my big 3.oh!

I turned 30 with my foot in a cast, half a cast and badly mad as well. But I was still smiling anyway, I was in Nairobi with people I love and about to go on my first safari to indulge in some "Kenia- Romantik".

The first day whe pampered ourselves at the Nairobi Serena Hotel with massages and all sorts of body treatments including a 7 or 8 course meal at a wonderful seafood restaurant whose name I have unfortunately forgotten. I was full before the actual main course came and we had to take several smoke or just-walking-around breaks to make it all the way to desert which was served on special plates with Kenyan (or just made up to match our names or most prominent character features) proverbs written on it with chocolate sauce.   

 

The next day we were off to the Masai Mara with the flying Matatu Service of Air Kenya. When I first heard that we would go up and down at least 3 or 4 times before we arrived at our stop I wasn't amused at all and wanted to take the road instead. 

 

See the brave smile I put on as I was just ready to throw up in that 20 passenger machine. Miraculously everything calmed down and I spend the rest of the flight resting my head on Liz' shoulder only to occasionaly lift it up and pretend to enjoy the scenery - which was actually really spectacular....if only i hadnt had to concentrate so hard on keeping my lunch inside.

We landed at a perfect time to be driven through the Mara in the golden sunlight of the late afternoon. Our friends, the big 5 also didnt disappoint us. The first one was a lonely tusker cowboy who appeared at the horizon and walked with us for a while. The other big and small kings and queens of the jungle followed during the next game drives although there weren't tons as it wasn't the busy migration season. Good enough for us as we enjoyed the lush green scenery just as well. 

Back in the camp we were lodging in king size beds in cosy and luxurious quasi-tents. The South African couple running the site and the Masai proprietor saw to our full comfort and convenience - sometimes a little too much. However, when he sat with us in his traditional gear, his gigantic ear loops folded up and started to talk with Liz about the roughest  areas of Chicago, that was a memorable moment.

As were the spectacular sky, the sound of the rain and the colours of the Masai Mara. Unfortunately due to the political crisis tourism suffered a great deal in this area which is highly dependent on the revenues to keep the fragile balance between man and animal. so people: go to Kenya!! More to feed your appetite under more photos.