Wow…!!! Thats pretty much should sum it all up.

Yeap…mumbai is like no other city we have been…how do they seriously get to their destination with no driving rules and the use of horn is outrageous…but wait!! The people are super nice and they try to speak a little English in a way am going to have to start listening keenly.

So from the airport i noticed the men carrying the luggage and helping.

It started with me as am use to carrying my own suitcase and just breaking my back to carry it in and out of cars…

But with this they said i had to just sit in the car and they will do all the lifting. And they open doors for you…thats really different in most countries.

So i think we will enjoy Mumbai but it will be a bit challenging with roads being so unorganized.

Now my first tip is make sure to change your cash at the airport and if you plan on getting a SIM card do all that there as the rate for money exchange is the same or very close.

And please download Google translate and uber for your own sanity.

So i called an uber and thank God for this guy who lives in our apartment for helping me speak to the uber driver. But needless to say he came and picked me after 30min. Oh and the uber drivers dont like to wait so if you plan on waiting they will end trip and you can pay them cash for waiting and driving you around.

So for about 30min uber ride I paid $2.40

Now lets talk about getting a SIM card

I got vodafone just because they seem to be the best here and price is right.

I paid $4.85 for a new SIM which comes with 1gb per day for 28days…yeap you read that right.

It’s super cheap not to have a SIM card and internet on the go.

So after the hustle and bustle on this roads of Mumbai I got my data and talk time on and ready to enjoy the Indian culture and explore Mumbai.

Here are a few picks of our few hours of arrival

Mumbai Exploration Continues…

So our 3 months in Europe especially Roma us over today. I must say i have enjoyed Roma a lot..

We had our friend visit from Ghana, we made wonderful friends and we also met old friends.

Now it was super HOT…yes like Aasha will say “if the sun had a child it will be rome” lol!!

Now we are on our way to the airport and exit this beautiful city. And we are about to explore new and totally differnt cultures. India…I have always loved Indian food and their culture. Their cloths and just their peaceful life of meditation and yoga.

So am ready for that part of my life…

Thank you to all the people we meet in Roma and all the love…

Now india are you ready for the Manns clan????

The EXPLORATION Continues

Typing this blog was really one of the hardest things I have done as a adult. Many times when I meet people who have lost a love one, I always seem to tell them remember your love one is still around and watching over you so be strong on and move on.

Well I must say the feeling is not the same when I got then news in Rome about my love one.

on July 27th 2017 as I was sitting in Rome homeschooling my 8yr old son, my phone rings and with a smile on my face I saw it was my auntie in Holland whom kids and I just left from visiting her the night before. So I actually thought she was calling me to check and see if we made it back in Rome safely…. then she said those words I will never forget in my existence…”Mavis auntie Cynthia is dead”…I was stuck on the phone for at least 60 seconds just waiting for her to say not the woman i considered my mother…but yes it was….I have not idea how I held myself as I could not handle the pain I was feeling in my heart the pain of loosing someone so dear to you is one of the most explainable pain I have had to explain…

My beautiful and such a caring auntie has moved on unexpectedly and I was not in Ghana to say goodbye…I could not get to tell her that very moment how grateful I was to have her in my life and how she has inspired me to be a better woman, wife and mother.

My auntie Cynthia was the one I always call to get some advice on family and being a wonderful woman in life…because she was a representation of just that.

That 27th July 2017 on a hot Thursday afternoon everything I was experiencing had come to a stand still..as much as I have read all the great books that explains that death is not the experience of loosing someone but its just the change of the person human form to a soul that I still have the power to connect with anytime I wish too…this pain will not allow me practice this very lesson.

Has I walked into our bedroom and just wanted to be held by my husband and to feel his touch to help comfort…my magnificent husband decided to buy me a one way ticket back to Ghana to be with my family in Ghana.
That evening my husband took me to the termini central station to catch the bus to the airport and get on a flight back to Ghana. while flying back to Ghana with people and all the energy around me I did not really grief and all was fine….until..

I arrived in Ghana at my east legon home and walked into the bedroom and all I saw was my auntie, her presence as she will always come and sit in a rocking chair that is sitting in my room and we just talked about life and she has a drink which is malt. her presence was all over my room….and I was scared…very scared and all I did was cry and cry and cry…my mother and auntie is gone…she is gone and all the memories that she and I created are all I have.

