U spik Spanish?
Essential The Official Coli Travel Thread
Are you going in an all inclusive or airbnb? Havana is a must to visit. Matanza too if you want to be around black Cubans
Elle Seven
Superstar
Elle Seven
Superstar
Airbnb. How far is Matanza from Havana, or is it a subsection within Havana?
A few hours, 2 max from Havana
What's up my fellow globetrotters. Trying to decide where to go for my next trip. Already going to Nigeria this December to see some family. Might throw in a few West African countries (Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal) if I can get some time, but it's seeming unlikely as I have a lot of people and missions to make while in Nigeria and my time is limited.
So I'd like to go somewhere "different" for my 23rd birthday next year April. Kind of a long post but I'd appreciate the insight.
I stay in DC but have traveled quite a bit for my age. I just really enjoy traveling and broadening my horizons.
In my later "adult" years e.g. 16 yrs +, I've been to:
-Dubai
-Thailand (2x)
-Malaysia
-Cambodia
-England
-Nigeria (from there, go like once a year)
-Ghana
-Canada
-Togo
-Benin
Been to Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands when I was much younger but didn't really experience much. Just stayed at a hotel near the airport as we had a long layover.
So right now I'm thinking about
1-Brazil (probably Rio, but open to Saō Paulo or Salvador)
2-Colombia (most likely Bogota)
3-Kenya (Nairobi)
4-South Africa (Jo'burg)
5-France (Paris)
1. Brazil has always been on my list because of their African connection particularly with what is now Modern day Nigeria. There was a 'Casa de Nigeria' museum built to trace some of these two nations shared history. That and Brazil really seems like an exotic place. The soccer, sand and samba. Plus, I've never been around Lusophones (Portuguese speakers). I've been to Francophone and Anglophone countries before, plus I'm around a lot of Hispanophones.
2. Colombia seems like a dope time plus the flight prices are crazy cheap. Colombia would also be the cheapest of my selected Latin American countries. I don't speak Spanish or Portuguese but I'm pretty good with Latin languages due to a bit of knowledge of French and just general ease in learning languages.
3. Kenya is slowly becoming one of Africa's crown jewels in terms of development and advancement. Outside of Ghana, Kenya has really been touted as an emerging Sub-sahran African key player (people don't really include South Africa, well because of white people to be honest). I think I'd have a pretty good time in Kenya seeing as they speak English and my $ would convert very well to the local currency.
4. South Africa, the other giant of Africa. South Africa I've heard some very good things about. It seems like it'd be easily accessible and would also be pretty cheap as well.
5. Paris. Been on my list for a long time. Flights mid April would be like 500-600. Definitely would be crazy expensive there. May just hold off on this one until I get my US citizenship and I don't have to apply for a visa.
Open to other suggestions of really good places that have really good value.
So I'd like to go somewhere "different" for my 23rd birthday next year April. Kind of a long post but I'd appreciate the insight.
I stay in DC but have traveled quite a bit for my age. I just really enjoy traveling and broadening my horizons.
In my later "adult" years e.g. 16 yrs +, I've been to:
-Dubai
-Thailand (2x)
-Malaysia
-Cambodia
-England
-Nigeria (from there, go like once a year)
-Ghana
-Canada
-Togo
-Benin
Been to Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands when I was much younger but didn't really experience much. Just stayed at a hotel near the airport as we had a long layover.
So right now I'm thinking about
1-Brazil (probably Rio, but open to Saō Paulo or Salvador)
2-Colombia (most likely Bogota)
3-Kenya (Nairobi)
4-South Africa (Jo'burg)
5-France (Paris)
1. Brazil has always been on my list because of their African connection particularly with what is now Modern day Nigeria. There was a 'Casa de Nigeria' museum built to trace some of these two nations shared history. That and Brazil really seems like an exotic place. The soccer, sand and samba. Plus, I've never been around Lusophones (Portuguese speakers). I've been to Francophone and Anglophone countries before, plus I'm around a lot of Hispanophones.
2. Colombia seems like a dope time plus the flight prices are crazy cheap. Colombia would also be the cheapest of my selected Latin American countries. I don't speak Spanish or Portuguese but I'm pretty good with Latin languages due to a bit of knowledge of French and just general ease in learning languages.
3. Kenya is slowly becoming one of Africa's crown jewels in terms of development and advancement. Outside of Ghana, Kenya has really been touted as an emerging Sub-sahran African key player (people don't really include South Africa, well because of white people to be honest). I think I'd have a pretty good time in Kenya seeing as they speak English and my $ would convert very well to the local currency.
4. South Africa, the other giant of Africa. South Africa I've heard some very good things about. It seems like it'd be easily accessible and would also be pretty cheap as well.
5. Paris. Been on my list for a long time. Flights mid April would be like 500-600. Definitely would be crazy expensive there. May just hold off on this one until I get my US citizenship and I don't have to apply for a visa.
