There places on earth worth visiting no matter what and Plitvicka is absolutely one of them.  With its verdant forest and tumbling waterfalls,  Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia’s famous tourist attractions and can lay claim to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

This place is breathtaking. Its waterfalls, caves, forest, boat drives, trains, clear blue lakes which look like big aquariums.

I was hooked the whole time,walking around taking pictures and looking at what nature offered, and human had to preserve.

I  am not so sure how the garden of Eden looked like but boy this looked like something described in the bible.

It was quite hard to get around because of the population of the tourists around but who cares if you are going to enjoy the beauty. This is one of those places I would recommend  to anyone who adores nature.

The place is well maintained simple passages and other means of transport. The journey was cut short because of rain, but the spirit was still high.

The park has 16 stunning blue-green Plitvice Lakes, which are separated by natural dams of travertine limestone on the Plitvice plateau

The tallest waterfall at the park is Veliki Slap at 70 metres (230 feet) tall. The park is surrounded by the mountains Pljesevica, Mala Kapela, and Medvedak, which are part of the Dinaric Alps.

I can not really describe well this place and how it made me feel but maybe you can swing by and decide for yourself if it might be the garden of Eden or no.

NOTE: Even if it is summer, it would be better to always pack an extra jacket, a pair of shoes and socks, umbrella or rain jacket. You don’t want to catch a cold and miss out on the fun.

As always, please pick up some few slovene words

River  – Reka

Lake   – Jezero

Mountain – Gora

Forest –  Gozda

Umbrella – Deznik

Ticket – Stopnica

Boat – ladia

Train – vlak

Bus – Autobus

Directions

Left – levo

Right – Desno

Straight ahead – na launost

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

It is one of those moments when you set yourself into an amazing mood and put away all the winter gears ready to embrace summer and before you know it you are on the first flight all the way to winter.

On 27/4/2016 I felt like I was in a movie ( walking dead or some other Tv show where people are stranded scavenging for food and water).

The weather was terrible, I had been told by a friend that it was going to be bad but I had made plans to go and nothing was going to stop me.

When I said nothing, I didn’t think of snow….. I was in the range of some rain, some little breeze and some sun. We left Ljubljana the sun was off and on, I carried my little umbrella, put on a simple sweater and some leggings, simple Spring shoes but before I left the house I grabbed a court for just in case.

It was a little chilly but ok until we got to Gorenjska. The rains were so cold but still no thought of snow at all, we were keeping positive. It was starting to snow as we emerged out of the longer tunnel, still positive though. When we got to Villach it was really snowing, had no choice but to look for museums or galleries.

The nightmare started immediately we got out of the car. We didn’t have the right shoes nor clothes. Our feet were soaked in water and freezing, some roads were closed to the places we were to go, and we decided to return home.

It was still early and why not come all the way from Austria and have lunch in Italy. We looked at the weather forecast this time and it was not amazingly shining, but it was not snowing.

The wheels were heading there and we were excited.

The first 2 hours of being stuck on a highway we’re not so bad, we were still warm, ate the sandwiches we had and played the games we knew. It went to 4,5,6,7 hours and we were starving and cold.

The stranded I knew is not even close to the one I had on a highway. The next time someone tells me is stranded on a highway during winter,  I will have to drop everything and listen attentively. There is no chance of going back, branching off, going to the bathroom, accessing anything to eat or drink.

This might sound funny if you have not been in that situation but trust me if you are going to drive on any highway, be prepared with what to eat, drink and some things to keep you warm. Carry a book or your computer and do some work.

Besides being hungry, my head was spinning with possibilities. In Uganda, we do not have a motor way, and we tend to have one paved road connecting cities. So if a truck is stuck or an accident occurs, there is little to do but to wait a little or may be for a whole day or night.

Here on the other hand, every road is paved and even if it might take you longer than on a highway, I bet it’s better than being in one place for more than 7 hours. There must be emergency exits on a highway, but how far are they from each other? I know this is not my place to suggest something, but there is a rail in the middle of the motor way separating the coming and the going.

