Keepin' It Real Archives - Page 2 of 5

January 1, 2019February 7, 2019Gloria AtanmoLeave a comment 14746 views

My 10 Worst Travel Moments of 2018

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

It’s a talent to look so poised, yet be so clumsy.

While I’d like to believe I piss glitter and walk on water, the truth is, ~~I DO~~ I’m just short of a hot mess, and that sh*t is a skill.

It’s my most treasured talent the way I’m able to finesse my way out of the strangest and most awkward situations, but just like I did last year, let’s toast to my inability to function like an adult and recount my ten worst travel moments of the year.…

November 19, 2018February 7, 2019Gloria AtanmoLeave a comment 9773 views

If you take a local’s photo while traveling, do you owe them a tip?

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you take a local's photo, do you owe them a tip? | TheBlogAbroad.com

If you take a local’s photo, do you owe them a tip? Short answer: usually. Long answer: read on.

There are certain contextual components you can use to decide whether someone’s participation in your photo warrants your coins or not.

The fact of the matter is, the answer is entirely situational and contingent upon several factors.…

August 4, 2018February 7, 2019Gloria Atanmo1 Comment 15058 views

Tipping While Black: Dismantling Stereotypes in the U.S. and Abroad

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Komaneka Resort in Ubud | TheBlogAbroad.com

If you’re a non-POC about to read this blog post, thank you.

Thank you for making an effort to learn about the plight and subconscious struggles of Black people, because while this may not apply to your lives directly, you’ll gain perspective when you listen to our collective truths.

Black people and POC, feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments, because this post only summarizes the perspectives shared with me on Instagram, and I know there are several more to add to the conversation.…

June 24, 2018February 7, 2019Gloria Atanmo1 Comment 29445 views

The good, the bad, and the ugly sides of influencer marketing

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Fun fact: Many breakfasts die a cold, slow death due to the deadly-long waiting times from these kind of Instagram photos.

There’s only one of three reasons why you clicked this article: either you’re an influencer, you’re a brand, or you’re just really nosey. Ha! I humbly welcome the audience of all three, because with all the negative press the influencer industry has been getting lately, I thought I’d chime in with some thoughts to hopefully balance out the conversation and add some perspective to both sides.…

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018Gloria AtanmoLeave a comment 19816 views

Top 10 Ways to Gain Weight While You Travel – Results Guaranteed!

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Let’s be real, calories are just glorified souvenirs, and after successfully mastering multiple (read: every) way to gain weight while traveling the last five years, I thought I’d share all my secrets in case any of you ~~somehow~~ struggle with this seemingly effortless task!

I have to put a disclaimer though, as our bodies are all different, some of you will succeed more efficiently and likely faster than others.…

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017Gloria Atanmo7 Comments 8453 views

4th Anniversary of TheBlogAbroad.com + Advice to Aspiring Bloggers

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

I re-wrote the first sentence of this blog post at least 10x, only to have this lazy cop-out of an opener be what I ended up running with. *sigh* I suck.

But can you believe I’ve been blogging for a whole 16 [yes, SIXTEEN] years, and travel blogging for 4 of them?

And even after all these years, I still get slight anxiety every time I hit the PUBLISH button with my subpar intro sentences and sometimes debatable/clickbait[able] content.…

December 13, 2017January 30, 2018Gloria Atanmo9 Comments 6060 views

My Thoughts on the Lack of Color in the Travel Industry

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

I’ve bit my tongue on this issue for a while, mainly because I didn’t want people to confuse this as a plea from POC (people of color) asking for handouts.

I also want to preface by saying that this isn’t an issue exclusive to the travel industry. It’s something that’s a problem in almost every profession.…

November 9, 2017January 30, 2018Gloria Atanmo12 Comments 10718 views

Top 12 Safest Cities For Solo Travelers

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

“What are the safest cities for solo travelers?” is a question I hear almost daily, and no doubt safety abroad shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially for those new to travel.

I never take for granted that I’ve been able to roam the globe for over 4 years, mainly solo, and have been unharmed, unscathed, and never once been robbed *knocks on all the woods*.…

October 23, 2017January 30, 2018Gloria Atanmo26 Comments 8595 views

An Open Letter To The Girls With Floppy Hats & Flowing Dresses Who Travel

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

How dare you.

How dare you bother to be concerned with your looks and your photos while you’re traveling.

You’re not a real traveler. You should be in leggings or jeans, roughed up from your arduous trekking throughout the city, only able to truly experience another culture when you drop every effort to look decent while in public.…

September 23, 2017June 4, 2018Gloria Atanmo21 Comments 8218 views

7 Interesting Ways Travel Turned Me Into an Introvert

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Extrovert turned introvert, for the love of travel.

No doubt travel is transformative, but I wasn’t prepared for all the subconscious ways it would change me for the better.

I’ve seen almost a third of the world now and what a blessing that has been. Because all those cultures, countries, and conversations I’ve seen and had in the last four years, without a doubt shape so much of who I am today.…

July 6, 2017February 3, 2018Gloria Atanmo50 Comments 17491 views

Black Travelers: We Need To Have This Talk

Estimated Reading Time: 25 minutes

Black people. Oh, how I love us. Diaspora dialogue will have you vibin’ and jivin’ to our melanin melody, because the black community just has a way of putting literal and figurative color into life.

We have our own language(s), culture, and unspoken truths that make our existence so unique, dynamic, and admired by many.

Black people are arguably some of the most versatile people in the world.…

May 28, 2017February 3, 2018Gloria Atanmo24 Comments 36822 views

Cultural Clash | Why I And Many Others Will Gladly Serve Our Husband’s Food First

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

The sound of cultures clashing has such a melodic tune when perspective is gained at the end of it. Who knew such a simple question could spark so much debate, yield so many answers, and invite endless dialogue?

Last night I took to Facebook and posed the following question:

If you’re at a party with your husband (hypothetically-speaking for the singles) and the food is ready, do you prepare/fix a plate to serve him first, or do you get your plate for yourself and he does the same?

…