Rio de Janeiro sells itself on images of white sand beaches with a bright city lights backdrop. The perfect blend of tropical and urban. But, it does not like to talk about how those twinkling city lights are mostly made up of favelas.

Favelas, the Brazilian version of ghettos, have a reputation for being dangerous. I spent 2 weeks living in a favela in Brazil this winter and came to realize that they are the heart of Rio’s vibrant culture.

I stayed in the Vidigal favela at a lovely little hostel, Vidigalbergue. Admittedly, all I really knew of favelas before staying in one I learned from movies like City of God. I expected a tactile feeling of danger. Instead I was surprised by the welcoming smiles and the warm greetings of “bom dia” or “good day.” This was my second trip to Rio and I wanted to get to the core of the city this time and by staying here I know I was able to experience a part of Rio that most visitors miss.

Rio de Janeiro is one of my favorite cities in the world!

I hope that by sharing these photos I am able to change just one mind about the image of Rio. These photos were taken in two different favelas. In both I was able to walk freely around in, Never feeling in danger of my camera being stolen from me but instead showed hospitality by the locals by either posing for photos or showing me rooftops to climb to get the best views of Rio! If you are not comfortable with the idea of staying in a favela or exploring them on your own there are many organized walking favela tours to join. I did one with Viator travel one day to gain a bit of history and insight that I wouldn’t have been able to get just walking around on my own. For instance, the hills of Roi de Janeiro were once all coffee plantations. But, that the government closed them all down and the slaves with nowhere to go hid in the nearby fava forests and created their own communities, taking their name from the fava trees that sheltered them. These illegal communities grew into what are today’s favelas

I am so glad that I tore myself away from my beach chair and saw this side of Rio de Janeiro!

The beauty of Rio’s beaches are undeniable but there is a whole other world to be found in her hills. If you are ever in Rio de Janeiro I hope you too give the city a chance to show you more than Copacabana beach.

The favela is a vibrant place filled with colors and patterns.

Than again sometimes the area is so vibrant it is best to look at it in black and white.

It is always the people that make a place.

But, the animals were cute too.

Art can be found everwhere in the favela

Before I came to India the South Indian specialty that is the dosa was my favorite Indian dish.

I first had it while I lived in San Francisco at a bougie restaurant called Dosa. Clever name I know! After more than a month in India the dosa remains my favorite Indian dish and I will admit to eating more than my fair share of them this month.

When westerners think of Indian food they often think of tandoori, naan, samosas and tikka masala. But, there are so many more delicious dishes served throughout the country. Yet it is the dosa that gets my taste buds the most excited. Dosas are made from a batter of fermented rice and lentils than made into a crispy crepe. You can get them plain served with a bit of dal or chutney or the ever popular masala dosa which is stuffed with a turmeric spiced potato mixture.

The surprise discovery for me this trip was this chili paneer dosa I got from a street stand in Mumbai.

It was one of our first meals in India and ever since I have been searching for it again. Sadly it has eluded me and I have had to settle for other dosas but I will never stop looking for it while I am still here in India.

If I can’t find it I just might have to make it at home by attempting this dosa recipe from Jamie Oliver.

MASALA DOSA

Serves 6-8

For The Masala Potato Filling
2 baking potatoes, scrubbed
2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed
olive oil
1 dried red chilli, finely sliced
1 fresh red chilli, finely sliced
1 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely sliced
1½ teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon turmeric
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 lime, halved
4 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
a few sprigs coriander, roughly chopped
minted yoghurt, to serve
Indian chutney, to serve
lime wedges, to serve

For The Dosa Batter
1 cup gram (chickpea) flour
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2½ teaspoons mustard seeds
olive oil

Method

Prick the potatoes and sweet potatoes all over with a knife and bake until soft, either in the coals of your fire or barbecue or wrapped in foil in the oven at 200°C/400°F for around 1 hour, or until soft and cooked through. Cut open on a board and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Roughly mash then set aside while you cook your spice mixture.

Heat a lug of olive oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the chillies, ginger, mustard seeds, turmeric and a good pinch of salt and pepper and cook, shaking the pan frequently, until it smells fantastic and the seeds start to pop. Pour the mixture over your potatoes then gently mix together with a knife – I guess it’s a bit like glorified mash potato. Taste and season if needed, then add the lime juice, spring onions and coriander. Mix everything together, then set aside.

