Is it rude to wear a wetsuit to a five star meal? (posting from a road)

Jambo! Well, it was a long dreadful 27 hours...but I finally arrived in Kenya. My luggage has not. It has been located, one piece is in Amsterdam and another is resting comfortably in Minneapolis. I am told that I will be reunited with one tomorrow - side note - I REALLY hope that it is the green suitcase as the red backpack only holds a sleeping bag and a wet suit.

A pleasant surprise did greet us howvere upon our arrival in Nairobi; Susan, Leila's internet friend, was at the airport with a sign to greet us! (I think she feared us trying to brave a taxi alone). We were escorted swiftly back to her home in a suburb of Nairobi that I firmly believe is well off any tourist trail. The home, which was immaculately kept, had no running water and all cooking was done in a propane burner in the centre of the kitchen. Beverly and Mary, Susan's sisters, waited up to meet us, and I must say that the hospitality that we recieved from these 3 strangers

was astounding. We enjoyed a delicious home-cooked three course meal while watching the World Cup and then an chatted like old friends until the wee hours of the morning. It was truly a fantastic treat to sit around and visit with 3 girls, about the same age and learn about the differences, and more often not, the similarities in each others lives. Breakfast this morning was another lavish affair in our honour before our driver showed up to whisk us away to the Giraffe Manor.

The traffic in Kenya's capital so it was slow going but we were able to take in all the sites, good and bad, along the way. Every eye contact was met with a wave and a smile, giant storks dotted the treetops and there is certainly no shortage of fresh fruit stands everywhere you look. We also passed Kibera, the largest slum area in Nairobi. These ramshackle tin huts are home to over 500,000 people. Just a little reminder of how lucky we are - I sense this maybe another one of those vacations where I am plagued with 'white guilt'.

But I am here now, at Giraffe Manor. Leila say a news story on this establishment over 20 years ago and has dreamed of visiting it ever since. So far I can tell you it is nothing short of spectacular...we were greeted by Jock Jr, a Rothschild giraffe, and several random warthogs. I just wanted to send off a quick e-mail before we settle down for lunch.

I just heard, my luggage is here! (Well some of it) Keep your fingers crossed that it is the green suitcase....but in case it's not I have already forewarned the proprietor Jiles that I may be attending the formal dinner in my wetsuit tonight...Asanti for reading! (Karibu from the photo up top means 'welcome')