More Lamu and Shela

I set the stage for Lamu in the previous post.  Here are some of the snaps of the people, places and general indications of the way of life there.

There are no cars in Lamu or Shela.  Donkeys move all the loads such as household purchases in the market, building materials, and people.

This is next to the Shela jetty and the donkey is carrying mangrove timber for dhow maintenance or maybe for household construction.

This guy is cleaning his dhow.  Shark oil is used to seal the wood for longevity.

These ladies in the Lamu Town market did not appreciate my taking their photo but they weren't covered so I took a chance.

Some of the gorgeous produce for sale every day.

These are traditional Ramadan foods and it's almost dusk, the end of the day's fast.  This vendor has had it.

One of the many passages in Lamu Town.

This is sailcloth that has been painted.  Ali Lamu is a business that employs local fisherman who can no longer earn a sustainable living and they are taught to work with paint and the re-purposed sailcloth to make local art.  Swahili is a Bantu language sharing Arabic words.  Islam is the religion practiced on Lamu and Arabic is written everywhere.  The women are covered as they are in the Arab world and the fast is observed during Ramadan as it is elsewhere in the Muslim world.

This sign is posted next to a shop sharing an alleyway with the most posh hotel on the island, Peponi.  Western tourists do not always realize where they are and that ladies showing shoulder and otherwise traipsing around town in bikinis is offensive to the locals.

This girl is covering her head as per her family's custom.  She is in the school doorway.

She's a beauty.

I got away with this one because I did not photograph her face. 

This is a relaxation alcove with an elaborate Swahili arch.

The peacock at the top of the arch is also seen in reverse-painted mirrors in India, Arabia and East Africa.

This is the hand-carved door to the Lamu mosque on the waterfront.

This is a recently produced door to an elegant house owned by a European who owns several houses in Shela.

Aerial view of Shela beach.

Some of the 80 sand dollars I collected on Shela beach. 

View of dusk with coral formations from Manda.

Sunset over Shela.