Supper with Sisters, Students leaving and Menengai Crater

What a week! This was the last week of the students at the College weeks of exams and final preparations to leave. I decided to have a dinner with 2 of my favourite ladies here and the 2 nuns who have taken a liking to me. It was a nice night, we had SO much food and 2 cakes. Also, they heard the rumour that I am a fan of monkey nuts (i don tknow how we call them in English but in Filipino thats how they are known, and in Kenya they are known as ground nuts), so they especially made a whole load for me! And we finished off by roasting maize on the fire. It was so good!

The next day was the last day of the students and the Bishop was invited as a special guest. He was a very kind gentleman and invited me to sit with him at lunch to discuss the unfortunate demise of the Dutch team in the world cup (with no mention of the English team *ahem*).

the "escaping souls"

Saturday we went to Menengai crater, the second biggest in the world. The place has some stories behind it, some believe that it is haunted. Apparently people go there and go missing for days on end and return looking totally healthy but having no recollection of where they have been, and also there is this story that when it rains there is a floating umbrella which is said to protect the crater from rain, well.. it rained when i was there (ok, a very very minute amount which didn’t even touch my hair, but still!) and i didn’t see any umbrella (thank goodness!). Also there is alot of steam coming from some areas, and this is believed to be the spirits of the warriors who died there trying to escape to heaven!

Anyway, stories aside, it was SO beautiful when we got up there, really really wonderful. From the top you could see Lake Nakuru and as far as Lake Bogoria (though very very distant). I wanted to walk down to the bottom but was told that this was a whole day feat, so i was ok to just admire from the top J

And i still don’t understand, to these people I am white, and I am starting to get as dark as some of the lighter Kenyans here (trust me, thats not too light!). they call me “Muzungu” which is just “white person” in Swahili. At the crater, there were alot of “muzungus” there but somehow, the Kenyans who were there picked me out and were all asking to take pictures with me in them! So i had a queue of about 6 people wanting to be snapped with me. It was so funny (and bizarre!). i don’t like when i am in town and the locals are calling muzungu at me, somehow i feel it sounds a bit derogatory even though i am assured its not meant to be.

The crater wasn’t on my to-see list, but I am glad I decided to go anyway. Still waiting for the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Victoria (to eat fish all day long) and Lake Bogoria. I hope I can fit it in all in!

Malaria, bargaining and agriculture

This week I was feeling rather unwell and the people in the college advised I go for a malaria test. Even the Lonely Planet advised that any flu like symptoms should be assumed to malaria. I was reluctant at first (i didnt want to have blood taken from anywhere here) but after nearly passing out decided it was best to go. So the test showed positive (but very weak) and I was given a course of drugs to take (8 in on day PLUS 6 panadol, my poor liver!). How strange after hearing about Cheryl Cole and her malarial incident!






It was a busy week in Nakuru and for Baraka as it was the agricultural show. Agriculture is very important here in Kenya and these shows are hosted all over the country at different times (I am definitely starting to turn into a farmer ;) Tai, I will be able to advise you on your "garden"). It ran over 5 days and there were stalls, music, food, dancing, food, shows and food. It was quite enjoyable! I spent the whole day Saturday there, from 8am to 5pm. My word it was LONG and very very hot there but time went fast surprisingly as there was alot to do and see (and eat!). The president was there on Friday as well!

<-- here I am enjoying some much needed sparkling fruit drink in the intense heat :)







<-- this is the local peanut butter machine! it looks so complex.







And i have been told by the Kenyans in a few stores that I "bargain harder than any Kenyan!" which I am very proud of :) even the people here are surprised when I tell them how much I have paid for things!

When we got back that night we had a party with the students which was nice, they know how to move!! This was going on while the Germans beat the Uruguayians.. good times!

Cheese in Eldoret!

I am in HEAVEN! Its only been 2 weeks and I was already missing cheese..

There was a teaching seminar here and I met a nice dutch lady who is married to a Kenyan guy. I was already planning a trip to Eldoret so that I could get some cheese and it just so happened that she lives there! So on Friday we went together to her home. The drive was only about 2 hours and on the way we stopped for some nice grilled maize from the side of the road and got hassled like noones business by people selling potatoes, carrots and other vegetables. It started to get quite physical in fact with people trying to open the car doors and putting their hands through the windows so we made a quick exit.

Eldoret.. what can I say... the Lonely Planet wasnt lying when it said there was nothing to do other than visit the cheese factory! But I had so much fun there, I sampled pretty much all the cheeses they make and ended up buying a 500g block of cheddar (its very nice even if its not rreal cheddar) and blue cheese (at least when this goes mouldy I wont notice! hah!) and something called highland red which was GREAT! Also they are known for their icecream so I couldnt resist, I had a small tub of banana flavour which was yummy :)





And we had lunch in a nice cafe, and I was SO happy to get a nice big mug of mocha, it was my highlight! While in the cafe we met some nice American guys who were doing some work with orphans in Kenya and was tickled to hear how much they liked "Africa" even though they had only been in Kenya ;) they were nice though and were excited to be informed about the chees factory!

That evening we watched the football while eating home made pizza, I was so happy to eat pizza, its amazing what 3 weeks of Kenyan food makes you miss. But the pizza was most welcome but we missed the Holland game so we were a bit upset but still very happy with the result non-the-less..

The journey back to Nakuru was a nightmare! Basically I was lied to by the guy who was selling tickets on the mutatus. He was telling me it was leaving NOW so I paid and then the bus left. Basically he said that so that I would pay and fill up the next mini bus. So after much arguing and cursing from me (not swearing, actual cursing ;) ) i got on the bus happy to see that at least it was half full so we wouldnt have to wait too long until we leave. Only to find out later that these peoeple were just sat there so that it LOOKED full, as more people were paying to get on, these people were leaving. In total I was waiting an hour before it was full! I was NOT happy, and especially with the sales guy, everytime he walked past I was giving him evils. Then a woman sat next to me and i noticed that she paid 350 (i paid 300) so i assumed she was going further than me.. But due to my bad mood with this guy at this point i thought i would ask her anyway where she was going and it turned out the same place as me! So i started yet another big kerfuffle and insisted he paid her the money back and he started shouting at me telling me not to get involved, at which point I shouted so that everyone could hear not to pay more than 300 for my destination :D then the authority or whoever came by the check everyones reciept and the woman was given her refund.. when it was time to leave the sales guy muttered something under his breath at me but I just stared and smirked at him.

Then on the way back wee passed 2 overturned lorries and I was incredibly uncomfortable and hot.. i was so glad to be in Nakuru.. and the ncie part was that I had a nice vehicle to Molo and again to Baraka, so things got much better!

Today its raining so hard and the power has been out for over 2 hours now.. i hope it comes back soon! But I am happy and occupied enough, i have full netbook battery and a new mobile internet device so at least I can browse (albeit slowly!).

Time is really going fast!