Luxurious, for me, isn’t nearly opulent inns or nice eating. It’s additionally about genuine experiences, native immersion, and cultural understanding. It’s the prospect to attach with individuals and locations on a deeper stage. It’s about exploring native cultures, understanding how individuals reside, and gaining insights into alternative ways of life. It’s about connecting with the world, not simply indulging in it. It’s about touring with a curious thoughts and an open coronary heart, discovering hidden gems, assembly fascinating individuals, creating unforgettable reminiscences, and gaining private progress. My MBA journey to Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this yr, was one such journey.
Instructional experiences
Regardless of my age, I’m extremely grateful to have been accepted right into a prestigious MBA program at Bayes Enterprise College. This journey has been really exceptional and transformative. A part of this expertise and this course was the Worldwide Enterprise Week in Nairobi, the place we needed to journey to the Kenyan capital, divided into teams, assigned firms, and labored on a undertaking. It was my first time in Kenya and Africa, and the expertise has opened my eyes to new cultures and views.
You may surprise how spending numerous hours working alongside worldwide college students and native companies might be thought-about luxurious. Nevertheless, the privilege of experiencing Nairobi first-hand, past the everyday vacationer sights, the chance to study and from completely different cultures, work in real-world settings in a totally completely different setting, being uncovered and out of our protected field, and constructing lasting relationships has been a tremendous expertise.
Fly, land, verify, repeat
The second I landed in Nairobi, I knew this was going to be a singular expertise, regardless of having travelled extensively over time. The countless queues at passport management, customs, and baggage declare have been a stark distinction to my normal travels. It took over an hour and a half to navigate by means of the method. Whereas all the things ultimately labored out, the tempo was undeniably slower.
I typically ponder… is luxurious about avoiding these queues and detaching oneself from actuality, or is it about immersing oneself within the genuine experiences of a spot and its individuals? The wait wasn’t disagreeable, merely time-consuming. Fortuitously, the airport supplied free and dependable Wi-Fi, permitting me to remain linked in the course of the downtime.
After navigating the airport and formally getting into Kenya, we have been greeted by a ready automotive able to whisk us to our resort. Arriving late at evening, drained and hungry, the welcoming sight of our driver was a much-needed reduction. We opted for the expressway, a extra environment friendly method to traverse the town, and made a late-night pit cease for pizza earlier than checking into our resort properly previous midnight. The native help proved invaluable throughout this time, and from the very starting, I discovered the Kenyan individuals to be sort and useful.
The Golden Tulip Westlands Nairobi, a premium 4-star resort conveniently situated in Westlands, was our chosen lodging. Regardless of our late arrival, the resort employees was extremely useful and environment friendly, rapidly checking us in and getting us settled into our snug rooms. One in every of my favorite late-night and early-morning pastimes was having fun with a drink or a recent Kenyan espresso on the rooftop, taking within the stunning metropolis views and the huge African sky.
Getting acquainted
Our first day in Nairobi was a tour of a few of the metropolis’s landmarks and cultural experiences. We kicked off the morning on the KICC, a towering skyscraper that gives panoramic views of the town. As we ascended to the rooftop, we have been handled to a breath-taking 360-degree vista, stretching from the town centre to the Nairobi Nationwide Park.
We continued our cultural journey to the Bomas of Kenya. This vibrant cultural centre showcases the wealthy range of Kenya’s ethnic teams by means of charming dances and music performances. The energetic performances transported us to completely different areas of the nation, proper within the coronary heart of Kenyan tradition.
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Consulting tasks
On Monday morning, after a vigorous breakfast, we commenced our firm visits, every group venturing to a distinct suburb of Nairobi. This supplied us with a glimpse into the each day lives of the town’s inhabitants and the various industries that drive its financial system.
