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.