Next day started with a 7 hour Matatu trip south to Migori
(even Kenyans call this the “Crazy Town”!!!) A Canadian Girl volunteer works
here and it is her 30th birthday soon and Chin a Philippino
volunteer works 30 mins away (her Birthday too this week – hence the trip). I
arrived around 4 and after a couple for drinks and a bite to eat we tried out a
couple of the night clubs (with some trepidation from my part given the
reputation of the town). Luckily Erin’s boyfriend is a Kenyan and very well built gym
regular who also knows most of the bouncers so we had our own security. One
place had a mirror all along one wall and the locals spent much time dancing
with their reflections rather than each other – novel? I tried to avoid the mirrors because I did
not want to see what my “Dad dancing meets a thunderbird puppet” dancing looked
like for real!!
Chin Top Trumps me on accommodation as she has a shared pit
latrine and rats – hard core!!
Erin and me trying the local fish head first!!
Day 2 in Migori and we tried the local fish for lunch and
then after a 3.30am finish the night before had a lazy evening.
We left Migori at 8am and travelled to Bondo via Kisumu via
the edge of Lake Victoria. We arrived in Bondo area around 2.30 after one of
the most cramped rides ever on a very hot day. Arriving earlier than expected
we dropped into a mud hut Hotel (Kenyan for café) and had chai and chapatti.
Then we Catherine an American lady who works at an organisation called Rafiki
(Kiswahili for Friend).
After dropping bags at her place we were introduced to wrok
mates and then went to the market to get fish etc for dinner. I can’t get fish
in Kandara so I was making the most of being less than a kilometre from the
lake. At the market Catherine stepped in some deep mud in sandles and came out
with a black smelly foot. Within seconds two willing local suitors were at her
feet with a bucket of water washing her feet. Not sure Brit or American men
would have been so willing??
At the Fish Market
The only mzungus at the market we created quite a stir as
usual but the fish was great at dinner so worth it.
Catherine has nice house but the toilet is a pit latrine
(very common outside Nairobi) and the “shower” is outside and just 4 walls of
corrugated sheet with no roof and a broken concrete slab to stand on. You take
a bucket and was from that under the stars. Quite cool actually but it is lucky
it is a warm climate.
Day 2 in the Bondo area and we took the ferry to Mbito
Island great fun, sharing the ferry with a herd of cattle and the traders.
Traditional wooden fishing boats all over that need regular hand bailing to
avoid sinking. After a stroll around we retreated to a small hotel by the lake
to chill out etc.
Swimming lessons anyone, Me, Catherine, Deedra and (horizontally) Rachel
Typical fishing boat on Lake Victoria
The Ferry
There is always room for one more - 80kph too!!
Next day Chin and I travelled to Kisumu and explored that
town before catching the night bus to Nairobi. Bizaar coincidence bot there
were 4 other volunteers in the waiting room and on the same bus!! We arrived in
Nairobi central bus area at 5am and had to wait there until 630 and sunrise
(not good from a security perspective to be out in that area in the dark.).
Then home.
It was great to be back at the orphanage and not having to
think about the next transport etc. After 29 changes of location in 35 days I
was ready for a break from travelling, but what a great period and I could not
have fitted more in to my break.
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