Here is the link to 500 pictures from the trip:
http://picasaweb.google.com/parkeralbum/MaddiSMakeAWishTrip#
Our last two days in Kenya were magical. Rudy and Marianne, our hosts at the Manor, arranged for us to go to the Rift valley to a warm springs that they know the owners of. They arranged the Kenyan children (Teddy, Linda, and Sylvia) that we played with on Friday to come with us. An incredible picnic was packed and off we went.
We drove through an area that was what is more typical of Kenyan communities. We have been staying in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi, which is quite nice. The Prime Minister and other influential people all live in this area of walled in compounds protected by guards and electric razor wire. Our drive, on the other hand, brought us to an area that was squalid by the most generous observation. Many small shops crowded along the street with vendors selling anything from cell phone time, pool games, sodas, and freshly butchered meat. These businesses are usually in a small shack that is put together with any materials that are available and are not much more than 10-12 feet across. The number of people walking is amazing. Anyways, we drove through and got many double takes. They were amazed to see some Kenyan children driving with us in this tourist van. Everyone was nice and many smiled at us as we drove through.
We drove on until we topped out above the escarpment of the Rift Valley! What a sight. We stopped for some pictures and Julie found some last minute gifts. Bartering has become quite fun. We drove into the Rift and descended down into the most amazing paradise we have laid our eyes on to. We went to a place called Mayer's Farm, a natural spring where volcanically heated water comes out of the earth at about 78-80 degrees. The water is pure, so much so that it is bottled at the source and happened to be the water that we brought with us that day. The place is literally an oasis, covered with Acacia trees, ferns, flowers, and grass. It was more beautiful than Hawaii or any other place we have seen. The water forms into pool, with one shallow for kids and one about 4-5 feet deep. The kids ran down and quickly got in the water. One of the many amazing things about the day was discovering that Teddy, Sylvia, and Linda had NEVER been swimming in their entire lives. The splashed and the joy on their face was contagious. In fact, George, our 40 year old driver, had never been to a place such as this and has never explored the Rift Valley, even though he has to cross it to get home. Since he does not have a vehicle, he has always had to take the bus. We found out that most Kenyans have never been to many of their own parks. None of the staff at the manner have ever been to either Mt. Kilimanjaro or to Masai Mara. To them, ALL of the tourists destinations are financially impossible for them. Anyways, seeing the kids enthralled in their experiences was truly a gift that will never be lost to Julie or I. After an incredible picnic, we walked up a trail to literally the widest tree that we have ever seen. It was a Boa (sp?) tree, which can be tapped for rubber apparently. While not incredibly tall, it had to have a span of nearly 300 feet. So cool!!! We then went back for some swimming in the big pool and some relaxation in the sun. All in all, probably one of the neatest days for us as a family that we have had.
Many bonds have been formed on our trip. The children with the kids, our relationship with Rudy and Marianne, and the relationship that we all made with the Kenyan staff. Knowing that Sunday was our last day, we tried to make the most of it. We savored our last breakfast with the giraffes, trying for that last touch of their long, gentle tongues. We enjoyed the company of the staff that we have grown to love. Any extra time with Cosmos, Peter, and Paul is enough to fill the impending void. Last photographs, an extra cup of coffee, the kiss of a giraffe. Never enough, but as lasting as a stone statue. After breaking our fast, we returned to the room to finish packing and getting ourselves organized for the rest of our last day. We got the boys watching one of their pirated movies (we bought 2 DVD's in Karen for 1000 Shillings (about $12) that have well over 40 Hollywood movies on them, many of which are still in theaters), Julie took Maddie on the front lawn for some more giraffe time and I went into the kitchen.
