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Kenya 2018

setembro 2018
  • Ron's Odyssey
Part 3 of my African Odyssey Leia mais
  • Ron's Odyssey

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Departing Port Harcourt

    15 de setembro de 2018, Nigéria ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Was woken up by the alarm I set on my phone at 5:00am. Felt very lazy and didn’t get off the bed till 5:30am.

    Taxi to the airport arrived at 6:35am. Left the house at 7:06am after installing scrabble dictionary and Maiguard on Imaobong’s laptop which I plan to use on the trip. My old Sony laptop is no longer reliable and doesn’t come on most of the time. Arrived at the airport 30 minutes later.

    My Arik Air flight took off shortly after 9:00 am, arrived Lagos at 10:08 am. Had brunch at Bukha restaurant outside MMA2 before calling for a Taxify which took me to Citiheight.
    Took a short nap, showered and ordered late lunch at 4:30 pm. Checked out a few minutes after 6 pm, and took an Uber to the international airport, arriving before 7 pm. Check in was smooth and quick.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Arrived Mombasa, Kenya

    16 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Weather was chilly with temperature at 14 degrees. By 6:30 am I was already on the Visa queue having filled the Visa application form and Entry card provided in the hall. Que for those applying for Visa was very very long and I finally had my visa pasted in my passport at 7:50 am.

    Got my lone bag from the conveyor belt and proceeded to the exit of the airport stopping to change $100 to KsH 9,800. Found a Safricom kiosk just outside the airport exit door and bought a sim with 2GB data for Ksh 1,000. After which I proceeded to the domestic terminal just across the road from the international terminal. Checked into the Kenya Airways Mombasa flight which departed at 9 am and arrived at Mombasa after a 1 hr flight.

    Hailed an Uber to Voyager Beach Resort. Scenery to the resort wasn’t spectacular. Arrived at the resort a few minutes before noon. Lovely Ship themed resort, was welcomed at the gate by a security man who blew a trumpet to announce my arrival. Paid for half board accommodation which covers breakfast and dinner but breakfast was already over when I arrived, so I ate lunch which was a buffet charged to my room.

    Took a walk round the hotel taking in the lovely sights and met two interesting ladies. Came back to the room to catch up with sleep and later had dinner    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Fort Jesus & Old Mombasa Town Tour

    17 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Had breakfast then called an Uber to take me to Fort Jesus, a Portuguese fort built in the 16th century which was later captured by the Omanis. The fort is built to depict a man. It also doubles as a museum with lots of artifacts and pictures. Entrance fee for non-east Africans is Ksh 1,200 Our tour guide Aghakan offered to also do a tour of old Mombasa for us, so I extended his contract.

    Mombasa reminds me of Stone Town, Zanzibar. Same concept, narrow streets with similar doors and building design. A lot of the landmark buildings have been converted to residential houses with a wooden plaque on the wall for identification and brief history. Had Mutton Byriani, basically basmantic rice and goat meat. Was a nice meal in a restaurant by the sea overlooking English Point Hotel.

    After the tour we took a Matutu (keke) to City Mall, the largest shopping mall in Mombasa. Changed $200 at exchange rate of Ksh 98 per dollar. There was no supermarket in the mall so we strolled down to Nyali Centre which had a big supermarket called Naivas, where I bought drinks, snacks, mouth wash (the one I came with had poured in my suitcase). After buying stuff to stock up my fridge I took an Uber to the hotel, rested a bit and went to the restaurant for dinner at about 8:00 pm.

    There was a birthday cake procession by the restaurant staff. Later on some acrobats entertained us with pole climbing stunts which reminded me of a similar show by the Kenyans at last year’s Calabar carnival.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Visit to Pirate Beach

    18 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Peter the dreadlocks Uber driver responded to my taxi request, stating that he has problem receiving card payments as such would appreciate if I pay cash for the trip. I agreed with the proviso that it will be the same Uber rate. So off we went. First destination was to Mombasa SGR Terminus, the new train station for the standard guage rail. A magnificent structure built by the Chinese. I bought a 1st class ticket for Saturday to Nairobi.

