![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYENE7QVZX0cBasGkOAnyYzuOo3tXbW1CA1rHDXGJzshLXJjKvfNdpWbRPInbmz5nMLzcUxxV11-j3Skv3RUZkX-iOkgyPPxtB6UjAIKNR36Ag_0Sudxo7b2aLHw1uhcjCIfQ5GQKgS_s/s200/sammy.jpg)
After our return from the Mara, we bid adieu to our most resilient, patient, and all around rock star of a driver - Sammy. He took us over many miles of bumpy, dust filled roads and never, ever lost his smile or sense of humor.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEHg8xEMMzq-5stvWgXOa4xghAgwvSSRHZyr8apGtLOhS8kGxLoZ-7ziWyArvDNS1OCRkqFEAjYQMCl3gklvieopnwqEJBcdH89pn2uYhZ0WBUXXrFF7J8N79iP70s_oSA5J0L-mqP6Y/s200/ridin'+donkey.jpg) |
donkeys are one of only 2 non-walking ways to get around |
Rhonda, the kids, Richie and Way then had a quick break for laundry and email checking before heading out for Lamu, on the Indian coast. After many days on the road, this part of the trip would be a welcome change, maybe best of all because Lamu is a car-free island, so no more days in the van!
While the rest of the crew got a head's start, I stayed in Nairobi for a couple days to earn some money to pay for all this fun! (mostly kidding, I'm definitely 2nd fiddle in the earning dept these days!) A couple days later I joined up with everyone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg352Gs2HtRvjjst3WwtQoZtXhn6F4gC8X7BPEYYy40ght-uUYus_38DOab1bbFVA0wDVlJADyKRii0ZFrB4uqdjQy_xyND1DWYLcDYgIlVaZRVvFXswgU99799vsS1cDp7JIg3y0UK6E/s320/lamu.jpg) |
Lamu |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7VNmi-13cKaYaJagVq95tknuxvLczKqpiwndg7C78tc4B1rQ0dwa2ukC4Rt_nvBYgQ76kWC59lM_V-J7iKJE9IK5Hk006DZl7ejJJraSZDCtyIiucZPynp2O7YGuVG2zN4qK1UcBuwE/s200/alley+with+dude.jpg) |
Lamu alley |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tMMYvL7fsb6Lkw6ZyRayTgOjEZTRDWiHhjkaYNceMEi8-nbNbJ7k8_DtgT7w-9RLGOM3cnBVGEhbZmh4FBLQAV4fNQQMTBIamIAYs8mTRjPlHU8XXDVw4x4_Xrq6NklFQsm_aP5XBFI/s200/lamu+town+square.jpg) |
Lamu town center |
Richie stayed in Lamu Town, which is the main town on the island.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM0_KPUABnRmB-z-DdyNwshgvF3oGx0U6ZUhqm6T7xas1l_k-EVReh-FxZ_Cx5jI-WxleOB0P1vEjqAkyfAdxEEwCVEbAp45P52KGYTEshUtQKvUCndHj9ugozPolydbMx6EOY3eKSbw/s320/lamu+boats.jpg) |
dhows in the harbor |
Way and the Schutzbank/Fleischer clan stayed in Shela which is a smaller town on the same island, but only a short boat/walk away.
The first couple days were spent enjoying the beach, touring the town, and generally relaxing and taking in the spirit of the coast.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih54_UrmXCtXs5jBp__Zq8AUm-EVLHFlA3sQ_Lxk-S3663DUThhxLENfxzyR8nH5dbd6jkNlXz_zL63DcZQZPC10ngPRsopEeVc88VmrH1dn_niEgIE06pwnQ-exYwnHVQWFsbhLMaY8/s200/playing+game.jpg) |
passin' time |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58ZyhFel4O0mF0j_8KYc7qC49saBCEf_aZ_FjvH2Mq0zZKwc0ENoUd6VO1rh8dxjy4YoYVPvwVsMIqRzYCyyjoSsb1p09g1bEoiYjj1Y8fF6yLGCM2_MZxrnsNp_jLzYv-kCcqqZuDEk/s320/richie+at+carving+shop.JPG) |
Richie chattin' with the artisans doing wood carvings |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCqiinREl2R3wingSZiTkv09UZgLq5W1lJlGH1xwf-F3RW_Ip8kpAbhVgWb7iXg2SgVO8MG2ahT7LWoNRae51S1S0XKOfUNX21rJ44SlSD7bdcK7G0MfU18-YTf3CoTzH2Fa6gQbM9QQ/s320/making+a+lamu+door.jpg) |
Carving a Lamu door |
At the far end of the island just past Shela - the beach curves to face the Indian ocean and continues for about 9 miles. The sand dunes are as high as hills.
