Church in the Bush (or at least under it)

It's hard to believe it's Sunday - really it's hard to believe any day we are told it is.  I guess that way if they get tired of us being here I guess they can just make it the day we are supposed to leave - we wouldn't know the difference.

We get the pleasure today of another matatu (Kenya bus) ride... We're heading down into the bottom of the Rift Valley to an IDP or Internally Displaced Persons camp.  This is an area refugees came from the different areas in Kenya during the last election cycle which was quite violent in some areas.  One of the matatus we ended up in was quite tricked out.  This one had a TV screen and wall graphics all over the inside - although an hour riding in a van with Swahili Christian music videos playing didn't seem the dream ride I originally thought.

I also discovered that the back seat on these vehicles are higher so that it creates some cargo space in the back.  I spent the entire ride with my head pressed against the ceiling and my back in a permanent arch... with each bump I think my spine compressed a half of an inch.  I guess I'll need to get my driver's license changed to reflect my new height of 4'7".


We arrived down to the camp and found a large gathering under an Acacia tree.  Due to the rain and overcast weather we have been having we seem to have forgot that this is Africa and we are white people.  When the sun came out it was like being a piece of garlic bread placed right next to a broiler set on high.  My measly SPF 30 protection was thoroughly mocked by the sun of Hades.

We were told that services could be quite lengthy in Africa so we were told to have the service end and leave by 11:30.  That was good advice since we pulled out about 12:15.  It wasn't that the service didn't end it - which it did on time - the locals were very happy to have us there.  The girls instantly found themselves under the hands of 30 kids who were training to be the next Vidal Sassoon.

After we left we headed north to Naivasha Lake and to Crescent Island with is a private nature reserve.  This is the same location they used for the movie Out of Africa.  They also filled a scene from Tomb Raider 2 here but really, who saw that one?  This was our African Safari... or African WALKING Safari.  I think we put in at least 5 miles - and all the time you could see the clouds forming and we were getting farther and farther away from our vehicles.  We got to see Zebras, Impalas, Dick Dicks, (you'll have to look it up) Gnus, Giraffe, as well as a bunch of other animals I either didn't know or couldn't pronounce.  Fletcher and Kylen had fun chasing the impalas while imitating their bounding strides.

Our tour guide was named Moses.  (Oh great, here comes the 40 years in the wilderness)  He told us that all of the animals here are protected and are only killed by each other.  We saw many bones scattered across the land which we were thankful that now they "rested in pieces."


There was supposedly a large python which had just recently ate an entire impala around but we could not find it.  We did see tracks of the creature outside of a hole in the ground.  Our guide decided to see if he could "find" the snake... not sure who is now responsible to find us a new guide.

After the excursion we headed into the town and had some Indian food at a local restaurant.  Colleen had to explain to the Kenyans who were with us what was on the menu.  We ended up leaving a bit later than we had wished and had to drive back to Kijabe in the dark and fog.  That was not something I think we will ever try to do again.  On the bright side we finally recorded our first day in Africa without rain - not that it didn't rain in all the places we were, just that we seemed to miss it at each one.


PS  We now have the ability to connect to the internet more regularly.  As such, my wife has now been able to read the posts and has pointed out my many grammatical errors.  Since I am sure this is quite bothering to you - please stop reading...  no really stop...  See, you don't listen to me either.