[JPM Travel Journals]
May-June 00
Somewhere in the Serengeti.
Tanzania.
Started with a short visit to London. Met up with traveling partner Vique, from Los Angeles, an old friend who's always dreamed of Lions and Safaris. Stayed with some of her friends and went to the new Tate Musuem.
Flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Several days in chaotic Nairobi, sampling the amazing restaurants (a surprising many of which were exclusively Vegetarian), seeing some Museums, meeting some Giraffes, going to outdoor markets and alley shops, walking a lot and chatting often with the locals. Swahili is fun to try. African chai is sweet, powerful, wonderful.
Overnight train to Mombasa on the coast. Gorgeous! Walking the back alleys, playing with and photographing the children. The beautiful Old Quarter with it's calling Mosques and so many sweet and friendly souls. The old fort, other sight-seeing. Snorkeling in the crystal water, swimming with the colorful fish-- feeding them the insides of a sea urchin. Walking in the hot sun. Riding insanely over-crowded Matatu van-taxis. Train back to Mombasa. Wishing I'd gotten to Zanzibar.
Hellish Mini-Bus to Arusha, Tanzania. Foothills of Kilimanjaro, fermented banana beer with the locals. Five days Safari in the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater. I even got to drive the Land Rover, for a short while. Meeting Tstse flies. Nature killing me with its astounding beauty. So many beautiful animals-- my dear elephants, hilarious hippopotamuses, a million zebra and wildebeest, flamingos, and of course the big cats. The amazing sunrises and sunsets, and landscapes filling me up -- taking me in.
Back to Nairobi for a short spell and then a flight back to London, back to Boston.
Brilliant scaffolding. Nairobi, Kenya.
Hotel rooftop-view.
Mombasa, Kenya.
Pan on the streets of the Muslim Quarter.
Mombasa, Kenya.
Cool Kids in the back alleys.
Mombasa, Kenya.
Alley chair shop texture.
Mombasa, Kenya.
The Snows of Kilamanjaro.
The road from Arusha, Tanzania.
Land-Rover Safari picnic stop.
Serengeti, Tanzania.
The difficult of photographing a Giraffe.
Serengeti. Tanzania.
Millions of Black and White Stripes.
Ngorogoro Crater. Tanzania.
(Return)
©2001 JPM. All photography and writing copyrighted.