These days it is really hard to find furniture made of real solid wood! Most of the furnitures sold in stores, even the chic and expensive ones, are man-made materials which don't last long. When buying a furniture my priority has always been the material and quality, and design come last. Even the feel and look of the real wood is very different. By time, real wood also gets old but each scratch comes with a story and character. Obviously, I cannot call myself interior designer, but I love looking at magazines or furniture websites. When we moved into a new place, stopping at each and every furniture store is like my passion. Not that I buy furniture all the time, but seeing different pieces give me lots of new ideas.
When we moved here, we had a big shipment, luckily we were able to bring our furniture. I believe furniture makes you feel belonged and home. After few months later, I found myself again on the road, driving around and stopping every furniture store sign!
Most of the furniture stores in Nairobi located on Mombasa Road, while you are driving you can easily spot them. They are mostly big chains, sell anything you can think of, from dining room to an office furniture. Even though they have good quality stuff (and very expensive) I am not going to write about them. I want to write about two stores I love!
First one is also located on Mombasa Rd, it is not really on the road, but accessible by Mombasa. It is a hidden gem! Name is "Odds & Ends". They bring furniture from all over the world, have new shipments every month, store display quite amount of furniture. Comparing the quality of wood and price, it is very compatible. They also sell office furniture. Even though it is located kind a far from me, I go there every couple months to see the new items. Even though I have not bought anything from there, I just love the idea of viewing new and unique pieces. The great thing about this store, it is really hard to find these pieces somewhere else. Web site www.oddskenya.com
Second one I want to write about is, locally run very small furniture store, Wilmer Furniture. It is located on Ngong Road, right after Shell Station. They have a shop where they make the furniture and also have a separate store where they display their items. I love the craftsmanship and quality of wood. You can have custom made furniture. As a customer, you are able to choose the wood, quality, color, and finish. A year back, I wanted to have a hallway table, and draw one myself with the dimensions and everything. And took it to Wilmer, they love my draw! In a month, hallway table was in my house! I was able to visit the shop on a regular basis to check on the item. They were nice enough to allow me in their work area, and happily and patiently listened to me!!! Wilmer also repairs old, worn-out furniture. I took my daughters 5 piece set of furniture to repair and paint. They made a lovely job. It looks new as ever now! They also change fabric. My next plan is to change my dining chairs fabric and have them make a coffee table. I will keep you posted on the outcome:). Web site www.wilmerfunishings.co.ke
Monday, 28 April 2014
How to start a day?
There are many ways to start a day. Some sleep if possible long hours (I do envy these people) ! Some of us run to work. Some find themselves stuck in traffic (like my poor husband). Some do not even get a sleep at all, the ones that just had a baby! Some cannot start a day without a cup of coffee or tea, like my parents:).
Me? I start a day around 7am from a little noise coming from next room, that's my 8yr old getting ready for school, around the same time, my three year old holding his blanket tightly and telling me if today is the school day or not?:) There I try to close my eyes as much as I can and pretend like sleeping may be five more minutes! No matter how much I resist, this is how my day starts! Believe or not my husband still sleeps like an angel, after all these years, I still cannot believe how his sleep can be this deep!!!! Anyway, my husband's sleep is not to subject here, right?! By this time, my son Onur, who is so obsessed with colour red, brings me any clothing he can find from his drawer and tells me 'Onur's colour red (he is still not using word 'I', instead using his name in each sentences!!!!) There I drag myself to kitchen to get the breakfast ready for my children. This is the department I created my own problem!! Instead of quick cereal, my children are so used to Turkish breakfast, that's boiled egg/omelet with feta cheese, glass of milk, fresh olives, cereal bread with honey or peanut butter! A bowl of cereal would be much easier! But I guess it is too late!!!! Being a good wife, I also make my husband's breakfast, seriously, something for a long commute, such as a sandwich, fresh fruit and a juice! And than once everybody is ready, there is the driving part to the school, a moment where my son glued to my leg each and every morning!!! Once everybody is where they need to be, without looking back, I jump on my car, and happily drive to my best and happiest destination:) I put my ipod on, play the best playlist ever, and go for a run!
Today was my new milestone with running, I saw 15km mark in my ipod, and very proud of it:) My latest personal target is run for marathon! Running once or twice a week became such a solace for me in here. After each run, I find myself feeling very accomplished, happy and reborn:)
After the run, I have a health and hearty breakfast with tea while I browse on the net for world news while watching Turkish channels:) Is not it called multi-tasking?! Then I turn my ipad on, and start writing.
How about you, how do you start your day?
Me? I start a day around 7am from a little noise coming from next room, that's my 8yr old getting ready for school, around the same time, my three year old holding his blanket tightly and telling me if today is the school day or not?:) There I try to close my eyes as much as I can and pretend like sleeping may be five more minutes! No matter how much I resist, this is how my day starts! Believe or not my husband still sleeps like an angel, after all these years, I still cannot believe how his sleep can be this deep!!!! Anyway, my husband's sleep is not to subject here, right?! By this time, my son Onur, who is so obsessed with colour red, brings me any clothing he can find from his drawer and tells me 'Onur's colour red (he is still not using word 'I', instead using his name in each sentences!!!!) There I drag myself to kitchen to get the breakfast ready for my children. This is the department I created my own problem!! Instead of quick cereal, my children are so used to Turkish breakfast, that's boiled egg/omelet with feta cheese, glass of milk, fresh olives, cereal bread with honey or peanut butter! A bowl of cereal would be much easier! But I guess it is too late!!!! Being a good wife, I also make my husband's breakfast, seriously, something for a long commute, such as a sandwich, fresh fruit and a juice! And than once everybody is ready, there is the driving part to the school, a moment where my son glued to my leg each and every morning!!! Once everybody is where they need to be, without looking back, I jump on my car, and happily drive to my best and happiest destination:) I put my ipod on, play the best playlist ever, and go for a run!
Today was my new milestone with running, I saw 15km mark in my ipod, and very proud of it:) My latest personal target is run for marathon! Running once or twice a week became such a solace for me in here. After each run, I find myself feeling very accomplished, happy and reborn:)
After the run, I have a health and hearty breakfast with tea while I browse on the net for world news while watching Turkish channels:) Is not it called multi-tasking?! Then I turn my ipad on, and start writing.
How about you, how do you start your day?
Hiking at Ngong Hills
Whenever I see an opportunity to hike/bike/run, without a hesitation, I take it!. When I heard about Ngong Hills is a perfect spot for hikers I found myself there very next day! If you love hiking and want to witness one of the best view ever, this is the place you want to go! You do not need to be athlete, but prepared! you still need some basic level of fitness! Or, you will be sore rest of the week!
Ngong Hills is one of the hill/mountain separates Ngong Village from the well known 'Masai Land'. It is located on southwest part of the city, only 22kms drive. The adventure starts at Ngong Police Station, where you need to register and get askaris (due to the safety, Ngong Hills is a major concern, it is required to get askaris/KWS rangers, rangers are very friendly and lovely people, they company you as long as you keep walking, carrying huge rifles with them!!), First 2kms from Ngong Police Station starts very fun way, and gave you an impression and thought what's the fuss about hiking in Ngong Hills! Once you get to KWS barrier that indicates start of Ngong Hills forest reserve, real thing starts!. And there you past the wind farm and the first steep lead you Radio repeater station. And steeps come one and after each other! Every time you think, the worst is over, next one is just waiting for you!!! The highest peak at Ngong Hills 2460m above see level! But it is all worthy while, once you are at top, the view is magnificent! If you are lucky enough, you can even get a glimpse of buffalos somewhere around the 3rd or 4th hill! And if the weather permits, on your right you can see the Great Rift Valley and left the City of Nairobi.
You an either hike by yourself or get a guided tour. Visitors are required to pay 200Ksh per person to Kenya Willife Service at Ngong Police Station.
If you drive, it is pretty simple, follow Ngong Road and past Dagoreti Corner in Karen, After you pass Ngong Town, keep driving until reaching Ngong Police Station (we asked around, people are happy to help you with the directions). You can even take a matatu (I read it is number 111, but pls check), from Railway Station. Make sure to take bottle of water!
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Girraffe Center in Karen
This is what I love about Africa! All these experiences are once in a lifetime, to be able to see and witness these amazing animals, the memories will stay with me whole my life! I feel very fortunate to privilege to live in Kenya...
Ok let's get back to subject:)
Giraffe Centre is located bushy part of Karen, (luckily very close to our home) it can be reached via Langata Road, all you need to do is follow the signs. The centre is opened its door to public in 1977, founded by two generous people, John and Betty Leslie Melvile. It is an educational as well as rescue institution for endangered Rothschild giraffes, and through the years it has become World famous Nature Education Centre. Centre also provides educational tours for schools.
Giraffes in nature are so beautiful, naïve and elegant. At the Centre, you can feed them by hand, and they, with their sticky and slimy tongue, are happy to splurge your hand! Kids love this place, they run and jump around with such an excitement. You can watch giraffe's walking in the bushes in a slow motion! Their movements are something to see, so slow and graceful. If you are lucky enough, you can even gently pat these creatures, and they are happy to look at your face with their big eyes and long lashes:)
Centre gets pretty crowded during the weekends, but there is enough space for everyone. There is also a small coffee for quick bite or drink. Staffs are very friendly and informative.
For more information, http://giraffecenter.org/
Ok let's get back to subject:)
Giraffe Centre is located bushy part of Karen, (luckily very close to our home) it can be reached via Langata Road, all you need to do is follow the signs. The centre is opened its door to public in 1977, founded by two generous people, John and Betty Leslie Melvile. It is an educational as well as rescue institution for endangered Rothschild giraffes, and through the years it has become World famous Nature Education Centre. Centre also provides educational tours for schools.
