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.
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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What Is a Praise Kink?
The concept of praise kinks isn't new, but thanks to TikTok, a lot of people are now realizing they might identify as praise kinksters. Currently, the hashtag #praisek1nk is trending with 568.9 million views, with tons of creators posting about their love for compliments and words of affirmation during sex. I, too, love a good compliment during sex. I once had a lover sing my praises about how good I was at a certain bedroom activity. His affirmations gave me WAP, but does that categorize me as having a praise kink?
How To Know if You Have a Praise Kink
Just because you love receiving praise doesn’t mean you have a praise kink. Someone with a praise kink experiences an intense level of sexual excitement from being praised or verbally affirmed by their partner during sex. You might have a praise kink if hearing your partner tell you how pretty you are makes you cum or if the thing that makes sex go from good to great is hearing your partner's thoughts about how good you are at giving head. And if, during solo play, the thing that gets you all hot and bothered is recalling the times your partner called you a good girl, it’s probably a praise kink.
Generally, a kink is a sexual activity that is needed for someone to enjoy sex. When it comes specifically to praise kinks, if you need reassurance from your partner that you're sexy, or good in bed in order to orgasm, you have a praise kink.
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Examples of Praise Kink Phrases To Try With Your Partner
If you’re new to the term and looking to explore, you probably have questions about what phrases to use. It may take a lot of communication and some trial and error to figure out what phrases work best for you and your partner. Ultimately, the best phrases to use vary from person to person and are based on what sex acts you and your partner enjoy, or what parts of their body they like complimented.
To get you started, here are some generic praise kink examples to try out with your partner:
Praise Kink Examples:
- You're such a good girl/boy.
- You're so good at [insert skill].
- You look so hot when you [insert activity].
- Your [insert body part] is irresistible.
- You taste so good. I can't get enough of you.
- You just have the perfect [body part].
- Just like that… you’re doing so good.
- Who taught you how to be so good at [something?]
While many examples of praise kink involve specific verbal affirmations, praise can also come in the form of brief words or phrases like “yes,” “keep going,” or simply a moan. No matter what type you prefer, praise kink is all about finding what feels good and exciting, and turns you and your partner on the most.
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Originally published on November 4, 2022