Monday, 29 June 2009
COMMENTS/FOLLOWERS!
We have been graced with two comments on our blog pages so far- so those who thought you couldn't comment you can! However I have absolutely no no idea how, but it must be easy as Jonathan has done it!!!! Also I think you can show that you are following the blog - would be interesting for me to know whether your are, if not i might as well just e-mail Jonathan directly with a regular up date!!!!!
Saturday 27thth June Part 2
Well we survived the train journey, only 15 hours long! Got into Mombasa at 9.40 am. Weird journey - quirky and old fashioned, train was a little on the shabby side. Was an experience and we are both very glad we did it!
Children begging on the side of the railway tracks pretty much most of the way from 7am till we got into Mombasa. These children are obviously well used to this begging and in actual fact some were very demanding - one older boy demanded I gave him my watch - fat chance!
Talking about giving things, whilst walking to the van bus from the beach today, we were munching a very 'expensive' large packet of crisps and three kids walked by. We called them back to ask if they wanted a crisp - one of them grabbed the packet in a nice way! I was too hungry to let them have the whole packet - so we filled their tiny hands with crisps so they were happy and we were happy!
Anyway after digressing from Saturday's adventures I shall return to them. Having nearly got ripped off by the cab driver from the Station - saved by Jennifer's knowledge and experience of these things and a slap round the head for me due to my naviety we arrived at the hotel. Very nice hotel, very old colonial building on one of the main streets - Moi Avenue. Named after one of the Presidents, in actual fact many of the main streets seem to be named after Presidents.
Seems that we have made us a friend with the Hotel Receptionist he e-mailed us his mobile number, but our social diaries have been to full to fit him in!
After a lovely lovely shower, no showers on the train - long drop communal toilets (you can only imagine my face when I first found out - Jennifer had to coax me to use the loo otherwise I would still have my legs crossed now!) we sat down for a lovely 'cuppa' well I did in the hotel's lovely bar and waited for Serah and her lovely friend Eva. Not that Serah isn't fab too of course. They took us to a local cafe so we could fill our stomachs and we talked a bit about Mombasa's dos and don'ts etc etc. Then off to a supermarket by van/bus for supplies and back by the four of us squeezing into the back of a tuttut! We did have a bit of a giggle, in actual fact when ever Serah's around we do tend to have a bit of a giggle! Someone who finally gets my sense of humour!
Then Jennifer and I went out to a local restaurant/bar for a bit of dinner - that was an experience which I probably won't go into now. Lets just say everything we tended to ask for they didn't have, what they did have came about 1 hour and half later and the fish was, delicious but shall we say a tad over cooked!
Have reminded Jennifer how to play backgammon, huge huge mistake on my part, haven't won one game yet (blame it on my teacher - Darlene)!!!!! So I am banning backgammon and moving onto chess, in the hope I have more success there!
Did a tour of Mombasa with the help of our guide book yesterday, so have seen the sights ranging from Fort Jesus some old relic (no comments please) to the very back streets of the Old Town which is hugely Muslim and very busy and full of locals, only two other tourists that we could spot.
Tried a bit of haggling on a kaftan but brought it anyway as it was incredibly cheap and more expensive in other 'shops'. Jennifer was busy doing her photography, but finally put the camera away - piece of advice if going on holiday with a photographer, negotiate time with them re photos or hide their camera batteries!
Back to the hotel for a spot of lunch, cake for Jennifer salad for me and then off we went to Diani.
Children begging on the side of the railway tracks pretty much most of the way from 7am till we got into Mombasa. These children are obviously well used to this begging and in actual fact some were very demanding - one older boy demanded I gave him my watch - fat chance!
Talking about giving things, whilst walking to the van bus from the beach today, we were munching a very 'expensive' large packet of crisps and three kids walked by. We called them back to ask if they wanted a crisp - one of them grabbed the packet in a nice way! I was too hungry to let them have the whole packet - so we filled their tiny hands with crisps so they were happy and we were happy!
Anyway after digressing from Saturday's adventures I shall return to them. Having nearly got ripped off by the cab driver from the Station - saved by Jennifer's knowledge and experience of these things and a slap round the head for me due to my naviety we arrived at the hotel. Very nice hotel, very old colonial building on one of the main streets - Moi Avenue. Named after one of the Presidents, in actual fact many of the main streets seem to be named after Presidents.
