MOMBASA

The rare city, with rare vibes and peculiar people with endless generosity, utmost openness and lovely company. Second largest city in Mother Kenya and one of the entire best in Africa. From its M landmark of ivories denoting Mombasa, It preserves heritage. The heart of Mombasa. Beside is a cool, well taken care of kind of garden where all relax on the cement benches, being kept company by the melodious birds and the fine wind, not forgeting the grand TSS mosque close to it, not only is it a place of worship but beautifies the place too. The muadhini that calls people to prayer blending it all up during the late evening prayer that dusk has started on a whole great level. Top of it all, the beautiful sunset as viewed from one of the most tallest buildings around. So beautiful. The tall buildings that give it a city look,very well arranged, world class type of architects we got here. The clean tarmacked roads, well priced supermarkets and friendly street vendors selling cashew nuts, simsim treats to both local and international tourists  giving them the Coast taste type of snacks.The cuisine is of its own kind, Mombasa food, best one would ever wish for, most in coconut paste cooked with kind love and expertise.The Post Office, though almost functionless never misses people to assist you with your posting on those rare seasons when nothing but posting a card and a gift satisfies it all. Behind is a chain of snack shops, mobile phone service shops, small scale hotels and chemists too, a business kind of place. Then I wonder, on some baseless stereotype, that people from Coast are lazy? Have you all seen this? Still on the street down to the magnificent fort, Fort Jesus which explains the pre colonial era and portugese invasion in the country. They were defeated finally by the Omani Arabs which took over the fort and conquered Mombasa with trade, lived with the people around, inter married and also brought a culture blend to those who lived around. How blessed Mombasa is. The portugese didnt just come for war, but brought good too, in terms of material benefit and other benefits such as enriching the Kiswahili language too. Such words as mvinyo in Kiswahili were borrowed from the Portugese. The cannons outside the fort look so good to the eye now that they are used as tourist attraction. From the fort, is the mighty old town, its never changed, still the same since colonial era. Some slight infrastructure here and there to give it some modern look but it still looks as splendid as it was in the old golden days. The well carved and decorated doors. The small spaces between houses and the strong knit type of neighbourhood. Only found in Mombasa, where else? Through from the old town you get to the market. Some other type of business takes place here. All working to their last sweat of the day to make their daily bread a success. Wholesale shops which sell on very great and awesome deals. Friendly shopkeepers. Further in the big market there is also a cloth market. Fair prices are found here. Most swahili shops are around the market area. With the smell of oud attracting all kind of customers in their shops. Further are the magnificent jewellery shops, people here are royals, they wear nothing but gold. Not only the normal kind of gold but well refined type of gold, for any kind of occassion, the gold here stands among all. From the market, the tuktuk ferries you off to mama ngina drive. Its not a park neither is it a forest but an open kind of relaxing place for all. As free as Mombasa is, not money oriented, anyone is free to walk in and out of the place anytime of the day. Not forgetting those who sell kachiri and madafu to quench your thirst after a long day, while watching the ship sail around the small lighthouses that guide the talented captains from the famous nautics college still in Mombasa. The ferry is another, with precision ferrying passengers to and fro the town to the south part of Mombasa, where world class hotels are a major attraction. The sandy beaches, the likes of shelly. The north part is not to be forgotten, from Bamburi all the way to the most humble correctionals around. Bombolulu famously known for its culture practise and carpentars who know it best.
Haller Park, natures best, to see what nature offers and protection of wild animals. The large forest from haller park all the way to the other forest, Butterfly Pavilion. Nature trail cant be as any better as this. Behind is the grand of grand firms in Kenya, The Bamburi Cement, in a very quiet and eco friendly environment. Lafarge ecosystems. To the North Coast, the public beach, for anyone, everyone. More from the sandy beach hotels, Whitesands, Bamburi beach and many many more, not forgetting Serena with its unique kind of sauna and my personal best Flamingo beach hotel. The diversity in the county is worth noting, different types of religion evident by religious places of worship, the big churches and crusades, the mosques, the beautiful temples and a synagogue. The tribes around, it is never based on one tribe, all are represented in Mombasa. The education level and schooling is also worth a note. All from Primary to secondary schools with spectacular results and campuses that have been on the rise in towns. On the shopping, the luxurious 21st Century City Mall and an important hanging point for friends, for a chit chat and coffee, the kids area on weekends. The mamba village, worlds most finest crocodiles and a lunar park for kids too. A priviledge being around. The annual cultural show in Mombasa is a never miss, all is show cased from cultures, cuisines, arts, competition and our heritage. Thanks to the county government. Mombasa, a county never to miss in a life's visit, all thats unique to the eye and all that pleases the heart. The fair prices, good hospitality and the serene environment that favours all.