1/2/2010
Today I very, very sadly left Lamu. To settle my bill, Gillies, the owner of Fatumas Tower, asked me to pay in Kenyan shillings because the phone lines were down (someone cut them to get the copper) and as a result he could not process credit cards. I took a detour to Lamu Town on the boat that would take me to the airstrip on Manda Island. When I put my card in the ATM, it promptly ate it, due, it said, to "lack of customer response" (except that I was pounding on the blasted buttons). Because it was a bank holiday, the bank was closed. A security guard nearby gave me the number of the bank manager, who told me "You can retrieve your card on Monday." I said, "You have to be kidding me; I fly to Nairobi in an hour!" But there was nothing to be done. I raced to the airstrip and made my flight.
Luckily, I have two other debit cards, but unfortunately, the card that the ATM snacked on was my only Visa debit card, which will likely make things difficult in Malawi and Zambia, where Mastercard is not accepted. I will cancel the card tonight, and we'll see how it goes in the next few weeks. As for my bill, I'm going to settle it from afar, which is a little unorthodox in the US, but not unhead of in Kenya, it seems. Well, if that is my only misadventure with financial institutions in Africa, I will be pleased!
In other news, I met my overland team tonight, and they seem inscrutable. I'm not quite sure what to think, but I think I have identified the annoying members of my group--always an important thing to assess. We leave for Masai Mara tomorrow.
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oh no! sorry to hear about the ATM fiasco. what a mess, but sounds like you have things under control.
ReplyDeletehope you find some cool people to talk to in your overland team.
happy travels.
ps. i went to a movie with jackie at the angelika last night. you were missed.
Oh Maria I wish I were with you! Right now I'm feeling the need for some adventure and travel myself! Also it would be funny to watch you snub the "annoying" people in your group :) Kevin wants pictures of the annoying people. I say take a pic of the group and see if I can figure out who would make the cut.
ReplyDeleteWell, good luck with your overland crew. You might be surprised!
ReplyDeleteBummer about your ATM card. I'd forgotten how people were so blase about everything in Africa. You're probably fine, but holler if you need some help!
Oh no! Sorry to hear that.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it did make me smile as I was wondering just today whether someone might take advantage of your travels to hack into your email/blog and request that money quickly be sent to Nairobi, etc. etc. :)
Unfortunate! I had a similar experience in Jakarta (possibly less traumatizing) where the atm machine ate my friend's card right before our surfing trip in Bali and we lucked out by fact that I had brought enough money to cover us both. Anyhow, relieved it wasn't worse than that; enjoying the photos!
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