Up Up and Away

Sorry. Hard to place photos with text. I'll get the hang of it by the end. Phone screen is very small. 

 Let's just that hippos are very noisy creatures. There was a river just outside our tent and there were several families of hippos out there. I thought they would be out eating in the night, but they seemed to stay in the water and belching and honking or whateer noise they make!!! 

The generator also shuts down from midnight to 4 am, so it wsas pitch black. Very interesting night. But no time to waste as we had to be up at 5 AM to catch a ride to the savannah for an early morning adventure. 

And  this one was thanks to Suzanne. She saw a hot air balloon when we were in St. Clements a while back and we hopped on one the next day. So much fun, we decided to do a hot air balloon ride here. Oh my.  There were a total of 9 balloons in our group, but with other balloon companies near us, I think we were 23 in total. 

It was very dark, so hard to see what was happening until it got a bit lighter, but from my previous experience, I knew what it was all about. We were balloon number 1. But it's amazing how many people do not listen. Some people didnt know which balloon they were on, some peope got in the wrong balloon. Oh well, we were where we were supposed to be. 

What an amazing experience to see the animals from above. While we had an appreciation for the wildebeast herds while driving through them, seeing them from the air was unbelieveable The herds just went on and on. Incredible. And zebras always travel with the wildebeasts. Wildebeasts can search out water and zebras have great sight A good combination when you are trying to stay alive. 

We saw vultures and lions, including one lion that was stalking a herd of zebra. We don't know what happened. Let's just say that in other instances, we witnessed the circle of life and leave it at that. 

While we were up, the ballons in our groupp were in radio contact and I learned that Jack was a Canadian. AHA--- I had to track him down when we landed and it turns out that he used to work for Sundance balloons in the London Kitchener area. the same company that we used for our first flight. And yes - he knows Irish, our Kitchener pilot, so we got pictures that he was going to forward. Small world!!!

After every balloon flight there is champagne, but we had a champagne breakfast out int he middle of nowhere. I mean that literally!!!  We had just witnessed a circle of life event a few KMs back. There were tables so we could sit by our balloon group. Buffets, champage and other drinks. It was truly a fitting way to end this wonderful experience. 

Of course, there are pictures. The pilot had a 360 degree camera off the side of the balloon, and had a DSLR camera and took many photos. WE happened to be in the same vehicle as he was and the instant he got in, he grabbed his computer and started downloading the files. Of course, we probably all bought a file. Nothing is cheap when you are on vacation. But Iˋm sure weˋll see some amazing photos. 

Weè already received the file via email. How fast the world works these days and yes -- we had access to data for when we were out. Just not that good considering where we were!!! 

Iˋm not sure how much the balloon ride was for us as it was part of a package, but we were chatting to some of our group and they paid $480 USD. EACH!!!!!

Again, not a hint of fear of heights -- itˋs all so gentle that you donˋt realize you are above the ground. Itˋs the same as parachuting. Once that initial shock of leaving the plane is over, you are floating and itˋs fabulous!!!  BUT, you must be able to get in and out of the basket, which is high! There were lots of people to help those less able to get in and out. 

This balloon was 450,000 cubi feet. The one back home as 350,000. The largest ones are about 750,000. Totally crazy and they inflate and deflate pretty fast. But back home, we had to stay with the pickup crew until the balloon was packed. Here we did not - nor did the pilot. They have separate crews for that! And they carry the baskets and the balloon around with tractors and trailers!!! John Deere!!!!

Our driver from the day before was supposed to meet us at the breakfast spot, but then we were told to get a ride with someone else who would meet the other driver. They all seem to know each other as he had no problem spotting the guy when we met him. 

The funny thing was that we had to backtrack right to the breakfast spot to get to the airstrip. Note that is airstrip, NOT airport. Thereˋs a huge difference. 

