Showing posts with label Travel Diaries.... Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Diaries.... Show all posts

Sunday, 1 December 2019

THE COME BACK #IAmKakuma






Sometimes it’s nice to take some time away from blogging…but is it really? Social media and blogging are all about consistency and when you break for too long, trying to make a comeback could be really stressful and can even take months.
Well. I had my reasons…. Very good reasons 
I took the break to fully concentrate on my master’s degree at the University of Nairobi…then immediately after I was done with the studies, I got a job in Kakuma…a town in Turkana county and home to over 200 000 refugees and asylum seekers from more that 20 different nationalities.
Okay now I’m tempted to tell you about the adventures of Kakuma…but not on this post.
BUT maybe just a little…. for starters, the sun was always scorching! If you were not fortunate enough to have an AC in your hostel room, then you always had your birthday suite on whenever  indoors. For someone who is terrified about any crawling living thing, I had to worry about scorpions, snakes and camel spiders 24/7, plus other species of weird and creepy insects from the desert it is. 
On the flip-side, it’s a beautiful place! The desert serenity, deep orange sunsets, the night life…one famous club called Bulls Eye…. totally rocks Kakuma for the agency staffers (shout out to DJ Rama). There’s an annual talent show dubbed Kakuma Got Talent! One word = Breathtaking!  I have no words to describe the depth of talent from the refugee community that’s so fearless, passionate and showcased as if it was their last performance on earth! 
Then there was Kalemchuch DING! DING! DING!…a very famous hill ..as famous as Muliro gardens where we would go for photo-shoots, dates, picnics, climbing and all…just to make life in Kakuma as exciting.
I made great friendsLemy from SouthSudan…. this guy literally taught me everything I know about graphic design and photography…same guy behind the lenses on this specific shoot.
JohnThomas from Congo…he has the biggest heart I’ve ever known …and taught me everything I know about video editing.
Last but not least. such a cliche btw…..Team W made of awesome colleagues…shout out to you Kui, Tabz, Kagweyi, Shisino, Shakira, Bresh, Yegon, Zabdi , Imana , Papaa, not forgetting Benaa..our lead choreographer.
You guys made my life in Kakuma amazing and I can’t wait to be back on missions kama donor 😂




Now that all that is out…and out there. Can we now go back to fashion!!! And why is everyone lately all about the Maxi dress? Or was I in Kakuma for that long?! They just never run out of fashion, don’t they? Always seems to be in style and staple in many women’s closets. The floor-grazing and flowy appeal of maxi dresses is just undeniable for every body shape, every versatility and can make a fashionable and comfortable outfit for hot days. Perfect for Kakuma, Yes? 


With the right maxi dress in your closet, you’ve got a go-to piece that you can easily dress up and down for a daytime style, casual weekends, beach vacation, weddings and special evening out……not forgetting kuenda kuona mom – in- love!
I’ll be guiding you on how to fit that maxi dress and the right way to accessorize it for that slick, chic and comfy look in so many fabrics, colours and patterns.




·       Know your body shape: By now you know your body shape…right? The parts you are comfortable highlighting whether you have an hour glass figure yet petite or curvier …... having this in mind can help you find the most flattering maxi dress for your shape.
·       Find the right length: This will help you from getting caught in your own dress and tripping. Walk around in the house for a few minutes before stepping out to make sure that when you step on it, it won’t trip you. I’d rather have it tap the top of my shoes or at least the ankles for a sure walk around.
·       Consider color and print: Just as body shape, style and fabric can affect how you wear a maxi dress, so can the colour and print. Ask your friends what colours best suite you then consider your skin tone and what colours and prints might work best for you. Try larger or floral prints with solid colours if you are curvier and wear simple and small prints if you are petite.
·       Accessorize: Regardless of “the rules’ on how to wear this attire properly and how to match the dresses with different items of clothing and accessories are still an open question….
So, wear it with;

  •    Sneakers – This look is perfect for those who don’t like high heels and are afraid to get tangled up in the long dress. 
  •      Denim jacket – Other than looking fresher and younger, the colour of the Denim  jacket is quite neutral and blends well with any skin type.
  •      Add a neutral belt – If you wear a maxi dress with a belt, be sure that this will accentuate your small waist. This will instantly make everyone you be jealous. But if you don’t like belts, you can still lock very attractive in a sexy slit dress that will not only accentuate your waist but your legs as well.  Adding a belt will not only highlight your torso’s slimmest points and create pretty curves but will also add fashion cred
  •      Heels: Want to look taller? Well this is one of the best ways to do it because your maxi dress will hide the heels.
  •      Add some sparkly drop earrings and a trendy clutch for a dress up-dress down look that feels young and beautiful
  •       Off the shoulder maxi dress? Read my post on how to wear and accessorize an off the shoulder outfit 👍😘
  •     See link https://yvonnebaraza.blogspot.com/2017/11/how-to-wear-off-shoulder-tops.html









#IAmKakuma

Photography by Mc Lemy Dhieu 

Dressed by La BELLE fashions

MakeUp by @PaulOhdiambo - 0723037655


Friday, 11 September 2015

ROAD TRIPS!!!

