It's finally official: The Kenya trip is ON!

[thatcrazycajun]

After struggling with a balky airline website, scheduling issues and my own rather shaky finances for the better part of a week, I have finally managed to purchase my plane tickets to Nairobi for next month. I leave Atlanta on the 8th and return home on the 26th. I get a layover in Amsterdam both ways (no airline has direct, nonstop service from ATL to NBO as yet), but not much time to do anything outside of dash to my connecting gate and (maybe) have a quick airport meal. And I get to spend two and a half weeks with the Songbird, seeing for the first time what her life is like there.

We plan to visit the fabulous Masai Mara national park and the Kenyan coastal beaches, as well as partaking of the local attractions of Kenya's capital city. I also am told I will get to do at least a little driving, which should be quite the adventure given that Nairobi doesn't have the signage, signals and lighting we take for granted on US streets and highways—and does have matatu drivers who make New York cabbies look sane and sedate by comparison (not to mention everybody drives British style, on the wrong side of the road). Naturally, I will have my new digital camera with me and take lots of pictures, which will probably end up on Flickr. And though net access is spotty even at the best of times there, I will also have my laptop and should be able to log on at least two or three times a week.

This will be my farthest trip yet, farther even than the ones I took to Hawaii and Europe decades ago. My employer has graciously granted me my full week's paid leave (even though technically, I haven't actually earned it all yet) to defray at least part of the missed income while I am away from my job. Now I just have to get yellow-fever shots and make sure I have $$$ on hand when I get there for the tourist visa and exit fees. And make sure Ari the Humongous Orange Tabby™ is properly looked after while I'm gone. Pray Al-Qaeda doesn't pick next month to attack and the political climate in Kenya stays calm.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

OMG. You're gonna get to see Kilamajaro. Wow. (*and* your beloved Bird, which is definitely more important to you :)

Safe journey, and yes, post before you leave and good mojo will go with you. Can't wait to see the pics!

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

Agreed. And tell us if you can find any traces of last year's expedition. They were going to build a bridge between the two peaks.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Whee! Together with your beloved!!!! YIPPEEE!!!

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Congrats, have a great time!

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

Hug Songbird for me. Enjoy!

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

Have a good time!

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

Seconded! Hope you both have a wonderful time!

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Wow, exciting/scary! I hope everything works out fine! *hug*

[gingicat]

Have fun!

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Ahem, Brits drive on the Left side of the road. Not the wrong side.

I hope your trip goes well, the idea of drivers worse than any cab driver I've encountered makes my head hurt.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

Make sure you have the right power adapters for your laptop.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reminder, but SB already has one I can borrow.

[filkferengi]

Woot!

[crowatdusk.livejournal.com]

WOW!! It should be amazing - all you'll see - have a fabulous time!! Say Hi to Mary for me. I'll look forward to seeing your pics. I yearn so much to travel but can't afford it. Cal and I want to get to Italy but first and foremost a cross country road trip to see his daughter and grandson. My sister is in Paris right now on a long weekend jaunt - her husband surprised her with it for their 25th wedding anniversary. They know someone who has a flat on the Left Bank where they could stay (alone) for free. And I think he had a gazillion frequent flier miles from his job.

Some day baby!