“Happiness is found in the oddest of places”
Photo Cred – Malcolm King-Fontana
We arrive in Nairobi after 20+ hours of flying and lay-overs on an
“Crouching photographer, hidden Cheetah”
Photo Cred – Malcolm King-Fontana
overcast but still sultry night. Stepping off of the plane, we are transported to a new and mostly unfamiliar position of being in the minority. In some places there is a smattering of white-skinned people (rarely do we hear an American-sounding accent), in many places there are none; we are definitely in Africa.
There is something both profoundly unsettling and liberating about going great distances through multiple time zones and landing in an area where you don’t know anyone or practically anything. Within our first 5 days in Kenya, we have experienced heaping helpings of culture, ethnicity, economic extremes, environmental, and lifestyle shock. There have been few shades of gray and the cultural whiplash has thus far been a meal of great diversity, at times overwhelmingly enjoyable and at other times ranging from mildly disturbing to overtly distressing.
Enjoy an appetizer of what is to come over the next several days as we take you from luxurious digs to shanty towns, from rural wilds coexisting with communities to the urban throb of a Nairobi separated along the lines of wealth and poverty with the opposing broad strokes of night and day.
“Feeding time for the orphan elephants”
Photo Cred – Malcolm King-Fontana
“Curiosity killed the Giraffe”
Photo Cred – Malcolm King-Fontana
Malcolm is quite the photographer….and what an experience you two are having! I’m following you with gratitude and admiration. Janxx
Beautiful writing and absolutely amazing photographs! Way to go sis and nephew! I am in awe of your adventure and look forward to each and every post. Sending lots of love your way.
Wow – so exciting to see and know you are in Africa. Lovely photos Malcolm! Looking forward to more stories and adventures as you travel deeper into the ‘dark continent’ – both inner and outer! I love that feeling of being somewhere and knowing nothing , that ‘unsettling and liberating’ feeling you speak of – sometimes I yearn for it as I go about my ‘civilized’ life day to day. Love to you both. Penny
Amazing photos Malcolm! Makes me home sick for Africa.
And, Kari I feel like I am getting to know you through the insightful offering of your words and the depth of your inquiry. Love to both of you! Mira
I love Curiosity Killed the Giraffe photo – such a playful juxtaposition. Brings a whole new “level” to Peeping Tom possibilities!