"Huh? You mean it's cool/chilly in Nairobi? But I thought it's HOT in Kenya/Africa!" Thus go my friends and family whenever I tell them that I hardly ever sweat here.
Well, Kenya might straddle the equator but a sizeable portion of Kenya lies about 5,000 ft above sea level, including capital city Nairobi. Which makes for very nice temperate weather all year round...
But, there's the rub - it may feel like it's not hot at all but it doesn't mean one can't get sunburned here in Nairobi. Equator and high altitude make for dangerous sunburn.
Since Nairobi lies slightly south of the equator, we are now approaching our "summer." It's a little warmer than usual - 14 - 27 deg C and lots of people have taken to abandoning jackets, pashminas, and shawls during the day. Recipe for sunburn! I have made it a point never to go out without putting on sun protection.
So, I have learned to distinguish between sunscreen and sunblock. Both of them protect against the sun of course. But sunscreens are chemical barriers while sunblocks are physical barriers. (Huh?)
Sunscreens actually absorb ultraviolet rays so these do not hit the skin. All my sunscreens target both UVA or the "aging ray" which weakens the skin's immune system and UVB or the "burning rays" which cause changes in the DNA which in turn can cause abnormal skin cell growth such as cancer. I make sure that Parsol is in the list of ingredients since it's the only chemical that blocks UVA. Or so they say.
Sunblocks, on the other hand, physically block both UVA and UVB radiation on the skin. Apparently, true sunblocks include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
But suncreens and sunblocks's effectiveness depend on their SPF (sun protection factor). I'm sure you all know that the higher the SPF, the better the protection. So when it says SPF 15, it means I can stay under the sun 15 times longer before burning than if I hadn't used sun protection.
So what do I use? I have Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock "superior anti-aging protection," SPF 45, Eau Thermale Avène Emulsion "ultra haute protection," SPF 50+ and Boots Soltan Moisturising Suncare Lotion "advanced triple protection against long term skin damage," SPF 50+ ultra. These are all hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic but I only use the first two on my face while reserving the Boots Soltan for arms and legs. When I'm just indoors, I use Olay complete care daily UV fluid "everything skin needs most to look noticeable healthy," SPF 15 + vitamins. I guess I'm reasonably protected with all that!
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By the way, my sweetie, being of the "mad dogs and Englishmen" type, used to be so stubborn about not using any sun protection. He prefers to sit out in the midday sun and.....burn.... (silly old goat!) ;-p But he has learned to be more careful now.
I've always loved birds. When I was a little kid, I remember my uncle Dan 
catching a sparrow for me. My mommy put it in her rattan market basket for me and I covered the top with cardboard from my school pad paper. I remember feeding the little bird with some rice grains and then bringing it to my room so I can gaze at it before going to sleep. I was so sad when I saw the poor bird stone cold dead the following morning.
The next time Onka Donka (my mom's nickname for Uncle Dan) managed to catch another sparrow for me, I decided to put little sparrow in market basket behind the refrigerator where it's warm and comfy. (Remember how we used to hang damp clothes behind the refrigerator during rainy days so these would dry quickly?)
Well that sparrow, being the wild bird that it was, lived for only two days. I'm sure it died of heartache at not being able to fly free with the other sparrows...
But I did manage to have another bird for a pet (when it was still more politically correct to keep them). I had Pikoy, my blue naped parrot I got as a present from my then Dutch boyfriend Peter once upon a long time ago. Pikoy, who used to be one of a pair (the other one managed to escape its cage in the old KMP office in Maningning), stayed with us for many many many years, bringing joy and companionship to my parents in Los Banos.
So being an avid birder and photographer, I am excited by the variety of birds here in Kenya (more than 1,000 species according to "Birds of East Africa" by C.A.W. Guggisberg, 1985). I do not have to go on safari (Kiswahili for journey) to watch and take photographs of these beauties. These birds are just in the garden, on the deck of the house, and just about everywhere here in Nairobi and Kenya.
Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu © Marlene C. Francia 2007
Now, this dashing gentleman is Mr. Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu.
He's very cute. He's about 9 cm long and he loves millet seeds.
He always travels with the missus.
If you see him, his mate will not be far behind.
This graceful bird on the other hand is the Scarlet-chested Sunbird. I chanced upon him outside the office window feeding on the nectar of aloe blossoms. Brilliant, huh?
The metallic blue speckles on his scarlet chest is diagnostic for this little sweetheart.
I have started putting out millet seeds, bananas, papayas (also called pawpaws here in Kenya), suet, and sugar water to entice more birds in the deck at home. Already I have managed to attract Ring-necked Doves, Baglafecht Weavers, Northern Olive Thrushes, Sunbirds, Buntings, Seedeaters and of course, the ubiquitous squirrels......
Baglafecht Weaver, © Marlene C. Francia 2007
This brightly colored chap is Mr. Baglafecht Weaver. Its mate sports a black forehead. I always know they're around because their calls sound like they're playing computer games.
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