Our Day Exploring Kisumu

Today the little birdies left their nest!  So far, Tammy and Chris have been the hostess and host with the mostest, our personal tour guides, mentors, essentially stand-in parents while we've been here.  Today, the Perrys hopped in a tuk tuk and took on the streets of Kisumu all by ourselves, just the six of us.  It was an adventure and so much fun!  We visited Maasai market and Mega City.   

Hannah, Rachel and Samuel hung out with this gentlemen while Mommy, Daddy, and JJ shopped.  Hannah is holding her favorite purchase of the day...the "twisted" drum.

Here, she's playing Kenyan checkers.  The rules are similar with a few fun differences.

I'm kicking myself for not taking more photos of the market.  It is so beautiful and full of handmade crafts and weapons.  Both JPs love the weapons...of course.

This is my friend, Mama Beatrice.  The majority of Maasai market is playful and friendly, but there are a couple of shop owners that are pretty aggressive in their sales tactics.  While looking around in one shop, an owner blocked me in the back of his shop pressuring me to buy.  I promise it was not that traumatic, but I was tempted to buy just so he would let me out.  Mama Beatrice came to my rescue!!  She spoke very sternly to him and he backed out immediately.  I did buy from her shop...

Our tuk tuk got stuck on all of these rocks.  Hannah rode in the back on the way back to the house to drop off our purchases.

She put the drum down to brush her teeth and now it's in her bed with her.

Our tuk tuk driver waited for us by the gate to drop off our goodies.

Rachel rode in the back this time to Mega City.

There are bumper cars in Africa.

Top ten reasons bumper cars are better in Kisumu:

10.  There are no height restrictions, so this is Rachel's first time in a bumper car.

9.  Samuel not only was able to ride, he drove a car by himself.

8.  There are no safety belts.

7.  It only cost 50 shillings a car (about $2.40 for 5 to ride).

6.  There was no waiting in line.

5.  The ride was about 5 times longer than a fair ride.

4.  There was no park admission fee.

3.  It was a free-for-all.

2.  This ride for 5 people in America would cost around $15!

1.  We were riding bumper cars in a mall in Africa.

Samuel 

The five of them stayed in a dog pile most of the time.

Hannah getting whiplash...

Interesting fact:  For the most part (let's don't make any generalizations), most Kenyans do not like to "bump" while driving their "bumper" cars.  They like to try to avoid being hit, which is similar to the driving conditions on the roads of Kisumu.

My family on a ramp in Mega City

The shopping carts are called trolleys here.  It is hilarious to see grown men pushing these tiny ones around when they only have a few items to purchase.  They do have normal sized trolleys too, which we usually need when shopping for this crowd.

Produce is weighed and priced when you pick it out, similar to a deli section in an American grocery store.  

This guy was asking Jonathan how we shopped for produce in America.  He was fascinated to learn that there are scales at each register.

Rachel is quite confident in her shopping abilities.

Chris called and offered to come pick us up, so we enjoyed a soda while we waited.  Yes, I did just type soda.  That's what they call them here.  It's too difficult to explain to Kenyans in their second or third language that a Coke means any soft drink.  We've obviously lifted our ban on carbonated drinks while here.

We had an unfortunate accident today.  Someone (who will remain nameless...but fyi, JP and I don't drive here, so that leaves two) backed over one of the turtles today.  It did not survive.  Here is the memorial Connor and Hannah created in memory of Shelly.

"For our beloved Shelly" <3

That was very sad for the Pages and any lover of animals, so here we have a photo to leave you with a more positive (or scared) feeling.

Two Maasai warriors...please notice Chris's teeth.  Go ahead, take a closer look.  He's on the right.

While blogging tonight, we got skyped by these folks!!!  We love and miss you all!!

Today was a really good and light-hearted day for our family.  We are excited to get back to Agape tomorrow for afternoon activity period.