Super Soul Sunday - "Blessings and Thankful Jar"

I wanted to tell you something that I started doing this year around January. I started a 'Blessing and Thankful Jar'. This is a way for me to look at all the blessings and things am thankful for each day. So at the end of everyday,  mostly before I go to bed, I sit down and write what I am blessed with for that day and then I write the top 10 things am thankful to God for, for the day and put them in my blessings jar.

I have to confess that since I started this habit, I have seen so many changes in my life. I am more positive in life, I don't get annoyed easily, life is much simpler for me and I am more aware of the good things God has done for me. This habit has also taught me that each and everyday, I have something to be thankful for and even though some days are not good as the others, it is still a good day. Some days, it is all the same things, life, food, house, journey mercies, jobs etc but that's fine, reason why, I am greatful that I have all these things.

We all have alot going on in life and sometimes we might miss the good things that happen to us and instead concentrate on all the negativity. Having a thankful and blessings jar will remind you the power of positive thinking, being happy with what you have and where you are, appreciating all the things God has done for you but also, realizing that no matter what happens, it is okay. 

So today, I urge you, start a thankful/blessing jar and count your blessings daily. It will change your life.

Happy Sunday!

Neema

The Adventures of An African Dutchess in Granada

Something interesting happened on Friday when I was in Granada and I am compelled to write about it. You see, I was on my way to Alhambra and along the way (the hill though), I met this woman who kind of made me feel compelled to listen to her. She kept coming to me and insisting so I figured why not. She is a fortune teller and cannot speak English - Go figure. So you can imagine how our conversation went. 

Anyway, she goes ahead, starts reading my palm and speaks Spanish that I don't understand but I still catch a couple of things. She tells me I should call my mom immediately. When she is done with her palm reading business and fortune telling, I give her some money offcourse. At the end of our conversation, I learn I should call my mom and not give up on love! My Spanish tutor will be so proud.  I hadn't spoken to my mom in 3 days so I start thinking how expensive it will be to call my mom since my phone is working but those international call charges will kill me. I call her anyway and sure enough - something is not right.  Seriously, you have got to be kidding me. This woman cannot be telling the truth.

Good news is, she is doing okay and bad news, she was involved in an accident and had to be rushed to emergency. You see, I don't believe in fortune tellers and palm reading business. Reason why, am a child of God and am blessed all through but when am a women in Granada out of nowhere tells me to call my mom and sure enough, something is wrong, am left speechless. Now the fun part will be my love life.

Aha! 

Then she starts talking about my love life. Thank God for the fact that I can speak little Spanish here and there. One thing I did get out of it which is amazing is that I sure will see the love of my life. I almost asked when but figured, patience and patience. Lol clearly I should trust this business more often.

At the end of the day, I love Granada. I love the tapas bars and their wines. I love how much the city has going on and the fact that at the end of the day, I walked over 10 miles, had amazing wine, met new friends from Norway and spoke to a couple of girls from Northern California studying Spanish in here.

Either way, thank you Granada for your kindness. I will not forget you and your palm reading business.

I will share with you my trip details about Granada and a couple of key points on how to navigate Your way to find the best tapas. Stay tuned.

Adios! 

Travel on a Budget

I know some of you are wondering how comes I travel so much and if I can afford it. The answer is a simple yes and no. So today, I figured I could give you a few tips on how I am able to travel and still pocket a little money here and there. 

I did a couple of calculations and I realized in a year, I spend more money on traveling than anything else  in my life with shoes and wine coming very close but that's because it's the only thing that gives me my sanity back away from all the craziness in my life. I work a lot and I need a couple of weeks time out to just refresh my mind. I have travelled to so many places and overtime, have learned a thing or two on traveling smart. Here they are:

Booking ticket - I usually book my tickets between 3-6 months depending on where I am going. I always have a list of places I want to visit and I cross them off the list but also look at what time I want to go check on what's going there. For example, you will never find me visiting Europe between June - September, too many tourist, too expensive and too hot so no. But if I visit in October or April, May, I still get to enjoy myself with all the tourists but pay less for my ticket. I also tend to travel between Tuesday - Thursday and come back on the same days. I avoid weekends and beginning and end of the week making me save $1-$2 or even more.

