I’ve always been a big supporter of education, whether that be formally though books and schooling or more experiential through exposure and experiences like giving teens their first passport.

So I’m happy to show my support for the PUMA-Fortis 5k on May 26th (Kingston, Jamaica) in support of educational and sports initiatives at Kingston College and Alpha Boys’ School.

Want your 2013 Puma-Fortis 5k Registration Covered?

I can’t be there physically, but I’m sponsoring a team of 10 runners/walkers to support the cause.

For a chance to win complimentary registration as a part of the Absolute Travel Addict team, please leave a comment 1.) confirming that you will be in Kingston on May 26th (7am start time) and 2.) what school colors you’ll be wearing by 11:59PM ET on May 17th.  On Saturday, May 18th, I’ll announce the winners with an update on this blog post.

Here’s how you can help!

Not going to be in town and still want to support the cause? Share this post with your friends and link with the PUMA-Fortis team on Facebook (Facebook.com/Fortis5KRun) and Twitter (@Fortis5KRun)

You can also register for the race as a donation or for a friend/family member here: www.runningeventsja.com/registration/FORTIS2013

More about the charitable causes

The brave may fall, but never yield.

Kingston College

The Reverend Percival Gibson envisioned a school that would produce well-balanced men of integrity and character who would become leaders and set an example in public life and other pursuits. In 1925 he opened the doors of Kingston College 49 students.

KC has produced over 2,000 grads who have become Olympic athletes and Rhodes scholars; politicians and scientists; engineers and doctors; teachers and businessmen; artists and musicians; professors and poets; and men in many other endeavors.

Alpha Boys’ School 

Founded in 1880, Alpha Boys’ School in Kingston, Jamaica has a rich and deep history of service to boys who have come from very hard circumstances and have struggled to navigate society. Known world wide for its music program, Alpha Boys’ School has produced musical greats such as several members of the Skattilites and King Yellowman among many others.

The post Support PUMA-Fortis 5k Run/Walk appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Last month I had a friend in town from Jamaica winding down his 4 week vacation between New York and road tripping around Georgia with me. In between visiting friends and family, enjoying the sites and filling up on the finest southern delicacies, he managed to do a little bit of  shopping as well. A few days before departure back to Jamaica, he found himself scrambling to find receipts for all of his purchases to ensure he was below the $500 purchase limit. Luckily it all worked out, but it would have been a lot easier if he had Simply Declare.

Created by Rae Mapey, an avid traveler and bookkeeper by profession, Simply Declare is an iOS travel app created to help itemize and manage every travel purchase you make. You simply set a total spending limit and add in your purchases as you shop. Simply Declare does all of the heavy lifting for you, including currency conversion for over 30 different currencies.

Since its launch, Simply Declare has been recognized as one of the best new travel apps by PCWorld.com, Smartmoney.com and CNN Money and is available in multiple languages including Portuguese,  German, Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese and more. At the moment, it is only available for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPhone Touch), but once it’s available for Android or Blackberry, I’ll definitely be giving it a try. Take a look at the app in action here.

Looking for a little help managing your spending during your next trip? Simply Declare is available in the AppStore for just $0.99.

Because I love you guys so much, I’m giving away 5 promo codes for readers to get access to the app for FREE!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what gift you would bring back for me from your next international trip! Winners will be selected randomly using random.org and announced on Monday, May 13th.

I’ll send my mailing address to the best gift ideas. Just kidding…kinda.

The post Simply Declare: A New Travel App for the International Shopper appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Our final day in Catalonia, we found ourselves at this beautifully restored farmhouse about 25 minutes outside of Girona. Despite not being able to take our morning hot hair balloon ride (due to weather), everyone was excited for the calçotada and learning how to eat calçots the Catalonian way. We abandoned the cozy warmth of the house and Wi-Fi to gather around the pool house for an afternoon of food and fun.

The site of our Calçotada at Sant Ferriol luxury villa.

