GRIOTS REPUBLIC - An Urban Black Travel Magazine - June 2016

W H E R E T H E R E ' S T R A V E L , T H E R E ' S A S T O R Y 

DESTINATIONS 

I'M 

BLACK 

AND I 

TRAVEL 

JUNETEENTH 

KETI 

KOTI 

FLAMENCO 

HOUSTON 

NOMADS 

GUYANA 

SAFE SKIES 

JUST GO! 

FROM ZAMBIA TO THAILAND, EXPATS 

DISH ON LIFE, EATS & ENTERTAINMENT 

JUNE 2016 | ISSUE 06

Ebony Booth 

Aniya Dunkley 

Ejide D. Fashina 

Majida Mundial 

Alicia Mitchell 

Greg Gross 

Alexis K. 

Barnes 

Yvette Santos Cuenco

Kamara Afi Coaxum 

Marcus White 

Adrian Fanus 

Jessica Cobbs 

Bruce "Blue" Rivera 

Shavonne Natesia 

Afro-Europe 

International Blog 

Juleon Lewis

Archivists Note 

Hello Readers! 

Let’s talk about the past, present, and future... 

PAST 

Hands down, the Haiti Issue was our most read and 

most shared issue thus far! Readers loved reading 

about Haitian Vodou and the country’s “cursed 

narrative.” They loved the travelers we profiled in this 

issue and the Haitian destinations our writers talked 

about. The most common feedback we received was 

“Wow. I didn’t know about ______.” That, ladies and 

gentlemen, is music to our ears. 

Editors Note 

So while we say “goodbye” to our May issue and say 

“hello” to June, we wanted to say thank you to the 

contributors who make it happen and to the readers 

who make it worthwhile. We hope to continue bringing 

content that you enjoy. 

FUTURE 

I saw a meme a few weeks ago that said “If you’re 

dreams don’t scare you, then they’re not big enough.” 

I immediately started laughing because that’s exactly 

where we are right now. We have some big plans and 

our only saving grace is that we are supported by a 

very active and vocal community of travelers and 

readers who have become invested in Griots Republic. 

I’m talking about you, by the way! 

We’ve created a short survey to capture your opinions 

and suggestions on the direction of GR and if you have 

the time, then we’d appreciate you taking it. 

T H E A R C H I V I S T S

PRESENT 

So let’s get into this issue... 

1. We spoke to expats and 

travelers from Thailand to 

Guyana to Zambia and asked 

them to share their “everyday 

life” stories with us. The results 

were heartwarming and we 

hope that each of you see a little 

of yourselves in these travelers. 

2. If you’ve ever been interested 

in learning Flamenco in Spain, 

then this is the place for you. 

3. Juneteenth is upon us this 

month and we’ve mapped out 

some of the best celebrations 

around the U.S! Sounds like a 

road trip to me... 

4. This month we headed on 

down to Houston to capture a 

few of our traveler profiles and 

let’s just say “people do it big in 

Texas!” 

5. Definitely check out the 

special announcement from the 

team over at Re:Union Music 

Fest. 

6. African-Americans aren’t 

the only onese celebrating 

“Freedom” this month. Take a 

moment to read up on Keti Koti. 

Enjoy!

SURVE 

WE NEED YOUR OPIN 

We want to know how to serve you better. If you have a m 

please visit bit.ly/GRMAGSURVEY to take our confident 

We appreciate you support!

ION 

Y 

oment, then 

ial survey. 

An Urban Black 

Travel Mag

R E A D I N G L I S T 

ASK THE READERS 

READ 

From phrase books to cook books and beyond... The answers we received when 

Griots Republic readers were asked which books inspire their wanderlust were 

wildly different. Check out some of the ones that inspired us. 

Selome Ameyo 

Dr. Miah Daughtery 

Kelly Nelson 

Danielle Pointdujour 

Ironically, I just posted in 

my blog (Singteachwritefly.blogspot.com) 

about 

books inspiring my travels! 

I will say that I have 

my Rick Steves’ “Phrasebook 

for French, German 

and Italian” that saved my 

life in Geneva! 

Lonely Planet’s “The 

Travel Book!” 

I have a book called “Wild 

Light” by Erik Stensland 

on my coffee table. It’s a 

photography book celebrating 

the Rocky Mountain 

National Park and it 

inspires me, the farthest 

thing from an outdoor/ 

woodsy girl, to want to go 

camping. 

“What I Did While You 

Were Breeding” is one of 

my faves. I’m actually 

going to read it again.

S O C I A L M E D I A 

IG PHOTO OF THE MONTH 

BY ADRIAN FANUS (@ADRIANFANUS) 

I was born and raised in the 

caribbean island of St Lucia. My 

Son Omarion was born in the 

United States and this was his first 

visit to St Lucia. 

One of my favorite pastimes as a 

child was taking a shower outside. 

You’d grab a bar of soap open the 

standing pipe and indulge. There 

is a purity in this that makes me 

nostalgic about my childhood. It 

would rain and my friends and I 

would all come running outside 

of our home and grab a soccer ball 

and start playing in the rain. You 

don’t see that in the United States 

and I could not wait to experience 

it with my son. 

We had just returned from fishing 

in the ocean and I grabbed him, 

opened the pipe and watched him 

erupt in laughter and glee as the 

cold water hit his head. He enjoyed 

it and for a moment I saw myself as 

a boy in him. Something as simple 

as a shower outside captures the 

essence of growing up in St Lucia. 

It is the simple things in life that 

count and sharing that simplicity 

with my son was priceless. 

Place #GriotsRepublic on your IG photos and you too may be chosen.

L I T T L E P A S S P O R T S 

SUMMERTIME! 

Places where your little travelers can 

nuture their budding wanderlust 

Written By Kamara Afi Coaxum 

Pretty soon the air will be filled with the 

sweet sounds of children everywhere. 

School’s almost out and with that comes 

an entire summer filled with long, lazy and 

warm days. While kids may have their own 

agenda, parents often struggle with ways 

to keep their children entertained and all 

the while making sure they don’t lose what 

they learned during the school year. 

Parents, worry not. Here is a compilation 

of road trips, festivals, camps and reading 

material that spans the globe to keep even 

the most reticent child busy. Pack those 

bags and let’s hit the road! 

Martha’s Vineyard 

Head north on I-95, take the fast ferry from 

New Bedford or fly and in a short while 

you’ll arrive on Martha’s Vineyard. Since 

the 1800s African Americans have been 

flocking to the island. Families can enjoy 

day trips to Aquinnah, which is known for 

it’s beautiful clay cliffs. Children can hop 

on the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs 

and then head over to Mad Martha’s, the 

iconic ice cream shop across the street. 

Be sure to check out the African America 

Heritage Tour, a treat for all. 

www.marthas-vineyard.com 

Birmingham Civil Rights Museum 

This museum’s mission is to enlighten

@socialfreedomfighter 

each generation about civil and human rights by exploring our common 

past and working together on the present to build a better 

future. Young children can take a peek into the past by viewing 

exhibits that compare a classroom for black children with that of a 

classroom for white children in the 1950s. Various exhibits chronicle 

the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s. 

www.bcri.org 

Camp Atwater 

Ideal for children ages 8-15 who love spending time outdoors, Camp 

Atwater is the oldest and most prestigious African American owned 

and operated camp in North America. Located in North Brookfield, 

MA, Camp Atwater provides opportunities for your child to make 

new friends that will last them a lifetime. 

www.campatwater.org 

Walking the Spirit: Black Paris 

@nomadicmama3 

Grab those passports and take a quick jaunt across the pond to 

Paris, France for a Walk the Spirit Tour. The tours are geared towards 

children over 10 years old and are designed to educate and 

entertain. One of the stops included is Josephine Baker’s castle 

and you’ll also learn about the history of jazz that spans 100 years. 

www.walkthespirit.com 

Festivals 

Perfect for the whole family, festivals have great music, delicious 

foods and allow for people watching. Continue your journey overseas 

with a visit to several spirited, family-friendly festivals. 

The Obon Festival, held on Shikoku Island in Japan in August, is 

sure to please with stunning lantern rituals and fire ceremonies. 

With events such as sword dancing and a castle party, there is 

something for everyone. 

www.japan-guide.com 

@tiffu_onlyknew 

PanaFest, held in late June in Accra, Ghana is a world-class event 

honoring freedom and emancipation for those in the African diaspora. 

There are dance and storytelling workshops accessible to all 

ages. This festival is sure to be a hit. 

www.panafestghana.org 

#SummerReading 

Fire up the Kindle and start downloading books that will keep your 

child well read and engaged all summer long. NprED has a diverse 

list of books for children. Search using the hashtag #SummerReading 

and you’ll find everything you need.

G L OC BO AM L MGU INF TI TS 

Y 

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT 

2016 Safe Skies for Africa, an Aviation 

Career Academy, set to take off 

SAFE SKIES 

Written By Ejide D. Fashina 

Named after the White House Initiative started by 

the President of the United States in 1998, “Safe 

Skies for Africa” is an Aviation Career Academy 

sponsored by the National Black Coalition of Federal 

Aviation Employees for students living on the 

continent of Africa specifically in Lagos, Nigeria. 

The aviation academy is now entering its 3rd year 

and is the bran child of NBCFAE NE Regional President 

and Nigerian American Ejide D. Fashina. 

Ejide is an Air traffic Front Line Manager for the 

Federal Aviation Administration based out the 

Philadelphia International Airport. Ejide has dedicated 

much of her career to encouraging youth 

to pursue careers in aviation related professions.

The annual event started in 2014 as a simple idea 

with two Americans and five Nigerian based air traffic 

controllers. With no idea what to expect or how 

this idea would evolve the event began. Three years 

later the aviation academy has blossomed into a 

large annual event. 

The 2016 Ace Academy has over eighteen American 

based aviation employees who plan to take the long 

journey to Lagos, 60 Nigerian based volunteers, over 

1000 student participants and numerous sponsors. 

Even though the event is aimed at students, many 

of the 18 American participants have never been 

to the continent of Africa; therefore, they too are 

expanding their worldwide perspective and experiencing 

different cultures. 

The Nigerian Aviation Academy is aimed at raising 

awareness and interest of students in aviation related 

careers with the hopes of developing future 

global leaders in aviation. In recent years Aviation 

Education in Africa has been a priority for the FAA 

Africa Office and the Department of Transportation. 

Just as in the United States, Africa is facing high 

demands for qualified professionals in the aviation 

sector. The Aviation Academy provided a broad exposure 

of civil and military aviation careers to approximately 

1000 high school aged students from 

the ages of thirteen to eighteen. They were also able 

to discover a variety of exciting professions that encompass 

aviation 

Through out the week of the Academy, the employees 

will share valuable insight on the importance of 

pursuing a career in aviation, the many obstacles 

they overcame to achieve their goals and the gratification 

they received once those goals were met. The 

students will also have the opportunity to hear from 

Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Engineers and Military 

personnel. At the end of the camp, a $1000 scholarship 

will be awarded to a student. 

