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Hiking the Rice Terraces of Banaue
When you think of the Philippines, most people envision beautiful beaches, and while the Philippines does have those, many are unaware of the incredible rice terraces of Banaue. These terraces, which are often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, are hands down my favorite place in the Philippines. These terraces were carved into the mountains by the indigenous…
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Backpacking Hopkins, Belize: A Hidden Gem
Most people have never heard of Hopkins, Belize, and for those that have, it’s likely not on your to-do list in Belize. Hopkins isn’t heavily promoted like other destinations in the country, but I’d argue that it is Belize’s greatest hidden gem. Short History on the Garifuna of Hopkins Hopkins is a unique small town populated by the Garifuna…
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Being Black in China
Many wonder what being Black in China is like. This is a tough and complex question, but it largely depends on a variety of factors. The city one is in, one’s nationality, skin color/physical features, gender, etc. City: In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the average local is educated and well-traveled enough to not really stare at you. Also,…
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5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Turkey
There are hundreds of reasons, but for the sake of time, I will just highlight my top 5 reasons why you should visit Turkey as your next destination. Note* Recently, Turkey’s tourism has been overshadowed by its political issues. When discussing Turkey as a potential destination, most people’s first thought is “Is it safe?”, and the numbers have reflected that.…
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5 Places You Must Visit in South Korea
South Korea is one of my favorite countries of all time. I spent a little over 2 years here working and was able to see much of this beautiful country. While it is a relatively small country, it is packed with tons of things to see and do. Here are 5 places you must visit in South Korea in no…
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How to Save Money to Travel
For most people, the hardest part about traveling is finding the money to even save! I hear the same thing from my friends and family all the time, “Wow! I wish I could do that, I just don’t have the money now.” I’ll admit, to a large extent, traveling is certainly a privilege and many of us have too many…
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Floating Villages of Cambodia: Kompong Phluk
I spent about a week in Cambodia, most of it seeing Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, but no place quite fascinated me like the floating villages of Kompong Phluk. By my third day in Cambodia, I had grown tired of seeing temples and wanted to see something different. I told my driver I wanted to see some rural areas outside…
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Being Black in Korea
I spent 27 months in South Korea and loved every minute of it. Coming as a 21 year-old fresh out of college was the experience of a lifetime. Until this day, it remains as one of the best times in my life. I am often asked my experience being Black in Korea. While it is true that anti-blackness exists in Korea…
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Trekking Sapa
Trekking Sapa is truly one of the cooler things I’ve done in life. I’d argue that Sapa is one of the most beautiful places on earth if you go at the right time. Vietnam is often synonymous with Halong Bay, but Sapa is one destination I recommend if you have some extra time in Northern Vietnam. How to Get Started…
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An Alternative to Bali: Lombok Island
Lombok is practically foreign to the average tourist in Indonesia despite being minutes away from Bali. This island is essentially an alternative to Bali with fewer tourists. Not being ones that like to be surrounded by tourists, Jamarcus and I opted for Lombok instead of Bali. We stayed at Idoop hotel for about $25 a night total for the both…
