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March 2024
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  • Tui Snider

March 2024

An open-ended adventure by Tui Snider Read more
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    Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Kenyan Schoolkids

    March 27, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    We ran into several groups of school kids at Haller Nature Park in Mombasa. Most of them were grade-school aged (6 to 9, probably) but the last group we encountered were teenaged girls.

    Oh, my! Exuberant schoolgirl energy is so precious and joyful. If I could bottle it up and sell it, I’d be a millionaire.

    As the group approached, they waved to us, so I called out, “Jambo jambo!”

    That’s all it took to cause a stampede! Next thing you know, I was engulfed by giggling girls.

    “Take a selfie, Mama! Mama, take selfies with us!” they cried out. I tried, but it was too hard.

    Larry wound up taking photos of the throng, much to their delight. After, they taught me how to say hello in their mother tongue (not Swahili)

    Before they left, they lined up and every single one of them gave me a high five!

    Kenyans are not afraid to touch you, that’s for sure! They also tend to use the language of family for everyone they meet, calling each other brother and sister, for example.

    Many of the girls hugged me and called me, “Mama” as in, “This is how you say hello in our language, Mama!”and “Don’t forget me, Mama!”

    Considering that this part of Africa is where mankind originated, calling each other brother and sister is a good reminder that despite our many differences we are, at heart, the same species and have more in common than not.

    Meeting those schoolgirls was definitely a highlight of our visit to Mombasa!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Masai Dance

    March 27, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    At Bombolulu, we were treated to a lively dance presentation.

    We saw several dances, and even joined in for a special welcome dance, but the lighting wasn’t the best for photography.

    The photos and video I have here are from a dance meant to welcome Masai warriors back home after battle.

    Make sure you watch the brief video clip. That guy is amazingly flexible!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Bombolulu

    March 27, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Mombasa’s Bombolulu Cultural Center gives mentally and/or physically challenged people jobs making traditional crafts, as well as mobility aids.

    We enjoyed chatting with the crafts people and admiring their handiwork. In the sewing room, a young man asked to take a photo of me and our guide.

    I like it when the picture taking goes both ways!

    We saw cute baby lizards as well as harmless millipedes on the grounds of the facility.

    I snapped a pic of a couple who I see around the ship. They always wear matching outfits, and seem to be having a great time.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Mombasa Drive

    March 27, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Our bus drive through Mombasa was fascinating. Not only did many locals wave to us as we passed, but in some cases, they even blew kisses!

    Tuk tuks are a thing here, but they also have privately owned minivans for hire. The owners take pride in decorating them in colorful paint jobs.

    After noticing that they all had “Mom SACCO” on them, I looked it up. “SACCO” stands for “Savings and Credit Community Organization,” while “Mom” is short for “Mombasa.” Rather than get a bank loan, many people use SACCOs to fund these minivans.

    One neighborhood we passed through was lined with furniture stores. They were making the furniture on site. It looked quite nice, and I’ll bet it’s a bargain

    A lot of different religions coexist peacefully in Mombasa: Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and atheist are the main ones according to our guide.

    It was insanely hot and humid, so I really felt for the Muslim women who I saw clad in black from head to toe.

    As we crossed the city’s main bridge, our guide told us there were so many suicides from people leaping into the river there during the Covid shutdown that a special patrol had to police it.

    Another road we went down was lined with shack cafes where they barbecued big hunks of meat. We were told that men enjoy eating this meat while drinking Tusker beer, which is the local brand.

    There were some interesting cuts of meat for sale at the various “butchery” shops we passed. Along steak and chicken, they advertised things like “mbuzi,” “moyo,” and “kuku.”

    These days, Mombasa is eager to become a major cruise ship destination. A local newspaper even featured an article about our ship’s arrival.

    Talk about a scenic drive!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Kenyan Tribe Exhibit

    March 26, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    When we travel, I like to keep an eye on posters and graffiti. They often let me in on cultural aspects that tour guide’s gloss over.

    In Mombasa, I noticed posters on telephone poles with the word “mganga” on them. Turns out that’s the Swahili for “witch doctor” or “healer.”

    One section of Bombolulu Cultural Center showcases aspects of a few of the 44 different tribes who live in Kenya.

    Our first stop here was a visit with a Mganga. When no one else volunteered, I stepped up to be ritually cleansed by the Mganga and his assistant.

    After a bit of chanting, our guide interpreted what they were saying. Apparently, it was my turn to say a blessing, so I blessed our cruise ship and all the passengers on it!

