Sparring elephants
So one thing I have learned during my time here in Kenya, is that most things are done on Kenyan time. Time wchedules are nice guidelines but are not hard and fast. I have yet to see anyone in a rush. If you are leaving at 8:30 am, you will be leaving in the morning. So anytime between 8:30 and 10:30. You just learn to go with the flow.
Yup a funky colourful bird of sorts
Another thing I notice in Nairobi is that most people dress very well. The men are at a minimum wearing dress pants and button down shirts, often suits. They look very sharp. The interesting contrast is that given the many roads that are under construction or in terrible shape, and given the general unfinished quality of most public areas, people are often navigating their way through puddles, piles of mud and debris. I don’t know how they keep so clean.
Don't mess with these females
Things in general in Kenya are cheap. For example, $1CAD = ~ 85 Kenyan Shillings, however everyone goes by the general exchange rate of 80 KS for $1 USD. A glass of wine can be 150 KS. I bought lunch for Dickson, Kate and myself and it was 2,000 KS or approximately $25 USD. My hotel was 4,200 KS or about $55 USD. So one would think it would be cheap. But as a white woman alone here (and this truly is the key) to feel safe, I have someone to drive me everywhere because it would be difficult and perhaps a little chancey for me to take their Matatus (van buses). I have not seen white people using the local services. Also Safaris (hey is that correct or should it be Safarii??) are not cheap – $150 USD / day was my cost – although I later found out that a person doing the same trip as me was only paying $110 USD/day. Gotta learn to barter. So you pay for transport and activity and safety.
Female ostrich taking a break
Certainly food and other purchaseable items are cheap, but Africa is one of my more expensive destinations. It is a wonderful experience, but that is why I am keeping the visit to 2 weeks.
I think you can do things more cheaply if you are a man and secondly if you travel as more than one – strength and safety in numbers. Perhaps I could have done tings cheaper, but as a woman on my own, I do what I want/have to do to feel relatively safe. I certainly do things outside of my comfort zone, but I do have my limits.
Picture perfect
Glad you are being careful although travelling alone is a risk in itself. What a wonderful experience you are having as every country is so different. How do they keep themselves so clean and is it not very hot for men to wear suits all the time?
I do not know why they would even want to wear suits all the time but they look very dapper. Nairobi was not as hot as you would expect. also they are used to their weather and often wear way more clothes than I could imagine.