Lamu! The Magical Town...
And here I was, back into this magical town after three good years. They say some things never change and this is one town which has probably stood against time. A town so rich in its culture, narrow streets, some of the uniquely designed stone buildings. One of the most beautiful and peaceful tropical island. Initially, a Swahili settlement but the Portuguese, Omanis, Turkish all left a bit of their footprints
I stood on the jetty, relishing this breath-taking island. The dhows and canoes bobbing up and down as if in rhyme with the crashing waves. The exhilarating scent of sea and salt, the crispiness in the air. The endless beaches surrounded by mangrove plantation.
From far I watched my husband as he talked to some locals. These were the people he probably knew for a long time, most of them dressed in vests and lungi. One of them offered him a cup of "kahawa" and a piece of "halwa", which he gracefully accepted. He raised his hand, beckoning me towards him.
"Ready for sea excursion?" he excitedly asked, giving me a knowing look.
I nodded in excitement, as Saidi took us towards his dhow named "Kipepeo." It was a beautiful piece of wood, with the flag of Kenya raised high on the mast. "Twende! Twende," he shouted at his crew of two men, while a tiny crowd of children watched us in awe, waving goodbye.
Finally, here we were in the middle of the vast aqua blue sea. The sounds of birds chirping, the soft thuds of oars rowing in the sea, the gentle sea breeze blowing my tresses. I wanted the time to stop forever and the moment never to cease.
Finally, we had reached the spot where we would fish for a while. Saidi helped me put the bait in the rod, explaining to me gently the art of fishing in the local dialect. Suddenly, the environment around us jazzed up as my husband let out a shout. He proudly brought up a red snapper. One of the crew members let out three cheers, as he very skill fully removed it from the hook.
After two hours, we were the proud owners of two red snappers and one king fish. We set off for Manda Island. By this time, everyone had gone silent, each lost in his own thoughts. I put my head against my husband's torso, silently thanking him for this amazing experience.
Half an hour later, we had reached the Manda Island. The clear, blue inviting waters mesmerized me. I couldn't wait to swim! We joyfully splashed while Saidi and his crew lit up a firewood on the beach and prepared our meal. The aroma of coconut rice and the day's catch sent me through a series of hunger pangs. Luckily enough, within some time, our lunch was ready.
I gaped in amazement at the sight of the food before me. Lo! behold! The white rice was so well cooked that you could tell from every grain apart, the char grilled fish marinated in only salt, turmeric and lemon, potato curry, slices of freshly cut mangoes. We devoured the food to the very last bite, every bite tantalising, teasing the taste buds for more.
On the way back, we watched the sunset filling the sky with crimson hues. What an eye candy! A perfect ending to the most adventurous day.
Finally, we reached back to Lamu; we thanked our guides for the day and set off to our comfort, home away from home, a place called Sea Shells Inn. Budget friendly, accommodating, a small family-owned guest house in the heart of Lamu town. A quiet place with friendly staff, very well maintained. I lay down my tired bones, closed my eyes and dreamt of a very magical place called Lamu!
Happy Reading!
Love,
Sarrah Murtaza
For bookings call: (+254722535680) -Sea Shells Inn
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