That is one of the ways that can control waiting, if that rail had some parts of emergency, that if there  is an accident, they can unscrew the ramp and direct cars in a certain direction as necessary,  giving time to those clearing the road to work without pressure and those waiting not to be so agitated in my opinion.

It is still Spring according to calendar, we don’t want tourists to think that they booked for a spring journey and got winter instead. It won’t hurt to pack something warmer though when you are traveling this side, the weather might just choose to surprise you.

As always, pick some few phrases of Slovene.

Vreme – Weather

Dežuje – It’s raining
Sneži – It’s snowing
Sončno je – It’s sunny
Ledeno je – It’s icy
Panda toča – falling hailstones

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

When you are  done enjoying coffee by the river side ( Ljubljanica) , it would not hurt to try and know a little more about Slovenia. Find out about the people who have made their history. Slovenia is still considered a young country and its stars in sports Tina Maze and Peter Prevc have done an amazing job to place the country somewhere.

Besides that, the country has amazing museums and galleries to visit if you happen to have some few minutes. I will concentrate on one of the architects  whose work seem to be the face of most of the picture that people recognise about Slovenia.

I have not always been a fun of museums, but looking at what some people did then and how it is preserved for us to take a trip to the past for only few minutes or hours, is amazing. Plečnik’s  house ( Plečnikova hiša) is maintained to portray how the architect lived his life and his work is displayed accordingly.

The guides try to explain his life in Slovenia, Prague, Vienna, Paris. To make it interesting, you get to walk through the house where the man lived, look at the tools he used to make his designs and the tiny bed where he slept. What can be more thrilling than that?

Plečnik’s best known works of art include the National and University Library building, the Ljubljanica river embankments, most notable among the latter being the Triple Bridge and the Cobblers’ Bridge, the Central Market, the Križanke Summer Theatre, the Bežigrad Stadium, the cemetery at Žale, the Church of St. Michael in the Marshes and the Parliament House in Ljubljana

Don’t forget to pick some few words in Slovenia

Vreme – weather

Danes je sončno – it is sunny today

Dobrodošli – welcome

Nasvidenje/ adijo – goodbye

Some of the pictures

http://www.ljubljana.guide/attractions/national-and-university-library-of-slovenia-nuk/

http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/the-universal-architect-joze-plecnik

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58666834

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

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.

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

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 😉

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through facebook and came across one of the pages which advertise Uganda’s tourism. A lady had written to a page asking for places recommended for visiting in Uganda.

I do not know what the she thought, but I was personally overwhelmed by the responses/ comments from different individuals trying to answer a small thing.

A lot included their numbers urging the lady to call them, others telling her to inbox them, a number were saying had sent their friendly requests and she should accept them. Is it me who did not understand the statement or them? cause if am from Uganda or has ever been to Uganda and moved around, I can at least mention a place or 2 for someone to visit.

This has now prompted me to write about few places of which some I have been personally. If that lady is still looking for what she asked for, hope this can shade some light.

No matter where you’re going in Uganda, as long as you’re flying in, you have to land at Entebbe International airport. Then you can go wherever you want from there. You can hung around there if you’re not into crowded places like Kampala.

1. Kampala

It’s hard to convince someone that you were in Uganda without talking about its capital ” Kampala”. The motor bikes [ Bodabodas] which are the easiest and fastest means of transport though highly dangerous. The taxis [ mini buses ] which carry 14 passengers but some times more. The vendors selling food stuffs. The stalls of Rolex [ chapati and eggs] quite a delicacy in Uganda. The night life, the places which do not go to sleep [ kabalagala,Bukoto, and other] more than 40 clubs in the city. If the streets are not crowded enough for you, then you need to visit Owino the market for second hand cloths but you have to be careful with your belongings [ phone, wallet, bag, jewelry] you might lose them.

2. Jinja

From Kampala you can take an organised trip or take public means to Jinja. Visit the source of the Nile[ longest river in Africa]. You can swim, raft and do bungee jumping.

