Small introduction/presentation, job or activity, place of birth or country of origin, training or career, place of living

Hello Voyageurs. My name is Toddre’ Da Laura Monier. I am a multi-hyphenate creative. One of the things I love to do is helping people strategize on how to leave their passport country and relocate with ease. I am from the United States. I am a trained lawyer who never practiced. My specialization was international human rights law. I sort of used my degree while working in Namibia, and South Africa.

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‍Tell us about your place of residence, city or region, activity and if or what you like about your hometown

‍I’m from Cali - Los Angeles to be exact. My official residence is still listed as the United States, though I have been living abroad since 2018: Zanzibar,Uganda, Kenya, and now Thailand.

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Your must-see addresses near you? (restaurant, market, gallery, museum, not-to-be missed, intimate or secret address, etc.)

In Zanzibar I highly recommend the Butterfly Sanctuary. It’s a quiet gem people miss. In Kenya, I recommend Kuona Arts Collective. For Uganda, AfriArt is a wonderful place to spend the day. BOLD Africa is my favorite boutique in Kampala.  I haven’t been here long but definitely the Cicada Night Market in Hua Hin, Thailand and Unni’s for Mexican in Phuket, Thailand.

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Your favorite places on Earth?

‍Washington, D.C is my favorite American city. As long as I’m by the ocean, I’m good.

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Do you think it is important to travel and why?

I think the reason people love to travel so much is because it keeps us present. Present to everything new and fascinating. We are not stuck in the past nor preparing for the future.

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What do you think about the future of travel and what we (citizens) need to consider?

‍I pray that the future of travel allows more ease in terms of using various forms of currency. I hope the African Union begins to honor and respect their own currency.

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What would you advise?‍

In that vein, citizens should probably carry more cash than they are comfortable with. I’ve learned the hard way that transfer fees are no joke.

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As a woman, how do you judge the future of our land or our societies?‍

I always look at how a society cares for its most vulnerable. What caste systems are in place? As a woman of African descent, is it safe for me to travel there? How are people who look similar to me treated? If I have to hide behind my blue passport or use a heavy American accent, I won’t go. Travel for me is about ease and wonder - not about fighting against systems.

How do you think you can contribute to it? Women who stand out to you?

BE-ingme. The desire to fight against systems is no longer something I’m interested in doing. I choose to vibrate higher and remain in the vortex. Abraham Hicks followers will get it. IYKYK. Ava Duvernay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, my grandmothers.

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What would be your travel dream?

Luxe travel in the Seychelles and Indonesia.