Then my amazing mother in-law told me that I should go into my bedroom alone and talk to my auntie and let her know that I love her dearly and will make sure her 2 sons will have my love and I will help take care of them. I first thought that was weird and scary too…

But I did that…and with tears and some laughs I talked to my auntie Cynthia and I made sure she knows that I will always love her boys and will be there for them…I also told her how much I will miss her and how much truly loved and appreciated her love and care through my years of growing up and even when I become a mother…

Now the question is did it help….? and my answer is yes it did…I was able to stay in the room by myself and all i remember of my auntie is her lovely smiles and memories that we shared. now all I do is just love her boys and allow them to know that their mother’s love lives on and on and on…

gone forever But truly always in our hearts….we will miss you so much mother and auntie to many of us.

Tribute for my auntie Cynthia…

So like they say.. When having fun time just moves super fast.

Our 10days with family just ended in Amsterdam.

We have had such amazing time with my aunties and uncles. It’s been a while since I have seen them or spent time with them. Am so grateful that we got the opportunity to visit them and spend some quality time with them in Amsterdam.

My cousin was super helpful driving us around Amsterdam and also driving us to Belgium. Really appreciate that.

Now it’s time to say our goodbyes and as usually some tears must be expressed… Yeap after all our travels we still have those moments.

Here are a few pictures of love ones

When we travel we always hope to make new friends… But we also wish to have our friends visit us in those countries or we meet them. 

Today kids and I got to spend the day with one of our amazing doctors who use to work with us in Ghana.. And we got to meet her Prince… Super cute and cuddly baby boy. 

Had a great time just catching up and remembering all the times we spent in Ghana. 

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Den Haag to meet our friend. 

Such a blessing to be able to celebrate our only sons birthday in 2 different countries all in 1 day. 

Our son turn 8yrs on Friday and really he might probably be the easiest 8yr old to please… He is not asking for cakes or anything huge… All he wants is for you to take him to a toy store so he can pick one thing… Which in this case cost less than €15 and he is super excited and the day is great for him… Of course there is the part where he wants his sisters to Serve him which is not too much to ask for, for just a day… Lol!!! 

Today we decided to spend the birthday at a Belgium zoo and then spend the evening with family in Amsterdam… Yes 2 countries one birthday.. Here are a few clicks with our birthday boy… 

Today as we are journeying on through Europe we decided to take a trip to Belgium… It was a lovely ride from Amsterdam and we enjoyed the greenery environment. 

We visited one of their famous places which happens to be their massive unique train station in central. 

Which al had a full zoo right next to the train station… And just around that area there are just so much to get into.. 

Here are a few of our pictures 

Today kids and I ventured out to explore more of central Amsterdam. 

What I reliaze is not knowing is actually very exciting.. Because you just don’t know what is around the corner. 

My cousin was worried we might get lost… But I was totally excited and ready for that moment also… Getting lost. 

Also we found out when buying tickets for tours make sure to ask the right questions if you plan on saving. 

Like are there discounts for going at certain time or is there a different price for kids. And yes 

So the original price is €22 per adult and for children under 15 pay €17 but if you go off peak after 5pm adults pay €17 and kids pay €12… And you get to skip the line… 

Here are few pictures of our experience.. 

So every year in Amsterdam they have thus festival called the Kwaku festival… And from my understanding it’s for the freedom of the slaves that where Brought here. So it’s like how you have african americans in America… In Amsterdam they have the surinams(which is basically the slaves that where brought to thus country) and every year they get to celebrate their freedom. 

At the festival they have food from all sorts of countries like Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana and so many different countries. 

It goes on from 15th July till August 6th…. 

Now the fee to enter is €4 for adult and €2 per child under 12yrs old. 

And you can use credit card to pay entrance fees but only cash is used inside. 

The music is set up at different locations with people performing on stage. Pretty fun… 
While walking to the festival I came across an apartment that had a flag bagpack at the window so I asked my cousin about it and he said in Amsterdam when someone finishes college they hang that at the window to show that someone has graduated in that home. It’s such a beautiful culture that I think will motivate kids to want to go to college and do their best. 

So will share that picture on this page too… 

After many late nights researching for the best ticket price for me and my kid to take a trip to Amsterdam to visit my auntie who lives there. I finally got a great deal on vueling airline. 

So we took on the journey… It’s really exciting to be able to spend quality time with my aunties and uncles. Arriving there felt like home with family love and all the Ghanaian food that I miss during most of our travels. 

Today.. The day after we arrive my cousin took me and the kids into town… 

We enjoyed the canal boat tour.. Where we got to Learn a little history about Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam is truly a beautiful city of so much to keep your mind wondering and your eyes busy. Am so grateful for my family being there to host the kids and I. 

Here are a few pictures of today tour around the beautiful city of Amsterdam..