A Wonderful International Evening in Kigali

At the end of October, on our last Tuesday of the month, we had an unexpected and memorable experience here in Kigali, one that reminded me just how small and beautifully interconnected the world can be.

During our recent trip to Belgium, my wife visited a hair salon in Brussels. As it turns out, the stylist who helped her was part of a Japanese family living in Belgium. Fast-forward a bit, and we learned that this same family would be visiting Rwanda and staying with a local Rwandan family in Kigali. Even more surprisingly, the Rwandan family’s son, who also lives in Belgium, already knew the Japanese family. Those unlikely connections set the stage for an evening we’ll never forget.

They invited us over for dinner to meet everyone and spend some time together. What followed was a warm, lively evening full of conversation, laughter, and cultural exchange. Around the table we had Japan, Rwanda, America, and Belgium all represented, a mix of languages, stories, and perspectives that flowed together naturally. We talked about life abroad, travel, family, and all the little coincidences that had brought us into the same room.

There’s something special about moments like this: when continents and cultures weave together effortlessly, and strangers become friends over a shared meal. It was one of those nights that felt both perfectly ordinary and wonderfully significant.

We left with full hearts and new friendships, an experience we’ll remember fondly for a long time.

A Slow Return Home – Belgium, Amsterdam & Back to Kigali

After a week traveling through Belgium and Amsterdam, I finally returned home to Kigali feeling energized and inspired… at least at first. I had planned to share so much from this journey immediately, stories, photos, moments, reflections. But life had other plans.

Shortly after coming back, I started feeling under the weather. What I thought would be a couple of days of rest turned into a longer stretch of recovery. For the past couple of weeks, I simply haven’t had the energy to sit down, write, edit, or share anything. It’s strange how travel can give you so much, and at the same time take so much out of you.

So, the updates I hoped to post right away were delayed. Instead of jumping back into routines, I had to hit pause, listen to my body, and let things slow down.

I’m feeling much better now, and little by little, I’m getting back on my feet.

Thank you for your patience while I catch up.

There’s so much from Belgium and Amsterdam that I’m excited to share, the colors, the atmosphere, the stories behind the images. I’ll be posting more very soon.

Sometimes, we need unexpected rest before we can move forward again.

More to come.

✈️ Day 7 – The Long Journey Home

 Our final morning in Brussels began early, long before sunrise. By 6 a.m., we were packed and ready, expecting a smooth trip home, but this day had other plans for us. Not long before leaving the hotel, we learned that our direct flight to Kigali had been cancelled. Instead, we were being rerouted through multiple countries: Brussels → Burundi → Nairobi → finally to Kigali. It was the kind of news that forces you to take a deep breath and surrender to whatever the day becomes.

The first part of the journey felt uneventful enough. We left Brussels on Brussels Airlines, made our stop in Burundi, and eventually arrived in Nairobi close to midnight. That’s where everything became complicated.

Because Brussels Airlines couldn’t issue us tickets for our Kenya Airways connection when we checked in, something that already had us uneasy, we landed in Nairobi with no boarding passes, very little time, and almost no airport staff around to ask for help. The terminal felt like a maze at midnight: dim, quiet, and strangely empty.

We walked the length of the airport more than once, searching for someone who could point us in the right direction. Eventually, after a long stretch of uncertainty, we stumbled upon the correct gate. But even then, the problems didn’t stop.

The staff at the gate couldn’t print our boarding passes because their internet wasn’t working properly. We stood there, exhausted, watching them try again and again to load the system. Finally, they gave us an improvised solution: they pulled up our ticket information on their computer screen and told us to take photos of it with our phones. No paper ticket, no boarding pass, just a picture. One of the staff members then walked us directly to the plane, explained the entire situation to the cabin crew, and only then were we allowed to board. It was surreal, stressful, and strangely human all at once.

