Arrived in Nairobi at 6 am after 36 hrs of travel with 6 hrs sleep - grabbed a bus for the 4hr ride to Nakuru Nat'l Park - score! We had a hut in the national park and were surrounded by fences to keep the animals out:) - very cool. On our safari with our cabbie the next day ( 3hrs for $40 - not bad) we saw lions, zebras, baboons, ostrich, giraffe, flamingos. grant's gazelles. water buffalo, bison and rhinos to name a few. It was very exciting and all cameras died because of over battery use:) We hung out in our hut cage for the rest of the day relaxing - as there was nothing else to do. Imagine Paul and I sitting under a tree in seats, covered by mosquito netting chatting about life. We were forced to relax which both of us do so well:)
We grabbed a bus to Kakamega ( where we are now) - the ride too us through endless poverty ridden roadside villages where people sat on the grass, in the mud selling their produce or just sitting there. So many people and so many just hanging around. Most of the areas are agricultural but there are no tractors - just lots of people working the fields - lots of cattle, goats and sheep tied up beside the road to graze the grass there. Most of the houses are nothing but iron shacks with very few doors - some are more mortar but very few we passed could be found anywhere in our country.
Roads were incredibly bumpy and we have both decided that we will fly back to Nairobi rather than have another 10 hr ride with race car drivers - you do have to cast your fate to your god when you take these roads. Just before we got on the bus we started chatting with two pastors - one from Nakuru and the other was visiting from Liberia (he survived the war there by escaping to Siera Leone but lost his dad and two siblings to the war). Steve, the Pastor from Nakuru has invited us back as we discussed what we are doing in other villages. (interesting discussion - Holly and Betty would have enjoyed it)
The 6 hr bus ride today cost each of us $10 and tonight's bargain hotel is also $10. We have been living on pj sandwiches and may have a real meal tonight.
Tomorrow we are visiting several potential well sites and then onto the Orphanage on Friday. Yes, we still have our big box of stuff - everyone laughs when they see us carrying it around,
