Money money money, must be funny, in a rich (white) mans world.

The Maasai markets.

Nairobi's version of Portobello Road in Notting Hill, or the Queen Vic markets in Melbourne (on a smaller scale)... It's the place to buy your trinkets and souvenirs and they can spot a mzungu a mile away (obviously!)

It goes without saying that I wanted to do some shopping. There's something about curios and trinkets to remember a trip or experience and just seeing some of the lovely arts and crafts is always exciting. I made a list of the types of items I wanted to get for myself and my family back home for Christmas and with my very own Kenyan in tow, we went to browse the goods.

I had read blog entries and articles about markets in Kenya, it's all about the bargaining. I'm not used to doing that back home, haggling can be considered rude if done in the wrong place so I wanted to find out what the norm is here. 

As soon as they saw me, it was "hello sister! Come see my shop" or "jambo, just a few minutes of your time please madam..." I politely told them all that I was just looking first, to see the whole market and if I came back around I might visit them. It's so pushy and you're constantly declining invitations to buy, even saying "I'm not looking for those today thank you" usually falls on deaf ears.

As soon as we had done a loop around, E asked me if I had spotted what I wanted to buy, when I said yes I saw a least three things..he said, "right now we go get the best price".

The initial price they ask for is ridiculous. For example, I really wanted some little kiisi stone animals, which you can buy everywhere. In the shops they range from about $2-4 each depending where and how big they are. One seller got me to select which ones I liked and he would "give me a good deal, cheapest at markets". Yeah right, 5 little characters no larger than eggs, he wrote down his price on some paper and told me he would name is price, then I would name mine. No mor bargaining- mine would win. I had read up on this paper and pen technique so I was ready for it and knew what was expected.

His price? 4500ksh ($50+ Aussie dollars) 

I laughed. I actually looked at him as said, 'that's ridiculous. I've seen them for 200ksh each in my local mall!'

So the conversation goes, I name my price. I decided on 500ksh (100 each). He said that one of the statues was bigger and he couldn't agree, but he would let me have the other 4 for that price. I told him that was fine, I'll take the four. Then he decided to tempt me with the 5th one for another 300ksh. I declined and told him I only have 500ksh to spend on them. My hubby jumps in and says loudly 'we can get them cheaper elsewhere, let's go' and that sold the deal. The seller wrapped them up and I handed over 500ksh (about $7). Apparently I could have bargained even lower, but I was happy to pay that, these guys have to make a living too and compared to the price I can get them in Australia, it was a good deal.

I managed to get a good deal on some Maasai blankets at 670ksh each, most shops sell them around 1200-2000ksh each. 

What I really really wanted was a wooden bowl with the big 5 on it. I saw one in a shop in Australia for $60 and I knew I could get it cheaper. The shop at Amboseli was selling them for about 2500ksh, but I hesitated. 

Anyway, I found what I wanted. The lady asked for 4500ksh. I told her that was the price I would pay back in Australia, so that wasn't a good bargain. She asked me what I wanted to pay. I told her 1800ksh, she negotiated to 2000 (about $30). I should have started lower, but my inexperience made me nervous and E wasn't too sure what they were worth. I wasn't leaving without it though so I parted with 2000ksh and I'm happy. It's exactly what I wanted. It's an oval bowl and has carvings of animals around the rim. I hope it fits in my luggage! I wish I had more money to get another one as a gift, but it wasn't cheap compared to other souvenirs. 

Still, I love it. LOVE IT.

I spent probably more than I would have if I had better negotiating skills, E isn't a shopper so he helped where he could and got the price firm from sellers for me instead of them changing their price half way through negotiations. He thinks I paid too much still. 

Oh well, my first time haggling. Next time I'll be more ruthless! It's hard when you know some items are mass produced and cost next to nothing, but then there are local artisans who have made items themselves and you want to give them an income. I still have some items to buy, but I might just try the mall instead.