For the dosa batter, add the flours to a bowl with the bicarb, mustard seeds and a good pinch of salt. Gradually whisk in enough water, about 400ml, to make a loose batter. Add a splash of oil to a pan over a medium-high heat and carefully wipe it around with kitchen paper. Add a spoonful of batter to the pan and immediately twist so the batter coats the base and slips up the edges. As soon as the moisture on top starts to cook away and there are lots of bubbles, add a few heaped teaspoons of potato filling and gently spread across the dosa. Once the base is crispy, loosely roll up the dosa in the pan and you’re ready to go. Serve with minted yoghurt, chutneys and wedges of lime.

I might just have to go back to Mumbai to satisfy my taste buds…

I am trying something new this week within my Foodie Fridays series by providing you with recipes for some of my favorite international dishes. If this is something you enjoy and would like to see more of on Fluent In Frolicking please let me know in the comments!

~ Aloha

Zanzibar always seemed like a made up destination to me. The name alone evokes images of pirates and mystic along the same lines as Timbuktu.

After a grueling month crossing Africa independently overland using public transport I was beyond ready to just chill out on a beach. I never expected I would be so surprised by the magic of Zanzibar and fall deeply in love with it.

Zanzibar has easily won a spot in my Top 6 Favorite Islands of all time list!

During my two weeks on Zanzibar I frolicked in Stone Town, Kendwa and Jambiani. Each town had its own particular appeal but it is the colors of Jambiani Beach on the east side of the island that will haunt me the longest.

Jambiani Beach doesn’t offer much of an ocean to frolic in due to its drastic tides. If that is what you are after than I highly suggest Kendwa.

What Jambiani Beach does have to offer is an authentic taste of village life.

Everyday as the tides go out the women of the village in their brightly colored sari’s harvest seaweed to eat and sell. And, each day I was mesmerized by the colors! The village stretches for a number of kilometers behind the beach and the sea provides a living for most of the inhabitants. If you are looking to have a holiday that is filled with fruity cocktails and a watered down version of culture than I suggest you visit a more touristy area of the island. But, if you are looking to understand something about the Zanzibarian culture then visit Jambiani village, talk to people and be seduced by its magic.

I know I was!

Frolicking City Guides is brought to you by some of the industry’s leading travel bloggers. This space gives them an opportunity to talk to you about their hometowns. These guides are intended to inspire travelers to explore a destination beyond what Lonely Planet says.

What Makes Boston Unique:

My city should be featured on “Frolicking City Guides” because it’s WICKED AWESOME!!!

My city is best described by these five words: small, college-y, Irish, rowdy, and COLD.

The most famous thing about my city is the incredible history around the Revolutionary War. It’s one of the few American cities that can rival the history of cities in Europe…

… “The British are coming!”

The best way to explore my city is by walking. It is such a small city and everything is in walking distance… unless it is super cold out. Then the T (or the MBTA) is your best bet.

If my city were a song, it’d be Hot & Cold by Katy Perry because it can get brutally hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter… As previously mentioned, I also have a love/hate relationship with the city!

You can spot a local by how they pronounce the word “car”… Or any word with an “r”… In fact, a local also likes to throw an “r” into non-“r” words… It gets confusing.

The famous person we are most proud of in Boston goes to Matt Damon (and Ben Affleck too!)… What can I say? I’m a sucker for Good Will Hunting!

Foodie Adventures:

The best breakfast is Café Fresh in Needham. They make a MEAN bagel. Any bagel breakfast sandwich there is a solid order. Zaftigs Café and the Regale Beagle in Brookline also have great brunches on the weekends!

Just a tease of the brunch offerings at Regale Beagle

For the best damn burrito, go to Anna’s Taqueria and order any of their burritos… My personal favorite is the Chili Verde.

The best food truck is any place selling sausages at Fenway during a Sox game.

The best place for coffee is Caffe Vittoria in the North End. Be sure to order their Cappuccino (and their delicious tiramisu)!

