Ramblings Only

In the past few days -

- we went from stinky toilets to luxury five star hotel where the Vice President of Kenya visited for a meeting. Luxurious hotel that we didn't know existed in Kenya. 

- oh the shower, felt great! 

- Thai food, good food, felt great

This last only for one night.

We left to Maasai Mara the next day in a humongous Land Cruiser. The city felt so polluted, it was good to be in the outskirts again. We drove across the Rift Valley and into the Maasai Mara region. 

We spotted a lot of folks nomads tending to their cattle wearing red blanket over them scattered through out. The Maasais. 

Their culture was strange. That is the only word I can find. Their dance scary. They refuse to go to school. They have multiple wives. I was disgusted. They had  cow dung all over their village. At some point it didn't make sense for me to try not to step on it, it was everywhere. 

Their homes were tiny and dark. Smaller than a standard hotel room where I am staying right now ( I am super grateful for that) tiny kitchen tinier room for parents and tiny  room for children. One room for calves to protect them from predators. They drink cow's blood on occasion.

Our lodge was bad. Period. I didn't shower the two days I was there. Some miscommunication with the tours. We felt cheated. Yes, Kenya is a poor country but nobody likes to feel cheated out of money. Will try to write more later but it kinda dampened our spirits a little.

All things creepy crawly were in the lodge and the Maara. Lizards. UGH! I can never take them slimy creepy crawly creatures.

Oh but the one day we spent in the Maara was absolutely fantastic. I am not able to find more appropriate words to describe. The landscape - amazing. The animals like Zebras and impalas and the wilder beasts - sorta calmed me, and brought peace. Yes babies are a big deal. 

Predators like lions and cheetahs don't attack if they are not hungry or not threatened. Life is simple. We saw so many carcasses and bones everywhere. While it would have been chilling to see in our world, it seemed most natural in the wild. Nature at its rawest. 

We were late for the Great Migration of the Wilderbeasts from Serengeti into Maasai Mara BUT we saw the stinky remnants of it. The great migration is basically the migration of Wilderbeasts and zebras and impalas and other preys crossing to greener pastures. They have to cross the Mara river which is full for crocodiles. As the animals cross the crocodiles have a feast. We were near the river and saw many dead beasts brought down by the river. The stink is indescribable. Nature taking its course. 

An experience to remember. 

The cats are super cute. I mean the lions and the cheetahs ;--) we missed the leopard. They are just big cats. They manicure themselves, they rub themselves, the purr. They look cute sleeping after a big meal of Wilderbeasts, which we saw the remains of by the side.

Will write more later. I hope I do! Need to get ready for the flight back.

Here are the big cats from my iPhone. Yes we were too darn close and yes I was scared every time the cats looked at me and opened its mouth. But they seemed well fed and we didn't aggravate them. Not sure if I am ready to take JSK with me yet on a safari  :--) will wait a couple more years.