Yesterday I went to the National Museum of Nairobi. I learnt that there are three main periods in Kenya's histoy: the precolonial period, the colonial period of British Rule, and the Indepenant period. Kenya got its indepenance in 1963 becuase of the Mau Mau freedom fighters. I even saw some home made wooden guns that the freedom fighters used. At the museum I also went into the hall of mammals and saw examples of African herbivores (plant eaters) carnivores (meat eaters) and omnivores (plant and meat eaters.) I learnt that the earliest fossils of mankind were found in Kenya. They also had a room filled with show cases of stuffed birds - there is a rich diversity of birds that live in East Africa.
At the snake park at the museum they had a tree with chamilions in it and I got to have one on my head!
There were a lot of school children at the museum and they seeme to have neer seen a "mazungu" (white person) ever. I think that becuase they stared at me a lot and whispered with each other. They would try to get cloe to me and touch my skin.
We will go to a Massai village in 2 days to visit my sponsor child - Solitei.
What a great start to your learning and adventure. Can't wait to hear about your experiences at Massai.
ReplyDeleteGavin, how wonderful to read about your experiences in Africa. What was it like for you to be looked up to with such awe? Does the painting on the children's faces have significance?
ReplyDeleteI love your pics, it is kind of like an inside look at your trip and since I do not think I will ever be in Africa it is really neat to make this trip via your blog and trip. Thank you for taking the time and effort you put into this blog.