9th Feb … ignore the automatic blogger date.
I'm here in Nairobi ! Lying on my bed gently sweating … not surprising really as I left home yesterday in a temperature of minus 6 C, and here in Nairobi it's approx 25 C. No wonder I can't stop drinking water. Maybe it might be a good idea to add some rehydration salts to what I'm drinking, at least for a day or two until my body gets over the tiredness from the flight and adjusts to the heat. At the moment my body is telling me I need a rest … hence lying on the bed at 5 p.m.
Its wonderful to be back ! Remember Pope John Paul II used to kiss the soil of each new place he went to ? I feel like doing that every time I come here, if I could creak my way down to the ground, … but I think I'd either get arrested, or more likely, not be able to stand up again afterwards !
I was met at the airport by Peterson, the Anglican Guest House taxi driver. He took me first to the bus office in the River Road area of town to book my onward ticket for tomorrow to Kisumu.
About £10, which is a lot cheaper than flying … which would be about £150. And I'll get to see the glories of the Rift Valley . On the way to the ACK Guest House, the traffic was its usual appalling self; long blockages at traffic lights, cars winding in and out, people dashing across roads and between buses. I saw a lovely local 'Citi Hoppa' bus … which had a three piece lounge suite tied on the roof rack … with a man sitting on one of the chairs up there, as the bus weaved in and out of the traffic ! Welcome to Africa ! Nairobi (apart from the ever-increasing traffic problem) looks and smells just the same, and I love it; bougainvillea, hibiscus flowers, palms and fever trees lining the main roads, and the smell of hot dust, sweaty people, and spices … welcome back to Africa !
The guest house is a nice place to stay; I booked in and as my room wasn't ready, went to the outside 'cafe' area, which is small open sided bandas, and shading trees, to buy a cup of tea. I had forgotten it wouldn't be English tea, in a tea pot, with a jug of hot water to add, but instead a mug of boiled powdered milk and water, with a tea bag and sugar added. Boiled powdered milk has a taste all of its own … so welcome to Africa again ! An American man came and sat for a chat, (he was an agricultural advisor on sustainable farming in the drier areas) and I asked him about the forthcoming general and presidential elections. They appear to be being held either in August or December … I need to know so we don't have a HATW team here during them … after the riots and killings of the last general election.
My room is large, with two well netted beds, and a separate shower room, which is where I headed first. I threw my undies into the shower to wash them. They would dry in an hour or so pegged onto the window burglar mesh. But then … BIG problem ! I appear to have come to Kenya with only one bra, which I wore on the journey and which was now soaking wet ! Solution … the 37 assorted bra's I have for the mission ladies ! So I tried on several and found two that fit ! A bit more gaudy and lacey and up-lifting than my usual style … but needs must ! Thank goodness I had them !
After an excellent lunch here, (tilapia, curried potatoes, sukuma wiki (a type of chopped dark kale), a sort of ratatouille made with tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes and carrots ? … and chappatis, followed by pineapple, pawpaw and water melon … I had a nap, setting my alarm for 3, when I went in a taxi to the main bookshop to have a look see at what they had on the Luo people. I found a few books, and a child's reading primer for step-grandson to be, so he can see what children here learn on. My taxi driver this time was Alec, half Maasai, wearing a Yorkshire flat cap !
Back at the guest house, I dropped off my books, and went out, by myself, on foot, to find where I could buy a Kenya sim card for my spare phone. I'm getting braver … and after asking several askari's found a shop where I could get one. They are all so polite and want to be helpful. The man there fitted it, and topped it up too all for a few pounds equivalent. So now I'll be able to call Paul, and Morris the tuk-tuk driver at local rates … about 3 bob a call, or next to nothing !
The guest house has wifi … but I can't for some reason get connected to it. I guess I'll have to wait 'til I get to Kisumu and the Cyber Caff with the Arabic keyboard and the missing keys ! What fun !
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