Mother nature calls you!

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”
-Henry David Thoreau, American Poet-

Listen...do you hear that? The birds sing for you. The rain washes your frustrations away. The sun bathes your skin in a wondrous glow. It is the sound of Mother Nature calling. If you’re a ‘city slicker’, you probably don’t hear her voice, but if you listen deeply, beyond the sirens, honking cars, and car exhaust, lies a place of complete and total serenity.

Mountain Rwenzori beneath the clouds.

My job takes me all over the big city of Kampala. I know every nook, every corner of this vast place, and I love it. But I also love the reconnection with the Earth. Being immersed in a forest brings me to the deepest essence of life. Recently during Easter weekend I had a chance to exhale and breathe deeply, voyaging to a wondrous paradise called Fort Portal. Located in Western Uganda, this small town lies right up there with Zanzibar as one of most unforgettable trips of the past year. We stayed in the picturesque village of Kifuruka. The area is colored emerald green, with the wondrous Mount Rwenzori (third largest in Africa) always hovering overhead. It acts as your north star, a big brother looking out for your well-being. The air is fresh and crisp, and as the sun sets, wisps of lavender ribbons paint the sky.

My friends and I enjoying the view of one of the crater lakes.

One of my friends getting immersed in the Mahoma waterfall.

When night falls, as the stars awaken and the cloud mist clears, a crescent moon bathes you to sleep. My very first night there, I was deeply moved by the sound of silence. Utter and complete stillness. So still, I could hear my own heart beating. I wanted to hold my breath, as inhaling and exhaling made too much noise. There was absolutely no movement, no breeze, no recognition of air even. It was the sound of nothing, and everything. It felt like all life, and death, and beyond, was contained in one space. This was the most peaceful, knowledgeable, coherent moment I’ve ever experienced. It was heaven on Earth, the absolute bliss of nothing at all. Upon the dawning of a new day, I was immediately comforted by the cheerful hellos from frogs, insects, and birds welcoming me to a new beginning. Behold, the nurturing power of nature!

My friend and I jumping away in the nature.

The benefits of reconnecting with the natural world are well documented, and I can vouch for its incredible rejuvenation. The Japanese call it “Shinrin-yoku,” or a ‘forest bathing trip.’ Richard Ryan, lead author and professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, says: “Nature is fuel for the soul. Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”
I can’t agree more professor!

“People with a greater sense of vitality don’t just have more energy for things they want to do,” he adds, “they are also more resilient to physical illnesses. One of the pathways to health may be to spend more time in natural settings.”

A beautiful crater lake in Fortportal.

So if you are feeling the stress of big city life, peel back the layers, the frenzy, and the noise. Reconnect with the Mother who gives life to us all, Mother Nature. There have been moments upon returning to Kampala where my mind has wandered back to that simple place. Whenever the traffic frustrated me or the boda bodas assaulted my ears, I have just exhaled, and pictured myself back on that road, that mountain, those clouds, that gorgeous crescent moon. Stillness. Peace.

All green everything.

I was very excited to go on walking tour in the nature.

                                                     Mother Nature calls you! Embrace her!

We love shopping!

Have you ever wanted to do some shopping around the city but are worried that you will be viewed as walking ATM because of your skin color? I am well aware of the "mzungu price" (white persons price) often given to visitors because of the seller's assumption that the person has a lot of money. I believe though, that you should be able to enjoy shopping without constantly worrying about getting ripped off  or having to struggle with ridiculous prices. For this reason I have introduced "We love shopping" tours to assist in your purchases while providing tips and local knowledge so that you can get a good price both this time and the next time you do it alone. Many travellesrs simply have no idea how low they can bargain the amount they pay, but I am here to show you how.

African fabrics.

Downtown Owino, busy checking out some second-hand caps.

As a native Ugandan, I know all the good spots where you can find fair prices for high quality goods. In this case, the choice is all yours, tell me what you are interested in buying and I will take you there. Whether it is souvenirs, farming products, clothes, fabric, beads, cushions and chair pads, furniture or electronics, I know where to go.

Colorful pasta and spices.

Buying some avocados, Uganda is known to have some of the biggest, tastiest avocados in the world!

We have lots of these in Uganda, and they are delicious!

So the next time you are shopping, reach out to me and let us enjoy the experience together. Former South African President Nelson Mandela once said," If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart". Rest assured on this shopping tour, you will learn to ask the sellers for a price of a product in their language. By doing so you will touch their hearts, which will keep them from asking for a price that will hit your wallet!

Chair pads look beautiful when covered with African cloth.

Cushion and chair pad.

The final product was ready only two hours after placing the order!

Well that is it for now. I hope to see you around, ladies, for some retail therapy-African style. (Though men are more than welcome on the shopping tours as well).