Kevin & Eniko Hart Prove Thailand Is The Instagram-Worthy Vacation You Didn't Know You Needed
Every now and then, all of us just want to pack some underwear, hop on a plane, and head to a faraway island where your only obligation is to be Black and soak up the sun with the ones you love. Kevin and Eniko Hart's crew just proved that Thailand is the place to do exactly that.
If you're looking to add a new location to your list of places to kick off your shoes and relax your feet, look no further. In a series of Instagram stories that make us wish we could ditch our responsibilities and head to the East Asian country and its overflowing abundance of beautiful beaches right now, Kevin and Eniko gave us an inside look at real life #SquadTravelGoals on their recent voyage to Thailand.
The couple, joined by a group of close friends like Will Packer, and Kevin's trainer, Justin Train, stayed at a luxury Resort that starts at $7,000 on the secluded island of Koh Yao Noi.
The island, which attracts a much smaller crowd than other vacation destinations in Thailand, is known for having beautiful beaches and lowkey nightlife, so if you're looking for a zen AF yoga class for you and your squad, Koh Yao Noi is the plug, sis. But if you're anything like Eniko and Kevin's crew, you'll probably find yourself turning up on a boat in the middle of the ocean.
If after reading this, you're looking for an authentic Thailand experience and don't happen to have $10,000 lying around to drop on an Instagram-worthy vacation in the near future, xoNecole has a guide on how to plan a trip to Thailand and capture some ridiculously dope views (and memories) while you're there.
Visit The Floating Market
Full of color, fun, and authentic Thai flavor, the floating markets in Thailand are said to be must-see tourist attraction. Selling souvenirs, snacks, and sweets, there are a number of markets in Thailand, but some of the most visited are the ones in Bangkok.
Embrace Your Primal Nature At Kho Phi Phi Don (Monkey Island)
Cute but dangerous is the name of the game when it comes to the monkeys on Phi Phi island. The island, known for its white beaches and limestone cliffs, has no shortage of wildlife and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Thailand.
Get Wild At Tiger Kingdom in Phuket
Have you ever wanted to take a selfie with a wild animal that could savagely attack you at any moment (but probably won't)? Head to Phuket to the Tiger Kingdom to make that lifelong dream come true and help create sustainable living conditions for these kitties in the process.
Make Memories With An Elephant in Chiang Mai
Elephants are dying all over the world, y'all; but the elephant sanctuaries in Thailand are doing their part to prevent as many mastodon-related fatalities as possible. The ethical elephant rescue centers are located in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket, where visitors can feed and play with the animals while helping to raise money for better veterinary care and living conditions for these gentle giants.
Watch The Sunset At Pai Canyon
Pai Canyon is not for the faint of heart, and has a slope that is nearly three hours steep. The canyon features a rare, panoramic view of the sky at sunset and has vantage points that are to die for. No seriously, be careful. It's kind of dangerous.
Take in The Magic At Wat Arun
Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of The Dawn is located in Bangkok, and is among one of the most visited tourist attractions in Thailand. Wat Arun is considered one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in the country.
Featured image by Instagram/@EnikoHart.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
There's something about snuggling up in your favorite blanket and watching a comfort show or movie on Netflix, and what better time to do just that than in December? As the weather outside gets cooler, staying in becomes more of the norm. Thus, Netflix and Chill is a go-to. Luckily, Netflix has released new Black films and series on their popular streaming platform.
From Tyler Perry's historical drama The Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington, to the Will Packer-produced comedy starring Marsai Martin, Regina Hall, and Issa Rae, Little, this season is looking up.
See the full list below.
Little (12/1)
Regina Hall's character is a bossy tech mogul who has everyone scared of her, including her assistant, played by Issa Rae. However, when she transforms into her younger self (Marsai Martin), she learns how to be more kind to others.
Daddy Day Care (12/1)
Eddie Murphy stars in this film as a father who decides to open a daycare after losing his job.
30 For 30 Collection (12/2)
30 For 30 is an ESPN docu-series highlighting some of sports' legendary figures and moments. Some of the episodes include Winning Time: Reggie Miller Vs. The New York Knicks and Celtics/ Lakers: The Best of Enemies.
Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was (12/10)
In this special, the multi-talented Jamie Foxx returns to stand-up to give an unforgettable performance.
Blood, Sweat & Heels S2 (12/13)
The short-lived Bravo reality TV series documented the lives of a group of girlfriends making it in NYC. The show starred model-turned-podcaster Melyssa Ford, author Demetria Lucas, and the late TV host Daisy Lewellyn.
The Equalizer S1-3 (12/16)
The hit CBS show starring Queen Latifah is now available on Netflix. Watch the beloved actress kick ass and take names in this popular drama.
The Six Triple Eight (12/20)
The new Tyler Perry film starring Kerry Washington is a true story about the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color during World War II.
Christmas Game Day Ravens Vs. Texans (12/25)
While many will tune in to watch the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game, others will tune in to watch Beyoncé perform during halftime.
Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind At Radio City Music Hall (12/31)
Comedian Michelle Buteau's comedy special will focus on her life with twins, going viral, and much more.
Evil S3 (12/31)
While Evil was unfortunately canceled by CBS, viewers can rewatch the series on Netflix, with season three premiering December 31st.
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Feature image screenshot/YouTube