Yupp, bring it, OG!
Yes please.
Right. Let me gather my thoughts and try to remember as much as I can. I will put something together soon.
Part 1: Into the Heart of Africa
The road beckoned once more, winding its way through the vibrant landscapes of Southern Africa. This time, the adventure carried me through Zambia, Ethiopia (again), and Malawi, with Wanderlust Fogmaster as my steadfast companion.
Zambia greeted us warmly with its welcoming atmosphere and hearty brews. From the bustling cities of Ndola and Kitwe to the lively streets of Lusaka, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the familiar echoes of South Africa. Though not quite as sprawling or metropolitan, these Zambian cities exuded a certain South African vibe that felt oddly like home.
Amidst my travels, the quest for vape shops proved elusive, but disposables made occasional appearances in larger supermarkets. Traveling with a colleague meant we had our own wheels, eliminating the need for taxis and making on-the-go vaping a breeze.
Zambia, like many African nations, retains a smoking culture, yet glimpses of the vaping community emerged. The open road and friendly faces set the stage for an African adventure that promised more twists and turns ahead.
Stay tuned for the next leg of our journey as we delve deeper into the heart of Ethiopia, a land of rich history and untamed beauty.
Would love to see a pic or two of the bustling streets
I had no expectations on what I’d see, but it does remind me of Jamaica especially where you show the one van just off the roadway casually parked. Now there, I have seen a car in a shallow river being washed.
Thanks.
This advice will definitely help ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience for vapers. Well done!
Will it though?
Back in Zimbabwe for another adventure, this time with a colleague to exhibit at an agricultural show. Knowing it wouldn’t be a hassle to get my vape gear into the country, I took Wanderlust Fogmaster and my trusty Target 200. This way, I could switch between flavor profiles on the fly—some Snow Ape in the Target and Udderly Bananas in Fogmaster.
The Agri show was a four-day affair, including setup day. But let’s skip the boring details and get to the highlights. We set up an electric fence display and, yes, a bunch of people got shocked, including myself. Friday night was party central with loads of beer and dancing. I must say, Zimbabwe has some really pretty girls. Saturday, however, was a struggle thanks to our Friday night escapades.
After the show, we hit up a local biker bar for beers and dinner. Turns out, Zimbabwe has a solid biker community, but Saturday nights attract mostly young folks, and yes, it turned into another party. Wanderlust Fogmaster got more attention from the girls than I did. Go figure. Geek Vape is the most popular brand in Zim, with sub-ohm tanks everywhere but no RTAs or RDAs in sight. Maybe that’s why Fogmaster was such a hit.
Sunday was recovery day. I spent the morning in my non-smoking lodge room, vaping my heart out while binge-watching Netflix. Absolute heaven. But hunger eventually drove me out for some KFC and then back to the biker bar for the Monaco Grand Prix. This time, the crowd was older, all there for the Moto GP and F1.
Initially, I was fine with it, still nursing a hangover from the previous nights. But as the race got going, I ended up in conversations with some really curious folks, leading to more drinking. My social battery was running low, and all I wanted was to watch the race in peace. By the end of it, we were on the brink of being properly drunk again. Thankfully, that’s where it ended. Back at the lodge, I downed a litre of Coke in 30 minutes, watched the last few episodes of Peaky Blinders, and called it a night.
Monday and Tuesday were spent giving training and a mad rush to catch our flight back home in time to vote in the general elections. And that, my friends, is the Zimbabwe recap. It was a blast. Zimbabwe isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Can’t wait for the next trip!
Hey everyone,
I’ve been swamped with work lately, so I haven’t had much time to write a detailed post. But I wanted to share some recent photos from my trip to Mokaikai Game Reserve. The wildlife there was absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t resist snapping a few shots to share with you all.
Hope you enjoy these as much as I did capturing them. Mokaikai never disappoints!
Feel free to comment with your thoughts or share your own travel photos!
Happy vaping and happy traveling!
Nice photos, OG! Is that someones pool, or a community wildlife watering hole? Are the stones(atop the perimeter) for tossing in, to make a wish?
It’s been said that if you enjoy your job, you’ll never work a day in your life…I’m guessing that’s YOU!
It is the pool at the lodge where I stayed.
I assume the rocks are throw at the porcupine that thinks he is a dog. He comes into the kitchen looking for food and gets aggressive when you try to chase him out.
I enjoy the travel part of my job, but the rest is just like any other job out there. Shitty managers, bad pay, long hours, too many emails, etc.
