Another Trip, But this time just for fun!
For various reasons we are unable to take a 3 month mission trip this year so we decided to take our first cruise. It is a repositioning cruise on the Norwegian Epic, (see www.ncl.com ), leaving from Miami on 14 Apr. (We fly to Miami on the 13th.) We head for Barcelona, Spain, arriving at 5 am on 2 May, with a short stop in the Azors along the way. We got a really good price for the 11 day trip. We probably won't be updating this blog while we are on board, but then again, maybe we will.
Then we decided that since we were already in Europe, why not see a little more. Therefore we will be in Barcelona 3 days then fly to Athens for a tour of Greece, returning to Canada on 7 May. We are taking the "Best of Greece" tour,
( http://cosmosvacations.ca/Product.aspx?trip=26670&source=CO_Product_Greece_Turkey )
Our grandson, Robin, will be staying here while we are away.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Dick with completed stove, (prototype #1)We're back in Canada!
It was an interesting trip back. There was the 2 hour drive to Eldoret over very bad roads and a 1 hour flight to Nairobi. The fellow that was to pick us up at the airport was almost an hour late and the hotel he took us to, well, it had a double bed.
The next morning he was an hour and a half late picking us up to go to the airport. The flight wasn't until 8:10 so what's wrong with getting there at 7:30??? He had never flown. We got on board, but not with a lot to spare.
From Nairobi to Amsterdam was 8 hours, a good flight operated by Kenya Airways. In Amsterdam we had a 1 1/2 hour layover then another 8 hours to Toronto. Our daughter Cathy was there with grand daughter Deborah to pick us up and take us to her place where we spent the night before driving the 1 1/2 hours to Belleville.
We are now settled in and are planning to speak at 2 churches in June, "The Gathering" on 19 June and at Quinte Bible Chapel on June 26. One big job we are working on is selecting, naming and organizing the hundreds of photos and videos we took into a coherent story. We've heard from Bruce, the Australian who replaced us and he seems to be getting into things very well.
Shortly before we left we had lunch with Mary, one of the advisory committee members. While talking to her we learned she had been raised by a father who insisted she learn the old ways. Her children are grown and she thought Eva's idea for her to teach those old traditions to the children was a great idea. (In Kenyan culture the grandmother would usually do this but the children at Robin's Nest don't have a grandmother.) Mary agreed to take on the roll of grandmother and the next Saturday she spent 2 hours talking with and teaching the children.Our thanks to all who were praying for us during the mission. I'm sure that contributed to our feeling of peace and security during the mission.
.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Fri., May 6
Just 4 more days until we leave here to return to Canada. It will be good to see the family again.
My main project this week has been building a demonstration stove that uses less fule, (I’m told), and will take the smoke out of the house through a chimney. Traditionally in Kenya they build a fire in the center of three stones that hold the pot above the fire. This is even done inside the homes making for a very unhealthy environment. I am using locally made bricks and mud as morter to hold them together. Experience in Hounduras has shown mud works better than cement based morter as it dosen’t crack. It’s also cheaper.
The base of the stove ready for the smoke chamber, cooking surface and chimney.
While we were away Jotham finished putting the corrigated metal on the shelter under which we are building the stove. This evening, a neighbour picked up the metal part of the stove that a welder in town made for me, so tomorrow morning I hope to finish it and will have to wait a couple of days for the mud to dry before we build a fire for to test it. Being a prototype, it has been somewhat more expensive than it will be normally.
Just 4 more days until we leave here to return to Canada. It will be good to see the family again.
My main project this week has been building a demonstration stove that uses less fule, (I’m told), and will take the smoke out of the house through a chimney. Traditionally in Kenya they build a fire in the center of three stones that hold the pot above the fire. This is even done inside the homes making for a very unhealthy environment. I am using locally made bricks and mud as morter to hold them together. Experience in Hounduras has shown mud works better than cement based morter as it dosen’t crack. It’s also cheaper.
The base of the stove ready for the smoke chamber, cooking surface and chimney.
