The First of the Nocturnal Nairobi Explorations

It's only 11 pm but I have just come back from two hours of cruising the dark streets of Nairobi looking for sex workers in the act of soliciting clients. Fortunately, my experienced driver Pius Kitonga knew exactly where to go.

 

The ladies, all shapes and sizes and ages, some in clusters and some going it solo, work the downtown streets just off of the big Colonial hotels (The Norfolk, the Stanley Sarova). I tried to use a good camera (a Minolta automatic with telescoping lens), but it was too hard to get the images in the dark, and ended up using my cell phone camera, pretending to be looking for parking. I have a classical female curvy figure and long blonde hair, so went incognito with black slacks and shirt, a denim jacket and my hair stuffed into a blue ball-cap.

 

We got close to getting exactly what I wanted to get, but the quality is poor. Poor reference photos often make the most interesting paintings though, so I am hopeful. We cruised around in a white Toyota Sunny. After a time, the girls were on to us and some shouted at us, others made as though to throw things at the car, and one bold beauty approached with the intent of soliciting the man in the back. When she found out I was a lady, she didn't miss more than a quarter beat and asked what I wanted. I became a quickly facile liar and said, with Pius's assistance, that i was looking for a man.  For verity I added that he must be a very young man, that's what I wanted. She said to go to "Simmers" - that's where the male sex workers hang out. We did get a good cruise by Simmers and found four gay prostitutes cruising in their own fey way. Later, I regretted not pretending that I was looking for a girl to bring back to my husband, and could I get a quick photo of her. The regret of the staircase!

 

The ladies were dressed in an array of provocative clothing, and used the gear to highlight their best assets. Some were stunning beauties, and others were making the most of what they have to offer.

 

I am looking forward to uploading the photos and seeing what we got. Hopefully enough images to start on this series, even if in pastiche. It was exciting- certainly the biggest joy ride I have had in Nairobi and in many years....