Overnight in Kisumu

Kisumu is near Lake Victoria so of course we visited the lake while we were there :)...but our primary reason for going was to visit Denise's sister-in-law Tabitha...so we will come back to the lakeside photos!

 We left VERY early in the morning so some of us slept on the way...

Tom and Mom

 Tim and Jenny are missionaries serving in the area - to local pastors and with an orphanage.  Denise had some books she felt would be valuable for Jenny, who is a nurse, to care for the kids at the orphanage...so we met them for lunch when we arrived in Kisumu. 

Tom, Denise, Tim, Jenny and me

Then on to Tabitha's place :)...she lives in the largest slum in Kisumu, called Nyalenda.  Her home was modest but oh so welcoming.  Especially when she brought out her yummy green grams and chapatis.  Even though we had just enjoyed lunch with Tim and Jenny we gobbled up the food so graciously offered by sweet Tabitha.

Tabitha works at a children's home called New Life Home Trust.  Her best friend and co-worker Eunice came while we were there.  What a treat to meet her friend :)

Denise, me, Tabitha, Eunice

We had purchased a few items for Tabitha when we arrived in Kisumu...here Denise is presenting our gift.

Mom and Tabitha

Mom had felt sick so did not come with us to Tabitha's.  As it turns out we were staying at a guest house within walking distance of New Life Home!  Since Tabitha was working nights she came to have breakfast with us when she got off work the next morning.

Can you believe she just pulled a 12 hour shift???

A small market in the parking lot of our guest house sold many items including this traditional Luo instrument called a Nyatiti.  Here Tom is singing, Mom is 'playing' and Denise is clapping (and I am shooting :))

That morning we set out for Lake Victoria - Mom had never been there and we certainly could not leave Kisumu without visiting!!!

Colorful baskets for holding fish...

Repairing nets

The fish market.  This is where the ladies come to buy fish to sell at the markets in town

Fish on the left is Talapia, bigger fish is the Nile Perch

Mom shooting some sardines...

Picturesque!

Local bar

 

 Our guides were very informative...answering all of our questions!

 

 I stood patiently with my camera trained on this scene to catch some of the negotiations.

 Mom was trying to engage this lady...but she was all business!

See the hand dropping a fish into the blue basket?

 I think she has selected some fish...

 Now she is teasing Mom saying that she is working and if Mom wants to take pictures she can pay for her time :)

 

Lots of birds

 I watched this boy for quite some time as he maneuvered his boat around the water hyacinth.  This plant is causing severe problems for the lake; killing fish, trapping fishermen and overrunning everything.  The plant is native to South America and was obviously introduced to this area through human activity.  It is growing out of control because the insect that eats it is not indigenous to this area.

 

 

 

The plant harbors snakes and other dangerous animals so walking in it can be tricky

I watched this lady from afar as she fetched water for washing clothes...

 

 Next to the boat is a fish farm where they raise Talapia...I just love the photo :)

A certain bird built this nest - it actually has 3 rooms inside!

 

 These are solar lights...they are being charged.  At the end of the day they are rented out for, I think, 20 shillings per day (or night!) and brought back the next morning to be recharged - great business idea!

This couch and chair were made with dried hyacinth stems - very creative way to use that pesky plant!

 This whole area is very environment conscious...it was gratifying to see that people are beginning to care about conserving Kenya's resources.

 We hired a mechanic in Nairobi (Jeff) to look at Denise's vehicle, make it road-worthy and drive it back to Nairobi.  As it turns out he was in Kisumu on the same day we were returning to Kitere so he rode with us...ummm...not enough seats!  So Tom graciously agreed to sit on Jeff's lap (and Jeff graciously allowed it!)

 We had a great little side-trip to Kisumu and it was awesome to see Tabitha.  It had been 4 years since I had seen her.  We had worked together for two weeks as volunteers at New Life Home in Nairobi and Tabitha stayed on, becoming eligible to be hired for pay.  She was glowing with happiness to be on her own and have two of her three children living with her.  Her first born is at her house in the Kitere area.