The magic of Nairobi
In no real order.
The magic of Nairobi is in the rain.
The air is cool but never too cold. It doesn’t sting; the moisture in the air surrounds you instead comforting you like a cozy blanket.
The clouds shield you from the intense rays of the sun that extract all the human energy away. Whereas the rain, it injects life into everything it touches — the ground and trees come alive as if they exist only for the rain. They glow like a baby’s face glows when she sees her mother.
The sound of the rain drops are soft, even during a heavy rainfall. I can listen to it forever like reading Rumi’s poems. The single paned large windows allow me to feel the grandeur of the rain which reminds me of my own insignificance. Watching the rain here feels like watching the ocean and realising the immensity of time and space. It purges away all trivial thought and leaves you yearning for droplets to continue falling forever like the waves of an ocean.
Pineapple tastes like pineapple.
For over 20 years I didn’t know that I didn’t know the taste of a real pineapple. It’s like drinking grape juice all your life and then finally tasting actual grapes. The sweetness so pure, like a gift from Mother Nature herself. Its tenderness is a surprise with every bite as it melts into your mouth with so much juicy goodness it might as well be a watermelon. You can’t help but eat an entire pineapple in one sitting. But it’s hard to say more, it’s got to be experienced.
Roses also smell like roses.
You can go on an adventure everyday.
Imagine being right in the middle of two traffic lanes on a highway on a motorcycle (boda in Swahili). On one side, cars are rushing past you. On the other, you are darting past cars in your own lane, competing to see who can get to their destination faster. Sliding left and right behind a truck is common too, trying to see in which side you can squeeze through to not only overtake the truck but the entire row of cars stuck in a standstill.
But you as a passenger need some skill too in this game of Quidditch. Knowing when to get your foot out of the way so it doesn’t get grazed by a car, or when to wiggle your body ever so slightly as you go through two stone barriers on the highway. But most importantly, you’ve got to learn to enjoy the breeze through your hair, the greenery all around you, and dust off your worries of a safe journey.
Will you make it alive to your destination? Play the game and find out.
There’s room to breathe.
Large rooms can be found that don’t cost an arm and a leg. They don’t end as soon as you walk inside. You can even camp in there with your entire family; no need for an AirBnB when they’re in town! Heck, even that tiny Toronto apartment of yours could fit inside a master bedroom here.
Many are lined with high ceilings, so high in fact that your clone can stand on your shoulders and not bump their head (yes, I’m short☺️). Sure, no elevator means you have to carry your luggage and groceries up yourself. But the large windows make up for it. You can open them up all the way and the let the breeze cool off your sweat. You can stare at the open space and greenery around you without any glass barrier. You can sunbathe right in your room too. But I prefer to sit by the window and feel the rain drizzle on my face instead.
A city of 4.5 million people but with a small town charm.
It’s not that much smaller than Toronto (not including GTA), yet it’s got a small town feel.
A cafe can become your “neighbourhood” cafe. You are greeted with a warm smile that tells you they are glad to see you back. They bring out your usual as soon as you take your spot. The owner accommodates your special needs like your bulky adapter that won’t fit into the Kenyan socket and brings out an extension cord just for you. Some even offer you a drink or two on the house every time you visit. It’s like there are several Luke’s diners around the city and you are Lorelai, the frequent customer hooked on their food.
Boda drivers start to salute your familiar face on the streets. They chat with you as if they have known you forever, a gentle smile on their face and a spring in their service just because they gave you a ride last week. They know where you live and when they see your face on their app, they come right away without the need for directions.
The security guards welcome you with a great big smile every time you come home. They’ll even keep the door open for you because they know this is when you go for a run. And if they are having corn they’ll offer you some, just because. They were probably taught sharing is caring.
Then there is the general atmosphere. It’s as relaxed as the people in it; no one is rushing on the streets. People are casually making conversations with each other and with strangers too. Smiles look genuine; shadows of dissatisfaction aren’t following people around. It not a fashion blogger’s Instagram page, caked with makeup and minimal clothing. It’s more like the raw videos on America’s Funniest Home Videos. Adding to it isn’t a concrete jungle full of nondescript tall buildings but just some simple unassuming structures that tell you that the jungle here is still maintained by Mother Nature.
