United States: West Coast Exploration!

After returning home from India for the second time, I was spent. Like to-the-bone exhausted. I desperately needed some time to recharge, and couldn't think of a better place to do that than on the west coast. My best friend Jess, and her husband, Ben, live in Seattle, and thankfully offered up a place to settle in and do what I needed to do to feel human again.

The week that followed was filled with laughter, relaxation, adventuring and just a shit ton of love. It was exactly what I needed. Honestly, I can't put into words how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends the world over. So absurdly privileged.

View of the mountains on the way in.

Jess and Ben's adorable (and lush!) front yard.

Crazy Mobi, one of their two cats.

One super fun side trip was over to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters, where Charles (of India fame) had a summer internship during his MBA program. Got an insider tour of the foundation, learned about some of their programs, and talked to the head of their education programming. They have a gorgeous campus with the most perfect view of the Space Needle.

Gates campus.

Inside their fancy dining room with Charles (with the Space Needle looming over us).

View from the building.

Enjoying some hot chocolate and good conversation with a stunning view.

One of Ben's best friends, Beau, came out to Seattle from NYC at the same time I did, which was a ton of fun. We originally met at Jess and Ben's wedding, since we were both in the wedding party, and got along well there so it was great to hang out more. The four of us took a combination ferry/road trip out to the coast in Washington one especially lovely day. Good music, beautiful scenery, winding mountain roads - it was great. We spent much of the afternoon hanging out on a beach, reading while Beau strummed his guitar, and then went on a short hike out to some point on the coast.

Hullo Seattle.

View from the ferry.

Pretty early on the drive Jess and I were the only ones awake.

Ahhh Pacific Ocean.

Obligatory selfie on the coastline. Don't know what's happening with Ben's face.

Leafy drive.

Heading out onto the beach.

Through the swishy grass.

I will never tire of the sea.

Jess getting some reading in (on a Shuka Duka picnic blanket from Kenya, obvi).

Just look at that view.

Doesn't get old.

Beau and Ben, talking and jamming.

Siiiigh. Lovely.

Hike views.

One of the westernmost points in the lower 48.

After we got back to Seattle, we spent a day at the Chihuly Glass Gardens at the base of the Space Needle. Dale Chihuly is an American artist who specialises in glass sculpture and it was stunning. The colours and shapes are so incredibly vibrant and bursting with creativity. Absolutely worth a visit if you're in Seattle.

Deep sea adventures.

Look at this crazy thing! 

It was so intricate and looked like the sea exploding.

A different kind of indoor rainbow.

The ceiling was filled with all these super random glass shapes.
It felt like walking into an I Spy book.

Some of these giant plates were simultaneously so delicate and sturdy.

And things were super whimsical.

Explosion of fire.

Glass boats, glass floats.

Amazing what some well-directed light can do.

Amazing chandeliers. 

Art in the sky (and a hazy Space Needle).

This room would be the most incredible (and incredibly expensive)
wedding/reception venue.

The gardens also have a bunch of outdoor "plants" made of glass.

Seattle reflections.

Ideal venue from the outside.

The blue section of the garden - both glass and flowers.

I want to plant these guys in my yard.

We also checked out the Woodinvale Whiskey Company, which was delightful.

After five wonderful days in Seattle, Jess and I headed down the coast to meet up with some of our friends from Nairobi that ended up settling in San Francisco and environs. We flew down, rented a car, and immediately went out to visit our friends Chris and Kalpana at their house in Palo Alto. Dinner included lots of reminiscing, laughter, and top notch home cooked food. It was delightful. Chris and Kalpana were unfortunately going out of town for the weekend, but they super kindly let Jess and I stay in their apartment while they were gone, which proved to be an excellent base camp for Bay Area adventuring.

Some of my favourite Nairobi (and Nairobi-adjacent!) people. Amrit, Gabriella, Jess, Kalpana, Chris, Elaine.

On Saturday, Jess and I took advantage of our rental car and road tripped down Route 1. Holy crap. Now, I admit, for the first hour or so of the trip (before Carmel) I was unimpressed. "I thought this was supposed to be a stunning, life changing drive," I thought. "Where are the dramatic views?!" Well, good things come to those who wait. All of a sudden, you come around a curve in the road and everything else falls away. It was absolutely gorgeous. The clouds blew off and we found ourselves twisting and turning along the coastline, just two best friends with good music and the windows down. Doesn't get much better than that!

Rocky coastline.

Stopped for a photo op.

Sigh.

Love a good panorama. Check out those clouds!

So peaceful.

Little tree on a private island.

So many blues!

Look at that coast!

So pretty.

Also, a TOUCH windy.

We finished out the night by grabbing wine and a delicious dinner at Nepenthe in Big Sur as the sun sank below the horizon. Then we drove back up to Palo Alto and crashed.

Great windows for viewing sunset.

Beautiful view from Big Sur.

Made only better with a glass of red.

And your bestie by your side.

Looking out to sea.

Sunday was our last day in San Francisco and we wanted to make the most of it. When I was out in the Bay Area for Chris and Kalpana's wedding, I explored the city for a few hours with our friend Connor, but I felt like I'd only gotten a taste. One of the things I hadn't hat time to do was try out any of SF's famous bakeries. Most people have heard of Tartine, as evidenced by very long lines and the fact that I know more than one person who has the coffee table book of their bread (insanity). But my San Francisco insider/very close friend Priscilla insisted that we go to b. patisserie instead. Holy shit. Honestly some of the best pastries I've ever had in my life. Jess and I each picked an assortment, and then headed across the Bay Bridge to eat them at a scenic overlook with a sweeping view of the bay. It was amazing.

So many choicesssss. Drool.

On the bridge.

I'm sorry, I challenge you to find a better spot for a breakfast picnic.

Gorgeous day.

Gimme. Dat. Almond. Pastry.

You could see basically forever. 

We drove around for a bit (including down an insanely steep road that appeared to go directly into the ocean) and did a little long-distance whale watching, and then headed back into the city to pick up some supplies for a Nairobi Reunion Picnic at Mission Dolores Park. It was a perfect day and tons of people who were in Nairobi at one point or another came out to lounge in the sun and share food and memories. I met some people I hadn't known before but shared a lot in common with, so that was great. Dolores Park also has SUPERB people watching, and not only was it a beautiful day, but the picnic took place just after Pokemon Go was released and it was hilarious to watch so many people fully absorbed in the game.

I recognise that this doesn't LOOK that steep right now, but trust me, it was.

Whale spouts!

The whales were super active that day.

Dolores Park!

The most California thing I've ever seen. Kale FLAVOURED popcorn.

Reunion on American soil with one of my Nairobi roomies, Steph.

Lainey lovin'.

We had quite a crew...and some amazing Kenyan blankets, of course.

Couldn't have asked for nicer weather.

Or a better group of humans.

After the picnic, Jess and Elaine and I went to get some food and then it was time for Jess and I to head to the airport - her to her Washington (state), me to mine (DC). The week went too fast, but it was honestly exactly what I needed. I'm so absurdly lucky to have the incredible friends that I do, even if we're scattered all over the world. The second we get back to the same place its like we were never apart, and I will never ever take that kind of love and magic for granted.