For the 4th year running, the Annual Diani Beach Touch Rugby Tournament has taken place 6th, 7th, 8th July 2012, At Forty Thieves Beach Bar, Diani.

Congratulations to CIVICON 1 – winners of the 2012 DIANI BEACH TOUCH RUGBY!!!

2012 Winners Civicon

FINAL : CIVICON1 1-0 UNDER 21 VETS

Swahili Beach square it out with Diani Shopping centre

PLATE FINAL: DIANI SHOPPING CENTRE 2-0 SWAHILI BEACH

Bowl winners Mwamba Invaders

BOWL FINAL: MWAMBA INVADERS 9-6 BQUINIZ

SHIELD FINAL: NAIROBI GIRLS 8-2 MOMBASA SPORTS CLUB

 The first Touch Rugby Tournament was played in 2009 in Diani, there are now 4 other tournaments in Kenya; Touch Rugby is fast becoming a very popular sport in Kenya.

 Beach touch rugby in the way it is played here is fun, it’s quick (only 7 minutes a side), and young and veteran sides can play, men and women or any combination of the above. Disparate skills and abilities are evened out with the number of points awarded for a try.

 The tournament is also the occasion to support the Age Grade Program initiated by the Rugby Patrons Society, under the Direction of the Kenya Rugby Football Union. The programme targets school children in the 9-16 year old age group and its purpose is to nurture both boys and girls by developing their rugby skills and identifying talent at an early age.

 With the support of the players, the spectators and auction on Saturdays evening we have raised this year KES 300,000/= well done to all contributors. We raised KES 250,000/= in 2011 and 100,000/= in 2010.

See you next year!

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For the 4^th year running, the Annual Diani Beach Touch Rugby Tournament will take place 6th, 7th, 8th July 2012, At Forty Thieves Beach Bar, Diani.

The tournament is recognized both nationally and internationally, attracting teams from Kenya and Overseas. Last year we had 20 teams competing and thanks to the success of the past tournaments, we have decided to expand to 28 teams this year with International teams coming from the UK,Swaziland and Tanzania as well as some of Kenya’s best teams from Nairobi, Naivasha, Mombasa, Nanyuki and Diani.

The first Touch Rugby Tournament was played in 2009 in Diani, there are now 4 other tournaments in Kenya; Touch Rugby is fast becoming a very popular sport in Kenya.

Beach touch rugby in the way it is played here is fun, it’s quick (only 7 minutes a side), and young and veteran sides can play, men and women or any combination of the above. Disparate skills and abilities are evened out with the number of points awarded for a try.

The tournament is also the occasion to support the Age Grade Program initiated by the Rugby Patrons Society, under the Direction of the Kenya Rugby Football Union. The programme targets school children in the 9-16 year old age group and its purpose is to nurture both boys and girls by developing their rugby skills and identifying talent at an early age.

With the support of the players, the spectators and auction on Saturdays evening,

KES 250,000/= was raised in 2011 and 100,000/= in 2010.

This year again we have the Auction set on Saturday 7^th July evening at Forty Thieves Beach Bar.

Friday and Saturday nights will feature 3 famous Danes artists performing at Forty Thieves (LOUISE HØEGH, BENJAMIN AGGERBAEK and PALLE KLOK), two nights of Blues, Rock and Jazz concert.

This year’ tournament kicks off Friday 6^th July in the evening with night games and the Finals to be played Sunday 8^th July by 11am – the trophy ceremony will start at 2pm.

Please, write down the dates in your calendar and do not hesitate to contact me if you require more information and pictures of the past events.

Let me know the days you will cover the tournament and the names of your crew to list you down for lunch if required.

Looking forward to seeing you at the 4^th Annual Diani Beach Touch Rugby Tournament July 6/7/8 2012 at Forty Thieves Beach Bar – Diani

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Pictures conjure great memories. Taking those great shots is a skill left to great photographers. And that is the mainstay of a traveler photographer – capturing excellent images while travelling to various places. Priceless pictures at that.

Magazines, newspapers, websites, hotels among others rely on travel photographers to capture sterling images to promote their services and products. But despite looking glamorous, travel photography is very demanding.

But once you get a grip of capturing excellent images – actually let’s call them perfect shots, you should be on the way to the big bucks.
So what does it take to become a pro travel photographer? Simply put – experience. But to get there novice photographers should be aware of several things.
Before engaging in an assignment, a travel photographer should conduct a background check on their destination to:-

• Know the places of interest
• Learn the local culture
• Familiarize themselves with the geographic  layout of the destination
• Understand the dos and don’ts in the destination
• Know the important things they need to carry like types of clothing and confirm power compatibility with their devices

Camels on the beach by Tuppa

Armed with that information, the journey can begin.
As a travel photographer, your most valuable possession is obviously the camera complete with supporting gadgetry. Those supporting gadgets are the heart and soul of great photography. Pro photographers have:-

• A camera
• Various lenses like the 20-35mm or the 28-70mm lenses with different focal lengths. (Never mind the tech speak)
• Memory cards, if you use a digital camera and film if you are into the traditional camera.
• Laptops – Most people prefer digital cameras for the convenience. Gadgets like laptops to edit and store the images have become as important as the cameras themselves. The laptops are loaded with photo editing software like Photoshop to fine tune the images.
• Card readers necessary in freeing up the cards ready for the next shoot.
• Backup drives that are also paramount incase your only storage the laptop, fails, is stolen or lost

Before embarking on a journey to an unknown destination check the power compatibility with your devices to avoid disappointments. Power in Diani Beach and Kenya generally uses the three pin plugs on a 240v supply.
Another important asset upon arrival at your destination is a guide who will quickly point out the areas you are interested in and also lead you to those unknown. In Diani Beach for instance there are rare spots like the Kinondo Forest that may require guides.