While we were away Jotham finished putting the corrigated metal on the shelter under which we are building the stove. This evening, a neighbour picked up the metal part of the stove that a welder in town made for me, so tomorrow morning I hope to finish it and will have to wait a couple of days for the mud to dry before we build a fire for to test it. Being a prototype, it has been somewhat more expensive than it will be normally.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Fri., 28 Apr., 2011 We had planned on being back at Robin’s Nest Thurs. night, BUT!!! We were ready to leave, as agreed, at 8:30 Thurs. morning, but no van and the driver Henry wasn’t answering his cell phone. We waited, and waited, and began to get worried when he arrived at about 10:20 am. Someone had stolen the only unlocked wheel on the van and he had to find another one and a buyer for one of his 2 cell phones (the phone we had the number for) so he could pay for it.
We headed south toward Nairobi and instead of taking the road we thought we would, they carried on toward Nairobi saying they didn’t know what the road was like. (I think it was really to take John, the other driver home.) About 50 km from Nairobi, about noon, the fan assembly on the van came off and the fan was smashed. John went in search for a replacement and after a while we took a matasti, (small bus), to a service station about a km up the road to wait. About 6 pm we decided to return and find out what was happening. When we got there, no van. I then rec’d a call from Henry saying he was at the service station so we took a matasti back. (They overcharged the rich white people both times.) The van had been moved and after the difficulty getting a matasti the first time since they were all full, we walked. By this time it was dark and walking on the side of the road was scary, especially when an impatient driver decided to drive on the shoulder where we were.
The van was finally fixed about 9pm, (work lights were 2 or 3 flashlights), and we went to a nearby hotel for the night. This was especially interesting because the van broke down within 2 km of where the alternate driver John lived when attending university. That’s how they found someone to fix it, John knew him.
Friday morning it was decided to take a secondary road which bypassed Nairobi and saved about 100 km driving. It was an interesting drive and we saw some very large tea plantations but much of the road was ‘rustic’, (translate ‘full of potholes’).
Tea Plantations covered the hills along the secondary road.
We met the main highway home, A104, and stopped at Nakuru for lunch. About an hour later as we climbed out of the ‘Rift Valley’ the engine overheated. We pulled over and discovered this was a common problem at that point and some young men had a successful business of supplying water and cooling down the engines. There was a truck there at the same time, same problem.
Site of the Sachangwan Oil Tanker Tragedy and mass grave
Right where we stopped was a mass grave for some of the victims of the Sachangwan Oil Tanker Tragedy on 31 Jan., 2009. A tanker truck turned over and many nearby residents and others gathered to ‘salvage’ the fuel. One person was smoking and set the fuel in the whole area burning. There were 347 victims, 130 burned so badly they were unidentifiable. 69 more later died in hospital of their injuries. 78 of the victims were buried in the mass grave.
About 20 km later, the engine overheated again, this time right by a garage. After some work, and 750 shillings we carried on, only to have it happen again 25 km later. Henry suggested we take a matasti back to Bungoma. The one we caught only went to Eldoret and it was almost dark. We have decided to stay in Eldoret as we are concerned about arriving in Bungoma after dark and getting to Robin’s Nest.
So I’m sitting in our 1800 shilling, ($21.69)room on the 5th floor of the Asis Hotel in Eldoret writing this summary. (Last night it cost 2000 shillings.) It has been an interesting trip.
Sat. 30 May
We were up and out by 8 am wanting to catch a bus to Bungoma and get ‘home’. A taxi took us to the bus station(?), really a large lot filled with busses and people encouraging you to take THEIR bus. We got right on the bus and it pulled out shortly. The trip only took 1 ½ hours and we almost missed the point we had to get off. We quickly got a local bus that droped us off at the end of the road to Robin’s Nest.
We arrived back to find the propane tank for the stoves was empty so we called a taxi to go to town and refill it. We also had to go to the bank to get cash to pay the salaries for the 9 staff, (most things are paid in cash here. Jotham went with us so while he was filling the tank, Eva braved the end of the month crowds at the bank and I picked up a few groceries. Returning to RN, we took it fairly easy as we were both exhausted from the strain of the last few days.
Sun., 1 May
This morning we held our regular bible study for the older children in Robin’s Nest and 2 from the surrounding community. For lunch we went to the nearby home of one of the Advisory Committee members. It was a traditional meal of stewed chicken, cow pea leaves, ugali, (ground corn boiled into a paste), and chapati, (similar to a large tortilla but fried in oil). The last time I had ugali it was plain and I didn’t care for it, but with the juice from the fried chicken on it, it wasn’t too bad.
