Christmas Day

This morning I had a simple breakfast at the Guest House as the other were closed because of Christmas! I then walked out trying to find St Stephen's Cathedral. I asked some people along the street and also Santa who was standing outside Imperial Hotel. I arrived on time 9.30 to find a sheleton of a Cathedral under Construction with just a few visitors. The priest walked around and greated people and he came to me asking about me. Later in the ceremoni he welcomed me from Sweden! 

People came all the time and the mass started at 10. It was lots of music with two different choirs singing. The bishop made a long speach and we sang "the First nowell" and "Oh, come all ye faithfull" 

After about 1 1/2 hour the Cathedral was almost totally filled. I left and went for a coffee at Java house and texted Denis saying we should have lunch! 

He came and we went down to the harbor for Ogali and fish, eaten by the fingers again! It was crowded and the boats outside took local people for a boat ride on the Victoria lake, people coming from the country side, never been on a boat before.

A young gentleman on the other side of the table was looking at me, the "Msongo" (white man)

After lunch we went thru the town to the coffee place for a coffee and we had a nice chat. There came a group with children and I started to talked to the leaders and it was Russian people running this orphanage!!! 

After that we went for a walk into Kenyatta park and it was very crowded so we felt better leave and go back to my place, where we agreed that he would pick me up tomorrow morning for the drive to the AirPort! He had come to Kisumu just because of me and tomorrow evening he will take an overklighet bus back to his family in Mombasa! Thank you! Now its time to pack and see what I don't need anymore and what I could leave here. I took a nice photo of the Sunset again!

Santa outside Imperial Hotel.

The Cathedral under Construction.

09.30 when the mass should start.

1 1/2 hour later! 

The good fish!

Me eating Ogali and fish with my fingers!

The little gentleman across the table!

The overfilled boats taking people on a tour on lake Victoria!

The orphanage run by people from Russia!!! at the coffee shop!

Sunset over lake Victoria!

Merry Christmas

Started Cristmas breakfast with a large glas of mango juice. Very smoothie and nice. I was picked up at 11am and we took off in the car. Going South along Victoria lake to Homa Bay.

First we stoped at a Vulcano filled with water and it was supposed to be good for your health with the water. The flamingos were there also! 

We took off again and came to Homa Bay wich looked like a nice place and we continued and arrived at Ruma NP. It was allready afternoon and the rain was waiting in the air, so we continued. Next stop was by the road and we bought grilled corn, tasty. After a while we stoped for the cattle marker, interesting to see how they sealed a deal with a hand shake! 

We continued and took a Ferry back on Victoria lake in the Sunset. After that we had about two hours drive in the dark - a bit scaryI must say.

We got back at around 9pm and a had dinner in my favorit restaurant!

Finally I wish all reader a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Mango juice.

Some flamingos at the water crater.

The cattle market.

Tasty grilled corn along the road.

Sunset from the Ferry on lake Victoria.

What a day outside Kisumu

This morning after breakfast Denis and his brother Mikael was picking me up in Mikaels car and we left town to visit their famillies in the country side. We left the main road and came to a house were other relativs were staying, some living and some visiting for X-mas. We were invited for tee with milk and a very tasty pancake in the living room with a clayfloor! It was a great moment Meeting those lovely people. We walked further and met other relativs and a mother had a little child on her arm, and the child was crying because he saw me. We went further and they told me this area was filled with lepards, spottet hyenas and poisenous snakes, like black mamba and pyton. We came to the Point were we were close to the big stone formation, and then we went back down again. Into the car and we came to a dispensary, were a nurse was working. It was supported by the local church and we met the bishop and walked into the church.

Now we left this area and we went to another stone formation, named Kit Mikayi and we walked with a local guide told us about the shrine and what this area was used for - very interesting! We walked up on the Stones and we had a very good view from the top. 

Down again and into the car that took us to a beach by lake Wictoria, were women were sorting shrimps for animal food. Sponsored by the World bank. Nice boats. Now we had to go back to Kisumu as I had an apointment with a Mason that took me to his lodge. This was also a very interesting part of the day!!!

I walked back and passed a very nice coffee place, that I had missen earlier. When back, Danil and Mikael picked me up again and we went to a shopping center, were the X-mas shopping was going on with lots and lots of people. We had some drinks in a music bar and then Daniel and I took a tucktuck back to the Guest house. That was a full day with many nice experiences!! Now its time for bed!

Tee and pancakes in the livingroom.

Mikael, me and the crying child!!!

The Stones!

The bishop greated us with a praire.

The local church.

Inside the church.

The stone shrine. Kit Mikayi

The Free Mason hall.

Christmas shopping!!

A day in Kisumu

After breakfast this morning I walked out along the main road and ended up at Kenya Airlines and I got my ticket printed. After that I went across the street to establish a contact with a free Mason. We had a nice talk, he told med the owner of the place were I'm staying is a rotarian and we decided to meet tomorrow and he should show the premisses. I went on walking and after a quite Long walk I ended up at the Kisumu museum. I had to pay 500 Ksh compared with a local who should pay 100 Ksh.

It was interesting to see and there was a village were the man had his house, and his first, second and third wife had there houses as well as his sons. There were of course a lot of other things to see and the most dangerous snake, the black mamba, was special to see. 

After this visit I started walking back and I passed the Kenyatta park were soccer matches were ongoing. Back to my place I had a nice talk with the owner, the rotarian, and was Himmelfärd involved in Aga Kahn foundation.

Out again trying to find a map of the town, but no luck. I went in a certain direction, trying to find the Cathedral, but it was too far, so I gave it up.

Back thru streets filled with salens activities, interesting. 

