shoeinmissin's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member shoeinmissin on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/shoeinmissin en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:56:36 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com heading north — Arica, Chile http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/2/1219498440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/2/1219498440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/2/1219498440/tpod.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:56:36 -0400 A little of work and a little of play in South America
Arica, Chile

A night at a bus - a very economical and not too tiresome way of traveling here in Chile. Left Sand Pedro yesterday night, and here we go, in Arica, just before kicking off to La Paz, my main destination for my month internship in Bolivia.

I was fished here by lovely lady to stay at her lovely guest house just opposite to bus terminal - that will be handy tomorrow to cross the street in order to bus to La Paz.

Yesterday was second and last full day in San Pedro. I suppose it is healthy to stay in the middle of the desert to see things that are majestically different from those at home, but also to sort out your own thought, fear, illusions, ideas. Desert is the place with bare minimum for your thoughts to wander around.

Had another prescribed tour to lagunas. And luckely enough just by chance I got some space just for myself. As the rest of the group was still going together, I had some time to gaze to the tops of the volcanos and the celeste water...

In the salt plains, the 3rd biggest place in the world finally I could spot the flamingos, or locally flamencos. And I can see why this dance called as the bird...

A lovely little church in San Pedro with some local songs...

An exchange of songs with the local family whose hostel we stayed at. A little lovely girl sang her heart out, and I played her with a guitar a children lithuanian song. why sometimes the best things happen right in the end. she waived me and wished me good luck for my trip..

It is getting more and more interesting to be from the coutry which is not that popular in this continent. And it is not so that they would not know where Lithuania is. Is just that not so many of 3 millions traveling here probably. So to feel special just because you are quite unique is lush.

Next stage - already in La Paz. I just hope they wont eat words like they do in Chile, as my spanish is not matured enough to get things quickly. They say in Bolivia they speak slowly, which is a paradise for beginners like me. :)




]]> High ho around the gaysers. — San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, Chile http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/2/1219374420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/2/1219374420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/2/1219374420/tpod.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:27:37 -0400 A little of work and a little of play in South America
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, Chile

I should have told the first impressions about Expo, but as those will wait a little, I will start with the most fresh ones.

I know there are lots said about altitutude problems, but I didn't realize it will actually hit me. I am trying to question myself what have I done before to initiate it. Alcohol? Long time no. Meat? Nope as well. Guide's tips don't work. Maybe the fast moves I made, but the 4300metres seemed for my brain a little too much.

Gaysers enigmatic and thrilling. Trying to capture the ambience destroyed by crowds, all of a sudden I realized that I cannot hear properly what has been told. My bones getting hot, and my stomack asks for freedom. It is a moment when you secretly say - please not here, not now, not dying.

Guide was very helpful with until the bus, where he gave me a dose of extra oxygen and a cup of coca, which eventually worked alright, despite the fact that headache accompanied me until I got back down.

Maybe hot termas helped me to relax as well. Hot gaysers bath in minus temperature - I almost forgot my native saunas, where snow and icy water after a hot steamed room is a part of a game.

To kill an hour or so I sneaked in San Pedro de Atacama museum, which is basic, but gives you an idea whereabouts of the local area. Because looking at the arid desert, the question is still ringing in my head - how on earth these people managed to survive, moreover - invent, create, decorate tools and utensils.

Moon Valley is a sort of a mystic. I would actually like to walk entirely by myself to front my solitude and fears. It is beautiful, but I am a sole wolf, and walking in herds it's a much of a challenge, as howling together with wolves from loneliness and inner fears. But the promised sunset filled only half of our expectations. The pink and deep purple coloured volcanos when the sun was far beyond the horizon - that was much of more importance.

It is good to come back to the hostel where you can have a friendly chat in spanglishitalianogerman. And a fair good laugh.

Tomorrow lagunas and further on, to Arica.
]]> mira'n'glue — Meru, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216544880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216544880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216544880/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:26:19 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Meru, Kenya

A short glance to Nyahururu and Thomson's falls, and we decided to head to Meru, to meet Sammy.

