Monday, August 3, 2009

Holiday Highlights!

l just had a great 2 week holiday with my sister Sarah taking in some of the sights of Kenya.... Not to bore everyone with every detail… BUT…
Here are some of the Highlights……
1. Viewing 5 Lion Cubs playing with lioness in Masai Mara Park.
2. Watching a Lion pride defend their Zebra kill from the hyenas and jackals.


3. Getting up close to the White Rhinos in the Rhino Sanctuary in Masai Mara
4. Chuckling at our fellow Safari camper German family man “Wolfgang” who headed out on the 6am game drives in his leather shorts and bow and arrow… (Mmm.. maybe not a highlight but certainly gave us a laugh)…

5. Travelling on the rickety slow 14 hour Train Ride to Mombasa from Nairobi and enjoying dinner and breakfast in the dining car.
6. Going on a Dhow Boat Trip with Sarah, Kelly and Colm around Lamu Island and fishing for our lunch
and then eating our white snapper catch with Chapattis and salad on Mandera Island....!!!


7. Walking along the white sandy beach of Shela Beach and trying to fly Sarah’s foil kite.
8. Cycling around Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha and walking the Gorges there...!



Not so good but….
1. Missing the Wilder beast Migration by 1 week.... those stupid animals decided not to cross the river for us en masse… (Due to low rainfall in Masai Mara, deforestation of the Mau Forest... and the falling river levels of Mara River which is even killing off the crocs that used to devour them!!)
2. Unfortunately not being able to dive or snorkel in Lamu Island as the water is too murky this time of year.. .!
3. Stepping in lots of donkey S**t in the tiny Lamu streets… flip flops not advisable!
4. Getting a very sore arse from a days cycling in Hells Gate and severe case of lobsteritis from taking Doxycycline and also having the skin that simply does not tan.. (think that answers a couple of questions from people about whether I have a tan yet??)

Did I hear right ...??
1. Been asked in Lamu Island by a waiter in an empty restaurant “would we like to wait 30 mins or 40 mins for our food to be cooked”.... ??!!!
2. On the train to Mombasa... the waiter asked for us to pay for our drinks again after we had already paid... when we clarified this... he responded... “well all you foreigners look the same!!”
3. Trying to negotiate a good price for belts in Masai Market in Nairobi... The vendor told us that “I will give you a good discount if you buy more than One.. 400 Shillings for one.....and 800 shillings for 2”...... ??!!!