Been thinking about domestic
tourism for a while now; the Pearl of Africa famous for her beauty at my feet
and yet I continue to live my life in the same dusty, full of traffic suburbs. It’s
such a SHAME! In a bid to move from the thinking phase to the getting around to
experiencing the Pearl in her entirety, I had to ask Olive (who seems to be
travelling all the bloody time, it’s almost annoying though I think it is the
jealousy speaking!! Follow her on twitter @oleebranch or check out her blog oleebranch.com or
both…) She took time to answer questions that I think will be useful in my
getting around to travelling process…
1. Did you always used to travel?
Not really. But I have always wanted
to. I'd been under the impression that travel is very very expensive and that
one had to save for a whole year to get away; which is true and false. If one
fancies luxury travel and they don't have adequate means to do it; by all mean
save. I think the trick is to seek out high style on a low budget.
2. What changed?
Life happened, I grew up. I learnt
that experiences are dearer than material things. One could save and save for
an item, buys it and then the person dies or worse – the item is stolen. But no
one can steal a memory, well; at least not yet in Kampala that I know of. I
also realized that getting away is one way to recharge my system; get my
creative juices running...
3. Is it easier for you to travel
within the country by yourself or with others?
It's a bit of both. It's easier to
travel alone but it's more fun with friends. I spent my birthday weekend in
Fort Portal, (which I realize I've never stopped talking about) I'd never been
there. But I had never reflected so much on my life before then; which wouldn't
have been the case if I had my friends around. But again, so much happened I
wished I had shared with someone and not to mention, I had to ask strangers to
take photos of me. When I'm with my friends, it's different. Everyone will be
talking at the same time, pointing out things; we always have someone guarding
our stuff just in case, ordering different things so everyone has a chance to
eat everything. And of course, so many photos. Then there are the talks,
reminiscing about a trip.
With friends – “Oh my God, remember
when...?” Everyone else – Yes yes!
By myself - “And then they filled my
bed and my room with flower petals... Oh you just had to be there! Wait; let me
show you the photos...” Sad, right?
4. What motivates you to travel?
The entire experience; the thrill of
trying something new, meeting people and seeing places. Mostly, to get away
from Kampala! I'm yet to know what I'm running away from or what I'm searching
for but I'm sure I will know when I find it.
5. Do people decide to travel with
you just from you talking about traveling? (Same way someone would decide last
minute to go to a bar)
Well, I'm not too familiar with the
bar scene... We plan. I'm always in charge of things – where we go, when, to do
what, accommodation, how to get there. It doesn't matter where, even if we're
just going to Luzira for Farooq's Chicken which is absolutely out of this world
if I must add. I guess my friends let me do it because I really love planning
trips and I'm getting better at it.
6. Usually when you make plans to
travel with people, does everyone show up as promised?
Oh yes!
7. Do they have valid reasons for not showing up?
No one has ever not showed up! Oh
wait, one weekend one of my friends couldn't make it with a very valid reason.
So we postponed the trip to following weekend.
Thank you Olive. X
I am off to travel … LOL, but Yeah!