January 17, 2024 • 32 mins
On this episode of The Traveling Black Women Podcast, Nadine chats with Christina Belloge, Founder of Melanin Travels Magic - An online tour operator specializing in discovering Black heritage throughout the African diaspora. Whether it's food, music, art, or culture, Melanin Travels Magic is dedicated to connecting people of African descent around the world.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Traveling Black Woman podcast.
(00:08):
Today we have a very special guest who is committed to connecting the diaspora to their
roots.
Now her particular company is really, really cool to me and really dear to my heart because
we're everywhere.
And her travel company lets us know that we're everywhere.
So I'm going to give her the floor, let her introduce herself, and we're going to jump
(00:31):
into some conversation today about why it's so important for us to find different black
communities around the world and connect with them.
So Christina, the floor is yours.
Hi Nadine.
Thank you very much to welcome us on the podcast.
So my name is Christina Belloge.
I'm French and British.
I'm originally French Caribbean, born in Paris.
(00:53):
I'm a multilingual, serial expat and well traveled.
I set up Melanin four years ago during the pandemic, during Black Lives Matter, because
there was a Black Renaissance movement in the UK and we came to the realization that
we needed to create a business that supports the community.
(01:16):
Also because my background is in marketing, digital marketing, I wanted to tap into my
passion and give back what I've received by traveling mostly in Black Nation myself
those last eight years.
My personal quest was to look for what we had in the different culture across the diaspora
(01:40):
and visit Black Nation, what we have in common, let's say more than food and music, what connects
us and also what do we have in common in our history, because being Caribbean, we are a
mixture of African, European, indigenous.
So it's to trace back our roots, but then it also helped to, how do you say, fuel our
(02:06):
curiosity because it's to change from just visiting your parents' island or your parents'
country.
So that's why I started by Cuba and I was well received because I'm Caribbean too.
They were curious, they asked so many questions because they're curious to see how things
happen in other Caribbean islands.
(02:28):
I explained I lived in Europe.
So wherever I go, they used to give me more rum, more food and yeah, it's just, they embrace
you so naturally, it's so good.
Oh, wow.
So what's some of the best things that you've found from going through these experiences
and connecting with cultures that you're not connecting with as often?
(02:49):
What are some things that you've experienced?
For example, in, I'm thinking, in Cape Verde, when we visit in one specific island, Santa
Tau, which is like Santa Antonio, some stage we visit a farm and because my parents, especially
my dad, they come from farming background.
(03:12):
I've recognized like the rum making factories, they're so similar and I was like, they have
very similar cultural trait, like, you know, matriarchal society because woman and grandmother,
let's say have the lead in raising you because of let's say post-liver syndrome, et cetera.
(03:38):
The society makeup was working exactly the same.
And when you go to Africa, there's lots of places who looks like the Caribbean because
it's exactly the same trees and vegetation, for example, because once I talk with a African
who told me Zanzibar palm tree, apparently all the most palm tree in the Caribbean were
(04:03):
imported from Zanzibar.
And I was like, really, I look it up on Google and yeah, this is a legend, but apparently
it's true.
That will explain why I had such a deep connection in this place because they didn't only import,
let's say an enslaved, but they also import vegetation.
That's why we have those type of trees everywhere.
(04:26):
I was like, wow, that's so deep.
So we are connected in more ways than we think, not just our genetic makeup, but also vegetation,
some cultural trait, some, how do you say, vocabulary that we kept.
(04:46):
Yeah.
There's so much.
The heritage is very profound.
It is because I didn't even know that.
I had never known that.
And I just came back from Mozambique earlier, early October, and I mean, it was just so
beautiful.
But the connection was strong in terms of meeting people that just look like you and
(05:07):
they were so excited to see us there because we weren't obviously the regular tourists.
We were black tourists.
So we wanted to know more about their food and culture and talk to them.
And by the time we left, they made us coconut oil and peri-peri sauce.
It was great.
Yes.
Yes.
It is great.
It is great because me, I know first time I went to Zanzibar, for example, and we visited
(05:31):
the farm, I felt like the color of the soil was the same as my grandmother farm.
It was red deep.
And I felt like my soul was like, you've been here before.
It was very weird.
I was like, wow.
And then I found out other facts like this island inspired Jules Verne, which is the
(05:53):
French explorer, famous writer, who wrote about 80 days world trip in a hot air balloon.
And his first novel actually took place from Zanzibar because his idea was to do first
a hot air balloon trip from Zanzibar to Tanzania, to Kenya.
(06:18):
So to do an African hot air balloon adventure, which was then I think 100 years after materialized
by some British explorer and adventurer.
So I was like, that's why I love so much to travel.
Because when I was a kid, my mom used to buy me the merchandise from this because there
(06:41):
was a cartoon about it.
And I used to have the duvet and sleep with it.
So in my dreams, I would be on this hot air balloon.
And funny enough, last year I did hot air balloon for the first time in Egypt.
And I was like, this is really a dream come true.
So it's like travel gave you this chance of not only coming out of your, say, comfort
(07:09):
zone, because you're going to push for things you never thought you could do.
If you are a bit adventurous and yeah, you go past it, you go past the fear.
I don't have fear of flights, but I know sometimes I have fear of heights, you know?
So funny enough, when I was in this hot air balloon with 15 other people, I didn't have
(07:33):
it because the scenery is so beautiful.
You wake up at 3 a.m. and it's a good adventure because by the time you arrive on the site,
it's like 430, it's still dark, dark.
And then suddenly you see the sunsets or the sunrise colors coming up little by little.
(07:54):
And they train you as well.
You know, there's safety and stuff.
They train you.
OK, this is how to be back when we're going to land.
You know, you have to brace yourself.
But you're like, you just don't realize it's just you see them, set them up, and then you're
inside and then you're so high.
And then you're like, wow, the sun is coming through.
(08:15):
The sky is pink.
