while 

in northern China it is derived from sorghum, millet, 

barley and wheat. Baijiu can range anywhere from 38% 

to 60% proof, so it’s pretty safe to hold onto your beer 

or Shirley Temple. Unless you are an avid and accomplished 

drinking professional this is not made for the 

novice at all. 

If a toast is presented to you it would be disrespectful 

to turn down or decline the offer of said drink, especially 

in terms of discussing business, or in meetings. 

Conducting business over Baijiu is not rare by any 

means. It’s a norm and some would say it is “the cost 

of doing most business” in the competitive landscape 

of Shanghai. The Chinese have a belief that to foster a

good relationship with clients or potential 

business partners you must host or 

impress in grand form to gain respect 

and admiration, but most importantly 

their business. However, once you start 

Craft cocktails 

have been a highly 

overlooked aspect 

of bartending in 

Shanghai for a very 

long time. 

partaking in this drinking labyrinth of 

ego and pride, it may be difficult to 

back out and you may be “diu mianzi.” 

In other words, you will “lose face” or 

“lose standing” with future business opportunities. 

So a high tolerance in consuming 

your fair share can be interpreted 

as having good business practices. 

It’s pretty amusing considering most 

business men will likely have no recollection 

of what type of contract or deal 

they may be signing up for while drunk. 

Even with the horrors of drunkenly created 

Mega deals and contracts, there is 

something far worse than throwing in 

the towel while out on a business meeting 

drink fest – it’s creating a bad reputation 

for your boss and your company. 

So it is best to be prepared to stay out 

all night and work on that tolerance. 

Now for those that have a love for business, 

but may not be the greatest drink-

er, there is good news for you. It is permitted 

to bring someone and delegate 

them as your designated drinker. Yes, 

you read that correctly. Having a designated 

drinker is a common practice 

amongst upper level executives who are 

generally older or have health problems 

that prevent them from such binge 

drinking activities. These executives 

happily elect representatives from their 

company to guzzle down large quantities 

of alcohol and save the company’s 

reputation. Most representatives find it 

to be an honor, bringing a whole new 

meaning to employee of the month in 

China. So with all the focus on hosting 

and saving face, where does the craft 

cocktail, décor, the bartender, the mixologist, 

and the elegance of creating 

cocktails come to play? 

Craft cocktails have been a highly overlooked 

aspect of bartending in Shanghai 

for a very long time. Especially in 

the very opulent, yet business centric, 

bar industry Shanghai is best known 

for. However, the culture has been getting 

a bit of a facelift. With the arrival of 

younger and extremely talented mixologists 

and bartenders from around the 

globe, the industry is going through a 

cocktail revolution and it’s shaking and 

stirring up something very new. Baijiu is 

still considered the most popular drink 

on the dinner table, as it is a tradition 

passed down for generations. Also, 

most locals still do not regard cocktails 

as serious drinks. However, as more

cocktail bars open and provide people 

with greater exposure to the cocktail 

culture, a change is imminent. 

Interestingly enough, Shanghai’s original 

cocktail culture started around the 

early 1990s when foreigners began to 

open a number of bars and nightclubs 

in the French Concession. This was the 

spark of what many experts say ushered 

in Shanghai’s new cocktail renaissance 

that began in 2012. Shanghai’s 

cocktail culture isn’t growing, it can be 

seen as more of an explosion of new 

talent and tastes the likes the world 

has never seen. The old craft cocktail 

landscape, void of much emphasis on 

creativity and quality ingredients such 

as fresh-squeezed juices and housemade 

syrups, really created 

a frontier for those willing 

to accept the challenge of 

introducing this side of the 

industry to Shanghai. 

Few were brave enough to 

answer this call and bring 

forth not only a quality product, 

but also an experience 

that can be used to impress 

and attract corporate hosts. 

To say that this was a tall order 

would be an understatement, 

but the professionals 

that have risen to the challenge 

are beyond outstanding 

and are superstars in the 

mixology & spirit industry 

worldwide. People like Shingo 

Gokan, the acclaimed 

Japanese mixologist who 

entertains at Speak Low, 

a speakeasy where the entrance 

can be found hidden 

behind a bookshelf. Speak 

Low finds itself is ranked 

#15 on the world’s best bars 

list and Gokan is also known 

for running the famous Angel’s Share 

bar in New York. 

Others are Eddy Yang, Brand Ambas-

sador & Drink Magazine Asia Business 

Development Manager and owner of 

Tailor Bar. Also, Texas-born Yao Lu, 

currently the co-owner and bartender 

of The Union Trading Company, a 

bar that has already been placed #9 in 

the Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2016. Sam 

Kuan, owner at Barules Cocktail Club, 

has also crafted a special display at Barules 

that embraces and educates patrons 

on the historical heritage of the 

cocktail industry. Another notable is 

Puerto Rican native, Macarena Rotger, 

Bar manager at Shangri-La Hotels and 

Resorts. He arrived in China earlier this 

year but wasted no time in creating an 

exquisite high end hotel bar program 

that is second to none. These trail blazing 

taste making pioneers are unapologetically 

at the forefront of a tremendous 

movement in many different ways, 

but all with one goal in mind, to make it 

known that “Shanghai is absolutely China’s 

top cocktail city right now.” “The 

amount of talent, passion and support 

here is bar none compared to other cities 

in the country,” said Yao. 

Shanghai’s cocktail 

culture isn’t growing, 

it can be seen as more 

of an explosion of new 

talent and tastes the 

likes the world has 

never seen. 

The shanghai cocktail industry and its 

enthusiasts are taking note as fine quality 

bar experiences are becoming much 

easier to find in this large city. At the 

start of this movement there were only 

a few craft cocktail bars around for patrons 

to go to, but today you can easily 

find at least 20 quality bars in Shanghai; 

some are run by Master mixologists/ 

bartenders and worldwide bartending 

champions. One can only appreciate 

this transition and watch with awe as 

the culture replicates, adopts and manifests 

its own path, expanding to match 

the limitless imagination of the people 

creating it. 

Bruce Blue Rivera, The Urban Mixologist is an 

accomplished Mixologist with over 16 years 

of bartending, wine and spirits Experience. 

Boasting an impressive resume that’s spans 

across 15 countries with many award winning 

cocktail recipes to his credit. Bruce “Blue “ 

Rivera teaches the History and cultural application 

of bartending and has been featured 

on Spike TV’s Bar Rescue and the Wendy Williams 

Show to name a few. To learn More 

about The Urban Mixologist Check out www. 

TheUrbanMixologist.com

CPT. BARRINGTON IRVING 

Black Travel Profiles 

Captain Barrington Irving, born in Jamaica in 1983, has traveled to 50 

countries, conducted over 30 STEM expeditions, successfully challenged 

middle school students to build a car faster than a Ferrari 430,and had 

high schoolers build a plane he flew on its test flight. In 2007, he set two world 

records—at age 23—as the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo 

around the world. He has a passion to explore, inspire, and educate others. 

With his innovative Flying Classroom curriculum, Barrington is transforming 

the way students learn STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) by 

engaging them in problem-solving activities that enable them to overcome new 

challenges. 

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Florida Memorial University, Barrington was 

the recipient of a 2008 Congressional Resolution acknowledging his work in 

aviation education. He received the Guinness World Record as the youngest 

person to fly solo around the world and was named a National Geographic 

Emerging Explorer in 2012.

QUEEN 

NANNY 

By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates 

Bumpy roads and steep hills lay the path to Moore Town, located deep in 

the Blue Mountains and along the Rio Grande River of eastern Jamaica. 

Lush, tangled foliage covers most of the rugged landscape; pointing 

to the area’s history as a hard to reach refuge for the enslaved. Also called 

New Nanny Town, in honor of the legendary freedom fighter and Jamaican 

National Heroine, Nanny. who founded the community in 1739, Moore Town 

represents a phenomenal legacy of independence and preserved culture. 

I walked into the Moore Town cultural center, a small, tin-roofed dwelling 

painted with scenes from the village’s history, feeling nervous anticipation. 

Years ago, I had visited the Jamaican Maroon village of Accompong, in the 

parish of St.Elizabeth but the colonel wasn’t available for me to get a full 

tour. Only the community-elected colonel can approve an in-depth visit and 

this time, Colonel Wallace Sterling was waiting to explain the significant history 

of Moore Town and its freedom fighters. 

