What To Pack For Your Safari Adventure

Okay, so you booked your safari in Kenya, now what? Here’s a packing list that will hopefully help you out as I tried to keep it as simple as possible. If you can, don’t pack into a large luggage. Some bush airlines won’t allow that size luggage as it won’t fit. Please reference your airline if you are flying to your safari destination once arriving into Kenya.

Mornings can be cool (10-15 degrees Celsius) but you’re in an open truck in time for sunrise and the wind can make it cool so my biggest tip for packing is to pack layers!!

• Warm sweater

• Windbreaker/rain jacket

• Pair of pants

Afternoons are hot (around 30 degrees) so you’ll want to change into cooler clothing

• Breathable dress

• Shorts

• Tank top/T-shirt

Evenings, after being in the hot sun all day you’ll be back outside for your second drive - Light sweater or think oversized button ups that you wear in the fall or summer evenings.
I do also suggest bringing 1 dressy outfit in case you decide to dress up one night at supper for photos.

Shoes:

• 1 one pair of sandals

• 1 pair of closed toe shoes.

  *I would avoid white shoes unless they are easily washable as the dirt here can stain depending on what region you are going to

  *Hair dryers and straighteners may not work due to the difference of voltage. Kenya is 240V. Camps will sometimes have a hair dryer in your room to use if you need it.

Others:

• Power bank to charge your phones while we are out in the trucks and in the airports (not a necessity but if you have one, bring it!)

• International plug adaptor, Kenya uses the 3 rectangle prong European one

• Luggage lock for your checked baggage

• Sunscreen, I recommend SPF 50, do NOT bring SPF15, it will not work here, but at a minimum bring SPF 30.

• Bug Spray

• Sunglasses

• Hat

• ALSO, random but helpful, you know the little small travel packs of Kleenex? Yeah, bring a couple for when you’re out on a drive and need the “bush” toilet.

Meds: This is ONLY for if you get sick/emergencies in the bush.
*This is not medical advice, please consult with your doctor before taking any medications.

• 1 course of antibiotics

• Pepto Bismol

• Immodium

• Hydration tablets

• Advil/tylenol - Gravol

• Benadryl

• Any prescription medication, make sure it’s in your carry on in the original prescription bottles.

  Documents:

• Passport

• Yellow Fever vaccine proof (they will need to see the original if they decide to ask for it)

  $US cash: this can be used for tips for your drivers and then the rest of the staff at camp. The recommendation is anywhere from $10-20 day/person in your room. You tip your driver/guide separately as you are with them most of the time.
  You can get Kenyan Shillings out in Nairobi if you would like to use that instead.

  Travel insurance is also a must, especially when going to more remote places like a safari camp. For this we highly recommend SafetyWing which is affordable, easy to use and they also offer medical evacuation which can be very handy where you are in the middle of safari land. You can enroll now by clicking here.

Keep in mind that safari camps, especially in a country like Kenya, are much better equipped than you might think and most of them do have extra items that you might have forgotten from toothbrushes to hats and sunscreen.

It is now time for you to go out there and enjoy your own safari adventure!

BLOG #9: How it Started

Hey guys,

Lets be honest, I am new at this “creator” thing and sometimes I don’t know what to write about haha! If you have any ideas, please feel free to share! I figured this week we can go through how it all started and what each of our roles are!

Okay, let’s go back a bit. In the beginning of 2020, David decided he wanted to start a Youtube channel. He was and still is super interested and intrigued with social media and how the algorithms work. WAIT…. back up. Lets go back a little further into the end of 2019 when my niece decided to show “Uncle David” TikTok. Dave at first thought it was just a platform for kids but then slowly started looking more into it. This platform meshed perfectly with his sense of humor and began to dabble with it, making a couple videos here and there and then he became popular. From this, TikTok community began asking if he had a YouTube channel… We also knew that our big move was a possibility at this point (HINT: can you spot it in his first video linked below?). Now at this time there wasn’t much to film, and starting a channel with just daily lifestyle blogging, unless you have a super interesting life, is going to take a LONG time. But, nevertheless, he wanted to try it. Fast forward a couple months and COVID starts hitting Nova Scotia and a shut down is in place. No place to go, not many things to do in the house, and since we are huge Disney fans we decided to make Disney recipes. It helped with the consistency of the channel (needed for the algorithm), gave us something to do and gave David more practice editing.

Now, my whole point of talking about this is that social media, mainly our Youtube channel, is Davids baby. I have to give all the credit to him, he had the dream, decided to take the plunge, studied the algorithm, does all the editing, and to be frank… He did 100% of the work up until a couple months ago. SO, you can imagine, it is hard to let someone help him since he grew this from nothing. With some persuasion, I was able to start to help him out little by little with him showing me the different platforms. I want to be more involved in everything EXCEPT the editing LOL. The effort and precision he puts into his editing is something I don’t think I could compete with.

So, what have I been up to lately with the channel? I LOVE organization!! Without it I don’t feel productive at all. I am the one behind the scenes answering comments, slowly taking over the emails, taking everyones suggestions, researching them and putting them into our list of places to go. Yes, we really do look into every suggestion that you guys give us! From this, they are split into 3 categories: day tips, weekend trip, and “need to take vacation” trips. From there, depending on our availability, we pick from the list and start planning.

