Motorbikes on Fours!

Motorbikes on Fours!

Not too far from the city of Nairobi, there is a place that is nothing less of the wild (full with the savannah terrain and wildlife) where I go to ride monster motorbikes on fours; Quad Bikes!

The place is set in a savannah grassland spotted with thorny shrubs and the occasional rocky hills. The road to the place is quite treacherous and a 4×4 vehicle might be a good idea. However, the place is still accessible with a small vehicle whose owner doesn’t mind a little shocks battering 😉

On arrival we were welcomed by the establishment’s owner and now friend, Mr. Wamae. Our keen intent was to ride the quad bikes out into the wild and through the motorcross track. However Mr. Wamae, persuaded us to first take a walk through the entire place so that we could know what they had to offer.

Parked quad bikes

The establishment boasts a well lit lounge area built in wood. The lounge is accessible using a woody staircase which leads you into a space filled with comfortable sofas, a tv set and a plausible music system. There is no better place to enjoy the breeze and a slight view of the plains! The lounge area over looks the swimming pool and the green lawn below patched with tented bandas serving as more relaxing spots for the visitors. Adjacent to the pool there is a well stocked bar with a wide sitting area and a view outward to the plains. Visitors here can also order meals from the establishment’s kitchen which is ran by a very able chef (this we learned after we ordered our lunch)!The place also has several accommodation rooms whose furniture is artistically built in wood to complete the feel of being in the wild! I automatically fell in love with the place, and what it had to offer!

The lawn and pool area

After the tour, we immediately headed out below the lounge area where the quad bikes are parked. Here we met the riding captain who in very good spirits took us through the simple rules of biking out here in the wild. He also provided protective gear to make sure that we were ready for the ride. A helmet, like while riding any other motorcycles is essential here. It is also advisable to have a padded riding jacket on as well as riding boots to ensure minimal injury in the event of a mishap or accident while riding. We geared up good, and before we mounted the beasts on fours we were requested to sign a risk consent form that absolved the establishment of any liability in the event that any of us got injured while riding. I recommend having personal insurance to cater for such incidents 🙂

Geared up and ready to ride!

We revved up the machines and out we rode into the savannah. Leading the pack was the riding captain who acted as the guide on the trail to ensure that we used a route where we would have maximum fun in terms of, the wildlife we came across and the terrain we passed through. The rougher the terrain, the better! 😉

Revving it up!

On our way we came across the beautiful sight of antelopes grazing in the grassland and they dashed away in a startled hop on hearing the growling engines. We were also lucky enough to encounter towering giraffes foraging on the acacia trees that spotted the grassland. On hearing the engines, they also took to a graceful run that seemed to be in slow motion due to their long legs! What a beautiful sight! We also came across a heard of elands grazing, and these huge animals were not afraid of the sound of engines. They stood their ground, raised their heads as if to ask, ‘do you have to interrupt our feeding time?’ and watched us as we rode past them. Herds of wilderbeasts and zebras could also be seen grazing out in the plains!

The trail

Gracefully running giraffes

Wilderbeasts crossing the road

An Eland

The quad bikes raised dust as we sped through the tough terrain leading to the motorcross track through the grassland. The uneven ground helped me enjoy the capabilities of the four-wheeled motorcycle as it bumped, twisted and skidded. My hands strongly gripped the handle bars and played with the clutch and brakes to make sure that the monster was in my control! There is no better feeling than this. I felt like a matador handling a raging bull by the horns! Note: You have the choice of a manual or an automatic quad bike.

Ride on!

We eventually got on to the motor cross track which was the true test of the quad bikes and what they can really do. The track had steep ascends and descends, uneven gullies, wide rumble sticks and unexpected bends! The track is essentially built to surprise the rider and the machine. This calls for good handling of the quad bike for maximum enjoyment.

In the motor cross track

Going down a steep descent

The ride is quite tiring, but the fun sure does over-ride the fatigue! We eventually got back to the camp, enjoyed a meal and relaxed by the poolside bar listening to some good music and enjoying a drink or two as we chatted away.

After the long ride

I would recommend that you take some time and immerse yourself in the quad bike riding fun!

Establishment: Lukenya Motorcross

Distance:  Approx. 39km from the Nairobi city centre

Map:

Getting to Lukenya motorcross

Get out there and have fun!

-MASH-

Children, Charity and Cleanliness!

The ‘chariot’ to Ianzoni

Re Foundation invited me for a Health Day they had organized for a needy primary school in the depths of Eastern Kenya (Ukambani). Ianzoni Primary School is located in a remote and marginalized area of the vast Machakos County. As always, I had my camera in hand and I managed to take some captivating shots of the event which I hereby gladly share with you!

Let’s do this!

The school currently caters for 185 students with a team of 11 dedicated teachers.

The road from Nairobi to the area called Muumandu is in good condition and stretches to an approximate distance of 100km. The route starts with the sight of commercial buildings along the Mombasa highway, it later opens to the cement factories and other industries around the Athi River area. The road then spills into a scenic savannah land spotted with several rocky hills, patches of rural settlements and farm lands.

