Kenya Here I Come!

"Travelling...the only thing you buy that makes you richer!"

Welcome to my final blog before embarking on my 'African Adventure'!
Whilst I am away there'll be no updates other than a regular stream of uploaded photos on Facebook (hopefully, depending on availability of roaming networks & quality of signal). But once I return I will post further blogs with stories and tales of my experiences.
With just five days to go, my heart is beating faster, the butterflies in my stomach have increased, and I find myself checking, then double-checking everything to make sure that I've covered all the bases, and got everything arranged.

I'm due to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya at 9.15pm local time on Sunday March 30th, and once I get through immigration I hope to be greeted with open arms by Nancy, who will have travelled down from her hometown, as well as a driver from the hotel who'll be there to collect us, so...'Kenya Here I Come':

Kisumu: where I will be based for my adventure.
Excited anticipation of what lies ahead.
Nancy: the sole purpose of my visit.
Yarns: please see closing lyrics at the foot of this blog.
Arrival: after a long-haul flight, getting through customs and immigration, and then finally making my way through to the arrivals, imagine the feeling when at last, Nancy & I finally meet! This thought is what has kept me going the past few weeks.

Once I arrive in Nairobi, we're staying in an apartment for the night, before embarking on a bus ride to Nancy's hometown of Kisumu. There we will be staying with Nancy's family, and I'm really looking forward to meeting all of them, as well as all of her friends...she has told them all about me, so I only hope I live up to their expectations?!

Nancy & her sister Lucy

Nancy & her daughter Joy (Jojo)

There's not much that I can add at this stage, it's just a case of remaining patient and containing my excitement. I continue to chat to Nancy every single day, and her messages make me feel so loved. Once we finally meet, these feelings will be realised in the flesh, face-to-face, heart-to-heart, hand-in hand...but like I've always said: I am an old, soppy, hopeless romantic!

Before I bid you farewell, I'll leave you with the slightly adapted lyrics to a favourite track of mine, 'Ocean Cloud', as no doubt there will be plenty to tell upon my return...

"I'll be back in the UK in a couple of weeks,
  With a pint on the table, and yarns by the yard,
  A story to tell, and a story to save..."

Steve Muskett

Hopes, Dreams & Expectations

"Did you ever feel that just by jumping on a plane,
 All your cares world drop away, and you'd be born again..." ~ Holidays in Eden

As my 'African Adventure' is now less than two weeks away, this penultimate blog prior to my journey deals with my varying emotions and thoughts, as my trip to Kenya beckons.
I am very optimistic about the adventure that lies before me, whilst attempting to remain realistic about my expectations.
I am unbelievably excited about experiencing an undiscovered land and a brand new culture.
I am filled with anticpation whilst trying not to let my thoughts run away with me, as I strive to stay focussed by living in the moment.
I have sense of nervousness about finally meeting Nancy, her family and friends, but I have high hopes about our future together, as I dream about a happy, peaceful life; a new start and a new love.
I remain an old, hopeless romantic who wears his heart on his sleeve, with the vision of walking off into the sunset hand-in-hand. And finally, I am full of joy, which is not only an emotion, but also very aptly the name of Nancy's beautiful daughter (see below).

When I started writing my blogs a few years ago, the first series, 'My Spiritual Journey To Find A Home' concentrated on all my movements as I sought to change locations in my bid to find a place where I felt I truly belonged. Ultimately I resolved my understanding of the whole process by concluding that the journey itself was my 'home', and that is was just meant to be this way. Well, maybe, just maybe, my search is now over?

This adventure is going to be my first proper overseas holiday for five years, so without meaning to sound too arrogant or modest, I feel that I deserve this break, especially after what I've been through, and also after working so hard for the opportunity ~ hopefully, nobody will begrudge me a small slice of happiness? I also know that it's about time that my luck changed where romance is concerned, so Nancy is a much appreciated young, beautiful lady. I need to find some inner peace, and I seek a place of tranquility, to share with someone special. The past five years have actually been quite a struggle personally and financially. I had to start again with absolutely nothing; no home, no job, no money, and no woman, but I've slowly built everything back up, and got my life back together. I may not have much with regards to wealth or material possessions, but I do appreciate life and I find myself in a much happier place...which is down to you, Nancy Tubah ♥ ~ I may be poor in life, but I am rich in love ♥
I would also like to thank all those great friends who have been so supportive with regards to my current and future plans, and as the title of my blog displays, for supporting me with my 'Hopes, Dreams & Expectations'.

