I've always wanted a tatoo-fact

This post is going to sound incredibly sad- as in, 'I am a loser', sad. Not, 'I am unhappy' sad. I realise that. I am still going to write it, then I will decide later if I will post it!

Saying farewell to Uganda  was hard, but I knew I was only heading next door. This time I am going a little further away and it is so hard to leave this green, lush land.I am leaving Africa. (Today in fact!) Leaving. My blog, 'Africa, My Africa' therefore has to change or I start up another one. The idea that I would leave the title behind, and Africa just made my chest tight. My heart doesn't want to go you know. I sometimes thought I might make my home on this continent. But, at the moment, it is good to go, I can always come back.

But, back to my blog, I don't want to start a new blog- as I will miss seeing photos of my adventures in Africa. Plus, it was hard enough trying to think of a blog title the first time round. Maybe I should just adapt it, like add, 'and beyond...'.

I joke that I think my life will bracketed into BA (Before Africa) and AA (After Africa) time periods. I am going back to the land of sand, a place I used to call home, but I think I have changed lots in the time that I have been away. Everyday my life is influenced by the people that live in this continent and the beauty that it holds.

I first met my lovely friend, Jane, in Kuwait, when we started work at the same school. It was her husband Sven, that I actually remember being friendly with first. Jane had just left Uganda after living there for 10 years and had not stopped crying since departing her beloved home. She would only come up for breath (between hiccups!) to talk about Uganda and life there. I knew I would love Africa, so I couldn't do anything but go and see why she was making such a fuss. I now know.

East Africa has been tattooed to my being. I am honestly not sure how I will be when I am not here anymore.

Oh-this did turn into a sad, 'I am unhappy', post- but I am not. There are lots of reasons why I am going to be running, skipping and dancing onto that plane...that is, once I have finished my 101 jobs to do before then!

Kwaheri Kenya! I'll be seeing you!

Running Wild

I mentioned the 'journey' to get here, but not much about the run. Now that I have recovered I'll tell you a little more.

As soon as we entered the conservancy we spotted a giraffe and thought, 'we are going to be running here! (Insert excited screams)

My buddy Debbie and I arrived, we could not believe how well organised it all was. Security was high. Cars were searched by dogs and people were searched a number of time, so we thought the rumours of Prince William and Catherine being at the event might be true.(The got engaged at Lewa and Prince William is the Royal Patron of Tusk Trust, an organisation that the Safricom Marathon raises money for).But I didn't see them.

We set up camp quite near the start line-you could see it from our tent, which was pretty cool.

There was such a buzz in the campsite.

We woke up to low flying helicopters and to footsteps of the elite Kenyan runners warming up-really-they are superhuman and amaze me

And then we ran. Around about 6km we spotted some zebras, but honestly, with the camera men on bike and the low flying helicopters to keep us safe, there was not much chance of spotting anything else. A frined of mine said a herd of giraffe galloped beside him and his friend, lucky sods!

The terrain varied from dust tracks, to real rocky paths. There is nothing to say but it was tough. Damn hot and hilly and hard. The supporters at the stations were such a boost of energy. There were a couple of mist tracks at stations (to cool us down-which was great!), but apart from that it was a real bloody long slog.

I kept thinking, 'Appreicate how beautiful it is. Remember this" etc, but then thoughts of "When will it be over?" would creep in.

My first 10km was too fast and at around 12km I was flagging under the heat. But I would ask myself, "Are you going to vomit?No, so keep going!"

When I realised I wouldn't get in under 2h30min, I lost interest in my time and felt pretty demoralised.

There were no chips, but my Garmin read 2h44min (which I am not exactly boasting about!), but it also read that the course was about 22.3km.

All I could think, when I crossed the finish line, was thank God that is over and now I have to bloody well drive back to Nairobi.