“Akwaba,” said Col. Sterling, a wiry and placid-faced man who has led the 

Moore Town village for over 20 years. “That means welcome in our Kromanti

language,” he explained. “Our foreparents 

mostly came from Africa and some 

were indigenous inhabitants:Arawaks 

and Tainos. Africans came with Columbus 

too but nothing remained the same 

once Columbus came to this part of the 

world. Most of our African foreparents 

joined with the Amerindians living in the 

mountains to escape the Europeans.” 

But living in a secluded mountain hideaway 

wasn’t all that Sterling’s ancestors 

did. Under the leadership of “Grandy 

Nanny” as they call her, the group battled 

the British with stunning guerilla 

warfare, resisting capture for almost 

80 years and forming free communities 

of hundreds of the formerly enslaved. 

“They were good at ambush,” explained 

the colonel. “They would be camouflaged 

as trees and when soldiers were 

close, they would slit their throat. They 

would blow the abeng {traditional horn 

made from a cow’s horn} to tell people 

the soldiers are coming. There are 

different notes that represent different 

things. It’s our code. You can use it anywhere 

in the hills. It’s the original cellular 

phone!” 

As the community welcomed me and 

other visitors, a man with his locs 

piled high in a black cloth, pulled out 

the abeng to commemorate the occasion. 

He blew short blasts that echoed 

through the room and surrounding 

area. Several teens in casual summer 

shirts gathered around two drummers 

who beat handmade goatskin drums. 

They danced with intricate steps, as the 

drummers chanted in Kromanti. Watching 

the dancers and how they responded 

to the music, it was clear that the Kromanti 

traditions that the group brought 

from Ghana were still alive. “We make 

drums the same way our ancestors did 

200-300 years ago,” said the colonel. 

“We play the same rhythms, the same

songs that record the history of our ancestors.” 

Besides English, the community 

also speaks the language handed 

down from their Ghanaian descendents. 

“Twi and Fante (dialects spoken primarily 

in Ghana) dominate our language,” 

he said. “The government called our 

grandparents Maroons, which comes 

from the Spanish cimarron, which 

means wild and untamed. It’s a derogatory 

word. They called themselves 

yenkunkun, which means free, independent 

people in Akan.” 

Guiding us outside to the community’s 

most sacred spot of Bump Grave, where 

Nanny is buried, the colonel showcased 

the rolling acres of land that his ancestors 

fought for in order to retain their 

freedom. According to the Jamaica National 

Heritage Trust, the 1739 Peace 

Treaty originally provided 500 acres but 

Nanny pressed for more and eventually 

acquired 1,270 acres of tax free land 

that remains under the community’s 

autonomous control The land stretches 

out in green hills that seem to be covered 

in a peaceful, mystical vibe. Just 

outside of the cultural center, Bump 

Grave rises as a simple stone monument 

to Nanny. It’s surrounded by a 

fence that adds to the solemnity of the 

spot, which overlooks a tree lined hill 

that offers a sweeping view of Moore 

Town. A short walk along the river reveals 

Nanny Falls, the legendary waterfall 

behind which the freedom fighters 

would disappear during battles with the 

British. 

Before I left Moore Town, I bought a 

necklace strung with the red seeds from 

a local tree, handmade by Karan, a soft 

spoken teen whose eyes flickered with 

pride of his heritage. I wear it whenever 

I want to call up the strength of Nanny 

and the Moore Town freedom fighters.

Rosalind Cummings-Yeates is a Chicago 

based writer, author and blogger. She specializes 

in cultural travel stories that reflect 

a destination’s history and traditions. Island 

hopping is one of her favorite hobbies 

and Jamaica is always at the top of her itinerary. 

Follow her adventures with her blog, 

Farsighted Fly Girl at www.rosalindcummingsyeates.blogspot.com 

and on Twitter 

and Instagram @farsightedgirl.

TRAVEL AS 

SPIRITUAL 

By Mike Haynes-Pitts

As an atheist, for me spirituality means finding solace in a number of 

different ideals that help you in your journey to inner peace. Many 

people have religious or spiritual moments when they travel that attune 

with these instances. In my experience, travel is the spirituality. If 

you think about what you usually do when you travel, there are many similarities 

from packing rituals, to understanding new beliefs, marveling at 

works of religion, and experiencing transcendental moments. 

Whenever I get ready for a trip, I have rituals and practices that I always do. 

From making sure I have flights, lodging, sights and experiences in order 

for each respective country. This process never fails and it is always my 

ritual. As for the true spiritual experience, this happens at a few specific 

occurrences on journey: walking and meeting the local people, seeing the 

highlighted sights and nature, and simply interacting with the experience 

of being within a new setting. 

Meeting people in other countries is a deeply moving experience. When I 

traveled on a plane from Johannesburg to Cape Town I met a Bantu lady 

who was so excited that I had decided to visit, in my case the Fatherland, 

that she wanted to give me a tour. She also gave me a lot of insight into 

the country, post-apartheid in terms of race relations and the prevalence 

of Christianity. She and her friend showed me their home, which was much 

nicer than my own. Afterwards, we went to the slums of Cape Town for a 

great braii (South African barbecue) at a joint called Mzoli’s. This was 

spiritual in that it was my first time meeting and seeing how Africans lived 

in Africa. As such, seeing the difference of what you had always grown up 

thinking about Africa versus being there was startling. It is most welcom-

At times the spirituality 

of travel comes from 

being in an unfamiliar 

place that welcomes you 

into their culture with 

open arms.

ing when you go to a country you have 

long wanted to and the people welcome 

you with open arms. 

As many of my spiritual journeys overseas 

were through experiences with 

people, many instances of spirituality 

came through a combination of people 

and structure. Within Myanmar, 

my most spiritual moment came from 

talking to a Theravada Buddhist monk 

at the Shwedagon Pagoda. The monk 

had impeccable English and wanted 

to educate me on the tenants of Buddhism. 

As I knew a lot about Buddhism 

from having taught the history of it at 

my school, I was able to discuss a lot of 

the knowledge with him. While we conversed, 

many Myanmar people stared 

in awe of me, as they have had limited 

tourism since 2011, so I stood out to 

the large amount of local tourists. 

The true moment of spirituality was 

when we walked around the huge and 

glorious (one of the largest temples 

in the world) Shwedagon Pagoda and 

poured water on my necessary holy 

day. This was a ritual and most vividly 

this was a spiritual experience in seeing 

Buddhism from a place of origin. At 

the same time, the Americanism of the 

monk made for a duality that makes 

the essence of travel spiritual in and of

itself. 

At times, the spirituality of travel comes 

from being in an unfamiliar place that 

welcomes you into a culture with open 

arms. No more was this more apparent 

than the night that I prayed with Muslims 

at the Umiyyad Mosque (the oldest 

university in the world) in Fes, Morocco 

during Ramadan. I met an Indian Muslim 

friend in my hostel that had been 

praying for Ramadan. He said that not 

only would I blend in, but that my respect 

for the Muslim faith would be welcomed 

in the university. 

We practiced the prayer for Ramadan 

and I went through the whole process 

of observing Ramadan in breaking fast, 

praying the correct way in unison with 

the other men and giving greetings. 

Still, the highlight of this experience 

was standing with other Muslims in reflection 

of the Umiyyad Mosque for all 

that it symbolized; as the oldest center 

of knowledge in Africa, a continent that 

is consistently shunned for its apparent 

lack of foundational education in my 

home country of America. The respect 

I already had for Islam due to my time 

visiting mosques in Turkey, was only 

deepened by this spiritual experience. 

Through my experiences, there are 

many facets to the world that can be 

summed up in a spiritual sense. However, 

the spiritual journey of travel can be 

deeply cathartic as it allows for breaks 

from the normal routine and a chance 

to partake in new experiences that can 

teach you about yourself. Through the 

people of the new lands and the experiences 

I have with them, I am often 

able to have a spiritual awakening that 

comes from leaving behind the familiar. 

This is what makes coming home always 

difficult. When I am abroad, I reach nirvana 

through the act of changing my 

mindset in foreign lands. As such, I encourage 

you to take your spiritual journey 

of enlightenment in whatever travels 

you take on next. 

