Anniversary Splurging

We certainly have had an interesting couple of weeks, and I realize that we're a little behind with our updates. I'll just post a few highlights from our last few days in Sub-Saharan Africa because I know my mom will love it. We stayed three nights in Mombasa and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of our new friends Keren and Andrew. They have lived in Mombasa for over twenty years and were able to provide us with some very interesting perspectives.

Kim and Keren at Keren's flat

Bird Watching at dusk

Throughout our trip we have seen many wooden carvings, most of which are very similar, and I think we found the source in Mombasa. We went to the carvers' market where about 500 people were mass producing (by hand of course) the most of the common wooden souvenirs we've seen.

Mombasa Carvers' Market

After Mombasa we were in need of some beach time, after all, this travelling is hard work! We spent two nights self-catering in a small cottage at Diani Beach before splurging for our fourth anniversary. We found Diani Reef Resort and Spa, and decided that a little five-star luxury would be in order. The place was absolutely stunning. There were two pools, four bars, three restaurants, a spa, and just about everything else you'd expect. We spent three days relaxing on the beach and eating delicious dinners, thanks Mom!

Kim's temporary petDiani Reef ResortDiani Beach Getting some shade at the barEnjoying a cool drink at the swim-up bar

Relaxing at Diani Beach

That's a wrap for southern and eastern Africa--time for Egypt. We have truly enjoyed our first five months. We've seen most of the animals Africa has to offer, met plenty of interesting locals and expats, tasted and enjoyed (mostly) the local cuisine, and relaxed on some of the most stunning beaches in the world. We've also endured painfully long and overcrowded bus rides, risked our lives on motorcycle taxis in Kampala, and met with plenty of frustration attempting the seemingly simplest tasks. We've gotten sea-sick on ferries, laughed and vented with fellow travellers, and learned to speak like Brits (Could I have a Wah-ta please?). In all, we've gained an experience that few others have. We feel very lucky about our opportunity and proud of ourselves for making it happen. We also hope that anyone reading this has enjoyed a piece of our adventure with us!