2017 Kenya Log Entry 3

Kenya is such a country of contrasts. From extreme poverty to incredible opulence. Our first full day there, back on March 31, we needed to get some spending money – Kenyan Shillings – out of the ATM and also stock up on drinking water and snacks. It was decided we would take care of this at the Hub shopping mall in Karen. 

 First, we had to walk for about a half a mile through our little neighborhood. 

 But it wasn’t boring. 

 When we got to Kikuyu Road, we had to catch a matatu. 

 In all my travels, I really haven’t been able to get a credible picture of the inside of a matatu. For starters, it’s not safe to whip out your camera or phone and snap pictures. Someone might just want that piece of electronics bad enough that they will snatch it from you or wait until you pocket it and pick that pocket. Also, it is just plain rude. These people who ride matatus every day of their lives and have no other choice really do not want you trying to capture their mundane lives. 

Nope, not a single picture of a matatu, inside or out. All I have are pictures of the roads we traveled, when we were traveling them in a private van. 

You will just have to use your imagination.  When we got to the Hub, however . . .

 Well, we had to try to imagine that we were still in Kenya. We could have been back in the States in any mall in any large city. 

 The next day, we walked through this market place back in Kikuyu. It just still blows me away. Contrasts. Yup, all about contrasts.