tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9886543720562796762024-03-05T10:31:19.045+00:00Katie Twenty SomethingThree words. Life's too short.Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-25461681883096754532015-01-16T21:38:00.000+00:002015-01-16T21:38:00.341+00:00Mombasa Comes To Leeds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This Christmas was extra special because my dear friends from Kenya came to the UK to stay with us for THREE WEEKS! Here's a few (lots of) photos from their trip (mainly for me to remind myself of the craziness of those few weeks.)</div>
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What a fun few weeks spent in London, Leeds, Llangollen, Derby, Leicester, York and PRIMARK. </div>
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-49579025355639696372015-01-14T21:31:00.000+00:002015-01-14T21:31:00.189+00:00Reminder: Katie you need a new passportPlease remind me.<br />
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My passport expires this June and I'll never remember to renew it until I REALLY NEED MY PASSPORT.<br />
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Tell me, why is it when your passport reaches six months validity left you have to get a new one? I STILL HAVE SIX GOOD MONTHS LEFT. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.<br />
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Anyway, remind me after payday please. Oh and when I renew it I'm going to have to remember to use my married name. My passport is currently the only document still in my OLD name.<br />
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That's going to be weird. Wiping out Mossman for the last ever time.<br />
<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-6185830598485179062015-01-13T22:07:00.000+00:002015-01-13T22:08:33.804+00:00Free Things To Do In New York - notice how New York and Walk rhyme?So, don't let anyone fool you. All the guidebooks are like 'oh there's LOADS of free things to do in New York!'<br />
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Yes there are and those free things are all based around one thing.<br />
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WALKING.*<br />
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So if you don't like walking, you won't like the big free things all the guidebooks say to do in New York:<br />
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<b>Walking the Brooklyn Bridge</b><br />
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It's really long and it's really windy but the views are stunning if you're walking from Brooklyn back towards Manhattan. The little police cars on the bridge are funny. People DO NOT LIKE IT if you stray into the bike lane so stay vigilant guys. Just so we are clear, the bike lane is the lane with the bike drawing on it. I think. I don't speak the local language so I can't be sure.<br />
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<b>Walking the High Line</b><br />
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It's an old train line that has been converted into a fantastic walkway that ends up in the fabulous Meatpacking District that I was desperate to visit. It's fun to imagine yourself living in one of the apartments you walk past. *sigh*<br />
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<b>Walking around Times Square</b><br />
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When you first see Times Square you're like 'oh my god it's Times Square off the films on the TV' you're second thought is 'wow so lighty with all the lights' your third thought is 'too many tourists and weirdos get me out of here now now now'. Worth a visit though.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My poor phone couldn't handle the LIGHTS</td></tr>
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<b>Walking around Grand Central Station</b><br />
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Now this was my favourite of all the walky bits. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did but we walked in and I loved it instantly. Free to roam around the station. Oh and the toilets are free too downstairs. You're WELCOME.<br />
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<b>Walking to 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar</b><br />
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So you want to go to a rooftop bar but you don't want to spend any dollar? No problem man. This rooftop bar is free to visit and to take in the views of the Empire State Building and beyond, then you can just leave. I'm sure this is completely frowned upon but shhhhhhh. And YOLO. Wine isn't actually that expensive here which pleased me.<br />
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<b>Walking around Central Park</b><br />
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Oh go on, get yourself to Central Park during your stay in NYC! You can pretend you're in Home Alone (the one where he's Lost In New York of course, not the first one) and look for the scary pigeon lady, but you should also head to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesda_Terrace_and_Fountain" target="_blank">The Terrace and fountains</a> to listen to the musicians busking BUT I BET YOU WON'T SEE A BETTER LADY THAN I DID. She was an Opera singer and dressed like a pink butterfly. I think about her all the time.<br />
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<Lastly, I didn't take a photo as it didn't seem right to, but we visited St. Paul's Chapel which is right next door to where the World Trade Centers were (and where the new freedom tower stands). It was free to walk in and there are tonnes of things to read and see from 9/11. That was such a powerful place to be and to really try to even imagine what people went through that day and subsequent days. I didn't need to pay $30 to go to the 9/11 museum after visiting here. It felt more raw and real than I think the museum could try to be - but I didn't go to the museum so obviously can't say for sure.><br />
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<b>So to sum up, yes there are free things to do in New York they are walking things but for goodness sake get yourself a pair of comfortable shoes as it's a REALLY BIG CITY. </b><br />
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*Don't even talk to me about museums. I'm not interested in the MOMA, you hear?Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-38656701115525225012015-01-13T21:28:00.002+00:002015-01-13T21:28:59.903+00:00A Few New York Snaps<b>Late last year I finally went to America! I go to New York for five days!</b><br />
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And it was AWESOME. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did.<br />
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The buildings! The avenues! The sheer enormousness of it all.<br />
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The pizza slices. Oh my, the pizza slices.<br />
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The yellow cabs.<br />
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The music. Frank Sinatra got it ALL RIGHT GUYS. He speaks the truth!<br />
