Animal spotting

How fast time has gone.....the last few weeks have been really good and animal filled, though in more planned, expected and fun ways! Been on a few game drives; in Nairobi and Nakuru National Park. Saw my first lion, was very cool!!!

The flamingos in Lake Nakuru were incredible, a stunning sea of pink, there were hundreds. The wildlife here is just amazing.

A week ago we went to the Elephant orphanage opposite our school and saw lots of very cute baby elephants. I am really not an animal lover, but it sucks you in here, and you can't help but get excited about seeing a rhino, or a field full of zebra (my current favourite animals, the stripes are just so funny!) I was quite reluctant to touch the elephants, but did rather briefly pat one on the head! Wasn't expecting them to be hairy but then am hardly an animal expert to know what to expect!

Settling into the school routine, and really enjoying it. Started running before work-decided it was time I battled the altitude! It is harder definitely, but is starting to get easier. Can't see me doing any marathons over here though..... Loving the pool too though it is freezing at first, and so hard to jump in! Guess it makes the first few lengths faster though.

My trunk is in Kenya...still at the airport though....it's being scrutinized by Kenyan customs.....oh dear, sure they will be enjoying the Stephen Jones caricature! It is expected on Friday.....trying not to get hopes up yet, Kenyan bureaucracy is well....intense!!

Get real pangs of homesickness, and think of you all a lot and giggle, but settling in and really enjoying it. It feels more and more like home. Planning a lil explore for half term, and keen to see more of this beautiful country-animals included, bring on the leopard sighting!!

Malaria?? Ummm....no actually

Well, I got sick! Looking back it was kinda inevitable. I was exhausted and hadn't stopped for weeks, but was still rather upset and shocked to get struck down! After a few days I went to the Dr and was prodded and poked, then told I more than likely had malaria (60+bites in Tanzania and full symptoms). There were tears, I realised then how far away mum was! But, 6 hours later, a phone call discounted malaria and so, on 15 tablets a day and bed rest I was to recover! The funniest thing was how much the Doctors and pharmacists blamed the weakness of my choice of anti malarials, and made me feel so silly for stocking up on them....I now swear by them!! Totally fine now thankfully. The staff here were amazing, and really looked after me. Not exactly the best first impression made to some, but is a bit of a giggle now!

A sad consequence of being ill though is my feelings towards meat since getting better. I've had it once, and really can't face it now. Missed out on a night in Carnivore, so yet to try crocodile and ostrich, but we'll see whether that actually happens. Gonna take it a day at a time, but feel maybe I had a two week lapse and am now back to being veggie, feel gutted though, had such a positive response to my meat consumption both here and from the UK, well apart from Patrick, though some good points were raised!! hehe

Term started today. The ten children in my class so far are lush, was a fun day. A lot of readjustment, especially when a dog wandered in at playtime, and I had to call on a lil 7 year old to sort him out for me hehe good way to meet the kids and make them feel brave I think! Questions today, well the first was regarding my weight-always a delight!! The next load, seriously, load were about my tooth, so funny! The kids are so funny, want to know everything-each day I get a load more questions-even got asked for my mobile number!! So cute though.

Biggest current adjustment is probably to my house girl. She is amazing, and a massive help, but it is weird having someone come in and wash, clean up etc. I can imagine your bemused, maybe even confused faces right now, telling me to appreciate it, and believe me, not washing up any more is pure bliss, but coming home to re organised wardrobes, toiletries, even folded underwear (!!) is a re adjustment! Sure I'll get there....

Adjusting and falling in love

Zanzibar was stunning. The most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, I cannot think of how they could be more perfect. Had a lush few days relaxing with my friend, Laura. Even met a Ryan Giggs lookalike, amazing! Always great to see a familiar face!

The meat consumption has continued.....now includes beef, octopus and squid-had never even eaten those before!! There have been a few comments about how obsessed I now am, but I have two years to catch up on, and am loving how free range everything is, so trying to keep the guilt down low! Hoping to add ostrich and crocodile to the list this week..... It was just gonna be a Tanzania thing, then a pre working thing, but now I am wondering how I can live in Africa without meat. Not sure if it's the whole 2 years without it, or just the sheer quality, but it is amazing and fills my thoughts regularly hehehe

I've spent the last few days in Nakuru with Zoe, who lives here. It is absolutley gorgeous. Very chilled, surrounded by mountains, and filled with giraffe, zebra, buffalo, impala....and so it continues. Loving being in Africa. Have just been haggling in the markets trying to get things for the house. Yesterday I almost cuddled a dog, it's def coming. Managed to spend longer stroking them anyway. Had just been to a friend's house for the most awesome fresh beef burgers though, so possibly was due to an extreme state of contentment and relaxation! Zoe is impressed with my growth, and how my anxiety levels are either better hidden or reducing!