Mike Haynes-Pitt is the writer behind 

the blog and website Multiethnic Mastery. 

There he seeks to educate people 

about knowledge in a variety of categories. 

Visti Mike at the following: 

Website: Multiethnicmastery.com 

Email: Mike@multiethnicmastery.com 

Instagram: mhptonyc 

Twitter: CaliforniaHP 

Facebook: Mike Haynes-Pitts

www.BlackboardAfrica.com 

By Founders Zingisa Socikwa & Amonge Sinxoto

Blackboard is a platform for 

African youth to build and 

freely express our perceptions 

about the past present and future. 

We want to redefine and model how 

people in the world view our African 

identity and move away from negative 

preconceived colonial settings. The 

need came about when we stumbled 

across a disturbing conversation of 

teenage boys discussing the portrayal 

of black girls and how they do not 

deem us as an ideal fantasy. These 

conversations were increasingly doing 

their rounds and gaining popularity in 

schools around Johannesburg leading 

to some heated exchange of differing 

perspectives from other young people

We recognize 

that it’s time we 

pay attention 

and revisit the 

depiction of 

black girls in our 

generation. 

as they shared hair-raising arguments 

with interactive text and voice notes in 

their group chats. 

The whole situation became very 

sad when we realized that the image 

of the black girl has been severely 

damaged, corrupted and tarnished 

over the years both in our minds and 

in the minds of those around us. This 

relates to people’s view on “Beauty”, 

“Intellect”, “Strength” and “Esteem”. 

It was rather appalling to see how black 

girls are increasingly being viewed in a 

strange and distasteful manner in our 

society. Similarly, we see that popular 

culture and media has played a critical 

influence in defining what the ideals 

and model characteristics of a perfect 

girl should be. It became clear that 

this was not just an isolated instance; 

it was part of a growing social fabric 

producing fruits of deep-rooted 

indoctrination that stems from a long 

history promoting white supremacy. 

The minds of young people today 

are still largely influenced by strong 

colonial themes that degrade black 

people and exalt whiteness. 

How were the young black African girls 

affected by the obvious distain towards 

African female figures? Many felt 

violated and it exposed the common 

frustrations that numerous girls face on 

a daily basis. There was now common 

ground for such conversations but 

no space for them to reside and as a 

result revelations like this were made 

a big spectacle for a few days but then 

it would pass. No one would take note 

of how people were affected. That was 

when we realized that the need for us 

to have a space to vent, praise and 

just engage with like-minded people 

was necessary. We recognize that 

it’s time we pay attention and revisit 

the depiction of black girls in our 

generation. Consequently, Blackboard

was born. 

We called our movement Blackboard 

because it carries a timeless metaphor 

that we want all young black girls to 

remember. We are black, and made 

of hardened material but at the same 

time we are smooth and soft. We have 

been written onto by society’s “white 

chalk” since the beginning of time. 

Blackboard is about us erasing all of 

that and being the ones to portray 

ourselves in the way in which we feel 

we need to be portrayed. Blackboard 

is aimed at Africans because that’s 

where we identified the most lack. We 

do recognize that there is a lack in the 

black community in general but we 

wanted to start at home. 

We started our website www. 

blackboardafrica.com and that 

is where the bulk of our content 

lives and breathes. Blackboard is a 

collaborative project so we try to get 

people in our immediate access to 

share their experiences and stories. 

We want to promote a lifestyle in its

entirety the hard hitting issues but 

also an everyday culture. Our website 

is the first building block for what we 

are trying to drive, it’s a cyber space, 

thus making it accessible to a broader 

audience. Our ultimate goal is to travel 

the African continent and connect 

with other African youth. We have 

also recently branched out to create 

a physical space for constructive and 

insightful conversation to animate. 

Our current projects are only the 

beginning because we understand 

that there is still so much that needs 

to be done. We need to get into a 

critical thinking mindset. Liberation 

of young black minds is fundamental 

to cultivating reform. That’s a weight 

that we as the youth need to bear for 

ourselves and we must use the current 

leaders as our mentors. 

Blackboard. A place. 

A person. A purpose.

WORLD WIDE NATE 


Nathan Fluellen, the creator and host of World Wide Nate – the quintessential 

guide to living a global lifestyle, has been traveling the world since 2004. He 

has visited 50 countries and 6 continents, making it look thrilling and chic. 

His interest in traveling was stoked during high school, when his mother would 

travel on missionary trips abroad. Her stories and experiences helped him realize 

that traveling the world was not only an option, but also a necessity. While at Tennessee 

State University, Nathan’s professor, Dr. Gallen Hull, who had visited over 

80 countries, further ignited his interest in traveling, by sharing his autobiography 

and challenging Nathan to see more of the world than him. He aptly accepted. 

Nathan’s adventures have been sponsored by Chase Marriott, Time, Fortune, Travel 

+ Leisure, Ford & Lincoln Motors, Essence.com, Ebony.com, Mensfitness.com, 

AOL.com & South African Tourism Board. He is a 3-time winner of LAWebfest’s 

Most Outstanding Series and Series Host. 

You can follow all of World Wide Nate’s adventures at www.worldwidenate.com and 

on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat @worldwidenate.

RUN 

THIS 

MUTHA 

Start Planning Your 2017 “Runcation” Now 

By Joseph P. Gordon II

A 

Runcation can be summed up as 

planning a trip or vacation around 

running. “Wait? Runcation? Did you 

just make that up?”, you may have just 

asked. There may even have been a follow 

up question of “Why would I ever run on 

my vacation?” Although the word runcation 

is fairly new and made up, the idea 

of using vacation time to run has been 

gaining traction and popularity in recent 

times. This can be seen on the domestic 

and international front. 

For the avid runner, this is your time to 

explore new terrains. You will be exposed 

to different routes, scene, and running 

conditions to keep yourself entertained 

and yet challenged. This may also be 

used as a time to escape. This can be an 

opportune time for you to leave the brutal 

winter conditions and run the Reggae 

Half Marathon in sunny beautiful Jamaica 

for example. 

For the avid traveler, this is your time to 

explore the city in a new way. Why do a 

hop-on hop-off bus tour, when you can 

run the city? This is just another way to 

be submerged in the culture of the city 

you visit. You also get to enjoy the many 

health benefits of running. Imagine being 

on vacation, but also improving your 

mental health, losing weight, relieving 

stress, preventing disease (especially diseases 

that African Americans are more 

susceptible to such as high blood pres-

“Wait? 

Runcation? 

Did you 

just make 

that up?” 

sure). This sounds like a dream vacation! 

It is important to note that the trip does 

not have to focus on a full marathon of 

26.2 miles. You know what you are capable 

of doing/training for. There are plenty 

of OCRs, 5Ks, 10Ks, etc. depending on 

what your passion and level of running 

is. Any amount of activity is beneficial for 

your health and can be enjoyable. 

My first runcation was in 2015 when I 

traveled to Reykjavík, Iceland to run the 

Reykjavík Half Marathon. I went to Reykjavík 

with like-minded urban travelers as 

a meetup event. The goal was to finish 

the race, while still enjoying the vacation 

time and absorbing the beauty of Iceland. 

When it comes to the race itself, this was 

an amazing experience. This experience 

was quite different compared to previous 

half marathons I have completed locally. 

Running 13.1 miles with the beautiful 

Icelandic scenery in the background is a 

stark difference to running loops around 

a park in a busy city. Although the crowd 

participation and spectatorship during 

the Reykjavík Half Marathon was nothing 

compared to bigger races, such as 

the New York City Marathon, it was still

amazing to see the local Icelanders come 

out and bang on their pots and pans to 

show support. After finishing the race, 

we were able to stay a few more days to 

enjoy the scenes and attractions, such as 

a well-deserved soaking in the Blue Lagoon. 

As a runner and traveler, this trip 

fulfilled two passions at the same time. 

There are different ways to go about booking 

your first runcation. If you want to be 

more cost-efficient and put in some time 

and research, you can build your runcation 

itinerary from scratch. This was the 

method I utilized for my first trip. Once 

you have the potential race or country in 

mind, you can start booking other essential 

basics such as lodging, airfare, local 

transportation, race fees, etc. You will be 

in charge of making sure everything is 

planned and the logistics are done properly. 