For a sweet treat, I always go JP Licks (many locations around Boston) and get their Chocolate Brownie Batter Ice Cream or their Peanut Butter Chip Hard Yogurt!

When I want to carbo-load I always head to When Pig’s Fly Bakery in Brookline. They have phenomenal (and bizarre) homemade breads (think Jalapeno Pineapple) and you are free to sample as many types of bread as you like in their tasting room!

For a romantic dinner, go to Sweet Basils in Needham. It has amazing Italian and it’s such a cute restaurant! (It’s also BYOB)

My favorite place to go for a healthy snack/meal is at Life Alive in Cambridge.

The best local food is New England Clam Chowder, Oysters, and LOBSTAH. For a good chowdah, check out Captain Marden’s in Wellesley. For oysters, check out B&G Oyster in the South End, Neptune Oyster in the North End, and Island Creek Oysters in Backbay. And Lobstah is good in so many places, but the closer you venture to Maine, the better lobster you will get!

Going Out:

Boston doesn’t practice “happy hours” but the best place to go after work is Sidebar in Downtown Crossing. Massive table cyclones (i.e. table kegs) and 10 cent wings… Need I say more?

My favorite cocktail is anything served at Drink. At Drink, you tell the mixologist what your personal tastes are and he/she will whip up one amazing concoction.

The best place to meet a man or woman is at one of the hundreds of bars in Boston – There are PLENTY to choose from!

The best place to take a person on a date is Piattini’s on Newbury Street. It is a super tiny restaurant in the heart of Newbury Street (which is a great place for an evening stroll) and the ambiance is cozy and relaxed. The food is also pretty darn tasty and the Italian tapas–style plates are perfect for sharing with your sweetheart… Order the black truffle filled pasta! Piattini’s also has an excellent selection of wine and you can sample wine flights during your meal.

Nothing says “Romance” like Black Truffles well maybe except White Truffles

Shopping:

The best place to shop is Newbury Street. There are so many designer shops and small boutiques on the street. You can also stop in all the charming restaurants and cafes on Newbury to rest your feet along the way!

Off The Tourist Trail:

When my best friends come for a visit, I always take them to the North End for a yummy dinner first. It is a phenomenal Little Italy and it has some amazing restaurants, bakeries, and cafes.

When my best friends come for a visit, I always take them to the North End For a for a yummy dinner first. good walk, meander alongside the Charles River for some great views and photo opportunities of the city. Harvard Square also is beautiful for a stroll – especially in the fall!

To escape the crowds, I go to Wellesley 20 minutes outside of the city where our family lives!

Locals always skip Faneuil Hall Marketplace for dinner and do the North End instead.

The best road trip from my city is anywhere in the fall. The foliage once you get outside of the city is remarkable – And there are also some great apple picking places within driving distance of the city.

My favorite weekend escape is Nantucket, NYC, or Sunday River in Maine!

The most interesting neighborhood to explore on foot is Beacon Hill… Charles Street especially has so much unique Boston character!

For a fun and FREE activity make up your own pub/coffee/food crawl on the Freedom Trail… Well, it’s not technically free this way, but it sure is darn fun!

Our best festival is Harpoon Fest and it happens once every season.

The best movie theater is the Coolidge Corner Theatre. It’s a small old-school local theatre surrounded by some great food joints for a legit date night!

Eye For Photography:

The most iconic structure in my city is the new Zakim Bridge.

The best photo opportunities are in the Boston Public Gardens, the Trinity Church in Downtown Crossing, and the Old North Church in the North End.

Ladies Only:

The best place to take girls under 10 is the Museum of Science… It was my favorite memory as a child!

When I was a teen girl, I personally loved going to Fenway Stadium for a Red Sox game with the family… It was a great place to learn some classic trash talk!

Ladies 21 and up should go to Faneuil Hall on the weekends. The bars are lively and all within walking distance from each other.

The best place to go for ladies night is OBERON in Harvard Square for an insane dance party/show, but if you want live music check out Club Passim in Cambridge. They specialize in Folk music, but it’s a great place to go on a relaxed evening out with friends or family.

And women really love the restaurant scene in the South End and North End for a great meal out!

For a fun girls getaway, go spend a night at the Liberty Hotel (former prison turned into glam hotel) and dine and dance the night away on property at Scampo, CLINK, and Alibi!

