Larger Than Life

There it was - my camera. Taller than I was, bigger than I was. I approached it dragging along the bulky twig ladder I had just made.

Last night, and the night before - why many nights now - had been filled with strange noises. Sleep had eluded me as strange, high pitched dialogues, originating from my garden, jolted me into wakefulness. I couldn’t make much sense of what was being said, but now a week since they had started, I was determined to investigate. 

I woke up this morning determined to discover mysteries of my garden. I was slightly concerned that there was something sinister taking place in my backyard. Armed with a vague plan and an indifferent mien I walked into my backyard, my cereal and toast, a notebook, pencil, some string for measurements, and a camera in tow. I simply looked like I was going about my routine - taking photos and documenting them. I was hoping my real purpose would be well masked. 

I sat down on the bench, set down my camera, and rummaged through my book as I ate. Something bit my leg. Instinct told me to wait before moving into action. A voice quipped up, “Well, talk about a bad bite.” A shrill bout of giggling followed. I moved my foot a little, slightly perturbed that something that was speaking had taken a bite at my leg. I heard some bickering, a rustle. I stealthily moved my hand towards my leg, and just as it was about to take another bad bite, I nabbed it. 

“You leave me alone, you ol’ goon!” Nip. Nip. 

I thought to myself, I should have brought gloves. 

“What do you mean by capturing me, you ol’ ninny. Just you let me go” Nip. Nip. 

Annoyed at being bitten and equally peeved at being called an old ninny, I held onto the little fellow around his rotund waist. Slightly shaken, I set him down on the tabletop, next to my camera, still gripping him around his waist. A delightful, whimsical figure gazed up at me with big, round, hazel eyes. His pointed ears had flattened out on either side of his heart shaped face pointing to the East and West. His nose resembled a swollen toothpick protruding in between chubby, rosy brown cheeks. His tiny, berry stained mouth was turned up at one end as he smirked at me. It was startling to see such a small being, and I was rather flummoxed. 

After a few moments of silence, I decided to take the initiative and tentatively spoke to the little creature, “Hello… erm Mr?”

“Pixie. The name’s Pixie. And that’s no way to greet a fellow - nabbing him like that unawares!” 

No nip. I thought that was a good sign. 

“I’m sorry ...erm Mr Pixie, but I wasn’t sure what was biting me. And you said I didn’t taste good.”

Giggles, followed by more giggles, and a lifted eyebrow accompanied his response, “Well, a fellow likes a little mud with his foot, you know? All that clean skin does no ‘ne any good. Now, let me go!”

“Erm.. Mr. Pixie. Who are you? Why are you in my backyard, and why are you so noisy?” I suppose in hindsight I could have been less direct with my questions. 

“You let me go, I tell you.” A frustrated struggle between my hands ensued as I firmed my grip around him, hoping that my fingers would be spared deeper bites. A minute later he seized his wriggling and was answering me in an offended voice, “That there fellow, Ragtag, came in here and won’t leave. I got to have my space you see? I’ve been telling him to go find some other garden, you see...but he won’t listen, he won’t!” 

“Is Mr. Ragtag a pixie too?” I was beginning to wonder if I had drugged myself, or was in the midst of a strange dream. Was I really holding a pixie in my hand and speaking to him about garden invasions? 

“A pixie like me?! Nooo sirrreeee, I would ne’er have invaded another’s garden.” Surely, so much offense could hardly be communicated in so few words? I wondered if I should remind the little guy that he had in fact invaded my garden. I decided to keep mum. This little fellow was full of drama. His voice changed again,polite and quizzical, “Why, Oh why, Mr, ol’ ninny, will you help me get rid of Mr. Ragtag?” 

I had eased my hold on the little creature by now, and as I relaxed further, he promptly sat down, cross-legged, on my open palm as I pondered his strange request. Before a minute had passed he burst into tears - it was like watching a sprinkler come to life accompanied by a cacophonous group of violinists. 

“Okay, Okay, Mr. Pixie, stop bawling. How can I help?” I spoke in a loud whisper 

The silence and consequent smile was so immediate, I was quietly inclined to believe the whole crying show was exaggerated. But I couldn’t help liking the fellow as he impulsively gave my little finger a tight hug. 

“Oh, thank you, Mr ol’ ninny. I really do love my garden, you see...and Ragtag has no business being here. You need to meet him and tell him so, you see? He can’t go against your wishes, you see?” 

I didn’t see of course, and said so. I was also a bit offended at being called an ol’ ninny. Actually, I was starting to get curious about Ragtag and why Mr. Pixie was disinclined to share his space with him - I had a fairly large garden. It also occurred to me that it was certainly rare, even a bit exciting, to have two seemingly real pixies living in my garden. Maybe I had to go get my head checked, but for now, I was sure the little fellow in my hand was real. 

“Erm.. Mr. Pixie, my name is…”

“Awww, come on sirrreeee we must be quicks about getting Ragtag away. How wills you find him?” 

“Don’t you know where he is?” I asked tauntingly.

“'Course not, Mr Ol’ ninny. I don’t know where he is now. If I’d have known, I would’ve fought him out already, innit?” 