I find it so neat that how we are all learning from each other. Well us mainly learning from Kenyans haha and where to go, but at the same time, when have a different perspective and different set off eyes, we are also showing them places that some never knew about. And it would be the same if we were in Nova Scotia. Since I was born and raised there, I feel as though I “saw it all” when in reality, there are so many hidden gems there but I just never looked far enough. I encourage everyone, wherever you are, to explore and travel your own country/province as if it were your first time going there and rediscover the beauty that it has to offer and you won’t be disappointed. Go for hikes, make your own food tours, visit every local cafe, etc.. Just try it! Especially now with COVID, if you are able to not be in lockdown, local businesses need you, they need all the help they can get, especially those places that run and survive off tourism. This is the time, pull together and do what we can to help our world survive, because we all know that the world needs some more positivity in a time like this. 

Until next time,

Tracey

PS. Below is David’s first ever Youtube Video, Check it out!!

BLOG #8: How to Save Money on Travel

Okay so most of us who love travel always come up with the same reaction: It’s expensive!! But, good news is, there are many aspects of travel where you can save money! I am going to start by saying DO YOUR RESEARCH! Each option has its pros and cons for everyone, this is just what we have found works best for us as a couple and our traveling styles.

Airbnb/rentals vs Hotels

• okay so this one varies per location, hence the research part. In some areas we have found that Airbnbs are cheaper and essential for us since we like exploring the less popular areas, it is easier/cheaper. Also, with Airbnb’s, most are equipped with laundry machines and a small kitchen which is helpful when you are travelling for 7+ days. You can experience some really great and unique stays as well. We have never tried Hostels so I am not going to speak about those but that is another option. One con to using an airbnb is that you usually need a vehicle unless it is in a popular area (taxi/uber adds up). The main reason we use Airbnb brings us to my second tip…

Food

• THE top area that we save money is by staying in an Airbnb and making our own food. Buying groceries is a head of a lot cheaper than eating out every meal (in most places). We normally make eggs and toast for breakfast and make sandwiches to go to pack for lunch. We also pack out bookbag with lots of snacks and a reusable water bottle so we don’t have to spend a lot of money on drinks: it adds up. Supper is when we will usually buy something to eat.

Third party booking sites (Expedia, Booking.com etc. )

• To be honest, we rarely pay full price for flights.hotels when travelling. when trying to find the best price, one of the first places i look is Expedia (not sponsored). Once i know what hotel/flight i want, i compare between Expedia, Booking, and the company’s official website. From there, I choose the best price and book. Now, one contraindication to this is if you travel LOT which brings be to the next point…

Points and Rewards Programs

• Because hotels want you to book directly with them, most, if not all, hotel and airline companies offer a point/reward program which are FREE to join. Normally when you sign up, you are now a member and there is always a member price (usually 10-30% off). Besides the discount, these rates usually include a breakfast and extended check-in/check-out. Some offer a free night after a 2-3 night stay. Although this sounds great, still compare with the third party booking sites to ensure it is actually worth it and they aren’t just getting you by using the work “FREE”.

Credit Cards

• Another type of rewards program is through credit cards. This will be worth it for those saving for a trip or those travelling often. There are many types of travel credit cards out there that earn you money or points towards travel purchases. Put your day to day living expenses ono your credit card and pay it off before paying interesting on it and you will literally earn money. Remember to stay within your spending limits though. Remember to also shop around for the credit cards… some give you a few free flights a year on tops of points, or access to exclusive planner, but my favorite are those that give you free access to airport lounges. This way, when you have layovers, you can go to a lounge and eat for free, most have showers, and some even have quiet/sleep areas! Save money AND recharge!!

Lastly… Layovers

• Now before i start on this one, I am going to remind you that this works for us, as a couple. This may differ for those with a family and kiddos. Generally speaking, flying at night, on a weekday, with layovers, is cheaper than on the weekend using a direct flight. Personally we always take the layovers option and check our credit cards to see if there is a lounge at the layover airport to take advantage of. Yes, we are usually a little more tired when we land but normally the excitement of being in a new place takes over and we just head to bed early that night.

I hope you found some of these tips useful!! There are so many more! If you want, comment down below and I can always do a part 2 with more nitty gritty ones.

Until next time,

Tracey

BLOG #7 TRAVEL THE WORLD

Wow, we just received the coolest map yet from enjoythewood.com! It is comprised of wooden pieces that you stick up on the wall with pins to mark where you have visited. There are many different types of pins, but ours have flags on them. It comes in all different sizes depending on where you want to put it and easy instructions on how to install it.

Besides going to Dave’s hometown in the beginning, we took our first major trip together after being together for 6 about months. We took two weeks and went to Dublin, London, and France. This is when I realized my love for travel and we realized we travel well together. This passion brought us even closer. We realized our travel works best for us when we don’t plan everything and take destination suggestions from random people in bars… LOL! We also realized that although we love travelling, we sometimes have different travelling styles (relaxation vs action packed) and learned how to compromise with each other to get the best of both worlds.

Once we got the map up on the wall, we put the pins in all the places we have travelled. We always thought that we have gone to a fair amount of places, but holy, when you look at it compared to the entire world, we have hardly been anywhere! This world is so big and we have so much left to discover. Out of all of the places we have travelled to, these are our highlights, the memories that stuck with us the most!

