Getting to Africa: Arusha Bound

To get to Tanzania we had to fly to Detroit first. I always find it strange when you go in the opposite direction of where you are actually planning on going. This domestic flight wasn't so bad, but our next two flights would last about 8 hours each!

On flight from DC to Detroit

From Detroit we would fly to Amsterdam and then from Amsterdam we'd fly to Kilamanjaro. We killed time by sleeping, reading and watching movies (N.B. the Good Dinosaur is REALLY SAD!). I knew I was on a long flight because of the free entertainment, the toiletry bags (with mini toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask and ear plugs!), and all the food/drinks.

Going Abroad: On flight from Detroit to Amsterdam

It was interesting in Amsterdam to sit at the gate because it was fairly obvious who was going on a safari - the sea of khaki clothes and camera equipment was a good sign. I ended up talking to a nice lady who was widowed and going on her second safari. She was going to Tanzania to go on a safari with the guide she had met on her last safari, in a different part of Africa that she had taken with her husband. Later, we chatted through the window of our respective vehicles as we waited for our drivers.

Woohoo! Kilamanjaro Bound!

When we were boarding, the gate attendant commented that we weren't sitting together but she moved us so that we together and literally in the last row. That was definitely nice because there was space to recline as far as you could and not feel guilty.

Final leg - Amsterdam to Kilamanjaro (Arusha, Tanzania)

We ended up sitting with a guy name Chris who was originally from Tanzania but currently living in Canada. He taught us all these basic Swahili phrases and talked about what we'd see and experience.

For example, "Hakuna matata" isn't just a phrase from Disney's the Lion King, it actually means "no problem/no worries" and people really do say it all the time in Africa! You might ask, "Can we have extra bacon with our breakfast?"... Response: "Hakuna matata."

• Jambo means "Hello"
• Asante means "Thank You"
• Karibu (like caribou) means "You are welcome" or "Welcome!"
• Sawa means "Ok" - as in when the guide asks "Sawa?" (i.e. are you ready to move on?), the response is "Sawa sawa!" (Unless you want to take 3 more pictures...)

Landed!

When we landed in Kilamanjaro International Airport, it was kind of like Molokai's airport. Very small.

Our trusty KLM plane

"International Arrivals" (The whole airport was smaller than your average major city terminal)

There was a gentleman waiting for us who directed us into the line for a visa.

Helpful Signage

Getting through this was actually a three step process which took quite a bit a time. We found it annoying that there some travelers who had no qualms about ignoring the queue and working their way up front. Chris even heard one couple talking about it. Rude. However, we were both excited to have our first visas in our new passports. (Alas, all my earlier travels were on an earlier passport)

It was late when we arrived in Arusha, so on the drive to our lodgings it was tough to get a sense of this new country (continent!). The road seems unpaved and Tanzanians drive on the left. There were some tin roofed, small businesses that seemed generally lit by a single lightbulb. We noticed lots and lots of people on motorbikes. Apparently motorbikes are a popular form of taxi in East Africa, but particularly in Arusha. Sometimes we saw three people on a single bike!

For our two nights in Arusha we stayed in Arusha Coffee Lodge. We were greeted with hot towels and a delicious coffee drink. Then a few ladies whisked our bags up and carried them...on their heads to our adorable little cottage. After settling in we fell promptly to sleep full of dreams about the safari to come!

Our lodgings: Arusha Coffee Lodge

 

Chris loved the bathrooms. In all the Elewana properties you'd get bottled water - a bottle on your nightstand to drink and a bottle for brushing your teeth. It's not so much that the water was unsafe, but had different bugs in it that probably would upset our non-native stomachs.

Tired, but happy to be in Africa. Ready to safari!

A Trip Five Years in the Making

Anyone who knows us, knows that, well...we do things at our own pace. So 1) after a two year hiatus I'm resurrecting the Kristen & Chris blog and 2) the reason I am is the trip of a lifetime that I just have to document!

I think before Chris and I even got engaged we had discussed a honeymoon. From the beginning there were really only two choices: a Spain-Portugal-Morocco trip or an African safari. Having lived in Hawai'i, we personally didn't feel the need to do a "beachy" honeymoon. Ultimately we thought an African safari sounded so different, so exotic, so much of a once-in-a-lifetime thing...we just had to do it.