Preparing the calçots

They look like scallions, a requisite aromatic I find myself chopping and adding to everything I cook in both Jamaica and the US. But instead of breaking out the chopping board, calçots are strung together and cooked whole to retain the flavor and make the experience tons more fun.

Fresh Catalonian calçots ready for the calçotada.

They were cooked outside on an open first.  Because they were strung together on the wire, it made it a lot easier to turn and get on and off the grill. Smart idea!

Calçots roasting on an open fire. Wait…that’s not how the song goes.

Et voilà!

Yummmy, finished calçots…time to eat!

When it comes time to eat your finished calçots, you can’t be afraid to get a little dirty. I’ve seen vidoes of peole daintily peeling the charred layers off and even cutting, with knife and fork. No way! Here’s the REAL way to do it:

How to eat Calçots

We kept it traditional and followed up our calçots with sausages, bread and of course lots of cava and wine — a perfect Saturday afternoon!

Have you ever been to a calçotada or had calçots in Catalonia?

Disclaimer: Charming Villas Catalonia hosted me and 8 other bloggers for a week around the Catalonia region of Spain, however all opinions are my own.

The post My First Calçotada: How to Eat Calçots appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Janeen’s back iwth the 3rd and final installment of Jamaica Bacchanal 2013.

Jamaica Bacchanal Road March

The Bacchanal Road March is always bitter sweet for me, sweet because it’s so much fun and I enjoy seeing the beautiful costumes but bitter because it signals the end of the season. I have to wait an entire year to do it all over again, but it gives me something to look forward to.

This year the road March appeared a lot smaller than previous years, perhaps it was a small reflection of Jamaica’s struggling economy. I expected more bands and people in costume but the energy and spirit of the Bacchanal faithful were by no means tempered by their size. They danced their way through the city despite the scorching mid morning sun. For the costumed revelers, mostly women this was what the whole season was about brightly colored costumes, beautiful hair and makeup with bejeweled faces to match their outfits. Though not a commonly used term this is why the Parade is known as “Pretty Mas”.

The barely there costumes and provocative gyration in the street may not be everyone’s cup of tea but at the end of the day it is a showcase of the beauty and vibrancy of Caribbean culture and people. One cannot mention Bacchanal or Carnival without acknowledging Trinidad & Tobago. Jamaica Bacchanal as well as many other Caribbean islands is modeled after Trini Carnival. Although there are many similarities in the format and costumes, there is an infusion of Dancehall with Soca music to somewhat “jamaicanize” the festivities to appeal to the local audience.

I joined the parade in New Kingston looking out for friends in costumes then joining in the fun by following the revelers on the road. There was a marching band at the head of the parade followed by trucks blasting soca beats while various costumed groups followed. Each truck had a different DJ and I spotted a number of celebrities chilling on the truck or dancing in the crowd with fans. Usain Bolt and Shaggy were hanging out with Machel Montano , undoubtedly the hottest star of present day soca music. I was super excited when I waved to him and he blew me a kiss and later took a photo with me, I’m still beaming. This is one advantage of a smaller parade, your chances of meeting people increase.

Machel’s current hit “The Fog” was the rage of the season and it’s the reason people are walking with baby powder and Fogging Up Di Place. A trend I highly suspect will continue in 2014. Checkout the video here and you’ll understand. It’s insane and makes you want to go to Trinidad Carnival.

Photo credit: Ishango and Janeen Johnson

Want More of Jamaica Bacchanal?

Check out the other posts in the series!

Jamaica Bacchanal: Socarobics and Bacchanal Fridays

Jamaica Bacchanal: J’ouvert

Jamaica Bacchanal: Tips for Successful Carnival Experience

The post Jamaica Bacchanal 2013: Ready for Di Road appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Featured Travel Addict Ornella in St. Ann, Jamaica

I love sharing my travel stories with you guys, but I also get emails from and have met some of the most awesome travel addicts around the globe. Starting today I’ll be sharing a bit about their stories too in a new series called Featured #TravelAddict.

First up is Ornella, a medical student and blogger I met during the Jamaica Blog Awards earlier in the year. Despite her hectic school schedule, Ornella finds time to get out and explore her island home from the resort experiences like this one to hiking in the mountains. I’m looking forward to connecting with her once I return back to Jamaica!

