Monday, June 27, 2022
  • Galleries
  • Video
  • Login
creativity collective
Search
search filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
  • Creativity
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
    • Press Release Central
    • Style Press
  • Style
    • All
    • Beauty
    • Celebrity Beauty Brands
    • Celebrity Fashion Brands
    • Celebrity Style
    • Fashion
    • Personal Style
    • Style Blogging
    • Style Inspiration
    • Travel-Style

    Thirty, Flirty, and Thrifting

    Model Leslie Sidora

    Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

    Serena Williams Reminds You: You Are Unstoppable

    How to transform a blank wall into a mural wall without photoshop | Jen Jean-Pierre

    A Study of Harmattan Earth tones and Movement

    Carol’s Daughter Launches A Game Changer: Wash Day Delight A New Water-To-Foam Shampoo With Micellar Technology And Aloe

    adidas x IVY PARK

    adidas And Beyoncé Launch The adidas x IVY PARK Collection

    Serena Williams Debuts First-Ever Jewelry Collection

    Trending Tags

    • culture style
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • visit
    • webexperience
    • web directory
    • videoblog+
    • bleativeweb search
    • web watch
creativity collective
Home Travel

Where I was supposed to be: How a cancelled Dubai trip turned into a Grand Canyon road trip

byGina Humber
May 20, 2018
in Travel
0

Can you believe it?  I was finally was headed to Dubai; I purchased it through a group package from a sorority.  And although, I have always planned my own trips I thought this being in a Muslim country with fairly strict rules, somehow warranted the need to be extra careful.

The trip was planned for January of 2018. I purchased my hijab and abaya for the mosque and for traveling throughout some of the more traditional parts of Dubai. Read up extensively on the cultural, and as the travel guru I am, set up a meeting with the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.  A sistah was READY!

Alas…I was informed just days before a well planned trip that there was some difficulty with the plane…curious??? But shit happens and I took it on the chin.  We were rescheduled in April, again I made all the necessary arrangements: kids (check), job (check), friends and family (check). Two days before the trip, I find out this African American tour company run by women for women had taken my money and never set up the hotel or air.

I, along with 23 other women was devastated! DEV—A—STATED. As I mulled over my legal course of action, this is what I knew: I had six days off. Do I do what I did in January, when the trip was cancelled and sadly dragged myself to work, explained to my social media of over 11,000 followers I wasn’t going?…yet again.  I just couldn’t, I had so many expectations.

Instead, I looked at my travel list (not a bucket list, cause I’m not going anywhere no time soon).  And in the midst of tears and disappointment I saw something beautifully magical calling me back to Arizona.  But this time, the sights of Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon were calling. The two canyons were more than a travel destination but a need to heal from loss and expectations.  I booked immediately, and headed out the next day.

Dubai trip got cancelled by the tour group, so a sista cried… & decided go see the Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon. When life gives you ??? make lemon drop ?… where I was really supposed to be ?

Dubai trip got cancelled by the tour group, so a sista cried… & decided go see the Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon. When life gives you 🍋🍋🍋 make lemon drop 🍸… where I was really supposed to be 💕 pic.twitter.com/vaZ7VLYCrD

— Gina Humber #vibratehigher (@ghumber720) April 21, 2018

To save money I stayed in Flagstaff, definitely less expensive than staying in Sedona (and I have traveled and stayed in Sedona so no biggie).  Somehow the travel gods blessed it to be on the day I was arriving, April 22nd the Grand Canyon was free (Earth Day)!

Did I also mention April is the best time to go the canyons because of the tempered and comfortable weather?  Well it is! I did almost everything in the canyon that could be done, except walk all the way down the narrow path of the Grand. I ventured to my comfortability, leaned up against the rock wall, quieted myself, and saw how my travel problems were nothing in comparison to what was in front of me right now.

What I really saw was acceptance of what is, and the beauty of that moment…mine came in the form of a canyon 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a depth of over 6,093 feet.

Next day I chilled in Sedona, enjoyed the spas, the excellent food and re-examined what about travel I enjoyed. Traveling is never about just the destination, because the more you travel, you realize so many beautiful places, all with their own style and reverence.

Traveling for me…is about how I manifest another level of existence on this earth, that propels me from my human experience right to my spiritual experience.   This trip taught me how to make lemons into lemonade, and let go, and I did.

Next day, I arranged a tour to head to the Horseshoe Bend, and go to one of the most beautiful places to me, the Lower Antelope Canyon.  The Antelope Canyon is on Navajo land, it is a sandstone slot canyon, formed by erosion…imagine that. I’ll just that sit with you a moment.

The trek getting down to the canyon not for the faint of heart, I watched many people look down the steep ladder going into the canyon, and turn back.  I even thought I wouldn’t be able to do it a few times, but I paid…so I got over it quick.