Dublin - Ireland

• At this point Dave and I had been apart for a couple months. This place was so much fun for us. We went to the Guinness factory, Jameson distillery, and when we walked around exploring, we would come to an intersection with no destination and simply choose left or right. We visited some great bars and from that we discovered one of our top destinations: Mont Saint-Michel.

Mont Saint-Michel - France

• This place was incredible! It is located in France and it is basically a castle that when the tide comes in, it is completely surrounded by water making it inaccessible. The beauty of this place was something we have never experienced before.

Paris - France

• Okay, I know this one is cliche and I wouldn’t normally put it because yes it’s nice, but it is a very busy city. BUT… This husband of mine proposed on the top of the Eiffel Tower, so it holds a special place in my heart!

Disney - ANYWHERE!!!

• Disney… well anything, anywhere LOL! Special events such as the Halloween parties and Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival have been some of our top disney memories. We have been to Disney World and Disneyland however Disneyland has stuck with us the most. Our favorite memory was when we watched a little girl walk hand in hand with Princess Tiana down Mainstreet USA. You could just see how happy the little girl was!

Cinque Terre - Italy

• Completely underestimated how intense the hikes were going between each town but they are a MUST! The views were breathtaking; walking in the vineyards embedded on the hills was incredible!

Italy

• Short and sweet, we have had some of the BEST food and wine here. It’s one place we can’t wait to go back!

Giraffe Manor - Kenya

• This is a bucket list item! No where else can are you able to have tea, wake up early and have breakfast all while feeding the giraffes. Need I say more?

Sirikoi Lodge - Kenya

• This place has it all… Amazing safari’s that include breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Luxury and camping wrapped all into one. Being able to look outside your tent window to see a resident giraffe walking around and elephants at the water hole in the background. Safari, food, luxury… Absolutely amazing!!

These are our top places currently and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for us and our travels. We will continue to bring you so you can follow along and make your own travel plans as well!

Until next time,

Tracey

BLOG #6: WARNING ITS A LONG ONE

Me again, I warn that this is a lengthy one and honestly it is so delayed because I have thought about not posting this one MANY times. I wasn’t sure if it would come across wrong or offend anyone but at the end of the day, I do want to share my perspective. Everything I am about to say is with the utmost respect and I am truly sorry it my words don’t articulate it accurately. Here we go!

We are finally settling into a bit of a routine and damn, it feels nice. We don’t even have our house fully moved in or even decorated at all but I already feel as though this is home. I hope you watched our couples Q&A, I will put it down below because that will help answer some questions that people have regarding our move!

I think one of the biggest questions is “Is it what I expected?” ish? Is that an answer? I found there is such a broad range of economic status that I didn’t expect; I didn’t expect the wealth. In what I consider a small distance, we can see hardship as well as massive gorgeous houses, and malls such as local stands to large modern ones. I admire the resourcefulness here. Its such a small thing but it took me off guard: the large concrete foundations that are being built, instead of steel beams it was all wooden beams.

Kenya is also so much more beautiful than I ever expected!! The nature, the lushness, the flowers: it is incredible! It makes me realize that we don’t always have an accurate picture portrayed by the media back in Canada. We have had several comments on our videos from Kenyan’s saying basically just that; they are so happy that we are showing this side of Kenya and trying to change the way people see it. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are definitely areas of lower economic status, and when you are in the city business district there is no green and it is not as clean but I feel as though it is the only thing that social media shows and that is upsetting. I do agree that awareness is crucial to institute change, but so is having the full picture. People all over the world are missing out on this beautiful country! It is our goal to change the way the rest of the world views Kenya, come see it and help the incredible country flourish!

Now lets dig some into the culture side of things. Keep in mind when I am talking about this that I have only skimmed the surface of the culture, but this is what I have noticed so far. Someone told me this the other day and I do believe it is true: we always talk about how Canadians are friendly but I think the difference is, Canadians are the most polite but Kenyans are the most happy and friendly people. In Canada we tend to say hi, ask how you are, which we believe is genuine, but do we truly listen to the answer? I am finding here that when you are asked how you are, they genuinely want to know, they take the time to stop, listen, and talk. Everyone is incredibly happy. This is very hard to put into words but when you experience it, you will understand. Now yes, we have been advised that MOST interest comes from a good place and it is something to stay mindful of but overall, Kenya has welcomed us with open arms!

We also now have a gardener! He is amazing!! I cannot say enough good things! When I said that I was overwhelmed with the lushness and flowers in Kenya, now put those in my yard, and I am someone who can’t even keep a tomato plant alive LOL. I needed help! Something different than Canada, Kenya has a culture of a 6 day work week from what we can understand so he was extremely grateful to have 3 days here to add to his current 3 days at another property.

Anyway, enough for now. To sum it all up, the more we travel and get out of our little bubble, the more and more beautiful I realize that Kenya is. I’ll admit, from what I saw in the media before moving here, in my opinion, is definitely not a true portrait of this country. To think, we almost missed out on this beautiful place! The emotions these last few weeks have been overwhelming with the realization that this is exactly why we began this journey: to get out of our comfort zone and experience a different culture, way of life and beauty. 

Until next time,

Tracey

BLOG #5: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Hi guys, me again! So we are FINALLY out of quarantine and it is glorious! The past two days have been filled and we caught ourselves feeling exhausted when we would get home, coming from 2 weeks of not really doing anything haha.