Meet Featured Travel Addict Ornella from Jamaica

Featured Travel Addict Ornella kayaking

Featured Travel Addict Ornella

I’m by nature a wanderer, a dreamer and an adventure-seeker. I love seeing new things and having new experiences. The memories made which last  longer than merely just living the same day in repeat indefinitely. I love learning about new cultures, meeting new people, seeing the beauty of what thee world has and the freedom of travelling. That’s why I love to travel and I’m a travel addict.

Want to be the next featured travel addict?

Send me 1-3 shots from a recent vacation, a little bit about yourself and short description of your trip and what makes you a travel addict to info [at] AbsoluteTravelAddict [dot] com.

The post Featured Travel Addict: Ornella from Jamaica appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

A couple of weeks ago I announced that I’m now a Verizon Wireless Ambassador. And with this honor, free phone and service, I’ll be reviewing and sharing my thoughts on the Blackberry Z10.

Here’s an update on my first 2 weeks as a Blackberry Z10 owner

It was a bit of a rocky start start with this phone. The new navigation called Blackberry Flow takes a little getting used to, but is a world of improvement from the click screen of the Blackberry Storm I once owned. I’m not really one to read instruction manuals, especially for phones (I just figure it out), but this site offers video demonstrations of tips and tricks to getting started and taking full advantage of your Z10. You can also download this Blackberry Z10 Gestures for Navigation cheat sheet that I’ve also found helpful.

Photo from RapidBerry.net

The first thing I did before really digging into the phone was to grab a new case. There aren’t many options available. I think I was presented with 3 in the Macon Verizon Wireless store and went went the OtterBox Defender case because I’m a bit rough with my phones and the other options just wouldn’t cut it. Well I can say that the Defender case will definitely keep your Z10 safe, but it does impair the navigation a bit. The screen cover is a bit thicker than the screen film you would buy separately and I find myself having to make a few attempts to make selections on the screen or a few swipes to navigate to a new screen. I would love a pretty little commuter case, or even a Mophie but that may or may not happen. We’ll see…

My Blackberry Z10 in the Otterbox Defender Case

One cool feature I do really like is StoryMaker. With just a few clicks, I can compile photos and add music to make a quick video highlighting a recent trip or event. As a travel writer/blogger, this is an awesome way for me to summarize a day out in a new destination or on a tour and just upload to Youtube and share. Check out the quick video I made of the cherry blossoms around Macon, Georgia.

Any Blackberry Z10 users out there?

*Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassador program and have been provided with a wireless device and three months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.

The post Blackberry Z10 Update appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Janeen is back with part two of Jamaica Bacchanal 2013. This time she talks J’ouvert! Really hate I missed this. Check it out, and don’t forget to link with Janeen on her Facebook page, The Dryland Tourist!

Beach J’ouvert

J’ouvert is a staple of West Indian Carnivals, the celebrations differ on each island but two commonalities is the smearing of paints or oils and partying from night until after sunrise. In my opinion J’ouvert is the party to go and is more exciting than the actual parade. In Jamaica there is Beach J’ouvert followed by the final J’ouvert with a road March which is always on the last weekend of Bacchanal season.

Beach J’ouvert was held over the Easter weekend at James Bond Beach , St. Mary. Thousands made the drive down to get plastered in paint , rocking out to soca with rum flowing on the beach  all day . The event showcased live performances from Farmer Nappy, Patrice Roberts and Shurwayne Winchester. Live Music, good food , rum and beach what’s not to love?  I could go on and on but a picture says a thousand words so check out some of the photos from the  event.

J’ouvert Final Fete and Pandemonium

This year for the first time ever there were two major Carnival events in Kingston happening at the same time. Normally there is only J’ouvert but a few weeks leading up to J’ouvert there was heavy promotion of Pandemonium. Kingstonians had a hard time choosing between the King and Queen of Bacchanal. With Destra headlining J’ouvert and Machel Montano at Pandemonium, soca fans were indeed left in pandemonium….decisions, decisions! In the end I decided to stick with my original plan and went to J’ouvert , a choice I did not regret but I must say the Pandemonium pictures looked awesome with people covered in purple and green powder instead of paint. Next year perhaps?

