This past Friday I packed my bags and made my way to Gaborone to attend The Gaborone International Food & Drink Market 2015 (The GIFD Market). If you missed it, we spoke about it HERE. The plan was to be part of the whole Botswana/Gabs experience starting from Friday morning but unfortunately my many jobs and being a mother made it impossible for me. On top of work, I had to attend my daughter’s show at her school. That’s why I only landed in Gabs in the evening, tired as hell. 
Even though I missed out on the day tour of the city, I am glad my fellow Mzansi peeps had a good time. From SA it was myself (Just Curious), Farah Fortune (African Star Communications), Ayanda Molefe (Elle Magazine), Trevor Stuurman (Elle Magazine) and the forever stylish TeeTee Nteta. If you love dressing up then check her blog HERE. So much to look at.
Where Trevor is, there is a camera. 
This is what I arrived to around 9:30pm at Masa Centre in Gaborone. There was food everywhere. After dinner it was time to party, to celebrate Halloween. We moved from food to huge black ‘spiders’ at the roof top of the most amazing hotel, Lansmore Hotel.
I fell in love with my room. Actually all of us were talking about how beautiful and spacious the rooms are. The view was amazing. I slept like a baby.
The next morning after breakfast, I took on the streets with Farah and Ayanda. Then we arrived at some mall and Farah got into it with a security guard. We moved from zero to almost calling the cops. It was a mess. But at the end, he was forced by management to apologize for touching her, and that’s when we left. Phew!!
That’s how our morning began. It was already spinning because of the heat. I was sun burnt and I have accepted that these sun blocks never work on me.
Selfie moments with the gang during lunch.
After lunch, we made our way to Bojanala Water Front for #TheGIFDMarket. That was the whole purpose of our trip.
We were transported in style.
The brains behind #TheGIFDMarket. The most amazing couple – Tshepo and Mike. These two, together with their team, made our trip all worth it. They really took good care of us. We lacked absolutely nothing. Great individuals with beautiful souls.
The set up.
All chilled
Too much space to play around. That’s my kind of environment. I don’t like crowded places….I always want to breathe freely!
There was all types of food, including ikota done the Batswana style obviously.
All types of homemade drinks.
Alcohol galore
And 4th Street was there.
Yes it was a very hot day, but still there was Coffee.
I watched him make my Smoothie.
Voila!!
Farah bought some chilli what what. I am allergic to anything that tastes hot, so I backed off. (That’s Mike photobombing) Tltltltltl
But I bought myself a couple of these jugs. I can make my virgin cocktails at the comfort of my home.
Chillas!!
Posers!
Yarona FM’s Lebo Ann
Donald and Steph
Gwen in the mix.
Happy people
Everyone in the pic is blurry, except them….#Levels
There was fashion
Look at her bag.
Full pic
And this bag.
Her earrings…….I am sure our Zintle was gonna enjoy the fashion here.
And of course the deco
Jah neh!!
Art…
This guy can TALK!! I asked him for his name more than once and he didn’t even hear me because he never gave his mouth a break. Such a fun character.
Walking around.
Lol, he was not about that posing life.
So chilled
Then cows started joining in. We were there to eat and drink, clearly it made sense for them to graze too. Problem is; they made our chairs, their food. Hehehehe
The cutest picture of Mike and his Bambino. So nunuz!
At the end of the action packed day, I was too full to eat dinner and too tired to party. I retired to my room.
And a nightcap was sent. Mmmmmh! These guys really wanted us to gain weight shem.
Sunday morning it was time to say goodbye to Gabs and its friendly people. We made our way to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Thank you so much to The GIFD Market team for hosting us, to The Botswana Gazette for our gifts, to O3 Beverages for making it all a success, to Lansmore Masa Square Hotel for accommodating us, and to Air Botswana for transporting us (even though y’all messed up my suitcase).
This was my first GIFD Market and I had the time of my life. That’s a place you take your friends and family to enjoy life. You set all your problems aside and live it up with everybody else….good food, drinks, music and good company = Heaven!
Thanks KODIE for sharing some of the pics with me.
By Kiki Marli
@KikiMarli