The Alarm rips me out of my dreams at 5 am. It takes a moment to realize where i am. An African shower and a coffee later i feel better and i have to, cause it`s time to get to the shuttle to Mombasa Terminus. The shuttle drives steady as expected and honks all the time to signal available seats to people walking on the street. There are a lot of kids in school uniforms along the way -some get in and some get out.
The security at Terminus feels more like a small scale European Airport then a train Station: Gender separated rows to X-Ray luggage and passengers – of course i initially sort in the wrong lane cause i didn’t notice.
The whole station is flooded with kids – school is about to start again. After picking my ticket, i notice a giant statue of a Chinese guy and help a kid with his luggage while going to my designated seat in this exceptional long train. Gotta collect some social credit Points while in China. I have a “wood class” seat, cause i wanted the original experience and cause i was too slow to book the SGR.
I learn that the Chinese did build the railway and trains and in return get the Profits for around 20 years, after which the ownership falls to Kenya. While the train is clean and maintained, it feels as if it was build to last just as long.
The reason i went to Kenya texts me and asks if we should meet the next day. I have a hard time making up my mind.
As you can see the scenery is awesome, beautiful, colorful and diverse. The seat is not cushioned very well and i start to feel it. There is an every-changing 80% kids on the train, caused by the school System where most Kids are assigned to border schools, based on their grades – which can be quite a bit away from their parents.
The SGR Route is leading along two Wildlife Reserves and i do see several Elephants and Giraffes from the train – just as i wanted, but i am always too slow and focused to take a picture. I think i saw a lion on a waterhole too, but am not sure about that until today.
We are arriving at the outskirts of Nairobi and i get nervous, i have no clue yet how to get from Nairobi Terminus to my hotel, but am happy i can walk again soon – my buttocks is hurting.
It`s easy to figure out – there are connecting trains to the City center here. They are feeling like a German S-Bahn and are dirt cheap – you pay on the train, conductors are walking around to collect the fare via MPESA or cash.
After arriving close to the City center (CBD – Central Business District), i consider walking but my mobile data acts out again and i can`t use Google Maps, so i take a cab. When i arrive at the Hotel i notice the Laptop department of my Backpack is open – i am sure i had it closed, but luckily nothing was in there.
My apartment @Chester is ok, with a great location, an amazing view, very friendly and welcoming personal – but it clearly has seen better days.
I take pictures from my balcony while i unwind a bit and the sun is disappearing somewhere behind the city.
Grok recommends me CJ`s (among others) for dinner and i kind of crave a burger.
The Burger is nice and juicy, but the salad is just amazing…it is (different) tasting vegetables and fruit what i can`t stop thinking about.
