Back to reality

I'm currently sitting in Addis airport getting ready to board the airplane soon to head back to Gondar. Don't get me wrong, I really am looking forward to getting back to Gondar, back to work, starting another semester  with new students, my friends, my "house", I even miss Ethiopian food...BUT, this vacation was much needed and one of the best experiences of my life.

My last post was about Nairobi and looking back, still I am just in awe of how well we were treated and how blessed we were to stay with such an incredible family. After a few days in Nairobi, we took the night bus to Mombassa and Mombassa proved to be nothing less than amazing.

The first night in Mombassa we stayed at a backpackers hostel. We went out on the town the first night and partied in a beach bar that when we got too hot from dancing, we could just walk out to the ocean. As Nigisti and I were standing on the beach cooling off, it was just one of those moments where life just feels surreal.

We spent about 5 days in Mombassa playing at the beach, picking sea shells, laying in the sun, swimming in the ocean, sneaking into fancy resorts, eating fresh fish, consuming our weight in icecream (a luxury we don't have here in Gondar), shopping, finding amazing East African fabrics, we rode on a camel and on a bodaboda (motorcycles that are used as taxis around town), we visited Holler Park a conservation/zoo type place to feed giraffes and met some amazing people.

Other than the first night, we stayed with a lady who we met through couchsurfers.org (best invention ever). Her place was in a great location, she was so helpful and a good time to hang out with. There was another couchsurfer staying at her place at the same time, and small world because he was from Chicago! So it was a good time getting to know them and hanging out with people.

I feel so thankful to have had such a great vacation- seriously, people are so good. This world is so incredible and filled with many terrible things...BUT so many more amazing things. Heading back home with loads of jewelry, fabrics and a killer sunburn on my shoulders. I think I saw it's been a success :)

Here a few pics of the trip...

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Re-energized faith in humanity

I don't care who says different, people are good, this world DOES have people are are truly genuine, kind people. While being in Kenya, I've witnessed many of them.

Countless people had warned us about Nairobi and when we were sitting, waiting in the terminal at Bole International Airport in Addis, Ethiopia the same happened. My friend Nigisti who I'm traveling with and I were talking about our plans once we got to Nairobi.....or lack there of. After overhearing this, the woman in front of us turned around to again, warn us about Nairobi and tell us to take care. Little did she know we would be staying at her house the next four nights ;)

As we began to talk to this stranger in front of us, she told us lots of places too see, what to eat, where to go and what to be careful of. Alarmed that we did not have solid plan of where we were going, or how we were getting there, she offered to give us a lift. That offer then extended to inviting us to stay at her house with her and her family.

Tuesday through Friday night, Sandra and her family hosted us, fed us, and showed us around Nairobi. We each had a nice bed to sleep in with clean sheets and a hot shower to take. We went to the big markets, fruit markets, went out dancing, had homemade Kenyan food, met their friends, became their 2 beautiful daughters "adopted aunts" and made a trip to Nairobi National Park for a game drive. When the bus fell through for the park, their family friends (who were also incredible and drove us into town that day)  set up a private car, who was a friend of theirs, to take us on the game drive. When we left, our clothes were washed, our bellies were full, and she even packed us snacks of fruit, cheese and crackers for the bus trip. It was an incredible 4 days and my faith in humanity has most definitely been re-energized.

We took the overnight bus from Nairobi to Mombassa, Kenya last night and are currently on the coast. We're staying at this great hostel called Mombassa Backpackers. It's about 15$ a night... free pool, internet, hot showers, cook on site, but shared dormitory style bedrooms. There are big rooms as shared living space- a living room, TV room, outdoor porch and great poolside yard. Right now, I'm sitting on an outdoor porch, I hear about 5 different languages being spoken, everyone looks to be between 21-30, Red Hot Chilli Peppers playing in the background- awesome vibe and atmosphere. So far, success.

Alright, so that's it for now :) It's time to change into my swimsuit and walk to the beach (about 5 minutes away). I'm praying for the last half of our trip in Mombassa to be as amazing as our first half in Nairobi.

Cheers  :)

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