“I think you need to call me by my name, if you want my help.” I made to leave. After all some ground rules were necessary, and everyone knows pixies would wiggle their way out of anything. I felt that I must stamp my authority. 

“Awww now, don’t you go away Mr. Ol’... okay, okay, What is your name Mr. Ol’ Nin..”

“Matt. My name is Matt,” I was beginning to enjoy our dialogue. “Now, tell me, how do we find Ragtag?” 

“Why?! Don’ts you knows? We walk through the grass blades, of course! Come on Mr Ol… Mr. Matt” He zealously jumped onto my lap, and then paused, made his way back to my palm, and navigated my hand to my ear and in a shrill whisper, “We’ve got to shrink you, you knows!” 

I blinked. 

“We gots to Mr. Matt, otherwise you’ll not be able to runs through the grass.” He must have seen my dumbstruck look

“Shrink me?” I wasn’t having any of that, “Oh no we aren’t Mr. Pixie. I can wait here. Once you find Ragtag, I will find a way to meet him.” 

“Now, look yous here, Mr. Matt. By 3 O’clock, my pixie magic will reverse itself and you will be all big again. No needs to be scared.” A snicker that he tried to unsuccessfully cover up accompanied this statement.

Scared? Was I scared? What if this was all a trick? Yet, wouldn’t it be fun to have a bit of an adventure - almost exciting? “I still don’t know if it’s a good idea...but tell me, Mr Pixie, do you not like Ragtag?” I decided then and there that I should know more about the person I was going to confront

“Likes him? Oooh, I liked him well enough, I did. Ragtag’s my best friend. How we trampled the grass on Ol’ Mr Cranky’s garden. Ah” Giggles. “Then, when I said it was time to move - seeing that Mr. Cranky heard us, and had began to cut his grass too short, Ragtag said he likes to do what he wants and didn’t want to come here. You see’s Mr Ol’... Mr. Matt, I saw your garden, and knews you was a nice man who wouldn’t cut his grass. But Ragtag was a *&^%& pixie and told me he wasn’t moving, no sirreee! And I begs him, I does.” 

I ignored the expletives as I listened to his tale. A sudden burst of waterworks ensued. I patted him in empathy as gently as I could and waited for the abrupt silence. It took longer than expected.

“Then, I left without Ragtag and moved in here.” Sniffles as he continued, “I’ve been on my own 14 days, and I don’t need Ragtag with me. He came here last week, he did, and he says no sorrys to me, he doesn’t. He came and wanted to carry on as if he never left. Well, Mr. Ol’ ...Mr. Matt. No sirrrreeee. This is my garden and I’m not sharing with him” 

Another sprinkler attack was forming a pool in my hand. I was sure of one thing - this little pixie wanted his best friend with him, but was hurt and angry. I decided to help. Carefully, I placed him on the table top and sat next to him. 

He looked up at me, hope replacing the tears in his spherical eyes, “Will yous help, me?” 

A sudden desire awakened in me - it was time for an adventure. I smiled at Mr. Pixie and struck a deal, not entirely convinced I would shrink. 

“1.2.3”

With no warning, and no hint of any pixie dust, I had shrunk and found myself dangling off the table. I nervously swung myself and latched onto the camera belt.Trying to quickly adjust to my new circumstances, I hauled myself up onto the bench and took in the view. Mechanically, I picked a few twigs that had fallen on the table top, tucked them masterfully with some of the string I had left near my notebook and constructed a little ladder. I wanted to have a look through my lens: I climbed the ladder precariously and took a peek. The world looked big and full of colour. The grass had never looked this green or inviting. I wondered if I could click a photo. That’s when I caught sight of him - a little creature that looked like Mr. Pixie - darker and taller, but with the same rosy cheeks and round eyes.

“Mr. Matt… Mr. Matt, We gots to go.. There’s no time…” Mr Pixie was pulling on my trousers which I was grateful to note had also shrunk with me. 

I turned around and gestured to the little fellow, wending my way towards Ragtag. I was sure that I would soon have two pixie friends living in my backyard. Let the adventures begin.

A game changing game

Another morning, another day at Wimbledon, and some spectacular match ups to look forward to in the men's quarter finals.

And the women's semis have been decided. One thing was for sure - the round of 16 games were more mouth-watering (My favourite critic has said I use too much mouth-watering in my Wimbledon posts...so, I am staying a bad habit) impressive than the quarters.

The first week and then the round of sixteen made me expect sizzling, fight for every point games. The Vandeweghe Vs Rybarikova (Whoop, I have learnt to spell and say her name) was depressingly one-sided. The Williams Vs Ostapenko game was more competitive and while I am a bit sad to see the latter lose, I am still eager to see her in future tournaments. She has this fire when she is playing that is arresting. And then there was the Muguruza Vs Kuznetsova clash which was more competitive on paper...

The match of the day of course was the Konta Vs Halep match. Now that was a match worthy of a quarter final. I sympathise with Halep and her elusive grand slam...but I am going to take away the focus from winners and loosers and just say what a match! The power, the pace, the will to win! Fantastic - kudos ladies!

I can't wait to see how the semi finals will end...

Nerves of Steel

Manic Monday at Wimbledon was as insane as I expected it to be: 3-set battles in the women's draw and 5-set epic clashes in the men's half of the tournament. And in the midst there were those games that were singularly one sided.