Hotels - I am one person who trusts trip-advisor whole-heartedly and after every trip,I make sure I review the hotels for someone else to know. I tend to settle for boutique style hotels as opposed to the bigger ones - unless I want to splurge. Not any of the hotels have booked have given me a reason to worry. They tend to be cheaper, gives you a feeling of being home but away from home and offering services that 5-star hotels offer but at a discounted rate. And I tend to travel offseason. Another trick is to get the hotel name and then go to their website and book directly, they tend to have discounts on their page that you can take advantage of if the website you are booking from does not show it. And finally, before you book a hotel, always look at the reviews and a couple of people who have stayed there and ask their opinion honestly. It gives you a good sense of what's their personal taste.

Getting around while on vacation - I am one person who only uses taxis when absolutely necessary. For example, if I cannot use public transport or if it's way too late. I also use taxis if am getting late but needs to be somewhere on time. Last year, I visited Tokyo and between landing at Narita and getting to my hotel in Chiyoda, I used their public transport. Saved money but still got to experience Tokyo like a local. I am a big believer in public transport and its reliability and comfort from trains to buses. As am writing this, am currently in Spain and so far, haven't taken so many taxis - getting to Granada from Almunecar, I will take a bus. It's about an hour away, I will spend £6 instead of £50-60. Granted you save time by using taxi but what's the rush? And from Granada to Sevilla, I will take a train that costs me £20 for 3 hours. So yes, try to use public transport, buses, trains etc. the good thing about the age we are in is that you can find everything online. 

Just remember this only works for countries with good transport system such as Europe and parts of Asia, Japan, Korea etc. if you are in a place like Koh Samui, Thailand, then take a taxi. Cheap and cheap.

Eating -  I always avoid tourist trap places to eat and instead, eat like a local. I always ask the customer service desk at the hotels where locals eat and that's where you will find me. Cheap but really good food. 

Packing - I pack light. Very very light and if am going to London for example, then I don't even pack anything coz then I can shop there. International flights are starting to limit bags. I traveled Turkey Airlines the other day and they mentioned you are only allowed one luggage. Good for me coz my suitcase is a carry one - doesn't matter if it is a two weeks or 3 days. It's the same.

There you have it folks. That's how I am able to travel without even blinking. Share with me your thoughts and if you have any questions, let me know.

Bonne Journee!

The City of Dreams - Ronda, Spain

You know when I set out to visit South of Spain aka Andalusia region, I never knew my life would change so much. Have been here for the last 10 days and everyday it gets better. so far I love Marbella, way better than Malaga but I haven't been to Nerja or even Granada and let me not get started on Sevilla. I love everything about Spain, food, people and off course their wine and men :)

Today, I decided to visit Ronda. When I was planning my vacation, I restled with either visiting Córdoba or Ronda but then something clicked and Ronda it was. It also helped matters that Cordoba is over 3-hours bus ride. So let me tell you about my day spent in Ronda. 

Ronda, known as th city of dreams is located about 63 miles from Malaga. Ronda sits in the heart of Serrania de Ronda and its estimated to have s population of about 35,000. This place took my breath away. To me it's one of those cities that leaves you with so much to think about. And if you want to escape th hustle of all Malaga then, give yourself a trip to Ronda. You don't even have to spend much to be here - all you need is a day and you are covered. 

It is a walkable city so make sure you wear good gripping shoes and comfortable. it is said that Ronda is located above 750m above sea level with Guadalevin river running through the city. This river ends up diving it into two curving steep. 

