artsim's posterous

 Joining AVU/RMIT to pursue my Computer Science programme is one example.  I was then in Kenyatta University trying to change my course from the Bsc. Science to computer science, what I was interested in. After another fruitless day of going from one office to another I decided to go into the AVU building and see the courses on offer. Upon learning that they were offering a comp sci course through RMIT, I quickly filled in my application and a few weeks later I began my studies. Its been so far a decision I have never regretted.

 Getting employed was under similar circumstances. Upon completion of my studies, I teamed up with a couple of classmates and we formed Syafrique Technologies. We spent the next months running around trying to get our fledging IT firm to take off, but our inexperience and lack of direction, 5 cofounders and each with a different idea on what the business was about lead us to getting nowhere fast.  One Saturday while walking home in Mombasa, I came across an office offering IT solutions, a quick peek inside revealed several desks and computers which were at the time empty being Saturday afternoon, except for one guy who was working on his laptop, he asked how he could help me and I told him i was looking for a job, something which I had not even considered till then. I came to learn it was a software development company and they were actually hiring. A couple of days later after hastily preparing a C.V and going for an interview I started out on my career path as a software developer.

 It's now been four years since that day and I just turned 27, I have decided to act on another whim, I quit my job.

 Why?

 I have several ideas that I want to bring into reality and I realized that I needed to invest a serious chunk of time if I was to do that.  One thing about my previous job was that it was quite time intensive, from 8 - 6 normally running to around 7. Getting home tired and starting to work on the projects proved to be too much. So in the end I felt i had no other option but to quit so as to realize my dreams.

So what now?

I have several projects that I am hoping to launch soon, but till then I still have to pay my bills so I have a couple of freelance gigs that should enable me to do that. At least with the freelance gigs I can space my time out and get to work on my own projects as well. They might not be as well paying as the job I had but its a well worth sacrifice in the end.

It has so far been a liberating experience. The motivation is back in my life, I wake up and head straight for my laptop till late at night before I slump into bed and I am loving every minute of it. I had thought that with having no boss to look over my shoulder would mean me spending more time on IM, twitter and HackerNews, instead I have found myself doing that less. There is just too much to do and too little time. 

It is scary walking away from the security and comfort of a well paying job and crazy as most people are telling me, but I think of myself as one of those brave adventurers who could sail off into uncharted waters where dragons dwelt.

After weeks of planning, well more of weeks of talking about it and a day of planning and frantic last minute shopping with @Shiko_Msa , the Mombasa twitter family compromising of I, @Shiko_Msa, @samnato, @Iquira1, @sideword plus some MKZ fellows Flo, Kirt, Gaby and Veena finally packed up our bags crossed the ferry and headed to Tiwi for a relaxed and chilled out weekend, and what fun it was.

We got to Tiwi late afternoon and started pitching the tents, a new experience to most of the tweeps and the strong wind at the beach wasnt helping much either, @Samnato and Veena had to chase down and catch their tent which was caught in the wind and took off.

(download)

Click here to download:

tiwi-beach-camp-tweetup-how-it-went-down-DDivjowvgiHjEmudeaet.zip (271 KB)

Pretty soon it was getting dark and supper had to be prepared. It was time to light up the jiko, had been a long time since i had last done this :) and  with the ever helpful  sideword giving a helping hand.

With the Jiko blazing in all its glory (hehehe) the chefs got to work and they came up with some delicious looking and tasting chicken stew. Below are the two final products, a whole lot of ugali and the delicous chicken stew, with @sideword standing guard over the ugali.

After the eating was done it was time to get the bonfire lit, sit back, relax and while the night away

With the sounds of the waves as a backdrop, people just fell asleep where they were sitted, under the clear night sky, and woke up ealry in the morning to catch the beautiful sunrise.

(download)

Click here to download:

tiwi-beach-camp-tweetup-how-it-went-down-ilIjjuwIAgcJuGeyzAcl.zip (305 KB)

After breakfast, everyone went down to the beach for a swim. South Coast has the most beautiful beaches on the Kenyan Coast and Tiwi is simply one of the best. With almost no beach boys to hassle you and the crowds that are common on the North Coast beaches, Tiwi is simply idilic for a nice relaxed swim and the tweeps took full advantage of it.

Lunch was grilled fish, freshly caught and delievered to the campsite by a local fisherman unfortunately with no ugali since no one was willing to leave the lovely swim and come cook it.

Fianlly some photos of the campsite.

Update: For some reason some galleries are missing some photos, will try update them later on.

(download)

Click here to download:

tiwi-beach-camp-tweetup-bjCuhiehrBditoikaroD.zip (352 KB)

On the 26th and 27th of February this year, tweeps from Mombasa will be heading to Tiwi Twiga lodge campsite for a weekend of fun and pleasure.

Tiwi is a small town just after Ukunda, around 17km from the Likoni Ferry around 50/- by Matatu, and the lodge is 2km off the highway, nothing like a short hot hike to get you in the mood for a swim.

The camping fee is 300/- per nite per person, and the tents are also available for 400/- per night with a sleeping bag thrown in.

What is now remaining is the food and drinks for the duration there, with an approximation of 250/- for the supper on the 1st night, 150/- for breakfast and 250/- for lunch, then 650 should be enough for the food and drinks.

Each person shall come with their own additional water as well as any other snacks and alcoholic drinks.

So basically each tweep should be ready to part with around Ksh. 1350 for the 2 day event, that will cover accommodation and food for the 2 days and 1 night.

So what else do you need to bring along?

Pocket money, your camera to capture all the fun, toothpaste and brush, plenty of extra drinking water (it is never enough), swim wear (bikinis are compulsory for the ladies) and most importantly a determination to have FUN!

UPDATE: We leave Mombasa on the 26th in the afternoon around 140hrs and get to the campsite at 1600hrs. We head back to Mombasa the next day at around 1500hrs after having lunch and the afternoon swim.

Taking a look back at my life and all the choices I have made, there are things that I wish I could turn back the hands of time and redo, and there are others that given that chance I would not change. The 1st deviation from the dream came a few months after i had left University, back in campus i had gotten together with a couple of friends (Mistake no 1: we were more than 4 co-founders, each with his own vision on what the company should be) to start Syafrique Technologies an IT firm providing a range of IT solutions basically a jack of all trades, our second mistake. After a brief period i got a job offer with my current employers and i left the company. it later broke up with the founders going their separate ways.

Getting employed i promised myself that i was going to this for only 2 years, gain all the experience that i could within those years as well as network and plan for my exit and start of my own company. Unfortunately leaving employment has not been as easy as i had anticipated. Every year i make a resolution to be self employed the next, only to do the same the next year. This year i am determined to make the change and so far things are panning out OK. Hopefully the change can come sooner rather than later and next year when celebrating my 27th birthday i can look back and see this as the turning point in my life, when i decided to chase after my dream and make it a reality.

Finally I would like to take this chance to thank all who wished me a happy birthday and especially my girlfriend Olivia who went out of her way to ensure that the day was truly special for me. I love you all and God bless.