We headed south toward Nairobi and instead of taking the road we thought we would, they carried on toward Nairobi saying they didn’t know what the road was like. (I think it was really to take John, the other driver home.) About 50 km from Nairobi, about noon, the fan assembly on the van came off and the fan was smashed. John went in search for a replacement and after a while we took a matasti, (small bus), to a service station about a km up the road to wait. About 6 pm we decided to return and find out what was happening. When we got there, no van. I then rec’d a call from Henry saying he was at the service station so we took a matasti back. (They overcharged the rich white people both times.) The van had been moved and after the difficulty getting a matasti the first time since they were all full, we walked. By this time it was dark and walking on the side of the road was scary, especially when an impatient driver decided to drive on the shoulder where we were.
The van was finally fixed about 9pm, (work lights were 2 or 3 flashlights), and we went to a nearby hotel for the night. This was especially interesting because the van broke down within 2 km of where the alternate driver John lived when attending university. That’s how they found someone to fix it, John knew him.
Friday morning it was decided to take a secondary road which bypassed Nairobi and saved about 100 km driving. It was an interesting drive and we saw some very large tea plantations but much of the road was ‘rustic’, (translate ‘full of potholes’).
Tea Plantations covered the hills along the secondary road.
We met the main highway home, A104, and stopped at Nakuru for lunch. About an hour later as we climbed out of the ‘Rift Valley’ the engine overheated. We pulled over and discovered this was a common problem at that point and some young men had a successful business of supplying water and cooling down the engines. There was a truck there at the same time, same problem.
Site of the Sachangwan Oil Tanker Tragedy and mass grave
Right where we stopped was a mass grave for some of the victims of the Sachangwan Oil Tanker Tragedy on 31 Jan., 2009. A tanker truck turned over and many nearby residents and others gathered to ‘salvage’ the fuel. One person was smoking and set the fuel in the whole area burning. There were 347 victims, 130 burned so badly they were unidentifiable. 69 more later died in hospital of their injuries. 78 of the victims were buried in the mass grave.
About 20 km later, the engine overheated again, this time right by a garage. After some work, and 750 shillings we carried on, only to have it happen again 25 km later. Henry suggested we take a matasti back to Bungoma. The one we caught only went to Eldoret and it was almost dark. We have decided to stay in Eldoret as we are concerned about arriving in Bungoma after dark and getting to Robin’s Nest.
So I’m sitting in our 1800 shilling, ($21.69)room on the 5th floor of the Asis Hotel in Eldoret writing this summary. (Last night it cost 2000 shillings.) It has been an interesting trip.
Sat. 30 May
We were up and out by 8 am wanting to catch a bus to Bungoma and get ‘home’. A taxi took us to the bus station(?), really a large lot filled with busses and people encouraging you to take THEIR bus. We got right on the bus and it pulled out shortly. The trip only took 1 ½ hours and we almost missed the point we had to get off. We quickly got a local bus that droped us off at the end of the road to Robin’s Nest.
We arrived back to find the propane tank for the stoves was empty so we called a taxi to go to town and refill it. We also had to go to the bank to get cash to pay the salaries for the 9 staff, (most things are paid in cash here. Jotham went with us so while he was filling the tank, Eva braved the end of the month crowds at the bank and I picked up a few groceries. Returning to RN, we took it fairly easy as we were both exhausted from the strain of the last few days.
Sun., 1 May
This morning we held our regular bible study for the older children in Robin’s Nest and 2 from the surrounding community. For lunch we went to the nearby home of one of the Advisory Committee members. It was a traditional meal of stewed chicken, cow pea leaves, ugali, (ground corn boiled into a paste), and chapati, (similar to a large tortilla but fried in oil). The last time I had ugali it was plain and I didn’t care for it, but with the juice from the fried chicken on it, it wasn’t too bad.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tues., 27 Apr.
We have learned that a Mr. Bruce Foley will be arriving the week of the 2nd of April to take over as administrator when we leave. Mr. Foley is an Australian. The time between his srrival and our departure will give lots of time to do his orientation.
The 2 day power outage we had last week is a good excuse for not updating the journal/blog as we got way behind in some of the work we had to do. But it’s just an excuse. The day after the long outage it went off for 5 minutes and when it came back on, the UPS, (uninterupted power supply), began to smoke. We’re having it checked to see if it can be repaired.
Jotham and Dick erecting frame for stove shelter
Jothan and I started to put up the shelter for the fuel conserving stove I would like to introduce. I bought the steel roofing and poles for the frame. We got the frame up and Jothan will probably work on putting on the roofing while I’m away.
