Day 2 - 25c Cloudy
Woke up bright an early (7am) to a cool nairobi morning feeling fresh but rather peckish I wandered on down to the dining area to some brekky which consisted of beans on toast and a freshly cooked fried eggs but with a kenyan twist of peppers, onions and some mild spices. All washed down with black tea and fruit juice.
I then headed back to my room to shower and prepare for the day. I waited by the pool with my folder and notes and laptop as I prepared for the week. John was due to arrive at 10.30am After some ginger beer and speaking to some friends on facebook and skype and even calling a few customers from skype John appeared proudly donning the safari on canvas T-Shirt.
We chatted for a bit and I went over some of the plans in place and what I needed to do today. A bit of an admin day we ventured off to a local mall where I bought a local sim card and a nokia 501 for 3300ksh (£20) I now have a kenyan number yay! This will make it much easier and indeed cheaper to stay in contact with people I meet out here. I withdrew some kenyan shillings from a cash machine and John and I bought a few tuskers (local kenyan beer) for later. THankfully there is a fridge in my room so I can keep them cold!
By 12pm John and I were starving so we headed back to the hotel for lunch where we embarked on a, regretting later, massive spicy chicken feast! We had some spring rolls and meat somosas to start then, as a lover if not self confessed addict of spicy chicken, ordered the chinese, but also described as peri peri, half a chicken each. It was delicious a mix, I would say, of chinese spices but with the familiar portogese twang and bite of peri peri chicken. I was hooked and John certainly didn’t seem to object to me ordering another 10 wings for us to share. Of course the wings are what broke the proverbial camels back as we drooped back into our chairs smiling but absolutely, in the style of King Henry the VIII, stuffed!
With no exact plans for the afternoon I asked John if he knew anywhere that we could drive too. John had just the place so we set off but with the demeanor of two children who have eaten too much candy at the pick and mix. We waddled off to the room to grab bits then set off in Johns car while we both moaned how full we were. However as mischievous John had promised the day before he would get me back for my trick at the airport. So im packing all my bits and pieces, camera check, wallet check, keys…. not check. I scramble around the room looking for the keys, checking my bag, the bed, the door. I look around confused and now with staff wondering whats wrong I start to explain I cant find the key I carry on looking around the room then I hear a familar tinkling from behind me with John and the other staff laughing there heads off. I chase John round the car park shouting “you git John!!!” Laughing over we make our way to the car and set off on Johns plan.
On the way to Johns secret location we passed a long road full of enterprising young men selling and trading, welding and fixing. You could buy anything along this road from Sofas and chairs to goats and vegetables. We eventually arrive at this beautiful place which is no other than the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden you may be familiar with Karen blixen if you have watched the film 'Out of Africa'
I look at John with excitement and intrigued as to where John has taken us. He explains there is a great artist here that he has seen here a few times. The artist called ‘The Wanderer’ exhibits his art here and even paints here too. The place has beautiful gardens and with an old colonial house with tea gardens where tourists come to relax and soak up the tranquil and historic atmosphere over afternoon tea.
I see The wanderer at his easel painting a scene familiar to me of the masai mara with three zebras grazing two with their backsides facing you. This makes me chuckle and gives me fond memories of our safari last year. I look around to see the rest of this young talented chaps work. I see elephants at sunset, masai warriors silhouetted by a bright orange sunset carrying back the days hunting bounty. This art is exactly what I had been looking for and John knew it too. An uncontrollable smile stretched on my face from ear to ear. My attention falls back to the artist with butterflies in my stomach worrying what I’m going to say to him with fears that he might not be interested in my new business. I shake my self off hold my head up high and march over to his eazel, apologising for interupting him, I stretch out my hand and introduce myself. I briefly explain what I’m doing in kenya and what I’m trying to achieve. I worry as a look of cynicism appears in his face (I later learn that some artists have, unfortunatley, been ripped off by dishonest art dealers…). I carry on nonetheless and over a few minutes he begins to smile and really likes the idea. Relieved and more confident I show him some print outs with all my contact details etc. I ask, with worry at the back of my mind he will say no, whether I can take photos of his work so i can put it on my website. He wholeheartedly agrees so I get snapping of my favourite pieces.
I buy three paintings from him and by now we are getting on very well. I get all his details and learn that his name is Joseph. Joseph the Wanderer. John and I leave paintings in hand and super happy to have an artist on board we set off back to the hotel still stuffed my I add from the chicken at lunch!
John and I return to the hotel and celebrate by opening a cold beer from the fridge. I thank John for taking me to see Joseph we laugh and joke and relax a bit watching the Kenyan version of Eastenders but with a lot more humour. Although its in swahili I sort of understand whats going on. In between shopkeepers falling out with customers and young women cackling with laughter over tea I check emails chat a bit on facebook and start making plans for tomorrow.
Its about 8pm now and although not particularly hungry we are both tired especially John who only got 3 or 4 hours sleep the night before. I suggest we get some dinner so he can a good nights sleep. We both had curry John had Fish Tikka and vegetable Rice while I had a chicken balti and requested it to be extra hot to satisfy my insatiable appetite for spicy food. I ordered garlic naan which is cooked fresh in the tandoori over by the pool and eating area outside. Although not a posh hotel the food is brilliant! Actually one of the best curries i've had. The naan is thin, crispy, buttery and very garlicy just how I like it!
John and I joked when I arrived that he will beat me again and eating as he, I will admit, beat me at the brazilian restaurant we ate at just before Gemma and I left kenya for home. Perhaps its because John has lost weight and is looking very well but I can proudly say I won this time. I couldn't stop laughing as John grimaced with each mouthful of tikka. I asked John have I won this one? He conceded with a subdued tone “yes derrick, yes you have” after which we both cracked up laughing.
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