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When attending training, make sure you network, exchange contacts so remember to carry your business cards. Networking can open up opportunities for you.
Carry a note book, it could be a physical or digital notebook. Take notes on the things that stood out for you during the training/workshop i.e. your take home, notes on issues you learnt and you can implement some when you get back to your work place.
Pack and travel light so that you leave space for the reading materials you will be given and souvenirs you can buy along the way.
When booking your travel, check your itinerary to make sure you will have a free day to tour the training region, you will have time to buy souvenirs and also time for entertainment after the training and workshop (mix business with pleasure).
There is this famous story about Gree, the greedy hyena who was invited to a party. On his way, he reached a junction. On the right side, there was an aroma of good food from the venue of the party where he was invited. On the left, there was also good food aroma from a neighbouring homestead. The hyena wanted to go to both places at the same time so he stretched his one foot on the left and the other foot on the right until he split himself into two.
As the Swahili saying goes, ‘mtaka vyote, hukosa vyote’, translated, ‘if you want it all you will loose it all’. Similarly, my Dad narrated a true incident of greedy hyenas that happened when he was growing up in the village. The hyenas terrorized the neighbours and laughed out loud at night. One day, the villagers decided to place some rocks covered with meat at the point where hyenas met that night. The hyenas greedily ate the stones covered with meat. The next morning, the villagers found dead hyenas in the farm. These two stories teach us to be grateful for what we have, not to keep wanting more and more.
Potluck (Bring Your Own Food) Travel tips
Potluck is an event to which each guest contributes a dish. It can be an out of town get together or a social gathering of family and friends. It has also been referred to as a Bring Your Own Food (BYOF) or Bring Your Own Dish (BYOD) event. The following are tips when travelling with potluck dishes:-
If travelling with food bought from the store, leave it sealed until arrival to the potluck event.
Use double wrapping of food containers to avoid spillage.
Cushion fragile cutlery to avoid breakage.
The use of containers which keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold is recommended.
When serving food you are sampling for the first time, serve in small portions to avoid wastage incase you do not like the taste of the food and will not be able to finish eating the meal.
Pilgrims at Ugandan Martyrs Catholic Shrine, Namugongo
According to the Oxford dictionary, a pilgrim tour is a trip that involves a person/people journeying to a sacred place for religious reasons. Pilgrims mostly travel long journeys. Most people prefer to travel as a group for example there are tours and travel companies that organize group tours for the Pilgrimage to Mecca or the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The following are some travel tips when going on a pilgrimage: –
Prepare your passport/visa early in advance.
Check immunization requirements and receive your vaccinations early in advance.
Research on what items are allowed in that country e.g. when travelling to Rwanda, no plastic bags are allowed.
In some instances, when travelling on pilgrimage, you may be required to share rooms if the rooms are not enough so take care of your luggage.
Carry only essential items, minimize your luggage, if possible only one suitcase and one hand luggage. Leave space in your bag for the spiritual items you may want to buy.
Take care of your luggage especially your travel documents when you are visiting various places. You may consider carrying a small and portable cross body bag.
Some people travel with a group organized by the religious institution they attend, while others with a travel agent. If using a travel agent for a spiritual mission, ask if they can connect you to a spiritual leader in order to accomplish your pilgrim purpose.
Lastly, remember what made you decide to go for the pilgrim. Take time to pray, reflect and make the best of your pilgrim.
Pilgrims at Ugandan Martyrs Catholic Shrine, Namugongo
Amusement and theme parks are places that offer entertainment for the whole family Examples include the Disney World which is a world famous theme park, Water parks other recreational centers around the world. The following are travel tips when touring amusement and theme parks:-
Check your destination website, book early and buy tickets early.
Budget well and plan your itinerary to save on time and cost.
Take advantage of free activities, they are equally exciting.
If travelling as a group, ensure you don’t get lost in the crowd.
Consider wearing some coloured clothes to track each other.
Stay hydrated and consider carrying some water and snacks.
Well, here is a short story with a lesson that I learnt from a five-year-old. Sometimes last year, Lucky came home with sunflower seeds from his school trip. Initially when he and his dad planted the seeds, they grew but looked like weeds.
Sunflower buds
His siblings laughed but Lucky was determined and kept watering his plants. Day by day, slowly by slowly, Lucky’s sunflowers grew as he watered until they blossomed into beautiful sunflowers.
Sunflowers starting to bloom
The lesson I learnt from Lucky is to keep moving on. Plant your seeds (dreams), water until they grow. Even if you are discouraged, keep watering, have hope and one day you will get your reward.
Sunflowers bloomed
*Fun fact: Kenya is the 3rd largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. Kenya is located in the equator and its sunny climate enables high quality blossoms.
After the wedding, most couples plan to celebrate their marriage by going for a getaway, for a honeymoon. Other couples decide to go for a getaway when pregnant to celebrate the forth-coming child, for a babymoon. The following are travel tips for honeymoons and babymoons:-
Honeymoon travel tips:-
Plan early and budget. Include contingencies in your budget.
Book the trip (transport and accommodation) early in advance to avoid inconvenience.
Choose a good time to travel when you are both available. It does not have to be immediately after the wedding.
Prepare an itinerary together to accommodate your preferred activities.
Research and observe the culture of your honeymoon destination to avoid inconveniences.
Plan some surprises for your spouse.
Babymoon travel tip: –
Travel light and wear comfortable clothes.
Choose a destination with accessible facilities and close to home or where you plan to have your baby just incase of emergency.
Dress up and look good. When you look good, you feel good and have a memorable experience.
After weathering many years of marriage and you want to travel as a couple to celebrate your marriage, the following are travel tips for wedding anniversaries: –
Plan and budget early to have funds and make it special.
Choose a time when you are both available so that you spend quality time together without interruption.
Make it special by requesting the service provider to provide a romantic scenario for instance candle light dinner, romantic music, limousine pick-up, rose petals leading to your hotel room or champagne celebration during dinner.
Elegant outdoor events include fancy weddings, birthdays and high teas. These can also include large, organized events.
The Concours D’Elegance is an example of an elegant outdoor event. It is held in some countries like Kenya South Africa, France and USA. The Concours D’Elegance event originated from France. It means a ‘competition of elegance’ where vehicles are paraded and judged. This event doubles up as a fundraiser for charitable events.
The Kentucky Derby is another example of an elegant outdoor event. It is an annual horse race event where ladies wear fancy hats and gents wear straw hats.
The following are travel tips while attending elegant outdoor events:-
Dress the part. Dress according to the event.
Pack the delicate items that shall be worn during the event in a way they will be safe from breakage.
Check the program, book early, arrive early to avoid disappointment since these events sometimes get very crowded.
Carry some cash, bet wisely and include contingency in your budget.
Take pictures for remembrance because these are unique events which happen occasionally.
