On our latest excursion I took more than a couple hundred pictures to try to convey the magnitude of what we were experiencing first hand.  Poverty on this scale is like an ocean- it's vast, it's wide, it's deep.  It isn't, however, hopeless.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let me explain.

Hubby and I have this tradition where we select our next international destination prior to leaving the current one so that our departure back home is a little less bitter-sweet.  So back in Spain, probably over cocktails with Captain Alvaro, we decided South Africa was next.

Since we touched down last week, we've been anticipating the arrival of our friends, celebrity stylist and Artistic Style Director for L'Oreal, Johnny Wright and correspondent for NBC News and NBC's Today Show, Tamron Hall #Flawless.  Also, so Tamron is officially the first African American woman to co-anchor the NBC Nightly News! #ThatHappened #SoCrown #BowDown


But I digress.

You may recall the fabulousness that is Johnny Wright from the EPIC NYC Turn-Up session with Tracee Ellis Ross.  Johnny has been to South Africa 4 times this year alone so of course I texted him to find out (1) who we know locally for the TurnUp  and (2) what to eat/see/do/don't.  He inquired about the dates and the next thing I know, it's a party.  #VacationWithFriends

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The crew is gone, y'all!

*ugly cry*

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The final day of our African Safari Adventure was all about the babies (as well as my unwillingness to pack and vacate the premises)!  And since the experience transcends words, I thought I'd share ALL the pics- 

We woke up at a disrespectful 5am and drove across the tip of Africa from Western to Eastern Cape to visit the game reserve Botlierskop, located about 12 miles from the Indian Ocean. 'Astonishingly beautiful scenery' aren't even the words.  Imagine the landscapes of California, France and Montana in the same place. This land is absolutely beautiful and enormous.


Tamron Hall, Johnny Wright, Moshe, Hubby and I made the four-hour trip in two rentals, on the wrong side of the road, with completely new driving rules (like passing on the right). Fun times. In this short period of time, we drove across mountains (into the low-hanging clouds), through valleys, and across plains.  Hubby with his lead foot had my pressure up, but he got us there safe.

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You haven’t lived until you’ve brought in the New Year in Cape Town, South Africa. After an amazing dinner, we hit the streets to join the masses for their first ever ‘World Design’ celebration. Tamron insisted that we fight the crowd of more than 80,000 to join the special Mandela celebration just adjacent to the beautiful town hall building. This place was everything…lasers, flashing lights, music and dancing in the street, we turned up and got our entire lives… #AllNightLong #MakingItRainFreedom

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So after a night of shenanigans and dranking, (#PourItUpPourItUp #DrunkInLove #WeBeAllNight), we rented a car because there is so much ish to see and none of it is in walking distance, nor within budget to rent a cab everywhere. After we gathered ourselves and headed down to the garage to check out the car we had delivered, Hubby took a minute to prepare himself to drive on the other side of the road. It's a bit disorienting, especially with the hint of a mild hangover, but after a few practice laps he was beasting these streets!

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Twenty-four hours and four delicious inflight meals later (international airlines have bomb food and the wine flows like water... so maybe I was faded... the food was good, tho) and we made it, y'all!  We touched down in Cape Town late evening and although I'm not sure if it's yesterday or tomorrow, I'm chilling.  Everyone from the flight attendants to the cab drivers to our host, has been tremendously helpful and friendly and have made what could've been a trying journey, almost fun! I even met a CN reader in the Johannesburg airport during our short pit-stop there. #HeyBoo

Hola Chicas,

It's the day after Christmas and I'm on an 18 hour flight to Africa! For the last few years I've been working with women over seas to tell the stories of curlies around the world.  Together we've raised the profile of several non-profit organizations and educated folks (myself included!) in the process.   I've partied with Jamaican curlies living in Tokyo, and have been welcomed into ethnic neighborhoods in Rio De Janeiro. This time we're headed to Cape Town, South Africa.  #CurliesWorldwide #OneCurlOrder #ShesYourQueenToBeeeeee

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