Had a wonderful weekend in Nairobi, more exploring. The city center is bustling with weekend markets and busy shoppers. A great change compared to the sidewalk-less, matatu pollution, garbage everywhere up by where we live. Having a lazy sunday-fixed our patio garden, made some candies....and took pictures of our flat!
Last weekend (Saturday to Tuesday, as Tuesday was a Kenyan Holiday-=Jomo Kenyatta Day):
Uganda was incredible. It is very much a tropical rain forest especially in comparison to Nairobi.
We took a bus there all day saturday. Left at 7am and arrived in Jinja at 6 pm. We then went to bujagali where we stayed in a campground/bandas(small rooms) accommodation which dropped off a hill and overlooked the Nile. It was majestic. There was a nice restaurant and bar so we ate dinner (all 11 of us) and topped the night off at the bar. On Sunday we got up and headed back down to Jinja where the rafting starts. We then rafted 30 km on the Nile (10am - 5pm). Through a bunch of class 3, 4, and 5 rapids that were intense...and ended the day off with an accidental run down a class 6 which absolutely annihilated our boat and sent us all flying everywhere. We flipped the raft over on 3 different occasions going through the class 5 rapids. It was amazing. Walls of water would simply destroy the boat and send us all over. We actually will be getting a DVD of the trip soon. The Nile is pretty cool b/c it is so deep and so large that even though there are sick rapids, you don't have to worry much about being flipped out into a rock. You simply get flipped out and then sent through a "washing machine" type rapid and you eventually pop up thanks to your life vest. There were some lull type stretches with small class 1/2 rapids and Anne and I decided to just hop off the raft and float through them, which was pretty cool. The day was gorgeous, warm and sunny, but not intensely hot. The Nile was excellent, mildly warm, yet refreshing. Anyways, after we floated in just our life vests for about 45 minutes, the guide had us get back into the boat b/c in about another 1Km was a region prone to crocodiles. So, no worries, we kindly hopped back in the boat. Lunch was provided on the water. They gave us the world's greatest pineapples and crackers. I've never seen anyone cut an entire pineapple into edible bite size wedges in less than 30 seconds before.
After the rafting trip we took a bus to Kampala about 1hr 45 min away and visited friends there for the sunday evening and all day monday. It was an exceptionally beautiful city on the edge of Lake Victoria (the source of the Nile). Green, lush, hilly, meticulously landscaped, and quaint yet with lively city charm all the way. We ate dinner at a turkish restaurant in a place called centenary park. It was once again beautiful. It was an entire enclosed park, but the inside was just filled with restaurants and bars that were all situated in this huge and elegant garden/waterway landscape. We checked out the local favorite street market and purchased some incredibly aromatic (non-flavored) genuine Ugandan coffee. Can't wait to try it.
So anyways, Uganda and the city of Kampala were breathtaking. Anne, I'm sure, would like me to mention that is was great seeing her East Africa Fogarty crew. Amazing that everyone from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda made the trip!!
October 25, 2009
October 13, 2009
I'm a bad, bad blogger
I know, it's been a while. But, I've at least uploaded a few pictures! Again, I'm short on time-the internet SUCKS today (I am out of the office today. I am trying to work from home/a cafe on Tuesdays so that I can **try** to get MY work done-e.g. my analyses, dissertation, proposals, etc. So far, this is only the second day I've been able to avoid the office since I've been here).