We put down the tent and tried to rehydrate.This is the first run I've done when I've ended up with black toes. I was cursing those hills, even the downs were bad, then remembered that it wouldn't of helped that I couldn't find my socks (!) and had to beg,borrow and steal a pair.Anyhow-as far as injuries goes, not bad.

It all was a bit of a dream, a daze.

Oh, then Debbie and I spotted giraffes and a lone Ostrich, and I really wanted to cry. I just ran in the wild. How lucky am I?

The best bit, sitting in Barney's (at Nanyuki airstrip) for lunch after, guilt free stuffing of faces!

Now that I have recovered, I am so pleased that I got to run Lewa during my year in Kenya. I am just chuffed with the fact that I actually made the effort to drive up country after such a busy week. The race was so beautiful and I was one of the lucky few that was able to take part.

PS- There are no official photos yet, but I did find this clip on youtube, it shows one of my team mates briefly, but it doesn't show you, that before he crossed the finish line he did 10 press-ups...why oh why???

I've reposted this for the linky party! You can read more about the Lewa run here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lewa 2012

I did it!

That is all I can say about it really. I knew the run was going to be tough, but really, it was just so much tougher than tough.

I felt like I 'won' just by arriving at the start line. A crazy week; my production evenings (which were a hit by the way!), two flat tyres two mornings in a row, trips to shops and roadside dukas to get firewood and food for camping, a trip to the doctors, a few too many beers and being locked outside my compound...then the (what turned out to be) 4 and a half car journey to the race after work on Friday.

Exhausted would be the word.

My running buddy and I went into the exhausted-hysterical mode the night before the race, as we tried to set up camp, and fuel our bodies in the dark.

We were so exhausted we couldn't cope with actually lighting a fire with the wood that I brought, so this was our campfire in the car!

Debbie, my running buddy, said that as soon as I lay down in the tent I was asleep-not surpirsing. I can't even remember reading text messages before and after the race and to be honest, the race is a bit of a blur too, a bit of an out of body experience.

I am slowly recovering. My body is fine, my calves were a bit stiff with the drive back, but my energy levels need some serious recharging.

I'll tell you more about the run later.

Pre-race nerves

This time next week, I will have finished the Lewa half-marathon...and be home in bed.

After my long run last weekend, my runny buddy and I felt strong and ready (ish) for Lewa. Then it was announced in assembly at the 'w' place that we were running the race and the nerves set in. Everyone seems to be chipping in with their race techniques, talking of the last few km of Lewa having the toughest hills, the heat and the dreaded altitude (Lewa is 5, 500 ft above sea level).

Runner's World Magazine has named this tough run as 'One of the top ten races to run in your life'. Two helicopters will be guarding us runners as we run through the conservancy that is home to lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs. Pretty cool huh? Maybe  it will help me keep my pace up, like when I ran for my life at Lake Mburu in Uganda!

I am SO nervous!

Not just about the run, but the logistics of it all. I have not had any confirmation from Lewa that my replacement or a team member has been accepted, it is a Saturday run, so we are making a mad dash up on the Friday, and after the 5 or so hours drive, set up tent, light a camp fire and cook some pasta before dark. Not the most restful pre-race evening, but I have heard it is beautiful, so hopefully it will be worth that little bit of effort!

Tomorrow is going to be my last run. I plan on doing 18km and then just do some yoga during the week. I worry that I have not done enough short and fast runs, or hill training for the race-but I am going for fun and the experience...so I keep telling my self!

Mum's visit- in pictures

Mum has taken all of her photos back to Scotland with her (I should have taken copies!)-I think in every one of hers we are sipping wine or eating food! Sure signs of a great holiday!

Being Karen Blixon and a trip to a tea platation

Lunch at a trout farm and a visit from a hyrax

Facts of the day- 1. The closest lisving relative to the hyrax is the elephant.
2. The hyrax is born with its eyes open (!) and can climb straight away.
3. The hyrax is the only wild animal that's shrieks (similar to a car alarm...but less annoying!) are louder than my mum snoring! (Fact!) Love you Mum!

