GHANA 2014/15

Had a complete absence form blogging, all within good reason though. We are back now!

GHANA. Seeing the word alone gives me butterflies, so can you imagine the excitement that consumed me when i landed at 12pm on the 27th Dec 2015. Anyone who has visited Ghana knows the extreme heat wave that hits you as soon as you step off the plane is nothing but a relief, accompanied by air scented of kelewele and other delicious dishes. 

I have been to Ghana around 5 times, but the thing that made this time so special was the fact that i was doing it completely solo. I always think its healthy and life changing to go on some sort of holiday by yourself and thinking back on it, I wouldn't have preferred it any other way. It forced me to step out of my comfort zone, resulting in me meeting so many amazing people, seeing new things I may have not been able to see if i traveled with people, and just ultimately having the freedom to do everything in my own time, at my own expense. In saying that, during December/Jan (festive season), at any given time you will ALWAYS meet other foreigners you know. Having the comfort of having girls/guys that i already knew around definitely made things easier and more enjoyable. To be perfectly honest, in my opinion, its pretty hard to not enjoy your time in Ghana (minus aspects like light off, water off, poor economy and corruption of course!). The rich culture, simple lifestyle, welcoming personalities, positive attitudes despite having so little, dancing on the streets and mouth-watering food are just SOME of the reasons anyone will love Ghana, and the main reason I know I will eventually live there. 

     Some of my fav spots/things to do:

  Local Food

-Asanka Local 

-Bush Kanteen 

-Buka

Hotels

-Movenpick

-African Regent 

-La Palm

-Royal Senchi

-Aqua Safari

-Golden Tulip

Landmarks

-Aburi Botanical Gardens

-Legon Botanical Gardens

-Kwame Nkrumah Memorial

-Jamestown Lighthouse

-Independence Square

Clubs/Spots

-Republic Bar

-Bedouin Lounge

-Twist

-Club 45 

-Rhapsody

-Bella Roma

As small as Ghana is, and as much as i did, there is still SO much more i want to see and do that i didn't get the chance to. 

Aqua Safari, Ada

Aqua Safari, Ada

Aqua Safari, Ada

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

All White Party

Bojo Beach

Bojo Beach

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo

Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo

Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo

Bojo Beach

Ada

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Aburi Art Centre

Aqua Safari, Ada

Bojo Beach

Bojo Beach

Bojo Beach

Legon Botanical Gardens

Aqua Safari, Ada

Aburi Botanical Gardens (Tree of Life)

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Aburi Botanical Gardens 

La-Palm Hotel

Dansoman, Accra

La-Palm Hotel

Life-changing holiday. Until December 2015 Ghana...

-Posted By Vanessa

48 hours in Atlanta

I've lived in Atlanta for just over a year and am about to embark on a new journey, in a new city- Washington, DC. Even though I've lived in Atlanta for a while, I still feel like I haven't even seen 10% of the city. The only quintessential "touristy" activity I've done is visit Georgia Aquarium. The only thing I feel somewhat confident in suggesting when visiting Atlanta is where to eat and where to stroll. The food scene in Atlanta is INCREDIBLE, with many restaurants giving Southern food a unique twist. I thought I'd share my absolute favorite places in Atlanta and suggest what I'd do if I could only spend 48 hours in this great city. I hope some of you will find this handy when visiting! I'm sure there's plenty more to be discovered but these places are where I will have lasting, positive memories.

Day 1

Firstly, when staying in Atlanta I'd STRONGLY suggest finding a hotel that isn't Downtown or in Buckhead. The Midtown area is the most walk-able and is more distinct. I'd also suggest using Uber as your mode of transportation if you don't have a car- an easy app to download and much cheaper than regular taxis.

I'd wake up and grab a coffee and some pastries from Octane in Grant Park and the Little Tart Bakeshop inside. If you're a little hungrier, just opposite is Ria's Bluebird for a more hearty breakfast. Octane has the best coffee and just has a great vibe about it. The pastries are delicious and there's a good selection of sweet and savory- my favorites being the savory bread pudding and the brown sugar almond cake.

Following that deliciousness, you can walk through the historic cemetery nearby and make your way to Sweet Auburn Curb Market in Edgewood. This market is a great place to stroll through- with different vendors serving meals, groceries, even a book store. If you've had the light breakfast option, you can grab a snack from my personal favorite, Arepa Mia (Venezuelan food).

Now this would be the time to get any "touristy" activities out of the way since you're practically Downtown. Whether it's the Martin Luther King Jr. historical site or museum, the Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola or SkyView Atlanta, there are plenty of choices. Following this, I'd head to the Park Tavern in Piedmont Park for a relaxing drink and to watch the sunset.

