INTO EGYPT WITH AMAL EL MASLOUT

I TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS WEEK AND DECIDED TO CONTACT AMAL ALTHOUGH WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF INTERACTION BEFORE BEYOND FOLLOWING AND LIKING HER IMAGES ON INSTAGRAM. I WASN’T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT, THIS COULD GO WELL OR REALLY SOUR, I THOUGHT. LUCKILY, IT WAS THE FORMER.   …

DARON BANDEIRA: REWRITING THE AFRICAN STORY

“’AFRICAN PEOPLE DON’T DREAM LIKE THAT,’ SOMEBODY TOLD ME LAST WEEK. ‘IT’S NOT POSSIBLE.’”   What does it mean to be African? Africa, the world’s second largest continent consisting of 54 countries and 1.2 billion people, has been what some might call ‘misunderstood.’ A more accurate description might be ‘misrepresented’ …

CONVERSATIONS WITH MOTHER AYAHUASCA PT I: IGNORED (MAMA AIN’T HOME)

SOME PEOPLE GO TO THE AMAZON FOR SIGHTS. SOME GO FOR WILDLIFE. OTHERS GO FOR AYAHUASCA. BY LARA   AYAHUASCA, THE SACRED, HALLUCINOGENIC MEDICINE USED BY SHAMANS. MANY BACKPACKERS FLOCK TO THE AMAZON, SEEKING HEALING, ENLIGHTENMENT OR JUST A NEW DRUG TO TRY. SOME PREPARE MENTALLY FOR YEARS, MEDITATE AND …

ON MARRIAGE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE AND MONEY) – PT I AND II

PART I: IN THE NAME OF MONEY “I DON’T WANT TO GET MARRIED.” ONE OF THE BEST REPELLENTS YOU CAN USE TO WARD OFF GUYS THESE DAYS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. IT ALWAYS LEADS TO SOME FORM OF SUBTLE, MEEK DEBATE – THE MAN GRAPPLING TO WRAP HIS HEAD AROUND …

THROUGH THE LENS OF RAHIM

HOW ONE MAN’S PIECE OF PARADISE IS ANOTHER MAN’S PEACE IN PARADISE   Zanzibar. If you look at a photograph of the Tanzanian archipelago, you can easily fall in love with the crystal clear turquoise waters, the white powdered beaches, and the lush green palm trees lining the sand. Some …

ON TRAVELING AS A BLACK-ASIAN FEMALE SOLO TRAVELLER (PART I)

DIARY OF A MAD BLACK-ASIAN WOMAN. LESSONS LEARNT FROM DR. SEUSS WHETHER WE LIKE TO ADMIT IT OR NOT, APPEARANCE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS, AND ANY LASTING IMPRESSIONS AT ALL. APPEARANCE ALLOWS US TO CLASSIFY OTHERS, TO CATEGORIZE, TO PUT PEOPLE IN THESE LITTLE BOXES THAT ENABLE US …