If you want to minimize the preparation 

needed and just show up and run, 

there are travel agencies that specialize 

in global marathons and races. These 

agencies will book everything for you, 

from airfare, to race fees, to lodging. This 

will free up your time to focus on training. 

Most of these global marathon travel 

agencies specialize in different type of 

races so there is something for everyone. 

There are some agencies that focus on 

large and famous races, such as the New 

York City Marathon or the Boston Marathon, 

while some focus on exotic races/ 

locations, such as the Havana Marathon 

[Cuba], Great Wall Marathon [China], or 

the Antarctica Marathon [Antarctica]. 

Imagine running a race in Antarctica! 

This could be on your bucket list too! So 

go out and run the world! 

Joseph Gordon is currently a Certified 

Public Accountant (CPA) by day and a 

Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) by night. 

He considers his passions to be working 

out, running, traveling and helping others 

however possible. Although there are 

a few career paths that interests him at 

the moment, he ultimately want to open 

his own gym/ fitness center to help those 

that need it reach their full potential. He 

also wants start a not-for-profit to help 

kids fight childhood obesity. 

Twitter and IG: senor_gohard

BUCKET LIST 

GUIDE TO ANTARTICA 

BY SONJIA “LIONESS” MACKEY

As a frequent traveler and avid bucket-lister, 

it was always a goal of 

mine to visit all seven continents 

of the world, which I accomplished this 

past May! As I started planning and researching 

my trip to Antarctica; however, 

I realized very few people I knew had 

ever been there. In fact, according to 

statistics from Iaato and Index Mundi, 

less than 1% of the world’s population 

will ever visit this wild, remote frontier! 

From the people who said, “Bring me 

back a t-shirt from the Hard Rock 

Café!” to the people who said, “Get me 

a souvenir cup from Starbucks!” to the 

people who asked, “What hotel did you 

book?” – it was clear to me that general 

knowledge is lacking and there are 

many misconceptions surrounding this 

largely unexplored continent. The following 

tips will not only help you understand 

more about this mysterious 

continent, but plan your own potential 

journey to the land of penguins, seals, 

whales, and glaciers! 

RECONSIDER 

Antarctica is not for everyone! If you 

don’t like: nature or animals; cold, dry 

weather; cruises; long cruises; if you

get severe motion sickness (the twoday 

Shake & Bake Drake Passage is notorious); 

if you aren’t physically fit or 

have difficulty walking; if you’re afraid 

of the water; if you don’t have many 

vacation days; if you only do cheap, 

budget-friendly trips; if you need a 

kid-friendly trip – if you fall into any of 

these categories, you should seriously 

reconsider if a trip to Antarctica is 

right for you. Antarctica should NOT be 

an ego trip (pun intended). If you don’t 

carefully consider these variables, you 

could be in for one of the worst travel 

experiences of your life! 

TRANSPORTATION 

While skipping the cruise and Drake Passage, 

and flying directly into Antarctica 

is possible, the vast majority of travelers 

cruise into the continent, which is less 

expensive. This is an important consideration 

given the overall trip will probably 

be one of the most expensive trips 

you will ever take! The cruise option is 

also selected 

more often 

because people 

want the 

full Antarctic 

experience, 

the same experience 

early 

explorers had 

upon the first discoveries of Antarctica. 

The continent can be inhospitable, unpredictable, 

and potentially dangerous, 

and a cruise there is considered an expedition, 

not a vacation. Consequently, 

it’s important to select an expedition 

company with years of safe, reliable 

experience in the region. Ships include 

typical cabin accommodations, basic 

amenities (e.g. gym, spa), and a restaurant 

serving a variety of foods to please 

different palates, but don’t expect the 

variety and caliber of entertainment 

and amenities found on the current 

mega-ships by operators such as Carnival, 

Princess, or Royal Caribbean. The 

guests on the average Antarctic cruise 

are anything but average. While they are 

low in diversity and tend to be older in 

age, most are well-traveled, with many 

checking off their last continent with 

the trip to Antarctica. 

GETTING THERE 

The majority of travelers fly into Buenos 

Aires, Argentina. They spend the night, 

then take a three-hour charter flight 

to Ushuaia, Argentina to explore this 

quaint little town before boarding the 

cruise ship. The typical Antarctica cruise 

is a minimum 

of nine days, 

not including 

Antarctica should 

NOT be an ego trip 

(pun intended) 

time spent 

in Argentina. 

Many cruise 

operators 

may offer 

savings by including 

the night in Buenos Aires, charter 

flight to Ushuaia, breakfast, and 

transfers in their Antarctica packages 

so be sure to check for that. Because of 

these discounts, travelers will reserve

A trip to Antarctica 

will probably be 

one of the most 

expensive trips 

you will ever take. 

Antarctica cruises early – as much as one 

to two years in advance – so book early 

for the best pricing! For U.S. citizens, no 

visa is required for Argentina or Antarctica; 

however, you do need to pay a reciprocity 

fee (~$160) for Argentina, which will be 

verified in the U.S. at airport check-in and 

again upon arrival in Argentina. 

WHAT TO DO 

Most cruise operators have zodiac (small 

raft) excursions twice a day where you explore 

land and water for glacier and wildlife 

viewing. You will see all manner of 

penguins, seals, and whales during your 

expedition as well as large (often calving) 

glaciers of various shapes and sizes. Landings 

will often involve ascent hikes allowing 

you to get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding 

area. Besides amenities like the gym 

and/or spa, almost all cruise operators offer 

lectures and videos educating guests 

on Antarctica. Additionally, adventurous 

activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddle 

boarding, scuba-diving, and overnight 

camp-outs on the ice are often available 

at an added cost. For many, the highlights 

of many cruises include plunging into the 

frigid waters of Antarctica, and securing 

the ceremonial Antarctica passport stamp

and drinking homemade vodka at the 

southernmost public bar in the world, 

both at the Vernadsky Ukrainian Research 

Station! 

WHAT TO BRING 

Almost every cruise operator provides 

rubber boots and parkas (which are 

yours to keep). The rest of your daily 

clothing is about smart layering and 

winter accessories. Moisture-wicking 

thermal tops and bottoms, fleece and 

wool middle layers, and waterproof 

outer layers are staples. In fact, most 

operators will not you disembark for 

daily excursions without waterproof 

pants! Finish your layers off with a good 

hat, ear covering, a scarf or neck gaiter 

(fleece or wool), gloves (waterproof with 

warm liners), and socks (moisture-wicking) 

– and you will stay warm and dry in 

the most extreme of Antarctic temperatures. 

Many ships also have an outdoor 

pool or indoor sauna in addition to a 

gym, so bring a swimsuit and work-out 

clothing.

The air in Antarctica is cold and dry 

– bring sunscreen and your preferred 

remedies for dry, parched skin. Lastly, 

bring all electronic and viewing equipment 

for photos, videos, and entertainment 

on the ship in your cabin (e.g. 

camera, cell phone, binoculars, tablet, 

laptop). As you pack all of this, remember 

to adhere to the baggage limits of 

both your international and internal 

flight operators. If you plan to spend 

several days in Argentina, the weather 

could be very different from Antarctica 

– pack accordingly. (P.S. I purchased all 

winter clothing essentials from Sun & 

Ski Sports). 

THE COST 

As mentioned earlier, a trip to Antarctica 

will probably be one of the most 

expensive trips you will ever take. Besides 

the actual cruise cost, which will 

most likely be a minimum of $5,000 

per person (even with discounts!), additional 

costs to plan and prepare for an 

Antarctica cruise can include: international 

and in-country Argentina flights; 

Buenos Aires and Ushuaia food, accommodations, 

activities, and transfer fees; 

optional cruise activities, optional ship 

beverage packages; ship internet packages; 

clothing, electronic equipment; 

taxes and fees; gratuities; and souvenirs. 

As you can see, there is much to consider 

when contemplating and planning 

an Antarctica expedition. As you can 

also see from the photos, it can be a 

trip well worth the time to plan and the 

expense to go; truly, the adventure and 

bucket list check-off of a life-time! 

Sonjia Mackey is best known for 

her extensive travel and bucket 

list adventures which have taken 

her to 39 states, 66 countries, 

and all 7 continents. She is the 

founder of (Im)Possible Living, 

LLC – a company created to help 

people take responsibility for 

their own happiness and create 

the life of their dreams: (Im) 

Possible = (I’m)Possible!

