99 Countries in 9 months or 9 countries in 9 years?

I enjoyed the journey of painting not the final look

I am ashamed of this painting even though it is part of my collection and this is for two reasons. Firstly, it’s because I didn’t use much inspiration to paint it. I just thought of it and painted it. I am not quite sure this kind of flower exists. Secondly, I am extremely far from what you call an artist but I really love, love, love art! I must admit that though the result of this painting is something I am ashamed of, the actual process was really so soothing that it is the reason I have treasured this piece.

Every time I look at it, I always remember a quote by Greg Anderson that goes like, “Focus on the journey not the destination, joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” Very wise words from Greg that I wanna use to air out my views on why we travel to countries as opposed to what our motives are in how many counties we should travel to for the sake of keeping count.

In this day and age, travellers want to be known for so many countries they have been to but as a traveller who has done few countries many times, my question has been why one would pride in number of countries even if they just spent a night in that country.

Where am I going with this? The thing is this one time my week at work was so hectic and life of a teacher can be that way at times.I felt my mind protest that it just ground to a halt and I set off to a place I usually called my chill spot. This place is called Glamville and offers a variety of services ranging from spa to scrumptious food.

This one time I decided to do the ‘Paint and Sip’ treat from the same place. I was given a blank canvas and then remembered I had a mini obsession for black and white paintings.

Since my mind was tired, I looked at the canvas and figured what could be more refreshing than a plant.

Coming back to travel lovers, this idea of a plant could just be your passion to travel 9 countries in 9 years so you could pick the ones you fancy and go there often. That’s my desire. But what is out there about travel can dilute what the purpose for travel should really be. I do understand I have met travellers who are moving from one country to another ( let’s say a month, a country) simply because they saved up and no competition here. But there are those that probably want this for the record. How annoying.

It would be nice to appreciate the journey like the phrase used earlier that was coined by Greg. I continued with my painting and I liked how the process felt…. soothing.

It was so relaxing to do this with some soothing music in the background while sipping on some cocktail and enjoying some bites. I am not even an amateur painter, I am just not one in the first place but because of the feeling I got from the process, I focused more on the journey and how the mounting stress of that week was slowly fading away as I was finishing off my piece.

Travel should do that to us. Those that are actually diluting it to be a ‘sport’ in which they are crowned for the 99 countries they did in 9 months are ruining the fact that travel is sometimes therapy and can be seen as a way to appreciate where we go. You may sometimes not even like the country you visit but see a reason to enjoy that flight, get lost in the nature you see as you are many feet away from the ground level! Enjoy connection with the locals (of course with caution). How can you do all this when you have to do 99 countries in 9 months? (Unless of course with a whole different reason)

I must say I had company when I was coming up with this painting and these two ladies were such awesome painters like seriously I have never seen someone paint the Taj Mahal and another a very beautiful sunset like pros! If you ask me, I stuck out like a sore thumb! Clearly I was way outside their league! But guess what? I really didn’t bother about it because to me this treat was slowly diluting the stress that was piling up from work that week.

Thumbs up to that traveller that is genuinely doing it to enjoy the journey and not for trophies. It should not be a sport. Maybe if I am filthy rich my sentiments may change because I may do 99 countries in 9 months but I highly doubt I am interested in trophies. I am pretty sure the travellers that brag about numbers even include layovers lol! if your motives are different, this is not for you. I will gladly return to that place that I loved more than 5 times like I did in Zimbabwe, Southern Zambia, Tanzania, Zanzibar and South Africa just because I loved them.

I mentioned earlier that I love making black and white painting collections. I am just that way. I should have ended my painting at just this point until I heard someone suggest I add color to it if I liked.

I listened to them and it’s at this point that I disliked the painting! The moment you start comparing yourself to other travellers and their trophies, you will miss the point travel was intended for. I was once inspired so much by this British traveller I met that has been traveling almost the whole post COVID period and are still at it. They saved up and decided to do the Cape to Cairo (Africa) travel and they have spent at least a month in a country and as I speak they are heading north! This traveller was not living in luxury though they could afford to. They chose to do hostels and use road transport and crossed land borders. They were not picky with meals and ate local affordable meals. My confession is I can’t do that, but I saw the real purpose for travel through them. When I asked whether they are writing about their experience, they said it wasn’t even their thing to write! That part, I did not like! I even offered to write their story, lol! I learnt that not all travellers are out there to get a badge of honor.

