Category: travel diaries

June: Monthly wrap-up

June 23rd, 2024

Long time no see, eh?

I got caught up in life, working and traveling and focusing on everything but this blog and I once heard it said that ‘a writer never dies, they’re immortalized in words,’ and this has never been so true right this moment. Here I am writing about the things that kept me away from blogging.

I traveled to Carlifornia and Washington DC, spent a week working-meeting the people and seeing the places that have directly influenced my job for the past four years.

I was moved so much when I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the chronology of events from 1776 all to modern day, show the struggles, experiences and evolution of African Americans and I wept on the second floor. I wept when I got to Emett Till’s story and that in itself is a reminder of how many black children and families have been killed, destroyed and wounded forever by injustice. I highly recommend visiting this museum-it’s free to enter but you have to reserve a slot online in advance, so if you are even in the capital, Washington DC, make that reservation and visit all the 4 floors.

And what would my trip be without books? I got some great books and stationery gifted to me by a lovely soul who loves book and coffee as much as I do.

I am home now, feels good to be back- and can’t wait to put into practice some skills I have been working on and learning on how to write and engage better.

Oh, next post will be about some stuff that I wanted to do and how that really went down.

Have a great week ahead!

If you are in Kenya, I cannot affirm this any more beyond #RejectFinanceBill2024.
A day well spent…literally

August 18th, 2023

I finally got to visit my favorite people in Nairobi and we could write a book about the weather, but I opt to make this as awesome as I felt spending the day with my nephew.

First things first: outfit check (jeans, my favorite t-shirt, comfy shoes, a kiondo bag and sweater)

Next: We went to Imaara Mall along Mombasa Road because I have wanted to visit this one cute shop called LittleMore– and stock up on cute stationery and food containers. They didn’t disappoint.

We made our first hot beverage stop at CJs and had coffee and samosa because there is something about the weather in Nairobi that goes beyond ‘sweater weather.’ The next stop was at Sarit Centre in Westlands and we got to Miniso (for stationery), TextBook Center (for new novels to read) and finally Bobba Cafe because my nephew is into Strawberry flavored green tea!

After that it was getting into a matatu and making our way home and I was happy that I got to spend a day out with my nephew and just seeing him grow into such a thoughtful young man is an honor and I am grateful my Sister brought him into our lives.
A day or two in Arusha, Tanzania

April 26th, 2023

It’s raining in Arusha, and that means it is sweater weather. I think I came at the right time, even though a part of me yearns for more sun, it’s been wonderful meeting people here and doing what got me here in the first place.

So, before I got here- I had a stop-over in Nairobi and I couldn’t resist going into Miniso to buy stationery.

I got into Arusha on Monday, and yesterday had time to go around town and into the village and community where I was scheduled to visit. I checked in for the first half of my trip at Zawadi House Lodge in Sekei Arusha, it is approximately 51kms from the Mt. Kilimanjaro airport.

Then there are the glass bottled sodas which come in 350ml capacity which I absolutely loved- tall, slender, bottles they are. So, here are some of the pictures I took out and about-from the lodge, to the road, to the awesome view of Mt. Meru.
Updates on the writing, reading and this life

February 16th, 2023

It’s been three months since I shared updates on life, more so on writing, reading and a whole bunch of experiences I’ve had along the way. This post is my attempt at some sanity after changing the theme of this blog six times. Trust me, I activated six themes before finally settling on this one so my mind is seeking refuge in this post.

On reading: February came with gifts and I got this trilogy set by N.K.Jemisin from a wonderful friend and mentor whose energy and love for others has me in awe. The set adds onto a number of books that I hope to read this year.

On writing: I need help! Truth is I feel at odds and unable to write and for a while I settled into it, but now there are two opposing forces in me- more like intentions- a part of me misses writing, yearns to write and demands that I do and the other part, does not want to do disturbed. I find myself unable to stop buying notebooks and pens-but gathering my wits to write has been unbearable. It does not help that I set one of my goals as writing and publishing a book in April.

On life: The first week of this month was busy because most of the people who support the projects I work on were in Kenya, some visiting for the first time and it was great showing them around while also visiting places I wanted to. We visited The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, enjoyed many meals and evening talks by the shores of Lake Victoria while in Rusinga Island.

