"Six months, as a tourist? In Kenya? C'mon - a tourist only stays for two weeks." The man behind the desks chuckles and stamps the Visa, "oh well, come on in..."

Africa! The much maligned, misunderstood, mis-represented land. I look forward to having the one-dimensional image of a starving child covered in flies as the everything of Africa demolished. I know there's more - much much more.

After hours of odd diversions and seemingly unnecessary complications that involve about seven different people, we finally end up at our "homestay", a large two story concrete house with a friendly family that welcomes us in. It turns out we're just a short walk from the Sports Complex where the World Social Forum will be held.