I am not out here to get anyone but the real purpose of travel has changed so much because some have even been rated expert because of numbers and it is inspiring to some extent but it is not the main reason for travel. Just like Greg advised to enjoy the journey, do enjoy yourself and for the 99 countries in 9 months, if you can actually enjoy the journey at that speed, then by all means enjoy the journey and quit reducing travel to be a sport.

May 2, 2023 6

The 9 things you must do in Kenya, Mombasa as a solo traveller in 2024

When you think of visiting Africa to get the feel of it, one of the first countries that will cross your mind is Kenya.It is the epitome of Africa. Maybe at this moment, you are planning on doing Kenya or perhaps you even recently got here. You will surely love the Africa it really is. We all wanna visit Kenya for different reasons be it for work, projects, sport, politics whatever…., the fact is, there is that one day you will be up to planning what to do there.

Though this is a thought that could come from a local person as well, the tourist would have to get more knowledge on what this place has to offer. What activities can you do that may involve money (but not always) and still make your stay in Mombasa worth while, well spent and enough reason to wanna tell a story to someone like am doing?

About Mombasa

Mombasa is a coastal city in Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It has been said to be the second largest city in Kenya. This town is one of the coastal touristic spots in Kenya and I discovered it is super rich in history!!

Now that you are here or still thinking to be, not all your days can or should be planned. Sometimes we leave room for spontaneity. The day you choose to just go by a plan, do remember to jot down some of the activities you could do whilst in Mombasa and these are based on what I personally did. Some activities are totally free but some would cost just a few bucks.

1. Take a free ferry

Yes you heard me!! Free! This is a ferry you would enjoy free of charge for a good 10 to 15 minutes and there are a number of trips made in a day. Mombasa being on an island is the reason to enjoy Likoni Ferry which serves Mombasa and Likoni. You will find ferries carrying both road and foot traffic. These ferries are operated by Kenya Ferry Services. It is completely free as a passenger but there is a cost for vehicles, motorcycles, trucks etc. I used this ferry for a necessary move but I must confess because we don’t have a beach in Zambia (what I hate about landlocked countries), I sometimes used this ferry for the fun of it.

2. Enjoy some tennis at Mbaraki Sports Club

Sorry to be specific here but you could actually play other kinds of sport here by making either prior arrangements or just popping up and joining in. This gives you the opportunity to mingle with and get closer to the real Kenya through associating with the locals. I had so much fun having tennis tournaments with the local kids I met at Mbaraki Sports Club.

3. Spend time with camels at Diani Beach

I chose to spend some time at Diani Beach just because a camel is one animal I saw last when I was little…at a zoo and I really did not like the reaction I got from it because I tried getting it’s attention by calling out but it didn’t even bother to look or even move. My impression was camels are not that friendly and my opinions of camels changed when I visited Diani Beach.

To enjoy these camel rides just have about 5 to 10 bucks on you and I guess you could pay more if you keep increasing your hours on its back. I was happy to have met a camel that reciprocated my love unlike the one in my childhood. Laban was his name and my regret is not packing some apples or bananas before this trip. I really don’t know what sort of menu Laban has but I should have shown him a bit of appreciation for taking advantage of him.

4. Hike and hydrate on the beaches while picking shells

I know that heat levels in my country Zambia can be quite high and unbearable but not to the extent I found the heat in Kenya! As you enjoy this overdose of Vitamin D, cool off with some coconut water sold almost everywhere at the beaches and in town.Take a hike on the beach enjoying all the lovely views and you could even make them longer!My favourite of them all is to add to my shell collection!

5. Spend time with locals on the Shelly Beaches

Beaches do differ in vibe and while others are touristic, others aren’t. I must say Shelly beach is a beach you will find locals. I did spend time surveying it but I must say I met many wonderful locals there and ate lots of good local food. Try this place out!

6. Do shopping malls

I don’t know about you but I do like me some shopping! Don’t you? You could shop hop and enjoy some treats. Next to street food, the cheaper places to get your meals from are supermarkets and I recommend Naivas which came in handy when I didn’t have to do restaurant food.

7. See some of the cool landmarks of Mombasa (Pembe Za Ndovu)

Some of the other activities I involved myself in were to get to know my immediate environment and appreciate cool landmarks like the Pembe Za Ndovu or Pembe Mbili monument which is so highly valued and is a story for another day………This monument is a set of elephant tusks you should never leave Mombasa without showing some love to. If it means a lot to the Kenyans, it should be appreciated by tourists. A good 10 minutes was enough love for them.

8. Grace Fort Jesus with a visit

I was here for a tour that I feel in my heart did not really end probably because of time. This fort is the pride of Mombasa and is so rich in history which explains my need to go back because I did not finish reading articles displayed in the museum but if it so happens that I don’t go back, I must say it was amazing to still see this fort. I learnt quite a lot here.