There's something about hot weekends, the allure of the open road,the smell of rubber from the need for speed, the thrill,  the nyamachoma stop, the photo sessions and the promise of a change of scenery that makes us want to load up the car and just go someplace, and just anywhere you'd want to visit. Whether you're starting with a full tank of gas and letting the road be your guide, or embarking on a carefully routed cross country trip you've been planning for weeks, it's smart to take a few essentials along to make the trip safer and more enjoyable.

I had the opportunity to attend The MistuRun-KajiadoEdition last weekend courtesy of Shadrack Otido, Chairman of the Triple Diamond Society #MistubishiCarOwners. Never before have I seen a large gathering of Mistus as I saw last Sunday.
Having not been interested in the Mitsus before, I was thoroughly impressed by these Japanese machines…Talk of the Mitsubishi Lancer  Evolution series, Mitsubishi Lancer or the Mitsubishi Gallant among other popular Mistus.If you happen to be a lover of speed,then join team Mistu for the thrill. During this road trip I was in a MistubishiGallant Fortis 2008,Mivec engine which I came to find out is delimited. It’s speedometer  reads 180Km/h is the max but we did a cool 220Km/h with superb stability.
Mitsus are very popular for the ease at which one can visual tune the machines with optimal aesthetic value.Car tuning is modification of the performance of a vehicle. Most vehicles leave the factory set up for an average driver's expectations and conditions. Tuning, on the other hand, has become a way to personalize the characteristics of a vehicle to the owner's preference. Cars may be altered to provide better fuel economy, produce more power, or to provide better handling.
You want your name on the license plate? CHECK.

Want a Spoiler, or two? CHECK.

Want to change the Bodykit? CHECK.

Want to change the Front Bumper, hood or the rear bumper? TRIPPLE CHECK

Want to change the rims? OH MY - FINE...Not only can you change the rims of the front and back apart from each other. No, you can change multiple color areas, the size, the stance and also the brake calipers and disks!

There's just so much you can do on a Mitsubishi.


10 Essentials to Bring on a Road Trip


1- Maps, Maps, and Maps.

2- Travel Apps.
3- A road-worthy playlist.....
4- Snacks and Food.



5-Toiletries and Other Essentials.
6-Comfy Clothing, Pillows and Blankets.
7-A Camera...and i mean a good camera......
8-Electricity Power Inverters.
9-Auto Preparedness Tips

10-A Best Buddy...
Everything is more fun with a companion, and a road trip is no exception. Think of all the great road trip movies, from “Hangover” to “National Lampoon's Vacation"...friends can turn an ordinary trip into an adventure.










Staying stylish and comfortable while on a Road Trip


When traveling for long distances, or even short, it can be a little difficult to stay stylish, especially in a car. If I’m going to be in a car longer than three hours these are the six things I always do in order to be very comfortable and avoid being embarrassed when I get out of the car for a stretch.
1. Comfortable Flats; be it ballets, ‘rubbers’ snickers or sandals.
Since you’re going to be in the car for many long hours and only leaving your seat for a cup of coffee or food there is no need to wear your sexy heels. It’s best to wear comfortable shoes. The thing that I like most about ballet flats is that you can fold them in half and stow them away in their own little travel bag.
2. Large Handbag
A little clutch for a road trip just won’t do. A large handbag is what you need to bring with you on a road trip to hold all of your necessities. Makeup for touch ups or extra hair ties and of course hand sanitizer. These are the items we may need in to have within arm’s reach and not in a suitcase in the trunk.
3. Comfortable Clothing
We all want to be comfortable while sitting in the car for hours so opt for loose outfits instead of tight jeans or dresses. This way you can cross your legs and blog on your laptop if you want to.
4. Layers
Depending on the time of year you are traveling you might need to wear warmer clothes but one thing to always keep in mind is layers. What I like about the maasai kanga? Other than it being stylish …..there is just a Kenyan spirit it just brings along…..
5. Sunglasses
Other than the brightness of the hot sun, long hours in a car can be hard on you, so bring a handy pair of sunglasses to cover your tired eyes.
6. Hair Up
There is no way to keep my hair full of life after three plus hours in a car, windows rolled down or not. Wear your hair in a bun or in a ponytail, whichever looks cutest with your outfit. This will keep you looking cute even with the seven plus hours you’ve spent road trippin’ it and singing “Amarula” at the top of your lungs.


                 Here are other photos from theMistuRunKajdiadoEdition.....Enjoy!


 Packing my essentials......




A selfie for the day......



Straight to Instagram....#yvonne_baraza



Happy people....





Meeting point.....as we wait for the africantimers.... :) !




Having a good laugh......



Psyching up each other.......



 

Our Paul Walker......





Group photo......






MAD RESPECT TO 200P







A throwback moment.......



The Legends Present.....




Driver of the day......



Happy spirit this one is....



Vroooom Vrrrrroooooooom......










A slight mishap but the guys did what they do best......






Racing to the Nyamchom joint......




















Then the unwinding......





Playing while at it....


Just chilling....




 The guys comparing notes.....









I had such an amazing time with lovely people,so until next time.........!