Noteworthy Tid Bits

Noteworthy is the new season of "America's Next Top Model" which will feature it's first transgender contestant. "ISIS" (pictured right) a local celebrity in the NYC transgender ballroom community is expected to hit the runway the first week of September. We wish her well and look forward to what promises to be a drama filled season premiere.
Washington, D.C. based Ebony Pyramid Entertainment still has cabins available on their annual cruise to Nassau Bahamas in October. Notable this year is the change in ships. "The Fascination" has been replaced with "The Imagination" another in the fleet of Carnival Fun Ships based out of Miami, Fl. This should do a lot to motivate returning cruisers that have complained about the same old ship to the same old place. For more information contact EbonyPyramid.com

Domincan Day Parade NYC

When Work Is Fun

I am so blessed to do the the two things I love most in the world for a living! Cook & Travel! Based out of New York a corporate chef by day and a personal chef by all the other time. I work and play with the best of them in some of the hottest spots on the globe! Just a few paths I cross
Dayana Mendoza Miss Universe 2008, Riyo Mori Miss Universe 2007, Tara Conner Miss USA 2007, Sean Puffy Combs, Usher and Janet J

EVEN MORE SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

MORE SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

The Domestic Case!!

Recently some friends accused me of being biased against domestic adventures. Honestly I can be and do prefer international exploits but I have had many adventures throughout the U.S.A. some of my favorite are the strippers in NY. Black Pride in L.A. and cruising in Miami! Hey What can I say?

TIPS OF THE WEEK

"Tips of the week" part 2 0f 3

Great the plane has landed and you are ready to begin the trip of a life time! First things first before you left home you did your research and learned your passport number by heart. You read the travel page on the airline website to know what was going to be required and by whom. Naturalized citizens, aliens and green cards all have their own specific requirements. You went to the bank and made envelopes or little piles of money. Your tourist card or entry fees should be set aside in small bills. Your cab fare should be set side and very definitely in small exact bills. This is one of the first crtitical mistakes new travelers makes "do not assume that people will have change". Even if they do have change they are not likely to give it to you because there is a greater likelihood that you will just give them the larger bill and they will make money on the deal. Along wth the cab fare set aside a note to yourself with the cross streets of the location you are going, be sure to note any special landmarks or instructions to help them find the place. LOCATIONS ABROAD DO NOT USE FULL STREET ADDRESSES similar to what we are accustomed to in the U.S. AN ABSOLUTE MUST is to agree on a SPECIFIC price BEFORE getting in the cab B E F O R E I said! Remember you are in a foreign country and the law as you know it and expect do not exist they have their own culture and law. If you do not speak the language, you can almost guarantee the law will not be tilted in your favor. A fairly reasonable assumption is that it is not in your favor to exchange money at the airport. Food, beverage and everything else including exchanging money at the airport is tilted against you. The rate maybe 34.5 nationally but the airport will only give you 31 or 32.

Once you have arrived at your lodging the first thing to do is reconfirm your arrangements with the manager. Make sure you are all in agreement on the length of your stay and the rate you agreed to pay. Once in the room make sure everything is working or in good condition. Some managers have been known to charge guests for broken lamps, chairs and tables that were broke years ago. The next item, check out the safe and separate your passport, tickets and any credit cards and identification not needed. Well- what exactly is needed. Your passport is not, never walk around with your passport unless traveling in a communist state. Before leaving home you should have made copies of your passport. THe copy and your dirvers/ non drivers ID are sufficient. Remember an American Passport is one of the most prized and sought after documents in the world. I have known several people who have given their passports to the police and never received them back. Ask the maids and hotel workers who has the best exchange rates in the neighborhood. They are a good source because they often need to change American money they receive as tips. You can always ask the desk clerks but they are not necessarily as strong of an information source as the general help. Calculate what your expectations are for the next three days and exchange 5% above that amount of money. If you exchange 3 or 4 days worth at a time it better limits excess foreign money to bring back home and if an emergency occurs you will have one less thing to worry about exiting the country. You can always exchange the money for American money at the airport but will take a signifiant loss. Now that you are ready to get out and about. Walk around the area during day light and establish markers for getting back to your hotel later after partying. Tryto locate and introduce yourself to the "expat community". This is a group of Americans who now make their home in the local area. They can be a wealth of knowledge and resources. THIS DOES NOT MEAN you can just blanketedly trust them. You can ask questions about the local scene, where and where not to go and why! I have personally had some bad experiences with expats but by and far I have had thousands more good experiences. Basic common sense should always dictate. Never wear expensive designer goods and flash large sums of money. If they are expensive to you they are 10 times as glamorous and expensive to locals who have little access to owning them and you are asking to be robbed or mugged. Many of the people admire your presence, they envy the fact you had the opportunity and money to come to their country. Many of them can and will never have the resources to get a visa or money to travel out of their country. Basically you can be the poorest person in America who barely scrapped up enough money for the trip but to them you must be wealthy and have money because you did make the trip. People view situations from their own point of reference not necessarily the real point.

