Well, well, well, am back to Mombasa in a span of two weeks. This time I plan to enjoy even more (although am swamped with work); visit and see a wide range of places. As they say, its one thing to plan and another to actualize what you have planned. So I set out on Monday to start the work I am supposed to be doing, very early on Monday morning so as to avoid walking in the mid-morning to afternoon heat. As I go about my business, I stop to notice the old buildings that surround the town; a taste of the Swahili culture as they say. Not to be left out, I also sampled the food and this is where I got to taste the ‘shawarma’; a mixture of flame grilled chicken stripes and vegetable salad with lots of chilly rolled in freshly baked bread (or nan as they call it). What is interesting about Mombasa is that unlike Nairobi, they have food on every corner. So all ye watching their waistline, avoid the town center; the ‘mapocho pocho’ are too enticing to resist.
On the second day, I board the ferry and cross over to South Coast, deep into the farthest points of the province in Msabweni, Kwale and Kinago. Contrary to Mombasa Island where its more of white sandy beaches, this part of Coast is awash with lush green vegetation thanks to the recent rains. You could be forgiven for thinking this was not part of coast province, but yes it is; what with all the palm trees and large mangoes being sold by the roadside. It is still hot but unlike Mombasa where majority of the Muslim women are garbed in black bui buis, here the women loosely tie matching lesos/shukas around their upper and lower bodies.
The start of day three is spent in Kilifi, where the cool where sure is a change from the burning heat in Mombasa Island and South Coast. The attraction here is the famous ‘Korosho – a type of nuts found on the coast – which are so sumptuous and expensive as well! I later head to Malindi and wow, if you though Mombasa had sandy beaches, wait until you get to Malindi. The breeze feels nice to the face in light of the scorching sun, and the pineapples, mangoes and mnazi juices offered by the roadside do their cooling bit. Before I hit the road out of the town, I enjoyed a nice dive in the ocean, and yes, it was heavenly in the afternoon heat.
For sure my one week trip down at the coast was captivating. So the next time you are there, venture out and not only to the beach; go ye out into the town and sample the old architecture. While you are at it, don’t forget to shawarma!!