So Ostapenko stormed into the quarters in her usually fighting style and has set up a mouth watering encounter with Venus: Muguruza and Konta both battled it out to make it in 3 sets. Vicka crashed out as expected. I mean, even if I don't mention what is at stake for a lot of these players, the quarters look like a tennis fans dream: let the fireworks begin. Anyone else wonder if Halep will finally be a grand slam winner. Her potential number 1 ranking should also motivate her, or so I hope?

Over to the men's...Fed bulldozed Dimitrov, and Cilic had an easy time versus Agut. These matches were so one-sided and dull I couldn't watch especially considering the drama unfolding on many of the other courts - Zverev's loss to Raonic in, Anderson's few faults allowing Querrey to inch him out of the tournament, Thiem's sad fall to Berdych. Sigh.. the evening couldn't get more competitive...

I lie. Of course it could get more intense: Rafa was on court, and he was two sets down. What a match up that was Muller with his deceptive and staggering serve vs Rafa's never ending battling spirit. Every game had something exciting - From Nadal's stunning shots and reactions to every point won, to Muller's ever calm mien and his blistering service games. The 5th setter was  out standing, questions were thrown and answers came back in the shape of aces, volleys, and winners. At 10-10 these two contestants were displaying nerves of steel, and it was simply traumatising knowing that someone was going to have to loose....Kudos to Muller for a game well played.

Ah Wimbledon, how mundane life will be after the championships are over...

The Wimbledon Monday

After a break day the action at Wimbledon today is simply stunning. Matches that are mouth watering have already started playing out.

Ostapenko is already through to the quarters beating Svitolina in straight sets. The other women's games at the moment are looking highly competitive: Kerber vs Muguruza in particular has been engrossing - even if I am simply looking at the scores (And would you believe it, Muguruza has won! Whoa!). Konta vs Garcia is also playing out nicely - and is currently at the first set tie-break. I am waiting to see how the Wozniaki vs Vandeweghe match will end...And then there is Vicka vs Halep: I suspect the latter will win even though my heart wants Vicka to take it.

And in more captivating tennis look at these games that will play out today:

1. Sam Querrey Vs Anderson
2. Cilic Vs Agut
3. Murray Vs Paire (This could be completely one-sided, or a cracker of a game. I suspect the former)
4. Nadal Vs Muller (Will this be another case of Rafa wiping away the opponent?)
5. Federer Vs Dimitrov (Interesting.... again it could be completely one-sided with Federer brilliance taking over)
6. Djo vs Mannarino (goodness knows which way this will go - I suppose it depends on Djo's mood)

Can I get to a TV already?

It's a take over

Wimbledon has taken over my life at the moment. I have to admit that I am hardly paying attention to any of the other sporting events going on. I am not even sure I will pay attention to the IAAF which will be held right here in Nairobi!

So the last few days have been good fun at the games.  Some matches have been exactly the way they were meant to be - others, not quite the way they should've panned out.

But I am vindicated by how Ostapenko is playing. Every game she plays is exciting to watch. True she can be topsy turvy and has a huge number of faults. Ah, but her winners and her unrelenting energy to keep getting the next point. The match versus the Canadian Francois Abanda was mouth watering. Both girls were stunning, and full of energy. That was a gripping watch, I tell ya.

Vicka is playing her 3rd round match this afternoon and I am looking for ways to watch it - not follow it on a real time blog, or catch up with the scores online with the slam tracker - but watch the action point by point. If Vicka brings her A game on, Heather Watson should expect fireworks with or without crowd support.

Honestly, the women's games are so exciting, I am skipping many of the men's games... However, I am still reeling from the Del Potro game. Sure he hasn't been as great the last few tournaments, but I don't think anyone was expecting him to loose in the 2nd round.

Thus far my favourites are hanging in there... I hope to see them hanging onto the cup soon...

Until next time, cheers to more Wimbledon....

Just an excited post...

Vicka won! Vicka won! Whoop! What an exciting start to the games. Turns out that day 1 had some delightful treats.

I'm going to start of with the Azarenka vs Bellis game simply because, you know, Vicka is back. The first set saw Bellis play some amazing shots, and Azarenka was struggling with her serves and her precision - 18 unforced errors in a set that ended 3-6 in favour of Bellis. And then, the fascinating Vicka come back surfaced: the first serves were in more often, shots were fired with a little more precision, Bellis's game was read a little better. Vicka was back in it with a 6 - 2 win in the second set. All credit to Bellis, she played remarkably, though, I feel that the momentum change did make her question her shots and she started to miss her mark more often than not. The final set was very much in Vicka's control and then she had done it - she was through to the second round at Wimbledon. I cant wait to watch more of her and see her improving with each game.

And Stan the man's poor luck on grass continued in another cracker of a match. Medvedev seemed to be playing with a casual determination that definitely got the better of Wawrinka. Talk of an upset. The question now is, how far will Medvedev go? As is often the case after a big win, the next game sees players wilt away into nothingness ....

In more scintillating tennis, Anderson came out victorious and knocked out Verdasco in a 4 setter game (I find Anderson's game style laid back, so this was surprising). Navarro won the topsy turvy game against Bouchard - 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, and Ostapenko came through fighting, beating her opponent in 3 sets.

