Amidst a lot of confusion , a lot of travel plans , a lot of heartburns , a lot of tearing my hair out & that of Shilpa & Krupali , we are atlast set to leave .
And since I am basically a nice person, and want you to learn from my experience, here is the low down !
A must before you leave is the Yellow Fever Vaccination ( which , you need to take atleast 10 days prior to your leaving & is valid for 10 years! ) . And for this, you either go to Ballard Estate or Airport for this. We went to Ballard Estate , since it is closer to home . Decide on the day you want to take the vaccination, say on a Wednesday.Then, send someone on Monday evening ( or go yrself) and write the names of all the people travelling, with their passport details , on a dilapitated piece of paper , which you will find stuck on the door of the office OR on Tuesday early morning, to find that the same piece of paper floating around the sea of human beings, who are packed liked sardines in the small confine (foyer) , with either the ones who have come to write their names or the ones with a Token number , waiting to get inside the office for the vaccination. Make sure you remember your no. on that list and also, that it is within 80 , since only 80 people are given a token.
Now, all the passengers with passport, have to go personally on Tuesday evening ( 4 pm), stand in a line as per their no. ( a que that takes forever to form and is always in a state of chaos & confusion, since , there is no one to guide you or help you with information) & wait their turn to be given a Token ( which is nothing but another no., according to the details written by the office bearers).
Next day , all passengers with passport & Rs.150/-( correct change), need to be there before office open, stand in the line meant for the lot who shall be given vaccination & then get inside a tiny room, door shut & no windows. A room which is just that wee bit extra claustrophobic, and for some strange reason, I thought to myself .......... this is how the Jews must have felt in the confines of a closed room, pure torture to say the least, especially if you are last in the list ( just to make this point crystal clear , Mom was one Bar away from Fainting & I thought I would die without Oxygen!!) ! And so make sure , you carry Water !!!
Considering, all that you go through , the vaccination by itself is piece of cake !!! Huh ... mayb thats why they make you go through all the initial distress !!!
And since I am basically a nice person, and want you to learn from my experience, here is the low down !
A must before you leave is the Yellow Fever Vaccination ( which , you need to take atleast 10 days prior to your leaving & is valid for 10 years! ) . And for this, you either go to Ballard Estate or Airport for this. We went to Ballard Estate , since it is closer to home . Decide on the day you want to take the vaccination, say on a Wednesday.Then, send someone on Monday evening ( or go yrself) and write the names of all the people travelling, with their passport details , on a dilapitated piece of paper , which you will find stuck on the door of the office OR on Tuesday early morning, to find that the same piece of paper floating around the sea of human beings, who are packed liked sardines in the small confine (foyer) , with either the ones who have come to write their names or the ones with a Token number , waiting to get inside the office for the vaccination. Make sure you remember your no. on that list and also, that it is within 80 , since only 80 people are given a token.
Now, all the passengers with passport, have to go personally on Tuesday evening ( 4 pm), stand in a line as per their no. ( a que that takes forever to form and is always in a state of chaos & confusion, since , there is no one to guide you or help you with information) & wait their turn to be given a Token ( which is nothing but another no., according to the details written by the office bearers).
Next day , all passengers with passport & Rs.150/-( correct change), need to be there before office open, stand in the line meant for the lot who shall be given vaccination & then get inside a tiny room, door shut & no windows. A room which is just that wee bit extra claustrophobic, and for some strange reason, I thought to myself .......... this is how the Jews must have felt in the confines of a closed room, pure torture to say the least, especially if you are last in the list ( just to make this point crystal clear , Mom was one Bar away from Fainting & I thought I would die without Oxygen!!) ! And so make sure , you carry Water !!!
Considering, all that you go through , the vaccination by itself is piece of cake !!! Huh ... mayb thats why they make you go through all the initial distress !!!
And itna saab karne ke baad , dont you dare forget to the original paper with you , which certifies this vaccination! :-)
If you are planning to make a trip during the migration time ( july-aug) , you should plan minimum a month in advance , to make sure you get a good rate & confirmed bookings , at the Lodges ( game safari) of your choice. Best is to plan Kenya & Tanzania together , else , one can do , either at a time , but one needs to plan the places of visit with care.( Keep watching this space for more on that!! :-).
If you are planning to make a trip during the migration time ( july-aug) , you should plan minimum a month in advance , to make sure you get a good rate & confirmed bookings , at the Lodges ( game safari) of your choice. Best is to plan Kenya & Tanzania together , else , one can do , either at a time , but one needs to plan the places of visit with care.( Keep watching this space for more on that!! :-).
And know this also , if you were to book on a non season time , the cost for a trip to this land would be way lower!!!!!
Try to use Cash ( Dollar) & Debit/Credit card , as much as possible. Easier to get exchange for Cash than for TC. More on this too later !
Sun tan lotion , basic everyday medication , good comfortable walking shoes , glares , should be a definite part of your baggage , apart form the rest, depending on the weather!!!
Try to use Cash ( Dollar) & Debit/Credit card , as much as possible. Easier to get exchange for Cash than for TC. More on this too later !
Sun tan lotion , basic everyday medication , good comfortable walking shoes , glares , should be a definite part of your baggage , apart form the rest, depending on the weather!!!
Time to take off , and expect the unexpected in the land of Kenya!!!