In addition to being really, really busy at work (which most of the time is a good thing....however, recently it's been very stressful and tiresome. It seems the clinic staff on my study don't actually like working, which means they don't like me for asking them to do their job. I'm getting a little sick of all the politics/battles but at the end of the day, my feelings just don't matter more than the women in our study who NEED care who AREN'T getting it unless I do the politics/battles), we are really, really busy having fun:
Two weeks ago we rented a car and headed up country to rock climb at Hell's Gate (see awesome pictures of me clinging to the sheer wall for dear life...joking, I was busy occupied trying to figure out where to put my hands/feet and motivate my muscles to work that I didn't even realize was a hundred feet in the air) and camp at Lake Naivasha. We had an awesome time, I feel like I say it after everything, but it was the best time (yet). Damian is a really good driver-driving here is like nothing you could even imagine. First, the obvious, they drive on the other side of the road. Second, there is no organization or rules or anything. Third, there is insane traffice in Nairobi and a million turn abouts. Fourth, matatus are CRAZY (they will drive a million kilometers an hour in the wrong lane, on a cliff-side road, downhill, with out on ounce of interest in cars coming around the sharp turns ahead of them) CRAZY. Fifth, there are police check-points, which means "bribe-points" throughout the city and along the drive up country. We manage to avoid these entirely, yes!! Rock climbing was cut short by monsoon rains but we managed to beg our way into Hell's Gate at resident prices so we were happy to have the rain (in case you haven't heard, Kenya is under severe drought but is expecting an flood-provoking El nino year). Our campsite on the lake was really nice-clean bathrooms/showers, quite tenants and the restaurant was awesome (not the food here ever disappoints). After a good night sleep, we took a morning boat ride to see the hippos and feed the eagles. Again, check the pictures. SWEET. An eagle 3 feet from our boat swooping in for a fish we threw to it!
This past weekend wasn't as adventurous but we still had a blast....we went to the MAMA's (the MTv African Music Awards), hosted by Wycelf with guest performances by Akon and alllll of the top African artists (mostly hip-hop). Oh, and we also went to a HUGE (used) clothing market-it was so impressive-nicest clothes we've seen and really great deals (well, good for mzungu's, after bargaining and bargaining and bargaining). For example, I got a pair of like-new Italian leather heels for 100ksh (1.50 USD) and Damian got some fancy french tie for 100ksh. We also bought (super original) clothes for our hippy costumes for our upcoming Halloween parties.
And, this coming weekend will be yet again "the best time I've had yet" because we are going to Uganda for an East Africa Fogarty reunion-all of us from Tanzania (2), Kenya (5) and Uganda (2) are going to white water raft The Nile (which has some of the best class 5 rapids in the world, that will soon be going since they are damming the river) in Jinja and party in Kampala. We, the Nairobi Crew, are taking a 12 hour bus to Jinja/Kampala-should be a really pretty ride but clearly very long. Given the insanely dangerous driving, we opted out of the night bus and paid a ton for a "luxury" coach ($22 USD each way!). Looking forward to getting out of NBO and to some Fogarty love!
Okay, that's all for now. I know you all are wondering how Damian is doing...still employed (and, yes, he's been paid, real money) and still loving it! He has his bad TIA days, as we all do, but he's reallllly gotten the hang of this Nairobi thing (bargaining/getting things right/fixed/taking matatus to work). Time for me to say good-bye...Damian and I are going to negotiate more for a car that we want to buy-everything is a process. In Kenya, patience isn't just a virtue. It's the KEY to sanity.
