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Published: December 6th 2009
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Hellooo All.
Billy and I left Nairobi quick smart on his arrival and I’ve been e-stranded ever since. I’m getting used to it, but it is odd not being just a click away from you lot! I miss it. But instead I’ve been up to all sorts. It might sound a bit disjointed as I’ve written bits at different times.
So first, on leaving for safari in Masai Mara, our van was empty save for our guide Tobias and his friend Ken, but it seemed like we were all relieved to hit the road. That is, until we stopped at the office where I was instructed to go to the 6th floor with a bunch of cash (1000KSh is the biggest note - worth about £8.50) to pay our balance for the trip. Once the lift was jam packed, the doors closed and it broke down. To cut a long story short (which I think will have to be a running theme), it took another hour and a half to actually get going and we were joined by Tsang, the Chinese German man who was hitching a lift with us. Tsang’s English was streets ahead of my German -
or Chinese, but at lunch on the way, he introduced me to international sign language for: I can put entire chicken in my mouth and just de-bone it there. It didn’t help my appetite.
But back on the road, things were hotting up. The landscape got pretty arid and there were more and more Masai farmers draped in red, thwacking skinny cattle along the way to graze. When we turned onto the ‘bad road’ the scene really became harsh. There were pockets of greenery from the recent rains, but obvious signs of severe drought - the most poignant of which was the litter of cattle carcasses. Distractions came in the form of ‘he can’t possibly drive this thing there’ moments and our first sightings of a few impala and zebra. The drive was an adventure in itself to a fresh-off-the-plane traveller like me.
When we arrived at the lodge where we had booked to camp we were given a lovely en-suite stone room near the pool. We only had time to dump bags and get back to the safari car for an evening game drive, but it was already obvious that: a) there was no power, and b)
we were the only guests in this 130 capacity camp. This evening drive though was the best drive of the two days. We saw a herd of elephants running and some lions with cubs and plenty of others. Although it’s a quiet season (and getting quieter as the drought years mount up), most of the animals we saw had young, including a ONE WEEK old hippo, aaaaw!!!?!
On the third day after one more drive, we headed back to Nairobi for 4pm to get the overnight train to Mombasa. There were power problems there too, and a breakdown in the night, but we got to Mombasa eventually to be picked up and taken to the most beautiful house to the north where we then did not leave for two days! I went ‘back to the classroom’ then, and now have my PADI Open Water. There was actually an exam - no-one told me about that!!?? But on my qualifying dive I swam up close and personal with a great big turtle - it was stunning. The people at the house and at the dive school have been really helpful and friendly and we’re hosting a little barbeque in about
an hour to say thanks. I’m effectively DJ, so that could go either way… and I’ve tasted a bit of Billy’s excellent rum punch - it’s gonna be a good night.
While staying here on the coast, we took the opportunity to take a trip to Lamu for a couple of days. The pictures will make a better description than I would. There are no cars or bikes, just donkeys on the island. Again we were the only guests at our hotel.
As for me, I’m just about reaching the point where this is longer than a holiday, and I think it will get very real when Billy has left. He’s been a really good travel companion and we still have a bit of Tanzanian safari to do yet, but in a week I’ll be fending for myself and away from friends and even friends of friends. But tomorrow we’re off to Zanzibar and possibly will do a dive there. I’ll be back online in a week or so. Hopefully this time the pics have uploaded! Am learning all the time :o)
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Jennifer
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Greetings Nikkers
OMG it looks absolutely wonderful in Mombasa & Lamu, I so wish I could be there! We are all rather cold here in the UK but Christmas is around the corner & log fires & mulled wine are slowly becoming a national past time so I'm pleased to report life is not so bad in this part of the world. I'd like a Christmas text if you don't mind Ms W...... But in the mean time try to behave yourself & take care! Lots of love JJ x