Lushoto, Tanzania Mar 2012. Part 1

Lushoto mountains

 

OMG! Sijui niseme nini I just love Lushoto, nilikua nakusikia tu toka kwa friends waliotokea huku kuwa ni kuzuri sana this time nikaamua nami niende. Ilichekesha sana some of friends waliniambia kuwa sitoweza fika huko maana barabara zake ni kazi sana kuendesha nikiwa ni mtaalam kwa maswala ya barabarani lol! Niliamua kujipanga mimi na wadogo zangu Tina na Flora tulianza safari yetu baada ya masaa matano tuliingia Lushoto. Kwa kweli ni pazuri sana tena sana na barabara yake ya kuingia huko bado ikiwa na hali nzuri ingawa ni ya enzi za mjerumani. Safari ilikua ni poa sana na tulikaa Lushoto kwa siku mbili, next time lazima nilete familia yangu huku Amani na Malaika watapapenda sana bila kusahau baba yao my hubby ambaye amezipenda sana picha za Lushoto! Kweli Tanzania yetu ni nzuri :)))))))

@Sea Cliff Hotel Dar es Salaam with friends, Mar. 2012

Sea Cliff Hotel

 

Nilifurahi kukutana na marafiki zangu kwa pamoja hapa na kupata lunch. Asanteni warembo kwa kufika na tulichekaje jamani, ndio raha ya Dar es Salaam hii jamani xoxo

 

Dar es Salaam Feb, 2012

Breakpoint Posta with Blandina na kaka zake Festo and Gabu

Ilikua ni vizuri kukutana na Blandina, Festo na Gabu Langibori na kupata lunch pale Break Point Posta, ukiunganisha na story za miaka mingi pamoja na chakula kitamu basi mchana wetu ulienda vizuri sana. Walikua ni jirani zetu kipindi tunaishi Dodoma na nikaja kukutana nao kipindiĀ  nafanyia kazi Kigoma. Nakumbuka vizuri sana siku ambayo tumempoteza mama Blandina ndio alikuja kunipa taarifa kuwa mama yangu ametutoka. Utoto bwana nakumbuka alinipa news black & white kuwa mama yako amefariki wacha nikimbilie home huku nikiomba kuwa habari hii iwe si kweli lakini ndio hivyo ilikua imetokea. Kwa kweli tumetokea mbali sana, siku hii tuliongea mengi kweli. Baadae niliungana na mdogo wangu Tina na kwenda kuenjoy view pale Karambezi Sea Cliff Hotel na siku yangu ya kwanza bongo iliishia hapo. Hahahahaaaa…Bongo kuzuri bwana lol!

 

Our Holiday Shangri-La Hotels 2011, Part II

Mama na watoto

 

Our second day here was as beautiful as the first one was yesterday. Today the kids had a chance to enjoy the activities around the hotels including going around the Lazy River. What an amazing time we had…

Our Xmas Holiday, Shangri-La Hotels 2011

mama Amika

 

We couldn’t ask for more how to spend our Christmas holiday 2011 this was perfect!Ā  Start with Xmas special lunch which was delicious. Shangri-La Hotels Muscat is something else kwa kweli, 3 hotels in one place with a lot of activities for kids and grown ups, beautiful rooms with amazing view everywhere and without forgetting delicious food. We loved it!

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Celebrating Thai New Year in style

 

Ilikua furaha kwetu kuja hapa Chiang Mai kipindi hiki cha Thai New Year celebration.Ā  Kila mwaka huwa wanakua na festival kubwa kusheherekea mwaka mpya kwa fire works, balloons, lanternsĀ  and lantons kwa kweli kunapendeza sana. Tulifikia kwenye heritage B&B ambayo ilikua karibu sana na mto ambao unatumiwa katika sherehe. Tulikaa hapa kwa siku nne na kupata picha halisi ya sherehe hizi ambapo kila usiku anga lote linapendeza na lanterns na mto unapendeza na lantons zenye candle za kupendeza.

Amani na Malaika walifurahi sana kushiriki kwenye sherehe hizo pamoja na wenyeji ambapo nao waliweza kuweka lantons zao kwenye mto na kumake a wish. Hali ya hewa in Chiang Mai kuna kibaridi kidogo sio kama sehemu nyingi za Thailand. Pia kama kawaida ya Thailand nilipata nafasi ya kutembelea Spa ambapo safari hii nilikwenda kwenye spa na kupata Thai massage ya aina yake ilikua iko poa sana ingawa nimeshapata Thai massage sehemu nyingi Thailand hii ilikua kiboko wanasema ni modern Thai massage, pesa yangu niliyolipa ilikua ya halali kabisa. Kipindi hiki ni cha low season ila tourist wengi wanakuja kwa ajili ya hizi sherehe na hakika zinapendeza sana.