Silently saying hello to mt.Kenya as it greeted us back by revealing the highest peak from the clouds, we passed Nanyuki and arrived to Meru. No trip to the mountain. Logically we decided not to, as the mountain is often in mist when in low season. To climb all the way up and to swim in the cloud? Nope, I have that experience already...

So Meru. Sammy is community development officer and a very inteligent guy. He brought as around showing the places they work: AIDS prevention courses in prison, Magnet Theatre in schools, and we visited S.O.S. children village as well.

What struck me most, is the amount of people chewing mira - the plant that grows around mt.Kenya. People get passive, they do not have any aspirations...
And children sniffing glue. Oh my gosh, their eyes are watered, and their mouths cannot contain saliva. Disgusting, sad, worrying... I was angry, sad and helpless. Apparently government did try to help them - to put into houses, take care of them, but they came back to the jungle of vicious circle...

Our evening finished with long conversations about culture differences and politics. Sammy and his colleagues explained a little about nowadays situation. "As you can notice males are not very much up to date the town girls. The reason is - the roof expectations that cannot be met by men anymore. If you do not have a decent car, you cannot provide with sufficient money, you are of no interest. And the girls now try to be very self sufficient. Feminism grows, but it leaves man in undefined role. You can look at female polititians - their career took the chance from them to be loved and they spent the rest of the life in solitude. "

On the other hand, woman are very strong here. Besides the every day chores, majority of them have full time jobs and kids.

We are on our way back to Nairobi, and then to Mombasa. We will see what is awaiting there!
]]> nearing to an end — Mombasa, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1215939720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1215939720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1215939720/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:08:06 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Mombasa, Kenya

Sitting at the Fort Jesus, watching cherfully swimming kids and gazing to the Indian ocean for the last time, we reflected about the trip.

We learned a lot... About fragmented country, its sophisticated politics, the habits of tribes and people, about beauty of the country... We were tired but happy... It turned out to be a very vivid trip...

The Old Town of Mombasa is not as mysterious as Lamu's, but has its arabic charm. Here we learned about true swahili culture... "of the shore" as you would translate it into english.

The overnight bus to Nairobi for the last final touch.
]]> flamingos got lost — Nakuru, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216544220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216544220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216544220/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:02:19 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Nakuru, Kenya

Nakuru is far smaller and not as crazy as Nairobi. Soon we met up with John as we hooked through hospitality club, and very soon we were already sitting in his brother's car on a way to Nakuru national park. Not expected, as Masai Mara the only planned tour we dipped in. But here we go - they say the lake was famous for flamingos, which funnily enough at this time went home to Tanzania and come here only for honeymoon.

But we made up with rhino, family of hyenas, tons of pelicans and photogenic baboons. One of them was sitting in "I am dreaming now" position, and when we came closer to take a photo, he turned the head in a style "I am beautiful and dreaming now".

The evening was relaxed as we went to play couple games of pool together. Ended up taking a hostel - apparently for security reasons. If you bring home mzungu - Joni explained - especially if you live in certain areas, you turn yourself into target.
]]> shots in paradise — Kitale, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216543740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216543740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216543740/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:57:05 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Kitale, Kenya

As soon as we arrived to Kitale - the same routine. Jump out of matatu, say "hapana, asanti" - (thanks, no!) to anything around: whether the carrier, another matatu or pair of sunglasses is offered.

Escaping from the rain, Peter, pastor and beekeeper, took us from bus station and we were crammed into one more matatu.

I didn't realize how we arrived, as half asleep we got into entirely different world. The emerald valley with bright red huts, high sugarcanes and sun rolling on the red soil. The village seems was stirred by our arrival, kids were rushing to lend or grab a hand. I was astonished by the beauty, and that I can walk into it, not only observe through window. Smiles were slightly different. Honest ones.