If you’d like more information about the program, 

please contact Ejide D. Fashina at ejide.fashina@ 

nbcfae.org to learn more about future ACE initiatives.

G L O B A L G I F T S 

GET 

OUTSIDE 

By Alexandra Stewart 

Under Armour Verge Low GORE-TEX® Hiking Shoe 

Whether you are exploring one of the 58 National Parks of 

our great nation or trekking through the rainforest of some 

far-off land, these Under Armour hiking shoes will give you 

the stability and support needed to navigate even the most 

rigorous of hikes. They are 100% waterproof yet still allow 

sweat to escape so your feet stay dry. The Michelin® outsole 

with Wild Gripper rubber compound provides for excellent 

traction on a variety of terrains. Available in an array of 

colors. - $139.99 

(www.underarmour.com) 

Sacred Joy Leggings 

by Joshua Mays 

Artist, Joshua Mays, takes 

his afrofuturism art one 

step further by making it 

wearable. These leggings are 

fire and you can wear them 

all summer and still look fly. 

Available in 4 images. $24.45 

(www.liveheroes.com) 

CamKix Universal 3-in-1 

Smartphone Camera Lens Kit 

Document your summer shenanigans 

like a pro with this camera lens kit 

for your smartphone or other 

portable devices. This kit comes 

with 3 lenses – the fisheye, wide 

angle and macro lens that will 

have you capturing everything 

from large group shots 

and wide landscapes to your 

reflection in a single drop of 

dew on a flower’s petal, all 

with your smartphone! Made 

from aluminum and comes 

with a universal clip, microfiber 

cloth and a carrying pouch. 

Available in six different colors. 

$13.99 (www.amazon.com)

H2O 

Klean Kanteen 

Stay hydrated and toxic-free during these hot summer months 

with Klean Kanteen’s BPA-free metal hydration bottle. Made of 

high-quality stainless steel that won’t impart or retain flavors 

in your beverage. Comes in a variety of cool colors with your 

choice of a sport cap with a silicone spout or the leak-proof loop 

cap both made for easy transport. Also available with a sippy cup 

top for kids. $24.94 & up 

(www.kleankanteen.com) 

Dont Forget Fido 

Collaps A Bowl 

Fido can easily get dehydrated and over-heated out here in 

these hot summer streets. This collapsible bowl is the 

perfect accessory to take with you on those long 

walks or all day outings with your fur-baby. 

Made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone, it 

collapses to .875 x 6 inches, expands to 3.5 x 

6 inches and holds 24 oz of liquid. Perfectly 

compact for travel ease. Comes in a variety 

of colors. - $10 (www.kurgo.com) 

GRIOTS REPUBLIC

01 DEIDRE 

MATHIS 

TRAVELER PROFILE 

Budget traveler, author and entrepreneur, Deidre 

Mathis, recently filed with the state of Texas to open 

a hostel in the Houston area in Fall 2017. Her hostel, 

Wanderlust Houston, will offer its guests an authentic 

Houston experience, safe, clean facilities, organized 

day tours, and more! In opening the hostel, Deidre is 

slated to become the first African-American female 

hostel owner in the United States. 

Having traveled to over 31 countries spanning 6 

continents and staying in over 50 hostels, she says 

hostelling has played a big part in her saving money 

during her travels. She also notes that not only is staying 

in hostels a great option to save money, but it is also 

a great way to meet people from all over the world. 

Deidre was inspired to open a hostel in the Houston 

area because she believes Houston is a great hub for 

international travelers and a popular destination for 

domestic travelers. 

Deidre’s love of travel, her hostel ambitions and her 

travel budget book, Wanderlust: For the Young, Broke 

Professional has lead her to have been featured twice 

in Black Enterprise Magazine and highlighted as a USA 

TODAY’s Modern Woman. She has spoken at events 

such as the Women’s Travel Fest Conference and 

Women in Travel Summit. She has also been a keynote 

speaker at many different colleges/universities and 

has appeared as a budget travel expert guest on Great 

Day Houston, First Coast Living, and WBTV CBS where 

she has discussed budget travel tips and shared her 

very inspirational story with the viewers of the morning 

shows. 

From Press release ““Wanderlust Houston: A Houston Hostel, LLC” 

Edited for length and brevity.

GOLDEN 

JUBILEE 

By Marcus White

From the moment I stepped off the 

plane at Cheddi Jagan International Airport 

I was showered with kindness, hospitality 

and…. Soca Music! If you plan a 

trip to Guyana, you’d better be into Soca 

as it seeps from every possible nook and 

cranny throughout Georgetown, clearly 

having fused to the souls of the Guyanese 

people who make up six different ethnic 

backgrounds (African, Amerindian, Chinese, 

European, Indian, and Portuguese), 

but whine as one nation. 

I was thankful to have made it to the “the 

land of many waters” and to be celebrating 

its “Golden Jubilee,” otherwise known 

as its 50th anniversary. I had packed everything 

from black tie to hiking boots to 

prepare for the myriad of activities surrounding 

the celebration and I used all 

of it. From pageants and flag raisings to 

presidential galas and parade, I was ready 

to experience Guyana in all her glory. 

Although Guyana’s existence became 

“known” and recorded in 1499 when Spanish 

conquistador, Alonso de Ojeda, set off 

to explore and “discovered” it, it wasn’t 

until May 26, 1966 that the country actually 

gained its independence from British 

rule. Prior to independence, Guyana had 

been colonized by the Spanish, French, 

Dutch and the British. The Dutch brought 

African slaves to the region and the British 

brought indentured labor from Asia creating 

another layer of culture and influence 

on the indigenous people living here. Like 

most of the world, each colonizer left a 

mark on the people and the land and their 

impact can still be seen and felt today. 

This week, however, I was here to celebrate 

with a nation coming into its own. 

I had a few days before the festivities 

kicked off and I knew I wanted to see as 

much as possible of the ecological landmarks 

Guyana was known for. With over 

80% of the country protected from development, 

Guyana is considered to have one

of the most untouched and preserved eco systems 

in this part of the world. 

Places like Kaieteur Falls, which occupies a 

region near the boarder of Venezuela and is 

the largest single jet and highest single drop 

waterfall in the world at five times the size of 

Niagara Falls, should definitely be added to 

your “must see” list as it is a day trip with only 

a 40 minute flight from Georgetown with tours 

starting at $180. 

Mind you, Kaieteur 

is just one of ten of 

Guyana’s waterfalls. 

The three major 

rivers: the Essequibo, 

Demerara and 

Berbice Rivers, the 

largest in the Caribbean, 

are also near 

Georgetown and can 

be seen on a 1-hour 

bus tour. The Essequibo 

has 365 islands 

on it; one of 

which is as large as 

Barbados in size. 

For me, the most 

striking thing was 

the Atlantic Ocean 

viewed from the seawalls; 

it was brown. 

I expected blue, 

maybe even green, 

but according to nationsencyclopedia. 

com, the sediments 

carried on the rivers 

and emptied into 

the Atlantic keep the shoreline a brown from 

mix of mud and sand. In all honesty, this left 

me perplexed and it’s likely something you’d 

have to get use to. Nonetheless, I was here to 

celebrate, so beach time wasn’t a real factor. 

The festivities of the 50th Anniversary commenced 

and I was chauffeured from cultural 

shows to concerts. I made it to the Ms. Guyana 

World 2016 Pageant and parties, which 

will forever be my happy place and I met the 

President of Guyana, David A. Granger, a kind 

man attempting to push the country forward. I 

also attended my first ever road parade called 

“Mashramani,” which is an Amerindian word 

that means “the celebration after hard work.” 

The road parade was mesmerizing with its 

carnival-esque style that kept me in awe of 

the many bright colors that the parade participant’s 

wore and the Caribbean beats that 

made my batty 

(Guyanese slang 

meaning “ass”) 

move. 

If you plan to visit 

this country there 

are quite a few additional 

landmarks 

and sites to see 

that have nothing 

to do with the anniversary. 

Whether 

it be Georgetown’s 

City Hall built in 

1889, St. George’s 

Cathedral (one of 

the tallest wooden 

churches in the 

world) or visiting 

one of the nine 

indigenous Amerindian 

tribes in 

Guyana, you can 

count on encountering 

a sense of 

adventure. 

Georgetown is also 

a fantastic launching 

pad for a multi-country visit to the other 

Guianas: Guyana (British Guiana), Suriname 

(Dutch Guiana), French Guiana, as well as 

Brazilian Amapá State (Portuguese Guiana) 

and Venezuelan Guyana Region (Spanish Guiana). 

I definitely plan to come back and have 

already begun researching an overland plan 

through Nomad Revelations. Hopefully, I’ll see 

you there.

Marcus White spends his days behind a 

desk and every free day in motion. A pint 

of Guinness in Ireland, Shabu Shabu in the 

Philippines, and custom made suits in any 

number of countries only seem to appease 

his wanderlust until the next trip. This is his 

first written article about his travels and he 

excited to share more.

IN SEARCH 

OF A CROSS 

A Tale of Two Countries 

BY GREG GROSS

BLOGGER OF 

THE MONTH

If I say “religious travel,” what destinations 

come to your mind? Virtually every religion 

has its own “holy land,” sacred sites on sacred 

ground that is the distant goal of many a 

pilgrim, from the most ancient time up to the 

present. But an honest, open-minded search 

for that sacred ground might take you to some 

unexpected places on your modern world map. 

Take Christianity. Were we to start talking 

about a trip to the Holy Land, the first region 

to come to your mind almost certainly would 

be the Middle East, and for lots of very good 

reasons. Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq — 

they all have places in the Biblical narrative. 

So does Turkey, which isn’t actually part of 

the Middle East, but forms a land bridge 

of sorts between Europe and Asia. And, of 

course, there’s always Rome, Vatican City, the 

Holy See. 

But what about Armenia? And especially what 

about Ethiopia? Do either of these lands enter 

into your thinking when you’re imagining that 

dream religious journey? 

They should. 

Armenia, not Roman Catholic Italy, lays claim 

to being the first Christian nation. That alone 

would be reason enough for a Christian to want 

to walk this land.That claim, however, has a 

major challenger. More on that in a moment. 

ARMENIA 

Is this country part of Eastern Europe, 

Western Asia or the Middle East? Honestly, I’m 

not sure. There’s no doubt at all, though, that 

Armenia down through the ages has been a

These days, 

Yerevan is the 

physical heart 

and cultural soul 

of Armenia. 

crossroads of history, much of it tragic. 

On a map of the world, Armenia is a little 

potato chip of a country, hemmed in on all 

sides by larger and more powerful neighbors. 

The country is bounded by Russia, the former 

Soviet republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan, 

Iran and Turkey. 