Seems that we have made us a friend with the Hotel Receptionist he e-mailed us his mobile number, but our social diaries have been to full to fit him in!
After a lovely lovely shower, no showers on the train - long drop communal toilets (you can only imagine my face when I first found out - Jennifer had to coax me to use the loo otherwise I would still have my legs crossed now!) we sat down for a lovely 'cuppa' well I did in the hotel's lovely bar and waited for Serah and her lovely friend Eva. Not that Serah isn't fab too of course. They took us to a local cafe so we could fill our stomachs and we talked a bit about Mombasa's dos and don'ts etc etc. Then off to a supermarket by van/bus for supplies and back by the four of us squeezing into the back of a tuttut! We did have a bit of a giggle, in actual fact when ever Serah's around we do tend to have a bit of a giggle! Someone who finally gets my sense of humour!
Then Jennifer and I went out to a local restaurant/bar for a bit of dinner - that was an experience which I probably won't go into now. Lets just say everything we tended to ask for they didn't have, what they did have came about 1 hour and half later and the fish was, delicious but shall we say a tad over cooked!
Have reminded Jennifer how to play backgammon, huge huge mistake on my part, haven't won one game yet (blame it on my teacher - Darlene)!!!!! So I am banning backgammon and moving onto chess, in the hope I have more success there!
Did a tour of Mombasa with the help of our guide book yesterday, so have seen the sights ranging from Fort Jesus some old relic (no comments please) to the very back streets of the Old Town which is hugely Muslim and very busy and full of locals, only two other tourists that we could spot.
Tried a bit of haggling on a kaftan but brought it anyway as it was incredibly cheap and more expensive in other 'shops'. Jennifer was busy doing her photography, but finally put the camera away - piece of advice if going on holiday with a photographer, negotiate time with them re photos or hide their camera batteries!
Back to the hotel for a spot of lunch, cake for Jennifer salad for me and then off we went to Diani.
Mombasa 29th June
Well Mombasa is well Mombasa! Hot, humid and very busy. Van buses and tututs everywhere, people, beggars, and traffic! Very much a business type city, on the harbour but no beaches that near by, well not in walking or spitting distance.
However being the intrepid travellers that Jennifer and I are we have visited two beaches so far. Yesterday Diani which is to the South of Mombasa, our travelling was not that intrepid though as we went with Serah (from the Charity) and her friend's husband by car! We did have to get the ferry across to the south area, so that could be considered intrepid. The beach was absolutely gorgeous, perfect white sand and lovely lovely warm sea. Great bar on the beach, only one slight problem was raining!!!!! No swimming yesterday!
So today we thought off to North Coast, Nyali. Intrepid we were, off on a local bus, then onto another local bus and then a short walk. Ready for a day of being pestered by the 'beach boys' and burning our white bits. You've guessed it, was raining agan today! So still whites bits not burnt. Had a nice time though chilling, drinking coffee and becoming knowledgeable about Kenya's history.
Now Jennifer is off doing her David Bailey stuff in the Old Town of Mombasa and I am sitting here in an internet cafe catching up on e-mails, doing my blog and getting frustrated because my Uni results still are not posted.
Off to Malindi tomorrow with Serah by local bus to get settled in at the Orphanage and start work! Been buying flip flops for the children as they are so cheap - but luggage now getting so heavy no more shopping. Looking forward to the Orphanage, apparently cold showers only, so you will be hearing me scream every morning back in London!
Doing these posts backwards, so will post Saturday's next.
However being the intrepid travellers that Jennifer and I are we have visited two beaches so far. Yesterday Diani which is to the South of Mombasa, our travelling was not that intrepid though as we went with Serah (from the Charity) and her friend's husband by car! We did have to get the ferry across to the south area, so that could be considered intrepid. The beach was absolutely gorgeous, perfect white sand and lovely lovely warm sea. Great bar on the beach, only one slight problem was raining!!!!! No swimming yesterday!
So today we thought off to North Coast, Nyali. Intrepid we were, off on a local bus, then onto another local bus and then a short walk. Ready for a day of being pestered by the 'beach boys' and burning our white bits. You've guessed it, was raining agan today! So still whites bits not burnt. Had a nice time though chilling, drinking coffee and becoming knowledgeable about Kenya's history.
