Remembering

Welcome to my newest followers, Nancy from A Gardener's Cottage in Michigan and Jose Ramon Santana Vazquez from Spain. Thank you both.

It was almost two years ago that we had a fire in the condo and had to move to a hotel suite for a few months. My room mate had one suite in the hotel and I had another. It was nice having this because daily someone would clean my bathroom and vacuum and my roommate would cook dinners and bring them to me down the hall. All I had to do was get ready each morning and wash my dirty dishes as well as do my laundry. There was a washer dryer in the apartment so that was handy.

This was my kitchen area.

This was my living room area and the small built in desk at which I did my blogging. You can see through the open blinds that there was a small patio.

I enjoyed living in the hotel but by the end of my time there (about 4 months), I was ready to go home. Lately though I find myself missing the hotel. What I really miss is the ready access to downtown and the well known English Bay area. 

Off of my patio I can see the waters of English Bay just beyond the high rises.

It was hard to get a good shot of the water due to that one building, lol. But you can see the big "ship" in the background.

Here is a night time shot of the sunset and the busy strip called Davie Street. I enjoyed the busyness and it wasn't too noisy to sleep at night.

What I miss most though is the wonderful and colourful sunsets which I could readily see and photograph from my patio.

I also miss my Saturday walks to nearby places like this farmer's market

... along "secret" winding paths like this

 

... and lovely, unexpected places to sit

...and being able to buy big bunches of flowers like this :-)

and fireworks displays like this....

Even crowds like this rushing  back from the fireworks show.

All in all, I enjoyed my stay at the hotel.  But I am glad that my home is repaired and I can stay there once again. It was just nice to remember the "good times" at my temporary home.

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My Land is Kenya

I want to welcome  Sunshine  who is my 91st Follower. Thank you so much for joining my blogging family Sunshine. It means a lot to me. I hope to visit your blog too!

Roger Whittaker was born on March 22, 1936 in Nairobi Kenya.  He is an Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of over 55 million. His music can be described as easy listening and he is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability.

Roger's parents Edward and Viola, were originally from Staffordshire, England, where they owned and operated a grocery shop. His father had a motorcycle accident and then the family moved to a farm in Kenya because of the warmer climate. His grandfather sang in various clubs and his father played the violin while Roger learned to play the guitar.

I won't recite all of Roger Whittaker's biography as that can be found on his official website or on variety of other websites.

I just wanted to share that as a child I loved hearing Roger Whittaker's music. I grew up in the far north of Canada in a relatively out of the way, and obscure corner of the world. Yet even there the melodious voice of Roger Whittaker, made it's way to me from way over in Africa. I especially loved his song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".  It evoked the sounds and images that I thought made up Africa and it enticed me (among other things) to want to see and experience Africa for myself one day.  My childhood dream came true a few years ago when I travelled to Africa on a missions trip.  While there I was privileged to go on safari.  I got to see and hear the majestic beasts of the wild.  That first trip to the wilds of Kenya was something magical and mystical, that I will not soon forget.

Many of you will know that at this moment, Kenya is going through tumultuous times. It recently approved a new Constitution through national referendum and is now going through growing pains as a country. My trip to Kenya in November/December, 2011 was my first trip to Kenya since the passage of the new Constitution.

While there I often saw a television commercial showing the ceremony surrounding the passage of the new Constitution and the celebrations that went along with it. The televised images were set to a beautiful song that I had not heard before. No one I asked seemed to know who the singer was. I knew that I knew that voice but I could not place it. It haunted me. Finally when I got home the name of the singer came to me and with that and an idea of the song's title I searched for the song on line.

What a fabulous tool the internet is!   I was able to find out that the patriotic commercial is set to the Roger Whittaker tune entitled, "My Land is Kenya".  The song and the images were so beautiful that whenever I watched it, it brought tears to my eyes. I know and understand the struggle behind the words and the images and that makes them ever so much more poignant and meaningful to me. (Since I first published this post on April 12, 2011, the original video I posted is no longer available. Perhaps it has been replaced by the new government as I've noticed a newer version of it which I'll post in a newer post soon.  As for now, I'm posting a video of the song set to some beautiful images of the country, Kenya).

My dearest wish and prayer for Kenya is that Her and Her people would thrive and prosper and be a beacon of light and hope to the Continent of Africa and to the world.  Kenya is truly is a paradise on earth and I pray that the people of this great nation would arise and take their rightful place in the world. Long may Kenya prosper and may Her beauty shine bright for all of us to see.

God bless Kenya. 

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Blossoms Make My World Tuesday

I want to welcome and thank my latest follower, Danielle Arruda. Unfortunately I don't see your blog so I'm sorry I cannot follow you back. I hope you enjoy your visits here and that you leave a comment or two!

I love this time of year when the Spring blossoms come out, especially apple, cherry and plum blossoms. Last year it rained a lot during the tree blossom season and there was never really a clear day to enjoy them. I'm hoping this year will be different though so far we've had a lot of overcast and rainy days. Blossoms are fleeting so I took a few shots to commemorate the year. I hope to get more soon.  If I'm fortunate I can get some on a sunny day too. 

Thank you for joining me for My World Tueday.

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Baboons of Nakuru Park

Thank you and a big welcome to my newest followers: Alan (an awesome photoblogger), Ms. Burrito (a 5 year old emerging blogger), Paco (who has an artsy photoblog) and Cathy Lookabaugh. Cathy you don't have a website link so I can't visit you.

There is so much to see at the Nakuru National Park and I've had to split the photos into several posts (you can find the links to these and to my other travel posts on Kenya at the bottom of this post). In today's post, I bring you to Baboon Point one of my favourite places in the park.

