Nairobi

After the journey over Dubai IA I arrived at the less fancy Nairobi airport. After a welcoming bus ride to the city center I was stunned about the skyscrapers and the sophistication of people who are wearing suits and nice dresses. I checked into a average hostel, which was mostly frequented by locals from neighbouring countries trying to get a slice of Kenya's wealth. Don't assume Kenya is a first world country because the bustling center is surrounded by vast slums. I got to know the local food witch is similar to other kitchens in poor countries. Beans, rice, eggs, little chicken, beef stews and the main dish ugali. Ugali is made of maize flower and then fried. It doesn't have much taste and is mostly to fill up the stomach. It is usually eaten with something with taste.

Africans seem nice and eager to get to know mzungus (white people). They desperately try to sell you a safari at every street corner. Smoking laws are hard and allows you to only smoke in scattered smoking areas or in taxis - guess a service to the rich. There are a lot of rich guys around. Some hotels look like forts of luxury. Security is an issue, especially after dark. Nairobi has cleaned it self up in the past decade, but still cant get rid of the "Nairobbery" label. Central Park and Uhuru Park are the main parks downtown and offer freedom from the not so bad hassle in the streets. India was much worse considering poverty and dirt.

My hostel was really quite (Milimani is apparently much better) so I just had some discussions with locals and some international volunteers. Volunteers seem to love Kenya, since it is safer than other African countries, but still poor enough to be in desperate need of help - and you can do a safari at the end of your trip or hang out the beach.

I couldn't resist booking a safari even though it is very expensive - 100$ a day all incl. I booked a four day tour to Nakuru National Park and the famous Masai Mara where the Masai used to live exclusively. Nowadays they are either there or scattered over the country working as security guards, because of there reputation as warriors and honest people. But don't fall in love with them too fast. They are still tribesman and don't really know Western culture. They drink blood daily and they would slice the throught of anybody who cheats on them. They buy women with cows (usually 10 for the daughters family and five for the daughter). Men don't work at home and leave building houses and almost everything else to their wives.

Anyway, after three days of trying to get on top of things I left Nairobi to go on a Safari to the south.