We are family... (I got all my aunties/uncles/cousins with me)

It's been said that when you marry someone, you marry their family. A truly profound statement. I saw a book in a store the other day which was titled: '"I married you, not your family"- and nine other relationship myths that will ruin your marriage'

I jokingly pointed it out to my new husband and he smiled in agreement that it was fitting to see that book in the midst of us buying Christmas gifts for his side of the family. But it stuck in my mind as a reminder of what we both committed to 3 weeks ago.

Family here in Kenya is a big deal, but not without its similarities to families back home. I wanted to share some of the cultural observations that I've noticed in the past week or so which has been very mentally exhausting for me at times as I've met more and more new Kenyan relatives.

Once one Aunty or uncle knows you're in town (especially if you have been living overseas and now bringing a foreign wife back with you), it soon follows that everyone will know. And everyone will want to see you both. We have spent all this past week going from home to home, me being introduced to aunties, uncles and cousins, nephews, grand-nephews, friends, friends of friends.... Etc. Drinking copious amounts of chai, eating anything from rice dishes, to meat dishes, chapatis, pancakes, fruit, salads, ugali... and whatever else they have rustled up to serve. Even when you're just popping in for a cuppa, there's usually food first. Even if you've just had a meal at one place, there will be more food to eat at the next and because it is rude not to accept it, you eat some more...until you think your tummy will burst. 

Funnily enough, because most of the food is carb-based, you fill up so fast, but then you're starving again by the time you get home late at night...so you eat more bread because it's cheap and filling and doesn't require cooking. For a person that has spent almost two years changing my diet to low carb, high protein/fat, going back to a very high carb/ low fat way of eating has messed my insides up. Without going into too much detail, I'm sure you can imagine the sounds and smells that are plaguing me presently. Haha, moving on!!

Anyway, let me go back to the beginning- when you arrive at your hosts place, there's a lot of "Karibu, karibu" which means 'welcome' in Kiswahili, usually that's followed by 'asante sana' (thank you very much) and you're told to 'sit anywhere!'

When greeting a Kenyan, depending on how comfortable they are with you (and especially for me being the newcomer and foreigner), they will extend a hand to shake (except it's more of just a gentle grasp) or embrace you with a 'one cheek, other cheek, first cheek again' touch while holding your hand or hugging. I've had all variations, so I'm assuming that's either a sign of how comfortable they are with me, or just how they do it as individuals. It's very genuine and very welcoming either way. Whenever someone else arrives, they make their way around the room shaking hands even to their parents. There's such a sense of good manners and acknowledging each person, it's really lovely to observe.

I've been told at every home that I am most welcome and I am now family and Kenya is my home so I am very welcomed. It's an answer to prayer really, I left Australia thinking it could go either way, and all I desired was just to be accepted. It's heartwarming.

After introductions and hellos, it's time to eat! 

Food can be eaten with your fingers, it's quite acceptable and even encouraged at times. Usually someone (either the aunt or a cousin) will bring a bowl and jug around to each person so that they can wash their hands before eating. One thing I've noticed about Kenyans is that they have such servant hearts. The younger generation never complain when told they are to serve the tea, or take the wash bowl around to the guests, and the older generations encourage you to keep eating until all the food has gone (which has been one of my struggles as I just can't eat big serves). They have given us their best from what they have, gone to lengths to make certain dishes for us and it's really humbling when you know the place you're visiting is not as "well off" as the last, yet they want to share what they have with you, even if it's just a simple rice dish.

Once the meal is finished, then tea is served (chai). Kenyans love their chai. It's made in large quantities on the stove and then stored in a big vacuum flask to keep hot for the rest of the day. They enjoy it very hot and very sweet. E and I don't take sugar in our tea, and I have found a few relatives look a little surprised when we decline the sugar bowl. I've seen three to five spoonfuls of sugar go into some tea cups! The tea usually has a bit of tea masala spice in it and it's very milky. I quite like it actually, but I'll be happy to go home and have a cup of plain old English Breakfast with a dash of milk in just over a weeks time. I've drunk so much tea in the past week... So so much. :)

I think I've tried every traditional Kenyan dish now. Some I love, some I could leave haha.