Giraffes in nature are so beautiful, naïve and elegant. At the Centre, you can feed them by hand, and they, with their sticky and slimy tongue, are happy to splurge your hand! Kids love this place, they run and jump around with such an excitement. You can watch giraffe's walking in the bushes in a slow motion! Their movements are something to see, so slow and graceful. If you are lucky enough, you can even gently pat these creatures, and they are happy to look at your face with their big eyes and long lashes:)
Centre gets pretty crowded during the weekends, but there is enough space for everyone. There is also a small coffee for quick bite or drink. Staffs are very friendly and informative.
For more information, http://giraffecenter.org/
Wonderful Animal Orphanage, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
This is one of the most memorable place! It is amazing to see these little (by age they are little, but not by size:)) baby elephants, and how they play in the mud with peers or they drink milk from huge baby bottles! It is always a great feeling to see wild animals, but be able to watch baby elephants up this close is so much fun. I went there so many times but never bored of it:)
Visiting David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a must when visiting Nairobi. It is one of the most successful animal orphanage rehabilitation and rescue program in the world. Founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, dedicated, caring and animal lover. To this date, Orphanage has raised more than 150 rescued infant elephants.
Make sure to visit during the feeding time, it is between 11-12, so make sure to be there on time. Orphanage offers a wonderful opportunity to adopt a baby elephant for just $50 per year, and you become a foster parent:) It is a wonderful opportunity for kids to be part of such a wonderful cause. My kids loved it when they saw this little cute creatures in their rooms with their care givers, and understand the importance of conservancy of wildlife. Orphanage is very well managed, and provides wonderful and caring home for infant elephants. The trust has loving and caring staff. Each baby elephant comes with its own story and name. Even though it is a short visit, it is worth to see.
There are also orphaned rhinos at the center, not as many as elephants though. Unfortunately because of poaching (for their ivory and horn...), rhinos populations have been dramatically reduced in past years. But orphanages like David Sheldrick plays a such an important role for raising and reintegrating these amazing animals back to the wildlife.
For more information: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp
Visiting David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a must when visiting Nairobi. It is one of the most successful animal orphanage rehabilitation and rescue program in the world. Founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, dedicated, caring and animal lover. To this date, Orphanage has raised more than 150 rescued infant elephants.
Make sure to visit during the feeding time, it is between 11-12, so make sure to be there on time. Orphanage offers a wonderful opportunity to adopt a baby elephant for just $50 per year, and you become a foster parent:) It is a wonderful opportunity for kids to be part of such a wonderful cause. My kids loved it when they saw this little cute creatures in their rooms with their care givers, and understand the importance of conservancy of wildlife. Orphanage is very well managed, and provides wonderful and caring home for infant elephants. The trust has loving and caring staff. Each baby elephant comes with its own story and name. Even though it is a short visit, it is worth to see.
There are also orphaned rhinos at the center, not as many as elephants though. Unfortunately because of poaching (for their ivory and horn...), rhinos populations have been dramatically reduced in past years. But orphanages like David Sheldrick plays a such an important role for raising and reintegrating these amazing animals back to the wildlife.
For more information: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp
Friday, 25 April 2014
Is travel way of life?
Travelling has always been my passion, after I met with my husband, we discovered, we both love the idea of seeing many places as we can. Even when we had little money in our pockets, we still travelled around, but on a budget:) I remember our adventures in US, when we were in our early twenties, we travelled by car for 10 hours just to see Niagara Falls or Finger Lakes in upstate NewYork or Charleston in South Carolina. How can I forget cheapest flight by South West Airlines to El Paso, Texas, only $20!!!!. When you are single or have no kids, sky is the limit! You do not have to have too much money! That's why I always admired backpackers, I wish I could have done something like that when I was young ( to be honest I am not that adventures' or brave, my being adventures' has limits!!!) So, whenever I see these young people around, it makes me take a deep breath, with a big smile on my face:)
I love everything about travelling, picking a spot, reading and searching all over the web, browsing on tripadvisor to get people's reviews, finding a hotel, getting the best price from expedia:) what to pack, what to see, restaurants, and most importantly to be able to talk to locals. Travelling is all about encounters, with new faces and their cultures. Most importantly, with yourself. With each travel opportunity, you get to learn and grow from the experiences. Learning is lifetime, about the world, differences, humanity, and yes about myself...
Having kids did not stop us much, it became expensive though:) When we were expecting our son, Onur, we travelled to Phuket Island, I still remember how uncomfortable it was travelling 6 months pregnant!!!! He was only 3 months old, when we went to Berlin, and neither breastfeeding or carrying him in Baby Bjorn ( by the way he was a big baby!!!) did not stop me!! While my husband was in the meetings, I was putting my than 4 year old daughter in a stroller and walking from museum to museum, at the same time trying to figuring out metro railway!! Bad news is, now Onur is over 3 yr old, we do not fit into one room! We have to stay in suites, isn't that something!!!!!
I think, love for travelling and living in different countries go hand in hand. Probably, because of that, changing houses, cities or even countries never seem too far from me. I still love the idea to live in another country, but probably because of having two children and ageing (yes I except, numbers are just keep increasing!!!), I do have limits and standards now.
Bon Voyage:)
Some pictures from my camera:)
That's real peacock:) My son got so obsessed with it:) 
A little visitor (not so little!!!) on my cucumbers
Biggest cactus I have ever seen!
They are pretty handy here, great security measure:) You can easily spot many of them right outside the compound walls!
New Blog, Life Coaching
Ok I figured I cannot create tabs that can display separate posts in blogger! That would have been much easier! After little bit of online education, trial and errors, I decided to create a separate blog for 'life coaching'. It is on top left corner, just simply click on it, it will direct you into lifecoaching blog. Hope, it will be easier to navigate around.
Not sure how often I will post into this new blog, so we will see. There are few formatting changes I want to make.
Not sure how often I will post into this new blog, so we will see. There are few formatting changes I want to make.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Exiting new tab is coming soon:)
I have been planning creating a website for my life coaching practice, I even started it, but somehow never finished it.
Do not you also sometimes feel this way? You start on something but for some reason it drags on and on...For some reason your heart and mind is not there yet. This is how I feel about it.
Over a year now, writing on my blog became such a passion for me, it keeps me very busy:) And I am loving it:)
I still want to create a page about life coaching though. So here is my idea, instead of a web page, I will have another tab in my blog as a start, and will share with you some tips, ideas and experiences about life. There is so much information out there, I believe you will find them helpful, who knows may be one day, we can even chat about it:)
Do not you also sometimes feel this way? You start on something but for some reason it drags on and on...For some reason your heart and mind is not there yet. This is how I feel about it.
Over a year now, writing on my blog became such a passion for me, it keeps me very busy:) And I am loving it:)
I still want to create a page about life coaching though. So here is my idea, instead of a web page, I will have another tab in my blog as a start, and will share with you some tips, ideas and experiences about life. There is so much information out there, I believe you will find them helpful, who knows may be one day, we can even chat about it:)
Physical activities at school, is it too much??
At my daughter's school, physical activities are five days a week, one day they have swimming class, and other days they have team games, or run in the field. As a person who works-out regularly, and believing importance of staying active, not sure if five days a week schedule too much or not, for this age group.
Yesterday, they (kids aging 6-10) had 2km run! And they all were brave enough to see the "finish" lane:) It was not an easy job, and I was very proud to see them either run or walk, and finish it no matter what:) Unfortunately, I cannot make a comparison, since my daughter started her primary in Kenya. And I think comparing with my childhood wont be a good idea, because I came from a totally different background! We had no physical activity in primary whatsoever! May be that's why I question it? On the other hand, I was reading a health journal couple days ago, and statistics are showing that the numbers are significantly high for knee injuries in young children. Do not we all need a balance in every stages of our lives??
Yesterday, they (kids aging 6-10) had 2km run! And they all were brave enough to see the "finish" lane:) It was not an easy job, and I was very proud to see them either run or walk, and finish it no matter what:) Unfortunately, I cannot make a comparison, since my daughter started her primary in Kenya. And I think comparing with my childhood wont be a good idea, because I came from a totally different background! We had no physical activity in primary whatsoever! May be that's why I question it? On the other hand, I was reading a health journal couple days ago, and statistics are showing that the numbers are significantly high for knee injuries in young children. Do not we all need a balance in every stages of our lives??
Things to do in Dubai
There is so much information on the web for Dubai, probably it is one of the most tourist friendly city in the world. So I have done my research before our trip and made a list of 'things to do'. Since we have two kids, our activities mainly focused for our children. So make sure to check Dubai calendar of events before your trip. It is a great tool!
www.dubaicalendar.ae
Difference between regular mall and malls in Dubai is, they are purely entertainment centers, not only for shopping! Most of the attractions are located inside of the malls. Here is my list:
1- Mall of Emirates: Mall of Emirates has many activities, one of the famous one is 'Ski Dubai'. Probably, there not many people left on earth that have not heard about Ski Dubai! I remember the news when it was opened few years back. And until I saw it with my own eyes, it did not make much of a sense. Obviously it is fake:) but such a great idea, right? Bringing the ski in the middle of dessert! Sometimes, having money is not enough, you gotta have a vision! While we were there, it was packed with tourists and locals (there are not really locals! Expats or the immigrants who come for work to Dubai count as "locals"!'You do not get to see real locals in Dubai:)). Anyway, we did not do the ski, we did "Penguin Encounter". And let me tell you something, not only kids but also we loved it too:) To be able to touch and hug these small cute creatures was a life time experience:) Expect to pay quite a price tag for it, but money goes to the foundation:) Ski Dubai also has "ski school"! Whether you visit the penguins or ski, all necessary equipments are provided and included in the fee. There is also a large movie complex, an art centre and indoor family entertainment centre in Mall of Emirates. There are may be not hundreds but tons of restaurants inside, even the food court is very upscale! For up to date information, visit website www.malloftheemirates.com
2- Dubai Mall: It is one of the largest shopping mall in the world! When we were taking a stroll,
we were not able to pass by from the same spot! Do not tell anyone:), but we even got lost inside!!!