Then it goes yellow, orange.
It's so beautiful.
And it's also because it's an experience that you I think in Egypt, in Luxor, you see the
different type of landscape because you see some part of desert.
You are flying over the valley of the king, the valley of the queen.
(08:36):
And you see some part which is farming with a bit tropical with palm trees and all the
gardens they have.
So the contrast is so beautiful.
And also you see so many other other balloon.
I think that's what makes it different is because so many of you in the sky at the same
time that you're like, this is happening.
(08:59):
Wow.
Wow.
I didn't believe I could do that.
Because I remember my God last minute told me, do you want to do that?
I say, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I got the time wrong.
So the story was the guy in the hotel start to knock my door at 3am and arrive at midnight.
I think because I transferred from Cairo by plane.
(09:21):
It's only one hour.
And I thought, okay, I'm going to sleep until eight.
I don't know why in my head.
And this guy is banging on my door.
Hotel balloon with his big thick accent.
Hotel balloon.
And I feel like it's a nightmare.
You know, I'm like, leave me alone.
And he insists for 15 minutes.
And then I'm half asleep.
My eyes are like closed.
(09:42):
I opened the door.
I'm like, what do you want?
And he said, you need to hurry, hurry, hurry.
People who saw the picture, especially my cousin, they were like, why is your hair so
messy?
I said, because I just had the time to take a shower.
I didn't have time to make myself pretty.
I was like a zombie.
(10:03):
And they all asked me, is it on purpose?
Is it on purpose?
I said, no, they wake me up and I only slept three hours.
That's the reality.
So I look like nothing, but I didn't care.
The thrill of the experience was what you care about.
Yes.
Oh, man.
That's hilarious.
(10:23):
But it is a thrill, right?
It's just like, okay, I've got it.
I can't miss this.
So whatever my hair looks like, I'm just going to have to jump in and see.
I can't miss this.
Exactly.
I just need to jump in.
I put my coat out of the shower quickly.
Okay, let's go.
Let's go.
Let's go.
Let's go.
I'm glad they were persistent.
I'm glad they didn't just say, well, she's not awake.
(10:47):
Let's just go.
Yes, me too.
Yes.
Because you would have been sad if you missed that, I'm sure.
Wow, that sounds absolutely amazing.
It was totally worth it.
Oh my goodness.
Now what's something that you think that everyone should see at least one time?
Every black person, right?
Everyone in the black diaspora, no matter where they are, the Caribbean, the United States,
(11:11):
what is one thing that you say they should see?
It's difficult because it's always like when people say, which is your favorite destination?
I'm like, there's so many I love for different reasons.
Okay, well maybe like the top three.
Yeah, top three is easier.
So hmm.
Okay, top three.
So definitely go to Egypt, not just for the pyramids, but yeah, do the Haute Balloon experience
(11:37):
once in your life because I was, you know, normally I have fear of heights and I didn't
have it during this flight.
So this is very special.
I think that's amazing.
And that says a lot about our fears and what they're really tied to because when you had
the opportunity to see something that was beautiful and life changing and amazing, that
(11:58):
fear went out the window.
And that's pretty dope.
That's amazing.
Yes.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Yeah.
In terms of history, I would say second Ghana because okay, Elmina and Cape Coast Castle
because I went as a group tour and we were 120 people.
(12:20):
So that's the biggest group tour I've done in my life.
And when they kind of close you in, we were in Cape Coast Castle, you feel what your ancestor
went through because they stay there for three months in the dark, blah, blah, blah, waiting
for the boat.
But they literally switch off the light and leave us like that for 10 minutes.
(12:44):
And you feel the atmosphere is heavy and you really transport you in time.
I didn't feel that in Senegal when I went to Goree Island because Goree Island is kind
of still French, very romanticized, very colorful.
It's very hearty while Cape Coast and the Elmina Castle are very rough because they
(13:09):
are not repainted.
Everything has been staying the way it used to be.
They haven't been really refurbished.
So it's raw.
It's really raw.
And the fact that they plunge you in the dark for 10 minutes and leave you like that, you
start to feel, I don't want to say some ghost in the air, but you feel a very tense energy
(13:32):
and you start to realize this is what they went through for three months.
And it's like your spirits just travel in time too.
I was the most, I think one of the most connecting thing as a black person I've experienced.
(13:52):
And the other thing I love, I guess, I'm hesitating between Cuba and Zimbabwe because I love Island
because I'm Caribbean.
So any Island I travel to, I just connect instantly.
Yeah, same here.
I feel home because I'm with my people.
(14:13):
People are curious as well.
I would say going to Tanzania or Zanzibar is because it's the only African country where
people automatically assume you are like them.
Like if you're black, they instantly think that you are Tanzanian and they embrace you
in good and bad.
So I never felt like that any other place I go, people assume that you are them.
(14:40):
And then it goes up to the airport when you want to leave.
They don't want to, they think that you're Tanzanian trying to leave.
It's crazy.
They're like, where are you going?
I'm like, I'm going home.
And they really don't believe you are a foreigner.
This is so funny.
It happens to me three times.
(15:02):
So it's up to arriving there until you leave.
And every time I have to show my passport, even if you show my passport, plus I have
double nationality, which is a known concept for them.
So they're like, oh come, you were born in Paris, but your passport is British.
I said, because I have two nationalities.
So I have to justify that.
(15:25):
And they don't believe.
So then I have to show my French ID and say, and they questioned me 15 minutes.
And I'm like, no, I'm really guys.
There are other black people in the world who doesn't come from where you are from.
Oh wow.
That is so interesting.
Yes.
Yes.
Oh wow.
It's the only country where I had that, but I'm not the only one.
(15:47):
Every other, either travel influencer I spoke or friend told me the same.
They told me, yeah, it's the only country where they by default assume that you are
there.
You are like them.
So they don't see you as a foreigner.
They really embrace you instantly.