Fine Print:

The best season to visit my city is summer because you can visit the nearby beaches and it’s the best time of the year to walk around the city. The fall here is also pretty magical too with all the stunning foliage! When it’s hot out, I love to visit Nantucket. Our good friend has a home there and spending a weekend with friends on Nantucket is always the highlights of our summers. But on a rainy day, just stay indoors. Boston is miserable in cold rainy weather!

A good walking tour is to walk the entire Freedom Trail. You’ll see so much fantastic US and Boston history along the way.

The best museum is the Isabella Gardner Museum located in Fenway-Kenmore. It also is home to the biggest art heist in history… #fact

The best way to get outside is to train for the Boston Marathon and run yourself silly around the Boston neighborhoods!

Ignore everyone who says you shouldn’t take a Duck Tour of Boston… it really is fantastic.

Don’t do Top of The Hub for dinner. It’s a great view of the city, but you pay (A LOT) for the view and the food is sub-par. My recommendation is to go for a drink instead!

About The Author:

My name is Meg and my city is Boston (also known as the Bean!).

I have lived in Boston on and off for roughly 10 years… we have a complicated relationship but it’s the place I always call home!

The furthest place I’ve traveled was to Gili Air Indonesia.

Since Meg didn’t provide me with any photos from the Gili’s  I thought I would share some of mine. I went to Gili T and it is one of those postcard perfect destinations!

My favorite trip was to Thailand because I loved the people, scenery, and FOOD… Everything in Thailand is incredibly cheap too!

My least favorite trip was to La Paz, Bolivia because… we just didn’t get along.

My dream trip is anywhere in the Pacific where I can stay in an overwater bungalow!

I always pack peanut butter, LuluLemon pants, and my Kindle no matter where I travel.

My favorite book is the entire Harry Potter series. My favorite movie is the entire Harry Potter series. My favorite song is the Harry Potter theme song…kidding on that last one! But my favorite album for a road trip is whatever Playlist my husband (and travel partner in crime), Tony, comes up with… He has the best taste in music!

If I had to give one piece of advice for women travelers it would be to challenge yourself and pack as light as you can!

Frolicking around Meknes I stumbled upon a man selling delicate fruit on a skewer. I consider myself a foodie and like to think that I have an extensive knowledge of exotic fruits but this man had something I had never seen before.

So, of course I bought one immediately.

The fruit vendor didn’t speak any English so he couldn’t tell me what the fruit was. I was dubious about the fruit’s semi hard pointy exterior but after a bit of sign language I deciphered you ate the fruit whole.

My taste buds squealed with glee.

It tasted like a strawberry possibly my favorite fruit ever. I know it’s a little pedestrian but hey I was a little girl in the era of Strawberry Shortcake cartoons. I quickly gobbled up the rest of my fruits and made a mental note to research this fruit at a later date.

I asked another travel blogger who is obsessed with food and she told me she thought it was the fruit from the Strawberry Tree. So with that lead and a bit of Google research I found out that indeed she was right. According to Wikipedia, “The Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree, occasionally cane apple) is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae. Arbutus unedo is widespread in the Mediterranean region: in Portugal, Spain and southeastern France; southward in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, and eastward in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Syria. It is also found in western France, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and southwestern Ireland.”

This is why I love traveling. I love stumbling upon something that looks delicious. Something I’ve never seen before. The excitement of as my taste buds respond with confusion, disgust or yum yum sounds.

Do you have a favorite exotic fruit

you discovered on the road?

If so, let me know what it is in the comment section below.

I recently met up with an old friend in Rio de Janeiro. While talking about this new life of mine he asked “If I was always this adventurous?” I don’t really consider myself adventurous. Yes, I love the thrill of being plopped down in a new city with no clue where I’m going but jumping out of an airplane no thanks.

This question did get me to thinking. I have done some crazy stuff on my travels. So here is my list of the top 8 wackiest, riskiest and heart thumbing frolicking moments of mine on the road.

