“2019 was more learning than enjoying, Kim.”
Kim’s View is all about exploring the world and learning something along the way. We started the year in Nairobi, ended in Alexandria, and traveled thirty-four thousand kilometers in between.
The map above shows black lines for overland travel and red lines for flights, totaling two hundred seventy-seven hours of bus, taxi, boat, train, and plane rides.
We scored a Kim’s View in twenty-one new countries—in Africa and the Arab Gulf—but only Namibia, Egypt, and Tunisia were enjoyable overall.
2019 Kim’s Views
(click a flag for the Kim’s View)
Traveling in central Africa and the Arab Gulf states—as a poor backpacker—was not fun.
“But you know what, Sis? The best lessons seem to come from the worst places.”
In 2019 we learned how to fight off police extortion more efficiently, and how to be a kick-ass dictator.
We also learned the plight of Cameroon’s ancient Baka pygmies, and why you should never let your guard down.
2019’s silver lining was flying over Victoria Falls, dune bashing and hiking in Namibia, and riding quads among Egypt’s pyramids. Some of our coolest experiences ever, Kim.
Inauspicious Start
2019 started with six trips to the dentist for a root canal and gum deep cleaning. Ouch.
Then on January fifteenth, jihadi jerkoffs attacked Nairobi’s DusitD2 hotel—while I was getting said root canal just three miles away—and killed twenty-one innocent people.
“I prefer to be much farther away from terror attacks, Kim!”
Start With Four Lakes, End With Three Forts
Our first four Kim’s Views were all east African lakes, and our last three Kim’s Views of 2019 were all Arabian Gulf forts. None are “all-time-classics.”
Three “All-Time-Classic” Kim’s Views in 2019
An epic Kim’s View in an iconic place might make our “all-time-classic” list. Think Angkor, Diamond Head, Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro, the Colosseum, Great Wall …
All-Time-Classic Kim’s View – Victoria Falls
All-Time-Classic Kim’s View – Sandwich Bay
My photos don’t really show the massive scale of these amazing sand dunes, and we have a weird back story behind this Sandwich Bay Kim’s View.
All-Time-Classic Kim’s View – Giza Pyramids
I love Egypt, Kim. Our three months in Cairo, Giza, and “Alex” were so enjoyable, and the Sphinx … well, she speaks for herself.
Farthest Off The Path
The most secluded Kim’s View of 2019 is from a nineteenth century lighthouse at Pointe Ngombe in Gabon’s wild Pongara National Park.
Coolest Country
Namibia is a continuous, picture-postcard photo opportunity; killer sand dunes, canyons, ghost towns, and desert horses make Namibia my favorite country in 2019.
Miss Congeniality
I feel guilty, Sis. Tunisia is awesome, but our Kim’s View at El Jem colosseum—only Rome’s is bigger—just missed out on “all-time-classic” status. So, Tunisia gets our Miss Congeniality award for 2019.
Most Forgettable
We won’t be going back to Congo-Brazzaville in this lifetime, Sis, and Kim’s View at Diosso Gorge is 2019’s most forgettable. Meeting pastor Brice’s family was the highlight of Congo.
New Friends
We met good people—most often in bad places—and we made new friends in 2019;
Young French expats in Gabon, Ugandan teachers, Namibians of the Ovambo tribe, Nigerian “giants of Africa” everywhere, a Congolese pastor, Guinean policeman, Nairobi dentist, Omani good Samaritan, Egyptian journalist, and cool, fellow travelers.
Kim’s View 2020
We can see light at the end of the tunnel, Sis! One hundred forty-two countries down, about sixty countries to go.
Kim's Views End 2019
If we visit twenty countries a year—which has been our default pace over the last two years—for the next three years, we’ll have a Kim’s View in every United Nations country plus a few others.
Safe to say, “every country on the planet.”
“We have one more “search & enjoy” mission to South America, Africa-Middle East, and Europe.”
Kim’s View 2020 will kick off in Argentina then head north to explore Brazil, the Caribbean, and everywhere in between. Let’s rock ‘n’ roll, Sis! KV
