**The Project Trip**

PICTURES: All taken on site in Limuru, Kenya.

So the last thing I wrote about was heading to Nairobi on the bus. It was a good 12 hour trip, as we passed directly through the Rift Valley, which is very beautiful. The occaional wildlife, such as a family of baboons or some wilderbeast dotted the landscape, along with herds of goats or cattle belonging to the local tribal herdsmen. The road was surprisingly passable, obviously not a western road but still quite good. Just swerve back and forth to avoid the worst potholes.
They gave us two boiled eggs for breakfast and at the half way stopover at Kisumu, I had a bowl of cow intestines which was excellent, although quite chewy. Interestingly, to get across the Ugandan/Kenyan border was 50 USD and the entire bus fare was 25 USD. Ground travel is very cheap here.
So we got into the bus park at Nairobi at night time. I don't think I've ever seen so many shady looking characters at one time. There are lots of pickpockets and conmen. The girls stayed inside the bus company lounge together while we moved our gear in (surveying instruments, bags, field tools etc.) Then a minivan from the ministry arrived. Unfortunately he locked his keys in, but it didn't take him long to break into the van. We then drove 40km's north to Limuru.
Kenya Baptist Theological College want to expand and become registered with the government. They have 50 acres of land to develope, the hope is to allow 1500 more students.

Our eMi team had 5 architects, 2 surveyors and 2 civil engineers, and me as a civil intern. A lady called Jill is married to the Civil Engineering Professor called Tom, she was a prayer supporter.

So we had pretty long hours for the week we were there, busily surveying the site, and designing the water/wastewater systems, as well as the architectural master plan and the plans for the most important buildings. A two storey admin. building, classrooms, a library, chapel, dorms & dining room, a theatre and soccer field are some of the larger components.

I met some great people there, so that was great. The site of the college is very beautiful. A training college called Brackenhurst is also at the same site and they have some great landscaping work. But in general, the country is more developed than Uganda.

So then we went back to Nairobi and most of the team went on Safari to the Masai Mara for a few days. They saw cheetahs, zebra's, lions, giraffes, elephants, a black rhino and many other animals.
Meanwhile, I kept a low profile in Nairobi, getting to know some locals, and also spending a bit of time wandering through the city markets, bargaining and being hassled. I had some good reflection time.

Then we travelled by bus back to Kampala on Feb 1st, it rained most of the way, so with mud on the windows and lots of mist, it didn't compare to the trip over. I also had a stomach ache so it wasn't so much fun. I met another Aussie girl though, the first Australian I had chatted to since leaving Melbourne airport.

PICTURES:
A town on the way to Nairobi (Kericho?)
Boy crossing ditch in Kampala
3 Rift Valley shots and a local church in Kenya.