We've been dreaming (particularly me) of this trip for at least five years. Through three years of grad school I held on to this idea that as soon as I graduated we'd go. So at least five years after we first talked about it, a two year engagement, being married two years ago (mixed in with three years of grad school) I write this blog post in the MIDDLE OF THE F'ING SERENGETI!

I'm going to break up this trip into a series of posts and will have to go back to add the pictures since the wi-fi here probably can't handle the photo upload. But first, what has our itinerary been?

Day 1-2 (Aug 3-4): Traveled from DC to Detroit to Amsterdam to Kilamanjaro airport; Stay in Arusha's Coffee Lodge

Day 3 (Aug 5): Game drive in Arusha's National Park with our Ranger Tour guide, Godliving; Stay at Arusha's Coffee Lodge

Day 4 (Aug 6): Drive to Tarangire; Afternoon game drive in Tarangire with Godliving; Night safari in Wildlife Management Area; Stay in Tarangire Treetops (treehouses!!!!)

Day 5 (Aug 7): Game drive in Tarangire National Park with Godliving; Walking safari in Wildlife Management Area; Stay in Tarangire Treetops

Day 6 (Aug 8): Travel from Tarangire to Lake Manyara; Stay at the Manor in Ngorongoro

Day 7 (Aug 9): Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater Park; Stay at the Manor in Ngorongoro

Day 8 (Aug 10): Fly from Lake Manyara Airport to Lobos Airport in the Serengeti; Short game drive en route to camp in Lobos hills area; Afternoon game drive near camp; Stay at Migration Camp

Day 9 (Aug 11): Balloon safari and then afternoon game drive with Moses in the Serengeti; Stay at Migration Camp

Day 10: (Aug 12 - Day I write this) Morning walking safari in Serengeti, afternoon game drive in the Serengeti with Moses; ; Stay at Migration Camp

Day 11 (Aug 13): Game drive to the Mara river in the Serengeti with Moses; Stay at Migration Camp

Day 12 (Aug 14): Fly from Kogatende to Tarime, drive from Tarime to Migori and fly from Migori to Mara; Stay at Sand River Mara

Day 13 (Aug 15): Game drive; Stay at Sand River Mara

Day 14 (Aug 16): Game drive; Stay at Sand River Mara

Day 15 (Aug 17): Morning game drive; Fly from Mara to Nairobi; Stay at House of Waine

Day 16 (Aug 18): Day tripping in Nairobi - Visit to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage; Giraffe Manor (currently hoping to arrange afternoon tea here!); Marula Studios; Late evening flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam then to DC.

Arrive August 19 in DC!

Swing and a miss, then a grand slam!

I was so excited to do the cake tasting that I deliberately stalled on it....and then the middle/back end of the semester started and I just FORGOT!

Our venue, Willowdale is known for their extremely rigid and strict vendor vetting.  So far every vendor I have gone to off their list has not only be top notch professional with incredible portfolios of work, but I have also managed to hit it off interpersonally with them.

We had our first cake tasting yesterday at Fredericks which is Willowdale's new preferred vendor.  We arrived and they immediately launched into business and the design, which threw me off.  I like a little "getting to know you" song and dance since I do make a lot of my decisions based on whether or not I like the person.

After some awkward discussion around design, I finally asked if we could taste their cakes and they plopped in front of us this:

 Yes, that is actually their "purple velvet" cake in the upper left hand corner...the picture doesn't even do it justice as to how artificially purple it is.  They had an almond pound cake, the purple velvet, a golden vanilla and then their chocolate.  The fillings were lemon, strawberry and raspberry and also a chocolate, peanut butter and mocha.

As soon as I took a bite out of the cake I knew I didn't like it.  It was entirely too dense and waaay too sweet.  I asked them if that was how all their cakes were and they said yes.  Then Chris asked if they made their own filling and they begrudgingly said they didn't.  We asked about some other flavors and since they don't make their own fillings, they couldn't accommodate us.  So now they can't do my design nor can they do my flavors.  They did bring out a pomegranate-lime and lime...the lime which looked exactly like the goo you see people slimed with on Nickelodeon, not exactly appetizing.

