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9/12/09: Kenya

Before you judge me, I’m as big of Ohio State fan as there is. Missing the OSU – USC game was originally one of my biggest fears with going on this trip. Now that we have that cleared up, I could now almost care less about the game (key word being almost – in fact, could someone please tell me how it went?).

Kenya is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been in my entire life. This morning we boarded a gigantic tour bus and after paying the $3,490 in cash that we brought as the kitty – the money necessary to pay for most meals, park entrances, truck gas, tent usage, etc. – we were off. (Sorry to those of you who wanted to rob us and/or borrow money. All we have now is a 5 Kenya Shilling coin.)

The countryside here is so beautiful and diverse. We drive down bumpy roadways overlooking animals and villages populating sweeping plains and valleys. Everything is so colorful and gorgeous, yet there exists so much poverty. What amazes me most though is how happy every child looks. I have yet to see one who hasn’t looked up at our bus with a big smile on his or her face and waved. I normally get very carsick driving bumpy roads, and I have never ridden on one quite like this. Yet I haven’t felt sick at all – all I do is stare out the window and think about how different people’s lives are here.

Zhou and I overlooking the Great Rift valley.

One of the many shops on the side of the road. What did I tell you yesterday about me and Color Accent shots?

Me and a baboon – this is nowhere near the closest we got to one of these creatures. A future blog post to elaborate.

There were many fascinating murals on houses on the sides of the road. It’s amazing how colorful everything is here.

Our tour group shooting pictures of thousands and thousands of flamingos in Lake Nakuru National Park. I used the pink accent to remind you of flamingos.

A dead animal carcass with a white rhino nearby. I have a couple better pictures of this, but this one really reminds me of that painting where the girl in the dress is on the hill and there’s a house in the distant background. What is that painting called?

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Picture of the Day: Amidst all the poverty and donkeys, Oprah comes on at 9:45pm on Sundays! Don’t miss it!