So it's good and bad, as I said, because it's bad when you are at the airport and you want
(16:10):
to go back and you're like, I have a flight to let me go.
Wait a minute.
Yeah, wait a minute.
Hello.
Oh my goodness.
Let's go.
Let's go.
That's amazing though.
It almost feels like, you know, hey, your family.
You're not supposed to leave the house.
(16:34):
Where are you going?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
That was the only country where I had this.
And for instance, in Cuba, also, I didn't pay, I think this is $25 visa when you leave
because they thought I was a family as well.
So he looked at my passport, even if it was a French passport, because he saw I'm Caribbean,
(16:54):
he didn't make me pay the visa.
Was cool.
Yeah, you know, yeah, normally in my pocket, but it's so funny.
It's so funny.
Uh, those little things because nobody tell you that, you know, sometimes you read the
blogs and you expect some stuff.
Uh, there's lots of fear mongering sometimes on blogs is the reality because, um, for example,
(17:18):
when I went to Mexico, I went to Cancun area, applied, they'll come in.
So I researched because people were saying, yeah, be careful.
You're going to be scared if you take a taxi, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah.
And I'm like, I speak Spanish and I can pass more or less.
I don't want to say local, but an Aboriginal, I guess.
So, um, I straight away, uh, I didn't take the taxi.
(17:40):
I took the bus and nothing happened.
But then I saw in the city, some people got scammed for excursion because they were white
American.
Um, and me, I know I went in the street to buy all my stuff, but I speak Spanish.
So, uh, I make sure the company was legit and, uh, you know, I had their phone number,
(18:03):
blah, blah, blah.
And then I met also an Argentinian girl.
We hook up.
So sometimes it's like, don't believe everything which is written on internet because, or what
people tell you, uh, because I remember, cause I used to travel a lot, a lot.
I had always people get jealous.
(18:24):
So I stopped to post, for example, you know, my personal idea of Facebook for a few years
because I had everyone on my back.
Why, why are you wasting your time traveling?
Why don't you, why aren't you married with three kids?
They all attack you.
They all attack you.
And you were like, uh, because it's not my destiny.
(18:46):
Uh, because, because it's not my time yet because you know, God, and you start to justify
why you are who you are and it's become exhausting.
So then when I set up Melanie, I decided, you know what, I'm going to surround myself
with lots of travel like minded people because we are, I would say some of the most open
(19:08):
minded people on earth.
Because we are not judgmental to love to travel and to even become a professional in it.
You need to be non-judgmental because you basically become an explorer.
You're no longer a traveler and you're open to new experiences and you're open to go past
(19:32):
what society expects from you, especially as a black female solo.
You because sometimes I realize, you know, there's been scandal on safety and everything.
And I'm like, I've been blessed to travel for nearly 15 years and I didn't, I never
really felt for my life or anything.
I didn't have, you know, door block or door lock, whatever.
(19:56):
I don't know.
Maybe it's because I don't want to say I was carefree, but, uh, the only instances I had
was a more being careful if you try not to arrive at night, for example, because sometimes
you have funky taxi.
So I can remember in Sevilla, this guy was starting to ask weird question.
(20:17):
So you have to pretend some people I know they were fake wedding ring.
Uh, or you have to say, no, I'm not alone.
My boyfriend, I'm joining my boyfriend.
Um, even when I was in Egypt, there was this white American guy at free.
I mean, spot my nails.
This is very weird.
I'm like, how come you, this guy see my nails in the dark?
(20:38):
You're like, Oh, I love your nails.
Yeah.
And I was like, man, you're eating on me at free.
This is very weird.
Uh, you know, it's like, are you traveling alone?
And I'm like, wait a minute.
He's eating on me at free.
Is he desperate?
So I, I stopped to say, no, actually I'm not alone.
(21:05):
I have a few friends.
My boyfriend is joining us on site.
No.
So this became the default answer.
When you come across those people, which acted a bit, uh, too noisy or, um, can I say predatory?
Um, I think the only big thing I had was in Mexico with the massage guy.
(21:25):
I always save his story, which ended up laughing at the end, but on the basically sexually
harassed me, it was massaged me.
And then he tried to kiss me.
How the hell is this?
Wait a minute.
I feel because in Mexico, yeah, in Mexico, they put a towel on your eyes.
You know, it's part of the central experience is the only place where they put the, they
(21:49):
blindfold you basically.
And I was like, I feel that this guy is touching me.
Okay.
Normally.
But then suddenly I feel a breath over my nose.
And I had to push him.
I had to push him and I remember for 14 days because I was staying in this hotel every
(22:09):
night he was wanting to go out with me.
And this guy was incredibly hot.
Plus this was, you know, the Indian guru was like, uh, to say green eyes, super bulky,
muscular, you know, like a hot boy.
And I was like, no, because I had the boyfriend.
(22:31):
I just started and I was like, if you really insist, I'm going to denounce you to your
boss, you know, so I don't want you to lose your job.
So just, you know, stay put, you know, uh, because he was insisting too much and he had
the chick to ask me for a tip.
Yes.
And I had to tell him to see myself somewhere, you know, I didn't want to, to be rude, but
(22:56):
I had to be rude.
And I say, which tip are you mad?
He tried to kiss me against my, and you want a tip on top.
What the hell?
Some people's got no limit.
So also as a female solo traveler, remember your boundaries because people tend to think,
(23:16):
oh my goodness, tend to think that you have none.
You know, you're a foreigner, you come from sex tourism, especially when they see a solo
female, they always assume all kinds of stuff in their head.
So it's good to put the boundaries and showcase that you didn't come for that.
(23:36):
You're not interested.
And if they really insist, you know, you threaten them to call the police or denounce them to
this bus, you know, you have to be firm.
Because after all, this is your safety.
And if you don't feel comfortable, you have to voice it.
Yeah.
(23:56):
So I was still blindfolded, I pushed my hands in the air, which pushed him out.
