Lamu

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Hello! Here is our update from our post-volunteering travels to Lamu on the coast of Kenya near the border of Somalia. It is amazing here. A Swahili town with narrow walkways. It is a Muslim society and the people are just amazing. So kind and funny and welcoming. We are staying in a small guesthouse which was built, acording to Charlie who works here, a few hundred years ago. We are in the top room which has a balcony and is super breezy. We are right next to the mosque which makes for some early mornings with the pre-dawn call to prayer. but we are loving it here. We could easily live here. The fruit is so fresh and the Indian Ocean on our doorstep. We have taken two Dhow trips. These are the acient sail boats that the Swahili have used for trade across the Indian Ocean. They are beautiful boats and the first ride we took we went fishing and the other muzungu tourists that went with us were really fun and we enjoyed their company (to share the cost of the trip the boat can be shared which was perfect). I would totally reccommend that anyone who comes to Kenya makes their way up to here.

It's a two day trip to get from Nairobi to Lamu. We started off by taking an overnight bus from Nairobi to Mombassa. When we arrived in Mombassa we took a three seat Tuk-Tuk in order to rush over to the other bus station that would take us to the ferry that would take us to Lamu. Since the trip from Mombassa to Lamu goes through some very rural areas which have had bandit activity in the past every bus by law must carry an armed guard for much of the trip. We were the only white people on the bus and it was a very cool experience... except for that four hours when the bus broke down. We arrived to the ferry and crossed over to the island that is Lamu.

It is so beautiful here. There are a lot of small shops and dressmakers everywhere. Alan and I have gotten garments made. Al has a great shirt and I have had a beautiful dress made. It has been so relaxing and so much fun.

I guess that's all now. We will see you all in just a couple of short weeks.

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Photos

Swahili Door
The doors here were very beautiful and carved.

Donkeys and Dhow
There are no cars allowed on the island so donkeys are used for transport.

View from our room.
So beautiful.

View from our room.
Overlooking the town.

Lamu Immigration Office.
If only it were this easy in the States. I love the suggestion box.

Meeting the Sea Turtles.
The local fisherman chart and tag the sea turtles that get caught in their nets. This helps to conserve and monitor.

Local girl
She and her friends walked with us around town one day.

Another Local Girl.
She walked with us around town one day.

Sweeping our Balcony.
Using an African broom. We got pretty used to them during our summer in Kenya.