Out&About: I found the perfect travel partner 

If you are a social media butterfly like me, then you have probably received -and ruthlessly ignored- direct messages from fans or admirers. 

That’s how my relationship with Tony started. With me studiously ignoring his messages, assuming he was just a nuisance. They say indifference is the surest way to kill a relationship, but that’s how ours began. 

Tony had read, liked and commented on each crazy social media post I put up, including the one where I was catfished. 

I’m a bona fide solo traveller, but Tony was the best thing I never knew I needed, to paraphrase Neyo. 

The genesis of our interaction was travelling, of course. Tony had organised a road trip to Masai Mara three months after his one-sided chats, and I finally broke the silence after salivating over great photos he shared online about his journey. I also found him incredibly attractive.

I had no idea he was an actor and had starred in several local publications. I haven’t watched TV since 2012, you see because I am always on the road. 

Fist date and first trip

Immediately a conversation started, and I asked him to tag me on his next trip. We exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet for a date.

We met for pizza and decided to go on a road trip together five minutes into the conversation. He wanted to experience some of my crazy travel adventures. 

By now you must know that when the beach calls me, I answer. Tony was the bonus. 

I called my travel agent, Bonfire Adventures and Events, at 6pm to fix the trip and they did not disappoint me. 

The following Monday was our D-Day. Tony was supposed to pick me from Machakos at 6 am. I gave up after waiting for four hours. When I called, he said he would come an hour later but still, nothing. That’s when I decided to book a Jambojet flight, but he showed up right before I paid. 

His car had broken down on the way and be had to call a mechanic to fix it. 

I was happy throughout the trip, and even danced to the “Jerusalema” song by the roadside. 

We arrived in Mombasa at 8.30 pm, bade each other goodnight and promised to meet for nyama choma and drinks the next day. 

And of course, swimming by the beach. 

Asked me to be his girlfriend

Tony and I spent the whole day on the beach. And then he invited me to dinner. 

He asked me to be his girlfriend after dinner. 

This statement cured my soul! Wow! For the first time since 2013, someone asked me to date him, guess what, I said yes. Tony stood up, held my hand, gave me a tight warm hug, he pressed his manly chest tightly against mine, and I could feel and count his heartbeats. He looked deep down in my eyes, and asked me again, he called me by my name, “Winnie Mbesa, are you sure you want to do this?” And I whispered in his ears, “I am all yours.” 

He pulled me close to him and kissed me passionately in the dining lounge. He called for attention and shouted across the entire hall to whoever cared, “Hey guys, I got a girlfriend, she agreed to date me!” on top of his voice. Everyone clapped and cheered us. Words of congratulations and best wishes. He kissed me again and again. My heart melted, I felt safe in his hands. He whispered in my ears that he wanted to travel the whole world with me.

I fell in love with Antony Munyambu Makau. I fell in love with a gentleman who shares my dream and passion for travelling. To travel is to live, and to live is to love, and to love is to travel, just do it.