When I arrive in Nairobi, I see many big buildings. I expect that Nairobi will be different from other African city. But I realize it is just the same. Although it is chaos, there is some peace for me.
In Nairobi, the biggest thing I must do is to get a visa for Ethiopia. I’ve heard that not every tourist can get the border visa for Ethiopia from Nairobi, but that they have to take a flight.
To take a flight is too expensive for me, though, because I have to pay a huge extra fee for my bicycle. But anyway, I will try to get my visa while I’m staying at friend’s house.
Around my friend’s house there are lots of embassies. I’ve never seen this kind of dense concentration of embassies. It is interesting that the UN building faces the USA embassy in Nairobi.
This is a very rich area, but surprisingly there are no passing buses. I have to walk 30 minutes to take a bus.
Then it is one hour to downtown, and another half hour to the embassy that I am looking for. So it takes a total of four hours every day for the round trip. I leave home early and come back just before dark on most days.
There are many big buildings in Nairobi. I come to the downtown most of days to solve problem of visa. I think it is my first time to spend most of time in the city of Africa.
Most of things are unexpected in Africa. When I go to the Ethiopia embassy, it seems there is no problem to get a visa for now. But I find that I can get only one month visa which starts from the office, not from the border. It means there is not much time to spend in Ethiopia, because Nairobi is just at the south. So I will apply it at the day before leaving.
I just want to check North Sudan embassy. It is shocking that one guy tells me that there is no Sudan embassy in Ethiopia. It means if I go to Ethiopia without Sudan visa, then I have to come back to Kenya to get Sudan visa.
I doubt that I do googling. It is weird that I find the address of north Sudan embassy in Ethiopia. Even I read some people get a Sudan visa in Ethiopia.
Oh… what is going on?
Anyway now I have the time that I will apply Sudan visa in Nairobi as well.
I need two pictures, copy of bank card and passport and letter of Korean embassy for Sudan visa. But it is embarrassing that Korean embassy is not helpful. The official guy disregards me from the first to the last. I think he doesn’t know how to respect citizen and even he doesn’t know what his job is in Kenya.
Anyway once I give North Sudan embassy all my documents, they just give me a visa at the next day. Easy?!.
The day before leaving Nairobi I apply Ethiopian visa. I give them one photo, a copy of passport and a form of visa. I have to pay visa fee at the bank that I come and go for it.
It sounds very easy. But true thing is it was really hard. Sudan and Ethiopia embassies close at the noon that I can only visit one embassy in one day.
I find one sign board, which says they can fix touch pad. My iPod touch screen doesn’t work. But I can still connect with computer and I can use mp3 with earphone.
It is shocking ever never ever that it seems they try to break and even succeed it!!!!! Now I can’t connect with computer. Nothing works!
I learn one thing that never fix on the road.
Just give up everything
While I walk on the road, people try to run away to inside of shop and the owner shut the door. I thought there is a terrorist. But later I realize the police are fighting with hawkers. After twenty minutes I go out.
I see many big buildings which is different from other African country that I thought Nairobi will be different. But I just realize it is just another typical African city. While I reported a car accident at the police station, I see their service has the problem. I buy a computer mouse and sunglass, but it is not working. I try to fix iPod, but it is broken worse than before.
I just try to buy better mouse, but it costs 20~30$. I think to live in Nairobi is more expensive.
I go to Masai market of which I found information on online. The writer told that it was the best African market. But for me it is not the best market.
Anyway I buy some gift for my family and friend. When I try to send it on a post office, I got too shocked that to send two boxes is so expensive. The inside thing is much cheaper!!!!
But, I am sure one thing that they will be happy to get a gift from Africa.
I also print some photo of local people, which they asked me. I send it as well.
My friend, Jo, whom I met while I stayed in Canada, works as the world history teacher. It is her class.
We go to the school on a weekend to see student’s competition.
The front houses are for USA embassy workers. The right one is the elementary school. Their school is from elementary to high school.
The school is just so amazing that I can never compare to Masai school which I’ve been at the last week.
From a few days ago, everyday it rains. No way. NO WAY. NO raining season. Oh please.
Around her house there is a big shopping mall, and in that mall Coffee shop is very nice ever. It is long time no see this kind of beautiful coffee shop.
It is so relax and peaceful to have coffee while watching raining. I like raining if I don’t cycle.
I can’t imagine what will happen if I cycle and there is raining. Just cross fingers.
I thought it is Tanzanian beer, but it is not. It is Kenyan beer.
When I use computer, one cat comes to inside of house. I try to take picture, but cat run away.
“Hey Jo! Have you seen cat comes to your house? It looks the same as your lovely old cat. Anyway watch out!”
This is the garden of her house. What an amazing ever!
This is the best place where I’ve been in Africa.
So peaceful!!
Nobody hassles and harasses me at this place.
No shouting. No bothering.
When I go to the town to solve visa problem, it is just chaos. But once I come back to her house, it is just heaven. I miss peaceful place. Africa is really hard for me.
Anyway I must leave not to waste of my Ethiopian visa. It is time to be bothered, hassled and harassed on the road again. I mean I have to cycle again.
A bit nervous. ………….
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-Ethiopia Embassy
For visa : 9 am to 12 pm from Mon to Fri
Map : http://goo.gl/maps/VgdSP
Address : State House Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya
PHONE LOCAL: (020) 273.2050
INTERNATIONAL: +254.20.273.2050
EMAIL : info@ethioembnairobi.org
WEB SITE : http://www.ethioembnairobi.org
-Sudanese Embassy
Map : http://goo.gl/maps/GxVbZ
(Sudan Embassy is South Sudan, Sudnese Embassy is North sudan)
Address : Kabarnet Road, off Ngong Road , Nairobi, Kenya
LOCAL: (020) 387.5159
INTERNATIONAL: +254.20.387.5159
EMAIL salahmousa@yahoo.com
