This post is for time spent in Nairobi. My post for time spent in South Sudan is further down! Newest posts on top!
____________
After the 10 days or so in Juba, South Sudan, I hopped over to Nairobi, Kenya to meet with potential solar suppliers / solar contractors to discuss their capabilities and available products / technologies. I got a cell phone and hired a driver all day to drive me around. Meetings were very positive. Friday was all meetings and then Sat was pretty much all play.
Nairobi is notorious for its traffic jams, which didn't so much intimidate me considering where I call home, but it did turn out to be a real drag. And NOT because of time delays, but because every tenth vehicle is a truck like this that pollutes insane amounts of crud into the air. And you smell it. And you taste it. And it gives you headaches.
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwKgyDRnFoc&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=1&feature=plcp
We cruised over to the Elephant Orphanage and saw some baby elephants being raised with the ultimate aim to be released back into the wild later in their lives when they're less vulnerable.
Baby Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi -- Their Entrance
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02j7fgVSNA&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=18&feature=plcp
Baby Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi -- Running me over!! -- The shortest distance between two points was where I was standing.
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4gpW29gdSE&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=15&feature=plcp
Baby Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi -- The Bigger Elephants Exiting -- Got to touch one!!
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-qSWX9ILLw&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=13&feature=plcp
After the elephant orphanage, we cruised on over to the Safari Walk, and check out some lazy animals resting in the afternoon heat. Not the best time to see some action, but was still cool. A lazy rhino:
After the Safari Walk, we heard some chanting so went over to check it out. It was local Maasai Warriors singing for tourists (and the subsequent money I gave them, really). All very nice guys, though, and I had a blast. Springy dudes also. But of course, when we were jumping at the end of the video, I just want to say that I hadn't warmed up, I hadn't tightened my shoelaces, I was thirsty... :)
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8h1ZnP433o&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=2&feature=plcp
We left the safari walk and had some lunch. Was feeling very sunburned on my neck. Well, turns out Nairobi is just over a mile in elevation, and the sun happens to be directly overhead. This, actually, was my first visit to a place south of the equator!!
After lunch cruised on over to feed the giraffes. Very chill, and very cool.
she's shy:
the cutest kids feeding her:
And then...(yes, we did a lot this day!)...we zipped over to Mambo Village and saw some lazy crocodiles. There was a keeper there, about 25 y.o., armed only with a 1 m bamboo stick, that jumped into the croc pen and showed us some excitement. Pretty nuts.
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dzv7FjocPw&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=7&feature=plcp
The insane keeper playing with crocs in the water...
Or watch on YouTube (better quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQVe6SKacs4&list=UUi0NM0XScjhg8N6JFgKL8TQ&index=4&feature=plcp
note the dirty pantleg -- you can thank the elephant earlier in the day for that one!
Headed over for a drink and some appetizers at the famous Carnivores. Check that one off the list.
What a whirlwind trip in Nairobi! Headed to the airport and got on another overnight flight to London for the last stop on this trip before heading back to LA. I should mention that about a week prior to the Nairobi excursions it was announced that the Jordan trip had been postponed to April, so this blog will have to be on pause for awhile before the blog title is fully satisfied.
