Sagna Camping - part 4 - the rest of the trip

I was stopped in my tracks seeing these tracks.  It was so powerful to me to see the big and small bare feet.  Who was following who?

Morning comes and I was a bit damp in my roomy tent I had all to myself!  I didn’t think much of it as it had rained and was pretty damp outside---I come to discover later that I had been flooded! hahaha that was hilarious! 
On top of this fact i step outside my tent am looking around talking to whomever is awake and then BAM!  After 5 minutes of standing aimlessly around i shout “Oh my GOD!”  these rapids were practically on top of our campsite.  IT was a glorious vision to wake to!
                                       
Saturday was a mellow day.  It began with a paparazzi-filled yoga sesh (the Kenyan’s had no idea what we were doing and kept sneakily snapping pictures with their phones.  I explained, this is exercise that comes from India long ago where you do a lot of stretching to strengthen your body and mind.  Their response,  then why don’t you call it stretching!?  I couldn’t argue with that!)  Next was eggy bread (or rather, French Toast -- although those with closer ties to Britain denounce anything French and hate to give them credit, enter, eggy bread!)  Followed by a nature hike with a guide named Jumo (who i swear was eating some berries that was getting him all sorts of stoned) There was a little dip in the water and eventually dinner!  Our dinner was a hand selected chicken of which the campground staff killed, de-feathered and de-boned for us, then started a BBQ for us and a fire pit, turned on the generator for light and refrigeration of Tuskers® Beer.  We all sang songs while Zoli strummed his guitar and Dave thumped away on his drums.  It was glorious!!

a tiny ambassador to the Sagana hills, with a swollen eye and a makeshift toy car greeted us as we walked through his neighborhood

our tiny friend's neighborhood consisting of (from left to right) a grain store, a home and another home or shed

The funny berries Jumo was munching on.  (after I took the picture, i showed him in the play back and he said it didn't even look like his hand.  And for some reason it didn't.  I don't know why that conversation has stuck with me, but it has)

Local boys doing their chores and playing games with us. The laughed and ran when we said Jambo to them.  Then when we I took their picture, the proceeded to ask for money

Rhodesian fire lily (reminded me of  Miss Lily!)

the muddy, run-off river was all milky in color because of the rice patties littering the area

LOOK AWAY IF YOU ARE A VEGITERRIAN: The hen in my friend Peter's hand (Peter manages the camp) was de-feathered and de-boned just for us.  And she was yummy

Our BBQ and campfire being perfected by Dave

Sagana Camping - part 3 - such a stick in the mud!

The camping characters:

    Zoltan - a UN economist and musician    

• a Hungarian savage, living in Kenya

    Carrine - an amazing teacher, great cook and Zoli’s GF  

• South African, turned Australian, turned East African by way of teaching in small, rural villages, now living in a sweet house in Nairobi where karaoke is often heard

    Dave - hmmm trying to develop countires    

• A Brit turned Aussie now looking for employment in Kenya

    Mark - a construction project manager    

• South African who’s lived and worked in Mozambique, back to S.A. now in Nairobi and my connection to this wonderfully interesting group

    Liz (also known as Rizzy) - UN refugee shelter specialist/architect    

• South african traveling all throughout E Africa saving lives and taking names!  She is one master shelter builder and as well the connection between most the group

    Emily, Karl (aka Timmay due to his recent futbol accident) and Francis - School teacher friends of Carrine’s   