I was going to keep this photo for my write-up of my latest trip, but it is too good not to share right now.
I’m using a shower cap as a condom for the smoke detector in my hotel room so that I can vape in peace.
A Journey of Delays, Vaping, and Unexpected Wins
Alright, so let me start by saying, I was not exactly stress-free heading into this trip. I was on a work mission, but this time with my manager — a guy who doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, and thinks vaping is practically a sin. So, here I was, packing for a three-week trip with more juice and coils than anyone could need, all while mentally prepping for the usual vaping lecture. Wanderlust Fogmaster, Target 200, and my trusty Xros 4 mini were loaded and ready.
Flight Delays & Airport Drama
Sunday morning rolled around, and as I’m about to head to the airport, I get hit with the first curveball: my flight’s been delayed. Not by an hour, but until 5 p.m. Turns out, Kenya Airways had other plans for my day. To be honest, I didn’t mind — more time at home with my fiancé and pups. Eventually, I got to the airport, went through all the checks, and found myself in the lounge. By 4:30 p.m., they’d delayed it again to 8:30 p.m. Typical. But hey, what’s a few more hours of lounge snacks and maybe one too many Jack Daniel’s?
Arriving in Dar es Salaam
After what felt like the longest airport layover ever, I finally arrived in Dar. Checked into the hotel, and being familiar with the place, I set myself up to vape in my room without setting off any alarms (travel hack: shower caps aren’t just for the shower). Instead of moving around the city to meet clients like usual, we stayed put at the Sea Cliff Hotel and let them come to us. This setup was perfect. I could vape freely between meetings, and the view of the ocean didn’t hurt either.
Clearing the Air on Vaping
As expected, my manager brought up the “dangers of vaping” conversation. I laid out the facts about vaping being a healthier alternative to smoking, DIY e-liquids and especially on my view of disposables and the whole youth vaping issue. By the end, I think I’d managed to change his mind a bit. The fact that he didn’t bring it up again after our chat? Small victories.
Exploring Dar & A Night at the Yacht Club
We did end up exploring a bit of Dar es Salaam. I got to see parts of the city I hadn’t before, but the real highlight was a night out at the yacht club with some ex-pats. This is where things got a little wild. Let’s just say, there were a few too many rounds, and even my non-drinking manager ended up having a beer or two. If you’re doing business with ex-pats, you keep up with their pace, and if they’re buying, well… let’s just say it was a night to remember — or not remember.
But that’s Tanzania for you. Next up, Kenya and trust me, you don’t want to miss this. To be continued…
Kenya — A Wild Welcome and a Close Call
This Kenya trip? A whole new beast. It started at the airport, where a seemingly helpful cop turned my welcome into something you’d only believe if you’d been there. I’m waiting in a long line to get my passport stamped when this cop suddenly tells me to move over to the UN and ambassador line since no one’s using it. Seemed a little odd, but he looked official, and a few other folks were doing the same. So, I shrugged, headed over, and got through customs way faster.
I picked up my bags, only to find another long line at the scanner. No big deal, right? But then, like magic, the same cop shows up, grabs my bag, and waves me right past the scanner. At this point, it was starting to feel sketchy. And sure enough, once we’re outside, he starts hinting that he’s expecting a little “extra.” Now, since this was a business trip, I knew I couldn’t expense a bribe, so I told him if he wanted a Coke or something, I could swing that. He wasn’t happy with the answer, so he grabs my backpack — the one with my laptop and my vapes in it. Not good.
Thinking fast, I offer him the Coke again, and finally, he hands the bag back. I’m just relieved to get my stuff back, but I’m tense as hell. I’m dying for a quick vape to calm down, but here’s the kicker: vaping near any government building, including the airport, is off-limits in Kenya. So I’m searching my bags, only to look up and see the cop standing outside, smiling and taking a drag on my Xros before slipping back inside. Yup, that just happened. Welcome to Africa, folks. On the bright side, he didn’t get my wallet, and I still had my other vapes.
After a drive to the hotel, I checked in at the Best Western Westlands. Nice place, super clean, but with serious no-smoking rules. Let’s just say, shower caps? Still coming in handy.
Day 1 in Kenya: a bit rough, but done. Nairobi itself was pretty standard as far as business goes, so not much to report there. But let me tell you, Nanyuki was a whole different story — the adventure kicked up a notch, and I’ll save that for the next round.
Thieving bastard. At least you’re fine.
Never before have I wanted to knock a cop tf out as much as did that night.
It was like 3 am and I was in a bad mood already.