Sunday, January 13, 2013

Weaver Birds, Their Nests, Big Trees, a Shave and a Haircut - Two Bits, a Boda Boda, and a Pickey-Pickey

Each morning we awaken to the sound of a flock of weaver birds in two large trees just outside our room.  This morning was no exception, with more activity than usual.  We looked up and saw at least 25 birds chirping, fluttering around, and actively building nests high up in the trees.  When we looked down, we saw six nests on the ground.  Were they there yesterday after Friday night’s storm?  We don’t know.

 

 

Speaking of big trees, as we were leaving the hotel to walk to the center of town we inquired about the large trees that had been felled recently on the front lawn of the hotel.  Rumor had it that the hotel had cut down three big trees to make room for a helicopter landing pad.  The largest tree, an ancient eucalyptus, had to be 1.25 meters in diameter.  Its remaining stump is being hacked out by hand.  The Golf staff tells us that the area is being cleared of trees so a wedding reception venue can be constructed.  Too bad in either case, the trees were beautiful and certainly more friendly to the environment and the eye than another wedding building or tent.

Leaving the vestiges of the trees behind us, we took the short walk to Tusky’s and then to Nakumatt  to scope out pre-school supplies and things we might need to purchase next week.  Nakumatt “Mega” was surprisingly short of just about anything Sandy thought necessary.  But they did have a lawn mower that could be used to cut our lawn in just three days. That’s my foot next to it. It looks like Tusky’s has become our new second favorite store, behind Yako.

With visions of Nakumatt dancing in our heads we headed through the local open air market in search of sights and then “Main Street”.  The market had the usual assortment of goods on display, most all dusty from the dirt roads and constant traffic.  We bought nothing.

On Main Street stand establishments, all very small, that provide just about any product or service you might desire.  One of these is my Kinyozi.  That’s a barber shop if you did not know.  There a msungu (foreign white man) can get a haircut for anywhere from the African’s price (about 40 shillings or “bob”) to whatever he will pay.  I’d been quoted prices as high as 1000 bob in the past and settled on 200 to 400, but now I’m a recognized returning customer and was quoted a price of only 80 bob – that’s less than a buck.  I don’t have much hair, but the experience feels great, especially since it’s followed up with a head wash and massage.

On the way back to the hotel, we had to stop at my shoe shine guy for a quick clean and polish, including removing the shoe strings and washing them – 20 bob (25 cents), with Christian advice on herbal medicine right next door.

At about 1 PM we decided to try a new place for lunch, the Savona Isle Resort.  It’s about two miles up the road, a 10 minute ride on the back of a boda boda (bicycle) or five minutes on a pickey-pickey (peekee –peekee).  We opted for the boda boda on the way there for safety’s sake.  The resort was built a few years ago but never really made it big.  It’s a on an island, we think, since you have to cross a river to get to it.  Four or five big thatched roof bandas and a swimming pool area seem to comprise the entire thing.  Dust and cobwebs are thick on the beams inside the bar and restaurant area.  The staff is pleasant and helpful.  The pool and surrounding play area attract lots of kids, all of whom have to pay to get in.  We had chicken and chips in the bar along with a cold beer – all very tasty.  With lunch and beer in our bellies, we ran the gauntlet of kids asking for money near the bridge (and a hooker on the bridge) and flagged down a single pickey-pickey to get us home.  The pickey-pickey was in fact far more comfortable than the boda boda and we felt more secure too, especially since the driver went slowly (Sandy having said poli,poli - slowly, slowly - a couple of times in his ear as we started).