Chapatis- a flatbread made of flour and water, there's a process to make them soft and flaky and they are so simple, yet so moreish!

Ugali- a starchy maize meal cake. It's cooked in a big pot and turned out onto a plate, then eaten with your hands. We were very lucky to have our ugali made by a Luhya woman (the tribe most famous for perfecting the art of ugali) and it was soft, and had a delicious smoky flavour from being cooked over an open fire. The Kenyans ate so much of it, but I just couldn't fit more than a few slices in!

Pilau- spiced rice. Nothing unusual. Spices include cumin, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

Sukumawiki-  braised kale with tomatoes and onion and seasonings. It also often has coriander in it, but I can't eat that so it's been left out. It's really tasty and quite salty and goes perfectly with ugali.

Githeri- a bean and potato stew, sometimes with maize (corn) kernels in it too.

Mukimo/mokimo (also called Irio?)- mashed githeri (or mashed potato and peas), sometimes with dried kale power to give it a green colour. I could only manage a few mouthfuls, it was so sticky and so starchy I found it hard to swallow (literally!)

Matoke- potato and banana stew. The banana is not sweet, it's a green savoury banana (we call them plantains). My mother-in-law added a bit of chilli to hers. I didn't mind it, but couldn't eat it everyday.

Nyama choma- roasted meat. Usually beef (cheap but tough) or goat (expensive but softer). It's cooked over charcoal and rivals any of our Weber roasts for flavour, but not texture. It's very chewy and your teeth get a workout. Still, very very tasty if you're a meat eater! I saw a few stalls cooking 'kuku choma' which is roast chicken.

Kachumbari- a side salad of tomatoes and onions, sometimes chilli and sometimes coriander.

Mandazi- deliciously light triangle doughnuts. They have a hint of cardamom or something in them, we had them for breakfast down at Amboseli. Yum! 

Mutura- I didn't eat this one, it's a traditional Kenyan sausage made from ground meat and goats blood, encased in intestines. I'll pass thanks. (I refused to try black pudding in the UK too!)

So that's a but about family and food. It's hard to put down in words all the experiences and thoughts that go through my mind everyday here, it's so much to absorb and I've found it hard to focus at times especially when the aunts and uncles return to speaking Kikuyu or Kiswahili because it's easier for them to maintain a conversation (but they go back to English if speaking directly to me or a topic that I might be interested in). Usually I just smile and sit quietly enjoying my chai while they all catch up in their mother-tongue.

Apparently I'm on my way to being Kenyan. I'm not so sure I'm ready to live up to that expectation, but it's really nice to be accepted and welcomed into the family I've married.

I come from a land down under....

Merry Christmas! This isn't a festive post by any means, but I've not had chance to catch up on my blog all week and suddenly the 25th is upon us. I'll do my best to fill you all in with the family/Christmas happenings before the end of the weekend!

What a super busy week I've had.

I realised that we have less than 10 days before we jet home to Australia, this month has really flown (pun intended!).

This post is going to be very honest, and it's not my intention to be negative or bring down the country and peoples that have entertained and astonished me over the past three weeks, but I feel it is important to have that one post which highlights the difference between where I am right now and where I have come from. Bear with me, please read this with objective eyes and an open mind.

I'm first to admit that I have had a pretty good life. We didn't grow up with lots of money and fancy cars, houses and lots of treats but we had a great childhood and I've always had a roof over my head and food on the table. I have never gone without, and never felt like I was missing out on the everyday essentials to make life comfortable. I've also never really experienced poverty, even from a bystanders viewpoint. I've never known what it is like to walk down a road that's so unstable and damaged that ankle injuries are almost a given and I've never had neighbours whose houses have been made of scrap materials and makeshift fences to keep the criminals out. In fact, I've never lived in a house that was surrounded by a fence or a wall.

I remember one of the thoughts that went through my head when I first saw the streets of suburban Nairobi as we headed to my inlaws house. "Wow, this place is a lot poorer than I thought."

