A Week on Lamu

This past week on Lamu has been phenomenal. From the bumpy bus ride to charging donkeys, from the exceptionally gorgeous homes we stayed in to partying the night way on a floating bar in the middle of the ocean, and of course, getting to know the house staff and cooks. Sammy, Tosha, and Stanley treated us like royalty. Every whim was catered to--outlandish, over the top meals prepared by Sammy, free flowing drinks at any time of the day, spa treatments overlooking the Arabian sea, and clean, comfortable rooms with hot water showers! Sally and Alice are a remarkable mother-daughter duo, with amazing family and friends surrounding them. Over 40 people flew out to Lamu from the UK and California to help celebrate their birthdays, that in and of itself speaks wonders of the type of people they are. Most days were spent lounging in the infinity pool overlooking the ocean, windsurfing in the Lamu channel, riding donkey's along the beach, and racing the local sail boats. I thought the week would putter along, that I'd be itching to leave by the end, but no, it was quite the opposite. Each day was filled with fun activities, one day rolling int the next always with anticipatory excitement at things to come. I spent a lot of my time in the kitchen getting to know our cook, Sammy who is a phenomenal chef whose talent goes unrecognized. Ginger lime pie, passion fruit custards, grilled snapper, and salads were prepared and served with awe-inspiring creativity. I hope I can recreate some of them at home! I in turn shared some of my favorites with them; spaghetti with spicy-roasted vegetable marinara, garlic bread, chocolate chip cookies, and for breakfast, banana bread and egg-in-a-hole-in-a-toast. Sammy, Tosha, and Stanley were shocked that we befriended them, but deeply grateful for the opportunity. Never before had guests held conversations with them, or listened to music with them, let alone prepare dinner for them or take interest in their lives. But I couldn't imagine it any other way. How could you possibly ignore the very people who make you vacation so luxurious and comfortable?