3. Lake Victoria

What can l say? it’s the largest lake in Africa. It extends its waters to other 2 countries [ Tanzania and Kenya] the lake has 84 islands and Kalangala being the most visited in Uganda. Some people chose to take a round trip of the lake going through all the 3 countries.

4. Bwindi Impenetrable

When you talk about GORILLA trekking, you’re either advised to visit Bwindi or Mgahinga. The journey takes almost the whole day [ taking Kampala- Masaka] road. There is a stop at the equator if you would love to step in both the north and Southern hemisphere at the same time. It’s strongly advisable to have your trekking ticket from Uganda World life center in the city where you are staying. The tour company can advise accordingly. This Journey takes 2 days minimum [ the day you travel to Bwindi, the trekking day  ] and maybe you can chose to stay relax or you get back to the nearest town [kabale] and continue to Bunyonyi.

5. Lake Bunyonyi

This is one of my favourite places in Uganda. I have visited it more than 3 times. Bunyonyi  is the second deepest lake in Africa with 29 islands. l have not been to all of them but I can proudly say I enjoyed Bushara and Byonamagala. l took a sneak peek at punishment Island [ curiosity].

We were able to jump in the river and swim or just float for some of us who are not so good at swimming. The place is amazing, the food uhhh….uhhhh..uhhh. I had to go for Crayfish pizza it’s not every day that you see that on the Menu somewhere else. There is a visit to Batwa pygmies, the border to Rwanda is right near there you can cross there for a few minutes and cross Rwanda off the map…hihihihi.

6. Queen Elizabeth

There is a game drive through the  grasslands of the park that settle wildlife such as Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, waterbuck, warthog, lion, leopard, hyena, giant forest hog as well as elephants.

The Kazinga channel is about 40m long adjoining Lake Gorge to Lake Edward. It has the perfect view of the park’s major wildlife ventures. The shores of the lake attracts a large concentration of mammals, birds as well as reptiles all year around. The animals can be viewed well by the Nile cruise or probably at the entrance of Lake Edward. The operation of the cruise run from 15.00 and 17.00, furthermore voyages run 11.00 and 13.00 depending on the demand of the tourists.

7. Murchison falls

This amazing place has been described by many people as “ paradise in the wild , the anger of the nile, The wild heaven, etc”

Presently the spotlight of a visit to Murchison is the launch trip up the stream to observe the Falls and riverbank wildlife ranges of crocodile along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink & bathe.. The launch starts at 09.00 and 14.00 every day. The round trip takes 3 hrs. Another boat trip goes downstream from Paraa down to the papyrus delta at the point where the river enters into Lake Albert. This 4-5 hr return adventure provides a good chance of discovering the shoebill stork and different varieties of wildlife.

What can I say, it’s worthy a trip, plenty of places to stay in from high class to budget hostels.

8. Fortportal

Is one of the towns in Uganda. The place is quite loved by tourists, it seems to be a little cleaner than the rest of places in Uganda.

It is near the Rwenzori mountains, the crater lakes, the kibale chimpanzee forest and many other things the place has to offer.

There is a lot Uganda has to offer, but these are some of the places you have to visit and enjoy when you are in Uganda. I wish you a happy holiday, enjoy every single adventure.

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

Casual greetings might seem irrelevant to you or to any one you greet, but believe it or not the giver and the receiver of the greeting is affected by the wave that word possess.

Hi, Hello, Živijo/Zdravo, Hola, Ciao, Hallo, Salut, etc in whichever language you say it, it attracts someone’s attention. The intention might be an act of kindness, respect, or just a gesture of recognition. When someone says hello, good morning, good after, good evening, good day or any word that represents a form of greeting to you, that person has recognised your existence in the space where he/she is in.

These are simple words in multiple languages which we say without even thinking because they come naturally to some of us. I was raised in a social community where sharing greetings is obvious to everyone stranger or no stranger. I grew up seeing my parents waving and saying hello to the neighbours and other people on the streets and at fast it did not make sense until I moved to cities where people enclose themselves in fences not knowing neighbours, pass by each other and almost collide in corridors without saying word, share lifts, sitting close to each other in a bus or train and don’t say a thing to anyone, and so on.

