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Back to work after a great 4 week holiday..... and already could do with another!!! Ha! No its actually been really good to be back. This terms major sport is netball so Im in my element and cant wait for our first fixture!! If didnt have to work to live (and earn money to support the travel bug which lives inside of me) I would probably still, only part time of course, do this job. (Only slightly more charitable than in a profit making private school!) Every one deserves an education though, rich or poor. But before we headed back or even thought about going back to work there was still more holiday time for us to use!!! Once we had got rid of my parents, ok not 'rid of' but once my parents holiday had come to an end Sean and I decided to head away on our own little hoiliday. The beach was high on our list, so we booked a flight to Lamu, an island off the north east of Kenya. Hot and humid was the order of play here on this fascinating Island or islands. It doesnt matter if you travel to Lamu Archipelago, which consists of Lamu, manda and Pate Island, by road or air the only way to access Lamu is via dhow. For those of you who have been lucky enough to travel to Zanzibar will relate to Lamu too and make many comparisons, however visiting Lamu is like travelling back in time. There are no vehicles on Lamu Island, donkeys are the local taxis service. Everything is within walking distance so the need for vehicles is minimal. There is one ambulance, a 3 wheeler!! The people of Lamu are orthodox Muslims and most people, particularly in Shela wear traditional white Kanzu, the women wear brightly coloured kangas, some cover up in black bui-bui (burkas). Its a very family orientated society and most certainly an family island. It seems that everyone os related in one way or an other. This has led to a very safe and extremely friendly environment. Lamu Town is an old fashioned Stone Town of Zanzibar with very similar history, in the 1500's it was a thriving port exporting slaves, ivory and mangroves, mangrove poles are still exported however it is now the tourist trade that these people rely on to earn a living. The town itself is a maze of small streets and courtyards. We met a couple of 'beachboys' who were looking to make a few bob, Hassan and Abdul, very funny pair! They became our personal guides for outr trip... they spent most of the time arguing on the street or beach about this that and the other, very funny to watch. turns out they were cousins working together!! They worked hard and lived in conditions the western world would be very suprised to see on an Island paradise!! Hassan and Abdul gave us an unofficial tour of Lamu Town taking us around all the various villages, which differed greatly one from the other in the style of housing, the clothes people wore, the music playing in the houses and shops. Each village had a common feature and that is the Mosque. A total of 32 Mosques in Lamu. Religion is very important to the people of Lamu. It was a great experience, we were introduced to Hassans family, included wife and daughter and sister. Abduls cousin cooked us a traditional swahili dish for dinner, which was fish and rice, different taste but all good. They are very welcoming people, but the bottom line is they have very little money so will do as much as they can to earn a few bob. Our stay in Shela was fantastic, so good to relax and not really do anything at all!! We took a couple of boat trips, a day out on Manda beach and a trip sailing through the mangroves, we visited the ruins.... Not much left of them!! But the boat trip was great fun. Hassan, who had been 'smoking' all day, wasnt paying much attention to the direction in which we were sailing and sailed straight into the mangroves!! Funny! Lamu is definately a place to visit if you are in Kenya or are looking for a relaxing break away from the cruel winters in Europe!!! We had a great time! Back in Nairobi, back home and back to work. The new adventure starts now. The adventure if the third term at Braeburn School!!..... Then 8 weeks travel in the summer to look forward to!! WOOP!
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