Travelogues of an African Girl

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things

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Category: United Kingdom

London like a local: a pictogram

By africanagirl on November 30, 2016 • ( 6 Comments )

As far back as I can remember, we sang English nursery rhymes as little babes, about London bridge falling down, and a ring-a ring-of roses; we read tales authored by Charles Dickens and […]

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#TBT It's Thursday and I just had to throwback to this time a photo op was arranged for us all with our paternal gramps. I can't recall this day, else I'd have an answer for why we all have the 'deer caught in headlights' look. Ahh...memories! My grandpa was tall, ruled his household with a strong hand and all his life was married to one woman. (So close was their bond that when he died in 1989, she followed suit two weeks later). I remember him having a no nonsense demenour, being harsh, talking fast with a rasp and abit of gruff in his voice. He also had a short fuse. We kids feared and respected him enough not to be naughty in his presence. He was quite prayerful however, and always wore this navy blue maroonish long robe and had a crucifix with cowrie beads he would quietly roll in his fingers whilst praying (he was legioMaria). I wish I got to know him much more than I did. That aside, how could I miss #nationalsiblingsday❤️? This post as everything else I do (even getting to watch #BlackPanther) is a tad bit late but no matter, as siblings are important.🐾😊😊 They are our link to the past and most likely to stay with us into the future.To the outside world, we all grow old but to our siblings, we are remembered as we were. We know each other's hearts and share private family jokes, griefs, embarrassments and joys...We live outside the touch of time. Did you celebrate national siblings day? How's your relationship with your siblings? #family #love #closeknit #celebratinglife #naturalhair #knappyhair #teamnatural #memories #ThrowbackThursday #Blackandwhitephotography #vintage #vintagephotography

Rise and shine, spring is here!!!..🤗🌹🌞🌞🌞 "Little Miss Ashley decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her, writing “yes” in the sky." #dance #music #SultrySaturday #love #family #melaninpopping #melaninkids #blackgirlmagic #youth #travelblogger #ig_Tilburg #ThisisNetherlands #Europe #influencer #snapchat #socialmedia #youtuber #armygreenjacket #fashionsense #spring #globetrotter #wanderlust #worldtraveler #tweengirls #tweenfashion #girlpower #camouflagedlikeachameleon

Amazing words of wisdom! "You will never have to sacrifice your dignity for your destiny!" #quotes #quotestoliveby #sultrySaturday #travelblogger #life #choices #lonelyplanet #worldtraveler #globetrotter

#TBT A couple of you guys asked why I'm always "hiding behind monstrous sunglasses and huge hats..", so for this one time, I will spare y'all. 😀😁😂🤣 I love my accessories, but mostly wear them whilst on my gambols, so not everyday wear. As well 'eyes are windows to the soul?' I'm quite averse to folks gazing through my soul so I keep my eyes and (and soul I hope) safely tucked behind shades at times. There's the benefit of having the liberty to stare, without anyone knowing you're doing so.😊😋😋😆😲🤓 This was a throw back to the time a uni-mate, Orsolya Toth (who doubled as a campus photographer) came to my place and took a couple of shots. Was wearing a strapless camisole and a pair of trousers, so this was not a (gasp!) nude shot. It was a lovely afternoon during springtime, when the weather acts so confused and grumpy; warm spells interspersed with chilly breezes. How's your weather like today? #Tilburg #VisittheNetherlands #sepia #blackgirlmagic👑 #staycation #homesweethome #disclaimer #melaninqueens #melaninpopping #photography #potraitshoot #Africanah_Girl #hardstare