And day 2 is here. I cant wait to see Djo win (cross my fingers and hope to die!) a tricky match. Here's a list of other games in the men's draw that I think will be stealing the spotlight today: Dolgopolov Vs Federer, Gasquet Vs Ferrer, M Zverev vs Tomic. In the women's draw - Timea Vs Wozniaki is the highlight (surely the draws are insane this year, already I see players pitted against people they could have played the quarters against!)

Can the play start already?

Grass, Strawberries & Cream!

First things first, congratulations team Germany on your Confederations Cup victory over Chile last night. I hope that the curse of a win here doesn't blot your chances at being the runner up in Russia 2018 (For those of you who know me, you know exactly what is hidden between those lines). Speaking of this win - I picked up a copy of the Daily Nation this morning in the hopes of seeing an article about Germany's win, and was sadly disappointed to see them still speaking about the third place game - surely, daily nation, you can do better than this? It isn't as if the match ended early this morning?...

Speaking of sporting action not to be missed... tantalising, classy, alluring Wimbledon is here! Whoa! I can't wait, and I hope that my favourites favour my disposition to watch this tournament all the way to the finals with a smile on my face. The draws have been decided, and day one has some promising games: Wawrinka vs D Medvedev could be an interesting one to look out for. The Kohlschreiber vs Cilic match also seems to be one of the matches that could turn out to be a cracker. In the women's draw most matches look to be straightforward (Watch out for the Navarro vs Bouchard game). I am eager to see how Ostapenko will fair. Lisicki on grass is of course a delight to watch - it will be good to see if she is in good form. And best of all, Azarenka aka Vicky is back on court. Let the games begin!

Off the court, a good friend of mine announced categorically that, "Messi got messed up." I read that statement in some trepidation, quietly running through football fixtures in my head wondering if he had injured himself. Turns out that he was referring to Messi's nuptials, and Messi is still well and quite capable of working some magic on the football pitch. Phew! On that happy note, I bid you all farewell for the week.

Happy Sporting!

The other things

The Confederations Cup semi final berths have been decided. Tonight Portugal face Chile, and Germany take on a gritty Mexico. I don't think the line-up has any surprises - was anyone expecting them? 

I have a confession - I have barely watched the matches. Apart from the rather poor commentating, I just haven't felt the oooompfh (Does the Confederations Cup ever have ooompfh?) But this live video refereeing nonsense has certainly piqued my interest! Do I like it? I honestly have to answer a veritable, no.  It will probably take some time to get used to it, but the worst thing about it is that it takes away the flow of the game. And football is gorgeous because of the flow. I hope that in the world cup we don't have massive interruptions because of this new method. Sigh!

In other sporting news, Wimbledon is less than a week away and I begin to dream of being there to watch it live! Ah, the magic of Wimbledon.... can you just see the green surroundings, and the promising taste of strawberries and cream? I am going to wait for a few matches before I dive into supporting my favourites.... oooh, I so hope that it is a good tournament for them! And I can't wait to see how the women's draw plays out... 

Speaking of the women's draw reminds me that the women's cricket world cup is on going and I believe it is exciting - possibly more exciting than the just ended Champions trophy. Thus far: India, SA, England, Australia and NZ have all won games. I am likely to keep my eyes open on this one - I believe it is going to get more intense out there. But here is a comic moment for you - anyone notice the tautology?

Ends and Beginnings

What a sporting weekend! I am about this close (picture me pinching my fingers close together) to quitting watching sports all over again.

Let's start off with the Champions Trophy. As has been the case over the past, the teams I want to win matches are just being contrary. The Pakistan - England game for instance was not good for me. I wanted England to win - for no particular reason, except that I like the English team this season - again, for no particular reason. Or perhaps, it is their awesome uniform. Speaking of uniforms, apart from the New Zealand and English teams, all other cricket teams should consider revamping their very ugly uniforms. But I digress. Pakistan consistently improved with every match they played. Versus England, their batting and bowling was clinical. The Bangladesh - India game predictably went the way of the Indians. But I always felt that they should have won that game with more ease than they actually did.

With the semis settled, Sunday had the promise of an epic battle. Two arch cricket rivals facing off. The battle lines drawn, the two countries poised to fight it out again (pun maybe intended). My genetic make-up does not often lend me to support the Pakistan team in cricket - it just doesn't happen. The last time I supported the Pakistan team was when Wasim Akram was on it - ah, now that was a team worth supporting. Besides, I was inclined to go with the entire insensible bleeding blue tag line. It was pretty simple - I wanted the Indian team to win, and I was sure they would, provided they restricted Pakistan to around 250 runs. You can then understand my annoyance when Pakistan's Fakhar (all comments on his name will be politely avoided in this post) scored 114 runs. India was doomed. And then the indomitable Indian batting line up crumbled against an attacking and well thought out bowling performance by Pakistan. I turned off the TV when India was at 6 men down. I had no intention of being a grumpzilla because of a cricket match - I mean it is not even one of my favourite sports. After the Pakistan team lost their first match, their coach said something about how the manner in which they lost was unacceptable - well, kudos to the team for the fantastic turn around in the tournament. Teams have good days and bad days, of course, and I am not a crazy Indian fan who will spend the next few months criticising the team, but I will say this - fans have it a lot worse than the players! At least I was right on one note - I figured the finals would be a one-sided game: It was

