COTW SALAMA

CHILLING IT OUT IN AFRIKA
seems like my default kiswahili greeting lately is "hibari a leo?" for "what is the news of the day?" in short: "how's your day?" and sometimes you get "salama" which means "fine, calm, peace". so...your COTW whose cage was seriously  rattled last week with all the bureaucracy and immigration stress, plus no car and moving, etc, can now say i'm salama. my slingshot corp docs weren't even ready by my lawyer it turned out so there was nothing i could do on any fronts. the car won't be ready til it's ready, the move is over and done, and it looks like Polly at immigration is my best bet to get things done. so, i've been chilling. 


my housemates ben and helen have gone to the UK for 3 weeks so i have the roost to myself, and the compound of 7 acres of gardens and trees and quiet and beauty is all mine. compared to the shack it's a resort and really nice. even has a washing machine. and a nice shower! so yesterday and today has been chill. and looks like tomorrow i'll pick up docs and drop em off with Polly. get the ball rolling. gets things properly sorted!


RHYTHM OF AFRICA
my interim housing is near Karen Country Lodge on Warai Rd and a half hour walk to karen crossroads shopping center (Dorman's coffee, Nakumatt supermarket) so i've been walking alot with the prado getting it's safari makeover on.  and i think to me the rhythm of africa is walking. not all the percussion or beats or music or singing or or or, it's a simple as walking. and the average kenyan i would guess walks an hour a day, at least. so walking is a major part of africa as the vast majority of folks don't own a car and never will. and the matatus don't go everywhere. so you see masses of folks walking to and from work everyday. long walks on long streets. or in the bush. but walking is the essence of africa. i got in touch with that.


MATATU BABY!
so after close to 5 months here, COTW got brave and took his first matatu ride. now matatus are the crazy african taxi vans that stuff 15 passengers and drive like mad! i secretly vowed that would never be me in there all wedged in and hot with some loco driver who might just roll the thing. but nothing says adapting to the culture like being a matatu user and my friends with no car who use them all them time became my secret envy. so, i faced my biggest fear and dove in last sunday after church all by myself. stood on langata road, waited for the next matatu, and popped in like an old pro. i knew the basic rate is 25 cents but what is the procedure? what is proper matatu protocol so COTW doesn't blow his cover?!?! (and BTW, any COTW worth his salt has to take matatus on occassion). so the driver does the driving and the "conductor" handles the fares. like shotgun on a stagecoach, the conductor rides along inside and outside barking like a carney to get more fares. i sit tight. he finally taps my shoulder, i tell him karen crossroads and give him 100 bob (shillings) and wait. what is the mzungu rate?? 20 bob? 80 bob? he gave me 70 back and i didn't protest, had a first bench seat, my knees were crammed in there, but there i was, my first matatu ride. the first of many i'm sure. so having the prado in the shop has been good...got me in touch with walking and the value of a matatu! if you ever come visit and feel like earning your COTW membership, we'll be riding a matatu! for the gestalt! 


LOOSE ENDS, STRAY THOUGHTS
every compound has a dog or two for security. every dog likes to bark. ergo, there are a lot of barking dogs over here. it's maddening.


it hasn't rained in months. supposed to rain this saturday. hope so.


still waiting to hear on my shooting gig to southern sudan early march. money crunch on their end. how far will i bend my day rate???


crewing on a doco shoot for a friend (mike balog) from LA next week here in nairobi. just a P.A, but excited to get back on set! start sunday!


suddenly following the NBA again thanks to jeremy lin, clipper nation, and even rick rubio! no more thug league, it's back to fun! love CP3! go linsanity! i just downloaded the knicks app on my iphone!


hoping all the immigration paperwork is done under a month. then i can get my alien card and then a PIN and then get my log book sorted for the prado and get my insurance peeps off my back! 


now i will need some interim housing after my interim housing is up. the stable won't be avail til april 1 and i have to be out of ben and helen's march 6. so, the next housing solution to appear. some COTW kung fu would be helpful right now.


cannot get over how tall the trees are in my new neighborhood. just towering. and can never get used to how pitch dark it is at night here. there are no street lights and no ambient city lights. with no moon, it is very dark at night. 


the floral and fauna here is insane. so many kinds of plant and tree life!


have skipped my swa lessons with jacken for a while. will resume in march. but i'm rusty!


had a chill sunday afternoon at que pasa drinking beer and eating a margherita pizza and chill out tunes. great vibe that place!


still thankful for my editorial assistant Lo. she has been very helpful as a personal asst in all matters of late. sharp, smart, and a great communicator!


haven't slept under a mozzy net much since i got here. none at the shack or the new place. hope i'm not flirting with malaria, but at the altitude and during the dry season, i'm not too concerned.


it's summer, and even though we're on the equator, i can still tell by the angle of the sun that it's summer. 


elections are coming here this year as well. we're all hoping for no violence this time.


meeting new folks all the time. been hitchhiking some in my new hood and met the head chef at karen country lodge. peter. photos below.


actually looking forward to the rainy season coming end of next month.


overall, still very glad with my decision to move here lock, stock, and barrel. can't imagine what i would be doing in LA. i've actually been working more paid gigs here! 


my CNN episode, the next line, will air sunday march 4th at 2pm EST.


i finally started my next screenplay. a comedy! need to keep banging!


my new look is long hair and no goatee with scruffy stubble. think brad pittt. (ha)


time for pics!

nothing says don't trespass like a little razor wire. 

karen country lodge right down the street. getting ready for valentines day!

more lodge, lots of cool wood furniture here.

a chair.

a nice faithful cold tusker. pombe kubwa baridi! monday nite is a pint and a pie for 6 bucks!

the grounds at the karen country lodge.

2 twigas!

love all the fires over here. country lodge lounge.

matatu stop!

your basic matatu

more country lodge. so many trees! cool grounds. poa sana!

a tire stop

more matatu action

even more matatus. the main source of public transpo by far. 

my african sidewalk as i walk home.

my new compound guard. bwana guard.

what the tall gate looks like. they say a lot carjackings happen while your waiting for the compound
gate to open, a sitting duck.

the new compound, the main house (not mine)

ben's old landy bought from cheli-peacock, the folks who own elephant pepper camp.

more country lodge

my new shower had some drainage issues. gee, ya think?

walking the road to my new place.

got some new red kicks from the states...some Brooks. (noticeable tan lines from old higher socks!)

the main house is over 100 years. suzie lives there. owns a safari company. maybe needs a slingshot vid!

the main driveway entrance.

so, all in all, happy to be here and to see where this great adventure will lead!