It is easy to spend all day in Dubai Mall, not because of shopping, but activities keep you very busy! And here is a big confession, I did not shop! Did not even step inside any of the stores! And I am very proud of it:)
- KidZania: Such a fun place for children. Expecially my 7 yr old loved it! Kids get to play grownups, there are 80 different roles to play, each activity takes somewhere around 20-30 minutes. It is very crowded during weekends (remember, weekend in UAE is Friday and Saturday, Sunday is a work day!). Be prepared to spend at least 3-4 hr! Kids run from one corner to another one! Coolest thing, when they work, for an example as a police officer, children get to be pay and they can spend KidZania money for something they like. My daughter loved the idea, but when she tried to buy Monster High with her money and could not, she was disappointed:)
- Ice Rink: Another fun activity for children, even for adults! Try to do during non rush hour, because fee changes dramatically! It was my daughter's first time on ice rink, and she loved it! So whole family had to watch and wait for her for three hours, she just did not want to go:)
- "At the Top", Burj Khalifa: Probably, you also heard about this, tallest building on earth! If you want to take a 360 degree of view from 124th floor, this is the place for you! Not sure what you can see from that high! but since it is very popular, surely it is gotta to be an experience! I am not a fan of high rise buildings, honestly they make me very nervous, so we did not do this one! But I saw the line, and tickets were sold out for two days! It is not a cheap activity by the way! If you plan to go up, make sure to purchase your tickets ahead.
I recently watched on AlJazeera that skydivers jumped from the top of Burj Khalifa, definitely gotta watch it on youtube!
- Dubai Aquarium: It was the one of the biggest water tank I have ever seen! Dubai Aquarium has more than 33,000 living creatures and 400 of them are sharks! Aquarium is located in the centre of Dubai Mall. Without buying another pricey ticket, you can still view these amazing creatures! During the weekends it is packed with tourists who are trying to take a selfie in front of it:)
- Dubai Fountain: It is basically a water show in a man made lake, like the one in Vegas, I think this one is more spectacular, and good news you do not have to pay to watch it!!!! Fountain shoots water somewhere around 100-150 meters high! Show runs during the daytime and nighttime. I definitely recommend night show, it starts at 7pm and runs every 30 minutes! At dark, it was pretty impressive with large fountain lightnings! I read that the beam of light shining can be seen 20 miles away! Try to be there 10-15 minutes before, because it gets too crowded! From the same spot, you can also view Burj Khalifa! There is also a lake ride with a price tag:)
For more up to date information, visit http://www.thedubaimall.com/
3- Dubai Harbour/Marina: Dubai Marina is an artificial city, build along 3km strech of shoreline. Since we stayed at marina area, it was very convenient for us. Kids were able to run and jump freely. We also did marina boat tour for half an hour, it was a very nice ride, it goes all the way at the end. You can also go to the shoreline, see the famous 'Palm Island' or Burj Al Arab. Luxury apartment buildings are surrounding the marina area, you can see people jogging or taking a stroll with their children. There are many restaurants, offering different type of cuisines. There is also a mall, Dubai Marina.
4- Dolphin Bay: This is one of the top activity in the city. We found it very expensive (my daughter was very upset, I am sure this is a great experience but we were not not willing to pay $140 per person for half an hour swim, and adults have to company children!) , so cannot provide personal views on it. It is located in Atlantis-The Palm and heard so much about it. If you stay at Atlantis, you pay less, and for more information, visit
http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/marineandwaterpark/dolphinbay.aspx?CID=sm_gplaces_dolphinbay
5- Beach: We did not have time for beach, but from our hotel room window, I can easily say beaches are very crowded and popular any day of the week! There are few public beaches in Dubai and because of lack of facilities, they are not really recommended. So beaches are private, therefore to get in, you have to pay a fee. If you plan to go to the beach, try to go weekdays because there is a big fee difference. Hotels located on the shoreline have beautiful beaches and you can also use their pools. Hotel concierges are very knowledgeable, they can provide lots of information. Most popular one is Jumeriah Beach Park.
6- Water Parks: There are three water parks in Dubai. Great place to spend all day in hot weather. All of them offers different experiences for visitors. My children loves to play in water, and it is never enough for them. There are different activities for each age group. Further information I recommend to check each ones web site. List of water parks:
- Wild Wadi Water Park---this is the most popular one!
- Aquaventure Water Park---it is huge, one day cannot be enough!
- Wonderland Water Park
You can also check http://www.timeoutdubai.com/kids/features/8139-best-waterparks-in-Dubai
There are still many activities I did not cover in here such as safari in dessert, hot air balloon ride, race course, High Tea at Burj Al Arab, Dubai Museum and much more. So definitely recommend you to check www.tripadvisor.com
www.dubaicalendar.ae
Difference between regular mall and malls in Dubai is, they are purely entertainment centers, not only for shopping! Most of the attractions are located inside of the malls. Here is my list:
1- Mall of Emirates: Mall of Emirates has many activities, one of the famous one is 'Ski Dubai'. Probably, there not many people left on earth that have not heard about Ski Dubai! I remember the news when it was opened few years back. And until I saw it with my own eyes, it did not make much of a sense. Obviously it is fake:) but such a great idea, right? Bringing the ski in the middle of dessert! Sometimes, having money is not enough, you gotta have a vision! While we were there, it was packed with tourists and locals (there are not really locals! Expats or the immigrants who come for work to Dubai count as "locals"!'You do not get to see real locals in Dubai:)). Anyway, we did not do the ski, we did "Penguin Encounter". And let me tell you something, not only kids but also we loved it too:) To be able to touch and hug these small cute creatures was a life time experience:) Expect to pay quite a price tag for it, but money goes to the foundation:) Ski Dubai also has "ski school"! Whether you visit the penguins or ski, all necessary equipments are provided and included in the fee. There is also a large movie complex, an art centre and indoor family entertainment centre in Mall of Emirates. There are may be not hundreds but tons of restaurants inside, even the food court is very upscale! For up to date information, visit website www.malloftheemirates.com
2- Dubai Mall: It is one of the largest shopping mall in the world! When we were taking a stroll,
we were not able to pass by from the same spot! Do not tell anyone:), but we even got lost inside!!!
It is easy to spend all day in Dubai Mall, not because of shopping, but activities keep you very busy! And here is a big confession, I did not shop! Did not even step inside any of the stores! And I am very proud of it:)
- KidZania: Such a fun place for children. Expecially my 7 yr old loved it! Kids get to play grownups, there are 80 different roles to play, each activity takes somewhere around 20-30 minutes. It is very crowded during weekends (remember, weekend in UAE is Friday and Saturday, Sunday is a work day!). Be prepared to spend at least 3-4 hr! Kids run from one corner to another one! Coolest thing, when they work, for an example as a police officer, children get to be pay and they can spend KidZania money for something they like. My daughter loved the idea, but when she tried to buy Monster High with her money and could not, she was disappointed:)
- Ice Rink: Another fun activity for children, even for adults! Try to do during non rush hour, because fee changes dramatically! It was my daughter's first time on ice rink, and she loved it! So whole family had to watch and wait for her for three hours, she just did not want to go:)
- "At the Top", Burj Khalifa: Probably, you also heard about this, tallest building on earth! If you want to take a 360 degree of view from 124th floor, this is the place for you! Not sure what you can see from that high! but since it is very popular, surely it is gotta to be an experience! I am not a fan of high rise buildings, honestly they make me very nervous, so we did not do this one! But I saw the line, and tickets were sold out for two days! It is not a cheap activity by the way! If you plan to go up, make sure to purchase your tickets ahead.
I recently watched on AlJazeera that skydivers jumped from the top of Burj Khalifa, definitely gotta watch it on youtube!
- Dubai Aquarium: It was the one of the biggest water tank I have ever seen! Dubai Aquarium has more than 33,000 living creatures and 400 of them are sharks! Aquarium is located in the centre of Dubai Mall. Without buying another pricey ticket, you can still view these amazing creatures! During the weekends it is packed with tourists who are trying to take a selfie in front of it:)
- Dubai Fountain: It is basically a water show in a man made lake, like the one in Vegas, I think this one is more spectacular, and good news you do not have to pay to watch it!!!! Fountain shoots water somewhere around 100-150 meters high! Show runs during the daytime and nighttime. I definitely recommend night show, it starts at 7pm and runs every 30 minutes! At dark, it was pretty impressive with large fountain lightnings! I read that the beam of light shining can be seen 20 miles away! Try to be there 10-15 minutes before, because it gets too crowded! From the same spot, you can also view Burj Khalifa! There is also a lake ride with a price tag:)
For more up to date information, visit http://www.thedubaimall.com/
3- Dubai Harbour/Marina: Dubai Marina is an artificial city, build along 3km strech of shoreline. Since we stayed at marina area, it was very convenient for us. Kids were able to run and jump freely. We also did marina boat tour for half an hour, it was a very nice ride, it goes all the way at the end. You can also go to the shoreline, see the famous 'Palm Island' or Burj Al Arab. Luxury apartment buildings are surrounding the marina area, you can see people jogging or taking a stroll with their children. There are many restaurants, offering different type of cuisines. There is also a mall, Dubai Marina.
4- Dolphin Bay: This is one of the top activity in the city. We found it very expensive (my daughter was very upset, I am sure this is a great experience but we were not not willing to pay $140 per person for half an hour swim, and adults have to company children!) , so cannot provide personal views on it. It is located in Atlantis-The Palm and heard so much about it. If you stay at Atlantis, you pay less, and for more information, visit
http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/marineandwaterpark/dolphinbay.aspx?CID=sm_gplaces_dolphinbay
5- Beach: We did not have time for beach, but from our hotel room window, I can easily say beaches are very crowded and popular any day of the week! There are few public beaches in Dubai and because of lack of facilities, they are not really recommended. So beaches are private, therefore to get in, you have to pay a fee. If you plan to go to the beach, try to go weekdays because there is a big fee difference. Hotels located on the shoreline have beautiful beaches and you can also use their pools. Hotel concierges are very knowledgeable, they can provide lots of information. Most popular one is Jumeriah Beach Park.
