So after a 10km ride in a matatu (minibus) that seats 15 but easily fits 35 I have accessed the internet. It’s costing a little less than $1 per minute. Get this…for someone to clean your house and wash your clothes for about 4 hours will cost you $4. And to have a live in maid costs $50 per month. Don’t worry Kathy, I’ve already packed one.
Have been in Nairobi for one week – just did one day trip to Nyeri about 200km away where a 1/4 acre costs $8,000. It was very beautiful, highland tropics where most of the food for Nairobi comes from. Went to the pub in Nyeri where there was a butcher shop literally inside the pub and while your throwing back beers you have them roast meat (Nyama Choma) for you for afternoon smoko. But its not a leg or a shoulder, its the ribs so everybody gets to gnaw on the bone – brilliant idea. I will suggest it to the Pier.
So, I expected Nairobi to have poverty, rubbish and traffic. And it does.
What I didn’t expect was to be going into areas where you are the only Mzungo (white skin person) thats been there for weeks/months/years. And they love to practice their english…”Hey Mzungo, I love you, buy me spaghetti”. And the kids get excited. “Mzungo, Mzungo” they yell from inside the school fence.
The food is beautiful – ugali, meat, meat, meat, veg, chipati. Not spicy but very tasty. Most people have just two meals a day – breaky and dinner.
Am heading tonight to Mombasa on the bus. Will be there for 4 days.
Sawa sawa (ok ok). Hakuna matata (no problems). Hakuna matako (no buttocks).
Seeya.