Day 2

For this day, I'd suggest checking out the Decatur, Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points and East Atlanta Village neighborhoods. They are all fairly close to each other and are collectively my favorite parts of the city. Decatur has some cute boutiques and great restaurants- such as Cakes & Ale (where you can grab coffee). If it's on the weekend, I'd suggest going to the farmer's market and picking up a light snack there. But save room for the real highlight- an Urban Cannibals sandwich in East Atlanta Village. If I could eat here every single day, I would! The owner is lovely as well.

Strolling through Little Five Points, you will find a bunch of random and interesting boutiques. You will find the same in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood but they are more upscale. Another suggestion if you aren't too tired from walking, would be to walk the Atlanta Belt Line. It has great views of the city and often good street art too.

Finally, check out Miso Izakaya for dinner. Everything on their menu is delicious. 

Now I'm hungry...

- Posted by Olympia

5 Tips when visiting the island of Oahu, HI

Over the Christmas holidays, I met up with my parents in Honolulu, where we rented an apartment in Diamond Head for about two weeks. I definitely enjoyed staying in an apartment more than a hotel, as we were able to cook and make ourselves 'at home'. I thought I'd compose some quick tips and suggestions as I have been to Oahu several times now and think I have found some great spots to eat, visit and see. I added some pictures from my trip as well. Enjoy!

1. To swim...

Firstly, let me say that it is SUPER important to get around the island of Oahu, rather than just staying in Honolulu or Waikiki and walking around. Getting a rental car to drive around the island would be ideal but if your budget does not allow, the public bus system is fantastic, easy to navigate and cheap. If you don't get out of Honolulu or Waikiki, you will really miss out on the beauty outside of the city.

My absolute favorite beach on the island is Lanikai. It takes about 30 minutes to drive to it from Waikiki. I have taken the bus before and that takes about an hour. You can get off the bus at Kailua and walk to Lanikai. The beach is one of the most beautiful I've ever been to.

Clear water, soft sand and an incredible view of the two islands, Na Mokulua. An extra tip would be to visit Lanikai during the week when it is less busy.

2. To eat...

There are some really interesting, unexpectedly good places to eat in Oahu. I'm going to break it down by meal-time and tell you some of my favorites.

For breakfast: Visit the North Shore and the town of Haleiwa. You will find a local "shack" called Haleiwa Bowls serving Acai bowls which are a blend of acai (berry) sorbet, granola, bananas, coconut flakes and honey. Absolutely delicious (and healthy). It takes about an hour to drive to the North Shore, but the drive has dramatic views and there is plenty to see and do once you get there, including checking out some of the beaches frequented by pro surfers that have gigantic waves.

For lunch or a snack: Visit Leonard's Bakery, about two miles from Waikiki. At this bakery you will find the most delicious pastry in the universe: the malasada. Traditionally a Portugese dish, malasadas are egg-sized balls of yeast dough that are deep-fried in oil and coated with granulated sugar. I found myself going back for more every single day of my trip- they were THAT good! This bakery has been running since 1952, a testament to its success. 

Finally, for dinner: Visit Prima in Kailua. Incredible pizza, incredible pasta, with an emphasis on sourcing local, sustainable ingredients. We had fantastic service here and would not have found it without a recommendation from a friend, as it is in a smaller town and looks very modest from the outside.

3. To shop...

I would advise to stay away from shopping in Oahu, mainly because there is so much natural beauty and other things worth doing. However I will mention a bikini store called San Lorenzo, which has several locations across the island. Their swimsuits are made in Peru and Brazil and are very unique and flattering. You can also customize tops and bottoms to ensure the right fit and color selection to your liking.

4. To learn...

An interesting day trip my mother planned was visiting Doris Duke's old home, Shangri La. The Honolulu Museum of Art organizes tours of the home, as it has become almost a museum of Islamic art. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable on the art forms in the home and it was fascinating learning about how it was built and designed. On top of the educational experience, the home has a jaw-dropping view of some of Oahu's coast and a flawless garden and pool.

5. To see...

After eating a few too many malasadas, a walk to the top of Diamond Head volcano is a must. It takes about an hour but the view over the island from the top makes it well worth it.

(Photo from Wikimedia)

Hawaii is truly one of my favorite places on earth. It has so much history, culture, beauty and warmth. I plan to go back as many times as I can and see more. One thing I deeply value is the Hawaiian promotion of respect for the environment and the highlighting of local business and produce. Although tourism has benefited the economy, I'm sure it has undoubtedly threatened the environment and preservation of native culture. However, Hawaii seems to be making efforts to sustain what is really important and I noticed it more this time visiting.

- Posted by Olympia