It’s crazy how we look for friends online, get dogs to help us connect, wait for a break through and even pray for a miracle. when everyday, every single day a chance presents itself and we ignore it not because we are busy but we fear what people will think of us.

Greeting is the beginning of a relationship of any kind. The word “ hello” is powerful, people fear to say it because they are not sure of what the other person’s reaction will be. It’s all about fear. Now take away the fear of what will happen and just say it regardless of whether you get a response or no. Make it your mission to say it to people you meet while jogging, in a lift, to those you sit nearby on a bus or train, at work etc. Just do it without expecting a response and you will be surprised how much it will change both your life and those people you get in contact with.

This word opens doors to many possibilities, It lights up faces, it makes someone’s days, it’s a sign of humanity. People pay attention to those who say hello to them.
When I moved to Europe to a country which does not speak English as a first language, I could not wait to learn the greeting words and carry on with the culture from my Country side in Uganda. The reaction was not appreciable. People looked at me like I was the craziest person they have ever seen and did not respond at all.

I won’t say l was not discouraged, l was. I thought may be because of my colour, I was in one of European countries with the smallest number of Africans. It took me months to see somebody with my skin colour, I felt so alone and teared up. I thought may be I was never going to be welcomed in this community so l decided to keep everything to myself.

Nobody deserves to be alone, so before the whole idea of keeping to myself sunk in, I decided to go out early in the morning to get some air. I was meaning my business not saying a word to anyone and out of nowhere, this man said “Dobro Jutro” which means good morning in Slovene. I had to fumble with the response, I was not expecting a greeting and I was still practicing the greeting words. I smiled from ear to ear, that morning greeting gave me a new purpose and I started saying ” Hi” again.

Now I say hell to anybody I come in close contact with, l see people putting on smiles when they see me, they wave, they ask me about my day, I have made friends and it feels like I am home.

SAY HELLO WE ALL NEED IT

pic are courtesy of

Understandingrelationships.com, quantumphysicsofbeliefs.com, irishcentral.com, silverfrog.hubpages.com

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

It is so sad how a lot of people can manage to sleep at night when they know that their actions are hurting lives. It took me long to understand what causes candidiasis and I spent a lot of money going from one doctor to another and even changed to herbal medicine which is more expensive.

Ladies suffer more with this disease and my concentration will on them, though I will mention one or two incidences in men.  If you are the kind of man who does not care about what women go through, move on. But, if you are the gentleman who wants to know more about this, get comfortable and lets us break it down.

My ladies and gentlemen, I am not a doctor or anywhere in the field of science. But l have been in this situation, I have suffered with people who think they know it all and I think a lot of ladies are going through the same in Africa and the rest of the world. After using tablet after tablet and drinking a lot of bottles of herbal/natural medicine, I took matters into my own hands and started researching on my own. I put things together and started changing my life. I can now proudly wear my undie and remove it looking clean, no itches, no discharge and l feel good.

You do not have to take what am saying as the bible truth, but if it helps, am more than pleased. Go out there too and read more about the subject, consult your doctor friend, not the one who wants you to just buy a pill. Get Information before acting. The body has the strongest and the smartest mechanism, when you understand it, there is no need to throw in your system all the pills you’re taking for the moment.

Understand your body because every reaction you are getting, is its form of communicating to you that something is wrong. Instead of you silencing it, get to the bottom of the cause of the problem and avoid more damage in your system.

What is Candida Overgrowth Syndrome?

The body plays host to a multitude of microorganisms, and a proper balance among them is one of the keys to good health. While bacteria are by far the most common, the body also supports a very small population of another microorganism, a type of yeast called Candida albicans (popularly known as candida).

Normally present in small amounts along the gastrointestinal tract (in the intestines and the mouth), in the vagina, and on the skin, candida is generally kept in check by the immune system and by the body’s “good” bacteria. Problems arise, however, when candida grows out of control and excessively populates one or more locations in the body.