Chris said that he knew I didn't like them when I gave him total creative control.  He also complained that their cakes had little/no flavor and all the fillings just completely overwhelmed them.  I just didn't really like the lady I dealt with.  The apprentice that was learning was funny and I liked her, but she wasn't leading the consultation.  I also am not that proud to admit that I wasn't the nicest to them.  Nothing like recognizing my Immunity to Change in FULL SWING in action, but that's for my personal/professional blog :)

I was so unbelievably disappointed because as time has grown closer, my stress level has ratcheted up significantly and I just wanted to make decisions.  Luckily an old friend who lives in the same town we're getting married in recommended Topsfield Bakeshop.  Additionally when I sent an email to my wedding coordinator, she ALSO recommended them.  So, I promptly called and scheduled and appointment for today.

I was a little alarmed when she said they only did one tasting a month and that there wasn't one before our wedding but we could meet.  When we arrived the bakery smelled amazingly of chocolate and then we got handed this plate of cookies.  Clockwise from the top we have: Lemon with lemon curd filling, Opera Cake, Carrot Cake with a Orange Cream Cheese filling, and Chocolate Whoopie with Salted Caramel

As soon as I bit into the chocolate with the salted caramel and I KNEW this was the place.  I normally hate chocolate and I rarely like caramel and this was so delicious I ate more!  I wanted it for my cake!  Each one was delicious and wonderful.  Then Mary came out and she was so personable and open.  We eventually found out that one of her three sons actually works for our DJ company which made me feel like it was a sign that this was right.  She also raved about our photographer (literally everyone I met has spoken about how amazing he is both as a person and as a professional).

In addition to her wonderful (WONDERFUL) baking, which they make all on site and totally from natural ingredients (they are a test kitchen for a French vanilla company - yum yum!) was also that she was totally collaborative when it came to the design and also the flavor profiles.  We wanted to do a lilikoi curd filling and where Frederick's couldn't even entertain it, she was visibly excited about it and now wants to experiment with curds and mousses.

But it got even better.  The room where we met also had pictures of the other baked goods they've done for weddings: macaroons, iced cookies and they are most known for their Whoopie Wagon (whoopie pies).  Chris mentioned he was confused about macaroons and she told us all about different kinds and then BROUGHT OUT A WHOLE PLATE OF THEM.

This was just the beginning of our sugar coma.  She also had us sample her lime cheesecake and her whoopie pies. Then she brought out a whole mini cake of the cannoli cake and GAVE IT TO US.

She's so attentive to detail, so sweet, her baking is so delicious (even Chris, who NEVER eats sweets, loved it... I kept seeing him out of the corner of my eye, eating more.  He actually broke a fork eating), and she just made the whole experience wonderful...so even though she quoted me at the same price that I completely balked at when Frederick's quoted us, I didn't hesitate to put down the deposit.

I am so excited that not only I think our cake will be stunning to look at, but most importantly to us...it will be SO YUMMY!

Our flavors are: Vanilla chiffon cake filled with fresh strawberries and Chantilly cream as well as layers of lilikoi mousse (!); the chocolate whoopie with the salted caramel; and the cannoli.  We just need to make sure we can have a cake bar rather than cake served with the coffee.

Hope we all feast on cake in a few weeks :)

P.S. I reached out the the Hawaiian Vanilla Company and within hours I had a response from their owner who is ready and willing to make our vanilla and lilikoi dreams come true.  He's the best.  I can't recommend the Hawaiian Vanilla Co. more, they are such an amazing family AND their food is so delicious.

Impulsive Shopping

Whenever I travel, I give myself permission to be a little more extravagant than normal.  For example, I usually will only buy magazines in airports.  Recently I got to return to Hawai'i (which is another blog post to come!) and of course I had to do some shopping.  However this Hawai'i trip was marked by some random impulsive buys which are a huge cry from my usual magazine splurge...

My first impulse buy was at Ala Moana.  I happened to see the La Perla store and knowing only that they sold lingerie, I wandered in.  Whoa, I had no idea how EXPENSIVE La Perla is.  But I thought I'd try on some potential honeymoon lingerie.

