because you never know which corner has love waiting there for you.
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From Lilongwe to Lusaka to Livingstone and back.Let me just say that was a long and fun-filled journey to get to Zambia. We would spend the next few days in the car chatting, listening to music and clearly a favorite of some more than others…sleeping (clearly a favorite of some more than others). We (four of us) left our Agogo’s (grandfather’s) home in Lilongwe mid-morning, and I took the first driving shift. Within an hour, we reached the Mchinji border. Getting ourselves approved to cross was no problem; getting money changed was also no problem; of all things, getting the car approved to cross took forever. We spent a considerable amount of time (read here: hours) at the border, mostly on the Zambian side. We went back and forth between the office buildings before the car could be driven in Zambia. Then, we finally got to start the real part of our journey (and yes, I was still the chauffeuse extraordinaire). Along the way we stopped to take pictures of the stunningly green and quiet (compared to Malawi) countryside. When my driving shift was over several hours later, I was able to relax and join in on the intermittent sleeping. We arrived in Lusaka late in the night. All things considered, it was a roughly 10-hour journey. When we reached our cousin’s house, we were warmly greeted by family, food and drinks. We stayed up and chatted for as long as our tired bodies would let us. The several days we spent in Lusaka were filled with football matches, conversation and laughter. My sister, Enya, and our cousin’s children had a wonderful time together playing basketball, running around, and even going shopping. Then the day came when we had to make another long journey by road to Livingstone to see the magnificent Vic Falls. The journey to southern Zambia felt just as long as our drive from Lilongwe to Lusaka (but it was significantly shorter!). However, if you ask a Zambian how far Livingstone is from Lusaka, you get mixed results: some say it is only 3 or 4 hours, others say it is closer to 8 hours. Those who said 3 or 4 hours were (f)lying...it is about a 6 hour drive due to road conditions and large trucks on the two-lane traffic road. We eventually made it to Livingstone and felt the difference before we even arrived -- it was nice and warm with lots of mosquitoes. Once checked in at the Protea Hotel, my younger sister and I made our way to the pool while the boys stayed in their room. The next day was what we had all been waiting for…Victoria Falls! We drove down the road and stopped at a baobab tree to appreciate the thundering falls from high-above. We then continued down the road and started to feel the mist. When we entered the car park, we were crowded by vendors selling their crafts and warning us to beware of the baboons. As we made our way to the trails, the baboons were indeed there and in full force. We continued our walk across dirt covered rocks and through trees before seeing the Falls. We walked around the area, had photoshoots and asked our paparazzi all sorts of questions about the Falls and its history. It was an absolutely fabulous and memorable day. We ventured back to the hotel and got ready to head to Lusaka and then head back to Lilongwe the next day. It was bittersweet to leave Livingstone (or as I would incorrectly call it Livingstonia because of a place in Malawi) and Zambia overall. Driving down the long, straight roads, listening to music while everyone else was sleeping (of course), we made our way back home to Malawi with loving memories from Lusaka and ‘Livingstonia’. This post was written by nnk with support from edk. All photos are copyrighted to nnk, edk, nh and an and anonymous paparazzi (2016, 2017). Please ask before using or reproducing; any use should be attributed appropriately.
There is no such thing as chance.Back in August, I had the immense pleasure of getting to host dear friends with whom I had traveled the year before in my home country of Malawi. I was so touched by the post that my dear friend / brother, Calvin, wrote up after the whirlwind time in Malawi. What made the journey and time together even more special is the way I had originally connected with Calvin and the Monsooners years prior-- basically encouraging travel to the African continent! Even more awesome was the fact that I got to connect with them in South Africa AND Namibia after Malawi.
Here we, the Monsooners are =), having visited 11 of the continent's beautiful countries and experiencing the diversity and culture that each have to offer. Check out more about the Monsoon Diaries, trips and framily here: all are welcome. I was recently home in Malawi and had the immense pleasure of watching a little monkey eat (and reaaaallly enjoy) a lollipop. That monkey, while smaller than the other around it, did not let go and happily licked away at its prize.
Photos by NNK
There is a place in Miami called Wynwood. Wynwood is a mecca, of sorts, for street art. The legacy of the artists can be seen on the streets, on walls, on buildings, and felt throughout the area. It has translated beyond the street art to inspire creative culinary, fashion and interior design cultures in the area, as well. My sister and I had the opportunity to have a mini-adventure in Wynwood, basically eating our way through the area. Check out some photos below. Maybe you can guess which ones are my favorites! All photos are copyrighted to NNK and EDK (2016). Please ask before using or reproducing; any use should be attributed appropriately.
According to the rules of the universe...
And above all, (borrowing from Justin Timberlake) "what goes around comes back around"...It's been a while, but I'm back and hopefully posting more regularly!
I recently took a brief trip to NYC and stopped by the Met to see the exhibition on Photography in West Africa called In and Out of the Studio. Just outside of the Met, on 83rd and 5th Ave (if facing the steps, go towards the right), I came across Eric Ajama and his artwork. Based on his sketches, Eric remixes iconic images through the use of paint and textiles. His work is definitely worth checking out...or even better...including in your own art collection!
 This is something you don't see every day. Seen while #waitingfortheT #1.5bikes #nobigdealI had a 15-hour overnight layover in Istanbul, and all I had to show for it were these pictures. |
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