A problem seems to be occurring with the online photo link - and I don't have time to change it! Well the connection is soooooo slow!
So here is a link that should get you to the photos!!
http://www.panoramio.com/user/793436
Wednesday 29 August 2007
From Nairobi!
Well, I arrived safely after a long journey with a stopover in Dubai. This is a very grand airport - but many people have long waits and sleep until it is time for their next flight!
We were met at the airport by Noel. He is training to be a Missionary of Africa and comes from Burkina Faso. We came to the Formation House of the Missionaries and had a welcome cup of Kenya tea before going to Our Lady Queen of Peace, South-B, Nairobi for the ordination. We knew we would not see all of it - but arrived just as the new deacons shared the kiss of peace with their priests, brothers and godparents. Pam was Anselme's godmother and then went to take part in the Presentation of Gifts. The procession was very long as not only bread and wine were brought forward but also baskets of food. They were accompanied by girls dancing and very lively music. The songs and readings were in different languages as the deacons come from different countries - including Burkina Faso, India and Ethiopia. We didn't take photos in the service but others managed to take some so we hope to have some to share and some photos of the gathering after are on our panoramio pages (see "online photos" link)
We were invited to the party afterwards where there was wonderful food, music and dancing. There were 400 people there - a lot of cooking! Liz came on a bit later having travelled up from Taveta in a taxi and bus from Voi to Nairobi. We were invited to stay at Msola which is the convent of the White Sisters - part of the Missionaries of Africa family. Sr Marcelle has invited us to make the convent our base which is wonderful as we haven't had to carry everything with us. It is like a home from home and we have been made most welcome. In fact, we are being spoilt with all the hospitality and kindness that we have received!
After a night's sleep, we prepared for our first big adventure - the safari to the Maasai Mara. The photos are very big files so for now please see the ones on panoramio... see the link on the side.
The Maasai Mara was amazing! We had expected to see a few animals but saw thousands. We caught the migration of the wildebeest who come every year from Tanzania to Kenya - the migration lines stretched for miles! We saw zebra, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, different kinds of gazelle, lion, cheetah, monkeys, hippo and crocodiles as well as bird like vultures!
Our first night was spent in a camp near to a Maasai village. They showed us something of their culture - their homes - how they made fire - and how they tended their animals.
We were met at the airport by Noel. He is training to be a Missionary of Africa and comes from Burkina Faso. We came to the Formation House of the Missionaries and had a welcome cup of Kenya tea before going to Our Lady Queen of Peace, South-B, Nairobi for the ordination. We knew we would not see all of it - but arrived just as the new deacons shared the kiss of peace with their priests, brothers and godparents. Pam was Anselme's godmother and then went to take part in the Presentation of Gifts. The procession was very long as not only bread and wine were brought forward but also baskets of food. They were accompanied by girls dancing and very lively music. The songs and readings were in different languages as the deacons come from different countries - including Burkina Faso, India and Ethiopia. We didn't take photos in the service but others managed to take some so we hope to have some to share and some photos of the gathering after are on our panoramio pages (see "online photos" link)
We were invited to the party afterwards where there was wonderful food, music and dancing. There were 400 people there - a lot of cooking! Liz came on a bit later having travelled up from Taveta in a taxi and bus from Voi to Nairobi. We were invited to stay at Msola which is the convent of the White Sisters - part of the Missionaries of Africa family. Sr Marcelle has invited us to make the convent our base which is wonderful as we haven't had to carry everything with us. It is like a home from home and we have been made most welcome. In fact, we are being spoilt with all the hospitality and kindness that we have received!
After a night's sleep, we prepared for our first big adventure - the safari to the Maasai Mara. The photos are very big files so for now please see the ones on panoramio... see the link on the side.
The Maasai Mara was amazing! We had expected to see a few animals but saw thousands. We caught the migration of the wildebeest who come every year from Tanzania to Kenya - the migration lines stretched for miles! We saw zebra, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, different kinds of gazelle, lion, cheetah, monkeys, hippo and crocodiles as well as bird like vultures!Our first night was spent in a camp near to a Maasai village. They showed us something of their culture - their homes - how they made fire - and how they tended their animals.
The camp was very simple - but had proper beds and the "tent" had a thatched roof - again there's a picture on the photo site.
We had a full day game drive and our driver, Simon, was excellent at knowing where to find animals. It was amazing how unbothered the animals seemed to be - as if the many safari vans were just part of the landscape... the lions hardly bothered to notice them - though we suspect if we had been outside the van they might have done!
Our second night was at Keekorock - a lodge in the park. It was very luxurious. There was a hippo pool very close by and we were warned that the hippos came out in the night. This turned out to be true as Anselme was warned he needed a guard to go back to his lodge after supper! Just as well as when he got there, there was a hippo standing close by!
The next morning we had an early start to go for a game drive at 6.30a.m! We were fortunate enough to come across two lionesses stalking a wildebeest which had become separated from the herd. Fortunately, we did not see a kill - but the hunting was very impressive... the lionesses so calm and majestic as they stalked their prey.
