Thurs 19th. Part of the deal with Bustan was that I got a free ride to the SGR Terminus from the apartment. That meant a shared taxi just after 06:00 which saved me 550ksh. No long queue this time at the train station….all very efficient the scans, the sniffer dogs…leaving me plenty of time for a cup of tea ( although I did burn my top lip slightly on the plastic lid) before the train departed promptly ay 08:00.
The 6 hour journey passes quickly enough. Lots of countryside to enjoy, and also game watching when passing alongside Tsavo. I saw lots of elephants this time, as well as zebra and gazelles. Chatting to Victor opposite me, helped pass the time. The Nairobi terminus is out of the City and one needs to catch the commuter train for a 45 minute ride to the old/original train station in Central Nbi. The buses to Karen ( I remembered it was no. 111 ) are not far from the station and I was soon on my way. I believe there is another/new bus stand now, near Uhuru Park….but that’s for another day. Very surprisingly there were only 2 of us on the bus for half the journey, and the bus never got full. A dual carriageway these days for much of the way to Karen so it was a quick trip.
Thurs-Sunday. I had a very pleasant stay with cousin Helen and aunt Elizabeth. I enjoyed my walks up to Karen dukas and the Hub shopping centre ( about 25-30 mins from the house). Helen played tennis one evening at a friend’s house and Dr Helen Richards who started the Kwale Eye hospital, was there. Dad used to go there for his macular degeneration and was one of the first patients…no. 100 and something I think…and Dr. Helen remembered him very well. Cousin Helen treated me to dinner at Karen Country club that evening. We were at Karen Country club again on Sunday as Helen was playing in a tennis doubles competition. I was invited to an amazing lunch; I drank copious bottles of beer. We ended up at one of the bars ( at the Club ) watching the two 2 football matches involving Liverpool and Manchester City which would decide who won the UK Premier league. Man City triumphed in the end. A great day out.
Mon 23rd. I took my time going into Nbi, knowing there shouldn’t be a problem catching a matatu to Naivasha. I didn’t expect the bus to take me up to the Ambassadeur htl, from where I had 10 minute walk to the matatu stage. Then I was surprised the fare was 200bob….the same as last year….considering the fuel price increases. 2 and a quarter hours and I was in Naivasha. Again, road improvements….3 lanes in each direction from just outside Nbi all the way to Limuru.
Peter had some shopping to do in Naivasha and we met up. He had to give me a lift as I bought a dozen cans of White Cap for the house !! But before that , I was trying to contact him, was walking and dialling and tripped on a small rock in the street and fell into muddy puddle. 2 people helped me up … of course I was carrying my rucksack… the lady took to me to her shop nearby and wiped the worst of it off with a wet piece of material. All my left leg and my crotch area…rather embarrassing.
23 – 26 Mon-Thurs. I hung out with Peter on the estate. Just relaxed. Looked at all the changes…there’s always something. Helped attach a TV to a beam going up a wall. Theodora was in Nbi. Fleur appeared on my last day. Peter showed me part of a Stage for the World Safari Championship which is only a 10 minute from the house. Would’ve been exciting to see it live and so close up, but I had to come back to the UK a week ago and the Rally is taking place imminently.
Fri 27th. Peter drove me into Naivasha. I met up with Evans ( who I knew from taveta) for a coffee and a chat, before I caught my matatu back to Nbi. Good trip but hit the Nbi traffic jams. Once I knew where I was I got out if the matatu and walked the 15 minutes to the Tom Mboya St & Moi Ave area of the city. The Ambassadeur htl room rate wouldn’t drop below 3,500, so I walked over to Sunway not expecting much, having stayed there a few times and seen it going progressively down hill.
Well, surprise surprise….it had been done up. Rooms for 1,500 or 2,000. ( I went for the 2,000..or 14pds no bfast ). But, hot water. And from the pipes and not brought up in buckets !!! I celebrated by going out for a cup of tea! I went to a safaricom shop and re-registered my sim card. I walked over to the Naekana stage at OTC and bought my ticket to Taveta for the following morning.
I went back to Sunway and to their new bar area. Much nicer than before….especially as the last time I was there, there was a copulating couple in the restaurant right in front of me. !!! There were lots of people in the bar…a good atmosphere…I drank a couple of beers and ate a few samosas before retiring upstairs to my room. A great afternoon and evening in Nbi….it helps if you know your way around, like any city. From Sunway it’s less than 10 minutes to Naekana stage and I was all set for my trip to Taveta.