Trying to get caught up before going back to the bush. Yesterday was a half day of touring around Karen (the area we are in in Nairobi). Today was a totally lazy lay-day, mostly spent publishing these blogs.

In the morning we had a lovely breakfast then our driver, Elias, picked us up at 1000 (soooo late!) and took us to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Conservancy, where they raise baby orphaned elephants until they can be adopted by a wild herd. It is really cool, and awesome to learn what they do and see the baby elephants REALLY close up (you can touch them if they come to you).

Thirsty babies
Goofing around in the mud
Elephant wrestling
Super sweet watching them feed each other

From there, we went to the Giraffe Centre, where they raise and shelter giraffe. The big draw is you can feed them treats. Here’s heather bonding with a baby.

Heather makes a new friend

From there we went to Kazuri, which is a bead and pottery center founded to support single mothers in Kenya. They would normally have >300 women employed, but due to covid they are rotating them through in groups of 70. They provide full day child care for the kids while the moms work. It is a cool program and awesome to watch this beautiful art being made.

Discard clay gets reclaimed
Beads are hand rolled to spec
Then hand painted
Ladies work from order forms for size and design
Finished beads on display

Back at the hotel, I hung out in the bar (where I remain) to work my way through Hemingway’s preferred cocktails. These are:

  • The Gibson – the bar had to procure the onions, but did so, and made a great gibson for me.
  • The White Lady – this is 2 gin, 1/2 triple sec, 1/2 lemon juice, and an egg white.
  • Death in the Afternoon – Champagne with a shot of Absinthe. They have no absinthe, so this was a miss. I’ll have to come back.
  • The Bloody Mary (vodka)
  • Scotch and Soda. Scotch, rocks, soda. Simple and refreshing.
The Gibson.

Again, Hemingway was all about how to drink strong liquor in hot climates. I am happy to report that in the process of writing these blogs, I have achieved 5/6 or about 82% Hemingway compliance.

At the end of yesterday, we bumped in amazingly cool people from San Francisco – lots of cyber folk, ex msft folks, conversations were awesome and they invited us to join them for dinner. Hilarity and great conversation ensued, and we turned in well fed, well watered, and well entertained.

Today was a laying about and blogging day. Got some nice pics of the garden.

Tomorrow we head back into the bush, going to Lewa where our new friends tell us we will be blown away.

For now, I bid you lala salama (sweet dreams).