NEW BLOG POST: Ever been to Nairobi, commonly referred to as 'Nairobae'? Each time I visit, it seems the city has evolved a little bit. It's vibrant and interesting, and sometimes you'll be warned that it's dangerous. I penned down 10 things you will observe about Nairobi. Link is in the bio but a small excerpt follows below: " You will cringe at Nairobeans who feel that wading through the crowded streets of Nairobae is beneath them, so very often in a rush, they will jump onto the roads, cross haphazardly and miss by a whisker…rumbling mkokotenis (carts drawn by men), speeding matatus and bodabodas (motorbikes) that ride in-between and sometimes against the traffic.." #nairobaeigtour #Nairobae #VisitKenya #TembeaKenya #ThisisAfrica #bodaboda #natgeo #worldtraveler #globetrotter #travelnoire #travelstories #travelogues #travelblogger #travelgram #media #ig_Nairobi #Nairobitraffic

First time I've been away during Little Miss Ashley's birthday. She understood. It was for good reason. I promised her a belated birthday celebration. I got back and we stuffed ourselves with food; good food, bad food, fried food, fast food and spicy food; basically calorie-adding food. 😉😊🎂🍰🍫🍬🍭🍦🍩🍾🎈🎉🎊🎁😊😎🤣 Then we went out on a mini-shopping spree, bought clothes and handicrafts for her...so for everyone that asked, yeah I promised and delivered. When Little Miss Ashley was a wee baby, I never imagined her to grow up to be this excited happy dancing being. She turned out to be that and more. She's also a techie at her wee age, so she helps alot in taking pictures, editing, making video clips and so forth. I miss her when I have to travel to a location without her. Heck, sometimes I feel a little lost..who'll help with snapchat or take the perfect shots? She also has a youtube channel..Link in bio. Have you or a loved one ever traveled and was away during your birthday or other important occasions? Share your experiences and what was done to make up for that absence? #family #love #hobbies #prepubescent #Friyay #almostateen #11thbirthday #birthdays #celebratinglife #LittleMissAshley #melaninkids #blackgirlmagic #travelexperiences #lonelyplanet #travelcompanion #travelblogger

Just love rocking up to conferences in African wear. Long before #Wakanda was even thought of, I did #African. Well, mostly when the weather was better. Right now it's headed to spring but we have our bouts of wind, rain, and breezy weather; and sometimes 'the beast from the east; a chill that freezes your toes, fingers and the tip of your nose. The weather notwithstanding, I have met some great friends thanks to residing in this part of the world. What are some positives or negatives of the town or country you live in? #friends #WCW😍 #conferences #TheHague #VisittheNetherlands #WakandaForever #Africanfashion #AfricanDay #AfricanGirls #melaninqueens #melaninpopping #blackgirlmagic👑 #travelexperiences #winter #spring #wanderlust #worldtraveler #globetrotter #travelnoire #MyAfrica #Diasporatales #ankara #kitenge

You learn something new each day.🙄🤔🤔🤔 I know a little about the sea-bird albatross but I had no idea they were carnivorous until today when I saw them flying about, gathered around this truck and fighting over chicken morsels and egg shells.. Somehow twenty-two species of albatross are currently known to science, and every single one is considered vulnerable, threatened, near-threatened, or endangered by conservationists. Some quirky facts about these birds: 1) Depending on which species they are, an albatross can reach 35 to 51 inches in length and weigh between 17 and 22 pounds. 2) Albatross has a big head with a strong, hooked beak. Since Albatross mainly eats slippery prey, beak has sharp blades on the side to prevent loss of the catch. 3) Albatross has excellent eyesight and sense of smell. It can find the prey even in the dark. 4) Albatross is diurnal animal (active during the day). 5) Albatross is a carnivore (meat eater). Its diet consists of different type of fish, krill, crabs and squids. 6) Albertross searches for the prey from the sky. When potential target is detected, albatross rushes toward the water and dives to grab it. Albatross can also catch the prey located on the surface of the water. #facts #birds #albatross #birdkingdom #birdsofafeather #AmsterdamBijlmer #IAMsterdam #Bijlmermeer #carnivorous #igers #igram #ig_worldclub #postcardsoftheworld #animalplanet #lonelyplanet #natgeo #NationalGeographic