In addition to being really, really busy at work (which most of the time is a good thing....however, recently it's been very stressful and tiresome. It seems the clinic staff on my study don't actually like working, which means they don't like me for asking them to do their job. I'm getting a little sick of all the politics/battles but at the end of the day, my feelings just don't matter more than the women in our study who NEED care who AREN'T getting it unless I do the politics/battles), we are really, really busy having fun:
Two weeks ago we rented a car and headed up country to rock climb at Hell's Gate (see awesome pictures of me clinging to the sheer wall for dear life...joking, I was busy occupied trying to figure out where to put my hands/feet and motivate my muscles to work that I didn't even realize was a hundred feet in the air) and camp at Lake Naivasha. We had an awesome time, I feel like I say it after everything, but it was the best time (yet). Damian is a really good driver-driving here is like nothing you could even imagine. First, the obvious, they drive on the other side of the road. Second, there is no organization or rules or anything. Third, there is insane traffice in Nairobi and a million turn abouts. Fourth, matatus are CRAZY (they will drive a million kilometers an hour in the wrong lane, on a cliff-side road, downhill, with out on ounce of interest in cars coming around the sharp turns ahead of them) CRAZY. Fifth, there are police check-points, which means "bribe-points" throughout the city and along the drive up country. We manage to avoid these entirely, yes!! Rock climbing was cut short by monsoon rains but we managed to beg our way into Hell's Gate at resident prices so we were happy to have the rain (in case you haven't heard, Kenya is under severe drought but is expecting an flood-provoking El nino year). Our campsite on the lake was really nice-clean bathrooms/showers, quite tenants and the restaurant was awesome (not the food here ever disappoints). After a good night sleep, we took a morning boat ride to see the hippos and feed the eagles. Again, check the pictures. SWEET. An eagle 3 feet from our boat swooping in for a fish we threw to it!
This past weekend wasn't as adventurous but we still had a blast....we went to the MAMA's (the MTv African Music Awards), hosted by Wycelf with guest performances by Akon and alllll of the top African artists (mostly hip-hop). Oh, and we also went to a HUGE (used) clothing market-it was so impressive-nicest clothes we've seen and really great deals (well, good for mzungu's, after bargaining and bargaining and bargaining). For example, I got a pair of like-new Italian leather heels for 100ksh (1.50 USD) and Damian got some fancy french tie for 100ksh. We also bought (super original) clothes for our hippy costumes for our upcoming Halloween parties.
And, this coming weekend will be yet again "the best time I've had yet" because we are going to Uganda for an East Africa Fogarty reunion-all of us from Tanzania (2), Kenya (5) and Uganda (2) are going to white water raft The Nile (which has some of the best class 5 rapids in the world, that will soon be going since they are damming the river) in Jinja and party in Kampala. We, the Nairobi Crew, are taking a 12 hour bus to Jinja/Kampala-should be a really pretty ride but clearly very long. Given the insanely dangerous driving, we opted out of the night bus and paid a ton for a "luxury" coach ($22 USD each way!). Looking forward to getting out of NBO and to some Fogarty love!
Okay, that's all for now. I know you all are wondering how Damian is doing...still employed (and, yes, he's been paid, real money) and still loving it! He has his bad TIA days, as we all do, but he's reallllly gotten the hang of this Nairobi thing (bargaining/getting things right/fixed/taking matatus to work). Time for me to say good-bye...Damian and I are going to negotiate more for a car that we want to buy-everything is a process. In Kenya, patience isn't just a virtue. It's the KEY to sanity.
September 9, 2009
Where's my mommy?
I didn't think that the first illness to plague me in Africa would be a (self-diagnosed) sinus infection/strep-throat. But, in fact, after drinking Airborne like it's Tusker, I am at home in bed today. Damian went the Chemist today (a pharmacy where you can get almost anything over the counter) to get Azithral-500. Although it sounds like a super-hero of a medicine, it's actually just a gankity version of Z-pack with three instead of 6 pills. Although they had just about any medicine I told them I needed, they seem to "prescribe" half regimens compared to the states (e.g. one week of Augmentin not two). Whatever, we are supposed to head to the coast tomorrow. The sinus gods are not going to mess with my vacation...I hope. The medicine is doing something, I think, it's at least ransacking my GI track, ugh.
Back to bed for me. Sure wish I could get my dad to bring me the standard KFC "sick lunch" while I watched a Law and Order marathon.
Back to bed for me. Sure wish I could get my dad to bring me the standard KFC "sick lunch" while I watched a Law and Order marathon.
September 8, 2009
Habari za mchana
Not much going here, lots of fun, but besides that...