Whereas the teams had the chance to work with quite a lot of promising firms, together with Knights & Apps, Afristec, Mdundo, Fort College, My Shamba Digital, and Timao, I used to be significantly lucky to be positioned with Pazurina Vacation Houses. This firm is targeted on growing vacation properties within the burgeoning coastal vacation spot of Diani Seashore, close to Mombasa. The undertaking aimed to develop a complete technique to advertise the vacation properties to each Kenyans residing overseas and worldwide consumers. Given the worldwide reputation of vacation properties in numerous locations, the purpose was to place Diani Seashore as a sexy funding alternative and a sought-after trip spot. By working intently with native professionals, I gained useful insights into the challenges and aspirations of the Kenyan actual property and vacation trade. Furthermore, drawing on my years of expertise within the journey trade and witnessing the destructive impacts of poorly deliberate tourism growth in lots of locations around the globe, this undertaking reignited my curiosity in sustainable growth. It bolstered my perception that solely by means of environmentally pleasant and socially accountable practices can we guarantee a optimistic impression on each the area people and the pure setting.
Not simply enterprise, additionally pleasure!
Whereas the journey’s major focus was schooling, Nairobi’s vibrant nightlife supplied ample alternatives for leisure and enjoyable. We visited the vigorous Alchemist Bar, a singular mix of meals vans, eating places, and leisure. It’s a must-visit for its reside music, native environment, and late-night camaraderie. For a extra intimate expertise, attempt the Hero Bar on the ninth Ground of Trademark Lodge, famend for its modern cocktails, scrumptious finger meals, and gorgeous metropolis views. This hidden gem, ranked #62 on The World’s 50 Finest Bars, was chosen for a Bayes Alumni evening in Nairobi.
For a style of native luxurious, About Thyme supplied a serene backyard setting and delectable delicacies. The luxurious, multi-level backyard, adorned with fairy lights and candles, created a very magical ambiance. It’s an absolute must-visit! Final however not least, the Carnivore is an iconic open-air restaurant providing quite a lot of meats. The restaurant specialises in an all-you-can-eat meat buffet, that includes traditional cuts and unique choices like ostrich and crocodile. The meal started with a welcome Dawa drink, a refreshing alcoholic native beverage.
Somebody stated “safari”?
And also you thought we have been carried out? Not fairly! No go to to Nairobi is full with no safari journey in Nairobi Nationwide Park. This distinctive park is the one one on this planet situated inside a metropolis’s boundaries.
Image this: a day spent in a 4×4 automobile, chasing lions and different wildlife. Your complete expertise is designed to seize the proper shot, particularly of lions, the undisputed stars of any African safari. The joys of an in depth encounter with a lion, lazing round within the park, is an unforgettable expertise. Whereas they could not pay a lot consideration to you, maybe it’s greatest that manner!
Nairobi Nationwide Park provides unbelievable wildlife viewing alternatives, together with lions, zebras, hippos, ostriches, and numerous different animals, however it doesn’t have all of the Large 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo). Regardless of this, the Park stays an important wildlife sanctuary, a relentless problem in balancing city life with nature, as proven by the imposing Chinese language-constructed Mombasa Railway that crosses the park on a bridge to facilitate the motion of enormous animals.
Nairobi: Wrapped up
Time flies, and it was already time to go again residence. I used to be glad to return to London, as soon as once more with a broader perspective, having been uncovered to fully completely different experiences. I attempted to benefit from each second, as I imagine experiences alone don’t maintain a lot worth except we study from them and apply them to our lives.
I nonetheless mirror on the busy streets of Nairobi, the huge African sky, late nights engaged on the rooftop of the resort as the town fell asleep, the flavours of the meals, the nice and cozy and welcoming individuals, the crowded Sunday morning church buildings we drove by, the African bush and the enjoyment of the safari, the colourful colors of the standard costumes, and the charming rhythms of the music.
As I stay up for future adventures, whether or not as a scholar, skilled, or just a traveller, I notice as soon as once more how fortunate and grateful I’m for the privilege of immersing myself in new cultures and environments. It’s an unbelievable alternative to develop, study, and respect the world’s range and wonder.
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos is Director of Effective Illustration. Effective Illustration is a London-based boutique and impartial illustration and consulting company for beautiful journey and travel-related manufacturers. If you want to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog with a purpose to elevate your profile, please contact us.
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