At various times in its history, it has been 

possessed, dominated or fought over by 

almost all of them. On a per capita basis, 

you’d be hard-pressed to find a people whose 

history is more thoroughly soaked in their own 

blood. 

Yerevan holds three different distinctions in 

Armenia: 

It’s the national capital. 

Its population of 1.1 million — roughly the size 

of San Diego — also makes it Armenia’s largest 

city. 

It’s been around since 782 BC, making it one 

of the oldest cities on Earth that people still 

call home.The city is celebrating its 2,798th 

anniversary on Oct. 15.

DID YOU KNOW? 

The King James Bible 

mentions Ethiopia by 

name 45 times. 

Armenia? Twice. 

It sits in the shadow of Mount Ararat — yes, 

that Mount Ararat, the dormant volcano where 

the Bible tells us Noah’s ark came to rest after 

riding out the great flood. 

Yerevan was also a major stop on the Silk 

Road, the great ancient trade route between 

China and Europe. 

These days, Yerevan is the physical heart and 

cultural soul of Armenia. A café culture, jazz, 

a passion for wine, nice cars, good times. It’s 

also a relatively cheap destination. You can 

score a 4-star hotel here for US$100 a night 

or less. Five-stars go for well under $200. Into 

shopping? Prices in Yerevan run about 25 

percent cheaper than those in Western Europe. 

There are guided religious tours available in 

Yerevan that will take you deep into Armenia’s 

rich Christian history, and escorted pilgrimage 

tours to the most important Christian sites 

around the country, most of which are open 

24 hours and free to the public. 

Not all of Armenia’s attractions are ancient. 

You reach the ancient Tatev monastery via a 

cable car suspended more than 1,000 feet 

above the Vorotan River Gorge. At 3.5 miles, it’s 

the longest such suspended cable car line in 

the world, according to the folks at Guinness. 

In 301 AD, Armenia was the first country 

to officially adopt Christianity as the state 

religion, a fact in which Armenians take great 

pride. But was it really the first Christian 

nation? There are those who will tell you that 

title may rightly belong to another ancient 

land… in Africa. 

ETHIOPIA 

The land once known as Abyssinia may not 

have made Christianity its state religion until 

330 AD, three decades after Armenia, but its 

roots in the church are at least as old as those 

of Armenia.

And there are those who assert that those roots 

might be even older. Among them are Mario 

Alexis Portella, a Catholic priest in Florence, 

Italy, and Abba Abraham Buruk Woldegaber, 

a Cistercian monk from Eritrea. Together, they 

wrote the book “Abyssinian Christianity: The 

First Christian Nation?” 

There’s no disputing the fact that Ethiopia 

contains some of the most ancient and 

priceless sites in all of Christendom, including 

its famed rock churches. And then, there are 

the castles. Yes, castles in Africa, a whole 

complex of them, in Gondar. 

It also holds a special place in Africa’s political 

history: It is the only nation on the Mother 

Continent which has never been colonized. 

Ethiopia is home to nine UN World Heritage 

sites, and several more that probably should 

be. 

Great as its natural and historical attractions 

may be, however, the best reason for visiting 

Ethiopia may be its people — beautiful, ancient 

people proud of their culture, their heritage 

and their faiths. 

Aside from its own attractions, Addis Ababa, 

the Ethiopian capital, is a great jump-off 

point for exploring the rest of East Africa. The 

fact that the national flag carrier, Ethiopian 

Airlines, has one of the most extensive route 

maps across the entire Mother Continent 

doesn’t hurt, either. 

Armenia. Ethiopia. Even in traveling within 

the context of Christianity, it’s still possible to 

think — and travel — outside the box.

In 2009, Greg created a blog designed 

to encourage Black Americans to go 

beyond the bounds of their block and 

their country. It was called “I’m Black 

and I Travel.” It soon won national 

honors and an international readership. 

Eventually, however, he realized that 

encouraging people to travel was 

not enough; he had to enable people 

to travel.That realization led him to 

become a travel agent, and create 

Trips by Greg.

KETI 

KOTI 

Dutch Commemoration 

of the Abolition of 

Slavery in Amsterdam 

Republished from Afro-Europe 

International Blog 

Keti Koti (Breaking the Chains) is the 

annual celebration and commemoration of 

the abolition of slavery in the former Dutch 

colonies on July 1st. It will be celebrated in 

the City of Amsterdam in the Oosterpark on 

July 1, 2016. 

With performances of Surinamese, Antillean 

and Dutch music groups, the Keti Koti festival 

will again contribute to the broadening of 

the celebration and commemoration of the 

abolition of slavery. After the resounding 

success of last year it is expected that the 

festival will attract more then 20,000 people. 

The Keti Koti Festival begins with a large-scale 

parade, the “Bigi Spikri” (“Big Mirror”), with 

orchestras and brass bands. The parade starts 

at 1:00pm from the Stopera (City Hall) and 

will end in the Ooster Park, where the national 

commemoration takes place at the National 

Slavery Monument. 

Controversy 

There is some controversy between the major 

black communities in the Netherlands about 

the commemoration date. For the Surinamese 

community the 1st of July is also the official 

commemoration day in Suriname, while for 

the Antillean community in the Dutch Antilles 

the official commemoration is held on August 

17th. And also the name is different, in the 

Antilles it’s called the “Tula commoration” 

and not “Keti Koti.” 

Links 

For more information on this year’s festival in 

Amsterdam, visit www.ketikotiamsterdam.nl 

or The National Institute for the Study of 

Dutch Slavery and its Legacy at 

www.slavernijverleden.nl

“Keti Koti,” is 

Surinamese for 

“breaking the 

chains.” 

On July 1, 1863 slavery 

was abolished in the 

former Dutch colonies 

of Suriname and 

Netherlands Antilles. 

Thus ending a period of 

more than 200 years of 

slavery in the colonies.

BAT TH 

Jesse Ow 

By Juleon Lewis

E 

TLE 

ens

Staying up all night the previous day had 

made me tired. Very tired. So tired, in fact, 

that for hours I had been in some weird lucid 

state between exhausted and excited. Every 

time I settled into a good sleeping position, 

I found something new to focus on. For 

example, the included meals on this flight 

were surprisingly delicious - who knew! The 

movies on the screen in the headrest were not 

only current, but free! And the bathrooms in 

this airplane were big enough to comfortably, 

and finally, join the ranks of the mile-high 

club! 

Of course, these things were only small joys, 

thoughts that popped up every now and then 

between the feelings of unbridled excitement. 

I was finally accomplishing what I had been 

claiming since high school - moving abroad. 

And today... today was the day that I boarded 

my first transatlantic flight to start the rest of 

my life living outside of the States. 

Armed with only what could fit in a common 

school backpack, my iPhone and my 

international debit card, the last vestiges 

of my (un)common American life were the 

only things that kept me convinced that this 

moment was real! Sitting in my cramped 

American Airlines seat, all I could do was 

smile as I reflected on how my life came to be 

what it was. 

With family vacations to the Caribbean and 

Mexico starting in my teenage years, the 

travel bug bit me early in life bit. The tipping 

point was my high school class trip to Costa 

Rica, the dream trip I couldn’t go on because 

I had an internship. That’s when I made my

JUNE 2016 

To truly travel, as a 

lifestyle, and embrace 

all the world has for 

you, you can’t plan, 

you can’t control and 

you can’t predict, but 

you can choose how 

you will respond. 

first public declaration: “When I graduate, 

I’m going to Costa Rica and I’m living in the 

jungle!” 

That declaration was met with scorn from 

some, laughter from most, and stern, furrowbrowed 

rejection from my parents. With both 

parents having graduated from prestigious 

universities with high honors, they felt so 

passionately about my education that they 

literally bribed me to go to school. So, I put 

my dreams on hold. Then I graduated with 

$60,000 in debt, so of course I had to stay 

to pay it off, along with my car and my credit 

cards. My dream was slipping farther away. 

When I matured in my career and finances 

stopped being a concern, other worries 

popped up that prevented me from traveling. 

What would I now do with my car and 

motorcycle and mountain of possessions? 

What about my grandparents, who were 

getting older, and the business I wanted to 

start? I’m athletic, attractive and have hazel 

eyes; what if I went abroad and got kidnapped 

and forced into sex slavery? Nope, I had too 

many reasons to stay here. My dream started 

to become more like a New Year’s resolution 

- “I’ll do it next year, I promise!” 

Then one day everything changed when 

I suddenly got let go from my job. I wish I 

could say that I confidently sold everything 

and high-tailed it outta here, but I didn’t. The 

same fears resurfaced and brought with them 

some friends. What if this crazy move violates 

the purpose God has for my life? What if I 

leave and something happens to a loved one? 

What if I’m as crazy as everyone says and 

I just need to sit still and live a “traditional 

life?” Most importantly, what if I go abroad, 

squander my savings, and come back in a 

few years in my mid-thirties with no money, 

no job, and nothing of “value” to show for my 

years gallivanting across the globe? 

If anything, the fear of not getting any 

further than a right-swipe on Tinder scared 

me the most. Many of my friends, who

were in their mid-thirties and 

forties, joined the battle cry 

of my grandchild-less parents 

in asserting that if I made 

this decision, I’d basically be 

throwing away any chance at 

love and relationships until 

I became “stable” again. For 

me, a man that craves family 

and community, these fears 

stung like a hot knife. 

So how did I assuage my 

fears? I didn’t. Actually, I’m 

still scared. I still have no idea 

of where my life is headed. All 

the questions I once had are 

still there; but, I found myself 

still on the plane and looking 

forward to the road ahead 

because of advice from great 

friends and a few hard talks I 

had to have with myself. 

First, I admitted my fears 

and then responded to 

them with a logical answer. 

Taking the unknown out of 

things usually helps control 

emotions and when I did that, 

I found myself laughing at 

how unnecessarily distressed 

I was. For example, one of 

the most common questions 

asked was about money and 

not having a job. The answer 

is startlingly simple - I’ll work 

and I’ll survive like most other 

capable people that desire 

employment. 

The second key to my success 

If anything, the fear of not 

getting any further than a 

right-swipe on Tinder 

scared me the most. 

was adding an affirmation 

that directly addressed the 

fear. Was I still scared that I 

would run out of money, yes. 

However I, in concert with 

a few good friends, had to 

remind myself repeatedly that 

I would find a job and that I 

am capable and resourceful. 

Ultimately I, like most other 

humans on the planet, will 

adapt to the circumstances 

that life throws my way. With 

this attitude, I found myself 

joyously reselling bottles of 

water to hot travelers as they 

got off the ferry in Koh Phangan 

or teaching dance classes at a 

club in Singapore. These were 

all new experiences and they 

were all ways that I was able 

to fulfill the affirmation and 

confront my fears. 

Although we all have fears, 

the key to still moving forward 

lies in accepting that you can 

and will overcome those fears 

should they arise. 