    From the train station we proceeded to Uhuru Gardens location of the famous Mombasa Tusk erected in 1956 to commemorate the visit of Princess Margarete to Mombasa.

    After snapping some memorable pictures at the most famous tusk, Peter took me to Pirates Beach which is the most famous public beach in Mombasa. We went to the cordoned off Pirates Beach Restaurant & Bar for a Byriani lunch and beer and away from the numerous aggressive hustlers on the beach trying to sell me stuff.

    Pirates beach is lovely with lots of people and one can wade into the water a long distance from shore before getting to the deep part. There were camel rides for offer.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Safari to Tsavo East National Park

    19 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Woke up at 4:30 am to get ready for may safari to Tsavo East national park. Tsavo National park is made up of two sections east & west separated by the Mombasa – Nairobi highway and railway. Tsavo is well known for the man eating lions which carted away several Indian laborers during the construction of the railway tracks over a hundred years ago.

    The tour driver/guide was at the hotel at 5:30 am, we left for the trip 10 mins later. The drive down to the park was very long and slow, due to the single lane road which happens to be the same road linking Mombasa with Nairobi coupled with the numerous trucks transporting goods out of Mombasa which happens to be the port city of Kenya. We had a brief stop over at a souvenir shop close to the park. We finally got to the gate of the park at about 8:39 am which was roughly 3 hrs from when we set off from the hotel.

    The game drive commenced soon after the driver paid the park entry fee. The first creatures to welcome us were Elephants, we eventually saw Zebras, Giraffes, lions, buffalo, antelopes etc during the long game drive. At noon we arrived at Sentrim Tsavo East tent camp where we had lunch.

    The tent camp is relatively luxurious as each tent is constructed on a cemented base with a half wall from which the canvas is attached to complete the tent. It has ensuite toilet and bathroom, TVs, and electric point. The camp is surrounded by an electric fence as it is located right in the middle of the park with wild animals all around it.

    The rice was hard and half cooked ruining the meal. I had to switch to boiled potatoes. The lunch was covered in the safari fee but not the drinks.

    After lunch we resumed the game drive seeing more of the animals we have previously come across. One animal we found so much of were elephants, they practically ruled the park. We eventually exited the park at 3 pm for the long drive back to Mombasa.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Shopping for Gifts

    20 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Visited City Mall to change $200 and then stopped over at the Maasai Market which holds at the malls car park on Wednesdays & Thursdays to buy traditional tops and slippers. I also did a bit of shopping for office shirts and a new pair of jeans at the mall.

    Took a walk to Nyali centre hoping to find a restaurant to eat lunch in but alas none. It rained while I was there. I eventually called for an Uber back to the hotel to drop my purchases before heading off by Uber to Nyali Cinemax to watch the new Predator movie in 3D. The cinema hall is very good, acoustic excellent. Each chair had a seat number which is indicated on the ticket. Just before the movie started after the long advert, I noticed everyone in the cinema standing up, I also joined them in standing up when I realized I was the only one seated and lo and behold it was for the Kenyan National Anthem. I enjoyed the movie. Took and Uber back to the hotel.

    Took a very long walk down the beach, discovered the Reef Bar & Restaurant by the beach which I hope to visit tomorrow for launch.

    A Maasai cultural group put up a very good show. Gave my phone to one of the guest to snap a pic of my with the group but the guest fumbled and I discovered later he didn’t snap any picture. Meet up for Nyoma Choma and drinks leaving back for the hotel after midnight.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Lazy Day

    21 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Had initially planned to take a trip to Malindi, see the Gedi ruins today later changing to a visit to Diani beach, but the hassle (ferry crossing, 2hr trip) and cost (costing Ksh 5,000 one way on uber) was just too much just to see Diani beach. So I decided to spend this last day enjoying my Voyager resort.

