the blanket ladies...

We have a group of ladies at our church that meet weekly to make blankets.  This is not about seeing who can quilt the best...or whose blanket takes the prize.  It's about providing warmth and comfort for the impoverished...for refugees...for those in countries experiencing disasters.  Their goal is to make 300 annually...and they always seem to surpass that.  When we were in Kenya...we helped distribute blankets in the slums...blankets that had arrived by container from Canada.  How I wished that these women could have been there to see the joy that a blanket can give!

Janet and I had promised that we would join them one Tuesday...show them some pictures...and share our Kenyan experience with them. 

Yesterday was the day!  While they wrapped up their blanket-making session...we whipped up some mango milkshakes to give them a wee taste of Kenya.  As they sipped...we took them back to Kenya through our pictures and our stories.   And we hoped they could see just a bit of the impact their Tuesday afternoon get-togethers have on the other side of the globe.  This I know...they are not planning to quit churning out the blankets anytime soon!

As for the mango milkshakes...here's what you need to enjoy the taste of Kenya in your own home.

• 1 ripe mango...peeled, pitted and sliced
• 2 scoops vanilla ice-cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a blender...and blend until smooth. 
Pour into two glasses. (Everything tastes better when shared with a friend!)

Enjoy!

the best way to remember...

It finally arrived!  

Months after we returned from our trip to Africa...

I finally completed my Shutterfly photobook...

and picked it up yesterday. 

Of all the souvenirs from places we visit...

the photobook is always my favorite.  

It brings back the memories of the what we saw...
what we ate...

and the interesting people we met.  

And after a few months...

the names of many of the places escape me...

and so the photobook gives me all the right answers!

(And if it's not in the photobook...I go to my blog.)

We had a few safari animal pictures framed...

and they now hang on a wall in the laundry room. 

A tablerunner, wooden salad tongs, zebra napking rings...

and a carved bread basket...

were all handmade by Kenyans who use the proceeds to feed their families.  

They are all reminders of our time in Africa.

But my favorite keepsake

...is the photobook.

If you have never tried making a one...

just go give it a try.

Upload your photos...choose a style and size of book...

write as little or as much as you choose.

When you are done...

order your completed project.

Never again will you have photos lying around waiting to be put in an album!

Diani Beach

With 25 kilometers of white sand beach...

we had an interesting place to walk every morning.

  

Did I mention early every morning?

With daytime temperatures averaging 32°C during our stay...

we did our walking while it was still cool.

Every day was different...depending if the tide was in or out.

And after the first morning...

we learned not to chat with the would-be vendors along the way!

We didn't really want their company on our walk.

For the most part...

the beaches were empty at that time of day.

A few early risers were out playing in the waves.

During the night...
the waves spewed up their trash onto the shores.

And every morning...

we met these two men in green digging holes
and burying the mess from the previous night.  

By the time they were done...

the beach was pristine for the day!

The locals were putting out their wares...

hoping to entice us into their shoppes.

And yes...

I came home with some of those colourful beach wraps!

Morning or evening...

and anytime in between...

these guys with their glass bottom boat
were on the lookout for tourists they might take for a ride.
  

The concept of riding their vessel out to sea was not all that appealing to us!

We checked out another glass bottom boat parked nearby...

...and couldn't find any glass in the bottom. 

We decided to keep our feet firmly planted on the shore!

We wondered if anyone frequented the businesses we passed by.

Someone was out bright and early repairing fishing nets.  

Every morning we walked the same beach...

and every day it was a new experience.

During the day...

we hung out at the pool overlooking the beach...

armed with a good book and plenty of sunscreen.
 The ocean breeze kept us comfortable despite what the thermometer might say.

I read three non-fiction books about the Masai that week...

and learned a lot about the country I was visiting...

and it's people.

We also met many interesting people...
mostly European tourists.
Most everyone spoke English.

I enjoyed my perch with a view...

as there was always something happening on the water.

It can be very entertaining to watch someone learn to windsurf!

Mango ice-cream called out to us most every afternoon...

...and I couldn't resist taking a picture of their signboard featuring "Mango Judy".

We  enjoyed our relaxing stay at Diani Beach...

in the company of good friends.

Our visit to Africa was coming to an end...

...and Diani Beach was a wonderful part of the trip.

the coast...

Our destination...a resort on the Indian Ocean at Diani Beach some thirty kilometers south of Mombasa.

The area is known for its coral reefs and beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
 

Our transportation...this little shuttle plane operated by Safari Link.  It all seemed pretty laid back at the airport in Nairobi...where we sat next to the tarmac to await our departure. 

We were traveling with our friends, Dave and Janet...and a couple from Belgium joined us for the trip. The flight was only about ninety minutes long...and we flew low enough to catch a glimpse of the terrain beneath us.

We also had a good view of the pilot's instrument panel...and a good whiff of the lunch he ate en route! On a clear day one can see Mt. Kilimanjaro to the south; we just caught a peek of the peak among the clouds.

Our friends in Kenya had booked the resort for us...and we had absolutely no idea what to expect.  While out and about in Nairobi, we dressed somewhat like the locals did...the girls all wear skirts and the guys wear long pants and shirts with collars.  Now we were off to a tourist destination...and so we left most of our clothes in Nairobi...and threw our shorts, capri's, t-shirts, swimsuits and sandals into our bag for our time at the beach.  We were ready for a laid-back time before our return home.