Friday night Damian and had a date night. It was so nice...to celebrate his new job we went to the Westlands for Indian food (which was amazing, so so much better than the shit we get in NC) and then out for drinks. Saturday we walked to City Center-shopped and went to the City Market. Got my 100ksh (~1.50usd) bouquet of roses (gotta love it!!|) and looked for suits for Damian (Kenyans really dress up for work). Sat outside and had some Kenyan bbq'd chicken and cold Tuskers with Kristin and Brandon (her husband who arrived for 2.5 weeks on Friday). D and I made our famous Arrabiata for four of us for dinner. At 8am, got a drunk dial from my family who were all in Chicago (midnight their time) celebrating my brothers 30 (!!!!!) birthday. Missed them, alot. Happy Birthday today, brother!!!
Sunday night we went to Tamasha, which seems to be a regular thing. Great bar/restaurant in Buffet Park, completely devoid of mzungus (I think they'd prefer it stayed that way...hum..). Had dinner and listened to the great live bands that are there on Sunday nights (they are packed from 5pm on). Monday was movie night...ticket, pop, popcorn and a mars bar or hotdgo for 450ksh (~6usd). We saw Public Enemy which Damian had really wanted to see in the States...but we never get to movies in the States. Odd that we do here!
We are trying to buy a car, which is difficult since they are really expensive. We finally found a few in our price range that are small 4x4's. Heading to a mechanic today to get one checked out...fingers crossed. Since you can't walk ANYWHERE after dark (around 6:45 in Nairobi), a car will be sooooo nice. Negotiating with the taxi's all the time is exhausted (getting ripped off because you are white is exhausting as well).
We are heading to the Kenyan coast this weekend, YEHA! We leave for Mombasa on Thursday, spend one night, then two nights in Tiwi beach, and one night in Diani. We are staying at a private cottage in Tiwi on a deserted beach (thanks goodness no beach boys!). Here, the plan is to sit in the sun, read, swim, walk the beach and drink Tusker (a fine Kenya beer that, even after several liter bottles, never seems to go to your head...though we'll push the limits this weekend, I bet). We can buy fresh fish, fruit and veggies by our cottage. Then, in Diani, which is much more a tourist beach, we are staying at an all-inclusive resort for one night (can only handle to crowded beach and beach boys for so long). There is a night life in Diani, and just south there is a great reef that we are going to dive/snorkel.
We've also started our Swahili lessons, twice a week. Today is our second lesson. Our tutor, Ruth is great!
My walk to work continues to be a new experience everyday. Definitely my least favorite part of my day. Men are always on the side of the road/dirt path peeing or defecating, uhg. If I escape that pleasantry, there's always the honking or mzungu yelling from the matatus (crazy mini-van type buses that blast gangsta rap or congelese music) or the sight of so many sick people lining the lawn and hospital hallways. Once I get through the hospital to the research buildings, I'm in the clear. It just takes so much concentration to get there (not getting hit by a car, avoiding people who are starring intently at me, keeping my footing on the rocky, uneven pathway with huge ditches next to them). Besides that obnoxious data entry that seems to fill my days, my walk to/from work is the only I'd change!
Friday night Damian and had a date night. It was so nice...to celebrate his new job we went to the Westlands for Indian food (which was amazing, so so much better than the shit we get in NC) and then out for drinks. Saturday we walked to City Center-shopped and went to the City Market. Got my 100ksh (~1.50usd) bouquet of roses (gotta love it!!|) and looked for suits for Damian (Kenyans really dress up for work). Sat outside and had some Kenyan bbq'd chicken and cold Tuskers with Kristin and Brandon (her husband who arrived for 2.5 weeks on Friday). D and I made our famous Arrabiata for four of us for dinner. At 8am, got a drunk dial from my family who were all in Chicago (midnight their time) celebrating my brothers 30 (!!!!!) birthday. Missed them, alot. Happy Birthday today, brother!!!