In other news, the confederations cup started off without a bang - which is often the case with the confederations cup, isn't it? The Russia - New Zealand game was dull. Russia won it 2-0 and deserved to win, but there simply was no spark to the game. What is worse, the commentator for the match was, simply put, stodgy. I really hope he is not going to be commentating for the world cup. The Portugal - Mexico match was more promising. Again, I only watched glimpses of it, and this was certain, Portugal had better get their defence into order, or they are going to concede far too many goals! And can Christiano Ronaldo please share some style tips with certain other sportsmen! Please, Christiano? I wish I had watched the Cameron-Chile game, but like I said at the beginning of this post, I was very close to hibernating from sports again. The score card for this game was somewhat predictable. The Chileans took the game 2-0. I am unconvinced about the prowess of the Cameron team - however, I will hold judgement until I watch them play. For now, here is to an exciting rest of the week as I thank my lucky stars that the curse of the confederations cup won't affect my favourite teams!

Ready, Set, Play

The last few weeks have been exciting in the world of sports, even for someone who has been on a strange sporting hiatus. The primary reason for the said hiatus is the fact that all the teams, and individuals I support have been suffering from a sad case of loosing.

It has however been a satisfying few weeks, not because my favourites have suddenly started winning, but simply because the excitement and greatness of sports has caught up with me again.

Sports build character and discipline, and sports personalities within their capacities can really move you. Look at the epic moment when Francesco Totti retired: What a moment in the history of sports. I am not a die hard Roma fan, but I am a fan of the Italian National team, and Totti was a huge part of my football fan-shaping years! The sheer emotion around the stadium, and the world over, as Totti stepped off the football pitch for the last time was humbling, and moving.

Suddenly the sports world was calling to me again... and the Roland Garros was right in time to propel me on wards on this now unfamiliar path. Things started well for me in terms of my fandom in the men's draw, but it all came to a mighty crash near the tail end of the tournament. And then surprisingly, there was still a reason to watch - another historic moment, "La Decima," and the crowning of the king of kings of clay courts! Rafa's 10th French obviously came in style; the stats and figures are simply astounding! What a way to win as well - Rafa was ruthless and clinical, watching some of his matches was almost boring because of how one sided it was (and only because of that). Mad respect for his brilliance on clay - every stroke he hit was aimed at maiming any chance the opponent had at beating him!

And the grand slam women's singles was, truth be told, 100% more enticing than the men's draw. Without Serena's presence, there was a promise of an open, highly competitive playing field. And the favourites - statistically and historically, were dropping off like hot cakes. It is interesting that out of the top 10 players - only 2 made it to the semifinals. And it is telling that from the quarter finals on-wards, almost every match played was a three setter: 5 out of 7 to be precise. If we look at this further - 3 of those 5 three set games were played by the eventual winner Jelena Ostapenko, and the other 2 by the runner-up Halep. In the match ups to the final, watching the gritty, energy of these players promised a tantalising game - and it sure didn't disappoint. What a player Ostapenko is! If she keeps up this momentum, she is up for great things! Just watching her go after every ball was exhilarating, and refreshing! Even trailing down 0-3, you simply couldn't write her off! And more history was made of course - First Latvian grand slam finalist, one of the youngest players to win the French open - in fact, the youngest player in 20 years to win it! Astounding!

And then there was some F1, and cricket, and unexpected results! Plus there is a promise of more - Confederations cup, Wimbledon, Champions Trophy, US PGA.. at this rate, I might soon be out of hibernation!

On Higher Ground - Memories Of A Bike Ride Through Ladakh

When Will It End?

This last week has been a nightmare for many conservationists and nature lovers in Kenya. Apart from the now common announcements of illegal ivory being intercepted, and elephants being treated from spear attacks, we have had to face the full extent of a failing system.

Mohawk, a lion named for the shape of his mane, was killed. A day later we had the confirmed information that another lion, Lemek, was also killed. Furthermore, there is still no conclusive information on one (or two) other lions that have been suspected to have left the Nairobi National Park which was the home of both Mohawk & Lemek.

I feel a great amount of outrage and sadness over what is happening at the Nairobi National Park. Having lived in Nairobi all my life, I have grown up with this treasured natural space. The park is a haven of peace, tranquillity, and adventure. It is a place where one can simply soak in a tonne of knowledge about animals, and watch them as they gracefully live out their lives. 

But the park, which has been vulnerable to the burgeoning city on all its borders, is now perhaps on its last fight for survival. If we fail to wake up and save this park now, it will be gone forever, and all we will have left is a bitter sweet memory. I know that I am unwilling to be part of the generation that lost the park for the rest of humanity! 

Why would we want to save this park? If the simple reasons of preserving a natural haven, and fostering knowledge and preserving fauna and flora are not enough there are plenty others. 

