We are back in Tala! It was a whirlwind week and just to emphasize that….Tarrin arrived on Thursday, we visited the property on Friday and settled our plans for the safari, Saturday was birthday party day (go here for that blog entry), Sunday we packed and got ready to leave, Monday we left for Nairobi, Tuesday we were on our way to Masai Mara where we spent 3 days, left on Thursday back to Nairobi, saw a movie on Friday (Kung Fu Panda 2-very cute!), returned to Tala on Saturday and Sunday we visited HOREC (Hope for Orphans REscue Center) and met up with a high school friend! Now I give you that synopsis to tell you this story (then I’ll get to the photos!). On our first day of safari (Tuesday afternoon) we were in the safari truck (by the way I have a wonderful connection now for trips within Kenya!) and Tarrin says “this is so cool and I can’t believe I’ve been here over a week and a half!” To which Chuck and I both looked at her and said “you’ve only been here 5 days!” We had packed so much in her first week she felt she’d been here a lot longer! Now, however, we can say it’s been over a week and more to come!
With no further delay here are photos from our safari:
We got real close to the wildlife!
have to give Tarrin the credit for this fabulous photo!
at the border of Kenya and Tanzania (Masai Mara is on the Kenyan side, Serengeti is on the Tanzanian side)
after some rough roads through the Masai Mara-but our driver, Moses, did a great job!
out for our first game drive
very colorful lizard
mom and baby preparing for a nap on the beach
picnic lunch on the Mara
visitors during our picnic lunch...forget ants we got giraffe!
checking out the view (and giraffe) during lunch
no need for telephoto lens...this guy was right next to the truck!
Hippos and crocodiles live in harmony...until the migration begins then the rules go out the window!
We were also given the opportunity to visit a traditional Masai village during our safari (would highly recommend doing this is you ever get the opportunity):
I was shown how the ladies make the ornamentation...my old eyes are not good for this type of work but they had no problems with those tiny beads
one of the many children running around at the village
Tarrin had fun with the little kids
During the safari I was awed by the amount of space set aside for these animals (over 1000 sq km’s for Masai Mara and over 11,000 sq km’s for Serengeti) and the beauty and variety of God’s creations…not only the animals but the variances of people groups living within Kenya. Such rich traditions yet seeing how they incorporate modern technology – while sitting in a Masai home our guide’s cell phone went off!
We ended the hectic week on Sunday visiting HOREC and meeting up with a high school friend who we haven’t seen in 30 years (our 30 year class reunion is actually sometime this month!) and he just happened (totally a God-incident!) to be approximately 2 km’s from our construction site at HOREC. We have interacted with HOREC in the past and was thrilled to visit with them once again.
this little guy was a total ham for the camera
some kids had whistle pops, this kid didn't but he made his own whistle!
thankfully the whistle pops were staying with the kids!
handing out sweets
love that these kids are used to "whites" visiting!
Tarrin made new friends...
...while we met up with a friend from the past (great seeing you Jeff!). I think Chuck and Jeff could have walked down memory lane for a long time!
lunch time at HOREC
Jeff and a part of his crew came to visit the construction site for True Vine Children’s Home since it is so close to HOREC! Talks, plans and ideas were flying and I’m excited to see what God has in store for all of us! After we dropped them back off at HOREC (they were heading out for safari the following day) we visited Anastacia for a bit before coming home and relaxing with cheese burgers and a movie.
nice way to end the day...with a sweet!
I haven’t written much about our experiences (those will come up in later blog posts) but you can go to our Photo Gallery for more photos (click 2011 Kenya > Life) and you can read Tarrin’s blog (she’s much better at describing experiences) and see more of her photos. Also be on the look out for a video…Masai dancing, cheetah stalking and much more!
Tarrin is good but you are pretty darn impressive yourself sis!
Glad to see “game drive” than “game hunt” — sadly met a man at Coffee Bean today with cutest puppy. he proceeded to inform me he’s raising it to fight so he can gamble on it. I was horrified, told him that’s illegal and Vick went to prison for it and walked away. Once in my car called animal services that had no way or no desire to help. called and left message for PETA but ….well, I digress. happy to hear you are enjoying the animals and not hunting them. (which I know you would NEVER do, I simply call it out here so no one considers it seeing these amazing creatures)
YOUR HAIR! (yes, I transition and I transition quickly). WOW! it is long….and not quite as black as I recall it. 🙂 but you look ridiculously amazing!
can you send that color swatch of that lizards red…it’s about the color I want in my new soon to be OWNED dining room.
Giraffes at a picnic. please, that’s nothing, here in the states we could have ants, roaches, squirrels… I mean, we have wild life sis. don’t you forget that. 🙂
pic of lion. no words. I think I’m in love with lion/lioness pics. what regal creatures. amazing.
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to spend time with those women in the villages. I have a very strong passion for strong women with a goal and they seem to have it. very inspiring considering their limited means and resources. impressive.
and that baby! too cute.
and of course, Miss Teacher Tarrin is bonding with the kids, making fast friends with the whole bunch.
lastly, i am amazed that in a country and in circumstances like that, cell phones would be ringing. how cool is technology? now if it could only intertwine with God’s message and the world adopt that as quickly and easily as they adopt Apple or Sprint.
Love you sis. Great story.