Old Entry: March 5th Trip to Kisumu!
New Adventure Day! (As if everyday in Kenya wasn’t a new adventure anyway!) Penina left yesterday for Nairobi and Kirsten and the other interns for the forest (Kakamega National Forest that is), so today, Nick, Damaris and I got started early with a very cramped and bumpy matatu ride (1 1/2 hrs) south to Kisumu. Kisumu is Kenya’s 3rd largest city and is the Kenyan home to Lake Victoria. After a short tour of the city (including a stop at the hospital we’ll be taken to if we’re dying and a stop at the amazing Nakumatt), we went to a hotel/resort called Kiboko Bay for some much needed relaxation and picture taking. In a flip flop from a couple of days ago, this experience was on the more luxurious side of life. We ate a very tasty, non-Kenyan lunch and spent the afternoon swimming… in the pool! Lake Victoria is notorious for it’s ever-giving gift of Bilharzia – YUCK). Despite the SPF 50 and multiple applications, the equatorial sun is so strong that an hour or two is enough to turn the skin a bit pink! Lake Victoria is beautiful, albeit muddy, and it has these really cool grass islands that float around on top of the water.The most bumpy, terrifying, neck-breaking, awesome ride on a tuk-tuk (indescribable vehicle of african creation that’s primarily a few pieces of metal soddered together on top of a motorcycle) soon follwed and another 2 hour matatu ride back to Kakamega. Cost of bus ride? 200 KSH or abt $3!
General observations and witty remarks:
*I think driving to most Kenyans is simply a game of “how close can I get to this object/person without actually hitting them?!?!”
*There’s a gecko climbing up the wall of my room right now – I wonder if he’ll sell me some matatu-riding insurance….
*Bringing a deck of cards was BRILLIANT
*OBAMA-MANIA here is ridiculous – I actually got called Michelle Obama yesterday…. AND.. they have “Obama underwear.” I’m not sure if this is amazing or just sad. I’m pretty sure if the US ever decided to kick Mr. Obama out he’d have another country to run in 2.5 seconds.
*Giant mangoes here only cost $0.25. Sweet!
*Hoping the internet and the electricity works is a daily activity here!
Confusion's Confessions... 
Wow, that sounds awesome! Can’t wait to see some pics of the beautiful area and your very exciting coach! Hope the sunburn isn’t too bad – we so should have taken you to a tanning bed to build up some tolerance cause heaven knows, if nothing else, we have the skin o’ the Irish! Thanks Mom! Oh, and by the way, the Gecko comment had me almost spewing coffee on my computer screen! I’m not even going to “touch” the Obama underwear comment – too many places to go with that. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for good electricity and internet. We’re praying for you and love you!!! š
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