To truly travel, as a lifestyle, 

and embrace all the world has 

for you, you can’t plan, you 

can’t control and you can’t 

predict, but you can choose 

how you will respond. 

Honestly, what could prepare 

you to get pulled over by the 

police in Bali and bribed for 1 

million Rupiah for not having 

an international drivers 

license? Or getting into a 

fight with club bouncers in 

Thailand because your friend 

insisted on sneaking in 

outside alcohol? Or meeting 

a beautiful soul on the dance 

floor of a club in Malaysia 

who turned out to actually be 

a princess and who you now 

consider a close friend? The 

obvious answer is: nothing. 

First, I admitted my fears and 

then responded to them with a 

logical answer. 

So go forth and explore. 

Explore the world. Explore 

yourself. Be prepared to say 

“sure, why not” way more 

than “no” and live the unique 

journey that can only be 

started when you confront 

your fears and excuses and 

just... GO.

Juleon has been traveling the world for months at a time 

for the past two years. From Mexico to Chile to Indonesia 

and other parts in SE Asia, traveling is a passion that 

Juleon embraces. As he begins his transition to full-time 

travel, he’s decided to start a blog and share his adventures 

with you. Follow his adventures on his blog where 

he shared travel and packing tips, best places to go, and 

all the ups and downs of embracing this lifestyle. 

Follow Juleon at ww.travelhustlerintl.com.

02 SHENITA 

OUTLAND 


Shenita Outland, pharmacist and owner of 

World Travels, LLC, was born and raised 

in Houston, TX, and while she still calls 

it home, she loves to jet set whenever she 

can. Her love for traveling was sparked 

by her grandparents; every summer they 

would take a road trip. Thanks to them, by 

the age of 12, she had been bitten by the 

travel bug! 

Fast forward to today, her passion for travel 

has manifested in various ways. She started 

a travel blog in 2012, World Travelista 

(www.Travelistafly.com), as a means to 

document her travels, share her experience 

with others & motivate others to travel as 

well. She was also once a contributing 

writer for Travel Noire. That later evolved 

into her idea to start a full-fledged travel 

consulting agency, World Travels, (www. 

worldtravelsllc.com) which she successfully 

runs today. She also serves as a Girls Gone 

Global Travel Ambassador. 

Shenita truly believes that traveling is one 

of the best ways to learn to appreciate the 

world we live in, the people within it and 

the lifestyles they live. Her personal travel 

motto is: It’s not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.

THE WORK 

HEALTH WORKERS IN RURAL ZAMBIA 

- AN EXPAT'S STORY 

WRITTEN BY ALEXIS K. BARNES

Sometimes I wish I worked amidst the bustle of 

Nairobi. I imagine weekends hearing Maxi Priest 

perform in Kampala or exploring the beaches of 

Abidjan. However, I live and work in the much 

more low-key capital city of Zambia. My nightlife 

isn’t what I imagined, but the ability to make impact 

in public service is something I never expected. 

I love getting out of the capital of Lusaka- not down 

south to the majestic Victoria Falls, but to places 

like the rural villages of Gwembe, almost 300 

kilometers north of the falls. A tough ride for the 

weak stomached, Gwembe is more than an hour 

off of the main road that stretches from Lusaka to 

Livingstone and it is rocky. You bounce on narrow 

roads that twist and turn among the district’s 

gentle green hills. The children run out to the road 

at the sounds of any vehicle passing and I like to 

watch them wave at us long after the dust cloud 

our tires stirred up fades. 

New visitors don’t come out to these villages often 

and the children usually flock to peek and investigate. 

I traveled here to monitor the network 

of community health workers in the area. These 

volunteers support the overstretched nurses that 

man rural health centers in the region. In these 

centers, one or two medical professionals could 

cover over 500 to 2,000 households dotted across 

the remote landscapes. 

There is a shortage of healthcare providers in 

sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, the ratio of nurses 

is 0.8 to 1,000 citizens (the internationally set standard 

minimum is 2.5 to 1,000). With this limited access, 

Community Health Workers increase accessibility. 

They do it by using Nokia (“brick phones”) 

to document data on to ground. This data makes 

its way up to district, provincial and eventually

national stakeholders in the Ministry of Health- giving 

them a real-time image of the state of health 

in communities. The CHWs mainly work in malaria 

and sanitation surveillance. 

Zambia has so much land and is a prime location 

for public service and development. I work in global 

health and communications, and the country’s 

political stability and environment for growth has 

made it the perfect place for me to see programs 

at work. Far away from the “hotspots” of Ebola on 

the western region of the continent, passionate epidemiologists, 

physicians and scientists don’t usually 

flock to this southern African nation, yet it is 

a breeding ground for a public health professional 

to do good and tangible work. Infant and maternal 

mortality rates are high, the effect of HIV/AIDs is far 

reaching and malaria is still the number one cause 

of sickness and death. With such high stakes, interacting 

with these integral CHWs and working 

towards strengthening health systems feels that 

much more important. 

Any given month, I may visit a community health 

worker training in Kabwe, where these volunteers 

learn how to insert data into their Nokia phones. I 

traveled north to Mansa to shoot instructional video 

on how indoor residual spraying reduces malaria 

transmission. Next week, I will be throughout 

southern province working towards eliminating 

trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness, 

in Zambia by 2017. 

Sometimes I still wish I was on Grand Bassam 

beach in Abidjan, especially when power cuts 

leave me in the dark for 6 hours, but seeing the incremental 

changes and tangible improvements on 

the ground in Zambia makes it worthwhile.

Alexis K. Barnes is a multimedia journalist 

currently based in Lusaka, Zambia as a 

Global Health Corps fellow. Before Zambia, 

she worked in the United Nations bureau of 

Al Jazeera English in NYC. Before the Big 

Apple, she worked in Washington, D.C., 

then South Korea and Thailand. Though 

her roots are in print journalism, they have 

evolved into proficiency in video, photo and 

audio editing and reporting. Her passion for 

telling and exploring human rights stories 

has landed her work on the pages of quite a 

few notable publications; including Vice and 

Griots Republic.

THE REAL 

THAILAND 

A Country Balanced Between Old & New 

Written By Yvette Santos Cuenco

For the last five years, I have lived abroad 

as an international school counselor. I spent 

three years in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and my 

most recent post the past two years is in 

Bangkok, Thailand. Look up any guidebook 

for Thailand and the front cover will likely be 

a pristine beach on one of its southern islands 

with no cars, motorbikes, or tuk-tuks 

in sight. The beautiful beaches are certainly 

what helped propel Thailand to become one 

of the top tourism/expat destinations around 

the world, but it is not the only reason why I 

chose to live here. One of the biggest draws 

for me is Bangkok’s amazing mish mash of 

old and new. 

The klong (canal) 

community sits along 

an artery of the Chao 

Phraya River, tucked away 

from the tourist drag of 

Wat Po and Wat Arun. 

Bangkok is where one can enjoy the conveniences 

of the ultra-modern malls and as the 

locals say “hi-so” (high society) cafes or trek 

out to a neighborhood housing a chedi dating 

back to the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya. 

All without ever having to leave the city 

limits. For travelers who enjoy cities with such 

intense contrasts, Bangkok is the perfect destination. 

When I moved here, it was my goal to 

get to know the city and its layers. 

One such place where you can find remnants 

of Bangkok’s yesteryears is Klong Bang Luang, 

home of Baan Silapin or the Artists 

House. I’d heard about it from a good friend

of mine, Aloha, who’d lived in Bangkok for 

several years and is a photographer, teacher, 

and writer. She told me about this amazing 

place in the city, but hidden away because it’s 

not near public transportation or any of the 

tourist landmarks. Having been there several 

Hours 

Baan Silapin is open daily from 9AM- 

6PM. The puppet show is usually daily 

at 2PM (except Wednesdays), unless 

they are booked for a performance 

elsewhere. There is no entrance fee, but 

are welcome to leave a donation that 

will go towards the house’s upkeep and 

community programming. 

times now myself, her description hits it right 

on the head. 

The klong (canal) community sits along an 

artery of the Chao Phraya River, tucked away 

from the tourist drag of Wat Po and Wat Arun. 

According to Mark Wiens of migrationology. 

com, Baan Silapin is approximately 200 years 

old. It was purchased by Khun Chumpol Akkapantanon 

and renovated into a community 

art space. The aforementioned Ayutthaya-era 

chedi is housed in Baan Silapin’s courtyard. 

My first trek out to Klong Bang Luang was with 

my friend Lauren who, like me, was an expat 

curious to see a part of the city hidden away 

from the highrises. We met at the Siam Sky- 

Train station and boarded the train on the Silom 

line, heading in the direction of Bang Wa. 

I was a little bit anxious because of the language 

barrier and none of the landmarks not-

ed in the blogs I read prior to 

going were familiar to me. Following 

Mark Wiens’ directions 

from migrationology.com, we 

got out at Wong Wian Yai BTS 

and hailed a taxi. I asked the 

taxi driver to take us to Charan 

Sanit Wong Soi 3 and we 

were on our way. I checked 

the GPS on my phone and we 

seemed headed in the right 

direction. We turned down a 

narrow alley or soi and the 

taxi stopped at a dead end. A 

bit confused, we got out and 

200 years old like Baan Silapin. 

The narrow sois leave no 

room for cars – most people 

get around on-foot, bikes, or 

scooters. No skyscrapers or 

large condo towers in sight. 

This exudes a laidback intimacy 

where the rest of the city 

moves at a frenetic pace. 

You can visit the different 

shops and have a look at their 

handmade goods. Or you can 

buy some fish food, sit on 

the bank of the klong, feed 

all very friendly and helpful 

regardless of the language 

barrier. 

While I love walking through 

the sois of the klong, the 

heart of Klong Bang Luang is 

definitely Baan Silapin. Here, 

the community and visitors 

converge to create a lively, interactive 

space. Adorning the 

walls and the upper floor are 

paintings and sculptures by 

various local artists. 

Getting to Klong Bang Luang 

and Baan Silapin 

Baan Silapin is accessible by klong boat tour or by public transportation/taxi. Via 

public transpo/taxi – take the Bangkok Sky Train (BTS) train along the Silom line 

to Wongwian Yai station. Take the stairs down Exit 2. Catch a taxi and instruct the 

driver to take you to Charan Sanit Wong Soi 3, Klong Bang Luang (Charan-sanitwong-soi-sam-klong-bang-luang, 

ka). Klong Bang Luang is about a 10-15 minute 

drive. The taxi will drop you off at the dead end of Charan Sanit Wong Soi 3. From 

here you walk across the footbridge and Baan Silapin will be on your left. To get 

back into the city – cross back over the footbridge and walk or catch the songthaew 

(red truck taxi) up the soi to the main road. Once at the main road you can catch a 

taxi back to the BTS. 

the locals figured out where 

we wanted to go. They pointed 

out the little path to the footbridge 

and within minutes we 

were taking off our shoes at 

Baan Silapin. 