In the dressing room across from me there was a man and his wife.  They must have either had a lot of money or they were just terrible with money because the woman kept complaining about how she already had something.  With $100 for just a thong, I couldn't wrap my head around how much money she must spend on underwear!  And awkwardly enough I kept hearing the man's commentary, especially when he'd remark how much he loved something on her...was that really happening??!!

This might be overshare, but I thought it was so weird...that they had these:

What are those you ask? I had to ask too...those would be...disposable thongs.  Never heard of them, thought they were weird myself but I suppose it makes sense.  I mean if they make disposable socks, I guess it makes sense they'd make disposable underwear!

Ultimately I did find a few pretty things that will be really fun to wear which I'm excited about since, hey you only go on a honeymoon once!  But if that wasn't enough, there was a second impulse buy (I know, ridic).  While at the Wedding Ring Shop getting my engagement ring cleaned and checked, I wandered around looking at the cases.  I saw a necklace and some earrings I liked so I asked to try them on.  As soon as that necklace went on, I thought, "oh boy I'm in trouble."  They had several sets of earrings, but of course the matching ones are always the nicest and that's what I ended up getting.  I had always wanted to have my "something blue" be jewelry so that I could wear it and always have a little tangible memory since I'm so sentimental about everything.

Can't wait for you all to see (the jewelry...not the underwear)!

Sweating the Details: Veils

I didn't think veils would be so difficult to choose, but I suppose when you are as into sweating the details as I am I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised.  When I bought the dress I tried on several veils but really didn't like any of them and was completely turned off by the price.

For several months it seems I was trying to track down Jill's veil (Chris' sister).  It seemed like it'd be perfect - something borrowed, save me some money, etc.  But a few months ago I fell in love with a veil at BHDLN.  My sister and I had gone to the store to try different sizes for her bridesmaid dress and just for fun decided I should try on some of their veils.

While I've never really been the kind of bride to dream about my wedding day, I do know that whenever I did think of my wedding day I always dreamed about a lace edged veil.  There's something about it that is just so romantic.

 

The first one (on the left) is a fingertip length veil (the terminology you learn when getting married!), but the one I REALLY fell in love with was the one on the right - BHLDN's "Airy Lace Veil."  I probably looked at this picture at least 3x a week, it was ridiculous, but at $400, I just wasn't quite sure it made sense.

So I kept looking for veils.  I went to several shops and instantly disliked every one I put on my head.  I finally got Jill's veil and it isn't edged with lace.  Every place I went to was overwhelmingly full of beaded and bedazzled veils - totally not my thing.  And if they did have lace veils the quality was shockingly poor.  I was beginning to understand that pricing structure of veils.

One day I was on Newbury St. (A really expensive shopping street in Boston) and knowing I was asking for trouble, I wandered into L'Elite which is basically THE expensive bridal salon in THE expense shopping district Boston.  Of course I fell in love with a veil...sometimes I am my own worst enemy.

I showed my attendant/salewoman (on my phone, on Pinterest!) the BHDLN veil I was so in love with.  She said that with a garden wedding that a fingertip length veil is better because it doesn't drag on the ground and with the length it's much easier to wear beyond the ceremony (i.e. during the reception).  It made a lot of sense.

Then I asked the question I had been dreading...How much was the veil?  A mind numbing $560.  What a joke! As an unemployed, doctoral student that was waaay out of reach.  But then my attendant whispered that she could make it for less and wrote down a few numbers.

Uncertain whether this woman really had the chops, I went to her house and saw some veils she had in progress and she really did make beautiful veils.  Then the fantasy prone side of me just took off...a custom veil, handmade just for me! How incredible would that be?  She even said she would make BHLDN's veil for $300, $100 less!

The kicker was being able to look at all these samples of lace.  I even picked out a lace pattern that I not only love but also goes well with my dress.  Who knew one could be so obsessed with lace?

A shopping rule of thumb I always have is if I'm still thinking about it 24 hours later (and in this case weeks later), just buy it because I know I love it.  So suddenly I'm seriously thinking of dropping a hefty amount of money on a veil.

So I went to my second fitting with Jill's veil, the BHLDN veil and while I was there found a similar veil to the L'Elite one.  And I'm still torn, sooo torn.  It's times like this when I wish I was filthy rich and could afford both so I didn't have to make a decision.  I'm leaning towards one and need to commit soon if I want the veil to be ready in time.

