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Kenya: Africa’s Untouched Paradise (Part II)
Now that you have read about my Kenya adventures in Part I, here I am sharing some tips on additional places to see and shop. I hope you find them useful! Other places not to miss in Kenya: Mount Kenya – a national park not far from Nairobi. It sits on both sides of the equator at the foothills of the second-highest peak in Kenya – Mount Kenya. The park is home to rich flora and fauna, and wild animals like rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards can be spotted here. Maasai Mara – the most famous of the national parks in Kenya, located in the southwest of the…
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Kenya: Africa’s Untouched Paradise (Part I)
Time slows down in Kenya while yesterday’s deadlines and the noise of the big megapolis become irrelevant and remote. After a 9-hour flight from London, I finally land in Nairobi, where the sun is scorching and a dry wind blows in my face. Throughout my trip, I try to soak it all in – the amazing landscape, which changes from savannah to green oasis and tropical flora, the sights of exotic animals and birds everywhere, and the diversity of architecture – from giant trade centres to modest huts and street mini-markets. Kenya is a colourful kaleidoscope – a mix of modernity and traditions, exotics and simplicity, different cultures and traditions.…
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Crazy About Oil: Skin and Hair Oils Review
It’s been a while since my last entry, but I meant to share my thoughts on oils that I have been using for my skin and hair recently. Three oils I am crazy about are: Bio-Oil, Argan Oil and Clarins Santal Face Treatment oil. I have heard about all three for while but only recently got to test them literally on “my own skin”. Bio-Oil So, according to the Bio-Oil manufacturers, it is a specialist skincare oil that moisturizes dehydrated and ageing skin, thus improves the texture, tone and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Bio‑Oil should be applied to…
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TSV Tips: Travel Light or How to Pack Like a Pro!
Moving every few years and not wanting to lag heavy luggage around, as well as paying additional charges for extra weight, has taught me over the years to travel light. I have even earned compliments from my travel companions, men in particular, who sometimes had more luggage than me. For short vacations to Italy, Spain and Portugal, Turkey, Grand Canaria and Malta I went just with a small backpack. How did I do it? Well, my answer is less can be MORE and packing has to be strategic! Today, I am sharing my practical tips on how a female traveller like myself can pack for a short summer vacation (4-6…
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72-Hour Guide to New York: “Sex and the City” and Much More
(translated from Russian, originally published in Marie Claire Ukraine) IN ORDER TO FEEL NEW YORK THROUGH, YOU NEED A DIFFERENT APPROACH. COME HERE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WALK ALL DAY LONG AND DON’T STOP FOR SECOND. There was a time I didn’t like New York! Every time I came to visit friends, I complained about its crazy pace, dirty streets, rats as big as cats and huge tourist crowds. But then fate has brought me to New York for work and surprisingly to myself, I fell in love with the city. Yes, in New York the head always spins from the skyscrapers, Times Square lights blind your eyes and…
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Getting it NAILed
This season is all about bright and wild or pastel-colour nails. There is a wide choice of colours, textures (see caviar on the left) and even glue-on designs (think zebra, leopard, zig-zag patterns). You can pick these up either at the pharmacies or stores like Topshop, American Apparel or Selfridges. Personally, I am more of a red and deep purple (aubergine, to be exact) nail polish girl, but this season I just couldn’t resist the bright colours. The inspiration came from deep blues that are all over 2012 fashion collections and in my own closet. So, to achieve the desired effect, I combined two different polishes – blue and sparkle.…
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Colours of Ikat: When Fashion Meets Tradition
Having grown up in Central Asia, my early memories of Ikat associate with colourful dresses and baggy pants of the Uzbek women in Jalal-Abad. The Ikat fabric with its zig-zaggy pattern usually came either in black-and-white or multi-colour combination. Now that I haven’t lived in the region for a long time, every time I see Ikat a feeling of something precious and familiar takes over me. Ikat has been popular for few years now and was featured both in the home design and high fashion. A more modern version of Ikat has been popularised by such great designers as Oscar de a Renta, who visited Uzbekistan and fell in…