Road to Ianzoni

Beautiful gullies by the road bank towards Ianzoni

We arrived at the Ianzoni Primary School after the Health Day event had already began. I could tell that this was a big day for the pupils and the administration as well from how they seemed to have prepared for it. At the gate, we were greeted by a little make-shift signboard that read ‘Ianzoni Health Day’ adorned with white balloons.

Greeting at the gate

Ianzoni Primary School

Pupils of Ianzoni Primary School

We walked in to a presentation on Thorough Hand Washing Techniques by a Public Health Officer named Lydia Muywoki, who was well versed with the topic and was quite entertaining in her message delivery making the kids pay attention. The hand washing lesson was definitely a helpful topic to cover for both the pupils and the community, as this would help minimize or curb the incidents of hygiene related ailments like typhoid, cholera and diarrhea. The kids later demonstrated what they had learned about hand washing.

How to wash your hands

Samit Gehlot, the MD of Intex Construction (the lead sponsor of Re Foundation)  demonstrates effective hand washing together with members of the local community

After the hand washing presentation the pupils as well as the community members attending the Health Day were taught how to treat drinking water using purification tablets called Aqua Tab. This was another important topic owing to the fact that this being a semi-arid area water drinking water is either collected and stored during the rain season or fetched in the sparsely spread boreholes; sources which cannot be fully trust to be hygienic and safe to drink.

Lesson on treating drinking water

The pupils were also trained on how to clean their lavatories in an effective way using water, brooms and soap to ensure that the toilets do not habour harmful bacteria which could cause diseases. The trainer Veronica Mwangangi (School Health Program Officer) who was very explicit explained the cleaning process step by step and also threw in a word or two about the appropriate use of tissue paper for both boys and girls. To ensure that the topic stuck in the pupil’s minds, she invited a volunteer student to practically demonstrate the procedure of cleaning a pit-latrine toilet.

Pupils attentive on how to clean the toilet

A student demonstrates to her peers how to clean a toilet

To ensure that the above skills learned by the pupils could be easily implemented and maintained in school, the Re Foundation donated water tanks fitted with two taps to serve as hand washing stations at the ablution blocks. The foundation also officially opened the lavatories they had built to serve the schools population adequately. From my interactions with the kids, I learned that they had not had toilets to serve them in the past few years and that they were very grateful to the Re Foundation for coming to their aid. To inculcate the culture of hand washing and keeping the toilets clean, the Re-Foundation provided information posters on the topis and had them stuck on the lavatory area walls.

Let’s wash our hands!

Pupils volunteer to demonstrate how to wash hands to their peers

After this, the pupils and the adults from the surrounding community were given a brief first aid training on how to handle incidents of choking or blocking of the airway by food. This was carried out by the AAR Ambulance Team who were also attending the event as partial sponsors. The several techniques of attending to a choke victim were demonstrated to the pupils and they all seemed very keen on the topic. This topic was definitely taught in opportune time as the event was just about to break-off for lunch! 🙂

First aid training. How to deal with an airway blockage (choking).

Members of the local community and pupils closely following the day’s events

The rigorous part of the Health Day was now over. The Re Foundation which was the head organization in preparing and carrying out this event went to present several items that they had noticed at necessary during their work with this institution which stretched to several months shy of a year. The pupils were presented with a fully kitted First Aid bag to cater for injuries. They were also presented with a year’s supply of hand washing soap from PZ Cussons. To aid audio-visual learning for the students, Re Foundation donated a flat-screen television and a DVD player to the school. The teachers were also not left out as they were given a computer through which they can keep school records and access the internet. This would also provide a training ground for them before they were issued with laptops from the Re Foundation to further aid their work with the pupils. Despite the fact that the pupils and the teachers would not be in a position to use the machines yet due to lack of electricity, joy was evident in their eyes and smiles. I hope that they will soon have solar-powered energy from the Re-Foundation or any other well wishers out there.

The students receive the first aid kit and soap donated by Re Foundation & PZ Cussons

Teachers of Ianzoni receive the computer donated by Re Foundation

The pupils, teachers and the attending members of the surrounding community were treated to a sumptuous lunch courtesy of the Re Foundation.Local tunes played by the local ‘dj’ belted away as the people feasted. The members of the Re Foundation happily served their hosts and only settled to eat after everyone else had eaten. What a gesture of selfless service to the community! They also donated a full semester’s worth of food to ensure that the kids were fed through out the remaining part of it.

Members of Re Foundation serving food to the children

Pupils enjoying lunch

It had been work through out the day, and we all know what they say about all work and no play. Re Foundation made sure that no one was going to turn dull on this particular day by inviting the pupils to indulge their members in various games which included ‘one-touch’ soccer and musical chairs. The kids gladly participated in all these activities and their happy laughter was evidence enough that they had an awesome day, thanks to the Re Foundation!

The longest musical-chairs I ever saw!