Upon crossing the footbridge, 

it was immediately evident to 

me why the Klong Bang Luang 

community is a special place 

in Bangkok. The wooden structures 

and houses throughout 

the klong are roughly 100 – 

fish and watching the klong 

boats motor past. The food 

in the klong is very good and 

cheap. I have tried the fresh 

brewed iced coffees and iced 

teas, curries, and boat noodles 

from various vendors and 

have never been disappointed. 

Average price for a plate 

or bowl of food is 30-70 baht 

($1-$2.50 USD). Not many of 

the locals speak English, but 

don’t let this be a hindrance. 

From my experience, they’re 

When not in use, the puppets 

of the Kham Nai traditional 

puppet troupe are on display 

so you can get up close and 

personal, admiring their intricate 

details. On the ground 

floor is a little café and gift 

shop where you can purchase 

locally made silk screens, 

postcards, and books written 

in Thai. On weekends, the 

house’s groundfloor hosts 

a Kham Nai puppet troupe 

performance. They present

a chapter of the Ramakien – Thailand’s take 

on the Hindi epic Ramayana. It highlights the 

intersection of Hinduism and Buddhism that 

makes up Thai culture. You might even catch 

the dance and puppeteering lessons geared 

towards the local youth. 

If you want to flex your painting skills, you can 

sit down in the café and paint a mask. Lastly, 

while tour groups do come, Baan Silapin and 

Klong Bang Luang is still very much a popular 

stop for locals as well. On the days I’ve gone – 

only weekends did I see tour groups who were 

mostly coming to see the Kham Nai show. On 

the weekdays I’ve gone – most visitors were 

Thai. Take the day and soak it all in. 

It is not uncommon to hear travelers in Thailand 

say “If you want to see the real Thailand, 

don’t stay in Bangkok – go to Chiang Mai (the 

Queen city of the North) or go to Pha Nga province 

in the South….or….” If you ask them to explain their 

reasoning further, it becomes evident that 

they have a very idealized picture of Thailand 

– one that only exists in pictures. What they 

fail to acknowledge is that Thailand prides itself 

in offering the old and the new. Bangkok 

exemplifies this contrast and the Klong Bang 

Luang community is just one of many examples 

throughout the capital city where one can 

experience a distinct shift from modernity 

amidst the urban jungle. That shift, to me, is 

“the real Thailand.”

Yvette Santos Cuenco, aka The Roaming Filipina, is 

an international school counselor originally from the 

San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to moving abroad, 

Yvette lived and worked in Brooklyn, NY as a licensed 

social worker for seven years. She can trace her 

wanderlust to her first trip abroad, the Philippines, in 

the 1980s. On her spare time she enjoys dabbling in 

street photography, cooking, enjoying epic food and 

DJ-ing. 

Follow her adventures at www.yvettecuenco.com. 

Twitter & Instagram: @vettievette

Since 1865 

The Traveler's 

JUNETEENTH 

CELEBRATION GUIDE 

BY EBONY "ISIS" BOOTH

© Tiphany Overzat 

American post-racial idealism often lends 

itself to cultural erasure among a myriad of 

other disturbing realities. In our quest for 

global equality, contemporary models of consumerism 

can cause us to make room for new 

trends and popular methods by which we celebrate 

our “Blackness.” 

As a child growing up in New Jersey in the 

1980s, African-American History in public 

sectors was confined to Black History Month. 

During February, book reports on George 

Washington Carver’s amazing peanut and unlicensed 

cartoon cutouts of Martin Luther King, 

Jr. adorned my elementary school halls. Awkward 

recitations and reenactments of Harriet 

Tubman’s speeches and Nat Turner’s revolt 

sufficed as proper homage by Youth Ministries 

in church on the third Sunday in February. The 

following Sundays were reserved for “wear 

your Kente Cloth to worship” at the 10 o’clock 

service. There is absolutely no wrong way to 

celebrate our history as African Americans, 

but we must be vigilant in discussing and celebrating 

our history outside of the confines of 

February. 

Where backyard barbeques used to be the 

maximum holiday enjoyment for previous fiscally 

restricted generations, Millennials are 

now catching flights to relax on beaches and 

booking the flyest Airbnb accommodations in 

Cabo. Despite the trends and advancements, 

there is still a particular celebration so specific 

to the Black experience in America that, in 

some ways, it is a sort of a cult classic in the 

Black American canon of unbelievable resil-

© Tiphany Overzat 

The following Sundays 

were reserved for 

“wear your Kente Cloth 

to worship” at the 

10 o’clock service. 

ience and celebratory traditions - Juneteenth. 

On June 19, 1865, nearly two and a half years 

after Abraham Lincoln’s famed Emancipation 

Proclamation, news of the end of chattel slavery 

reached Galveston, Texas by way of Union 

General Gordon Granger. The justification for 

the delayed liberation of Texas slaves is unclear 

and attributed to several claims of deliberate 

withholding by slave masters who sought 

to reap the benefits of a final crop yield, assassination 

of messengers, and a rogue Texan 

establishment unchecked by the then weakened 

Union army. Whatever the cause, news 

of liberation was shared to mixed reviews. 

Some slaves immediately evacuated plantations 

and sought independence, while others 

stayed on to attempt to eek out suitable lives 

collecting wages as employees of their former 

masters. 

No matter the response, June 19th became a 

day of marked pride and supplication where 

free black men and women celebrated their 

new state of independence in Galveston with 

speeches, prayers, parades, rodeos, fishing, 

baseball and barbecue.

As the migration of blacks from the southernmost 

reaches of Texas radiated to northern 

destinations, the tradition of the Juneteenth 

celebration traveled with them. 

The year 2015 marked the 150th year celebration 

of Juneteenth and with it brought an 

array of music festivals, lectures, community 

health events, picnics, and weekend long 

celebrations across America. International 

Juneteenth events have been held throughout 

the continent of Africa, Korea, Europe, South 

America and Japan. Currently, 45 states recognize 

Juneteenth as an official observance 

and legislation is in place seeking to establish 

the 19th of June as Juneteenth Independence 

Day in America. In the meantime, some of the 

largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country 

might be happening right outside your front 

door! 

JUNETEENTH 

CELEBRATIONS 

ACROSS 

THE UNITED STATES 

1. GALVESTON 

Galveston, TX is the birthplace of Juneteenth. 

The African American Museum Juneteenth 

Family & Friends Festival boasts blues, gospel, 

Zydeco and R&B performances alongside delectable 

seafood and barbecue vendors. 

www.everfest.com/e/juneteenth-family-friends-

festival-galveston-tx 

2. HOUSTON 

Houston, TX says that they have the world’s oldest 

celebration at what they call, ‘Juneteenth 

Emancipation Celebration,’ held at Emancipation 

Park inside Houston’s Third Ward. Check 

the website for details as the recent park remodel 

was delayed due to early spring floods 

in the surrounding areas. 

www.juneteenthfest.com 

3. SAN JOSE 

San Jose, CA is serving a diverse celebration 

with musical headliners such as Pete Escovedo 

and Tweet Charlene splitting the Father’s Day 

Weekend bill while engaging Silicone Valley residents 

in activities involving technology, health, 

family and heritage. 

www.bayareajuneteenth.org 

4. PORTLAND 

Portland, OR surprises us with a rich history of 

Juneteenth traditions. The Clara Peoples Freedom 

Trail Parade is named for Muskogee, OK 

native of the same name who is credited with 

initiating Portland’s first annual Juneteenth 

celebration in 1972. 

www.juneteenthoregon.com 

5. DENVER 

Denver, CO also has one of the most premier 

Juneteenth celebrations in the country every 

year in the historic Five Points District of Downtown 

Denver. A music festival, the Denver Juneteenth 

celebration crowns an African American 

Ms. Juneteenth every year for her outstanding 

achievements and community involvement. 

Denver celebrates with a parade and subsequent 

block party with live music performances 

throughout the weekend. 

www.Juneteenthmusicfestival.com 

6. MINNEAPOLIS

Minneapolis, MN boasts one of the countries 

largest Juneteenth celebrations! This year, 

with the recent and tragic passing of the Twin 

Cities’ own, Prince, the musical tributes promise 

to be astounding and this is sure to be a 

celebration that you don’t want to miss! 

www.juneteenthminnesota.org 

7. PHILADELPHIA 

Philadelphia, PA is getting on board with organizing 

efforts from Philadelphia Community 

of Leaders who are hosting the inaugural 

Juneteenth event in the City of Brotherly Love. 

This event promises to showcase marching 

bands, drill teams, guest speakers, live musicians, 

food vendors and more! 

www.phillytrib.com 

There are also Juneteenth celebrations as far 

reaching as Atlanta, Albuquerque, Boston and 

Jacksonville. Do not miss out on your opportunity 

to enjoy some rich African American culture 

and delectable barbecue this month!

A 2006 National Poetry Slam 

Champion, and recipient of 

Westword’s Mastermind Award 

in Literary Arts for her work as 

hostess of Café Nuba; Ebony Isis 

Booth is committed to her work. 

She continues to fuel her drive 

toward art-ivism as Programs 

& Communications Coordinator 

for Harwood Art Center while 

simultaneously writing and 

performing original poetry, 

heralding social justice, self love, 

and perseverance in and around 

New Mexico.

03 SONJIA 

MACKEY 


Sonjia Mackey, simply known as “Lioness” to the rest 

of the world, is best known for her extensive travel and 

bucket list adventures which have taken her to 36 states, 

67 countries, and all 7 continents. She has done everything 

from wrestling 10-foot alligators in the U.S. to 

polar-plunging into the freezing waters of Antarctica to 

sky-diving over the Palm Islands of Dubai to spending the 

night alone in a tree house in the African bush! 

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! One branch of the company is “Bucket 

List Beasts” – a travel and lifestyle movement initiated 

to help people remove mental and emotional blocks; step 

outside their comfort zones; overcome their fears; and in 

doing so, live their best, happiest, most fulfilling lives. 

Through the Facebook social community of the same 

name, Lioness hosts travel adventures that enable people 

to check multiple items off their bucket lists. The signature 

adventure is an annual “mystery” trip, where a limited 

number of travelers pack their bags and head to the 

airport for a 9-10 day international getaway with no idea 

where they are going, where they will be staying, or what 

they will be doing! 

Lioness is currently authoring two books about her inspirational 

life; developing an online course about conquering 

fear; and expanding her professional coaching 

practice where she helps people redesign their lives for 

maximum impact, living, and enjoyment. 

To learn more, visit the current Facebook and Instagram 

communities and the soon-to-be launched website – all 

under “Bucket List Beasts”.