9. Admire the Old Town

Old Town is on the South of Mombasa and I was amazed by the historical buildings that date way back in time and history says it was the main centre for trade between Africa and the Arab world. It was amazing to see in this place the first hotel in Kenya and just walking around In this town made me feel I used a time machine to go back in time

April 27, 2023 4

Hostels.Not such a crazy idea…

❤️This post is based on personal experiences in places I personally visited and my own gallery😉❤️

“The MOJO Hotel | Sea Point Hotel, Cape Town” https://themojohotel.com

Sometimes the opinions of others could make you miss out on the things you could experience. I know for sure I have heard a friend of mine say, “I would never do hostels.” Uhmm…..I didn’t bother to hear much because I knew whatever would be said would impact me negatively and was meant to discourage me from trying it out.

I must say sometimes the comments of others do affect our decisions and sometimes they shouldn’t. Plus, if you allowed people to control you like that, then you may never enjoy your own adventures.

Travelling on a regular basis for an African may not come that easy especially if you do it because you really fancy it. And since I obviously didn’t ditch my friend, I was curious (just a bit) to find out why those strong statements against hostels . For starters, she was very honest about how we Africans have a difficult life and why subject ourselves to more difficulties of staying in such places? ”And besides, Faith, I would rather wait for my company to pay for the cost of my travel so I get to stay in the coolest of places because that’s not the life I have known….luxe.” I heard her loud and clear. What about that travel person who is so passion driven to see lots of places such that as they are at it, they are already planning their next move? Would you wait for a sponsored trip? I get it. Her bone of contention was that Africans are already poor so why make travel a misery by staying in misery? Did she really say that? lol!

My friend will probably wait forever to have adventure or should try her luck in the next life but she needs to know the good and the bad before sounding so judgy.

ADVANTAGES

Cutting on costs and seeing lots for less

The advantage of staying in a hostel is the fact that you can cut on costs and could actually see more places that way than waiting to win the lotto to ever see the coolest of cool places on this place we call earth! If I ever got the opportunity to do let’s say, Mauritius …….for starters, I have done my mini research and concluded it’s slightly more of a pricey island compared to Madagascar. Why on earth will I miss the opportunity to see beautiful Mauritius because my budget included stays in luxe resorts or many star hotels?

“Shoki Shoki House” https://shokishokihouse.com

I will gladly include hostels so I even enjoy the island for a longer time. My experience in hostels when it comes to cutting costs is that I have also taken time researching which hostels have a ‘homely touch’. Yes, some hostels just offer basics but others are quite comfortable to be at like Shoki Shoki House of Zanzibar. All the advice I would give here is that you take your time online searching for them before your trip than do the, “I will cross the bridge when I get there.” Plan your hostel stay the way you would a five star hotel which gets me to the other advantage of hostels which is:

2) Making friends easily

Seriously like some of the places I have found it so easy to make friends coming from all four corners of the world (wait, does the world have corners?)is in a hostel. A hotel will have that peace and quiet, we get it, but part of the thrill that comes from some travel lovers is about who we meet.

I am happy to mention that some of the like minded people I have met, I did in a hostel. In the community I come from, I would say very few find travel appealing or worse still, they don’t even wanna talk about it but in a hostel, rest assured that my favourite topics are all over. It’s here that you can learn more about other countries other than yours from the horses’ mouths and from all the beautifully different people around the hostel which brings me to the next advantage which is:

3) Enjoying group tours

Yes, we are self proclaimed solo travellers but we do love some good company while at it. And going back to my friend who is blunt about hostels, she should know that I have done some coolest trips because of joint efforts with other hostel mates and if I have to wait to be super rich (be able to book a whole cruise ship) lol! The lovely moments I have had in hostels will just ‘zoom!’ pass me by.

I found ‘K’ at a hostel and we shared costs😉

Bottom line is even as a solo traveller, we are aware of the people around us too. And this spending of time with people reminds me of some disadvantages that cause people like my friend to speak ill of hostels:

DISADVANTAGES

Shut up!

Noise levels at times can be quite annoying. I am a light sleeper and pretty sure I have an internal alarm clock in my head that reminds me I have to shut down and this usually happens early hours of the night like just before 9 pm and at around mid night I have no sleep at all and honestly with this kind of sleep pattern, I really don’t do well around people who are loud at about the time I need to sleep.I wake up feeling grumpy. Am afraid my friend was gonna be right had she rubbed this point in but she didn’t.

