KENYA, MAY 2010

3 May 2010
I am at Sharova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. I have spent two days in Nairobi now. Arrived in the morning and was collected at the airport. Then went to the hotel where I went to the bed to sleep. Then tried to contact people but found that Fujihara from Japan was coming to the same Hotel but nobody in the Hotel knew when. Later on in the afternoon he arrived so we had a nice meal together. Today’s meeting at Science and Technology was a good meeting though some papers were a bit irrelevant. Tomorrow morning I had to give the first paper. I feel a bit unable but maybe a good thing. So tomorrow night we will go out with Abdulrazak. There has been a big oil spill at the gulf coast near Mexico and USA.

5 May 2010
Nakura Century Hotel. Yesterday my paper went down very well I think and I hope. I tried to aim for future activities of animal production and I feel we were speaking together. Today Razak decided to take Fujiharu and I to Nakuru and Egerton. First we went to Nairobi national Park to see wild buffaloes, lions, ostriches, wild bucks, rhinos, wild birds etc. Then off to Nakuru Park the Salt Lake and then Egerton to meet up with many old friends. We found that the sign for IFRU was not there; it had been destroyed due to water. I talked to the vice chancellor and he assured me if would be up in two weeks.

Then we were off to the goat projects. There were a lot of tribal problems at the election two years ago. Goats were starved to death or stolen and houses were burnt. Now seem to be better but the chicken project was really gone. They were dancing for us as usual. Unfortunately my camera refused to work. Tonight we were eating at a Chinese restaurant in Nakuru. I think I was there before. Tomorrow we are going to Lake Nakuru to see flamingos and then back to the meeting in Nairobi. We have to get up early, before 7 to see the flamingos and be back. It was very nice to meet up with the women goat group. One had lost all her goats. I gave her 100 USD to buy a young female goat.

7 May 2010
Yesterday was another exciting day. We went through Nakuru national park on the way back to Nairobi. We were wanting to be back to listen to Kevin Uramas paper at 11 in Nairobi Kenyatta International Centre. We just got there but a very bad accident on the road almost stopped us. We had a four wheel driving car so we went through the ditch and managed to get back to the road but what a palava. I do no know what caused the accident but a large lorry was upside down. Then we got there but also Kenya’s President, Vice President and Prime Minister had a large session in the same building.

In the afternoon we went back to Razak’s office then back at 14:30 when the President had to leave. Very formal with orchestra etc. I saw the President but did not speak to him of course. There were so much police and security to keep him safe. Then in the evening we went to a restaurant with a group of friends including Fujihara but also four more Japanese, Kevin and Razak’s friends. Had to get up early to get the plane in Nairobi. So here I am in Amsterdam on way back. No ash from the Icelandic volcano in the air this time but a problem when I left.