Zebra Zoomies
We walked through a park
where the animals were
used to people.
A dazzle of zebras ran
toward us.
When we were about to get
nervous,
they stopped a few yards
away.
Except the little ones
zipped
around the adult zebras in
circles.
Zebra zoomies.
Feeding Baby Elephants
At the elephant orphanage
the greedy baby elephants
ran out,
eager to devour the big
bottles of milk.
Some of them trumpeted
their displeasure
when their bottle was
empty.
A bystander asked what
kind of milk they drank.
The keeper said, “They had
to design a formula,
to be as close to elephant
mama’s milk as possible,
because, it’s hard to milk
an elephant.”
I wonder if someone
actually tried.
I didn’t think of the risk
when I put my water bottle
in the tub
with my passport and
vaccination record.
Risky Business
Hippos are dangerous,
more so than sharks,
or any other animal,
besides the mosquito.
Forty people attacked,
fourteen died
in Lake Naivasha
in one year,
mostly fishermen.
I pictured them out
in their little motor boats,
like the ones we were in,
which made me nervous.
Hippos can stay underwater
for a long time, often
sleeping.
They can sneak up on a
boat,
knock it over and drown
their victim.
When I saw the way
the fisherman actually fished,
I understood why it was so
risky.
They had no boats.
They waded out waist deep
and spread out their nets
right along the banks
in the hippos’ territory.
When we cruised the lake,
we came upon a large hippo
resting on the bank.
Our driver kept his
distance.
But from that angle we
could see
what a kayaker couldn’t
see.
He was headed for the spot
closest to the hippo.
Angrily, the huge hippo
stood,
snorted and charged toward
the kayak.
Just a warning, though. He
stopped
letting the kayaker zip
by.
Our guide watching, said,
“Hippos don’t like it
when you invade their
territory.”
Yah, you think?
Risk
Traveling involves some
risk
with flights, disease,
wild animals, mosquitoes.
Relying on an unfamiliar
driver.
Zipping through heavy
traffic.
Eating and drinking
foreign foods.
But staying home also is a
risk –
all the things to learn
and experience,
not learned or
experienced.
Nanyuki
Visited Nanyuki, Kenya
today.
A common sight there as well
as in Nairobi:
rows of makeshift stands
lining the streets
made of sticks with corrugated
metal panels,
tattered beach umbrellas
or worn tarps for rooves
where they sell their fruits,
veggies, crafts,
second-hand items, just
about anything.
We even passed stands
selling coffins
and some of them were
pink.
What’s remarkable to me is
that most people
dress the same way we do in
casual clothes
jeans, tees, or dresses, even
in
the slums and poorer
neighborhoods,
clean though handwashed,
few own washing machines,
poor but maintaining self-respect.
Kenyan Grade School
Visited a school in Nanyuki,
Kenya
where they made their own
yarn
and weavings to support
themselves.
Lovely panels of woven
wool
dyed from various plants
and bugs
with beautiful African
designs.
The kids sang for us,
hugged us and loved
touching our hair
which they found so
different
from their own.
Couldn’t fit anything in
my suitcase
but I got their card.
I would love to support
this good work.