Some clients you will find here are party animals and because these hostels are kind of made to repel boredom just embrace the few times its gonna get loud.The other thing to note is, as you are enjoying your sleep at whatever time, someone flew into the country at an odd time and will check in your room at the time you are enjoying being in dreamland! This won’t be so much of a problem if the place is not :

2) Cluttered

Guests would not be subjected to so much noise if not for the way most of them are cluttered up.Thumbs up to those hostels that have owners that consider the claustrophobic traveller and not just display the need to make money by having so much going on or too many beds in one room! Hostel owners shouldn’t just allow clutter and it’s for this reason that there is :

3) Not much tidiness

https://www.etbackpackers.com clean up when you use something

Hostel owners usually have rules about keeping amenities clean especially after using them. I doubt this rule is followed religiously by most of the clients but that traveller who feels there is clutter in this place after all, will keep the trend.This may not be the case for every hostel as they have dependable cleaning services but even with them, in a hostel there is need for you to clean up after using stuff because they offer self services and if you are a clean freak…..these places may not be for you.

4) Finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers

Not everyone that stays in these hostels is sober or has your best interests at heart. Just because you met fellow travellers and had a good time is no reason for them not to dip their hands in your stuff.Not that I have experienced it but it’s a place am so self conscious about where I put my stuff just in case.I have heard funny stories of how other travellers checked in and because they stayed there for long, there was not much pushing for payments from the owners for the remaining days, besides, this client paid for the other days right? The client eventually took advantage of the thoughtfuless of the owners and just left without paying for other nights! Some have also just helped themselves with other people’s stuff and this is not cool.

So if these other bad thoughts were running through my friend’s mind, no wonder her negativity but to that adventurous soul willing to try these places out…..hostels are not such a crazy idea after all.

April 21, 2023 5

Would I visit Fort Jesus again?(Part 2)

The answer to this question is a simple “yes!” because as things are at the moment, I wanted to read many of the information posters and boards standing and stuck in the museum at this fort but because of time……I couldn’t. Like I mentioned in the previous blog post about Fort Jesus, the place was dripping with history content unlike the Old Fort of Zanzibar that I don’t quite remember spotting a big museum at. Fort Jesus of Kenya had so much in it that shows that there is a lot of past to be treasured.

The few hours I spent in the museum got me to the realisation that a picture is truly worth a thousand words.This is so because I looked around the museum on my own for some of the amazing ancient figures that were there but also sort the help of a guide to explain some facts on other figures.

Some of the cool old stuff I saw at the museum, though junkie looking, did have lots of history attached to them. Like say this antique below which am pretty sure I have seen in some homes here in Zambia, could just be a chair…..but this chair was a state chair used in the 17th century and made In India in a Portuguese style.

It was used by the last up holders of independence who was the Sheik of Siyu (Bwana Mataka Bin Mubarak Al- famau) and his son Sheik Muhammed. ‘Siyu’ is a location in Kenya and ”Sheikh” was in the Arabic sense an elderly man with a position of leadership and yes, that is a full name. Cool chair!

‘‘You know what? This treasure chest looks like my jewellery box back home……,” I thought to myself as I continued to explore Fort Jesus museum. It was a Persian chest dating as far back as the 13th century. Like wow! Hopefully it continues to be preserved in many more years.

I looked ahead and noticed some place near the left side of the museum as you get in. The label Mombasa Wreck Excavation caught my attention but what was this place trying to showcase?

All I saw was some structure that looked like a diver. It sounds like divers find really cool stuff under water, huh….? This local diver must have been doing his own thing when he ”bang!”found some ship of 38 metres going by a cool name Santo Antonio de Tanna. His adventure (thanks to him) has led many to learn about this ship that sunk and some man going by the name of Dr James Kirkman directed a small excavation which later on led to a survey done on the wreck site. Cool stuff if you ask me.

Time was running out and I had to be out of this place so in wanting to do a quick exit, I bumped into some cool structures of what I think were figures of Arab ,Portuguese or Indian people because of the kind of dressing. For these ones, all I wanted was to stand next to them.

Whales! Ever seen a 48 foot long creature? Maybe you have but I haven’t. It’s good I saw the remains because imagining one in motion will take up lots of my energy.

So basically you will find a skeleton of a humpback whale on display here, the remains of a Portuguese sailor, some cool old Mombasa doors which remind me of Zanzibarian doors and something that looked like it was a make believe human thing to be placed in a corn field to chase away unwanted ‘visitors’ from the field.

What can I say except another visit is in order so that I get to read in detail what I couldn’t because of rushing to leave. Do try this place out by all means.