Sunday night we went to Tamasha, which seems to be a regular thing. Great bar/restaurant in Buffet Park, completely devoid of mzungus (I think they'd prefer it stayed that way...hum..). Had dinner and listened to the great live bands that are there on Sunday nights (they are packed from 5pm on). Monday was movie night...ticket, pop, popcorn and a mars bar or hotdgo for 450ksh (~6usd). We saw Public Enemy which Damian had really wanted to see in the States...but we never get to movies in the States. Odd that we do here!
We are trying to buy a car, which is difficult since they are really expensive. We finally found a few in our price range that are small 4x4's. Heading to a mechanic today to get one checked out...fingers crossed. Since you can't walk ANYWHERE after dark (around 6:45 in Nairobi), a car will be sooooo nice. Negotiating with the taxi's all the time is exhausted (getting ripped off because you are white is exhausting as well).
We are heading to the Kenyan coast this weekend, YEHA! We leave for Mombasa on Thursday, spend one night, then two nights in Tiwi beach, and one night in Diani. We are staying at a private cottage in Tiwi on a deserted beach (thanks goodness no beach boys!). Here, the plan is to sit in the sun, read, swim, walk the beach and drink Tusker (a fine Kenya beer that, even after several liter bottles, never seems to go to your head...though we'll push the limits this weekend, I bet). We can buy fresh fish, fruit and veggies by our cottage. Then, in Diani, which is much more a tourist beach, we are staying at an all-inclusive resort for one night (can only handle to crowded beach and beach boys for so long). There is a night life in Diani, and just south there is a great reef that we are going to dive/snorkel.
We've also started our Swahili lessons, twice a week. Today is our second lesson. Our tutor, Ruth is great!
My walk to work continues to be a new experience everyday. Definitely my least favorite part of my day. Men are always on the side of the road/dirt path peeing or defecating, uhg. If I escape that pleasantry, there's always the honking or mzungu yelling from the matatus (crazy mini-van type buses that blast gangsta rap or congelese music) or the sight of so many sick people lining the lawn and hospital hallways. Once I get through the hospital to the research buildings, I'm in the clear. It just takes so much concentration to get there (not getting hit by a car, avoiding people who are starring intently at me, keeping my footing on the rocky, uneven pathway with huge ditches next to them). Besides that obnoxious data entry that seems to fill my days, my walk to/from work is the only I'd change!
September 4, 2009
Only Damian
Last Friday, Damian went out "looking" for a job. In the afternoon, he went to Cisco. Although they didn't really have anything, the head of HR said that he just had to meet her Husband. So, she called him and schedule a meeting between Damian and her husband for 4:30 that day. Damian has been working for him every since!
The husband that Damian just had to meet recently started his own consulting firm in the top floor to the same building as Cisco. Damian can write about the details later but the firm consults with Kenyan companies on how to improve their business operations and efficiency. Damian is the right hand man to the CEO, the "face of the company" as his boss likes to say. So far, he's doing just about everything: sales, marketing, running the daily consulting operations, etc. He's in love.
Only Damian would get a job in one day in Kenya and have it be everything he's ever wanted...hopefully he'll feel that way next week, next month, next year! The week has been super busy for us both (I really didn't think I'd be saying that about Damian's week while we are in Kenya). We'll find time to blog over the weekend...our plans are to celebrate tonight (with Indian food, D's favorite, and a party at a friends house in the Westlands) and go out exploring the rest of Nairobi this weekend (shopping for men's suits, how fun).
The husband that Damian just had to meet recently started his own consulting firm in the top floor to the same building as Cisco. Damian can write about the details later but the firm consults with Kenyan companies on how to improve their business operations and efficiency. Damian is the right hand man to the CEO, the "face of the company" as his boss likes to say. So far, he's doing just about everything: sales, marketing, running the daily consulting operations, etc. He's in love.