The National Park is a unique selling point for our country. There is no other such park that can be found in the entire world within a city. Please take a minute to read that again. We often say this with pride, but do not give it enough emphasis. Here is some perspective: The total land area of the earth is approximately 148,940,000 km2 . The Nairobi National park is approximately 117 square kilometres. As Kenyans, we have saved that tiny little piece of land to preserve our natural habitat. And this tiny little piece of land attracts people from across the globe because of its dynamics. 

The National Park is also the site of a prolific historic event – the burning of ivory. July 19th, 1989, Kenya burned 12000 kilograms of stock pile ivory, at the park, to ensure that it could never be sold, and to ensure that the demand for ivory would not grow. True, we are still grappling with poaching, but the National Park is symbolic and plays a significant role in declaring Kenya as a country that values its wildlife. For years, Kenya has been a household name in the realm of positive and successful conservation. Sadly, we are quickly losing that reputation. Too many historic and conservation areas are being compromised in the name of development (that is just a cover for impunity) 

Tourism contributes a significant amount to Kenya’s GDP. Let me iterate: A pretty large portion of our National GDP comes from visits to our National parks and reserves, beaches, mountains and historic sites. The Nairobi National Park has and continues to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. That is a bottom line: If they go, so does a significant amount of the country’s income. Many would argue that with development and greater business opportunities, any deficit can be balanced. I am not an economist, but I do have enough common sense to realise that this is a ludicrous argument. Currently, Kenya is losing out to neighbouring countries, not only in the tourism industry but in other businesses as well. Again, impunity, security concerns, and the difficulty in doing setting up business in Kenya have contributed to the same. To me the risk of visiting a place, time and time again, and enjoying what it has to offer, is smaller than the risk of establishing a big business that could collapse. Do I believe that we can still have investment in the country? Yes, I do. I believe in Kenya, and I believe Nairobi is one of the grandest cities in the world. However, do I think it is enough to ignore the money brought in by tourism? Hell, no. And why should we want that to be the case, anyway? It is our service industry and great tourist attractions that makes us such a special country, and a special people!

As humans we have a responsibility to live in harmony with the world around us. But we seem to be under the impression that we need to be the only species left on the planet. We are also ignoring the fact that it is very unlikely that we will survive a world with no natural resources and no other participants in the food cycle. We are going to be the first species that is destroying itself. We need to change this, and change it fast. 

The Nairobi National Park is the perfect place to start. It is the perfect embodiment of coexistence. We must save this park at all costs. If we don’t we are saying that we do not value life. 

In the last decade the threat to the park has increased many folds. In 2012, a growing number of human-wildlife conflict led to 6 lions from the park being killed. As a regular visitor to the park the consequences of this killing was apparent: lion sightings reduced, people visiting the park often left disappointed, and for many months Nairobi National Park had dipped into a not very exciting zone. 

But then, the park and the animals in it recovered. More and more people were getting familiar with the park animals, particularly the lions. They had names and identities. Slowly they became friends. If you visited the park, the possibility that you could identify some of the lions was exciting and personal. With the growing availability of social media, the lives of these beautiful cats become a part of our day to day living. I was more likely to know what Mohawk was doing on a particular day than knowing what some of my human friends were doing. As my understanding of the lions grew, I also came to have a deep respect for these lions and their ability to survive: The bypass was being constructed and was taking over much of their park; migratory paths were blocked off, restricting movement and prey. But these cats survived, matured, and had brilliant stories to share. 

Human wildlife conflict is unfair on wildlife. We always approach the situation with the human aspect taking priority. If someone’s cattle are attacked, we compensate the owner. But, if a lion is killed, why don’t we compensate by giving them more space? If a human is attacked by an animal, there is an immediate concern and care for the human – again there are compensations, bills, empathy. If an animal is killed by man, there is sadness for a few and nothing more. The odds are against the animal. What gives us the right to decide that a human life has priority over a wild animal’s? What makes this divide even worse is the fact that a lion (or other wild animal) really doesn’t attack out of spite or a need to kill. It is simply being itself – and either defending itself from danger or doing what it instinctively knows. With a few exceptions wild animals only attack when threatened or extremely hungry. If we assume that as humans we kill these animals to safeguard ourselves, we are essentially saying we are incapable of superior thought and action – We should then be savages, and not tearing after development because we are incapable of anything but instinct. 

Sadly though, it is rarely the case that a wild animal is killed by man as an instinctive action. It is as deliberate as murder. It is a selfish, self-glorifying, and short sighted act that will cost us dearly. We have people who hunt animals in the name of conservation, but in reality this is a thrill seeking hobby. In other cases we have people who hunt animals and kill them because they think it displays bravery. Then, there are those who do it because they are protecting their own. How mistaken are each of these acts?

There are approximately 20,000 lions left on the planet. In 2013, at least 600 legal lion trophies originated in Africa. Add the number of illegal and uncounted lion deaths, and we could easily be talking of 1000 dead lions in a year. What does this mean? This means, that should the trend continue, we could be in a world without lions in 20 years or so. I might be overstating the case here, but with the way the human race is annihilating the world’s resources, it really isn’t shocking! 

For someone like me – a lion-free world is one that I don’t want to live in. And with the above statistics in my mind it is imperative that the pattern changes – every lion counts! And that is one of the main reasons that I am horrified and absolutely disgusted that we have lost two lions in a span of 48 hours! 