We passed his brothers house full of loud singing. Peter and his family belong to Pentecostal church, which believe that Holy Spirit may talk for them in tongues. Their prayers may be very energetic and overwhelming. Singing grew into loud screams and scarse sounds.

I fell in love with the sight... That valley, lit with sunsetting light left me speechless. And I accommodated myself on the threshold to appreciate every single minute. I even haven't noticed the dark cloud eating out the sun of the valley. That was a heavy summer rain. Barefoot I ran onto the fresh grass and wished I could stay there.

We dined together with a great in number family. Ciapati, vegetables cooked in already familiar african way. And that long powerful prayer that filled in the room. They turn on the electricity generator only for couple of hours every day to familiarize with the news. Sometimes its starts to mess around, and we ended up in cozy xerophene lamplight.


Morning raised me immediately on my feet so I could greet the sun with dew on my feet. Soon we rushed to smell the atmosphere in the village. The distant meadows still untouched by the sun, were covered by foggy cloud layers and the sugarcanes were already sunkissed.

Kids were preparing for school, workers riding their donkeys or bikes, and the village had no signs of disturbed paradice. "Habari asibui" we greeted a man with good morning that we met yesterday. His sad eyes didn't shine with pride as yesterday when he showed us the church to be built by community. "My friend, primary school teacher was shot".

I froze. I completely forgot - yesterday night we heard few gunshots like hudred metres from the place we stayed. "Maybe fireworks" - we probably couldn't sound more ludicrous. But I got scared... As it grew into silence, I drowned into sleep...

Jeeez.. Peter and the others were shocked. The neighboring villagers sometimes come, shoot in the air to scare people off and steal some cattle. But this was fatal.

Village is small. And probably is healthy for us not to stay any longer in this heaven's gate with broken peace.


The kids were sad we leave. They helped us along with our luggage and we said goodbye until next time.
I was sad to leave, but maybe that's for better
]]> Motherly care2 — Nairobi, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216543500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216543500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216543500/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:48:50 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Nairobi, Kenya

Funnily enough for couple lessons I was turned into teacher for maths (!!!) (I am not so sure if my maths teacher would be so proud as I have forgot a fair deal of things. During English and CRE (Christian religious education) we were spotting differences between Lithuania (!!!) and Kenya. Well, I have to admit, they were quite quick to grasp the information UNLIKE British. Some of them just needed to confirm - is it in East Europe. Well, some of uk people still think Lithuania is somewhere around Africa.

It was sad to leave. This one day formed friendships - jokes we shared, stories they told; the eyes of the boy standing in the doorway when we were silently marking time on the threshold; the tree, that boy has drawn with only red pencil, as he does not have other colours...

When I was through the gates, I broke into tears and cried like a small child, the tears of guilt, of sadness, maybe joy that they have each other. Truly have... A mixture of everything. And some of them are so talented and willing to learn. The others - willing to learn. They all had optimism and motivation, that our countries lack. A star to reach, a dream to dream...
]]> ancient city — Lamu, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1215763380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1215763380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1215763380/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:30:11 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Lamu, Kenya

Where next? Malindi or Lamu. Lamu looked like miles away. Still closer now than from any other place. Bus there, bus somewhere, and we already on the way there, to the mysterious island with an ancient town.

I apologize to polish roads, as in comparison to those in Kenya, they used to be brilliant (and we cursed them so much). I have no idea, how buses survive such conditions. I see, drivers try to sail on the road and escape all the potholes which are there in plenty. Soon after I started to be seasick as it doesn't happen often...

We arrived before sunset and were quickly rushed into the boat. Stephen tried to calm them down a little, as seems they are behaving like escaping from fire. "Breath, darling, breath..." They smiled. Their tactics like that - quickly stock all the people into boat and go. As time is their money, we in seconds ppeared there already heading towards the island.

