City Guide: 5 ways to find your way around Kigali

Hi there lovely people.
I can't believe it's been almost a year since I last wrote on here.
So to compensate it here are some of the tips I have learnt throughout the year on how to go about knowing places around Kigali.

You can bond over your favorite cup of coffee or tea if you like.

1. Find locals and befriend them

It's no secret that in order to familiarize yourself it's wise to have a local take you around.
This might be tricky if you don't know people at first. But if you meet someone who you feel comfortable with don't hesitate to talk to them because you might learn a lot from them in your to understand the place. I must confess, the most places I have come to love and frequent is because of friends who directed me there or went with me to the particular place.

As hilly as it looks walking on foot can give you a better perspective of places.

2. Get walking

Walking has proven to be my most go-to solution when I am trying to know a place. First I do it for fitness, to distress and also to see things at slow pace when I am unhurried. Weekends for me sound just about right. I can squeeze in enough time and walk as far as my legs can take me on an aimless whim for sheer discovery or just purposefully walk to a new place I heard about.
Don't be fooled by the hills, I was surprised to find how short distances can be if only I give it a try.
A solo walk can help you learn about places in a longer time so sometimes if you have friends around the walk can be much more faster and less stressful if you intend to go further.

Get walking but keep your feet warm especially on cold days. This was taken on a hot lazy day. Comfy walking shoes would be an added advantage.

3. Online platforms help a lot sometimes

To be honest getting around is a lot easier when using social media. In the sense that when you ask using a hashtag such as #RWOT on Twitter you could get a substantially reasonable response or you could try Facebook. My best bet however on getting around using online is this website Living in Kigali. Honestly there is a chock-full of information going on there and if you are in a hurry and not planning a long stay in Kigali that could help you familiarize yourself with as many info you would need in one seating. However, you could go to a library or bookstore and read about places around although I am not sure if there is a lot out there written about Kigali so that's why I chose to stick with the online title as a safe bet. But hey, it's better to try and found out than just rule it out as if it were nonexistent.

Bus rides that are guided are a great way to learn deeper histories of a places.

4. Find out about guided tours

Another way I recently found out was going on community tours which are primarily based on walking. The tour guide gives you some history about the place, shows you places of that area and its environs for a fee. You could also use bus rides if you are running out of time and need to maximize and internalize as much as you would love to get. Guided tours are a great option if you want to learn facts and not miss out on the most obvious spots out there.

This view is so majestic! Also, it wasn't meant to be here but I just loved it and decided it should grace this blog.

5. Make use of Google Maps

When all else fails, although I doubt that could happen, give Google Maps a try. In all honesty, that trusty application has really made my life easier. Especially when directing someone gets a little too hard and the nitty-gritty details can be missed without an aide such as G-maps!

Of course there are other ways to traverse your way through this oh-so beautiful city but I chose these five quick ones I have learnt in just about a year of living here. Feel free to add other ideas you have learnt to find your way around the city.

That's it for now, until next time,
XO


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Ps: Pictures and words by me unless stated otherwise.

Sky High Bliss

I was dying to share this with you guys. Couldn't help it when I had to first share my Nyanza experience then offer this next blog. Been a long time coming. So here goes buddies:
I first want to let you guys that this was hands down an amazing experience! Christmas come early kinda feeling.
A friend of mine suggested me to partake in an event that was taking place in Kenya recently- a journalism reporting boot-camp if I might say. And it was definitely a great time but really what made me do this blog is the travel part. Gee, less talk Dee... More pics please!
So the ticketing was seamless, everything had been catered for... I just had to be there on time and thank God for Kigali's traffic free airport road I was there earlier! (Of course it was the giddy old me excited to fly for the first time!) I mean, I got to experience what I always see in movies! How cool is that! I was definitely on cloud nine or any if the similar words here all in one!
Apart from the oohs and aahs of being in the actual departures lounge and all the processes in between, I had an amazing time definitely and my Snapchat was super loaded with the moments as usual.
Check the pics below:

Oooooh! That boeing jet is huge!

From where I sit

Cameo-therapy! Lucky girl. Sat on the window to and fro!