We arrived back in Nairobi last night and went into the city today where we arranged a trek to Mt Kenya tomorrow. This will take about 4 days. We got to Nanyuki tomorrow - on the Equator. Then take the Sirimion route... stay at Old Moses camp Friday night (3300m) and at Shiptons Camp on Saturday - round the mountain (not going to Pt Lenana) as we want to look at lakes and vegetation for Liz's research and then back down the Chogoria route through rainforest. We've had a sudden worry about whether the guide Nicholas is Kenya Wildlife Service registered - but he seemed knowledgeable and to understand what we want... butif he isn't we will need to think again!
The connections are very slow here but hopefully, the photos and today's blog will give you an idea of our trip so far! We are back on Monday - but have busy days then... but, hopefully, a few lines now and then when we can!
We had a full day game drive and our driver, Simon, was excellent at knowing where to find animals. It was amazing how unbothered the animals seemed to be - as if the many safari vans were just part of the landscape... the lions hardly bothered to notice them - though we suspect if we had been outside the van they might have done!
Our second night was at Keekorock - a lodge in the park. It was very luxurious. There was a hippo pool very close by and we were warned that the hippos came out in the night. This turned out to be true as Anselme was warned he needed a guard to go back to his lodge after supper! Just as well as when he got there, there was a hippo standing close by!
The next morning we had an early start to go for a game drive at 6.30a.m! We were fortunate enough to come across two lionesses stalking a wildebeest which had become separated from the herd. Fortunately, we did not see a kill - but the hunting was very impressive... the lionesses so calm and majestic as they stalked their prey.
We arrived back in Nairobi last night and went into the city today where we arranged a trek to Mt Kenya tomorrow. This will take about 4 days. We got to Nanyuki tomorrow - on the Equator. Then take the Sirimion route... stay at Old Moses camp Friday night (3300m) and at Shiptons Camp on Saturday - round the mountain (not going to Pt Lenana) as we want to look at lakes and vegetation for Liz's research and then back down the Chogoria route through rainforest. We've had a sudden worry about whether the guide Nicholas is Kenya Wildlife Service registered - but he seemed knowledgeable and to understand what we want... butif he isn't we will need to think again!
The connections are very slow here but hopefully, the photos and today's blog will give you an idea of our trip so far! We are back on Monday - but have busy days then... but, hopefully, a few lines now and then when we can!
Friday 24 August 2007
On the way!
Well - here we are - packed and ready to go!
Let's hope the M3 - M25 and M4 are quiet!
See you from Kenya!!
Wednesday 22 August 2007
ELizabeth arrives at Challa
Received a text from Elizabeth (see below) to say that she has arrived safely at Lake Challa and can see Mount Kilimanjaro.
All the news for now - but in the right place so all sounds good!
All the news for now - but in the right place so all sounds good!
Monday 20 August 2007
Sorting out the online photos
We have set up an account on Panoramio - www.panoramio.com - which has links with Google Earth. So far we have only uploaded a test photo (of snow at the Grand Canyon). There is a link to our photos here: http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=793436 and in our links section.
There are superb photos on the website - well worth a browse. You can even type in your own place name and see what photographs are there of your locality!
There are superb photos on the website - well worth a browse. You can even type in your own place name and see what photographs are there of your locality!
Sunday 19 August 2007
Getting Ready for Kenya
My first big journey is to Kenya!
Elizabeth (Liz as she is usually called) has gone out to Nairobi already. She is attending a summer school at the University and on Tuesday morning is giving a presentation on: "Isotopes in biogenic silica: methodology and applications". This is part of her PhD work where she is looking at a core from Lake Challa and seeing what it can tell us about how the lake and its environment has changed over thousands of years. On Wednesday, she travels to Lake Challa which is near Mount Kilimanjaro. She will collect samples which will help her work when she gets back to Lancaster.
We heard yesterday that she got there safely and today she met up with someone else attending the summer school and had a look round Nairobi.
Kathryn and I go out to Nairobi on Friday 24th. We will arrive on Saturday meet up with a new deacon Anselme and Pamela and Margaret who are also from England. On Sunday, we plan to go to the Maasai Mara to see the animals there! After that - we hope to get to Mount Kenya and to the coast...
When we can, we will upload photos here - and are investigating a site that puts them on a map so you can see where they were taken. More news on that if we get it to work!
Elizabeth (Liz as she is usually called) has gone out to Nairobi already. She is attending a summer school at the University and on Tuesday morning is giving a presentation on: "Isotopes in biogenic silica: methodology and applications". This is part of her PhD work where she is looking at a core from Lake Challa and seeing what it can tell us about how the lake and its environment has changed over thousands of years. On Wednesday, she travels to Lake Challa which is near Mount Kilimanjaro. She will collect samples which will help her work when she gets back to Lancaster.
We heard yesterday that she got there safely and today she met up with someone else attending the summer school and had a look round Nairobi.
Kathryn and I go out to Nairobi on Friday 24th. We will arrive on Saturday meet up with a new deacon Anselme and Pamela and Margaret who are also from England. On Sunday, we plan to go to the Maasai Mara to see the animals there! After that - we hope to get to Mount Kenya and to the coast...
When we can, we will upload photos here - and are investigating a site that puts them on a map so you can see where they were taken. More news on that if we get it to work!
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