Nyeri visit

Headed on my first field visit within Kenya this week- I can't even begin to explain how rejuvenating these trips are! Many of the villages look a lot like India. The big difference is there aren’t as many people around (and they don’t stare at me). The adults give me a second glance and then only stare if I’m not looking and the kids stare but eventually smile or wave if I do. It also took me all day to realize all the signs are in English and how much of a difference that makes. And only one guy peeing on the side of the road in 3 days! Very few stray dogs.

The scenery is stunning. The hotel I’m in is on the border of Aberdares Park (which I know nothing about) and in the background is Mount Kenya (the first picture is a view of Mt Kenya from breakfast). Quite a switch from hotels in India. The room is all wood and colonial with three double glass doors overlooking the grounds, has a fireplace (working), has a king bed and a single bed and a sitting area and a walk-in closet. Clearly needless space for a two night stay but still it’s nice! The place also has a pool and squash courts. I've never watch CSI- Miami with a crackling fire in the background!

On the drive here (which I’m guess was 3 hours total – we stopped at all these clinics along the way so I don’t really know how long it was) it turned into this lush palm hillsides. I’ve never seen a pineapple farm! The roads actually have side paths for people to walk on or ride bikes on and traffic therefore actually moves! The kids in uniforms are nearly impossible to not smile at but seeing them walk several miles without shoes and carrying their books in plastic bags. I know people are struggling (especially from talking to the nurses in the region) but it doesn't have the same feeling of helplessness or destitution that India did.

I never got to go into the park but it seems very different - terrain wise- from the other safaris I've done here. Very tropical and lush. I did see some giraffes on the hilltop but that was my only spotting of animals.

Of course the team kept sending me to these posh places for lunch and then would leave me there alone while they ate. Finally the last day I told the driver to just let me eat where he ate. The meals til then had been about 1200 shillings, and not that good. The meal with the driver was like 50 shillings (< $1) and so much better! The last picture is of my colleagues at lake chinga.