Open to other suggestions of really good places that have really good value.
i've mostly only traveled the Caribbean where i have family
the bossman
Superstar
these are some heavy hitters you got on your list. 3 are on my top 5 fav in the world.Looks like you haven't experienced South America yet. I would say go to Brasil. It's an experience unlike any other country. Rio is dope. It's a world-class city. It reminds me of an LA in a way. Hit Salvador if you want the black xperience for real, but if you're going in April then you'll be going in the rainy season. thick ass humidity and a lot of rain
I would say hit Colombia, but go to Medellin instead of Bogota. Bogota is nice, but typical big city. Medellin is amazing. Just a 4-hour flight from ATL. It's incredible to see how the city transformed from the shythole it was under Pablo escobar to what it is now. hit guatape while you are out there and climb the Penol rock. I did paragliding out there. that shyt was so fun. Exchange rate is great. Food is great. las paisas. the afro-colombian women out there. asses were straight brickhouse
. Overall I think you would love it.South Africa is another beast. It knocked Brasil out of my #1 spot. but you've already hit a couple spots on the continent already. Save it for later. Start exploring South America.
Looks like you haven't experienced South America yet. I would say go to Brasil. It's an experience unlike any other country. Rio is dope. It's a world-class city. It reminds me of an LA in a way. Hit Salvador if you want the black xperience for real, but if you're going in April then you'll be going in the rainy season. thick ass humidity and a lot of rain
I would say hit Colombia, but go to Medellin instead of Bogota. Bogota is nice, but typical big city. Medellin is amazing. Just a 4-hour flight from ATL. It's incredible to see how the city transformed from the shythole it was under Pablo escobar to what it is now. hit guatape while you are out there and climb the Penol rock. I did paragliding out there. that shyt was so fun. Exchange rate is great. Food is great. las paisas. the afro-colombian women out there. asses were straight brickhouse
South Africa is another beast. It knocked Brasil out of my #1 spot. but you've already hit a couple spots on the continent already. Save it for later. Start exploring South America.
Yea man, no jokes at all as per Travel. I'm leaning either Brasil or Kenya. Kenya would be an easier trip because of English but it seems like Brazil would be way more memorable.
Question: which would be the cheaper of the two. I'd imagine Brazil because I'd be going well after Carnaval in what I assume is the low season.
I'd most like do 2 of these places in 2018. One for mid April, another for Fall/Winter.
Medellin though, I've heard nothing but great things about Colombia....damn.
the bossman
Superstar
when you go how much time will you haev?
I'll probably go for 10-12 days in April for Trip 1 and probably 14-16 days for Trip 2 sometime during winter.
I'm leaning heavily Brazil since I'd really be "challenged" as they really speak very very little English there. Like nada. So I think the trip would be way more engaging. South Africa I've also heard is dope but idk if it's gonna be 'watered' down, no lie, as a Nigerian we've also felt like South Africa wasn't as "African" as other countries.
Kenya, Nairobi especially, I've heard is really bustling.
the bossman
Superstar
Then I would do half the time in Rio and other half in Bahia. domestic flights are cheap like $60-80 rt. Start with Rio since it's such a popular city you will find many English speakers there. And if you are conversational with portuguese they are easier to understand. Your French will help you a little bit. Salvador is a lot more challenging. much less english over there. and their accents are thick as hell. Imagine someone learning English as a second language trying to have a conversation with a breh from Anacostia. But overall the culture is so dope so you wont care. Wait till you walk thru the local markets in Salvador and smell the palm oil in the air and see them cooking akara
. There's a dope performance they do every night in Pelourinho where they do candomble and pay homage to the african gods. I think it's Yoruba origin?As a breh who's already used to navigating west african cities (challenging) then you really won't have too much of a problem getting adjusted in Brasil.
I would do South Africa in the winter as it's more fun then but flights are a little bit more expensive then as you already know africans love to fly back home for the holidays. I know exactly what you mean about the not really "african". I showed my pops (Cameroonian) pics from SA when I went for WC in 2010 and he was like: "that's not real Africa
". 14-16 days would be perfect. do a week in joburg. do like 2-3 days in Durban (my fav spot) and then circle back and end up with Cape town to get the full feel of everything
Then I would do half the time in Rio and other half in Bahia. domestic flights are cheap like $60-80 rt. Start with Rio since it's such a popular city you will find many English speakers there. And if you are conversational with portuguese they are easier to understand. Your French will help you a little bit. Salvador is a lot more challenging. much less english over there. and their accents are thick as hell. Imagine someone learning English as a second language trying to have a conversation with a breh from Anacostia. But overall the culture is so dope so you wont care. Wait till you walk thru the local markets in Salvador and smell the palm oil in the air and see them cooking akara
As a breh who's already used to navigating west african cities (challenging) then you really won't have too much of a problem getting adjusted in Brasil.
I would do South Africa in the winter as it's more fun then but flights are a little bit more expensive then as you already know africans love to fly back home for the holidays. I know exactly what you mean about the not really "african". I showed my pops (Cameroonian) pics from SA when I went for WC in 2010 and he was like: "that's not real Africa
Thanks for this man. I'll put some research into it and keep you in the loop. Brazil is really really calling my name heavy.
And yes, the Candomble stuff originated from yoruba orishas. Funny thing was that it was when I was in high school in Nigeria that I stumbled upon the connection. There was this dude at my high school who used to ship drums from Lagos, Nigeria to Brazil that they would use for their festivals.
I feel you on the Portuguese. I'll prob have to study up a bit before I got.
The Anacostia part had me rollin.
As per SA, I'm still kinda torn. Kenya may seem like a better bang for buck also because I have some homies in Nairobi so I'd be lodging for free. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Thanks again man.