TRIBE HOTEL, NAIROBI, KENYA- TUES SEP 18, 2012

TUESDAY SEPT 18, 2012 TRIBE HOTEL, MUTHAINGO, NAIROBI
After an early start to our day at 345am it was more time working (unsuccessfully) with communications equipment for Kyaithani School - but we had no problems being packed and ready for our pickup at 9am by Ray from Gamewatchers to transfer to the TRIBE Hotel.  The drive had no traffic - unbelievable for Nairobi - and a lovely drive through the Muthaingo district where most of the foreign embassies are located, and their staff live and work including the Canadian Embassy.  The houses and offices are in large secured compounds with lots of security staff visible.  It's a highly desirable area - very green with lots of tropical bushes, flowers and trees and our absolute favourite at this time of year? The beautiful Jacaranda trees covered in massive purple flowers.

The TRIBE is located next to the Village Market - an open air upscale shopping centre with a large food court and also a Nakumatt supermarket - very convenient!  Gamewatchers office is right next to the Tribe so we called in for a quick visit with the owners to catch up from both ends, and to pass along a Sawyer one micron water filter which may be of use in Maasai villages and camps where the water has impurities.  We also enlisted their help in figuring out where we could get 150 lunch boxes for the Kyaithani Secondary School kids and teachers for Thursday morning and deliver them to their buses when we see them on Thursday.  Next we checked in and dropped off our bags at the Tribe and Ray drove us over to the Westgate Shopping Centre - a large North American style shopping Centre on 3 levels.  There are some interesting stalls and stores including Kazuri beads,  Anselm glass, Africa Lily leather bags and wallets  - all of these made in Kenya.  We only spent about 1 hour here before catching a taxi back to the Village Market (1000 Kenyan Shillings).

Lunch was at the Thai restaurant in the Food Court - heat level medium - for both the chicken cashew and green curry - mmmmm - should have ordered mild!  We were gently reprimanded as we walked around and took a couple of photos - "not allowed, you need to get Management Approval before you can take photos".  Just an indicator of security around the world these days - we were told very politely by the plain clothes security guard watching the mall.  We enjoyed looking at the lovely crafts in Calabash, and the Jewelry design show of all Kenyan made products - some really great designs with beads and metals - different than what we had seen anywhere else.

On the way back to the TRIBE we picked up cases of water for our trip to KYAITHANI tomorrow and had a long stop at SAFARICOM.  We purchased a new mobile hot spot which should allow 5 devices to attach to the internet at the same time.  Time will tell if this will help the communications at the Kyaithani Secondary School.

We had 90 minutes back at the TRIBE - long enough for Jan to walk the property (it is so modern and hip) and take photos, while Terry got frustrated trying to get the new mobile hot spot to work!  Gideon and Dennis from Gamewatchers arrived at 4pm to take us to the JKIA Nairobi International airport.  We took the new North Rd Bypass - a longer way to the airport but faster since it goes through the Nairobi outskirts and misses lots of the gridlock downtown Nairobi traffic.  The homes we passed were very different - massive homes for the very rich (politicians, embassy staff, expatriates, and business men) and tiny shacks and apartments for the majority!  The fields were very green, bright red earth - all planted and producing tended by the KIKUYU tribe who are very industrious.  Kikuyu are 1 of the 41 tribes in Kenya.
We arrived with about an hour to spare before Jackie and Neil arrived from Zurich with Swissair, so we tried out the SIMBA lounge and restaurant on the 5th floor of the international arrivals level overlooking the single runway (approval has been recently given to fund the development of a second runway).  We watched as the sun set and as SWISSAIR arrived there was a fabulous red sunset with the rays gliding down through the clouds on the horizon.  Guess who was on the flight - Jackie and Neil!  They arrived through customs escorted by a Swissair attendant who hustled them through customs, immigration and visa processing ($50 USD each please).  Dennis and Gideon our driver and guide from Gamewatchers handled all the luggage and we were soon off for the very busy drive back to the TRIBE hotel in Nairobi.  The roads are so dark and crazy traffic - people everywhere and cars all over the place but with Gideon at the wheel the 1 hour drive flew by with conversations on everything Kenyan!

Dinner sitting outside under the stars next to the pool and waterfall (you really MUST put the TRIBE on your bucket list) was amazing.  Imagine starting with home baked breads of every sort complemented by tomato, mint, and tatsiki dips, caesar salad served in a small fish bowl (well it looked like a fish bowl!) with shaved parmesan and toasted ciabata strips, then crisp fresh calamari served over fennel - OMG - awesome....  great South African wines (Somerzig Stellenbosch sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon) to complement dinner and the stimulating conversation.  It was hard to pack up and go to bed!  The rooms are luxurious and modern - free standing bath tub to sink into, glass walls and rain drop shower head, the most incredible African art in the room (believe me you could gaze for hours) and all through the hotel - believe me - it is fabulous.

Anyway - we're up at 5am tomorrow, breakfast at 6am, and depart at 7am for Ndandini Village and Kyaithani Secondary school.  We have boxes of water and all sorts of communications gear to take out - it will be a productive and successful day.  Terry finally got everything working tonight after dinner - yippee!!   It's now 12:40 am - wish you could all be here with us - lights out!