There was slippin and slidin and whoops!

Baby elephant bulls are my absolute favourite!  They are oblivious to their body size but are very aware of the fact they are boys and they truly revel in that knowledge.  A visit to the elephant orphanage had us totally surprised as the boys came stampeding around the corner, ears flapping wildly as they launched themselves into the mud bath.  

All the elephants at the orphanage were found at a very young age either lost from their troop or next to their mother who had been killed.   The orphanage hand raises them and then when they are old enough they are moved and introduced back to the wild.

They do a great job and it’s really worth the visit especially if you want to touch an elephant and get a real close up picture.

the boys showing that they can behave from time to time

Beyonce, the moon and I

This title really reminds me of those corny Nigerian, e-grade, nollywood movies we were subjected to in varsity.  Nonetheless I found myself on the road at midnight, with nothing but the moon as my companion and Beyonce belting away “the best thing I never had”

I was driving my mother and sister back to Johannesburg, both had dozed off and I was wide awake, focused on the road and thinking about my next entry.

I love driving; there is something about being behind the wheel, I love the tar, and the element of danger that comes with handling heavy machinery.  I’m pretty sure I inherited this love for driving from my parents as both of them are excellent drivers.

As I drove, I was taken back in time to our family road trip to Zambia when I was in grade 6.  It was a road trip that would have us seeing, Zim, Zam and Bots the objective of the road trip to attend a family friend’s wedding in Zambia.  My parents shared the driving but on our way back my mom took hold of the reigns and pushed on as we had to be back at the border at a specific time. This meant driving through the night, I remember dozing in and out of sleep and catching glimpses of my mom focused on the road and blasting some music that she had bought off some hawker for a moment like this.  My mom got us to the border on time safe and sound.

As I drove on my mother dozed in and out of sleep at some point I said to her "mum you know I now understand how you managed to drive through the night when we were in Zambia."  Being responsible for people’s lives especially your family is enough to keep you awake and focused because life is just that precious.

Growing up certainly gives more clarity to the decisions our parents took. It gives us a deeper appreciation for whom we are.

 

2 Night time driving tips

1.    Don't look at oncoming headlights. Focus on the edges of oncoming traffic and bright objects, as staring directly into headlights can blind you for up to five seconds until your eyes adjust. – It also can give you the impression that the oncoming car is driving in your lane and this can result in accident if you swerve into oncoming traffic.

2.    Do stop at a petrol station to stretch and get refreshed.

For more tips visit, http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/car-safety/26674/night-driving-tips.jsp

The best thing I never had ~ Beyonce

I’m in Diani Bitch….

Yes if you were wondering about the title it has been stolen from that club anthem “I’m in Miami Bitch.”

There are places that the lord created, stood back, marvelled, winked and said “Beat that!”  Diani is such a place it’s what dreams are made of and home to nomadic travellers like me.  Yes home, because it’s so easy to get lost in the beauty of such tropical islands, forgetting where you are from and that you actually have responsibilities to get back to. 

Diani has many resorts and some are just typically better than others, offering all sorts of beach activities such as Kite Surfing, water skiing, fishing, snorkeling and basically anything water. 

Countless afternoons spent relaxing in paradise.

Lantanu Galu Beach Resort was one of my favourite’s, with a pristine beach and a bevy of James Bond looking men it provided a fair amount of beauty and entertainment.  Their food was lovely but the dessert menu was more of a desert than an oasis. 

Keeping cool in the ocean, sipping on cocktails

The best thing that came out from Lantanu Galu though were 2 gorgeous English brothers who hosted us for New Year’s Eve Dinner.  Our chef was kitted out in a pair of fitting Ducati chino’s that made his tush a delightful sight… a real man’s man.  Our Barman, his brother was a tall drink of milk, with a body to write home about, I’m sure he has inspired many a fantasies.

New Years Eve Dinner

Taking in the view from the balcony

5 Tips for making the most of Diani

-          Bring your coolest friends along, there will be plenty of memorable moments and you want to be able to laugh about them when you get back home.

-          Get a 4x4 with a great sound system; potholes are the order of the day, therefore you might as well bounce along listening to some cool beats.

-          Get ready to dance every night, Diani has great night spots,  my favourite being 40 Thieves, its easy going, good music and a great time out on the beach

Many nights were enjoyed at 40 Thieves

-          Be adventurous, do things you have never done before, break the rules just make sure you won’t get caught because those Masai guards will beat you up.