Vaginal candidiasis. The most common form of candida overgrowth is vaginal candidiasis (a yeast infection), which frequently occurs after taking an extended course of antibiotics. Because antibiotics can kill many kinds of bacteria, often the “good” strains that typically keep candida within bounds can be destroyed along with the “bad.” Candida, however, is unaffected by antibiotics and, in the absence of its natural bacterial counterbalance, proceeds to reproduce wildly. Intense vaginal itching and other discomforts, along with a white discharge, are characteristic signs of a vaginal yeast infection.

Source: optimalhealthnetwork.com

Oral candidiasis. Candida overgrowth in the mouth, also called oral thrush, can occur in people using steroid inhalers for asthma (steroids encourage candida proliferation), and in breast-fed infants whose mothers are taking antibiotics. Oral thrush also develops in people whose immune systems are severely depleted–for example, those who are undergoing cancer chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy after an organ transplant, or people with AIDS.

Source: Wikipedia

Candida overgrowth syndrome. Vaginal candidiasis, oral thrush, as well as candida overgrowths on the skin such as diaper rash, are common medical conditions, and, when they occur, all physicians agree they should be treated.

Key Symptoms of Candidiasis

• Bloating, gas, diarrhoea, constipation, new sensitivities to commonly eaten foods
• Fatigue, headache, depression, irritability, disorientation, dizziness, inability to concentrate
• Sugar cravings, sensitivities to chemicals and perfumes, alcohol intolerance, increased susceptibility to the side effects of medications
• Muscle and joint aches, sinusitis and recurrent colds, recurrent skin rashes
• (In women), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), decreased libido, recurrent vaginal yeast infection, vulvar itching or irritation, vaginal burning, pain, soreness, vaginal burning with intercourse or urination, vaginal discharge resembling cottage cheese (thick and white) that is odourless.
• (In men), prostate and bladder infections

What Causes Candida Overgrowth Syndrome (COS)?

According to nutritionally oriented physicians who are treating candidiasis, the overuse of antibiotics is by far the most frequent cause of the overgrowth. People who have been on antibiotic drugs for long periods of time, to treat acne and recurrent sinus infections, for example are at particularly high risk for developing the disorder. Because antibiotics so effectively wipe out bacteria (both the beneficial strains and the harmful ones), they dramatically disrupt the body’s delicate balance of microorganisms. Candida then takes over.

In addition, medications other than antibiotics can also increase the body’s susceptibility to candida overgrowth. These drugs include birth control pills and oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone), which are commonly prescribed to control inflammatory and autoimmune conditions such as lupus.

Besides taking antibiotics and other drugs, there other factors that can increase a person’s susceptibility to COS  which include : stress, a weakened immune system (due to any cause), a high-sugar diet, hormonal changes from pregnancy, and diabetes.

Please Note

Vaginal yeast infections are so common, that self-treatment using over-the-counter preparations is encouraged by most doctors.

This kept me thinking though,  that many people who believe they are suffering from candida overgrowth, in fact, may not have it at all. (This can be a risk of reading a book about a disease and making a self-diagnosis.) Such individuals often spend hundreds of dollars on supplements, which in the end are useless because they never had COS in the first place. Others may confine themselves to extremely restrictive diets, or worry unnecessarily about a condition they do not have. So it is better to go for a check up first to be sure before you start treating yourself.

Tests and Procedures

The tests that nutritionally oriented doctors order include cultures of both vaginal secretions and stool, along with a blood test to measure antibodies and antibody complexes to the candida. The blood test measures levels of three separate antibodies (IgM, IgG, IgA) that the immune system creates if candida is present, as well as levels of candida antigen, created when a particle of a candida breakdown product enters the bloodstream and triggers an antibody response.

According to some doctors, repeating these tests at the end of treatment is a good way to determine if it has been successful. If it has, levels of a number of these measurements will show a decline.

