From Lamu to Malindi

Yesterday morning we started our journey from Lamu to Malindi our last destination for training. Our first transportation was a little wooden boat which is also called a ferry. Our team of 10 with all our luggage and 23 locals needed to find space on the ferry. The captain wanted to get more people onto the boat although the 33 of us already struggled for space.

In the middle of our journey all of the sudden water leaked into the boat. Only two of our team started to get worried were all the locals seem not to mind. I already prepared myself with getting my passport and credit card into my pocket so just in case I have to swim I would have the most important possessions with me. Fortunately, the boat made it to the shore and we entered a bus for 5.5 h to Malindi.

The bus was full and even some people needed to stand. On the way there were regular controls by police and army who were interested in the Somalian passengers in the bus. At one stage we even had to armed guards with machine guns sitting infront of the bus. I was explained that they have started doing this as the bus route was quite close to the Somalian border and 10 years ago there were foreigners removed from busses by Somalians. When the guards entered I was a bit worried but did feel a lot save after I heard that story.

There were 3 Somalians on the bus - two women and one child. At one of the police controls we had to drive into the police station (if you could call it a station really) and the bus was searched. When we continued our journey the Somalians were not allowed to get on the bus and had to stay behind.

The street to Malindi was more like a road made of sand rather than gravel. After 5.5 h we arrived in Malindi with no incidents and we went to our hotel. Now we are waiting for the local Camara representation to tell us what will happen. We still do not know if we are training and if, what courses we need to teach. As three of our group are sick with stomach bugs we also need to see what we will be able to deliver.

The situation here demands from us to be very flexible and not to get angry at the locals as this is their pace of life. Actually I really got used and enjoy the slower pace of life :D

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Wencke