    After this, we walked along a path which featured examples of different tribal dwellings.

    A man with a cool homemade bowed instrument played a welcome song for us.

    A Masai couple in traditional garb stood by their hut. The shield out front means that the man of the house is home.

    According to our guide, the Masai men, “Only come home to perform their conjugal duties,” which prompted Larry to remark that, “No wonder the ceiling is low; they don’t stand up much when they are home.”

    Obviously, our visit here was only the tip of the iceberg. Each one of these tribes has its own mother tongue and culture.

    When our guide found out we were from the USA, he was quick to remind us that, “Your president’s family is from Kenya.”

    I really enjoyed learning a tiny bit more about the many tribes of Kenya.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Haller Nature Park

    March 26, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F

    If you ever feed giraffes, don’t be afraid; they don’t have any upper teeth so they can’t bite you like other animals. Instead, giraffes use their upper lips, lower teeth, and long purple tongue to scoop food from your hand.

    Wild monkeys kept a vigilant watch for any spilled pieces of giraffe chow. I must say, however, these monkeys were the most well-mannered ones I’ve ever encountered.

    In Indonesia, Gibraltar, Malaysia, Philippines… really, any other place you can find wild monkeys, I’ve seen them pester, and even bite, humans who they think may have food on them.

    The giraffes, crocodiles, and venomous snakes at Haller Nature Park were caged, but the elands and giant tortoises roamed freely.

    I enjoyed seeing the pythons, black mambo, pit viper, and green mambo, but there was too much glare on the glass to get a decent photo of them.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    11

    Welcome to Kenya!

    March 26, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    A local dance group met us at the pier in Mombasa, Kenya. They even handed out fresh coconuts for us to enjoy. How I love those!

    I only managed to take a few photos, however, before the Kenyans pulled me into the dance with them!

    The first dance involved a lot of shoulder shimmying. In another dance, a man handed me a wand with animal hair to wave around. The moves for that one required hip swiveling along with some really intense eye contact!

    My dad visited Kenya many years ago and taught me a few words in Swahili, so I understood a tiny bit as they sang: “Jambo jambo” (hello), “Kenya karibu” (welcome to Kenya), and “Hakuna matata,” (no worries.)

    That last bit I actually learned from Disney, but it’s a common saying that you will hear all over Africa. (I also learned that Simba means “first son,” which gives me a sudden urge to watch “The Lion King” again!)

    We hadn’t even left the pier and Mombasa already felt like an adventure!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Seychelles Snorkelling

    March 24, 2024 on the Seychelles ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    We took a catamaran ride to Anse Royale, a gorgeous bay in the Seychelles. Along the way, we saw a super yacht called “Nord.”

    Once there, we spent an hour snorkeling along the reef where we saw a stunning array of tropical fish going about there fishy lives: black and white striped scissor tail sergeants, and surgeonfish, which were neon blue with yellow accents were especially plentiful.

    I got a snoot full of sea water a couple times, but I always find snorkeling so relaxing.

    Back on the catamaran, we shared a Coca Cola which was labeled “maritime channel only.” When I tried using the panorama function to get a pic of that, it came out looking like someone’s rendition of an acid trip.

    Speaking of drugs, I was shocked to learn that the Seychelles have the highest percentage of heroin addicts in the world, something like 10% of the population is hooked.

    Just goes to show that even in a tropical paradise, people have their struggles.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Peter Pepper’s Spice Garden

    March 24, 2024 on the Seychelles ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    On Mahe Island in the Seychelles, we visited a historic spice garden. A French guy named Pierre Poivre (aka Peter Pepper) started the original garden back in the 1771.

    The lush gardens offered much-appreciated shade during our visit. As an added bonus, we had gone snorkeling earlier, and had wet suits to help cool us off, as well.

    We enjoyed a guided walk through the hilly garden. Along the way, we saw allspice trees, and a grove of vanilla plants. (The Seychelles only sells vanilla locally and does not export it.)

    By squeezing seeds of the Lipstick Tree, you can dye your lips and fingernails a matching red color.

    I found the nutmeg tree fascinating. The fleshy yellow fruit splits and drops the inner red mace and dark, nearly black, nutmeg to the ground.

    We also saw a few animals, including a Seychelles skink and giant tortoises. I was surprised to learn that while they can’t swim, tortoises enjoy floating around in the water.

    By the way, the red bird you see is called a Madagascar Fody. While the one pictured is in a cage, it was there of its own free will. It was flying in and out to snack on the caged pigeons’ food.