We just got home from the Giraffe Manor and I am hit with a lot of emotions. I am overwhelmingly grateful to have this opportunity in life. I don’t want to lose this feeling throughout our time here. COVID has definitely changed our plans for travel within the first year of being in Kenya, but honestly, I actually think it is for the better. It forces us to travel and see more things within Kenya than just using it for a travel hub to other countries. Without COVID, we probably would not have gone to the Giraffe Manor… can you imagine that we could have MISSED this?!

Breakfast for the giraffes

When we first arrived at the Manor, from what I saw, it was absolutely stunning, but as we walked around the front and I saw real live Pumba’s (yes, warthogs will forever be called Pumba’s) right in front of me, and giraffes in the distance, tears filled my eyes. It was such a movie scene that I could hardly believe was real! When we first arrived at the Manor, from what I saw, it was absolutely stunning, but as we walked around the front and I saw real live Pumba’s (yes, warthogs will forever be called Pumba’s) right in front of me, and giraffes in the distance, tears filled my eyes. It was such a movie scene that I could hardly believe was real! We stayed in the room Daisy and when we opened the door we noticed that we had our own private balcony overlooking the trees and then found out we could feed them from our balcony in the morning… MIND BLOWN!! For anyone considering going, it is highly worth it and I would recommend it in a heartbeat, it truly is a MUST!

When we got there, we dropped off our bags in our room and proceeded down to have lunch. We were served a three course lunch (phenomenal by the way), then we were walked over to the Giraffe Center. Here we learned about the Giraffes and fed them for the first time. After a couple minutes of that, our guide walked us through the woods on a trail and explained medicinal properties of the trees, how giraffes make their own paths, and took us to an amazing look-off point. Once we got back to the Manor, it was almost time for afternoon tea where Peter (shout out to Peter for the AMAZING service) took the most beautiful pictures and taught us how to interact with the giraffes: “No food, no friendship”. Tea was followed by dinner, then wine on our balcony in robes (I couldn’t resist!) and an early wake up call to have breakfast with the Giraffes.

This night was one of the most memorable nights so far and I can’t wait for more as our adventures have just begun! We are back home, crashing in disbelief of what just happened, and starting to plan the next adventure. Have a look at the video down below for the memories that we captured. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Until next time,

Tracey

Everything about The Giraffe Manor in one photo.

BLOG #4: NOT ALL BUTTERFLIES AND RAINBOWS

Now as I begin this, I need to start off by saying, I DO NOT regret this!! BUT… I would be lying if I said that there were no “uneasy” feelings. As much as this quarantine is hard, I am actually thankful for it. It gives me and my brain time to adjust to our new surroundings without throwing in the culture shock just yet, which I’m sure will come.

When we were still in Halifax, our last night, I was laying in bed with my husband and the anxious butterflies snuck in big time with all the unknowns. David could tell something was up and when I told him, his response was “It’s just you and me, in a different place”. I’m sure he didn’t know the impact of his simple words, but it made me think. 1. My love for him honestly just keeps getting stronger. He is my biggest supporter and I’m glad that I get to do this with my best friend. 2. Why do we get so attached to physical things? I mean I guess I get it; the physical things are attached to memories but why does getting rid of the physical thing make us feel like we are going to forget the memory when we won’t! Maybe not everyone feels this way, but I definitely do. You may be catching on that I am a very sentimental person… I can’t help it haha.

This is another reason why I am writing these blogs, I want to remember these moments, the good, great, and anxious ones. I want to remember the heightened feelings when we finally got our date to leave, the awe of walking in our house for the first time, the discovery of going into the city for the first time (we have yet to do this, thanks quarantine…), and yes, also the stress the whole process that it came along with. I want to be able to share these moments with our children and let them know that it is okay to have anxious feelings along with the exciting ones. That is what being human is all about. However, everyone needs to find their own way to help cope with them so that they don’t overtake and control you. I am FAR from perfect but the biggest thing I have learned is to not fight the feelings; know what they are, recognize them, know they are normal and use your coping mechanism to help them pass. The more I fought these feelings in the past, the worse they got.

Anyway, I know this one was on the serous side, but I think social media portrays this glamorous life without showing the reality that can come along with it. For me, it is important to also show the reality side of things.

Until next time,

Tracey

BLOG#3: I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE DAY

Well, where do I start? I am going to write this a little differently, in two sections, so that you can experience everything with me as I am living through it.

SECTION ONE: As I am sitting here, drinking a glass of red wine, I am excited to share that we are officially on our first flight to Nairobi, first stop Doha. First thoughts that come to mind:

1. Qatar airline just won me over for best food and service

2. Do not recommend flying during COVID

3. How in the heck is my husband going to survive 12 hours wearing a mask and face shield.

4. WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO FREAKING KENYA!!!!!

So here’s the thing. I wouldn’t let myself get fully excited about going because there were so many things that came up. Just when I felt that I could get excited, something major would pop up, so to save myself the ups and downs, I tried to stay a little on the down side. But let me tell you, when we saw the sign for the Montreal airport and pulled up to the doors, the butterflies and excitement could not be contained: tears came to my eyes. How FREAKING cool is it to have the opportunity to live in a different country?!