    Woke up at 9:23am changed without bathing to catch breakfast before it winds up at 10am. Came back and took another short nap.

    Left the Resort in the afternoon hoping to have lunch at the beach bar & restaurant I identified yesterday. As I walked along the beach I noticed that the tides had risen so much making it impassable, so I diverted and tried to walk through the hotels and resorts by the beach but met a fence and had to exit through one of the resorts onto the main road. Changed my mind and went to Maasai Restaurant for lunch. Was craving swallow and soup so I improvised by asking for vegetables, mashed potatoes and Nyoma Choma. Was shocked when the vegetable turned out to be a bowl of vegetable salad. Fortunately, the Nyoma came with some tomatoes sauce.

    The A-Team put on an incredible acrobatic / dance show at 9:00pm.

    Left for Anuba night club at Nyali centre after the show, spent about an hour before transferring to Hypnotica club in the same centre which had better music with a younger and more vibrant crowd. Naija songs are quite popular in Kenya. I finally left the club at 3am with an Uber back to the resort while some guest were just arriving.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Train to Nairobi

    22 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Woke up early to pack my suitcase, had breakfast, checked out (10:23 am) of the resort, paying for drinks and the lunch I had on the first day as my booking was on half board (breakfast & dinner inclusive) but no drinks. Since my train departs Mombasa at 3:15 pm I had a lot of time to burn, so I dropped my suitcase with the porter and went to seat by the beach, enjoying the cool breeze till about 1:00 pm when I called an Uber to take me to the Mombasa SGR Terminus.

    The terminus looks like an airport, security is tight, with dogs sniffing luggage and another check at the entrance into the building. Since I bought a 1st class ticket I was allowed to take the list to the 1st class waiting lounge to wait until called to board.
    Train departed promptly at 3:15 pm, ate lunch in the train restaurant. Passed through Tsavo park. Beautiful scenery along the route. Being an express train we didn’t stop until we arrived at Nairobi at 8:14 pm. Took a taxi to the hotel paying Ksh 1,000. Checked in and then called an Uber to K1 club for dinner. Very few customers at K1. Returned back to the hotel shortly after mid night.    Leia mais

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  • Ron's OdysseyViajanteKenya 2018

    Exploring Nairobi & Carnivore Dinner

    23 de setembro de 2018, Quênia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Had a nice breakfast in the Hotel to start the day with. Called up my trusted navigator, google maps and commanded it to plot a path to Nairobi Railway Musuem for me. Destination acquired to arrive in 27mins on foot, so I set out immediately wearing my travel jacket as Nairobi is very chilly, was 18 degrees previous day.

    The walk took me through the CBD business area as my hotel Best Western Meridien Plus is located in downtown Nairobi. Nairobi was surprisingly full of pedestrians on a Sunday. Saw quite a number of phone shops and restaurants open. Came across the 7th August memorial built in the memory of those who died in the twin attack against US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-salaam by Arab militants sponsored by Osama Bin Laden. It is made up of a small garden and an equally small museum. A documentary of the attack was shown in the museum, with artifacts of victims along with pictures and newspaper articles on the attack. Spent less than 30mins before continuing on my walk to the railway museum.

    Railway museum had a collection of old colonial railway artifacts, along with pictures and history of how the railway line was built starting from Mombasa all the way to Kampala in Uganda. Several locomotive engines and coaches were also on display in the adjacent railway yard. I spent roughly an hour in the museum before calling an Uber to take me to the largest and very modern Two River mall. Trip down to the mall passed through the exclusive estate where the embassies are located as well as the very rich in Nairobi.

    Two Rivers Mall is a massive structure with lots of parking space, water park and store spaces, half of which are yet to be occupied. Had burger for launch, changed $100, bought some chocolates and generally looked round the mall before returning back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

    Dinner was at the world famous Carnivore restaurant where I ate different types of exotic meat. As long as my flag was up the chefs kept coming with different meat and cutting them into my plate. It was a delicious meal.    Leia mais

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