Brooklyn Travel Addict

Travel

The Vibrant Street Art of Johannesburg

April 8, 2015

When people told me Johannesburg is just like Brooklyn, I knew I’d find some cool artwork on the streets! My first day in town I wandered into a coffee shop, showed the barista a photo of the mural I was trying to find, and from there I was off to explore the city! Below are some of my favorite finds on my self-guided walking tour of Johannesburg.

I started my walking tour in Maboneng, near the 12 Decades hotel. This one caught my attention immediately with the vibrant purple typography and positive messages.

I really appreciate the fact that they captured her natural hair in such detail (Where I’m from we call those little circles “naps,” and they are awesome little bundles of strength that should be celebrated!) Every little bit helps to reinforce natural beauty!

This installation is located on Fox Street in Maboneng. The answers ranged from comical to touching, and passersby contribute to the piece each day in chalk.

With this one you really need to just grab a drink, pull up a chair and analyze it for like an hour. Maybe it’s a child going after a ball in the street and the mother is running after him? Or maybe he’s a zombie with super human strength and is about to pick up that telephone pole and smack those flamingos out of the sky? Or maybe I should put this drink down.

This little gem was located underneath an overpass in a sketchy block in Jeppestown. Love the fact that it’s there, and not in some fancy gallery. Loving your city isn’t always about the attractions or gentrified areas. Love all of it for what it is!

Maboneng spelled out on each pilar of this overpass. Love the pride in their neighborhood! (Brooklyn stand up!)

This wall seemed to be tagged by different artists since the elements appear unrelated. Whether it was 1 person or 20, its really cool!

So….maybe the cell phone is weeping because the wood is tied up and it’s cold outside? I give up.

Street sign in the heart of the Maboneng Precinct near the 12 Decades Hotel.

During my walking tour I wandered into a nearby market and found all kinds of cool artwork like these records that had been transformed into colorful masterpieces!

This is dope! Looks like something Lady Gaga would wear to the VMAs. With a family of doves around her neck.

This is the mural I actually set out to find that day, and it ended up being blocked by cars and a tree. Still glad I found it, and all of the other gems along the way. (Here’s a clearer shot by Jozichic’s magazine CBD)

Next I headed over to Braamfontein to find this colorful installation. It sits outside a cool restaurant and gathering place called The Grove.

Take a closer look though. The letters are made up of Coke product bottle tops! Not sure if this was commissioned or coincidental but either way, a win for Coke.

Here’s The Grove area at night. Great place to chill with your crew and the food is pretty good!

Across the street in the South Point Central building I spotted this cool kid on the walls inside. They are converting some of the local buildings into dorm space and this painting is a part of their remodeling process.

“You don’t just find your place here. You make it and you find yourself.” *waves church fan*

*snaps fingers*

Love this! Reminiscent of Warhol pop art but cooler cause its Mandela! Spotted this one outside the Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein.

I do! And you will too when you visit!

I loved Johannesburg in ways I’ve never loved another city (besides Brooklyn), and the street art is one of many things that made this place feel like home. If you take a trip to Jozi make sure to walk around the cultural centers of Maboneng, Braamfontein, and Newtown to see the artwork. There’s so much to see in this underrated city – you just have to take the time to seek it ou. Enjoy your trip and feel free to share links to other artwork you find in the comments below!

Travel, Travel Tips

Getting Around in Johannesburg & Cape Town

April 1, 2015

Getting Around South Africa Header via Sleepless in Soweto

You’ve booked your flight, reserved a hotel and now it’s time to figure out how to get around during your trip to South Africa! Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from in Jo’burg and Cape Town, and most won’t break your budget. Here are a few tips from my trip to help you navigate both the major attractions and the local treasures these great cities have to offer.

ON A BUDGET

So what had happened was, you caught that Etihad fare glitch and got a ticket to Johannesburg for the low low. But the way your bank account is set up, there isn’t much wiggle room for costly shenanigans while you’re there. No worries! If you’re disciplined enough to plan ahead, you can spend next to nothing getting around.