I'll leave you with an extract from, 'Manuscript Found In Accra', by Paulo Coelho...

"It's nice to dream that we will have plenty of time in the future to do our travelling and that, one day, we will travel. It cheers us up because we know that we are capable of doing more than we do. Dreaming carries no risks. The dangerous thing is trying to transform your dreams into reality..."

I'm never gonna wonder 'what if...', as I intend to follow my dreams and take a risk.
Until next time, when I'll post my final blog prior to my journey...be safe & take care.

Steve Muskett

Out Of My Comfort Zone

"Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free..."

The above quote was used in the advertising campaign for my all-time favourite movie, The Shawshank Redemption, and is one which has always held me in good stead as I make my way through this journey called life. If you are fearful of making changes, then you run the risk of one day wondering what if...
This is why I have always been willing to relocate in my persuit of happiness, and effectively start over, time and time again.

As my African adventure rapidly approaches, one of the suprising concerns some people seem to raise is with regards to my safety. Whilst you may well hear horror stories of travel nightmares, I always like to speak as I find, and go into new countries with open eyes and excitable expectation. After all, where is safe these days in this crazy world? I spent many happy times in Christchurch, New Zealand for instance, but I could never have imagined the devastating earthquake that hit this lovely city a few years after I left. Just watch the news on tv and there are disasters everywhere; on your doorstep, as well as all around the world. If you listened to all the doom-and-gloom merchants, then you'll become paranoid with fear and never leave the house...besides, I spent a few months living in the Chalvey area of Slough, and believe me...if you can survive there, then you can survive anywhere! Lol.

I must admit to a small sense of nervousness, but I think this is just because I am going to be existing outside of my comfort zone. But please be rest assured, I am travelling to major towns and cities in Kenya, and I know that Nancy will take good care of me!
In fact, our plans have slightly changed. We are now only spending my initial night of arrival in Nairobi, before embarking on a bus trip to Kisumu, where we will now stay at Nancy's parents house. This is a lovely gesture by them, and one which humbles me greatly; the fact that they are happy to accept me into their home to be alongside their daughter, and let us use this as a base as we explore all the surrounding areas together is wonderfully kind of them. This will also enable me to sample a slice of genuine Kenyan culture, an experience which excites me greatly.
Another safety precaution that I've undertaken is to copy all my travel documentation and e-mail it to myself as well as to a dear friend, so in an emergency there is another way of accessing all my details.

So, just under three weeks to go until my adventure commences...
I used last week to sort out many things for my trip, and to finalise some arrangements.
My outgoing and returning flight to Nairobi are both booked; my hotel for the night before I depart in Heathrow is booked; my travel to this hotel has been booked; the hotel for Nancy & I to stay on the night of my arrival in Nairobi is booked; Nancy's bus fare from Kisumu to Nairobi has been arranged; my travel insurance has been sorted; all my vaccinations have been administered; my malaria medication has been sourced, ordered, and received; all my holiday clothes have been purchased...so I think I have more-or-less everything covered now!

Nancy & I have chatted every single day since we first met on-line...and now our mutual anticipation and excitement is reaching fever pitch! Her young daughter, Jojo, her sister, Lucy, and the rest of her family and friends are all aware of my impending visit, and they seem to be equally excited. The hard thing to do now is to keep a lid on my emotions, keep my head down as I work through the next few weeks, and to try to contain my excitement as March 30th approaches. We are both counting down the days, and without meaning to wish our lives away, we both hope that the end of the month hurrys up!

Until next time, I'll leave you with another quote from my favourite movie which retains the optimistic outlook on life, giving hope to the present as well as the future...

" Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies..."

Steve Muskett