OF BREWS AND TALES ; NAIROBI'S HIDDEN GEMS.

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Cherished friendship is a wonderful treasure! Memories linger forever..my briefing is from Doha and am quite poetic on my approach towards my awaited wanderlust enthusiasts for them to touch down. Sundowner vibes in the silicon savannah capital are heart warming with my  eclectic approach on the fast changing aura versus old nostalgia  from which the city emanates.

As a travel alibi on transit this really matters.From waking up  in tranquil and serene surburbs of osoita and maasai lodge Vicinity to malindi and diani depictions imposed by bajajs on my backdrop are lush green fist like ridge which is a get way to this 5 Yankee NATO phonetic coded aircrafts as traffic in the sky clears up from the a.t.c (air traffic control).Are you aware there's traffic in the sky perhaps my  bunduzlove- hassle free.

Well talk of traffic , it a perfect opportune moment to explore Nairobi as Sundays morning harbor no traffic as we enjoy the lush green and fresh vibes off Nairobi national park enroute to Karen and galleria. New architecture erected is taking shape in the cityscape as I explore my old memoir urban hoods like south c enroute to meet my guests.

Ideally it's a lazy Sunday so no rush as my guest immersed in an adventure filled week from the great plains of maasai mara to sandy beaches in diani so it's a wrap up. Exploring the dome shaped architecture that the hotel sits it oozes ambience and aesthetics in the heart of the city residential

So matters exploration am soon at the lobby catching up with my tourist, sampling dollar rates( what's up with the dollar though) and off we are for our excursion.The city has really taken shape with the express highway so it's a smooth cruise. 

An hour  drive  and soon am at the grandiose 1928 bungalow along Kenyatta road ushered by my guide for the coffee farm tour. Nothing beats the zeal of a heartwarming ushering of a cold brew of iced coffee by the in- house chef as it is rather hazy as we get accustomed admiring the lush green lawn by the poolside.

My guests are amped as the aroma of freshly roasted coffee sparks ups conversation at the front porsche as we sip our iced coffee later joining him for the farm tour where the yield flourishes.Am personally captured by the old house architecture formerly known as ridge estate by a new Zealander George Glassford.

Built from chisel dressed stones from the nearby river the house has hardwood timber board floors and to the Western flank a sunken ballroom area accessed from the raised bar area.The ballroom to fill the void of mrs.kathleen Mavis Bird Glassford a military nurse wife to Mr Glassford after his demise.Mrs.Glassford parties were legendary receiving guests from all far ends I can imagine the standing ovation of ladies making a grand entrance in their upperclass splendour.

Meal plans are available on prior arrangements combines with the coffee tour , a perfect way to unwind a Sunday afternoon as I link with George and the team who has travelled more than 80 countries in the world as we indulge in lots of socio-economic aspects but one thing he applaud is the kenyan hospitality . One moment we are joined by some Cuba tourist as we discuss state of affairs in the vintage automobile haven as our hosts pack us souvenir arabica coffee one of best indeed boasting world class in standard.

According to my itinerary am leaving off for one of world's most profound film featuring a danish lady who had a coffee farm in the Karen leafy suburbs and if you guessed right , 'OUT OF AFRICA'  the life history of Karen Blixxen at the Karen Blixxen museum which was her home now under the national museum of Kenya a gift by the danish government.

Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke (born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962) was a Danish author who wrote in Danish and English. She is also known under her pen names Isak Dinesen, used in English-speaking countries and for us German speakers she was Tania Blixen, Osceola, and Pierre Andrézel.

Karen Blixxen museum 

What I admire about her is how she loved stories to details as you visited her and sit by the fireplace , all that drama in the woods sorrounded by vast acreage of pristine flora and fauna bearing in mind Karen's proximity to Nairobi national park  and the ngong hills which she narrates of the lions that roamed the territory as her second husband Hanch Finton was an intrepid explorer flying through tsavos and always on adventure .

Well it's a perfect sundowner and it's worth it as I sit with my guest at the coffee shop sampling 'out of AFRICA' s signature blend coffee at the cosy cafeteria in the compound as my danish guest have something to relate and admire, a little reminisce as some grab souvenirs at the craft shop , what a lovely day indeed.

Indulge.Relate.Feel.Live it- Bunduzman.

BY SAITABAU CASTRO.

The writer is a Tourism and wildlife manager, conservationist, bird watcher and professional tour guide. email- dialnpick@gmail.com or call +254707678809 for travel related assistance