So...stay tune for wedding day to see what I walk down the aisle with...maybe I'll be veil-less if I can't make up my mind!

But at least I'll have banging shoes

I'm picky about everything...not a trait that necessarily bodes well for wedding planning but it works for me. (On a side note, at my PA bridal shower today Chris' aunt told us that within a week Chris' cousin Mike and his fiancee had picked out nearly everything for their wedding in just a week!!!! Meanwhile I'm two months away from my wedding and still making decisions...eep!) So I thought buying shoes would be easy for a wedding. Like pick out something white and sparkly. So I go to Shoes to Dye for...strike out. Go to the mall...strike out. Go to DSW...strike out. Go online and of COURSE all the shoes I like are ridiculously overpriced designer shoes. Chris really is right when he says I have a nose for picking out the most expensive things. What can I say? I have eyes like I'm rich and a wallet like I'm barely middle class :) and actually right now, a poor walled since I don't work. These are the shoes I'm obsessed with:

But I don't know who makes them and judging by the rest of the shoes in the slideshow I found them in, they are a couple hundred dollars more than I want to spend.

But I DID manage to find these fun shoes and so one of these I'll be wearing under my "not so special" wedding dress!

Like everything else in my wedding planning adventures, it was exactly what I told my mother I didn't want...specifically I told her I was looking for "comfortable, sensible heels, no more than a 2 inch heel." I think both of them are 3 or even 3.5 inches or more...Let's hope I don't trip on my way down the aisle in these shoes!!!

Not so special...?

School's over so I can resume blogging at least less sporadically than normal. I actually blog quite a bit during the school year but in a professional blog which I mostly treat as a journal to track my thoughts during the school year. I wish I had done more of that since I know that I have made huge leaps in a year. Back to the wedding business. Things are going along swimmingly and I'll be backtracking to try to fill in some of the details...but first a little thing that has been bothering me. The other day I saw on Facebook that my cousin had graduated with his MBA, so I naturally facebook stalked his wife since we had only just met this past Mother's Day.

 As I'm going through her pictures I almost instantly see a dreaded sight. Did she really get married IN THE SAME DRESS? Now I'm frantically going through her pictures hoping for a better photo (they didn't get professional photos done - ? - At least there we have a major difference, I'm going for full-out wedding, they did it more reasonably, but definitely DIY). Then with a heart pounding I see the one photo that confirms it. She DID have the same wedding dress. This really makes me depressed because she's actually the second person I know who's gotten married in the same dress - my sorority sister did as well a year ago :(

 Boohoo. Now I liked my dress a lot. I wouldn't say I LOVE it, but it was within my price range and it looks great even if I was shocked to pieces I ended up picking it. Compared to how I made my other wedding choices, this was definitely one I just kind of made - not a ton of research done. So has my lack of following the usual method betrayed me? Did I get a "not so special dress?"

 So I do what I always do when panicked...I called my mom. My mother first asks me if I'm sure, but I'm staring at the picture as I call her so I'm sure. So my mother, bless her heart, says well she didn't really remember the dress haha and I have added details that make it different. Which is true, there are things I'm adding that are definitely different (obviously to be kept secret oh 9 readers out there so you can be surprised when you see me). I do have other tricks up my sleeve too that I'm sure will make it different. But still I can't help but feel my dress is a little less special now...and a part of me is paranoid that she's going to see it and think "ha! I wore it first!" (They are invited and coming to the wedding) In truth I know nothing about this girl and it's so silly that it's getting into my head, but I guess we all dream our wedding will be the most special and unique and it's a little weird to realize you aren't the only one getting married in your dress...not even within your family.

 Mostly over it, but it kinda sticks with me still a little bit. I'm sure when it's my day it will be the last thing from my mind.

Tomorrow, my makeup trial - so excited for that! Chris' cousin Jenna is offering to do our makeup and she's a fully professional makeup artist who's done magazine spreads, a TV show, etc. Nervous...if there's one thing I want most on my wedding day it's to feel beautiful in this special moment!  Here's her new FB page: https://www.facebook.com/JNKMakeup?ref=br_tf