NOTHING 

FOR 

GRANTED 

On navigating the unexpected 

and living in Seoul 

B y J e s s i c a C o b b s 

If ten years ago, you would have told me 

I’d someday quit my “adult job,” donate 

all of my worldly possessions and board a 

one-way flight to South Korea, I likely would 

have thought you were crazy. As a self-proclaimed 

Latin American culture-enthusiast, 

East Asia is the last place I envisioned 

spending two years of my life. 

However, after an unexpected, yet fortunate 

series of events, I now find myself navigating 

the ins and outs of English language 

teaching at an elementary school in Seoul-- 

South Korea’s largest city and cultural hub. 

Expat life in Korea has been fun, challenging 

and everything in between. As a Black 

American woman amidst a sea of Korean 

faces--in one of the most ethnically homogenous 

countries in the world--there’s been 

no shortage of hilarious, eye-opening and 

sometimes frustrating experiences. People 

aren’t shy about staring; my students still

can’t seem to understand how my hair changes 

so frequently; and the language barrier is 

an ongoing issue, but my time here has been 

mostly positive and enjoyable. 

Seoul, the place I call home (at least for now), 

is a densely-populated metropolis of 10 million 

people--25 million if you include the surrounding 

metropolitan area. It features stateof-the-art 

infrastructure and technology, an 

extensive subway system, and some of the 

fastest Wi-Fi in the world. 

Despite its relative modernity and technological 

advances, touches of traditional architecture 

and old-world charm are still present in 

the city’s hanok homes, numerous palaces, 

and Buddhist temples. When I’m lucky enough 

get sucked into spending an entire paycheck 

during the daily commute. 

While I’m not too partial towards buying 

clothes, I admittedly spend a lot of money 

on food. Living in a tiny, employer-provided 

apartment with one stove burner and no oven 

means that I cook a lot less than I used to 

in the States. However, this isn’t necessarily a 

bad thing, because there’s so much to sample. 

Korean cuisine is fairly diverse, cheap and 

plentiful, and Seoul offers a little bit of everything--street 

food; upscale eateries; traditional 

markets (Gwangjang Market being my 

personal fave); and hole-in-the-wall joints featuring 

your Asian grandmother’s home cooking. 

Despite having spent nearly two years 

to host visitors, I never hesitate to bring them 

to Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung 

Palace, located in the heart of the Seoul’s 

Jongno district. 

Though I typically avoid shopping like the 

plague, it’s a popular pastime and essentially, 

a way of life in Seoul. With a myriad of stores 

and restaurants lining the insides of the city’s 

subway stations, it’s easy to see how one could 

in this country, I still haven’t gotten tired of 

Korean barbecue, and although it may sound 

blasphemous coming from the mouth of an 

American Black girl with roots in the south, I 

think Korea’s fried chicken may be among the 

best in the world! 

When I’m not stuffing my face, I try to get outdoors 

and enjoy the scenery. One of the best 

parts about living in Seoul is having access to

amazing mountains. Some may assume that 

natural beauty would be limited in such a bustling 

metropolis, but when the weather is ideal, 

it’s easy to hop on a train and venture out 

for a trek through one of the city’s national 

parks. Hiking culture is huge in Korea! I’m not 

exaggerating when I say that I’ve seen both 

senior citizens and five-year-olds effortlessly 

out-pace my steps as I struggled to catch my 

breath during a mountain ascent. 

Perhaps some of the most unique--borderline 

odd--experiences I’ve had in Seoul involve visits 

to various theme cafes. If you’re an animal 

lover, the dog cafe, cat cafe (and even sheep 

and raccoon cafe) are worth exploring. My 

recent obsession is CaFace, where the baristas 

superimpose your selfie on the foam of a 

beverage. To date, I’ve taken nearly 15 out-oftown 

guests here. 

Finally, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that 

Seoul truly is a city that never sleeps. The saying 

“Work hard, play hard” takes on a whole 

new meaning here; Seoul’s nightlife is some 

of the best I’ve experienced anywhere in the 

world. During a typical weekend night, when 

I’m ready to retire to my apartment at around 

2:00 am, Seoul’s pulse is still alive and kicking, 

with no signs of slowing down, especially 

in neighborhoods like Hongdae (which I love), 

Itaewon, and Gangnam. 

Compared to its nearby neighbor Japan, Korea 

may not necessarily be a place that the 

average Westerner is well-versed in or one that 

some would venture out of their way to visit; 

admittedly, before I decided to take the plunge 

and move here to teach English, my knowledge 

of the country was quite limited. However, two 

years later, I guess you could sort of call me 

an expert. My experience has been transformative 

and one that I do not take for granted.

Jessica F. Cobbs is a Seoul-based expat 

with a passion for travel, photography, 

and foreign languages. Originally from 

Chicago and a graduate of the University 

of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jessica 

has lived and studied in Mexico, Costa 

Rica and now South Korea. 

Though most of her days are spent 

teaching adorable Korean children 

English fundamentals, her professional 

background spans international 

development, community organizing and 

immigrant advocacy. 

She regularly shares her adventures in 

expat life on social media at: @froonthego.

BY ANIYA DUNKLEY 

It’s usually not difficult to sell me on the 

idea of going someplace new. In the past 20 

years, I’ve had over 25 different addresses in 

8 different states and quasi-lived in 3 different 

countries other than the U.S. Some have 

said I have a problem with commitment and 

with respect to settling somewhere; I used to 

agree, until now. Finally, I’ve found a place I 

can call home and feel comfortable wearing 

out my welcome in— Florence, Italy. 

If Florence is on your destination horizon, 

bravo! And if not, seriously consider making 

it an addition to your list of must see places. 

Florence (or as the Italians call it, Firenze) 

is one of the most beautiful little cities you 

will ever experience. Visiting the home of the 

Renaissance is truly like taking a page out of 

history, but Florence won my heart for all of 

its hidden charm; all of the stuff that makes 

it feel like any other normal European city, 

and not a hub for the 16 million tourists that 

descend on this little gem every year. Finding 

its soul wasn’t easy but after two years, it finally 

started feeling familiar. I’m no longer in

that phase of trying to “fit in” with Florence. 

Right now, we are like old friends. I know just 

enough about this city to keep my calendar 

stimulating. So here are my tips for those of 

you interested in seeing Florence like a quasi-local. 

Florence is very easy to navigate by foot so 

bring some comfy shoes and an eagerness 

to walk a lot. Most places are reachable in a 

20-minute timeframe but the maze-like layout 

of the city can be intimidating at first. Do 

yourself a favor and take the first couple of 

days to just wander the streets and get familiar 

with it. There is so much history and beauty 

at every turn, and every street leads back to 

the river, the Duomo or the central station, so 

it’s really hard to get lost. 

Along the way, enjoy the sights and copious 

amounts of gelato. Just make sure it’s the 

good stuff, because there is definitely a difference 

in quality and you don’t want to spend 

your entire trip eating bad gelato. The general 

rule is to avoid places with huge mounds 

of gelato with fruit or candy sprinkled on top. 

Stick to places that are artigianale, or have 

lids on the containers. It’s perfectly normal to 

ask to sample the gelato first, so why not? 

The hip crowd hang out in the Oltrarno area, 

across the river from the Duomo. There are 

less tourists on this side of town and it has 

a more “local” feel to it. Santo Spirito is kind 

of like the central meeting place for locals in 

Oltrarno. It’s a great place to enjoy a spritz or 

grab a bite to eat. 

If you get tired of wandering aimlessly, there is 

always some event going on in the city. Check 

out The Florentine magazine for information 

on current events. If you happen to be visiting 

this time of year (during the spring/early 

summer months), Fabbrica Europa, Notte Bianca, 

and Pitti Uomo are great venues to see 

art and fashion. No matter what time of year 

you visit, there is always something to do.

18 The general rule 

is to avoid 

places with huge 

mounds 

of gelato with 

fruit or candy 

sprinkled on top.

19 

One of the things I adore about Florence is 

Mercato Centrale. This is the best place to find 

the sweetest fruit and freshest meat, fish and 

cheese. It’s in the heart of the city and there 

really is no better place. If you go, get there 

before it closes at 2 pm (it’s not open Sundays) 

and remember, it is not polite to touch 

the fruit. 

The second floor of the market opened a couple 

of years ago and it’s a cool spot to grab a 

bite to eat and just people watch. Right outside 

is the San Lorenzo Market, which is not 

hard to miss. In a nutshell, it’s a good place 

for trinkets and things but not for high-quality 

goods. Buy with caution. 

If you’re into fashion, you can’t go wrong in 

Italy. Besides being the home of many top designer 

brands, Florence also has some incredible 

vintage stores. Be on the lookout for them 

as you wander but remember, most businesses 

close between 1pm and 4 pm for lunch, so 

time yourself accordingly. 

It’s really hard to go wrong with restaurants 

here and the list is long so instead of listing 

them, my best advice is to see what’s close by 

and just check the ratings before you reserve. 

What I can recommend however, is the Fiorentina 

bistecca if you eat meat. This is what they 

are known for. Also, Tuscany is truffle land so 

don’t miss out on enjoying truffles at some 

point during your dining excursion. Otherwise, 

eat anything and everything that looks and 

smells good. You won’t be disappointed. 

The last thing I want to recommend, especially 

if you’ve had enough of the museums and 

walking until exhaustion, is to have a picnic in 

one of Florence’s many beautiful free parks. 

They truly are amazing. Grab your book, blanket, 

and a bottle of vino and head to Giardino 

delle Rose, Giardino Villa Strozzi, Parco di Villa 

il Ventaglio or Cascine park to name a few. 

Find a tree, relax and enjoy!

Aniya Dunkley is originally 

from Brooklyn, NY. She 

practiced law for 12 years 

before moving to Italy where 

she is currently working 

on a Masters of Fine Arts 

(MFA) in contemporary 

jewelry design at Alchimia 

Contemporary Jewelry 

School in Florence.

Shinjuku 

Written By Shavonne Davis

Tokyo is a traveler’s playground. 

Home to some 37 million people, it is easy to 

imagine that there is a bit of something for 

everyone. As an international school teacher, I 

have lived in Tokyo for 4 years. I have greatly 

enjoyed my life and experience here but… I 

am still getting lost. 

A few months ago I was off to a department 

store that I visit semi-regularly just outside of 

Shinjuku station but this time I took the wrong 

exit. According the Guinness Book of World 

Records, Shinjuku boasts being the world’s 

busiest train station with approximately 3.64 

million riders a day. Operated by 5 rail companies 

with 36 platforms and over 200 exits it 

not hard to imagine how even a resident can 

get lost in its intricate network of hallways, 

passages, shopping arcades and department 

stores. It’s practically a destination in and of 

itself. 

On this outing, I accidentally took the west exit 

of the station instead of the east. There, in 

the underground, were signs with directions to 

the Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings, 

which host two of the highest free observation 

decks in the city. I had been meaning to make 

my way there, but it wasn’t until this episode 

that I took the opportunity to do so. 

