Fun Facts in Nairobi

Before we got busy with presentations and client meetings, our CSC group had the chance to go around Nairobi. Fun Fact: Nairobi's population is about 8 M during the day and 3 M at night. Hence, the road is very congested during the day.

Our first stop was the Giraffe Center where we were able to be up close with Helen, the resident giraffe who was able for feeding when we visited. It was fascinating to learn the 3 different sub-species of giraffes that are existing in Kenya (reticulated, maasai and Rothschild's),  their differences and what areas they can be located. Here's quick note on the sub-species: http://www.girafferesearch.com/#/giraffe-subspecies/4537723666. Helen is a Rothschild's giraffe.
Fun Fact: Warthogs usually live in close proximity to giraffes since giraffes are few of the animals who can kill a lion (with its kick), so giraffes give some sense of security to Pumba and his family.

Meet Helen! Some folks are pulling the leaves as they feed Helen so she can bring out more of her long tongue out.

Local kids on a field trip

One of the warthogs with Helen

Look at those eyelashes! I'm jealous!!

Few of my CSC groupmates: Pinaki (IBM India), Tamara, Felicity (IBM Australia), Paula, Nadia (IBM US) and Vivian (IBM China)

Our next stop was the Karen Blixen house. Does her name ring a bell? Well, it might if you have seen "Out of Africa." Meryl Streep played her in the movie while Robert Redford played her boyfriend, Denys. Karen is a Danish author who used to own a vast land in Nairobi. They planned on having a coffee plantation there. However, the land was too acidic to make it fruitful. Eventually, she went bankrupt and had to go out of Africa. She became a popular author with her books accounting her life in Africa. When the movie came out, they capitalized on the popularity of the movie and named almost anything there - "Karen" to refer to the land she used to own.
Fun Fact: Karen used two lamps to show Denys if she's in the mood for some "company". If it's the green lamp, Denys will have a wonderful night. If it's the red lamp, too bad for Denys!

Karen Blixen house

We were also able to go to Bomas of Kenya. It is a place where they present cultural shows. We were able to see several traditional dances and acrobat show. Also, we got to look at models of traditional Kenya villages. The dances and acrobat show were amazing. They actually ask a couple of audience to dance with them, and both of them came from our CSC group. I'll post the video when I get permission from Tamara and Pinaki to post their dancing =)

Fun Fact: Kenya dances has a lot of hip movement (and bootie shaking). Muriuki told us that North Africans do more chest movements, Central (including East/West) do more hip movements (Kenya is in East Africa) while South Africans do more foot work.

Some pictures of the African dances:

Here's a video of one of the dances. This is supposed to be one of the wedding dances.

Acrobat Show

With Muriuki and Nadia

We were able to look at models of traditional Kenyan villages after the show. What was interesting is that each villages has designated huts for the 1st wife, 2nd wife and even the 3rd wife. The 1st wife has the biggest hut in the family =) There are even huts for the grandmother, married son and unmarried son.
Fun Fact: No hut for unmarried daughter =)

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