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The suits on Wall Street. Hello! I'm a tourist! Am I in your way? I'm so sorry. Do you know the way to Tiffany's?<br />
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We took a super cheap <a href="http://jet2.com/">Jet2.com</a> flight from Leeds Bradford direct to New York and within seven hours of leaving Leeds we were in Manhattan sitting in a yellow cab *sigh* I love living in an era where we can do this kind of travel. We are so lucky, kids.<br />
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Anyway, what with Christmas and everything, I've only just gotten around to moving the photos to here. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-25728270533099287292014-11-17T20:28:00.000+00:002014-11-17T21:39:49.889+00:00Tips for walking the Three Yorkshire Peaks Challenge<b>It's been one week since completing the Three Yorkshire Peaks Challenge, and boy was it a challenge. </b><br />
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It was easily the hardest but most rewarding challenge I've ever done; made harder by the fact that we decided to do it in November, one of the months for the shortest daylight hours... GREAT IDEA GUYS!<br />
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The average duration for the walk is 12 hours, and we really hoped to complete it in this time but we made it back within 12.5 hours, just 30 minutes over the average time. We decided to go the standard route of anti-clockwise and started in the dark at 5.30am and finished in the dark after a horrific climb down Ingleborough. Battered by gales and hailstorms at the top of Whernside (peak #2 and my personal nemesis) we were exhausted by the time we finished... but we did it! We did it!<br />
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We stayed in a lovely B&B in Ingleton (Seed Hill in case you're interested) and drove to Horton-In-Ribblesdale in the morning, you feel like it's a long drive in the car and you know you'll be walking that way in the next ten hours, which is psychologically not a great start to the walk...<br />
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Buuuuuut with the benefit of hindsight there are a few things I would have done differently that I'd love to pass along to you. Some are just plain old common sense that just didn't occur to me (thanks brain) but some are just having done it once, listen to Auntie Baxter on this:<br />
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* Get a good night's sleep the night before. Your body is full of adrenaline to get started and I only ended up getting three hours sleep despite going to bed at 9.30pm. I just kept thinking 'Don't forget your walking pole' and other annoying thoughts. Don't underestimate how much adrenaline you'll have.<br />
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* Take change for the car park (or find somewhere free to park). Funnily enough it didn't occur to us to bring change and so we wasted time moving the cars (in the dark) to somewhere free. We parked by the school which worked out fine, or you can pay £5 for all day parking.<br />
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* Take a thermos but only fill it with water at The Station pub. You'll be ready for a tea at the top of Whernside (#2) so just ask the nice folk to fill it up rather than carrying it around for the first 13 miles.<br />
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* Have a pint at The Station at your peril. It's pretty hard to drag yourself out of the pub (especially if it's raining like it was for us). It's a good morale booster to stop there but don't stay long!<br />
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* Take the gear seriously. Spend the money on your walking boots/waterproofs/clothes and your body will thank you. Waterproof socks are worth their weight in gold when you walk through the boggy fields and your boots get submerged.<br />
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* You WILL struggle with Ingleborough - the last peak. By that time you'll have been walking for around 8/9 hours and you come face to face with a mountain of stairs. I hate stairs. Then there's a scramble to the top which turns<br />
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* Bearing in mind we took the challenge in November, the path down from Ingleborough to Horton back to the car was in bad condition and tough to navigate in the dark. Pretty sure it'll be better in the summer, but don't underestimate how long it'll take you to complete the final stretch. It's still a good five mile walk from the top of Ingleborough - a long time after your final high five and photo at the top!<br />
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The time factor is annoying and I don't like that there's this pressure to get round in 12 hours (you got a certificate dontcha know?) because it's such a stunning walk and you don't get the time to appreciate it when you're head down just digging deep to climb all three peaks. We didn't get the time to stop and take in the view (mainly because it was foggy!) and you don't want to stop for too long in case your legs decide they just don't want to go any further.<br />
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Overall it goes without saying that this is a <b>huge </b>challenge. Expect it to be hard, expect the worst and you should even be pleasantly surprised by yourself and the walk. The views are stunning and you'll be very proud of yourself for completing it.<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-82050675789042781192014-05-14T12:00:00.000+01:002014-05-14T12:00:00.241+01:00Stop what you're doing and look how gorgeous Yorkshire isI love Yorkshire. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else right now.<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-50606710207834032312014-05-12T18:24:00.000+01:002014-05-12T18:24:00.560+01:005 tips if you're running the Electric RunA few weekends ago I took part in the <a href="http://electricrun.co.uk/london/" target="_blank">Electric Run</a> for my sister Beth's birthday, a fun 5km run in London where you're encouraged to run and rave at the same time - my kind of exercise!<br />
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I loved it and it was so much fun, so if you're planning on taking part in an Electric Run, here are some tips to help you get the very most out of it:<br />
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<b>1. Pick up your pack EARLY</b><br />
For some reason, the fee you pay to join in the run doesn't include postage of the pack which includes a wristband, LED glasses and a t-shirt - fun! The downside? You have to queue for two hours before the run to pick up your pack unless you go to one of the pick up points a few days before the run. Again, the queues are massive there but at least you then get to go straight into the run when you arrive. So if you can, pick up your pack in advance!<br />
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<b>2. The t-shirts come up small. Like, REALLY SMALL </b><br />
I pre-ordered a ladies t-shirt in large (on account of the boobs...) and when I went to put it on I got scared I was going to be suffocated. There is NO WAY that was a large. Luckily we did a little swapsies between us and I ended up in a men's medium t-shirt. I've never felt sexier.<br />
