Day 31 (Mon 7 Aug) - Lamu

After a great nights sleep had breakfast and then headed off to explore Lamu. We tried to find the tourist office but were directed to the museum where all we were able to buy was a small map of Lamu. Whilst we were there we visited the Lamu museum.

An impressive building which used to be our man in Lamu's pad.

Walked around the narrow, crowded streets in the Old Town. Crowded not only because of the human traffic but because of the numerous donkeys that are used to transport all manner of things. Note that Lamu has only 1 car on the island, the District Commissioner.

We walked past a small stall where a man, Mwangi, had laid out necklaces and a modest selection of second hand books. Sarb exchanged the book he had been reading, Monsoon, for another book by Wilbur Smith. Mwangi was particularly impressed when Sarb showed him some passages from the book that mentioned Lamu. As part of the bargain, which included 100 shillings, Jo managed to get herself a necklace too.

Went for lunch at Hapa Hapa. Sarb had a prawn curry and Jo a sea food spaghetti. Excellent food; loads of it and very, very tasty for less than a fiver!

Headed back to our hotel and sat on the first floor verandah overlooking the harbour into the evening.

Jo headed off to our room for a shower whilst Sarb sat drinking beer. The power then failed. Luckily Sarb had his torch with him so went to rescue Jo, who was in some state of undress and confusion in the room in the pitch dark.

We had dinner in the near empty restaurant. Our only companions being a European couple some tables away.

Dinner was a feast. 5 courses, starting with sea food, soup, pasta, main and then dessert and coffee. We waddled away from the table some time later.

Whilst Jo went to bed Sarb took a sniff of the sea air and met the nightwatchman Benson. Benson is a Masai and was dressed in traditional garb, quite different from the local population. Anyway a thoroughly nice chap.