Africa/everything and so much more.

Let me first say "holy moly!!!!!!". Africa is living up to all my expectations and more. My estimation of getting internet is true. it's not that there's no internet, it's just with our itinerary, there's just no way to stop for it. I will have to now try and summarize over a weeks of adventure on a rather crappy keyboard. forgive my lack of capital letters at times, because that button is especially bad. After many, many hours of flying and being a zombie at the amsterdam airport, i arrived in nairobi to spend about 2 days with my friend wambu's family. she is from kenya and her family lives on the outskirts of nairobi. Forgive me wambu, because i can't quite remember your family's kikuyu names (her tribe) so i will refer to them as their relation to you. Essentially, i was treated to a wonderful kenyan experience by her family and especially her brother who showed me around. I was overfed cuisine such as beef stirfry, beans, rice, fruit. I have managed to probably gain weight so far. We perused a fruit market where one of the woman wanted me to take her back to the us. mangos, bananas, passionfruit, bananas, potatoes, etc abound. The market was in a small town close to their home, and i felt part rock star/ part leper as i walked around the streets as the only "mizungu" or white person. A term that is more observation then insult. People tend to stare or wave, but all very friendly. Most kenyans speak both english and kiswahili and also there native language, so looking around is not as foreign as one would think because many things are in english. we also went to a really western mall where our car was searched for bombs. ever since the embassy bombing in 1998, security around anything that might have tourists, is really high. That being said, i must say that i have felt very secure while i have been here. For dinner on friday, i was treated to roasted goat. Wish i could remember the names of these things, but don't have my notes. we went to a outside restaurant and picked a piece of goat which they proceeded to cut to size right in front of us. then after a variety of kenyan beers (tasker, white cap, pilsner- strangely enough, i can remember the names of beer) which were all very good, we chowed down on the roasted meat which is chopped in small pieces and eaten with your hands with a little salt, some ugali which is a rice or maize based dish similar to polenta or a dry cream of wheat. there was also a spinach based/rice dish that was very good. By the way, my friend wambu's family is incredible. all very nice and friendly. her sister showed me around their home which is a modest home with a few goats/pigs/cows in a jungle like environment with beautiful views from a hill top. we checked out the rock quarry which they used to mine gems, but now cut out rock for building homes. no electric tools here, folks. everything is mallets/chisels and manpower. so amazing how easy we have things. Finally on saturday night, i was taken to a music/dance club where we listened to live Kikuyu music and i danced with her sister, sister in law and brother. Believe it or not, though i think they were being polite, i danced well for a "mizungu" and had the kikuyu rhythm in my bones. i think it was all the kenyan beer. the music itself reminded me a little of caribbean/reggae music. it was good fun. then we proceeded to a more modern club listening to modern music like hip hop/rock, etc. it felt surreal to be listening to Green Day who is from berkeley, ca when i was on the other side of the world/hemisphere. On sunday, met up with the tour group at 6am which is a typical start for us. the group is led by olly and izzie both young brits around 26 who have an insane amount of responsibility leading us around the country, fixing the truck, haggling with vendors, trying to avoid international incidents. our cook who is much much more than that is Patrick, who is actually a local guy who makes us great grub and provides us with many a laugh. of note, because i may have to stop soon, last night while we were doing some safari stuff he was at camp where he was fixing dinner and was approached first by a wart hog and then soon after by 3 lions. he was only about 50 feet away where the lions decided to plop down for 30minutes and rest after an unsuccesful attempt to get the warthog. When we came back about 5 minutes after they left, he had two large kitchen knives in his hands and jumped on the bus in pure terror. He was fine but we were all a little shaken up, but with all the noise we make and the presence of our big ol truck, the lions were not going to come back. We were however visited by a family of hippos at around 10pm under a full moon. someone saw them when they were brushing their teeth and we cautiously watched them from about 70 feet away as they casually munched on grass. it was a truly special experience. By the way, we are currently in Kabale, uganda. Uganda is a lush, beautiful country. I will have to pop off soon, because we are off to drive again, but will try to type more tonight. love all of you. this is a trip of a lifetime and i recommend each and everyone to experience africa.