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<b>3. Dress up</b><br />
You might think you've got the fancy dress nailed down, you might have a wig, face paints and crazy socks but you haven't seen anything yet. Everyone really put their all into it and went crazy for anything neon, UV and I don't think there was a single tutu left in the London area by the looks of things. Go for it, you won't feel stupid - if anything you'll look stupid if you dress like you're taking it seriously.<br />
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<b>4. Bring drinks</b><br />
Because we queued for tow hours to collect our packs, we ended up getting straight in the queue and we were one of the last groups over the start line. No one checks your bag for anything so we could have got anything through. We had our own water which was fine and there's one water stop on the course so you should be fine but if you're after a little naughty water (vodka) then get it packed :)<br />
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<b>5. Think about your footwear</b><br />
The run is mostly on a road or pavement, so if you're planning on running the whole way then definitely consider decent footwear to avoid a stress fracture (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about or what?)<br />
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Look how much fun it was!<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-27189609451517393922014-05-11T17:46:00.000+01:002014-05-11T17:46:10.227+01:00On being married for 3 years...The Boy and I celebrated our THREE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY this week.<br />
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Three years.<br />
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That went FAST.<br />
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We celebrated by playing to our strengths as a couple; by drinking and eating.<br />
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We headed in to Leeds separately, I always think it's fun to meet the person you're living with somewhere other than at home, it feels more like a date instead of asking a question about the next electricity bill at the start of a night out.<br />
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The Scarborough Taps was the rendezvous point and after a swift half we headed to the Malmaison Hotel bar which is possibly the most expensive place for a cocktail (£9?!) in Leeds.<br />
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After a tap water at the Malmaison we headed to <a href="http://eatdrinkrare.com/" target="_blank">Rare Steakhouse</a>, the only place I've ever dined next to a stuffed lifesize cow called Sue I think? Rather distracting when you're eating a steak, but it's too bloody delicious to care much.<br />
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Anyway, here's a few pictures of our evening...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah you are!</td></tr>
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Happy Anniversary to The Baxters!Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-32586451048012195442014-02-03T21:21:00.000+00:002014-02-03T21:21:05.533+00:00I'm rather fond of Edinburgh... here's why in photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These are photos from a visit in 2012, but I've all of a sudden got a craving to be back in Edinburgh... it's funny when that happens isn't it? You don't think about a place in aaaages and then BAM! you get an urge to get on a train and walk around in the blustery winds all wrapped up in a warm coat and stopping off for a wee dram somewhere.<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-52877827789090606282014-02-02T18:38:00.000+00:002014-02-02T18:38:14.121+00:00The 5 things I always regret packing...I'm really bad at travelling light ok? I'm really trying to get better at travelling with just hand baggage for three reasons:<br />
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1. It costs less if you just travel with hand baggage (yippee!)<br />
2. Waiting at the baggage carousel for checked in luggage is probably where I'm most angry in life<br />
3. I'm TRYING to convince myself that clothes and shoes are just materialistic and as long as you have your passport you will have everything you need... butttt my shoes are SO PRETTY. Whimper.<br />
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My top five items I ALWAYS seem to fall into the trap of packing and not needing at all are:<br />
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<b>1. Too many clothes</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barney toy, the whiskey and the cat are ESSENTIALS ok?</td></tr>
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This one gets me EVERY time. I guess I'm gripped by panic that I NEED that skirt, that dress, those shorts AND that other dress so I won't run out of clothes. But really why do I need all these things? If I took half of the items, they could be worn in different ways with different combinations or can easily be washed and dry quickly in sunshine, so why is it necessary for me to take two outfits for each day? (true story)<br />
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<b>2. Unnecessary toiletries</b><br />
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I worked in travel for five years and repeatedly told customers not to bother taking toiletries with them as there are plenty of shops and supermarkets to stock up on when they arrive... and yet... when it comes to me packing my bag, I can't help but throw in a shampoo... and conditioner (NECESSARY).. and mosquito repellent... and deodorant... and a razor... and before you know it I've clocked up a kilo on toiletries alone, and that's just the miniatures! Calm it down and hit the supermercado.<br />
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<b>3. Too much makeup</b><br />
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When will I learn that there is NO POINT putting foundation on in a hot country that a) doesn't match my patchy red sunburnt skin tone and b) slides off my face with the heat anyway when I do put it on? From now on I'm only going to throw in a mascara, eyeliner and THAT IS IT. Oh, maybe an eyeshadow too. And possibly blusher. BUT THAT IS IT.<br />
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<b>4. One pair of shoes I tell myself I will wear but never do</b><br />
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You know the pair, slightly glitzy, maybe a heel on them, strappy perhaps. But lo and behold, heat + lots of walking = swollen, unsexy feet that will not appreciate being shoved into a glitzy pair of wedges. I know I prefer plain ol' flip flops anyway, so this one shouldn't be a hard habit to kick. Shouldn't.<br />
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<b>5. Too many guidebooks</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too many?</td></tr>
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In this day and age with wifi all over the world, there is simply no excuse for carrying this many guidebooks... and yet, I am a bookworm. I love having a book to take with me that contains a full history of a country I'm going to, a basic language section and plenty of other gems. This small Swahili book goes with me on every trip to East Africa and it's so tattered now but I wouldn't be without it. Plus, it's more reliable than the internet. Good old books.<br />
