January 16, 2015

January 16, 2015 Early morning for Lynda and I.....long night for Gail and Darlene! This morning L and I discovered 4 notes that had been slid under our door during the night. All four were from D and G and gave us a running itinerary of their adventures. From midnight yoga to 2:00 a.m tea they filled the entire sleepless night with fun and laughter. They freely admit they would have preferred sleep but it eluded them all night long! Breakfast was served at 5:00 by our private staff in our private dining room. Even though we had requested a light menu (staff don't usually begin till 6:00) they prepared the entire buffet just for the four of us! By 5:30 we were back in the van with Coleman and Mork and en route to the airport for our flight to Arusha. We learned that Nairobi is home to 4 million people and that Kenya projects they will pass the 44 million population mark by mid 2015. There are a lot of people here and I think we saw most of them on our way to the airport. There were couples kissing good night (or good morning), men and women walking to work (they walk on average 10 km each way to work), people walking to the airport hauling their bags (again...at least 10 km), and lots of cars!!! Most people start work here at 8:00 but they have to be on the road by 6:00 to get there in time because of the traffic. On the way to the airport we passed a rustic fenced building site. It is the site of what will be a massive security check where vehicles will drive through a giant X-ray machine thereby eliminating the need for the manned security site we had to pass through. Even so early in the morning there were chaotic lines of vehicles and people on foot trying to get through the check point. Many had to get out of cars for a physical search of their person. Lynda volunteered if the police decided we were to be searched but alas...she missed out on that experience. Needless to say Mork and Coleman spent the entire journey to the airport in stitches and both told us they were so jealous of our guides in Tanzania as they would love to spend 10 days with us! Sweet talking boys! Sitting at our gate awaiting 8:30 departure with sun shining in the windows and a baobab tree in our line of vision. Yep....we're in Africa! .....next stop Tanzania...... We've arrived at our accommodation in Arusha and are sooooo happy with it. Moivaro Coffee Plantation is made up of the main reception and dining room, cabins set in secluded natural surroundings around the pool (we are in numbers 14 and 15), a small gift shop, and a sign pointing down a path through the jungle that says Massage! We are pretty sure we're gonna LOVE it here!!! Our room is absolutely beautiful and spotlessly clean with every attention to detail considered. Two single beds are strewn with bougainvillea petals, a mosquito net is tied up to be dropped at night, a corner fireplace with sticks at the ready for anyone who feels chilly, and well......it is simply perfect! Flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro was quick (45 mins) but they had time to serve a snack on board. service and smiles are abundant in Africa! Driver/Guide from this point forward is Victor. He met us at the airport and brought us the hour drive from there to here. Along the way we learned that he grew up in a tiny village (approx 800 people) about 5 km from the airport. The Masai shepherds we saw along the drive were likely 3-10 km from their home base (where the children and elders stay while the 12 + year olds are out with the herds). They are semi nomadic and move with the seasons/weather. We passed bananas and brick makers (they use dirt from the termite mounds to make the bricks so basically they are termite spit bricks), furniture stores (not a store as we know it as all the furniture is outside by the roadway for display), women with bundles on their head, rice fields, children carrying bundles of what is left after the rice is taken from the stalk to give to their cattle, donkeys carrying jugs of water, restaurants, car washes, and people....lots of people. It is all so familiar and yet so different. Everyone seems to work hard even though they may not move too quickly. Farmers plough fields by hand, everyone has to haul whatever water they need (there is no water system for most of the region we came through). Buildings have tin roofs so they can catch any rain water that may fall and everyone is aware of the value of that liquid gold. Tanzanite is also mined in this region (between Kilimanjaro and Mt. Menna (not sure that name is spelled right). Tanzanite is sometimes called blue diamonds and is said to be 1000 times more difficult to find than diamonds are! The final leg of our drive took us off the main road and onto a dirt track where Victor announced we were now going to experience our first African Massage (bumpy roads!!). Upon arrival we were met by several staff, served a welcome drink, and invited to sit on the patio to recover from our journey. Again.....service and smiles are abundant! Not yet noon and already I have a full blog post! It's been a busy day. Lunch is a 3 course meal and served between 12-3 with dinner a 4 course meal between 7 and 10 pm so I have time to join the rest of my crew for a dip in the pool before going for a bite to eat. ......till later....... I'm back....jeez.....this is a blogging kinda day! We have just finished lunch (which was delicious btw) and it was the table conversation that I think I need to share. It turns out that last night (or perhaps it was this morning) Gail was pushing drugs on Darlene and it took all Darlene's strength to withstand the peer pressure but she was able to hold strong and say "no" to drugs! Good girl Darlene....don't let that bad girl Gail lead you astray! LOL. Now,that you're all wondering and laughing....it was adivan that Gail had so nothing illegal.....don't worry....we won't be going to jail. Well....not for that anyway. We might be in trouble for all the ruckus Gail causes though! Upon receiving our bill for the drinks we had at lunch we discovered that Gail's order of vodka cranberry turned into a shot of vodka, a shot of drambui, and watermelon juice. Joshua (our server) has now had a lesson on what cranberry juice is. We've met our travel mates. Kevin and Norm are from Kelowna. They just got back from shopping in town for a gemstone for Kevin's fiancée. Lucky girl from the description Kevin just shared! BBQ for dinner tonight so the staff are setting up out on the lawns. Gorgeous spot! That's it for me today! Safari begins in earnest tomorrow so tonight after BBQ and malaria meds it will be straight to bed for this African Queen. Yep....I'm feeling pretty Royal today. LOL Darlorlynga