I need to start today's entry by talking about last night. After, I posted my blog in the late afternoon, I decided to get out of the hotel for dinner. William, my cab driver, had told me about this restaurant called Carnivores, so I decided to try it out. I called up my cabbie buddy and he picked me up at the hotel for the 40 minute drive to this place on the outskirts of the city near the Nairobi National Park entrance, though it was only 8 miles away. It is hard to believe that traffic is still bumber to bumper at 7:30PM. By this time of day the smog is choking, so William suggest to roll the windows up until we get to the city outskirts.
We get to a security gate of the property. like the one at the hotel, and get our friendly inspection. The complex where the restaurant is located has many venues to include a park for children, picnic area, large convention center, another building that seems to have some sort of entertainment as we drive by and finally at the end the restaurant entrance. The entrance is like a scene out of the movie, Jurassic Park. There are these big bamboo gates about 30 ft high that are decorated with carved wood animal features, that part as we get close to them. William pulls the cab through a fern and tree lined circled drive to let me out. I'm greeted by two gentleman with "safari type" clothing of khaki shorts, shirts and a leopard striped pith helmet. William say he will be back in two hours (10:00 PM).
I entered a long corridor that is made into a bamboo walkway, that reminds me of the old Jade East and Trader Vic restaurants (if you are under 50 you'll have to google to know), that is lined with different palms and local trees. You can hear frogs croaking around the entire place (real or memorex?). I am greeted with a smile and a swahili greeting of, jioni njema (good evening). I look at the menu that is posted in large letters on the wall. Now I understand the restaurant name of Carnivores. The place is packed and I would say there are at least 100 tables that I can see.
Other than soup, salad and baked potato, the rest of the menu includes meat/game: ostrich (my favorite), crocodile, wildebeest, flamingo, quail, turkey, zebra, snake, lamb and a few more that I can't remember. Oh and I forgot, the testicles of a water buffalo. Am I going to try them? I've eaten giant lightning bug larvae and piranha, so you bet. I also try their Kenyan speciality cocktail called Dawa, which means "magic potion" in Swahili. They have a gentleman that walks around with a tray supported by shoulder straps that reads DAWA. He is the Dawa mixologist. I took a picture of this guy and you can see it on FaceBook. So, I start with my own personally made DAWA at my table. Next "jungle soup" made from trees and spices from the local area, tasted like a creamy split pea. Second, salad, that you make yourself with a large tray of 4 different lettuces, 3 different tomatos, "jungle root", beets, corn, red peppers, etc. Once you finish this assortment of flavorful items its on to the main course(s). First you are brought out a sizzling iron skeet, that is used to keep you meal warm. A side baked potato is delivered then the show starts. Various waiters come out and start carving off slices of various meat and fowl. Accompanying the meal is a side tray with about 12 different dipping sauces: creamy garlic, passion fruit, mint, "jungle sauce", etc. My favorite meal was the ostrich meatballs and crocodile (tasted a bit like a chewy lobster). Finally the water buffalo testicle guy comes around. They are creamy white in color. He suggests to dip them in the garlic sauce. He says that eating these will make you very virile...just what a 62 year guy needs. Well I dip them in the garlic sauce, chew them up...not bad...but I don't feel any different.
The khaki clad waiters keep coming around with the sliced items. You stop them by removing a small flag that is on a stand at the table. Finally, I give up, I remove my flag and lay it on the table, along with my sword (serrated knife), I surrender .
But its not over, part of the meal is dessert, so I go for the Italian ice cream and a 12 yr port. I can't move. A very beautiful ebony skinned lady comes by my dinner table and asked how was the meal...are you kidding? I told her I was very pleased. After she left, I asked my waiter who she was and he says the general manager, she ran the place. He says she is the only female that works at the restaurant of over 100 employees. She seems more little an orchestra conductor given all the people involved in the meal.
At 10PM sharp William is back and the cab ride back to the hotel only takes 10 minutes, no traffic. As we approach the central area, it is very dark, with few street and building lights. There are a few people roaming around, including at least 4 street walkers, not interested.... even though I'm suppose to be very ready tonight after my water buffalo delicacy. We get to our security check, go through the metal detector check and its a night. That was a lot of fun at Carnivores, with apologies to my veggie friends.
So that was last night, today I'm feeling last nights meal. I'm not feeling to superior today, so decide to just hangout by the pool. Also, I need to start packing up my gear for my Safari tomorrow. I'll take just what I can fit in my back pack and my dark green Kid Rock "man bag". I hangout by the pool for about four hours doing some writing and reading. When I come back to my room, I notice out my window a circle of people inn the square watching a few teenagers dribbling a soccer ball and doing some real "feets"of ability. Its looks more like a dance circle, once one finishes, another comes out of the crowd to out do the other. When one finishes he has hat in hand looking for "donations/tips". I watch the for about 30 minutes, they were really good.
I decide to have a night cap so being a Hilton Diamond member I can use their executive lounge. Its about 10PM so it closes in an hour. I insert my room key in the security door to a very nice wood paneled room. Also tonight there are two older gentleman, 70's, with a couple of very young local ladies...you think what Im thinking? I introduce myself to them and they are quick to say they are professors from a college in England ,that I'm not familiar. They say the two young ladies are local students that are helping them with "translation". Well okay buddy. After spending a few more minutes with this group, things seem to be truly legit. One gentleman is actually Irish and he gives me some suggestions for my visit in the Spring to Ireland with my mom. Okay time to get some sleep, I hope. My tour operator will be waiting for me at 7:45AM in the morning.
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