Let us start with the murder of Mohawk. Yes, it was murder – cold blooded murder. KWS botched this one up big time. To be honest, I have always been proud of KWS and have applauded many of their conservation efforts. Sometimes, I have overlooked the times when they have had to make compromises – for the greater good, or so I believed! I still applaud them for their efforts.

However, I think KWS has failed themselves, Kenyans, the world at large, and me, where the Nairobi National Park and particularly Mohawk is concerned. 

They failed themselves because when they shot Mohawk they failed to live up to their mandate. Their primary concern should have been Mohawk. End of story. They should have done everything possible to ensure that he was secured and the explanations from KWS on their decisive act to shoot Mohawk are becoming more ridiculous, minute by minute.

They failed Kenyans because they did not protect our interests. There was nothing to suggest that Mohawk would have gone a killing spree. Even if he had, it would have been as a result of a mess up that the people and KWS created – by crowding and hounding him. They failed Kenyans even more by not accepting the fact that they made a mistake! That for me was as low as they could go. 

They failed the world at large when they were unable to stand up for the National Park and demand in no uncertain terms that its area is unobstructed by any kind of development or intrusion. They failed the world by not addressing the situation of insecure fences, and lion escapes. They have failed the world over the last few years, over and over, by allowing impunity to take precedence over the safety of the park and all its creatures.

And they failed me, and other nature and animal lovers like me, when they shot Mohawk over and over again, because they killed a friend! They failed us because as residents and citizens of this country, they did not do their duty by me. I am unwilling to listen to excuses of lack of funding, or uncontrolled situations. This is not the first time a lion has strayed from a park, and this will not be the last… I can say confidently that this should have been handled better – we have seen it being done better. There was no excuse for this disgusting conclusion. I demand compensation on behalf of the lions that cannot speak! I call for immediate action and restoration of the park boundaries! This should be the priority on every single person’s mind! It is time we move beyond our narrow selfish wants – and really work for the greater good! 

The nightmare of course didn’t end with the murder of Mohawk. Again, witless humans decided that they would kill more lions. We lost Lemek – a two and a half year old male. If this was a two and a half year old human who was killed simply for revenge, the world would be up in arms! Did KWS fail again, by not heeding warnings? Did KWS fail again by not managing the situation? Yes, they did. But so have the people who killed that lion.

We claim to be progressing, and yet our greed and short sightedness blinds us so much we cannot save the bounty of our land! It disheartens me and I am often close to giving up the fight. But then I look into a lions eye, and I know I will never stop wanting to preserve a life for them!

Love Sense

"I didn't know. I couldn't tell."
"Why not? You always know - You have always been able to tell"
"Oh, but don't you see, I couldn't?"
"You should have!"
"Oh, but how could I make sense, when all I could do was love!"

Clouds

I understand the cloud. It's pure-white brightness, brimming in sunshine, swaying and gliding in fluffy delight. And in a moment it is brooding - heavy, a pit full of black bursting into a torrential storm!

Sticky Date Pudding

"I'm sweet on you"
"I see."
"Is that all you are going to say?"
"No."
"I'm waiting..."
"Stick with me...."

The Tree's Lament

Preserve me:
I have the wisdom of years
Nurture me:
I am the essence of life
Honour me:
I am the will behind growth

Strong are my roots,
Robust my trunk,
flexible are my branches,
Numerous my leaves,
Delicate my flowers

I grant you shade,
I offer you sustenance,
I deliver you aesthetic rapture,
I give you life -

I watch as you tear down my kith and kin
And I cry for them; I cry for myself,
Mostly, I cry for you and the ignorance you display.

Nature's grace

Grant me this -
That I can wake up to the golden sun
as it kisses the blue skies;
That I can hear the wind's seducing whispers
as it caresses the dancing trees;
That I can see the besotted dew drop
resting rapturously on blushing petals;
That I can glorify in the beautiful night
as the silver moon embraces it's heart.

Park moments

As you drive into the Nairobi National Park (NNP) from the Main gate, the Hippo Pools is found at the far end of the park. We usually drive a full circuit of the park, and Hippo Pools is a regular pit stop. As you drive out of Hippo Pools, you can opt to go towards the Athi dam - further away from the main gate, or drive down to the East and Maasai gates and onwards, to the park forest and the Main gate.

If you drive towards Maasai gate, the road gets a bit hilly. There is one particular spot where the road dips and forks into a stunning plethora of acacias and a small riverine (one of the numerous seasonal rivers and tributaries within the park) flows across the road, adding the touch of perfection to the scene. The bridge over these, sometimes tiny, streams are tarmacked and fairly straight forward to drive over. The one at this spot, however, is a bit notorious because the "bridge - back to road" drop is uneven and shoddy.

This spot is one of those places where I, and I'm sure other park and wildlife enthusiasts, dream of sighting leopards, or something rare. It simply speaks of magic sightings: the perfect place for an animal. Oh, the visions I've seen there...But of course the places we seem to think are ideal for viewing animals are probably not that ideal, and merely the effects of our brains fantasising. The animals themselves seem to frown upon the "perfect" locations, and we usually end up sighting the more common impala, other grazers, or monkeys rather than what we expect - spectacular maybe, but not exactly singular.

