entering the world of Kisumu

Stepping into the guarded grounds of the train station, after finally being granted access, was like stepping into a lost world. An unaffected realm from the 40's and 50's. No trains, no people, no public - just an armed guard and untouched architecture from a past life.

Payed a visit to Nyalenda as well - the slum suburb - and ended up at a school with darling children. 

At Kisumu Innovation Center Kenya (KICK) young local artisans use recycled materials to create hand made greeting cards, furniture and home decor. KICK is a social enterprise that works with and encourages young women and men in Kisumu to recycle and reuse material for their arts and crafts, that are sold both in Kenya and abroad. This gives the artisans ability to not rely on aid, but sustain themselves through their skills.

Got myself a bicycle, or two. 

Kibuye Market, where hardworking men and women produce and sell their hand made products made from scratch each and every day.

At Dunga beach people gather around as the fishermen get ashore with the morning catch. Intense negotiation and auction fills the air and smiling faces among disappointed ones walk away with buckets of fish fresh out of the waters of Lake Victoria.

A heavy rainstorm passed through last night with the result of one of the houses crumbling down to the ground. And so the clean up had begun - a huge bonfire. 

Children playing underneath the African sun. 

Photos courtesy of A. S, P. L and Y. A K.

on the edge of Lake Victoria

Arriving in Kisumu - which would be our home town during the upcoming two months - we were greeted with this view of the grand Lake Victoria.

Each and every day, from dawn to dusk, people drive their cars, trucks, tuktuks, buses and everything else on wheels into the lake for a good old washing. 

First day in school.

The typology of Kisumu. Pink, blue, green, purple and advertisement. Hello US in the 50's.

Photos courtesy of A. S, P. L and Y. A K.

walking on glass and unsafe bridges

In the outskirts of Nairobi we found this little gem - a tiny community tucked inside a world of recycled glass and bottles.

Ticked off my 'cross an Indiana Jones bridge far to high up for any sane person' on my bucket list. 

Started our roundtrip across the Kenyan landscape with a pit stop beside the Great Rift Valley.

Photos courtesy of A. S, P. L and Y. A K.

once in Kenya

Packed in a Matatu, somewhere in Nairobi, making our way to the CBD on our first day in Kenya.

Kenyatta International Conference Centre

Found ourselves crashing a gospel music video shoot with the whole of Nairobi beneath us. And yes, they grabbed us and together we awkwardly started to dance around and around and around with their cameras capturing it all.

Amongst parking lots and 'very-important-person' buildings, the Masai Market shone through with its bright colors. 

Kibera - the second largest slum area in the world.

Entering the perfectly lawned gardens of UN headquarters.

Ended up spending my most interesting day ever, conversing with brilliant men, discoursing vide topics, being amazed.

Photos courtesy of A. S, P. L and Y. A K.

Shoshi Games 2014

Sotji, Sochi, Smotchi - I present to you Shoshi Games. The spirit of the Olympic Games in its purest form, Shoshana out shines herself each and every day. 
I know I am a bit late with this but here it goes: 
shoshigames.tumblr.com

snow can wait, I forgot my mittens

Snow had yet not fallen, however - the list of what-we-need-to-do-this-December-before-Christmas-hits-us was quickly coming to its end. So we crossed our promise and entered the world of blinding lights, cheerful songs, warming fire places, sleepy reindeers, santas and magical forests at Liseberg in pure defiance. A little bit of fake snow and we were back on track with the Holiday spirit.