The third weekend of the program, our instructors scheduled another trip for us, to the coral reef off the coast of Kenya. We traveled to Malindi, a 4 hour drive north of Mombasa, to stay for the weekend. The first evening in Malindi we attended a lecture given by an environmental activist who advocates for the protection of the coral reef. I was unaware of the extent or prevalence of: trolling fishing, where boats cast large nets and sweep the water from the floor to the surface, often times destroying entire habitats including the reef; toxic uranium waste being dumped off the coast of Somalia by European companies; and the visible destruction to the reef caused by tourism and global warming. After listening to the lecture, the aesthetic beauty of the area was tarnished once again by the truth.
We traveled out to the reef in glass bottom boats and took our snorkeling gear. I was out in the water for nearly two hours exploring the reef, and I managed to see a few sting rays, plenty of fish, and an amazing violet and green colored clam that was almost a meter across! I wish I would have remembered my waterproof casing for my camera, it was such a magnificent site!
After a day of sun and snorkeling we went to a restaurant called the Old Man and the Sea for our classmate's birthday. During our dinner it started to rain. It poured through the next day and the rain prevented us from going to the Gedi Ruins. When we arrived in Mombasa, the two classes, along with our instructors, met to discuss a recent terrorist threat. According to US intelligence, materials used to make explosive devices had been discovered at Mombasa Port. The materials were transported by two Iranian men, and were going to be used to attack Americans and Israelis abroad. The US Embassy evacuated all government employees from Mombasa, and we were advised to leave Mombasa until July 1.
After a day of sun and snorkeling we went to a restaurant called the Old Man and the Sea for our classmate's birthday. During our dinner it started to rain. It poured through the next day and the rain prevented us from going to the Gedi Ruins. When we arrived in Mombasa, the two classes, along with our instructors, met to discuss a recent terrorist threat. According to US intelligence, materials used to make explosive devices had been discovered at Mombasa Port. The materials were transported by two Iranian men, and were going to be used to attack Americans and Israelis abroad. The US Embassy evacuated all government employees from Mombasa, and we were advised to leave Mombasa until July 1.
We decided to travel to two national parks in Kenya: East Tsavo and Amboseli. Below is one of my favorite shots from the trip.
She posed for us for a few minutes, doing curtseys and playing in the watering hole. Kimberly named this elephant Socks, because she had only gotten her feet wet, revealing the grey color of her skin. The rest of her skin remained red from the sand. The trip ended with a group around a campfire, and watching traditional Masai dances. And I found myself with my first bout of homesickness ...
She posed for us for a few minutes, doing curtseys and playing in the watering hole. Kimberly named this elephant Socks, because she had only gotten her feet wet, revealing the grey color of her skin. The rest of her skin remained red from the sand. The trip ended with a group around a campfire, and watching traditional Masai dances. And I found myself with my first bout of homesickness ...
If it helps we miss you too and we have an open fire ban so we couldn't have a campfire while camping over the 4th. Nice that you could have one. Sorry about the "Mrs. Blair," it's Mom to you.
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