In the evening I went to the normal restaurant and I had a fish with spinach steew and rice, good.

Denis, from WMU in Malmö was coming and we had some beers and a good chat. He had come all the way from Mombasa and we are going to spend the last three days here together.

The museum

The mans hut surrounded by his wifes.

Kisumus "Rosengård" ?

Street sale!!!

A nice beer with Denis.

Rotary Doctors!

I was picked up 8.30 this morning and it was about 1 1/2 hours drive. We passed Luanda, Sabatia and arrived at a Hotel in Mumias. Some 80 voulonteers had come to get educated by Daniel and Jacinta. They work one day a week when the doctor comes to their place. It was interesting to listen to this for a while. Then a driver took me on a ride to two other waterprojects. It was far away form the big roads and we walked the last part. Some kids followed us to get Water from the spring, that was sponsored by Orust RC. To sponsor such a Project would cost around 15.000 SEK and is almost as vital for the local people as the doctor. Clean water is very important to stay healthy. 

We went further to find a pump that was installed 1990 and stil working, so its sustainable projects. This pump was located close to a house were the doctor should have patiens ones a week. 

We went back to the Hotel, just in time for lunch that we had in the doctors house in Mumias. 

After lunch at around 2pm the driver took me back to Kisumu after a very interesting day. Rotary Doctors are doing a fantastic work in this area!!!

When I got back I took a walk and then I had a Soup at the restaurant. 

"My student" at WMU in Malmö is coming to Kisumu tomorrow evening! He is from here but works and lives in Mombasa.

The Doctor's house in Mumias.

Daniel giving lectures for the voulonteers.

The spring sponsored by Orust RC. Kids collecting Water.

The kids are carying the Water back home.

The pump made 1990. 

The house were the doctor will work one day a week.

Africa.

Rotary Doctors and Mama Sara!

This morning I should be picked up at 8am so I hurried getting up and then out to another restaurant for breakfast ! Daniel came and picked me up and we went away northwest, the same way I had come with the bus. On the road we met two young students from Lund that had made an exams work on Malaria, very nice talking to them. After about one hour we came to the residence for Rotary Doctors. Its a basic house in a place called Siaya. I man takes care of all the contacts with the athourities so the doctor can concentrate on their field work. They start from here every morning and go to a certain place and the next day to another place and next week its the same routine. They do a very cost effective work here and I feel that every money spent goes to those who are in need. The patients don't accept paying for a visit to the doctor unless they get some medicin!!! It was very good to see this. After we've visited here we went out to a place that the doctors had left to the local people, so its a sustainable system, whereby the doctor stays and establish it and then the doctor moves further out in the rural areas. The road to get to the place gave me lots of "African massage"! I got a very good picture of the good work the doctors are doing.

We went again and now we were heading for the Obama place. We came there and we asked the guard (a policeman) if it was possible to vist Mama Sara, and Yes! We had to present our ID and then we could walk in. There were some other people talking to her but they told us to step forward and we were greated by Barack Obama's Grand Mother, Mama Sara! We had a very nice talk and Daniel was translating. She talked a lot and she was very proud of Barack! We were allowed to take some photos and then we left. It was a great moment to meet the grandma of the president of the US!!!

Now we went back to Kisumu and it had been a very interesting and good morning! We said goodby and see you tomorrow and I took a walk in town. 

In the evening I had a very tasty dinner at the Green Garden rest! 

When I got back I went up to the roof top terrace and took a picture of the Sunset over Victoria Lake!

The Doctor's house in Siaya. Basic but good!

This used to be a place were the doctor came every week. Now the local people take care of it themselfes.

Africa

Africa 

A photo on a wall at Mama Saras place!

Me and Mama Sara!

A good tasty dinner in the evening!

Sunset from the rooftop terrace!

On the road to Kisumu, Kenya!

This morning I woke up before the ringing. I packed all my things and went down for a small breakfast, a banana, a piece of toast with butter and a cup of coffe. I didn't dare to drink or eat more as I know the buses don't stop often. I checked out and the man came to pick me up and he took me to the bus station. There were allready a couple waiting one hour before estinated departure. So it was just to wait. The bus came and we went on. A good thing was that they tagged all laguage-it feels better. 

The seats were very comfy and I had a good seat. A man working with orphanage children in Bisca was sitting next to me. They had 377 orphanage children at this place. He was interesting in finding partner and we exchanged contacts. After about two hours we reach the boarder and we all had to get of the bus and line up for passport check. We filled in a form, had to pass Security and wait. It went quit fast and soon I was out again, trying to find my bus. Lots of people walking in all directions and finally I saw the bus in far distance. I walked ther and sat down in the bus. Children were begging for money and I gave some to two small boys and after that another boy was knocking at the bus to get some as well! 

Soon the bus went of again and we picked up some new passengers. The hut became a more comon way of housing here. 

After another two hours we arrived in Kisumu and I went of and took my luggage. Were was I? I tried to locate myself from the sun and I had seen the lake - it must be that direction and I walked with my back pack, one on the back and one in the front! I started to ask for directions and soon I found the way, and it wasn't far away. Checked in and got a room. Out and to a bank to get some money, they didn't take my Uganda money. I was hungra as I hadn't eaten anything since this morning. I finally found the Green Garden and had a dinner! It started a heavy rain with some thunder so everyone had to go inside, not to get wet.

Now I'm back and laying in my bed. It's good to be here. Good night everyone out there!

Waiting for the bus coming from Kampala.

At the boarder!

The bus at the boarder!

Finally at destination, the tall house with rooftop terraze to the right!

In the restaurant in the dark evening!