Medications

The doctors will mostly prescribe nystatin (Mycostatin, Nilstat, Nystex), Itraconazole (Sporanox), and Fluconazole (Diflucan). If these happen to work for you, well and good but if you are still skeptical and you want to try something else, read on.

Treatment and Prevention

Revamp your diet. Some changes in your eating habits are necessary to eliminate a candida overgrowth. Start by increasing your intake of protein and high-fiber vegetables, and by consuming moderate amounts of whole grains and high-carbohydrate vegetables, such as potatoes, beets, and artichokes.

At the same time, try to limit or eliminate sugar from your daily fare because candida thrives on sugar. Fruit, though allowable, is also limited during the treatment phase because of its sugar content.

Prevention: To reduce your risk of developing COS, take measures to:

Avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. This is by far the most common reason people develop candida overgrowth. If you have a medical condition that requires long-term antibiotics, ask your doctor for narrow spectrum antibiotic and to advise which kinds to take which are less damaging.

Important note: When you do get a prescription for an antibiotic, always finish the bottle. By not doing so, the offending bacteria can become more resilient and cause problems later on.

Avoid unnecessary steroid use. If you have a medical condition requiring steroids, work with your doctor to reduce your dose to the lowest amount that is effective for your condition. If you use a steroid inhaler, rinse your mouth after each use. Even the nasal steroid sprays can cause candida problems. Since it’s difficult to rinse your nasal passages, try to use nasal steroid sprays only when absolutely necessary.

Get checked for diabetes, especially if you are middle-aged, obese, or have a positive family history for the condition. People with diabetes are especially susceptible to candida infections.

Supplement Recommendations

Most of the supplements listed below are useful until all candida symptoms have disappeared. Supplement treatment should be continued until diagnostic blood and stool tests show clearing of the candida.

Just a reminder: If you have a serious medical condition, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a program of supplements.
Supplements to treat COS include those that kill the yeast, those that strengthen the immune system, and those that restore “good” bacteria in the intestines.

Echinacea (Echinacea anguvstifolia) boosts the immune system and helps the body battle yeast infections. This herb works best when taken in alternating cycles with other immune-enhancing herbs, such as astragalus or goldenseal.

Garlic (Allium sativum) both enhances immunity and reduces Candida counts in the body. In test-tube studies, garlic has been found to inhibit the growth of candida albicans. It’s also effective against a variety of infectious organisms that damage and invade tissues.

Source: thehealthhoneys.com

Goldenseal and other berberine-containing herbs such as Oregon grape and barberry have been studied for their ability to counteract Candida albicans. Combinations of these herbs are widely used by naturopathic physicians for chronic candida infections. There’s some evidence that goldenseal is effective for COS-related diarrhoea.

Caprylic acid is a fatty acid with anti-fungal actions. It’s made by the body in small amounts, and can also be extracted from plant fats, such as coconut and palm oils. While there isn’t any recent research on caprylic acid, older studies found that when taken orally it can lessen the candida yeast’s ability to grow and replicate.

Oil of oregano and other volatile oils represent the “new generation” of anti-candida preparations. Recent laboratory studies have actually shown that oil of oregano is many times more potent than caprylic acid, although more research into this oil is needed.

Self-Care Remedies (everyone can do this)

• Begin an exercise program. Regular exercise will help improve your overall well-being and enhance your immune system. You do not have to go to gym, you can do this at home or take jogs  
• Reduce stress. Learn how to do yoga, pilates, t’ai chi, or meditation, and practice them consistently. Like I said a lot of people will think that they do not have money for Gym but there are a lot of videos of exercises on youtube, take it slow, day by day.
• Wear cotton or silk underwear. This is particularly important if you are susceptible to recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Nylon or other polyester fabrics can trap moisture, creating an environment friendly to fungal growth.
• Make sure the under wears are cleaned thoroughly with antibacterial soap before you wear them again. Soak your undies and rewash them to be sure of their cleanness. I have seen some ladies who iron their undies before wearing them again and I respect the extra effort they put in.
• Learn to change your under wears after few months, you do not have to wear them until they fall apart or you’re tired of them.
• If you are to wear one underwear for hours, learn to use pant liners and change them whenever you use the bathroom to remain fresh.
• Avoid commercial feminine products. Some douches, feminine sprays, and perfumed tampons can make COS worse by irritating the delicate vaginal membranes.
• Eat yogurt. Check the label to be sure it contains active or live cultures of acidophilus; research shows a cup of yogurt a day can reduce the number of vaginal yeast infections a woman has.
• Increase dietary fiber. Eating enough fiber promotes a daily bowel movement. This will help eliminate the organisms and the toxins that the Candida yeast produces.

