A RIDE ON A DHOW

A RIDE ON A DHOW

We are approaching the island. I can tell as the blue deep sea is giving space to many small atolls emerging over the surface giving space to the waves to sparkle their waters against the coral walls and show that beautiful white fresh crest.

The island is small and the plane, although a 13 seater, has no space to land.  We need to land on the continent, from there take a “typical-taxi-cart” that takes us to the dock and from there a great 20 minutes boat ride to the white sandy beaches.

Dhow boats are typical of the Indian Ocean. They are made of wood, right on the shores of the beaches, whether on the African shores or on the Indian ones or on the Far Eastern islands. No matter, they are done by hand and worked through with wood, iron and rope.

Patchwork cotton material will be the sail that will lead the wind to blow in it and take you wherever.

Fishermen on main Tanzanian Land

Local fishermen use these boats to go out fishing, others rent it to lodges to have cruises and sundowners with a bottle of champagne.

However you use them they are nice, warm and comfortable. Easy to step in and easy to get off. Easy to jump in the water and go for a nice swim looking for starfish, colored fish and relax in salty waters.

  

Charlotte Swimming peacefully

CHARLOTTE just made it to land. Happy as usual cannot hold her joy.

But who is that intruder JUMPING on "MY" private shore ?

Lamberto

A PRIVATE MOMENT JUST FOR ME

A PRIVATE MOMENT JUST FOR ME

It is 5h30 AM

I just peeped out of my bed. I had moved my mattress last night to be right at the edge of the entrance door of my banda.  I lied in bed looking at the stars above me. The sky was dark but the many stars had lit it up as for a luxurious party.

This morning the sky was pale, the sound of the waves almost asleep, the first rays of the sun were just about to peep out behind a marvelous cloud of the shape of whipped cream , when i decided it was time for a walk in the cold, soft sand and a swim in the sea.

Nobody there to bother, nobody speaks words, not even the seagulls fly. They step on the sand leaving behind their typical cute footprints, some small crab crawling out of their borrow to reach for the wave that silently reaches the shore. 

I take a walk on the beach. Naked and alone. On my way back, the color of the sky is turning to its blues and the air feels warmer on my skin. It is time to go back and get dressed. My kikoi is waiting for me with my strew hat on the pole of my banda. The coffee should be arriving in a short time, i had ordered for 7AM.

SOMETHING NEW IN WINDHOEK

SOMETHING NEW IN WINDHOEK

Another new place to meet !

@ LUXURY HILL

has opened a nice, cool, relaxed, cozy coffee place, snacks and quick lunch, a superb dinner.

 https://www.facebook.com/oliviaswindhoek/

Olivia’s kitchen you may get crispy croissant, practically more similar to the French kind and interesting breakfast sandwiches with avocado-scramble egg or salmon delight !

Smoothies are yummy ! – they can be asked with yogurt or just fruit with mint and mixed with a bit of water and ice. This last one: delicious !

BUTCHER BLOCK - LUXURY HILL

I love it in the evening, though I have stopped there also for lunch, I was really looking for good steak.

 https://butcherblock.co.za/lunch-and-dinner/

I love the bone marrows which have a great taste and nice serving

What shall I say about coffee in both places ?

Well, that's still needs work especially if you ask for an Espresso, but being i a person used to Italian good espresso coffee, my judgment on it is very demanding

But if you look for an American coffee, that’s good !

 ENJOY AND HAVE FUN ! - COZY IN THE EVENING ! NICE TO TAKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND FOR DINNER !

ANCHOR @ THE JETTY RESTAURANT

ANCHOR @ THE JETTY  RESTAURANT

Dear Reader

You might be traveling to Namibia and of course, you will be going by the coast.

This marvelous coast of the Skeleton Coast. 

Nestled in a corner of the sandy coast, there is Walvis Bay… a harbor, but also nearby it has an interesting lagoon

Here, each year, whales form the cold Antarctica Waters come and give birth to their small ones, or make a stop in the cozy water of the lagoon…. They stay for some times and it is nice seeing them around.

But you won’t be missing the many dolphins, the seals, the pelicans, the cormorants, the seagull, ….  All waiting for fresh fish just like we do when we stop at one of the most important restaurant of the whole cost: 

Anchor’s @ The Jetty Restaurant

Still a typical fishermen’s restaurant with nets, peddles, wooden table, surf-tables, candles and lanterns.

https://anchors-the-jetty-restaurant.business.site/

Ask for the owners…. They are lovely people !  
Ms Lindy Meyer

Tell them you are my friend …. 

Stop for a drink, a good tasty cold dry glass of white wine, with the cacochas !

It’s a great moment to enjoy a before-dinner snack, sitting overlooking the bay and Pelican Point Lodge ! – The best place in town to overnight !

Taste the juicy “fish-platter” brought to the table with its black frying pan sizzling and giving out that marvelous sense of fish !

ENJOY IT ALL !

PELICAN POINT - THE LIGHTHOUSE OF NAMIBIA

PELICAN POINT – THE LIGHTHOUSE OF NAMIBIA

How stunning this view !

You see it now with the light of a sunny day !

See it in the light of just about cocktail time ! 

See it early morning with that Skeleton Coast fog that gives the mystery mood to it !

I love when one has to leave its own car and proceed with a ranger and a 4x4 to reach the new place where you will be sleeping

It always adds that particular feeling to be in the wild:  “it is not possible or allowed to reach the lodge with own means of transport” – WOW

 You might bump in a couple of seals lying in the sun !

Sometimes he is there. Other times he is wondering around the country. 

THE OWNER ...  - the master of Captain’s Cove Room….

http://www.pelicanpoint-lodge.com/

 

Overlooking the harbor, the lagoon, the strand of warm sand that reaches into the waves and gives space to the many seals to lie there, warming up and then 

splashing again into the waves

He takes you for a “wild” drive along the shore…. The sun is about to set behind the horizon. Even the horizon sometimes you may see it clearly, 

other times it might be hidden behind grey clouds of mist

THE CHEF ! – WOW

He is always there ready to surprise you any time during the day: breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch time, tea & coffee time with small tasty sweets, and when cocktail time starts, here come trays of tarts, fresh oysters of the day, good smell of fish and gorgeous fillet stakes for the one that love meat.

Swakopmund…..

Walvis Bay …..

All left behind !

Here is the place to be when you want to feel the power of the Ocean, shine under the flash of the lighthouse, chill out with cuddles the hosts, 

have a great glass of cold white wine!  

NOTHING IS BEST....

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REACH MÖWE BAY ?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REACH MÖWE BAY ?

The ocean becomes rough and dark

It looks cold and the waves give way to a bright white shiny crest reaching the dramatic shore of the Skeleton Coast

Sometimes against the sand, sometimes against stone. Stone that now is round and smooth contrasting with the mood of the place. Many of the crashed stones have beautiful colors. Many of the left behind glasses of the sunken boats roll on the shore and become beautiful colored stones.

Here is the car that will pick us up. We leave our car at the entrance and we proceed with our ranger.

First thing we notice: the many seals, but this time they are free. No fence, no small wall separates them from the main road.

 They have chosen this corner of the coast because they were left alone, no tourist, no bother. Lots of plankton and fish. Cool breeze, which for us is cold breeze, and many waves to splash in.