Welcome to Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya.

Look into your rear view mirror and you will notice the real side of Nairobi.

Hop into a public “matatu” mini-bus and venture to the neighborhoods that make up Nairobi.

Nairobi matatu mini-buses line the sloppy muddy road, waiting to be repaired in order to get back on the street again. Riding a matatu is one of the more entertaining things to do in Nairobi.

A warm reception at this downtown Nairobi apartment complex. A thermos of steaming chai is waiting.

Freshly washed laundry streams through the inner square.

Browsing local fresh markets like City Park Hawkers in the Parklands area of Nairobi is one of the most rewarding things to do in Nairobi!

Hawkers and vendors line the streets of Nairobi, selling snacks like roasted maize, newspapers, or other products of the day.

The most convenient way in the world to buy a puppy is through the window of your car, while waiting in long lines of stagnant traffic.

This is street food in Nairobi. A Mama cooks the food in her home, packs it in plastic containers and gunny sacks, and transports it to wherever there is demand.

Clockwise from top left:

• typical rice, sukuma wiki veg, soupy stew
• staple of ugali (cornmeal mush)
• the Double Hut from Burger Hut Nairobi (Kenya’s best burger)
• chicken tikka with sauce from Diamond Plaza
• Eritrean food from The Smart Village Nairobi
• bajhias from Slush Restaurant

In Nairobi anything can be fixed and re-sold. “Jua Kali,” is a name that describes fix-it men that can transform a hunk of junk into something useful.

In Nairobi, people live on the edge. Walking past on the street, you would never notice the crater in the center of this slum village, but from an adjacent top of a building, the conditions of a landslide in the future appear to be inevitable.

If you need that latest “2Pac shave” or “Ice Cube cut,” Nairobi can cater to all of your salon needs and requests. Name a hip hop celebrity and they got you covered.

Dedan Kimathi was a Kenyan Mau Mau rebel leader who battled against the colonial power of Britain in a struggle to gain independence. A bronze statue was erected in his remembrance in downtown Nairobi.

A serious fence in Dandora area, Nairobi, Kenya.  Fences are often wrapped with barbed wire, shards of broken glass, electric wire, and sometimes thorn bushes.

Behind the barbed wire lie charming manicured lawns and elegant gardens for afternoon tea.

In Nairobi, when it rains, it bleeds. The blood red dirt flows through the streets as rivers and puddles gather in hazardous spots, wreaking havoc for pedestrians and motorists, but nourishing the beautiful greenery.

A cutting board loaded with nyama choma roasted meat is a treat and pastime that all Nairobians enjoy.

“If u can’t beat them join them,” and together “Yes we can.”