The Story So Far ...

We said farewell to our work friends at the RSPCA and BBC on 14 September, farewell to our families on 3 October, and set off for Africa to save cheetahs, decorate school buildings, and look around a bit. After a trip home for Christmas, we headed for South East Asia on 6 January -- where we were stunned by Qatar and Cambodia, taught novice monks in Laos, and acted as security guards at an Elephant Festival. It was back home for four weeks to look after John's dad, before we tangoed our way through five South American countries in fifteen days. We then snooped our way through New Zealand, dipped our toes into Fiji, drove-thru California and were home from home with family in Vancouver.

Now, we are home itself. Fulfilled, happy, and ready to earn the respect of our friends and family by knuckling down and earning some money once again ...

Sunday, 5 December 2010

Travelling by Train in Kenya: a 13 Step Guide

Nearly there


1.  Enquire by email from UK three months in advance.  Request seats Kisumu/Nairobi for 30 Nov, Nairobi/Mombasa 3 Dec.  Receive email confirming seats for Nairobi/Mombasa on 30 Nov, Kisumu/Nairobi on 1 Dec.
2.  Email back asking them to amend to days originally requested.  Receive one line reply telling me to look at attached timetable.  No timetable attached.
3.  Email back twice asking for timetable.  Hear nothing.  Call Kenya Tourist Board in London.  Friendly woman investigates.  Advises timetable has changed and recommends different agent to book tickets.
4.  Book tickets through different agent.
5.  (Three months later)  Arrive at Kisumu Station day before journey to collect tickets.  Told train cancelled due to derailment previous week.
6.  Book bus ticket for eight hour journey.
7.  (Next day)  Board bus.  Find teenage girl in reserved seat.  Randomly select other seat.
8.  (Five hours later.)  Observe as bus breaks down at Nakuru, two hours west of Nairobi.
9.  (Three hours later)  Arrive Nairobi after tinkering under bonnet fixes bus.
10.  (Two days later)  Double check with travel agent that Friday train booked for Nairobi/Mombasa will run.  Receive reply advising we're booked on Nairobi/Kisumu.  Full apologies, will amend.
11.  (Five days later)  Report to railway station.  Prepare to board Nairobi/Mombasa overnight sleeper train.  Find doors to carriage locked.  Board by adjacent carriage.
12.  Enjoy faded Colonial British railway experience at its most faded.
13.  (Next morning, two  or so hours late, nobody's counting):  Arrive Mombasa

John

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