Table of contents for Issue 179 - June-July 2023 in Msafiri

DEAR READER Welcome to a special edition of msafiri in which we use the magazine's slogan “enriching life's journeys” to offer you no fewer than 120 ways to improve your life – whether it's boosting your wellbeing, working more efficiently, helping the environment or fulfilling your travel dreams. We hope you find it both inspiring and informative. Most exciting for us this season is to see the work we have been putting in coming to fruition. We are continuously improving our service offering based on the feedback you give us. That is why we are excited to launch our muchawaited frequent flyer programme, Asante Rewards, which is our way of saying asante (thank you) for always choosing us (see page 81 for more details). We have also improved our online…

1. OLD-FASHIONED ICE CREAM MAKER Whether it's the creamy texture or the high sugar content, ice cream is scientifically proven to make us feel happier. This gadget makes your favourite frozen treats ‘the old-fashioned way', albeit with the aid of an electric motor that does all the tedious churning for you! Makes up to six litres of ice cream, gelato or frozen yogurt. ● $35, WALMART.COM 2. 5QT AIR FRYER WITH LED DIGITAL DISPLAY Is there really such a thing as ‘healthy' fried food? Yes… sort of. You see, unlike deep-fat fryers, where food is submerged in hot oil, air fryers use convection heat to circulate a mist of oil. The results are said to be up to 85% healthier, meaning you can treat yourself to delicious potato fries more…

Kenyan environmentalist Prof Wangari Maathai used the parable of the hummingbird's unprecedented bravery in fighting a huge forest fire with one drop of water at a time: “We should always be like a hummingbird. I may feel insignificant, but I certainly don't want to be like the other animals watching as the planet goes down the drain. I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best I can.” The effects of climate change and the degradation of natural resources have taken a heavy toll on the world. Global warming, extreme weather events, heavier rains leading to flooding and landslides, as well as more frequent and intense storms may seem overwhelming. That's the bad news. However, the good news is that, like in the hummingbird analogy, there are many small,…

Hellen Obiri TWO-TIME 5000M WORLD CHAMPION Having a fit and healthy lifestyle is one of the most underrated joys. Training gives you a lot of satisfaction and this is something everyone should strive to do in their lives. Running, walking and cardio are among simple forms of exercise you can do to remain fit. Also, watch what you eat. Junk and sugary foods are not the best to remain healthy. Eat well, exercise regularly and be consistent. If you can spare 30 minutes or an hour a day, you will be OK. Alexandra Ndolo GERMANY-BASED KENYAN FENCER Most people look at fitness as a very complicated thing. I am here to tell you it's not! You don't need to have extraordinary gym equipment or weights to be fit. Cardio is…

SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA This powerful, pentoting smartphone is all business. Under the hood, it boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip that enables users to scroll through large documents and files without so much as a hint of judder. Your productivity won't be hindered by the battery, either; the S23 Ultra lasts about a day and a half. Elsewhere, the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor shoots remarkable photos and video. ● $1200 (256GB), SAMSUNG.COM ACOUCOU FOLDABLE BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD Most of us like to work on-the-go these days, hence why foldable keyboards are hugely popular among business travellers. This affordable Bluetooth device can be paired with any tablet or smartphone, enabling you to type naturally in an airport lounge or coffee shop… without the need to drag out a chunky laptop.…

Born a crime TREVOR NOAH Noah's talents as both a stand-up comic and political commentator led to him achieving global renown as the host of the US satirical programme The Daily Show. But before all this – before the fame, money and popularity – he was a child growing up in apartheid South Africa. In his autobiography Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Noah reflects on his childhood. His very existence was itself a crime. His mother is a black Xhosa woman, while his father is a white Swiss-German man. Under apartheid law, interracial sexual and romantic relationships were illegal, and by having him, his parents were committing a crime. For the first few years of his life, they took to hiding him in the house, and…

THE MENU COMEDY-HORROR Directed by Mark Mylod and written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, The Menu is a 2022 American comedy-horror film starring Ralph Fiennes as a celebrity chef, alongside Nicholas Hoult, Anya TaylorJoy and Janet McTeer, who play diners attending Chef's exclusive restaurant. A group of wealthy gourmet lovers with demanding palates arrive for an evening at the exclusive culinary restaurant run by the famous chef Julian Slowik. Tyler (Hoult), an obsessive gastronome, brings his uninterested plus-one Margot (Taylor-Joy). However, as the prosperous diners begin their meal, it becomes quite clear that fine dining is not the only thing that Chef Julian has on the menu. Are you ready for Julian's creative madness? DID YOU KNOW? The food layouts were prepared by renowned French chef Dominique Crenn, the…

