Category: Travel & Lifestyle & DIY tips

Kenyan Granny Meg’s Recipes are easy to cook Kenyan dishes with a dash of Swahili flavor. There are great menus for sharing with the whole family.

Now available on Amazon – E-book and paper back. Here’s the link:

Its the most wonderful time of the year! Here are some travel tips for holiday season:-

– Book early and take advantage of holiday discounts to cut down travel costs.
– To avoid peak hours, book early morning or late evening when traffic is less.

– Avoid wrapping gifts in advance when traveling to avoid inconvenience s of being asked to unwrap gifts by security then wrap them again and to avoid gift gift boxes losing shape when on transit.

– Pack some snacks, water and entertainment so that just in case there are travel delays you are not very inconvenienced.

– Make great memories especially when visiting family and friends during the holidays. As the saying goes, if there are any hitches, don’t sweat the small stuff.

Enjoy the holidays 

Times change. As historians would talk about the hunter and gatherers generation, the industrial revolution and fast forward 2020 onward comes the digital age.

I tell my kids that when I was dating their father while in campus, we didn’t have mobile phones for long distance communication, We used snail mail and would communicate on what date and time I would receive his call on the phone booth.

We have now adapted the digital age where my phone is my calendar, alarm, diary, video conference platform, mirror, camera, everything.

In the same manner, the wildlife have also adapted to the new normal. Before birds lived on trees in the wild but now they nest in the roofs of our residential estates.

When I travel as an eco-traveller, I acknowledge the fact that initially the wildlife in the national parks would be affected by the sound of vehicles and hot air balloons, disrupting their feeding and breeding times but with adaptation they have adjusted to the ‘new normal’ just as the world is now adjusting to the new normal with Covid19 where we work from home and travel less. Maybe the disruption is nature’s way of healing from environmental degradation. So as the world changes to the new normal, remember that adaptation is key for survival.

Travel Tips

• Travel while using hybrid and electric vehicles which produce less carbon emission than gas.

• Walk or use a bike or car share to get around whenever possible to cut down on gas usage and it saves money.

• Showers consume less water than baths. Showers use on average10 to 25 gallons of water while baths use up to 70 gallons. Take shorter showers, turning the water off while you lather up, shampoo or shave.

• Turn off lights, heats, air conditioner or television when you leave the room.

• While travelling post-covid, you can be intentional to help communities recover from the pandemic loses by buying from the gift shops and using local transportation. However, research on the area you are visiting. Safety comes first.

“Travel can challenge and delight us.  It can open our eyes, stretch our minds and charm our hearts. But it can also make us appreciate the quiet pleasures of home.” – Adage

As an eco-traveller, I appreciate the wildlife in the national parks. I see them in all shapes and sizes, some timid, others frightening.  Usually, the big challenge for me is to enjoy the tour while overcoming fear of ‘frightening’ animals. With time, I learnt that great faith and courage overcomes fear in all aspects of life.  When I was in campus, I once moved to a house that had not been inhibited for a while so it had all kind of insects in it.  As a student with little money in my pocket, I could only afford to buy some powder that keeps off insects. I used to be frightened because once when I had worn my smart t-shirt and shorts and I felt something crawling on my back. It was a spider! I had to shake it off.

To overcome fear, I read the bible and found in Genesis that God created man to be in charge of all creation. From then on I realised that there’s no need to fear small insects. Once game-driving in the Maasai Mara, I encountered a cobra, my window was open. I kept calm and closed the window of the van. I got confidence to overcome fear that even a scary fox can smell fear but if you’re confident and take precaution, less harm comes your way.

Eco-Travel Tips

• When travelling in a national park or game sanctuary, follow the game warden’s guidelines since they have the experience. Take precaution when travelling in the wild because the noise of the vehicles sometimes might be translated to the animals as incoming danger and that’s when they can attack.

• Never feed or touch wildlife for any reason. Feeding wildlife can lead to attacks and if you get bit, the animal will most likely be killed.

• Keep a safe distance from wildlife so as not to attract attention of an animal which can harm you.