I was under the impression that the 'burbs were somewhat like ours back home, with bituminised roads, street signs and shops and services within 5 minutes of home...after all, Nairobi is a developing city!

In actuality, the suburbs of Nairobi are mostly like this, but also not.

There are bituminised roads, some are beautifully smooth and well maintained- especially where government buildings are. But there's a lot of areas where the bitumen has been poured and flattened once...with unfinished rough edges, then left to diminish into a combination of giant potholes and loose rubble. One minute you're driving on a smooth surface at 60kph, and the next left or right turn sees the speed reduce to about 10kph as you navigate your way over very uneven roads.

Most suburban streets have no signage. There are a few places in Nairobi that we drove past where houses were actually given a number and a designated address, but most places don't. It makes it hard using a GPS when there isn't actually a street name, or a house number. People rely on memory, routine and landmarks to get them to their destination. Majority of homes are part of apartment blocks, where space is maximised to host the most amount of housing in the smallest of spaces. More on that later...

The shops and services are there, heaps of them. Butchers, salons, groceries, milk bars, hotels, hot food, cold food, car washes, repair shops, technology shops...you name it. They just don't look anything like ours back home. Anything. 

I'm not talking about the big indoor shopping malls, they are pretty standard across both countries, I'm focusing on those little sets of shops that you pop into on your way home, the local deli, pizza bar and chemist type shops.

In the suburbs of Nairobi, and further out into the rural areas, these shops are made from wood and tin, they look like homemade garden sheds and line the roads along with open air fruit/veg stalls. The butcheries have giant carcasses hanging in the front window where patrons can select their chunk of meat to roast later - nyama choma. The salons have poor lighting and plastic chairs where people come to get their hair done, or a manicure/pedicure treatment. The "everything" shops: the ones where you can buy soft drinks and lollies, bread, milk, Internet data and phone credit (airtime) etc, keep their shopkeepers safe by way of metal bars to form a barrier/cage so that you can only ask for what you want and the shopkeeper will pass it to you via a gap in the bars. Very occasionally I saw one where you could go "in" and browse the shelves, but this isn't common.

There are also places along the roads, usually in areas where the matatus stop, where people just set up their own stalls or ground spaces to sell their wares. Be those shoes, clothing, furniture, gas bottles, chapatis, grilled corn, pretty much anything they can tempt the crowds with. It's hectic, messy, fascinating and overwhelming.

Housing is interesting and it's only been today that I finally was able to see past the exterior and first impressions and really understand the issues going on here. People that live in houses/bungalows on their own piece of land vary from basic two-room places with evidence of man-made extensions to fit their growing families, or a central house not unlike our older homes, with one-bedroom "granny-flats"  scattered around the property. Mostly constructed like a garage that's been lined and compartmentalised to include a kitchenette and shower/toilet room. I can't quite find the right word to describe them. They are so small, but practical and functional. They also have huge walls with either barbed wire or broken glass cemented into the top of the wall to deter thieves. They are situated behind giant iron gates so that from "street view" you have no indication of what sort of house lies within those walls. It surprised me a few times when the roads leading to the house we were visiting were so bumpy and neglected, with shanty housing neighbouring either side, only to lead to an oasis of personal space behind those gates.

There are also many many apartment blocks as I mentioned earlier. They can range from 3 storeys high to 7, and usually are one-bedroom or a maximum of two (I've seen "3-bed apartment for rent" signs but haven't met anyone who lives in one). They are solid stone walls that have been rendered and plastered on the inside (and painted), the bathroom usually has an instant hot water shower and toilet in close proximity to each other plus a sink, and then there is a small kitchen and a living room which doubles as a dining space. I've not seen a dining table in any apartment so far, everyone eats on their lap or at a coffee table in the middle of the room. I often wondered if I could ever live in a one-bedroom unit or apartment back home and usually came to the conclusion that my answer is a resounding "no". Too small to really make it into a home. However, I also now can see how I'm so used to having "stuff" and "space" that if I were to strip my belongings back to the bare necessities and get rid of the "stuff", I could actually live minimally. I'm not sure for how long, but seeing how it's done here, where its not about how much you have but how well you make what you have work.

