A Journey of Four Thousand Miles

One of my dreams is to see the big beautiful world that God created. I am so thankful that I make a living and I can plan to save and see the world even if it’s on a budget. In fact, I might do another article on how to see the world on a budget 🙂 from Africa 🙂 with love.  So where did I go, you might be wondering…

I went to beautiful Singapore and then Malaysia which are approximately 4555 Miles and 4447 Miles respectively from Kenya. It was an amazing roller coaster ride of breathtaking beauty and a wonderland of different foods. I went with my partner in crime, aka, the boyfriend 🙂 . It’s something we had talked about over a year ago and we finally got to go and see the 2 countries.

Petronas Towers by Day, Malaysia

Singapore by Day

Singapore was truly a remarkable place to see and I was more than impressed with the level of development in the country. It’s a very small country and the city itself is not big but the architecture and design of the capital is modern and in fact, futuristic. Singapore was extremely clean and I saw first-hand, the benefits of the “No Chewing Gum” legislation. I am a gum-chewing fool and sometimes forgot that I could face criminal charges for my love of flavoured gooey happiness.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel (view from the Singapore River)

Even with modern outlook though, there were pockets of culture in areas such as Little India, China Town and Arab street. We really chose a good time to go to Asia because it was Deepavali season (or Diwali as it is called in Kenya.) We stayed in Little India in Singapore and the streets were beautifully decorated with colourful lights. The malls in both Singapore and Malaysia were all decorated with the Deepavali theme, reminiscent of the Christmas spirit in other parts of the world. The only problem is that we missed the actual Deepavali day 😦 it was the day we were flying back to Kenya.

Deepavali décor in a mall in Kuala Lumpur

Durian Cendol – A desert with crushed ice, a little Durain fruit and kidney beans too!!! it was yummy

Sea food restaurant in Singapore.Have your pick for dinner. Lobster or Crab?

Breakfast is served om nomm nomm

From Singapore, we took a bus to Melaka town in Malaysia. Melaka is a beautiful quaint town that is ricj with the history and culture of Malaysia. Malaysia is truly a melting pot of cultures with the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures being dominant. I would say there are issues in terms of cultural equality but other than that, it is truly amazing to see so many people come together. Despite the socio-economic issues, a friend said to me food is what brings the Malaysian people together. I completely understood this after trying most of the cuisine in Malaysia including, Nyonya, Portuguese, Indian and Chinese cuisine. All the food was delicious and full of flavor and spices. If it wasn’t for all the walking I did, I would have gained like 10kgs.

 

Malaysian Traditional Dancers. (I got up on stage with them!!)

From Melaka, we travelled to Kuala Lumpur which is really developed and of course, the Petronas Towers and KL towers are unique to the skyline.  I also really enjoyed the shopping in KL. The city has huge malls and some of the stores are really not that expensive. I think it’s because of the proximity to the countries that manufacture the clothes such as China and Vietnam. We also did enjoy a night out in town and I have to add that I saw some lady boyzzz!! I kid you not! Their bodies are banging looking perfect and curvy but sometimes their faces and voices told a whole other story!!!!!

Chinatown – Designer Shopping (if you know what I mean) and food everywhere!

Singapore by Night

Petronas Towers by Night. (View from Rooftop Club)

My trip to Asia was amazing and I appreciated the friends we met who took us around. I was overwhelmed with sights, sounds and tastes. I feel like I didn’t have enough time to see everything and I hope to go back there for longer and see a lot more!! Anyway if you’ve been to Asia, where you would you recommend I go? Or if you haven’t been, where is your dream destination in Asia???

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Ngong Hills, Nairobi

I have always wished that Nairobi would have nice clean parks with paved pathways where people can go for a run or have a picnic not unlike the beautiful parks in places such as the UK or U.S.A. However, one weekend, I was reminded of the natural beauty that lies in Nairobi. The city may not have recreational parks (still a work in progress), but it does have some beautiful wild terrain. On the outskirts of Nairobi are some beautiful hills and hiking through them is nothing short of an adventure.

Ngong Hills is a serene environment and a wonderful escape from city life.  The name ‘Ngong’ comes from the Masaai word meaning ‘knuckles’. This is because the 7 hills are shaped like the knuckles of a close fist (at least this is the information obtained from the guide hehee). From the hills, a view of Nairobi city can be seen in the horizon on one side. On the other side there is a breathtaking view of another set of hills and never-ending plains of Kajiado County.

One can hike across all the 7 Ngong Hills to get the full adventurous experience. It is also possible to hike only halfway across the hills.  However, the security situation is not very good therefore it is recommended to do the hike with some escorts from the Kenya Forestry Service. The escorts are not just for protection from any thugs lurking about, but they also offer protection from wild animals. The hills are also home to a variety of wildlife including Buffalo. For all the excitement and beauty, it costs only KShs 200 to get in and the cost of the guide can be reasonably negotiated. This will definitely not break the bank.

At the top of one of the hills is a Wind Farm. I know Wind Mills may be considered an eye sore but I really love the look of them and the powerful yet gentle sound of the wind from the spinning blades. The one thing I am not a fan of (no pun intended), is the shadows they cast as they spin. Apparently, some folks in England are also worried about them giving epileptic seizures to cows. But I digress….

I would recommend a hike in Ngong hills for Nairobians and anyone who is in town. It is also great as a team building and bonding exercise. At the top of the hills, one may also find some herders taking their Goats out to graze. When I was last there peacefully looking over the hills, a group of friendly goats came by for a meal and an inspection of their guest J…. Pics please J

Hmm..not sure about this road construction…hope they keep developments minimum

Powerful Windmills..

 

and then there was the beauty…

Endless Kajiado Plains..

Nairobi in the Horizon…

The leaning tree of Ngong Hills

Where the Buffalos are..

Mr. Billy Goat and friends

Retreat from City Life…

The way back..

Crescent Island – Naivasha, Kenya

A trip to Crescent Island in Naivasha, Kenya is idyllic for a refreshing break from the hustle of Nairobi city life. The Island is generally dry savannah grassland surrounded by the waters of Lake Naivasha. This combination presents a unique and serene atmosphere. Crescent Island is an animal sanctuary boasting an array of wildlife ranging from tame Giraffes, majestic Wildebeests and submerged Hippopotami. It is truly a sight to behold and it is a wonder that this beautiful haven is not more popular.

The view from the sanctuary is breathtaking with Mount Longonot, the Aberdare Mountain ranges and the Mau escarpment surrounding the island in the horizon. Despite its name, the piece of land is accessible by road just off the Moi South Lake Road and is located a few kilometers from Naivasha town. The Island was once a volcanic crater but one side was submerged in water hence the crescent shape and road access. The more romantic route to the sanctuary is by boat from one of the Camps or Hotels by the lake. The boat ride provides an exhilarating experience and is nothing short of an adventure. It is definitely an experience for everyone to enjoy.

Pics please 🙂

 

Gazelles by the lake

Acacia Trees

Crescent Island

Lake Naivasha

Mount Longonot