AND FINALLY… UNDERSTAND YOURSELF Define who you are and what peace means to you. What do you have to work on or fight within? Everyone's definition of inner peace is different. Though there may be similarities, there is no 100 per cent match. This is because our aspirations, fears, environments and challenges are different. Defining your peace is secondary to understanding and accepting YOU and your purpose. Who are you? Who are you not? Who do you want to be? How do you plan to achieve your dreams and aspirations? Decide on what you must fight within (out with bad habits, like procrastination and over-indulgence, and in with the good, such as timeliness) and run your race. Comparing yourself to others will kill your confidence, then steal your peace. A…

THINKING YOU CAN MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME This blunder is the reason why many of us work our fingers to the bone, roundthe-clock, while putting off making Kodak Moments for a future undetermined date. Want to know how to avoid this mistake? Easy. Seize all moments – minute or mammoth. Seize them with all limbs and squeeze every juice and joy from their veins. It's alright to save for an expensive vacation. But while you're pinching pennies, have fun under the sun or rain in your backyard. Laugh more. Live life to the fullest. As Maya Angelou once said: “Life loves the liver of it.” THINKING KIDS CANNOT SEE WHITE LIES For instance, every father, from Lamu to Lomé, will tell their children that, in their school days, they…

FOREO LUNA MINI 2 This facial massaging device uses the power of T-Sonic pulsations to cleanse deep below the skin's surface, leaving you with a spa-like afterglow. Perfect for travellers who want to freshen up after a long flight, the Luna mini 2 is said to suit any skin type and promises 300 uses per battery charge. ● $140, AMAZON.COM SENSATE 2 Struggling with stress? This pebbleshaped wearable uses low-frequency vibrations to tone up the vagus nerve (that's the nerve that controls the body's ‘fight or flight' response). Rest the device on your chest and you'll soon find yourself slipping into a blissful, trance-like state. Perfect for frequent fliers and those who suffer with anxiety. ● $299, SENSATE.COM NUTRIBULLET 600 Looking to up your vitamin intake? Nutribullet's powerful blender could…

MASER THE FINE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY The type of photography to pursue depends on the stories you want to tell. Each genre – from weddings and portraits to real estate or nature photography – requires a specific set of equipment. If you are shooting nature, you need a zoom lens, or a macro lens to shoot tiny insects. Other gear might include flash triggers and soft boxes. But this gear will be useless if you do not know how to use all the buttons on your camera. For professional pictures, get professional help. If you are an amateur, remember that photography is guided by the light. Take a photo with your eyes first before clicking. To showcase your work, create a simple portfolio-style website or social media presence. DAVID MACHARIA…

For the year ending 31 December 2022, Kenya Airways recorded revenues of Ksh117bn (US$857.8m), a 66% increase from the previous 12 months. This comes in just 5% below pre-pandemic reported revenues, indicative of the group's projected recovery by 2024. The revenue growth was driven by a significant increase in passenger numbers, which grew by 68% to 3.7 million passengers, and more than 65,000 tonnes in cargo tonnage, a 3.5% increase. Speaking at the investor briefing, Michael Joseph, chair of Kenya Airways, said that global air passenger traffic gained momentum and recovered substantially as governments lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions and passengers grasped the opportunity to resume travel, which was reflective of KQ's performance. “In 2022, KQ's operations were impacted positively by pent-up travel demand, the removal of travel restrictions and KQ's…

CAPACITY What do you have? What's in your hand? Time and treasure make up our capacity. How are you using the 24 hours in your day? Time is not a renewable resource so use it wisely. Can you spare some time to explore what you love? How much treasure (money) is enough? Contentment is wanting what we have. Decide on what's sufficient to live more meaningfully. CORE This is the essence of a person. Core is made up of three elements. First our passions. What energises you? Secondly, our strengths. What are you naturally good at? And lastly, values – your personal code of ethics that you will not violate. CONTEXT This is where and how you will serve. Your ideal platform. Many of us know what we want to…

