Travel
24 Hours in Nairobi
It’s been a while since I posted here and I wanted to get back to it. I miss Africa and I miss blogging about it. So here it goes – my brief guide to Kenya’s capital for those who are looking to spend a day in the city.
—
Thousands of tourists pass through Nairobi every year on their way to safaris in Kenya’s numerous national parks, eager to spot the “big five” game animals of the beautiful East African savannah. Not many realize, however, that the country’s capital has a lot of its own charm to offer to visitors who fit it into their busy itineraries.
Stopping by the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is a great way to start your day in Nairobi. The David Sheldrick Animal Trust takes care of baby rhinos, elephants and other animals are rescued from the wild when their parents die from the hands of poachers, or as a result of drought or disease. Check the trust’s website for information on fostering one of the recently saved orphans.
About Cursed Water & Blessed Rain
I don’t normally believe in anything supernatural. But life has a way of shaking up your beliefs sometimes.
We were looking at a bonfire in the Samburuland, sitting on a log in the woods, eating the goat slaughtered for our arrival. In front of us, morani were dancing. I had no idea people could jump that high. Samburu girls were dressed colorfully, their beads elegant, their young men partially wrapped in shukas, hair long, spears in hands, a deep sound coming out of their throats and serving as a beat to the song, ululating in between the lines, endless energy in their voices and moves.
We had just gotten back from a mini safari ride to the Olentile lodge, and without stopping by the manyatta to drop my things, I went straight to the bonfire. Read the rest of this entry »
The Beautiful Samburu
I hope that after a sad post, this one will be a breath of fresh air. “I’m hearing only bad news from radio Africa” comes to mind… Well, there were some negative things here and there, but I definitely have more positive memories about Kenya.
This was supposed to be a post about my somewhat unbelievable Samburu “adventure”. But then I got carried away describing how I ended up in Samburu and what I was doing there. I didn’t want to cut that short, because I think that’s interesting, too. So here’s the story about Samburu. I’ll write about my crazy adventure next.
AND the Bad
“It’s takin’ whatever comes your way, the good AND the bad, that give life flavor. It’s all the stuff rolled together that makes life worth livin’.” – Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005.
When chocolate fails, I turn to writing for comfort. I was supposed to be in Kenya today. I missed my flight. So many things related to this trip have gone wrong, before I even took off. I can’t give up though; all I can do is try to get a better grip of my destiny. I’ll be in Kenya on Friday.
It’s Not You, Europe; It’s Me…
Rome was grey and rainy this morning, and I figured I’d stay in and do some reading, a certain mental preparation for tomorrow’s trip. I feel as if my brain has been detached from my body lately. My legs wonder among the ruins of this ancient civilization, but my mind is deeply rooted in the present. Read the rest of this entry »
Dreaming of Africa 