2-September-2011
We left Dar promptly at 6 AM. We stopped multiple times at bus stops and random locations to pick up stragglers. I slept till 9 AM and then Laura and I switched spots and she was in charge of pictures. At noon we took a lunch break where we ate our snacks instead. I managed to use the choo which was a combined toilet base and a whole in the ground. When we got to the immigration office Tanzania gave us no problems but to re-enter Kenya was a problem. They kept asking how long we were going to stay and we explained our itinerary and said 9 days. Afterwards we had our luggage go through customs, which was really never checked. It was funny to see them repack the luggage, and Laura and I were about to do it ourselves!!! Then a mama told us we had to put the curtains infront of our window and we thought perhaps it was b/c of Eid but then she told us to get off the matatu. Our driver said no. it was the us, some elderly, and some kids in the bus. They took the vehicle on the ferry; the security guards kept coming in to check if something was being smuggled. We arrived and took a tuk tuk to Lotus hotel that our driver arranged. We learned that it is Friday not Thursday. We wanted to eat at Kenchick but they were out of bread. So around we went, searching the town and we ended at a Chinese Restaurant which we had our own soups in addition to a shared noodle meal. Then we toured a little bit of the town.
3-September-2011: Randy Mac girls asking too many questions?
I ended up writing this journal entry on the 7th because I have been sick. I woke up this morning feeling very cold, weak, and soar. Thinking it may be a simple morning sickness, I realized to my dismay that I had diarrhea. We went and got medications which actually helped and I did meditation to take the stomach pains away. We bought train tickets, got money exchanged, saw the Hindu temple and went to Fort Jesus, Market, and other places.
The church was beautiful and I pretended to play the drums. It was somewhat dark but still beautiful with the sun rays providing an interesting shade of soft light and warmth to the room. The Hindu temple did not have any guidelines except to take of ones shoes, but I found it interesting that they thought we needed a guide to help us understand the culture. Laura and I then tried to find gingerale in a can but only found it in the coke bottle. So we sat down for lunch and I had only a protein bar. We also went to Uhuru Gardens which are very well kept. Then we went to Fort Jesus where we were taking pictures, where a random person Moses came up and asked us if we were the two girls who requested a guide. We said no, and he still followed us and assigned himself as our guide for 1500/=. The fort was beautiful displayed with a mix Omani Arabs, Portuguese, and the local tribe. While the display of culture was wonderful, our multiple questions, were either “ignored” or answered incorrectly as we learned after reading the information guide at the end. Then off to the spice market and market where we bought Kangas and Scarfs :D We also went to the old dock that was part of the fort and the slave bathrooms. Laura got some drink that looked like kulfi (indian ice cream) and then we returned to the hotel where we found some Peace Corps volunteers doing cross sector (half way mark). Laura finished my dinner as I was still unwell. Oh and I tried to put shoes near the window for sun and that didn't work as well, cause we were called and told to remove the shoes from the window as people were taking pictures??????????
04-September-2011: Thieves do not meet our standards
Still sick and walking. Nothing is open it is Sunday. But we tried to go back to the market today and exchanged Laura’s scarf. Yesterday we went back and it was closed. Today, it was open. The guys were teasing the owner of the shop saying that he should marry us. Then I finally stopped the teasing by saying “ninajua ulisema nini” (I know what you said) and then they laughed and stopped teasing. Then we went to figure out our plans for Nyeri and Nyharuru. No one was responding!!! AHhhhh…. On the way back to the hotel a boy tried to snatch my necklace, and TKD came in handy as I did a block and then a catch and then pushed him away and said “hapana” “no!”. Then we went back to the Mosque that we have attempted to see multiple times but could not because it was closed and/or prayer was going on. The same boy tried to steal my necklace again, to which I still used TKD and put my hand up and he did not get it only unbent the clip. Tani, went after him as did our “duka” (shop)/market friends. One asked if I was okay and said he loved me. The boy did not get anything nor did he ever return. Laura and I went to a sports bar to get, yet again, gingerale, and then I finally ate at Ken Chick. We also tried to see the Old Law courts which were closed. And then found 3 American guys smoking weed and eating chilli chips, and interesting combination. We walked in random directions to come upon a store to which I let Laura handle the bargaining to learn something from her. She was about to walk away and the guy was ready to bargain. She bargained a painting from 2,000/= to 1,500/=, He was selling another for 500/=. We ended up getting two paintings for 3,000/= and two items for free. The owner said what I picked was expensive but let it slide as a promise is a promise. We then proceeded to the train. We had some Indian guys take a picture of us and they used not only our camera but their own :O. We went first class. Our cabin had a sofa bed and a bunk. Hip hip hooray.
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