Overview

Of sandy beaches, ocean blue waters, cool breeze on a daily, calm ocean waves, good music,
staying naked all day, no questions asked and sipping my favorite Nazi drink under the palm
tree. If you can picture these scenes in any prioritized order, then I believe we share the same
holiday dreams or now I have just been able to arouse your interest in booking that holiday in a
beach of your choice, mine would perfectly fall anywhere in Diani. Let me take you on a journey
of my dream holiday.

In a world full of all sorts of crazy, we need time to ourselves to unwind and just relax and forget
about it all. I know you are nodding in agreement; I am nodding too. There is so much we can do
to unwind, but at the same time, we need to ask ourselves if it helps in the long run. Some of us
prefer drinking ourselves silly, some prefer road trips, some prefer clubbing and some concerts
and it’s alright, we all understand ourselves better and know just the right dose of escape we
need to keep us sharp as we embark on the daily hustles that are vital. Everything you do is
acceptable. So don’t allow anyone judge you for the decisions you make on how to create your
little heaven, just don’t overdo it. Capiche!
With that being said, welcome to my world, my dose of happiness. I love the beach; especially at
the coast and probably would cancel my wedding just to lie in the sand for one minute (am
kidding) but you get the picture. Before we get there, I know travelling there or how you get
there really adds to the spice of your holiday and gives it more thrills to ensure that if you are
going to document that, the final piece gives you a yearning to return. So for me, getting there, I
would prefer Plane or at the least train, no buses and no driving myself there; hell I’ve come to
have a good time.
I know you are asking yourself why not the other transport modes and its okay. If you are on
some form of budget; it’s cool, don’t sweat it men, it’s alright. But for me if am going on
vacation or holiday, I want everything done for me , so that I can focus on having a good time, I
don’t want to get stranded thinking about booking buses back home which by the way are always
full for some reason. For those of us who are drivers, we know that long distance driving takes
its toll on the driver in all ways possible; physically and mentally. Now tell me, why would you

subject yourself to such after having a blast the whole weekend. Think about it. Hope you’re
convinced.
Moving on .When I escape Nairobi and all its madness including my bedsitter and the landlord, I
really don’t want to sleep in a room that doesn’t give me a sense of change in environment; if
you know what I mean. The room doesn’t have to big and with lots of things, but at the same
time, I should feel am in a different environment. My ideal room should have modern air
conditioning. I don’t need to be fanning myself with those Chinese thingy’s (what are they called
by the way). I want to sleep like Meghan Markle; don’t ask me how she sleeps, I don’t know, but
I want. The furnishing should help me forget about my bedsitter. I don’t mind the bed having as
many pillows as the bed can allow.
The ratio of men to women here in Kenya is crazy; 5:1 to be precise, so why the hell would they
have men to do the room service for me? Am just saying, While the room might be everything
on the inside, it should allow me to experience the beauty of the sunrise and the sunset and in as
much as my sleeping habits may not allow me to experience the sunrise, I would really enjoy
watching the sun fall; the feeling is really calming.

This should usher a wonderful night of more fun away from the ocean and the waters. I love
music and probably moving my body (I don’t know how to dance…so). Music helps me relax
and if I can get that flowing the whole day, then it’s a “whole mood” .The hotel should have at
least invested in some sort of dance section, so that I can shake whatever can shake. A tiki bar
would be ideal too, I mean, I won’t dance all night , that would be a nice place to strike
conversations, catch my breath and get to meet new people.
I am a cultural tourist and I want to experience something out of the ordinary. I want to eat new
foods, get to deeply learn about peoples’ ways of life. With that being in mind, my holiday
would not be complete, if I do not get to interact with the locals where I am. The Swahili people
have a really interesting way of life, their music hits different, their women have a very unique 

way of applying make-up; hena, their dance moves, their energy in everything they do and lastly
not to forget their hospitaility.

I would love to experience that for as long as am there. It would be really pointless being at the
hotel the whole day, yet there’s so much to see. Along the coast, there are so many sites that are
rich in history. I know for a fact I would have to visit these places before I leave; for bragging
rights of course and stories to tell my kids one day.
With all that in the bag, I guess I would be ready to finish the holiday and get back to my
bedsitter. What is your ideal paradise lost?

WRITER: Obatsa