Mid May - settling in....

The beautiful lands of Africa and a sky so blue  -  it seems forever.

I visited the Karura National forest for a hike this week. It's just what you'd expect from Africa (during the rainy season). Lush tropical forest, humid hot and loud with a million insects and birds deep in the forest.

And a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle and beautiful trees.. BUT no one warned me about the huge damned MONKEYS!!!

Centered in the tree to the right is a critter who greeted me as I walked along the trail alone. Not knowing there were monkeys in the park - you can imagine the surprise when this fella walked onto the trail. He was about the size of a 4year old child... like a big dog I guess. Turns out he and pals were peaceful but it scared the bananas out of me! Later a whole troupe of about a hundred members crossed the road and were walking through the forest....There's no real underbrush so you could see them all sort of marching quietly along.

 



Interestingly, Kenya sets the gas prices with a regionally specific multi variable formula on the 15th of each month. That price will be the same at all stations. Smart!!!! No gas wars....But!!!!! here's the problem with that -  if in the days leading up to the new price being announced,  the expectation is that the price will be higher - there is an immediate shortage as sellers hold thier stocks to sell at the higher "new" price after the 15th of the month. Pictured above is a cartoon from yesterday's paper making fun of the situation. The cartoon tells the story.....

 




Janet and Koril: Intrepid watchers of the gate

I asked Janet and Koril if I could take their picture and they agreed. The 2 of them stand or sit at the gate from 6am to 6pm daily in the sweltering heat with the important job of making sure "bad guys" don't come through the gate into our shared work compound.

 

They work 6 days per week and likely spend 1 to 2 hours getting to work each day and then another 1 to 2 hours getting home. Equally likely is that they live outside the city where accommodations are more affordable so they walk or take a Matatu (Highway pirate) to and from work. The cost of the Matatu depends on how far you travel but likely around 50 to 75 cents each way.

 

While I don't know what J&K are paid for their fine work, similar positions would attract monthly salaries equivalent to a day's wage in Canada. At the same time -  coffee is $10 per lb. Basic food on the other hand is very reasonable. Rice for example sells for around $2 per kilo .....All I can say is that I am very thankful to these 2 for the Exceptional work they do each day.

 

 

And then there's the baby elephants!!!! Mischevious, smart, playful and unbelievably cute. Without the intimidating size of their grown parents they present as just loving and vulnerable. These are young orphan elephants less than 2 years old ranging in size from just above your knee to chest high.

 

The main reason they're here is because their parents are dead from poachers (ivory poachers) or they fell into a well (not the ivory poachers unfortunately - the baby elephants) . Either way - these lovely creatures need our support and protection. Since 1950 the numbers have fallen from 3million to 300,000 members. The orphanage is a fine example of Kenya looking after these little guys - continued poaching is not. Nor is the world's continued use of Ivory - shame.....

The hide is surprisingly tough like tree bark.  

Fresh out of a nice mud bath - so refreshing!

And below my new favorite breakfast - Chapati and 2 eggs in a baggie. For 60 cents Canadian you can't beat it - add in a cup of Kenyan coffee (more on this delicious nectar of the Gods later) and you have yourself a beautiful start to the day.

 

Catching a flight to Lockichoggio tomorrow morning taking me to the border of Kenya and South Sudan. Looking forward to working with the awesome Logistics team there.