Hi all,
so today will be my last day at the "coalface" as my good friend Martin in Namibia would describe it, sorry mate but coming all this way I want to experience a safari as well. So tomorrow I move to a hotel on the coast and then on saturday I start a two night three day sarfari which I am really looking forward to.
I am also looking forward to my first bath for three weeks !! I have been able to take regular luke warm showers so the pong factor is not too high, but there is nothing like a soak in a hot bath is there !!
I will miss the children at Joy World, and of course Caroline who has been a perfect host and an absolute star through out, we have become good friends I think and discussed ways in which I can be of help to her and Joy World in the future.
I hope to be able to come back sometime in the future also to see how things are going, I am sure I will.
Do not fear I will also complete the painting project, after finishing this update I will return to the home to finish the last two rooms, about an hours work in this heat I think !!
It has gotten more humid and hotter the last few days and in the morning the skies are cloudy, Caroline informs me that rain is on its way , not before I go home I hope !
I will not bore you all with painting stories, I wish I could load some pictures but that is not possible with this equipment it would take too long, so perhaps a bit more about where I am staying and my impression of Mombasa and Kenya.
The Joy World orphanage is in a district of Mombasa called Likoni, and although this is not a slum area it is one of the poorer parts of the city I believe. During the troubles after the election last year there was some trouble in the area and some people were beaten homes looted and two men killed in the road outside the home. Fortunately for me and everyone else things have settled down now although for how long I am not sure.
The government of unity does not seem to be working very well and everyday on the news brings fresh stories of disputes between the Presidents party and the Prime Minister who share power in the government.
As depressing every day are the stories of massive corruption which seems to take place in postions of power. Corruption seems to be the main scurge of not just Kenya but Africa as a whole. Every day brings news of a new scandal where some rich business man or politician has robbed millions.
The people in power in the country are letting there fellow country men and women down very badly and without a change of attitude amonst the leading politicians I am not sure how things can improve.
An example, the MP's in Kenya are paid are very handsome salary, in fact I think they are some of the most highly paid politicians in the world, but there is a law which exempts them from paying tax!!!. When their fellow Kenyans are living on or below the poverty line and and a famine threatens people in the west of the country how do these guys sleep at night ? How can they defend such a position , they should be leading by example.
Ok I will step down from the soap box now !
Mombasa itself is very lively, vibrant, noisy , dirty and exciting. The people are friendly and I have become very comfortable with the atmosphere after the first couple of days getting used to it.
I am looking forward to seeing some more of the country though on the safari which will take me to the Tsavo east and Tsavo west game reserves, with overnight stays in two separate lodges.
I will confess also to my first pangs of homesickness on Wednesday when for some reason I woke up missing friends and family, this passed but made me appreciate all the more how lucky I am.
When I next update it will be from the comfort of a hotel and I will have said au revoir to Joy World and Caroline, but not goodbye I think.
Hope you are all well !!
Bye for now
PS Julie missing you lots but sounds like you are having a fab time "down under" !!