Kenya, in particular Nairobi, is a city of extremes. I've seen mansions, and shanty towns...I've seen well kept streets, and neglected roads, I've seen manicured gardens and rubbish piles on the side of the street. I've seen wealth, and I've seen poverty. All in the space of a 20km radius.

I'm very fortunate, blessed even. Our little 3-bedroom house back in Adelaide is what I would call a small house, bigger than a unit, but suitable for no more than three people...but in reality, I live in a spacious home that is secure and safe without the walls and barbed wire. My street is smooth and wide, the shops are air conditioned in summer and protected from the rain and wind in winter. I can't actually compare. The two places are not comparable. Not dissimilar, but not comparable. Does that even make sense? It really is a different world here. A developing world. 

I'm very aware now of what that means. 

And yet, for some reason...I feel at home. In both cities.

The tide is high and I'm holding on...

I wanted to show you the aftermath of those rains we had on Saturday. Speaking with some of the Maasai that live near the lodge, we found out that the rains were so hard they caused a dam to break and flood the surrounding area. We woke up to see the road out of Serena lodge looking like a rushing river with water flowing rapidly. There were a couple of 4wds that had gotten stuck and were slowly being filled with water and the grounds at the back of the lodge were also completely covered in water, so much so a hippo was spotted climbing out of the rushing water to find safety not 50m from where we had sat the day before! 

We ventured out in our 4wd and it did really well, once out of the Serena area and onto the roads that go around the park, we found it easy and quite suitable for driving on, however those roads leading into the lodge were another story all together! It was quite exciting, E has always wanted to go four-wheel driving so this was his chance to test out those skills!

Thankfully, Monday morning they had pretty much dried up and the water had drained away so we could leave without delay... 

Baby you can drive my car... I am gonna be the star (and hold on tight!)

I've sort of set myself a challenge to come up with a song title or lyric for my blog posts...so if anyone can think of one for the first post, let me know!

This post is all about cars. More specifically: cars in Kenya!

Cars have featured a lot in my 10+ days here so far. Both in good ways, and not so good ways. I'm so glad NOT to be driving on these roads, I can safely leave that to my husband who has both experience on Kenyan roads, and a lot more defensive driving skills than I do. I really appreciate his ability to navigate the crazy roads and maintain a sense of calm and courtesy! Thankfully, I've not been a nervous passenger, it would be easy to spend the journey with eyes closed, teeth clenched and knuckles white from gripping the seat firmly...but I've only found myself occasionally holding my breath when trucks, buses and other cars decide to cut in without indicating, or assuming that because they are larger...they automatically get right of way. There isn't really a "right of way" here, or not as I would interpret it!

It's a very weird observation when you see tin roof makeshift shops, goats and cows, rubbish piles, massive potholes and no traffic lights...and the dude in front of you is driving a BMW or Mercedes Benz. The contrast in wealth and social status is very distinctive, there's an expensive car next to a donkey-pulled cart, and no one bats an eyelid. 

We've been very blessed to have use of my father-in-law's car while we are here, though we did hire the RAV4 for Amboseli. It's become quite normal for us to be driving down a road and suddenly we are avoiding massive massive potholes, or we are being cut off by a van, matatu or a pushy fellow car driver. I'm used to E saying things like, "put your camera away in this area" while he winds up the windows and hearing him lock the doors from the inside quite often for both our safety. Having a mzungu (white person) in the car makes us more of a target for roadside sellers and motorbike thieves who zip in and out of traffic and could easily grab something valuable from an open window or unlocked door.

Speaking of roadside sellers, stay tuned for a post dedicated to what one can buy from the comfort of ones car seat... I'm pretty sure some of the items will make you giggle!