Ahh, the kitchen...We had been planning on something for a few days. Rudy found out that I know how to make Sushi...and this man lived in Singapore for over ten years, so he has a love for the food. Yet, one can imagine the difficulties of getting Sushi in Kenya. So, he had sent his wife and the chef out for two days scouting out sushi supplies in Nairobi. The old saying is true, where there is a will, there is a way...By Sunday, we had Nori, Gari, rice, vinegar, wasabi, smoked salmon, shrimp, and a wide assortment of vegetables. So, into the kitchen I went to spend a few hours with the cooks. The first thing I noticed was that the great Reggae music that I had been enjoying hearing them listen to was gone. The replacement? Some VERY bad sounding 80's pop from America...Debbie Gibson or something like that....:~(!!! I asked them if they had changed the music for me and they said yes. Much to their surprise, they were delighted to hear me ask them to put the Reggae back on and to hear that I liked it. So, for the next hour, we listened to Reggae and talked about all of the different styles they liked. Their own Kenyan version of Reggae is called "home grown" and is pretty good. With songs like Cocoa Tea's "Barak Obama" playing, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxn9jhypHfo) rolling Sushi with Kassan was a blast. The cooks are incredible, truly masters who picked up the sushi thing incredibly fast. All I had to do was show them once and off they went. In fact, once I got them going on regular and inside-out rolls, I was able to take off with Julie and the kids for a last outing.
We drove around Karen to a few last shops and back to Mat Bronze, an amazingly peaceful bronze work foundry and showplace that has about the worlds most incredible coffee shop. One would be hard pressed to find a nicer place to drink coffee anywhere. With an open veranda looking out to acacia trees, life-sized bronze sculptures of African animals, leather couches, and a cool breeze, we enjoyed our Mochas with George, our driver for the week, as the kids ran around on the grass. All of the coffee drinks are served with sculpted African animal chocolates that they make there. It was wonderful and bitter sweet at the same time, kind of like the coffee/chocolate combination. Knowing that this was our last time with George, we soaked all of the last moments up with him as we sipped our drinks. He is an amazing man, full of grace, wisdom, and that uncanny ability to connect with Maddi. Many times during the trip, he pushed Maddi around while we shopped, or played with Everest and the kids love him. He has one of those souls that when you are in his presence, you know that you have been graced and we will love him forever. Unfortunately, the clock was ticking and we had to get back.
Once back, I helped the guys put the finishing touches on the sushi and we enjoyed our last meal at the Manor. Sushi, giraffes, and the African savanna....No folks, it DOES NOT get any better than this.
Maddi spent the last three hours at the Manor with the giraffes. the boys and I packed up and joined Maddi and Julie on the veranda for cookies, more giraffes, wart hogs, and a lizard and basked in the last African sun. Marianne and Rudy gave Maddi a set of the giraffe embroidered napkins and an incredible hand-sewn giraffe apron as parting gifts, way more than we could have ever expected from them.We were able to get pictures with the staff and some last shots of the Manor and it's giraffes. We got the car packed and tried to choke back the impending tears for the goodbyes. All of the staff came out hugs, tears, and goodbyes were exchanged. As we drove out the gates, we were surprised once again by ALL of the staff waving their final goodbyes. Even now, the moment brings full tears to my eyes. They are some of the most amazing people that we have ever met and have made it a priority to come back as soon as we can. We have fallen completely and utterly in love with the country and it's people.
George drove us our last drive and got us to the airport. With a final tearful goodbye, we entered the world of airplanes and airports that we did not emerge from until 31 hours later. On the way, we enjoyed art galleries in the Amsterdam airport and spectacular views of Greenland. Our limo driver was waiting for us in S.F. and we were all passed out by the Bay Bridge. Ironically, as we emerged from the limo in front of our house, our dear friend Diane was happening by on her way to a cello lesson and she saw us in all of our travel/jet lag/just woke up from a three hour nap glory. We barely remember talking to her and I distinctly remember feeling how difficult it was to sleep. She said that we looked and talked like we had been injected with Novocaine. We said a mumbled goodbye, stumbled into the house, tucked the kids into bed and promptly fell asleep.
Thank you Make-a-Wish for giving our daughter and our family the most incredible experience of our lives. It is true, "Dreams do come true!" For Maddi, there is no possible thing that could have ever been given to her that is more meaningful to her. Thank you, thank you, thank you....
Love,
Maddison Parker and Family
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