Ants

This year the ants in Kenya are out with a force. We really have to keep an eye on them especially after it rains.  I have attached some pictures and video so you can see just a taste of how many there are.  We need to keep putting powder down or they will be in the house in short order.  Good times.

Holiday Like None Other

I never thought I would have a chance to stay at an all inclusive holiday by a beach.  Never did I think I would be doing it in Kenya.  David, Diane and myself decided that during this Aug. break from school that we would take a holiday together. One of the places to go is Mombasa.  It would be considered one of the warm places to go and it is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean. So we booked a hotel that was right on the beach. Of course one then has to get there.

We started are travel at 2:30am leaving home on matatu for Nairobi which took 3 hours. Then once in Nairobi we took a taxi to the train station.  The train left for Mombasa at 8:20 am. We were on the train for 6 hours. It was a good experience. It is currently the cheapest and fastest way to Mombasa. It cost $11. We arrived in Mombasa at 2:00. Then we called Uber (yes it is here) for a ride to the ferry.  I wish I could take pictures of this experience.  It was like a heard of elephants except it was people waiting to get on the ferry.  No room for any personal space. So elbows up and you power through.  Of course by this time exhaustion has hit so the patience level is low. Once we crossed on the ferry we got another matatu. This was another 40min ride and not in comfort. Then we got a tuk tuk (three wheeled vechle ) to the hotel.  That was around 5:30.  So after about 15 hours of travel we were finally there. We were tired, hungry and exhausted. We got settled into our rooms and waited for supper. Sleep came easy that night.

We were there for 5 nights.  It was wonderful and most importantly it was warm. We soaked it all in. I will let the pictures speak more.  Just to say to travel home we flew.  It was so much nicer.  It got us as far as Nairobi which only left a 3 hour matatu ride home.

It was a very blessed time away.

Pictures of the Hotel

Pictures of some friends we met

Relaxing

Moving

Well I had another experience.  How do you move a Kenya from one place to another.  There are no moving trucks and we do not have a vehicle.  So what do you use. You use a motor bike.  Now I seen many times motor bikes pilled with many things.  But have never witnessed the pilling. But now I have. As you can see in the pictures it was quite an experience. But all arrived safe and sound at the new place.

I was helping to move Lolem whom I have known since I starting coming to Kenya. She is one of the kids that I am watching while Dorris is in the USA.  Lolem is in college so lives on her own. When she is on school break she comes back to Dorris's house.

Pneumonia????

Well this time I did not hurt myself that left a scare anyway.  It started with a cough and head cold and it moved to my chest.  At which point I saw a doctor.  He gave me some injections and meds to take.  After a round of that I waited another week and the cough was still bad. Went back to the doctor were he gave me another round of meds and injections. And just to be clear when I say injections I mean IV my hand attached to a needle filled with meds that he pushed into my over a very very short period of time. Also during that second round I broke out in a rash all over my back. The meds I was given the second time did not seem to be helping I was referred to a specialist. He ordered blood work and a chest x-ray (I have the x-ray to prove it, you get to keep them here). He found that I have an infection. So put me on more meds and two inhalers.  This all happened over the course of a month. Half that time I was on my own. Then David and Diane came which helped a lot to have someone around and to give me some rest. I made it through the last few days of school with the kids and rested when I could.  I am finally feeling almost back to myself all but my body recovering and being tired.

But all things considered all is well. With the kids off on break I am looking forward to a different change in pace.