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<b>So that's my guilty list, what's on yours? </b><br />
<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-13488040872156636822014-01-27T18:49:00.001+00:002014-01-27T18:49:27.983+00:00Walking from Saltaire to Ilkley...... Or at least walking to Ilkley WAS the plan until it absolutely lobbed it down with rain and hail on Saturday...stupid England.<br />
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It doesn't matter though, I've done it before in the sunshine so I would have been super cranky if I'd been caught in the downpour on an exposed moor. Grrrrrr.<br />
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Here's some pictures from the sunshiney walk from Saltaire to Ilkley:<br />
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*Sigh* England, and Yorkshire in particular, really can be spectacular when it puts its mind to it... but then the rain and wind comes and it's time to stay indoors...<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-54593524210968821522014-01-20T18:06:00.000+00:002014-01-27T18:09:08.743+00:00Create Cafe, Ilkley - A ReviewLast weekend five of us got the train over to the town of Ilkley for the day to celebrate my bezzie friend Lucy's 30th birthday to get down to some seriously raucous behaviour and debauchary to end her twenties.<br />
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Or not.<br />
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We headed over to <a href="http://www.createcafe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Create Cafe</a> to get messy with paints and put our creative skills to the test by painting pottery. It possibly didn't help that we'd already been drinking on the train on the way there, so we were a little rowdy, but upon entering the (fairly quiet) cafe and being greeted by a birthday party for a young teen party quietened us down quite quickly.<br />
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We were skeptical about how the afternoon would pan out, to say the least. We don't realise how much bad language we tend to use as a group until you're being frowned at by a mum of the birthday girl.<br />
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<b>So what happens at the Create Cafe, you ask?</b><br />
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Upon entering, you are asked to select a piece of pottery you'd like to paint. I was completely guided by price and wanted to choose something that wasn't overly expensive but that I would use in my home. I picked up a teapot (what? I'd use that!) and put it down VERY quickly when I saw the price tag of £18. I'll just buy one from Ikea...<br />
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I selected a ceramic tile for the reasonable sum of £7. I justified it by saying I'd put a hot saucepan on it, but in reality after spending so long painting the bloody thing I'll just display it somewhere.<br />
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So, you have your piece of pottery and all the paints are waiting for you on the table, so all that is left for you to do is think of a design and get painting.<br />
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This is harder than you think. Being stared at by a blank piece of pottery when you're a little tipsy surrounded by children's birthday parties is quite stressful. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BLOODY PAINT!" I cried several times.<br />
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Of course I got started and buggered it up straight away by forgetting to use the white paint first as a base coat. BLOODY HELL.<br />
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I wasn't happy with mine from the start but I refused to stop, despite wanting to run away to the nearest pub and cradle a glass of red wine.<br />
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On I went, painting and ignoring my more talented friends. There was a period of about seventeen minutes where no one talked, such was our level of concentration.<br />
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Two hours quickly went by and I got my tile to a stage where I wasn't cringing with embarrassment, and actually started to really enjoy myself and relax. Ta daaaaaaa maybe I should be a painter?<br />
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Here's a shot of our finished products - take a look at our skills!<br />
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On the whole, for a two hour activity, it's really reasonably priced when you consider it cost £9 which included a slice of cake. Of course that depends on what you choose to paint, the big bowl in the picture above was the most expensive at £30. It was fun to try something new as a group, and much more productive than drinking all afternoon...<br />
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All the materials are included, but you then have to go back and collect your item once it has been blasted in the kiln, so consider that if you don't live in the area. We had a fun afternoon, more fun that we originally expected and the only advice I'd give if you're a little creatively challenged like me, is to look around on Pinterest for some inspiration before you get started. There is no EDIT>UNDO button on pottery :)<br />
<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-66812475688944251802014-01-09T07:41:00.000+00:002014-01-09T07:41:00.110+00:00It's been one year since my career break*It's been <b>one year</b> since I packed my suitcase, ready to leave my life as I knew it to go and live in Kenya for three months.<br />
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It's been one year since I said the most emotional goodbye to The Boy and a year since he walked out the door and didn't look back for fear of not letting me go.<br />
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It's been one year since I was shaking from crying so much and wondering what the hell I was doing leaving my entire life, my marriage, my friends, my job... everything.<br />
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It's been one year since I dragged my suitcase over the road to the bus stop, crying the whole time and easily getting my own seat because<b> no one</b> wanted to sit next to the crying lady with all the bags<br />
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It's been one year since I stumbled my way through departures at Manchester Airport alone, called all my family and then boarded my first flight on a journey that would take 19 hours and three planes to eventually reach Mombasa, exhausted.<br />
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It's been one year since I stepped off the plane, breathed in the hot, dusty and exciting night time scent of Kenya, one year since I was met at the airport by my friend Alice and her daughter, and one year since everything slotted into place.<br />