March 30, 2023 3

Would I tour Fort Jesus again?(Part 1)

Given a chance and money, there are lots of places one would love to view whilst travelling.My time in Mombasa was not planned for. It was more of, ”I will see and enjoy whatever is in Mombasa.” Plus, I needed just a change of scenery to clear my head from being that busy high school teacher who never easily gets free time.

I usually do countdowns towards the end of a school term because of a dire need to unwind in places far from home.Talk about the power of change of scenery! It was my first trip to Kenya and not in the slightest do I regret being in Mombasa. You can’t separate Mombasa from Fort Jesus which is a tourist attraction in this old town of Mombasa that is dated ancient. Where are all the historians?

Getting there

As usual, this depends on where you are in Mombasa. And am thinking you are in the heart of Mombasa so getting to Nkurumah road should not be a problem. I took a boda boda (motorcycle) to the Fort. This didn’t take too long.

Now of course being a non resident, do not expect to pay the same price as the locals would and this is usually the case when it comes to tourist attractions unlike other things like taxi fares, groceries and what not. No discrimination fee here lol! Fort Jesus will cost you just about 10 dollars or so.

Historically speaking, what about Fort Jesus?

I have shared before how I am not a history geek nor am I geeky in general but at least I know why my history results in school weren’t that appealing. I am a hands on kind of person and not having enough school trips in history class back in the day could be the reason but it’s never too late to appreciate history the way I would have loved to. But then again am thinking, how much was it gonna cost to learn about Europe all the way from Africa the hands on kind of way! Lol! Pricey, right?

I discovered that this fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century on the coastline near Old Town, Mombasa. It was designed by an Italian architect Jao Batista Cairato and built as a refuge place for those Portuguese that lived on the coastal areas.

It has been said that this fort was built in the shape of a man when viewed from the air that is and later on after a series of its capture and recapture, was under the British rule converted into a prison. In the 20th century, it was declared a national park and later on UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. It turns out that in this day and age, Fort Jesus is one of the most visited places in Mombasa, Kenya. But will I tour Fort Jesus again?

March 17, 2023 4

Dessert at Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere (Review)

Whenever it’s valentines, all you see around is anticipation in the eyes of most no matter the age. As a high school teacher, I must say I am lucky that times my valentine days didn’t go quite as I planned, I always had those students that just thought all teachers are awesome and all. I got some of those “Miss Faith, you are awesome! Happy Val Day! So in the world of teachers, we never feel lonely on such days coz we are surrounded by teen humans! It’s loud on this end, trust me. Uhhhm…..the girls in my class picked roses from the school gardens and spread them on the floor I walked on and that was really so sweet of these girls (that won’t stop me from giving consequences when they get naughty lol!)

Teachers live for others and if not careful you may never have time for you. I had my lunch at work already and what is the use of having more food out there?I remembered the hotel review hobby I have and pulled over at a place I would enjoy a dessert with some attitude.Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere it was.

Having done some mini research on this hotel, I realised it was a 5 star chain hotel originating from India.These hotels are worldwide but if am not mistaken, it is the only one here in Zambia. This place boasts 5 stars, being sleek, offering a cocktail bar, fitness centre, two multi cuisine restaurants, a cafe and spa with a roof top pool. Don’t get me wrong….I would have had cake from any cake shop but we all like some five star treatment once in a while.

Arrival

I love that prior to arrival, you could request for a menu and it was forwarded online almost immediately and it is easily accessible https://irdmenu.nsplmenu.com/. I got there and the door of the vehicle was opened for me.Believe me when I say I am not power hungry but I now know how important people feel… The staff did not do it grudgingly but with a genuine looking smile on their faces. That look (speaking as a teacher) only comes from an employee that loves what they do.I awarded a 4 star because my arrival was smooth sailing. The reason for not awarding a 5 star was because the parking lot was a lot smaller than I expected. The beauty of this place is appreciated but more space for cars is needed.

And the decor?

Different parts of the hotel had quite appealing art. I saw that though the hotel has Indian origins, it had African oriented decor and how much of the spirit of globalization do we need…..it was India embracing Africa.

I loved the cream flowerpots that matched well with the African seats which were wooden going very well with the cream floor. This was complimented by the chocolate looking wall.

It’s not all wall decor I understood but overall the decor was at 4 stars.

There was a refreshing look of brown and cream and some walls were slapped with playful art too.

Let’s dessert!!

I was already stuffed and all I wanted was some dessert. Cake was fine by me and some cocktail called Dom Pedro. This was definitely a 5 star because it was well presented and the colour combo on the plate was quite inviting and the taste was amazing too. Do try this place out!!