Being the dreamers that we are, we persistently search deep and hard as we pass by our magic spots. What if we do chance upon a spotted creature, lurking in the acacias, or near the stream? What if there is a flap of a white and black fluffy tail hanging from a branch. What if? Oh, the possibilities!

And a few weeks ago, we had our what if moment.

It all began with our pursuit of happiness which in our case is the unmatchable pleasure of sighting some lions. The drive at the park was getting a bit frustrating for us as we are rarely satiated unless we have a visual of our beloved lions. Do not get me wrong we were thrilled to have seen 7 rhinos, 2 jackals, and numerous giraffe, zebra, impala and related folk. Yet, the lion sighting beckoned us.

We left Athi damn happy. We had seen a crocodile - it's snout peeking out of the waters - still and deceptive, zebras were traipsing gaily into the water, drinking up, and then walking away, three hippos frequently popped in and out of the water, as if unsure about whether they wanted to hide or not. We were also fortunate to see a number of white rhinos as we drove towards the Hippo Pools.

Once we arrived there, we heard a few reports of a big maned lion at number 29 and hastened to search for it. Our thorough search was fruitless and we proceeded again to number 6, and the lone tree areas - a haunt preferred, these days, by the park lions. Still no luck. Once again there were rumours of 2 lions at number 18 near some murram pits. Typical of insane park fanatics, we drove back to the other end of the park only to see two rhinos, definitely not lions, at the said pits.

Ever optimistic, or perhaps ever stubborn, we continued to journey towards the Hippo Pools, and onwards towards the cheetah gate where a fellow visitor had told us they had sighted, briefly, Athi (an identified and famous NNP lioness) and her cubs. It was another dry run for us and we didn't get to see Athi or her elusive cubs.

However, that drive will be etched in our memories forever - another one of those incredible wildlife moments that happen fleetingly, but are so vivid and unique they leave a glorious feeling of awe in your life.

On our way to find Athi, we drove towards the Hippo Pools and used the same route where we dream of sighting a leopard. And for a change we drove extra slowly over the bridge. In that precious moment, a movement caught my eye and I screamed, "Shalini! Crocodile!" And, there it was in the relatively shallow riverine, barely 5 metres away from us - a crocodile, snout and eyes visible, gliding away from the bridge as though we had surprised it into life. Oh, it was so thrilling! I could see its round, beady eyes looking at us warily, and then before we could click a photo or capture a video, the miracle crocodile had slunk into the depths of the brown water.

I can see it even now. What a rare sighting! The crocodiles we have seen at the park are usually at the Hippo pools, Athi river, or at the dams. This visual led to so many questions - why was this crocodile here? How did it get here? Why was it brownish? What would happen when the water dried up? Were the unaware grazers around us aware of the danger lurking so close? How wonderful! How exciting!

Words, love & dreams

For my muse, Harish Kavirajan and my inspiration, heroine & sister, Shalini Srivatsan

If you are the moon, then I am that imperfect impression nested in the heart of your golden-silver light. Together we create a faultless moon glade

There was a firm, but gentle wind: A zephyr where I carefully planted my dreams, and watched as the wind glided away. Skies beyond, the wind slowed down at your door, and the wind chimes tinkled in delight as you opened the doors, and let my dreams flower at your side.

Your love is like the snow on a mountain top, melting into life when you kiss my warm lips.
Your love is like a summer breeze settling under the shade of a tree when your hand weaves into mine.
Your love is like autumn leaves, full of hues, filling my eyes with the colours of desire.
Your love is like the green of spring, wholesome and sweet, serenading me with sacred promises.

I wish I was the rain, so you would look at me with the dream filled eyes that gaze endlessly into the storm.

I'll smile today, and laugh heartily. And, if I cannot, then I will smile and laugh through you.

I would like to be loved the way the morning dew kisses the soft petals of a blossoming rose.

Your eyes mesmerise me. I look into their depths and see the missing pieces of my own heart.

When my hand rests against your heart, I feel my soul sing in it's every beat.
And when our lips meet, then, oh, I know I am complete.

A sister's hold is like none other. It will steady you forever and swathe you in love.
A sister's hold is like a protective seal of gentle perfection.
A sister's hold is an intimate conversation promising love, eternal.

I am the wind that flies with you as you ride into the sunset,
I am the sparkling river that bends with you towards the sunset,
I am the warmth lighting the road that you ride on,
I am the heart that stays with you, always, as you ride on

At the end of a long, tiring day, coming home is warm and reassuring. Finding you there - that is magic.

Weird....

I find myself inching away from living. It is, at times, a terrifying experience, but in the spaces between the scary moments, it is liberating.

When I am not bound by anxiety or panic, I love this feeling of obtuse indifference - like I am in the calm before the storm. And somehow, everyday more blandness and blankness pushes the storm farther and farther away.

It is an interesting experience, this: to not think, or feel. The downside is that I am walled up against experiencing the good things too. The upside, well now that is out of this world - like a caged animal on display that is sitting sedately in a corner of it's prison, unmoved by passers by - by their jibes, or by their awe. I carry on with life, unmoved and unfazed by the rashness or judgement of others