Last year as summer was approaching, I had no holidays lined up yet which for me was unusual and also incredibly depressing. I'm one of those highly obsessive people who need a holiday booked 6 months in advance so I can count down the months and days and plan loads of cute outfits and create a board on pinterest dedicated to my holiday!
So when my aunty text me saying she had found a good deal on flights to Accra, Ghana... I was all over it, especially as I hadn't been in 10 years. My family are originally from Ghana and so I was really excited to go and visit some of our family that still live there.
As we arrived we decided to splash out and experience some Ghana luxury living by visiting the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, one of the top hotels in Ghana. We stopped off just for the day and enjoyed the pool area and had some lunch and cocktails. A perfect way to start of our trip.
The great thing about being in Ghana was how at home I felt. Even though I was born in London I still felt a strong connection to the people, the culture, the language, the food, so much so it just felt like I had been there my whole life. I didn't once feel out of place like I was a "foreigner". It was almost as if the country embraced me as a long lost family member.
We moved on from Accra to visit Kumasi, where my family are from. It was a nice change from the busy city of Accra, everything in Kumasi is a lot more laid-back and relaxed...and green which was nice. We went and stayed in Lake Bosomtwe for a few nights, and we honestly didn't want to leave. Waking up every morning to a lake in the mountains was just beautiful.
A few days before I had to leave and come back to London I went to the hairdresser near my hotel and got my hair braided. The lady who did it for me was sooooo fast they were done in just 3 hours! I honestly thought I'd be there for at least 6/7 hours. But not only that but they only cost £4!!!! 4 English pounds! I could not believe it! In London I would most certainly pay minimum £40!
Things in Ghana are so cheap and the hospitality wherever you go is always sky high. Ghanaians are naturally warm, well-mannered and gentle people who work hard and live by honesty and integrity. It was not only refreshing to be around so many good people but truly inspiring.
I can't wait to go back.
I've neglected this blog so much ( I think it's been about a year since I last posted?!) so I thought it would be worth saying hello again to my handful of followers ha!
Over the past year I guess lots has happened and I lost that desire to blog which is unfortunate BUT I definitely intend on making up for lost time! I have lots of ideas so I'll hopefully be posting some new stuff very soon! I'm excited!
I've also renamed my blog from Sugarface to something more personal to me "The Blackstar". I'm actually known by friends and associates as "Miss Blackstar" it's a nickname that stuck with me throughout my teens and beyond. It simply came from my ferocious passion and support the Ghanaian national football team who call themselves "The Blackstars". For those who know me well I'm an absolute hooligan when it comes to them playing and I go all out with the jersey and the flag and so forth! I think the name represents me nicely... Beyond just the football team, I'm passionate about teamwork, community spirit, Ghana, Africa...
I'm hoping this blog will reflect who I am and what I stand for within time.
Do you have a blog or website? If so, please leave your link below, I'd love to check out you guys stuff!
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Do you have a blog or website? If so, please leave your link below, I'd love to check out you guys stuff!
X
| I decided to write this post after meeting up with one of my best friends. We had such a nice recalling some of our best memories and it made me realise just how many amazing things I've experienced so far. I don't ever want to forget them and so this is almost my 'safe-keep' of all my favourite memories. Egypt 2008 with my family. I absolutely adored Sharm-el Sheikh and the people were so lovely. This was the first holiday we had with Rhys and he had all the attention of the hotel staff and the locals which was nice.   My graduation 2010. Probably one of my proudest moments to date! Still haven't quite lived down my brother and dad shouting out "brap brap brap" as I walked across the stage to collect my certificate. lol.  My 21st bday - my parents spoilt me and we hired out a restaurant for our friends and family, had a lovely 3 course meal and then partied until the early hours of the morning  I don't remember a lot. I guess that says it all really...  Old trafford 2011 Watching my team play from the VIP box was the most amazing experiences of my life to date.  Ibiza 2012. What happens in Ibiza...stays in Ibiza.  My old workplace Xmas party at Wembley Hilton 2012 - well any night that involves unlimited free champagne is an amazing night for me.  Jamaica 2013  |
Watch the throne tour - Jay-Z & Kanye 2012
Rhys bday BBQ Sep 2012
Notting Hill Carnival 2012
Race for Life 2013
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A fabulous dinner with Pamela @ The Sanderson Hotel - 2013 |
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Lovebox 2014
My 21st (lol) birthday this year
What are the highlights of your life to date? Please leave a comment...! xoxo
Since I started working at my new firm, I've met a ton of international colleagues- and boy do they know how to explore London. They put me to shame with their knowledge of cool spots and little gems around London.
I have officially decided that I am going to take FULL advantage of the fact that I'm lucky enough to live and work in the amazing city of London. I'm taking this serious! So much so that I've decided to create my own little bucketlist of adventures around London....
- Have dinner at the top of The Shard - There is absolutely no reason why I haven't visited this tourist attraction yet, I'm pretty sure it's been up for over a year so it's a must! (expensive but definitely worth it, methinks)
- Visit Borough Market and eat from one of the stalls like a hippie
Race for Life in Regents ParkHampton Court Palace Festival- Sketch Bar
- Ride a rickshaw (How have I not done this?!)
Lion King in theatre- Go the Ritz Hotel
Watch a concert at the o2 arena- Go to dinner at the Burger & Lobster
- Eat at Nobu
- See the ballet at the Royal Opera House
- Eat at Hakkasan
Regents Park Open Air theatreWinter Wonderland- The royal ascot
- The electric cinema
- Explore Portobello Road
- Check out Gilgamesh in Camden
Hang out at camden lock
What else do I need to add to my list?
This is seriously the best dress I've ever worn in my life.... It was my birthday so I thought I'd go all out - why not?
You can find it here
Xoxo
I've always wanted to write a bucketlist because I always have all these ideas of things I'd love to do so it sounds like a good idea to get them all done and mark them all off as I go along. Makes things more exciting too!
- Have a career that I love (Well I'm now working in my dream firm, just need to work my way up to the career I want. So I guess I'm halfway there)
- Go the Harry Potter Wizarding castle
- Buy my own property (epic fail so far)
Ride a camel (Egypt, 2008)- Visit the pyramids in Egypt
- Caribbean Cruise
Climb a mountain (Dominican Republic, 2009)- Shop until I drop in New York
- Indulge in luxury living in Dubai
Go to an opera/ballet (2014, The Nutcracker)- Visit Hawaii
Watch a Shakespheare play (Twelfth Night in Regents Park Open Air Theatre)Get high in Amsterdam (2009)- Go island-hopping in Thailand
- Go to Paris!
- Stay in Bora Bora
- Visit Hong Kong
Visit Prague (2009)Go snorkelling in the Red Sea Coral (Egypt-2008)Party on a yacht (Jamaica 2013 + Ibiza 2012)- Sleep under the stars at this beautiful resort in Finland (
Hotel Kakslauttanen,)
- Dance at a carnival in Brazil
- Go to a world cup football match
- Write a book
- Go camping with friends
Stay in a cottage for a few nights (2013 - Kent)- Live/work/travel in another country
- Relax in the Maldives
Eat lobster (Jamaica 2013)- Go to an outdoor cinema
- Stay in a lodge with a private outdoor hot-tub
- Ride an elephant
Do any of you have a bucketlist? If so, share below in the comments. I'm always adding to my list so would love some inspiration from you guys.
