Sunday, January 12, 2014

Mixing Training with Pleasure

I remember the good old days when I worked for the pharmaceutical industry and we had conferences and training in fancy places like Philadelphia and New Jersey.  Sandy always wanted go along.  Today she got her wish – but in the Kakamega Forest.

We arranged for David Ashimosi to visit the Kakamega Forest as part of his training in the tourism industry that CLOUT Cares is sponsoring.  We wanted to see what he is learning, how he is learning it, and evaluate his style and potential to the best of our ability at this early stage.  We also wanted to see the monkeys, birds, trees, and butterflies.  We had to go along with him.

I think we accomplished both objectives using the southern entrance to the forest about 16 km from the Golf.

The way to the bandas (guest huts) you will see later

Impounded cattle found grazing in the Forest - 100 shillings gets one back

Original 1934 building now used as head forester's home

Black and white colobus monkey in the tree

Black and white colobus monkey on the ground

Black and white colobus monkey running

Guest house, 600 shillings ($7) per day for foreigners

Guest house room with 2 beds

Sandy and our  guide, Caroline

David Ashimosi in front of  bandas

Banda for 5 at 900 shillings each

 R

Elephant ear fern

Impatience

Hornbills in flight

This 167 year old teak is not really on it side

Ficus with big hole

Everybody wants to get in

Another big ficus, a strangler with host tree long gone

Brown backed butterfly (my name for it)

Poisonous mushrooms that make you crazy for a few days

Butterflies like these as they rot

Wood collector

This one liked Sandy

Rondo retreat very nearby and quite luxurious (also part of David's training)

Nice grounds

And we had our first dip ever in the Golf Hotel pool.  It was surprisingly cool and you could see to the bottom.  Last year you could walk on the water.

Golf Hotel pool, January 15, 2013.  The lap of luxury.  Ouch!