Kola Adesina
International travel blogger Kola Adesina is based in New York City. She grew up in Brussels, Belgium with diplomat parents who fostered her love for travel from an early age. After she graduated from KU Leuven, she moved to New York City. She speaks several languages and can find herself at home anywhere in the world. She loves to explore the various facets of culture in other countries, from the food to the local festivals. When Kola Adesina is at home in New York, she enjoys exploring neighborhood shopping and dining. Her travel blog provides a unique insight into the places she visits, bringing her love of exploration home for her readers.
What are some things that you love?
I love to share a good meal with friends and sit up talking late into the night. I am a storyteller by trade, and I get a lot of inspiration for my blog from conversations with my friends. I love music from around the world. I love to dance; when I was a child, I took ballet lessons. I love to add new countries to my travel experience. I get such a rush when I first step off the plane in a new country. Exploration is my passion.
What is your favorite TV show?
I don’t watch a lot of TV. I am fond of cooking shows, though. My favorite is the Great British Baking Show, as it’s known in the US. I love England, and watching the show brings me back many happy memories of spending time there. I’ve tried several recipes from the show, but unfortunately, I’m not much of a baker. My friends were very polite about eating what I made for them.
My other favorite cooking show is Chopped. The chefs have to work with a strange basket of ingredients to make restaurant quality meals. Their creativity inspires me. The show can be hilarious at times as the contestants are struggling with strange ingredients.
Describe your typical day.
When I’m traveling, I usually get up quite early. I love to have time to enjoy my breakfast and drink coffee. The last time I was in Germany, they had an excellent breakfast buffet at my hotel. I usually start out the day by walking around the city and getting a feel for the people and the overall atmosphere. I try to take in a local street fair or festival whenever I travel. I buy a lot of art at these festivals and have it shipped home. I may have to stop buying art for a while. My apartment is getting full!
After lunch, I take time to scope out locations to take pictures for my blog. I love to people watch as well. It’s fascinating to get a window into the daily lives of the people in the cities I visit. I speak many languages, so it’s usually easy for me to chat with the locals about the best restaurants and things to see.
When it’s time for dinner, I love to try new foods made with fresh ingredients. My favorite meal that I have eaten recently was a salmon dish in Scotland.
I write up notes on my blog when I review all the photos I’ve taken during the day. I like to knit for a while before going to sleep. It settles my mind and helps me concentrate.
What is your favorite thing about working in your industry?
I love everything about it. I feel blessed to be a travel blogger. It took a while before I was able to make it my full-time job, but now that the blog is supporting me, I am truly living the life of my dreams. I love that every day is new and that I never get bored. I love the people I meet and the different places I explore.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Rudeness and insensitivity. Growing up in a diplomatic family, I was taught to be sensitive to any situation. When I first moved to New York, I was quite uncomfortable until I found the true spirit of the place. Traveling the way I do means that I often depend on the kindness of strangers to find new places to feature on my blog.
I don’t believe that I would have achieved so much success with my blog if I weren’t open to new people and new experiences. Even something as simple as learning a few words of an unfamiliar language can smooth the way in a new city. People are much more willing to help a traveler who’s trying to be polite.