Back to cars, or more specifically vans-turned-into-public-service-vehicles. There's no such thing as government owned public buses anymore apparently. They were scrapped. In their place, people have made their income by turning a humble van into a PSV which become the "buses". I'm still surprised at how they fit roughly 15 seats into an 8-seater van! I can imagine it is very smelly and very uncomfortable on hot days, regardless of how far you are travelling. I've not experienced it myself, mainly because it requires a certain skill of being able to jump into a van that stops very briefly, squeeze past people and climb over them to find a seat and then do the reverse to get off when you're at your destination. I see those seats, and I know the size of my butt...lets just leave the rest to our imaginations! 

Matatus are also PSV's, but they are a bit larger and very decorated. Often the outside has some sort of slogan or political/religious stance, or a Bible verse and the bus is usually very colourful. The inside (so I'm told) has wifi a lot of the time, and at night, the interior lights up with what can only be described as a combination of a disco-meets-Christmas light show. I saw one the other night that was spectacular! Oh yeah, they also have music playing. 

I don't think I'll complain about Adelaide Metro again after this.

"I Bless the Rains Down in Africa..."

Why do I have that Toto song, Africa, still stuck in my head?.... Annoyingly I only know bits of the lyrics so it's like a cd skipping!

It has been playing in my brain for about 9 hours now...about as long as torrential rains have been coming down and flooding Serena Lodge. I walked to dinner with my feet in deep puddles and apart from a brief lapse in downpour about 9pm when we walked back to our room, it has been non stop rain.

So, why am I telling you this at 3am local time? I'm glad you asked! 

Our room is leaking.

I woke up about half on hour ago feeling tiny splashes on my face, as did E...we turned on the lights to discover the walls above the bed lined with trickle paths from the part where the wall meets ceiling- not enough filler it seems! There's also a puddle forming by the wardrobe, I've put my bag up on the table because I don't trust the floor anymore!

We have used all the spare towels.... This could get interesting! 

Anyway, even the 4-star accomodation can't handle the African rains, at least it's still warm- I just pray the ceiling fan holds out!

Oh well. After less than a week, I am not really surprised by Africa anymore :)

I'll go back to bed. Goodnight!

The road (to Amboseli) is long, with many a trucks....and giraffes!

Hubby and I set out for a weekend in Amboseli National Park yesterday, some African timing and car swapping delays, we finally got on the road about 11.30am. The park is only 200km away and back in Australia, we could have easily done that drive in just over 2 hours even through the city. Not in Nairobi! We had to go through the city and out the otherside, before joining the long long one laned highway heading to the coast...along with an entire cities population of trucks it seemed! 

After we got out of the city I was watching the goings on along the roadside and said hello to many goats, cattle and the occasional group of chickens and children walking down the street (along the "highway"). Just imagine this scenario:

Me, "hi goat....."

       "Hi cow!....."

       "Hi...wait....a GIRAFFE!!!!!! Hunny, there's a freakin giraffe on the side of the road!"

E: "welcome to Africa baby!"

There was a giraffe.... On the side of the road, just casually having a munch on some leaves. I was so excited, I actually shed a tear haha! What a crybaby.

Anyway I was super chuffed at seeing my first giraffe in Africa, it made up for the tiresome truck overtaking and dusty roads we passed. 

I can't remember how much longer we drove before we passed a herd of zebra and some more giraffes. So cool, like I didn't even have to pay an entrance fee, they were just there!

Back to the roads...FIVE HOURS, yes... 5 hours it took us to go 200km! Holy hakuna matata Batman, that was a long drive!

Unfortunately the excitement of seeing these animals in their natural environments was dampened a little when we got to the national park gate. Word to the wise...if you want to see the Big 5, save up your money..,then save some more! Far out, that's a costly lesson learned. With E being Kenyan, he only has to pay 1200 Kenya shillings per day to be inside the park (in order to stay and do drives) which is about AU$16...me however, being a non-resident got slugged 8400ksh ($114) PER DAY just to stay in this park (after we had already spent over $500 just for accomodation this weekend) so $342 later, I'm allowed to stay here and see their animals until Monday. Good grief. Talk about making money from tourists!! We were quite shocked at this cost as it pretty much took all the cash we had left, and really put a dent in our budget, we rented a 4wd for the weekend too which was another $300 or so...

