We’re at it again! We’ve officially embarked on another wild adventure, and this time, our passports led us all the way to Kenya.
Getting here was an Olympic endurance sport in itself: a crisp 25-hour trek from Tampa with pitstops in Miami and Doha, Qatar. By the time we finally landed, our joints were locked in full-time negotiation with our spines, but we had cleverly built in a two-day cushion to acclimate to the local time zone. If you are ever planning a marathon travel day like this, take my advice: book the extra rest days.
We spent those 48 hours at the Villa Rosa Kempinski doing absolutely nothing, and it was pure bliss—starting the moment we arrived at the front gate, where a very thorough bomb-sniffing dog literally hopped inside our vehicle to give us a personal welcome scan! Once clear, our entire agenda consisted of eating, sleeping, and aimlessly wandering around the hotel property like lovely, well-fed zombies waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. I was hoping to catch up with a friend we met two years ago, but in a classic twist of travel irony, she was currently visiting the US. What are the odds?
Of course, no epic trip begins without a little hotel room drama. On night one, we plugged in our power converter, crawled into bed, and precisely 15 minutes later… POP!
Yep. The converter officially self-destructed, taking down the central hub for all our phone, computer, and camera chargers with it. To make matters sweeter, I realized I had left my AirPods, MacBook charger, and charging block right in my seat pocket on the plane. Ugghh!
Now, let’s talk about Apple’s “Find My” feature. According to the app, my lost tech was hanging out right there in the airport. According to reality? They’d checked out and gone on their own vacation without us.
Off to the local mall we went for emergency supplies, which is where we experienced absolute sticker shock. I knew inflation was a global event, but Kenya tech prices hit different! Replacement AirPods were sitting at a cool $500 USD, and basic power cables were $60 a pop. I decided my ears could live like commoners for a few weeks, skipped the $500 Apple tax, and snagged a $39 generic pair just so I can survive the 28-hour trek home.
Financial trauma aside, the real adventure starts tomorrow! We’re meeting up with Paul, the owner of TemboWild, (click on the link to plan your amazing safari) to map out the next 11 days. We’re setting off on a luxurious safari across Kenya with stops at Amboseli National Park, Loisaba Conservancy, Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha, and Crescent Island.
I can hardly sleep thinking about it. Stay tuned for Day 1: bush planes, wild animals, and hopefully zero fried electronics!
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 