Rolling with the homies in a tuk tuk

BOOK A TUK-TUK
A tuk-tuk is hands down your cheapest option for getting around Johannesburg and Cape Town. I took a ride with a guy named Bonga in Jo’burg and was in utter disbelief when he told me how much I owed him for my 15 min ride from Maboneng to Braamfontein – 15R ($1.25). And it was so much fun! We rode through the streets and he was able to give me the real deal on where to eat, hang out, and see some street art I was looking for. Tuk tuks can only move but so fast, so give him time to get to you if he’s not nearby. Email me if you’d like his number, and if he’s not available you can book with Shesha Tuks or E Tuk Tuk in Johannesburg or Monarch Tuksi in Cape Town.

Photo by Sleepless in Soweto

RENT A BIKE
In today’s edition of Johannesburg Is Just Like Brooklyn, we have a dope bike crew called Fixin Diaries that hosts weekly social rides on Johannesburg and Soweto. They recently launched #BrunchAndRide, where you can get lessons, have brunch and tour Soweto all in the same day! They even dress all cute, so be Instagram-ready ladies! I’m DEVASTATED I found out about them after I left, but hope to meet up with this eclectic crew next time I’m there. Limited bikes are available to rent for 50R, so contact them early if you’re interested in joining a ride.

HOP ON/HOP OFF
If you live in any major city, you’re probably familiar with those massive double-decker buses full of awkward-looking tourists. Oh look, now you’re an awkward tourist! Grab your fanny pack and your ginormous camera, and head to one of these buses to hit all the major spots for one great price. You’ll start at a central location, and can hop off at select attractions along the way. As a slightly snobbish New Yorker I had long ago written these buses off as a tourist trip, but locals in both Jozi and Cape Town suggested the bus as a way to see everything. A single-day ticket in either city runs about R150 ($12 USD) online, and if you add a Soweto tour in Johannesburg, it’s R370 ($31 USD). Click here to book with an online discount.

CATCH THE TRAIN
In Johannesburg there’s a commuter train system called the Gautrain, and a local one called the Metrorail. I did not take either. If you’re traveling with a crew, or even a significant other, then the train is another way to save money. However I’ve heard it isn’t the smartest option after dark, so use your discretion with this one.

BALLER ON A BUDGET

You’ve carefully saved up for months to make this trip happen, and while you’re not hard up for money, you want to get the most bang for your hard-earned bucks. Welcome to your 30s.

CALL AN UBER
Yes, Uber. It’s everywhere. After I called an Uber in Jaipur, India, where you share the road with cows and camels, I knew Uber had taken over the universe. You can probably call one in Heaven. For spontaneous plans in Johannesburg or Cape Town, UberX is your best bet. As long as you’re in a populated area, there’s probably one nearby, and unlike New York, the fares are significantly cheaper than most taxis!

Tip: If you’re a woman and ever need to hop in a cab solo, I recommend Uber largely because it keeps the driver’s name, phone number, and the license plate number of the car all in the app. For extra coverage you can send a link to friends that tracks your trip in real time and shares your ETA. Also, Uber charges your credit card so you don’t have to fumble with foreign currency, trying to carry the one and recalculate how much cash you just handed the driver. It’s a win all around.

RENT A CAR
If you’re the independent type that likes to have their own transportation at all times, then you’re in luck – you can totally rent a car from both airports. But here’s the thing. South Africans drive on the left-hand side of the road, pass on the right, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, and you shift gears with your left hand.

Good luck with that.

Tip: Unless you have T-Mobile’s epic international plan, the GPS navigation on your phone will drain your precious data insanely fast (So will Uber. I learned that the hard way. Thanks AT&T). Pay for the Garmin with your rental car. Your phone bill will thank you.

BALLER

I see you over there. You got that good Wall Street bonus in December and decided to surprise the boo with a fabulous safari getaway in South Africa! Or maybe that tax refund came through and you don’t know how to act like the rest of us. Either way, you may only visit South Africa once in a lifetime, so why not live it up!

RIDE IN STYLE
For as little as $49, a chauffeur from Blacklane’s limousine service will greet you inside the Johannesburg airport holding one of those little VIP name signs, and whisk you off in a Mercedes E-Class looking like Obama’s cousins ‘nem. If you really wanna light a good fire to your wallet, book an S-class for a full 8-hour day for $472. They do pick ups at both Cape Town (CPT) and Johannesburg (JNB) airports, and just like the everything else, there’s an app for that.

HIRE A TAXI
While taxis and private drivers aren’t outrageously expensive compared to American prices, non-metered drivers will definitely see dollar signs in those aviators you’re wearing. So be prepared to pay an American “premium.” Once you leave the airport, most taxis are metered, but you’ll still be paying more than an Uber.

