The random

When traveling in a new place, it feels as if one is flooded with random bits of information. I am trying to get a real sense of Kenya and what the culture is like. When I asked people questions, I get bits and pieces and I generally leave the conversation with more questions. It feels a lot like putting a puzzle together except I am missing a few corner pieces.

Such random conversations and events happen when you travel.

Here was our randomness from yesterday in Mombasa.

• We were stopped by a man who asked us if we had any pens or socks. He told us that the socks from the United States are thee best. We gave him a pen but we have no socks to spare. Should have brought more pens! As we were checking into our hotel the man helping us with our luggage nabbed the pen in our room as he was leaving.
• We were talking to an employee at our hotel and he randomly said, “oh and the hotel next door was bombed a few years ago.” (Paradise Hotel. It was Israeli owned. The hotel is still in parts and pieces. We are in Nairobi now and the Embassy is also an empty shell. It too was bombed.)
• Everyone loves Obama here. The muslims that live here claim he is muslim. The catholics claim he is catholic. And the protestants…you get the point.
• On television there is a lot of movies about the 60′s and the  Segregation era in the U.S. In one evening we saw at least 3 movies about this topics. They also watch a lot of CSI and House…pretty much the same television shows we watch.
• I was stopped at security at the metal detectors because I am carrying packets of Crystal Light. Sense it is a white powder inside the packets the attendant was very suspicious and thought we might be bringing packets of cocaine into Nairobi from Mombasa. He was not familiar with Crystal Light. We tried to explain what it is. “It flavors the water! Great for hiking. Electrolytes!” Our explanation did not work. He asked me to open a packet. Had me pour it into my clear plastic bottle of water and drink it. The powder fell into the bottle (as I nervously poured) and it made the water cloudy. He wasn’t convinced. Finally I just took the power and poured it in my hand. I told him to taste it. So he licked his finger and tasted the powder. He made a face like we was sucking on a lemon because it is tart. Made me laugh a little but i hid my laughter. Yes indeed, it tastes like Kiwi Strawberry. He let us go.
• End of the day of Mombasa we visited a game park. I pet a tortoise, stepped over snakes, fed giraffes, and had some food taken out of my hands by devious monkeys. Was told a terrible story about the hippopotamus who were sitting behind a very very low wall. A man sat on that very same wall and the Hippo ripped off his leg. yuck..
• Paras’ aunt and uncle gave us a new antibiotic in case we get sick. Cipro does not work well here. Supposedly it is only 2 shillings and it is widely abused, used for colds and coughs.
• It is Ramadan here so you can hear the prayers playing over the loud speakers of the temples. The day time is quiet in the streets but the night-time is very busy because everyone is “breaking their fast.” They pray 5 times a day for Ramadan. I woke up at 4:30am to the sound of the temple prayers. Early early! (Lots of Burkas here. Why are Burkas black. So hot…! I did see a blue burka but that was about it. anyone know?)

Just some random thoughts for the day.

We are headed for the border of Kenya. Lake Nakuru. Should be a beautiful game park. On the way we are stopping off at an orphanage. I think this will be the highlight of the trip.

Then we are continuing on to Uganda.

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