Location, Location, Location
on Colm in Kenya (Kenya), 06/Oct/2009 18:03, 34 days ago
We carefully meander our way in the light sprinkled gloom on atopsyturveyboardwalk– the wood sparse and uneven like the keys of an old badly made wooden piano. Below us the strange, densespaghettiroots of the mangrove forest reach up and around us to thatch a thick roof of vibrant green leaves.Journeying toward abrilliantlysunlit opening where a platform appears hovering on the edge of beautiful grey creek, blissfully sparkling under the fading evening light.The sun, the colour of a brilliant huge mango, spreading a large bright golden tongue across the silver wateryexpanse, setting fire to the sky as itcautiouslyretreats behind the distant palm treed horizon.In the wake of it’s magnificent departure, flamingos and herons arrive to join thesilhouettedvillagers sliding on canoes across the serene silver stage.We had arrived at the home ofBasoConservation Group onMidaGreek.It’sSaturdayevening and our dinner table on this stilted platform provides a group of us 7 volunteers with adeliciouslyisolated spot forsundowners, a feast of seafood and opportunity to discuss a variety of weighty topics– your favouriteSimpson'squote, who would you kill if you had one bullet? and your claim to fame.BasoConservation Group is a hugely successful purely community project that farms crabs so this makes this not just a heavenly spot for a night out, but also genuinely effective andindigenouscommunity support activityfor thelocal village community.Possibly as perfect a location as that can be found.To be fair, our setting for most of the weekend was close on serene: the glistening soft ivory sands andtortuouslybeautifulturquoiseocean catering for our r&r needs; the sea-breeze decking of Ocean Sports, theconducivesetting for reckless banter, inspirational event organising and ice-coldtuskars; and the large comfortable cottage ofMarijaniinWatamuvillage to recover (it’s hard work out here!) at night.Returning to Kenya, you can sometimes get caught up in location; not where you are but where you’re not. Of course you miss people at home. However in thissumptuousspot on the mouth of a beautiful creek next to theIndianocean, this is one (of many) location which Kenya provides so to make it easier for me to settle back in.Watamu, Kenya– 27th/28thSeptember: A great weekend, with great people in a great place.KwaheriDiana.p.s. There was no sense in last week blog…this is the point: It makes no sense.