Labyrinths of Lahrah

Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts

2016 was the year of getting my ass out of the comfort zone
2017 is the year of stretching myself and stretch myself I did all through the year.

2017 has been a crazy, good and great year.

Instead of using the word "bad", I choose to use the word "Crazy", because to be honest, the year was not as bad as I expected.

I did some pretty stupid things, that I am even ashamed to talk about and then I went on to do great things I am proud of.

First up, I had my postgraduate degree graduation in January and my graduation gift to myself was the trip to South Africa and Kenya. I only showed up at the venue because my mum insisted on coming and wanted to take pictures with me. She was trying to make up for missing my undergraduate graduation. No form of studying happened this year and that was intentional.

Friendship: I am a sucker for friendship, people who know me well know how I go through the highs and lows for anyone I call a friend. Respect and loyalty are key for me. I got a rude awakening this year and had to define the relationship with most of the people I call friends. One key lesson is that you can only be friends with people who see you as their friends.

Don't go making an acquaintance a friend.

With friendship, I learned forgiveness. I relearned the value to beautiful friendships both old and new.

Travel took the focal point of the year. My first post of the year highlighted my 2017 travel goals. In the post, I mentioned plans to go on a West African adventure, visit some states in Nigeria and ring in the new year in the New York.

Lake Kivu, Rwanda

I got to visit 5 out of all 11 destinations I listed.

I can't complain because even though I listed 11 destinations, I ended up visiting 19 destinations in total. If I count Ile-Ife and Nairobi which I visited twice within the same year then that sums up 21 destinations. Switched the West African adventure for the East African experience.

I got to explore 4 new countries (South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda) and visited 6 in total ( revisited Benin Republic and Togo). Locally I visited, Osun state (Ile-Ife, Osogbo), Ogun state (Abeokuta), Bauchi state (Bauchi, Yankari), Plateau state (Jos) and Kwara (Offa, Owa-Kajola (Owu Waterfall).

Away from Travel, I finally launched my travel and HR Consultancy businesses so I would say this year was the testing phase. The HR Consultancy suffered the most because at some point I was unable to find a balance between both opposing businesses and my 9-5. I joined an entrepreneurship support group and I would say that has been one of my best decisions in 2017. My biggest business shock was realizing the fact that some friends will not support the business or should I use the word patronize your business. They are used to having it for free and would rather pay someone else than pay you for the services.

Books: I did read quite a number of books but I, unfortunately, was unable to read as much as I wanted. I am currently in some sort of reading rut, I can't seem to pay enough attention to complete a book.

I was able to save enough money this year but I spent a lot of it on travel. I am not even sad about it nor regret spending money on any of the experience. I will be spending more next year.

December has been a pretty hectic month. I returned from my trip on the 19th of November and dived straight into work. Right now I am suffering the worst burnout ever in my life and I am physically and mentally exhausted.

I made the decision to spend the holiday with family. All I have been doing in the past days is sleep, eat and sleep again.

I didn't get the year that I planned but I got the best year life had to give me

Away from 2017 and on to what I want from 2018.

So the goal for 2018 is intentional and productive living.
There has been a lot of introspection and plannings.

I will be picking up the books and hopefully get my HR certifications. My certifications come at a cost so it will affect how much I will spend on travel.

I will cut back on personal international travels and do more of domestic travels. The plan is to visit at least 3 new countries.

My travel plans, for now, are Côte d'Ivoire (no fixed date) and Tanzania (April 24 to May 1, 2018) for my birthday.

Zanzibar

Europe is also on my bucket list for the year. Belguim, France, Sweden and Lithuania are top on the list.

Locally, I plan to explore the Eastern part of the country starting from Enugu.

Arinta waterfall in Ekiti is top on my list for 2018. I also plan to visit my mum in Abuja. New York is also on my radar, this is majorly dependent on when I get the US Visa.

Where do you plan to visit in 2018?
What are your goals for 2018?

♥Lara

My travel goals for the year changed the moment I decided to switch the West African Experience for the East African Experience. If you follow me on Instagram this is stale news to you as this was documented live while on the trip.

Last month, I spent 16 days in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. I made up my mind on the East African trip following the win of a rebated ticket from Kenya Airways and the choice of Rwanda as the destination by my friends and I. I said to myself, why visit only one country when I can visit all three on one Visa.

Why Rwanda? my mum asked when I told her about my intended trip, to be honest for most times I have no reason for wanting to visit destinations, I just want to visit because that is the place on my mind at that moment. Let me just confess now, I am yet to watch the popular movie "Hotel Rwanda"

Visiting Rwanda has been on my bucket list since 2015, I actually told all my team members then in Jumia that I would be visiting that year. After seeing insta-stories and pictures of my favourite travel bloggers such as Brenna of This Battered Suitcase and Folaswaka, I knew there was no way I would be passing up Rwanda this year.

