1) Cancellations: Last year was the year of the gaffe. I had myriads of cancellations. This year, not so many. I managed to go where I wanted to go, except for the time I had an accident and injured my leg, or skipped Italy to Backpack Eastern Europe during the summer, or this Christmas when I decided to stay home instead of travel. Travel is cool, but causes me as much pain as it does pleasure. There’s so much to organize, to synchronize, more so with short term travel. I didn’t think it would be cool traveling around Europe during Christmas so I briefly went to Ghent for the Christmas market, and rode on the Ferris wheel with Little Miss Ashley who found that fun.
2)
Break a leg: While this term is a figure of speech meaning something to the effect of “Knock yourself out, have fun,” for the very first time in my life, I actually
broke the hardest bone in my body…my femur! That.was.painful…when asked how painful it was, I put it on a scale of 20 out of 10. It’s a kind of pain that has you shrieking sounds you never knew you had in you. I have had some tomboyish knee scrapes, surgery scars, porridge burns, scars on my legs while growing up and so forth, but those pains I felt were nothing in comparison to break-a-leg pain.
3) Dear trolls: This year I got trolled and boy, that wasn’t fun. It’s common knowledge that the more a blog grows, if a post goes viral you’ll have to contend with the gnomes, goblins, dragons and keyboard warriors coming out of the woodwork, to play. The guy who trolled my blog sounded so bitter and bigoted as he kept on ranting, “Go back to Africa!” He went further to describe my Africa as a shit-hole which is doing “so poorly, now that the colonialists left.” Mscheeuw…as if they really left. Ignoramuses don’t know that their forefathers stripped our countries bare of resources, the backs of which revolutionized countries in the west, they don’t know that the interference continues to date..with the West having their bases all over Africa, and getting itchy when they see China moving in, with the West greatly profiting from the oil, minerals and natural resources in our countries; profiting from wars, and trade imbalances, to the detriment of our African people. Don’t get me started trolls..you will get served. I like what Michelle Obama said,´When they go low you go high.´
This topic deserves a whole blog post and I will give it all the attention it deserves in due course, so that when racists see blacks walking in the streets, they don’t give us glares, because they don’t know the full story. They don’t know why we are here or how we came to be here. It’s no one’s business where any African or any other race for that matter, chooses to live. People can set up wherever they see fit.
4) Eastern Europe was the biggest surprise of the year; Stunning architecture, some stares but alot of help through the journey. Surprisingly, I loved Ukraine. I was warned there would be racism, instead I encountered lovely friendly folk. Loved Poland, loved Moldova and was wowed by Romania. Amazing experiences.
London oh London..London gave me that feel that I would do better in an English-speaking country, not only so, but people were polite. It’s a little expensive, but I’m not sure why people throw so much shade on London. It’s pretty cool.
5) Communicado: The travel blogging community is barely a tight knit group. Mostly big shots hang out and follow those as successful as they are. You ideally would like to relate with those who carry the social grace to bond with followers and really be an influencer, teaching them the tricks of the trade to get to the same level of success they have. My absolute favourite food vlogger Mark Weins deserves a mention in this respect. Love his vlogs, your mouth waters as you watch him introducing bites around the world. I loved his latest round the world vlogs..and again, he always responds. How cool is that.
6)
Farewells: Absolutely gutted by the losses this year. We lost a number of
media personalities in Kenya and some popular artistes around the world. It hurts. They will never be forgotten.
7) Thank you staff: I salute my only staff..(so far) Little Miss Ashley. I think she’s a kickass photographer, she thinks I’m a kickass cook. It’s been lovely exploring new sights with her this year.
8) Future plans: I think 2017 will be a great year…I’m looking forward to new projects, new destinations, and new stories. Watch this space.
See you on the other side!
Categories: World
Tagged as: 2017, Africa, Africa is not a country, Backpacking Eastern Europe, bloggers, cancellations, Christmas market, colonialism, face palm, femur fracture, food vloggers, future plans, Happy New Year, Johnny Ward, Little Miss Ashley, Mark Weins, Matrador Network, media personalities, neocolonialism, The year 2016, travel vloggers, Travelogues of an African Girl, trolls, West
Travelogues of an African Girl 
Congratulations on a solid 2016 and wishing you an amazing 2017! Hope we cross paths next year.
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Thank you Lola! I´d be honored to meet you..happy 2017!
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Too many coplnimemts too little space, thanks!
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Thank you Velvet!
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I love your question about what kind of person 2016 would be. I am American, and for us, it’s been a horrible year (Trump!!????). I think of 2016 as an old, lecherous, bloated, white guy with gout and his tongue constantly sticking out of his lips. Oh, and he drools.
BTW, have you read Chimamanda Adichie’s “Americanah”?
Happy 2017!
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hahaha…what a description DebraB. I’ve seen the questioning and laments online of what possibly went wrong to have him win the election.
Yes, I’ve read Americanah…loved it…Happy 2017!
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I’m still undecided as to what kind of person 2016 looks like. I love your roundup of the year. I can’t believe someone (blogger friend) would do that. It totally sucks! As for the trolls, they are just a sad bunch. I got my first troll comment a couple of weeks ago and l deleted it. It added nothing to the conversation and was not going to give him a platform. I hope you and the little missy have a wonderful New Year! Here’s to an even better 2017.
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Thanks Kemkem! I was busy replying to the troll everywhere he commented. Then I realized it could be compared to shooting in the dark, because this guy was anonymous under a pseudo name, and it seemed ridiculous to give him air-time, so I deleted everything he had written.
Totally sucks for sure. A few days ago I was talking to a friend about the issue, and she was like,”You write, you should have just written the story instead of giving it to this guy to share on his space.” Facepalming moments for sure. Totally regrettable. Have a brilliant 2017!
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OMG! I published before I had fully completed my editing. Pls delete the first one. Here’s what it should have been…
‘Love your write up of the year. I especially like how much you enjoyed Eastern Europe as it gets a reputation of being a no-go area for people of colour, which I totally disagree with. It’s a great area.
As for trolls. I’m so sorry to hear your experience not only of cowards but of someone who you perceived to be a friend. Sadly, trolls are par the course, I got one 6 weeks after my blog started and it was rather nasty. I was shocked and upset so I deleted and blacklisted him, but now I have thicker skin! I leave them on unless they use racial or insensitive slurs. Many just want a shouting match of a conversation. Don’t give it to them!😉
On a more pleasant note, I really like the photo of your hand, your beautiful dark skin, and all the bangles with a Polish bagel at the end of it!
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Thank you Victoria! Will delete your first comment!
Most people don’t know it but Eastern Europe is beautiful , the people are mostly charming and it’s quite cheap as a destination!
I got only one troll but he was nasty and quite irked me! I don’t know how the more popular bloggers handle hordes of trolls and horrendous insults!
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