Kitale, Kenya. Africa.
It's stolen my heart. I've found my home. So much has happened here in the last two months. Lola and I have been through the wringer time and time again, yet I never want to leave. So many amazing memories that we are bringing home with us.
I haven't really known what I'm going to do with my life, but at this point I'm thinking it has something to do with this town. It's not just the amazing people who actually need me here, but it's also how close I feel to my mom here. It's like she's here. I haven't truly allowed myself to grieve for my mother yet, but here, it's part of the journey. It's a daily struggle/ joy, celebrating her life. The whole reason I'm here is because of her. Leaving this week feels like I'm losing her all over again.
Here I'm needed. I've never felt so loved, or special as when I walk into a room here, and the whole room lights up. It's a huge ego-booster, let me tell you! There's so much I've learned. So much I've seen.
I may be leaving for a short while, but I shall be back. I'm home.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thunder Thighs
Last night, after our amazing week in Mombassa, we took the train back to Nairobi.
It's an overnight train, that is supposed to take 14 hours, however on
our way to Mombassa it took 15.5, and on the way back it took about
14.5, which is actually pretty good timing. The train is ancient,
charming, and a good time all around. Save the bathrooms. But I'll come
back to that. Our 'first class' 2 person sleeper cabin was actually the
best sleep I've had all summer. The rocking of the train put Jenn and I
both to sleep like babies, and people came banging on our door at least
four times this morning, and I didn't wake up. Twas wonderful. The food
was even pretty decent.
You know what wasn't so wonderful? The bathrooms. Apparently what passes for a 'choo' (bathroom) on this epic train is a hole in the floor that leads straight down to the track. So anything you .. output.. goes straight down onto the track. Yummy. That should discourage people from walking along the railroad track hmm? Jenn is very impressed with herself, nicknaming herself 'Thunder Thighs' after her many runins with such bathrooms.
You know what wasn't so wonderful? The bathrooms. Apparently what passes for a 'choo' (bathroom) on this epic train is a hole in the floor that leads straight down to the track. So anything you .. output.. goes straight down onto the track. Yummy. That should discourage people from walking along the railroad track hmm? Jenn is very impressed with herself, nicknaming herself 'Thunder Thighs' after her many runins with such bathrooms.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Everything You Want to Know About Kitale
Flight to Kitale
We took fly540 from Nairobi to Kitale, it costs about $100USD for the flight, one way. It takes 1 hour. Your other option is a matatu (bus) that takes about 8 hours. And I wouldn't advise it due to the state of Kenyan roads.
Where to stay?
Well, you have a few options, but the best of them all would be Karibuni Lodge. With extremely reasonable prices, an amazing, helpful staff, and a wonderful couple that owns the place, there is no better place to stay. The food is amazing, a three course dinner is 650 ksh. Should you need anything at all, the smiling staff is always there to lend a hand. The whole place has such a homey feeling to it, we never wanted to leave!
Travelling..
We only used two types of transportation, although there are three to choose from. Taxi, Piki piki (motorbike taxi) and a boda boda (bycicle taxi). We never got up the courage to take a boda boda, but we did find ourselves a few amazing drivers who will keep you safe at all times. For taxi, our favourite driver was Isaac, his number is 0721447321, and our favourite piki drivers are Elisha (0726212645) and Phillip (0721430861). They are all very safe, very kind, and fair.
Eating..
The best place to eat would probably be Karibuni Lodge, but should you want something a little different, Pinewood offers both Chinese and Indian menus, although the cost is a bit steep compared to other places here. Still dirt cheap compared to North America, but in terms of Kitale, you can get a decent meal at some places for about 200KSH. Any of the hotels offer samosas, chips (fries), chips masala, eggs, chicken etc. at a decent price. Coffee shop has some really good food, and a handy little internet café right there should you need it. Here soda (pop) costs about a third of the price of bottled water, and the tap water is not safe to drink. Karibuni supplies purified water.
Shopping
If you want some North American food, the big supermarkets like Khetia’s, Transmat and Suam are the best places to check out first, but if you can’t find what you are looking for, you can try Soy. It’s the most expensive of the lot, but the most likely to have what you are looking for. If you aren’t in one of those four stores, usually you can bargain the price down on anything and everything. If you are a muzungu (white skin), you get a special price of your very own! About three times the price of what everyone else pays! So don’t fall for it, and just walk away. Nine out of ten times, they’ll chase you down and give you a better price.
