Thursday, December 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
ALMOND RESORT; Lifting Garissa’s Tourism to Scale
Garissa as they say is the hub on north Eastern Kenya, famously depicted as the linkage to the rest of Kenya. As we drive into the dusty town, we are thankful of the evening breeze to cool off the toil of the journey. However that is just one of the headaches we have to deal with. Having not made prior arrangements for accommodation, it became tricky to secure some rooms and we had to move from one hotel to another in our quest. Being a transit town, many travelers stopover for the night hence the difficulty in getting on-spot accommodation. We finally settle down for the night in a basic facility praying that the morning brings with it good tidings. Tired from the grueling journey, even the lack of mosquito nets does not disturb us much. The morning does come and instead of the good tidings, what awaits us instead, were mosquito bites lining our arms nor was the breakfast anything to write home about either. This strengthens our resolve to look for better boarding facilities, our expectations not high. Glad to be proved wrong, we look up on our way out of town and meet head-on with a hotel poster that looks too good to be true.
Driving on the recently carpeted Lamu Road, we see another huge signpost displaying what the bend on the right has to offer. Decked behind a strong concrete wall, is a sight to behold; a clear contrast from the dusty terrain is a grandeur Arabic styled establishment beautifully sitting on a lush greenery. Still the doubting Thomas’s, we venture inside; if only to satisfy our eyes desires. Inside the humongous welcome lounge, our tired feet find rest in the beautiful reed-made couches. The high ceiling, wide walls combine to give the area a coolness even without the expected air conditioner. We feast our eyes on the décor and sparsely furnished area; and oh, isn’t it just wonderful to experience such finesse?
After the alluring welcome, we head to the rooms, and the journey left us wondering whether we are not only in Garissa but in North eastern at all. So sagacious was the architecture that the heavy investment into the landscaping is one of the hotels attractions. Here, concrete pathways are lined with palm trees, well-hedged live fences as well as expertly manicured lawns, all of which give the air a strikingly fresh feel. The contrasting scenery inside the hotel grounds does not come cheap, the grounds are watered every day to maintain that special appeal.
The Rooms - Luxuriant is the best word to describe the rooms, one is spoilt for choice on whether to go with the cottages or the apartment style. For Ksh. 3000, you can afford a variably spacious room that offers space to relax as the gentle hum of the air conditioner lulls you off to slumber in the scorching afternoon heat. Being a new hotel you will not find the traditional big belly TV but rather a 32-inch flat screen draped on the wall. In case you were wondering, it has cable TV for the sport and movie fanatics.
Early in the morning there is a beautiful breeze as you take breakfast in the patio; unlike most hotels in Garissa where you will find the traditional tea, bread and eggs for breakfast, Almond offers its clients a rich array of culinary delights.
The big attraction – as we leave our rooms to go for a stroll out in the town we round the corner complaining about the heat, before us was a sight not expected in the arid lands – a spectacular mass of water glares invitingly. The square shaped pool sandwiched between the apartment style blocks beckons and with the sweltering heat overhead, the visual invitation is quickly accepted. Never ever once harboring the thought of carrying swimming costumes to Garissa, we venture out to scout for some. Out in the town, the shops do not stock swimming attire, infact most shop attendants were scandalized by the mere fact that we asked for one. For those of us who inhibit predilections for coastal ambiance, it would have been criminal to let that inviting water go to waste, so we had to invent swimming attire. For a small fee, non-residents can also access the pool services.
Visitors - Almond provides a suitable ambiance for a variety of clients. The service we got was reminiscent of the coastal hotels or the lodges out in the wild. Families or adventurous people can try to have a holiday on this side of Kenya. Or if you want seclusion for whatever reason, then you will find the silence amicable to achieve your objective. Corporates will find the place good for staff retreats, what with its three huge conference rooms, and you are more likely to full cooperation because the staff will not want to venture out of the serene setting for the scorching sun outside. Muslim wedding are also famous in Almond due to the huge space the venue offers. The night butterflies have the government guest house next door to venture for one or two for the night.
So for your next holiday, be serendipitous and head north!
