Day 9 On to A Rocha

After another night in Nairobi we flew down to Mombasa. The stiflingly hot and humid air hit us as soon as we stepped out of the plane. We were collected, as arranged, by Moses, a taximan who drove us the 2 hour journey to Watamu not far from Malindi. It was good to chat with him and there was lots to observe along the way.

In the city there were many dilapidated buildings and kiosks selling all kinds of things from fruit to ironmongery and services from Beauticians to Dressmakers. Everywhere was teeming with people, walking, running businesses or riding bicycles stacked high with pallets and sacks. Nissan matatu minibuses were everywhere, jostling for position in the dense traffic.

There were some funny signs: "Wonderful Butchery" was one; "Farm Shop Dancing Elephant" was another.

In the rural areas, there were lots of bandas - mud houses with palm leaf thatch and women working in the fields and men sitting under the shade of trees, watching the world go by!

The vegetation was quite different - even more lush than where we had been, with lots of palm trees. There were mango trees and coconut palms, baobab trees with hefty trunks and sisal plantations at various stages of growth. Sisal is used to make baskets and they look like lines of pineapple tops growing in the fields.

We arrived at Mwamba - Swahili for "A Rocha" or "The Rock" - and were warmly greeted by Belinda who with husband Henry, runs the guest accommodation and Colin who is the Director of A Rocha Kenya. The Indian Ocean could be glimpsed and heard, just 80 metres away and beautiful tropical trees filled the sandy courtyard with colour and fragrance: Frangipani, Flame Tree, Bougainvillea.... and more.

We were shown our living quarters for the next 5 days, simple but clean and cosy. There was a huge mosquito net that covered the bed and we learnt to keep the door closed as dusk fell to avoid the little blighters getting into the room at all. This is a malaria area - and we are taking Malarone - but it is not fun being covered in mosquito bites - best not to get bitten in the first place.

We took a walk along the beach - miles of white sand, sparkling aquamarine waters, bright sunshine.... and the most horrible collection of flotsam and jetsam - plastic bottles, plastic food containers, plastic shoes and simply ...plastic! What are we doing to our world?