I could feel the excitement of the night ahead as soon as I got in the cab. My driver started to panic when we got stuck behind one of the carnival trucks, he thought it was the road march already but it turned out to be just one truck blasting music, ready for the party that was ahead.

There was a small crowd when I arrived at Mas Camp around 11:30pm and the venue soon filled up by the time Destra took the stage after midnight.  She kept the energy going all night and people got even wilder when the paint came out. I did my best to avoid it but hey, it is a big part of the fun. The 5 mugs for $500 deals didn’t hurt either. For JA$500 (US$5) you could get 5 Mugs of Appleton Rum / Smirnoff Vodka with a chaser. Now that’s what I call a party, but remember drink responsibly!

Everyone was gyrating all night to Destra and the other performers and at 4am we took the party to the streets . Destra kept performing on the party truck as it rolled through the residential neighborhoods with a crowd of blue people gyrating behind it. I felt sorry for the people who wanted to sleep but J’ouvert aka Dutty Mas stops for nothing or no one. The previous year it rained heavily during the road march and people only got wilder. Bacchanal fans are nothing if not dedicated.

For two hours I sang and danced my way through the city until the sun came up, my aching feet not realizing they were in pain until it was time to walk home. Some revellers continued the party at an After J’ouvert breakfast party but sadly I crawled home at 6am, knowing that sleeping was a good and necessary idea especially if I planned to do it all over again in another day when the Road March would take place.

Stay tuned for the next of Jamaica Bacchanal 2013 where I share tips for getting in on the action next year as well as more amazing photos of the parade.

Photo Credit: SLEEK Magazine, JAEMagazine and Janeen Johnson

Want More of Jamaica Bacchanal?

Check out the other posts in the series!

Jamaica Bacchanal: Socarobics and Bacchanal Fridays

Jamaica Bacchanal: Ready for Di Road

Jamaica Bacchanal: Tips for Successful Carnival Experience

The post Jamaica Bacchanal 2013: J’ouvert appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Hey travel lovers! Can you believe I’ve never been to a carnival before!?!? Well, I’ve been to Atlanta’s Carnival, but that’s not quite the same as winin’ it up in the Caribbean or getting my samba on in Rio. I vow to change that in 2014, but in the mean time, I’m happy to have my friend and fellow travel writer, Janeen, share her carnival experience this year in Jamaica. Next year we’ll be doing it together!! I hope you can join us!

Jamaica Bacchanal 2013 — Part 1

Firstly I want to thank April for inviting me on her awesome blog and I hope you’ll find my post as entertaining and as informative as the Absolute Travel Addict herself. Bacchanal Jamaica 2013 kicked off with an opening party on February 15 and officially ended on April 7 with the parade. This year Bacchanal Jamaica celebrated their 25^th anniversary and what an awesome season it was. I want to share the highlights of the season as well as some tips to get you ready for 2014. Now I would never claim to be a Bacchanal expert neither a die-hard soca fan, as a matter of fact 2 years ago I would never have dreamt I’d be writing about carnival but here I am. I got bitten by the Soca bug last season when I decided to attend Socarobics for no reason other than it was a free workout.

Working up a sweat in Socarobics, Jamaica

Socarobics and Bacchanal Fridays

Socarobics is basically aerobics done to soca music. It is a 2 hour nonstop, high energy cardio workout that should not be underestimated despite being major fun. Your legs and thighs will not be laughing at the end, as a matter of fact they may give up on you after the first 45 minutes to an hour no matter how in shape you think you are. It is a great way not only to get fit but also to learn a few moves and get updated on the hot songs of the season. Sessions were held every Monday & Wednesday from 6-8pm at Mas Camp, Stadium North. The venue, days and times are generally the same each year so I thought it worth mentioning and to top it off its FREE! So there is no excuse not to attend.

