Kenya - Blogabond

Lamu, Kenya

Lamu is a small Muslim Island that has no cars and a couple of small towns. We stayed in the town on the northern tip of Shilla. We stayed here for about five days. I could have stayed much longer. We stayed the first night at a place in which an artist lived. Only painted donkeys and then committed suicide by jumping of the balcony. Needless to say, we moved somewhere else the next night. That first night we went to a birthday party of one of the very rich European tourists at this house up on the hill that looked a bit like a castle. There was live music, lots of alcohol and really random interesting people to talk to.

We spent our days on Lamu, swimming, drinking Old Pals (best drink) eating samosas and just simply relaxing.

There are a group of guys that live on the island and are fishers but more accurately, beach boys. They hang out, go sailing, drink and swim. They are a very friendly bunch. I really could not walk past them without stopping to chat. This is where the phrases, Hakuna Matata(no worries) and Poli (slowly) were drilled into my head. I was constantly reminded to slow down and relax. Being quite it was a constant worry that something was wrong and most of these guys would make huge efforts to get a smile.

Lamu is also where I found out that my bag was stolen from Nairobi. It was hard to stay mad in such a beautiful place, and I believe it allowed me to handle the upset with a certain level of grace. However, the fun had to come to an end. With no ATMs on the island we soon ran out of4 money. I had to get back to Nairobi to meet Kelsey and Malia. I was told by several to stay and tell them to get on a flight straight to the island...didn't think that would go over well. The boys did not want to leave, so I took a flight. flying out was sad but rain had moved in so I was able to say good bye.

Old Pals:

Double shot of vodka
Single shot of bitters
Soda water
squeeze of fresh lime
ice cubes

and a sugared rim

written by

crAsh13 on August 20, 2007 from Lamu, Kenya

from the travel blog: East Africa in 2007

tagged Lamu and Kenya

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London, United Kingdom

Walking through to airport security, properly on my own for the first time, was possibly one of the scariest things I've done in a while - including my first ever trip to alton towers last week where I was forcibly taken on oblivion. Twice.

The highlight of the usually uneventful boarding process was the bus ride sitting next to a couple of young actors from the film 'Africa United'. They were on their way to Rwanda by invitation from the government (or similar authority) to promote the film and its ties to the country, and were telling anyone that would listen about their parts as 2 of the main 5 children in the film. Funnily enough i didnt beg for autographs - maybe i will kick myself in a few years time when they are superstars. Maybe not.

Scored with a window seat...

In flight movies : Eclipse (again) - yup, still very much Team Jacob
Inception (again) - Still dont quite undertand how they follow the guy
into limbo without dying...

Moments panic int he first few hours of Africa:

When the woman at the bureau de change wouldnt accept my signature ont he travellers cheques until i did it 3 separate times.

Waiting for over 45 minutes for my bags to come through, the very very last on the conveyor belt.

Standing in a sea of people holding signs and not seeing my name or my hostel for a good minute (but felt like 30)

Being approached by a man in a trenchcoat with a security badge asking me if i knew the man i was just with (the driver), to which i said 'No, but he's from the hostel I am staying at' and being met with a steely gaze and something being muttered into a walkie talkie...

I never did find out whether he was security or just a stange man but luvkily the driver was a real driver and i got to Wildebeast Camp in one piece.

I need to perfect the skill of getting into a dorm, getting into a bunk bed, and getting to sleep, as silently as possible so as to not wake my 5 dorm buddies at 1am.

written by

JL1 on November 5, 2010 from London, United Kingdom

from the travel blog: African Travels

tagged Nairobi, Kenya and Wildebeast

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Nairobi, Kenya

Landed and overpaid for taxi by tons.

Lamu

Lamu, Kenya

Window Seat!

London, United Kingdom

Landed in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya

Heading South?