Jambo!

Ruco and I just arrived home today from a wonderful and relaxing vacation on the island of Lamu-off the coast of Kenya. I think my favorite part of the trip was taking a dhow boat trip for the day, fishing (and grilling that fish for lunch) and snorkeling. The scenery was beautiful with pearly white buildings and dhow boats everywhere. The Swahili culture was also very unique-with a mix of African and Arabic traditions. The Arabs used to come with the trade winds to Lamu, as with many islands off the coast of Africa, and that influence is still very prevalent. There are no cars around, so most get around using the plethora of boats available, or by using donkeys! The seafood is also great and pretty cheap, and we definitely ate our share of "prawns" over the last week, along with incredible fruit juices and smoothies. As for accommodations, we were able to stay in a wonderful private home which is rented out, and we had a whole deck to ourselves-hammock and all! I would definitely recommend a trip to Lamu for anyone coming over to East Africa. I am hoping we also get to go back someday!

Oh, I am also posting a song by Michael W. Smith, which he wrote about Lamu....this is "somehow" random!

Here we are on a boat out on the sea
Off the coast of Africa
Heading for peaceful shores
With a cast of strangers
To an island hideaway
I hear you telling me
Of the place we soon will be
A rebirth from life's demise
Where the world is still--it's ideal
Anything you dream is real
It's Hotel Paradise
And you say it's nice
(when you run to)
Lamu--far away
Leave the pain far behind you
Hoping it won't find you in
Lamu--far away
You say it's there that you can run
From the one inside of you

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la

So here we are on an island in the sea
Near the coast of Africa
And when it's right--Lamu nights,
They can be so inviting
Heaven here on earth
But I hear you telling me
This is everything you need
Well, I don't think it's true
'Cause the way you feel isn't real
You attempt to try and fill
the void that's digging thru
And it's killing you (when you run to)

Lamu--far away
Tho' that pain was behind you
It can even find you in
Lamu--far away
Because you never can run
From the one inside of you

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la

I hear you telling me
Of the place we soon will be
A rebirth from life's demise
Where the world is still--it's ideal
Anything you dream is real
It's Hotel Paradise
And you say it's nice
(when you run to)

Lamu--far away
Leave the pain far behind you
Hoping it won't find you in
Lamu--far away
Tho' that pain was behind you
It can even find you in
Lamu--far away
Because you never can run
From the one inside of you

the view from our deck
before going out for dinner
Lamu town
donkeys carrying crates of soda to Shela beach
We found a cool tree on our walk to Lamu town
A relaxing day at the beach!
A traditional dhow boat
Taking a small snoozer
Ruco swimming with friends
Having great coffee at a local cafe