Bacchanal Friday, Jamaica 2013

After socasizing in the  week then each Fridays you had the chance to show off your best moves at Bacchanal Fridays. Each  week showcased a celebrity DJ and some of the biggest names in Soca Music like Kes & The Band, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons and Duchess. Outside of the regular weekly events there were various Bacchanal endorsed parties throughout the season as well as other soca parties, almost every night of the week from Water Parties to JoJo’s Carnival Lyme on Sundays. It’s a great addition to the usual dance-hall/reggae scene.

Have you been to carnival in Jamaica or elsewhere?

Want More of Jamaica Bacchanal?

Check out the other posts in the series!

Jamaica Bacchanal: J’ouvert

Jamaica Bacchanal: Ready for Di Road

Jamaica Bacchanal: Tips for Successful Carnival Experience

The post Jamaica Bacchanal 2013: Socarobics and Bacchanal Fridays appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

As the saying goes, I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list. This Susan Sontag quote definitely holds true for me in the last prompt of the Traveling Brown Girls Carnival.

Here are 5 (of many) destinations on my travel bucket list

India

My infatuation with India started in high school and the cute Indian guy I worked with at Winn Dixie. It quickly grew to include Indian food, Bollywood movies and more. I even took Hindi lessons at one point (though I didn’t last too long).

One of my best friends who is Indian American teases that I’m more likely to have an Indian wedding than a traditional American one. I’d love to visit India for a traditional Indian wedding and watch and learn traditional Indian dance. I’d love to be able to do this candle dance from one of my favorite Bollywood movies, Devdas.

Ethiopia

I’ve been asked tons of times, especially when traveling, if I’m of eastern African decent, specifically Ethiopian. Well as far as I know (which isn’t much), I’m not, but I wouldn’t mind visiting there, especially during Timket, one of the most important and colorful festivals in Ethiopia. Read more about Timket here.

Photo by EipcRoad.com

Cuba

For nearly 2 years, I took a Cuban style salsa lessons, known as casino de rueda. Similar to square dancing, ruedas are done in a circle with a caller announcing the next move for the couples. It would amazing to practice with the creators of the dance and brush up on my Spanish!

Nigeria

After learning about the Cross River State in Nigeria during World Travel Market, I was sold. This region of Nigeria is the home of Calabar Carnival, known as the largest street party in Africa. Calabar runs for the entire month of December and looks like an amazing time.

Photo from Calabar Festival Facebook Page

The Caribbean

Ok I know this isn’t one destination, but I really would like to spend more time around the Caribbean as each island has it’s own unique personality, customs, food, etc and I want to experiences it for myself. Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Martinique and Grenada are at the top of the list.

Welcome to Lime Cay, Jamaica

What destinations are on the top of your bucket list?

Check out the rest of the carnival crews wish list over at Brown Girls Fly!

Traveling Brown Girls Blog Carnival Badge — Participating? Grab the badge for your site!

The post Five Destinations on My Travel Bucket List appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.

Hey travel lovers! I am really excited to announce that I’m now a Verizon Wireless Ambassador!! (I’m still doing my happy dance!)

So what exactly does being a Verizon Wireless Ambassador mean?

Well, for the next 3 months I’ll be test driving the Blackberry Z10 and giving you my thoughts on how it works for me in my every day life as a digital marketer and avid traveler.

She was waiting for me when I arrived in Macon.

I’ve been a Blackberry user on and off for the last 7 years and a Verizon customer for longer so this is a perfect match. And, it all comes at a perfect time as I’m in the middle of exploring my home state of Georgia. I’ll be giving my Android a bit of a break to use the Z10 to capture memories from the trip, like these beautiful cherry blossoms in Macon, GA.

On the Cherry Blossom Trail in Macon, GA. Even in the rain, they’re beautiful!

Are you a Blackberry Z10 owner or considering getting one? I’d love to hear from you!

The post I’m a Verizon Wireless Ambassador! appeared first on The Absolute Travel Addict.