If you need a driver that will wait for you, try Unicab’s 24 hour car service. Similar to Uber, you can call a cab using their app, but they also have hourly waiting rates that are handy if you want to make stops on your way to or from the airport and have luggage. On my last day in Cape Town I reserved a driver from Unicab named B.K. who was super friendly and took me to Table Mountain before heading to the airport. Email me if you want his number and tell him Tracey sent you. Just kidding. He’ll have no idea who I am, but call him anyway if you are looking for a trustworthy driver for the day!

*****************

Have you used any of these methods to get around while visiting South Africa? What was your experience? Feel free to share additional options, drivers and contacts for others to use in the comments below!

Travel

The Day I Jumped off the Victoria Falls Bridge

March 24, 2015

There’s not much out there that can fully prepare you for your first jump. Those crazy GoPro videos on YouTube can give you a sneak peek into the madness, but the minute you step out onto that ledge and leap off into the open air, you’ll realize that no video can fully capture the euphoria of experiencing it for yourself.

My friend and I arrived around 9 AM, and before I had a chance to notice how high the bridge was, I was distracted by the breathtaking scenery surrounding it. To my right, Victoria Falls thundered in the distance, creating delicate showers of mist that transformed into spontaneous rainbows before disappearing. To my left, a clear blue sky balanced out the intimidating rocks, steep cliffs and crashing waves of the Zambezi river below.

Wait. Crashing waves? Massive rocks? Steep cliffs? What am I thinking? This is crazy!

The classical soundtrack that had been playing in my head was abruptly interrupted by a needle scratch, as I imagined the news story headline:

“American Girl Makes Tasty Lunch For Local Crocodiles After Victoria Falls Bridge Accident.”

Temporarily mortified, I decided to watch a few other people jump in hopes it would calm my racing heartbeat. The first person I watched was a young Asian girl with a mohawk ponytail. The sheer joy that radiated from her face as she rebounded from the river will forever be etched into my memory. She was beaming long after she returned to the bridge, and while I suspected she had partaken in Zambia’s finest substances prior to jumping, I still wanted in on that feeling!

So I signed up and got in line. There are 3 degrees of insanity: Bungee Jump, Bridge Swing or Zip Line. I chose the Bridge Swing, and from there everything was a blur. The guys out there have it down to a science, distracting you with casual chatter while they strap you into the harness. Before you realize it you’re wearing a dozen seatbelts, have the biggest wedgie of your life, and are standing on a ledge about 39 stories high, listening to instructions on how to jump properly.

“Move your toes to the edge.” said the instructor, “Closer…Closer…You’re not there yet. Keep going…”

At this point my heart was beating out of my chest and I refused to look down lest I punk out at the last minute. The rope strapped to my waist felt like it was pulling me off the ledge, but the guys assured me they had me. I just needed to get my trembling toes over the edge for the final countdown.

“You’re almost there…..Okay stop! Ready?”

Hell NAW I’m not ready!

What am I thinking? This is insane! I’m too old for this! No wait, I’m too young to die! Who do I think I am? Some carefree hippie who wants to feel the wind on her face like a bird and soar above the worries of the world while R. Kelly’s “I Believe I can Fly” plays faintly in the distance?

“3…2…”

Okay maybe not R. Kelly, but the flying part is pretty cool! I’m like an eagle! Wait, do they have eagles out here? And where is the strong warrior-looking dude with the life raft to save me in case of emergency? Do they have 911 in Zimbabwe?”

“1….Jump!”

Without the slightest hesitation I jumped feet first into the open air. It felt like decades passed as I fell towards the river below, and just when I thought it was over, I kept falling. And falling. And screaming every time I realized I was still falling. Suddenly the swing engaged, flinging my body towards the sky and I began laughing hysterically. I laughed and laughed, and then laughed even harder when I realized how crazy I sounded. I laughed till my lungs had exhausted every ounce of oxygen in my lungs, and then settled into an awkwardly big smile that lasted long past my ride up to safety.

When I returned to the bridge and tried to tell my friend Omar how it felt, I couldn’t find the words to describe it! My body was so flooded with adrenaline that I could barely hear myself think, let alone form cohesive sentences, so if I make no sense at the end of the video, you know why!