The wall across the front of the property is coming along well and they were plastering when we left. The welder was to arrive Sat. With the steel bars for the opening in the walls but he still wasn’t there when we left about 9:30 am Sunday.
We have been working on getting uniforms for the guards consisting of 2 monogramed shirts, boots and socks. Having a lot of trouble getting the shirts and one of the day guards fitted with boots, then I found out Sat. night that one of the night guard’s boots wern’t fitting. I’ll have to get that corrected when I get back.
Jan is returning to Austraila on Monday night so on Sunday, 25 Apr. we left for Nairobi. We have crossed the equator before on an aeroplane but this was the first time by land. On the way to Nairobi we stopped at Nukuru National Park. It’s a very large park with a lot of wildlife to see. I’ll leave you to look it up on the WEB. It was dark by the time we left the park, having gotten a lot of photos, and we decided to stay in Nukuru for the night. On Monday morning we drove 4 hours to Nairobi, had lunch, then went to the “Bomas of Kenya” for a cultural experience including traditional dances and replicas of homes and homesteads of the different tribes of Kenya. (www.bomasofkenya.co.ke)
Eva and I stayed in a downtown hotel while Henry, the car owner and another Kenyan (John) who was driving in Nairobi, (I don’t blame Henry for not wanting to drive in Nairobi), stayed at Henry’s sister’s house. Our room had a very comfortable queen size bed with about 16 inches to the wall at the end and 2 feet on one side. 0" on the other. The bathroom had a sink and toilet, and shower on the wall that sprayed water just in front of the toilet. Very ‘compact’.
This morning we left Nairobi and drove to Nanyuki near Mt. Kenya. Eva and I are staying at the fabulous Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club. (I understand Prince William proposed here last year.) We are in a 4 room suite with all the amenities, even a real fireplace. It was raining when we arrived but it is expected to clear tomorrow morning.
Mt. Kenya Safari Club is is right on the equator
The Safari Club had a demonstration of Kenyan folk dancing just before supper. The two dancers had the daughter of the manager, about 5yrs, join them in the first dance. For the second dance they invited us to join them. We then went into the dining room for a delecious steak dinner which neither of us could find room to finish.
Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club
Eva and Dick with Safari Club native dancers
Wed., 27 Apr.
We are here at the Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club and throuroughly enjoying the stay. This morning Henry and John picked us up at 9:30 am and after refueling the van, we headed to the Sweetwaters Game reserve, part of ‘Ol Pejeata Conservancy”, a 90,000 acre game preserve. Although expensive, ($65 each for each non-residenset), we saw a lot. Various types of antelopes, elephants, geraffs, wart hogs, and we even got to feed a black rino. One of the park rangers, Patrick, accompanied us and made the trip much more interesting. The 18 km drive into the entrance was over a very rough road and the roads in the park were marginally better. We were there from about 10am until 3pm when we returned to Nanyuki where we had a light lunch before returning to the ‘Safari Club”. Tomorrow we return to the orphanage at Bungoma. I’m sure we will miss the pampering and luxury here at the Safari Club.
Eva feeding a black rino
We have learned that a Mr. Bruce Foley will be arriving the week of the 2nd of April to take over as administrator when we leave. Mr. Foley is an Australian. The time between his srrival and our departure will give lots of time to do his orientation.
The 2 day power outage we had last week is a good excuse for not updating the journal/blog as we got way behind in some of the work we had to do. But it’s just an excuse. The day after the long outage it went off for 5 minutes and when it came back on, the UPS, (uninterupted power supply), began to smoke. We’re having it checked to see if it can be repaired.
Jotham and Dick erecting frame for stove shelter
Jothan and I started to put up the shelter for the fuel conserving stove I would like to introduce. I bought the steel roofing and poles for the frame. We got the frame up and Jothan will probably work on putting on the roofing while I’m away.
The wall across the front of the property is coming along well and they were plastering when we left. The welder was to arrive Sat. With the steel bars for the opening in the walls but he still wasn’t there when we left about 9:30 am Sunday.
We have been working on getting uniforms for the guards consisting of 2 monogramed shirts, boots and socks. Having a lot of trouble getting the shirts and one of the day guards fitted with boots, then I found out Sat. night that one of the night guard’s boots wern’t fitting. I’ll have to get that corrected when I get back.