A mini safari

A great wee holiday - the next one can't come soon enough!

PS - I was reading the Culture section of an old weekend paper this morning and saw an advertisement for a bracelet that gives off electric shocks when the person wearing it snores. Not joking. Has anyone tried this??

More Safari Tips

I am still pretty new to this 'safari-tour-guide' thing (!). You could say, that I am learning on-the-job.

So, for my mum's recent trip, I thought back to to what I had learnt on previous safaris in Uganda and gave handy hints to my special visitor!Yet, I still learnt lots.

More self-drive safari tips:

• Buy a road map before the morning of your safari. Better yet, check the map you bought has your destination ON IT!
• Even though it may not be the first time visit to Africa- remember to stop at every roadside market, and pot seller you pass-by, it is a photo opportunity after all. (The same goes with African Crap Craft stalls/markets!)
• Put the customer at ease on all occasions whilst on safari, regarding the wildlife. (Remember, you yourself have been in similar situation...remember that sleeping lions story ...) and remind them that the hyena outside will NOT come into the tent.
• Take ear plugs - some people snore...loudly. This will sadly cut out all wildlife noises, but do not worry, as most of the animals have, by then, ran in fear of their lives!
• Even on short safaris remember to take Imodium with you. Nobody wants a sick guide! (Rookie mistake!)
• Leave some days totally unplanned. The customer is on holiday and may just want to read in the sun. Don't fall into the over-planning pit! 
 

Soon, I may be ready to take the test for my guide badge!

Coming and Going

My mum has come and gone all too quickly. We drove north, just a few hours away, not far, but far enough to feel the changing winds and where a few raindrops teased the Earth.

Her plane took off last night and left me tossing and turning, trying to find sleep. It was too quiet. That is my excuse for driving into my gate this morning! I think it's valid.

But when the sun in Nairobi shone today, I thought about how lucky I am that I do get so many visitors, when I make the choice to live here. And for now, that is my choice.

I'll share some stories and photos from our 'girls-on-tour' adventure this week, once I have found my routine again.

PS- my music is playing loudly and the cottage will soon become too small again!

a holiday hike

The term is finally over at the 'w' place and the sun seems to be here to stay. Now that it is so sunny and hot it is easy to forget that it ever rained. 

Some friends and I decided to go for a wee hike on the Ngong Hills on the weekend.

‘Bandits’ are known to be around that area, but you can pay for an escort or you can just walk to the top of the first hill, as at that point there is a sign where the ‘bandits’ do not pass. So up to there you are safe!? 

This made our walk, the equivalent of Ben Nevis, (yes OK, we started a bit higher in the first place!) much more enjoyable. As we could just picture the ‘bandits’ standing at the other side of the ‘do-not-proceed sign’ waiting for people to pass it.

Gordon took this photo-I was too busy on 'look-out' duty!

We all survied our we walk and felt much healthier and happier, for being outside in the sunshine, knowing we had a few cold Tuskers in the car to quench our thirst.

We were told of the best Nyama Chomo restaurant (traditional roasted meat, off the bone) in the area, Olepolos Country Club, looking out onto the Rift Valley. (I have been there to stay, in a previous life before I lived here, but this was a different experience to that).

(Vegetarians, turn away now...)

The animals are butchered on site, then the meat is taken to one of the cooks at the many fires. You  order the meat and which part of the animal you wished, then it is cooked for you and cut up skillfully hacked, in front of you  (Remember, we had just hiked in the sunshine. This was all a bit much for us-I think I just kept repeating the words ‘food’ and ‘four people’!) We were then found the best table with views of the Rift  Valley, where we enjoyed the wine we brought in the ice-box. We were all pretty close to eating the rice cakes I had packed, when 2 hours later our meat turned up!!

It was great, although we all decided that next time we would try to pre-order from Nairobi! But really, with a view like this, the wait was no hardship.

