Driving from Nairobi to Tanzania

Lots of people lived in dwellings like this along the side of the road. They stretched for miles. Very eye opening.

My anti-mosquito fortress at Said's house.

The land immediately outside of Said's house in Arusha, Tanzania.

Day 1: Nairobi

Our first day in Africa was spent in Nairobi. We woke in the morning and had breakfast at the hotel, had a nice shower, and stopped by a local internet cafe. We spent a good part of the day traveling around the city by foot. We passed by multiple government offices, a tomb of Kenya's first president (where I got yelled at for taking a picture), and a memorial for the US Embassy which was bombed in 1998.

Around two oclock in the afternoon we barely made it to grand rounds at the hospital, which was being put on by Colleen's boss. He was amazed that we made it there almost on-time. The talk was about wound healing and surgery in Africa. Dr. Tarpley is apparently known for his sayings, and a few of the things he said during grand rounds I wrote a couple in my book: "Get in the habit of having good habits." and "Surgery needs to be your wife or your mistress." He spent some time expounding on the huge role that surgery can have in Africa in particular, and how severe the shortage of available surgeons is.

After grand rounds we walked (and it was a hike) back to our hotel. The hospital had been sort of on the outskirts of the city so we really got to see a ton this way. Not wanting to waste time, we decided to try to make it to Tanzania that night, even though Maggie, Dr. Tarpley's wife, insisted that we not allow ourselves to be on the road after dark. We failed in our promise.

We grabbed our bags and met at an area of the city that Said knew well (Said knew all of Nairobi well it seems and he was guiding us for most of the day). Colleen had psychologically prepared me for the coming trip. She intimated that it might be the most painful 4-5 hours of my life. It wasn't comfortable, thats for sure. We crammed into this ridiculously small and under-ventilated van and made our way to Tanzania out of Nairobi. The traffic was awful, the roads horrendous, the carbon monoxide suffocating, and the passengers unrestrained (no seat belts). Fortunately, thanks to Colleen's warning, I was prepared mentally and we made it through without any issues. I have a video of one segment of the car ride...it is absurd how bumpy it was.

When we finally made it to the border of Kenya and Tanzania it was dark, but we got a visa and crossed without much difficulty. We then switched vehicles and packed into a van. It was slightly more comfortable. The remaining two hours were less eventful; traffic was less and the road wasn't terrible for the most park. And some zebras crossed in front of us, which I thought was neat.

We arrived at the drop point and were met by Said's family in their car. A short drive later and we were at their home, where I had a pleasant bucket shower and my own bed to sleep in.

Nairobi part 3

Memorial for the embassy bombings in 1998.

This monument was made from debris from the embassy bombing.

Said and I at a convention center.

Colleen sitting at the bourgeois Italian restaurant that we went to for lunch in Nairobi.

Some fields outside the city on the way back in from the hospital.

Nairobi part 2

Day 0

This is the official post for day 0 of the trip.  As I mentioned, Colleen and I took a flight from Chicago to London, and then from London to Nairobi.  The second flight was very cool.  We flew over the Alps, but they were covered by clouds.  Then we went over the Mediterranean and headed south-east; that was when it got interesting.

We headed directly for Cairo and flew over the Nile River delta.  You always see the Nile on a map that ends in the north of Egypt as sort of an upside down triangle, but its from the air that I really appreciated what was going on.  The Nile splinters into dozens of smaller rivers which drain into the Mediterranean.  Each of those give off tons of small branches and streams as well.  Man-made irrigation canals top it all off.  The whole delta is this dark lush green surrounded by parched brown desert.

I mean, that is what a delta is, so it isn't surprising to say it.  But when you see it, you think Aha!  That is why this site produced one of history's first great civilizations.  And it was Egyptian grain that powered the Roman Empire.  When the Vandals took Egypt, Rome fell decades later (almost immediately when you consider how long it had been around).

The plane continued south along the Nile, and we went over Cairo.  It was also cool to see how populous and green the land immediately around the Nile is while heading south, because it is so strongly contrasted by the empty desert.  Unfortunately we did not see the pyramids at Giza from the air.  I was looking for them.  Maybe I needed to look out the windows on the other side of the plane.

Anyway, so we landed and Colleen's Tanzanian friend Said met us at the airport.  He guided our taxi to a small hotel in Nairobi.  After dropping off our bags, we went out for some drinks and food.  First we went to a local pub, then to a food stand with greasy chicken and soggy French fries (more like potatoes soaked in warm grease than fried really).  We then went to a music bar which was basically the pub plus loud music.  Soccer was playing at all of the stops, which is pretty typical for anywhere that is not the USA.

The beer is good.  One I had I thought was funny.  It was called "Pilsner" lager.  I think that is funny because a Pilsner is a type of beer just like a lager is.  Which would be odd in itself, but then consider that the beer actually tasted more like an ale, which is nothing like pilsner or lager.  At least, none that I've had.  I'm an amateur beer snob so I could be wrong.

Nairobi hotel, Said

Nairobi part 1

In Nairobi

Sorry for lack of updates. Colleen and I landed safely in Nairobi last night. It was about 7 hours to London and then 9 to Kenya. We were met in the airport by her Tanzanian friend, Said, who took us to a hotel in the city. We went out for a few drinks and food and then went to bed.

Today on the agenda, we are going to go to Nairobi hospital and attending grand rounds. This is an honorary presentation that takes place weekly at most academic medical centers. The visiting speaker this time is Colleen's boss at Vanderbilt, John Tarpley.

After grand rounds we will take a bus to Tanzania where we will spend the week. I've got pictures, but haven't found any wireless access points for my phone yet (this is an internet cafe computer). HTC really crapped their pants when making the Droid Incredible. I can't believe they didn't put a sim card in it (so it works overseas). Big fail. Whatever.

Cheers,
Nick

Travel light.

Nothing like going on a two week international trip with just a carry on.  That's the same backpack I've been using for school since I was 14 (thanks mom!).  It does have a small tear on the bottom, but I bet it will hold.

to Africa!

I'll be going to Africa for two weeks with one of my best friends from medical school, Colleen Kiernan. Colleen and I started in the same medical school class, but since I took a year off for research she is now a year ahead of me in training. She is currently a first year surgery resident at Vanderbilt.

Before medical school, Colleen and a friend organized the construction of a school for special needs children in Tanzania. The website for their foundation can be accessed here.

We will be flying to Nairobi, Kenya through London. The first leg of our trip will be spent in Tanzania, where we will be visiting the school Colleen built. Later we will be going back to Kenya to work in a hospital there. Vanderbilt has an affiliation with this Kenyan hospital and they were kind enough to let me tag along here.

I don't know much of what I will be doing yet, but I will post pictures whenever I get an internet connection!