One of the reasons I enjoy Baboon Point on Baboon Cliff is because of the spectacular views. Here from high up you have a fantastic view of Lake Nakuru.  Another reason is to see the troop of baboons. Baboons like to live in groups or troops of 20-100.  Each troop is protected by one or more dominant males.

A baboon is basically a type of monkey and is easily recognizable by a large head and cheek pouches.  The baboon also has a long jaw and this enables them to store food in their cheek pouches just like a chipmunk.

Isn't the view stunning? I love that I can see the winding dirt path that brought us from the lake to the cliffs.

This photo is taken just a little more to the left of the photo above.

This is one place where it is gratifying to see a lot of locals and African visitors.

There are so many baboons to keep everyone occupied in watching them, hence the name "Baboon Cliff".

I tried to zoom in on the lake.

These baboons are ignoring me.

These baboons are doing what baboons love to do.  They love to explore cars and will get into them if you are not careful.

Something inside this car has caught this baboon's eye.

Baboons have long, powerful limbs and can travel at high speeds.  Their buttocks are hairless and are often a bright colour.  Their fur is coarse and usually short and they can come in a variety of colours from blondish to a dark brown.

The baboons seem oblivious to humans but I wonder if they would like to tell us to 'get lost'?

Here a baboon is grooming another.

Just chillaxin'

Another spectacular view.

Pondering life's big questions.  The baboon is a very intelligent animal and can be trained.

I tried unsuccessfully to capture a photo of the baby baboon with it's mother under this picnic table.

Baboons are social creatures.  The female baboons are about half the size of the males and they produce one baby baboon after carrying it for a 6 month period.

I transferred my attention from the picnic table to take a photo of this mother and her baby.

A group of baboons is called a troop.  Unfortunately they are big pests for Kenya's farmer and can inflict a lot of damage on crops.  So while we tourists may like the baboon,  the local farmers do not.

Even baboons get tired. Maybe this one is bored with the tourists that day! LOL

Baboons eat a variety of things like worms, insects, reptiles, small mammals, fruits, vegetation and eggs. I didn't get to see any baboon having a meal that day. Perhaps another day.

Please come again for more of my expedition to Kenya.  If you haven't been on the trip before today you can catch up by checking out the links below.  Thank you for visiting!

~~~~~~~~~

Click here to read Part 1 in this series. It starts with my stopover in Nairobi, Kenya.

Click here to read Part 2 in this series in Kenya. It continues with my sojourn in Nairobi, Kenya.

Click here to read Part 3 in this series on Kenya where I stop to view a stunning lookout.

Click here to read Part 4 in this series on Kenya where I stop at Lake Elementeita.

Click here to read Part 5 in this series on Kenya where I talk about some hotels in Nakuru.

Click here to read Part 6 in this series on Kenya where I show you some tourist sites around Nakuru.

Click here to read Part 7 in this series on Kenya where I show you the Castle Without a Princess.

Click here to read Part 8 in this series on Kenya where I feature a collection of scenes from around Nakuru. 
Click here to read Part 9 in this series where we enter the park and begin to tour it. 
Click here to read Part 10 about the flamingos and water buffalo. 

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An Update on the Medical Mercy Mission to Save Kigen's Life

Yesterday I posted a very short update here about little Kigen the boy we met on a mercy mission of food aid to the Pokot.  I then went to sleep and when I awoke I had this comprehensive update from Jonah about how things are progressing with Kigen's care.

As you read the update I think you will be so moved and touched.  You will that God is in this work and He is answering prayer.  I thank each and every one of you,  for your concern for this little boy Kigen and for your part in prayer and giving.

Jonah and little Kigen's family arrived in Eldoret and went straight away to the hospital.

Driving to the hospital in Eldoret.

The hospital signage is in sight.

At last they are at the hospital.

Jonah takes a photo to commemorate this trip.

Now here is the update from Jonah.

It is me again just wanting to praise God for His faithfulness.  My heart is now 'free'.  I can now eat a bit as I know Kigen is in the doctor's hands and in God's hands as well.

This bag was donated to Kigen's mother on the streets of Eldoret.

I also want to thank God for the bag that was donated (blue one in photo) by people in the streets of Eldoret. We had realized that Kigen's mother came on the journey with an old bag, so we decided to buy her a new one.  Instead, it was given to us for free!  In addition, close to 500 Kenyan shillings was donated right there on the streets for this boy and his mum.  God really works wonders.

It was a more touching moment for me as I felt God was telling me "I will take care of this situation" and I felt really that I am just a tool/ instrument to be used for God's purpose.  The doctors too were so kind.  We did not even queue! [If you know Africa, you know what this means].  We were welcome everywhere we went and I must praise God for that.

Little Kigen being escorted by the nurse.

What is next now is that Kigen was given a dressing up by the doctors and is awaiting surgery (if I understood what they said well).  He will need three practitioners or doctors to be able to treat him.  First will be the one's to deal with the skin (there is a scientific name for it), those to deal with eyes, and another part, I forget but I guess general health.

The doctors here were so much touched too with the amount of courage the boy has.  They were saying that they are seeing for the first time, something they were just reading in the books when they were in medical school.

The boy Kigen is upbeat, and he raises our hopes for his health.  His younger  brother too is here with us.  He was not feeling well, too.  So he is here for check up; especially for his eyes.  He kept asking for him [his older brother Kigen] when they were with different practitioners.

We did mention to him [Kigen] of the many people praying and supporting him for his medical needs.  He said he is so much grateful and "TOROROT: (Pokot for God Bless you abundantly".)

Thanks so much again
Jonah

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Photo credits:  All photos the property of Jonah at Missions of Hope.
If you wish to share this story, photos may be used with credit. Many thanks and blessings.