Safety first

Food first

All set!

And the writer in me began to journal EVERYTHING! You should have seen the look on the faces of my neighbors! No wonder they slept most of the flight! One less problem though, no one to stare at my novice antics! Plus they were an extremely lovey couple! For a moment I hated being single but heck! I was so enthralled with the views I had no time for love affairs... Hehe

Runway tings! Well it took awfully long for take off (Never mind it was less than a minute!) I just wanted to be in the sky already! Fun fact: I had this irrational fear I might do something clumsy and everyone would throw darting glances at me and then faint because that's what you do when you are judged. Right? No, ok.. maybe it's just me. Thank you Cyril for the pep talk! I feared nothing!

Up, up, up we went! Gee look at those little houses!

Going steady! Man! I couldn't contain myself! I felt like my heart could explode in all the beautiful views from up there! Oh and they say the higher you go the cooler it gets... I felt it! It was like I was in a fridge somewhere! But maybe they meant cool as in hip?! Haha... Just kidding.

Clouds...

...and more clouds!

And more clouds!

And more clouds!

And more C L O U D S!!!

It's an ocean of white fluffiness up there! If only I could touch that edible looking ginormous cloud!

Ah if only I could fall on that fluff and just lay there watching as birds pass and chirp by me sailing in bliss! Smh, no one thinks like that Dee... Get it together boo-boo!

That down there is the beautiful Lake Victoria

One thing also! Pilots! Man! These guys deserve a tip of the hat like for real! The knowledge of the latitudes and longitudes and knowing where to take the plane is quite amazing! To me we looked like we were slowly moving but at sometime The announcer put out that were traveling 900 kmph while 11 KM high! Geek alert!

With these views, I dared not sleep! Surprisingly there are people who've flown their whole lives and they really weren't as enchanted as I was. But oh-well, I just stared at the wondrous things the Lord had made and His creation of the human brain! Just wow! I couldn't help but praise!

The lake!

I mean! What is this! No filter needed!

Pretty sure these light dynamics weren't ready! Another view with no filter needed of course! Just how cool can it get! So amazed really! Just look at that glorious and calming view!

You know some of us food just does some good remedy! Thanks RwandAir

Juice for days.

Peek-a-boo!

Oh hello Kenyan terrain! Been awhile since we were together! You are sight to the sore eye! So breathtakingly good!

My point exactly? I just can't un-stare this!

And those are the Ngong Hills! Woi!

Welcome to my hood! Rangau on fleek!

Landing. Eeek! Unreal!

Land at close range!

Yeeha! The runway!

Ok, first of all am so glad I captured that! These physics dynamics had my little big heart palpitating like a little kid in an awe-striking arena full of kids goodies! Just wow!

Casually passing planes... No biggie!

Reliving Planes movies! Haha... Yes I am a Disney fan!

Oh Kenya! So beautiful!

Also this view while in the cab! How serene!

Well guys this was like my most alive moment this year! I loved it so much! Plus it was so fun writing it! The full journey couldn't fit in this whole blog post, I decided to put into 2 parts so if you are for the idea, lemme know in the comments below!
Also see this This hilarious air travel diary  as seen on Cup of Jo's page, this hilarious episode of The Lucy Show when Lucy flew to London and these solo travel lessons.
Wrote this while listening to this amazing playlist-my fave so far ;) and this one too 
Have a lovely dreamy day friends.

High View

I really want to fly,
But meanwhile as I can't I will just share with you some of my high views... And by this, I mean pictures I took while standing atop buildings around the Kigali ville. 

Raindrops, after the rain shower that left the city squeaky clean.

Diner is about to be served as this magnificent view savored by the mind beckons so loudly yet so subtle you can't afford to miss it.

The magnificent clouds and the peek of the Sun's rays are a sight to behold.

Snapchat picture atop of Eco Bank, Kigali. That view of hills is magnificent.

There is beauty all around us, or all below us... Go seek it!

Squeaky clean... No hazy airspace... If you can spot the Amahoro Stadium you must have good knowledge of Kigali.

Raindrops on the window. Heavenly!