By the time the plane lifted off, the exhaustion settled in fully. We had been awake and navigating this journey for almost 20 hours. When we finally landed in Kigali around midnight, relief washed over us, even though the day wasn’t quite finished yet. We still had to wait for luggage, find a taxi, and make the quiet ride home through the nearly empty streets.

By the time we unlocked our door, set our bags down, and crawled into bed, it was 2 a.m. What had started as a simple travel day had stretched into an exhausting, unpredictable marathon across four countries. But even through the fatigue, there was a sense of gratitude, for arriving safely, for the people who helped us along the way, and for finally being home.

Travel days don’t always go as planned. Sometimes they test your patience, your resilience, and your ability to stay calm when you’re already running on empty. But they also remind you what it feels like to step through your own front door after a long journey, and that feeling is always worth it.

🍂 Day 6 – Where Water Reflects the Sky

 After several full days of travel and movement, today felt like a breath, a slower rhythm, a chance to simply be in Brussels. My wife had planned to visit a Japanese hair salon in the city that morning, and since she would be there for a while, I decided to take my camera and wander.

The morning light was soft and cool as I made my way toward the Jardin Botanique de Bruxelles. The garden was quiet, leaves drifting gently across the paths, the colors of autumn deepening into gold and rust. There’s something calming about walking alone with a camera, noticing how light filters through branches, how reflections shimmer on still water. It felt like a quiet conversation between the city and the season.

From there, I continued toward Parc du Cinquantenaire, one of my favorite places in Brussels. The arches and open spaces held a kind of grandeur, yet the autumn colors softened everything, reds and oranges glowing against stone and sky. I spent nearly an hour there, photographing the light shifting between clouds, people strolling under the trees, the subtle hum of life moving at its own pace.

By the time I met my wife for lunch, the city had fully come alive. She was glowing from her salon visit and had a recommendation from them, a place called Terracotta Pizze & Tapas. It turned out to be perfect. The food was delicious, full of warmth and flavor, and the atmosphere felt instantly welcoming. It was one of those meals where everything just fits, good company, good food, good timing.

In the evening, we went looking for seafood and stumbled upon Restaurant François, a historic spot dating back to 1922. The staff were kind and full of charm, making us feel right at home. The food was fresh and beautifully prepared, and by the end of the meal we both agreed it was one of the highlights of the trip.

To close out our last night in Brussels, we followed another recommendation from the hair salon, À l’Imaige Nostre-Dame, a cozy bar tucked away with a relaxed atmosphere and an excellent beer selection. We spent our final hours there talking, laughing, and savoring the moment, that gentle, bittersweet awareness that the trip was coming to an end.

Walking back through the quiet streets, I looked up at the lights reflected in puddles from a light drizzle earlier that evening. Brussels felt different now, not like a place we were visiting, but like one we had come to know.

🚆 Day 5 – Crossing Borders by Train: A Day in Amsterdam

 The day began early, long before the sun rose over Brussels. There’s a quiet excitement that comes with day trips, the sense that a whole new city is waiting, just a train ride away. As we boarded the morning train bound for Amsterdam, the world outside slowly brightened, mist lifting from the fields as the landscape unfolded in soft, earthy tones.

When we arrived, Amsterdam greeted us with a cool breeze and the sound of bicycles, hundreds of them, gliding past the station like a moving rhythm. We stopped for breakfast at a small café just outside, sipping coffee that cut through the chill and watching the city come to life. The canals shimmered in the pale light, and it felt like we had stepped into a painting.

Our first destination was the Rijksmuseum, where we spent hours wandering through centuries of art. The building itself felt alive, grand, intricate, and full of light that filtered softly through high windows. Standing before masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer, I found myself reflecting on how art transcends time, how brushstrokes made hundreds of years ago can still speak to something wordless inside you.

Afterward, we had lunch at De Spiegel, a cozy place not far from the museum. The food was hearty, the atmosphere easy, one of those meals that grounds you in the middle of a full day.

In the afternoon, we joined a canal tour with Stromma, gliding through the waterways that shape the city’s rhythm. The reflections of bridges and houses rippled across the surface, and I found myself photographing light more than landmarks, the play of color, motion, and calm.