This might look like a lot to take in and I know what you are going through but we are WOMEN we fight for our health and for our families. So let’s fight this.

EAT HEALTHY, EXERCISE, KEEP YOURSELVES CLEAN, FEEL STRONG AND PROUD.        

THAT’S THE STRENGTH OF A WOMAN

I looked through these websites for research:

Optimalhealthnetwork.com, mindbodygreen.com, webmd.com, wholehealthchicago.com and thecandidadiet.com.

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest

A friend burst my bubble, at least that is what he called it and it got me thinking. We have all heard about how great certain countries are and we do not get to hear or to read about the challenges which some travellers face. If we do, they always conclude with “all was worth the journey”.

Now, get comfortable and let us go through one by one and just in case you are caught up with such a challenge you have some little knowledge. This is not to scare, it’s to encourage you to travel more, to let you have a feel of everything and give you a chance tell your own story and experience. So grab your bag and go get to the bottom of all the adventures Uganda has to offer.

There is a lot to talk about, but l will go through the basics, which I am always asked and if I leave out something you would be interested in, do not hesitate to ask I will be happy to help.

Tour and travel companies

Please take your time and try to do an extensive research on the company you intend to use. A lot of travellers have been scammed through tour and travel bookings. Do not just jump on any tour company which has some website set up and providing some subsidised prices and promising a journey of your life time.

Take your time and consult with people who have traveled to the same places you wish to visit, compare a number of tour and travels and make a choice when you are certain. 

Secondly, remain with some leverage to demand better services. You do not have to pay all the money of your journey at once, you have to stay with the balance for assurance of a good service. If they do not give you what you bargained for, you will have a chance to change instead of getting stuck with non performers.

Food

Uganda is not under developed, it is a developing country. It has a lot of immigrants who are doing business there, food and beverages being one of the businesses they concentrate in. Therefore, you can find any trans continental restaurant or a food court. With food, you don’t have to worry, you can’t starve at all. The streets are full of delicacies you can try out when experimenting the likes of a “Rolex” – rolled eggs and chapati.

Though when you are out there doing food research, some foods might not agree well with your stomach. The hygiene of Uganda is not top notch in some places and even if some places are five star, you might still have a problem which is quite common when you change the environment or the way the food is prepared.

You don’t have to panic, my friends and I have been using coca-cola. Take some few sips after a meal and please be careful where you eat. This might sound like I am advertising for Coca- Cola, but I am not. It is some lifehacker which has worked for me and some friends. Try it might work  for you too, if you’re a pepsi person then try that.

Do not drink water from the tap and do not just ask for a glass of water with your coffee. I do not even think that is provided back home. Whenever you ask for water, you are provided with a bottle, which you have to pay for. Anyways, you do not have to be mad about it, trust me it is safer than water in a glass.

Safety

I now live in Slovenia and one thing I do appreciate is safety. I can walk on the streets any time and do not develop a rush in any way. I can walk as I text or talk on phone at ease. I have more than twice left my phone behind and someone called me back for it. Now listen, this might not go down the same way when you travel to my country.

I don’t know how to emphasise this, but do not lazily pick up your call or text on the street. If you can not avoid it, hold your phone firmly. But if you can, ignore the call and look for a place which is less congested and pick up or leave it and you will give the person a call back when you’re settled.

You have to be careful, in fact very careful with all your belongings because trust me you will lose them in a second and you won’t know what has hit you.

