This was my second time traveling to Ghana with TML. The first trip, back in 2024, was unique, a lightning-in-a-bottle kind of experience: the right moment in my life, the right group of people, each of them remarkable in their own way. I don't think any group trip could top that one, honestly, but it set an incredibly high bar. This year was different, its own trip, with its own incredible moments, with its own highs, even with some familiar sites along the way. It met and still exceeded what I hoped for. What's stuck with me since 2024, more than any single site or excursion, are the people at Afrimuda Foundation in Cape Coast. Getting to see them again in person this June, was worth the trip on its own.
This year they weren't our guides the way they were back in 2024. Instead, we had Chris, a Ghanaian who brought so much of the country to life for us through his own experiences. Things I never would have understood or even known to ask about, he just offered up naturally. He was a fantastic guide and I really hope our paths cross again. Our driver, Solomon, was also great to have along. He didn’t speak much but whenever he did, he was sharp and funny, and waiting for the next time he would speak was one of the small joys of the trip.
Three fellow travelers in our group, a married couple and a single guy, turned out to be some of the best company I could have asked for. Our lives back home couldn’t have been more different, but there was a real kindness in each of them, a genuine curiosity about each other’s experiences. Our conversations ranged from thought-provoking to silly to just plain hilarious, and I hope our paths cross again on another trip somewhere. There's something about Ghana that got under my skin two years ago. I've traveled a bit, and I don't think I've met people anywhere kinder than Ghanaians. It's not a polite kindness, it's warm and generous, and makes you feel like you’re with family or old friends. Every time I go to Ghana, I leave a little more attached than I was before.
All of these experiences have been possible because of TML, and TML is Sharon’s vision. She’s TML’s founder, and she was on both trips with us. Sharon is as authentic as they come, and it shows in everything she puts together. Nothing feels like a random stop on a tourist checklist. Every piece of the trip has intention behind it, because it comes from someone who genuinely means it. I'm already looking forward to traveling again with TML, and of course, returning to Ghana.