Monday – Labor Day

Today Carly ventured to the local “hair studio” and spent 3 hours and 3 hairdressers with flying fingers created “Rasta” hair for her with 107 braids some hair extensions and a collection of green and blue beads. The rain filled the morning but cleared as we met the dive instructors at a resort south of Mtwapa. Carly, Brett and I joined 2 others from the Royal Reserve as we learned some of the basics and signals of diving in the resort pool. After about an hour exploring the pool, we refilled the air tanks added a little weight to compensate for the salt water swim and headed out to the reef. The water was incredibly warm. Almost like our pool at home… it must have been about 28-30C degrees.

Lori and Adam joined us with snorkelling gear. We sat on the edge of the boat and slipped off backwards into the Indian Ocean “like a mango falling from the tree”. The experience was incredible. We were surrounded with schools of tropical fish that swam among us as we explored the reef. We found sea urchins, several Manta Rays, a Moray eel, and a spectacular assortment of fish. We were underwater at about 6 meters for 40 minutes before the reserve air in our tanks reached its limit. By the time we returned to the dive shop the rains were almost torrential. We changed into dry clothes only to be soaked by the time we walked the short distance to the hotel.

The flooding in the communities was remarkable with many storefronts in the middle of newly formed lakes. Our resort was not without a little water as well. Most of the road to the resort from the main highway was underwater, often more than a foot deep. The water was several inches above our shoes as we walked into the complex. Shoes, sock and pants were all soaked.

Monday was African night at the restaurant so we joined them for their set menu filled with typical African foods– pasta, hot dogs, beef stroganoff, chicken fricassee (somehow it seems much like our food at home). There was some African “color” later. Following the meal, a group of Masia dancers presented a collection of traditional dances. Near the end of the program they recruited some volunteers from the audience, and Lori and Adam joined in.

Following the program Masai set a market. Basically they display their wares on a simple sheet on the cement in the rain and encourage us to bargain for their art. I am hopeless at negotiating – they usually take all of my money the time I leave, often for things that I don’t really want. Even when I don’t have any money they somehow get me to return to my room and bring money to “support their business”. Lori on the other hand always gives them a run. Greeting the craftsmen and beginning to bargain in Swahili catches them by surprise. “Mama” will make them work for every sale often buying items for a third of the asking price. They usually bring out a small scrap of paper or simply write on their hand. The vendor enters the first price then each offers and counter-offers until an agreement is reached or they walk away.