Only Damian would get a job in one day in Kenya and have it be everything he's ever wanted...hopefully he'll feel that way next week, next month, next year! The week has been super busy for us both (I really didn't think I'd be saying that about Damian's week while we are in Kenya). We'll find time to blog over the weekend...our plans are to celebrate tonight (with Indian food, D's favorite, and a party at a friends house in the Westlands) and go out exploring the rest of Nairobi this weekend (shopping for men's suits, how fun).
August 28, 2009
TGIF
Hey guys, so I never seem to find the time to blog. Things at work are busy, which is great. I am working as the data manager on the Couples Against Transmission study (which is the study where my dissertation research is embedded). Data is extremely behind right now so I spend my free time doing entries. I am also on study recruitment (Mondays) and in clinic seeing participants one day a week (Wednesdays). Next week I will be starting an additional project with the Ministry of Health on adolescents and sexually transmitted infections, including adolescent Syphilis, Herpes and HIV.
The Couples Counseling Center, the clinic where the CAT study is taking place, has so many similarities to the public clinics in the States. Too little space, too little money, too few clinicians, too few supplies, too few drugs, too many patients. One striking difference are the patients-their health, their cleanliness and also their commitment to the study and to their partners. Our participants are "committed" couples where one partner has HIV and the other was uninfected at study enrollment. They come to the clinic and wait allllllll day to be seen, after traveling for up to 2 hours or from difficult places like Kibera (Africa's second largest slum). They are pretty remarkable...although it's hard seeing their health deteriorate, seeing their report of cervical cancer, or not knowing their infant's HIV status. One thing that is already bothering me is the really slow turn around on lab results...for example, the several women how have low or high-grade cervical lesions but have not had follow-up biopsies or treatment after several months (which is more than enough time for their lesions to progress to cancer!). It's just one of many things that rubs on me and the other clinicians.
I've been training with Lucy, my fogarty twin, which has worked out very well....we make a good team and she's a great doctor (and is very considerate of me). It really just makes me want to learn Swahili...we have a tutor who is going to get in touch next week. Hopefully we'll begin our lessons soon. Also, we should be getting into our apartment soon....after weeks and weeks of repairs and cleaning while we live out of suitcases in a vacant apartment, we are hoping to move in on Sunday or Monday. We are going camping in Naivasha Saturday and Sunday with some Canadian friends of ours (the ones we went to the elephant orphanage with). I'm SO excited to see more of Kenya.
So, this week has just been full of work, except for our day off for the census. We went an Ethiopian restaurant last night that was life changing...though after attacking the dishes like a vultures the nigira expanded in our stomachs and we were insanely full. After a few Tuskers (the Kenyan beer...it's great. Like a lager that is slightly sweet.), we went to bed happy. Now to a friends house for dinner tonight before camping tomorrow.
Okay, guess I should get to work. I'll catch up after our camping this weekend! Can't wait to see visitors over here!!
The Couples Counseling Center, the clinic where the CAT study is taking place, has so many similarities to the public clinics in the States. Too little space, too little money, too few clinicians, too few supplies, too few drugs, too many patients. One striking difference are the patients-their health, their cleanliness and also their commitment to the study and to their partners. Our participants are "committed" couples where one partner has HIV and the other was uninfected at study enrollment. They come to the clinic and wait allllllll day to be seen, after traveling for up to 2 hours or from difficult places like Kibera (Africa's second largest slum). They are pretty remarkable...although it's hard seeing their health deteriorate, seeing their report of cervical cancer, or not knowing their infant's HIV status. One thing that is already bothering me is the really slow turn around on lab results...for example, the several women how have low or high-grade cervical lesions but have not had follow-up biopsies or treatment after several months (which is more than enough time for their lesions to progress to cancer!). It's just one of many things that rubs on me and the other clinicians.