And then I removed the blindfold and then I saw he was there.
And I was like, what the fuck?
He was trying again.
Oh, some people.
Yes.
After that, I decided I would never get a massage by a man because it was my first time
being massaged by a man plus.
(24:16):
So it creates a stigma, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
That is really something else.
I'm sorry that happened.
That's a lot.
It's OK.
Nothing.
That's a lot.
But you know, after that, I love about it.
So now what are your next upcoming trips that we can find out about?
(24:38):
OK, so we work a bit differently.
When I first started up, we were organizing Ghana and Brazil.
But with the pandemic, everything was kind of crazy.
Everything was closed.
So since 18 months, we only tailor people trips.
So that's why we no longer organize group trips.
But we tailor our clients' trips.
(25:02):
So what do you say?
Like the last one we've been organizing was exciting.
Now, we organized a birthday for two twins in Kenya.
So they did some safari, wildlife feeding.
But the most exciting and challenging thing I've done this year was accepting to help
(25:23):
travel, fashionista club.
And plus, they were African-American.
They were millionaires.
So they didn't tell me first.
And then I was like, wow.
So we've done some cool stuff because they have the same vision.
They wanted to patronize black owned business.
So I made them do a London black history tour.
(25:48):
They did a luxury fashion day, which I attend.
Also organized like semi-private dinner experience in Paris for them.
We went to Tina, the musical, together.
You know, it was a crazy week.
But I was like, that's good because normally I help people to travel abroad.
And I was like, people don't come to Wales.
(26:12):
So that was different.
That was totally different because I helped them make the most of London in a different
way and patronizing black owned businesses.
The same I help a Pan-African, French, Guadalupean, like me, teacher to do a US tour during summer
(26:35):
but on Black Heritage notes.
So I helped her go to New York, DC and Miami and in Brooklyn, for example, she bumped into
Spike Lee block party.
So that was super cool.
I always say there's some funny experience for my clients, like the one who's been interviewed
(26:59):
in Brazil because she's Swiss, but she was born, her parents are from Benin.
And I was saying to the guy, bring her to the Black History Museum in Rio.
And by chance, the whole museum jump on her because she's from originally Benin.
And that's where the story of a woman king is happening because the week before Viola
(27:21):
Davis came to inaugurate the exhibition in that same museum with her husband.
And then she was interviewed by Brazilian TV as well.
And she had to run away like Rihanna to go to a dancing class because the whole museum
was so amazed to see a real woman from Benin in Brazil that they all wanted to ask a question.
(27:43):
What do you think about the movie?
Is it true?
It must have been a super experience for someone's first trip to Brazil.
She ended up on Brazilian TV the same day.
Oh, wow.
Yes.
And the same, my client, I helped to go to Jamaica the first night she arrived in Kingston,
(28:08):
she bumped into Biniman.
Oh, wow.
You have a lot of good luck with you.
There's stuff happening in those trips.
Yes, they have a lot.
Yes, the good luck goes with them too.
So I don't know.
I was like, wow, those adventures are super cool because it's like they end up being in
the right place in the right moment.
(28:30):
And then she took pictures and you sing for her and stuff.
And I was like, wow, okay.
You were super lucky, man, your first night in town.
So if someone wanted to plan a trip with you or wanted you to help them plan a trip, what
should they do?
How can they get in contact with you?
Okay, cool.
So you can get in touch by emailing melanin travels with Smagic at gmail.com.
(28:58):
You can go on our Instagram and click the link on the bio and book directly a calendar,
as you say, a Zoom discovery call.
Or you can go on our website.
You will see different city button for our Zoom call as well.
So yeah, you have free point of contact.
(29:21):
And from there, after the call, we discuss your requirements.
Then we send you an invoice and then we proceed to the trip planning and prepare you either
a PDF planner if you're solo or small group, or we do more of a project if it's a group
trip.
Usually for group trip is best to contact us six months ahead minimum.
(29:45):
And for solo small group, I would say minimum two months before.
Some people, they are good.
They contact you six months ahead.
So yeah.
Okay, so you're the plug.
You're the one that people need to reach out to.
Yes, yes.
No matter where they are in the world to figure out how to find the other black people in
the world.
Yeah, we're all over the place.
(30:06):
Actually, I thought about you because our next clients for Gannard are a group of black
leaders in education.
So that's what I thought about you from Boston.
And I said, okay, it's funny.
My corporate clients are all in education.
So it's good for me also because it's more meaningful actually to serve people in education
because they explain to me the challenges they go through, the burnout, et cetera.
(30:31):
So for them is rejuvenation.
Yes, rejuvenation retreat.
Yes, sounds good.
I actually might be hitting you up with the same questions because I would love to see
a group of teachers or a group of students, like really be able to embrace some of the
things that you've talked about.
You know, just like even the conversation of seeing people, other black people for Tanzanians
(30:57):
that are like, wait a minute, you're not from here?
Really?
You know, I think we all need to have that experience to see that we're everywhere, you
know, that we are literally spread out.
We're all over the place.
I figured out for you.
Yes.
Right.
Right.
Christina, I really enjoyed our conversation today.
I've had a great time just learning so much about how we are really connected and it takes
(31:23):
someone like you with an organization like yours to really show us how we're connected
because I think we know, I think in our heart of hearts, we all know that we're connected,
but it's really hard to see when no one is really connecting those dots for us.
And sometimes we just need somebody to stand in the gap and kind of say, you know what?
I'll figure it out.
Yes.
(31:44):
I'll connect you.
I'll show you how Zanzibar is connected to the Caribbean, is connected to the Americas,
you know, and all of that good stuff.
We need that.
So I'm glad you're doing this work.
We need you.
Thank you, lady.
Take care.
Well, you all, thank you all for tuning in to our episode with Ms. Christina from Melanin
(32:06):
Travels Magic.
