Kenya

Trip in Jeopardy

zizzie — Wed, 2 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT

So everybody no doubt has seen the news. The 'unrest' seems to be escalating and people are suggesting a civil war could break out if something isn't done soon. They are even comparing it to Rwanda. I think that is an unfair comparison given that what went on in Rwanda had so many political wheelings and dealings and had really been brewing for almost 40 years before it actually erupted into a genocide. In any case, there is reason to worry.

Claire has spoken with the people who live where we are going and they said everything's fine where they are and if you didn't see the news, you wouldn't know anything was going on. Obviously that's not to say nothing WILL happen, but at the moment it's safe enough.

So the plan at the moment is to still hope to go, but be prepared to have to cancel. The med student who is coming down was supposed to leave tonight, but I think he is planning to postpone his trip to travel down with me on the 7th. Or at least have those extra 5 days to monitor things and see what happens and then not have to travel alone.

Unrest about Unrest

zizzie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:06:00 GMT

Today I leave for the first leg of the journey...305 Deloraine to 5 Lysander Grove, London to spend New Years with Sam! Not quite sure what we will be doing to ring in the new year, but it doesn't matter - it will just be really fun to be in London.

I attempted to pack today which was a lot harder that anticipated. Because the trip involves a stay in cold, wintery England, boiling hot Kenya, beautiful springy London and a (hopeful) trip to high altitude alpine France, I need 5 currencies (Canadian, GB Pound, US Dollar, Kenyan Shilling and Euros) and to pack for four climates. I gave up and took to just dumping a bunch of clothes into the suitcase and hoping for the best.

As you may know if you follow the news, there is a lot of unrest in Kenya right now over the recent elections. Apparently there's been a lot of rioting, stonings, etc. You know, the usual. I know when I don't think an election was fair, I go right out and loot the local grocery store. That's why I was mysteriously missing the night George Bush was elected the first time. Anyway, the unrest is a little unnerving given that it is happening in Nairobi where I have to spend a night, and also in the town in which I am going to be staying. The president has declared himself elected (who knew - it's just THAT easy!) so hopefully it will all be settled and calmer by the time I get there (whenever that ends up being).

First Post

zizzie — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:15:00 GMT

Today I found out that there may be a strike the day I'm supposed to leave for Nairobi. The airport workers who handle security, admin, check-in etc. are most likely (unless there is a last minute settlement) going to launch a 24-hour strike January 7/2008. Hopefully this doesn't happen, and if it does, I hope British Airways will be able to put me on a flight on the 8th and that Kenyan Airways will have room on a connection to Mombasa. If you don't hear from me again it's because I perished in one of two ways:

1) At the hands of a Nairobi gang while stranded at the airport.

2) On a train from Nairobi to Mombasa (at the hands of the same gang who missed me at the airport).