• An American, a Kiwi & Kenyan

So as we drove through the countryside, heading off road toward the campground we came upon  marshy rice paddy with a muddy road too gooey to pass. Co-worker Mark/Diver of the afore mentioned Toyota Rav 0.4 decided it best to veer to the right off the of the main dirt road.  the next few minutes were filled with stinky mud being flung into the cab, some cursing, a gathering of miscellaneous local passer-byers and my 3 carmates rolling up their pant legs to asses the situation.  I silently decided it best for someone to stay in the vehicle in case driving out of this bog was needed.  I definitely was taking one for the team by not stepping out into the knee deep sewage run off water, filled with all sorts of malaria infested ‘squitos and cholera ridden waters with who knows what else lay in the murk.  Yep!  I was a real team player!  With some help from out friend Zoltan’s rope tow in his Winnie the Pooh Car, the combo Muzungu and local guy elbow grease and my superb driving abilities we were out in a jiff!  We continued onto the site and pitched tents under no less then 1 billion stars!  You could hear the rush of the falls near by, but I had no idea where they were or what they looked like.  We chowed down on some delicious Pasta Bol (pasta Bolognese) and took down a Châteauneuf-du-Cardboard of a delectable 2011 vintage.

Sagana Camping - part 2 - no you're a Mzungu!

Back to journey to the campsite!  Our drive was gorgeous!! passing out of the city into the countryside where we saw little, make-shift fruit stands, goats roaming, the lushest fields and kids walking home from school.  As we neared the town of Sagana, we had to buy a couple things and that was not the first, but the most I had ever heard "Mzungu!" so many times in just a few minutes.  Mzungu, i have been told by everyone is like saying "white person" and not at all in a derogatory way, just like in Mexican culture they call out "wedo" and it just means light skinned people or blondes.  I looked up the definition and got a couple different explanations: European, Wanderer, Aimless Wanderer, and pretty much 'not from around here!  Regardless, the little song the cute local kiddos made up about us customers that looked totally different was adorable, as they smiled and studied our feature; scurried and ran with giggles as we waved; pushed one another closer and closer to us Mzungus.  It led to to some really great pictures!

I just love this little man's cool jeans!  And his warm wave 'Jambo!'

A typical scene on the road to the camp

www.raftinginkenya.com

Sagana Camping - part 1 - the drive out

One bucket list item down!  I told myself I needed to go camping somewhere in East Africa, and camping I did!!
I am proud to report that I am a newly initiated member of an awesome group of expat Kenyan Campers! 
At first I was very nervous about people's style of camping as compared to what I know in The States and fretted about hiking into the bush, killing our own dinner, sleeping without a tent.  What I found out was I had absolutely nothing to worry about!  In fact this was the most Glamping-filled trip I have ever been on.  We rented a car (that was supposed to be a Rav 4x4, but instead we ended up with a Rav 0.4 - more later on that) and drove an hour and a half northeast of Nairobi on Thika Road which was an experience in itself.

Tangent: Recently, there has been desperately needed road development in and around Nairobi.  There is some controversy about it all as all the new roads are being built by the Chinese.  They aren't necessarily hiring local workers and everyone is wondering what exactly their motives are.  Well, as they construct these suspicious roads, you will be driving down a very developed highway with 3 lanes going in one direction and 3 supposedly heading another, with an island in the middle, then all of a sudden you see a line  of cars headed straight toward you on YOUR side of the island!!  I am not sure if it is the Chinese design or the fact that ALLLLLL Kenyans decide to make their own lanes or drive where they shouldn't.

The next disarming factor, is that the locals on foot think it is still a good idea to cross the road where cars are zooming along at 70mph.  To help the locals from any imminent squishing, they built on these Western highways, speed bumps of course!  So, basically as you are driving along, you must watch for cars driving at you, people playing Frogger®, the speed bumps and oh ya! And there are is no signage what-so-ever!!

How else would you carry your wife and your fencing safely home!?

The Up-and-Coming Kenyan Art World

Saturday was a bit of a wild goose chase with my co-worker Mark Rorich, in search of an amazing art Gallery in the area of Nairobi where people live in rolling hills filled with all sorts of trees, away from the maddening traffic and in the calm serenity of Nature.  The Gallery is called One Off - Contemporary Art Gallery Ltd. and the building look something like this...

 The Main Gallery Building

What is better than 150,000 Kenyan Shillings worth of a piece of art in your Stables!?