Our first flight to Doha is 12 hours. Despite the difficulties with COVID, the staff with Qatar airlines are trying their best and mean well for your safety. For the entire flight you have to wear a face shield and mask. Now, as much as this is extremely uncomfortable, please try to remember that they are doing their best. Yes, it sucks, it is not pleasant, but they are trying to ensure your safety. Here right now, I just finished dinner onboard and they definitely have the best food. I would pay to eat that in a restaurant and my husband said that same thing. Ouuu, and as I just passed my dinner tray back to them, as the offer tea and coffee, they handed me Godiva chocolate! Winnnnnning!

SECTION 2: Okay, so here’s the thing that people I don’t think anyone really knew: During this whole process we didn’t know what our house was going to look like or anything until we arrived. So picture this, we arrive at midnight in Kenya, driving in the dark about a half hour from the airport with the anticipation with every turn… is this our house?! Nope, kept driving. Next turn, same thing. The butterflies were insane!! Finally we turn into a stone driveway and all we can see the a little light shining on a beige stone house. Just from the little we could see outside, it is beautiful! But what does the inside look like? We open the door and both our eyes widened and jaws dropped. First thing we see is a large spiral staircase and massive high ceilings. As our curiosity takes us from room to room we discover this massive 4 bedroom house in the dark. The adrenaline is so high we cannot sleep, who could? We both managed to Facetime our parents back in Canada and they can see the awe in our eyes.

Lets forward to the next morning. As I said, we got there in the dark, couldn’t see anything really, so as I wake up, I pull back the blinds. HOLY MOLY!!! We have a gorgeous back yard with the most beautiful trees and flowers creating our very own oasis. As our neighbours come over and say hello and introduce themselves, each of them pointing out something new about the house that we didn’t even see yet. Did you know that we have a banana tree in our yard? Yeah, me either HAHA. We are currently in quarantine so I’m sure everyday I am going to discover something new!

Enough for now, I’m getting hungry so I am going to make us our first dinner in our new place! Wish me luck!

Until next time,

Tracey

Blog #2: FROM HALIFAX TO NAIROBI

I would love to tell you that we are all settled in Kenya, beginning our quarantine, and exploring our house… but I can’t. August 24th we were supposed to be there but as I said before, this process has been complicated to say the least. I know I sound like I am exaggerating but anyone around us knows that I’m not. Our day begins by opening our eyes and my husband automatically checks his emails. Some days he sends over 20 emails back and forth other issues, updates, and unknowns. Because of this, 35 days and counting, we have had no times for “us”.

So…… we decided to take a couple days on our way to Montreal to stop in Quebec City, and let me tell you, IT WAS NEEDED!! We had some good food, drank some good drinks, walked hand in hand down the street, and talked about life. He made fun of my for spilling things on my dress and I laughed at him for pacing around to hit 10 000 steps. Typical. A good couple of nights, light and easy, before we woke up to our worst morning yet…

On Friday morning, 0752, we woke up to three obstacles that could have derailed us for months. One of these things was that our passports were lost in the mail. I cannot even begin to describe the panic in both of us. You have to remember.. we currently have no house and sold everything living from a suitcase. Through MANY phone calls, emails, determination and a LOT of luck, we were able to put everything back on track, well best that we could anyway.

Back on track also means having a COVID swab shoved up your nose, LOL. That was a fun one, NOT! I can confirm that it feels like snorting salt water. However, as much as this sucked, this also means that we are flying out soon as it must be within 96 hours of your first flight. I am almost scared to say it, because with our luck something will still find a way to go wrong, but we have confirmed flights!!!! VOILA!!!

Okay so now we need everyone’s good vibes sent our way because this chick cannot handle another setback. Sunday August 30, we SHOULD be leaving at 2115!! YAHOOOOOO!!! This confirmation ticket came with giddiness and apprehension all bundled into one.

Until next time,

Tracey  

EDIT: Things got a little hectic with some last minute things to get done so I wasn’t able to post this on time for Saturday. But after everything, I am currently writing this on the plane as we are making our way to Nairobi. WE DID IT!

BLOG #1: THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING TO A BRAND NEW CHAPTER

I think this is the first time I truly appreciated the quote:

               “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work!”

When we finally got the okay to begin our process, I 1000% underestimated the bumps in the road.

Friday July 24th, we got the official okay for a project that would change our lives forever. Since then, the date has been changed, quite frankly, everyday. Is it 3 weeks or is it 4 weeks away? 3 weeks to pack up our lives, sell all our belongings, book a moving company, get rid of our vehicles, get vaccinated, the list goes on! Oh, might I add that this is in the middle of a pandemic that shut the whole world down? Yeah… cue extra obstacles! LOL. You might ask, why not wait until this is over and easier? This opportunity is a chance of a lifetime for us and honestly, life is too short.

The first time I sat down to write this, I was in the middle of our condo, on the floor, everything sold. Then when the movers came, I lost my notebook (classic…) so let’s restart! Now as I am writing this, restarting, I am on my second last shift at work and I’m not going to lie, there are a lot of emotions. I am a nurse, and this was my first nursing job in my career. Will I lose my skills? How long will I be without a job? Will I be able to find a job in my field? When you are living out of suitcases in a hotel with your stuff being shipped across the sea, feelings are bound to arise. Did I mention we had to inventory EVERYTHING to ship? Yes, 3 spoons, 17 shirts, 5 socks, etc.

ANYWAY… are you ready? Are you sitting down? I’ve strung you along enough… you may have gathered we are moving, but where? Druuuuumroooooollll please……

AFRICA!! We are moving to Nairobi, Kenya for 2 or more years!