Coming to Diani Beach as a travel photographer will expose you to striking sceneries that will make good shots for your compositions. The rest is upon your skill and creativity. Expose your lenses to Diani Beach and savour the memories.

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KONGO MOSQUE

Centuries Old Walls of Kongo Mosque

Borrowing a name from the surrounding forest, Kongo Mosque is an ancient structure rich in history now turned – tourist attraction. Previously known as Diani Persian Mosque, a name coined by the Arab Merchants who occupied the area then, Kongo Mosque is today more than a worship center.  

Flanked by massive baobab trees

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Furniture on sale by the road

Are you one of those people who are intrigued by the stick furniture that is sold by the roadsides of Diani Beach? I am and the reason is – I now see more and more of this furniture and can’t help wonder if it is stable, durable, functional and environment friendly. Debate about using sticks instead of timber is inconclusive but the logic in my mind is that, the sticks used do not take decades to mature like some of the best timber, therefore using sticks saves trees. So it could actually be a good alternative to buy furnishings made from these sticks. Stick furniture is definitely viable for those small things in the house like shoe racks or shelves. It would help if the workmen really improved the workmanship and brought some artistry to the craft as it would result in better prices and appreciation or the items.

Interesting coat hangers

The stick furniture is sold Diani Beach mostly around the T- junction at Nakumatt. According to the carpenters, they only use sticks rom the Mwarubaini – otherwise known as Neem. The Neem is well known for its alleged ability to cure 40 diseases. The carpenters told me the Mwarubaini is preferred because it is dudu proof and very  flexible. Instects don’t like it.

The sticks  used to make the furniture are peeled while still green, sometimes burnt a little  and then bent to take shape as the carpenters envision. They are curved a full circle without breaking and used to make all sorts of interesting furnitures such as round tables and sun-beds. I also saw entertainment units, chairs and- the carpenter claimed to have a 4×6 bed at home that was made from the sticks!

Here are the shelves

Amazingly, the items are very cheap. That is a good thing if you don’t scrutinize the quality too much and a bad thing  for the cratsmen because they make too little. If only they took time to produce fine items of higher qality, then they would get good prices for their stick furniture.

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Whenever you are going to a new holiday destination you are faced with the nightmare of packing, what to carry and what to leave out. But if you have been to Diani Beach then you know what to carry especially this partially cold season.

I decided to draft this list for first time visitors to Diani Beach to make your visit worth. The items in my list are randomly prioritized and they include:

1. Camera- A holiday without a camera,video or still can never be remembered especially with family and friends. Make sure you have either or both with back up power. You don’t want the juice on your camera dying off just as you are capturing the most breath taking moment. If you use a digital still camera with rechargeable battery carry your power charger pack. You can access power in all hotels at Diani Beach. For cameras using regular batteries dont carry batteries because local stores like Nakumatt Supermarket stock them, all you need is sufficient memory cards. Remember Diani Beach power voltage rating is 240v and the plugs are English type. Oh, don’t leave your lenses behind because long shots will be your best bet to capture the wild animals if you take a safari.

2. Clothing – The kind of clothing you bring to Diani Beach is dictated by two factors. One, season, are you coming during the cold rainy season between April and July or the warm August December period. Secondly will you go on Safari to various reserves around Kenya? If you itinerary dictates your coming to Diani Beach over the rainy season  as the only stop then going back home, carry warm clothing but don’t carry winter clothing it isn’t that cold. If you are to embark on a safari to the reserves like the Mara,  have some trousers with you for night wear because all through the year night times are characterized by low temperatures plus the mosquitoes are most active then. The beach calls for loose clothing, shorts, t-shirts or swim wear for the ladies and sunglasses but you are advised to prepare according to season and destination. A hat to shield you from the rays will go a long way. Carry enough clothing for your stay because some lodges don’t have laundry services.

3. Medication -This can be anti-malarial tabs, anti diarrhea tabs, anti-fever tabs some of which you can get from local drug stores at Diani Beach. You will need plenty of sunscreen and mosquito repellent in its various forms. You can carry a repellent that will  keep both sand flies and mozzies at bay. Sand flies are a menace that can ruin your holiday.

4. Toiletries are a matter of preference because you can grab some from the local stores but if you have a specific brand then carry it with you.

AN assortment of toiletries

5. An easy attitude and an open mind.  With that you are well on your way to a fabulous holiday at Diani Beach.

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