CALVIN RAMSEY 


Calvin Alexander Ramsey was born in Baltimore, Maryland and 

grew up in Roxboro, North Carolina. His writing career was established 

five days before the 9/11 bombings in 2001, Ramsey says 

he “found his voice.” 

At age 51, Ramsey launched a career as a playwright that has not only 

produced significant works and accomplishments, but has also sparked 

important debate. His first work, The Green Book, a two-act play about 

the difficulties African-Americans faced while traveling during the Jim 

Crow era was based on his research on The Negro Motorist Green Book, 

a manual directing Blacks to “safe” restaurants, hotel and gas stations. 

Ramsey says his work is guided by the African proverb: ‘When an old 

person dies, it’s like a library burning down.’ 

Ramsey served for 3 years on the Georgia Council for the Arts Theater 

Panel. He is also a proud recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Drum Major for Justice.

BY AREK & FELICIA BRYANT

Although the journey of 1619 from 

Africa to the United States was 

involuntary, the once enslaved African 

developed a personal attachment 

to the land of the free. As our ancestors 

fought and died as 

patriots with White 

Americans to liberate 

this country 

from the British, 

they were simultaneously 

fighting 

those same White 

Americans for the freedoms they themselves 

desired here in this country. 

Are we so used to the 

struggle that we don’t 

know how to walk 

away from an abusive 

relationship? 

From the Underground Railroad to the 

Thirteenth Amendment, from our own 

Black Wall Street in Oklahoma to the 

Civil Rights movement, African Americans 

have continued to grasp at the idealism 

of freedom 

and equality in 

America. Although 

the movement towards 

equality over 

the last 150 years 

has been long and 

arduous (two steps 

forward and one step back), the fortitude 

of the Afro-American has empow-

The Donald. 

The election of Donald Trump has 

caused many Black Americans to accept, 

maybe once and for all, the true 

sentiments of America. The country, 

that appeared to be progressing in the 

acceptance of the ideals and beliefs of 

all its citizens, once again brandishes 

its fiery sword of hatred. The rhetoric 

that spewed from the lips of Trump, 

during his campaign, seemed to merely 

be a reminder to us that ignorance 

still existed among a selected group 

of Americans. Although it is difficult 

for Black Americans to feel completely 

assured that America will protect 

our rights (due to our historical experiences 

with white hate) many remained 

optimistic that our country would not 

want a man with the pretentiousness of 

Donald Trump in office. That bubble of 

optimism was bitterly deflated on November 

8, 2016. 

ered us to continue the political and social 

struggle for freedom. 

It was the Black American fight for freedom 

and equality that two-stepped us 

right into the Oval Office. The sense of 

pride we felt with the election of President 

Obama was accompanied by a 

feeling of accomplishment. We shall 

overcome...began to look as if we were 

overcoming. Despite the continued rise 

in mass incarceration and the relentless 

killing of innocent blacks by law 

enforcement, there still seemed to be 

that ever present sense of hope. Until... 

The next morning the celebration of the 

Republican Party and the joyful sounds 

of merriment from white nationalist 

were drowned out by the dejected discussions 

of the Democratic Party. Yet, 

the resilient Black American woke up 

with the mindset of back to business 

as usual. This is only another setback 

we must endure and the on-going efforts 

to achieve freedom and equality 

will not cease. However, this time the 

conversation includes an alternate approach 

to liberty. Is it possible that the 

labor of our antecessors was not solely 

for the right to be treated equal here in

Is it possible that 

the labor of our 

antecessors was not 

solely for the right 

to be treated equal 

here in America, 

but also, the right to 

move freely... 

America, but also, the right to move 

freely as a nation or individually 

throughout the world; to one day 

completely liberate ourselves from 

the clenching pain of being treated 

like second class citizens? Is it time 

for Blacks to leave America? 

Many will argue that this is our 

home and our ancestors fought 

for our rights to such claim. We 

pay taxes and our contributions to 

America are so vast that not only 

are we entitled to be here, but we 

are an intricate part of the fabric 

that makes America great. 

Still, the color of our skin gives a police 

officer the justification to shoot 

and kill us with no remorse and often 

not more penalty than a slap on 

the wrist. Even so, many would rebut 

that we are used to the struggle. 

Blacks have always had to deal with 

the oppression of the man. But, are 

we so used to the struggle that we 

don’t know how to walk away from 

an abusive relationship?

When slavery was abolished, freed 

African Americans feared venturing 

away from the plantation. Where 

would they go? They were free but 

still depended on their masters 

for food and shelter. So, many remained 

on the plantation working 

in the fields as they did before, continuing 

to deal with the mistreatment 

because they didn’t know 

anything else. Is it time to once 

again leave Massa’s plantation? 

Can the notion of equality that 

Blacks long for be across the Atlantic? 

Can the freedoms we continue 

to march for be found beyond the 

Pacific? Is it possible that south of 

the equator we can live in a place 

where we feel equal not because 

of our education or the size of our 

bank accounts? Can home be any 

place where the many hues of our 

blackness is not seen through the 

eyes of fear, but revered with humanity? 

Blacks are fast approaching the 

2019 landmark of 400 years in the 

United States. With the evolution 

from African to African American, 

then Afro-American to Black Americans 

and now to just Blacks, is it 

possible that we are also ready to 

detach America from our concept 

of freedom and equality? 

Costa Rica sounds nice!

Arek & Felicia Bryant are 

Oakland through and 

through. Arek is the owner 

of HHK Records and an on 

air personality at KPFA Radio 

and Felicia is Firefighter. 

When they aren’t creating 

music and putting out fires, 

they are exposing their family 

of four to all the world 

has to offer through homeschool.

ORDER YOUR LIMITED EDITION 

ANTHOLOGY TODAY

Bathhouse culture 

from Japan to Russia

Liz Henry 

Elmeka 

Henderson 

Danielle 

Washington 

Marsha Nelson

By Liz Henry 

Hammams are an integral part of 

Middle Eastern culture, but can 

be found all over the globe. Traditionally 

individuals from all walks of 

life took part in this weekly ritual. Hammams 

date back to the Ottoman Empire. 

It was a place to witness the Sultans’ 

power and wealth. As such they 

played a major role in Turkey’s culture 

and history. According to www.metmuseum.org, 

they also served as meeting 

places where people could relax and 

socialize. Young, old, male and female 

enjoyed the health benefits these steam 

rooms provided. Hammams are distinguished 

by its focus on steam, water 

and massage. 

Cleansing and Relaxation is your only 

goal once you enter a hammam. What 

makes hammams so appealing? It lies 

within its extensive multi-step ritual of 

detoxification. Starting with purification, 

followed by exfoliation and cleans-

ing, ending with an oil massage. It’s no 

wonder hammams are now trending 

among Westerners. 

When in France, a hammam to check 

out is Zein Oreintal Spa. Having had 

the pleasure of visiting two locations, 

Nantes and Marseille, Zein does not 

disappoint. You will find Zein in the Old 

Port of Marseille, along the Mediterranean. 

In Nantes, Zein is located in 

The Lieu Unique, The National Center 

for Contemporary Arts and Music. Both 

locations are similar in décor and ambiance. 

suit. Traditionally male and females never 

have sessions together. However, you 

will find most modern hammams accommodate 

and have co-ed hours. You 

will be provided with a robe and slippers. 

The first stage of your treatment begins 

with entering the hararet, a steam room 

with plunge pool. Relax as the steam 

Cleansing and 

relaxation is your 

only goal once you 

enter a hammam. 

begins to open up your pores. Perspiration 

is key to rid the body of toxins. 

Next, you will proceed to the cold shower 

room. Black soap is provided along 

with a kessa hammam exfoliating glove. 

An attendant will scrub you down if you 

The Lieu Unique is housed in a former 

biscuit factory at the center of the city. 

Getting to Zein will feel like an adventure 

in itself as you walk through a mini 

art museum coupled with some bookshops 

with many young people singing 

or dancing in the lobby. One might begin 

to feel as if they are in the wrong 

place, but not to worry as the French 

merchants that run their shops in the 

center are all too familiar with the face 

of bewilderment from those seeking retreat 

in Zein. You will be directed into 

the basement. You will be pleasantly 

surprised as you are now transported 

into an underground exotic Moroccan 

styled hammam. 