Switiching off the white noise-the story behind the retreat

It is lovely to put up photos of the beautiful scenery that I get to enjoy in Kenya, the big sky of Africa and the animals that live here. It is lovely to hear comments about how lucky I am. But it is not always the life I get to enjoy; real life gets in the way sometimes. 

Last week I could have been in Barry or Beillericay (thanks Tania for the box set!!) as it is that time of year again...report writing.

I was feeling rather low, but that was not the only reason for it: I have lost my running legs and fear they will be hard to find again. I haven’t had time to enjoy the white shiny cafes and bars that I was looking forward to so much when I was in Uganda and I miss my friends that know me. My mind was busy with pretty negative thoughts and it was hard to swtich off the white noise.

Something I haven't admitted to you is how hard it was arriving at Jomo Kenyatta airport knowing that the African Adventurer was not meeting me. It. was. tough. I am not as tough as I think I am, sometimes. 

It has been hard to meet friends outside of school...as I seem to spend most of my time there this should not be surprising! I was a bit over excited when I drove someone I met at yoga home the other night...!Saddooo!

So...as a little pick-me-up; to help my body and soul get back into shape, I went off on a yoga retreat on the weekend. 

It was  held in a little lodge a few hours north of the city. I spent the weekend in the bush, beding my legs into Lotus, sweating in downward dog and attempting to lift my entire body on my little pinky. (Well not quite!!-but I do suddenly have muscles where I never had them before!) We talked in hushed whispers, preserving the peace and quite.  Spent hours gazing into the yellow moon and burning it into our memories - thinking only about our breathing.  But when my mind did drift, I thought about my friends and family around the world and thought about how lucky I am.

Oh dear-those photos of skies again!

PS- I met some lovely new friends! And I am off to yoga tonight to see them! Hooray!

walking in silence

 I'm back from my first weekend yoga retreat and all my secret hob nobs are still in the box!

Photos are from our walking meditation near Lake Elementaita. 

I'll tell you more about it another day.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend. xx

A different pace

Then...a slower pace; morning runs on the beach, dips to cool you down, Italian gelato, fresh fish and card games in the evening. I also read – an old habit I forgot and remembered again.

Everything tastes different with salt in the air. Your routine changes, quickly becoming a local and finding shade for the heat of the day (between the hours of 8am and 5pm!) and sleeping before the creatures of the night come out.

Matt and the Frenchman found life too quiet and made excitement of their own; falling off motorbikes and getting pulled over by the fashion police.  I thought I should check out the state of the local clinic, so got bitten (by a dog-it was not from our visit to the snake park!) and got stitches in my leg.

Life would be dull if you were on holiday all the time, right?

Surfing through Tsavo

The Surf had a lot to live up to... but now that she (yes-look at her decorative stripes-definitely a she!) turns right as well as left and got us to and from the coast, I can say that she is a pretty damn good car. Great for leading RAT (Robyn's African Tours-thanks Tania!)...even if she doesn't have a sunroof.

In Tsavo we searched for the man eaters that it is famous for-but didn't come across any; as Tsavo is roughly the same size as Wales there are quite a few hiding spots! Unlike some other parks in Kenya, we saw more game than we did safari cars so were able to turn off the engine, take long breathes and enjoy the near silent footsteps of the elephants march.

The recent rains meant the red dust of the roads had settled and the dramatic skies changed for our enjoyment hourly.

We camped where a pride of lions regularly roam (we knew they were close when the baboons starting barking and climbed  the tree on site)We parked our cars very close to the tent and kept the doors unlocked....just in case...! We feel asleep to the sounds of the African bush, like a lullaby rocking you gently....that is until you hear the humph-humphing of a nearby hippo.

After a bit of a fright by a baboon on the way to the bush toilet in the morning (I tried to be brave and held a bracelet up in a very threatening manner...!!!) we packed up camp and continued our journey.

The red soil turned into sand, more palm trees lined the route and the taste of the sea was already on our lips. Next stop, Watamu.