Lamu is truly gorgeous. The streets are so narrow that you can hardly pass each other without turning a little. But the combinations of the buildings, freely walking donkeys (apparently, there are around 3000 donkeys on this island), and relaxed atmosphere makes it special.
We decided to stay at least a whole full day...

Soon the night arrived, and moon in the company of the stars was playing on the dark towns walls. Part of the town sank into darkness, as something went wrong with generator. So xerophene lamps came in hand again. And that it made more mysterious...

Beach boys are the part of reality and sort of a game. Some of them are in corporation with police, so when they sell marihuana to the tourists, the police come around to the hotel and demand to pay the fine! But as we were not interested neither in their speedboats, nor in their drugs, we were soon of a little interest.

But Stephen cannot miss an opportunity to chat and wind them up. However, among the beach boys, we found one decent guy who is generally a fisherman. And he took us on his fishing simple dhow to the Shela beach. His voice was calm and sounded like that water striking against the boat.

Shela beach was a necessary rest and a truly paradise type place to stay away from anything in the world...
I jumped to the water like thousand times. And was never enough...

Couple hours, and we headed back on foot to Lamu. Only now we started to realize the price of vanity. Even though we applied plenty of sunblock, jeeez, we got burned.

Came back to the guesthouse all radiating warmth and red light...
]]> Escape to Kilifi — Kilifi, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216539960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216539960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1216539960/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:03:24 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Kilifi, Kenya

We are fed up with Nairobi's madness. We thought to find peace in the train, which was jeeeez cancelled due to a strike. We had a grudge on them that we couldnt experience it. But then I cought myself - I cannot be so egoistic. I come and go, and these people should be payed by this bloody corrupted government. Can you imagine, up to now the MPs did not pay taxes for heir veeeeery large income. And people still have a hope in them, even though this 50 years of independence overtly show - things just going down. Maybe a little up, and then down again...

Well, so no train. Ok, bus then. I dont know how it happened, but we chose the worst bus ever in my life for night journey. The seets were designed for midgets, and we with our not short legs were stirring around in the seats.
We arrived to Mombasa before the sunrise. The person suppose to meet with us, did not. So we were left there tired as horses. No ways, let's go to the ocean. Now. Where? Kilifi, sounds good enough.

Soon we found ourselves in the little busy village with surprizingly (or not as it is low season) little wuzungus. I somehow there did not like to see white people too much. Maybe because these sort of people you do not easily communicate with: they are posh and look down to anybody that does not fit the standarts. And even I was angry sometimes, that I was labelled angrily as white, I can understand it better when I see expats or rich tourists here. You naturally want to say, jeez, do you realize how ridiculous you look in all this posh things when people AROUND starving.

Soon we met one mzungu-AMerican PeaceCorp volunteer, and he shared a not so secret nice guest house near the ocean. And this was that needed escape from all the noise, matatus, streetvenders, gazes... We were there, looking into the distance where lazy waves rinsed the dead coral shore.

Morning near sunrising sea...

I still feel that soft warmth...
]]> Taize — Nairobi, Kenya http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1214725020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1214725020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/shoeinmissin/1/1214725020/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:45:17 -0400 Karibu Kenya - a trip that I have waited for long time
Nairobi, Kenya

Taize prayer in Africa. There will be an ecumenical Taize youth meeting in Nairobi in November. But as we in Nairobi now and not then, we visited Mji wa Furaha (house of happiness) to join the kenyans in the prayer.

I did not realize they are that religious. They can quote the Bible, recite the passages... And some of them sound very rigid in comparison even with our priests (they are more flexible). Probably they still live the way missionaries brought it without trying too much to modernize it.

But as I say, the religiousness is an interesting phenomena. You see orphans drawning peacefully in their prayers and then you look at their eyes, and see the optimism.

People sound happy there... As soon as they start singing, you feel it straight away. They love it. And you fall in love with it. And even they are not rich here, they sound much more happy than those kids back to UK with home cinema and people with the latest cars... I dont want to generalize it, but the impression is this.
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