Later, we visited the Anne Frank House, a quiet, sobering space that left a lasting silence in me. Walking through those small rooms, I couldn’t help but feel how powerful stories can be, even when told from the smallest corners of the world.

As the evening drew in, we wandered through Magna Plaza, where we stopped at Cheese & More by Henri Willig to pick up some Dutch cheese, a small, tangible piece of the day to take home. Before heading back to the station, we made one final stop at Brouwerij ’t IJ – Proeflokaal de Molen, a brewery tucked beside a windmill. The air was filled with laughter and conversation, and we shared good food and a few local beers, the perfect ending to a day that had been both full and deeply human.

As the train rolled back toward Brussels, the city lights of Amsterdam slipped away behind us. I looked through my photos, but what stayed with me wasn’t just the images, it was the flow of the day itself: art and water, reflection and connection, movement and stillness all woven together.

🌉 Day 4 – A Day in Ghent: Bridges, Reflections, and Quiet Beauty

 After the rush and energy of last night’s concert, today felt like the perfect pause, a day to step outside the rhythm of Brussels and wander somewhere new. We caught an early train to Ghent, the city slowly waking under a soft grey sky. The ride itself was calming, fields rolling by in shades of green and gold, a light mist hanging over the countryside.

When we arrived, Ghent felt like something out of a storybook, canals winding through the old town, stone bridges arching gracefully over the water, spires and towers rising above rows of houses. The air smelled faintly of rain, and the cobblestones glistened just enough to catch the morning light.

We started by walking along the river, where reflections of the buildings danced on the surface. Every corner seemed to offer a new photograph waiting quietly to be found, a passing boat, a couple sharing an umbrella, autumn leaves caught against a brick wall. There’s a peacefulness to Ghent that seeps into you the longer you stay, a quiet invitation to slow down and just see.

By midday, we found our way to De Lakenhalle for lunch, a space full of character, with warm light and the comforting hum of conversation. The meal was simple but satisfying, a moment to rest and take in the view of the square just outside. There’s something grounding about pausing in the middle of a day like this, letting the place sink in.

In the afternoon, we explored some of Ghent’s landmarks, Gravensteen Castle, St. Michael’s Bridge, and the hushed interior of St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Each space carried its own kind of silence, some grand, others intimate. I found myself drawn again and again to the way light moved through these places: soft, filtered, timeless.

As evening settled in, we ended the day at In Choc Gent, a cozy spot that felt like a reward after hours of walking. I ordered Belgian waffles with chocolate on the side, warm, rich, and perfect in that moment. The sweetness lingered long after, like the glow of the city lights reflecting on the canal.

On the train ride back to Brussels, the city faded behind us as twilight deepened. I looked through my photos, bridges, windows, quiet corners, and felt that soft kind of gratitude that travel leaves behind. Ghent was gentle, grounding, and full of quiet beauty. It reminded me that not every memorable day needs to be loud, sometimes it’s the still ones that stay with you longest.

🎶 Day 3 – Sound, Light, and the Heart of Brussels

 I woke up to the sound of the city already in motion, footsteps on cobblestones, the distant hum of a tram, a church bell marking the start of another autumn morning. After two days of settling in, Brussels was beginning to feel familiar, like a rhythm I could move to.

We started the day walking through the city streets, the air still cool but touched with sunlight. The smell of freshly baked waffles drifted through the air, impossible to resist. Breakfast was simple but perfect, a golden Belgian waffle dusted with sugar, warm in the crisp morning air. Maybe it was just the moment, but it tasted like everything good about travel: sweet, fleeting, and completely present.

The rest of the morning unfolded slowly. We wandered without much of a plan, stopping often to photograph the streets, reflections in café windows, bicycles leaning against old walls, the way light filters between buildings. Brussels has this quiet beauty that sneaks up on you, less about grandeur, more about texture and tone.