March 3, 2023 4

The good, bad and ugly at Malindi beaches

When you arrive in a touristic town, your first thought is what you will see there. Is it museums, old buildings, or cool restaurants? Those thoughts crossed my mind but because beaches always win for me, you all know where I headed.

When in Mombasa, locals and even tourists will recommend that you visit Malindi. It didn’t take so long before I pursued this place, well…..due to hearsay. Will I find other tourists? Will I see what a good beach side offers like restaurants with seafood? I really don’t know and to be honest, I wanted to take the thrill pill of discovering on my own and not entirely depending on what I read and heard. All I needed was direction to get there using public transport. I wasn’t gonna go missing or anything besides whoever has a mouth can never really lose their way right?

I was already at the bus station. Am thinking the experience was okay in terms of me feeling safe and not attracting too much attention because of being different in terms of the language. Fitting in was pretty easy so long my mouth was closed. As an African female solo traveller, travelling in African countries, I really never like to ” blow my cover” because anyone could take advantage of you like that. So minding your own business is somehow golden. But if I don’t open my mouth, how on earth am I gonna get to Malindi?

My mouth finally opened. Kenya, just like Tanzania unlike Zambia, where I am from, have swahili as the official language. Zambia’s official language is English, so of course I used English. It’s like with these words, ” Sir, how much is it to Malindi?” Everyone standing next to me gave me the , ” You-don’t-know-Swahili?!-look.” I just gave a really wide grin and said, ”Am not from here.”

Fast forward, I was quickly assisted to get on a bus (matatu) heading to Malindi.Phew!!

The road trip to Malindi

Touring Mombasa and wanna try this place out? Getting there is about 10 to 15 dollars and total trip time is like 2 hours 45 minutes. The ugly thing here is I should have spent a night in Malindi…really, instead of doing a day trip as I didn’t fully explore. So anyways, the road trip was a smooth ride but some places had lots of traffic. I heard that it was not gonna naturally take that long if it wasn’t for the diversion we found ahead. There was constructions or repairs going on.

After those few hours, I got there. I then got on a motorcycle (bodaboda) to get me to the closest beach in Malindi.

The good

The part of the beach I requested to be dropped off at was where the sand glittered like gold. I have never seen this before. I really don’t even know the scientific explanation behind it because I ain’t that smart but the place glittered! I took a long walk alone trying to register the good impression in my mind about this. I could see some people who appeared like locals around but didn’t care. I was in my ‘wow’ zone until I heard someone call out.

The bad and the ugly

“Madam!” and because they were female, I felt comfortable to talk back thinking they just wanted some info on something. Now, here is the thing…. what I have noticed in East Africa is that as long as a beach is touristic, you will find boat men marketing their boats for cruises. It works cheaper when a group of tourists agree to use one boat. Been there, done that. But because little me decided to do this solo, the lady that interrupted me said she was a local tourist. I wasn’t judging or anything but I know a tourist when I see one.

This lady claimed to be looking for a boat to share cruise expenses with another tourist. I fell for it and said I only had 8 dollars for this cruise. It was actually 12 dollars to do this ride but if I had company, we were gonna divide costs. She ended up convincing me she only had 4 dollars to add on. I agreed and felt comfortable because after all she was female like me…..what more safety did I need, right?

She actually came with the boat man already and I did the cruise with her. Towards the end, it turned out she had no 4 dollars and that the 8 dollars I paid was close to the normal price for a ride. When it clicked that she was actually friends with the boatman and not a tourist, I kind of spoke my mind and told them it wasn’t about the money but it’s upsetting to be taken for a ride .They admitted they were a local couple from Malindi area masquerading as tourists because that’s the only way to get to tourists like me…..but they didn’t have to put up that show, I still wanted a ride.

The ugly is that I didn’t really like the color of the ocean on this part of the area. it looked muddy brown and this isn’t anyone’s problem but some turquoise waters would have made my day after being taken advantage of.

The other thing that I could do was to monochrome my memories of this spot.

February 15, 2023 7

Wine and dine treat at The Quorum (review)

I needed a treat and I let my appetite lead the way. My taste buds whispered they wanted something scrumptious and not home made. I looked up a few hotels from booking.com and found a resort called The Quorum. I loved the general outlook of the place and headed there.There are restaurants I know of that are not much of an attractive package in terms of outdoors but the food they serve is on point. I was in the mood to enjoy a meal with a view or in a place that appeals greatly to the sense of beauty.

