Do you know this place? It is said that this place is preferred by the richest people in the world. This place is Lamu island. It is located in the tropical island in the Indian Ocean in the northeast of Kenya in Africa. It was once called the most beautiful place in the world by donkey friends and was listed in the world cultural heritage list as early as possible. In order to better appreciate the sunrise and sunset of ram, Bill Gates bought land and built villas on the African continent opposite to ram island. Local Africans call Lamu island paradise. So, where is Lamu island? What are the characteristics of Lamu island? What are the characteristics of Lamu island?
For many people, Lamu is remote and unknown, and the mysterious island becomes a kind of temptation. It is known as "masked Africa". The island has a strong Islamic flavor. The ancient city of Lamu is also the place that best represents the history of Kenya and even the whole East Africa, and is the birthplace of Swahili culture. It is also known as donkey Island, with the most beautiful sunset and tropical island style.
Where is Lamu island?
It's the island where zheng he landed in East Africa
It takes nearly two hours to fly from Nairobi to Lamu island. In the last few minutes of the voyage, the blue bay, the green jungle and the white buildings are woven into a beautiful picture under our feet. Whether blue, green or white is a clear, pure and shining color, it is dizzy.
From the small Lamu airport, we went to Lamu island in the sloop (dhow) handed down by the Arabs. Abdullah, the Islamic boy who came to meet us at Kijani Hotel, told us with a smile: 600 years ago, Zheng He went to Kenya in the west, and the first place to land was Lamu Island. The museum also displays ancient Chinese porcelain, textiles, chairs and even hand-operated noodle machines for centuries. Many times, local fishermen have salvaged intact ancient porcelain and pottery pots from the sea near Lamu. Some of them are engraved with Chinese characters and some are printed with dragon patterns, indicating that these things must come from China. It is said that many Chinese sailors had to settle here because of ship damage. Now there is a village called Shanghai Village on the Patai Island opposite to Lamu island. Most of the villages are of Chinese descent. Lamu island is one of the most densely populated islands in Lamu islands. At present, there are 17000 people, 99% of whom are Muslims. The reason why the population is concentrated here is that only Lamu island can produce saltless groundwater.
At the moment when I stepped into Lamu Island, I couldn't help wondering, is this East Africa? The narrow alleys surrounded by the white walls, the women who wrapped themselves in black robes, the men with Islamic hats, the donkeys carrying bags around, and the dhow wooden boats quietly moored by the sea. Ram is a medieval Islamic world. No wonder the ancient city of ram was included in the world cultural heritage in 2001.
What are the characteristics of Lamu island?
The island is also the donkey Island
Although Arabs, Portuguese, British and Chinese have been here for a long time, the most influential are Arabs and Portuguese. There are a lot of Portuguese style buildings on the island, of course, the most influential one is the Arab Islam. Arab businessmen on the island not only brought Muslim civilization to the island, but also brought donkeys to the island. Arabia is the most influential city in the world. Now ram is famous for "donkey island", the only means of transportation on the island is donkey. There are 6000 donkeys on an island of only 17000 residents. Every family on the island has several donkeys. Donkeys are indispensable partners in their lives, because the transportation of goods on the island basically depends on donkeys, except for donkeys, which are flat cars pulled by manpower. People use donkeys to carry goods and loads, and ride donkeys through the maze of alleys. Therefore, donkeys enjoy a very high status here. Cantonese who eat delicious food here should never say 'dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat in the ground, boss, last donkey meat' because the consequences will be very serious.
There is even a donkey hospital on the island, which provides free treatment for the sick donkeys on the island and feeds the donkeys who have lost their mother. The donkeys on the island are quiet and docile. They work and live normally here without unnecessary damage. The "De De" donkey in the coastal lane has become a landscape of the island, and donkey riding has become a game for tourists to try their hand.
What are the characteristics of Lamu island?
Wandering in the alleys
Ram has a lot to explore. Its houses and buildings are particularly unique. Most buildings can be traced back to the 18th century or before. The building materials are from local sources, including coral stones for walls, mangrove pillars for supporting wooden doors, and complex louvers. Walking is the best way to explore Lamu. Lamu island is not big. It takes only 40 minutes to walk straight from one end of the island to the other and 5 minutes to take a speedboat. Most tourists will choose dhow, a romantic wooden sailing boat.
The island is riddled with alleys. Surrounded by these alleys, RAM in the 21st century is not much different from 400 years ago. Its independent geographical location seems to make the era of continuous progress forget it & hellip; & hellip; Stone towns, carved wooden doors, masked Africa, black men in round hats, children in robes, and donkeys carrying goods are all drilling in and out of narrow alleys, chanting prayers five times a day, circling the alleys in a clear way, traveling here, naturally slowing down and going back to the past. Compared with other bustling islands in the surrounding Indian Ocean, the residents of Lamu island still maintain their own life all the time, and the tourists' coming and going does not affect their enjoyment.
Apart from a slightly wider road by the sea, there are almost no decent roads on Lamu Island, which are basically alleys for only two people. Of course, you don't have to worry about the problem of avoiding the transportation of goods. Every 3-5 meters in the alley, there must be a hollow space in front of the door of a family, and a row of stone benches should be built for their relatives and friends or passers-by to avoid, rest or even sleep. Every door here has its own characteristics. There is no resemblance. No wall is the same. Local people like to use Coral Inlay in the wall, one is beautiful decoration, the other is moisture-proof and solid. Wandering in the city of Lamu, I feel strange and interesting, shuttling through the labyrinth of the old city. I always feel fascinated by a strange color. The streets are full of beautiful old buildings, with gorgeous trees and flowers beside the dilapidated buildings in the alleys. The donkeys bear heavy bags without complaint. The cats plot the action at night at the entrance of the alleys. The women in black walk by, leaving us an order The back of people's reverie.
This is the only place in Kenya where there is no criminal record. The residents on the island are very friendly. When taking photos on the street, there are always lovely children smiling at the camera. Passers-by will say Jambo more. It is this kind of friendly attitude, which not only teaches people to put down the vigilance of wandering in the dark streets, but also makes me deeply fall in love with this lovely island. Walking in the narrow and crooked streets, coral hard rock walls, wooden floors, mangrove poles, thatched roofs and intricate shutters, hiding in the courtyard of foreign rich people in the alleys, the donkeys who come and walk quickly can really feel that an island can trap a person.