In the afternoon, we made our way to the Belgian Beer World Experience. The space itself was fascinating, a celebration of craft and culture, filled with the scent of malt and stories of centuries-old brewing traditions. I found myself drawn less to the displays and more to the people enjoying themselves, laughter, conversation, a sense of shared ease. There’s something universal about the way people connect over taste and time.

Later, we returned to the hotel for a short rest before heading out again, this time to Forest National, for the ONE OK ROCK European Tour 2025. The energy was electric from the moment we arrived. The opening band, Paledusk, set the tone with raw power and heart, and when ONE OK ROCK took the stage, the entire room seemed to move as one.

It was loud, emotional, unforgettable,  that perfect collision of music and memory. I didn’t take many photos that night; I didn’t need to. Some moments are meant to be lived fully, not captured.

When we finally stepped outside, the air was cool again, the streets quieter. My ears were still ringing, my heart full. It was one of those nights that reminds you how alive the world can feel,  and how beautiful it is to be there for it.

Day 2 – Exploring Brussels

After taking a red-eye flight from Kigali, we landed in Brussels early in the morning, a little tired but excited to finally be in Europe. The city greeted us with crisp air and that classic mix of old-world charm and modern rhythm.

From the airport, we hopped on the train straight into the city and made our way to our hotel, Cardo Brussels, Autograph Collection. Since check-in wasn’t until 3 p.m., we left our bags at the front desk and set off to start our first day in Brussels.

Our first stop was Paul’s, a cozy bakery nearby, where we fueled up with breakfast, fresh croissants, hot coffee, and that unmistakable aroma of butter and bread that seems to float through every European café.

Feeling more awake, we strolled over to the Grand Place, the heart of Brussels. The square was breathtaking, gilded facades glinting in the morning light, cobblestones worn smooth by centuries of footsteps, and a gentle hum of tourists and locals alike. While there, we spotted a free guided tour run by AdvenTours and decided to join. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the day.

For about two and a half hours, we wandered through the streets of Brussels with our guide, learning about the city’s history, its quirky traditions, and its famous landmarks, from the Manneken Pis to the Royal Galleries. There’s something special about exploring a city on foot, hearing stories that make the buildings come alive.

By the afternoon, we were ready for a rest and finally checked into our room at the Cardo. After a quick recharge, we ventured back out to pick up some souvenirs and snacks, a few chocolates may have made their way into the shopping bag too.

Dinner was at Brasserie Ommegang, a spot recommended by our tour guide. It turned out to be an excellent choice, delicious Belgian dishes, rich flavors, and the perfect first dinner in the city. Afterward, we made our way back to the hotel, happy and full, ready to rest up for the next day’s adventures.

Brussels made quite the first impression, elegant yet approachable, steeped in history but full of life. A beautiful start to our European journey. 

✈️ Day 1 – Leaving Home: The Journey Begins

Travel days always carry a quiet kind of energy, that blend of excitement, anticipation, and a hint of nostalgia. As evening fell over Kigali, I looked out over the hills one last time before heading to the airport. The warm Rwandan light gave way to dusk, and for a moment I just stood still, letting the day settle before the journey ahead.

Our flight to Brussels was a red-eye, with a short stopover in Entebbe. The terminal in Kigali buzzed softly, families embracing, travelers rushing, others simply waiting. There’s something deeply human about airports at night; everyone is somewhere between where they’ve been and where they’re going.

When we touched down briefly in Entebbe, I caught a glimpse of lights reflecting off Lake Victoria through the window, a reminder that even in transit, beauty has its quiet ways of showing up. Back on board, the cabin dimmed, and the hum of the engines became a kind of lullaby. Between half-sleep and small awakenings, I watched the stars above the clouds and thought about how travel always begins with a surrender to time, to movement, to everything unknown.

By the time we reached Europe, dawn had started to tint the horizon. The sky was pale and endless as we descended into Brussels, the city wrapped in early autumn mist. It felt like stepping into a new rhythm, one I was ready to discover, camera in hand.