A petrified Lizard that was not part of the showing

Now this is the piece of art that spoke to me immediately!!   It is by Peterson Kamwathi.  He is absolutely an up-and-coming artist and a Kenyan Native on top of that! A collection of his work was just purchased by the British Museum and he was just published by the Gothe Institut - Kenya. Have a look at this article, speaking to the growing popularity of Kenyan Artist Kenyan Artwork Growing in International Popularity

This is the piece that I purchased of his, left Untitled was noted as Untitled with Copper Bars on the receipt.

Kamwathi was quote on the Creative African Network website to say:

"....I view myself as a part of my society and as such I’m accountable to the society. Being an artist this society extends beyond my immediate environment to include the world. In my work I strive to address and document issues that affect and impact my country, my continent and now the planet as illustrated by the this current series”.

The piece I bought is unconfirmed to be one of the men involved in political corruption that help lead the Kenyan people to the 2008 post-election violence.  Carol, the Gallery Owner, said that Kamwathi would neither admit nor deny this mans identity.   



To be sure I represent the Women artists here in Kenya here were my other favorites and way out of my price range!!

Still untitled by Beatice Wanijiku

 This next piece is actually from my Co-worker, Emily Odongo.  Her art is so vibrant and colorful.  I appreciate her vibrant hues, as that is something that I struggle with, thinking i should be knocking all my colors down to be less brilliant.  She has inspired me and also has invited me to join her and her artist friends at their next exhibit!  Plus she is going to help me out to get canvases.  She is so awesome!

Orange by Emily Odongo

 

TGIF in Kenya!

 UPDATED!!  WATCH THE VIDEO!!!! Planning to Move it Move it
Alright!  So I cannot wait for to share this with you all!  This weekend was awesome! 
Friday night we had a TGIF office party,where the new kids (me of course included) had a bit of fun hazing thrown our way.  We all had to come together and sing a song in front of the rest of the office.  We did "Move it" of course, from Madagascar seeing as we all are from foreign lands and have landed on this funny island!  (there will be a video to come) But in the meantime, here are most of the PiL crew....

(I think all the ladies are hiding in the back)

our African feast consisted of South African sausage and samosa-like meat pies and deep fried fish and curried chicken.  No room for Veterinarians here! 

the treetop view from my area of the office

My most current work with SFJones

New York food & Drink Exploration

the entrance through the jewelry shop door

Beauty & Essex --> Thank you Jess!  You took me exactly to where my passions lay!  Entering through an estate Jewelry store, a huge (and by huge I mean ginormous) bouncer opens a false wall into a massive bar and restaurant with bar and VIP area up a grand curved staircase and decadent powder rooms below.  This is just my style!  Gaudy, ’70’s glam crystal light fixtures,  a wonderful glowing light design, embroidered raw-silk lined walls, and rustic oak table tops to bring you back to reality.  

 

pure white hides cover the walls of the grand curved staircase to the upper lounge

glorious embroidered thai silk panels line the walls and the lighting was impeccable!

the main dining was PACKED when i was there at 10pm

Jess and I drinking Pink Champagne in the ladies lounge from their hosted bar

Freemans -->  a re:generation restaurant of reclaimed wood, throw back drinks, small taxidermied game, a sneaky entrance through an alley, seriously delicious and hearty dishes.

Eataly -->  A european market at is finest.  From the Butchers case to the Patisserie, anything of European quality and price!  I posted up at the Crudo bar for the most wonderful and expensive brunch of oysters, vino and sashimi-like crudo plate.  The service and the taste knocked my socks off!  To add to the Euro vibe was the buzz of the shoppers and the openness of the patrons to chat and discuss their lives abroad or world travels.  

A referal from some awesome Jerseys Mom’s I met at Eataly’s Crudo Bar suggested that I not miss  La Birreria -->  on the rooftop was an open air tapas gastropub.  It has a casual beer-centric design, great bartenders, a cool sliver of a view of the Empire state building and great beer!   

The Breslin at the Ace Hotel --> Yet another hunker-down, extreme english pub with taxidermied animals, old drinks and farm to table amazing food.  I had the lamb burger as suggested by Chef David Lefevre.  To make it all even more hip, it is located at the Ace Hotel which, at any location is on the Indie Scene cutting edge!