The rains have come:

The first rain fell last night a massive storm which settled the dust. The Masai herdsmen quickly brought  their herds to feed on the new grass on the sides of the roads. They used to graze their animals on this land until the English came and were sadly displaced. 

Today we went for a lovely walk in the Oloolua forest. we hired a guide t take us around who was very knowledgeable. He showed us dik dik, small very shy deer, that were feeding in the forest.
We also saw several sorts of monkey and bats in a cave.

Stkes's monkey  typical of this area pretty little monkeys living in the tree tops.

 Our group resting on a bench by the water fall

A flowering cactus

After a good walk we went to a cafe for spicy african tea and vegetable samosas. Then to Simon and Cecilias old house in Ngong which was in between tenants t fill up water from the water harvesting talk which is very good for drinking, once filtered with the aquafilter.
Then Mary and Cecilia went for a little pamper., while Simon and I unloaded the water.
We finished our time in Kenya with a wonderful Kenyan dish prepared by Cecilia consisting of a potato pumpkin leave and bean mash with a little beef and peas.

A quiet day

Today Cecilia and Mary woke up with slightly queasy stomachs this morning so we decided to have a fairly quiet day. We relaxed on the balcony, just going out to collect supplies from the Nakumatt the local supermarket which is found all over this part of Africa.  We had mandazi a type of African doughnut which is not too sweet and a Kenyan staple.

In the afternoon we all felt much better so went to a local walking track which is very popular a rubberised circular track around a local cricket pitch which is free for everyone to use.

For supper we had an organic ugali. Ugali is a white cornmeal staple. however we had a healthier version made with a mixture of corn millet and sphorgum flours. Which contains more fibre and nutrients than maize flower alone which if the only source of nutrition causes protein malnutrition which is a common problem in children . We finished of with banana and yogurt. The banana was purchased from a salesman in the middle of the rush hour traffic.    

Karura Forest

Today we went to a native forest on the outskirts of Nairobi. It consisted of well laid out trails in native woodland. We managed to get there fairly early while it was reasonably cool and had a very pleasant morning walk. One of the problems they have is invasion of foreign species such as eucalyptus and they are trying to thin these out and re-plant with native species.

There were many butterflies in the forest this one was happy to be photographed

 There were some helpful labels on the trees

Another butterfly resting on the path

There was a small lake with native water lilies

One of the waterbirds on the lake.a hamerkop a curious stork like bird

 which builds an enormous nest  in a fork in a tree decorating the outside 

with any bright coloured trinkets  they can find.

A very dainty little wader walking on the lilypads

After the walk we headed up to a shopping mall which have very pleasant cafe restaurant called Art Cafe.Here we met out friends George and Mary Ogalo. George heads up an organisation called  FOCUS   which co-ordinates the universities Christian unions. Mary heads up several projects empowering women and is at present finishing off here doctoral thesis. They were both very well as where there children, we spent a very pleasant time with them over a delicious lunch.

 In the afternoon we went to view another house on the outskirts but again not ideal. On the way home we dropped in on Cecilia's friends where we were offered samosas and very spicy spare ribs washed down with a Tusker a very good African beer served ice cold. 

Then home for fruit and tea.

UN tour and Paradise Lost

UN Flag: the world viewed from the North Pole, surrounded by olive branches of Peace and Hope.

Today Simon and Cecilia booked us into a tour of the Africa UN headquarters in Nairobi.

This is an amazing facility, in a massive ground, donated by the Kenyan government.
We went round with a group of Masters students from the university. The guy who took us around was great fun and very informative.
The UN vaccinates 58%  of the world's children Assists 34 million refugees. Is doing a lot of work with climate change. Fights poverty, protects human rights. As well as it's key role in peacekeeping and preventative diplomacy.
The tour included a visit to the massive conference rooms where various assemblies sit. I was asked to do a 30 second presentation to the group on behalf of the UK from the same podium where Barack Obama spoke. Mary also addresses the group on "the seeds of hope"

Our guide addressing us in the Japaneses Peace Garden.

Headquarters of UNEP the UN environmental agency

This is a modern concept building that is environmentally neutral. 

It has solar panels and this large atrium which provides cooling 

The plants are watered by the water from the roof has all LED lighting

and toilets which use minimal water. 

We had an African tea and pastry in the very good buffet there, then set off for Paradise gardens which is well named. It is in the middle of a coffee plantation, It consists of a lake with waterfall and " Prehistoric caves", which were quite fun to go round; then we sat and watched a vast variety of birds in the canopies of the trees, with even one or two even sitting still long enough to be photographed..

Supper consisted of a delicious mango and avocado and banana smoothie and butternut squash and bean feast.

 Tree with aerial roots by side of waterfall

Mary Simon and Cecilia in the cave

Another in the cave

 Bird in a tree

This one was getting insects from underneath the bark

Another amazing tree with aerial roots 

Bomas of Kenya African dance

Today we went to a cultural centre called Bomas of Kenya. Bomas comes from a cultural word meaning homestead. It contains examples of different homesteads. as well as a large auditorium where they have daily performances of ethnic dances.

One of the little homesteads

 Mary and Simon looking into the second wives house. Each wife had a separate house the size matching the status of the wife.

Traditional drummer

 Very colourful twirling dresses

A lot of dances seem to involve choosing partners

Another very colourful dance troupe

Church and Parties

Today we went to church; Nairobi traffic is different on a Sunday, the queues form outside churches.
We went with Simon and Cecilia to a nearby Anglican church, which they have completely finished re-building. It is massive, but the congregation is already growing to fill it .  We received a very warm welcome.
The service was a mixture of old Anglican hymns we used to sing years ago plus some very lively Swahili choruses. It was a modern Anglican  Church of Kenya   liturgy which I enjoyed. Still retaining some of the old favourites such as Cranmer's collects. The church is led by a very dynamic Kenyan lady vicar, who preached a six point sermon which was very practical and good..

Cecilia buying fruit from a roadside stall on the way back from church

After going back to the flat for lunch we went to a birthday party of one of Cecilia's friends. Which was a lovely occasion with an enormous Kenyan buffet. It was good to be warmly invited into another very friendly Kenyan family.

Then home to bed.

We arrive in Kenya

 We arrived in Kenya yesterday after a good overnight flight from Heathrow. We were very glad to be met by Simon and Cecilia at the airport. When we departed  the temperature was 1 deg C when we arrived the temperature was high twenties,  We drove back through the Nairobi rush hour which is infamous with matatu drivers dashing in and out of the traffic and street sellers wandering  in and out of the slow moving queues of traffic.
After a welcome cup of tea we went to a Asian trade exhibition. Then in the afternoon stretched our legs in a local walking track . Cecilia is an excellent Kenyan cook so we are being treated to lots of traditional Kenyan foods, we have had arrowroot a delicious snack. Beans and maize and green spinach type vegetables which is a Kenyan staple. Finished off with the most delicious Mangoes which are in season at present.  Then to an early bed to sleep off  the effects of the night flight.

We slept very well; this morning we went to view a new house which Simon and Cecilia are wanting to move to.after viewing they really liked the house. Then followed an African style negotiations with the landladies parents.
We returned to the flat for fresh corn cobs for lunch then in the afternoon went to a Safari Walk at the Nairobi wild life park. The walk is about a mile long around large enclosures which contain animals which the rangers have placed there, often ones that would not survive in the wild such as  an albino zebra

Albino zebra with normal animal

Cheetah with characteristic eye stripes 

Impala antelope

A warden took us off the path to see these very sleepy lions

      

A female Jackal