Day 4

Hello friends, family, and newcomers. Welcome to or welcome back to my blog where I am documenting the process leading up to and during my first humanitarian mission to Eldoret, Kenya.

Today is Wednesday, April 2nd. I didn't get much sleep last night. We returned home late from our wonderful year in review ceremony and woke up early to explore the resort grounds. A guide led us to the water's edge, where we spotted five to six hippos lounging together in the water. The amusing thing about hippos is that they resemble rocks until you notice the pink of their snouts and ears. We then walked to the Jetty, which offered a stunning view of the water and mountains. After our tour of the grounds, we packed our bags and went to breakfast. I had an omelet, some sausage and bacon, delicious sautéed mushrooms, and a pancake for breakfast.

After satisfying our hunger and energizing ourselves for the day, we boarded the bus and set off for Hell's Gate for a safari and hike. Hell's Gate gets its name from the intense temperatures and thermal energy fields generated by a nearby, currently dormant volcano. An interesting fact about Hell's Gate is that several movies have been filmed there, including The Lion King. During our hike, we descended into the Gorge and saw the spot where Mufasa was pushed off a cliff in the movie. I've learned on this trip that The Lion King accurately represents language, culture, and landscape in many ways. We not only visited these fascinating locations but also experienced an echo off the mountains; we shouted Campaign_52 at the mountain, and it echoed back. We also observed impalas, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, turtles, warthogs (Pumba), buffalo, and monkeys. The safari was super fun. The hike was extremely hard I kept telling Becci that I was not sure that I would make it. I did and it felt so good.

After finishing our safari and hike, we returned to the hotel for lunch. I enjoyed egg fried rice, mixed lentils, excellent chicken, chapatis, some fried fish, and a bread roll. I knew I needed to eat well because we had a four-hour bus ride ahead, and I wasn't sure when I'd get another chance to eat. We started our journey to Eldoret around 2:30 PM. Eldoret is our final destination for the trip, as GynoCare is located there, and we'll stay until Friday, April 11th.

During our bus journey, we made two stops. One of them was one of the most exciting stops I've ever experienced on a trip. First, we visited a local coffee shop, used the restroom, and picked up some water and coffee. Then, we boarded the buses again and headed toward the EQUATOR! We had a one-hour drive filled with anticipation. Once we arrived, we all got off the bus and took photos with the signs. We also drove past the bus hanging out the window as we crossed the equator which was extremely fun to do. This gorup that I am with is so fun to be around, entertaining, and easy going. The bus ride felt like it was never going to end, we all got very antsy. After almost 6 hours we finally arrived at Eldoret where we are staying at the hotel Eka.

I have been quite impressed with the hotel accommodations on this trip. The hotel is lovely and located within a mall that features a large grocery store, small business shops, a pharmacy, and more. We hope to visit some of the shops soon to buy some fruits and explore their offerings. The hotel also includes restaurants, a well-equipped gym, a pool, a spa, and a souvenir shop. Our room is also very nice. I am thrilled to be here and eager to get started.

Arriving at the hotel late, we decided against having a full dinner. Instead, we gathered our fruits, some protein bars, and tea, and sat in the hotel's common area for a casual "girl dinner." Initially, there were just four of us, but our group gradually expanded, making it wonderful to chat with everyone. I had the pleasure of trying orange-flavored chocolate (Terry's orange) for the first time, which was delightful. I also tasted dates from Dubai, which were the best I've ever had. The evening was truly enjoyable as we spent time together and relaxed before the upcoming busy days. After our little tea party, we all headed to our rooms and I prepared for bed, as tomorrow promises to be very exciting. Until tomorrow :)

All Love,

Meg