I got the East African visa at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi for $100 which allowed me multiple entries into Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

I didn't head into Rwanda to track gorillas which is one of the most popular touristy things to do. I don't have $1500 to be chasing gorillas, that price is more or less the sum total of my budget in all three countries minus flight fee. I was curious and wanted to experience the beauty, cleanliness, orderliness, and safety of the country for myself.

Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial, Kigali

Uganda was a reunion trip. I missed my friend Bena's wedding last year and made up my mind to visit Uganda when next I visit East Africa. I got to visit Kampala and Jinja.

Source of the Nile, Jinja

Kenya came on the list majorly because of the airline I was flying with. By the time arrived in Nairobi, I was exhausted and had to catch up with work. I didn't get to explore much and only visited the Karura forest and The National Museum.

Waterfall in Karura Forest, Nairobi

I plan to write individual posts on each country before the year ends, last last finish the story by January.

2017 is slowing coming to an end and I must say the year unfolded way beyond my expectations. I am grateful for it all.

Until my next post

♥Lara

I said hello to Nairobi on February 1, 2017.

For Kenya, before I landed, I was more interested in catching up with my friends from India days and not really about what the country was about. I told friends I wasn't going to go on the safari, or do anything pretty much touristy.

I didn't have a planned itinerary. I was just going to show up and enjoy the 5 days inclusive of 2 travel days as much as I can. I landed in Nairobi from Johannesburg 30 mins than scheduled onboard the Kenya Airways flight.

Entry was smooth, I only had to verify my e-visa from an immigration office, fill the yellow form and I was allowed entry. No long story, no unusual questions. I exited the airport, changed currency, bought a sim card and booked an uber to by host's apartment.

Conversation with the Uber driver

I had pretty much interesting conversation with my Uber driver from the airport to my host’s apartment. He told me about how unbearable hot Nairobi had been since December until the rain which fell the night before I arrived (Same thing happened in Johannesburg, rain fell the day after I arrived). For the first time in a long while, he finally had a good night sleep devoid of heat.

Conversation moved to how Nigerian men get to travel more than the women. My response was that our men are more inclined to hustle no matter the destination. He told me about how most of the Nigerian men in Nairobi had no verifiable source of income yet lived the life of luxury. They are only seen with laptops about (Yahoo boys rings in my head). He goes ahead to say they must be doing something illegal. I asked if these men he talked about are legally in the country and he said he is not sure. Until that moment, I never thought of Kenya as a destination for Yahoo boys. Legal work but not internet fraud haven, I guess I was wrong.

Next was Kenyan women’s love Nigerian and Congolese men. He talks about how our men and Congolese men spend heavily on Kenyan women. For the men it is no strings attached but the women fall for the sweet words and money. Kenya men are then held on unreasonable thresholds and usually cannot measure up, leading to miserable relationships and resentment towards Nigerian and Congolese men (South African men also complain about our men stealing their women).

Accommodation
I had two hosts, one I got on CouchSurfing and the other an AIESEC alumni who was introduced to me by a very good friend. I opted to stay with the AIESEC alumni and spent a night at CouchSurfing host's apartment.

What I did/Saw

I slept all through the night of my first day in Nairobi.
As in I crashed, all the waka in Pretoria the day before and walk around trying to figure out my boarding gate at the Johannesburg airport following last minute change by Kenya Airways left me exhausted. After dinner, I just went to sleep and slept all through the most part of the next day.

So minus the safari, Nairobi is just like Lagos with its traffic, potholes, smell and all. City Centre- Marina Rest of the neighbourhood- Mile 2/Oshodi/Mushin Some part: GRA, Ikeja.

A post shared by Lara A' (@lhararom) on Feb 3, 2017 at 9:57am PST

I finally dragged myself to the city center and found my way to my Couchsurfing host's apartment on the other side of town. I met her at the hospital where she took her Canadian friend who was ill to. Public hospital doctors where on strike all over the country and everyone had to resort to the private clinics. I spent the night at her place and we all got talking on our travel experiences. The Canadian started travelling last October and had been to 22 countries as at when I met him. His illness and the rain which fell the night before I arrived had set his trip back by 2 days. He left for Mombasa the night I left the house, and would continue on to Tanzania, South Africa and a host of other countries.

The first tourist destination I visited was the Giraffe Center after I left my Couchsurfing host's apartment on Friday.

Later that night, I met with my friend Mutembei who I met in India at Sierra lounge, located in a mall called Yaya Centre. He was meeting with his friends from the organization he worked with before he left to Japan for his MBA. From Sierra lounge we moved to Kiza club (rumored to be owned by a Nigerian). I could swear I saw "Patoranking" coming out of the elevator, if it wasn't him then I was imagining things.