NEW BLOG POST, (Link in bio.) Ever been to the Amboseli? Stayed at a camp? Camp Kimana may not have the best reviews, but I like it because it has that rustic minimalist feel to it.(cue, see previous ig pics for how my room in this picture looked on the inside.) It is fenced and a five-minute drive from the Amboseli Gate. The night we arrive, we briskly walk on paths to our respective tents behind our ranger who's shining a bright torch. My hair stands on edge, as if in anticipation of some animal springing on us from the surrounding bushes and thickets. (Cue: all those feral stories about Africans co-existing in the wild with animals are tarzan tales, comic-book fables...so scratch the whole lot of them.) I'm also fearful of reptiles that would be slithering about, waiting to be trodden upon so they can strike back. So as always, safety is in numbers. We arrived at Camp Kimana in darkness, after quite a dusty road trip from the Taveta-Rombo-Oloitokitok pass, so there was no telling what the crack of dawn had to offer. But imagine waking up to Mount Kilimanjaro on your doorstep, glistening in the sun. You'd feel like changing your itinerary, and staying here for good. Have you been? Hat: Bought in a stall, bus station Nairobi. Shades: CBD stall, Nairobi. African dress: Moyale mall, Eastleigh. #TBT #CampKimana #Amboseli #ig_Amboseli #TembeaKenya #VisitKenya #ThisisAfrica #MagicalKenya #tourism #blackgirlmagic #travelnoire #travelstories #travelogues #travelblogger #travelgram #igers #igram ##melaninpopping #melaninqueens #Africansafari #camping

Because sometimes we all need space to exhale..or "woo-zah" moments. You know how you feel you're a jolly good Christian because in your comfort zone, you read your bible, pray, pay your tithe..and smile sweetly to kittens and kids? Well during the past few weeks, that theory in my life was put to test. Quite abit of responsibilities were suddenly thrown into my laps, and very often during meetings at home people kept on coming to me for every little thing. I found myself losing my temper and snapping back at folks or rolling my eyes at their questions. I had some time to think of how I can better manage my anger and be kinder to my family members especially, and not take anyone for granted. 😢😢😢😣😣😣😥😥😥🤤🤤🤤😲😲😲😤😤😤😫😫😫😯😯😯😡😳😩 I went to the KICC with my cousin one Saturday afternoon, to take pictures, relax and just enjoy being a #localtourist because how else will they know I was in Nairobi? May God grant me the gift of diplomacy and patience. #bitchybabe #thoushaltnothaveashortfuse #lovethyneighbour #submitoutofreverenceforChrist #love #family #weneedeachother #practicewhatyoupreach #woozah #calmingmoments #Nairobae #TembeaKenya #whyIloveKenya #VisitKenya #IG_Nairobi #ThisisAfrica #MagicalKenya #KICC #melaninqueens #melaninpopping #blackgirlmagic #travelnoire #travelstories #travelogues #wanderlust #worldtraveler #globetrotter #ig_worldclub #postcardsoftheworld

Confession time: Nairobi traffic has nothing on me. Either that or I have an obsession with riding at the back of a boda boda. When I last visited Kenya in 2015, I looked at all the motorbikes whizzing by, with people at the back and I snorted, turning my nose at them and silently promised myself that I would never ride at the back of one. Well, when I reached Karen by matatu, and needed to go to giraffe centre..the only way there was at the back of a bodaboda. I loved it apparently..I laughed, squealed and giggled like a little girl with my hair flying in the wind. A second chance was had more recently, when I needed to get to a friend's location in South C for dinner. The matatu stage was a distance, plus I was late! So once again, I folded my long skirt and sat behind a boda boda guy and laughed my head off as he wound and wove to the residence. I almost didn't get off..I wanted a ride to the CBD!!!😉🤣😂😃😄😅🚲🚲🚲 What's your secret obsession? #travelogues #travelblogger #ig_Nairobi #bodaboda #Nairobae #Kenya #MagicalKenya #TembeaKenya🇰🇪 #ILoveKenya #melaninqueens #melaninpopping #blackgirlmagic #nightphotography #confessions #ig_worldclub #postcardsoftheworld #secretobsession