6- Water Parks: There are three water parks in Dubai. Great place to spend all day in hot weather. All of them offers different experiences for visitors. My children loves to play in water, and it is never enough for them. There are different activities for each age group. Further information I recommend to check each ones web site. List of water parks:
- Wild Wadi Water Park---this is the most popular one!
- Aquaventure Water Park---it is huge, one day cannot be enough!
- Wonderland Water Park
You can also check http://www.timeoutdubai.com/kids/features/8139-best-waterparks-in-Dubai
There are still many activities I did not cover in here such as safari in dessert, hot air balloon ride, race course, High Tea at Burj Al Arab, Dubai Museum and much more. So definitely recommend you to check www.tripadvisor.com
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Hotels in Dubai--Mariott Harbour & Suites
Like most of leisure activities in Dubai, accommodation is also very pricey. After asking friends in Dubai, we decided to stay in marina area and made our decision on Mariott Harbour & Suites.
There are hundreds of hotel choices in Dubai. Some hotel chains have 4-5 options in Dubai! When we said to our taxi driver 'Mariott please', he asked which one, because there were already 10 Mariotts in the city!
I searched internet and found these amazing statistics!
- In year 2011 there were 575 hotels and hotel apartment buildings in Dubai!
- In year 2013, there were 11 million visitors to Dubai!
- Throughout the year, hotel occupancy on average is %75!
I think these explain why there are still ongoing hotel constructions in Dubai! And constructions are nonstop, 7/24!!!
If you want to be close to the marina, beach or mall, expect to pay more. There are cheaper options around, but you still have to pay for bus/metro ride to the activity points. Majority of the hotels have pool, gym, at least few restaurants in them! Majority offers free shuttle services. Make sure to check if your hotel offer free shuttle services, because it makes a big difference! Alcohol serving is prohibited outside of the hotel, you cannot drink alcohol anywhere else (remember this is a Muslim country, and Sharia plays an important role in the UAE) so restaurants are packed inside of the hotels. Even though Mariott Harbour & Suite cannot be counted as one if the biggest ones (from Dubai standards!), it has three restaurants and lounge/bar.
Buildings are mainly skyscrapers, 30+more floors! While we were taking a stroll along the marina, and I looked up one point, there I lost my sight! because metal high rise buildings cover the blue sky!!
Some of the big chain hotels locate inside of the malls, such as Kempinski, it is in Mall of Emirates.
Mariott Harbour&Suites is located in Marina area. It has three restaurants, top level lounge and a bar. As you can understand from its name, it has only suite rooms that are occupied with full kitchen, living area, 2-3 bedrooms. Ideal for family of four, like us! Kids have lots of space to run around:) Mariott offers daily free shuttle services to main attractions, shuttle service run on time and smoothly. Most of the hotels I searched did not include breakfast in their daily rates, including our hotel. In Mariott, breakfast was buffet style, rich, fresh and nice one! It typically cost $80 for two adults (no charge for children). There are also cheaper options outside the hotel. Such as local shops for tourists where you can get a quick bite and fresh coffee/tea. Hotel has a nice pool with beach view, spa and a gym. We used the pool, service was very nice, they provide towels, also serve food of course with a charge! Concierge service was very professional and friendly. We did not dine at the hotel restaurant, there are so many options in marina or every corner, but it had nice reviews from the customers.
If you plan to visit Dubai, make sure to do your search! I definitely recommend tripadvisor! I use it all the time!
There are hundreds of hotel choices in Dubai. Some hotel chains have 4-5 options in Dubai! When we said to our taxi driver 'Mariott please', he asked which one, because there were already 10 Mariotts in the city!
I searched internet and found these amazing statistics!
- In year 2011 there were 575 hotels and hotel apartment buildings in Dubai!
- In year 2013, there were 11 million visitors to Dubai!
- Throughout the year, hotel occupancy on average is %75!
I think these explain why there are still ongoing hotel constructions in Dubai! And constructions are nonstop, 7/24!!!
If you want to be close to the marina, beach or mall, expect to pay more. There are cheaper options around, but you still have to pay for bus/metro ride to the activity points. Majority of the hotels have pool, gym, at least few restaurants in them! Majority offers free shuttle services. Make sure to check if your hotel offer free shuttle services, because it makes a big difference! Alcohol serving is prohibited outside of the hotel, you cannot drink alcohol anywhere else (remember this is a Muslim country, and Sharia plays an important role in the UAE) so restaurants are packed inside of the hotels. Even though Mariott Harbour & Suite cannot be counted as one if the biggest ones (from Dubai standards!), it has three restaurants and lounge/bar.
Buildings are mainly skyscrapers, 30+more floors! While we were taking a stroll along the marina, and I looked up one point, there I lost my sight! because metal high rise buildings cover the blue sky!!
Some of the big chain hotels locate inside of the malls, such as Kempinski, it is in Mall of Emirates.
Mariott Harbour&Suites is located in Marina area. It has three restaurants, top level lounge and a bar. As you can understand from its name, it has only suite rooms that are occupied with full kitchen, living area, 2-3 bedrooms. Ideal for family of four, like us! Kids have lots of space to run around:) Mariott offers daily free shuttle services to main attractions, shuttle service run on time and smoothly. Most of the hotels I searched did not include breakfast in their daily rates, including our hotel. In Mariott, breakfast was buffet style, rich, fresh and nice one! It typically cost $80 for two adults (no charge for children). There are also cheaper options outside the hotel. Such as local shops for tourists where you can get a quick bite and fresh coffee/tea. Hotel has a nice pool with beach view, spa and a gym. We used the pool, service was very nice, they provide towels, also serve food of course with a charge! Concierge service was very professional and friendly. We did not dine at the hotel restaurant, there are so many options in marina or every corner, but it had nice reviews from the customers.
If you plan to visit Dubai, make sure to do your search! I definitely recommend tripadvisor! I use it all the time!
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
From Nairobi to Dubai
Finally I made the much anticipated Dubai trip! Heard and read so much about it, and had to see it with my own eyes!
Where to start? Ok, from Nairobi, Emirates fly to Dubai everyday, the flight leaves in the afternoon, arrives at night and it is a nonstop 5 hr. flight, (remember there is a one hour difference). The flight was full, probably because of Easter Holiday.
I have seen many Emirates commercials and probably because of that my expectations were high! Unfortunately it has not met with reality!! For some reason inside of the plane was freezing! I felt like we were flying to Antarctica instead of Dubai! All the passengers including me complained about the freezing low temperature but nothing has changed, throughout the flight I was under two blankets!!!!! And imagine, five hours under the blanket, at one point I saw people covering their whole body with blankets, from head to toe (including my husband)! After very uncomfortable flight, we arrived Dubai International Airport. This was the biggest airport I have seen so far. Since plane parked somewhere at the back, it took 10-15 minutes to get to the building by shuttle! Once we were inside, noticed there are 3 terminals and they are 8km from each other! Once we stepped in, I saw Emirates provides stroller for travelers with kids, it is much appreciated if you have two small children like me:) Honestly, I jumped one of them right away! There were queues/lines in every corner, passports lines, luggage lines, taxi lines, and comparing with amount of travelers there were not much waiting period. Good news is, rules are strictly applied and so everything works smoothly.
When we were at the door waiting for our taxi, temperature was somewhere around 30-31C. It was purely dry hot weather, can it be because we were in dessert:) There was also little bit of breeze, which felt so good! Our friendly and talkative taxi driver said were very lucky with the weather, breeze was such a luxury in this time of the year. As long as there is no humidity I have no complain for hot weather:)
Because we arrived at night time, there was not any traffic on the way to our hotel, Mariott Harbour & Suites. It took 30 minutes by taxi to get to Harbour/Marina area. There I got shocked, may be not shocked but surprised to see so many people walking (something you get unfamiliar--walking outside--when you live in Africa, and after two years probably I adapted way to much:)). Some people dressed for night clubbing ladies in high heels! some people were returning from the beach, and some were just taking a stroll with their children. From airport to marina, there were restaurants in every corner, and majority was full with diners.
Where to start? Ok, from Nairobi, Emirates fly to Dubai everyday, the flight leaves in the afternoon, arrives at night and it is a nonstop 5 hr. flight, (remember there is a one hour difference). The flight was full, probably because of Easter Holiday.
I have seen many Emirates commercials and probably because of that my expectations were high! Unfortunately it has not met with reality!! For some reason inside of the plane was freezing! I felt like we were flying to Antarctica instead of Dubai! All the passengers including me complained about the freezing low temperature but nothing has changed, throughout the flight I was under two blankets!!!!! And imagine, five hours under the blanket, at one point I saw people covering their whole body with blankets, from head to toe (including my husband)! After very uncomfortable flight, we arrived Dubai International Airport. This was the biggest airport I have seen so far. Since plane parked somewhere at the back, it took 10-15 minutes to get to the building by shuttle! Once we were inside, noticed there are 3 terminals and they are 8km from each other! Once we stepped in, I saw Emirates provides stroller for travelers with kids, it is much appreciated if you have two small children like me:) Honestly, I jumped one of them right away! There were queues/lines in every corner, passports lines, luggage lines, taxi lines, and comparing with amount of travelers there were not much waiting period. Good news is, rules are strictly applied and so everything works smoothly.
When we were at the door waiting for our taxi, temperature was somewhere around 30-31C. It was purely dry hot weather, can it be because we were in dessert:) There was also little bit of breeze, which felt so good! Our friendly and talkative taxi driver said were very lucky with the weather, breeze was such a luxury in this time of the year. As long as there is no humidity I have no complain for hot weather:)
Because we arrived at night time, there was not any traffic on the way to our hotel, Mariott Harbour & Suites. It took 30 minutes by taxi to get to Harbour/Marina area. There I got shocked, may be not shocked but surprised to see so many people walking (something you get unfamiliar--walking outside--when you live in Africa, and after two years probably I adapted way to much:)). Some people dressed for night clubbing ladies in high heels! some people were returning from the beach, and some were just taking a stroll with their children. From airport to marina, there were restaurants in every corner, and majority was full with diners.
