Picasa Web Albums - Amy - Baringo Chris...

Gmail Calendar Documents Reader Web more »

New Features | Help | Sign In | Sign up for Picasa Web Albums |

Explore

Amy's Gallery

We brought some things from home to make our hotel Christmas a little more familiar.

The lights never worked but we kept them up to hang our 'stockings.'

Robert's Camp is right next door to Baringo Club and we walked over there a few times. I have no idea what nests up there.

I was so excited to see this, my first croc!

It never moved while we took pictures, thank goodness. They are quicker than you might think.

Lake Baringo Christmas tree. It's a white acacia. It reminded me of a giant tumbleweed.

We took a bit of each one of our family Christmas tradition's and melded them together for our Christmas. Amanda and Alida always do gifts on Christmas eve so that's when we opened ours. The Thompson Christmas always starts with the reading of the Christmas story from the New Testament so that's how we began as well.

Hooray! Wine glasses! They came in a set of three and then I accidentally knocked them onto the floor and broke one. At least I have two and don't have to serve wine in coffee cups anymore (well, as long as I only have one guest that is).

Amanda loves almonds and they are very expensive so it was a treat for her to get some.

Everyone hear serves tea from a thermos and I hadn't bought one yet. This style is the 'Vogue' and so I'm voguing with my new thermos. Not surprising for those who know me well. (Also not surprising that I don't vogue well.)

Christmas Eve there was dinner entertainment with a choir singing traditional carols.

A little bit of home for me? Although we had no dessert even worthy enough to mention in the same sentence as my fave chocolate cake from the MOA.

There were also Turkana dancers.

The necklaces up the neck are typical of Turkana.

Merry Christmas!

That is Amanda's bed behind me with the mosquito net down.

Alida wearing her bottlecap necklace. It was really cool.

She also got a Swahili New Testament.

The acacia tree has incredibly sharp thorns.

There was a small playground that we enjoyed.

Back at Robert's Camp our first day was when we saw the first hippo. The last night we saw them up in the playground area of our lodge eating.

I know that some of you think it's odd for me to have many of the modernities of home but even some of remote Africa has those as well, as you can see.

WHAT?! We saw this giant tortuise our first day as well, over at Robert's Camp.

Amanda hung the stockings on the mirror with care.

Alida pulls a treat out of a stocking.

Merry Christmas, Santa! We're waiting!

I broke it!

This is how close we were to the crocodile.

Alida took Swahili lessons for about a month and still goes once a week. She's way ahead of me. (Isn't her necklace cool!)

desert rose

Even Christmas morning this child had to walk to get water for the family.

The dukas across the road were open and we were able to buy some water cheaper than at the hotel.

Christmas Day lunch had entertainment as well. These men were doing Maasai dances. Maasai are known for their verticle jumping skills.

We also had acrobats who were so bendy it was a little creepy.

see.

Then Santa made his arrival on a bicycle and was immediately followed by the kids.

He passed out little treats to everyone there.

That's a whistle, not a cigar. He came riding in blowing his whistle. Don't you love the shades?!

There is always at least one crazy hair picture of me on Christmas morning so this is the one from this year. Me, my slipper, stocking, Christmas candy and crazy hair.