Leif,
What a great story, glad that you had such a great safari! You did so
much more than just go on the tourist trail, you can go again and then
do all those things. The Kenyans that you met obviously enjoyed seeing
you and Daniel in particular.
Thanks for telling us about your time in Nairobi.
Pat.
In message , Petal and Leif
writes
>OK folks, thanks to those of you that gave me advices before I left for
>Nairobi.
>
>I came back yesterday, after my first trip ever to Africa. And I can just
>tell you all it will not be the last trip. I arrived in Nairobi friday
>morning at 6am. and were to be picked up by my friend Daniel, a local boy
>that is in charge of an orphanage outside the city. He was not there, and I
>called him. "on my way" he said, yet it took 3 hours to I was picked up. And
>in the meanwhile, I was very often approached by taxi drivers wanting me to
>go with them instead.
>Even a man in milytary outfit came to talk, and asked me all kind of
>questions, before he asked for money for lunch :)
>
>Anyway, I stayed at Shalom Hotel a bit outside the city center. And it was
>safe and cheap. Only 25 Euro a night. And that was a quiet place, very very
>friendly staff, and a place I can recommend if you dont need fancy, and can
>stay outside the city center.
>
>I was taken around by my friend Daniel. I visited his orphanage: Emanuel
>Boys Rescue Center, it was so nice to see how Daniel have helped other
>children. He was once a street child himself, and are now "father" to 40
>boys. It was touching and impressing.
>We were supposed to go to Masai Mara, but because of heavy rain, we changed
>our plans and went to Amboseli instead. It was a wondeful experience, and we
>saw a lot of animals. Had one big problem: We were two cars, and I was in
>the one behind. We got stuck in a mud hole, and lost contact with the first
>car. It took us a good while to get up, and when that was done, sun was
>going down and we got lost. It took us 3 hours to find those other ones,
>that had our tents!
>So it was SO good to see them again. It was difficult do drive around at
>night, not seing where one were.
>We met a masai man out there that took us home to where he lived. We got to
>see people dancing, singing and so. And we even got to take a look inside
>one of the houses, that was made of cow droppings. Ohhhhshhh....
>
>
>Well, Nairobi city was a fun experience, exept for the safety. Or lack of
>safety.
>I would never ever stay very cheap in there. Never. But it was fun to be
>around in the city and experience the busy life there. And also two nights
>on town I had. Very very fun times! People in Kenya were great people, and I
>have nothing bad to tell about them (in general). Very open, very caring,
>very gentle, very humble.
>
>I had quite a lot of children clothes for the orphanage, but some clothes
>were too small for the boys there, and some was also girls clothes. So I
>decided to give it away to someone that needed it much. And the slum was a
>good place to go then. But most people put their pride in making their own
>living, and can be humiliated by some stranger coming to ask if he can give
>them some clothes. So I decided to sell my clothes instead. And so I did. I
>went into a slum area, and sold children clothes for 5 shilling (8 european
>cent/9 american cent) for each thing. I was surrounded by people with big
>smiles, and very eager buyers.
>The last thing I heard when I left the slum, was a man shouting : "When will
>you be back Leif"?
>
>Well, I did not get to see Karens house, the elephant orphanage, giraffe
>center and all that. But I got to see many many kenyans, I had great
>moments, and feel like going back any day!
>
>
>Leif Arild
>Norway
>
>
>
--
Pat Anderson |