Chat with Organic Farmer---Lilian Kanari
I have been Kalimoni Greens`s regular customer for two years now.
One day while I was driving on Ngong Road, name got my attention on the little shopping arcade in Karen. And since than, I give basket orders via email and they deliver my basket following day, such a convenience:) I love fresh organic produce, the smell and the taste, more important, using sustainable agriculture practices in the farm . Unfortunately, there is not high demand in Kenya for organic food, it is progressing slowly. In few years, I have no doubt it will double the numbers.
I have been planning to talk to Lilian for a long time and get her story behind organic farming. When I listened her story, was very impressed and amazed by her courage and love for farming. I had a chat with Lilian, hope you will find it interesting and informative.
1-Lilian, please tell us little bit about yourself? 'I am a mother of two, was born and raised in Nairobi. My parents owned a farm, and that's where I grow-up. I studied Financial Economics in UK and lived there for five years. Shortly after graduation, I returned back to Kenya, started to work as a banker. After few years working for major banks in Nairobi, I decided to continue my career in hotel business and worked in management for 13 years.
2- How and when did you start your business? "While I was working in hotel management, I never liked the food. Since we already had an organic farm (very small size by that time) I offered to bring some potatoes from our farm and hotel management loved it! Unfortunately, they were not willing to pay little bit of extra for organic produce but it gave me the courage to start my own business. With my father's encouragement, I have decided to open a store, (Kalimoni Greens is still located at the same location, Karen Park on Ngong Rd). Because I was in hotel management for 13 years, I had quite amount of customer base already, and they became my first customers. Every month, I have started to plant new vegetables and fruits into my farm and implemented organic farming practices from the very first day. I also employed a great team of people from Kenya Institute of Organic Farming. When I started my business, which was seven years ago, Karen was further away, so I decided to do "door to door" delivery, and my customers loved it! When we started our company, we were only three people, now we are a company of 8 and growing! Kalimoni Greens has 80 number of veggies/fruits certified as "organic"."
3- What is organic farming? What are the differences between regular farming and organic farming?
"Basic difference between conventional and organic farming is, in organic farming there are no chemical fertilisers, hormones, GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) and pesticides. In organic produce there are no chemicals, in the preparation there is little additives as possible. Organic does not only taste different it also has a more different look of it, such as veggies and fruits are not in perfect colours and shapes! Organic eggs are easy to see the difference, conventional ones are same colours and same sizes, organic egg comes with different colours and sizes and yolk is purely yellow. Especially in organic poultry, there are strict limits on GMO, antibiotics and hormones. Remember the word 'free range', it means chickens and chicks walk freely and behave naturally!"
4- Where is organic produce in Kenya now? "In a nut shell, Kenya has not more than 8000-10,000 hectares of organic farm. Unfortunately there are not many statistics out for public. We still need to do lots of work to do, such as putting new regulations and legislation in place.Organic farms are mainly located central and eastern parts of Kenya."
5- Who regulates organic farming in Kenya? And what are the requirements to be qualified as "organic farmer" in Kenya? "There are two agencies in place, Ministry of Agriculture and Kenya Organic Agricultural Network. It is half funded privately and half funded by the government. We, organic farmers, just recently had a meeting with government agency to regulate the organic farming, in Kenya. Now, organic farming certification is done by private organisation called "Encert". For example, our farm has been inspected by Encert. Kalimoni Greens practise has been checked, if we do the business by the standards, and we have these visit on a regular basis."
6-Where do you see organic produce in Kenya in next five years? "We, organic farmers, plan to reach to Kenyan people, to make sure they understand the importance of eating organic produce. We also want to increase the hectare of organic farming. We would like to empower people and give resource back to organic farming.
Personally, I would like to increase my customer base, provide more jobs to Kenyan people, make organic produce prices cheaper, than I can reach higher number of customers, and I also plan to extend my business to other regions."
For more information, please visit http://www.kalimonigreens.com/
One day while I was driving on Ngong Road, name got my attention on the little shopping arcade in Karen. And since than, I give basket orders via email and they deliver my basket following day, such a convenience:) I love fresh organic produce, the smell and the taste, more important, using sustainable agriculture practices in the farm . Unfortunately, there is not high demand in Kenya for organic food, it is progressing slowly. In few years, I have no doubt it will double the numbers.
I have been planning to talk to Lilian for a long time and get her story behind organic farming. When I listened her story, was very impressed and amazed by her courage and love for farming. I had a chat with Lilian, hope you will find it interesting and informative.
1-Lilian, please tell us little bit about yourself? 'I am a mother of two, was born and raised in Nairobi. My parents owned a farm, and that's where I grow-up. I studied Financial Economics in UK and lived there for five years. Shortly after graduation, I returned back to Kenya, started to work as a banker. After few years working for major banks in Nairobi, I decided to continue my career in hotel business and worked in management for 13 years.
2- How and when did you start your business? "While I was working in hotel management, I never liked the food. Since we already had an organic farm (very small size by that time) I offered to bring some potatoes from our farm and hotel management loved it! Unfortunately, they were not willing to pay little bit of extra for organic produce but it gave me the courage to start my own business. With my father's encouragement, I have decided to open a store, (Kalimoni Greens is still located at the same location, Karen Park on Ngong Rd). Because I was in hotel management for 13 years, I had quite amount of customer base already, and they became my first customers. Every month, I have started to plant new vegetables and fruits into my farm and implemented organic farming practices from the very first day. I also employed a great team of people from Kenya Institute of Organic Farming. When I started my business, which was seven years ago, Karen was further away, so I decided to do "door to door" delivery, and my customers loved it! When we started our company, we were only three people, now we are a company of 8 and growing! Kalimoni Greens has 80 number of veggies/fruits certified as "organic"."
3- What is organic farming? What are the differences between regular farming and organic farming?
"Basic difference between conventional and organic farming is, in organic farming there are no chemical fertilisers, hormones, GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) and pesticides. In organic produce there are no chemicals, in the preparation there is little additives as possible. Organic does not only taste different it also has a more different look of it, such as veggies and fruits are not in perfect colours and shapes! Organic eggs are easy to see the difference, conventional ones are same colours and same sizes, organic egg comes with different colours and sizes and yolk is purely yellow. Especially in organic poultry, there are strict limits on GMO, antibiotics and hormones. Remember the word 'free range', it means chickens and chicks walk freely and behave naturally!"
4- Where is organic produce in Kenya now? "In a nut shell, Kenya has not more than 8000-10,000 hectares of organic farm. Unfortunately there are not many statistics out for public. We still need to do lots of work to do, such as putting new regulations and legislation in place.Organic farms are mainly located central and eastern parts of Kenya."
5- Who regulates organic farming in Kenya? And what are the requirements to be qualified as "organic farmer" in Kenya? "There are two agencies in place, Ministry of Agriculture and Kenya Organic Agricultural Network. It is half funded privately and half funded by the government. We, organic farmers, just recently had a meeting with government agency to regulate the organic farming, in Kenya. Now, organic farming certification is done by private organisation called "Encert". For example, our farm has been inspected by Encert. Kalimoni Greens practise has been checked, if we do the business by the standards, and we have these visit on a regular basis."
6-Where do you see organic produce in Kenya in next five years? "We, organic farmers, plan to reach to Kenyan people, to make sure they understand the importance of eating organic produce. We also want to increase the hectare of organic farming. We would like to empower people and give resource back to organic farming.
Personally, I would like to increase my customer base, provide more jobs to Kenyan people, make organic produce prices cheaper, than I can reach higher number of customers, and I also plan to extend my business to other regions."
For more information, please visit http://www.kalimonigreens.com/
I am back!
Spent 5 days in Dubai and we are back! Schools are open, and I started my day with daily morning school stop. My daughter just run into her class without looking back! Cannot say the same thing for my son! He was just glued to my leg:) I could not even move, my leg and him was one whole piece!
When there is a long break it is expected with toddlers, I now know after having two children!! Luckily, since big sister also goes to school, with a big smiley face, he did not fuss about it that much:) We said goodbye to each other, it took longer than usual though!!!
Than, I went to my other daily routine, the studio! I missed my worked with just few days, but my body said otherwise!!! It felt like ages! I will probably be sore until the end of the week!
Surprisingly, weather is so hot and heard it has not rained at all, who does not believe global warming!
I cannot wait to write about Dubai, so much to talk about:) But I have two drafts waiting to be finished! I also have new plans on writing:) So expect to see lots of posting on my blog soon!
When there is a long break it is expected with toddlers, I now know after having two children!! Luckily, since big sister also goes to school, with a big smiley face, he did not fuss about it that much:) We said goodbye to each other, it took longer than usual though!!!
Than, I went to my other daily routine, the studio! I missed my worked with just few days, but my body said otherwise!!! It felt like ages! I will probably be sore until the end of the week!
Surprisingly, weather is so hot and heard it has not rained at all, who does not believe global warming!
I cannot wait to write about Dubai, so much to talk about:) But I have two drafts waiting to be finished! I also have new plans on writing:) So expect to see lots of posting on my blog soon!
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Off to Dubai for Easter:)
Dear bloggers, I am taking a little break! Since we have few days of national holidays here in Kenya, and rains started! Dubai seemed like a good fit for a visit:)
Finally I am going to see Dubai, heard so much about it! It was time!!! And yes! I cannot wait to write about it:)
Stay safe! Health and Happiness be with you:)
Zeynep
Finally I am going to see Dubai, heard so much about it! It was time!!! And yes! I cannot wait to write about it:)
Stay safe! Health and Happiness be with you:)
Zeynep
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Little Visitors in the Garden!