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It's been one year since I knew I'd made the right decision. One year since realising that life was too short not to grab opportunities when they arise. Three months is three months, you have your whole life to be together at home. Mombasa is like a second home to me.<br />
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It's been a year since arriving and I still know leaving was the best decision I've ever made, I had the most amazing three consecutive months of my life and spent every day living life, feeling alive and having the most unbelievable zest for life and most importantly, steering me in the right direction.<br />
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<b>I don't regret a thing.</b> I don't regret changing my flight twice and paying through the nose for doing so (screw you, Emirates). I don't regret getting a tattoo to mark the significance of everything I risked to go there. I don't regret quitting my job to try something new (sorry i-to-i, it's true!) I don't regret spending everything in my savings account on the trip, because it's just MONEY. You can replace money, I can't replace the experience I had.<br />
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Oh, Kenya *sigh* what is this hold you have over me and when can I see you again? Am I being too clingy, Kenya? Are you thinking of me too? Call me.<br />
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Until next time... here's <strike>shitloads of</strike> some photos.<br />
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*Disclaimer - my tenses are all over the place in this post and I don't care.<br />
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Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-21148327461533780502014-01-08T21:25:00.000+00:002014-01-08T21:25:00.756+00:00What I hate about tourists...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If there's one thing that bugs me about tourists, it's how much they stick out.<br />
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I know some things can't be helped; for example, my skin feels luminous when I'm in Mombasa and I can't help but stick out... but there are things I do to try my very best to blend in:<br />
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* Not wear skimpy shorts and string tops in rural villages<br />
* Learn as much of the local language (and use it as much as possible)<br />
* Not shout when I'm angry<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Err... like I say, blending in... ANYWAY</td></tr>
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You know what REALLY pisses me off when I'm abroad?<br />
<br />
Seeing a money belt. There's something about money belts that just make me see red, I HATE them. I'm talking about those really ugly beige affairs that wrap around tourist bellies... URGH.<br />
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I know there are opportunists abroad who might try and steal from you, but don't those people exist back home too? I don't wear money belts walking around Leeds, so it offends me when I see people wearing them overseas. Please don't assume everyone overseas is out to get you! In some places you're actually under less of a threat than in your home town!<br />
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I can somewhat understand backpackers wearing them as they're carrying their lives around with them, but I still think if you act in an obvious way then it makes you more of a target.<br />
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Take my handbag for example, whenever I go abroad I take the tattiest handbag around with me. It's a few steps up from a beach bag and it's made of cheap fabric. It looks like I couldn't give a shit about what is inside the bag. My (possibly wrong) theory is that if I LOOK like I don't care what's in there, someone will be less likely to think there's anything worth stealing in there.<br />
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Make sense? Completely insane? Perhaps. But it has worked for me over the years and (fingers crossed) I've never been the victim of bag theft or any kind of theft.<br />
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Now remember, I'm talking about if you're walking around a city/beach destination... I'm not talking on the road long term travel, but it could apply to that too! If you make yourself a target inadvertently, you ARE a target.Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-53947687548229433782014-01-07T21:14:00.002+00:002014-01-07T21:14:45.346+00:00You don't HAVE to wear head to toe khaki on safari, assholeI saw the funniest thing on my latest trip to Kenya while staying at Shimba Hills National Park.<br />
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I was sat outside our banda having breakfast overlooking the whole park, here was my view:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxaNv37yb0-KuDbZFRHr5kjSybypRcpE20_6b4F92MHw-XU161y32saMdEgVCkRtLF5VNchJiLjz2D298dmoHkorR1E_rEevqniTr1NN8nJYXbgfLNiVrLP04iVzx0_X7nTy2g37AiIYe/s1600/IMG_5138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxaNv37yb0-KuDbZFRHr5kjSybypRcpE20_6b4F92MHw-XU161y32saMdEgVCkRtLF5VNchJiLjz2D298dmoHkorR1E_rEevqniTr1NN8nJYXbgfLNiVrLP04iVzx0_X7nTy2g37AiIYe/s1600/IMG_5138.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sa-weeeet view man</td></tr>
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Breakfast was going down very nicely until a safari jeep pulls up and a family of German tourists jumps out and I see that they are ALL wearing HEAD TO TOE KHAKI clothing. Including the toddler they had with them. They looked <strike>like idiots</strike> quite the sight.<br />
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I think when they read the 'Visit Kenya' guide there must have been a line in there saying they should wear khaki on safari, so they went to town and bought EVERYTHING KHAKI. There must not have been anything khaki left in the store after they visited.<br />
<br />
It makes me laugh how some tourists stick to the 'rules' on holiday. I'm sure the guidebook only suggested wearing khaki coloured clothing on a walking safari to avoid scaring any animals because let's face it, when you're in a loud, rickety, white safari vehicle... it doesn't matter if you're wearing a turquoise top REALLY.<br />
<br />
I could imagine Kenyans laughing so hard at them in their wake "hahaha these tourists are so funny, we are so glad we wrote in the guidebook about wearing khaki to see who would actually do it!". I've met many hilarious people from Kenya and they do enjoy practical jokes...<br />
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This was especially hilarious to me sat at the breakfast table wearing purple shorts and an orange top (shut up, it looked better than it sounds...) I guess you could call me a rule breaker.<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-5852138188439422832014-01-03T20:57:00.000+00:002014-01-02T20:58:14.130+00:00How to do some (feasible) good in 2014Oh hi 2014!<br />
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I'm not making New Year's resolutions. I hate people who only appreciate their lives at the start of a new year. In my mind, you should have a zest for life ALL YEAR ROUND and not just when you buy a new calendar (or get a new one for Christmas).<br />
