It's so interesting sometimes, how different cultures are. Our driver and I were having an interesting conversation about living somewhere else. He moved to Nairobi from Mombasa. Life is difficult, but he just thinks the change in perspective is so important, and everyone should do it every now and again.
I've just returned from a whirlwind 'tour' of Kenya. 'Tour' makes it sound like pleasure, but it was really gruelling! I went from Nairobi to Mombasa to Malindi, back to Nairobi, then to Eldoret, then Kitale, Kisumu, Kiisii back to Kisumu and finally back to Nairobi again. About 8 cities in eight days! Working every day - one or two company visits per day. By the end of the eight days, I couldn't remember when I had been where!
Anyway back to the issue of 'perspective'. In Kisumu we stayed at a fairly nice hotel. I switched on the TV and searched as normal for BBC and CNN. No BBC, no CNN, only Al Jazeera!
I spent the next few days watching Al Jazeera - whenever I was not at work. Interesting programming actually. Sad to say I had always linked Al Jazeera with Jihad and terrorism, but it was a lot more than that. A news channel with more of an Middle Eastern and Asian perspective. So news about the Middle East, India, Australia, and some stories from Africa. Surprisingly I recognised quite a few BBC and CNN reporters - including a BBC weatherman I think, who had defected to Al Jazeera. Interesting few days.
Another 'happening' this week reminded that I was on the other side of the world. There was a powerful earthquake in Sumatra this week. Like any other Trinidadian, I have no idea where Sumatra even is! And I actually know a fair bit of geography. Well the following day I heard that tsunami warnings in Tanzania and Kenya (where I am) had been called off! Imagine I was thinking an earthquake in Sumatra was just interesting news, when it actually could have had an impact on life where I am now.
Talk about small world.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Knocked Up in Nairobi
So I'm back in Nairobi again! Time passes SO quickly.
My first time in Nairobi was about 4 years ago when I was leaving Tanzania. I still had the real MAD adventure spirit. People had told me all kinds of horror stories about the place. Back then, before the days of Kamau and Gianthiwa Lodge (see a veryearly post), I stayed in a hotel called Terminal Hotel. I arrived in this 'dangerous city' at about midnight, and got a taxi to take me to Terminal - a very frightening name when you don't know where you're going. Terminal wasn't so bad, though I bolted the doors and put my suitcase in front of it, and I left anyway in the morning as the sun came up.
So fast forward now to four years later (at times it also seems longer). I'm working on a REALLY interesting project - so I'm consultant now, not backpacker. The funny thing is the driver took me back to Terminal Hotel and asked if I wanted to stay there. I went in and asked - any TV, any internet? The bell hop looked at me in bewilderment. So I guess I've passed that stage.
I'm staying at a 3 star hotel - not a no-star, and when they booked it for me, I had a long long list of demands - must have in-room TV, toilet and bath, hot water, restaurant, wireless internet, pool and on and on. I've really grown up I guess.
Of course the other thing is that I'm 23 weeks pregnant, so can't rough it like I used to. I mean after the baby boy (?) is born, then I can take him on some rough rides :-) but for now, I'm taking it easy. I thought I was doing okay up to tonight. I had been eating in the hotel restaurant and another one near work most days. Nothing too adventurous. Tonight I said, time for some street food!! Anyone who knows me, knows that's my thing: the thrill of something CHEAP (yeah I'm cheap ;-), and tasty, and the risk of 'doing it like the locals. I settled on some 'Massala Chips' in a fairly decent looking place - so it wasn't real street food - but it wasn't expat food either. Massala Chips are french fries that are then stir fried in pepper, and ketchup - doesn't sound like anything special, but I've always loved them, and how can you go wrong at Ksh70 (just over US$1).
From the minute the minute the waitress brought the plate I started to feel sick. It was just too much. I finished about half my order and took the rest home - where I ate some more, started to watch a movie then fell asleep.
Well I guess Azure (baby name for now) does not like street food! because I woke up about four hours later feeling sick! I have had no nausea at all during the pregnancy, but I think the old oil, pepper and whatever else might have been running around the kitchen and used for seasoning, the whole mixture just hit me for six! So okay Azure, I give up, only restaurant food for you for the rest of the trip.
Right now I'm searching for some water to flush out my system.
My first time in Nairobi was about 4 years ago when I was leaving Tanzania. I still had the real MAD adventure spirit. People had told me all kinds of horror stories about the place. Back then, before the days of Kamau and Gianthiwa Lodge (see a veryearly post), I stayed in a hotel called Terminal Hotel. I arrived in this 'dangerous city' at about midnight, and got a taxi to take me to Terminal - a very frightening name when you don't know where you're going. Terminal wasn't so bad, though I bolted the doors and put my suitcase in front of it, and I left anyway in the morning as the sun came up.
So fast forward now to four years later (at times it also seems longer). I'm working on a REALLY interesting project - so I'm consultant now, not backpacker. The funny thing is the driver took me back to Terminal Hotel and asked if I wanted to stay there. I went in and asked - any TV, any internet? The bell hop looked at me in bewilderment. So I guess I've passed that stage.
I'm staying at a 3 star hotel - not a no-star, and when they booked it for me, I had a long long list of demands - must have in-room TV, toilet and bath, hot water, restaurant, wireless internet, pool and on and on. I've really grown up I guess.
Of course the other thing is that I'm 23 weeks pregnant, so can't rough it like I used to. I mean after the baby boy (?) is born, then I can take him on some rough rides :-) but for now, I'm taking it easy. I thought I was doing okay up to tonight. I had been eating in the hotel restaurant and another one near work most days. Nothing too adventurous. Tonight I said, time for some street food!! Anyone who knows me, knows that's my thing: the thrill of something CHEAP (yeah I'm cheap ;-), and tasty, and the risk of 'doing it like the locals. I settled on some 'Massala Chips' in a fairly decent looking place - so it wasn't real street food - but it wasn't expat food either. Massala Chips are french fries that are then stir fried in pepper, and ketchup - doesn't sound like anything special, but I've always loved them, and how can you go wrong at Ksh70 (just over US$1).
From the minute the minute the waitress brought the plate I started to feel sick. It was just too much. I finished about half my order and took the rest home - where I ate some more, started to watch a movie then fell asleep.
Well I guess Azure (baby name for now) does not like street food! because I woke up about four hours later feeling sick! I have had no nausea at all during the pregnancy, but I think the old oil, pepper and whatever else might have been running around the kitchen and used for seasoning, the whole mixture just hit me for six! So okay Azure, I give up, only restaurant food for you for the rest of the trip.
Right now I'm searching for some water to flush out my system.
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