Eid Mubarak

It was the holy month of Ramadan.

Strolling along the waterfront in Lamu at dusk, I was invited to join the locals to break fast, even though I was not fasting. They simply welcomed me, a complete stranger, with open heart and open hands, offering me drinks and dates and sweets. The hospitality and generosity were overwhelming. I was truly humbled and touched.

As we celebrate the arrival of Eid, may we all be generous and kind to each other.

Eid Mubarak.

Off the Beaten Track

Taking a ride in a packed rickety matatu, I ventured off the beaten trail, to Soweto, a slum area eastern outskirt of Nairobi. I had earlier met C, a French lady who volunteers in a children home and she invited me to visit the home, Good Samaritan Children Center. There are about 50 children here, age from a couple of months to mid teens. The home manage to raise enough fund to renovate and refurbish their place and the 50 children along with the 2 caregivers are now housed in 2 tiny flat units rented nearby.

Some of the stories of the children are heart wrenching. Some kids their parents are too poor and not able to care for them. Most of the kids lost at least a parent. There's a baby girl who was sent here after being discovered by the sewage. Then there's a baby boy who was left at the doorstep of the home.

As tragic as the stories, there are hope and joy. The baby boy who got left at the doorstep is now a healthy 2 months-old, aptly name Gift. The older kids stay in school, one boy making to the boarding school. And then the smiles of the kids, so bright, so cheerful, so infectious.

Spending a couple of hours with them was fun and precious, as well as humbling. I brought them some sweets and they gave me a lesson in the meaning of gratitude and thankfulness. What a trade!

Youngest Capital

Just as I was done unpacking from my Kenyan trip, and still recovering from the traveling withdrawal syndrome, the boss tasked me to fly south to Juba, for 2 weeks. While it is for work but I'll certainly squeeze in some time to explore the capital of the youngest nation in the world, South Sudan.

Nairobi Street Wisdom

Pretty cool, pretty true eh.

Back?

I'm not a particularly religious person. But as I looked down on the picturesque landscape of lush green forest and soothing blue water and the inviting earthy beaches, I couldn't help it but said to myself:"If this is not the work of God, who could possibly create such awe-inspiring beauty?"

My body is back in Khartoum but heart and soul were left behind in Lamu. It's going to be a long tough day back in the office tomorrow. Is there a pill to be taken to fight the traveling withdrawal syndrome?