July 25 2007 

I woke up at 5:30 am, got my stuff together and checked out of my hotel room. The shuttle picked me up at 6:30 (I was in desperate need of coffee but the hotel manager said nothing was open until 7, luckily there was a continental breakfast once we got there). Karen was already in the taxi (she too was convinced by the tourism agent to come) as well as a family of 4 from the UK and a group of 7 from Germany. We rode an 1 ½ hours and got to the marina. When we got there it was dark, cold, windy, and beginning to rain. By the time we were on the boat and going it was pouring down rain. I was incredulous. Yesterday it was beautiful and really really hot. Now we were all shivering and soaking wet huddled together on a boat taking us out to sea. Life is ironic sometimes.

Luckily about an hour into the trip it cleared up and the sun came out. Just about the same time we began to see dolphins. Lots of them. There were two families and they were swimming along side of the boat, periodically jumping out and flopping over. It was pretty exciting - I tried to take pictures, but I’m pretty sure I just got some nice shots of the Indian Ocean.

Afterwards we went to a spot with lots of coral reef and went snorkeling. It was really beautiful. All the fish were vibrant and colorful. It looked like I had come into the middle of a casting call for Finding Nemo II.

We had lunch onboard and then went snorkeling again in a different spot. Afterwards they set the sails and we sailed back to the marina. It was a really good day.

I had booked a cheap banda (for 600 kshs=$10!) on Danai beach just south of Mombassa.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but the place is really nice. They actually overbooked and had to put me in a nicer room at the same price. I’ve seen the place I’ll be staying in tomorrow and it’s fine too.

I went to the local shop hoping for another Nakumatt (that place completely spoiled me) only to find a shop much like the ones in Ntenjeru. It only had: flour, rice, bread, butter, cigarettes, and individually wrapped candies. I bought a loaf of bread and butter, then found a fruit stand and got some bananas. For dinner I had some bread, a banana, and some dried mango from Mombassa. Dinner of champions (that don’t know how to cook and are on a budget at least).