As the world celebrated World Tourism day last week,two things were uppermost in my mind:the East African Community and the devolution of administrative units in the country to counties.
Lets start with the issue of counties.From the way they have been structured the idea is to have all these units becoming self sustaining in the future.A lot of potential benefits are in store for the tourism sector in Kenya and specifically for all the counties.
In the past we have had all major events be it international conferences or award ceremonies and product launches all being held in Nairobi.It is very rare that this major events venture out of Nairobi though Mombasa has had a share of its own.
I think its about time these counties started bidding for these events just the way we have countries pitching and stating their case to host the Olympic or the World Cup.This will not only encourage economic growth in this areas but it will lead to better infrastructure and development of real estate in these counties and this can only be good news for the residents.Any county that gets the bid to host an event will not only have to work extra hard to provide the necessary infrastructure but it will have to be top notch too.The hotels in these areas will definitely have to raise their accommodation standards and cuisine to world class standards as tourists be it local or foreign visiting these areas will definitely be willing to spend their dollars or Kenyan shillings on quality services and goods.In this case goods will involve cultural artifacts and Kenyan designers in these areas had better get their sketch books out because its time we showed the world what we can come up with using our local textiles be it the khanga or the kikoi.
The opening up of the East African common market that encompasses Kenya,Uganda,Tanzania,Burundi and Rwanda came into force on the 1st of July 2010.This allowed for free movement of goods,services and people .Looking at the potential this holds for the member countries is mind boggling.But one area that has a lot to gain from this is the tourism market.
Each of the member countries in the community have a film festival and it is about time organizers in each of these countries thought of consolidating this into one big fete.Not only will it be a way for each of the film makers from member countries to learn from each other it will encourage film tourism (which is defined as movie induced tourism among the citizens of member states).
The five member countries though sharing a trading bloc have and hold unique histories and cultures and the films from these countries reflect the diverse ways culture has influenced the way of life of people in these states.Having a regional annual film festival will be a way for film makers from these countries to learn from each other but it will definitely encourage residents from the region to travel to member countries.And there can be no better way of fostering the east African community spirit .
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
SUNBIRD LODGE
Located along the Nairobi Nakuru highway about 20 minutes drive from Nakuru town,just before St Marys Hospital is a little gem!
The cottages at Sunbird Lodge are located on a rise overlooking the scenic Lake Elementaita overlooking the Sosyambu conservancy.This view offers you a fantastic glimpse of the lake and from the restaurants terrace you are able to see the flamingos and sometimes buffaloes grazing by the shores of the lake.
Their rooms available in singles,doubles and triples ,children accompanying parent(s) above the age of two get a 25% discount on their own room.
Their cottages are tastefully done with a strong emphasis on use on natural and local materials giving their rooms a truly authentic African ambiance.And did i mention that their rooms all have slide doors and its just breathtaking to wake up with an awe inspiring view of the lake!
And the best part of all this -the balloon safaris.If you are wedding soon and are lost for choice on your honeymoon destination,you just have to go to Sunbird.You get a morning balloon safari as the sun rises over the scenic Rift Valley,enjoy the beautiful scenery as you float over the lake maybe you might even catch a glimpse of Mt Kenya and touch down after an hour, finish this off with a bush breakfast.Totally awesome!
The cottages at Sunbird Lodge are located on a rise overlooking the scenic Lake Elementaita overlooking the Sosyambu conservancy.This view offers you a fantastic glimpse of the lake and from the restaurants terrace you are able to see the flamingos and sometimes buffaloes grazing by the shores of the lake.
Their rooms available in singles,doubles and triples ,children accompanying parent(s) above the age of two get a 25% discount on their own room.
Their cottages are tastefully done with a strong emphasis on use on natural and local materials giving their rooms a truly authentic African ambiance.And did i mention that their rooms all have slide doors and its just breathtaking to wake up with an awe inspiring view of the lake!
And the best part of all this -the balloon safaris.If you are wedding soon and are lost for choice on your honeymoon destination,you just have to go to Sunbird.You get a morning balloon safari as the sun rises over the scenic Rift Valley,enjoy the beautiful scenery as you float over the lake maybe you might even catch a glimpse of Mt Kenya and touch down after an hour, finish this off with a bush breakfast.Totally awesome!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
LORD EGERTON CASTLE
The castle is an architectural masterpiece of its time and listening to the guide (a former employee of Lord Egerton) as he takes you through the life of the castle and its eccentric owner, you can’t help but wonder what begot the young lady who jilted the Lord after he had built such a magnificent castle .The 53 room castle was modeled after his family home in England.
The castle is located in the Ngata area about 14kilometres from Nakuru town
The castle stands amidst well kept lawns that are great for picnics and other garden events.
Gate charges are kshs 100(Kenyan citizens) and you get to enjoy the gardens as well as a guided tour of the castle. They also have very great rates for weddings and other events.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Receptions at Kenyan weddings are HUGE affairs and I mean huge in terms of numbers and the planning involved. There is no better place to catch up with lost cousins, distant relatives and even immediate family than at wedding receptions.
Maybe you aren’t interested in a huge reception and you are looking for options, cocktails would be a great alternative to a formal sit down reception dinner.
Cocktails are an elegant yet intimate way to have you wedding reception as you mix and mingle with your guests. While not a very common way for people to follow as a way to celebrate their wedding they do have a great advantage over the more formal sit down dinners or buffets that we are used to.
If you do choose to have a cocktail reception keep in mind that they shouldn’t run for more than 3 hours. Guests are usually served with horse d oeuvres’ (finger foods) while drinks may range from the alcoholic to hot beverages like coffee or tea. Most hotels offer a cocktail menu but readily accommodate changes or personal preferences just make sure you let the chef/banquet manager know what these changes or additional items you want as a couple. just make sure there is enough to go round. They will also provide a wine/beer list that you can choose from if you opt not to have an open bar.
Great locations that would provide a great atmosphere for this kind of event may include the national museum, Fort Jesus, or a historic site that allows guests to walk around and enjoy the location you have chosen. You could also opt for a restaurant that has a patio and have patio or Chinese lanterns to decorate your venue if you have it in the evening. The other alternative is to have it in a landscaped garden.
The seating for a cocktail reception is minimal but high tables on which to place drinks is a must. It is a good idea to provide low couches and tables for those guests who may not be able to stand for long. The idea behind cocktails is usually to have guests mingle that’s why it calls for minimal seating arrangement.Food is either served by wait staffs or you can opt for self service buffet style.
Serving the wedding cake comes immediately after the ceremony and this allows for guests to enjoy the wedding cake together with their drinks and dessert.
P.S Have the napkins being used at your cocktail printed with a funny/witty quote or even have your names and wedding date on them thanking your guests for coming, they will love it.
Maybe you aren’t interested in a huge reception and you are looking for options, cocktails would be a great alternative to a formal sit down reception dinner.
Cocktails are an elegant yet intimate way to have you wedding reception as you mix and mingle with your guests. While not a very common way for people to follow as a way to celebrate their wedding they do have a great advantage over the more formal sit down dinners or buffets that we are used to.
If you do choose to have a cocktail reception keep in mind that they shouldn’t run for more than 3 hours. Guests are usually served with horse d oeuvres’ (finger foods) while drinks may range from the alcoholic to hot beverages like coffee or tea. Most hotels offer a cocktail menu but readily accommodate changes or personal preferences just make sure you let the chef/banquet manager know what these changes or additional items you want as a couple. just make sure there is enough to go round. They will also provide a wine/beer list that you can choose from if you opt not to have an open bar.
Great locations that would provide a great atmosphere for this kind of event may include the national museum, Fort Jesus, or a historic site that allows guests to walk around and enjoy the location you have chosen. You could also opt for a restaurant that has a patio and have patio or Chinese lanterns to decorate your venue if you have it in the evening. The other alternative is to have it in a landscaped garden.
The seating for a cocktail reception is minimal but high tables on which to place drinks is a must. It is a good idea to provide low couches and tables for those guests who may not be able to stand for long. The idea behind cocktails is usually to have guests mingle that’s why it calls for minimal seating arrangement.Food is either served by wait staffs or you can opt for self service buffet style.
Serving the wedding cake comes immediately after the ceremony and this allows for guests to enjoy the wedding cake together with their drinks and dessert.
P.S Have the napkins being used at your cocktail printed with a funny/witty quote or even have your names and wedding date on them thanking your guests for coming, they will love it.
CHOCOLATE,VANILLA AND LIQUER CAKES FOR YOUR WEDDING
Having attended quite a number of weddings it is interesting to note that most Kenyan bride prefer fruit cakes as their flavor of choice on their big day..But it need not be that for your wedding, why not indulge your guests in chocolate and vanilla layer cake with a chocolate fudge filling and excite their taste buds. There are so many choices out there for the adventurous bride.
Wedding cakes are the main attraction of any and all wedding receptions. Choosing the perfect cake need not be a daunting task and the choice shouldn’t be left till last minute. Get a list of bakeries/bakers from friends and family and find out if they offer tastings before you pick your wedding cake. You don’t want to have to endure a dry tasteless cake on your big day. You want a cake that is moist, flavorful and delicious to eat. Ordering a cake from the bakery/cake maker you want for your wedding day would go a long way into judging just how good their cakes really are. And of course there are all those annual wedding/bridal expos to attend and see what the exhibitors there have to offer.
A bride has an enviable array of flavors to choose from apart from the tried and tested fruit cake .You can decide to have a carrot cake, vanilla or chocolate flavors or even opt for a liqueur or spice cake. Most cakes due to the fact that they have to sit outside for a considerable number of hours during the reception are either covered with royal icing or fondant which is a thin icing rolled and used to cover the cake but do you know you can have a layer of butter cream (usually made of butter/shortening and icing sugar on your cake before you have the fondant layer? Depending on the design and flavor you want your baker should be able to advice you on what would suit you.
And if you love baking there can be no better treat for your guests than to make and design your own wedding cake. There are thousands of internet sites with great recipes and videos on you tube that you can watch if you are so inclined.
A Little wedding tradition: It is said that placing a piece of wedding cake placed under a singles pillow would lead to”dreams of a future spouse ……..”
Wedding cakes are the main attraction of any and all wedding receptions. Choosing the perfect cake need not be a daunting task and the choice shouldn’t be left till last minute. Get a list of bakeries/bakers from friends and family and find out if they offer tastings before you pick your wedding cake. You don’t want to have to endure a dry tasteless cake on your big day. You want a cake that is moist, flavorful and delicious to eat. Ordering a cake from the bakery/cake maker you want for your wedding day would go a long way into judging just how good their cakes really are. And of course there are all those annual wedding/bridal expos to attend and see what the exhibitors there have to offer.
A bride has an enviable array of flavors to choose from apart from the tried and tested fruit cake .You can decide to have a carrot cake, vanilla or chocolate flavors or even opt for a liqueur or spice cake. Most cakes due to the fact that they have to sit outside for a considerable number of hours during the reception are either covered with royal icing or fondant which is a thin icing rolled and used to cover the cake but do you know you can have a layer of butter cream (usually made of butter/shortening and icing sugar on your cake before you have the fondant layer? Depending on the design and flavor you want your baker should be able to advice you on what would suit you.
And if you love baking there can be no better treat for your guests than to make and design your own wedding cake. There are thousands of internet sites with great recipes and videos on you tube that you can watch if you are so inclined.
A Little wedding tradition: It is said that placing a piece of wedding cake placed under a singles pillow would lead to”dreams of a future spouse ……..”
Thursday, September 2, 2010
WEDDING MUSIC-Going classic
Classical music has been a favorite of a select few individuals who have grown up listening to it. However that isn’t reason enough not to have it played at your wedding or event. There are some all time favorites for weddings like Mendelssohn’s" Here comes the bride 'that we are all familiar with but there are some other great pieces that would be fitting for your ceremony.
The "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert makes a great processional song and so does Handel 'Air from water music”. You can also choose great pieces to accompany ceremonies such as the lighting of the unity candle, signing of the marriage certificate and the exit from church."Jesu joy of mans desiring 'by Bach is an elegant choice for your grand exit as is "an ode to joy” by Beethoven.
Okay so maybe classical music isn’t your thing and you still want to know how to choose your wedding music. As a couple make sure that your choice of music reflects who you are as a couple as it will set the atmosphere for your big day.
When selecting your music make sure you talk to your officiant as some may have strict guidelines on the kind of music that can be played in their house of worship.
For your guests since you want them to feel relaxed and enjoy themselves select music that will make them feel part of your celebrations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)