This airstrip is one of three in the Massai Mara National Park and it was miles away from where we were There was a toilet and a overhead shelter and nothing else. The parking lot was filled with land cruisers waiting to pick up or drop off. And it was busy!!! However, our plane was delayed with a flat tire and ended up coming in at least one hour late. The driver stayed with us and I had a nap in the car and then proceeded to watch the planes come Totally fascinating. The larger planes DHC 100é200 carry their own baggage crew as there is nothing at this location. 

It was dusty and dirty to say the least, but thatˋs OK. Itˋs all part of the experience. Ifelt like I was on Love Island (was that the name of the show?) - the plane - the plane as we spotted each new plane prepare to land. Finally we got on our plane. No assigned seating - just get a seat. I wanted to get an overhead picture of the airstrip, but the wheel assembly was in the way!!!!

The first flight was 7 minutes as we landed at another air strip. it was obvious that the one we were at was the largest. Then the next flight was another 7 minutes as we landed at the third and final airstrip and then on to Nairobi, which was about 45 minutes? 

My next flight was literally supposed to take off just as this one was landing. So I was esorted by someone (thankfully) to where I needed to go to get checked in or whatever I had to do. SOmeone grabbed my backpack to take care of that. No time to say goodobye to DH, there is a plane of people waiting on ME. I got to the passport check adn they only looked at  my passport, no other documents. Then bags through security which is hilarious as I'm carrying a huge bottle of waer, but that's OK. 

Did I mention that they pushed me to the front of the line to get my passport checked. Then I went to the lounge area and we were then as a group, walked to the plane. Yes --- they literally were waiting for me to arrive. Thankfully, it was the same airline. 

This time we were on our way to Kilimanjaro. this flight was about 40 minutes and we got a sandwich on the plane Did I mention that I canˋt say enough for carrying those protein bars. It wasnˋt until abouat 2 PM that I got that sandwich and breakfast was about 8 AM. Travel with food and protein bars work well, a couple of bites and they can tide you over. I learned that the hard way one year on the Camino. I will never NOT travel with them again. 

Spotted someone with a CDN passport on the plane. She was from Kelowna and sounds like she has been here quite a bit. 

Then I got to a pre-check where they wanted our yellow fever docs. All was good. Then to the customs, where they wanted to see my travel visa. We had made a slight change to our itenary and I arrived a few hours (one day earlier) than planned. This was a problem, although we were told it would not be. 

So thoughts go through your head -- sleep at the airport, go back to Kenya or just wait until he gives me options. I could buy a new visa - another $50 US. OK--- I can do that, but I think he could not get the visa machine to work, so he said he would give me a break and since it was only a few hours before the visa started that he let me through. 

Phew!!! Hurdle number one down for the day. I saw a sign for the taxi to my desitantion, but it would be $10 more because the hotel is out of town. OK--- I'm good with that. Loads of construction on bumpy roads, and lots of traffic. That taxi ride took over 1 hour. I just wanted a shower and a nap. 

And you know me and bookinig things. I had neglected to book a room at this hotel, which is a major spot for the climbing companies. They had nothing but through Intrepid, my travel company, they located a place to stay. It only took TWO hours. Nothing happens fast here! 

they arranged a car and I was off. It wasnˋt that far away. But they scared me a bit as they kept saying, you have to check the room before you agree to stay. So I had visions of a terrible room. Dirty and crummy and not saf. shared bathroom and all that. Even the hotel owner said the same thing - I must check the room first. 

Well, itˋs probably the best room on the trip!!! And Iˋm very thankful that I stayed here becuase -- well, I got to experience another adventure this morning that I wouldnˋt been able to if I stayed at the other hotel. Things happen for a reason and you will ALWAYS find a solution to every problem ALWAYS--- itˋs called faith!!!!

I did a bit of hand laundry last night and wrote in the blog. And this brings me up to date. 

There should be one more blog about what is happening today and then the blog and all posts to social media will be SILENT for 6 days. I will be in airplane mode to conserve batteries. 

OH-- there is a restaurant on site and itˋs been amazing food. Wait until you near more about this hotelˋsˋlcoation!!!!

Have