Looking back......

Looking back on previous posts and once we were once more 'on the road' I see that I have written nothing since George's remarkable surprise lunch in the garden.

We continued to have a wonderful time in the Mara with many more surprises: hail in the Mara, torrential rain in the Mara and freezing mornings - all of these weather patterns did nothing to deter our continued enjoyment at being there.

In fact the women I have been working with visited me at the camp on a beautiful afternoon - just after our lunch. We, together with Julius our fantastic go-between, had a most pleasant time sitting and trying to establish some plans for the future.

Ready for a game David and the others called me and so we prepared to leave. Seeing the torrid skies we invited the women to get onto our truck so that we could take them to the village. With rain pouring down and hail stones nipping our skins the women called a halt. Climbed off and sat under a tree which they felt gave them more protection. We beat a hasty retreat back to camp where I managed to have a hot shower and dry off. My Masai women had no such luxury.

We left in great weather, surrounded by good friends and fabulous memories for our next destination Lake Nakuru!

Lunch in the Garden

There is a well planted 'shamba' at the back of the lodge and we were invited to visit it just before lunch yesterday.

George, the chef, is justifiably proud of the garden. Situated at the back of the lodge it is accessible through a courtyard, the backyard, the village workshop, the garages and the church. Quite a trek to get there and when George suggested we visit we were thrilled.

it is well hidden behind a high wire fence which is meant to keep all manner of creature away although of course, elephants think nothing of toeing the fence and the monkeys laugh in the face of anything except William the gardner who sternly throws sticks to keep them out.

Planted in tiers and stages George makes sure that enough 'salad' greens are available to service the needs of the guests.

As we marveled at the fresh vegetables, George informed us that few people knew that a table could be set in the shamba for 'private' functions. Under the avocado tree a beautiful table was set for guests. Red and white roses in a crystal vase, red rose petals lay on the table and a braai in the background cooking beef fillet kebabs and prawns on skewers with grilled vegetables [from the garden] all waiting to be consumed.

George with a flourish waved his hand and said 'this is for you and David mama, for being with us again'! Well I did my usual 'driz' and we sat down for a delightful meal of hummus pate on homemade bread, fresh salad, fillet and prawn kebabs and gilled veggies and delicious macadamia nut torte. Kenyan coffee ended the superb occasion.

As we strolled back to the lodge through the shamba and village we met up with a family of warthogs with four of the tiniest 'wind-up size' babies we had seen. A wonderful ending to our stay.

There's More to the Mara than Crossings

We have as always had the most special time in the Mara. Guests have captured amazing images and we have all shared wonderful times in the bush.

Yesterday we glimpsed a leopard and her cub frolicking [I use the term deliberately] in the scrub near Kichwa. We then drove through the plains and came across a cheetah that has taken up residence in the open areas in front of the camp. A young male, who had eaten most comfortably over the past few days, was hungry and ready to hunt. We watched the whole event with bated breath and much trepidation. The baby gazelle jigging through the veldt and the cheetah waiting his time.

The little one advanced as the cheetah waited with infinite patience. Gazelle lies in a hollow in the grass. Cheetah advances in frozen steps. Cheetah like an elastic band shoots through the bush . Dust. Zig-zags. Dust. No gazelle. No kill. A very puffed cheetah. 1 to the Gazelles, 0 to the Cheetahs and 100% to the photographers who captured the most spectacular photographs.
We never saw the baby gazelle again and think he must have taken a matatu to Nairobi.

We left the cheetah lying in the open surely thinking of missed opportunities. We have a lesson to learn from this. A cheetah misses 9 out of 10 kill attempts. Still manages to get up and try again and again. Thoughts to apply to our own lives perhaps?

Of Meetings and Weddings

Sitting under the trees with Julius [on a stool] and the women surrounding us, we had a great discussion about their talents as beaders and sense of colour.

While we were chatting [with Julius as translator] once of my friends answered her mobile [yes, we all have one in the Mara] with a 'Karibou' - 'welcome'. A new bride was arriving with a welcoming party and suddenly I was involved in a Maasai wedding! I was bedecked with beads and was immediately drawn into the women's welcoming party. The bride, surrounded by her greeters and the rest of the women in the village walked as slowly as she dared, eyed down and looking very solum. Each time she stopped the women called out 'we will give you a cow' and a step forward was taken. As she stopped from time to time throughout the walk to the entrance of the manyatta the same call was chanted 'we will give you a cow'. However a few times the call was 'we will give you a goat', with much laughter from everyone except the bride. She became even more reluctant to enter her new abode and took two steps back.

After much stopping and starting the bride reached the entrance to her new home and great ululations were trilled. I was escorted to meet the young woman who shyly dipped her head and stooped through the archway to her new home.

The men slaughtered three goats under the trees where women are not permitted and where only men are allowed to eat the juiciest portion of meat. Those being 'taboo' for the woman. We [Julius, I and the driver Daniel] were graciously given three portions of meat which was collected by Julius while I remained in the vehicle. You can imagine how, I as a non-meat eater I felt at the honour!

I certainly learned again the value of being a woman and where my place is. What a wonderful experience. Badai [till later] must see the Masai dancers in about 30 minutes and cheer on the highest jumper!

Village Visit

Some of you may know that we visit the same village annually. I have also been planning to visit the women with thoughts and ideas of how to work together so that their incredible talent for beading can be directed and used in another way.

Julius, the community worker at Kichwa and I were given a meeting one morning. The women gathered under the trees with the two of us - ceremoniously perched on all too small stools with the women comfortably sitting on the ground around us.

We discussed business principles and once they have agreed to procedure I will let you know how we will go forward.

Second Home??

Arriving back in Kenya is like returning home. The airport is familiar, the customs officials as grumpy as anywhere else in the world - especially if you have enough camera equipment to open a store or look like the official BBC team.

Even after the flight [which leaves at 12:40 in the morning] which is short but at a crazy hour - the breakfast shared with our friend George Gituku from Custom Safaris was welcome and friendly and made up for any subversive customs attention.

We had a short transfer to Wilson airport and no sooner that we arrived there than we were put onto the Dash for Kichwa,

Our friends were on the runway to welcome us with a delicious punch and open arms.

David. Tokkie and Frans have taken some amazing photographs, with our first crossing on arrival!