Be prepared and bring your bathing 

choose. This is an additional fee. After 

your full body wash you will receive a 

massage with the oil of your choosing. 

Relax in the lounge room known as the 

camekan with complimentary tea and 

snacks. The best feature about hammams 

is there are no time restrictions. 

The typical cost for visiting a hammam 

can range from $65 -$125 USD. Enjoy 

experiencing the mystifying vibes of a 

hammam while enjoying its health benefits.

By Elmeka Henderson 

One of the most curious aspects of 

Japanese culture is ritual visits to 

hot springs (onsen) throughout 

the length and breadth of the country. 

Since 552 AD, the Japanese have been 

getting naked and sharing a public bath 

with their family, friends, and neighbors 

to exchange the latest gossip, express 

kinship and bond while soaking in a 

bubbling, sulfur-scented pool. 

To the foreign observer, of course, the 

thought of lying naked and sharing a 

bath (foro) with complete strangers can 

be off putting. I know it was to me. But 

once I learned about the history and ritual 

of the onsen, it became surprisingly 

more appealing. 

There are estimated to be over 27,000 

natural hot springs in the Land of the 

Rising Sun and with 3,000 resorts, if a 

person went to a different onsen every 

week it would take them over 70 years 

to visit them all. 

Because of its ongoing volcanic activity, 

onsens have been an integral part 

of society for millennia. For example, 

Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture on the 

island of Shikoku is said to be one of 

the first recorded in Japanese history, 

dating back over 3,000 years. The arrival 

of Buddhism to Japan served to 

popularize onsens even more, with the 

bathing ritual of purification kept in accordance 

with the religion’s principals. 

Today, visiting an onsen has become 

not only a local tradition, but also a 

once-in-a-lifetime tourist experience 

due to the exclusivity of the ritual and 

restrictions to foreigners in some areas. 

For example, traditionally the onsen refused 

those with tattoos because they 

wanted to avoid the hassle of the Yakuza. 

Now, no one is going to actually refuse 

the Yakuza to their face, but signs 

were placed to try and deter their attendance. 

However, this association has 

become so engrained in Japanese culture, 

that even foreigners with tattoos 

are turned away (like myself). 

There are options, though. Sento, which 

are paid bathhouses, have private options 

for those with ink and you can enjoy 

the benefits of the onsen experience 

without the communal nakedness. My 

son prefers these after a recent expe-

ience where he was in a crowded bath 

and no longer wishes to have someone’s 

penis in his vicinity. His words, 

not mine. 

With the upcoming 2020 Olympics, the 

Japanese government is encouraging 

onsen owners to loosen their restrictions 

on tattoos, but this is proving to 

be a slow process. If you have a small 

tattoo however, some places ask you to 

bandage the area before permitting you 

to enter. But if you have as many tattoos 

as I do, you’ll end up looking like a 

burn victim. 

For a traditional experience, you can visit 

many places around Japan. If you are 

visiting Tokyo anytime soon, the Oedo 

Onsen Monogatari is highly recommended. 

This Edo-era onsen has natural 

spring baths, open-air baths, saunas 

and more. In North Tokyo, the Tokyo Somei 

Onsen Sakura is best to visit during 

cherry blossom season. The sakura are 

not only a beautiful backdrop, but they 

help mask the sulfur smell. If you wish 

to travel around Japan, I would suggest 

visiting Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma or the 

Shibu Onsen in Nagano where you can 

bathe with monkeys. How fun is that? 

Whether it’s on your bucket list or it’s 

something you stumble upon on your 

next trip to Japan, the natural hot 

springs are definitely something to experience. 

There is even a tourist attraction 

where you can bathe in wine, green 

tea, coffee, or sake at the Yunessun Spa 

Resort in Hakone. I guess bathing in 

water is so 2000 and late.

By Danielle Washington 

When my Uber driver dropped 

me off in San Francisco’s gritty 

Hunters Point neighborhood, I 

swore I had the wrong address. However, 

the huge “Archimedes” sign on the 

building let me know that I had reached 

my destination; the only Russian Banya 

in Northern California. 

A Banya is a Russian type of sauna or 

bathhouse. Typically, there is a small 

room with wooden benches with different 

levels. The higher one goes, the hotter 

it gets. 

The hardest part 

of the platza is not 

the beating; it’s 

surviving the heat 

As part of the check-in process, the 

front desk staff politely reminded me 

that this was a clothing optional facility. 

Then they set me free to strip down to 

my own comfort level and enjoy a traditional 

Russian pastime. 

I opted for my birthday suit and a towel. 

The last thing I expected was to 

immediately crash into a room full of 

butt booty naked men that looked like 

they were reenacting a Michelangelo 

painting. Some were sprawled out on 

the edge of a small tub of still water 

with their pudgy pink bodies and tiny 

junk hanging freely while the others remained 

partially immersed in the water. 

Of course, the staff warned me that this 

was a co-ed facility, which didn’t bother 

me. However, I wasn’t prepared to walk 

into a room full of naked men all starring 

at the only woman in the room. 

Instinctively, I wrapped my towel tighter 

around my body and dashed into one 

of the saunas to focus on preparing my 

mind and body for my platza massage, 

which I heard was a must at a Russian 

Banya. 

A platza is where you lie down on the 

uppermost bench in a sauna to get 

(massaged) whacked by wet birch or

oak tree leaves. It’s said that the leaves 

have healing powers reducing stress 

and premature aging to name a few 

benefits. I’m all for taping natural healing 

powers, but a platza is not for the 

weak. 

The hardest part of the platza is not 

the beating; it’s surviving the heat 

during the process. I was seconds away 

from calling it quits as my practitioner 

into straight shock as I silently mouthed 

a few curse words to myself. 

whipped the leaves in the air, only making 

the room feel ten times hotter. What 

felt like 30 minutes of torture, in reality, 

was only ten minutes of uncomfortableness. 

I was then instructed to immediately 

plunge my entire body, including my 

hair, into an ice-cold pool. My body went 

The feeling of going from crazy intense 

heat to insanely cold water oddly felt 

euphoric. As I climbed out of the pool, 

I felt disoriented and my body began to 

tingle as if every nerve had awakened 

from a deep sleep. I was informed this 

is the desired reaction, which seemed 

weird, but at least I was having the appropriate 

reaction. 

After my platza I needed to rest for a 

bit. As I sat trying to get my bearings, 

I thought about my experience. Who 

knew getting beat by leaves would lead 

to this feeling of utter relaxation? The 

Russians did.

Dragon Hill Spa 

Seoul, S. Korea 

By Marsha Nelson

When I was a little girl, I remember 

my Oma (Korean for Mom) making 

me sit in the bath tub with 

hot water while she either washed dishes 

or watched Dallas, usually the latter. 

The water would be so hot, I would have 

to step in and out at least five times or 

more before I could comfortably sit still 

in the water. I was instructed to let her 

know when my fingertips were ‘wrinkly.’ 

I would yell out from the bathtub that I 

was ‘wrinkly’ and she would come up to 

take off my “dde” (dead skin or as my 

mom described it ‘dirt’). 

She would slip on a red washcloth 

known as an “Italy Towel” and scrub 

with the strength of 2000 men. This 

type of scrubbing is called ‘seshin’ and 

is a common practice in Korean culture. 

I had no idea my 5’0, 100lb Korean 

mother was so damn strong. She 

would scrub me so hard I felt the skin 

and white meat remove from my bones. 

I would cry from the pain and laugh 

from the tickles. Her response to my 

pain was always “Sit still and it won’t 

hurt.” 

As a child I thought everybody bathed 

like this, but quickly learned how wrong 

I was. 

I was about 8-years old when I went to 

my first Korean bathhouse. It was just 

like my baths at home except with other 

naked people. My family and I had 

just moved to South Korea, my mother’s 

birth place, and my oma quickly 

dragged me along with her to the nearest 

mogyogtang when we settled into 

our new home. 

Some people may know a Korean bathhouse 

as a jjimjilbang. The jjimjilbang 

is essentially the spa and relaxation 

part of going to a Korean bathhouse. 