Nikita Kering vMUSICIAN | @nikita_kering Nikita Kering is among the fastest-rising stars in the African music industry. Music has always been a part of her since she was a small child and she cannot think about existing without it. “Music is simply a continuation and a repetition of a pattern. I think we have patterns in our life. How we speak, how we enunciate, and place our syllables, that's rhythm. Even our heartbeat follows a rhythm. We have music one way or the other,” she says. “How we speak, how we enunciate, and place our syllables, that's rhythm” Jonathan and Angela Scott WILDLIFE FILMMAKERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS @thebigcatpeople The award-winning wildlife photographers and authors have documented the lives of big cats in Maasai Mara, Kenya, since 1977, especially through television programmes…

AZGO FESTIVAL MAPUTO MAY AZGOFESTIVAL.COM The port city of Maputo is a melting pot for people and cultures from around the world. It's wonderful to explore this city and hear its stories through walking tours, exploring Maputo's museums, botanical gardens and the Mercado Central de Maputo among other places. The city offers a wide array of seafood, and a popping nightlife. The annual Azgo Festival showcases the best of Mozambican fashion, arts and music. SO COOL! LAKE OF STARS MALAWI DATES TO BE CONFIRMED LAKEOFSTARS.ORG The majestic Lake Malawi, Africa's third largest lake, is a must-see on your visit to Malawi. It's the perfect location for watersports like snorkelling, diving and swimming or for quiet relaxation on the sandy beaches. Malawians know how to throw a party, and the Lake…

120 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE DOMINIC KEYA TRINITY The Chef de Partie at Nairobi's ibis Styles has been improving his signature dish over the years, from taste and texture to presentation. The Trinity comprises three meats: chicken, beef fillet and ham wrapped with herbed mushrooms. Be even more creative and do beef fillet, chicken and pork. Be sure to have the correct preparation tools: a batting hammer, chef knives, cling film, foil paper and different chopping boards for the three meats to avoid cross-contamination. “I recommend a sous-vide machine or heat water at 94°C when poaching the rolled three meats. This is a skill that needs patience and practice to achieve.” ARIS ATHANASIOU GRILLED OCTOPUS The grilled octopus by Chef Aris from Mövenpick Hotel and Residences Nairobi is influenced…

Kenya Airways Cargo has been awarded the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for its KQ Pharma facility. The accreditation affirms that KQ complies with IATA Temperature Control Regulations and continues to adhere to international standards and best practices in cold chain and pharmaceutical movements. It also formally endorses the airline's sustained ability to handle safely high-value, timesensitive and temperaturecontrolled transportation of pharmaceuticals, with the speed and consistency expected by shippers. Speaking at the event, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport, said: “The CIEV certification for Kenya Airways Cargo will unlock huge potential in the market and provide a mechanism for tapping into this potential. It is our belief that, with the right support, these exports…

$90 JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SCANDAL FOR WOMEN Eau de Parfum 50ml. Scandal for women embodies Jean Paul Gaultier's femininity: an elegant Parisian, festive and sexy, who gets freaky in the scandalous neighbourhoods of Paris. FRAGRANCE NOTES: Chypre – Floral $75 MONTBLANC LEGEND RED Eau de Parfum 100ml. Bolder and more determined than ever to make you feel confident, strong and powerful. The iconic and outstanding design of the bottle reveals the intensity of a red lacquered finish contrasting with a silver top to create a sleek, chic and modern look. The new olfactory experience starts with the freshness of blood orange, intensified by aromatic notes of clary sage to finish with a magnetic woody accord. FRAGRANCE NOTES: Woody – Fruity $80 FRAGRANCES JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SCANDAL FOR MEN Eau de…

Q What is the KQ Asante Rewards programme? This is the new Kenya Airways loyalty programme, specially designed to reward our customers for their loyalty. It goes beyond miles – it's a ticket to what you love! It is a simple three-step process – Fly | Earn | Redeem. Visit asante. kenya-airways.com to sign up and get rewarded instantly. Q What is a loyalty programme? It is a rewards programme offered by airlines to their valued customers. The programme awards points based on the destination flown or amount spent with the airline or its partners. Members can redeem these points for a variety of benefits such as award flights, seat upgrades, lounge access and so much more. Q Who will be eligible for enrolment in Asante Rewards? The programme is…