So as to give a balanced view.....I miss my shoes-dreamt about them last night! Have had generally very cold showers since arriving, got pretty bitten on the coast, the Internet is slow, and there are actual monkey traps on my school campus!!!! Still I love it and am so happy and excited to be here.

Animals-wet knees and chicken burgers

So....arrived in Nairobi to a power cut-fortunately a few weeks living on the mountain has got me used to them hehehe Was good to be back, and the family I stayed with were good fun. The last few days though have been characterised by wet knees.....everyone has dogs-check out the plural! I made the mistake of wearing skirts, and so have had wet knees almost constantly much to everyone's amusement! Why do dogs want to slobber everywhere?! Trying hard to be calm round all the animals, and even pat them on the head, but apparently my anxiety is very obvious and amusing to everyone. Never mind. Give me a few months and I will be a Dr Dolittle!

Came to Zanzibar yetserday after an 18 hour bus ride-oh my word!!! It is stunning here, really beautiful place. Last night something came over me. Wish I could blame extreme starvation, serious intoxication, or even peer pressure, but none are valid. I saw someone eating a burger and was desperate for one! I tried to resist, tried to reason, but to no avail. It may just be a blip....but man, it was a  delicious blip....we will see, had forgotten how incredible chicken tastes. Has Africa broke me already?! We will see....may just eat meat on Zanzibar.....drooling just looking at this pic again though....

Off to the beach today for some chill out time. Had a lil look round my new school and was a lil nervous to see monkey traps....need to be calm for arrival!

Dubai...city of superlatives!

So...the adventure has begun! Arrived in Dubai last night. Very impressed with Emirates-fresh flowers on board, and a free Hello magazine-brilliant! Nairobi's gonna be quite a change tomorrow!!! The airport alone was so huge and modern, took me ages to find the exit! My friend, Trevor picked me up and we went on a lil drive-gorgeous place, massive skyscrapers everywhere,  the buildings are incredible! Unbelievably hot though, freaked me out that it was the middle of the night and already boiling, fortunately modern cities have got air con!
Had a lil wander round today, saw the world's tallest building, and hotel, and aquarium....this city does not do things second best!! The shopping centres are crazy big. We walked through one today and there was an ice rink inside-surrounded by shops, and of course, the world's biggest aquarium. Completely surreal! Didn't realise how close Dubai was to Nairobi, so would be good to return and see more another time. How the wanderlust continues....

Waiting for flight to Nairobi now, still in surreal mode, but excitement's mounting! Great to catch up with people en route though, and looking forward to starting life in Africa!

It's all about the trunk!!

A few weeks ago I was chatting to mum about what I should use to send my things out to Kenya. She suggested a trunk.....oh dear, how old fashioned were my first thoughts! I was surprised to then read on the freight website that it is the recommended object! Sorry mum! So, after a few days in Newtown, I inherited my Grandmother's trunk and fell in love with it instantly. Already I feel we have been through a lot together. Our first journey together, and the beginning of our adventures down south was to Cardiff and can be simply described as amazing! I have never had so many people want to come over and chat about luggage before! People wanted to hold it, touch it, find out about its history-I am sure a few people took cheeky photos...ok maybe not, but it has become quite a photographed object since! Do have a slight trunk injury on my knee from swinging it too much on the train-trying to demonstrate that it wasn't that heavy, but if anything it just adds a lil bit more to our relationship!

Receiving my first trunk with Grandpa!

Well, I now have two trunks...it's amazing how one has become two! Have also been quite successful trunk spotting-even finding them used as coffee tables in restaurants-awesome idea, and may well be what mine becomes for a couple of years in Nairobi. Not everyone understands the trunk fever, so hopefully a couple of pics will help share the trunk love!! Enjoy!!

Poor Rich, the excitement of seeing and also touching a trunk distracted him from looking at the camera!