I should not have to say this but for those who don't know. Trade proof your room before having company. Lock up anything of value, small enough to easily be slipped into a pocket or scooped up. Don't line up all of your sneakers in plain view because it only invites numerous requests for a pair because if you have 10 pair you must be able to give a pair away, what the hell you are rich!

For the dumbest of you kids out there you NEVER - EVER -NO NOT EVER do you share your safe key or combination with anyone. Many a kids have left their safe key laying around while having trade and gagged after they checked and found their safe empty, a pair shoes or glasses missing. Hopefully you are practicing this at home and know to do it on vacation. Listen to the undertones, I know the old adage that she is just saying that because she is trying to block me from having him, well part that maybe the case but the fact that he stole her laptop and car keys is real and bears consisderation. It doesn't mean that he steals from everyone but it does mean he may steal from everyone and bears watching. Always have dates on your terms and place. If you do not fluently speak the language and know the area do not go anyplace with them. Too many people have been lured to the country or bario and robbed, stripped naked and left on the highway gagging not to mention naked! In part three we will deal with corrupt police, the bars and what else there is to do other than getting your fuck on!

TIP OF THE WEEK "RESEARCH"

Part one of three

Everything can be said about "research and preparation" for a good safe and fun adventure. Of course there are the basics. Why are you going, where to go and when to go? As simple as these basics seem I can tell you tons of stories about those who didn't lift a finger to learn anything about the place they were going both domestically and internationally. WHY ARE YOU GOING seems simple enough but a lot deeper than most think. Consider these options: is the trip a weekend getaway, business, vacation, escape from trouble, get my fuck on or my friends said I should check it out.

Why these all seem the same to the novice, the savvy traveler understands how a successful trip is impacted differently by these circumstances. On weekends I sneak away for a "get my fuck on" that is just what it is, I am not focused on seeing a lot of friends and hanging out. I am concentrated on getting in the city solo, finding the right one and getting my swerve on -strictly. No Souvenirs, one lightly packed bag, no explanations and the cheapest ticket as possible.

When I go "on vacation" I lay out at the beach, party and the bars and sip on beer at the local people watching spots. I may or may not get my swerve on and I bring souvenirs back. The cost of the ticket can range from low to moderate because I have certain dates and times in mind.

THE POINT! Be clear and honest about "What Success will look like at the end of the trip for you?" If you want to have a successful "get your fuck on" and you like it dark or toasted why the hell would you got to Moscow. The Snow capital of the world. Ask around , use the web, checkout the travel sites and research if the destination is going to offer what you are looking for.

Successful trips require thoughtful consideration on budget and local currency. I once met a brother in Santo Domingo who was the biggest pain in the ass and wanted to know why people didn't want to be around him. "Simply" he was on a trip he could not afford. The one time we went out to eat as a group, he complained about where we ate because of the prices, he ordered the cheapest & smallest dish on the menu and then ate off of everyone else's plate. He had the audacity to pull out coins to pay his bill and complained after we expected him to contribute to the tip. Everyone knows how much money they have before they buy their ticket so why go someplace that you can not have a comfortable & affordable time. Plan your activities accordingly. If you go with friends it is a fact that you will be in a situation to be offered a drink or meal and you should plan on being able to offer one in turn. Food cost are relative to the food experience if you plan on eating deli meat, bread and water you entire trip do not put yourself in situations with people who have budgeted for restaurants and 1 or 2 fine dinning events. There are numerous blogs that give real time updates and budgeting tips on every thing from the cost of hookers to the price of a local brew. Do your research.

Recently two young brothers (want to be high rollers) raised all hell with a friend (a hotel manager) because they thought they were getting a five star palatial hotel suite for $70.00 USD a night. "It is not what I expected" well asshole just what were you expecting because you made your reservation online where there are numerous pictures showing exactly what the rooms look like and all of the pertinent information. $70.00 USD is what it is and what it is not is a suite at the Waldorf.

THE POINT! Do your research, look at the pictures on the websites, check with other people or friends who have stayed there. Be sure you understand what lodging means in other cultures. Most of the Caribbean, Europe and Africa have a concept known as apart-hotels that are basically small efficiency apartments that are rented out as budget to moderate level hotel options. There are the traditional hotels that Americans are accustomed to but you need to realize you are looking for this option when booking your selection. Each has its advantages but most notably are the cost, amenities and status is more important than budget and cultural experience then choose the hotel option. If you want to experience living in a local neighborhood, preparing some of your own meals and you don't need 24 hour room service then consider apart-hotels they are safe, clean and very economical. It is also important for the novice to check on different websites several times beginning 2 weeks before leaving on your trip to get an impression of how the exchange rate is trending so you will have an idea how far your money may go. Pay for as many things before hand as possible. It is much easier to make claims or get credits for services that you paid for from the states than it is actually in a foreign country if a problems should arise. Want to practice, select a place you have never been but would like to go and try to answer these basic questions: Why do you want to go there? When are the high and low seasons? Which airline is the main service provider for the destination? What is the currency and how does it compare to USD (united states dollars).