Diani
Thurs 12th.  After a slightly better breakfast with a big omelette instead of a boiled egg, I went the short distance to the top of the road and caught a tuk tuk to the ferry for 100bob. They can stop right outside the gate to the gangway again; for a couple of years you had to walk 5 minutes from where they dropped you off.
I wasn’t stopped and asked to show my passport this time.  Quickly onto the ferry and across the creek. Shakur on the other side is still involved with the Shimoni transport. I let a couple of matatus go as they were almost full and I was on no hurry. There was a virtually empty one waiting and I got in the front; much fresher as it was stifling hot outside.
Only 45 minutes to Ukunda. I went for a tea at Rongai. Then a boda to Frangipani, reaching there about 11:30. Vincent welcomed me, and there were frangipani petals and bougainvillea strewn on the bed.

Walked to Maweni village just around the corner. Malaika Gardens resort…going to be huge…conference, restaurant and bar complete. In the process of building about 50 rooms. The bar I used to like going to has closed down.
The first thing I did was to buy 10 litres of drinking water. Followed by a swim in the pool at Frangipani. Then I walked to the beach, going passed Diani Campsite, and along to Chill Spot. A great, slightly raised beach bar with such a relaxing view of the ocean. From there to Maweni village to figure out something for an early dinner. Decided against Malaika as a plate of 3 samosas cost 400ksh, whereas right across the road I bought very tasty 6 viazi karai (batter coated deep fried potato slices) for a total of 30ksh. Went to the local bar 100mtrs away. 1 beer. Took a small bottle of Chrome to my room.

Fri 13th. Maweni for breakfast of 4 mandazi and tea…total cost of 30ksh…same place I used to go to last year. Did some clothes washing. Walked to Chandarana shopping centre.  Had a coffee and deposited money on Mpesa. Found a shortcut to the beach; an askari let me pass through a hotel premises which he wasn’t really allowed to do. Gorgeous hotel…well, they all are ..!!
Waked along the beach to Chill Spot. Back to Frangipani for a swim. Changed into my jeans and went all the way to/up the Ukunda main road to the Kitamu restaurant which had been recommended to me. Had a beef pilau for 350ksh.Tasty, but I didn’t get the banana as per the menu…because they didn’t have any bananas..!!
Walked all the way back. Called in at Chill Spot. Had one at Piri Pires . Said hello to Jane and had a quick chat. On to Andugu bar, Maweni??..don’t know the name. Bought Balozi and small chrome again. Called in on Malaika VIP Lounge on the way back to my room.

Sat 14th. Usual chapati na chai breakfast. Walked to the beach; across and up to Diani beach shopping centre. Bought some chevda sticks.Got safari quotes for Nadia. 3 days safari for 2 was £900…unfortunately being in December is high season. Had a swim at the house. Walked over to Java for 12:30 for a coffee and met up with Lizzie for the first time. We seemed to hit it off, so all bodes well for our travels. Back via Chill Spot. Had viazi karai for dinner and then up the road for one beer. This time had 2 beers at the VIP lounge and took advantage of their WiFi to phone Nadia, Judith and Alan. Then back to my room.

Shimoni
Sun 15th. Time to head to Shimoni. 9:00 boda around the back roads to Ukunda…instead of simply going to the tarmac…don’t know why. It still only cost 100 and at least, and I was dropped off exactly where I needed to be to get the right transport. Didn’t see any matatus around, so when offered a front seat in a shared taxi to Shimoni Junction for 200ksh, I took it. It seemed like a good price. Being a taxi, there was no stopping so in 45 minutes we were there. I then paid 200 on a boda for the 15 minutes to Shimoni.
I had a wander around…put money on Mpesa…bought some phone credit…Bahati, who I knew from 5 years ago, recognised me. The original road to Sandra and Peter’s house is now closed due the construction of a new port so I had to follow a detour to get there,  probably adding 15 minutes to the walk. Reached Pemba Channel Fishing Club….an absolutely beautiful location. Good to catch up with everyone. My room was amazing of course….everything about the place is luxurious. We had delicious roast lamb with assorted vegetables for lunch. While Peter went up to Mombasa, I walked a slightly detoured route to Shimoni Gardens because the road passed the Navy Base has been blocked off. Shimoni Gardens has been brilliantly renovated…the bar, garden, everything. The tide was in so I couldn’t walk up the beach looking for interestingly weathered/sculptured wood/trunks to photograph. So I had to have a couple of beers before returning to the house. I got a lift for part of the way, reaching there about 17:30.

Then chat, chat for the rest of the evening,  with a soup and salad for dinner. That place is such an oasis with all the trees and bushes, that it attracts monkeys and Bush babies …although I didn’t see Colobus this time. Lizzie had left her cottage windows open, enabling 10+ monkeys to get in and make a mess of the room. I made use of the good WiFi and went to bed around 22:00. It was nice to see Shimoni again; the building of a new port seemed to be the most significant change/development…