Ok, this is just happened few minutes ago. I was writing again:) and saw a long tail hanging from our balcony, first, I thought that is the grey cat, the one steals food from our kitchen!!! And I looked again, and thought this tail is too long to be belong to a cat!! And me and the these two little monkeys came face to face. Me like a sponge on the window, they like a swing, hanging over the balcony!!! I got these cute pictures! These two always come to our garden (you probably say how do you know they are the same ones) well ok I cannot be sure %100! But would not it to be too much of a coincidence every other weekend two monkeys come to the same garden:) ok, at least I want to believe they are the same monkeys and they are siblings:)
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
Recent Developments in Karen
There is an increasing number of new shopping centers in Karen. I was talking to my friends last week, and they told me, only 10yrs ago, they were only few residents living in Karen. There were not many residential compounds, neither business centers. And people hardly ever came this way, thought it was to far away. 10 years not a long time, and Karen has grown so much both residentially and commercially. New highway construction probably will even make Karen more popular. It is easy to understand from rush hour trafic on Ngong and Langata Roads!
What makes Karen diffferent than other areas, it is stritcly a residential area, and minimum land requirement is half an acre. There have been lots of upscale residential constructions, and I recently read they are sold very quickly!
Shopping wise, in a small circle, you have quite amount of options. There is recently opened Karen Triangle, inside ther is newly opened gym on top, restaurant chain named "Big Square", a bank and and few shops. Right after that, there is also Crossroads Shopping Center, which has big grocery chain Nakumatt, Bata Shoe Store, pharmacy, Doormans Cafe, and quite number of little shops. Another shopping center called, Karen Shopping Centre is right around the corner, even though it is old looking, offering many options, such as recently opened Chandarana and Karen Provision Store. In both stores you can find many imported items for much competitive price than Nakumatt. There are also little souvenier shops, a spa, recently opened rooftop bar, pharmacy, post office and two bank brances. Honestly, I am one of the regular customer of Karen Shopping Centre:) You can park and walk to Nakumatt and Karen Triangle.
There is also very ambitios costruction project, called The Hub Karen, it will be one of the biggest open mall and residential project in Nairobi. It has been estimated that by 2022 Kenyan middle class willl grow by %30!
Karen is also very close to Junction Mall, from the centre, it is only 15 minutes drive away. It is also very easy to access to Galleria Mall, from Langata, it is also 15-20 minutes drive. I have already coverd in my earlier blog what to find in these malls.
What makes Karen diffferent than other areas, it is stritcly a residential area, and minimum land requirement is half an acre. There have been lots of upscale residential constructions, and I recently read they are sold very quickly!
Shopping wise, in a small circle, you have quite amount of options. There is recently opened Karen Triangle, inside ther is newly opened gym on top, restaurant chain named "Big Square", a bank and and few shops. Right after that, there is also Crossroads Shopping Center, which has big grocery chain Nakumatt, Bata Shoe Store, pharmacy, Doormans Cafe, and quite number of little shops. Another shopping center called, Karen Shopping Centre is right around the corner, even though it is old looking, offering many options, such as recently opened Chandarana and Karen Provision Store. In both stores you can find many imported items for much competitive price than Nakumatt. There are also little souvenier shops, a spa, recently opened rooftop bar, pharmacy, post office and two bank brances. Honestly, I am one of the regular customer of Karen Shopping Centre:) You can park and walk to Nakumatt and Karen Triangle.
There is also very ambitios costruction project, called The Hub Karen, it will be one of the biggest open mall and residential project in Nairobi. It has been estimated that by 2022 Kenyan middle class willl grow by %30!
Karen is also very close to Junction Mall, from the centre, it is only 15 minutes drive away. It is also very easy to access to Galleria Mall, from Langata, it is also 15-20 minutes drive. I have already coverd in my earlier blog what to find in these malls.
Monday, 14 April 2014
Rainy Season is Back! What to expect!
Rainy season is back with full swing! Even though I do not like rainy season much (have reasons:)), I know how important it is to have enough rain each year not only for crops but for locals and for environment too. I totally do not want to look selfish here:)
When we moved here over two years ago, I heard so much about the rains, and I thought what's talk about, right?
After the big move, first few weeks were lovely, sunny and warm. What else I could have asked more! I was running around like crazy to figure out what we needed, where the shops are, trying to figure out where I can buy curtains and much more! Middle of April, something happened, all of a sudden rains started! I felt like there is a switch button out there, and somebody turned it on!! One whole month, it rained! Non stop! Anyway, let me get back to the conversation:) Because I can write so much about first few months here!
This time, I am well prepared, our roof has been repaired so there will not be any leakages in the house or water dripping when we sleep! (crossing my fingers even when say it!) Probably, water dripping sound is one of my nightmares! And trying to find out the little whole on the roof, is kind a like trying to find a needle in the desert!! I also have planted seeds to my veggie garden and waiting for rain. This will be second round, unfortunately first trial was a disaster! Because of the timing, birds have eaten my tomatoes! Thanks to my tomatoes, birds in Karen gained so much weight, and became like little flying balls! To stop them, we even made a scarecrow! Believe it or not, I think birds got smarter, they are not even scared of scarecrow! Yesterday, I saw, they are all sitting on it!!!!!
When the rains start, I will also make sure all the windows are closed, and outside lights are turned off, especially the ones in front of the doors! You probably ask, why, right! Because when it rains, there are these flying animals, not sure what they are called in here, but in US they are called "cicada", (I should definitely ask this to Teresia, she knows better.) They look like big butterflies, but not that cute! And they are blind! They fly to the lights! To make the matters worst, somehow, they loose their wings, and start to crawl! Ok, this sounds like a scary movie now! But really, it is what it is! They also come from soil, so next day, when you look up, soil will have lots of wholes!!!!!
Unfortunately, rains and power cuts go shoulder to shoulder! If you can afford one, an inverter or generator is a must have! There will also be water cuts, (so again if you can afford one), definitely have a water tank! Worst comes, when both power and water cuts happen at the same time! I remember when we had our first power cut, I said to myself "lucky us, we have an inverter". And than we had the water cut, and I again said to myself, "so what! we have an inverter to use to water tank!" Well, I was wrong!!! In the middle of the day we were without water and power! Because we were using the water tank, inverter battery was finished! I was in shock, I can do without power, we even play old games with my children and they are loving it! But without water is kind a pushing my limits! Now, I have two extra big water bottles (20 gallons) on side, for worst days:)
Good news is, I have never seen 24hrs cuts. And comparing with our first year, power and water cuts are much less:)
I feel like I am only giving bad news here:( But it is better to be prepared, right?
When we moved here over two years ago, I heard so much about the rains, and I thought what's talk about, right?
This time, I am well prepared, our roof has been repaired so there will not be any leakages in the house or water dripping when we sleep! (crossing my fingers even when say it!) Probably, water dripping sound is one of my nightmares! And trying to find out the little whole on the roof, is kind a like trying to find a needle in the desert!! I also have planted seeds to my veggie garden and waiting for rain. This will be second round, unfortunately first trial was a disaster! Because of the timing, birds have eaten my tomatoes! Thanks to my tomatoes, birds in Karen gained so much weight, and became like little flying balls! To stop them, we even made a scarecrow! Believe it or not, I think birds got smarter, they are not even scared of scarecrow! Yesterday, I saw, they are all sitting on it!!!!!
When the rains start, I will also make sure all the windows are closed, and outside lights are turned off, especially the ones in front of the doors! You probably ask, why, right! Because when it rains, there are these flying animals, not sure what they are called in here, but in US they are called "cicada", (I should definitely ask this to Teresia, she knows better.) They look like big butterflies, but not that cute! And they are blind! They fly to the lights! To make the matters worst, somehow, they loose their wings, and start to crawl! Ok, this sounds like a scary movie now! But really, it is what it is! They also come from soil, so next day, when you look up, soil will have lots of wholes!!!!!
Unfortunately, rains and power cuts go shoulder to shoulder! If you can afford one, an inverter or generator is a must have! There will also be water cuts, (so again if you can afford one), definitely have a water tank! Worst comes, when both power and water cuts happen at the same time! I remember when we had our first power cut, I said to myself "lucky us, we have an inverter". And than we had the water cut, and I again said to myself, "so what! we have an inverter to use to water tank!" Well, I was wrong!!! In the middle of the day we were without water and power! Because we were using the water tank, inverter battery was finished! I was in shock, I can do without power, we even play old games with my children and they are loving it! But without water is kind a pushing my limits! Now, I have two extra big water bottles (20 gallons) on side, for worst days:)
Good news is, I have never seen 24hrs cuts. And comparing with our first year, power and water cuts are much less:)
I feel like I am only giving bad news here:( But it is better to be prepared, right?
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Just Created A Facebook Account!
After so many years of resistance, finally, I have opened a Facebook account! Not that I am against it, but it is very time consuming, and once you sit in front of it, time just goes by! I also have twitter account, but not very active, sometimes months go by and I forget to login! Now you can imagine how having a blog is such a big deal for me:) And I am writing nonstop and loving it!
Social media plays a big part in our lives today and it is impossible to ignore it. There is so much information out there, and it is very overwhelming... I was talking to my sister few days ago and she has been asking why I do not have a Facebook account. Actually, this subject has been on the table for a long time, for some reason, I did not put it into an action! Anyway, now I am trying to figure it out and it is not easy! I feel so in shame to ask for help!!! Yesterday, I was asking my brother, who is in Peru now, how I can change my info, and he was just making fun of me!!!I told him I need "Facebook for Dummies"!
My blog became my baby, and I want to reach out to bloggers, and hoping this is where Facebook will play a great role. Believe it or not, majority of my friends have no idea I have a blog! So up until yesterday, it was between you and me:)
Since yesterday, I am posting my blogs into my Facebook account! There is still so much to do, but I am getting there, very slowly though!
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Horse Back Riding
Whenever I saw a horse riding scene in the movie or riding competitions on the news, or any news in the magazines related to horses, make me take a deep breathe. It was always something I wanted to do, to be able to ride a horse, may be in the future own one...Horses always amaze me, with their elegance, with their smooth moves, with their power, their sensitivity, to see them with a human and how they become 'one'.
