vickygoestravelling

my journey to health and well being via exotic destinations

Author Archives: vickyunwin


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Big cats galore in Ruaha: Tanzania’s gem

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A typical Ruaha vista

I have never been here before, although it is the second-largest National Park in Tanzania. Much more famous and frequently visited are Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara but, having spent so much time in small tented camps like Goliath in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe, I have no desire to go backwards in my safari experiences. So we pick Nomad, which is owned and run by Bimb Theobald, a business partner of our great tea-broking/growing friend Robin H. We made the best choice! This outfit really understands the balance between sustainability and luxury and invests in their staff. A winning combination. On our way in we come across two wild dogs, far from home – the den is miles away. They haven’t been seen for six weeks so we are very lucky. Continue reading →


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Return to Mafia island after 60 years!

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Neville (left) inspecting the ruins on Juani island

Mafia is a trip down memory lane. The last time I was here I was six and accompanying my mother and Neville Chittick on the archaeological dig to unearth the 10/11th century Islamic ruins. It is one of the main reasons for our visit – that and diving.  We also want to go somewhere less touristy than Zanzibar. Continue reading →


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Spreading the word about Farm Africa at the AGRF food security summit & visiting an SME project

Outside Senka spice SME; left Prosper Mtui our Finance Manager and right, Senka

We have been planning this trip to Dar for sometime. Ross and I are sponsoring a networking event for Farm Africa, as we did in Nairobi last year to excellent effect, to coincide with the AGRF Food Sustainability summit. Based on women and youth empowerment this is a real opportunity to spread the word amongst potential and existing donors about the great work we do in East Africa, and especially Tanzania.

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Asian Odyssey: getting mucky at Black Sand Dive Retreat

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It’s 3 am on Easter morning and we are woken by gospel singing blasting out full volume. This continues until 5 am, when various competitors join in from the surrounding villages. We are near Bintung, a Christian stronghold in the majority-Muslim Indonesia and the singing marks the beginning of an Eater procession. We have come here to finish our holiday with some muck diving at Black Sand Dive Retreat. Ross has been here twice before, and I once – Manado is short hop (three hours) from Singapore and was on our long weekend itineraries. Continue reading →


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Asian odyssey: eat, dive, sleep on the Dewi Nusantara

We arrive in Ternate to the sound of the Imam calling the faithful to prayer. It is the height of Ramadan and we are in the North Maluku archipelago where we are to board the Dewi Nusantara for the fourth time. We speed out past a huge green mosque where our three-masted home for the next few days is anchored. She really is a splendid vessel, 5 metres wide and 60m long. The staterooms are luxurious with huge king size beds and a spacious en-suite with piping hot water – just what’s needed after an hour-long dive.

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Asian odyssey: Singapore to Siladen

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The first port of call on our thrice-postponed diving trip to Raja Ampat is Singapore. Since my broken and dislocated shoulder at the end of December I have been doing my physio religiously every day and having acupuncture, cranial osteopathy and massage. I’ve brought with me three different wet suit combos to see what I can actually fit my shoulders into so I am well prepared. Continue reading →

Ten weeks on – how’s the shoulder?

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vickyunwin's avatarhealthy living with cancer

f16c45e6-b622-4aeb-8136-a85e952260c9 An outing to the top of the cable car towards the end of January

So here we are ten weeks after my injury. Time to take stock. I spent the whole of January in Switzerland looking longingly at the perfect snow and sunshine. Well, there was one week of blizzards where it was so cold that I hardly dared venture out.

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Nine years clear – and remembering Louise as she turns 33

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A quick update on life & health…

vickyunwin's avatarhealthy living with cancer

Always a bittersweet time of year: my annual check-up and Louise’s birthday. Here we are on her 18th about to go clubbing. She styled my outfit, Kate Moss Topshop dress…an embarrassing mum moment.

Lou 18th birthday

The good news first. I always know when all’s well when I get the registrar rather than the consultant to give me the results. This year it was another smooth NHS performance, timings like clockwork. And the consultation so relaxed she forgot to look at my leg as we were too busy talking about diving. Next year – 10 years on – time for my sign off and the ‘big party’ in the words of my surgeon. I have already received the appointment letter for the CT scan in November 2023 as final belt & braces.

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Lamu – returning to my spiritual home

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I first visited Lamu when I was eight years old. My mother was excavating the Pate and Manda ruins with Neville Chittick, the director of the British Institute in East Africa and the love of her life. They camped on Manda Toto, a small island of Lamu whose significance will be clear later. ‘Mama Sheila’ was the doyenne of Lamu society – beloved by all. Chronicler of the old oral tradition, culture and friend and patron of many. She bought  a house there in about 1970 which she owned until the 1980s. I spent many happy holidays there, and our honeymoon. Continue reading →