Hellos and Goodbyes

Image source: http://t3.gstatic.com/images

I am very excited to make my very first blog entry. The idea of having a blog has been at the back of my mind for a very long time but it just seemed like something that 'other' people do. Certainly not me. But I took the plunge and here we are!

As I say hello to my blog, I also bid farewell to an amazing human being. Sadly, today is the first day in a "Mandela-less world" as journalist Brendan Boyle tweeted this morning. My husband, John broke the news to me. Clearly shaken by the news himself, he said: "There is sad news in the newspaper this morning...Mandela passed away". I tried to go back to sleep for another half hour or so as I usually do but I could not fight the urge to get on my computer and get more details around his passing.

I am saddened by Nelson Mandela's passing but knowing how much love he had for his family and they for him, I think that he leaves his family and many South Africans with no regrets. If anything, through his own life he demonstrated just how important it is to do good and never look back on decisions made with a good heart. 

Moea oa hae o phomole ka khotso (May his soul rest in peace).

Lusaka (so far) in pictures

Two weeks ago I took part in the 6th Lusaka Photo Walk guided by International Travel Photographer Dan Hartwright and hosted by the Beautiful Lusaka campaign together with the Lusaka Global Shapers Hub.

The walk was a great opportunity to learn about photography and especially the use of the controls on the Canon EOS REBEL T3i digital SLR camera that we bought earlier this year. On the walk Dan answered questions and gave useful and practical suggestions on how to take beautiful, interesting pictures. The 3 hour long walk started at the Lusaka National Museum and we made our way over the train tracks, onto the Kafue Roundabout in Kamwala neighborhood, back over the bridge on Independence Avenue and ended up back at the museum.

The walk was also part of the Beautiful Lusaka campaign to change the images of the city on the internet to present a different side of the city, hence the name of the campaign, Beautiful Lusaka. If you are in Lusaka, you can contribute pictures of the city here. Also, have a look at the talented Dan Hartwright's facebook page here.

Below are a few of the pictures that I took on the walk. More pictures here.

A local dance group practices for an upcoming dance festival Lusaka National Museum

Hindu temple (left) and Umar al-Farooq Mosque 

Workers down their tools and for a much needed weekend break!

Local photographers display their work Cairo Road

Kafue roundabout

Kamwala market