Guys avoid putting your wallets in the back pocket of your jeans, that swagger might not last long before your wallet is snatched.

Ladies, you should think twice when you pass through town with your gold necklace, earrings, rings or any bling bling. This goes to any place you will travel to where you’re not certain of the safety. Leave these in your room and you won’t be sorry.

Do not just wonder the streets at night alone, please do that with some friends or let it pass. Ask for help or try to make contact with the people you meet either at the hotel where you stay or on streets. Ask for directions, Ugandans are friendly. Am not saying that trust them completely, am saying knowledge is power, you can’t have it unless you take an initiative to acquire it.

Town travels

As means of transport within the country, travellers use Matatus (taxi), buses( Coaches) and Bikes (Bodaboda). All these can get you from one place to another and their prices vary according to season, time and who is travelling.

With season, the taxis and coaches fair double or triple. These are periods of xmas or Easter where a great number of people  travel from either towns to villages to celebrate the holidays with their loved ones.

Time. Taxis increase prices during the rush hours, which are in the mornings when everyone wants to get to work or in the evenings when it’s time to get home after work. This becomes worse when it rains, most of the taxis get stuck in the traffic jam and on top of increasing the prices, they add on squeezing in the taxi excess passengers, instead of 14 passengers, you can end up being 18.

Now when I say who is travelling, I mean the people who don’t know the common language used, the people who have not used taxis for long and those who are not from the country, I mean someone of different color ( white, indian,chinese etc ).

Like l said, Uganda has got a lot of immigrants from different parts of the world and they all have their stories. Some are fluent in the local languages and others are familiar with the way life is in Uganda and they are enjoying each day.

Do not be overwhelmed if your bus fare is twice what others are paying. First ask someone how much it costs to travel to the place where you are going. make sure the person is not the driver or the conductor. I know it’s a lot to take in but that’s what makes it worthy the journey.

If you have never bargained, l think it’s time to pull out that bargaining card because you will use it when you travel to Uganda when you want  to buy some stuff on the streets or use a bodaboda.

The price set is not always the one they sell on so try to bargain you will get a better one.

Last but not least on traveling around town, many people are excited about Boda Bodas and they want to try them out. But as exciting as the experience can be, these boda bodas have caused more accidents than anything using petrol (gas) in Uganda. In Mulago there is a ward which was gazetted for only people who have had bodaboda accidents.

Please if you can avoid them, do if you can’t, wear helmet or let the rider take you slow and let him be careful. If he is not, tell him to stop and you get on another. I repeat, these are so dangerous.

Money exchange

Am not so sure whether there forex bureaus around here in Ljubljana which are not found in the banks. One thing am sure of, is that Uganda has a lot of places where you can exchange your money. You don’t have to get right from the plane to the airport forex bureaus thinking you will have a problem having your money exchanged.

The airport bureau might be expensive than those you will find in town. The banks too tend to have higher exchange rates. If you’re going to kampala you will have a lot of options and this refers to Entebbe too if you’re to stay there.

 Maybe it will be better to trust the bank for starters  as you get used to the place and you will get to find out the best places where to exchange your money with favourable rates. Though this might not be common, it doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

Malaria

Prevention is better than cure. Make sure you get a dose of anti malarials before you travel to Uganda. You might have heard from your friends who say they went and they did not get malaria, but you never know may be they were lucky or their immunity is that strong. So do not take chances, just get it and feel safe.

Any way, if you are the stubborn one, and you chose not to get it, then if you get a fever, any weakness, joint pains and you feel powerless. Run to the hospital for the check up. If they find that you have malaria, you have to take the full dose. This time around you don’t have to act strong or smart, you just have to take the whole dose and keep on visiting the hospital where you are treated for the specialist to see your progress.

Besides all these, Uganda is a safe and among the most beautiful countries to travel to, and the people are friendly. Do not stress out, relax and have fun every single day.

Hope this can help you and if you have something more to ask, feel free l will be happy to help.

Have a safe journey to Uganda ( The pearl of Africa)

Please share

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Linkedin

Pinterest