Now Jennifer is off doing her David Bailey stuff in the Old Town of Mombasa and I am sitting here in an internet cafe catching up on e-mails, doing my blog and getting frustrated because my Uni results still are not posted.
Off to Malindi tomorrow with Serah by local bus to get settled in at the Orphanage and start work! Been buying flip flops for the children as they are so cheap - but luggage now getting so heavy no more shopping. Looking forward to the Orphanage, apparently cold showers only, so you will be hearing me scream every morning back in London!
Doing these posts backwards, so will post Saturday's next.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Nairobi
Well we made it to Nairobi. Flights were on time and uneventful, although on the flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi we managed to get seats with extra leg room and two on there own - so we were very happy. Flight was packed, but luckily with a little help from some 'medication' we managed to snooze most of the time.
Nairobi airport was interesting, a bit higgle de piggeldy - got our visa's no problems with a little help from 'girlie chat'. Was pitch dark in Nairobi at 7.30 pm when arrived. Picked up no problems, nearly lost our lives on the way to our Host's house due to chinese road works. Our hosts were fabulous and we had a brilliant but ever so short stay.
Very busy day yesterday (Friday) meet Maasi - Jennifer stole one of their puppies (to remind her of Samba) and it is now'peeing' in her luggage! I stole one of the baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Trust (Sara) he is on his way to you by airmail..... Get his pen ready.
Jennifer and I got very friendly, snogging friendly with the locals - Giraffes that is! Then off on mini safari adventure (Mary found the experience a little tedious - cos it aint like wat it is on telly)! We did spot however lions, zebra, giraffes, baboons and various four legged deer types. Does anyone want a husband we have an eligible Tour/Safari Guide!
Off to the train station for our 'Out of Africa Experience' - food more reminisent of SCHOOL DINNERS!
Nairobi airport was interesting, a bit higgle de piggeldy - got our visa's no problems with a little help from 'girlie chat'. Was pitch dark in Nairobi at 7.30 pm when arrived. Picked up no problems, nearly lost our lives on the way to our Host's house due to chinese road works. Our hosts were fabulous and we had a brilliant but ever so short stay.
Very busy day yesterday (Friday) meet Maasi - Jennifer stole one of their puppies (to remind her of Samba) and it is now'peeing' in her luggage! I stole one of the baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Trust (Sara) he is on his way to you by airmail..... Get his pen ready.
Jennifer and I got very friendly, snogging friendly with the locals - Giraffes that is! Then off on mini safari adventure (Mary found the experience a little tedious - cos it aint like wat it is on telly)! We did spot however lions, zebra, giraffes, baboons and various four legged deer types. Does anyone want a husband we have an eligible Tour/Safari Guide!
Off to the train station for our 'Out of Africa Experience' - food more reminisent of SCHOOL DINNERS!
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Tuesday 23rd
Well nearly done all my packing and have done really well. Big rucksack (thank you Jay) full with goodies for the kiddies (whose idea was it too buy four footballs - oh mine of course!) and smaller suitcase full of my stuff. So have been very frugal with my packing and limited it too four pairs of shoes - unbelieveable for me, being away for 7 weeks. Normally need a pair for each day!
First anti malarial tablet for Jennifer and I tonight - yum. Bad news it will be raining in Nairobi when we arrive and is due to be raining in Mombasa when we get there on Saturday. It will be hot though, so not such a bad thing. We shall be walking in the rain - who sang that! Enough for today off to cook dinner for a friend.
First anti malarial tablet for Jennifer and I tonight - yum. Bad news it will be raining in Nairobi when we arrive and is due to be raining in Mombasa when we get there on Saturday. It will be hot though, so not such a bad thing. We shall be walking in the rain - who sang that! Enough for today off to cook dinner for a friend.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Sunday 21st June
Hi,
Just received some news from the charity we are volunteering with that the Orphanage we were hoping to go to is not happening now! However they have found us a new Orphanage just down the road, so waiting to hear a little more.
Getting very excited only 3 full days to go before we fly!!!!!!
Just received some news from the charity we are volunteering with that the Orphanage we were hoping to go to is not happening now! However they have found us a new Orphanage just down the road, so waiting to hear a little more.
Getting very excited only 3 full days to go before we fly!!!!!!
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