I've been #homealone for the past few days. It has been a quiet time for alot of retrospection, after weeks of having a full house with guests coming to condole with us after mum's passing. Yesterday some of my mum's friends (God bless their souls) came home to spend the night, and spoilt me with wimbi ugali, apoth (a Luo traditional vegetable) and aliya (dried meat)...I'm so grateful as I round up my Kenya trip. In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, "I will be back!" #Nairobae #TembeaKenya🇰🇪 #MagicalKenya #Kenyancuisine #traditionalfoods #Kenyanflag #foodie #foodporn #culinaryjourney #ILoveKenya #WheninNairobi #travelexperiences #travelogues #travelblogger #ig_Nairobi #Kenya #ThisisAfrica #Africanfashion #Africanjewelry #wanderlust #worldtraveler #globetrotter #travelnoire #melaninqueens #melaninpopping #blackgirlmagic #ig_worldclub #postcardsoftheworld

NEW BLOG POST: It's been a week now since we laid my mum to rest. This latest post describes the journey and how burials in our community may seem like one big family reunion. Link is in the bio but this is just a small excerpt; "There’s a lot that is said about mum. Good things. Things I didn’t know about my mother. These are good secrets. My heart swells with pride." #love #family #reunions #funerals #burials #death #Luocommunity #Kenya #VisitKenya #TembeaKenya🇰🇪 #travel #travelogues #travelblogger

#TembeaKenya🇰🇪 So we found ourselves on the Namanga border after the second day of touring. Dee was quite hungry and despite it being just 10:30 am, she insisted she wanted to stop somewhere for food. 🥘🍖🍗🍜🍛🍚 Our tour driver took us to what looked like an African artefacts gallery on the outside, but on entry was a nice kibanda. Vibanda (kibanda in singular) are a common fixture in East African culture, mostly due to their affordable tasty simple meals. If you’ve never eaten in one, they are simple makeshift structures with simple benches and tables where you order meals and pay at the spot. We ate a meaty rice potato stew meal, spinach, and very thin slices of chapati. It was all very sumptuous, so my mouth was quite full.. Have you ever eaten in a kibanda or something similar? How was it? #KenyaTanzaniaborder #EastAfricanculture #kenyancuisine #kibandaeating #nomnomnom #budgetmeals #culinaryjourney #foodie #foodculture #streetfood #travel #travelogues #travelblogger #travelexperiences #friendships #blackgirlmagic #melaninqueens #backpackingKenya #MagicalKenya #instago #instatravel #igers #igram #ig_Namanga #postcardsoftheworld #ig_worldclub #intrepidescape #ig_Kilimanjaro #Amboseli

#MagicalKenya I had never visited Amboseli up until now though I spent a huge chunk of my life growing up in Kenya. I was meant to visit the Aberdares but I was glad to come to Amboseli, and wake up every morning to the sight of Mt Kilimanjaro glistening in the sun against the backdrop of a blue sky.. Amboseli National park; second most popular after Maasai Mara, is 260km (160 miles) from Nairobi, on the border with the neighboring country of Tanzania. Its excellent opportunities to view Kenya's animals, make it one of the most-visited safari parks in Kenya. Amboseli is renowned for its large herds of free-ranging African elephants; over 900 African elephants..whoa! 🐘🐘🐘As well huge herds of wildebeests and many other animals including giraffes, African lions, monkeys, zebras, hyenas and antelope. We saw them all. Have you been? #TembeaKenya🇰🇪 #ig_Amboseli #animalplanet #lonelyplanet #natgeo #elephantconservation #ThisisAfrica #travelogues #travelblogger #ig_MtKilimanjaro #wanderlust #worldtraveler #globetrotter #travelnoire #travelstories #ig_worldclub #postcardsoftheworld

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Category: United Kingdom

London like a local: a pictogram

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