I told everyone who asked that I wouldn't go for the Safari. The Ijebu blood in me was using head to calculate $$. My friend asked how I would fly into 2 safari nations and not visit a park. I finally agreed to visit one along with my new friends over drinks at Kiza. $43 and I got to see 3 of the big 5 at the Nairobi National Park.

We visited the David Sheldrick orphanage for baby elephants.

Lunch was at the Karen Blixen Museum. I had tea and samosa with another friend Diana (also from India) at the Java house in Hurlingham that evening. I was full from lunch and could not even finish the samosa. I got a call from Mutembei asking if I was up for dinner. Shebi I should jejely say no, I don't know the "alejeranju" in me that said yes. Fast forward, Diana drops me at the apartment, I immediately change my clothes and I was off to Carnivore to meet Mutembei for dinner.

What I ate

While I stayed off food in South Africa, I didn't resist food in Kenya.
I could not say no to food.
I was eating everything that came my way.

My host was Vegan, so it meant I had to get food outside the apartment.
She made rice and beans for me on my first night, but you know food for me is not complete without any form of protein. I gave up that no protein life the moment I stepped off Indian soil.

Out of respect for my host, I did not take any picture of any of the plenty meat I ate when I visited the restaurant Carnivore. If you are a meat lover, you must visit Carnivore. I ate crocodile, Ostrich balls, turkey, chicken, beef and lamb meat

Chicken Pilau not Jollof Rice

Lunch at Karen Blixen Museum

How I moved around

As Taxify did not work in Kenya when I visited, I had to resort to Uber. I used Uber to and from the airport, to Sierra lounge, back to the apartment on both nights out and to Carnivore for dinner on my last night. Uber was way cheaper than a normal taxi in Nairobi. I also got to ride in the Matatus like a local, they only needed to give me the bus number and describe the bus-stop and I was good to go. I used the Matatu to find my Couchsurfing host's apartment and the Giraffe Centre.

The weather

Following the rain the night before I arrived, Nairobi was pretty warm. The nights were a little cold, I didn't have a sweater on most night which is one thing I regretted not having.

One thing I have been doing lately on most of my trip is actually to allow myself enjoy the moment. I take less pictures while travelling now. There was no pictures taken from my time in the clubs (Sierra lounge and Kiza) and also dinner at Carnivore. I was having fun actually interacting with everyone around me to even remember to take pictures. Also I am respecter of personal space, I didn't want to encroach on people by taking pictures when they might not be interested in taking one.

I really enjoyed my time in Nairobi and would definitely be visiting again. Account just needs to balance sha.

What do you think of Kenya?

Have you been to Kenya? What was your experience like? Would you recommend it?

♥Lara

Prior to 1st September 2015, visitors to Kenya could get visa on arrival at the port of entry.

What this means is that you could board a plane with only your ticket, evidence of accommodation reservation and only $50 dollars for visa at the border. The only comma to this is that you can be refused entry if the border officer is not convinced that you will not end up a liability to the Republic.

The Kenyan Department of Immigration Services launched www.evisa.go.ke which effective from 1 September 2015 allows visitors to Kenya apply for visa online prior to arrival without having to visit a Kenyan High Commission/Embassy, or obtain the visa on arrival.

Visitors are still allowed to apply for visas via the Kenyan High Commission/embassy and on arrival. The application process is pretty much straight forward.

How to apply

Visit www.evisa.go.ke;
Click on Create an account;
Create account as EVisa visitor;
Fill registration form with required information.;
Upon submission, check your email to "Activate your eCitizen Account";
Click on activation link in email to activate your account;
Once Logged in, Select Department of Immigration services "Get service now";
Select Make application;
Select Kenyan Visa;
Select the type of visa (Single Entry Visa) and read the instructions carefully;
Complete the application form - please note that incomplete applications will be rejected and you will lose your processing fees;

You will need a scan of your passport data page (with your name, date of birth and other information).
You will need to re-upload your passport photo.
Your flight itinerary.

Pay the sum of $51 ($50 for Visa and $1 for service charge) using Mastercard, Visa card, and other debit/credit cards.

What next

Processing turnaround time is a minimum of 2 business days (my visa was issued on the 3rd day which was a Saturday).
Await approval via email (I never got one, check your eCitizen account instead)
When your approval status changes to "issued", it means you have a visa.
Download and print the eVisa from your eCitizen account.
Present your printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.

Points to note

Visa processing fee is non-refundable.
A visa to Kenya once approved and issued is valid for travel within 3 months.
Approval and issuance of the visa does not guarantee entry into Kenya
Engaging in any form of business or employment without a requisite permit or pass is an offence.
Details of hotels and applicants telephone numbers are necessary for security and emergency purposes.
You don't have to complete your application at once, the system allows visitors to save his/her application and continue with process at own time.

In need of further information please go to E-visa FAQs.

Until my next post.
♥Lara

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