of Backpacks and Beards

To all who have read!

So the best company in Canada, Mountain Equipment Coop is running a contest right now called “What Moves You”, I’ve chosen to enter the contest in the ‘Connecting with People’ category. Basically describing how throughout my travels and adventures I’ve had the underlying goal of connecting with people. So for anyone who’s given my blog…

The Slow Coast of Kilifi

After taking the 8-hour night bus from Nairobi to Kilifi I jumped off and grabbed a Piki-Piki to reach Distant Relatives, which is now officially the nicest hostel I’ve been to. I pulled up to the gates at around 5:30am, set up my tent and quickly fell asleep. I woke up to the sounds of…

The People you Meet

Well I arrived back to Red Chilli in Kampala, Uganda for the 3rd time in 2 months I was immediately excited. We took some time and got our rooms sorted out and me and a friend quickly made use of the bar and chose a table outside. Within about 5 minutes we had a table…

My Name is Not Mzungu

If you’ve ever been anywhere in East Africa the word Mzungu has certainly found it way to be directed at you. Be it walking down the road and hearing from an unseen window, “Hey Mzungu, how’re you?”, to quiet conversations you just happen to pick up on enough, to your cab driver calmly referring to…

To Hell and Back

Packing up from Manyatta Backpackers and hopping into the 14-person Mutatu with 15 people and 15 large backpacks made it feel a bit crammed. However, everyone was in and we were off. About 5 minutes into the trip we realized that an iPhone was left behind, although this person was quick to let it go…

Street art to street starts

The first time you meet Ashif you see a lanky tall Kenyan man, with dreadlocks poping out every which way, wearing an all green jump suit with the words “Brains on high voltage” tagged across the back. Everything about Ashif suggests a laid back and passion lived life that keeps him happy perhaps despite his…

Nairobi Nairobi

After having spent some time in Nairobi it’s wild nature seems to have become somewhat normal to me. However, when picking up 13 participants for our East Africa trip and walking them through the city it becomes suddenly clear again just how wild this city can be. I suppose the most appropriate phase I heard…

Waiting in Vain

Having boarded about 9 planes in the last 4 weeks including 4 international flights I’ve had the luxury of spending some quality time in the fine airports of Nairobi, London, and Amsterdam. However, it’s not simply these airports that seem to create the atmosphere of an airport. An airport has no particular schedule, instead it’s…

Peanut-Butter and Jam Sandwiches

It had never occurred to me that my childhood comfort food and lifelong cheap source of a quick, delicious, and easy-to-make sandwich was not shared universally. I’d been hanging around the common area of the hostel I was staying at in Nairobi talking with two new friends I’d made, both from England. We’d begun a…

When Cars Stop

Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, otherwise known as Nairobbery carries certain connotations about it. One being the fact that you have to be vigilant with any of your belongings, especially if you’re a traveller. Travelling from Rwanda to Kenya you notice a few clear distinguishing factors. For one, Rwanda’s piki drivers wear a helmet,…