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I try to do good deeds as much as possible. Just small ones, unexpected and not brag about them on Facebook or tell the world that you're a great person. You should like yourself, not do things to get other people to like you. I do feel that if you like the person you are, others will enjoy your company naturally.<br />
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I was thinking about good things to do the other day that can help others without costing you loads of money (which no one has these days...) and here's my good deed feed:<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.leedsfelinefriends.org.uk/page9.htm" target="_blank">Foster a cat</a><br />
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Admittedly you have to like cats A LOT to do this one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOimB66UVHMPyM38FuoVZPRis8PwB3cnYM0Zx3UrUpBxTpLU7J4SH1piwz1DB103u_NYRbauIVCwx9gBu96WP5gDZ9yADrA9OjSBdSuRkOmx2Yn-KLzqsLRP5VVC13oJBDjkNfJylLQ8l/s1600/IMG_4702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOimB66UVHMPyM38FuoVZPRis8PwB3cnYM0Zx3UrUpBxTpLU7J4SH1piwz1DB103u_NYRbauIVCwx9gBu96WP5gDZ9yADrA9OjSBdSuRkOmx2Yn-KLzqsLRP5VVC13oJBDjkNfJylLQ8l/s320/IMG_4702.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're fostering this cat right here :)</td></tr>
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We couldn't decide whether to commit and get another cat after our little cat was put to sleep earlier this year. We're away a lot and it was a big decision, until I came across Cat Fostering. You take a cat in to your home and the cat is displayed on the charity's website until a new potential owner comes forward.<br />
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The charity pays the vet bills, food and litter (although we just decided to pay for the food and litter ourselves you don't have to) and in return you give a cat a safe and loving home. There's no guarantee you'll have the cat forever, although our cat is almost ten years old so she's unlikely to be adopted at this age; which is good because I'm already attached to her!<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.leedsfelinefriends.org.uk/page9.htm">http://www.leedsfelinefriends.org.uk/page9.htm</a> for more information.<br />
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<b>2. Give blood</b><br />
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You have loads of blood you selfish beast and you're keeping it to yourself locked away in those veins!<br />
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I'm signed up to be a blood donor, and it's only for the fact that I'm currently on medication that I haven't yet given blood. I can't wait to do it though, although I'll probably pass out right away, I'm hoping to be excited about doing something to help others.<br />
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Find out more about becoming a donor here <a href="http://www.blood.co.uk/index.aspx">http://www.blood.co.uk/index.aspx</a><br />
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<b>3. Shop at charity shops</b><br />
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I bloody love charity shops, I can't get enough of them. You find things you never knew you <strike>needed</strike> wanted in your life! Like for instance, that old chipped jug, or that book you were going to buy full price, or maybe a dress you've never seen anywhere else!<br />
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And the best part? It's a CHARITY shop. You can GIVE to charity and GET stuff in return! Everyone wins!<br />
<br />
Plus, you can walk along the high street and decide which charity to support - Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation... Jackpot! Cats Protection League!<br />
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Help the cats, people.<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-90312344528608251082014-01-02T20:28:00.000+00:002014-01-02T20:28:08.667+00:005 top moments from my latest trip to Kenya My last trip to Kenya was full of surprises. When I booked my last minute ticket, I promised myself that seeing as I was going back for a FIFTH TIME, I would try and do as much as possible that I'd never done before in Kenya.<br />
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I wanted to try new things, go to new places, meet new people, learn even more Swahili and try new foods.<br />
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As a result, I'm close to saying that I think I enjoyed my two week trip to Mombasa more than I enjoyed my three month experience there earlier this year... I think the attitude you have when you're only there for a few weeks is more intense and appreciative.<br />
<br />
Consequently it's hard to narrow my experience down to five top moments but here we go:<br />
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<b>1. Going to my first Kenyan wedding:</b><br />
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On arrival in Mombasa, I was invited to a Kenyan wedding ceremony and I was so excited! Saturday rolled around and I realised it was going to be OUTDOORS. In the SUN. At the HOTTEST part of the day. Uh oh - I was going to get back-sweat in my pretty dress. We turned up a little late to the location (pictured) and grabbed a seat in the shade (hurrah!) and chatted among ourselves while the wedding party had their photos taken in another location. So far, not so different from other weddings I've been to in England. </div>
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Then the wedding party arrived and everything changed. Car horns blared, everyone cheered and ran over to the bridal car. The bride emerged from the car and performed a dance with all the women from the wedding party. Then all the women attending the wedding had to trail behind the bride dancing and I got dragged up to dance (and sweat). It seemed I something of a novelty as the only foreigner there... I didn't even know the bride but she welcomed me so warmly, it was great.</div>
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It was an amazing afternoon to be a part of and a real highlight of my trip.</div>
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<b>2. Karaoke. But better.</b><br />
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OH MY GOD YOU GUYS. You might already know that I'm obsessed with karaoke, to the point where it's not even funny. So when my friend took me to a Go Kart track saying we were going for karaoke, I was skeptical to say the least. Never fear. When I arrived, there was a live band who gave out laminated sheets with songs on them THAT YOU COULD SING WITH THEM WITH THE BAND. Jesus, for me it doesn't get any better. I went three nights in a row and sang my heart out. I'M WITH THE BAND Y'ALL.<br />
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<b>3. Sleeping in Shimba National Park</b><br />
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When I finally put the microphone down, I got out of Mombasa central and away from the humid coast. After I camped in the Serengeti once and FREAKED OUT, I told myself I'd never camp in a national park again. So this was a little different.<br />