Please make sure to reach out if you are interested in doing a trip that highlights the Black
Diaspora and she got you.
She got your back.
So thank you so much, Christina.
See you soon, everyone.
All right, y'all.
All right.
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Traveling Black Woman podcast.
(00:08):
Today we have a very special guest who is committed to connecting the diaspora to their
roots.
Now her particular company is really, really cool to me and really dear to my heart because
we're everywhere.
And her travel company lets us know that we're everywhere.
So I'm going to give her the floor, let her introduce herself, and we're going to jump
(00:31):
into some conversation today about why it's so important for us to find different black
communities around the world and connect with them.
So Christina, the floor is yours.
Hi Nadine.
Thank you very much to welcome us on the podcast.
So my name is Christina Belloge.
I'm French and British.
I'm originally French Caribbean, born in Paris.
(00:53):
I'm a multilingual, serial expat and well traveled.
I set up Melanin four years ago during the pandemic, during Black Lives Matter, because
there was a Black Renaissance movement in the UK and we came to the realization that
we needed to create a business that supports the community.
(01:16):
Also because my background is in marketing, digital marketing, I wanted to tap into my
passion and give back what I've received by traveling mostly in Black Nation myself
those last eight years.
My personal quest was to look for what we had in the different culture across the diaspora
(01:40):
and visit Black Nation, what we have in common, let's say more than food and music, what connects
us and also what do we have in common in our history, because being Caribbean, we are a
mixture of African, European, indigenous.
So it's to trace back our roots, but then it also helped to, how do you say, fuel our
(02:06):
curiosity because it's to change from just visiting your parents' island or your parents'
country.
So that's why I started by Cuba and I was well received because I'm Caribbean too.
They were curious, they asked so many questions because they're curious to see how things
happen in other Caribbean islands.
(02:28):
I explained I lived in Europe.
So wherever I go, they used to give me more rum, more food and yeah, it's just, they embrace
you so naturally, it's so good.
Oh, wow.
So what's some of the best things that you've found from going through these experiences
and connecting with cultures that you're not connecting with as often?
(02:49):
What are some things that you've experienced?
For example, in, I'm thinking, in Cape Verde, when we visit in one specific island, Santa
Tau, which is like Santa Antonio, some stage we visit a farm and because my parents, especially
my dad, they come from farming background.
(03:12):
I've recognized like the rum making factories, they're so similar and I was like, they have
very similar cultural trait, like, you know, matriarchal society because woman and grandmother,
let's say have the lead in raising you because of let's say post-liver syndrome, et cetera.
(03:38):
The society makeup was working exactly the same.
And when you go to Africa, there's lots of places who looks like the Caribbean because
it's exactly the same trees and vegetation, for example, because once I talk with a African
who told me Zanzibar palm tree, apparently all the most palm tree in the Caribbean were
(04:03):
imported from Zanzibar.
And I was like, really, I look it up on Google and yeah, this is a legend, but apparently
it's true.
That will explain why I had such a deep connection in this place because they didn't only import,
let's say an enslaved, but they also import vegetation.
That's why we have those type of trees everywhere.
(04:26):
I was like, wow, that's so deep.
So we are connected in more ways than we think, not just our genetic makeup, but also vegetation,
some cultural trait, some, how do you say, vocabulary that we kept.
(04:46):
Yeah.
There's so much.
The heritage is very profound.
It is because I didn't even know that.
I had never known that.
And I just came back from Mozambique earlier, early October, and I mean, it was just so
beautiful.
But the connection was strong in terms of meeting people that just look like you and
(05:07):
they were so excited to see us there because we weren't obviously the regular tourists.
We were black tourists.
So we wanted to know more about their food and culture and talk to them.
And by the time we left, they made us coconut oil and peri-peri sauce.
It was great.
Yes.
Yes.
It is great.
It is great because me, I know first time I went to Zanzibar, for example, and we visited
(05:31):
the farm, I felt like the color of the soil was the same as my grandmother farm.
It was red deep.
And I felt like my soul was like, you've been here before.
It was very weird.
I was like, wow.
And then I found out other facts like this island inspired Jules Verne, which is the
(05:53):
French explorer, famous writer, who wrote about 80 days world trip in a hot air balloon.
And his first novel actually took place from Zanzibar because his idea was to do first
a hot air balloon trip from Zanzibar to Tanzania, to Kenya.
(06:18):
So to do an African hot air balloon adventure, which was then I think 100 years after materialized
by some British explorer and adventurer.
So I was like, that's why I love so much to travel.
Because when I was a kid, my mom used to buy me the merchandise from this because there
(06:41):
was a cartoon about it.
And I used to have the duvet and sleep with it.
So in my dreams, I would be on this hot air balloon.
And funny enough, last year I did hot air balloon for the first time in Egypt.
And I was like, this is really a dream come true.
So it's like travel gave you this chance of not only coming out of your, say, comfort
(07:09):
zone, because you're going to push for things you never thought you could do.
If you are a bit adventurous and yeah, you go past it, you go past the fear.
I don't have fear of flights, but I know sometimes I have fear of heights, you know?
So funny enough, when I was in this hot air balloon with 15 other people, I didn't have
(07:33):
it because the scenery is so beautiful.
You wake up at 3 a.m. and it's a good adventure because by the time you arrive on the site,
it's like 430, it's still dark, dark.
And then suddenly you see the sunsets or the sunrise colors coming up little by little.
(07:54):
And they train you as well.
You know, there's safety and stuff.
They train you.
OK, this is how to be back when we're going to land.
You know, you have to brace yourself.
But you're like, you just don't realize it's just you see them, set them up, and then you're
inside and then you're so high.
And then you're like, wow, the sun is coming through.
(08:15):
The sky is pink.
Then it goes yellow, orange.
It's so beautiful.
And it's also because it's an experience that you I think in Egypt, in Luxor, you see the
different type of landscape because you see some part of desert.