Now comes the questions…

Why? Let me introduce myself! My name is Tracey and I am married to my husband David. We got married in 2018 and one of our favorite things to do together is travel. So, when we were presented with this opportunity, it was a no brainer!

Is it all worth it? As many tears shed, stressful moments, questioning whether this will actually happen, I still believe it will be worth it. What is the worst that could happen? Come home? ** Deep thought bubble warning ** we get so stuck in our everyday lives, the tasks, errands, work, repeat, and for some people it works for them, and that is okay! If you have said this would be my life 5 years ago, I would have laughed at you; my goal was that monotony with the house and kids. However, the more I started to see the world, the more intrigued I was about different cultures and ways of life. The more I was forced to let go of the schedule and planning (no, it was definitely not easy, and it did NOT happen overnight), the more I experienced and could have missed out on. I do not want to live the “what if” life.

Okay, sorry! I got off track! So, current situation: finishing work and living in a hotel. Left to do? Say “see you later”, finalize handing over our cars, get our travel visas and passports and finally get COVID tested before we fly out.

We welcome you to follow along on our journey, the ups and downs and adventure that we cannot wait to share with you!!

Until next time,

Tracey

Staying Active in Isolation

This quarantine makes it harder for everyone to stay active as our normal daily task have went down quite a bit...

So how can we still be active an not all transform into couch potatoes?

1. Home Workout: Gyms are closed but you do not need any equipment to do an effective workout. Use your imagination look around yourself, anything can be used for resistance. I also suggest that you train in the morning as it will give you energy and motivation for the rest of the day

2. Enjoy the Outdoors: If parks and trail are open and accessible where you live I highly suggest that you use them. Go for walks, enjoy the sun and breath the fresh air. Going for a hike is also a great way to burn some extra calories compared to a walk around the block!

3. Running: Nobody is born runner. Start short and slow them built yourself up. Progressing as a runner is very rewarding and motivating. Try to download an app that will couch you like:

• - Couch to 5K Runner

• - Couch to 10K Runner

• - Zombies, Run! (This one is super fun, look it up!)

Beginner Runner Starter Kit:

Amazon (Canada)

• Asics Running Shoes - https://amzn.to/2zOjdjY Reflectors - https://amzn.to/2X9NFgp

• Running Belt with Water Bottles - https://amzn.to/36ikZpI

• Fitbit Iconic - https://amzn.to/2zgs4e2

Amazon (USA)

• Asics - https://amzn.to/2LHhGi7

• Reflectors - https://amzn.to/3dV9AhY

• Running Belt with Water Bottles - https://amzn.to/36eoFZh

• Fitbit Iconic - https://amzn.to/2ZmruGm

4. 10,000 Steps: Focusing on getting in 10,000 steps a day is also a great way to measure your level of activity. A lot of us do not realize how important and how much of a difference walking makes on a day to day basis. I personally track my step with my Fitbit Iconic which I LOVE. It is been on my wrist for over 2 and a half years now! (Link above)

Quarantine Motivation / 5 Tips to Stay Positive and Motivated

Today we are talking motivation. I know a lot of you guys lost motivation since the beginning of the quarantine. Most of us are staying home, not working just hanging out around the house without any purpose. Here are my 5 TIPS for some quarantine motivation.

1. FITNESS Working out, especially in the morning is an amazing source of energy, positivity and motivation for the rest of your day. It does not have to be a 2 hours session. 30 minutes to an hour is plenty to supercharge your day.

2. LOOK GOOD TO FEEL GOOD Or as I like to say, don't look like a pile of slim. This means, take a shower, shave, put makeup on, do your hair, or whatever applies to you. Even if you do not have anywhere to go or anyone to meet, getting ready for the day will give you a sense of purpose!

3. EAT GOOD FOOD Must of us are not working at the moment so we all have time to cook healthy meals. Even tho, it is easy to go to the pantry and eat some tasty and salty finger foods, DON'T! Eating good will make you feel good.

4. EDUCATE YOURSELF It is 2020, there is information about everything and anything available all round you. Books, Internet, YouTube videos, all the knowledge is at the tip of your fingers. Use it! Use the extra time that you have at the moment to learn something new or to get better at something you like photography, video editing, woodwork, mechanic name it. No video games are not something you should spend your days getting better at!

5. DAILY TASKS Everyday, upon waking up, give yourself some tasks that you have to accomplish throughout the day. This, once again will help you a lot with your sense of purpose. It does not have to be huge tasks. Simply going to the grocery store or fixing something you meant to fix months ago around the house is enough to get you going. Take this time to do all the things you told yourself you were going to do as soon as you have the time.

Hopefully, those little tips and tricks will help you guys out with the ongoing quarantine.

Starting A YouTube Channel in 2020

I always wanted to have my own YouTube Channel but was thinking that the competition was way to high for me. Afterall there is over 400 hours of content uploaded on the plateforme every minute which is completely crazy!

But on December 31st 2019, I went on my YouTube account and clicked on “create a channel”. Following this big step, I took my iPhone 7 and started to make videos, mostly vlog style content. After a few videos, I realized how much I enjoyed making content even thaugh none of my videos were watched by no more than 20 to 40 people, including my mom and wife…

From that point I decided to invest a few dollars into my new hobby because this is what it is for me at this point, a hobby. I got myself a Canon M50, a little trip and a microphone, just enough to make good videos that are enjoyable to watch, quality wise.