I wished a Camel Happy New Years- after all if the clock strikes 12 just love the one you with.

-          Eat, drink, live and be Merry.

This too shall pass...

Sometimes we have moments where we do things without thinking, my sisters and I were driving along, we stopped to pick up a friend and I jumped out because I wanted to check on the back wheel.  As I walked around my Blackberry fell into the street without thinking I followed my phone, I looked up into the face of a Citi Golf.   It’s so easy to get attached to things that we don’t even realise how attached we are. I almost had a brush with death because I didn’t think,  I always look left and right but I was so focused on my phone I followed it with my mind, body and almost my soul.  Yes I am glad that I am alive but it brought me to the realization that attachment is often the death of one’s soul for attachment focuses on you and not on the bigger picture of life. Life would not have stopped without my cellphone but my actions did not reflect that.  Let go and let flow.

“As spiritual searchers we need to become freer and freer of the attachment to our own smallness in which we get occupied with me-me-me. Pondering on large ideas or standing in front of things which remind us of a vast scale can free us from acquisitiveness and competitiveness and from our likes and dislikes. If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy. Also recalling our own experiences in which we acted generously or with compassion for the simple delight of it without expectation of any gain can give us more confidence in the existence of a deeper goodness from which we may deviate. (39)”

― Ravi Ravindra, The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra   

for we are like boats, bobbing on the sea that is life.

Tomato what!?! ….Cocktail silly

I have a long standing love-hate relationship with Tomatoes, now imagine my look of horror when I was offered a tomato cocktail.  I immediately imagined one of those Bloody Mary concoctions and I was totally put off by that idea, seeing my repulsed face the waiter and trusty friends explained that it was nothing like the tomato I was imagining.  This is a fruity tomato that is indigenous to Kenya, with a thick, purplish fleshy skin (it was neither purple nor red) they explained, It's delicious. 

 Since I am a firm believer that you have to try something once before you diss it.  I tried it, loved it and had another one.  I will not divulge anything further except to urge you to try it the next time you are in Kenya.

Note to the experimenters out there: I don't have the recipe,  so don't bother asking. 

served in a tall glass it really hits the spot.

Aerial View

Oh but I love breaking the Rules…Sometimes

I don’t know if it’s really breaking the rules or maybe it should be considered pushing the envelope rather.   After all I only took pictures of the Ferry because we were instructed not to by  the sign boards and I merely wanted to see how effective the guards were at finding these offenders.   Needless to say I was not caught and I have the pictures to prove it… Here’s to pushing boundaries.

taken whilst in the Ferry en route to the main land

just one of the signs

in the cue waiting, even more reason to take pictures

Black truffles, marriage proposals and parking disorders

Nothing beats a warm welcome into any country, the idea of having to face customs and explain your business in their country can be a daunting one but our arrival in Kenya was fantastic.   We were welcomed into the country without any ques, man-handling and the $25 visa fee.  Apparently the words “I’m a South African, do I really have to stand in that queue”   open many doors including those into the country.   

Naturally it would not have been Africa if we did not get at least one marriage proposal on our way out of customs, another sign that (Zulu's and Kenyan's are relatives).   Nairobi is the land of 4x4’s and outrageous driving, with only 2 traffic lights that I counted,  you in for a rude awakening if you are used to driving in places with 101 traffic signs and lights on any stretch of road.  Needless to say the Kenyan parking skills are more of a laughing matter than anything else, they seem to suffer from some sort of driving disorder that does not allow them to park in between the 2 white lines.   Overall if you love adventure and you are ready for whatever will head your way then Kenyan roads are for you… Just remember… We Don’t Beg, Pray or Ask on Kenyan roads we just Go!

Now onto the black truffles,   if you are into trying new food and the type of meals that will leave you begging for more then read on.  Mediterraneo at the Junction mall had me pleading for more and lost for words, I literally disappeared into my own world floating in a dream.  I had one of their specialties for the day a lamb shank with home- made tegatelle cooked in butter and black truffles… I can still taste all the different flavours.  Bless the chef and the hands that created him because that meal was pure genius.

all smiles after supper at Mediterraneo

advanced driving in Kenya...how a 2 way street can become a 5 way street in 2 seconds.