Hot Air Balloon Ride In Cappadocia, Turkey

While living in San Francisco I always wanted to go for a hot air balloon ride in Napa but the cost and early morning wake up call always deterred me. So when I found myself in Cappadocia, one of the world best ballooning destinations, I knew it was time to make this bucket list wish a reality. It wasn’t till the morning of that I got a bit scared. It is a bit crazy to willingly put yourself in a straw bucket half a mile above the earths surface with no safety measure. As we lifted off and silently glided through the air the fear diminished. It was one of the most peaceful experiences of my life. I would do it again in an instant.

Not really frolicking more like floating in Cappadocia

White Water Rafting over a 7 meter waterfall in Rotarua, New Zealand

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am not the sporty type. Yet somehow I decided that my first time white water rafting should be in Class 5 rapids and include going over the largest waterfall you can pay to do in the world. Yep, I decided that the perfect way to get my adrenaline fix was by plummeting over a 21 foot waterfall in a big rubber raft. Somehow I ended up in the van with the guides to the river. In turn, I got a private briefing full of worse case scenarios from the hungover and called in on his day off rescue guide. To this day rafting over the waterfall is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. I’ve been white water rafting since and would go again but I’ll stick to class 4 rapids, thanks.

That is me in the back right corner holding on for dear life

Boat trips to little islands in the Central America

I have to lump these three experiences together. On three separate occasions I seriously contemplated my sanity and safety while on a boat in Central America. The first was the calmest. Just a very bumpy and WET ride back to the mainland from Cayos Cochinos. We had an amazing time on these tiny islands but the hour and half ride back to the mainland on a little dingy left me soaking wet and grumpy. The second boat ride was in Nicaragua and I thought I was going to die. No joke! We were only going across a lake but this is no average lake. There are sharks and the waves were so big that day that we were on one of the few boats that were crazy enough to leave. I was sure I was going to be eaten alive by sharks in the middle of a lake. The third was the return boat from Bocas Del Toro to the mainland of Panama. We once again traveling on a stormy day. My boyfriend and I laughed as all the locals were grabbing life jackets. Once the captain pulled out of the dock and decided that he would just jump the boat over the waves the laughter turned to nervous glances and hand clinching. It was like a roller coaster. That drop you get in your stomach from being airborne than a giant slam as the boat hit the surface again. This was one of the longest half hours of my life. I think I will stick with chicken buses next time I am in Central America because we all know they are safer

Frolicking by ferry in Central America is not my favorite way to frolic

Motorcycling over the Hai Van pass in Vietnam

No trip to Southeast Asia is complete without getting on a motorbike. The sight of a motorbike weighted down with a while family, farm animals, a market full of produce or televisions never gets old. Everyday you spend in Southeast Asia you see something on a motorbike you never thought was possible. My boyfriend bought a motorbike in Hanoi and drove it to Saigon. This is a very common option for travelers to explore the country. I took buses and would catch up with him and the rest of the boys in each town. But, there was one ride I couldn’t pass up, The Hai Van Pass. It is known for being one of the most spectacular drives in the country. It is a coastal route that takes you over a mountain and crosses what was once the border between North and South Vietnam. We started in Hue and ended in Hoi An. It was a perfect day, lots of laughs, adrenaline, yummy lunch in a little sea side town, good friends and no breakdowns. It is one of my best memories from my whole time in Southeast Asia.

Frolicking by motorbike along China Beach in Vietnam

Camel Riding in the Sahara Desert

Sometimes the cliché tourist thing still appeals to me. Riding a camel over the sand dunes in Morocco was one of those times. I had visions of being transported in time to some exotic land of belly dancers and snake charmers. Instead I got a very bumpy and painful ride that included being swarmed by flies. The pictures are pretty and seeing the Milky Way in complete isolation on a sand dune was magic. But, the camel ride itself I could have gone without.

Frolicking on a camel

Island hopping by local ferry in the Philippines

Getting around by local transport is one of my favorite ways to see a country. So when looking at the options to get from El Nido to Coron in the Philippines we quickly decided to take the local ferry instead of the tourist boat. I won’t lie, the fact that the tourist ferry cost more than double the local one influenced our decision. We should have know we were in for a special ride when we arrived at the terminal and there was no sign of the boat and all the locals had futons and pillows. We were old there were beds on this at minimum 12hr overnight ferry. We departed 3 hours after we were supposed to and the boat had nothing more than bunk beds made of wood to sleep on. Oh and let’s not forget the live chickens, pigs and heard of water buffalo we were also transporting. This ride is for the masochistic. I am glad I did it but I think I would fork over the money for the tourist boat next time.