I always wanted to have some chicken biryani and tamarind juice and got to do this while at Mama Nilishe, in Kilimani-though now she opened up a bigger place at Kikao Place in Lavington. And while in Nairobi, we stayed at Eka Hotel along Mombasa Road where aside from exemplary reception and service I couldn’t help but be taken in by the glass bottles in our rooms.

On music: I am obsessed with Akoth Jumadi and Lisa Oduor Noah. Their songs calm my luo soul and makes me feel some type of way that’s got me loving the mood I’m in when I hear their voices.

That’s it for now on the life updates and maybe by the end of this month I shall have set my mind on what to do about the writing slump I find myself in, until then, have an awesome weekend.
Maps

December 11th, 2021

I hope you find your way home.

Travel the world, rise and fall,

And when you put one foot in front of the other,

or wander,

I hope you find your way home.

Ushindi Namegabe took this! #pexels.com
July: Updates on life, COVID-19, travel and stuff

July 21st, 2021
It’s Wednesday and I am still wrapped up in a warm duvet as I type this on my phone. It’s my way of checking in with the blogging universe while doing everything I can to stay warm here in Nairobi.

I’ve been here for 3 days and I have consumed more coffee, worn more socks and sweaters than I could ever comprehend at such a time. It’s got me fully aware of how much I am sunny through and through and I know I will enjoy some heat when I travel back to Mbita soon.

Every time I come to Nairobi I love visiting places that call unto me like book shops and jewellery shops mostly to buy earrings and accessories that I wouldn’t get at a fair price either in Kisumu or Homabay. So this time around I got notebooks and pens from Miniso, body splash from a store in town and bookmarks from Hilton Arcade.
There’s something about freedom of movement that has me appreciating life pre-covid. We could breathe freely without masks, walk in and out of places without fear of contracting such a deadly virus and travel to places unhinged. Now, coming from a town where the curfew is at 7pm to a city where it’s 10pm, it’s given me more time to catch up with family while still adhering to social distancing rules and regulations and that is something I found so precious in such a long time. I truly hope that we would overcome this pandemic, build upon our health system and come August next year elect more leaders who are accountable to us and responsible in fulfilling their duties.

On writing: I have been writing and it’s good to have that going so I truly hope it’ll work out and I have to push the release date given how many rewrites I am engaging in.

All in all,it’s been a good week thus far and I hope for the very best going forward. Have an awesome week wherever you are.
Looking for excuses, finding them and missing out on life.

December 21st, 2020

I am in one of my moods, or as my sister says “in my feelings,” because I have been on the road non-stop for a week.

I love my sleep and can recharge for hours like a cat. So, this past week had me travel to Nairobi, then Kisumu and now I am back in Mbita because my best friend was getting married and I had the honor of witnessing her wedding as a bridesmaid. It was more of a firsts for me because it was the first time I had on: block heels (3.5 inches) for the whole day, had my eyebrows trimmed, and wore make up!

Days have gone by so fast, and I had been looking forward to being selected as a 2021 IREX Community Solutions Program Participant and for a program that’s very competitive, I felt ready this year, made it past the first round and got my regret letter after the second round of interviews. I was crushed. And what I learned about that moment, reading that email is that my mind completely played out various scenarios for me: I play a role in something I am passionate about and with a great team I get to see public primary schools improve their structures, I see it in the eyes of the children in rural communities when we are constructing classrooms how eager they are to step into new, permanent and well ventilated classes. So, not getting into the program this round, does not mean that I stop working.

On writing: I have been writing a new book and in my head it is complete and perfect, but on paper, let’s just say that I need to go stationery shopping and get everything going right. I have perfected giving excuses every time I want to write and this has resulted in downloading more DJ mixes, drinking more coffee and reading books🤦🏾‍♀️, help!

On reading: This year has been the best for I have bought more books and this has also seen me not read as many titles from Netgalley, and I hope to catch up on the reading soon. I have also read more titles from Pulitzer Prize winners in the fiction category.

I am currently reading Should You Leave by Peter. D. Kramer and he’s writing from the Psychotherapist point on view on advice, when it comes to the age-old question in a relationship, “should I stay or leave?” Coming from a Psychology background and training, reading this is like learning and rediscovering my love for therapy and what it means to help someone work through the dilemmas they have.

I have been making excuses on working out and writing and now I am reaping what I’d sowed and it’s started with a guilty conscience and every time I see the schedule I stuck on my wall, I cringe. Part of me is acting like it’s not bothered and the other one is losing it’s marbles, and the wisest of them is slowly coming to an understanding that I am focusing on the output but not the input and could try and see the growth or set tasks that could lead to the goals I want to achieve, now if only I knew how!