Have I ever got a chance to ride a horse? Yes, but I think it was late (ok I can hear some saying, it is never to late, I agree but...), I was busy with other things and never continued with my lessons. I started classes with few years apart, but something came up, like becoming a full time mom:)
I always imagined, if I have a girl, would love her to become a good rider. When my daughter was born, from day one, I imagined her riding a horse. Of course it is not something you can force your child! But it did not stop me dreaming:) After we moved to Nairobi, noticed there are many horse back riding schools in here. Honestly, it is one of the best activities in here. There is one riding school very close to our home. So a year ago, I took my daughter, she was only 6 by that time, and wanted to see if that's something she would like to do (the first time we went to the school, I waited hopelessly for her thoughts to see if she liked it or not). And since that day, every weekend, my daughter rides a horse, when she is with them, she is so free and happy (me too:)) I can see, she is trying with all her heart. And there is our lovely Kenyan instructor, Ben, so patient and gentle with her. When we are there, she runs from one staple to another with carrots in her hand:)
Thank you Dilara, for making your mom's dream come true...
Thank you Dilara, for making your mom's dream come true...
Friday, 11 April 2014
My Children
My two children who are aged 3 and 8 are having a lifetime experience. And I feel so blessed. Their childhood in Kenya reminds me exactly my childhood. I grow up in our backyard, in playground, or in tiny streets where we were able run freely. I even remember climbing on top of our roofs secretly:) I never once was scared of anything, it was so pure and innocent. Looking back now, I now know how valuable it is, to be able to run outside, play simple games such as hide and seek, or just bike without holding the handles:) My husband grow up in the middle of Istanbul, he tells me these stories where he used to play football in the streets of Kadikoy with his friends, or how he climbed trees and ate the fruits. Are not they such fulfilling memories?? I have never imagined my kids would be able to play outside with bare foot and have so much fun.
Yesterday, my son was talking to me, well at least he was trying:) and he said few words and I did not understand what he said! Ok I do feel bad, but I just sometimes do not understand what he says, I do try hard though, but no luck:(
Like every toddler, he is going through some phases, past few months he is going through language development and keeps saying new words and sometimes Turkish and English are all mixed up:) However, yesterday I kinda heard a word sounded like Swahili, and I said to myself, no way and how?? And than I discovered, he speaks Swahili with his age group in the compound:) Is not that something? How an earth I would know one day my kids will speak Swahili:).
Yesterday, my son was talking to me, well at least he was trying:) and he said few words and I did not understand what he said! Ok I do feel bad, but I just sometimes do not understand what he says, I do try hard though, but no luck:(
Like every toddler, he is going through some phases, past few months he is going through language development and keeps saying new words and sometimes Turkish and English are all mixed up:) However, yesterday I kinda heard a word sounded like Swahili, and I said to myself, no way and how?? And than I discovered, he speaks Swahili with his age group in the compound:) Is not that something? How an earth I would know one day my kids will speak Swahili:).
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Why Kenya?
Do not we all make a reality check and see where we were and where we are now? May be it is part of my personality, but I like to have a self-check once in a while and think about past (do not drag about it:)), and what life brought me so far.
So I have been asking myself lately on living in Kenya. Was it a very quick decision? As a mom and a person who loves to work, have I given it a real deep taught? Have my expectations met? WHY KENYA? Looking back now, they are tough questions to answer...If somebody asked me these questions a year ago, probably my answers would be very different. To be honest, I did go through some difficult times in here, in terms of being alone, trying to adjust a very different life style and culture, and much more. It is really hard to match the expectations and actual in real life. No matter how much thinking we do, there are no absolutes, I wish there were...Would not life be much easier??
When my husband mentioned about the job offer, it was not a really long decision, I can now easily say that. Why Kenya? Short but a good question, right? Kenya, because it is Africa! It is the place we all hear about since we are so little. There is no other place like it, it is so simple because it is a lifetime experience, if little open minded, teaches you so much, to be appreciative, be accepting, be calm and be gracious about. I do still have bad days:), but is not it part of life?
So I have been asking myself lately on living in Kenya. Was it a very quick decision? As a mom and a person who loves to work, have I given it a real deep taught? Have my expectations met? WHY KENYA? Looking back now, they are tough questions to answer...If somebody asked me these questions a year ago, probably my answers would be very different. To be honest, I did go through some difficult times in here, in terms of being alone, trying to adjust a very different life style and culture, and much more. It is really hard to match the expectations and actual in real life. No matter how much thinking we do, there are no absolutes, I wish there were...Would not life be much easier??
When my husband mentioned about the job offer, it was not a really long decision, I can now easily say that. Why Kenya? Short but a good question, right? Kenya, because it is Africa! It is the place we all hear about since we are so little. There is no other place like it, it is so simple because it is a lifetime experience, if little open minded, teaches you so much, to be appreciative, be accepting, be calm and be gracious about. I do still have bad days:), but is not it part of life?
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Brasseri @ Hemingways, Nairobi
Recently opened Hemingways is tucked away from noisy roads and crowded streets in Karen (luckily we are only 5 minutes away:)), it is over looking at serene and iconic Ngong Hills. It's restaurant, Brasserie, offers both indoor and patio dining options. Honestly, as long as it is not raining, I definitely recommend patio dining. If you feel chilly, just ask for the patio heater, it patio heater, it will make you feel cosy and warm right away:)
As a person who enjoys nice glass of red wine with delectable food, Brasseri at Hemingways is so far my favourite stop in terms of fine dining in Nairobi.
Brasserie is one of few restaurant where you can eat Angus Beef. Even though I am not a meat person much, once in while I love nicely and delicately prepared beef. Beef comes with two choices of side orders. Side orders come in this little cute looking iron cast pots. Brasserie also offers one of the best grilled jumbo shrimp I had so far! Shrimp is served with tomato salad, chapati and rice. Even the presentation of it something to remember:) There is also great wine menu and freshly prepared drinks.
Reservation is definitely recommended especially for weekends. You can easily make online reservation through Hemingways website.
As a person who enjoys nice glass of red wine with delectable food, Brasseri at Hemingways is so far my favourite stop in terms of fine dining in Nairobi.
Brasserie is one of few restaurant where you can eat Angus Beef. Even though I am not a meat person much, once in while I love nicely and delicately prepared beef. Beef comes with two choices of side orders. Side orders come in this little cute looking iron cast pots. Brasserie also offers one of the best grilled jumbo shrimp I had so far! Shrimp is served with tomato salad, chapati and rice. Even the presentation of it something to remember:) There is also great wine menu and freshly prepared drinks.
Reservation is definitely recommended especially for weekends. You can easily make online reservation through Hemingways website.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Creating a Forum!
It has been three hours and I am still struggling with creating a forum! I love the idea of it, where all bloggers can discuss, share stories and information. So please bare with me, my blog looks very confusing now! I think I need to take a break and start over again! This is what happens when somebody is so anti-technology like myself! Even online walk troughs are not very helpful:(
Loving Local Produce:)
What's not to love about fresh fruits and veggies? If you are passionate about local produce, sustainable living and organic food, we have lots of things in common besides blogging:)
I believe it was almost ten years ago, when I started to hear about organic food, importance of eating local produce, free range chicken and eggs and sustainable living. I was living in the perfect place, US! I remember the first time I visited 'farmers market' in Fairfax, VA and how it reminded me my own childhood, where I used to go to open bazaars, now called farmers market, to buy fresh veggie and fruit with my mom and how much I loved it:) Of course, by that time, everything was local, farmers were not using pesticides and hormones, nobody heard about them...Once I started to read more and more, I started to question where I shop at and what I buy. At the end, I changed my view on eating, and what I put into my body. And right before I had my first child it became a life style. Surely, in terms of eating healthy there is gotta be a balance, you do not want to become too obsessive on that. But somewhere between, something you can afford and feel good about and enjoy.
Soon after we moved to Nairobi, like everyone who is new in the town, I shopped mainly from Nakumatt. Since it is the biggest chain in the city it was easy to find everything under one roof. However, after we settled in, I wanted to find out more about local farmers and produce. I also wanted support organic farmers. There I found about Kalimoni Greens, an Organic Farm. My veggies arrive in a big locally made basket, tomatoes are just started to turn red, you can easily smell fresh leek, avocado,, lettuce, mangoes are so colorful and smooth. When you eat your egg, it is so rich, the taste reminds your childhood:) So much more to stay. Every week,, they send out an email order to their customers, where you get to choose from many options from veggies to fruits, dairy to home made jams and pastes. Even though I make my own pepper and tomato paste and jams, I tried Kalimoni's and they were very good. The great thing is, customers can also visit their farm:)
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Organic-farming-now-takes-root-in-Nairobi/-/1248928/1732982/-/vwsx6i/-/index.html
I believe it was almost ten years ago, when I started to hear about organic food, importance of eating local produce, free range chicken and eggs and sustainable living. I was living in the perfect place, US! I remember the first time I visited 'farmers market' in Fairfax, VA and how it reminded me my own childhood, where I used to go to open bazaars, now called farmers market, to buy fresh veggie and fruit with my mom and how much I loved it:) Of course, by that time, everything was local, farmers were not using pesticides and hormones, nobody heard about them...Once I started to read more and more, I started to question where I shop at and what I buy. At the end, I changed my view on eating, and what I put into my body. And right before I had my first child it became a life style. Surely, in terms of eating healthy there is gotta be a balance, you do not want to become too obsessive on that. But somewhere between, something you can afford and feel good about and enjoy.
