NAIROBI, KENYA - MONDAY SEP 17, 2012

LIONESSES WITH LION CUB, MAASAI MARA KENYA

Well it was a very busy day but not much in the way of success to tell you about - we spent almost all day working on data communications to try and improve the internet access in Kyaithani Secondary School in the Yatta district of West Kitui (Ndunguni subdistrict).  We will be heading to KYAITHANI this coming Wednesday and have brought with us a Wilson antennae and USB modem with the hope of allowing several computers to get better internet eccess. The good news is that the antennae and USB modem are working with a single computer on the local SAFARI LINK network, but the Dlink mobile box (hot spot box) from TELUS is not working - if it had worked (which by all accounts it should have done) this would have allowed several computers to use the USB modem and antennae.We stayed in our room until 4pm trying to get this Dlink working but with no success.

We have a cellular USB modem that we purchased several years ago from SAFARICOM and using this Terry did manage to get the WIFI hot spot working on the MAC computer allowing multiple people to use several devices at the same time on the internet - we just top up the data coverage as we go using our Kenya cell phones.  And everyone wonders why half of our luggage is cell phones, cables, and communication devices when we pack for a trip!

So afterwards it was a short walk the 6 blocks to downtown Nairobi to stretch our legs running the gauntlet of the street kids and adults looking for handouts from any white person who is a real mark on the streets.  On the way we diverted into the 24 hour NAKUMATT supermarket to buy a couple of travel electric adaptors 2 prong plugs to take out to Kyaithani - they cost about $2 each here versus $15 at home in Canada.  We checked out a couple of store windows, then ate dinner at the Thorn Tree Cafe at the Stanley Hotel before walking back to the Norfolk Hotel which is very close to the Nairobi Natural History Museum - a visit we recommend to anyone who has a few hours to spare in Nairobi.

It was rush hour in Nairobi - and that can mean gridlock on almost any day - and crossing the busy streets is a case of pedestrian beware - traffic lights are used - sometimes - so be careful - you inevitably are walking through 3 or more lanes of traffic which are going to move forward whenever they get the chance!  I try to choose a tall sturdy local (there are very many!) to cross with and stay on the side of him away from the vehicles - this would at least give me a soft landing if he was hit by the bus or car!

MAASAI WARRIORS, NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK 

I did buy several cow horn bracelets in a variety of colours and patterns - they use cow horn a lot in Kenya for their crafts  and are very creative with what they make with it.  I also bought a pair of flat beaded sandals - since the Maasai use beads on everything (you will remember all the photos you have seen of the Maasai warriors and their beads around wrists, ankles, necks, waists, foreheads) you can buy beautiful items decorated with multi coloured beads - finding the finer quality articles (at a much higher price of course) is a challenge to search for!

Last night we managed more hours sleep than the previous few nights, and so we are hoping for a good night's rest tonight, and a productive and long day tomorrow!