The Election Week , 2nd – 5th Aug.

Referendum , Elections , major revamp in Constitution , Dual Citizenship , the works ………..  Kenya is ready for a Change !!!!

 

Be Safe than Sorry, take precautions and be at home.

 

And what couple of days its been. If I have not died laughing at Pannag's Dancing ( even Inder & Dad look better in comparison!! ) , it could be , Rinnie's acting skills & all the gossip of the locals , which would give Ekta Kapoor's serials a run for the money , or make Rinnie the next Shobha De , if she were to write a book on all the socials happenings here!!!! And , being taught the nitty gritty & tricks which will help us make some mullah , when we go to Casino Millionaire, Westgate!!! ;-)

 

Mom & I , have been on a fresh fruit Juice's and Avocado ( from the backyard tree , fresh as ever) eating Binge , as if it is going out of style!!! I can very well become a fruitarian!! J

 

To top that , it's been knocking back Tusker ( the local Beer) , and checking out the sweet White Wine!! And to be totally pampered by both Pannag & Rinnie , where Mom & I , are just eating , drinking , reading , watching movie's , sleeping anytime of the day …… ahhhhh … the perfect holiday!!!!!

 

Walking around the compound , going for short absolutely foresty green foliage scenic drives , Pannag's friends visiting , to moi learning a few key words of Swahili !!!

 

Angrez – Muzungu

Asians – Muindis

Locals – Wananchi

Similar sounding words which one had better be careful about!!:-)

Matata – Problem  ( Hakuna Matata : No Problem )

Matatu – Public vehicles

Matiti – Boobs!

 

Counting of Votes has begun , and we venture out to see the city & what the snake park at the National Museum is all about. But, by the time we reach , its shut , so , we walk around, browse through the 2 curio shops , one of them has some real interesting stuff & methinks , I shall for sure buy something soon from here !

 

And then,  it is Coffee time at the Savanna Café , overlooking the woodland , where I try the local coffee , Sasini , just right for my palate , loved it!

 

Its also trying out the local , angithi par sekka hua , Bhutta ( our very desi white corn & not the American sweet corn) & Cassava ( cousin of sweet potato). The fried & chips version of the Cassava is also neat !

 

It's typical Indian food from a place called , Chowpatty , which has the best Crisp Chilli Garlic Potato Fries!

 

This is Life!!!!!!!!

The Weekend of our Arrival!

You are lulled awake by the melodious orchestra of the chirpings of the variety of birds OR rudely woken up by the harsh rude and no respect for sound sleep walla crass sound of the smaller version of the Vulture in combination with the Crows too making their presence felt !!!!!! When I asked Rinnie , what this variety of Vulture were called , she thought about it & said, " Undertaker , or something as Morbid" , with a complete straight face !!!! And , I died laughing !!! J J J

The weather takes a turn & is all cloudy & cold, typical Delhi in Winters . This however does not obviate us from going out.

Its half day outing, first to the Temple & then The Village. I definitely have to spend an entire day here, to totally absorb the vibrant energy of this place , with its shopping, food, drinks, people …… just about everything !!

Now that I have seen both, The Village , Westgate & have to check the Masai Market , after that , my shopping list will be complete & buying shall start!! Yipeeee!!!

Since, our Arrival, as per Pannag's calendar was today ( 1^st Aug) , there is a lunch party lined up with his friend's family, Krishna, Rashmi & Shivangi. All of Saturday late night & Sunday morning goes in Rinnie organizing Our Welcome Lunch!!

The entire day, there shall be no electricity due to some local Maintenance, and with the weather being more than cloudy , we shall all enjoy a lovely candle lit lunch!!!! Adorable!

After we have pigged out on the food & guzzled on the Beer's ,we take off to visit the quaint , Victorian style , very British , Kentmere Club. What started out as a club is today a Country Inn. A place , which is a perfect ½ hour away , weekend getaway!!! The greenery gives you an extra dose of oxygen!! J

Highlights :

Rose , Rinnie's woman Friday , sings the original versions of Hakuna Matata aka No Problem, Jambo & the sweet melodious love song, Mallaika.

Rose, makes Saturday dinner, into a complete Native Kenyan fare, by making , Githeri (Beans, Corn & Potato dish) , Matoke ( raw Banana dish) , and plain rice! Yummmmmmyyyyyy!!

.

Rashmi , completely shocked to find Rinnie's sister in law , drinking BEER , So , Not Ladylike!!!! ROFL!!!! ;-)

30th July , Karibu Nairobi!!!

The Gods are Happy. Maya ne apna jaal faila diya hai! J

 

Deepali, who stayed back, made sure we reached the airport on time. The pouring, nahhhhhh , pelting humongous  droplets of rain, had stopped. An afterthought call to Rajesh, minutes before we reached the airport, and we breeze through the check in , with security & immigration , a piece of cake!!

 

Par kisiki nazaar lag gayi , shayad humari hi lag gayi hogi , sighhhhhhh!!!!! The flight is delayed by an hour , and we take off at 05.10am . So , its another cuppa coffee at The Coffee Bean. Trying to take a few photos at the airport , but cant coz I am asked not to ( wonder why????although I did manage to take 2 clear shots! ) . And , relieved  that Mom had double checked her hand luggage tag for the security stamp, which the security women had conveniently forgotten to do! If Mom, hadn't done that , we would have been made to scuttle , like quite a few of the passengers , back to the security for the stamp , just when one was ready to board the flight!!!!! ( ADVICE: Make sure the hand luggage tag is stamped at security , warna , wapas jana padega, last minute !!! Be it Domestic or International ) .

 

Slept through the entire 5 hour Kenyan airways flt , before we touched the Kenyan Soil !

 

Karibu aka Welcome, to Nairobi!

 

Took that 5 minutes to orient myself to the surroundings, and then it was , Fill the visa form , Go to the Visa on Arrival counter , to the Friendliest visa/ immigration Officer , till date! And lo behold , who do I see , while the process is on , Pannag !! My dear kid brother, has used his clout to welcome us all at the visa counter!!! J 

 

Jambo aka Hello, Habari aka How are you, Bombay Mausi …. Rinnie's  welcome to Mom with array of Roses & Rajnigandha. Our suitcases need to be checked by the customs people for gifts et all , and poor chaps , open the biggest and Fattest bag to find absolutely Nothing!!!

 

It's a super sunny day , that welcomes us at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.And with Rita's arrival , thoda bahut , hulchul hona , is a part & parcel of reality. So, we encounter a major traffic jam & 2 small time accidents !!!!! Thank you , Nairobi for an interesting welcome!!  ;-)

 

Rinnie & Pannag's , warm home takes us into its fold. A session with the Karaoke set , specially got , for some major Karaoke parties & improve Pannag's vocal cords & singing talent!!! Ahem!! And after that , it was a quick looksie at the small Kiosks , selling local artifacts ….  Bead jewellery , leather bags , local textiles, carvings ! ( my shopping list is getting ready!!)

 

We have done quite a bit on our first day at Nairobi , and it's time to catch up on some very required sleep, after a super dinner & knocking down a bottle of wine!!!

 

Highlight : My dear cousin was expecting us on Sunday , 1^st Aug & not on Friday,30^th Jul. Had I not messaged him that we were ready to leave & would meet him in a few hours , he would have been in a dreamworld of his own , with us waiting at the airport till he eventually came. And this would have meant, his elder sister aka Me, making sure he did 100 uthak baithaks for this goof up!!! Lol