Customs
In some of the outlying villages they have some customs that must be recognized before certain things can occur. One such custom is accepting tea from the lady of the house and drinking it together before you can have a conversation. The tea here is made with milk, which isn’t pasteurized and makes us sick everytime we drink it. So we pop a gravol beforehand, and it seems to help.
Sickness
Malaria. You hear horror stories about it at home, but here it’s simply a common flu. You find out you have it, get some shots and you are good to go. If you start feeling the symptoms, get tested! You might think you don’t have it due to a lack of itchy bug bites however it’s spread through female mossies who do not give you visible bites. Something else you are probably going to want to do is get a worm preventative that you can pick up at the local chemist here upon arrival for about 145KSH.
A little Swahili that will come in useful…
Hapana – no
Hakuna pesa – no money
Habari – how are you
Mzuri – good
Asante – thank you
Kidogo – little
Baridi – cold
Maji – water
Ndiyo – yes
We took fly540 from Nairobi to Kitale, it costs about $100USD for the flight, one way. It takes 1 hour. Your other option is a matatu (bus) that takes about 8 hours. And I wouldn't advise it due to the state of Kenyan roads.
Where to stay?
Well, you have a few options, but the best of them all would be Karibuni Lodge. With extremely reasonable prices, an amazing, helpful staff, and a wonderful couple that owns the place, there is no better place to stay. The food is amazing, a three course dinner is 650 ksh. Should you need anything at all, the smiling staff is always there to lend a hand. The whole place has such a homey feeling to it, we never wanted to leave!
Travelling..
We only used two types of transportation, although there are three to choose from. Taxi, Piki piki (motorbike taxi) and a boda boda (bycicle taxi). We never got up the courage to take a boda boda, but we did find ourselves a few amazing drivers who will keep you safe at all times. For taxi, our favourite driver was Isaac, his number is 0721447321, and our favourite piki drivers are Elisha (0726212645) and Phillip (0721430861). They are all very safe, very kind, and fair.
Eating..
The best place to eat would probably be Karibuni Lodge, but should you want something a little different, Pinewood offers both Chinese and Indian menus, although the cost is a bit steep compared to other places here. Still dirt cheap compared to North America, but in terms of Kitale, you can get a decent meal at some places for about 200KSH. Any of the hotels offer samosas, chips (fries), chips masala, eggs, chicken etc. at a decent price. Coffee shop has some really good food, and a handy little internet café right there should you need it. Here soda (pop) costs about a third of the price of bottled water, and the tap water is not safe to drink. Karibuni supplies purified water.
Shopping
If you want some North American food, the big supermarkets like Khetia’s, Transmat and Suam are the best places to check out first, but if you can’t find what you are looking for, you can try Soy. It’s the most expensive of the lot, but the most likely to have what you are looking for. If you aren’t in one of those four stores, usually you can bargain the price down on anything and everything. If you are a muzungu (white skin), you get a special price of your very own! About three times the price of what everyone else pays! So don’t fall for it, and just walk away. Nine out of ten times, they’ll chase you down and give you a better price.
Customs
In some of the outlying villages they have some customs that must be recognized before certain things can occur. One such custom is accepting tea from the lady of the house and drinking it together before you can have a conversation. The tea here is made with milk, which isn’t pasteurized and makes us sick everytime we drink it. So we pop a gravol beforehand, and it seems to help.
Sickness
Malaria. You hear horror stories about it at home, but here it’s simply a common flu. You find out you have it, get some shots and you are good to go. If you start feeling the symptoms, get tested! You might think you don’t have it due to a lack of itchy bug bites however it’s spread through female mossies who do not give you visible bites. Something else you are probably going to want to do is get a worm preventative that you can pick up at the local chemist here upon arrival for about 145KSH.
A little Swahili that will come in useful…
Hapana – no
Hakuna pesa – no money
Habari – how are you
Mzuri – good
Asante – thank you
Kidogo – little
Baridi – cold
Maji – water
Ndiyo – yes
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