Life's a BEACH

Dear Friends,

Greetings from this petite African girl (princess is much better if you like). If you know me well enough, then you will instantly not be offended / misunderstand the tittle of this blog today... grab a glass of your favorite vino /whiskey - on the rocks, because I will definitely entertain you!

My love for the beach life begun when my eldest sister Hanifah moved to Mombasa. She always invited my younger sister and I to go visit her and seeing as this was all so very new to her (living in Mombasa), we were obliged to go. Trust me, when you are young, out of high school and got nothing to do until uni, life can be boring or rather unbearable!

Mombasa had always been good to me. The beach ... oh the beach! The first time I saw all that sand and water on my feet, with a never ending horizon where the water seemed to meet the sky, was just so mesmerizing! How did He create all this? So beautiful and natural ... so full of color that just brings this sense of freshness, tranquility and serenity to even the most disturbed human being! I bet that if most asylums were built next to the ocean, many disturbed minds would have a better time recovering... just my two cents!

I used to take enough bus rides down to the coast (considering I was fresh out of high school, flights were what one would consider a luxury). I recall this one time when I had so many bus tickets that I had collected from my numerous trips that this coastal bus conductor actually told me that if I showed up with ten tickets from my previous rides during my next booking, I would actually qualify for one way either to or from Mombasa free! Of course I got counting, and to no surprise, I earned my free ticket \0/ - born a winner.

The craziest time was when I had been invited by my sister in law to a cruise ship trip that she had booked for my sisters and I - Destination , Z A N Z I B A R !!!!! This was back in 2007... (if my memory serves me right). I was so excited about this trip. Went to work early in the morning, left work by 5:00pm (GMT +03:00) to catch an evening bus (see how easy it was for me to grab a bus to the coast?), got to Mombasa in the morning, said my greetings to the family and caught up with them for a few minutes before my sister Hanifah asked me if I had managed to get my EA pass. She quickly dashed me to CDB to get one and off we were with my two sisters Hanifah and Maureen, niece Ummukulthum and sister in-law Wahida to the port where we were to board into this huge, beautiful, white cruise ship that was to take us to this four days five nights tour to Zanzibar and neighboring islands!

Most of the crew who welcomed us and attended to us during our stay in that cruise ship had the most amazing service. They ensured that my niece was very comfortable considering she was barely one at that time. From Dolphins and at times sharks, star fish and turtles... we saw amazing creatures. Got sea sick, recovered, went sun bathing and even managed to crash a birthday party in the ship. Part of the itinerary was to visit the famous spice market and the slave market as well. We did not make it to watch the dolphins but friends we had made while on this trip mentioned that it was spectacular.

When the trip was over, I literally traveled  back to Mombasa, jumped into a taxi to Moi International airport and boarded a plane to Nairobi (My brother in law was feeling generous so he bought me a plane ticket), got into a taxi and was in the office in time as if i was just coming from my house. All in all, from the first time I set foot in Zanzibar, I fell in love with the destination and the love keeps growing each and every time I return.

So here's the thing right... Do not grow up, its a trap! Of late I do not visit Mombasa as much, however, when I do get the chance and time, I always have such a great time. I had gotten used to going to North coast, the parties there are crazy and really for the young at heart, body and soul ( My bestie Martha can tell you all about this, crazy days I tell you).

You see us here, this looks like an afternoon right,? wrong! It was like 8:00 am - Mombasa mornings, when Nairobians visiting the coast party like rock stars only to do it again that same evening till the morning comes!

Now I really enjoy South coast, especially Watamu. The beaches are more private. Here, you get to spend time just relaxing and appreciating life, taking in the beauty of the beach life and reflecting on either where you want to see your life or simply appreciating how far you have come.

The hotels are also very nice and the beach boys are not so much in your face. I recall having some calamari that this beach boy who has a local restaurant by the beach had caught - mouth watering my dear friends! I'd say the meal was actually even better than what the main hotels were serving. I think the main ingredients were salt and some splash of lemon! Simplicity to the core. The beach boys are also very quick to secure beach beds for you and serve you some fruit salad, coconut juice or what ever drink you would like to have. I think that Watamu is a destination that I'd always go back to over and over again.Cannot wait to take my son there (he has been to the coast but i'll write about that soon).

Come to think of it, my mom also did love beach. She loved going to Mombasa and just enjoying herself there with her friends. Life is a party and the beach only makes it better... It all makes sense now, i was born to love this beach life... don't you agree?

Until next time my darlings, Kwaherini!

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