Jan is returning to Austraila on Monday night so on Sunday, 25 Apr. we left for Nairobi. We have crossed the equator before on an aeroplane but this was the first time by land. On the way to Nairobi we stopped at Nukuru National Park. It’s a very large park with a lot of wildlife to see. I’ll leave you to look it up on the WEB. It was dark by the time we left the park, having gotten a lot of photos, and we decided to stay in Nukuru for the night. On Monday morning we drove 4 hours to Nairobi, had lunch, then went to the “Bomas of Kenya” for a cultural experience including traditional dances and replicas of homes and homesteads of the different tribes of Kenya. (www.bomasofkenya.co.ke)
Eva and I stayed in a downtown hotel while Henry, the car owner and another Kenyan (John) who was driving in Nairobi, (I don’t blame Henry for not wanting to drive in Nairobi), stayed at Henry’s sister’s house. Our room had a very comfortable queen size bed with about 16 inches to the wall at the end and 2 feet on one side. 0" on the other. The bathroom had a sink and toilet, and shower on the wall that sprayed water just in front of the toilet. Very ‘compact’.
This morning we left Nairobi and drove to Nanyuki near Mt. Kenya. Eva and I are staying at the fabulous Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club. (I understand Prince William proposed here last year.) We are in a 4 room suite with all the amenities, even a real fireplace. It was raining when we arrived but it is expected to clear tomorrow morning.
Mt. Kenya Safari Club is is right on the equator
The Safari Club had a demonstration of Kenyan folk dancing just before supper. The two dancers had the daughter of the manager, about 5yrs, join them in the first dance. For the second dance they invited us to join them. We then went into the dining room for a delecious steak dinner which neither of us could find room to finish.
Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club
Eva and Dick with Safari Club native dancers
Wed., 27 Apr.
We are here at the Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club and throuroughly enjoying the stay. This morning Henry and John picked us up at 9:30 am and after refueling the van, we headed to the Sweetwaters Game reserve, part of ‘Ol Pejeata Conservancy”, a 90,000 acre game preserve. Although expensive, ($65 each for each non-residenset), we saw a lot. Various types of antelopes, elephants, geraffs, wart hogs, and we even got to feed a black rino. One of the park rangers, Patrick, accompanied us and made the trip much more interesting. The 18 km drive into the entrance was over a very rough road and the roads in the park were marginally better. We were there from about 10am until 3pm when we returned to Nanyuki where we had a light lunch before returning to the ‘Safari Club”. Tomorrow we return to the orphanage at Bungoma. I’m sure we will miss the pampering and luxury here at the Safari Club.
Eva feeding a black rino
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Fri., 15 April, 2011
My how the time flies. Some men started to dig a trench for a foundation for the wall that is being completed across the front of the property. We already had the brick and sand but had to order stone for the concrete foundation. The truck bringing the stone kept on breaking down so the men finally used some of the stone on the driveway. Just before 6pm it arrived, and quit about 50 feet from the gate. They got it going long enough to get inside the gate where it quit again. The men with the truck unloaded it off the tailgate, blocking it’s exit, and left it for a mechanic Sat.
Sat. morning we went into Eldoret with Jan Suffock with Henry driving. We droped Jan off at a lawyers then went to a large hardware store to try and get parts to hang the swings properly using the chain we recently found had been bought. I was able to find some parts but will have to keep looking. We have also been having trouble finding the boots for the guards uniforms. The store in town that had the ones we wanted only had 2 pair in the correct sizes. Don’t know when they will get more.
I am beginning to suspect that there will be no one coming in to replace us when we leave on 10 May. We can’t stay longer even if we could get our visas extended. All of our medications including the anti-malarial drug will run out and changing our flights would be really difficult.
Sat. morning we set out with two of the children that have a parent to try and find them. The drive was long over very bad gravel roads. We finally arrived at the correct village and some of the people recognized the boy, (about 5 yrs). They were able to direct us to his mother’s home. It wasn’t until we got very near that the boy recognized it. The mother wasn’t home but someone phoned her and she hurried home. She was then able to provide the information we needed. We got the usual comment from a couple of people in the area, ‘my boy is disabled, do you think you could help him?’ The only thing we can do is explain that the government considers we currently have the maximum number of children for our current facility.