I've been training with Lucy, my fogarty twin, which has worked out very well....we make a good team and she's a great doctor (and is very considerate of me). It really just makes me want to learn Swahili...we have a tutor who is going to get in touch next week. Hopefully we'll begin our lessons soon. Also, we should be getting into our apartment soon....after weeks and weeks of repairs and cleaning while we live out of suitcases in a vacant apartment, we are hoping to move in on Sunday or Monday. We are going camping in Naivasha Saturday and Sunday with some Canadian friends of ours (the ones we went to the elephant orphanage with). I'm SO excited to see more of Kenya.
So, this week has just been full of work, except for our day off for the census. We went an Ethiopian restaurant last night that was life changing...though after attacking the dishes like a vultures the nigira expanded in our stomachs and we were insanely full. After a few Tuskers (the Kenyan beer...it's great. Like a lager that is slightly sweet.), we went to bed happy. Now to a friends house for dinner tonight before camping tomorrow.
Okay, guess I should get to work. I'll catch up after our camping this weekend! Can't wait to see visitors over here!!
August 24, 2009
Coffee shop ramblings
As promised,
I am at Java coffee house and have logged on to post this very blog. Life here is fairly amazing. The pace of it all seems very relaxed. While living in Seattle, I would always see people sitting in coffee houses working on their comps. Now I am the one doing that...kind of surreal.
We all went out last night to a jazz bar in buffet park, which, to put it quite simply looks like a place straight out of the movies. I half expected to meet brad pitt, sean connery, dicaprio, or indiana jones there but obviously that didn't happen. Some oddly shapen dirt path alleyway lead us through a door in a corrugated aluminum wall into a large shop/bar courtyard. Lights were strung up all around the courtyard especially near the 3? bars. We rolled in to a bar called Tamasha, it was busy but we found ourselves a hightop table in the back corner of the bar, we were the only mzungus in the place. There was a sweet live band playing songs that from the states, most of which we all were familiar with. The drinks of choice were local tusker (kenyan pilsner), gin and tonic (with extraordinarily sweet gin), white cap (ugandan ale), and savannah (a cider type brew). A very fun night. We will go back there soon.
Our sense of bartering skills with the locals from key cutters, to taxis, to goods are becoming heightened. The food has been exceptional...everything is fresh and chalked full of flavor. I believe Anne has found vegetable heaven over hear in sub-saharan africa. The girl can get a 1/4 kilo of peas for 30 ksh....she is loving it. I am anxiously awaiting the indian meal we are going to this wednesday...they are supposed to be excellent over hear.
Battery is dying will blog again soon.
peace
I am at Java coffee house and have logged on to post this very blog. Life here is fairly amazing. The pace of it all seems very relaxed. While living in Seattle, I would always see people sitting in coffee houses working on their comps. Now I am the one doing that...kind of surreal.
We all went out last night to a jazz bar in buffet park, which, to put it quite simply looks like a place straight out of the movies. I half expected to meet brad pitt, sean connery, dicaprio, or indiana jones there but obviously that didn't happen. Some oddly shapen dirt path alleyway lead us through a door in a corrugated aluminum wall into a large shop/bar courtyard. Lights were strung up all around the courtyard especially near the 3? bars. We rolled in to a bar called Tamasha, it was busy but we found ourselves a hightop table in the back corner of the bar, we were the only mzungus in the place. There was a sweet live band playing songs that from the states, most of which we all were familiar with. The drinks of choice were local tusker (kenyan pilsner), gin and tonic (with extraordinarily sweet gin), white cap (ugandan ale), and savannah (a cider type brew). A very fun night. We will go back there soon.
Our sense of bartering skills with the locals from key cutters, to taxis, to goods are becoming heightened. The food has been exceptional...everything is fresh and chalked full of flavor. I believe Anne has found vegetable heaven over hear in sub-saharan africa. The girl can get a 1/4 kilo of peas for 30 ksh....she is loving it. I am anxiously awaiting the indian meal we are going to this wednesday...they are supposed to be excellent over hear.
Battery is dying will blog again soon.
peace
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