It includes hot sauna, restaurants, resting/sleeping 

area and is a common 

area shared by both men and woman. 

The mogyoktang is the bathing area 

which is a completely different section 

from the jjimjilbang and is separated 

into male and female sections. 

Personally, I’m a fan of the mogyoktang. 

It’s the best kind of clean you can 

ever feel once you get past being naked 

in front of complete strangers, soaking 

in a hot tub with naked strangers, and 

being scrubbed down in every crevice 

imaginable (they are very thorough) by 

a Korean ajumma with hands of steel. 

I guarantee they will all talk about you 

and laugh at your pain, but once you 

rinse the years of dde from your body 

you will emerge a completely new person 

and likely a shade or two lighter 

than when you walked in the front door. 

Your skin will glow and be smoother 

than a baby’s bottom. 

After a bath like that, you will feel as 

though you’ve had the workout of your 

life. That’s when you can head over to 

the jjimjilbang and relax. 

You’ve never experienced a clean body 

until you’ve had a Korean scrubbing.

Liz is a Global Citizen, Educator 

and Entrepreneur. As an 

avid traveler she believes there 

is an inner transformation that 

occurs from travel. Liz has 

traveled to countries in Central 

America, South America, 

The Caribbean, Europe and 

Asia. She encourages others 

to say adios, au revoir, arrivederci 

to their comfort zone and 

become that individual on the 

go. Follow Journey with Liz on 

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. 

Elmeka Henderson is a traveler 

who is currently living in Japan. 

She is the creative voice 

behind Adventures in Raising a 

Vagabond, a blog that offers a 

first hand account of a mother 

traveling with her quick-witted 

boy across the globe. She is 

also a huge fan of french fries. 

Check out Elmeka’s blog at 

adventuresinraisingavagabond.com

Danielle Washington, the creator 

of the Rogue Style Maven 

blog, is on a mission to 

inspire women to step outside 

of their comfort zones 

and discover the Rogue Maven 

within. 

Follow Danielle at “Rouge 

Style Maven” on Instagram, 

Twitter & Facebook. Her website 

can also be found at 

roguestylemaven.com. 

Marsha Nelson, a 2016 Denver 

Business Journal ’40 Under 40’ 

recipient, is a passionate leader 

championing the development, 

sustainability, and implementation 

of programs to maximize 

opportunities of small, minority 

and women owned businesses in 

the construction industry. 

Her love of travel began at an early 

age growing up as an ‘Army Brat’ 

allowing her to live in a number 

of countries across Europe and 

Asia. Her other passions include 

family, community service, snowboarding, 

baking and eating off 

other people’s plates.

RICHARD CANTAVE 

Black Travel Profiles

Richard is an experienced humanitarian 

aid worker with degrees in criminology/sociology 

and extensive involvement 

in relief programs, non-profit 

and fundraising. He has a keen interest 

in working with organizations looking to 

defend human rights around the world, 

while advocating on the front lines to alleviate 

the pain and suffering of children 

in all corners of the globe. 

Fluent in three languages (English, 

French, Haitian Creole + basic Spanish), 

His interest in humanitarian aid/disaster 

relief started in the aftermath of Hurricane 

Katrina in the Gulf Coast where he 

volunteered in New-Orleans to help the 

people rebuild their lives in sustainable 

ways through both short-term and longterm 

projects. He joined the UNICEF Tap 

Project, advocating and fundraising to 

improve access to safe water, provide 

sanitation facilities in schools and communities 

and to promote safe hygiene 

practices combating deadly illnesses 

In addition to his human rights work, 

most specifically in pro-Bono/asylum 

work, antisemitism and anti-trafficking, 

his extensive travel around the world,has 

equipped him with the all the tools necessary 

to organize epic trips to Haiti, 

Cuba and other destinations while also 

having the chance to give back to these 

communities. He’s currently working on 

launching a website (www.haitiannomad. 

com) which will hopefully be seen as a 

rite of passage for anyone hoping to discover 

the true Haiti through the eyes of 

a local.

MY WO 

By Jamilah 

The reflective voices of our teens, 

Black, White, Muslim, Christian, 

refugee, male and female fill the 

area on the final debrief of the trip: “I’m 

going to eat all my food, I used to waste 

food, but I won’t anymore.” “Those three 

year olds act better and have longer attention 

spans than our classmates.” “I 

feel… safer, more free, less stressed, 

more welcome, more peaceful here… 

than I do at home.” “Hard work with 

purpose feels good.” No one was ready 

to return, everyone wanted to stay just 

a little bit longer. 

We were a group of 11, three chaperones 

and eight students, 9th through 

12th grade traveling to Senegal over 

Thanksgiving as a learning excursion 

for My World, a global citizenship and 

leadership program for teens based in 

Atlanta, GA. For five of the teens, this 

would be their first time leaving the 

North American continent. Upon landing 

in Dakar, getting our bags and meeting 

Tijan our driver we arrived at our

RLD 

Rashid 

accommodation for the next few days, 

La Villa 126. We wanted our students 

to see many different sides of Senegal 

so that they could challenge the stereotypes 

the media feeds us about Africa. 

La Villa’s 5 star accommodations at 3 

star prices did not disappoint. 

Our first full day in country, students 

met their pen pals of the Malika English 

Club and that exchange turned out to 

be the favorite part of the entire trip. 

In our program, building relationships 

across differences is a large part of our 

efforts. We were greeted by a delegation 

of the town’s Mayor, welcomed with the 

singing of the Star Spangled Banner, 

participated in a lively debate about democracy, 

ate delicious Senegalese food 

and danced around a bonfire. After visiting 

their pals’ homes, our students 

marveled at how happy everyone was 

even though they materially have little. 

Our second day started with a visit to 

Goree Island facilitated by our guide

Ali of Andaando Tours. If you’re looking 

to understand the roots of modern 

day oppression, institutional racism, 

self hate within the Black diaspora, destruction 

of the Black family or simply 

pay homage and say a prayer for the 

ancestors, this is a powerful place to 

start. Our students faced a mixed range 

of emotions. 

Seeing the nonchalant Europeans on the 

ferry and tour felt disrespectful, filled 

them with anger and left them wondering 

why they were even there and should 

they even be allowed there at all. For 

one student it brought up painful memories 

and heartache that were shared 

by a relative who’s endured modern day 

slavery. For our Gambian chaperone, 

there was anger at how much the African 

community doesn’t know and how 

that ignorance affects how they think 

about and deal with African Americans. 

For our White student there was shame 

and horror around her ancestor’s actions. 

It was a heavy morning. What do 

you do with all of that? 

After sitting with that grief, moving 

through the day and regrouping to debrief 

that evening, students were encouraged 

to channel their energy into 

speaking up when they see a wrong 

being done or something crazy being 

said about a marginalized group, or 

challenging their own thoughts of color 

lines within the Black community or 

raising awareness about present day is-

sues that are rooted in our economic 

system of oppression. 

They were happy 

to have the 

company and we 

were happy to be 

with them 

We finished the day with sightseeing 

and taking in a sunset over the beach 

that is the westernmost point on the 

African continent before heading to 

the Pink Lake the next day. For about 

$15 you can ride on a camel (half hour 

round trip) over to the most beautiful 

stretch of pristine beach you’ve probably 

ever seen. 

Over the next two days we had the honor 

of helping the community of Keur 

Simbara build a latrine facilitated by 

Tostan. Working alongside the villagers 

gave our young people such pride 

in their work. We visited a preschool 

class, taught teens to throw a frisbee, 

took goofy photos of the little kids and 

played a game of soccer. It was like 

hanging out with your extended family 

all day. They were happy to have the 

company and we were happy to be with 

them as their joy and love for life is 

something we sadly don’t often see. 

On our final day we followed up our

manual labor with art and relaxation at 

Sobo Bade in Toubab Dialaw. Students 

took a djembe drumming class, learned 

the technique of batik, swung in the 

hammocks and played with the kids on 

the beach. As we sat and reflected on 

our week, the statements that opened 

this article were a few that spilled out. 

I knew then that for at least ten people 

on the planet, many stereotypes had 

been broken, consciousness had been 

sparked and perspectives would never 

be the same. And we hope to do it all 

over again next year with a new group 

of future leaders. 

