After 3 flights, over 20hrs of travel, a few mechanical problems and 2 aborted landings i've finally arrived in Mombasa, with my luggage! No thanks to the clerk in Edinburgh Airport who told me that my luggage would be transferred directly to Mombasa, Ha yeah right! Luckily i spotted it going round the carousel as i passed through immigration in Nairobi. The Kenyan people are very friendly but Mombasa is not quite what i expected. It is far less built up than i had originally thought and the difference between richer an poorer neighbourhoods can be quite shocking at times.
My hotel is very nice, white sandy beaches, palm trees, all that stuff and more. However like most of the hotels here they are all self contained compounds with high walls and security and sometimes it can seem more like a very nice prison. It's ok for a few nights and you get all the creature comforts from home but staying in a place like this just seems wrong on so many levels. I am quite looking forward to getting out to Wasini and experiencing the real rural Kenya.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Friday, 24 September 2010
Getting There
I'll be flying out on the 29th of September from Edinburgh to Amsterdam, then to Nairobi and then finally on to Mombasa. The Program doesn't start till 02/10/10 so I've got a couple of days to acclimatise. It's going to be quite a shock to the system, especially when I get to Wasini as there's no running water or electricity. Time to release the shackles of technology!
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Ok so i'm off to Kenya on September the 29th to work for GVI (Global Vision International) and i've decided to keep an online journal.
I'll be staying in Shimoni and Mkwiro on Wasini Island (about 3-4hrs drive south and a short boat trip south of Mombasa) which is situated within the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park.
The aim of the program is to research cetacean (marine mammals i.e. whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and colobus monkeys populations, sea turtle distribution and study coastal forest biodiversity.
I'll post photos and updates about the program and hopefully provide an insight into my life and work on the Island.
See you all in a year!
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