Adelaide Australia, 2011

Down town Adelaide

 

We had a great time in Adelaide the weather was beautiful since it was almost the summer. We enjoyed getting together with some of the family, we didn’t have much time we had only four days so we had chance to meet just few of them. We were happy to see my husband’s brother Neville (who stood beside my husband as Best Man at our wedding,). I like Neville very much, so I was very happy to have lunch with him and his lovely daughter Lynda and her daughter Brittany. Amani & Malaika had much fun playing & talking with her. We had another lovely day when we went and visit my daughter-in-law Skye and her husband in their new house. As usual Amani & Malaika had a blast playing with their dog Gracie. The day before we left Adelaide, we went and visit another of my brothers-in-law, Lex and his wife Sue. We had a great Aussie BBQ at their home and it was wonderful to see them and their children again.

We had a chance too to visit my hubby parent’s grave at the cemetery so Amani & Malaika can see where their grandparents been laid to rest. They only have one grandparent alive that is my father because my mum died a long time ago and both their grandparents from their Dad’s side have passed away. It was special for them at least to see their names on the grave to help them understand.Ā  After our 4 days were finished, we packed our bags again and then headed off to Hobart. That will be our last stop in Australia this trip, then will be off to Thailand.

My 36th Birthday In Singapore

Mandarin Oriental Hotel

 

What a beautiful day! I started my birthday with very nice welcome in Singapore when the immigration officer, after checking my passport, said “Happy birthday! Are you going to celebrate today?” How kind ā€“ it really brightened my day and I loved it.We jumped into a taxi and headed to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Singapore to celebrate my birthday with a delicious English High Tea (afternoon tea) – one of my very favourite things. This hotel is very popular for High Tea and to have a table here you must have a booking, otherwise you won’t get a table.My hubby booked our table almost 2 months ago, especially for my birthday, because he knows how much I love high tea and that I’ve been dreaming to come here for a while.

I just spent my day with my most important people in this world my own loving family. It was wonderful. I’ve nothing to complain kwa kweli, I feel blessed. We’ve been to Singapore before and we love this city. It is one of the most civilised cities in the world. Imagine – one person in twenty in this country is millionaire! Singapore has the highest number of millionaires per capita in the world. Did you know that? I was impressed when I heard that, it’s fascinating. I think that’s why things here are pretty expensive, but you’ll be surprise to see people just spending without worrying about the price! As you walk around, you’ll notice a lot of people wearing designer things and in almost every shopping mall you will find the big name designer shops. People here wear the real thing, not copies. It’s normal here.

We came here just for my birthday, we spent the day having afternoon tea and then killed a couple of hours doing a little bit of shopping, then back to the Airport in the evening, ready to board our flight to Darwin, Australia. To be honest we both love it. To see my kids singing happy birthday song to their Mummy with big smiles on their faces, awww… it makes me cry with happiness.

Good news for Tanzanians by the way. If you didn’t already know, there’s no visa required to enter Singapore. When you have the money, just pack your bags and get your visa at the Airport! I hope your next trip will be to this beautiful country. And for those who have children, you’ll be surprised at how much there is to do for the kids here. They even have a Universal Studios Singapore, so all the family can enjoy movie adventures! It’s wonderful to see people enjoying to travel and for them to experience different places and cultures. If you’re like me, once you start travelling, you won’t want to stop.

A big thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. It meant a lot and I appreciate it.
God bless you all, much love…xoxo. Cheers!!!

 

 

Life in Oman

Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat

 

Maisha ya Muscat, Oman kwa ujumla ni mazuri, kitu kikubwa kilichopo hapa ni amani iliyopo ni nzuri sana. Kitu cha kushangaza baada ya kufika hapa mwaka mmoja ukazaa wa pili, watatu na bado tupo. Mimi huwa napenda kuishi sehemu ambazo zimetulia sana kama vile nje ya miji, huwa sipendi kukaa sehemu ambazo ziko busy sana, kwa namna hiyo hapa nimefika maana kumetulia sana. Ila kwa wale ambao wanapenda sana kutoka mara kwa mara hapa wanaweza kidogo kuchoka ila kwa wale kama sisi ambao tunapenda sehemu iliyotulia nadhani hapa ndio penyewe.Ā  Hakuna wizi hapa hata kama ukilala mlango wazi, utashangaa ukiamka unakuta kila kitu kiko vile vile. Nimetokea kukupenda zaidiĀ  baada ya kupata watoto ni sehemu nzuri kwa kulea, ukiangalia kama nchi nyingi kila wakati unakua na wasiwasi na usalama wa watoto wako. Pia bila kusahau wenyeji wa hapa ni watu wazuri kuna tofauti kubwa na nchi nyingine za ukanda huu. Kama wataendelea kutupa kazi nadhani tutaendelea kuwepo hapa kwa muda…