The first couple days we were in Lamu was Ramadan, at the conclusion we joined in the celebrations which included children's games.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwa90nuEFlPTYkoV2KYXAnjfXv0UziTuYDtch3NOAgR7kQLW1iEUjsROxy_begCYefIXba6ZJ4QUxM297ZzoO4uVoMuD-M3ObZ3lae3j8BnvYVCwvm9IKcP4GSqusyEMatbdw0WMq2Plo/s200/swahili+dinner.jpg)
In Shela we stayed at Banana House. Rhonda was able to negotiate adjoining rooms for the kids and us on the ground floor. Outside our rooms was a relaxing hang-out space filled with pillows and they served us breakfast there. It was nice to take naps while the kids ran back and forth to the pool. One night the B&B served a scrumptious Swahili dinner in the courtyard.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZKEsJ3rczSgcz65u4LToAh3oitPyT1FMIq4gWKgCmS1d8eq7ei4AKWdWFYfJdRTdoTLyLjbeEfhTwiTM4OaJ268IicSpPrP2K3tzPVjJ4SAlp_yCUiMWtDwVP7eWTulQtXTlVaQw-zM/s200/dhow.jpg) |
our dhow for the day |
Our last full day we hired a dhow for a trip to some of the islands surrounding the bay. It was amazing to float from isle to isle , try some fishing, & explore the coves. The shipmates grilled us a lunch of freshly caught fish and coconut rice - yum!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM1nkXhPZh9bOo093QU7FlyP89nJlYpFqF6cRGJNoHEyLWX4mVgk7UQzuea4IZ5uLOXn01sx7SQ4fvLi-h-vQObRNEasGAF4QT9LS8ym-byexHh9gwzwl4CqVKVVisQI5ymvPbkJGzNI/s320/i+caught+a+fish.jpg) |
i think my smile was bigger than the fish! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUXhAoHXB4kjd_Strgf-9rHo_-oDYZzfwKY_iIaRJmDmLIhCYBlHTjv09VpJ1hevvq2IcyFNw7-Ts8qus4lOQhitH3pcOdcdHsWhr2LXl2rhde9XKdjxJ1vnFoNp-Mt4Mn8hpAZylf9A/s320/lamu-dhow-trip-matthew-fishing.jpg) |
the first mate teaching Matthew how to bait a hook |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DDt4iV0v5E5AKE7WT4KpKSu6wsJUHX6l_D1CxDODN3KYnZMMXmc3EmuHzuGwFfWamZXpl31O6WTWV4muE7tyKD75x0GJ5vNUARMftfvivwEvcTd4qHFOvEUuBg0M6kwBfkl-I6_RU88/s400/deserted+island.JPG) |
where we stopped for lunch |
In the afternoon we toured around an abandoned village from the 15th century on one of the islands before sailing back to Lamu.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuDVBqCWxlrJ2xsZfF_K5BnpVw41p1Os2Yu604hj5A832bWGeQZqno6edO4uD06tlYnsd4I7kyNrFGFJloxzFHoG20hcucmqHP2htq76hoAHbrE7U6Yg3bq8RGmmi19dKFMN5BGw0jm0/s320/lamu-manda-ruins-2.jpg) |
Takwa ruins |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfg_BdCezFYVvKhB9kE-xCxI7tN2sParQ9ZZj-FtrT4pWE4DT5_POJ0QlIMj27-2Ff3lWzXI21Ie86I_U-zTu44yqrlSiLwCcUUh5Uk5EXQykdZKXtXA_CME4kT5HSmi_O8BFUm87LHc/s320/lamu-dhow-trip-way-rhonda-ruby-big-tree.jpg) |
walking around Manda island |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu_CX9WizTniNP7CGHr04W02VTEyAdho4wtcvpc4f0VU_RFa0ISeY5NWzzgdQIsYUGCBk7lKqz3mEbxv6OEtpcKkvqeB08MUfKtKgmIXx81yqkr3WmO1n9AnxXDEzJryZ4km_FIK8JIk/s320/lamu-dhow-trip-michael-matthew-2.jpg) |
drifting back to Lamu |
What a great way to end an unforgettable 2 week journey around Kenya. Before we knew it, we were back in Nairobi and Matthew started 2nd grade, Ruby started Kindergarten, Rhonda and I were back at work, Way flew to Europe for a grand tour of the continent, and Richie headed back to Japan.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgwbpJfw_xUPSaYMWkKTuYfJku7tXgBkt8BZZPslNrrkOzkljmy7gq2ItqO3rBthnRGqn18IFY-4FX0xpbY8mNkQFOFdOak5UNhHa7eKujAmx35K3ACImE2rAXul6vzO89Orm6POOi1E/s320/2nd+grade.jpg) |
You betcha - 2nd grade! |
No comments:
Post a Comment