Random Scenes in the Vicinity of Hekima Place

Maasai at Crossroad Center, Karen

Maasai craft market at Crossroads Center, Karen

Maasai woman at Crossroad Center, Karen

Today’s entry will be a lot of photos and not much text. I thought you might be interested in the environs of Hekima Place. First of all, we live in Maasai land. Some dress in western garb, some in traditional clothing, and some in both western and traditional at the same time. Here is a photo of a couple of Maasai men at the Crossroads shopping center in Karen. The next photo is of the Maasai craft market at Crossroads. Notice the woman hiding her face. Maasai don’t like having their photo taken (some will accept money to be photographed) as they feel their image belongs to only them. There’s third image of a Maasai woman in traditional dress walking through the parking lot at Crossroads.

Cattle herded down the main street in Kiserian

Methodist goats?

It’s a pastoral economy here, so when you drive through the towns, you see lots of animals, including goats and cattle. The Maasai are traditionally herders and the number of cattle a man has determines his wealth (and how many wives he can marry). Donkeys are common beasts of burden, and you see them everywhere, either grazing beside the road, walking across streets, but mostly pulling loaded carts. This one has a cart of ‘jerry cans’ for water.

Charcoal kiosk in Kiserian

Fuel is expensive, so, as in Haiti, charcoal is a major source of energy for cooking. Here is a photo of a charcoal stand in town. It is interesting how they display their charcoal by stacking it up into little towers.



 The day before yesterday, I went out on my porch and found a large moth clinging to the rock of the outside wall. It was really pretty, so I took a photo. Later it spread it’s wings to reveal the back wings which were even more beautiful and colorful. I think it must have just come out of the cocoon, because it didn’t seem to be able to fly and didn’t fly away until late in the day. I was watching when it did, and, as it rose in the sky, a bird dived at it twice, but it kept on flying and the bird seemed to give up. Perhaps the large eye spots scared the bird away.

Anyone know what the name of this moth is?

Whup Whup bird

Every morning, I wake up to the calls of a large pigeon-like bird that perches on the peak of my roof. I have come to call it the “Whup Whup” bird because that’s it’s call. “Whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup, whup,” starting softly, then getting louder and louder and finally trailing off.

Raven in chef's apron? or French Maid?

Another bird common on the Hekima property is a raven that looks like it has a white chef’s apron on, even to the white strap going all the way around the neck. Kate says she thinks it looks more like it’s wearing a French maid’s outfit. You decide.