Upon arrival, I used the Bolt's application to book a ride. My destination was Dodoma Serene Hotel, found on Tononoka Road. I had been to Mombasa a dozen times before, but this was the first time I spent a night on the island. Scheduled to board a Tanzania-bound bus early in the morning, I chose to sleep in a hotel named after the capital of Mama Samia's country. Dodoma Serene Hotel's proximity to the bus that would take me to Tanzania made it a convenient place to stay.
Mombasa Island lies between the northern and southern mainlands. As we crossed the Makupa Bridge, I rolled down the windows and felt the invigorating effect of the cool breeze from the Indian Ocean.
After a rejuvenating shower, I walked out of the aforementioned hotel and flagged down a three-wheeler taxi, popularly known as a tuk-tuk in this part of East Africa. I had dinner at Creek View Café before boarding another tuk-tuk. What followed was an unscripted night tour of Kenya's second-largest city.
Around the city, roundabouts and other landmarks were embellished with eye-catching Christmas decorations. As we spun around, I saw revelers from Nairobi and beyond hopping from one club to another. These domestic tourists have taken a break from their monotonous work routines and got down to their usual end-of-the-year drinking sprees. Their brothers and sisters from the diaspora have joined them, and the party is on. According to my informers, the other side of the Nyali bridge was more "happening."
It's that time of the year again. I wish it lasts forever. In the words of Richelle E. Goodrich, "the holiday season is like candy. It melts in your mouth slowly and sweetens every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever."
Present-day Mombasa stems from a fusion of Bantu, Persian, Arabic, Portuguese, Indian and British civilizations. It is in this vibrant city where my memorable tour of East Africa's coastal strip commenced. Over the next ten days or so, I will be sharing my experiences in Mombasa, Diani, Tanga, Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam.