Best of 2017...Scrap that...What do I want from 2018?

2016 was the year of getting my ass out of the comfort zone
2017 is the year of stretching myself and stretch myself I did all through the year.


2017 has been a crazy, good and great year.

Instead of using the word "bad", I choose to use the word "Crazy", because to be honest, the year was not as bad as I expected.

I did some pretty stupid things, that I am even ashamed to talk about and then I went on to do great things I am proud of.

First up, I had my postgraduate degree graduation in January and my graduation gift to myself was the trip to South Africa and Kenya.  I only showed up at the venue because my mum insisted on coming and wanted to take pictures with me. She was trying to make up for missing my undergraduate graduation. No form of studying happened this year and that was intentional.

Friendship: I am a sucker for friendship, people who know me well know how I go through the highs and lows for anyone I call a friend. Respect and loyalty are key for me. I got a rude awakening this year and had to define the relationship with most of the people I call friends. One key lesson is that you can only be friends with people who see you as their friends. 

Don't go making an acquaintance a friend.

With friendship, I learned forgiveness. I relearned the value to beautiful friendships both old and new.

Travel took the focal point of the year. My first post of the year highlighted my 2017 travel goals. In the post, I mentioned plans to go on a West African adventure, visit some states in Nigeria and ring in the new year in the New York.

Lake Kivu, Rwanda

I got to visit 5 out of all 11 destinations I listed.

I can't complain because even though I listed 11 destinations, I ended up visiting 19 destinations in total.  If I count Ile-Ife and Nairobi which I visited twice within the same year then that sums up 21 destinations. Switched the West African adventure for the East African experience.

I got to explore 4 new countries (South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda)  and visited 6 in total ( revisited Benin Republic and Togo).  Locally I visited,  Osun state (Ile-Ife, Osogbo), Ogun state (Abeokuta),  Bauchi state (Bauchi, Yankari), Plateau state (Jos) and Kwara (Offa, Owa-Kajola (Owu Waterfall).

Away from Travel, I finally launched my travel and HR Consultancy businesses so I would say this year was the testing phase. The HR Consultancy suffered the most because at some point I was unable to find a balance between both opposing businesses and my 9-5. I joined an entrepreneurship support group and I would say that has been one of my best decisions in 2017. My biggest business shock was realizing the fact that some friends will not support the business or should I use the word patronize your business. They are used to having it for free and would rather pay someone else than pay you for the services.

Books: I did read quite a number of books but I, unfortunately, was unable to read as much as I wanted. I am currently in some sort of reading rut, I can't seem to pay enough attention to complete a book.

I was able to save enough money this year but I spent a lot of it on travel. I am not even sad about it nor regret spending money on any of the experience. I will be spending more next year.

December has been a pretty hectic month. I returned from my trip on the 19th of November and dived straight into work. Right now I am suffering the worst burnout ever in my life and I am physically and mentally exhausted.

I made the decision to spend the holiday with family. All I have been doing in the past days is sleep, eat and sleep again.

I didn't get the year that I planned but I got the best year life had to give me


Away from 2017 and on to what I want from 2018.

So the goal for 2018 is intentional and productive living.
There has been a lot of introspection and plannings.

I will be picking up the books and hopefully get my HR certifications. My certifications come at a cost so it will affect how much I will spend on travel.

I will cut back on personal international travels and do more of domestic travels. The plan is to visit at least 3 new countries.

My travel plans, for now, are Côte d'Ivoire (no fixed date) and Tanzania (April 24 to May 1, 2018) for my birthday.

Zanzibar

Europe is also on my bucket list for the year. Belguim, France, Sweden and Lithuania are top on the list.

Locally, I plan to explore the Eastern part of the country starting from Enugu.

Arinta waterfall in Ekiti is top on my list for 2018. I also plan to visit my mum in Abuja. New York is also on my radar, this is majorly dependent on when I get the US Visa. 

Where do you plan to visit in 2018?
What are your goals for 2018?

♥Lara

16 Days, 3 countries: My East African Experience

My travel goals for the year changed the moment I decided to switch the West African Experience for the East African Experience. If you follow me on Instagram this is stale news to you as this was documented live while on the trip.

Last month, I  spent 16  days in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. I made up my mind on the East African trip following the win of a rebated ticket from Kenya Airways and the choice of Rwanda as the destination by my friends and I. I said to myself, why visit only one country when I can visit all three on one Visa.

Why Rwanda? my mum asked when I told her about my intended trip, to be honest for most times I have no reason for wanting to visit destinations, I just want to visit because that is the place on my mind at that moment. Let me just confess now, I am yet to watch the popular movie "Hotel Rwanda"

Visiting Rwanda has been on my bucket list since 2015, I actually told all my team members then in Jumia that I would be visiting that year. After seeing insta-stories and pictures of my favourite travel bloggers such as Brenna of This Battered Suitcase and Folaswaka, I knew there was no way I would be passing up Rwanda this year.

I got the East African visa at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi for $100 which allowed me multiple entries into Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

I didn't head into Rwanda to track gorillas which is one of the most popular touristy things to do. I don't have $1500 to be chasing gorillas, that price is more or less the sum total of my budget in all three countries minus flight fee. I was curious and wanted to experience the beauty, cleanliness, orderliness, and safety of the country for myself.

Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial, Kigali

Uganda was a reunion trip. I missed my friend Bena's wedding last year and made up my mind to visit Uganda when next I visit East Africa. I got to visit Kampala and Jinja.

Source of the Nile, Jinja

Kenya came on the list majorly because of the airline I was flying with. By the time arrived in Nairobi, I was exhausted and had to catch up with work. I didn't get to explore much and only visited the Karura forest and The National Museum.

Waterfall in Karura Forest, Nairobi

I plan to write individual posts on each country before the year ends, last last finish the story by January.

2017 is slowing coming to an end and I must say the year unfolded way beyond my expectations. I am grateful for it all.

Until my next post

♥Lara