After a few days in Nairobi I took the night bus down to Malindi ( about a ten hour journey), where I was hoping to try and find an old University friend (Brendan). Sleeping on the coach wasn’t really possible and eventually we arrived in what someone said was Malindi, I stumbled off the bus half asleep and got in a minibus for the town centre. It ended up taking me to the wrong town so I had to backtrack on another bus to Malindi, by this time the sun had come up. I found a cheap hotel and crashed out until midday.
The coast is very much a Muslim area and centre of the Swahelian culture, which is similar to the Arabic way of life. Most of the towns were founded by Arabian traders who headed South in search of Ivory and other treasures. They brought with them some pretty tasty food, and everyone drinks Tea (not Lipton). I visited a hotel that I new Brendan used to hang around, the guy at reception gave me his parents number, which I phoned. Apparently he lives up near Mt Kenya now, so I will have to head up that way soon.
While in Malindi I visited the ancient Gede ruins, my first official tourist stop in Kenya. Like many countries they have a Resident and Non-Resident rate. Only in Kenya they have recently hiked up the prices so high that the Non-Resident rate is pretty much out of reach of the budget travellers like myself. I chatted with the guy in the ticket office and noticed an advert for a free concert. I asked if I could go inside and wait for it to start, he happily agreed, both of us knowing I really meant can I sneak in for nothing. It was worth the visit too, a very atmospheric place with the ruins of a whole ancient city, hidden within a lush forest.
