Central Nairobi, the Yaya centre, a shopping mall that would be suited to any modern city in the world, but is this really Kenya?
Nairobi is an interesting city, colourful, inviting, busy, relaxing, all at once.
From street traders to guys who wash your windscreen at the lights, people everywhere are on the make, and doing it well. The night life is good, and excellent restaurants can be found at every street corner.
A great place for shopping is the Yaya centre, it has everything under one roof!
A place I wouldnt give a miss though is the shanty towns.....
Thats right, the shanty towns. If you turn off the streets, you will find the real Niarobi, a city made of people eating refuse and living in slef made homes, made of plastic and cardboard.
Nairobi has a massive street children problem, they are on force, and this is why Nairobi has become a regular haunt for those wishing to exploit the youngsters.
The Police will take pride in hitting these children if they beg you for money, most of these kids are high from sniffing bags of glue, a way of release from their horrid existence.
Programs are in place across the city to help these children, mainly funded from outside investment.
It is devilishly comical to see a toursit get engulfed by thousands of children, and how the tourist turns a blind eye, so as not to spoil their Safari.
My advice when you arrive in Kenya, is to buy as many bits of candy as you can, and give them to these kids in exchange for their glue bottles (My boss thought I was nuts, as our Jeep was full of grotty little glue bottles)
Also find a source of second hand (Dont ever give anything new, or new looking, as the kids will be mugged for it, or just sell it) clothes and shoes etc.
And most importantly of all, find time in your diary, just for a day or so, to spend it with the kids, perhaps at an orphanage, just playing football.
Enjoy your travels, but do it with open eyes!
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