Saturday 11th February and Sunday 12th February 2012
Hummer our driver picked us up at 8:30am and down to Diani we went. Unfortunately Patrick our other driver got called to do a safari so couldn’t take us to look at different plots of land that has been identified as suitable AND with title deeds for Lesley and me to look at. Hummer couldn’t take us, as of course he was not aware of where the land was and neither was. I had no idea only that the land we were to see is about 8 km from Ukunda. It is common in Kenya to be sold land that has been sold to 4 or 5 other people at the same time, so very important to have title deeds, then go to lands department and confirm it does belong to who is on the title deeds before I purchase. However even though disappointed, we are confirmed for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week to see the land.
I have had several local people at Magimboni tell me ‘relatives’ have plots for sale, so am following up on that also to go and see the land they speak of. These are well educated people by Kenyan standards, but one has to be so careful. Hummer the driver’s uncle also has a plot he may sell, so will go and see it. It can be frustrating, as I just want to get things done, but appreciate that the Kenyan people have to work to feed their families and also trying to help us, without asking for anything, so we know they are genuine. When you are frequently asked for money to help pay school fees for secondary students, or food for their children, it is refreshing to have people who genuinely want to help when they know you are here to help save their children and help the community and educate them without asking for anything. I cannot feel anger in any way shape or form for people asking for things, they see white people as wealthy, and rightly so when you day in day out see the horrific poverty here. I would be on my knees begging for help and if it meant I had to do something illegal to feed my children – who am I to say I wouldn’t do it in these circumstances? You never know how you would react until you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
Anyway I’ve digressed majorly here….. We drove to several hotels to get the prices – just like at home, I won’t pay big $ to stay somewhere – always try to get a good price for what I am getting.
OMG – one place, a new resort “The Swahili” blew us away. It was like entering a Moroccan palace. Amidst all this poverty was something out of this world – across the road people living in stick huts, dirt floors and a whole families living in one room. Felt so wrong… Anyway it was waaayyyyyy to much for us – a week’s wage for one night. One cottage at $20 a night twin share wasn’t exactly what we were looking for – I wanted a wee bit of luxury after a full on week. We could have gone back to where we were last weekend, but decided to be on the beach. We ended up staying at the first place we went in and asked the price and obviously it was meant to be as we met several lovely Kenyan girls who worked there who told us more terrible stories of their Western Province and the poverty there. The coastal province is considered to be ‘wealthy’ by Kenyan standards because of the Europeans coming and holidaying here – generating jobs and all resorts are owned by foreigners, or in partnerships with Kenyan businessmen. Your life takes turns for reasons, and delays, and other things happen for reasons, and I believe we were meant to stay at the hotel we stayed at. Southern Palms Resort, Diani Beach. As we were leaving the hotel receptionist asked us where we were heading to and we told her, (and she said she’d worked in a hotel in Arusha for 5 years in reception) and then we said we’d be back for a night after Tanzania before heading back to the orphanage, and she said her sister managed an orphanage nearby owned by a European woman, and offered for us to go and meet her to see it. I have seen the sign for the orphanage “Upenda,” so she is organising for us on Saturday to go visit and meet her sister. The other girls we met were when Lesley decided we needed a massage and booked it and shouted me a hot rock massage. Very cheap by Australian standards. Talk about being in heaven – this must have been the closest thing!!
Magic, magic, magic! They use rocks from the Congo River which is said to have healing powers, and I’ve never felt so relaxed and at peace after it. I guess it may have released all the emotions I was carrying after seeing the feeding station and the orphaned unkempt children who needed rehoming in the bush. It is very difficult to let go things you see here. They got very disturbed at the amount of ‘knots’ in my shoulders and lower back. I have been working very hard physically and mentally at the orphanage over the past 5 or so weeks, but wouldn’t change it for anything. I actually felt like my soul had been rejuvenated. Strange I know, but that was what it felt like. Lesley said I even looked younger when I got out of there!! She is such a lovely friend. Lesley fronted up straight after for reflexology on her feet, I had a haircut in the salon – dangerous choice in Kenya, but it turned out OK actually. I didn’t really care what it would look like, I just wanted it cut. I wanted a pedicure, but time ran out, so next time we are down. These 3 girls were so informative about things around and again never asking for anything, but advising us to be so careful and to not hire only from 1 tribe, make sure we hire from many tribes, and keep our fingers tightly on the purse and storerooms. 2 were single mums and one has to take an 8 year old child from a relative who can no longer feed her. They spoke of what parents have to resort to save some of their children.
You can’t imagine..
Our 2 days at the hotel – well we slept, we slept and we swam in the pool and we slept. Was soooo nice sleeping again with airconditioning, having electricity and running water, and a toilet. Neither of us can eat big meals any more so the smorgasboard looked fantastic, but my stomach cannot cope with eating a lot – and having virtually no meat in 6 weeks (and that was only small amounts of chicken in chicken pilaff),and only vegetables and rice, or vegetables and potato. We tried dessert (profiteroles in the shape of swans) first night but forced it down as we were so full, but they looked so good. Our stay here was so relaxing and I needed it. We had an early morning walk on the beach, harassed by beach boys, but this is Kenya and they need to make a living too.
