April 29th (Giraffes!)- Nairobi, Kenya

Heidi decided it was necessary for me to see the giraffes! So, off we went to find giraffes. We drove a bit out into an area called Karen. For those of you who have seen Out of Africa, Karen Blixen is the lady who who owned the farm in Africa. So, in Kenya there is an area named after her. My mom would LOVE this. (I've already told her about it)
The farther we drive the less busy it is and there are fewer people around. But the trees, fields and cows on the sides of the roads are entertaining to watch. We arrive at the Giraffe National Park and there is a hotel there where people can stay the night and in the morning while they're eating breakfast, the giraffes walk up to the windows and stick their heads in and eat right along with you. Heidi says she really wants to do this sometime, but her husband Keith says there's much better things to do with their money. lol very practical/reasonable of you Keith.
Well this trip soon changes it's pace as I walk up to this hut- like area where I assume you can see giraffes from. A man greets me and Heidi tells him I'd like to feed the giraffes. He starts chuckling and says something to her in Swahili and she giggles back and says "Ya, ya very good"... i'm thinking um, hi what was that? He grabs my hands and dumps enormous sized rabbit food pellets into them. I turn around and there's a HUGE giraffe, and the face of the giraffe like oh maybe 2 inches from my face!! AH!! I'm kinda scared but it's so fun at the same time.. they'd never let you do this in Amercia. and I love animals so I immediately start talking to it..hahaha and the guy thinks that's hillarious and he says, "oh, you know her?" i'm like no.. just saying hi. Next he starts feeding her, while telling me that, " he has something very important to show me that he never shows others (i'm thinking.. oh, right i believe that-not) I will show you how to kiss a giraffe!" Heidi is loving all of this by the way and is taking pictures while he forces me to hug and pet the giraffe..next he says, "ok, put food in your mouth"...Uh..no thank you?? hahaha you want me to what???! (they have huge, long, BLUE tongues-incase you were wondering) But finally I'm like oh what the heck, it's just a giraffe. I put the food in between my lips and we lean forward and Daisey (the giraffes name) licks my face taking the food with her!!! AHHHH!! okay.. it wasn't that bad. I had fun! I just kissed a giraffe! hahaha weird!
The giraffes are really Beautiful animals! And very gentle.. there were also two babies there that i got to feed too! oh and a few warthogs.. It's sad because there are only a few hundred giraffes left and place like this breeds them trying to keep them from extinction. :(
Anyways, that was fun! On our drive back Heidi told me you can stop and see Karen's house and stuff and we agreed that my mom's obsession with her was enough reason to stop. It's a beautiful house! we didn't go in, but I took lots of pictures for my mom! (would have been fun to have you there to see it in person mom!)
We picked Heidi's kids up from school and hung out.. enjoyed the weather and threw the ball for Duma (one of their dogs). AFter dinner, I went for a run. I have to say, I didn't want to stop. (which is rare for me) but the sun was going down so I headed in..
I'll tell more later