Soon after we moved to Nairobi, like everyone who is new in the town, I shopped mainly from Nakumatt. Since it is the biggest chain in the city it was easy to find everything under one roof. However, after we settled in, I wanted to find out more about local farmers and produce. I also wanted support organic farmers. There I found about Kalimoni Greens, an Organic Farm. My veggies arrive in a big locally made basket, tomatoes are just started to turn red, you can easily smell fresh leek, avocado,, lettuce, mangoes are so colorful and smooth. When you eat your egg, it is so rich, the taste reminds your childhood:) So much more to stay. Every week,, they send out an email order to their customers, where you get to choose from many options from veggies to fruits, dairy to home made jams and pastes. Even though I make my own pepper and tomato paste and jams, I tried Kalimoni's and they were very good. The great thing is, customers can also visit their farm:)
While I was going through internet I came across the article below and wanted to share with you on
organic farm in Nairobi.http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Organic-farming-now-takes-root-in-Nairobi/-/1248928/1732982/-/vwsx6i/-/index.html
Cooking Extravaganza!
When we have quests, (I believe this is all common in any culture) we cook and eat!
I grow up in a home where kitchen was always busy, delicious smell always covered the air, and I think it is one of the reasonsI look forward to going home:) When I think about my childhood, my mom comes in the picture, where she cooks apple pie, bakes Turkish pastries, makes home made yogurt or pancakes in her tiny modest kitchen. Not much of a surprise she still does, in a much fancy kitchen though:). Since she had three children and being used to cook in big portions, whenever I go my parents house, I still find refrigerator full of home made dishes! And she always complains of not being able to cook less:)
Last week my in-laws came, and she is a great cook! After my mom though! (in case she reads this blog:)) Anyway, right after they arrived, she wanted to cook, honestly I did not stop her, wonder why! Since both of my kids have big appetite and are being used to eat anything (tnx to moving around all the time!) she cooked delicious Turkish dishes. Today we made 'mantı' (pronounced mun.tuh) a dish made with flour and meat, very close to Italian Ravioli, but with many difference. Now, I have one full freezer! definitely can feed an army!
No matter where we live, food is number one thing I miss the most! Even though I love eating different cuisines, and try to be open minded as much as possible, I still favor Turkish food:)
For almost ten years now, I am using local produce (and found a great place in Karen where I buy seasonal veggies and fruits, will share it with you:)), if possible organic products but without going overboard, and lots of fish.
I grow up in a home where kitchen was always busy, delicious smell always covered the air, and I think it is one of the reasonsI look forward to going home:) When I think about my childhood, my mom comes in the picture, where she cooks apple pie, bakes Turkish pastries, makes home made yogurt or pancakes in her tiny modest kitchen. Not much of a surprise she still does, in a much fancy kitchen though:). Since she had three children and being used to cook in big portions, whenever I go my parents house, I still find refrigerator full of home made dishes! And she always complains of not being able to cook less:)
Last week my in-laws came, and she is a great cook! After my mom though! (in case she reads this blog:)) Anyway, right after they arrived, she wanted to cook, honestly I did not stop her, wonder why! Since both of my kids have big appetite and are being used to eat anything (tnx to moving around all the time!) she cooked delicious Turkish dishes. Today we made 'mantı' (pronounced mun.tuh) a dish made with flour and meat, very close to Italian Ravioli, but with many difference. Now, I have one full freezer! definitely can feed an army!
No matter where we live, food is number one thing I miss the most! Even though I love eating different cuisines, and try to be open minded as much as possible, I still favor Turkish food:)
For almost ten years now, I am using local produce (and found a great place in Karen where I buy seasonal veggies and fruits, will share it with you:)), if possible organic products but without going overboard, and lots of fish.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Travel Warnings! Stay Safe!
Last few weeks we have been receiving travel warnings from the embassy. Following terrorist attacks in Mombasa and Eastleigh, it is recommended to be aware of surroundings and keep away from crowded places, especially during the weekends, such as shopping arcades and malls. So, please take these warnings seriously.
However I do not want to scare anyone. So here is my personal view on this: I do not feel unsafe in Karen (would not say it for city center, or some areas) I drive around with my windows down during the day, I prefer to go local shopping places to find out new items, to learn the culture, and be able to talk to locals. In the morning, I put my ipod on and go out for running, and I love it! My friends are all surprised but I tell them you cannot live your life if you are scared all the time. And not only in Kenya, but we all should be aware of our surroundings and if necessary take precautions, and this rule apply in any place in the world. Almost every morning one of the first thing I do is, browsing on CNN.com. And unfortunately, I read so many bad news happening all around. It is very sad and disappointing. On the other side, life goes on...
What can be done and how can it be done? I believe it is very important to know and understand the culture, have a social network (one of my social network is the gym I go to), read/watch local TV, keep away from certain areas in the city, if possible do not go out at night, keep your doors locked, when out do not wear expensive jewellery, and if you have helpers, make sure they are trustworthy (but do not all these rules apply to other places in the world???) .
By saying all these, my advise: be vigilant, do not let your guard down, always keep an eye on your surroundings. Stay Safe!
However I do not want to scare anyone. So here is my personal view on this: I do not feel unsafe in Karen (would not say it for city center, or some areas) I drive around with my windows down during the day, I prefer to go local shopping places to find out new items, to learn the culture, and be able to talk to locals. In the morning, I put my ipod on and go out for running, and I love it! My friends are all surprised but I tell them you cannot live your life if you are scared all the time. And not only in Kenya, but we all should be aware of our surroundings and if necessary take precautions, and this rule apply in any place in the world. Almost every morning one of the first thing I do is, browsing on CNN.com. And unfortunately, I read so many bad news happening all around. It is very sad and disappointing. On the other side, life goes on...
What can be done and how can it be done? I believe it is very important to know and understand the culture, have a social network (one of my social network is the gym I go to), read/watch local TV, keep away from certain areas in the city, if possible do not go out at night, keep your doors locked, when out do not wear expensive jewellery, and if you have helpers, make sure they are trustworthy (but do not all these rules apply to other places in the world???) .
By saying all these, my advise: be vigilant, do not let your guard down, always keep an eye on your surroundings. Stay Safe!
Friday, 4 April 2014
Third Round of Guests!
We have third round of guests, and every guest we have different likes and dislikes, I am really personalizing my 'to do' list!
Since nature and wildlife is not for everyone, this is where I needed to be creative:) Yesterday, I took them to Masai Market, (number one common thing among people is shopping!) and by the time we got back home, I got no voice! I am not joking, because of doing translation between my guests and vendors, by 6pm yesterday, my voice was gone:( Even today, I do not feel like talking, so here I am back to my lovely blog. So you can see lots of posts today!
Let me also mention, we had a record! we spent 3,5hrs (ok, yes, I did check my watch all the time!) walking round and round, looking and touching every piece! I think this is where culture plays a role! Turks love to touch and ask so many questions! And honestly, whenever I catch myself doing the same thing, I stop and shake myself!! Anyway, the good news is, they bought so many, and helped the economy yesterday!
While I was walking with them, new items got my attention, this is what I love about Masai Markets, vendors are so creative and they are so warm, and friendly and willing to make customers happy. My plan is to go by myself in next few weeks and shop quitely (without touching though:)).
If you go to Masai Market @ Junction, make sure you are done before 5pm, because rush hour traffic is very bad.
Since nature and wildlife is not for everyone, this is where I needed to be creative:) Yesterday, I took them to Masai Market, (number one common thing among people is shopping!) and by the time we got back home, I got no voice! I am not joking, because of doing translation between my guests and vendors, by 6pm yesterday, my voice was gone:( Even today, I do not feel like talking, so here I am back to my lovely blog. So you can see lots of posts today!
Let me also mention, we had a record! we spent 3,5hrs (ok, yes, I did check my watch all the time!) walking round and round, looking and touching every piece! I think this is where culture plays a role! Turks love to touch and ask so many questions! And honestly, whenever I catch myself doing the same thing, I stop and shake myself!! Anyway, the good news is, they bought so many, and helped the economy yesterday!
While I was walking with them, new items got my attention, this is what I love about Masai Markets, vendors are so creative and they are so warm, and friendly and willing to make customers happy. My plan is to go by myself in next few weeks and shop quitely (without touching though:)).
If you go to Masai Market @ Junction, make sure you are done before 5pm, because rush hour traffic is very bad.
Karen Blixen Museum
Even though we are a very short drive away from the museum, I've never visited up until yesterday. I think I took so many visitors there and never got a chance to visit!
By the way, I have third round of visitors this week and becoming an expert guide! seriously:)
Since weather is so pleasant, by the way I love the climate in here:), I planned a short visit to museum.
And if you are one of the fan of movie 'Out Of Africa', it is definitely a place to see! While I was talking to the guide and doing nonstop translation for my guests!, I was also thinking about both movie and Karen Blixen's life. What an amazing person she was, her persuasion and her love for Africa. The house displays original pieces as well as pieces (such as bed, drawer etc) from the movie. Karen Blixen's House became a museum over a decade ago, and since than it is very well kept, went over major renovation few years back. Local guides are very informative and friendly, you can even feel their love for this house. House, furniture's even the huge old coffee machine at the back make you travel back in time. Green lawn is immaculate, interior wood, study room, bathroom all were amazing, and kept so well.
My next plan is read her books!
Quick info: Entrance fee for non-resident is 1200KSH and 600 for residents. Pls Note: Make sure to bring cash, credit cards are not accepted.
By the way, I have third round of visitors this week and becoming an expert guide! seriously:)
Since weather is so pleasant, by the way I love the climate in here:), I planned a short visit to museum.
And if you are one of the fan of movie 'Out Of Africa', it is definitely a place to see! While I was talking to the guide and doing nonstop translation for my guests!, I was also thinking about both movie and Karen Blixen's life. What an amazing person she was, her persuasion and her love for Africa. The house displays original pieces as well as pieces (such as bed, drawer etc) from the movie. Karen Blixen's House became a museum over a decade ago, and since than it is very well kept, went over major renovation few years back. Local guides are very informative and friendly, you can even feel their love for this house. House, furniture's even the huge old coffee machine at the back make you travel back in time. Green lawn is immaculate, interior wood, study room, bathroom all were amazing, and kept so well.
My next plan is read her books!
Quick info: Entrance fee for non-resident is 1200KSH and 600 for residents. Pls Note: Make sure to bring cash, credit cards are not accepted.
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