You are flying over the valley of the king, the valley of the queen.
(08:36):
And you see some part which is farming with a bit tropical with palm trees and all the
gardens they have.
So the contrast is so beautiful.
And also you see so many other other balloon.
I think that's what makes it different is because so many of you in the sky at the same
time that you're like, this is happening.
(08:59):
Wow.
Wow.
I didn't believe I could do that.
Because I remember my God last minute told me, do you want to do that?
I say, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I got the time wrong.
So the story was the guy in the hotel start to knock my door at 3am and arrive at midnight.
I think because I transferred from Cairo by plane.
(09:21):
It's only one hour.
And I thought, okay, I'm going to sleep until eight.
I don't know why in my head.
And this guy is banging on my door.
Hotel balloon with his big thick accent.
Hotel balloon.
And I feel like it's a nightmare.
You know, I'm like, leave me alone.
And he insists for 15 minutes.
And then I'm half asleep.
My eyes are like closed.
(09:42):
I opened the door.
I'm like, what do you want?
And he said, you need to hurry, hurry, hurry.
People who saw the picture, especially my cousin, they were like, why is your hair so
messy?
I said, because I just had the time to take a shower.
I didn't have time to make myself pretty.
I was like a zombie.
(10:03):
And they all asked me, is it on purpose?
Is it on purpose?
I said, no, they wake me up and I only slept three hours.
That's the reality.
So I look like nothing, but I didn't care.
The thrill of the experience was what you care about.
Yes.
Oh, man.
That's hilarious.
(10:23):
But it is a thrill, right?
It's just like, okay, I've got it.
I can't miss this.
So whatever my hair looks like, I'm just going to have to jump in and see.
I can't miss this.
Exactly.
I just need to jump in.
I put my coat out of the shower quickly.
Okay, let's go.
Let's go.
Let's go.
Let's go.
I'm glad they were persistent.
I'm glad they didn't just say, well, she's not awake.
(10:47):
Let's just go.
Yes, me too.
Yes.
Because you would have been sad if you missed that, I'm sure.
Wow, that sounds absolutely amazing.
It was totally worth it.
Oh my goodness.
Now what's something that you think that everyone should see at least one time?
Every black person, right?
Everyone in the black diaspora, no matter where they are, the Caribbean, the United States,
(11:11):
what is one thing that you say they should see?
It's difficult because it's always like when people say, which is your favorite destination?
I'm like, there's so many I love for different reasons.
Okay, well maybe like the top three.
Yeah, top three is easier.
So hmm.
Okay, top three.
So definitely go to Egypt, not just for the pyramids, but yeah, do the Haute Balloon experience
(11:37):
once in your life because I was, you know, normally I have fear of heights and I didn't
have it during this flight.
So this is very special.
I think that's amazing.
And that says a lot about our fears and what they're really tied to because when you had
the opportunity to see something that was beautiful and life changing and amazing, that
(11:58):
fear went out the window.
And that's pretty dope.
That's amazing.
Yes.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Yeah.
In terms of history, I would say second Ghana because okay, Elmina and Cape Coast Castle
because I went as a group tour and we were 120 people.
(12:20):
So that's the biggest group tour I've done in my life.
And when they kind of close you in, we were in Cape Coast Castle, you feel what your ancestor
went through because they stay there for three months in the dark, blah, blah, blah, waiting
for the boat.
But they literally switch off the light and leave us like that for 10 minutes.
(12:44):
And you feel the atmosphere is heavy and you really transport you in time.
I didn't feel that in Senegal when I went to Goree Island because Goree Island is kind
of still French, very romanticized, very colorful.
It's very hearty while Cape Coast and the Elmina Castle are very rough because they
(13:09):
are not repainted.
Everything has been staying the way it used to be.
They haven't been really refurbished.
So it's raw.
It's really raw.
And the fact that they plunge you in the dark for 10 minutes and leave you like that, you
start to feel, I don't want to say some ghost in the air, but you feel a very tense energy
(13:32):
and you start to realize this is what they went through for three months.
And it's like your spirits just travel in time too.
I was the most, I think one of the most connecting thing as a black person I've experienced.
(13:52):
And the other thing I love, I guess, I'm hesitating between Cuba and Zimbabwe because I love Island
because I'm Caribbean.
So any Island I travel to, I just connect instantly.
Yeah, same here.
I feel home because I'm with my people.
(14:13):
People are curious as well.
I would say going to Tanzania or Zanzibar is because it's the only African country where
people automatically assume you are like them.
Like if you're black, they instantly think that you are Tanzanian and they embrace you
in good and bad.
So I never felt like that any other place I go, people assume that you are them.
(14:40):
And then it goes up to the airport when you want to leave.
They don't want to, they think that you're Tanzanian trying to leave.
It's crazy.
They're like, where are you going?
I'm like, I'm going home.
And they really don't believe you are a foreigner.
This is so funny.
It happens to me three times.
(15:02):
So it's up to arriving there until you leave.
And every time I have to show my passport, even if you show my passport, plus I have
double nationality, which is a known concept for them.
So they're like, oh come, you were born in Paris, but your passport is British.
I said, because I have two nationalities.
So I have to justify that.
(15:25):
And they don't believe.
So then I have to show my French ID and say, and they questioned me 15 minutes.
And I'm like, no, I'm really guys.
There are other black people in the world who doesn't come from where you are from.
Oh wow.
That is so interesting.
Yes.
Yes.
Oh wow.
It's the only country where I had that, but I'm not the only one.
(15:47):
Every other, either travel influencer I spoke or friend told me the same.
They told me, yeah, it's the only country where they by default assume that you are
there.
You are like them.
So they don't see you as a foreigner.
They really embrace you instantly.
So it's good and bad, as I said, because it's bad when you are at the airport and you want
(16:10):
to go back and you're like, I have a flight to let me go.
Wait a minute.
Yeah, wait a minute.
