Wedding

My first Kenyan wedding today - and boy am I exhausted! So much colour, dancing, and singing.....words cannot describe it.

I felt a little out of place, (being the only white man amoung the cast of 400) but slowly this is starting to grow on me. I undestand part of celebrity status now -everywhere I go people want to shake hands and meet the mazugoo (white guy).

Also I have decided that I will be flying over the choir of 30 for my wedding, (don't care how much it costs they are definately worth it).

There were a number of memorable events that occured today. The road crew shuvelling hot tar by hand on to a even hotter road for a highway, the huge eagle that swooped down to steal our food, the chest high monkey that we missed by inches while driving, and the many thousands of corrigated iron shanties housing people with huge smiles.

A piece of advice not given to me nor in anything I read, concerns driving in Nairobi. If there are any pure fears I have here, it is this.

Yesterday the back page of the paper proudly displayed 1,900 road deaths since the start of the year. I am shocked that it is only this many. Pot holes the depth of the entire wheel appear commonly on the 'major' highway. There are no lanes at 100km nor any indicators when over taking. Mutoto's (8 seater vans holding 20 acting as taxis and stop anywhere at anytime, and I emphasise anywhere) rule the roads and with all honesty make life endangering decisions where-ever they go. It makes Dream-world look lame. You cannot help but grit your teeth and hold on.

I thank you all for the continuing emails and thoughts - they really mean a lot, and are keeping me going on the tuff days. I am really starting to love this place.

Hope to hear from you all soon,

ian