    We ended our visit by enjoying a glass of fresh iced lemongrass. Made from lemongrass grown on site, of course.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Maldives Submarine

    March 20, 2024 on the Maldives ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Even though I’m claustrophobic, after enjoying a semi submersible in Curacao, it emboldened me enough to try an actual submarine in the Maldives.

    That said, I skipped my morning dose of coffee to stave off any anxiety. And while I had a few butterflies in my stomach as we submerged, my claustrophobia never kicked in. Hooray!

    I wasn’t able to get any good fish shots, but there were a lot of them to see and I’ve included a few just to prove my point.

    I wish the experience had been narrated, and that they had a laminated guide to the local fish for us to consult along the way, but I’d still give it 5 stars.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Male Muslim Cemetery

    March 19, 2024 on the Maldives ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Smack dab in the middle of a busy downtown Male lies a historic burial ground dating back to 1656!

    The Muslim cemetery at Old Friday Mosque is so old, in fact, that the graves here follow an old tradition: rather than face Mecca, they face west.

    Inside, the carpeting is placed at an angle so that modern folks can face Mecca when they pray.

    The grounds feature a handful of mausoleums in which sultans and their wives have been laid to rest.

    And while I can’t read any of the script on the headstones, I do know that the rounded ones are for women, and the pointed ones are for men.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    111

    Maldives Market

    March 19, 2024 on the Maldives ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    I didn’t have a banana with me for scale, but as you can see, the market in Male, Maldives had no shortage of bananas for sale.

    The market booth vendors were friendly and happy to explain what various things were, such as betel leaves, betel nuts, pine fruit, curry leaves, and pandan leaves.

    We tried samples of coconut honey candy, but my big thrill was drinking a fresh coconut. What a thrill!

    I forget what the local language is in the Maldives, but the script is very pretty, don’t you think?

    As for the stray cat, she instantly knew that I’m a cat person. As we passed by, it was all I could do not to sneak her back onto the ship with me!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Sri Lanka Dancers

    March 18, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌙 84 °F

    Another wonderful local act; this time a Sri Lankan dance group treated us to an amazing show. Loved the gorgeous outfits, music, and choreography that was both graceful and, at times, acrobatic. There was even a guy spinning plates.Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Haircut & Cathedral

    March 18, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    When Larry told our tuk tuk driver he wanted a haircut, Indika said he knew just the place. Not only that, he knew the name of a “special Sri Lanka man style hair for you.”

    Indika took us to a Hindi salon and spent a good two minutes describing the haircut to the barber. The place smelled of nag champa incense and after shave, and the radio was tuned to a Hindi music station. I was surprised to see that the barber was barefoot.

    Once Larry settled into the barber chair, Indika asked if I wanted to see his church, by which he meant St. Anthony’s Cathedral. I said sure, so off we went.

    Along the way, we passed shops selling flowers and holy statues for Hindus and Christians alike. I should have taken photos of the shelves featuring Krishna next to Jesus, and so forth, but Indika’s brisk pace didn’t give me the chance.

    A week or so after our first visit to Colombo, a suicide bomber attacked St. Anthony’s Cathedral during Easter Sunday Mass.

    These days, the church has a metal detector and guards who check everyone who enters. Indika was eager to show me the shrine for this event and explain that he was on his way to church when the explosion happened. How terrible and scary!

    Beyond that, I don’t quite know why it says “Priest Victim” over a case containing what looks to be the body of an uncorrupted saint beside something that reminds me of the Shroud of Turin.
    More for the research file!

    I enjoyed the koi ponds and little aquariums with fish throughout the cathedral and its grounds. This is a nod to St. Anthony, who is said to have preached to the fish and is the patron saint of fishermen.

    By the time we returned to the barbershop, Larry’s haircut was nearly complete. The man even gave him a vigorous head and neck massage. All that for $5 US!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Colombo’s Red Mosque

    March 17, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    I don’t know the story behind Colombo’s Red Mosque, but it’s rather striking as you can see.

    One thing that surprised me was how it as crammed-jammed in between a bunch of rather bland buildings on a hectic street full of shops catering to tourists and locals alike.Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Arthur C Clarke Grave

    March 17, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t read about the venomous snakes of Sri Lanka before our visit to Borella Kanatte cemetery in Colombo!

    Sticking to the paved paths is the safest bet, but we were searching for Arthur C. Clark’s grave, and this required much wandering through the grass.

    Our tuk tuk driver, Indika, is Catholic, but he can read and speak Singhalese, so he was able to interpret many of the epitaphs for me along the way.