• You can help prevent illegal wildlife trade by asking before you buy items e.g. if someone tries to sell ivory which has been banned, report any illegal wildlife trade to the respective authorities.

• While touring, you can donate to a conservancy e.g. the preservation of extinct white rhino or for the elephant shelters among others.

“Travel can weave a crazy quilt of emotions inside us. The one that should overwhelm us again and again is gratitude” – Adage

• A leader is a role model who can bring positive change in the society.
• At any given time, one can lead.
• Step up to be the change that you want to see in the society.
• Your life might be the only bible someone is reading.

Travel tips for a Guest of Honor

• Ensure you have fed before traveling to the event where you are a guest of honor because you may be too busy preparing and giving speeches when the audience is dining.
• Have some water with you when giving a speech so that your throat does not get dry.

In this journey called life, we are all travelers and as we travel, we experience different seasons including the cold and hot seasons.

For each season there is an upside and downside. During the hot season, you are able to go out and have many outdoor activities but you are exposed to allergies. During the cold season you are not able to do much outdoors but your body learns to maintain its temperature and to survive, cold season gives your body a chance to rejuvenate and gain strength.

Just like the hot and cold seasons, there are the good and bad times which come and go. Its good to appreciate all seasons in life and make the best out of each season while it lasts!

Travel tips for Cold Season

• Pack up clothes for cold weather including thermals, sweaters, scarfs and gloves to keep warm.
• Carry a hand sanitizer and wipes as one tends to pick infections during cold seasons.
• Eat warm food to clear respiratory passages in your body and keep yourself hydrated by drinking water because a dehydrated body can easily catch colds and flu.
• Exercise and ensure you have the correct footwear since cold weather constricts circulation.

Hot Season travel tips

• Items to carry during hot season travels include: – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and sandals.
• Use a re-usable cold-water bottle when going to the beach for conservation purposes.
• Travel light and wear light clothing to avoid discomfort.

In this Pats Oases DIY feature, I have 3 simple steps to make a delicious egg-avocado salad. Hope you enjoy the process and the meal 🙂

For more recipes check out Pats Cinnamon Recipes and Remedies on Amazon.

At Pats Oases we nurture talent and encourage creativity, for one to make the best out of the natural gifts one has. Well, below are links to the creative works of a 14 year old artist & scientist, a 12 year old young dentist and a 6 year old chef. The books are available on Amazon.

Amazon.com : adventures in weldworld

The Adventures in Weldworld is a page turner! A very interesting story written and illustrated by a creative 14 year old artist scientist. Thrill and suspense included. Happy reading!

Amazon.com : your teeth are amazing

Your Teeth are Amazing is an informative book written and illustrated by a 12 year old young dentist. Great tips and fun facts about teeth!

Willie’s Magical Pet and Toy

A children’s book about a boy named Willie. A colourful book. Words and pictures by a 6 year old chef!

“Find something creative, no matter how big or small, to make your life and the people around you more beautiful.”

 ― Pats Oases

THANK YOU!

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Ingredients

½ kg chopped chicken

1 pc garlic

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp oil

4 tbsp alfredo sauce

2 tbsp fettuccine

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Method

1. Boil water, add pasta and alfredo fettuccine.
2. Sautee the butter with olive oil and cinnamon then add the chopped chicken.
3. Add salt, continue stirring, then add the pasta and alfredo sauce. Stir for 5 – 8 minutes.
4. Once cooked, sprinkle parmesan cheese.

*Serve warm

Simple Chicken Saltimbocca Recipe

Ingredients

6 chicken cutlets

6 pcs prosciutto

6 fresh sage leaves

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

2 sliced lemons

Method

1. Spread the chicken on a baking tray and sprinkle salt and pepper and top it with the fresh sage leaves.
2. Roll the chicken with prosciutto (you can use a tooth pick to hold it together 😊
3. Place the sliced lemons on the sides and bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or until the chicken is cooked. Serve warm.

*Fun fact – Saltimbocca is an Italian phrase which means “jump into the mouth” since the chicken saltimbocca is usually delicious!