A day of rest (well, sort of!)

We take a day off prior to our road trip to the Serengeti.  But we still go out and about!

We have asked Felix to see two things – a school and a market (local market, not a tourist-y one)

We start at the school, which is actually an orphanage for children whose parents died from AIDS. 

What is there to say?  We have so much.  They have so little.  We took coloured pencils and pads (bought locally) and made a donation to sponsor a uniform and other school requirements for one of the 20 residents.

When we arrive 11 of the 20 kids are away at school – the remaining 9 are kindergarten age.  They are all sitting at a picnic table with their teacher – doing math.  Serious math – way harder than what we perceive our kindergarten age kids do!

The floors are packed earth and they sleep 8 to a room.  They cook on open fires.  It is scrupulously clean.  What does one logically do?  Except the obvious – more!

And the most poignant shot…….

Want to read more or help?  It’s the Watoto Care Orphanage

http://www.homecomfortorphanage.blogspot.com/

After the orphanage we head to the local market – which was absolutely fabulous, but we have no photos.  The vegetables, meats and fruits were amazing but the vendors want to be paid for photos.  Felix urged us not to (that wasn’t difficult to convince Richard of that) so we have our memories! 

We also bought a few pieces there – two of the long, tall people as seen in a Plantation Lodge photo (we fell in love with them) and a Massai club….Felix has shipped it home for us.

And then we say – “a local bar” – that’s what we need!  Felix turns down a street and we find ourselves at the “Skyway Club Bar & Restaurant”.  Not a place we would have chosen unassisted (and we’re sure they don’t get many tourists!) but clean, functional, pleasant service and everything the right bar in the right place should be (beer was really cold, too!)

 

 

And then a very special stop at a piece of land Felix has purchased near Karatu – we were his first visitors and were very touched by that.  He has future plans and dreams for a B&B here – something we know he will achieve!  (Felix, we’re coming to the grand opening!)

View from what will be “our” room!

 

Thank you Felix for a wonderful day – we learned a great deal!

Comments

[Jennifer Stephenson]

I don't know how you consistently find these wonderful guides - or maybe you just bring the best out in them!