Safari Notes

Turmeric or 'Indian saffron' or botanically: Curcuma longa ,  belongs to the ginger family;  turmeric is a rhizome. Do not confuse it with saffron which is a spice derived from a flower. India is its world's largest producer and consumer. It is known as one of the greatest herbal healers, used for thousands of years, in China and mainly in India, for treating cancer to Alzheimer's disease. It is reported that turmeric: is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent; has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer and other types of cancer; reduces the risk of childhood leukemia; is a liver de-toxifier; can act as an anti-inflammatory; can act as a pain killer; can treat depression; and is known to speed the healing of wounds. More on Turmeric: Sadaf , NutraSanus , Epicenter , Apinchof , Uni-graz , Plant Cultures , India Parenting , VitaminStuff , WHFoods , Herbal-supplements-guide , Books , Scholar Image: Google

In 1992, in Nairobi, I was flipping through the TV channels looking for the news on CNN (aired through KTN, then); as I was about to flip on, further, some thing captured my attention on the KBC: a voice. The Voice. Singing on the TV, was a man. A man in dreadlocks. It was not the way he looked, that captured my attention first. Not the way he moved or danced. And not even the words he sang. But: the voice. It was unique; one of a kind; a voice that simply, I could not help wanting to listen on and on. But the song ended; rather too fast it seemed to me. I didn't know the man singing. I had never heard that voice before. Though I am not much in to reggae, I, like millions around the world, very much loved and still love, the late Bob Marley's music and revolutionary message. After Marley, there didn't seem any one else who could sing in reggae and completely capture my attention. Well, the song on TV had ended abruptly and after a few minutes, I seemed to have forgotten ab

One place that I have repeatedly visited, and immensely enjoyed visiting each time more than the last time I was there, is: Mount Elgon area. Both sides: the Ugandan and Kenyan sides. Though the rains can be over whelming at times, all else, is just exhilarating. Whenever in the Mount Elgon vicinity, I find it hard to let my eyes wander off from the majestic mountain - so green and with so many waterfalls, it's hard not to be completely mesmerised by the site. Twice, I have tried to go as high as I can on to the Mountain, and both times I found the experience completely unforgettable. The people are wonderful; and so is the weather and scenery. On the Ugandan side, Mbale , the largest urban area, has many high top class hotels; I prefer spending my time with relatives and friends, instead - of whom I have many in the area. As for Kitale , the largest town on the Kenyan side, the amenities and attractions are just as good. In Kitale too, I have friends and relatives who make it ve

Quotes by Sankara: "I can hear the roar of women's silence." "I want people to remember me as someone whose life has been helpful to humanity." "The French revolution taught us the rights of man." "I would like to leave behind me the conviction that if we maintain a certain amount of caution and organization we deserve victory... You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare to invent the future." "Thomas Sankara, the young valiant and visionary President of Burkina Faso, was assassinated in a counter-revolutionary military coup by renegade soldiers headed by the then Captain Blaise Compaore. Sankara and twelve of his aides were murdered by this c

In the summer of 1960, 26-year-old Jane Goodall arrived on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa to study the area's chimpanzee population. Although it was unheard of for a woman to venture into the wilds of the African forest, the trip meant the fulfillment of Jane Goodall's childhood dream. Jane’s work in Tanzania would prove more successful than anyone had imagined. Read more...... Janegoodall.org More on Goodall: WIC , wibster.edu , pbs.org , Animal Discovery , janegoodall.ca , Wikipedia , Google Books , Google Scholar Image: Google

I am celebrating Eid Ul Fitr , after 29 days of Ramadhan and fasting. Unexpectedly, and giving me, more to celebrate for - is the gift from the Nobel Foundation ! They have just awarded this year's Peace Price to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . Though I some times disagree with the way the Nobel Prices are awarded, I find it very comforting and encouraging, that such a reputable and very highly regarded body, has the wisdom and foresight to reach such a decision - very much unlike our many 'leaders' and politicians. The Peace Price to Gore and the IPPC , like the 2004 one awarded to Wangari Maathai - will make more people aware and responsible in saving our Planet and making it safer, cleaner and sustainable. Very hopefully: World 'leaders' and politicians too, will wake up. At the same time: each and every one of us, in however small a way it may seem, can help in saving our Planet ! Photo: Actnow

FACTS & INFORMATION ABOUT KIBERA There are approx 2.5 million slum dwellers in about 200 settlements in Nairobi representing 60% of the Nairobi population, occupying just 6% of the land. Kibera houses almost 1 Million of these people. Kibera is the biggest slum in Africa and one of the biggest in the world. Land Ownership The Government owns all the land. 10% of people are shack owners and many of these people own many other shacks and sub-let them. All the rest are tenants with no rights. Housing The average size of shack in this area is 12ft x 12ft built with mud walls, screened with concrete, a corrugated tin roof, dirt or concrete floor. The cost is about Ksh 700 per Month (£6). These shacks often house up to 8 or more, many sleeping on the floor. The population All the people are African. The original settlers were the Nubian people from the Kenyan/Sudanese border – they now occupy about 15% of Kibera, are mostly Muslim and are also mostly shack owners. The other shack owners