TobyFor those of you who have been following recent events in Garissa, Kenya, and who were aware of the proximity of Lamu and Kiwayu Island […]
Category: Africa
Before the Rains
*** We are at the very edge of the rainy season here in Kenya… This is what it feels like. (All photos taken yesterday at […]
Why Travel Should Be Stressful
The journey from Diani Beach (South Coast, Kenya) to Kilifi (North Coast) by public transport is long, sweaty and chaotic. (Indeed, going just about anywhere […]
Making Art
I love when people ask me, “Are you an artist?” These days, it happens often as guests and staff at the Distant Relatives Ecolodge in […]
Embracing Syncretism
When I first encountered the concept of cultural immersion, it sounded something like this: To understand—to truly understand—another place and people, you must eat, sleep, […]
When the Power Goes Out (a poem for quiet moments)
I wrote this during one of Kenya’s (frequent, albeit brief) power outages. Though inconvenient, I find they can offer some much-needed respite from the constant […]
The Paradise Mask
Diani Beach, South Coast, Kenya, 4.3222° S “Everybody—everybody who is escaping from something ends up in Diani. Shady people, criminals, expats… everybody.” Such was the […]
The Gift
Several days ago, I sat in a matatu (bus) plying the main road of Diani, Kenya. On my way to Diani Beach Hospital for a […]
That Sand in your Toes Feeling
Today was a gorgeous day at Diani Beach. For the first time in a long time, I felt poetry pushing at my fingertips. I hope […]