Arrival

I didn’t necessarily make a call, reservation or anything like that. I just got on a cab and arrived there. The place had a parking lot on the outside and I think I only saw two cars on the inside. Most cars were parked outside. Am thinking there should be a bigger parking lot should there be a big event there. So unless there is parts of the resort I didn’t see, I gave them 3 stars for the parking lot.

Upon arrival, the guard did alert someone to take me to the reception and I saw some smiling and welcoming staff and I must say it was smooth sailing. I however understood in no time that this was a club hotel and there were some parts of it that I wanted access to that well…. I couldn’t get to simply because I was not a member. There was a way around it though. I stuck around in the wait room

About the resort

This resort is a club hotel or those kind of resorts that offer membership and loyalty programs. https://www.thequorumzm.com I went there to have an eat out at the spot I saw on booking.com only to be told ‘access denied’ because I was not a member. Ouch! I didn’t let that slide. After digging deeper, I found out I could still have access as a non member if I had one of the services in the resort like spa and spend about $30 dollars minimum there. It was fine by me.

Fast forward, I finally stepped into the restaurant I wanted to dine in because of it’s views. Though found at the resort, it had another name called Mafinga Peak Rooftop Restaurant. This place boasted a sophisticated yet informal atmosphere. There was another restaurant downstairs that I could easily access but that’s not the one I saw on booking.com. I had to get access to the rooftop restaurant.

I don’t think I want to rate their loyalty or membership programs that almost caused me to miss my dining opportunity because this is the lifeline of this resort, it’s a club hotel and ‘members only’ is the password for most services here. I am sure it has its pros but a con is definite, there are one time customers that they may miss out on that may never necessarily want to be all timers or regulars. It’s good that the way out of this was to make customers like us make use of other services as key to another.

The dining area

The dining area had two sides. One side had tables with four seats and others two seats closer to the bar area and covered by a glass demarcation and the other side that was more spacious had comfy sets of casual chairs. The theme colour was lime green a bit of white here and there with a brown floor. There was a seriousness to the place with a touch of casual. What a combo! The place can be ideal for family, business and group gathering yet perfect for an intimate or romantic get away. The beauty with this place is, the restaurant area is not all you see but as you enjoy your food, you have a beautiful view to go with it.

I loved that the place and neighborhood aren’t noisy. The music playing in the background was soothing. Rating the dining area as far as the general vibe is concerned was a 4 star. The reason for not having a 5 star was because the rooftop glass shield meant to enjoy spectacular views has to be super clean all the time because it’s glass. Had this been of other material like marble, a definite 5 star here. Glass easily shows blemish.

The other things that added a touch of beauty to the place is the fountain like structures around the restaurant that added to the relaxed mood. The orange flower pots added a touch of cheerfulness. The ceiling had beautifully hanging simple chandeliers which am sure look heavenly at night time. The rest rooms had a chocolate brown theme and the walls were slapped with modern oval mirrors.

Let’s order!

I was in the mood to have something meaty, a bit of Greek salad and my forever favorite, mashed potatoes. I want to always remember the medium grilled meat I was served. This steak was mildly charred on the outside and still had the brown all through and am sure it was a slow process to avoid it being too tough but succulent.

My Greek salad had simple yet perfect combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, crisp onions, olives in olive oil. I found my mashed potatoes creamy and full of amazing flavor. They were fluffy and well served in a cute bowl.

The bar informed me that the cocktails they had always contained egg whites and they were nice enough to ask if I was allergic. I wasn’t. Funny thing is I have forgotten the name of this cocktail but it had strawberries, fresh lime juice, gin etc. Totally loved the cute glass they used.

As far as the food was concerned, the level of yummy was definitely a 5 star and I should have congratulated the chef. I spent about 40 dollars for the meal and that’s because of some taxes to go with the kind of place. I had two of those cocktails.Wink wink.

Lasting impressions and recommendations

The place is cosy and I loved it’s vibe. The staff bent over backwards to give great service. No place is perfect but so far it’s living up to it’s stars. I would go back again but this time to enjoy the room services.

January 30, 2023 3

How to enjoy a day trip to Paje with $30. Or less.

Fun is subjective. You don’t always need too much money on you to have fun. Some people think travellers are people who have stacks of money on them. Lol! Thanks for categorizing us as rich but that’s not the case at all! I have always shared with others who think travel is for the rich that if you look closely, that seemingly rich traveller is probably sacrificing some happy hours every Friday so they could save up for a plane ticket or a tour.And yes, they do. You probably think I am the most boring person on this planet to sacrifice Friday happy hours, but I have, but then again, maybe because that is not my kind of thing. So equation is balanced there.

