9/12/09-9/13/09: Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
I think maybe with the whole claustrophobia thing that Kevin wrote about in his last post that it might have been a good idea for us to go camping once or twice before we ventured on this 6-week camping trip. I mean, I figured there would be bugs and we would be dirty and maybe we wouldn’t be able to shower every day. So I was prepared for that. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the whole bathroom situation. And it’s not the squat toilet thing, because I’ve been to China, so I’m friendly with the squat toilets. The thing that I wasn’t prepared for – when you’re in a wildlife park with lions (that would EAT you) and buffalo (that would TRAMPLE you) AND you have to use the squat toilet outside in the dark.
So last night after it was dark, I really had to use the bathroom (the kind where you can’t just go by a tree), so I made Kevin go with me to the squat toilet, which was about 100 yards away. And the thing was, I wasn’t even that nervous about the wild animals even though we had just heard the story about the cook that got eaten by a lion – maybe it was because I was in the enclosed toilet – but Kevin kept on saying things like, “I think I see something! And it has eyes! Hurry up!” Very encouraging. Anyway. So you can imagine that under these circumstances, with the anxious husband of less than one week standing outside imagining scary carnivorous creatures while you yourself are squatting over a toilet in the middle of Africa – well, it really doesn’t help things go along. So I just gave up. And I got up and opened the door. Kevin asked, “Did you go?” I didn’t answer. “Well, did you go?” Still no answer. “So after ALL that, you didn’t even go?!” In my defense, the situation was not ideal. I think you’d agree.
So the camping thing has its ups and downs, but I would have to say that the ups by far outweigh the downs. This morning while we were eating breakfast, about 100 yards away from us was a herd of impala. I don’t know if they were playing a game or just running off some excess energy or, as someone suggested, practicing running away from lions, but the young impala would just suddenly start galloping down the side of the hill around the corner in front of us and right back up the hill. And then every minute or so they would run another lap. I don’t know what it was; it wasn’t just the beauty or the grace of it all, but it was just that they were there right next to us, not caring at all that we were there. It was as if they just had all this joy that had to come out of them in those little sprints. And seeing that this morning is worth all the dirty fingernails and crappy toilets in the world.
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Picture of the Day: We’re either actually at the equator or just a sign that says it’s the equator – we’re not sure which one.
woo first comment!!!
anyways I once was camping and in the middle of the night I had to go, but I was scared some muderer would jump on me in the middle of the night. After all, our tentmates were telling scary stories…
I was reading this last night, thinking: “Wow, what great adventures; I wonder what will happen tomorrow!” But then I noticed the journal date of 9/12-9/13 and then thought to myself, wow, that’s like 10+ days ago, I wonder what has happened since! I suppose we’ll just have to wait…
OMG-so funny! My husband and I are leaving for Kenya next week so your blog is getting us very inspired! Can’t wait to read more!