Fishing in Lamu

 Update, my computer have been fixed and here are my pictures. 

Life has a way of working out in Africa. A new friend from Montreal, Chris, decided to come fishing with Nicole and I, bringing the price down to a manageable 3500 shillings each. We left from Lamu Town with two Kenyan fishermen, Adam and Salim, and motored into the channel before putting up the dhow sail.

The wind was strong, taking us quickly up the channel towards the northern end of Manda Island which is directly across from Lamu Island. For at least an hour, we sailed up a long, manmade channel, only four years old since the Kenyan government dredged it to better connect the large bays, until we reached Manda Toto Island, just north of Manda Island, which overlooked the enormous Manda Bay. On the edge of a reef, we anchored and begin to fish.

Thanks to the still strong wind, we three mizungos began to jig for fish using bate and line wound around wooden squares. Adam, the captain of this venture, slipped into the water with fins, a snorkel and a spear while Salim began to cook using a small charcoal grill, first boiling rice and then a vegetable curry. Salim explained that because of the wind, it would be difficult for us to try to spear fish ourselves due to the churned up water. Adam took a while to spear three gorgeous fish, a feat made more impressive by Ramadan not allowing him to eat or drink all day.

After Chris and Salim gutted the fish, he cooked it on the grill, ocassionally reapplying delicious Swahili spices. Served up were the three fish, rice with coconut, vegetable curry and some extra spices. Cold beer topped off a perfect meal or so we thought until three long, tinfoil wrapped things were produced out of nowhere. Inside was a banana with chocolate placed in the middle. Horrary for dessert!

We had some time to wander Manda Toto Island before going back. It appeared really remote unitl I saw a house on one side. And across the small channel, one of the most expensive hotels in Lamu sat watching us on Manda Island.

We went to leave and sailed for part of the way back until the wind switched direction. I lounged on the rooftop deck, listening to the conversations belong while enjoying a killer view of largely unspoiled mangos and coral rock formations. I highly recommend the fishing experience for anyone in headed to Lamu.

Pictures of Lamu exist but were uploaded to my now non-functioning computer.  

Update, my computer have been fixed and here are my pictures.