Nice little walk across the beach and, no, it isn’t raining (yet).I’m enjoying the exercise and Agy’s having fun beachcombing.It amazes me what he sees.He picks up a piece of driftwood and declares it to be a squid.If you say so Agy. Back to base and time for a nice little read I think.Just seen in the paper that yesterday there was a 5 km queue of lorry traffic at Busia, the border town where we crossed into Uganda a few weeks ago.Apparently it was due to the fact that Kenya Revenue had issued instructions that vehicles must only be cleared using a computerised system, not manually.One snag, gadgets for the on-line system have yet to be installed – priceless. We’re going out to our little chicken shack, Kuku Choma, for dinner. Haven’t been there for a few weeks.We hope to see Mike and his side-kick Omar as we’d promised them a game of pool.Unfortunately they’re nowhere to be seen.As it’s Saturday night I think some of the guys have been on the local palm wine or something, they’re a bit spaced.Dodging the goats sleeping in the road, we return home. 25th June
I’m feeling a bit lethargic from too little exercise and too much good food so join in with the water aerobics.Mmmm, good work out but was I really ready for it? Back to the book, sun’s out and waves are rolling, delightful.Have you noticed that there’s been no mention of table tennis recently?Well, every time we try to have a game the table’s occupied so Agy has had a reprieve, for now (who am I trying to kid?).
26th June
No time to waste, we have to go into Malindi this morning to extend our visas.But first we need to pick up Kadenge, who’s in charge of the boardwalk renovations and take him to give the guys instructions at the Creek.Poor boys, it’s pouring with rain so they’re going to get soaked.Just leaving now and we’re flagged down by a couple of friends.They need a lift into Gede, just up the road to see the village chief.Oh, oh, boys, what have you been up to?Tribal laws dictate that if a dispute arises it is first taken to the clan chief to be settled amicably.If this can’t be done it has to go to the high court in Malindi.Hope they manage to work things out. We’re in Malindi now and the sun’s shining.Hope that’s a good sign for these visas.We’re just pulling up to a dilapidated looking building and ask if this is where we go.We’re told it is.It’s really dark and damp in here and I’m afraid that each stair we mount might crumble beneath us or, worse still, the ceiling cave in. This is surely not the right place.Let’s go downstairs again.We ask someone else and find that the correct office is a little further down the road. This is more like it and there’s a sign on the door saying “Immigration”.Things are looking up.“Hello, we’d like to extend our visas”.“How long for?”.“Another three months please.”“You’ve already been here for three months, surely you’ve seen all of Kenya by now.”We don’t quite know how to take this but then spot a twinkle in the officer’s eye, I think he’s joking.Anyway, we proceed with the paperwork.Apparently my (why is it always me?) passport was incorrectly stamped when we arrived at Nairobi airport as it doesn’t bear the initials of the airport but they say it should be ok.Now we have to complete Legal Alien forms.This is great fun as they need to take our fingerprints.We’ve never had to do this before, honest, it’s quite exciting.We emerge into the street with extended visas and black fingers.I think we escaped quite lightly considering. Now, I’m sure you’re anxious to know how the last game of table tennis went – well I’m afraid it didn’t.Never mind, it’s a laugh and it isn’t the winning that counts … or is it?
27th June
Our friend Vicky is keen to visit a local school so we’re taking her to Sonneti this morning.We arrive just before break time and take a peek inside the nursery classes.Each time we enter a room we are greeted by “Good morning visitor.The motto of our school is – Discipline is the foundation to success.”“Very good”, says Mangi “give yourselves a clap”.To which they all sit down and chant “Well done, well done me!”.Vicky and I are almost sharing handkerchiefs at this point, it’s so touching.We go to inspect the spotless girls’ dormitories and when we return to the yard it’s bursting into life with children.We catch up with Japhet and Julius and all the little ones are buzzing around us fighting to hold our hands.As ever it’s a very uplifting yet humbling experience
28th June
It’s 6.00 am and we’ve just been given an early-morning call for our trip to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest this morning.We’ve been meaning to do this for ages (ever since the last time 5 years ago to be precise) and now have two perfect excuses: 1. I’m typing up a report which includes a lot of technical forest information that I don’t understand, and 2. the entry fees will increase from an expensive $10 each to an extortionate $20 each as from Saturday. Anyway, we arrive just after 7.00 and Willy, the same guide as before, is there to greet us.He is the expert at tracking the rare Sokoke Scops Owl and we’re quite looking forward to seeing it.Driving through the forest we see that it is actually three types of forest rolled into one and all of those technical words I’ve been reading about are starting to make sense.I can now tell my mixed from my Brachystegia and my Cynometra – bet you’re impressed with that.
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Vicky at Sonneti academy
Arubuku Sokoke forest
The roads are pretty atrocious in places and Willy has to hack down a few branches that the elephants have trampled.
Anyway, owl time.We leave the car and march through some dense woodland.Willy stops us at a certain spot and points at the owls.At first we can’t see a thing and then suddenly realise that two of them are roosting just a couple of metres from where we’re standing.They’re the most beautiful, tiny little creatures and we spend a magical half an hour in their company.
We happily spend the rest of the morning in the forest and visit a tree platform, constructed by ASSETS, around a 750 year-old baobab tree
Willy and his gang, Spinetail Safaris (spinetailsafaris@yahoo.com) or visit the ASSETS website: www.assets-kenya.org) are brilliant. Before going back to base we have to see a man about some palm trees.They need to fell a few to make planks for the boardwalk.It should only take about 5 minutes so I tag along.TWO HOURS later and a trek through the back of beyond, including an incident where the fuel starts to leak out of the van due to a close encounter with a bit of coconut, business has been conducted and the palm trees are organised.We finally arrive home at 2.30 in the afternoon, a bit tired but it was all great fun.
Arubuku sokoke forest road
Willy removing elephant damaged bushes
the tiny Sokoke Scops Owl
the tiny Sokoke Scops Owl
me on a 700 yr old baobab tree
Arubuku Sokoke forest
29th June
I can hear those monkeys again.I’m sure they’re after my smalls. Look, there’s one of them and he has the nerve to look me in the eye. There’s going to be a blessing at the hotel today.A couple from Caerphilly, just next door to Agy’s home town of Cardiff, celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and are marking the occasion in this way.It’s a lovely ceremony with a choir and maasai dancers, oh Agy I want to do that too. 30th June
We have a morning meeting with Turtle Bay who are helping to organise an annual beach clean up on 8 July.It sounds extra interesting this year as Turtle Watch will be collecting plastic bottles and flip flops to send to Nairobi.These will be transformed into a giant replica of a whale, to be transported back to London as Kenya’s contribution to the protest against international whaling.Will let you know how it goes next week. Agy has gone back over to the creek and I’m bashing away at this report.I need a bit of exercise after lunch so take a walk up the beach for some fresh air.David, one of the beach boys, joins me and we have a good chat about life in general.We’ve been invited for drinks at a house up the road this evening.It’s a lovely place with the most fabulous view over the sea.As you can imagine, it’s giving us ideas.
Linda and Kevin, with their children Tom and Tegan
Linda and Kevin, with their children Tom and Tegan