As I swung between Zambia and Zimbabwe that morning, flooded with an endorphin rush of happiness, I finally understood why people love these sorts of daredevil experiences. The euphoria is indescribable, and you walk away feeling more alive than ever felt before. If you’re ever in southern Africa, definitely take a trip over to Victoria Falls. Whether you jump or not, the energy is infectious in that little house over the bridge, and you’ll leave more aware of how awesome a single day can be if you’re open to a new experience.

[Note: The first portion of this video is promotional from the company. My portion begins around 1:19]

They weighed me prior to jumping to calibrate the ropes. 65 kg. I assumed the rope/bridge weighed a lot more so I was good.

Brooklyn Travel Addict Bridge Swing at Victoria Falls

Let’s do this! (Just kidding, not really ready but no turning back now!)

Swinging and laughing over the Zambezi river

Still on Cloud 9 after my return to the bridge

The homies who kept me safe. Thanks guys!

One of the operators asked me “Why do you do this if you love life?” I replied “This is what life is all about!”

Photos courtesy of Omar McKenzie: @Omartakespictures on Instagram and XploreDreamDiscover on Tumblr
For more photos from “The Great Escape” follow @bktraveladdict on IG/Twitter, and visit Facebook.com/BKTraveladdict

Travel

How Poverty Creates Perspective

March 10, 2015

Today as I sit outside at a cafe near my apartment in Johannesburg, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. The sun is shining, there’s a cool breeze, and I’m finally getting a chance to just…breathe. I feel like I’ve been on auto-pilot since my last day at work, and for the first time in 2 weeks I have some alone time to process everything.

At our closing dinner in Jaipur this weekend, Nomadness Travel Tribe founder Evita Robinson said that she keeps returning to India because it gives her perspective. Truer words have never been spoken. Before this trip I knew that I would see some dire conditions, which didn’t bother me at all because I have seen different degrees of poverty all over the world. But this was different.

The streets are full of random dirty animals which apparently are people’s pets. But instead of dogs and cats, they are cows, and pigs, and camels. And they are all feasting on garbage and feces in the middle of the street. I literally saw a cow drop a load, at which point 2 pigs ran over and went to town like it was Thanksgiving. Yards away are little kids running around barefoot through what is surely days worth of feces and dirt that has yet to be washed away by the rain that is so scarce in the region.

In Pushkar, our camel (which had it’s own set of 99 problems) stopped for a drink of water in a dirty concrete receptacle on the side of the road. A few minutes later we passed by a man washing his clothes in the same type of receptacle. The memory that will forever be etched in my mind was a mother changing her daughter’s diaper in the middle of a dirty street. The little girl was standing and her mother was wiping her innocent little bottom with her bare hands and some water that came from God knows where. I locked eyes with her and will never forget her expression. It wasn’t sad or desperate or begging for help. It was just another day, and she was doing the best she could to take care of her little one.

Witnessing scenes like this makes me look back at the state of mind I was in a few weeks ago. For lack of a better comparison, I feel like that Claritin commercial where the first half is all blurry, and then the film is removed to show the metaphor of clarity. That’s what India has been for me. It has peeled back so much crap that seems so trivial now. If I had to pick a soundtrack for this feeling, it would be the words of Miss Hill:

Now the skies could fall/ Not even if my boss should call / The world it seems so very small / But nothing even matters. At all.
~ Lauryn Hill

Her lyrics speak to that head-in-the-clouds bliss you feel in the butterfly zone of newness. As long as you and him are good, life is okay, and nothing else seems to matter that much. But in my case, there is no him right now. Just Him, and whatever He has for me to do next. And right now, it feels like nothing else really matters.

Does that mean I’m never going back to work, and you’ll now find me on the Q train trying to deliver folks to the world of travel? Absolutely not. A girl gotta eat, and I’m way too greedy for that life. However, like Evita said, India has given me a fresh perspective on what is important in life, and a brand new approach to what I hope will be a more purpose-driven life moving forward.

So today, I give thanks. Thank you to the travel community that created this unexpected trip to a country that now has a special place in my heart. Thank you to the Universe for the little push (ahem, dropkick) I needed to break away from the rat race and take this experience to the next level. Thank you to my best friend and sister for bailing me out of a Priceline nightmare that nearly left me stranded alone in New Delhi yesterday (more on that later), and thank you India for removing a veil of myopia that I didn’t even realize I was wearing.