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We stayed in a wooden banda cabin in the middle of the park, the picture above is the view directly outside the bandas - pretty special eh? We all had so much fun sitting around a campfire, listening to music and drinking whiskey right underneath the stars. It was the most special night of my trip for sure.<br />
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<b>4. Overhearing a conversation in Swahili and UNDERSTANDING it</b><br />
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Who's a clever girl then?? Now I wouldn't call myself a Swahili speaker as such, I understand one in every 25 words but I really enjoy hearing people speak Swahili, it's such a fascinating language. I was in a bar with one of my friends who was on the phone. I had nothing else to do BUT listen in to the phone conversation (I'm nosey, ok?) and when the call ended, I made an enquiry about the conversation. My friend was like 'Oh shit, you really are starting to learn a lot of Swahili, I can't talk about anything private in Swahili around you anymore!'<br />
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Oh yeah. Listen in to people's phone conversations people. You learn stuff!<br />
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<b>5. Learning how to make Ugali. Win.</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sukuma Wiki & Ugali- Delicious and Healthy Kenyan Food" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/53/a5/d6/53a5d6d8425816924cb4989b1c00d975.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/497225615080404462/">http://www.pinterest.com/pin/497225615080404462/</a></td></tr>
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Ugali is a curious thing. The white food in the photo above, it's a food staple in Kenya because it's cheap and filling but it's mostly tasteless. I really love it and I ate so much of it on my three month trip there that I'd easily sink in the sea. But when I got home, I thought it'd be easy to try and make myself but I I failed. I ended up with a big white lump with powder in the middle.<br />
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This time I knew I wanted to learn how to make ugali with success. I watched a pro and then had a go myself and I did it! My muscles ached from all the stirring needed, but it tasted gooooood. Now I need to try it back in England...<br />
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Overall, I wish I'd set myself goals and challenges during my three month trip to Kenya. I don't have any regrets per se, but there's a lot more I could have achieved in that time.<br />
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OH WELL, I'LL JUST HAVE TO GO BACK <b>AGAIN</b>.Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-81518074799606181992013-12-22T20:56:00.002+00:002013-12-22T20:56:25.627+00:00I've been to Kenya AGAINI know, I KNOW there are plenty of other places to visit in the world, so why did I head back to Kenya for a <b>fifth </b>time???<br />
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The answer is that I really wasn't expecting to go back again after I left in April. I'd had three amazing months there and had the time of my life, but I didn't think I'd be going back again.<br />
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One day I was bored and decided to check out flights to ANYWHERE in December (a hobby of mine) and I happened to notice that flights to Mombasa were cheap.<br />
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Super cheap. £250 return cheap.<br />
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So........ I booked it.<br />
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And you know what? It was easily the best trip I've had to Kenya so far...<br />
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I did so much in the space of two weeks, I was on such a high just being back there and soaking up every second of my trip. I drank far too much for one human being and I got a million mosquito bites but I didn't CARE.<br />
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This time I know I'll be going back there again. I love it too much to say I probably won't be going back there.Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-28660158694992865322013-11-18T22:03:00.000+00:002013-11-18T22:03:00.217+00:00Getting drunker in a bunkerI had an odd experience on Friday night.<br />
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I got drunk in a bunker.<br />
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I'll take a step back. We'd been out for dinner in Stanningley to the aforementioned Vietnamese place when someone suggested crossing postcodes and walking to Farsley for a few beers. WALKING TO FARSLEY??! It's mile<strike>s</strike>! Ok it's less than a mile I think but in this weather I'm not into walking very far.<br />
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But the lure of more red wine was to strong so off we trotted. I actually like walking with a group of my friends because it reminds me of being a teenager and pacing the streets finding things to do. It's fun to realise I am a Grown Up and no longer need to pester anyone to buy me booze or go to a pub and drink a coca cola...<br />
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We headed to <a href="http://www.thevillagewinebar.co.uk/photos/" target="_blank">The Village wine bar</a> in Farsley and ordered some drinks at the bar. My bezzie (also known as Lucy) suggested we head to the back of the bar where there's a little room. Sometimes when you head to a private quieter area of a bar, it can ruin the night if you like the ambiance of the bar noise... but look where we sat!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.thevillagewinebar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Farlsey-TheVillageWine-Bar-Pudsey-West-Yorkshire-Image-10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thevillagewinebar.co.uk/photos/">http://www.thevillagewinebar.co.uk/photos/</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It was a little bunker with a curved ceiling so it trapped our noise and if anything, amplified it so it made us even louder. And I am LOUD anyway.</div>
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We spent a very fun few hours drinking wine, doing shots of tequila and limoncello and talking absolute drivel before it was time to find a taxi. That taxi was SPINNING on the way home, someone must have been topping up my wine glass or something.</div>
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It's always fun to find new spaces to get drunk and this was definitely my first time getting drunk in a bunker. </div>
Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-9286729037786359892013-11-17T21:07:00.001+00:002013-11-17T21:07:21.312+00:00Having a rice THAImeGet it? Thai? The best titles are ones you have to explain... sheesh.<br />
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Can I just say first of all, that the diet is going extremely well... no worries about that... the fact that I dined two nights in a row at Bring Your Own Booze Asian restaurants is of no concern... Ooops.<br />
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I'm trying to visit new places in the West Yorkshire area and have new experiences. It's hard sometimes when you've lived in a place for years to not get stuck in a rut. Time is so precious that it's tempting to stick with something you like because it's safe and you know you will enjoy it.<br />