We then went on an even longer drive to find the girl’s mother. We found her and got the needed information, and also got a request that we take another of her daughters. So many children are not really wanted.
There was time before supper to pop into town and buy a wheelbarrow for use on the wall construction. (The contractor doesn’t provide such things.) We also made arrangements for a welder to come out tomorrow and assess the metal work required.
The mechanic came to repair the truck and wound up taking the engine away leaving the truck in the driveway. (To give you an idea of the layout of the property, you can see the back of the truck in the above photo of the wall.)
Sun. 17 April
Nothing special today. The truck is still in the driveway without an engine. The men returned to work on the wall, and a welder came by to look at what was needed to make grills for openings in the wall.
My how the time flies. Some men started to dig a trench for a foundation for the wall that is being completed across the front of the property. We already had the brick and sand but had to order stone for the concrete foundation. The truck bringing the stone kept on breaking down so the men finally used some of the stone on the driveway. Just before 6pm it arrived, and quit about 50 feet from the gate. They got it going long enough to get inside the gate where it quit again. The men with the truck unloaded it off the tailgate, blocking it’s exit, and left it for a mechanic Sat.
Sat. morning we went into Eldoret with Jan Suffock with Henry driving. We droped Jan off at a lawyers then went to a large hardware store to try and get parts to hang the swings properly using the chain we recently found had been bought. I was able to find some parts but will have to keep looking. We have also been having trouble finding the boots for the guards uniforms. The store in town that had the ones we wanted only had 2 pair in the correct sizes. Don’t know when they will get more.
I am beginning to suspect that there will be no one coming in to replace us when we leave on 10 May. We can’t stay longer even if we could get our visas extended. All of our medications including the anti-malarial drug will run out and changing our flights would be really difficult.
Sat. morning we set out with two of the children that have a parent to try and find them. The drive was long over very bad gravel roads. We finally arrived at the correct village and some of the people recognized the boy, (about 5 yrs). They were able to direct us to his mother’s home. It wasn’t until we got very near that the boy recognized it. The mother wasn’t home but someone phoned her and she hurried home. She was then able to provide the information we needed. We got the usual comment from a couple of people in the area, ‘my boy is disabled, do you think you could help him?’ The only thing we can do is explain that the government considers we currently have the maximum number of children for our current facility.
We then went on an even longer drive to find the girl’s mother. We found her and got the needed information, and also got a request that we take another of her daughters. So many children are not really wanted.
There was time before supper to pop into town and buy a wheelbarrow for use on the wall construction. (The contractor doesn’t provide such things.) We also made arrangements for a welder to come out tomorrow and assess the metal work required.
The mechanic came to repair the truck and wound up taking the engine away leaving the truck in the driveway. (To give you an idea of the layout of the property, you can see the back of the truck in the above photo of the wall.)
Sun. 17 April
Nothing special today. The truck is still in the driveway without an engine. The men returned to work on the wall, and a welder came by to look at what was needed to make grills for openings in the wall.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, 10 Apr., 2011
We returned yesterday afternoon from a 3 day safari to Lake Victoria and region. Thursday morning we left with Pastor Gideon driving, a local youth, Mohamed, Eva and Dick and drove first to Homa Bay where we met another local man, Nixon, at the hospital. He was there to pick up his father and take him to the much larger hospital in Kisumu for treatment, then to Bungoma. It was lunchtime so we had fried, whole, tilapia with chips at a local hotel. The bill for the 4 of us was just over $12.
Ruma National Park -
After lunch we drove to Ruma National Park. The park is considered remote, and after driving on the roads I know why. The Kenyan Govt. recognizes that non East Africans have more money so entrance fees were 100 shillings, (12 cents each), for them and US$20 for us. However there was a 7 km trail we drove and saw baboons, giraffes, wildebeests, and a huge water buffalo in the natural setting they have occupied for thousands of years. Very interesting!
Giraffe at Ruma National Park
Fishing on Lake Victoria
After the park we drove to Mbita where we spent the night. It wasn’t fancy at 1400 shillings for 4, ($18), but it was clean and the beds were comfortable. The next morning we drove to the car ferry located n the same town to take the ferry across Lake Victoria, then drove to the city of Kisumu. We checked into the ‘New East View Hotel’ which was somewhat higher quality than the night before.