Have a great week, I’m still working until Wednesday when all schools are supposed to be closed here in Kenya.
Out and About: Mombasa, Kenya

October 16th, 2020

And somewhere between my home and the sandy beaches of Mombasa, I did not write neither a word nor come up with a story idea for the 10K novel writing challenge.

A part of me was disappointed on 7th October when I tried to sit down and get some words down and nothing came to mind, and once I got on the road, I got caught up in the sights, loved the company of my sisters and in between laughs, I let go, until…yesterday.

So, I’ll bombard you with pictures (the nices ones) of my trip and maybe this will get me writing again or get me to focus on an idea for at least an hour this evening.

The view from Mama Ngina

Fort Jesus in Mombasa

I took this while we were taking a stroll along the Bamburi beach

sunset at the floating bar at Mtwapa
New Year Updates

January 10th, 2020
Is it too late to say happy new year?

How’s your week coming along? I was looking through this blog and almost kicked myself for having taken such a while to check in with the blogiverse…I hope you are well and working towards whatever resolutions you made.

So, here’s a list of some insights into what I’ve been up to in the past 8 days:
- I traveled back to Mbita
- Dusted, aired and mopped where I stay and it never hit me just how exhausted one can get from bending under a bed trying to retrieve an eraser!
- Visited a school in Mfangano Island which is considered to be in one of the extreme inaccessible places in the whole island.
- Gained weight 🙂 thanks to all the coffee dates I had with my cousin and the holiday food.
- Started working out- just finished day 6 of the 30 day fitness challenge! I can’t feel my thighs.
- Gave this blog a new look, grey is so last season!
- Writing the next book, hoping to release it this April.
- Receiving reviews, through calls and texts from readers on just how much they were moved by reading my book, Sifuna, and recommendations on how to distribute the books.
- Updating my wardrobe, wearing more jean trousers and a bright t-shirts 🙂 okay, I did this once! I still love my black and grey t-shirts.
- Drinking lots of Love Tea from Kericho Gold- because I love the strawberry/vanilla/raspberry flavor.
Have an awesome weekend!
August: Updates on reading, writing, travel and love

August 5th, 2019

I have been writing this post in my head for the past eight days. Procrastination is the fuel that I can never shake off, just like my love for pencils and erasers, I know how to put something on hold until I cannot anymore.

This is evident in my writing and publishing journey and for a long time the pressure to just get up and do it, haunted me, until I woke up one day and shoved it down my throat with a slice of chocolate cake at Java.

August is here and I love the sun! I am loving the heat more than I thought I would 🙂

On reading: I have been reading some awesome titles and sharing my views on them on Netgalley, Goodreads and Amazon. On working with people and building relationships, I got to read People First by Mike Nutley. On always staying on top of your game, taking a step back, re-evaluating your goals and pressing on, I got to read Tired of being Tired by Juliet Jones.

I’m currently enjoying Scout by Sanjiv Lingard about this 17 year old girl, Scout, who has the ability of tracking. It started with her being able to find any misplaced item, to her Mother-when she would up and leave, and now the police want her to help them find a missing child.

On writing: My most recent posts have been inspired by love and I am glad that happened, however, I am looking forward to improving my focus on writing a full length novel by September whilst talking to a Publisher here in Kenya, to work on some terms of engagement that would lead to publishing the manuscript.

On travel: I was looking forward to traveling this first week of August but had to cancel my plans due to a pending meeting at work. However, I’m not bummed by it because this meeting means a lot more to me, for it will chart the course for the next projects I’d like to work towards.

I did however get on a matatu to Kisumu so fast when I heard that my nephew was around looking forward to spending his holiday in the city. We always have a good time together and I hadn’t seen him in a month!

On love: I wish I had the right words to explain this and more so, to name the precise moment that I had an epiphany on love. The truth is, the greatest thing I’ve learned this year is that love comes from within and the most difficult journey is loving yourself first and always. If you achieve this, then for some reason, the world is drawn to this light that stems from you and that’s where it gets tricky…and I really wish someone would explain to me why it is that when you meet someone, suddenly everyone wants you too?

So, this August I am challenging myself and I came across this Ted Talk at the right time because I’d love to try something new every day for the next 30 days!

How’s your August thus far?

Have a wonderful new month!