So, that part wasn't fun, and it got us both a little upset, but we talked it through and realised that this is part of life, it's not always going to be fair. Once I've been here, I don't really need to come again for a long time, we resigned to just enjoying our weekend and will worry about finances later. God has provided us with what we need so far, and our friends and family were so generous in their giving for our wedding that we were able to use our gift money for both the apartment rental for a month, and our travel insurance... That was a real blessing :)

So finally, we arrived at Serena Lodge and are shown to our little "hut" where we settled in and went to have some dinner (most packages out here are full board so at least we don't go hungry!) we both crashed out after tea, I don't remember seeing 9.30pm and E was already sound asleep before that!

Woke up around 6.30 to the sound of monkeys, and birds. Bliss! Best night sleep all week and by 7.15 we are ready to go for a morning drive to spot the animals who are up and about for their own breakfast. It wasn't long before we spotted elephants in the distance, plus ostriches, gazelles, wildebeest, a lone hyena and finally a few giraffes and zebras. On our way back to the lodge around 9am we were so fortunate to just witness a herd of elephants crossing the road and a few really close range which made for great photos!

Hopefully when we do an afternoon drive we may spot some lions, but this park is mostly known for its elephants and that was pretty amazing to see :)

All in all, the lodge we are staying at is beautiful. It's so African, (and so cliche) but stunning. Our room is so colourful and well decorated and we had a monkey visit us outside our patio door! As the MasterCard ad would say, that sort of experience: Priceless. 

My Kenyan has decided to try the swimming pool out, and I think I might take my iPad out and read one of the many ebooks I've got with me. It's a warm, humid day and the lunch buffet will be available soon, so I'm gonna soak up this wonderful place and enjoy my honeymoon weekend in the serenity of the African wildlife!

Thrown in the deep end and managing to swim!

I got married last Friday, December 4th, to my Kenyan (now) husband E. Where others might jet off to a tropical paradise honeymoon, or a quaint little private cottage by the sea for some quality together time- we instead, jetted off to Kenya so I could meet the inlaws face to face instead of via Skype and phone, and also to get a bit of a better idea where my husband grew up and how far he has come.

So, Sunday night saw us fly out from Adelaide to Nairobi via Perth and Doha. A power failure in Sydney saw our first flight grounded for an hour and we were told we would probably miss the connecting international flight! We prayed about it and left the details to our Heavenly Father to see our journey through however it panned out. Thankfully the airline waited for us and 6 other passengers but we had to sprint from plane to taxi to international departures, through passports and on board. I was stuffed and I pulled my Achilles' tendon badly running between places, so that wasn't the best start.

Our bags also made it with us on board so finally we got to Kenya, with luggage and the adventure began.

My first observations of Kenya included crazy crazy traffic and lack of road rules! There were people everywhere and lining the grassy spots along the highways were people just snoozing or sitting and chatting to others. As we left the inner suburbs to go to E's parents house in the outer 'burbs, the views outside my passenger side window changed to include goats and chickens, shanty towns, tin roofed makeshift shops and the bumpiest roads I've ever been on! Talk about thrown in the deep end! Funnily enough I felt no nerves or anxiety, I embraced it all in my stride and tried to make the best impression on my new family. I'm not sure I'm fully accepted by them yet- I am the Aussie who married their son, but the younger relatives were very welcoming and chatty. I knew my weight would be an issue, being a big lady AND white was going to make life interesting while I am here and as much as I thought I prepared for the comments and stares, it didn't take too long before it overwhelmed me a bit too much. My inlaws, I'm sure mean well but being told that I need to skip meals and exercise more on a regular basis gets a bit much. Still, I will just take the comments on graciously and hope that my personality and charm somehow trumps appearances in the end. 

I look forward to meeting more of my new extended family and new friends from this part of the world, I'm excited to be heading to Amboseli this weekend to see nature at its best! I'm in Africa!! (Granted, I'm sitting in a westernised "Java House" coffee shop using their free wifi at present)

Until next time!