#chroniclesofafatcyclist

by Sandra Bwire (Kenya)

I didn't expect to find Kenya

Banks are great for one thing, keeping money. That’s why a few years ago I liberated myself from a mundane job I had at you guessed it-a bank. Armed with this new found freedom, a little savings and no solid plan I leaped into the sea of possibilities that awaited. I had always wanted to create; write, travel, try new things. My bank account was not having it; the irony. I looked back into the happiest places of my childhood. I was reasoning like a child so I figured that I could get solutions from 9-year-old me. Apart from reading and constantly day dreaming as a child, one of my happiest moments was when I was riding a bike. So, I bought a bike. A silver Trek town bicycle with red and black stripes running across the frame. I named him Micah. I met a great bunch of people just with this one purchase. No buyer’s remorse here. People filled with the same kind of wanderlust as I. People who wanted to see the world beyond where they lived. We found a way to do it; on our bikes!! Out-of-towners was the name we christened ourselves. An out-of-town weekend was planned every month. We simply we picked a destination, cycled there, spent the night and then cycled back home. Kenya is a magical country so we chose to see what the motherland had to offer. Nyumba Eriko in Kajiado County is one of the memorable ones. Kajiado is approximately 77 kilometers from Nairobi. Nyumba Eriko hides itself in the dry lands of Kajiado county. The host to Kenya’s most cultural people; the Maasai. Situated approximately 25 kilometers from Kajiado town. Following the instructions we had , we found ourselves on a rocky and thorny off road. The area colonized by dry acacia trees, the sun above, the perpetrator. Thorns on the ground as if in surrender. We arrive with the darkness. Darkness is only appreciated in the manifestation stars and fireflies. The mazeras stone paths lit with lantern lamps to the sleeping rooms is a sight to behold. The kitchen, tiny, simple, tasteful looks like what I imagine the wicked witch wanted to cook Hansel and Gretel in. The living room is full of antiques, rustic with a touch of Africa; wicker chairs with Maasai shukas draped over them, a Swahili chest, an old wooden dining table with six chairs, a colorful floor rug and a massive cupboard running along the wall. It holds lamps, books and all manner of aesthetic paraphernalia -possibly souvenirs from past travels. The wall art is basic with pictures of birds and animals; it fits works. The patio that sits just outside the living room boasts of a variety of outdoor furniture (Maasai shukas included), two very life-like cast iron flamingos and an outside fire that turned us into instant cave men and women. I say this because the rest of the night is spent here; stargazing, cheap wine, rich stories, undeniable camaraderie, sleep. First light came with new exploration; the outside bathroom deserves a mention. Nothing can ever compare to taking a bath and dump under the clear day skies of Kajiado. The bush shower hanging enthusiastically, waiting to be manually filled with water. The wash basin ancient as the melamine cups we use to drink tea in the village. The toilet, wooden, no flash. A bucket of ash sits next to toilet and no; it is not in place of toilet paper. The day was followed by a myriad of fun activities breakfast, an unfair game of croquet, a hike, jumping in the trampoline and laughing until our mouths hurt, an afternoon nap and a very late ride back home. Nyumba Eriko is a great reminder that every cloud has a silver lining, that in the middle of nowhere there are gems, we just need to be curious enough to find them. I’m a big girl, fluffy, chunky. I’m also active and adventurous. I yearn to travel to unexplored places on my bicycle; thousands of kilometers away to sample the assortment of views, people, food and culture. As I cycle I chose to write, to let people explore the world with me literary. #chroniclesofafatcyclist