Categories
Mombasa Nyali

ErinRose Back In Kenya

My girlfriend is here for her second visit.  She arrived on Friday and we spent this weekend on the North Coast Mombasa, about twenty minutes from my house.  On Saturday we went to Haller Park, a nearby rock quarry-turned-mini-zoo/park where injured/abandoned animals are taken as a kind of safe haven.  Here are some pictures:

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I think this creature is actually from another planet:

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The deadliest animals in Kenya: hippos!

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It’s hard to tell from the picture, but this bird was gigantic!

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On Sunday we went to the also-nearby Mamba Crocodile Village, where crocodiles are raised for their skin and meat.

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Read the sign in this next picture:

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Here’s a video of the feeding:

After watching the feeding we went up to the restaurant, where we were seated at the “Lovers Table.”  We waited for the sun to set before we started dinner, since while she is here ErinRose is joining me in fasting for Ramadan.  I ate crocodile steak while I looked down at the crocodiles below, thinking “Now who’s on top of the food chain!”  Then I wondered how many people get eaten here every year.  The fences didn’t inspire much confidence.

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Starting yesterday, ErinRose has been helping with my classes, which have been going well.  The younger kids are painting and the older kids are mostly reviewing stuff from last term.  Having a helper in the classroom is great, because I can split the class into groups.  The kids have been teaching her many signs, and they gave her one of her own, very similar to my sign name.

Our weekends may be very touristy, but since she’s staying with me here at school during the week, the Culture Immersion (the good and the bad) is unavoidable.  More adventures to follow…

Categories
Loitokitok

Pulling Feathers Out of a Dead Chicken

My latest culture shock that i knew was coming: watching my Kenyan momma slit a chickens throat. Watching the neck spasm around on its own was the worst (best?) part. I only plucked the feathers, but next time i might do the killing. Currently just waiting for the stew to finish so we can eat. Hopefully tonight i will be able to post more Loitokitok thoughts.

Categories
Loitokitok

Termites are yummy

Ate some yesterday.