Our last day in Kenya and it was another day full of activities...here we go...
We started out with a wonderful breakfast at the Sarova Lion Hill Park. We were all so happy to have more "American" type foods...french toast and bacon!
Then it was time to pack the bus for the last time...
We hit a snag when we left the safari park...a huge rock had lodged between our back wheels. It took about an hour to free it...
We stopped along the road back to Nairobi to shop and view the Great Rift Valley...
Me with one of the shop keepers...
We finally made it to Nairobi and visited the Kazuri bead factory. They had waited on us so we could have a tour of the factory. The clay comes from Mount Kenya.
The mission of Kazuri is "To provide and sustain employment opportunities for disadvantaged members of Kenyan society." There are over 340 women employed, mostly single mothers. Kazuri is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization.
Every bead and piece of pottery is hand made...The guide said that each woman can make 900-1000 beads a day!
They receive and send orders to over 20 countries around the world.
Here are some of the days beads ready to be fired in the kiln...they fire at night because it is so warm.
Beads being glazed before firing...
Finished beads being turned into beautiful jewelry.
After the bead store, we spent some time at a hotel before heading to the airport. The airport had a major fire a few years ago, and it is neat to see all the progress being made to restore it. It looked much more like a regular western airport this time than last...a much better experience! Auntie and our friend Brigitte posing at a beautiful mural.
We made it back to London and had time for breakfast...again, so happy for pancakes, eggs and sausage! We hung out in the airport for about 4 hours and then it was time to head home.
Thank you all for taking this journey with me...if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I hope you have enjoyed these posts. Kenya is a place I would recommend visiting and I am already looking forward to my next trip!
guys...manee thanx two yur mom for sharin her trip; we will never get ta see Africa; sew it waz troo lee nice bee in abe bull ta reed about & "see it" heer...will her go bak next yeer ?
ReplyDeletewe N joyed thiz post az much as de otherz...de beedz R total lee awesum !!
and....heerz two a ham samich, dino eggz, happee easturr, kinda week oh end two all!! ►◄►◄►◄►◄
What an amazing trip, and what a different culture - thank you for sharing this experience with us!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip that must have been. Thanks for sharing so much of it with us. Loved the pictures and education.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic trip. The bead factory was very interesting. How lucky of you to be able to experience this. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed these posts. The women at the bead factory are very industrious- that is a lot of beads per day.
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