Watamu is a small town just south of Malindi and north of
Mombasa, which is the only East African trading port. The town sits on the Indian
Ocean in coastal Kenya. The primary economic resources are tourism and fishing,
though with al Shahab activities many hotels and tourist sites are closed. The population
of about 1900 people are made up of the Bajuni who trace their descent to the
intermarriage between the Giriama of Kenya and the Arab traders; however, the
area boasts immigration from numerous tribes throughout Kenya who arrived with
the hopes of working in the hotel industry and are now suffering without work.
The Watamu shoreline is one of the most beautiful in the
area with clean sandy beaches and gorgeous coral formations just offshore. Our
morning began with a visit to Grace Abundance Church and Pr Owino—the 2014 100
Christmas Dolly recipient—who resides in Watamu as well. Why not stop at the
gorgeous beach while we were nearby? After dipping our bodies in the arm ocean waters,
we settled in at the beachside restaurant where Elvis, a longtime friend,
served us homemade samosas for their first time.
The samosa is a deep fried triangle shell filled with
vegetables or spiced meat. A yummy snack alongside fresh squeezed passion fruit
juice or a cool soda.
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