Yesterday, I reached 300 subscribers which I am very happy with since I only started 4 months ago.

Here are a few tips for beginners like me.

1. Filming: Using your phone to start is more than fine. But make sure that you put the effort in making sure your footage are not over or under exposed and that your sound is good enough. Film horizontally (16:9) and as much as possible use the back camera of your phone and not the selfie one as the quality of it is not as great.

2. Editing: Now a days, there is A LOT of great apps to edit videos directly on your phone. I highly recommande “InShot” available on the App Store. This app only costs a few dollars and comes with a multitude of fonctions you would find on more advanced editing softwares. This app also has a decent library of royalty free music.

3. First Few Subscribers: Getting your first 1000 subs is the most difficult thing you will do as a YouTuber. Trust me I am still working hard on that. But what is harder than the first 1000 is definitely the first 100. Therefor, use your friends and family to get a little bit of traction. Promoting your videos on your other plateformes like Instagram, twitter and Facebook is also a great idea.

4. Consistency: Right from the start, you need to decide how many times a week you want to upload and stick to it. You want to upload your videos on the same day and same time of the day, every time. I highly suggest one video a week to start. It is more work than most people think and you do not want to burn yourself right from the start.

5. Quality Over Quantity: A lot of pro YouTubers will tell you to upload as much as you can none stop. I highly suggest that you focus on making high quality content over pumping as many videos as you can as fast as possible.

6. Be Authentic: Everyone says that all the time about everything but if there is one place where this is 100% true, it is on YouTube. Think about it! It is easy to fake something on a photo or on a 15 seconds story on Instagram but it is much harder to do it in a 20 minutes video. When people are subscribing to a YouTube Channel it is normally because they feel a connection with the YouTuber. So be yourself, be authentic and people will see and appreciate that.
   

Hopefully those little tips and tricks will help you start your Channel and give you a head start on your way to YouTube success.

If you like positivity and laughters, check out my YouTube Channel!

Lifestyle modifications due to the quarantine

Now that we are all stuck inside, it is safe to say that most of us are much more sedentary then normally. That means that we all need to do certain modifications if we don’t want to get out of shape.

Don’t get me wrong, home workouts are great but it will never be the same as squatting 315 pounds in a gym. That means, less muscle breakdown therefor less overall calorie burnt. The other thing is your general daily activity. Anyone who has some sort of fitness tracker probably noticed that their step count went way down. This is normal but again it makes us realize that we need to change some things around.

Fitness and health mostly happens in the kitchen, believe it or not. That means that if you move less, you should eat less. Here are a few tips for you.

You should drop your daily calories by about 500 calories, depending on your level of activity.

Intermediate fasting is also a GREAT tool that you can use during the quarantine. Pushing your breakfast as late as you can will, for sure make the rest of your day easier.

Home workouts are a MOST DO! There is thousands available workouts on the internet or on my YouTube Channel :) You can go for a run, go up and down your stairs, basically anything that will make you break a sweat and bring your step counts up.

What are you doing to stay healthy during the quarantine?

If you are looking at meal ideas or no equipment home workouts, check out this video down below.

What to do during the quarantine?

Depending on where you live in the world, you are probably not unfamiliar with the current COVID-19 situation and you probably have been in some sort of quarantine for a least the past week or two.

Here in Canada, we are told to practice social distancing, avoid public places and wash our hands as much as possible. Most stores, gyms, movie theatres, bars and restaurants are close for an indefinite period of time. So what is there to do?

Well, here is what I have been doing. Every morning, I wake up and do a home workout, after getting cut up with all my favorite Youtubers on YouTube of course. Later on, at least five days a week, I got outside for a 5k run. Overall, if this pandemic made me do one good thing, is to reintegrate cardio into my life. Thank you COVID-19!

During my “normal” life, my diet looks the exact same almost 7 days a week. Yes, I am that guy that eats the same thing everyday because “health” and laziness…. But I actually love cooking therefor, this is the perfect time to make some good and fun meals (if you follow me on Instagram @the_dave_mani well, you know).

Once again in Canada, we are still allowed to go outside for walks. This is great because it made me rediscover my own city Halifax, Nova Scotia. Every single day I try to go for a walk, staying 6 feet away from everyone, in a different place. So far I have been enjoying those walks, with myself and my camera, a lot.

Lastly, my biggest advice for you guys is to PICK UP A NEW HOBBY! A lot of people are not working at the moment or are working much less hours then usual, giving everyone more free time. Time is precious, do not waste it. Use this time to your advantage to do all the things you said you would do when you have time. SPOILER ALERT the time is now! Learn how to play an instrument, start an online business, finish you basement, it can be anything.

Personally, I decided to go all in with my YouTube channel. I love putting myself out there and so far I am in love with creating YouTube content. And because I bought myself a new camera (Canon EOS M50) to film my content, I actually discovered a passion for photography as well.

All that to say that there is so much more to do then just eating chips and binge watching everything on Netflix, Disney +, Hulu and Prime Video.

Check out my latest YouTube video and let me know what you are doing to keep yourself busy during this weird period in our history…

Starting a YouTube Channel

During this weird moment in our history, to say the less, it is the PERFECT time to pick up a new hobby. It is not a secret to anyone, I am an extravert and love putting myself out there. So I decided bring up my vlogging game by going all in and investing and what I enjoy doing.