You definitely feel cooler finally entering the floor of the canyon.  But you are instantly hit with a beauty that words I have not found yet, able to describe. The red rocks/sand are like waves stopped in motion, the lighting and colors dance upon your senses and you are trapped in the spell of nature’s artistry.

After about an hour or more, I came crawling out of a slit towards the top of canyon, almost like a birth. I realized then, I didn’t miss out on traveling to Dubai, because I was where I was supposed to be at the time. And I can assure you, no better time than the present.

Tags: Antelope CanyonArizonaDubaiGrand Canyonroad triptravel
Share4TweetSharePinShare
Gina Humber

Gina Humber

Gina Humber, is not the typical traveler. She gained popularity with her work on diversity and combined her love of travel to create a travel community. Her blogs, travel accessories, appearances and discussions allows Black people to see travel as a business opportunity while expanding their world experiences. Gina believes you don’t have to be young, thin, no kids, and quit your job to travel, you just need to love learning more about you in new surroundings.

Recommended

How I Pose in Pics

August 24, 2017

My Bali Swing View

December 10, 2019

Seven Year Itch Inspired

February 17, 2017

How to transform a blank wall into a mural wall without photoshop | Jen Jean-Pierre

April 25, 2020

Michelle Obama – Joe Biden Inauguration Style 2021

January 21, 2021

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

July 7, 2016

Latest

Met Gala 2021 Red Carpet Photos

bybleatives
September 15, 2021
0

The theme for Met Gala 2021 was "American Independence"

Read more

Paris Unfiltered: 5 Days in The City of Love

byAshley Elizabeth
July 10, 2021
1

The French capital is one of the most popular cities in Europe

Read more

Thirty, Flirty, and Thrifting

byJoia Monet
July 7, 2021
0

Thrifting has been my favorite way to shop for years now! The

Read more
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Fashion Icon Files: Sandra Clark from “227”

Fashion Icon Files: Sandra Clark from “227”

February 21, 2017

Jetsetter Style

April 14, 2018

Paris Unfiltered: 5 Days in The City of Love

July 10, 2021

My Bali Swing View

December 10, 2019

Being traditional-minded in a hook-up culture

2

Blerdcon 2019 – Revenge of the Blerds

1

My Bali Swing View

1

Paris Unfiltered: 5 Days in The City of Love

1

Met Gala 2021 Red Carpet Photos

September 15, 2021

Paris Unfiltered: 5 Days in The City of Love

July 10, 2021

Thirty, Flirty, and Thrifting

July 7, 2021

Model Leslie Sidora

July 1, 2021

Recommended in Travel

My Bali Swing View

byCiara Kate
December 10, 2019
1

Close your eyes and envision yourself swinging 78 ft. above ground, as a cool breeze of wind hits your face...

Read more

J’aime Paris

byVanessa Ohaha
October 4, 2019
0

Today is my last day in Paris and I cannot be happier with the experiences I had, okay maybe if...

Read more

Where I was supposed to be: How a cancelled Dubai trip turned into a Grand Canyon road trip

byGina Humber
May 20, 2018
0

Can you believe it?  I was finally was headed to Dubai; I purchased it through a group package from a...

Read more

Hiking Cleeve Hill of Cotswold Way In Cheltenham England

byDanielle Desir
February 16, 2017
0

If you follow me on Twitter (@thethoughtcard) than you would know that I am obsessed with the English countryside. Back...

Read more

collective tags

Acting African-American african american writers Beauty Beyonce Black Culture Black Panther Movie black women blogging b michael b michael America Creativity culture curly girl Fashion fashion collection France Ivy Park life Lupita Nyong'o maxi dress movie review natural hair nmaahc Oprah Oprah Winfrey OWN TV Paris Personal Style Photography relationships Rihanna Scandal sci-fi Serena Williams Shonda Rhimes style style inspiration travel travel-style vintage Wakanda watchingoprah web series writing

bleatives creativity collective features creative expressions, inspiration and information by, and of interest to, creatives of color and the world.

Follow Us

Latest

Met Gala 2021 Red Carpet Photos

bybleatives
September 15, 2021
0

The theme for Met Gala 2021 was "American Independence"

Paris Unfiltered: 5 Days in The City of Love

byAshley Elizabeth
July 10, 2021
1

The French capital is one of the most popular cities in Europe and rightfully so. From the baroque, historical monuments...

Trending

b michael AMERICA on ABC News

bybleatives
February 26, 2015
0

Fashion Icon Files: Sandra Clark from “227”

Fashion Icon Files: Sandra Clark from “227”

byKendro
February 21, 2017
0

Every television show had a breakout star. Sandra Clark from the 1980's television show "227" is one of my personal...

the bleative web

  • bleative web search
  • web directory
  • videoblog+
  • web watch
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Disclaimer

bleatives

Search
search filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
  • Creativity
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
    • Press Release Central
    • Style Press
  • Style
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • visit
    • webexperience
    • web directory
    • videoblog+
    • bleativeweb search
    • web watch

bleatives

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In