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.
No comments:
Post a Comment