Located on the 45 floor of each building, you 

get a real taste of how densely populated Tokyo 

is, how wonderfully greenery plays a major 

part in the organization of the city and you get 

to see Mount Fuji if you are lucky (I was lucky). 

www.GriotsRepublic.com

Shinjuku is also home 

to cat cafes, owl cafes, 

fishing cafes (catch 

your own fish) and 

Alice in Wonderland 

themed cafes. 

The Odakyu Department store is directly connected 

to that exit, though Isetan and Lumine 

on the east are a bit more exciting. 

Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera are a short 

walk away. If you have never been to a Japanese 

electronics store then you are in for sensory 

overload. Each floor specializing in something, 

mobile accessorises, toys or health and 

beauty. You may walk in for a phone case but 

end up playing the Nintendo Wii U, checking 

out the latest in face steamers or crazy robot 

vacuums. For anyone with a remote interest in 

electronics or technology, these stores are for 

you. 

The East exit provides equal, if not more, excitement 

on any given day. I have often gotten 

lost down the interesting streets lined with 

massive shopping stores. Personal favourite, 

Don Quijote in Kabuki-cho can be found here. 

To any visitor to Japan, Don Quijote epitomizes 

the absolute randomness availed to this 

culture. A great place for souvenirs or for just 

pure time wasting, you won’t soon be bored 

in this store. From high-end products, expensive 

bags and watches to Pikachu body suits 

and sex toys, this store has everything. This is 


what a true variety store was meant to be like. 

Kabuki-cho itself is known as Tokyo’s red-light 

district. Minus the red-lights, it is filled with 

bars, nightclubs, Pachinko parlours (sort of 

weird Japanese gambling madhouses), and 

love hotels. This area tells the story of the 

shadiness of Japanese culture. For example, 

the Robot Restaurant is one such attraction 

where scantily clad women dance around and 

perform amongst robots all in the name of entertainment. 

Walking through the district at night, the well 

lit neon signage basically beckoning you in, 

people watching is at its best. From the hordes 

of Chinese and Korean tourists, to the African 

men trying to talk you into the gentleman’s 

clubs and the host girls dressed in maid outfits, 

a regular smorgasbord for the eyes and 

ears. 

Shinjuku is also home to cat cafes, owl cafes, 

fishing cafes (catch your own fish) and Alice 

in Wonderland themed cafes. The Department 

stores: Isetan, Odakyu, Lumine 1 and 2 to 

name a few, and malls (Takashimaya is huge) 

live up to the true meanings of “large stores.” 

The basement of Isetan is a food floor, full of 

food stalls selling everything from meat, to 

rice balls and macaroons; simply put, a fatkid’s 

playground. 

A walk through the underground passages on 

my way back to the station gives allowance for 

a delicious dinner, cute hosiery, hair accessories 

and cheesecake. To imagine that I simply 

left my house to buy some wool, it’s amazing 

what a day of getting lost can do for you. 


Shavonne Davis is an international teacher 

currently living and working in Tokyo, Japan. Born 

in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to West Indian parents, 

she has single-handedly gotten her family to visit 

parts of Asia. Other than a love of travel, she also 

enjoys sports, photography and knitting. 

Twitter: @qspeedy_shivi 

Blog: blackgirlinasia.com

04 ALONZO 

CARTLIDGE 


“The measure of a man is not where he stands in moments 

of comfort and convenience, but where he stands 

at times of challenge and controversy’’are the words 

spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and practiced by 

Alonzo Cartlidge., II. 

Having heard the family legacy that Cartlidge men did 

not live beyond their 30’s, Alonzo felt a need to make his 

impression on the world as quickly as possible. His being 

educated mainly in the south was a major reason for 

his participation in the desegregation movement during 

the sixties. During his career, he became the youngest 

administrator to be employed as Director of Student 

Activities at Benedict College. At the age of 21, he became 

the Assistant Dean of Students at Colgate University 

in Hamilton, NY. Cartlidge’s professional career has 

impacted students from all nationalities, and from all 

walks of life at the City University of NY, Kean College 

of New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College, and 

Saint Peter’s College, where he served as Assistant Dean 

of Academics. 

Today, Cartlidge serves as President of Our Gang Group, 

LLC., a travel and event planning corporation headquartered 

in Maplewood, NJ. With offices in Brooklyn, NY 

and Atlanta, Ga., Our Gang Travel is celebrating it’s 30th 

Anniversary in the industry, and has received accolades 

from many travel partners, including recognition by Royal 

Caribbean International as Regional Travel Partner for 

three consecutive years. 

In his office, Alonzo has a prominent display of “The 

Measure of a Man,” along with two other framed sayings. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1—12, “All Things In Their Time” 

and “It doesn’t matter where you go or what you have, 

but who you have beside you.”

FLA 

MEN 

CO 

Written By Majida Mundial

I remember, quite clearly, my first introduction 

to Spanish culture in fourth grade. A tall, 

dark haired and brightly smiled woman walked 

into my classroom wearing a skin tight, yet 

frilly, red dress, a full face of makeup, and 

what looked like a chrysanthemum in her hair. 

To us, a class full of Brooklyn’s finest white 

and dark chocolate 80s babies, the lady in red 

had to be the Señorita that everyone goes to 

the Kentucky Fair to see. We were convinced 

and proud that Ms. Beverly, our teacher, was 

an undercover celebrity and used her pull to 

get La Señorita with flowers in her hair to 

teach our class about Flamenco dance and 

Spanish culture. 

My advice, 

when it comes to 

experiencing Spanish 

dance - just stick to 

the traditions that 

hail from Andalucia, 

namely, Flamenco 

and Sevillanas. 

Little did I know, it would be my first experience 

with duende - a strange spiritual, magical, 

and moving presence that everyone watching 

a performer deeply embodying their craft 

can feel, but not explain. 

My experience with duende stuck 

with me into my adulthood and 

I eventually decided that it was 

necessary for me to figure out 

a way to move to Spain. I never 

thought I would teach English 

in a foreign land. However, 

when I realized that doing 

so would provide a way for me to 

explore new culture and expand myself 

as a citizen of humanity, I decided 

to give it a try – I’m glad I did. 

Spain is a beautiful country with a rich multicultural 

history that is both kept very much 

alive and suppressed at the same time. The 

country has been conquered and ruled by a 

plethora of ethnic groups and political regimes 

whose presence have significantly impacted 

all facets of modern day Spanish life - 

including art, culture, and expression. Dance, 

however, continues to play a major role in 

Spanish culture. 

For many foreigners, the idea of Spanish 

dance only brings forth visions of strumming 

guitars, stomping feet and sexy women 

in brightly colored flamenco dresses playing 

castañuelas. However, this idea of Spain is

only representative of one region, Andalucia. 

A more accurate image of Spanish dance 

would be one that included the use of bagpipes 

and tambourines, as they are the main 

instruments for accompanying the traditional 

dances across the north of Spain! And yes, 

they are as boring as they sound. My advice, 

when it comes to experiencing Spanish dance, 

just stick to the traditions that hail from Andalucia 

– namely, Flamenco and Sevillanas. 

The word Flamenco describes an improvised 

and expressive family of over 50 different 

song and dance styles, rather than just one 

style. The history of these traditions is not 

precisely known and has only been documented 

for the last 200 years. Most of what 

is known regarding Flamenco before this time 

is based upon stories which have been orally 

passed down through family dynasties - leaving 

much room for speculation and debate. 

It is generally accepted however, that Flamenco 

was birthed as a result of a unique fusion 

of Gypsy, Islamic, Sephardic, and native Andalucían 

cultures that existed in the south 

of Spain during the late 15th and early 16th 

century. 

Often confused as being Flamenco itself, Sevillanas 

is believed to have evolved from a 

15th century Castilian dance called the Seguidillas. 

This dance was later influenced 

by Flamenco and other forms of dance 

to transform into what is known as Sevillanas 

today. 

Sevillanas is a choreographed four 

part traditional folk dance (and genre 

of music) done mostly in the Andalucía 

region of Spain at most social 

gatherings. Sevillanas is usually performed 

in pairs, although sometimes 

in groups, and is danced by both men 

and women. 

Every year people come from all over 

the world come to Spain to experience 

Flamenco and Sevillanas. If you 

are planning your next trip to Spain and

The word Flamenco 

describes an 

improvised and 

expressive family 

of over 50 different 

song and dance 

styles, rather than 

just one style.

would like to include seeing some of the best 

Spanish dancers perform, consider grabbing 

tickets to one of the following events or venues: 

develop on your own. Nevertheless, if you´re 

like me and find exploring on your own to be 

even more enticing, then check out the following 

locations to start classes: 

Coral de la moreria (Madrid) 

www.corraldelamoreria.com 

El cordobes (Barcelona) 

www.tablaocordobes.es 

Tablao Arenal (Sevilla) 

tablaoelarenal.com 

Los Gallos (Sevilla) 

www.tablaolosgallos.com 

La Bienal Flamenco Festival (Málaga) 

www.malagaenflamenco.com 

La Bienal Flamenco Festival (Sevilla) 

www.labienal.com 

Fundacion Conservatorio 

Flamenco Casa Patas (Madrid) 

www.conservatorioflamenco.org 

Centro Amor de Dios (Madrid) 

www.conservatorioflamenco.org 

Universidad de Flamenco (Madrid) 

www.uflamenco.com 

Adrés Marín Studio (Sevilla) 

www.andresmarin.es/estudio 

Úrsula López Studio (Sevilla) 

www.flamencodanza.com 

If you are interested in learning how to dance 

Flamenco, you should be aware that because 

this tradition has been passed down orally, 

not much of a formalized pedagogy has been 

developed. This means that classes are mainly 

taught in apprenticeship settings and there 

are many things that you will have to learn and 

If you are interested in learning 

more about teaching 

English in Spain, start here: 

www.comoconsultingspain.com 

Majida Mundial is an advocate for 

passion-filled lifestyle creation and a 

believer that anything you want can 

be yours at anytime, if you believe 

enough. It’s never too late to grow, 

change, shift, and be who you desire 

to be. Always open to making new 

friends, connect with her on instagram 

@MajidaMunidal

With no back up birthday plans, a novice 

traveler sets off to explore "Gwada" 

Written by Alicia Mitchell

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TODAY! 

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www.upintheairlife.com 

Choose 1 free swag bag from any trip annually 

Personal Trip Consultation Annually (up to 5 days)

Promising myself a 30th birthday celebration to 

remember, visiting the French Caribbean islands 

of Guadeloupe fit the call. Having agreed to visit 

a close friend more than seven years ago, this 

trip served a dual purpose: staying true to my 

word and escaping the unforgiving New York winter 

weather. A round trip, nonstop Norwegian Air 

flight departing from JFK sold for $350. That’s a 

steal of a deal considering prices regularly settled 

around double or triple the rate. 

