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Exploring Nairobi : My First Impressions of Africa's Vibrant Capital

Stepping out of my hostel for the first time in Africa, my heart raced with equal parts excitement and nervousness 😅. As a solo East Asian traveler in this predominantly Black nation, I immediately stood out in the crowd. That 1.7 km walk to exchange money felt like an adventure in itself - weaving through bustling streets, cautiously avoiding prolonged eye contact, yet soaking in the vibrant energy of this new world 🌍. First Meal in Africa: Java House ☕ Hunger won over currency exchange! I ducked into Java House (a popular chain) and confirmed they took cards before ordering: 🍗 Chicken pie + ☕ Coffee = ¥74 ✔️ Tasty but 💸 pricey for local standards 🔹 Culture Shock Observations: Every building wrapped in 🚧 fences & ⚡ electric wires 👮 Armed guards & mall security checks everywhere The wealth gap slapped me in the face when I saw... Karura Forest 🏞️ (The $30 Disappointment) Went with a hostel buddy only to find: 💰 Foreigner price: ¥30+ | Local price: Few bucks 🌳 Just... trees. And more trees. Some 🐒 monkeys. Verdict: Not worth the foreigner tax! Next Morning: Connect Coffee 🍳 Another ¥74 breakfast (when will I learn? 😂) 👀 Scene That Stuck With Me: A wealthy white family (pregnant mom + 2 kids + nanny) casually dropping hundreds on breakfast. Meanwhile, our server probably earns ¥900/month. The inequality here hits different. Walking Tour of Nairobi 🚶♂️ Had to politely exit a stranger's "my life is hard" monologue 🎭 ("Wow your English is great! Gotta run!") Wandered for hours seeing: 👩🏻 A handful of white people 👨🏽‍🦱 0 other East Asians 👀 60%+ locals staring at me (Yep, I was the main character today) 📍 Key Stops: KICC (That iconic 📸 spot) Maasai Market (Meh. Backpacker life = no souvenir space 🎒) Why I Kept Returning to Java House 🤷♀️ Few obvious local alternatives Restaurant research is exhausting At least their food is 🎯 reliable & tasty Dinner Order: 🍹 Juice (¥21) 🥟 Beef samosa (¥16) - STUFFED! 🥧 Still hungry? Added steak pie (¥22) with CHONKY beef chunks Final Thoughts After 9km Walk: Only incident? A kid 🖐️ tried pickpocketing me - got shut down FAST. Otherwise? Felt completely safe! 💡 Biggest Takeaway: Online horror stories had me expecting warzone chaos. Reality? A vibrant city where most people just go about their day. Some experiences you gotta live to understand! ✨ #NairobiDiaries #KenyaTravel #SoloAdventure #FirstTimeInAfrica #TravelWithoutFear 🌍✨

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Grace Green
4 months ago
Grace Green
Grace Green
4 months ago
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Exploring Nairobi : My First Impressions of Africa's Vibrant Capital

Stepping out of my hostel for the first time in Africa, my heart raced with equal parts excitement and nervousness 😅. As a solo East Asian traveler in this predominantly Black nation, I immediately stood out in the crowd. That 1.7 km walk to exchange money felt like an adventure in itself - weaving through bustling streets, cautiously avoiding prolonged eye contact, yet soaking in the vibrant energy of this new world 🌍. First Meal in Africa: Java House ☕ Hunger won over currency exchange! I ducked into Java House (a popular chain) and confirmed they took cards before ordering: 🍗 Chicken pie + ☕ Coffee = ¥74 ✔️ Tasty but 💸 pricey for local standards 🔹 Culture Shock Observations: Every building wrapped in 🚧 fences & ⚡ electric wires 👮 Armed guards & mall security checks everywhere The wealth gap slapped me in the face when I saw... Karura Forest 🏞️ (The $30 Disappointment) Went with a hostel buddy only to find: 💰 Foreigner price: ¥30+ | Local price: Few bucks 🌳 Just... trees. And more trees. Some 🐒 monkeys. Verdict: Not worth the foreigner tax! Next Morning: Connect Coffee 🍳 Another ¥74 breakfast (when will I learn? 😂) 👀 Scene That Stuck With Me: A wealthy white family (pregnant mom + 2 kids + nanny) casually dropping hundreds on breakfast. Meanwhile, our server probably earns ¥900/month. The inequality here hits different. Walking Tour of Nairobi 🚶♂️ Had to politely exit a stranger's "my life is hard" monologue 🎭 ("Wow your English is great! Gotta run!") Wandered for hours seeing: 👩🏻 A handful of white people 👨🏽‍🦱 0 other East Asians 👀 60%+ locals staring at me (Yep, I was the main character today) 📍 Key Stops: KICC (That iconic 📸 spot) Maasai Market (Meh. Backpacker life = no souvenir space 🎒) Why I Kept Returning to Java House 🤷♀️ Few obvious local alternatives Restaurant research is exhausting At least their food is 🎯 reliable & tasty Dinner Order: 🍹 Juice (¥21) 🥟 Beef samosa (¥16) - STUFFED! 🥧 Still hungry? Added steak pie (¥22) with CHONKY beef chunks Final Thoughts After 9km Walk: Only incident? A kid 🖐️ tried pickpocketing me - got shut down FAST. Otherwise? Felt completely safe! 💡 Biggest Takeaway: Online horror stories had me expecting warzone chaos. Reality? A vibrant city where most people just go about their day. Some experiences you gotta live to understand! ✨ #NairobiDiaries #KenyaTravel #SoloAdventure #FirstTimeInAfrica #TravelWithoutFear 🌍✨

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KICC rooftop
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