So after getting the visa for Kenya I headed with my new hustler friend to change money (73 KSH for 1USD, 5.5KSH for 1 Birr) and find the truck which will take me into Kenya. Paid 2000 KSH (about 29 USD) to sit in the cabin of the truck from Moyale to Nairobi (about 1000 KM, supposedly 24 hours). Started out towards Marsabit with Amy and Matt, 2 english friends in the truck with me. This road is supposed to be very dangerous due to bandits operating from Somalia, mostly because of the drought in the northern part of Kenya. The officer at the border told me there were no recent attacks (LIE!) so I took the truck. We thought the worst past was Moyale-Marsabit, about the first 8 hours of driving. We arrived in Marsabit under heavy rains and our driver Mustafa (yes that was his real name!) decided to stop there for the night. We slept in the back of the truck (filled with beans) with about 10 other Ethiopians and Kenyans crossing the border. In the morning (730 start after telling us to be ready at 4am!) we headed out towards Isiolo. Feeling pretty good that the most dangerous part was over we settled in for the long ride. As we approached Isiolo, Mustafa started praying. He said we were now crossing the most dangerous part of the road, and we should say any prayers to whoever we pray to that we know. AHH! What more....he says someone was killed on the road only 2 days before, and 1 in 5 trucks has been getting attackted, some statistics casually left out by all the officials I spoke to. And current info on this region cant exactly be googled. I thought originally that the rains would deter the bandits, but again Mustafa encouraged us that the rains ment the bandits could stay closer to the road with the easy availability of water, thus increasing the risk. GREAT. Ok, ok, enough. We got to Isiolo fine after about 36 hours of driving. Did I mention it was my birthday? hmmm how better to spend it than traveling on the "worst road in the world" from Ethiopia to Kenya? And I can vouch for that title!
Getting to Isiolo I decided to stay there. I paid to get to Nairobi, but decided against it. I would have to come back north to get to Uganda, and I have limited time as I am on a 7 day transit visa. Stayed the night with Matt and Amy, and woke up 5am this morning to get a matatu (mini bus) to Thompson falls (them to Nakuru). Getting the matatu, we start the journey. Little do we know there is a tribal conflict going on, and on the road we are traveling just an hour before some tribe stole some cattle and the others got revenge by killing someone on the road. So they started setting all types of things on fire in the middle of the road- no passing it today! Waited around with my English friends for a few hours before heading back to Isiolo, and deciding to pay an extra 100 KSH (about 1.5 USD) to take a long way around and make it to Nakuru. After a few hours traveling the matatu never dropped me where I wanted, so I am spending the night in Nakuru. Not knowing anything about this city I wandered around till I found an inernet cafe and met there 2 very nice Kenyan men, one of whom invited me back to his home to stay the night. I wold have taken the offer, however he lives 25 KM from town with no transport to get back in the morning! So they invited me to tea (milk instead of water?) and helped fgind me a hotel. Nice guys! Then I found this sweet internet place so that I could update this blog! Whats next in the plans? well because the plans never seem to work I am skeptical at making them...but it looks like I will get up early as usual and make my way 1 hour south to a Lake and rent a bike to travel Hell's Gate National Park. It looks and sounds amazing! Then the next day I will head north again to Kakamega forest preserve, the last remaining tropical forest in Kenya with 7 species of primates, over 300 species of birds, and over 400 of butterflies! Then (possibly) on to Kisumu where the Obama family is from (now a major Kenyan tourist arraction?) And finally across the border to Uganda. WOW that was a lot. Anyone actually read all that? I hope not! Anyway, things here are amazing I am having a great time and that is what is important. Lots of patience and a great sense of humor have made even the longest journeys and plan changes a worthwhile adventure. I cannot wait to get back and share these and many more stories with all of you soon. Onwards!!!Chao
