On Thursday night, Dec 10, Doug and I attended a dinner for the families of EARTH University graduates at EARTH President Jose Zaglul’s home in Guacimo, Costa Rica. It was hard to believe that just three years and 11 months ago, I had been present at a similar dinner at Jose’s house for the sameRead More
This Heart of Yours, Mama Rungu
Eustace and I departed Rekero Camp after a pleasant breakfast and a tour of the camp by Jackson. The extraordinary amount of game in the region makes Rekero a very special place. In and around this Talek River-fronted camp are hippos, crocodiles and elephants; a leopard was seen in a nearby tree the day weRead More
The Hermetic Cocoon of the Isolated Tourist
There is a lot of death and suffering here. People die openly and everyone is more connected to the circumstances of a human life – fluids, dead bodies and sickness. In the west we lead lives of isolation that keep the symptoms of poverty removed from our daily lives. And so it is not hardRead More
Flying across the Kaisut
It was hard to leave Korr. Despite the suffocating heat, the wind blew, the food and accommodations were great and the friends were many. Maina and Omar made numerous trips to town, trying to find anyone with some diesel that we could buy – the arduous driving in the sand used up more fuel thanRead More
Finding Solutions; Respecting Heritage and Dignity
On the edge of the town of Korr, Amina and Shalom rent out the most amazing huts – tall domed one-room structures made with sticks and branches. On the outside the roof is covered with burlap and on the inside the hut is lined with beautiful fabrics, sheets and towels. The grommets that hold theRead More
Swimming with Crocodiles
It is hard not to think about crocodiles when you are swimming in Lake Turkana, supposedly the body of water with the highest concentration of crocodiles in the world. Everyone assures us that the mamba’s (crocodile in Swahili) avoid areas where there are people, especially anywhere near the Elmolo, who hunt the crocodile and incorporateRead More
Turkana
Omar insisted on staying up until Kura arrived. It was after midnight when Kura finally knocked on my hut door to let me know that they had arrived safely. Despite the roads and mechanical problems, he was very excited to tell me that they had seen four cheetahs. We agreed that we would delay theRead More
The Jade Sea
Last night I fell asleep to the sound of the warriors singing. Deep baritone chants and high-pitched whoops echoed off the walls of the surrounding mountains. Soon I could hear the young girls lilting songs, encouraging the warriors. I wish I could have stayed awake and listened more but every bone in my body achedRead More
Today the Adventure Begins
Today the adventure begins. Maina and Semeji arrive promptly at 6:30 and they load the vehicles with the jerrycans, water and a few food supplies. We head north out of Nanyuki and are once again treated to the rare sight of the summit of Mt. Kenya. Another good omen! After a brief stop to visitRead More
Nanyuki
Once again, I arrive at Robin’s house in the dark. The “treehouse” is also the home of Arid Lands Resources, a profitable venture in the gums and resins business. The ground floor houses the small warehouse and sorting area of the resins, or sap, from the acacia tree, as well as sap that is moreRead More