Naivasha

I am in Naivasha..what I'm doing here is of no consequence to this post. I am in what I would call God's gift to nature.. The Great Rift Valley Lodge and Gold Course.
Getting here was a rather scary and tiring experience. It took a two hour drive from the capital city of Nairobi to find this gem that's situated in the middle of nowhere. For those of you more familiar with the topographical nature of Kenya should know that this area is basically in an escarpment/rift valley.
So driving at the edge of a cliff for a full hour has the effect of upsetting your stomach and balance for that matter that by the time we got to the end of my journey-I needed a whiff of smelling salts!!
The drive to the Great Rift Valley Lodge yielded no clue as to the nature of the place which was to be my home for a week. However, two minutes into the majestic gates brought on an air of wonderment and excitement.
The architects of this place have tried to merge development and the wilderness into one and have done a great job!!!
The reception stands right at the centre of the resort with very friendly staff who stand at your beck and call.  The accommodation is divided into three- hotel rooms, cottages and villas. To get to any of these you have to use a bus-weird you might say but the villas are located as far away as 3kms from the reception. They have utmost respect for privacy. This place is better planned than a housing estate, you get the feeling that one of the main reasons this place was built was to give guests a sense of peace, and relaxation from the hustle and bustle of the daily struggles of life.
The architecture of the houses rivals those of the rich moguls that rule the business world. If asked to describe it, I would say, simple but magnificent. You are not bombarded with bold colours or overbearing and out of this world interior designs- you are simply drawn in by the obviously skilled craftmanship and excellent finishing. The houses are sully furnished with fridges, microwaves, washing machines, toasters, kettles, cookers- name it. This place is a home away from home.

Majority of the structures are double storied to give the guests a good view of the lake Naivasha and the surrounding wilderness and escarpment. They have beautifully manicured compounds with barbeque stands, benches that make you want to throw an outdoors party and invite all the neighbours. Each house is hidden from prying eyes by a plethora of different species of plant life that make a rainbow of colours of nature. You realise as you look around that this is no coincidence-the trees, flowers and shrubs are largely left to grow freely, only a bit of pruning here and there to maintain their beauty is what is done.

As you take a walk around the lodge which is by no means an easy feat (the lodge covers over more than a 100 acres) you feel at one with nature.  I have not had the opportunity to "bump" into any wild animals but I feel like a basic creature-at one with creation, the air is fresh-untainted by the pollution of the big cities. The deep appreciation that I feel makes me thank God for the things that I take for granted every day.

There are a large number of bird species here. They seem undisturbed by the human presence around them. The freedom with which they strut, fly and belt out their songs makes me envious. They are in paradise and they are not afraid to show it. Makes me think about the Bible verse that's basically questions why Man worries yet God takes care of the birds in the sky. 


I'm grateful for this experience- my senses have been rejuvenated. This opportunity to see yet another expression of God's mighty handiwork has not been wasted. I look forward to yet another chance to be at one with nature as I have been this week!!!

GRAVITY

Something has changed
Im through with playing the second fiddle,
Im trusting my instincts this time!
I'm going all out this time!
No more cowering and sceond guessing myself!!
Prepare for the new me- Its time to live!!!

Utter randomness

How do you tell someone not to lean too close to you when they are talking to you?
At this point you can actually fill the spittle lightly shower your bare arm/face?
Personal space is exactly that-personal...
I won't share it with you..
I don't have to share it with you..
So if i shove you backwards with strong words veiled in politeness
Don't get offended..
IT'S MY SPACE
and I like it PERSONAL!!!

We are worthy!!

Sometimes I can't seem to find my way- I feel so lost, I can't focus and then out of the blue....I realise I'm blessed...if I were to actually count my blessings think I would shed tears in shame at my selfishness and self centeredness!!


Many times we get caught up in self pity, self loathing, feelings of inadequacy et cetera..
But we are more than we think, WE CAN DO ANYTHING..ANYTHING that we set our minds to..

In the words of Cece Winans' song:

For He counted us worthy, so lets be worthy
Just trust and know
He is strong enough to carry on
He counted us worthy, so lets be worthy
oh my soul

So lets Step up!!! Shape up!! Climb those mountains!! Explore the moon!!
Do not shirk from the great authority that has been bestowed upon you!!

