18.11. 2019 To Kichwa Tembo
Had breakfast at the hotel after a restless night . There , by chance , we happened to meet the executive chef of the four points Sheraton, and to our surprise he turned out to be somebody who had worked with Huvida in The Oberoi Bangalore ! Chandrasekhar Pandey even remembered me from the Jaipur days !
Richard was our driver to the Wilson airport . Quite the professional , he explained that there were 43 major communities in Kenya . We talked about how Indians had come 100 years back to construct the railway and had stayed behind to become very much the part of the Kenyan nation.
Last night, we had learnt from Sumit and Rachna about the Sikhs who have a Gurdwara set up over 100 years back, with a Guru Granth Sahib which was said it have magical powers . The Guru granth apparently staved off lion attacks and summoned a whole Sikh army led by Guru Gobind in the night , according to legend told by an African caretaker of the Gurudwara .
Lot of the talk was about the Indians and the expatriate community and their shenanigans in Kenya . About their equivalent of the South African Brai and the expat life style . All very idyllic , but Kenya seems to have a lot of political trouble , what with delayed elections within a divided nation . The place is currently ruled by Jomo Kenyattas son as the President .
We learnt that the Chinese were investing hugely in Kenya and whereas trading remained a strong back bone , agriculture and tourism were the mainstays of the economy , horticulture is a big success with Kenya . The country is the foremost exporter of roses in the world !
Nairobi , a city of 4 million ( the country has a population of 48 million) is a modern city barely 100 years old . The city was originally built as the midpoint of the railway line running from Mombasa on the coast to Kampala in Uganda. It has an year round temperate climate , with highest of 32 degrees situated on a plateau of 5000 feet . The undulating city scape , has a giant nature preserve attached it and a huge shanty town in the center.
Sumit told us that certain parts of the city was a no go area , but that crime had reduced from 2015, although the economy was not doing all that great at the moment . There are lots of restaurants and about 22 odd high end hotels . People are here really helpful and smiling although the the culture of ‘ Hole Hole’ or slowly slowly is all pervasive and nothing gets done in a hurry .
There is 40 percent unemployment and trouble at the border with Somalia with Al Shabab militants , because of which there is security presence everywhere . Still expats seem to have a cushy life style with each expat community having their own niche .
We saw a large Swaminarayan temple !
I wondered what the local Masai and Kikuyu and the Lomu , make of all these foreigners who starting with the British who still seem to be ruling the roost even after independence in 1961 . Kenyans are a proud people. Soccer and rugby are the local passion !
We saw a picture of Eliud Kipchoge the world record breaking Kenyan distance runner, who recently broke the world record for a marathon after breaking his own record ( sub two hours )!!!
We were dropped off at the Wilson’s airport , Nairobi’s other airport.
Still no sign of Huvida’s Tanzania e visa . We sat in cute coffee shop watching small flights land and take off . A concoction of ginger and lemon boiled together and laced with honey is called Dawa and sipped hot !
Our flight to Kichwa Tembo – Masai Mara was delayed by an hour because the incoming aircraft had to change its tires.
t the airport cafe’

At Wilson Airport Dorman’s cafe’ rearing to go
Dawa- 1 inch ginger
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder (use the root if you have)
• Juice from one lemon
• 1 cup hot water
• Honey to taste as needed
Steps 5 minutes
• Grate your ginger and squeeze juice of one lemon
• Pour one cup of water in a saucepan. Add the grated ginger, turmeric, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil
• Sieve and it is ready for consumption. It can also be chilled
• Add some honey to sweeten it… (optional).
• Add Vodka at your own peril !
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Migration Routes.
• Masai Mara Game Reserve Map
Travels with Huvi et Tufan 