Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Mombasa your tropical holiday destination

Mombasa at the beginning of twentieth century, Mombasa was seat of the government and capital of Kenya, mainly because there was no other town the railway was built. Mombasa is an island linked to the mainland by a causeway, a bridge and a ferry. It is the main port and railway terminal. The conglomeration of buildings above the deep blue sea make up old Mombasa and include the old docks where some dhows still berth after arriving from middle east early in the year
-A drive down Moi Avenue towards the docks and the administrative offices, takes you under two huge pairs of tasks. This is a well-known and remembered landmark of
Mombasa Island .The information bureau is nearby.
-stalls containing a large variety of wood carvings bracelets, drums, stools, beaded necklaces, batiks and other Africans crafts. These are places for goods hearted bargaining.
Prices may come down to less than half the original demand and you will certainly get a
fair deal as there as there is so much competition.
- A walk round old Mombasa takes you into another world. Cars are allowed, but in some places cannot pass each other because the streets are narrow. You are welcomed inside ancient building. You can pick up goods and bargain, everything look old and genuine At certain times Ivory rooms are open you may have to get permission to get inside. You will see Arab selling their very strong coffee from old copper pots.
- There are many mosques which you can enter after removing you shoes. Fort
- Jesus was built by Portuguese mariners route to India from Turk and Dutch
A wide moat round three sides made the fort almost impregnable heavy guns were placed outside facing the sea Between 1696 and 1698,there was a siege by Arabs of Oman and the fort was captured. Arab occupation to fort Jesus continued until 1895, when it was bombarded by the Swaminarayan All are welcome inside as long as you remove your shoes.
- This is fine example of Mombasa’ many Hindu temples; their most important festival is diwali, which is cerebration of the return of the God, Rama, and his wife after 14 years of exile in the forest this is Hindu new year it might be October or November according to Indian calendar. The Jains are most prosperous Hindu community in Mombasa. They are strict vegetarians
--A visit to the Kenya coast is a tropical dream and a wonderful way to begin or end your holiday coconut palms fridge the sea shores and give shade to the gardens of most beach hotels. Africans cut steps up the trunks of palm trees and shin up in no time at all. Coconut juice makes a refreshing drink and can be extracted when the nut is green.

The glory of a tropical sunset on a palm – fringed shore is a memory you will treasure forever.

Mombasa Hotels

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