David Sheldwick Elephant conservation

The elephants are allowed viewing by the pubic for 1 hour a day during one of there feeds. They run out making noises because they are hungry and after they have a mud bath. Very comical to witness. The smallest walks up to the rope where we stand,it is no bigger than my sisters dog and likes to cuddle.

This project has rehabilitated and released 150 orphaned elephants. Some are seen by planes laying beside a failing mom,some have been found in wells.

A great foundation. Even has an Imax film out.

I love critters.

Timid traveler.

kenya fun

I hit the jack pot-I meet Fran.

Today I met a fellow traveler.  I was eating breakfast and she intoduced herself and asked me if I was interested in exploring the city with her today.  Really???? So like a kid on Christmas morning I am running back to my room to gather my shit. She has a driver booked for the day and I pay half(like 30 bucks).

Fran is in her late sixties,a retired teacher and a world traveler. She now is a volunteer enviromentalist. When I say,"so you have been everywhere" she says there are a few spots she needs to go back to because they need fixing.

Today, we drive around the city. We go to the Elephant rehabilitation,the giraffe refuge,the Katen Blixon homestead(out of Afica) the subs where there is no order like what I am used to. I see goats,tin,children,baboons and our driver helps us buy stamps. We drive past Kibera slum of 1 million people,we go to a modern mall,we drive through the modern city center.


Today was awsome. Tomorrow we are walking into the city center and going to kenya museum.

Fran has my back and I love it.

Wish I could show you some photos..trying to upload right now.
Merry Christmas.
Timid Traveler.

planet africa.

Getting a tan. Still have not seen any fellow travelers and I am ready to. Went for a walk today. WoW and OMG and holy shit. I am told I am about a 15 min. walk to downtown. I just wore a money belt with petty cash which Knowing me it was sticking out at the back like a thong. Where I am there are no side walks,just dirt and goat trails and sometimes rocky terrain like a river bed. Smouldering fires from the night before I guess?

Crazy ass traffic'no cross walks or lights to cross. I was hoping to find a  store or something but no luck. I hate being dependant on the hotel. I pay 79 dollars a night for this 2*. Breakfast is included so I eat a lot at breakfast. Found a channel that works and also toilet flushes now. Been having good sleeps. The Kenyan people I like,they are soft spoken and kind(like me...awwwww) I am not fixing any typos because internet is exspensive at this place which is weird because at the last slum dog hotel it was free,thank god because that is how I planned my escape. Things are good.

There must be a million staff that work here,all in uniform,suits,chefs in top hats..must be the way it is here. There is something going on in the grounds tonight,maybe a wedding...
Well more more solo day until I meet my group and then the real fun begins for me.
Take care and oh ya,Merry Christmas!
Timid Traveler.

Bad start to Africa

Arrived in Kenya airport late,it is a yucky old dirty airport that is about 1000 degrees. Stood in line for an hour for my visa,found a taxi smooth sailing,well at least you would think. All good to go to my hotel and suddenly there is this other man saying I need to make sure there is availability and just take a minute to check. Well story shortened to him making a phony call to my hotel then saying they are full. There was a girl also. Will take you to this hotel it is very nice and 150 bucks.

Tells taxi to take me away. Arrive at a shit hole. Bedroom about 10 by 10, hot,no ventilation,no window no fan. Toilet doesnt flush,tv busted,non working phone. Ugh.

yip,a scam.
I sat awake all night and once daylight hit I got the hell out of there.
Now I am in another steller african hotel..there is a pool,trees and birds. But the tv doesnt work and the toilet wont flush.
The internet is exspensive so I should sign off.

will be good to join my tour and get into the country side..that is why I am here.
Timid Traveler.

some saying good bye photos.

London

It always amazes me how stunned we are when we travel to a new land. Earlier in London Heathrow airport myself and another lady could not figure out how to get into the rest room. There was no handle and so we thought it must have a motion senser. While we are waving are hands back and forth her little kid comes over and pushes it open.

Now in my hotel in London. It is dark and raining and I am exhausted partly from stress,time changes and the fact that I sat next to 3 men that partied on the plane while everyone else tried to sleep. Once I realised that drinks were free I thought about joining them but they were only speaking in Swahili (I think) sooo. Heathrow airport is huge. I think I took 9 escalators 2 elevators a bullet train plus walked the 12 Km to get "out"

I am going to rest up for tomorrow when I land in Nairobi Kenya at 10:00 at night!

pictures are coming soon.

Leaving Home.

After a couple/three years of research and ten months planning it appears that my big Africa trip is real.  Sitting in the boarding gate right now and feeling like a wrung out dish rag from the rollercoaster of emotions I have gone through in the last few days. Saying good bye to my familiar life at home and then again to my good friend of 25 years at the airport.

I am good now, on my own and ready. I chose this...it is something I want and a good thing.

Why is it watching babies always always cheers us up?