The drive through Tsavo national park and the surrounding areas was beautiful. It is startling how the areas we travelled through were very similar to the desert scrub lands of the southwestern united states. We saw gazelles, and even a herd of zebras which got really close to the road, stopping to get a few pictures.
Upon arriving, we drove through Mombassa to the hotel we stayed at in Mtwapa. The hotel is really interesting. In order to get to it, you have to drive down a dirt road, past fields protected by electric fences. Shady.
The hotel is pretty sweet though. It has running water, nice beds, and free breakfast with delicious guava juice. This breakfast can be taken on the rooftop of said hotel, where there is a nice view of the town. It's a great place to sit and enjoy a beverage of your choice, after completing fieldwork.
The fieldwork consists of interviewing different farmers, fishermen, government officials, and indigenous community members. The objective is to primarily get narratives from these different groups in order to understand how the indigenous people are adapting or mitigating climate change.Understandingly, the different groups have different priorities and perspectives.
The different foresters and agrigultural officers we met seemed interested in addressing these issues, but they are more interested in improving crop yields and other issues related to hunger and economic development. In contrast, some of the farmers are interested in preserving the traditional ways, while others are simply interested in maintaining a livelihood. Some practice a method known as serial banking, where individual farmers set aside seed for the community for a hedge against poor harvest.
Finally, we interviewed a third group, the Kaya elders. These guys definitely care about the kayas. They are extremely passionate about their preservation. Because of their age, the elders speak poor swahili and no english, mostly confined to their tribe dialects. This is a major factor in cultural declline of the Kayas, as the elders cannot pass down information to the younger generation, which mostly speak swahili and english, compounded by the fact that the young are leaving villages for cities.
Kimani, Leah, and I went to visit a Kaya that abutted some very expensive homes on the coast. The forest structure was interesting because the forest floor was bare, like an old growth forest in america, but there were canopy gaps due to forest use by the tribes who used to live in the forest.
We also spent our nights at Rongai quality meat, and Chomazone, eating nyoma choma. Sometimes we also got indian food, as the coast has a plethora of different cuisines, due to the different cultural traditions there. Usually waking up, I would hear Islamic prayers in the morning.
Following the return to the Nairobi area, Bryson and I made another forray into Nairobi for groceries at Tusky's. We picked up cooking supplies, and groceries for the week.
Things are really falling into place.
Leah has been a little sick so she stayed while we went shopping.
Following shopping:
Leah: I am going to eat some cereal. Are you afraid of me touching it[due to sickness]?
Bryson: No. I also want to join you in eating cereal.
This weekend, we were also invited to our friend George's house for Madraka day, the Kenyan indpenedence day from the British.
George lives close to work, and he bought his son James with him . The path to their house winds through a eucalyptus plantation, up steep terrain. It's beautiful.
George is a self made man. He built his house himself. They use a solar panelfor electricity. George has a few cows, rabbits and chickens. We were served an abundance of food, Chapati, beef stew, , tomato salad, beans, and a delicious dish made from pimpkin leaves and corn. Following dinner we went to a pub. We met a dude there who runs a local cinema, showing dvds for about 10 bob a head.
The rest of the week has been not too bad. Just trying to get projects up and running. Going to nairobi again this weekend.
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