In addition to developing leadership 

skills, My World provides scholarships 

so that participants can afford their 

trip. Five of the eight students on this 

year’s trip were able to go only with the 

help of our generous donors. We hope 

to provide twice that number of scholarships 

next year. Our Give the Gift of 

Travel Campaign is open through the 

New Year. If you would like to help us 

continue changing the lives of young 

people please visit us online.

Jamilah Rashid is the 

Founding Director of My 

World. Originally from 

Virginia, she currently 

lives in Atlanta, GA with 

her husband and children 

and is a graduate of 

Howard and Clemson 

Universities.

DUBAI 

BY KENNA WILLIAMS

I 

told myself that I wasn’t going back 

to Dubai. I have been there several 

times before passing through 

on my way to South Africa and other 

countries. October 2014 was my 

first journey to Dubai, United Arab 

Emirates. I ended up there on a brief 

layover on my way to Johannesburg. 

On my way back from South Africa, I 

stopped in Dubai with a few friends 

for Halloween weekend. Unbeknown 

to me, this was the beginning of 

what we are now calling the Dubai 

Blackout. That weekend in 2014 

was full of great fun, laughter and 

exposure to the Middle East, which 

was a place that never surfaced on 

my radar. Fast forward to Christmas 

Day 2014, Etihad dropped one 

of the biggest flight deal glitches 

known to man: tickets to Abu Dhabi 

for as low as $177 roundtrip. This 

deal erupted all over the internet 

and a few friends agreed to go on 

Halloween weekend. Approximately 

80 of my closest friends ended 

up in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for Halloween 

in 2015. 

After the culmination of the 2015 trip, 

the energy was high. People wanted to 

know if we could go back. I put together 

a Facebook group with general information 

even stating I would not organize it 

(ha!) but I would assist in anyway that 

I could. In December, Emirates Airlines 

released their family and friends deal 

and I ended up buying 16 plane tickets. 

This jumpstarted others until we 

had over 200 people buy tickets for this 

trip. Although I am not a travel agent 

by trade, I have enough skills to plan a 

trip for a group, as I’ve done this a few 

times. 

This Halloween 2016 was more than 

spectacular. We ended up with over 250 

individuals, mostly African American, 

that traveled to Dubai for what I coined 

as the Dubai Blackout. What was special 

about this trip was it was filled with 

a lot of people who made this their 

first international trip. Dubai is far....extremely 

far, and some of our first tim-

ers traveled 17 hours ONE WAY just to 

get to Dubai. That in itself is an amazing 

accomplishment. We had all age ranges 

from 20s even to the 80s represented 

and all types of professions such as students, 

administrators, engineers, doctors/nurses 

and entrepreneurs among 

other things like retired! I put together 

a schedule of activities such as the Saffron 

Brunch at the Atlantis Hotel, Desert 

Safari complete with sand boarding and 

sand duning, Mountain Safari, a day trip 

to Abu Dhabi to visit the museums and 

the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 

and a yacht cruise planned by Ms. Lynzi 

Taylor from Abu Dhabi. 

One special note for this trip is this was 

one of the first trips that I was going to 

bring my brother Tony. I have traveled 

all over the world and my oldest brother 

Tony said he was going to Dubai with me 

the next time I go. He and his wife Lakisha 

obtained tickets to Dubai. My brother 

did not have a passport yet, but he 

said he would get one and he worked towards 

that goal. Tony and I talked about 

this trip daily. He’d talk about how we 

were going to recreate the Jodeci videos 

on the sand dunes. He even assembled a 

group of men going and they were working 

out who would sing the parts! 

On February 18th, 2016 my brother unexpectedly 

passed away in his sleep at the 

age of 41. As a sister, I was beyond devastated 

but in my family, we are taught 

that you have to keep pressing on. I ended 

up taking two months off work and 

traveled around the world but I took my 

brother’s tie with me so he could travel in 

the afterlife. My cousin Shyronica Small,

Tony’s wife Lakisha and I took the tie to 

Dubai with us. He was there in spirit! 

At the end of the trip, friendships and 

relationships were formed, invites to holiday 

dinners were planned and future 

trips with new friends were made. A lot 

of barriers were broken during the trip, 

tears released past pain and a lot of people 

manifested their destiny. Some people 

conquered their fears of flying and 

others were able to come out of an anti-social 

shell to be appreciated and loved 

on by over 250 queens and kings on the 

sands of time. #DubaiBlackout made us 

family and our memories are forever emblazoned 

in our hearts. 

I am looking forward to our Dubai Blackout 

2017! 

Kenna Williams is World Traveler. She hails 

from Oxnard, CA by way of Memphis, TN. 

She is a 40 year old professional woman 

working as an Aerospace Engineer in the 

Defense industry and she is the creator of 

the famous hashtag #BookDatIsht which 

simply means to book flights immediately 

without questioning anything! She is also 

known as the Nomadness Tribe Cheerleader 

since 2012

K 

Ö 

LNBy 

Marcus White

According to the blog, “The German 

Way,” a guide to German 

culture and daily life in German: 

“the history of Christmas markets goes 

back to the late Middle Ages in the 

German-speaking part of Europe and 

in many parts of the former Holy Roman 

Empire that includes many eastern 

regions of France and Switzerland. 

Many historians consider Dresden to 

have one of the strongest claims to the 

first genuine Christmas market. The 

Striezelmarkt in Dresden dates back to 

1434. It is one of the oldest and most 

authentic Christmas fairs in Germany.” 

Of course I went to Germany seeking 

Christmas markets not knowing any of 

this… 

As a first timer to Köln (Cologne), I 

didn’t know what to expect. I chose not 

to read about the Christmas markets 

beforehand so that I could be surprised. 

I was not disappointed. The experience 

of coming off the tram and seeing all 

the Christmas lights and an open-air 

market was quite different to my experiences 

in the United States. First off, the 

market was decorated over the top with 

Christmas bling (lights, ornaments and 

music), but the smell of savory wursts 

cooking on the grills hit me at once. It 

was the family BBQ meets Rockefeller 

Center and I couldn’t wait. 

Fortunately, it was also cold as hell. So 

the first thing I tried was mulled wine 

called Glühwein mit Schuss. Glühwein

Go for the 

experience, but 

definitely stay for 

the food.

is a quintessential German Christmas 

beverage that consists of hot mulled 

red or white wine, with an optional 

shot of brandy. So you know I drank 

the hot wine with brandy, I’m just saying! 

A brotha was trying to keep warm. 

Glühwein is served in ceramic mugs designed 

specifically for each local Christmas 

Market. While the designs are different, 

the mugs usually depict either 

the respective historic city centers or 

the Christmas market. One thing I was 

told was that when purchasing Glühwein, 

you pay a deposit in addition to 

the price of the beverage. You can then 

either return the mug once finished to 

get your deposit back or keep it as a 

nice souvenir. 

You can also extend your tourist activities 

by choosing markets that are near 

major attractions. For example, the Harbour 

Christmas Market was right outside 

of the Lindst Chocolate Museum. 

So when you feel like getting warm, a 

tour of the museum or even more food 

is just step away. Between the museums 

and the market, I enjoyed myself by going 

into the different booths, trying on 

hats and learning about German crafts. 

From specialized chocolate to felted 

slippers, they had just about everything 

you could imagine giving your mother 

for Christmas. I purchased several gifts 

for family, but must admit that the real 

draw of these markets is the food. 

If you plan to visit any of Cologne’s 

Christmas Markets in Germany, I suggest 

you try the Currywurst or Germknödels 

a steamed doughy sweet 

dumpling with custard and cherries. 

Kartoffelpuffer, which are potato pancakes 

with applesauce, are also worth 

a try, but if you have room left in your 

belly then gorge on Belgium waffles 

built like sundaes and everything will 

be right in the world. The markets are a 

real foodie haven and you can get a nice 

sample of German food without having 

to purchase an entire meal. So go for 

the experience, but definitely stay for 

the food. 

Marcus White is a lover of all 

things food and fun and he’s 

made it his mission to squeeze 

every hour out of every personal 

day and holiday he has. As 

a corporate junkie and weekend 

warrior he still manages to 

get around and has visited 11 

countries this year alone.

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GRIOTS REPUBLIC - AN URBAN BLACK TRAVEL MAG - DECEMBER 2016

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