Benson, a member of Re Foundation leads the kids in a game

Taran Gehlot of Re Foundation gives the kids instructions of a game

Walter, a member of Re Foundation plays with the kids

Eventually, it was time to leave and head back to the city of Nairobi. The children bid us farewell and we got back on to the road for the trip back. I had a pleasant day interacting with the children as well as the locals. I was very impressed with the work that the Re Foundation has done with Ianzoni Primary School, and it was also very heart-warming to see the dedication of the teachers to make a difference in lives of these needy pupils. The Headmaster, Mr. Derrick Mutunga is passionate in serving the children of Ianzoni and all we can do is support him in every little way that we can!

Wendy & Taran of Re Foundation giving a vote of thanks

Wendy (The coordinator of Re Foundation), Mr. Derrick Mwangangi (The Headmaster of Ianzoni) with Mash

Taran of Re Foundation bids the kids farewell

While I was there, I felt that this would be a good place to start my ‘Education Through Film’ project where I will be airing educative cinemas to schools and communities in marginalized areas for free. I cannot wait to acquire the screen, solar panels, projectors and speakers to commence this project!

One thing is for sure, Mash is definitely going back to visit the children of Ianzoni Primary School!

Mash with the kids and some members of the Re Foundation

Jedidah, Nicholas, Eunice and Nelima. Members of Re Foundation

Note: All well wishers are welcome to assist the Ianzoni Primary School children in any way possible. Any help can be channeled through the Re Foundation, who can be contacted through the address below;

Re Foundation: about.me/re.foundation

Program Coordinator: Wendy Masale

Cellphone: +254 722 206161 / +254 722 590974

-MASH-

Of Speed On Water..

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying great speed on the Indian Ocean courtesy of some high powered jet-skis at the Kenyan North Coast of Mombasa!

For a minimal fee (Ksh. 3,300.00), I hired a jet-ski for two at the Yul’s Aquadrom for a period of 20min. They have the biggest jet-skis in this side of the coast and that always draws me back every time I am in the coast. We were welcomed by their very able and pleasant staff whom I have met here since they year 2010 when I first indulged in this high adrenaline sport.

The Captain took us through the routine safety instructions, tagged our hands to the ‘beasts’, we set our engine in motion and off we sped into the vast ocean. The jet-skis tear away through the water with a bellowing roar from their engines that will send a shudder through any high adrenaline junkie!

Wow!

The Captain who rides the head jet-ski directed us out into the ocean and pointed out in two different directions. The idea is to ride out to a buoy that marks the point at which you shouldn’t pass (for safety reasons – they say) and turn to ride to the other buoy which is about 800m away. The wide expanse of the ocean between the buoys and the shallows was ours for the speeding!

Voooom…!!!

Splash!

The jet-skis hit very high speeds and at times one feels as if the only part touching the water is the tip of the beast’s hind! Sometimes one also hits a harsh wave which splashes salty water water into one’s face and eyes. I would highly recommend riding with swimming goggles on.

Safe Rider

Of note are the safety instructions which are very simple;

– Avoid other boats and swimmers while out in the ocean

– Do not ride past the buoys marking the 800m stretch

– Have fun, and if you can’t hold it, scream out loud! 🙂

This was one awesome experience! You should try it when down at the Kenyan Coast!

Yul’s Aquadrom

Note: Yul’s also has a restaurant, a bar, an ice-cream palour and a hair salon when one can relax and enjoy the beach breeze before or after the jet-ski adventure, or just to pass time. On some weekends, Yul’s also hosts party nights where revellers dance the night away on the beach underneath the stars!

-MASH-

Interaction With Masai Morans

Pose with a Masai warrior

In the month of August 2013, I traveled down to the Kenyan coast to attend a friend’s wedding in which I was honoured to be a groomsman. In true Kenyan style, I combined this undertaking with a little fun and pleasure.

I was putting at the Kenya Bay Beach Hotel which is one of the older hotels along the Mombasa North Coast. The hotel still boasts an ambiance of the 70’s architecture, pristine lawns, access to a long wide beach and most importantly, pleasant staff to serve guests through-out their stay.

Every evening after dinner, the hotel organizes some entertainment for the guests. On one of the evenings, we had the pleasure of being entertained by Masai warriors and ladies in their full traditional regalia!

The Masai dance was definitely an avenue for the warriors to showcase their charisma. The warriors jumped high up as they sounded a deep-chested hum in unison. In erratic intervals some of the warriors screamed war cries amid the hum as they jumped to the front of the group and performed several jumps as they shook of their long braided hair pained in red ochre. The warriors brandished their weapons and shields as they performed this dance in an uncoordinated show of might. After the dance, the warriors marched in a single file and formed a circle while moving slowly showing off their regalia and weapons, whilst maintaining the low deep hum that resonated from within their chests and to the audience.

Masai Warriors doing a march

After the dance by the warriors, the Masai ladies brought out their ornaments and ‘shukas’ and created a mini-market right at the hotel square that used as the performance stage and created a full Masai market feel. The guests sampled the bead necklaces and the bracelets which the Masai people are popular for adorning themselves with, and haggled for better prices in the true style of an African market!

Masai Market is on!

It was so much fun joining in the dance, and I also bought myself some bracelets to remember my interaction with the Masai morans!

-MASH-