Speaking of having fun without stacks of bucks in your slacks, you could enjoy a fun day on the beaches of Paje in Zanzibar!

So then, let’s go!

So to cut on costs, we are going to use public transport they call Dala Dala. I am with the assumption we start from Stone Town because that’s where you usually arrive at the island.

You have to get to Darajani market and then wait a while for the Dala Dala you catch from there to fill up. Expect to pay less than $2 and do carry a bottle of water or fruit juice while at it as you will really feel the impact of the heat due to a number of passengers on the Dala Dala. If you use Nyerere road, you will most likely be getting to the east side of the island in an hours time.

What is Paje like?

As compared to Stone Town, Paje is reserved and by that I mean chilled, less populated village but surprisingly where most tourists flock to. But what brings tourists here? We all want a beach that has turquoise and clear waters, right? It is tops of the list before all the other activities you may find in the area.

So what activities do we do with less than $20 on us ?

This place is a hub of island-fun, ranging from beach walks to all sorts of sophisticated water games. I am not a swimmer but we all love beaches! I was willing to have a moment here that was memorable but affordable.

This article is not one of those, listing the coolest activities you do on this part of the Island but it is about how to still have affordable fun in this place every tourist wants to visit in Zanzibar. I was really focused on what I wanted with the little that was in my pocket. Standup paddle boarding! There you have it! It didn’t take too long to find a place renting out the gear.I quickly dug deep into my slacks and paid $15 for a session.

I heard that this water sport was born from surfing and that was like so cool to be mistaken for surfer! With this activity all I did was to stand, sit, squat, kneel or whatever on a board that floats on water and of course they had to give me a board fit for my body size. I paddled from shallow to slightly deep waters considering that I am not a good swimmer and still needed my life. I also asked for the guide to give me some independence to paddle slightly further. I found this water sport to be safe and easy to learn, most of all, it was refreshing to enjoy views and serenity of this part of the island. I just don’t remember having my foot tied to the board like you will observe it’s done but none the less, that didn’t take any fun out of my experience! It was awesome!

When I was done, I dressed up and enjoyed a short walk, picked some shells and enjoyed one of the most fresh fruit drinks ever with some free wifi at a restaurant there and as I got to Stone Town later in the day, I realized that you could actually enjoy a day out in Paje with a $30. Or less.

January 25, 2023 6

Down history lane with Cape Town’s artistic sculpture

I am no history geek but because I have stepped in zones that have beautiful art, I found catchy, it has triggered me to dig deeper than what meets the eyes. I love art and do appreciate it though not an artist myself. I came to realize how deep art can be both to the artist and the consumer of the art. Sometimes what we put out there burning from deep within us could either trigger positives or negatives.

I loved Cape Town and though there is much talk about dangers of solo travelling to this destination, I went solo….. period. I hadn’t made a list of what I wanted to see because I was just there to rest and not doing what a regular tourist would be doing. I picked the perfect area for my rest which was called Sea Point and as is the name, I was next to where the Atlantic and Indian ocean meet. Perfect beachfront accomodation.

When you lodge in such places, morning, afternoon and evening walks are like the order of the day. I did that many times and the one sculpture that I kept seeing there was a giant size pair of sunglasses.Super cool I thought! I did sit there, chilled there and took a pic or two there. Little did I know that this art had some intended meaning from the artist’s point of view but did the rest of the neighborhood, town or perhaps country empathize?

Would you ever connect a giant pair of sunglasses to a renowned, respected and heroic figure like Nelson Mandela of South Africa? He was an anti apartheid activist, politician and first president of South Africa and pretty sure was at the back of the mind of the artist behind the sculpture in question.But who is this artist behind this piece?

Michael Elion an artist and architect with a degree of architecture from University of Cape Town was the master mind and like earlier mentioned, art can either be welcomed with open arms by the masses or be the reason for some commotion.

Michael titled his piece,”perceiving freedom” and because these giant sunglasses stare out at Robben Island on the Atlantic Ocean where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for almost three decades, the artist had in mind Mandela’s time behind bars.

The masses however found this piece to not be fit for a man like Nelson and deemed it disrespectful and because this project was co- financed by eye wear maker Ray-Ban, some saw this as a promotion stunt pulled and also because it was unveiled in summer.

As I posed next to this piece, I had no clue it’s previous state had lenses on them but were vandalized by those against the artist’s theory. I will treasure the picture I took next to the remains as a lesson that sometimes simple looking things may have such deep meaning.

January 22, 2023 6