Hello.
Oh my goodness.
Let's go.
Let's go.
That's amazing though.
It almost feels like, you know, hey, your family.
You're not supposed to leave the house.
(16:34):
Where are you going?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
That was the only country where I had this.
And for instance, in Cuba, also, I didn't pay, I think this is $25 visa when you leave
because they thought I was a family as well.
So he looked at my passport, even if it was a French passport, because he saw I'm Caribbean,
(16:54):
he didn't make me pay the visa.
Was cool.
Yeah, you know, yeah, normally in my pocket, but it's so funny.
It's so funny.
Uh, those little things because nobody tell you that, you know, sometimes you read the
blogs and you expect some stuff.
Uh, there's lots of fear mongering sometimes on blogs is the reality because, um, for example,
(17:18):
when I went to Mexico, I went to Cancun area, applied, they'll come in.
So I researched because people were saying, yeah, be careful.
You're going to be scared if you take a taxi, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah.
And I'm like, I speak Spanish and I can pass more or less.
I don't want to say local, but an Aboriginal, I guess.
So, um, I straight away, uh, I didn't take the taxi.
(17:40):
I took the bus and nothing happened.
But then I saw in the city, some people got scammed for excursion because they were white
American.
Um, and me, I know I went in the street to buy all my stuff, but I speak Spanish.
So, uh, I make sure the company was legit and, uh, you know, I had their phone number,
(18:03):
blah, blah, blah.
And then I met also an Argentinian girl.
We hook up.
So sometimes it's like, don't believe everything which is written on internet because, or what
people tell you, uh, because I remember, cause I used to travel a lot, a lot.
I had always people get jealous.
(18:24):
So I stopped to post, for example, you know, my personal idea of Facebook for a few years
because I had everyone on my back.
Why, why are you wasting your time traveling?
Why don't you, why aren't you married with three kids?
They all attack you.
They all attack you.
And you were like, uh, because it's not my destiny.
(18:46):
Uh, because, because it's not my time yet because you know, God, and you start to justify
why you are who you are and it's become exhausting.
So then when I set up Melanie, I decided, you know what, I'm going to surround myself
with lots of travel like minded people because we are, I would say some of the most open
(19:08):
minded people on earth.
Because we are not judgmental to love to travel and to even become a professional in it.
You need to be non-judgmental because you basically become an explorer.
You're no longer a traveler and you're open to new experiences and you're open to go past
(19:32):
what society expects from you, especially as a black female solo.
You because sometimes I realize, you know, there's been scandal on safety and everything.
And I'm like, I've been blessed to travel for nearly 15 years and I didn't, I never
really felt for my life or anything.
I didn't have, you know, door block or door lock, whatever.
(19:56):
I don't know.
Maybe it's because I don't want to say I was carefree, but, uh, the only instances I had
was a more being careful if you try not to arrive at night, for example, because sometimes
you have funky taxi.
So I can remember in Sevilla, this guy was starting to ask weird question.
(20:17):
So you have to pretend some people I know they were fake wedding ring.
Uh, or you have to say, no, I'm not alone.
My boyfriend, I'm joining my boyfriend.
Um, even when I was in Egypt, there was this white American guy at free.
I mean, spot my nails.
This is very weird.
I'm like, how come you, this guy see my nails in the dark?
(20:38):
You're like, Oh, I love your nails.
Yeah.
And I was like, man, you're eating on me at free.
This is very weird.
Uh, you know, it's like, are you traveling alone?
And I'm like, wait a minute.
He's eating on me at free.
Is he desperate?
So I, I stopped to say, no, actually I'm not alone.
(21:05):
I have a few friends.
My boyfriend is joining us on site.
No.
So this became the default answer.
When you come across those people, which acted a bit, uh, too noisy or, um, can I say predatory?
Um, I think the only big thing I had was in Mexico with the massage guy.
(21:25):
I always save his story, which ended up laughing at the end, but on the basically sexually
harassed me, it was massaged me.
And then he tried to kiss me.
How the hell is this?
Wait a minute.
I feel because in Mexico, yeah, in Mexico, they put a towel on your eyes.
You know, it's part of the central experience is the only place where they put the, they
(21:49):
blindfold you basically.
And I was like, I feel that this guy is touching me.
Okay.
Normally.
But then suddenly I feel a breath over my nose.
And I had to push him.
I had to push him and I remember for 14 days because I was staying in this hotel every
(22:09):
night he was wanting to go out with me.
And this guy was incredibly hot.
Plus this was, you know, the Indian guru was like, uh, to say green eyes, super bulky,
muscular, you know, like a hot boy.
And I was like, no, because I had the boyfriend.
(22:31):
I just started and I was like, if you really insist, I'm going to denounce you to your
boss, you know, so I don't want you to lose your job.
So just, you know, stay put, you know, uh, because he was insisting too much and he had
the chick to ask me for a tip.
Yes.
And I had to tell him to see myself somewhere, you know, I didn't want to, to be rude, but
(22:56):
I had to be rude.
And I say, which tip are you mad?
He tried to kiss me against my, and you want a tip on top.
What the hell?
Some people's got no limit.
So also as a female solo traveler, remember your boundaries because people tend to think,
(23:16):
oh my goodness, tend to think that you have none.
You know, you're a foreigner, you come from sex tourism, especially when they see a solo
female, they always assume all kinds of stuff in their head.
So it's good to put the boundaries and showcase that you didn't come for that.
(23:36):
You're not interested.
And if they really insist, you know, you threaten them to call the police or denounce them to
this bus, you know, you have to be firm.
Because after all, this is your safety.
And if you don't feel comfortable, you have to voice it.
Yeah.
(23:56):
So I was still blindfolded, I pushed my hands in the air, which pushed him out.
And then I removed the blindfold and then I saw he was there.
And I was like, what the fuck?
He was trying again.
Oh, some people.
Yes.