Portfolio Day: Capturing Light, Life, and Connection – My Photography Showcase

It’s #PortfolioDay — a wonderful opportunity for photographers and visual storytellers to share their work and connect with others in the creative community.

I’m Michael Lyon, a photographer passionate about landscapes, portraits, travel, events, and wildlife. Photography, for me, is about more than documentation — it’s about creating emotional bridges between people and the world around them.

Each image I take is an exploration of light, color, and story. Whether it’s the stillness of a sunset, the character in a face, or the motion of wildlife in its natural rhythm, I seek to capture that moment where observation becomes connection.

Below are four of my favorite photographs:

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1. The majestic wolf. 

2. Okinawan woman dancing in a local festival parade. 

3. Traditional Okinawan dancers dressed in traditional clothing.

4. Abandoned fire truck in the forests of Oregon.

To see more of my photography or follow my work across platforms, visit my portfolio here:

🔗 https://linktr.ee/mlyon0486

#PortfolioDay #Photography #Photographer #LandscapePhotography #TravelPhotography #PortraitPhotography #WildlifePhotography #VisualStorytelling #FineArtPhotography #CreativeCommunity

A Glimpse of Gold: The Baglafecht Weaver in Rwanda

There’s something captivating about those quiet moments when the light, the subject, and the surroundings align just right.

During a morning walk in Rwanda, I spotted this Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) perched calmly among the leaves. The way the sunlight filtered through the branches, catching the yellow of its plumage and the deep black of its face, felt like a small moment of perfection in nature.

The Baglafecht Weaver is a striking bird found throughout East and Central Africa, known for its vibrant color contrast and distinctive black mask. They often move quickly between trees, so having one pause long enough for a photo is always a gift.

Photography has a way of teaching patience — sometimes it’s less about the equipment and more about waiting for the right light and movement to fall into place.

Captured in Kigali, Rwanda.

📷 Camera settings: ISO 3200, aperture f/6.3, shutter speed 1/1000, Tamron 150-600mm at 600mm

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The Superstar of the Kigali Garden: Meeting the White-browed Robin-Chat

One of the great joys of living or spending time in Kigali is the sheer vibrancy of the natural world right outside your door. Forget the big game for a moment—some of the most dazzling wildlife experiences happen in the quiet moments on a local balcony or in a residential garden.

Recently, I was enjoying a morning coffee when a bird's song cut through the air. It wasn't just a simple chirp; it was a loud, complex, and beautiful series of whistles. When I finally tracked down the source of the melody, I was rewarded with the sight of a true local superstar: the White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini).

Identifying the Garden Jewel

If you see this bird, you won't forget it. It's a small, stocky thrush known for a flawless, recognizable color scheme:

• The Chest: A brilliant, warm rufous orange that dominates its breast and belly.

• The Upperparts: A clean, neutral grey across its back and wings.

• The Head: This is the unmistakable feature—a velvety black mask that covers its face, perfectly offset by a bold, snowy-white supercilium (the stripe above the eye).

It’s this combination of sophisticated colors that makes the Robin-Chat such a striking sight against the green foliage of the highlands.

A Common Resident, An Uncommon Voice

The White-browed Robin-Chat is a common and adaptable resident here, thriving in the well-wooded, bushy environments that characterize many Kigali gardens and green spaces. You can often see them perched slightly higher on a branch or a fence post, alert and ready to burst into song.

Their most famous trait, however, is their vocal performance. They are exceptional mimics and have an incredibly rich, whistled song that is one of the definitive sounds of the East African morning. They're often compared to a nightingale, but their local flair makes them truly unique.

So, next time you’re enjoying a quiet moment in your garden, pause and listen closely. You might just be treated to a private concert by the most beautiful vocalist Kigali has to offer.

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Have you spotted a White-browed Robin-Chat in your area? What other beautiful birds have you seen that are common in residential gardens? Share your sightings in the comments!