Driving on the recently carpeted Lamu Road, we see another huge signpost displaying what the bend on the right has to offer. Decked behind a strong concrete wall, is a sight to behold; a clear contrast from the dusty terrain is a grandeur Arabic styled establishment beautifully sitting on a lush greenery. Still the doubting Thomas’s, we venture inside; if only to satisfy our eyes desires. Inside the humongous welcome lounge, our tired feet find rest in the beautiful reed-made couches. The high ceiling, wide walls combine to give the area a coolness even without the expected air conditioner. We feast our eyes on the décor and sparsely furnished area; and oh, isn’t it just wonderful to experience such finesse?
After the alluring welcome, we head to the rooms, and the journey left us wondering whether we are not only in Garissa but in North eastern at all. So sagacious was the architecture that the heavy investment into the landscaping is one of the hotels attractions. Here, concrete pathways are lined with palm trees, well-hedged live fences as well as expertly manicured lawns, all of which give the air a strikingly fresh feel. The contrasting scenery inside the hotel grounds does not come cheap, the grounds are watered every day to maintain that special appeal.
The Rooms - Luxuriant is the best word to describe the rooms, one is spoilt for choice on whether to go with the cottages or the apartment style. For Ksh. 3000, you can afford a variably spacious room that offers space to relax as the gentle hum of the air conditioner lulls you off to slumber in the scorching afternoon heat. Being a new hotel you will not find the traditional big belly TV but rather a 32-inch flat screen draped on the wall. In case you were wondering, it has cable TV for the sport and movie fanatics.
Early in the morning there is a beautiful breeze as you take breakfast in the patio; unlike most hotels in Garissa where you will find the traditional tea, bread and eggs for breakfast, Almond offers its clients a rich array of culinary delights.
The big attraction – as we leave our rooms to go for a stroll out in the town we round the corner complaining about the heat, before us was a sight not expected in the arid lands – a spectacular mass of water glares invitingly. The square shaped pool sandwiched between the apartment style blocks beckons and with the sweltering heat overhead, the visual invitation is quickly accepted. Never ever once harboring the thought of carrying swimming costumes to Garissa, we venture out to scout for some. Out in the town, the shops do not stock swimming attire, infact most shop attendants were scandalized by the mere fact that we asked for one. For those of us who inhibit predilections for coastal ambiance, it would have been criminal to let that inviting water go to waste, so we had to invent swimming attire. For a small fee, non-residents can also access the pool services.
Visitors - Almond provides a suitable ambiance for a variety of clients. The service we got was reminiscent of the coastal hotels or the lodges out in the wild. Families or adventurous people can try to have a holiday on this side of Kenya. Or if you want seclusion for whatever reason, then you will find the silence amicable to achieve your objective. Corporates will find the place good for staff retreats, what with its three huge conference rooms, and you are more likely to full cooperation because the staff will not want to venture out of the serene setting for the scorching sun outside. Muslim wedding are also famous in Almond due to the huge space the venue offers. The night butterflies have the government guest house next door to venture for one or two for the night.
So for your next holiday, be serendipitous and head north!
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Subservient Friend
This weekend I witnessed two cases where people emotionally blackmail others to maintain friendships and I couldn’t help but be astonished at how conceited humanity can be! The amount of emotional baggage we carry around dumped on us from spouses, employers, landlords, and friend is a huge load to carry. What intrigued me most was the friends’ category. Being a bit careful not to term the others as acceptable, but let’s face it, we all tag along a lot of emotional baggage from family so much so that it may just be a necessary evil in some instances. Susan Forward in ‘Out of the FOG” defines emotional blackmail as the use of a system of threats and punishments on a person by someone close to them in an attempt to control their behaviors. FOG is the short form of Fear, Obligation and Guilt, which Susan says the blackmailer uses to get what they want from others.
Picture this; you have had a long time friend, closer than a brother/sister, twins if you can say so. However, both of your lives didn’t turn out the same and you end up being the poor relation so to say. Your friendship is ok until one day this big company calls you for an interview, ultimately opening a big door for you. With this comes the elegant two storey house in one of those neighborhoods on the other side of Uhuru Highway, a sleek top of the range vehicle and of course a new circle of friends. Or having been their plus one for ages, you meet this good looking person, hit it off and before you know it, bam, you are walking down the aisle. So everyone wakes up and notices that person who used to be in the shadows, now the object of attention. While before you would wait till your friend has had their fill to get a lift home from a party, now you can leave anytime you are bored since you have the means. That expensive drink whose name you couldn’t pronounce now glides from your tongue effortlessly.