After that, I decided I would never get a massage by a man because it was my first time
being massaged by a man plus.
(24:16):
So it creates a stigma, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
That is really something else.
I'm sorry that happened.
That's a lot.
It's OK.
Nothing.
That's a lot.
But you know, after that, I love about it.
So now what are your next upcoming trips that we can find out about?
(24:38):
OK, so we work a bit differently.
When I first started up, we were organizing Ghana and Brazil.
But with the pandemic, everything was kind of crazy.
Everything was closed.
So since 18 months, we only tailor people trips.
So that's why we no longer organize group trips.
But we tailor our clients' trips.
(25:02):
So what do you say?
Like the last one we've been organizing was exciting.
Now, we organized a birthday for two twins in Kenya.
So they did some safari, wildlife feeding.
But the most exciting and challenging thing I've done this year was accepting to help
(25:23):
travel, fashionista club.
And plus, they were African-American.
They were millionaires.
So they didn't tell me first.
And then I was like, wow.
So we've done some cool stuff because they have the same vision.
They wanted to patronize black owned business.
So I made them do a London black history tour.
(25:48):
They did a luxury fashion day, which I attend.
Also organized like semi-private dinner experience in Paris for them.
We went to Tina, the musical, together.
You know, it was a crazy week.
But I was like, that's good because normally I help people to travel abroad.
And I was like, people don't come to Wales.
(26:12):
So that was different.
That was totally different because I helped them make the most of London in a different
way and patronizing black owned businesses.
The same I help a Pan-African, French, Guadalupean, like me, teacher to do a US tour during summer
(26:35):
but on Black Heritage notes.
So I helped her go to New York, DC and Miami and in Brooklyn, for example, she bumped into
Spike Lee block party.
So that was super cool.
I always say there's some funny experience for my clients, like the one who's been interviewed
(26:59):
in Brazil because she's Swiss, but she was born, her parents are from Benin.
And I was saying to the guy, bring her to the Black History Museum in Rio.
And by chance, the whole museum jump on her because she's from originally Benin.
And that's where the story of a woman king is happening because the week before Viola
(27:21):
Davis came to inaugurate the exhibition in that same museum with her husband.
And then she was interviewed by Brazilian TV as well.
And she had to run away like Rihanna to go to a dancing class because the whole museum
was so amazed to see a real woman from Benin in Brazil that they all wanted to ask a question.
(27:43):
What do you think about the movie?
Is it true?
It must have been a super experience for someone's first trip to Brazil.
She ended up on Brazilian TV the same day.
Oh, wow.
Yes.
And the same, my client, I helped to go to Jamaica the first night she arrived in Kingston,
(28:08):
she bumped into Biniman.
Oh, wow.
You have a lot of good luck with you.
There's stuff happening in those trips.
Yes, they have a lot.
Yes, the good luck goes with them too.
So I don't know.
I was like, wow, those adventures are super cool because it's like they end up being in
the right place in the right moment.
(28:30):
And then she took pictures and you sing for her and stuff.
And I was like, wow, okay.
You were super lucky, man, your first night in town.
So if someone wanted to plan a trip with you or wanted you to help them plan a trip, what
should they do?
How can they get in contact with you?
Okay, cool.
So you can get in touch by emailing melanin travels with Smagic at gmail.com.
(28:58):
You can go on our Instagram and click the link on the bio and book directly a calendar,
as you say, a Zoom discovery call.
Or you can go on our website.
You will see different city button for our Zoom call as well.
So yeah, you have free point of contact.
(29:21):
And from there, after the call, we discuss your requirements.
Then we send you an invoice and then we proceed to the trip planning and prepare you either
a PDF planner if you're solo or small group, or we do more of a project if it's a group
trip.
Usually for group trip is best to contact us six months ahead minimum.
(29:45):
And for solo small group, I would say minimum two months before.
Some people, they are good.
They contact you six months ahead.
So yeah.
Okay, so you're the plug.
You're the one that people need to reach out to.
Yes, yes.
No matter where they are in the world to figure out how to find the other black people in
the world.
Yeah, we're all over the place.
(30:06):
Actually, I thought about you because our next clients for Gannard are a group of black
leaders in education.
So that's what I thought about you from Boston.
And I said, okay, it's funny.
My corporate clients are all in education.
So it's good for me also because it's more meaningful actually to serve people in education
because they explain to me the challenges they go through, the burnout, et cetera.
(30:31):
So for them is rejuvenation.
Yes, rejuvenation retreat.
Yes, sounds good.
I actually might be hitting you up with the same questions because I would love to see
a group of teachers or a group of students, like really be able to embrace some of the
things that you've talked about.
You know, just like even the conversation of seeing people, other black people for Tanzanians
(30:57):
that are like, wait a minute, you're not from here?
Really?
You know, I think we all need to have that experience to see that we're everywhere, you
know, that we are literally spread out.
We're all over the place.
I figured out for you.
Yes.
Right.
Right.
Christina, I really enjoyed our conversation today.
I've had a great time just learning so much about how we are really connected and it takes
(31:23):
someone like you with an organization like yours to really show us how we're connected
because I think we know, I think in our heart of hearts, we all know that we're connected,
but it's really hard to see when no one is really connecting those dots for us.
And sometimes we just need somebody to stand in the gap and kind of say, you know what?
I'll figure it out.
Yes.
(31:44):
I'll connect you.
I'll show you how Zanzibar is connected to the Caribbean, is connected to the Americas,
you know, and all of that good stuff.
We need that.
So I'm glad you're doing this work.
We need you.
Thank you, lady.
Take care.
Well, you all, thank you all for tuning in to our episode with Ms. Christina from Melanin
(32:06):
Travels Magic.
Please make sure to reach out if you are interested in doing a trip that highlights the Black
Diaspora and she got you.
She got your back.
So thank you so much, Christina.
See you soon, everyone.
All right, y'all.
All right.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.