So if you want to visit Ronda, you can do so through three options. Take a bus from any of the cities - Malaga, Sevilla or even Marbella. From Malaga, it is about 1hr 45m with direct bus and costs €20 for return. You can also take a train, just remember the last train leaves at 6pm so catch it. Another option is to drive but make sure you are aware of the windy road....uhh that road is windy and very dramatic. The beauty about leaving from Malaga is that you pass through beautiful towns of Ardales, Carratraca and Cuevas de Becerra.

So what do you do when you visit Ronda? Besides seeing the UNESCO Heritage site, El Tajo gorge which offers stunning views of the city and all, you also eat and drink wine. The Puente Nuevo - new bridge - joins the old town and the new town. Trust me, the view of El Tajo gorge will stay with you for years to come.  I had so much fun walking and taking pictures!

Besides that, don't forget to visit Plaza de Toros (The Bullring), Arab Baths, Jardines de Cuenca which are below El Tajo. And off course enjoy a view of the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent square which has so many monuments. 

And for those who love ham, pass by Le Casa Del Jamon for a slice of ham heaven. Wow!

And you all know I have a high affinity for wine and recently, Ronda is becoming an excellent wine place. You can visit a couple of wineries such as Descalzos Viejos winery. 

So if you have visited Ronda, would love to hear about your favorite things. And for those planning to visit, I would be more than happy to provide more details. 

As they say, hasta luego!

Neema

A Day in Turkey

What can I say, I could not pass an opportunity to spend a day in Istanbul. I love Turkey as a country and am hoping that one day I can have an opportunity to spend more than just a day.

They describe Istanbul as east meets west, Europe meets Asia. Where you can do everything and anything. Leaving from San francisco, I have to say I was impressed with Turkish airlines. This is a new route for them from San Fran with daily flights and granted they are not Korean Airlines or Singapore, I still had a smooth 14-hour flight. My feet are still swollen but I will be fine. That's the joy of loving to fly to long destinations.

When I landed in Istanbul, I was hit by hot temperatures, long lines, crowded airports and roads and I cannot believe with the amount people passing through this airport, they don't have wifi...really guys?

I opted for a night tour - beautiful views of everything at night and used my day spending it enjoying the food and tea. If you love museums and mosque then this is your paradise. From the beauty of Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, surely you cannot go wrong. 

The one thing that annoys me about Istanbul is the smoking....I can't believe my sinuses cannot still accept smoking fumes.  Either way if you happen to find yourself in Istanbul, try the following:

1. Do a night tour of Istanbul and day your as well

1. Enjoy and sample Turkish delights and Turkish tea- mhh good

1. Food and more food - so many restaurants and good food and you will find cafes and restaurants everywhere.  I could not get enough of every food.

1. Ignore the smoking and enjoy your time - apparently Lebanon is same

1. Visit these places and do the following -  Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, go to a belly dancing show, Maidens Tower and walk around and get lost in the city. 

1. Avoid driving - crazy drivers

1. Be prepared for a little traffic during rush hour 

I will post a couple of pictures when I get back home but for now, enjoy and laters. 
Off to enjoy my time in Spain.
Neema

Off for vacation

Hey family,

It has been a couple of crazy months and time for me to take some time off and disconnect from all things technology.

I will try to blog about the cool things I will be enjoying and seeing while away but in the meantime, enjoy yourselves, be blessed and take care.

Cheers,

Neema

Because I'm twenty something........

To all my family and friends,

I had to share this article with you guys. I read this article on Jessica Lynn Jensen blog and since then, I always refer back to it when I am down and I need something to lift me up. If you want to read more about this and follow Jessica's blog, go to  TODAYWASMEANINGFUL.

I was able to get the whole of this article from the her blog and not my idea or writing. 

"When I was thirteen, I couldn’t wait to be eighteen.  I thought i’d know it all by then- have all the answers and that prized freedom. and when I was sixteen, I planned to be married by age twenty-three with two kids. I'll always smile to myself when I think about how time changes things. And when I turned twenty four I made a list of as many goals as I had in years. By my 25th birthday, i’d accomplished them all.

