Wed 20th.
Went over to Jundan to meet Mark. We got a tuk tuk to the ferry. As we approached, a guy asked if we wanted a tuk tuk to the ferry. I said No, as we were already in a tuk tuk and were about 2 minutes away. Odd. Didn’t give security a chance to stop us….no eye contact and kept walking. Unfortunate 45 mins on the ramp waiting for the ferry; they seemed to be giving priority to cars. On the other side it didn’t take long to start the 45 minute journey to Ukunda. We had a tea at Rongai and I did a little Naivas shopping before we headed to Dadida’s Pool Cottage. Checked in and paid around the 3,500 per day for 5 days. Basically £20 per day for the very comfortable cottage with nice swimming pool.
I went around to the nearby village and bought vegetables to have with the sausages from Naivas, and the leftover noodles from Nyali. Anyway, that was in the evening, but first we walked down to Chill Spot to have a couple of beers and enjoy the sea view. I also popped around the corner to Malaika bar and restaurant for a slightly cheaper beer.Then we cooked dinner, started on a bottle of spirit mixed with mango juice and enjoyed our surroundings.
Thurs 21st
After breakfast we walked to Chandarana shopping centre. We had a coffee at the newly refurbished Jolly something café and did a little supermarket shopping. Then, while Mark went back to the cottage in a tuk tuk, I found a route to the beach and walked down as far as Chill Spot and up to the cottage from there. The Diani beach is always a pleasure to walk along…bordered by lots of palm trees.
I noticed that the Diani Sea Resort was packed with visitors; they often seem to be full, it must be a budget all inclusive destination. And I also confirmed that Piri Piries at Diani Beach shopping had closed permanently …it was totally empty of furniture etc. A bit of a shame as it was the only place in the Shopping centre to have a drink near our accommodation.
I had a swim in the pool then went to an even cheaper bar in the village before returning for dinner of sausages/ vegetables/ noodles again. Before then retiring to the comfortable air conditioned bedroom. Oh, Emil & Rose were very nice hosts.
Fri 22nd.
After breakfast I walked with Mark to Carrefour to get provisions, and in particular some meat. There was no reasonably priced chicken or steak so we bought pork. But first we had a Java coffee .
While Mark went back to the cottage with the shopping, I walked across the road where there was a road the short distance to the beach. I walked passed coral outcrops as far as Chill Spot, where there was an ultralight parked on the beach, and back to Dadida’s.
I’ve been really enjoying the pool and having a swim every day; I don’t normally spend much time in a pool. Then I went to the local bar and later bought some vegetables for dinner. The pork was nice and tender. That was it for the day….a relaxing evening.
Sat 23rd
I filmed the tortoise around the pool. I walked down to the beach at Chill Spot, having decided to walk along the beach and up to Chandarana shopping centre. In fact I missed the route off the beach and direct to the shopping centre, but went a bit further on and added 15 mins along the main road. At least I passed the Shakatak restaurant/nightclub who’s name Mark and I were trying to remember.
I bought a bottle of rum and a coke as a mixer. I sat down for a latte, which was very weak and didn’t have much taste. By mid afternoon I was back at the Cottage; I had a swim; Mark and I went to Malaika for a beer; we cooked the last of the sausages; we enjoyed the rum.
Sun 24th.
Rain for much of the morning and then mainly cloudy until mid afternoon. After breakfast I went alone to Carrefour where I bought siverside steak as there was no nice chicken or pork. I also bought coconut milk before having a Java coffee and walking back along Beach road to the cottage.
That morning I started experiencing itchyness around my eyes. I thought it was to do with my cat allergy but we decided I had somehow got ‘Red Eye’. Mark had some drops left over from when he had the same thing in Tz, so I used those in my eyes. They alleviated he condition…but only temporarily.
After a while we walked to Malaika, buying just enough veg for our last night’s dinner. Back at the cottage I boiled the meat first to tenderise it then cooked it in a Thai style. It was absolutely delicious…even if I say so myself..!! More rum and an enjoyable last day/night in Diani. And so to bed and enjoying the treat of 5 nights of AC. I figured that temperatures 25 & 26 were ideal, anything else was too cold !
Mon 25th.
Mark was leaving in the afternoon for Nairobi from Ukunda airport.
I left the cottage relatively early (100bob tuk tuk), stopping at Rongai for a tea before catching a matatu (100bob) to the ferry. I didn’t recognise where I was initially but it was only 5 minutes to the ramp. Less than 10 minutes wait to get on the ferry. The tuk guy at the other end wanted 150 to take me into town but I took my note back and went a short way up the road and gave it to another driver who accepted the 100 bob rate.
After being dropped off I went to Stavrose for samosas and kebab snack. From there I walked to the Nyali stage. Once the matatu filled up, we were off. I made my way to Bustani, arriving at midday.
I settled in and walked to the Nyali shopping centre. I had 6 tasks to achieve. Firstly to go to a pharmacy for eye drops because my eyes were really sore….very red. First cost of over 4,000bob was crazy and I went for the 700bob drops. I wore my sunglasses to cut out sun glare. I drew money from the ATM. I put money on mpesa. I booked my shared taxi to the SGR for 06:30. I went for a Rubis beer, then to the butcher’s for some steak.
Back to Bustani. Then I discovered there was neither a knife or fork in the kitchen. I complained to Mwangi then went to Nest Lounge in the hope of meeting up with John. I told him earlier that wasn’t feeling great but could go out for a short while. In the end he was too busy anyway, so that was a shame.
At the apartment there was a problem with the key; no kitchen knife; the TV didn’t work; neither did the Wi-Fi work. I ripped into my steak with hands and teeth and went to bed….not a satisfactory evening in the apartment.