Experiences

On a mission

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It’s been a whirlwind… plane after plane…and suitcase after suitcase. My travels started out regionally… with a simple bag pack and soon expanded to me carrying a whole suitcase.
The first time I was called for briefing (do I sound like James Bond?) it was intriguing. I felt exactly like James Bond going to Thika. A very interesting & eager crowd…
Thika to Mombasa. Another briefing. I’ve never been to the coast other than to relax & enjoy the cool breeze. Plus, I’ve never taken Mombasa seriously.  Now, who’d think I’d be in Mombasa in flat 45 minutes instead of the usual 8-10 hours by road?

Mombasa…what can I say? Wow…!

I was there for exactly a month. And I was there at the right time. It was Ramadhan time & the nights were full of festivities. As for my first day to office, I geared up to reach office by 7.30 a.m. The roads were as clear as day & it took me just seven minutes to reach. The same distance in Nairobi would’ve taken at least 45 mins; if rains, at least two hours! Hmmm…when I reached the office, I was shocked to see it locked! I was not a very happy lady. Had to wait for an hour before it opened. Mombasa & hurry are two opposites. Traffic begins only around 9 a.m.

The people are extremely friendly. You’d think they’re conmen. I recalled that only conmen in Nairobi are so friendly.

Business people in Mombasa are equally hospitable and always open to new ideas. Only that at times Swahili was a major handicap for me. By the way, I’m angry with Google. It would translate everything I wrote into a language I bothered to cram only to pass my high school. Try going to a Swahili business meeting.

Off office hours I managed to visit a number of tourist sites. The beach was, of course my favourite haunt!

I would have stayed longer were it not for that phone call.

Another briefing.

Mombasa-Accra. The airport was packed. It seemed like everyone was going to West Africa. I sat in the plane wondering how people

Accra

My next stop: Accra

there would receive me. Was worried about the cultural differences too.  All I knew about West Africa is from what friends had to say and of course, the movies.

Accra & its people were both pleasant suprises.  Clean & organized.  People are very friendly; I was told people in the coastal towns are friendlier. May be its the water…I particularly enjoyed the very hot and spicy food and the Pan-African sites.

Accra looks more like a mix of a small European town and Jamaica (at least that’s how I imagine Jamaica to be).

Accrans are also relaxed. I loved their attention to detail. The food and clothing industry is big in Accra.  Their currency almost equals the dollar. Accra also has some of the most expensive cars (Aston Martins, Bentlys, Rolls Royce, Maybach—name it, you have it). And here in Kenya we get excited by Hummers & Mercs!

Training the friendly businessmen was exciting. All acknowledgments were in kind.  Don’t get me wrong. It was in the form of accommodation, fooding, Kitenges and…Everyone’s nephew or son was single & available.

The phone rang again…

Accra- Kampala. They call it the land of the seven hills and well, it is. I must have lost a couple of kilos just crossing the road. There are hills everywhere, and it’s a town where I can be a millionaire with 50,000 Ksh!

Boda boda

Was never late, thanks to these

Kampala must be one of the largest shopping cities in East Africa.  There are huge malls everywhere & where there are none, one is being constructed. The richies from East Africa throng to Kampala for shopping. Kampala is an affordable town—from food to accommodation. Kampala is not a coastal town & people dont like to be rushed but are very friendly.  May be I should move to Kampala…

Fast food is not very popular in Kampala. Give yourself at least 20 minutes for lunch to arrive on table. Food has to be adequately cooked you see! And it’s adequately consumed too!

The Boda Boda made sure I was never late for a meeting.  My new found passion for the motorbikes was quickly halted due to some shared knowledge I acquired when I was with some friends: “80% of accidents in Uganda are caused by Boda Bodas.”

I was amazed by the eagerness of the business people and was actually not expecting such an outcome. Uganda is  definitely a country to watch out in terms of economic growth.

I wasn’t able to go around much but I have a feeling I’m not done with Kampala. But am also hoping that my next business trip would be to another coastal town. I wouldn’t mind Mombasa again.



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