We landed yesterday absolutely shattered after 16 or so hours of travelling really took their toll. A day of work was quickly followed by a dash down to Gatwick to get our conneting flight to Dubai.
I am not a great flyer but the plane was amazing. For the first time ever i smiled 30secs into take off. Its hard to describe being scared of flying. Most people would call it idiotic particularly given i drive 5hrs a day but i am always refer back to a famous saying i once heard in a film 'Courage is not having no fear but being able to overcome it' i think the film was Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon. None the less it stands. Anyway the flight was good, the plane had plugs, Shell could watch the films and i could watch the flights stats with no issues. Infact it was so good it was empty and we managed to get a bank of four between us (One for me and three for Shell - of course!) this was followed by a greatly improved but much colder four hour wait in Dubai airport (why when it is 40degrees outside do they have to have aircon and -40 inside?!) Then we jumped on the last flight to Nairobi in a not quite so good and a bit bumpier plane.
So anywho we landed at the state airport a little anxious of the city dubbed Nai - robbery. We were so wrong though. This city is beautiful, its more of a town really and a green one at that. We arrived at the tents i had booked to much sceptasism from Shell and i dont think i have ever had so much praise. They are big, cool, have ensuites and in a garden which could only be compared to Wyvale! Outside are loads of big big birds and toucans! We enjoyed the buffet dinner and then I fell asleep head in hands trying to watch Battlestar Galatica (i can still be a geek even in Africa)
Today we visited the Kibera slums a place were 25% of Nairobians live (1.5m) within 2 sq kms, i guess not the safest day out but a really interesting one. We met our guide in the camp site, a guy called Rick who was 25 but looked 15 and headed of on our way. I was a little dubious of visiting an African slum given the press they have had in the last year or so but Shell was keen. She was right, althought the conditions were horrendous the people were so friendly and always smiling. The guide took us to his house which was tiny and recently scarred him due to it burning down!
My intrepidation was not without cause though as some areas we were told to hide our cameras because of the guns but our guide told us where and when to be careful. We later found out he pays these gangs daily to protect himself and us. His tip was therefore well deserved. It may be worth pointing out at this point that the trip was free and just to raise awareness.
We met a group called the Ghetto Action Focus Foundation who were setup 5 years ago to move people out of crime being ex gang members themselves they were really inspiring with the work they do in the area and mostly through sport. I am going to use this as a reminder to keep in contact with them.
Every year the slum has a football tournament but they cannot afford it this year due to costs. I think us Temples should sort this out! But we will talk about this later....
Suffice to say they were really nice and never once mentioned money or donations but just asked us to spread their message. So that is what i am doing.
The title of this post is testament to what i think is the only phrase know by the young kids in the slum. It is all they say. If you answer they dont know enough english to reply!!
I better go now as off to a famous returant called carnivore and then off on safari tomorrow.
I will let you know how it goes.....
I am not a great flyer but the plane was amazing. For the first time ever i smiled 30secs into take off. Its hard to describe being scared of flying. Most people would call it idiotic particularly given i drive 5hrs a day but i am always refer back to a famous saying i once heard in a film 'Courage is not having no fear but being able to overcome it' i think the film was Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon. None the less it stands. Anyway the flight was good, the plane had plugs, Shell could watch the films and i could watch the flights stats with no issues. Infact it was so good it was empty and we managed to get a bank of four between us (One for me and three for Shell - of course!) this was followed by a greatly improved but much colder four hour wait in Dubai airport (why when it is 40degrees outside do they have to have aircon and -40 inside?!) Then we jumped on the last flight to Nairobi in a not quite so good and a bit bumpier plane.
So anywho we landed at the state airport a little anxious of the city dubbed Nai - robbery. We were so wrong though. This city is beautiful, its more of a town really and a green one at that. We arrived at the tents i had booked to much sceptasism from Shell and i dont think i have ever had so much praise. They are big, cool, have ensuites and in a garden which could only be compared to Wyvale! Outside are loads of big big birds and toucans! We enjoyed the buffet dinner and then I fell asleep head in hands trying to watch Battlestar Galatica (i can still be a geek even in Africa)
Today we visited the Kibera slums a place were 25% of Nairobians live (1.5m) within 2 sq kms, i guess not the safest day out but a really interesting one. We met our guide in the camp site, a guy called Rick who was 25 but looked 15 and headed of on our way. I was a little dubious of visiting an African slum given the press they have had in the last year or so but Shell was keen. She was right, althought the conditions were horrendous the people were so friendly and always smiling. The guide took us to his house which was tiny and recently scarred him due to it burning down!
My intrepidation was not without cause though as some areas we were told to hide our cameras because of the guns but our guide told us where and when to be careful. We later found out he pays these gangs daily to protect himself and us. His tip was therefore well deserved. It may be worth pointing out at this point that the trip was free and just to raise awareness.
We met a group called the Ghetto Action Focus Foundation who were setup 5 years ago to move people out of crime being ex gang members themselves they were really inspiring with the work they do in the area and mostly through sport. I am going to use this as a reminder to keep in contact with them.
Every year the slum has a football tournament but they cannot afford it this year due to costs. I think us Temples should sort this out! But we will talk about this later....
Suffice to say they were really nice and never once mentioned money or donations but just asked us to spread their message. So that is what i am doing.
The title of this post is testament to what i think is the only phrase know by the young kids in the slum. It is all they say. If you answer they dont know enough english to reply!!
I better go now as off to a famous returant called carnivore and then off on safari tomorrow.
I will let you know how it goes.....
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