Lastly, thank you to anyone reading and encouraging me on this journey. You motivate me to share and explore more than I would ever do on my own, and are a integral part of this Great Escape that is only just beginning.

Travel

The Great Escape

March 2, 2015

I didn’t expect to cry. I’m pretty sensitive, but I tend to keep my feelings tucked away nice and neatly, bringing them out only on special occasions like weddings and reruns of the Best Man Holiday.

But this morning, those feelings that rarely find their way to the edges of my eyelids caught me by surprise. I had just turned on some music and was packing my suitcase, when my thoughts drifted to this new season of freedom I’ve been introduced to for the very first time. With 10 years in the ad industry, I’ve have witnessed more layoffs than I can even count, and have gotten used to the wild ride of agency life. But nothing prepares you for the train wreck of emotion that takes over when it’s your turn to say goodbye.

For the past week my mind has felt like a packed subway car at rush hour: A million different voices all yelling over each other, pulling my attention in unnecessary directions and distracting me from where I’m supposed to be going. All the while, The Conductor has been trying to provide directions about the next stop on my ride, but I could barely hear him over all the noise.

But as I watched the sun rise outside my apartment window this morning, it was like everybody got off the train at the same time, and I could hear The Conductor more clearly. The flood of voices that had been shouting in my head all week finally stopped, and tears of joy spilled slowly down my cheeks as I was overwhelmed with clarity and gratitude, quietly uttering two words:

“Thank you.”

For the past few months I’ve been striving for a more purpose-driven approach to my life, and have questioned if writing, traveling and other personal interests are even an important part of it. While I’ve been lucky enough to be passionate about the work I’m paid to do, I’ve seen the undeniable favor that people experience when they begin working with purpose. My hope is that I can ultimately find a situation that can marry the two, grounding my work in passions that trancend a paycheck.

In the meantime, I’ve decided to turn this season of uncertainty into one of opportunity. To get off the hamster wheel of familiarity, and harness the unique adrenaline of the unknown. I may never have a time like this again, so I plan to spend each day purposefully – embarking on new adventures, bringing passion projects to life, making a difference wherever I can, and spending quality time with people who matter most.

Wherever you are on your journey, I encourage you to do the same!

********

Below is a sneak peek of where I’m headed over the next month! Travel with me at @bktraveladdict #BkEscape on Instagram and Twitter.

ABU DHABI, UAE

The Grand Mosque
Emirates Palace
Evening Desert Safari

JAIPUR, INDIA

Taj Mahal
Indian Cooking Classes
Ayurvedic Spa Treatments
Holi Festival of Colors

VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA

Gorge Swing
Helicopter Ride
First stay in a hostel!

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Door of Hope Children’s Mission
Markets in Maboneng
Apartheid Museum

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

South African Cooking Classes with Mama Lindy
Vineyard Tour (Because wine is life. Right next to bacon)
Cape Point

SOMEWHERE BELOW THE MASON-DIXON LINE

Visiting friends and family, figuring out what’s next, and indulging the finest biscuits Bojangles has to offer!

Giving Back, Travel

Spreading Love to Johannesburg Babies

February 22, 2015

Hey guys! In a few weeks I’ll be headed to Johannesburg, South Africa for the very first time, and excited doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel about this trip! At the beginning of this year I committed to giving back more, not just here in Brooklyn, but also in the communities I visit while traveling.

When I looked up local charities and programs, I found a children’s mission called the Door of Hope. Apparently child abandonment in Johannesburg is a pretty big problem, with up to 5 babies being abandoned every single day. These kids are often left in horrible conditions (wrapped in plastic bags, thrown into the trash and dropped off in parks) and finding them alive is a miracle in and of itself.

Door of Hope started off as a “Baby Bin” at Berea Baptist Church in 1989, and has grown to a full-service mission with multiple homes across Johannesburg. There are about 60 babies in their care at a time, with each one staying for about a year until a “forever family” adopts them.

Please join me in spreading a little love to these babies by helping me adopt a cot for 1 year. The funds will be used to purchase diapers, baby wipes, bum cream, formula, cereal, bath products and vitamins, and also cover pediatric appointments, optometrists and dermatologists.

No contribution is too small, and every dollar will help keep an awesome little baby happy and healthy in ways many of us take for granted. Thank you so much, and hopefully this will be the first in a series of “Spread Love” projects that can make life a little better in communities around the world!