While waiting for the ferry I met 2 Dutch medical students who were on their way to a large orphanage with the director to pick up a Dutch boy they had discovered there. Apparently his mother had died and authorities knew nothing about him or his family so placed him in the orphanage for care. The girls had contacted the Dutch and Kenyan governments about him and arranged for his release into their custody and transportation back to Holland. (I don’t know his age but believe he was quite young.)
In the afternoon we visited the National Museum of Kenya. They had both live and static displays and we saw crocodiles, a selection of snakes, and a replica of a Luo tribe family compound. We had a guide for this visit which, as usual, was well worth the cost.
Supper that night was again tilapia but done in a delicious sauce. (Sorry Bruce, I didn’t take a picture.)
The leopard at Impala Nat. Park likes to be scratched
Saturday morning we went to the Impala National Park in the city of Kisumu and on the shore of Lake Victoria. Again we were pleased to have a guide, Linda, who made the visit so much more interesting and informative. After our visit we headed back to Bungoma and Robin’s Nest Orphanage
I’d love to be able to describe everything we saw and experienced on this trip but there just isn’t room. The few photos included may give you a glimpse, but if you want more you’ll have to talk to us when we get back and suffer through the slide/video presentation I plan to make.
Jan Suffock was to arrive from Australia Sat. night for 2 weeks but they had car problems about ½ way here from. The car still wasn’t fixed Sun. night so another one was sent, which developed problems. She planned on taking a bus if it wasn’t fixed by 1pm Monday. The roads are not good so will be a slow trip. This is the same car and driver we are hiring for our safari starting April 24. We hope the car runs well for us.
We returned yesterday afternoon from a 3 day safari to Lake Victoria and region. Thursday morning we left with Pastor Gideon driving, a local youth, Mohamed, Eva and Dick and drove first to Homa Bay where we met another local man, Nixon, at the hospital. He was there to pick up his father and take him to the much larger hospital in Kisumu for treatment, then to Bungoma. It was lunchtime so we had fried, whole, tilapia with chips at a local hotel. The bill for the 4 of us was just over $12.
Ruma National Park -
After lunch we drove to Ruma National Park. The park is considered remote, and after driving on the roads I know why. The Kenyan Govt. recognizes that non East Africans have more money so entrance fees were 100 shillings, (12 cents each), for them and US$20 for us. However there was a 7 km trail we drove and saw baboons, giraffes, wildebeests, and a huge water buffalo in the natural setting they have occupied for thousands of years. Very interesting!
Giraffe at Ruma National Park
Fishing on Lake Victoria
After the park we drove to Mbita where we spent the night. It wasn’t fancy at 1400 shillings for 4, ($18), but it was clean and the beds were comfortable. The next morning we drove to the car ferry located n the same town to take the ferry across Lake Victoria, then drove to the city of Kisumu. We checked into the ‘New East View Hotel’ which was somewhat higher quality than the night before.
While waiting for the ferry I met 2 Dutch medical students who were on their way to a large orphanage with the director to pick up a Dutch boy they had discovered there. Apparently his mother had died and authorities knew nothing about him or his family so placed him in the orphanage for care. The girls had contacted the Dutch and Kenyan governments about him and arranged for his release into their custody and transportation back to Holland. (I don’t know his age but believe he was quite young.)
In the afternoon we visited the National Museum of Kenya. They had both live and static displays and we saw crocodiles, a selection of snakes, and a replica of a Luo tribe family compound. We had a guide for this visit which, as usual, was well worth the cost.
Supper that night was again tilapia but done in a delicious sauce. (Sorry Bruce, I didn’t take a picture.)
The leopard at Impala Nat. Park likes to be scratched
Saturday morning we went to the Impala National Park in the city of Kisumu and on the shore of Lake Victoria. Again we were pleased to have a guide, Linda, who made the visit so much more interesting and informative. After our visit we headed back to Bungoma and Robin’s Nest Orphanage
I’d love to be able to describe everything we saw and experienced on this trip but there just isn’t room. The few photos included may give you a glimpse, but if you want more you’ll have to talk to us when we get back and suffer through the slide/video presentation I plan to make.
Jan Suffock was to arrive from Australia Sat. night for 2 weeks but they had car problems about ½ way here from. The car still wasn’t fixed Sun. night so another one was sent, which developed problems. She planned on taking a bus if it wasn’t fixed by 1pm Monday. The roads are not good so will be a slow trip. This is the same car and driver we are hiring for our safari starting April 24. We hope the car runs well for us.
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