Frolicking with livestock on a boat

Motorbike ride in the middle of a tropical downpour at night in Nang Khai, Thailand

I traveled from Pai to Nang Khai with my friend Cameron just for the Naga Fireball Celebration. Once a year during October’s Full Moon giant fireballs shoot out of the river that creates the border between Laos and Thailand. When we arrived in Nag Kai we didn’t know that the fireballs celebration actually takes place around 70km away in a smaller village. An expat told us where we could rent bikes but he told us nothing about how every year there is a massive storm at night. So we gleefully went to the celebration where we drank towers of beer, ate an assortment of street food and watched these mysterious light balls rise from the water. It was one of those nights that makes you fall in love with Thailand. We followed the crowds to our bike and set off in the stream of traffic. Riding scooters in Asia is not my favorite thing not to mention at night. So I was already a tad skidish when the rain started. This was not a drizzle but a blinding solid wall of water we were all of a sudden driving through. Of course we had no rain gear. I could barely see Cameron in front of me on the bike so I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. I kept asking him if he could see and he assured me he could, of course he couldn’t either but was just following the steady stream of taillights as we rode on the shoulder next to endless cars. After about twenty minutes we pulled off the road into a little shelter with a bunch of locals and all hoped the rain would stop. It never did so we did what any sensible person would do, the three of us Cameron, the Grim Reaper and I jumped back on our one bike and braved the road for another hour or so. Thankfully the Grim Reaper just laughed at us as we dodged cars, potholes and skidded out in giant puddles. We arrived saturated but safe at our hotel. It was one of my scariest rides, one I don’t wish to repeat.

Local bus from Phonsovan, Laos to Vihn, Vietnam.

After spending a few days in Phonsovan seeing the Plain of Jars and eating endless bowls of noodle soup after a slight travel bug my traveling companions and I were itching to get out of town. We booked the tourist sleeping overnight bus to Hanoi. The morning of our departure on our way to our first meal of soup for the day the men running the bus tickets hop told us our bus that night had been canceled and they didn’t know if there would be a bus the next night. We were dumbfounded. We were so ready to get out of town we grabbed bags and headed to the local bus station. We found a local border crossing bus that went to Vinh, an almost full day bus ride away from Hanoi. It seemed like the best option since. We boarded the bus and watched in awe as the locals loaded their “luggage” for the 13 hour ride. There were two doors (a front and a back), lumber, endless 5 gallon buckets, bags of live pigs, computers, chickens, and a pot of raw meat! We were the only faranges, white people, on the bus. We laughed as the endless stream of oddities were stowed for the journey. It was a long and painful border crossing but to this day I still laugh when I think about it. I think everyone should take the cheapest most local for of transportation at least once when they travel a country.

So there you have it. Those are my top 8 wackiest frolicking moments… so far. As the adventure continues I am sure there will be others to be added to the list.

Have you experienced a wild ride you will never forget?

If so please share it in the comment section below.

I love to read travel stories like these that paint a true picture of the road.

Morocco might just be the birthplace of the hustle. Everything, and I mean everything, is bargained for. So when my boyfriend started talking in yet another man at a gas station I immediately thought he was being suckered.

We were in Merzouga, which is a tiny village on the edge of the Sahara Desert and 50km from the Algerian border. We had just spent 2 nights near the Erg Chebbi sand dune and been hustled into an overnight camel riding and camping trip. I was cranky and just wanted to find a nice campground to park our camper-van in for a few days.

After 10 minutes of sitting in the gas station my boyfriend who had been speaking German to some random man turns to me and says “This man knows a place where we can stay and we will get a special deal.” Oh great here we go again, I thought.

The man my boyfriend was talking to turned out to be a Moroccan with a real sense of hospitality. Barak was raised in Merzouga and was educated in Germany. He splits his time up between the two countries, being a nurse in Germany and taking people on Yoga tours around Morocco. He also helps to fund a school in his home village as well as teaches there when he is town. He went from stranger to travel angel, to friend in a matter of days.