KENYA AIRWAYS

Date 1st MAY 2010.
If anybody had told me prior to my flight that I would spend two days in transit, I would have written them off as crazy!!! It all started with an announcement that my flight scheduled to leave Uganda for Nairobi at 7.55pm had been delayed and would leave at 9pm the same night.

Time Check: Five minutes to 9pm..Announcement, we regret to inform you that KQ flight 415 has been delayed and will not arrive till 10pm..panic mode...i have a connecting flight to Amsterdam at 10.30pm I will never make it!!!!!!!

The flight attendant assures me not to worry and tells me that I will most defintely be on the first flight out to Amsterdam the next morning, as much as I would have loved to wring her neck, I calmed down.

The flight to Jomo Kenyatta airport is full of turbulence and the pilot does nothing to soothe our nerves and anger, he tries to apologise for the delay and states that, "there was an emergency in Malawi and we had to send your plane to help out" I grabbed on to the arm rest to keep from screaming what in the world has the Malawi crisis got to do with us?? Why are we the sacrificial lambs??


Anyway we get to JMKI Nairobi and the queue for those who had missed their flights was a mile long!! Time check 12.00am 2nd May, I get to the desk, and the attendant informs me that the next flight to Amsterdam will leave Nairobi on Sunday night at 10.20pm!!!

I was speechless,things were getting from bad to worse and I was powerless to do anything. I am directed to the hotel accomodation desk were I am checked into a hotel for the night. With the stories of JMKI and luggage issues, I ask to take my luggage with me to my hotel room.

Time check 1.00am-no luggage in sight. An attendant explains to me that the process of retreiving luggage ordinarily takes two hours considering that they have to sift through thousands of pieces to identify particular pieces. I swoon...next thing I know i'm seated on a chair..thank God for feminine charm!! :)

Time check 2.00am, Location: Red Court Hotel.
The hotel is pleasant enough, I'm grateful for a bed, considering my exhaustion and somehwat glad that my flight has been delayed because I have a whole day to lie in and just rest.

Time check 8.00pm Location JMKI Airport. I get to the airport early enouch to ensure that this time I do not miss my connection flight. I got to the transfer desk and all seems fine. I ask about my connecting flight from Amsterdam to my final destination and I'm told that the next flight would be at 8.20pm. I explain to the attendant that I get to Amsterdam at 5.00am! and there are flights at 7.20 am so I should be put on any of those.

The attendant informs me not to worry, that once I got to Amsterdam, the KLM desk will be able to transfer my flight from 8.20pm to an earlier flight. I relax thinking that every eventuality is now covered and I can atleast get to my destination and and catch the beginning of the conference.

Time Check 3.00am, I am awakened by the cries, no, screams of a baby in pain, this goes on for close to two hours..my sleep disappears.

Date 3rd May 2010, Time check 6.00am Location: Schipol airport Amsterdam, KLM Transfer desk. I explain my predicament to the desk staff and I quote, "THEY LIED TO YOU, WE CANNOT CHANGE FLIGHTS FROM A LATER FLIGHT TO AN EARLIER FLIGHT, IT CANNOT HAPPEN"

Disbelief, shock, outrage run through my veins, my blood boils, I see red!!! (DAMN YOU KQ!! DAMN YOU!!!) Then I count to ten, breath in and out slowly and find a bench to ponder my fate. I'm in Amsterdam and my flight leaves at 8.20pm, what in the world am I going to do for 14 HOURS??????

The day manages to go by, between sleep on benches, surfing the net, Mac Donalds, I'm hanging in there, I thank God for my ipod and keep reassuring myself that atleast there's no ash in the skies.

Time Check 8.20pm I'm on my way to Geneva Switzerland, If i wasn't so exhausted I would have a smile on my face, hold a conversation about nothing in particular with my neighbour, but I am tired, I'm hungry, my back aches-I need a bed, not to mention a shower! I dose off through out the duration of the flight.

Time check 10.00pm Location Gare Cornvain-Geneva!!! I had arrived!!! Its cold, raining, but in my mind's eye the sun was shining and the birds chirping..I had a swing in my step boy was I Happy!!!

And thats the end of my story about a journey that was supposed to take 11hours that instead took 2days. Good luck to you all in your future travels and FOR MORAL OF THE STORY..GO FIGURE!!