As the trip drew near, I grew in excitement. Researching 

travel notices kept me grounded and 

added an air of caution to my preparations. According 

to the World Health Organization, the 

Zika virus infection was recorded in Guadeloupe 

in January 2016. The Center for Disease Control 

and Prevention outlined that subtropical climates, 

like that of Guadeloupe, are ideal for mosquitos 

infected with Zika to spread to humans. No medicine 

or vaccine exists for Zika; aside from wearing 

bug spray as perfume for the week— c’est la vie. 

As a novice international traveler, coming to the 

airport three hours in advance was something 

new. From my experiences flying domestically, 

arriving that early seemed optional. Having 

thoroughly packed, planned and researched this 

trip, the severity of my oversight was shocking. I 

missed my flight to Guadeloupe! Purchasing another 

ticket or cancelling the entire trip were the 

only options. However, no contingency birthday 

plan in New York could contend with the high expectation 

of exploring the French West Indies. 

Finding a new flight was expensive, but necessary. 

Southeast of Puerto Rico, between the Caribbean 

Sea and the tropical Atlantic Ocean, rests 

the picturesque islands of Guadeloupe. Before 

Christopher Columbus discovered Guadeloupe in 

1493, the Carib indigenous people of the Lesser 

Antilles inhabited the land and named the island 

Karukéra, which means “the island with beautiful 

water.” However, the Spanish were unsuccessful 

in colonizing the island, losing the battle to the 

warlike Carib Indians. The French were able to 

defeat the Caribs and were the first to colonize 

the island. 

An overseas region of France since 1635, this 

Caribbean best kept secret has preserved its authentic 

way of life and respect for the sun-kissed 

people, land and sea. Although a cultural mix of 

the African and French islanders, a majority of 

Guadeloupians speak French, the country’s official 

language. Creole patios is also widely spo-

intention. Having hired a native islander 

as my guide and translator, I experienced 

Guadeloupe from a local’s perspective 

and it was a real treat. 

Basse-Terre is the capital city of Guadeloupe 

and the bigger of the two main 

islands. An adventure seekers paradise, 

La Grande Soufrière is one of the 

youngest and most active volcanoes in 

the Caribbean. Nearly a mile high, lush 

tropical rainforest vegetation surrounds 

the volcano with hiking trails ranging in 

distance and difficulty. Advancing closer 

towards the craters, temperatures 

considerably drop, visibility decreases 

and the sharp scent of sulfur encases 

your nasal passages. Getting lost in 

the tranquil beauty of the waterfalls, 

soaking away my worries in the natural 

hot springs of Basse-Terre, which is 

supplied with hot water from La Grande 

Soufrière volcano, was a euphoric experience 

I won’t soon forget. 

The steep and narrow roads along the 

tops of towering sea cliffs made driving 

a challenging and uncomfortable task. 

Resting my faith in the skill level of my 

friend, I refused to sit in the driver’s 

seat, even with the rental car under my 

name. The roundabouts, tight bends 

and poor lighting after sunset along 

Basse-Terre’s mountain roads felt too 

dangerous for a non-driving New Yorker 

to handle. 

ken, which is a mixture of French, English, Spanish, Carib, 

Portuguese, and African dialects. 

The butterfly-shaped islands of Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre 

are the main territories of the stunning French archipelago of 

Guadeloupe. The two islands are separated by the Salée River 

and a bridge connects the islands to one another. 

With more hotels than any other island in the archipelago, 

Grande-Terre is the ideal tourist backdrop. A beach-lover’s 

paradise, miles of sandy white beaches, great restaurants and 

nightclubs align the exotic east coast. Vacationing during the 

high season, but avoiding the mainstream delights was my 

All roads led to amazing cuisine, especially 

at Deshaies La Plage de Cluny. 

Off the beaten path, this quaint and 

clothing optional beach is targeted towards 

adults seeking tranquility and no 

tan lines. Local vendors offered tasteful 

surroundings and strong Ti Punch, 

a rum-based mixed drink popular 

throughout the island. French dishes 

with a Caribbean twist— the richly 

flavored fresh seafood echoed why 

Guadeloupe is world renowned for its 

extraordinary cuisine. An unforgettable 

experience worth repeating, Guadeloupe 

offers an escape from the fastpaced 

life and easily coaxes visitors to 

relax, release and repeat. A welcomed 

disconnect and necessary indulgence.

On the hunt for passport stamps, 

increasing international travel is a 

goal with noexpiration date. A New 

York implant, Alicia Mitchell is a digital 

project manager, softball manager, 

and lover of life and new experiences.

BOOZE 

CUES 

Celebrate the summer with a string 

of Beer, Whiskey and Wine Festivals 

Written by Bruce "Blue" RIvera

Whether for personal milestones, recognizing 

one’s heritage, patriotism, religion, music 

or a myriad of other reasons, all cultures love 

celebrations and festivals. Probably some of 

the most common and celebrated festivals 

usually revolve around alcoholic beverages. 

Why? Besides its bodacious flavor and notoriety 

as the ultimate social lubricant and 

party starter, alcohol has the magical power 

that makes the world go round. 

Liquor, wine, beer and cocktail festivals have 

been around in some fashion forever but lately 

have become particularly popular worldwide 

as droves of enthusiasts flock from all 

corners of the planet to experience some of 

the best festivals the world has to offer. So if 

you enjoy a nice cocktail when on your travels, 

maybe it’s time you travel to drink. 

Here are some of my recommendations to 

the best beer, wine and cocktail events going 

into the fall of 2016. 

Haro Wine Festival 

Where: Spain 

When: June 28th -30th 

According to the Haro Festival organizers, 

each year between the 28th and 30th of June, 

thousands of thirsty locals and a handful of 

lucky tourists climb a mountain in La Rioja, 

Spain, and throw massive amounts of wine 

all over each other. 

This festival was historically known as St Peter’s 

Feast Day, but as this festival has grown 

in size over the years it seems the historic 

religious significance is practically lost in the 

puddles of red liquid that are wiped from the 

streets after the weekend’s events. This event 

is most popularly known as “La Batalla de 

Vino de Haro” or better known as the “Wine 

Battle.” 

This wine war is declared to celebrate its numerous 

wineries attended by thousands of 

tourists and wine loving locals alike. There

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are many events that follow this 50,000-liter 

wine battle; from bullfighting to numerous 

wine-tastings, there’s something for everyone 

at The Haro Festival, as long as you love wine. 

Make sure to get rest and rise early and bring 

your corkscrew because festivities start at 7 

am. Wine for breakfast anyone? 

Tales of the Cocktail 

Where: New Orleans 

When: July 2016 

Tales of the Cocktail is held annually in order 

to gain a higher level of cocktail education or a 

higher level of inebriation, depending on who 

you ask. The festival is said to be the world’s 

best cocktail festival highlighting what’s new 

and up and coming in the cocktail industry. 

The masterminds behind this festival have created 

a place where people can come together 

to embark on an adventurous journey of the 

taste buds. Experience some of the best food 

and craft-cocktail recipes created by the who’s 

who of the spirit industry. From food served on 

the finest of china to giant punch-filled trash 

cans, anything goes as long as it’s innovative 

and a crowd pleaser. But be mindful that when 

you’re not tossing them back, this festival is 

extremely informative and educational. 

Tales of the Cocktail takes its instruction very 

seriously, hosting not only informative parties 

and tastings but also award ceremonies and 

in-depth recipe composition and cocktail history 

classes. Plain and simple, the organizers 

really know cocktails and most importantly

how to enjoy them. The skillfully shaken itinerary 

of events and guest speakers will keep any 

attendee occupied as you learn how to mix 

like the best and see firsthand the pulse of 

what the spirit marketplace is all about. New 

Orleans, with its rich history and knack for 

unbridled flare in entertaining, surely will not 

disappoint. So bottoms up! 

The Joy of Sake 

Where: Honolulu, Hawaii/NY, NY 

When: July 22nd / Sept. 16th 2016 

The Joy of Sake is the world’s largest sake 

celebration outside of Japan and the festival 

makes its appearance in Honolulu Hawaii Friday, 

July 22nd and in New York NY Saturday, 

September 16th with an array of more than 

300 sakes. Made in traditional and contemporary 

Asian sake style, top local chefs serve 

sake inspired culinary delights and creations. 

If you love sublime food and sake in peak condition, 

then grab some of your closest tomodachi 

and head to this one-of-a-kind event. 

Perfect for passionate sake enthusiasts or 

someone looking to get introduced to the wonderful 

gift of sake from our friends in the far 

east. 

Oktoberfest 

Where: Munich, Germany 

When: September / October 

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival 

held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It 

is a 16-day festival running from late September 

to the first weekend in October with more 

than 6 million people from around the world 

attending the event every year. The event is 

all about one thing and that is beer and only 

beer (no cocktail umbrellas or wine in sight 

for miles). 

One huge misconception is that Oktoberfest, 

in all its beer filled glory, is a reason to partake 

in massive consumption of beer. While 

that may be partially true of this festival, it’s 

only part of story. This heavenly brew is more 

than a drink for the people of Munich; it is 

integrated into the cultural fabric and foundation 

of the city. 

History states when founded in 1810, Oktoberfest 

celebrated the marriage of the Crown 

Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe 

Hildburghausen. It has increased in size over 

its 200 -year history, most notably with the addition 

of droves of bros, hipsters, beards, wifi, 

bratwurst, electricity and glass beer steins 

(not in any particular order). 

The 16-day festival traditionally opens with a 

military style twelve gun salute and the tapping 

of the ceremonial first keg by the mayor 

of Munich. The mayor also employees the 

service of nearly 2,000 toilets and urinals 

to provide relief for the more than 6 million 

brew filled bladders in attendance during the 

course of the festival. Officials estimate more 

than 7 million liters are served over the 16- 

day festival. So if you are ever in the mood 

for a nice beer with 5,999,999 of your closest 

friends, without a doubt Oktoberfest is the 

only place to be. 

Honorable Mentions 

Whiskey Fest 

September 23, 2016 

San Francisco, CA US 

Cape Town Bierfest 

December 4th 2016 

Cape Town, South Africa 

Rum Bahamas 

February 24th - 26th, 2017 

Nassau, Bahamas 

Plum Hollow 

Moonshine Festival 

May 26th – 28th 2017 

Campobello, SC US

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 spans across 

12 countries and many awards and 

winning cocktail recipes to his credit, 

Bruce Blue Rivera teaches the history, 

culture and application of bartending 

and has been featured on Spike TV’s 

Bar Rescue and Wendy Williams to 

name a few.

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ial survey. 

An Urban Black 

Travel Mag

Griots Republic Vol. 1 Issue 6 

June 2016 

Editor in Chief Davita McKelvey 

Deputy Editor Rodney Goode 

Copy Editor Alexis Barnes 

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GRIOTS REPUBLIC - An Urban Black Travel Magazine - June 2016

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