Jambo Kenya

Jambo Kenya On 21 September my husband and I set off for Kenya, destination Watamu. I don't know why, but Africa didn't much appeal to me, or rather it wasn't among the priorities of the places I'd have liked to visit. I set off with little conviction and came back enthusiastic. The Kenya I want to tell you about isn't just Safari and various excursions, 4- or 5-star Resorts or sea; I'd rather speak about its people, how they live and what they need. The first impact with the country wasn't the best: as soon as we arrived at the airport they stopped us to check the suitcases - so far so good, except that they wouldn't have let us go so easily without us slipping them a few euros. It's a tactic the customs officers use to top up their salaries. Not a bad start, I told myself, but this is a habit we Europeans have certainly passed on to them.

Once at the hotel we went to the beach to see the sea and a determined group of beach boys was there ready to welcome us. From that moment on we would never be alone again. At first they're so insistent that they annoy you, and frankly you'd like to be a bit on your own but it's not possible; they come up to you to sell objects or offer excursions and after a while you can't take any more. The day after you arrive you're a bit more relaxed, you start enjoying your trip and even the beach boys seem different to you. The truth is that my curiosity to get to know these people was comparable to their insistence on selling something. So I approached them and started chatting. From that moment I understood what exceptional people they are.

They behave like that with tourists because this is their only source of income and in the rainy months, when the resorts are closed and there are no tourists, they have to scrape by as best they can to get by. We did all our excursions with a lad called Thomas who accompanied us throughout our trip. He's an exceptional lad and, like many others, he has a rather heavy story and family situation behind him. Thomas is alone in supporting a family of 5 (himself included) because he was forced to take care of his three little nephews left orphaned by their mother (and without a father), promising his sister not to put them in an orphanage. We actually already knew him from Italy, because a friend had told us about him, so we arranged to meet and he turned up punctually. He's a reliable, kind and responsible person and I recommend him for your trip to Kenya.

Every person we met along our journey had a story to tell, made of poverty and hunger, and the desire to help them was great. In our small way we did what we could: we set off from Italy with a suitcase full of clothes, pens and other things for the children of the villages, but despite everything one is aware of not having done enough - it's a small drop in an ocean. Together with some friends we bought milk, rice, flour and other food and delivered it to the villages, and I'll never forget the smiles and the looks of gratitude of those people; they rewarded us far more than we had done for them. I can't forget all the friends I left there. A lad called "Lupo" asked me for an Italian grammar book so he could improve the language to talk with tourists; he could have asked me for anything but he didn't; what he needed was a book to work.

I met Gigi, a lad who walked barefoot on the coral reef; he's 20 and since he was born he's never owned a pair of shoes and every day he has to cover 50 km from Watamu to Malindi, where he lives, to be able to work on the beach. Kenya is very beautiful for us tourists who visit it staying in the luxury resorts, where incidentally they don't have access, but it's even better to experience it among these people, listening to their stories, taking their means of transport like tuk-tuks or matatus, and only in this way can one appreciate the true essence of that country. That's why I recommend doing excursions with the beach boys, who are extremely well organised and will give you more information about what you're going to visit; trust them and they'll give you some truly wonderful emotions.

We'll be back in Kenya very soon; we're already planning our next trip, but this time in a different way: we'll organise only the flight and Thomas will find us less luxurious accommodation. If you'd like more information, this is my address: ayesha_it@yahoo.it If you'd like to contact Thomas, this is his mobile no. 00254-736 334 392 E-MAIL thomasmby@yahoo.co.uk

Jambo Kenya e asante sana.