Hello all,
My dad recently visited Kenya for his second time. Many of you know he has been fascinated with, and increasingly good at photography over the years. He took some OUTSTANDING pictures and was really able to capture some beautiful moments during our time together. I'll try to keep the explanations brief and let you enjoy the product of his hard work.
We travelled to Rwanda and went on a gorilla trekking safari. We hiked through the forest until the guides found the gorilla family, and then we got to spend an hour with them! They were so human-like, we just watched as they ate, played, wrestled, and picked each others' fur!!! By far one of the coolest experiences of my life.
A silverback eating some bamboo.
Trekking through foliage...
A mama and a baby!!! Incredible.
My dad loved coming to the gym in Eldoret, where I spend a lot of time. This was a step-aerobics class I go to every Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Love these people, love this place!
Javan's (always packed) tae-bo aerobics class. How many Kenyans (plus me) can we squeeze in one workout room?
Thanks to donations from Meridian St. United Methodist, we were able to take 10 kids from Amani Women and Children's shelter into town to pick out a new piece of clothing each. We then took them to a restaurant where they had HUGE plates of fries and sodas. For several, it was their first time to drink a soda. They were so thankful, and we were so humbled.
Enjoying fries, chips, and good company.
Emily, Felix, and Reinhardt.
Precious, pint-sized friends from Neema Orphanage. I go here once or twice weekly and teach American songs, dances and games. I usually end up helping with school lessons as well. They were so thrilled to perform lots of the songs I'd taught them for my dad.
Playing games and singing songs outside. This may have been "Ring Around the Rosie."
This is exactly how I'll remember my year in Kenya. My dad captured such a sweet, candid moment here.
Baba yangu! ( my dad!)
We spent several days at a beautiful, vacation place called Lake Naivasha. We saw these hippos on a boat ride to Crescent Island, which is where the movie "Out of Africa" was filmed in the 80's. Consequently, the animals used in that film still live there, and are very used to humans. We went on a "walking safari" where you can get SO close to giraffe, zebras, cool birds and others. All the animals living on that island are herbivores, and they have no predators. Isn't that just the life!
The best Dad.
I think a little something-something was going on with these two fellows...
Natives using large fishing nets to gather food. Don't worry, they do have pants on.
