"Nairobi - gateway to adventure" Nairobi by skatzcatz

Sitting in a type of McDonalds but also adjoining is a cybercafe, they charge 1 shilling per minute with works out about 1/4 of an aussie cent. Last couple of days spent my time wandering around Nairobi and the old game of 'spot the aussie' comes into its own here. I walk for hours around the streets and am lucky to see 1 white person. Its not daunting although i'm aware of the need to be vigilant and it becomes a little distressing when the street touts hit you all at once for either a tour, their shop, selling cheap crappy jewelry, begging or simply just harrassing you. Sorted it out a little though and found the best places to stop for a rest is either in a fast food place, the middle of the road where the parking attendants work or sit beside a security guard at a bank.

Last night went out with the backpacker owner to the local pub and came away a little more intrigued. Picture a small, smoky place with about 20 people. 10 ex-pats of english or french or german and me the lone aussie and 10 african women, obviously there to 'get lucky'. They even tried on me. Some where cute, some not but with aids here running about 20% i'd have to be a desperate fool to even contemplate it. The first woman who tried to hit on me was attractive enough but after 10 words fronm her mouth i realised i couldnt even hold a conversation with her. On to the next woman who was eyeballing me. The 2nd 1 turned out to be so off her face i couldnt help but laugh and when she went on using not to polite words about how popular she was i soon grew tired of this conversation and moved back to watching the soccer and pool game. The 3rd lady turned out to be a Ghana lady and actually was able to have a conversation with me. Although broken english (like this story) we chatted for a while and watched the pool game. I ended up buying her a drink and shouted her a game of pool but that was as far as i was going. Ended up getting home near 2am after a few local (Tusker) beers and the sour taste of guinness in my mouth (yuck).

Finally glad to have some sleep to and who knows i may even see some animals when i get to Tanzania but at this stage i'm happy to wander Nairobi (Kenya) streets and soak up the weird culture this place has.

yes thats a pile of trash

coming from a Western country where we have councils who maintain roads i was amazed to see the conditions of the roads in Nairobi. This picture was taken about 3 blocks from the centre of town. Considering the economics of a country like this there is little wonder, with other more pressing issues then roads to consider.

nairobi backpackers garden

odours drifted through the doors
streets of disgust, life without expression
senses awakened, congestion clears
ragtag clothes covered obscure population

walls from hats, floors grassed in colour
random avenues of the people
garbage reaching towards the skys
ignorance can be such a blessing

staring eyes of children without impression
wide smiles from friendly obscure eyes
minivans with laughter, driven like an alley cat
ghosts or apparitions, suits walking with pride

foreign or alien, completely unknown
barbed wire gardens hiding a disguise
aroma's filtered bringing on tears
green shades of grey, walls of a cement nation

• In a nutshell:where adventure begins