Photos taken by A.D. Lanza

Just making a living...

This is a rural Kenyan who was selling earrings, carvings, and avocadoes on the side of the road. This man gives me a heavy heart -- a yoke. The desperation in his actions was quite evident. Somewhere, not yet on this site, I have what I can only is assume is his wife. the juxtaposition of the abundancy of the produce for sale was not a conscious effort. It is interesting that the food for sale is not necessarily what the vendors could afford to eat that day. Even 100 KES (0.65 cents, at the time I was there) is better than nothing.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: of face trauma?
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En route to a rural medical clinic...

This picture was taken a midpoint en route to the rural medical clinic I've written briefly about. Note the power lines: Hadn't seen a soul or a dwelling for miles and miles; I have absolutely no idea what is being powered -- neither did our guide. Scenery vacillated from lush to barren during this journey, as it did throughout the country. Really interestign terrain. It was nature's stark demarcation, like Nairobi's proper, of the haves and the not haves. Although there is not a cell phone tower in site, due to utility, that is the Kenyan's preferred mode of communication (see Vanity Fair July issue)if -- and when -- they can afford it; and, although at first it was pretty suprising, it is not at all uncommon to see "peasants" in full tribal gear talking on them.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Mombasa

View from the (dive) where I spent the night! the gorgeous beach clearly made up for the frightening accomodations.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Monkeying Around

Nature at its finest.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Fantastic Scaffolding!

It is really amazing to see how necessity + ingenuity + hard labor = finished products to be proud of in this country. This is another view of Mully's, where, I'd say, about 97% of the work that goes here for sustainability is done through the strength of (wo)man. I saw automation twice: in the green bean "factory", wherein the beans are prepared for export; and there was one dirtdigger. there were a view vehicles as well, but that's about it -- oh! and in the beauty school, which provides training for women, there were the "old fashioned" hairdryers!

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: no be to here hardhats or steel-toed boot found though.
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Yowza!!!

I cannot even believe how close I was to lions on this "african lion safari" adventure! Please note: It's not like they roam the streets. This is Amboseli, at the foot of Mt. Killimanjaro, not Nairobi!

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Zebras in love.

I can see the shape of a heart in here. This was a view from my bungalow while on safari (Amboseli)

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: love zebra
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TULIP

Making friends at another faith-based organization called TULIP, a program for girls and young women. I was able to do some education with them on PTSD symptomology, normalizing their feelings without trying to normalize their histories. It was pretty cool. Really all I did was listen and do some social work 101 though.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Girlfriends Forever!

These girls lived at a faith-based organization called "Mully's", a viable solution for some of Kenya's people.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Just another roadside attraction.

Stands like these would just pop up out of nowhere -- literally.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Trying to be very small

A village we stopped at for lunch on the way back to Musmark (homebase). On our way back from a rural medical clinic. Pictures to follow but I've used up my space for the month!

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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A wall of pink! Gotta love it.

I don't know what this pink flowers are but they're really gorgeous and, like roadstands, they pop up out of nowhere and reathy unexpectedly. This was near, believe it or not, a tourist traplike thing somewhere during my travels -- there were only two that we ventured into. Lot of bartering -- almost tiresome; I'd have preferred to buy a goad or a tree or something and donated it. None to be found at that time though.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: me
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Free in Kenya

Ahh, this is what I like! Honestly, in addition to the members of our group that made it up here (we numbered about a dozen -- maybe less), there were absolutely no other people around for miles and miles and miles. The hike was really good prep for Grand Canyon trip in August too!!

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: me
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Meditation

One of the Maasai at Amboseli doing a little mediation, perhaps?

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: work i mind taking wouldn't breaks here
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sun sets

This was taken in Amboseli Park after a wonderously "hard day" of adrenline-pumping safariing! (Can safari be used as a verb, Mike?:))

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Kibera (One of the 4 Major Kenya Slums)

Overview -- it's way deeper, longer, and wider than it looks. Kibera deserves a dedicated website of its own. Post and stories to follow when I can articulate better. It was really quite devastating to witness humanity at that level of inhumane conditions. Outrageous, really, the emphasis on outrage.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Nairobi in the Distance

The city is remarkably current and metropolitan. Drivers are insane!! Not at all like the majority of the country -- except the drivers though. * No EPA. Vehicular gas emissions threw me back to driving with Spike from the 1st Ward to the Board of Elections to pick up Marge and the plaguing carsickness of my youth.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Elephants Xing!

How many elephants can you count? These elephants leisurely crossed right in front of our jeep. The order with which they proceeded was so thought-out and, well, orderly. It was pretty amazing. The communication amongst oneanother and and with us human was truly inspiring... such expressive eyes. Clearly, much different "beasts" than any of the ones I've seen in any of the zoos I've gone to. Quite amazing really. Such socialization. According to our guide, there is one "young" elephant that I can only best describe as a sort of marauding elephant. We didn't see him but, again, according to the guide, he is quite destructive and has been known to charge at and flipp jeeps. My thought is that there are no bad baby elephants, just bad parental elephants... he could be lost or grieving (traumatized perhaps?), or is maybe just acting out as so many of his human counter-part adolescents do!

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
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Maasai Warriors at Peace

This is Joseph and his friends. These two guys only wanted to listen to Bob Marley -- thank god we could provide! It was really inspiring to watch them listen to the MP3 & IPOD. They had never listened to anything through headphones before. Out of all the memories of Kenya, this entire day provides me with much amusement, joy, and excitement when I think of it. One of our group members had brought his dock station with him and later we had a little party with the music flowing throughout the pool area, I think that the backyard creatures (zebra, wilde beast, and elephants) even enjoyed it. The only thing that came close to the beauty of sound of nature was some of David Byrne's music (Creatures of Love was really fantastic!) while here on Safari.

Date: June 2007
Photographer: A.D. Lanza: gallery
Location: Kenya: gallery
Tags: jammin'
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Annie Made it to Kenya

On Safari... thank god for the breather!!! This kind of intensity is so good for the soul. After a couple weeks in the thick of such abject poverty it was just so healing to have some space and (fresh) air! We are very fortunate people. Diana is right; it IS all about the water.