 

Six Senses Resort & Spa, Zighy Bay Oman

Zighy Bay Six Senses Resort & Spa Hotel

 

What an experience! Kulala hapa kwa usiku mmoja inaanzia dola 1,000 na kuendelea. Zighy Bay ambayo ni Six Senses Resort & Spa Hotels iko Musandam, Oman. Kufika kwetu hapa ilituchukua karibu 7hrs tukitokea Muscat baada ya kukatiza boarder mbili za UAE. Eneo hili liko chini ya Oman ila likiwa limezungukwa na UAE pande zote so ukitaka kufika hapa lazima ukatize Fujairah or Sharjah. Ila ukitokea Dubai Airport ni masaa mawili tu. Bahati barabara ni nzuri sana kwenye nchi zote hizi mbili ni kipengele kidogo tu ambacho ni cha kuvuka milima mkubwa ndipo uweze kuingia Zighy Bay ambapo lazima uwe na 4WD ila kama huna kuna sehemu unapaki gari lako na hotel inakuja kukufuata.

Tulivyowasili tu tulipokelewa kwa ukarimu wa hali ya juu yaani wafanyakazi wote ni wakarimu sana pia kuna amani ya aina fulani unapata pindi tu ukiwasili hapa ni ya ajabu sana. Resort imejengwa kwa staili ya kizamani ya watu wa Oman ambapo villa zote zimejengwa kwa mawe huku wakichanganya na modern style kama vile private pool, etc.

The resort kwa ujumla ni very expensive kila kitu ukigusa ni pesa tu. Ila cha kushangaza ukiangalia jinsi hoteli ilivyojaa utadhani ni pesa ndogo tu kumbe bila usd 1,000 na kuendelea ujalala hapa. Ilikua bahati kweli kwetu maana our 2nights zilikua ni za bure tulishinda, tulichotakiwa kulipa ni chakula na mambo mengine tukitaka. Pia tulipewa 25% ya kila kitu lakini hata hivyo mambo yalikua expensive sana uwezi amini kwa hizo siku mbili pesa tuliyolipa inasikitisha. Wakati hapo kuna watu wako na familia nzima mpaka watoto ambapo ukipiga mahesabu mtoto mmoja si chini la dola 300 kwa siku bado chakula na mambo mengine, jamani kuna watu wana hela.

Huduma yake ilikua iko kwenye standard ya juu sana kila villa ilikua na mhudumu special ambaye yuko 24hrs kwa ajili yenu ukitaka chochote we piga simu tu dk chache tayari kafika. Chumba kinasafishwa karibu kila wakati mkitoka tu mtu keshafika na kusafisha mkirudi kunanukia acha tu, kweli hii ni 1st class service.

Wacha nami nijidai kama vile nina hela vile hahahaaa… maana watu waliopo hapa ni wenye pesa zao nami nikaonekana kuwa nami ninazo wangejua Lol! Ilikua ni experience mpya kwangu kuzungukwa na watu wa pesa tu wanavyozitumia utafikiri hakuna shida kabisa. Hii kwangu ilikua ni mpya ingawa nimeshazunguka sehemu mbali mbali na yenye watu wa aina tofauti ila hapa kwangu ilikua ni kali maana ni watu wa aina moja tu wenye pesa na si vinginevyo hata atmosphere yake ilikua tofauti kabisa. Si nisijifanye naangalia bei za spa mbona nilifunga kitabu haraka sana maana hizo bei weweeeee…yalinishinda. Nikiwa ni mpenzi wa spa na Six Senses Resort ni maarufu sana kwa spa nikasema ngoja nami nijitahidi mbona yalinishinda maana dah! zina wenyewe labda siku moja nitajaribu lakini si sasa.

Pamoja kuwa tulienjoy na kufurahia amani iliyopo hapa na sehemu yenyewe ila kama ingekuwa kulipa sidhani kama tungelipa pesa zote hizi kwa ajili ya kukaa hapa, tunaamini kuna sehemu nyingi ambazo ni nzuri zaidi ya hapa ambapo unaweza kukaa kwa bei rahisi zaidi. Ila tulifurahia kupata another new experience ingawa zilitutoka kidogo hasa kwenye dinner.

Kitu ambacho kikubwa nime notice hapa ni amani, kwa kweli ukiwa na stress au umechoka unahitaji mapumziko hapa ni mahali pake kuna amani ya ajabu sana. Ufikapo tu hapa moja kwa moja unaanza kujihisi tofauti kwa hilo nawapa hongera zao sana. I’m happy nilikwenda maana nimepata experience nyingine ambayo naweza kuadd kwenye my travel experience. Naweza sema was very interesting. Cheers!!!!

Safiri na Zawadi