In Merzouga, he directed us to his friend’s hotel, Kanz Erremal. We were told we could park our camper van there for a few nights while enjoying their facilities. A lot of hotels in Morocco will let you park your camper for a fee but we never found a place that could rival Kanz Erremal in setting or facilities. We had hot water showers that were heated by a fire built exclusively for us, electricity to plug the van into, access to the hotel’s restaurant and a few free breakfasts, free WiFi and one of the most lavish pools I have ever seen. The pool was pure travel porn. Almost a mirage on the edge of the Sahara. I couldn’t resist a photo shoot.

We spent a week frolicking at the pool breaking the monotony up with walks on the dunes and sightseeing with Barak.

One special place he took us to was a nearby community of immigrants from Senegal. It is their custom to make music all day, every day. This is not something they do for tourists. It’s simply their way of life. We were able to catch an authentic glimpse into their daily lives. We would never have found this spot without Barak.

Barack also invited us to his family home for lunch. This was one of the few times in 2 years on the road where I was invited to purely be a guest at someone’s house. No strings attached, no hustle behind the offer of tea. His sister made us a delicious meal that still stands out as one of the tastiest I had in all of Morocco. We got to play with his nieces and nephews as well as had the honor of meeting his father. Barak’s father was the first nomad to believe that a town could be settled in the area of Merzouga. He had the idea that water could be found beneath the dunes and be brought to town. Due to this vision, Merzouga now has an intricate canal system that flows through a garden system that feeds most of the town. Each family in the village has a designated garden plot with a constant supply of water. Quiet the impressive marvel in the middle of the desert.

Sadly it was time to leave Merzouga but Barak wouldn’t let us leave without making arrangements to meet again at his friend’s riad in Marrakesh. He was beginning one of his yoga tours there. For years I had dreamed of visiting Marrakesh and lounging in an ornate courtyard while drinking mint tea. Camping in our car was not an option for this stop.

From my first step inside Riad Ifoulki I was in love. From the intricately carved walls to the giant cushions for lounging, to the rooftop garden to the hamam. Every detail made me swoon. Out room was quaint and had a little bed tucked into a nook shaped like a castle. It was my dream come true. Riad Ifoulki was the perfect place to retreat from the chaos of Marrakesh.

Most of the highlights from my time in Morocco wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the hospitality of Barak.

None of this was done with any intentions. It was a pure act of hospitality. No promises were made to promote his business or the businesses of his friends. He is just my Moroccan Travel Angel and I hope that maybe by writing this just one person will contact him when they think of touring Morocco.

Has the hospitality of a local ever changed a whole trip for you?

If so, please share your Frolicking Travel Angel story in the comments!

I would love to hear about your experiences.

Crammed like sardines. A crush of humanity and luggage. Darkness turns to amber sky’s as the sun rises on a distant horizon.

The movies always make local transport seem romantic. Smiling locals sharing their food, a giddy gringo with a bad case of wanderlust.

Hollywood thank you for the illusion but let me explain the reality.

I am stuck in the middle seat in the last row of the bus. The engine pumps its heat and exhaust on my calves. There are suitcases above and behind my head, not to mention a mattress. The aisle is crammed with bags that would trap me in an accident. The man sitting next to my boyfriend has a machete.

I’m only 45 minutes into a minimum 13 hour bus ride.

This is the truthful ugly reality of overland travel!

The local food in Hawaii is result of the blending of many immigrant cultures. One commonly found snack food is the Manapua.

Its roots come from the Chinese Bao Buns. These pork stuffed creations are often one of the most popular items on Dim Sum carts. The Hawaiian version is slightly different and can be found state-wide. With a wide variety of stuffing such as curry chicken, beans, pork, and this purple sweet potato version there is an options for all tastes.

If you find yourself in Hawaii I recommend you try a few different flavors as a mid day snack.

Hello from Africa! This week’s dose of Travel Porn is from Namibia.

I am only in the middle of my time in Africa and I have so much I want to share but unfortunately internet access here is very spotty. So until I get home I won’t be able to share any stories but I did want to share a photo. Every sunset in Africa so far has been spectacular and this is coming from a sunset junkie!

I hope you enjoy!