After doing a lot of research, as I do not have any knowledge in camera gear, I went online, as we are not allowed to go anywhere (#pandemic2020) and picked up a brand new Canon EOS M50 which according to reviews is the best camera for vlogging. On top of that, I bought a Joby tripod which is amazing so far and a 128gb memory card which should be enough at the moment. All that came to a total of just under $1000 Canadian, pretty good right!

After using my Canon M50 for a few days now, I can say that it is great, and very easy to use even for me who is a complete beginner. The quality of the image is nice and crisp, the camera itself is small and light and the screen can be flipped around just in case you want to talk to the camera… #vloggerlife

This camera is everything I wanted and I highly recommended it for anyone who wants to get a little more serious about their YouTube game.

Check out the difference once I go from my OLD iPhone 7 to my brand new Canon EOS M50. It is not perfect, but I will get better at using it I swear!

Want to check out what I bought? Here are all the links you need:
Canon M50 - https://amzn.to/2WP1zWD
Joby Gorillapod - https://amzn.to/33QNgCt
Sand Disk SD Card - 128gb https://amzn.to/2JnFhmM

Staying active during the pandemic COVID-19

Everything is closed including gyms. I guess we are all going to have to stay home and eat chips for a few weeks, there is nothing else to do…

Or is there?

For most of us, it is probably our first time seeing something like this, a situation with such devastating potential that most stores, gyms, restaurants and bars are closed to prevent a global disaster. A lot of people are currently not working, at home wondering what to do. Please do not let yourself die in your bed for days, watching Netflix and eating finger food. This will only make your life harder when everything gets back to normal.

Instead, be active! Unless you are a very advance bodybuilder or powerlifter, you do not require a full gym to stay fit. Look around you, water jog, chair, desk, couch, use what is around you to workout.

Not a lifting kind of person, no problem, go outside for a walk, a run, a bike ride, you name it. You are not allowed to go outside because of the corona virus, do you have stairs? I guess it is time to go up and down the stairs then! No stairs? No problem, turn on YouTube and search for “home cardio workout”.

All that to tell you guys to stay active. I understand that times are difficult right now but take advantage of the time off and use that time for yourself.

If you’d like to support me, check out the link down below. The One Blade by Philip is the razor I have been using for months now and is the one I am using in this video. If you are looking for a high quality electric razor and are tired of spending money on blades, this is exactly what you need.

(Philips One Blade) https://amzn.to/3bkITlB

I visited the largest mall in North America

After just over six weeks, stuck on a military base in the middle of Alberta, I decided to leave for the weekend and have a little bit of fun time with myself.

My friend was nice enough to give me his vehicle for the weekend, so I jumped in it and left Wainwright for the first time since I arrived. I drove just over two hours and went visiting Edmonton.

My plan was, train in a cool gym, visit the West Edmonton Mall and eat good food. I can tell you right now, MISSON ACCOMPLISHED!

After a good night of sleep, I started my Saturday morning at the Goodlife gym located at the Edmonton Brewery District which was, hands down the nicest gym I have ever been in my life. Following my workout, I had a quick bite at my favorite place for post workout meals, Freshii.

Then, it was time to head out to the West Edmonton Mall. Upon arrival, it took me over 15 minutes to get one of their 20,000 parking spots… But when I went in, I understood the hype! First thing I saw was a sea lion show, in a mall, yes! From there my expectations were pretty high, obviously.

This mall have over 800 stores and kiosques, a full team park with the biggest indoor rollercoaster in the world, which I rode for only $15,75… I then visited my favorite store, the Disney Store of course followed by an amazing virtual reality experience at The Void.

The West Edmonton Mall also has a full waterpark, mini golf, movie theatre, themed hotel and much more.

Eight hours and almost 15,000 steps later, I can say that my day at the mall was a blast! Check out my YouTube video to see all about it!

being away…

5 weeks ago I had to leave my comfy home back in Halifax, Nova Scotia to go out West in Wainwright Alberta…

I am a routine type of guy, so going away for a total of 8 weeks is pretty hard for me as I do like, waking up at the same time everyday, prepping meals my way, going to the gym and respecting a good program, etc.

I am currently on a military course therefor, all those routine things, are not a possibility for me at this time. So I need to adapt to this harsh environment and I need to survive in it for another 3 weeks!

This course is very hard physically and mentally but I just gotta get through it because what is coming after this, will blow your mind!

Stay posted people! And check my YouTube video to see how tired and broken I am right now! 🤣

What I learned in 30 years

In December 2019, I turned 30 years old and I had to take a pause. I had to sit down and think about all I accomplished and what I want to accomplish from this point forward.

Thinking back to when I was a kid, without any responsibilities, I remember wanting a nice car, two kids, a big house and all that before turning 25. Now, 5 years after that target age, I realize that I did not accomplished all of that but I am also not unhappy about where I am in life.

At 30 years old, I can say that I started a family by getting married in 2018, I drive an awesome car, not my dream car, but a great one for sure. I am financially stable and have enough free time to start a blog and YouTube Channel in 2020 because I want to!

All that to say that even if I am not exactly where I thought I would have been if you ask 12 years old me, I did enough to be happy, proud of myself and thankful for everything I have.

In conclusion, stop thinking about what you did not accomplish and start patting yourself on the back about what you did and are proud of today!