And a funny thing happens about the time you turn twenty five. People start asking about marriage and kids and houses. And you begin to worry about savings, retirement, and health insurance.  You start spending your money on plates, pots, new tires - short term sacrifices for long term gains, right? And sometimes you start to compare your 25 years with everyone else’s. You wonder if you’re on the right track because it’s different from all the people you’re surrounded by. You start going to your friends’ weddings and buying baby gifts for second birthdays   and suddenly you realize you’re at the exact age that seemed so far away just five years ago.

I’ve always liked including myself in the 20 something category.  Growing up, but not quite grown up. You’re an adult, but still recognize that you’re part kid. I’ve enjoyed the navigating of adulthood and all of my new first time experiences - a new job, my first ‘grown-up’ paycheck. Growth - being old enough to rent a car. But it seems like the older i’ve gotten, the more aware i’ve become of my short-lived stay in the ‘twenties’ and the pressure to fit the mold of all of the rest of the twentyfivers.

I’ve started to think about how easy it is to become controlled by our age and the expectation of what your age signifies to everyone else. How old you should be by the time you graduate, buy your first house, get married, have kids, start your retirement. suddenly it seems like there are all these benchmarks to meet, even when they don’t match the goals you are trying to reach.

Forget molds.

Because as easy it is to forget, you’re free to do what you want with your life. The problem is, that can be quite the responsibility, to live your life the way you want to, rather than they way you are expected to especially if that means taking a big jump and especially when that jump may feel like a free fall.  Maybe quit your first job and go back to school if that feels right. Get married or don’t. Maybe you drop out of school or chop off your hair. Maybe you change your mind. End  a relationship that no longer serves you. Become a different person. Maybe you move away or move back home or maybe you’re scared to do these things because it’s uncomfortable and unexpected. Maybe it’s because you don’t know if everything would fall into place or you’re scared what that would mean if it did.

And when you’re in your twenties, I hope you buy a plane ticket to paris. I hope you get lost wandering all of the streets. I hope you travel the world and read lots of new books.  I hope you have interesting conversations over warm cups of tea.  I hope you drink out of mason jars while dancing barefoot in the grass. I hope you have a water fight in central park. Set goals and change them. Quit your day job. I hope you don’t do any of these things or that you do them all. Write a book. Change your mind. Start new friendships and let go of the ones that you need to. Say goodbye to all of the things that have kept you stagnant and vow to keep moving forward.

I hope your fifties mean going back to school or starting yoga. I hope your forties include falling in love with someone new- a friend, child, or partner.  I hope you stay up all night laughing with your friends and when you’re thirty, learn something new. I hope your life is one of wisdom and youth, adventure and old age - no matter what year it was that you were born.

But what I really mean to say is that, I hope you aren’t held back because of a number and that you don’t rush into things because it feels like time is slipping by. I hope you do what’s right for you - hold on, slow down and breathe in. Your age is your age but more importantly, your life is your life. Don’t change your journey so that it matches someone elses. We need to walk different paths so the whole world can be explored. Revel in the differences and enjoy where you are.

Here. Right here."

You can read more on this article at because i'm twentysomething. © Jessica Lynn Jensen and “todaywasmeaningful” blog site

Thank you Jessica and todaywasmeaningful blog for  this article. It has truly inspired me and I hope others get inspired by it.

San Francisco

Hey family,

I always write something for my friend Roza and this time round, I decided to write about my stay in San Francisco and some of the best tips.

Golden Gate Bridge

You can read more on

http://storytellingtravellers.com/san-francisco-tips-from-a-local/ 

Don't forget a couple of things as you visit San Francisco:

• Don’t leave home without a jacket - doesn’t matter if it is 100 degrees outside - you will need it.
• Visit the wine country - avoid Napa and try Sonoma.
• Tour Alcatraz at night.
• Carry flat shoes - we walk alot in this city and no one cares. So be as comfortable as you can.

If you happen to visit San Francisco, reach me here!

Welcome to San Francisco!
Neema