Things are going on well yeah! Au contraire, your ‘loyal’ friend suddenly goes on the offensive, lashes at small things, questions this or that, tries to limit your exposure to the waiting world and vice versa. Or start using your emotions to get you back to the subservient friend you were. You see, to them you were useful as the poor relation which they are now bereft of. Being able to match them, they can no longer ‘use’ you for errands, or be their last option when a date cancels.
So what to do? When your ego-hungry pal feels you now don’t give them enough attention to validate themselves, simply walk away. No need to carry baggage and stay in a deleterious association when you can enjoy what the world has to offer. If you have to otherwise continue such a friendship, then choose to be impervious of the negativity. Remember if you cede ground then you build and feed a monster who will one day gobble you up!
Picture this; you have had a long time friend, closer than a brother/sister, twins if you can say so. However, both of your lives didn’t turn out the same and you end up being the poor relation so to say. Your friendship is ok until one day this big company calls you for an interview, ultimately opening a big door for you. With this comes the elegant two storey house in one of those neighborhoods on the other side of Uhuru Highway, a sleek top of the range vehicle and of course a new circle of friends. Or having been their plus one for ages, you meet this good looking person, hit it off and before you know it, bam, you are walking down the aisle. So everyone wakes up and notices that person who used to be in the shadows, now the object of attention. While before you would wait till your friend has had their fill to get a lift home from a party, now you can leave anytime you are bored since you have the means. That expensive drink whose name you couldn’t pronounce now glides from your tongue effortlessly.
Things are going on well yeah! Au contraire, your ‘loyal’ friend suddenly goes on the offensive, lashes at small things, questions this or that, tries to limit your exposure to the waiting world and vice versa. Or start using your emotions to get you back to the subservient friend you were. You see, to them you were useful as the poor relation which they are now bereft of. Being able to match them, they can no longer ‘use’ you for errands, or be their last option when a date cancels.
So what to do? When your ego-hungry pal feels you now don’t give them enough attention to validate themselves, simply walk away. No need to carry baggage and stay in a deleterious association when you can enjoy what the world has to offer. If you have to otherwise continue such a friendship, then choose to be impervious of the negativity. Remember if you cede ground then you build and feed a monster who will one day gobble you up!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What's your brand
Margarine is a word whose meaning I finally understood during upper primary education, after realizing blue band is just one of a type of margarine. Just the same way we think of coke when asked to name a soft drink, so do we need a personal or self brand. Now, most of us are identified by where we are from, where we work, who we are married to, or who our parents are. Women especially are not easily branded in their own right given our patriarchal society. Professionally, branding is important especially if you want to sell yourself. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a ‘hot’ commodity so as to just get a ticket to your next job, self-branding rather ensures you remain the top in your field. For example, what happens when you leave the blue chip company you work for now, do you lose who you are after that company email is pulled off? I am amazed by Patricia Mbatia (former PRO Multi-choice) who built her personal brand alongside that of her employer. After her exit, her self-branding as a PR practitioner now follows her everywhere. How she did it, is a mystery which I would love to get a how-to-do guide on.
Carol Mandi, Gina din, some tips please!
Carol Mandi, Gina din, some tips please!
Friday, March 18, 2011
I want to be on the greener side
A year or so ago, I was in Isiolo, rubbing shoulders with the Samburu community. Well, am back again, only this time it’s in Baragoi, and am faced with the stark differences I see life has given each one of us. Here I meet Nachamei, a beautiful 19 year old girl living in Baragoi district; this for some is the other end of the world that Kenyans hear about only when there is drought.
However for Nachamei it’s home; where the cattle come at dusk or after days on end on the trail looking for pasture. Baragoi is also home because she is one of the lucky few Samburu girls to get educated to form four level with a promise to advance to college in May this year. Despite the stark cultural differences, economic challenges and far distance from so-called civilization, I can’t help but envy her. Am green with envy because of the purity of her smile, not yet tarnished with jealousy of what she could have. Oh how am envious of her gaiety, not yet tainted by the harsh realities and unrealities of the city’s life on the fast lane.
