A two day journey:From Nairobi to Mombasa

It was on the 26th december that i had the thought of travelling to mombasa by train.I had never travelled on one and i did not even know where the station was.Thanks to google, i was able to locate where it was and get the travel timetable.I decided to call my friend.We have been friends for about 8years .We were in the same highschool and i like her because she is fun to be around.We even call each other "kuzo"(cousin).Even though i complain that i dont usually  have long-time friends,i thank God because she is one of them.

I asked her if she would like to travel with me via train to mombasa."Trains still exist?"she asked me laughing."Yes i also found out today!"i told her and she kept laughing.After talking for a while she was in.We arranged everything and decided to meet in town the next day for the journey.I was told the train leaves at exactly 7pm, so we were there earlier.What i did not say earlier is that we booked for third class.Never ever try this ...its a risk.

7 pm reached and we could not even see the train it was nowhere in sight.8?..10...At 11pm the train arrived.The people who were alighting from it had been on the train for 36 hours and we were dumb founded.The train's engine had broken down.You would not imagine how many people use the train.Just when we thought our waiting was over and we could enter into the train,we were told not to enter because it was going to be washed.Our expectant hearts still had to wait.Around where we were sitting just to mention,there were sacks...of onions,potatoes,tomatoes,kales and all sorts office goods.We were laughing thinking how uncomfortable it would be if we sat next to them.They told us that train washing would take 30 minutes.It was brought back after one hour(This is Kenya).We did not know we were so many untill the train started moving to the stage....all of a sudden i saw almost a multitude of people approaching it.

All of a sudden everyone was running .Shishi and I were walking but soon we found ourselves running.We entered into the first carriage,the second and finally in the third we found space.We were pretty shocked by now by all the events,so we were both quiet.

After the whole ordeal the journey finally began at 12:30am.The funny thing is that there were people standing.I asked shishi whether they would stand the whole way and she shrugged her shoulders.The train began moving slowly at first but later picked up pace.

From my previous travel to bungoma i knew at some point during the journey it would get cold so i carried a blanket to keep myself warm.I spread it to shishi so that we could share it.As we progressed in the journey the man opposite to where we were sitting comfortably pulled it and decided to share it without asking.We looked at eachother blankly and were just in shock.As a christian what to do???? and i felt like telling him off....I think you should ask first I thought.But he looked very comfortable like all was well.So me and Shishi laughed very loudly but he did not flinch.He shortly alighted though. I think the train stopped about 20times in each stage,before we reached mombasa after 15 hours..how happy we were... :) I told shishi a train ?never again!but that was just talk :D.Talk is cheap!

Mombasa is quite hot so when we reached we were hit by a wave of hot moist air.We were excited yet very tired.We took the feri to where we were going to stay.When we found out that it was a five minute walk from where we stayed to the beach, our bodies were suddenly energized.We reached and went to the beach immediately.Issues about the train were no longer on our minds.We narrated the story to our friend and she couldn't stop laughing."Karen you are too adventurous ".In my mind i thought 'am really not'.Once in a lifetime thing.

The people in mombasa are the most friendly people i have met from the various parts of Kenya i have visited.Everyone greets you even though you are a total stranger.They easily show you the way and neighbors are friends and respect each other's things."Dadaaaaa mwapendeza"(you are looking good)they would say.Asante(thank you)we would respond.Haya(ok)they would finish.We were too impressed.
We spent most of our time in the diani beach(it is too beautiful) because the heat!!!!!need i say more???We had too much fun doing the silliest things we thank God.

The last part of our journey involved coming back.We could not use buses, as buses were not travelling at night.And all buses had been fully booked untill the fourth of january.So yah!we took a train back.I know you are like really???yah!after saying never!.We arrived at the train station at 6pm.We booked the tickets and went to see if the train was present.We were so excited where we found it there and we thought, 'at least coasterians are more organized '.We entered into the train and were ready to depart at any time.7pm reached and there was an announcement that there are problems with the train and they did not know what time we would leave.Not again!

To make the long story short.We left at about 9pm.For about 5seconds!then the train stopped.Again because of its engine.Aaaah!!!!! i really felt like screaming but i could not.It started the journey again at 11pm.I then decided to sleep.When i sleep i usually feel like all my problems dissapear.I slept all the way into the new year and beyond.I even ignored the vuvuzelas and noise made by the train passengers as they marked the new year.When i woke up it was in a brand new year.Shishi and i were too familiar with this train situation.We were quiet.

We ended up reaching in Nairobi at about six in the evening.On the 1st of January 2014.After everyone had tried calling us in vain.Our phones had already died the previous day.So if you ever want to take a train to mombasa here is our experience to remember.Trains are a no!no! for me until electric trains are realized. :D.

xoxo

Yours Truly,
Karen Kadasiah.

Thanks for popping in :)

 

Love is always the answer to all Life's Questions