Bird Hunter shakes off tight bird

Ladies and gentlemen, as I had told you, they say it is easy to enter a bus or plane and head to the Kenyan coast - Mombasa to be precise, but it is another thing to board another plane or bus once you make a decision to leave.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Ladies and gentlemen, as I had told you, they say it is easy to enter a bus or plane and head to the Kenyan coast - Mombasa to be precise, but it is another thing to board another plane or bus once you make a decision to leave.

I am told that this is usually a very difficult decision to make. As I told you, my first night was quite eventful and dramatic but again as I told you, I was able to survive the jinni scare and prevailed during the next days.

All I can tell you is that the bird that I had mistaken for a jinni on our first encounter turned out to be a great bird and for a moment I started to think that perhaps I would never have the courage to go back home, and the saying would come to pass.

But on another thought, I told myself that with birds like this one who needs to go back home anyway? Well, the following day turned out to be as eventful.

The bird who had apparently taken a particular interest in me, told me I was in luck because she had taken leave from work and would therefore have time to show me around the coast.

I told her I was willing to be shown around anything and everything. In case I hadn’t told you, I crashed at her crib at a place called Mtwapa.

After a memorable breakfast of mbaazi, mkate wa sinia, Halua, spiced Mahamri and Kahawa tungu (I love Mombasa!) we set off to begin the tour of the coast. Since we were on the Island side, we had to use the ferry to go back to the mainland.

After arriving at the mainland we boarded a Tuk-Tuk (you have never experienced anything as romantic as these covered motorcycle taxis) that took us to a place called Pirates Beach where there is a superb club called ‘The Big Tree’. Here we sat and ordered for cold drinks as it was unbearably hot. Once settled, I started to take in the scenery and I can assure you that the place was heavenly and the crowd was eye catching, if you know what I mean.
I should confess that I have never particularly liked muzungu birds but this place made me change my mind.

The club was bursting at the seams with muzungu birds, and mind you, these were not the usual middle age or retired tourists that we are used to seeing back home in the land of 1K hills.

These were serious birds of huntable age – and most of all, they were ready to mix and mingle! I can assure you that my eyes had never been fed to a balanced diet before. As time passed, my bird became increasingly nervous because apparently, she had ceased to be my centre of gravity.

At times she would have to physically turn my neck in order to talk to me but this would only last just a few minutes because I would find myself distracted again once another bird passed near our table.

Evening was approaching fast and darkness was creeping in. Rightly sensing that she was inevitably going to lose me, the bird suggested that we leave the place and relocate to a ‘better place.’ Better place? What did she mean by a better place? In all fairness, what place would be better than this?

To make matters even better, the white bird that I had been eyeballing since I arrived passed by our table on her way to the washrooms and winked! I swore on my honour that I was not leaving ‘The Big Tree’, not even if a Tsunami was said to be heading our way. But how was I going to shake off this bird who was apparently getting possessive?

I had to come up with an emergency plan before I was hounded out of the place screaming and kicking. One thing led to another and I excused myself and made as if I was going to the washrooms.

As I was going there I bumped into the muzungu chick that I had been eyeballing all day as she was coming back from a smoking session. She immediately recognized me and let out a long ‘hiiiiiiiiiii you!’ and as a seasoned bird hunter I extended my hand and introduced myself in the shortest time possible.

By the time I was through with the introduction I asked her whether she would mind if I asked her to go with me to some other place that is more exciting.

I did not know anywhere else around this place but I was sure that if she accepted I would have no problem finding another club.

My main intention was to lose the original bird. To my surprise, the muzungu bird was much willing for any kind of adventure and accepted to ‘elope’ with me without hesitation. One thing I like about muzungu birds is that they understand situations without having to ask many questions.

She understood that I was running away from my bird because she had seen me earlier seated with her. We practically ran out of the club in search of another happening place and one adventure unfolded after another……..

Ends