Hakuna Matata

Apologies for the upcoming saga but I hope it's entertaining.

Well, our first day in Nairobi was AMAZING! We arrived at our hotel around 8:30 PM last night (Kenyan time- they are 8 hours ahead of the US) which is smack dab in the middle of the city. We were so exhausted from our 27+ hour travel day that we could barely move to change into our pajamas. We are staying at Hotel 680 and it is very secure and charming. We have a fridge, air cooler (portable air conditioner) and shower! Quite the amenities that I was not expecting. I honestly just wanted a bed!

This morning we woke up around 7:30 AM, showered, got ready, put money in our bras and headed downstairs for breakfast. I always put money in my socks and/or bra when I travel JUST in case something happens or I get my purse stolen. We were welcomed by an amazing breakfast spread including omelets, fresh fruit and Alyssa's very own vegetarian corner! One of the wait staff insisted on carrying her plate because it was "very hot." She tried numerous times to tell him she could do it herself but he would not let her touch it and followed her around from station to station until she had all the food she wanted. After breakfast, we headed out for the day. Our first stop was the City Market which was only a few blocks from our hotel. I envisioned unique Kenyan crafts and a bustling atmosphere. Much to our surprise, we were first haggled for about 2 blocks from the guy who wanted us to go on a safari and when we both told him "sipendelei" which means we were not interested, he goes, "You don't even know what that means!" We arrive at the market and take about two steps inside. It it nothing like we imagined. It reaked of raw meat and there were full, dead animals hanging from the ceiling, flys swarming around them. And people smiling at us, asking if we wanted fish. I looked at Alyssa and was like, "Yeaaaah we should leave."

Thankfully, I had heard about the Massai Market which featured Kenyan's handiwork with arts, crafts and clothing. After asking about 3 security guards where the market was, we found it and stepped inside. We were immediately bombarded by 4 men handing us bags and escorting us from tent to tent. We were compliately caught off guard and figured if we ignored them/didn't act interested they would leave. Oh no. They became our personal shoppers for the next 2 hours. Peter and Bill were mine and Alyssa had Alex and Tim. They showed us around the market and told us even if we said "maybe" to something we should put it in our bag and then we would "negotiate" later. At one point, Peter and I were moving ahead of Alyssa when he goes "We have to wait for your sister, SISTER!" And then he told me to call her that. So Alyssa and I are now "sisters" here in Kenya. We also heard people say "Hakuna Matata" numerous times throughout the day. Kenyans are very layed back! After showing us artwork, jewlery, jerseys, bags and tons of other items, they told us we needed to negotiate prices and to come in their "offices," which were bags filled with who knows what in between the vendors. Alyssa and I's "office" was right next to each other. I sat on a stool and we began negotiating. I ended up getting bracelet and t-shirt for myself and some other gifts for people which I can't say on here :) The whole experience was fun, yet, exhausting! The guys were hilarious and told us we needed to take a Tusker with them. Tusker is a Kenyan beer and that is what the guys drink after a long days work. We politely declined and they walked us towards the exit. It was a great experience but next time, no personal shoppers!

 Peter, me, Bill and Alex in the orange hat. 

After that experience we headed to the Easy Coach office to purchase our bus tickets for Bungoma. We decided to walk and once out of the city center it was....interesting. People sitting on the ground selling fruit, lots of yelling, cars almost running into each other (but seriously, that happens everywhere) and lots of stares. I really hadn't noticed people staring at us until we approached the office and this guy yelled out, "Mzungu, take a picture of us!" Mzungu means "White person" in Swahili. So Alyssa snaps a few pics of the men and then they wanted a picture with me. After we bought our tickets, we asked the employees outside if they could call us a cab. All of a sudden this man appears beside me and says he can take us to the Giraffe center...and he has a cab. He then became our personal driver for the rest of the day taking to the Giraffe center, Carnivore restaurant and then back to our hotel. Below are some pictures from those places as I'm sure you're getting bored with all the text. Oh, and his name is Chegge, but we call him "The Cheg-ster."

Alyssa and I feeding Ed, the giraffe! They are so soft and beautiful!

This is me with Stacy. Mom, there is a giraffe in Kenya named after you!

Our waiter carving off a piece of meat at the famous restaurant, Carnivore. The wait staff brings all sorts of meet around to your table on a huge sword and cuts it off for you! I tried lamb, beef, pork, ostrich, crocodile and turkey. This restaurant used to serve wild game meets as well but in 2004 the Kenyan Government outlawed it. There is lobbying taking place to restore in on the menu. We had soup, salad, baked potato, all different kinds of meet and ice cream! We also drank their famous drink called "Dawa," which means "medicine." It was vodka, sugar, honey and fresh lime. Delicious! Shout out to Danish Opere and Katie Nelson for the recommendation! We LOVED it!

Finishing off our incredibly wonderful day with a Tusker beer at the Simba Lounge (right next door to Carnivore). About 5 minutes later we called The Cheg-ster to come pick us up and had a nice chat on the way back to our hotel about mzungus, his girlfriend, birthdays, and how to speak Swahili. Alyssa and I plan to meet up with him and his girlfriend when we return to Nairobi in August! 

We're off to Bungoma tomorrow! Wish us well on the 8 hour bus ride. Kwa heri :)