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But that's not what life is for is it? The safe, the familiar? No no no no no no<br />
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So I felt like a traitor when I suggested trying a new place instead of our faithful Thai restaurant, Jino's in Headingley, where I've enjoyed many a good meal over the years.<br />
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A few friends had been raving about a place in the city centre that was BYOB. Now I am ALL ABOUT a BYOB place. Booze can be so expensive (for good reason I suppose) and can really drive the cost of a meal right up. I REALLY begrudge paying £5 for a glass of wine when I know I can get a decent bottle of Shiraz for the same price.<br />
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I don't have a drinking problem by the way...<br />
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So I arranged to meet a friend I've not seen in aaaaages and we met in <a href="http://arcinspirations.com/pit" target="_blank">The Pit</a> for a catch up drink before heading to <a href="http://www.thaiaroydeeleeds.com/" target="_blank">Thai Aroy Dee Leeds</a> to check the place out. We had prawn crackers and sweet chilli sauce to start, then a mixed starter of prawns and mushrooms to really start, then I chose a pork Pad Thai for my main, all washed down with Sainsbury's finest red wine for under a fiver. Classic.<br />
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Dinner for two cost just £23, my bus fare home was almost as much as my main course...<br />
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When I arranged to go to Thai Aroy Dee on the Thursday, I completely forgot that I'd also arranged to go out for a Vietnamese meal the very next night. Gulp.<br />
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So we headed to <a href="http://www.viet-thai-cuisine.co.uk/" target="_blank">Viet Thai</a> in Stanningley, a teeny weeny restaurant that only seats 20 people, so it's pretty cosy with the waitress squeezing past to get to the kitchen. The toilet was outside of the building and round the back, interesting and very freezing but not off-putting at all.<br />
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I had a Vietnamese beef curry for my main and it was soooooooooooooo good! I ate every single bit of it which is not normal for me, I'm a talker so I usually eat half and take the cold half home for the next day's lunch.<br />
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Two amazing meals in two nights, both at BYO restaurants. I'd highly recommend them both for low cost, high taste options!<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-55757819807931055642013-11-13T22:21:00.003+00:002013-11-13T22:23:26.025+00:00Wednesday musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I seem to be relying on Pinterest a lot at the moment to give me inspiration and positivity - sigh.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinned from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/82964818108962421/">http://www.pinterest.com/pin/82964818108962421/</a></td></tr>
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I just saw this and now I feel ready to go to bed and take on tomorrow with such a great vengeance...<br />
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Sweet dreams!Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-7337075502264810332013-11-08T19:34:00.001+00:002013-11-08T19:34:27.537+00:00Autumn...Oh November, you do make it hard for me to like you.<br />
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I much preferred October. October had it going onnnnnnn. Crisp Autumn afternoons, bright sunshine but frosty temperatures, scarves, hats, falling leaves and plenty of rainbows. No pots of gold though, sadly.<br />
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November in comparison can kick my ass. A rainy fireworks night, dark evenings from 5pm onwards and my best friend moving to New York. Boo.<br />
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I found some Autumnal photos on Pinterest to cheer me up...<br />
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<img alt="Photo - http://ilove.webgifts.info/photo-1946/" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/c7/c5/b1/c7c5b197723f77ee231dc27f792271e8.jpg" /><br />
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<img alt="Autumn" height="310" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2a/ab/3e/2aab3ede6002967d725a7542d2c3372a.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<img alt="Hello October" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/21/c6/09/21c609e466ddcf6c1ede2d053881668f.jpg" width="267" /><br />
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<img alt="{black boots + autumn leaves}" height="300" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/da/74/75/da7475112f30572dfdf08530c7e44c58.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<img alt="#autumn" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2a/ba/bc/2ababc74d0bda93e7e241591d029d1fa.jpg" width="309" /><br />
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All photos are from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=autumn" target="_blank">this page</a> on Pinterest...Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-30001964257057535572013-11-03T20:35:00.001+00:002013-11-03T20:35:46.465+00:00Have a good day now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All images here came from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=positive%20quotes&rs=ac&len=8" target="_blank">this page</a> on Pinterest - stay smiling now!Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-19853070561172328432013-11-03T19:31:00.002+00:002013-11-03T19:31:54.798+00:00Sunday Photo Album - Isla Mujeres, MexicoaHAAAAA it's Sunday and I remembered to put a photo album up AND I'm hungover. Win.<br />
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Today's album comes from our honeymoon in Mexico. We were so lazy and pretty much hung out on the beach for most of our trip drinking cocktails with breakfast because we could. We were in a wedding haze and completely thrilled with how amazing our wedding day was.<br />
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By the second week of our trip though we wanted a bit of adventure and to stretch our legs a little so we took a ferry over to Isla Mujeres (loosely translated to Island of Women).<br />
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The island itself is so small that you can drive around the whole thing in around an hour and the best thing is that you can rent a golf buggy for the day to drive around in. So much fun. Here's their version of a sat nav:<br />
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Enjoy the album!<br />
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988654372056279676.post-26480605845279176542013-11-02T10:21:00.003+00:002013-11-02T10:21:27.581+00:00I miss...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Katie Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883575673914682548noreply@blogger.com0