I have not so far travelled a lot, but I have managed to get around the places I could afford without putting a whole in my pocket or in that of the person taking care of the expenses.

Traveling in general is quite expensive. It needs saving, researching and preparation especially if you are traveling to the country for the first time. People save for years to be able to make a trip of a lifetime and others just wakeup in the morning, choose a place to go and just go.

All these decisions to travel depend on people and experience. Those who have been traveling before, it takes them minutes to decide where to go next and their planning for a journey might seem so easy. If you have not been traveling, taking more time to plan is not bad at all but you have to decide at a certain moment and just go.

When I started out to travel, I could not afford a ticket or a visa to travel to other continents, not even to some other countries within the African continent. I wanted to travel far away to exotic places I show in magazines and movies.

I knew I did not stand a chance so I brought my expectations down and thought of how many places had I visited within my country. I was working in a hotel and everyday we receive tourists from all over the world eager to visit a lot of places I only knew by names but had never visited.

The tourists wanted the basic recommendations and I had no idea how these places looked like except looking at them in pictures and reading about them. I had to set my priorities right and my first trip was rafting in the Nile. I had an amazing experience, met lovely people who invited me for a trip to Bwindi. From there I went around to almost all game parks and reserves, I enjoyed every minute of everyday and I knew I wanted to travel again and again.

All these were road trips, I had never stepped on a plane and I was not bothered at all. There was a lot to see and I was grateful for the moments. After being comfortable with my country and even visiting some places more than once. I decided to go out to Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Sudan all by bus though somewhere I got a chance to step on a plane.

What am I saying, do not wait for ever to travel, start small within your comfort and that will create a foundation for other travels you have never even imagined. Do not go to a place because all your friends have gone there, if you can not afford it, put it a side and reach for those you are comfortable with and you will be surprised what you can accomplish when you trust yourself.

You know what they say, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”

The choice is yours , to open the book or to leave it closed making up excuses.

I am sorry guys, I have not been able to write here lately, but I promise to be as consistent as possible. I am not talking about traveling today, though thought this would be important to note. we do not realise we are doing it until it’s too late.

Think about it, you might be doing it and so are your friends and family, but you think or they think it’s ok because the truth hurts more than a lie for a moment. Let’s face the reality, which one hurts more?

Learn How To Say “No”!

I don’t know about you, but I have seen a lot of people who try to impress everyone and they end up annoying them all, because they can’t keep up with their promises. But why would you put yourself in such a situation in the first place?. When asked by any one to do anything, you are given a choice and that’s up to you to chose yes or no. Do not make promises you can’t keep.

I repeat, do not.

I get it, a lot of people want to feel needed, so they say ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ to everything. When you say those 2 words to people, you raise their expectations immediately and they start drawing plans in their minds towards what they expect from you. Now with your keeping up with appearance, you try to buy yourself time to break it to them, that you can not deliver.

Not a nice situation.

It is so annoying to even look at that person again. It is way far more better to tell the truth and get over with it. It saves you and your friends time.

It might sound rude or selfish, but trust me, they will appreciate it with time.

If you have know some people in the same situation, please let them know that it’s not pleasant. They might not know that they are doing it, they might choose to avoid some people who were once their friends. Tell them that you know their problem and it is ok to admit it and to try and work on being able to say “NO”

Without excuses.

Inevitably, there is one excuse, which people use: “I didn’t say yes”. But neither did you say no, so that leaves a “maybe” and that is a chance.

If you find a good believer, that is all it takes.

I don’t really have a better word for such a person than being a liar. You might say that it’s too harsh, but look, why doesn’t the person just be straight and say ‘no’ when asked?

😐

When a friend asks you for a loan, you either have the money and the will to lend or not. If you are asked to do something, you either want to do it, or you do not. It is that clear.

Dismiss the ‘maybe’.

If you are not sure, tell the person that you do not promise anything and base yourself on a ‘no’ rather on a ‘yes’, because it’s always relieving to hear the good news than the bad news.

When announced.

Hope this helps you to check yourselves. Have a lovely ‘yes & no only’ year 😉