But as the grass always looks greener on the other side, Nachamei can’t help but tell me how she wishes she had lived in the city like me, maybe also get a ‘good’ job and go out on missions! Oh Nachamei, if you knew it’s not as green as you may think. Greener I think is where we all are, only that instead of looking at the other side, we chose to throw our cares behind us so that happiness can find us.
However for Nachamei it’s home; where the cattle come at dusk or after days on end on the trail looking for pasture. Baragoi is also home because she is one of the lucky few Samburu girls to get educated to form four level with a promise to advance to college in May this year. Despite the stark cultural differences, economic challenges and far distance from so-called civilization, I can’t help but envy her. Am green with envy because of the purity of her smile, not yet tarnished with jealousy of what she could have. Oh how am envious of her gaiety, not yet tainted by the harsh realities and unrealities of the city’s life on the fast lane.
But as the grass always looks greener on the other side, Nachamei can’t help but tell me how she wishes she had lived in the city like me, maybe also get a ‘good’ job and go out on missions! Oh Nachamei, if you knew it’s not as green as you may think. Greener I think is where we all are, only that instead of looking at the other side, we chose to throw our cares behind us so that happiness can find us.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Dear Parents……
KCSE results are out, your children have passed or not; whichever the case, resist the urge to push them into college or university courses you think they are fit of without their consent. My cousin has just passed his KCSE exams with a B+ and has suddenly found out he has no idea what he wants to do. His parents of course are convinced he needs to enter into a conventionally accepted field, the kind that will enable him be viewed favorably in the eyes of society. As much as there is nothing wrong with wanting the so called high-end careers, caution should be exercised with wanting to choose courses for your children.
Another relative’s story has a not-so good ending. The parents choose for her a conventional course in 2009, which she had no interest on whatsoever. Come 2010, the young girl dropped off after a heavy investment of parallel fees had been paid for her medical course. Looking at the bright side though, better now than later!
So dear parents, again I say, exercise caution and remember that your best may not be your child’s best!
Another relative’s story has a not-so good ending. The parents choose for her a conventional course in 2009, which she had no interest on whatsoever. Come 2010, the young girl dropped off after a heavy investment of parallel fees had been paid for her medical course. Looking at the bright side though, better now than later!
So dear parents, again I say, exercise caution and remember that your best may not be your child’s best!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Affirmative Action.....? Not Really.
Resolutions, policies, laws and every other state or global guidelines have been enacted in the past two decades regarding women and possibly putting them in a position that they are able to be the best they can be. Has it helped? Does it help? Well am not sure I advocate for affirmative action especially where women are concerned. Many a times women are given positions because of their gender and instead of this working for them, they end up being treated as second class. In many cases you will hear snide remarks like.,‘she was just given the position’. A phrase you are not likely to hear where one works their way up. Is not it better to work hard and make it with your own sweat.
Despite these reservations, one just has to look at the debate on affirmative action regarding admission to national schools and its clear that without it, a number of communities will remain at the bottom of the chain while their nemesis revel at the top. Picture a child born in a poor Turkana household, where schools are under trees and the teacher ratio is 1:200 or something like that. Meanwhile, their private school compatriots are picked up at 5.30 am with a posh bus, grilled through the class eight syllabuses the previous year, have access to all past exam papers (even sometimes future) and have a teacher ration of 1:20. Even with all our selfishness as a country, could we just take a moment before castigating the affirmative action policy? When will the poor children ever get quality? The private schools have already rushed to file lawsuits against the government.
Who is filing one for the child in Turkana? All i hear is silence.....
Despite these reservations, one just has to look at the debate on affirmative action regarding admission to national schools and its clear that without it, a number of communities will remain at the bottom of the chain while their nemesis revel at the top. Picture a child born in a poor Turkana household, where schools are under trees and the teacher ratio is 1:200 or something like that. Meanwhile, their private school compatriots are picked up at 5.30 am with a posh bus, grilled through the class eight syllabuses the previous year, have access to all past exam papers (even sometimes future) and have a teacher ration of 1:20. Even with all our selfishness as a country, could we just take a moment before castigating the affirmative action policy? When will the poor children ever get quality? The private schools have already rushed to file lawsuits against the government.
Who is filing one for the child in Turkana? All i hear is silence.....
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