We were in for a bit of a surprise when we arrived at a somewhat upscale resort...and discovered that there was a dinner dress code.  Uh-oh!  The gentlemen were required to wear 'trousers' and shoes for dinner.  My gentleman wore the same pair of trousers every evening...since they were the only ones he had with him.  They hardly qualified as 'trousers'...since they were in reality zip-off cargo pants, but they somehow passed inspection.  His sandals remained hidden beneath the table every evening.  As for the women...they didn't really care what we wore!  From here on in...I will do my homework before I pack the bags for a vacation.

The resort was lovely...

..the rooms bright and spacious.

We were advised upon check-in that we should not leave the resort on foot...it was a dangerous world out there. But walking the beach was totally safe...

 ...since armed guards patrolled the area in front of the resorts.   And so we stuck to the beach!

We couldn't quite be persuaded to take a camel ride...we preferred to watch others instead.

Our first dip in the ocean was a bit of a surprise as well...a pleasant one.  The ocean was as warm as bath water.

Our resort was a monkey's paradise.  Prior to this trip...the only monkeys I had encountered were those in cages in a zoo. 

To see them sauntering down the lane...

eating coconuts on the lawn...

walking along the deck rails...

...or watching us from their perch in the tree nearby, seemed strange to say the least.

This mamma and her baby sat on the chaise lounge next to me as I read.  They provided good entertainment during our stay.

The food was fabulous...and every evening had a different theme.  One night we discovered an empty dining room...

...along with a notice that dinner was being served on the beach. 

With a full moon hanging above our heads...sand beneath our feet and waves lapping on the shore...it was a memorable evening indeed.

Tomorrow you can join me on our morning walk along the beach...if you are up bright and early.

a Masai welcome...

The Masai tribe of Kenya has somehow managed to retain it's ethnic culture, despite all western influences.  For the most part, they live live just as they have for centuries.  They are a semi-nomadic tribe...

...and still herd their cattle as they always have.  If there is no source of water...they move on.  The cattle are their source of food...and their entire way of life revolves around their cattle.  He who has the most cattle and children is the wealthiest!

Just outside the game reserve where we were on our safari...is a Masai village.  We were invited to go for a tour...and were glad for the opportunity.

The Masai warriors were ready and waiting for us when we arrived.  They welcomed us with a traditional dance.

To be a Masai warrior is something to be proud of in their culture.  From boyhood on they learn the responsibilities of being a man and a warrior...with their fathers and other elders as mentors.  Their role is provide security for their animals and families.

  

Part of their routine is to jump...from a standing position straight up. And jump they did!  Apparently the higher they jump...the better their chances of finding the perfect wife.

They challenged our guys to come jump with them.  Here's what we discovered...white man can't jump!

And when the dance was over...they wanted to pose with the girls.  They were a friendly lot!

Then the girls came out of the village to welcome us...and we followed them back for a tour.

Their village is small...maybe ten little mud homes. The houses are built by the women...of sticks, mud and cow dung.  They are tiny...usually with two rooms and not high enough for adults to stand fully upright.  Around the circle of huts is an enclosure made of sharp sticks with thorns...used to protect the tribe and their cattle from predators.  The entire herd of cattle and goats is brought into the village for night.  We were very careful as to where we stepped! 

The chief's youngest son was our tour guide.  It seems he must have broken with tradition, as he was still attending school and spoke fluent English.  He invited us into his home...sleeping and cooking quarters for his unmarried siblings and his parents.  We stooped to enter...and found it so dark and smoky inside that it was difficult to see.  There were no windows...just a tiny hole in the roof which let in a little light...and allowed some of the smoke from the smouldering fire to escape.  We couldn't get back to the fresh air soon enough!

Our tour guide was the youngest of nine children...and he introduced us to his mother.

Stooped and tired...she looked much older than her 65 years. 

Her grandchild played nearby...unable to open his eyes for the flies that clung to him.  Our hearts went out to these people...

...especially the children.  When our tour was over...we discovered it wasn't really over! 

The only way out of their compound was past the tables they had prepared for our benefit...tables spread with their handiwork, which they were hoping we would purchase.  Of course we all came away with something. 

Some took a long time to make their purchases...they know how to drive a hard bargain.  Hubby, on the other hand...decided to pay more than the asking price.  They needed the tip more than we did...he reasoned.

While we 'shopped'...the children played nearby. 

The women and children all keep their heads shaved.

Both men and women pierce and stretch their earlobes....and wear metal hoops in their ears.   The Masai are a tall and distinctive looking people. The men are usually seen wearing a red shoulder cloak and carrying a spear...while striding purposefully across the field.

On their feet...they wear sandals made of old rubber tires.  When he saw me photographing his feet...he wondered if we might want a pair of sandals just like his.  He escorted us back to our vehicle...and we said our farewells before returning to our safari camp.  Little did we know that we would be meeting again in a few hours.

Following our afternoon game drive, we signed up for a bush dinner.  We had no idea what exactly that meant...but we knew we would be eating around a campfire out on the reserve (while the lions roamed nearby)...rather than back at the lodge.

We never really expected to have fine linens and china out there...but we did.  The food and fellowship were great!  As for the entertainment...

...our Masai friends came out to perform...this time around a fire.  It was a Masai welcome we won't forget! 

Over the past year I was involved in supporting the MCC goat stocking program, aimed directly at helping the Masai people become self-sufficient even in times of drought. Our friends in Kenya took part in the first goat distribution last week, and you can read about it right here.  In big and small ways, there are things we can do to help those in need...at home and around the world.