    After the Catholic section, we wandered into the Buddhist section, where my favorite mausoleum featured skeletons, elephants, swans, and the traditional Buddhist wheel.

    Indika showed me the grave of a famous Sri Lankan “sing song lady” whose monument is shaped like a sitar.

    After an hour and a half, Larry finally found Arthur C. Clark’s grave. There was still a lot more to see, but by then we were melting from the heat, so we hopped back into Indika’s tuk tuk and went to a coffee shop.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    We took a tuk tuk!

    March 17, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    I downloaded a special rideshare app called PickMe for our visit to Sri Lanka. It’s like Uber, except you can also book tuk tuks and motor scooters.

    Thus prepared, we stepped off the ship. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect to any cell services in Sri Lanka. Larry occasionally got one bar of service, but the app was all set up on my phone, so we couldn’t use it.

    We wound up booking a tuk tuk the old-fashioned way, when a man approached us and asked if we needed a taxi. Larry negotiated with him and off we went.

    I’d never been in a tuk tuk before, and it was a blast! Despite the hot day and heavy traffic, I wasn’t scared. Our driver, Indika, knew how to maneuver that little machine, with the open air providing a much-needed breeze.

    I don’t really enjoy over-crowded cities, but our tuk tuk trip turned it into a fun whirlwind of sights, sounds, and smells.

    I didn’t realize that even the police use tuk tuks. At one point, we even saw a couple men handcuffed together. One of them sat on the other’s lap as they were taken to jail!

    After wandering through a historic cemetery for a couple hours, we were ready for refreshments, so Indika took us to a lovely coffee shop where Larry bought drinks and pastries for the three of us.

    At Indika’s insistence, we dropped by Victoria Park to see the elephants. L&I found it a rather sad scene, however. The mahouts were shooting rocks at crows with slingshots for fun, and laughing cruelly anytime they got close.

    We could have fed and pet the elephants, but I didn’t want to tip those mahouts, and was sad to see that the elephants there had both their front and back legs chained.

    I was excited to see a brightly colored kingfisher there, and rather puzzled to see a crow with a pack of cigarettes…

    I’d rather expected our tuk tuk ride to be scary, dirty, and hot, but was pleasantly surprised, instead. I’d definitely book a tuk tuk again!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

    March 14, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Our dinner companions, Thelma and Clive, joined us for a trip to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.

    As we drove to the sanctuary’s grounds, we passed a latex farm, where we could see little cups catching the rubber as it drips. I’m always surprised by how thin rubber trees are.

    Once we arrived, the employees sat us down for refreshments. While we enjoyed fresh banana fritters and other snacks, we watched an eye-opening documentary about the mistreatment of elephants.

    I didn’t realize, for instance, that when you see elephants seemingly painting pictures for fun, they are actually being forced to do so by a trainer who covertly pokes them in the ear with a sharp nail. And that’s just one example of how elephants are exploited and mistreated.

    The residents here are all elephants that have been rescued from bad circumstances.

    The highlight of our visit was feeding fruit to the elephants. They spend most of the day eating leaves, but fruit is a special treat for them, rather like dessert.

    I really enjoyed making eye contact with our elephant while feeding her. As you can see, Larry just as delighted as I was.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Ladyboys of Phuket

    March 13, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F

    For our stop in Phuket the Simon Cabaret Ladyboys came aboard, and boy did they ever deliver an energetic show!

    What is a ladyboy? Basically, Ladyboys are transgender men who dress and live as women. The Thais have their own word for it, but “Ladyboy” emerged as a term to explain things to Westerners. It’s not a derogatory term, Ladyboys are an accepted part of Thai society.

    Why is that? Some say it’s because the Buddhist religion is more accepting. That said, same sex marriage isn’t legal in Thailand, nor are they allowed to change the sex on their IDs, even if they’ve had surgery.

    (Update: Same sex marriage is on the ballot in Thailand!!!)

    And not all Ladyboys are cabaret dancers. We saw one working at the elephant sanctuary, and another as a cashier.

    Anyway, the Ladyboy show was a blast. To me, it felt like a lively celebration of womanhood. I enjoyed all the glitz and glam.

    Afterwards, the Ladyboys received a standing ovation and people rushed up to have photos taken with them.

    I waited ‘til the last minute, but as you can see, the Ladyboys are tall. They stand a good head taller than me!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    1

    Dragon Full Moon Party

    March 13, 2024, Strait of Malacca ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    In Penang, the ship had a “Dragon Full Moon Party.” Oddly enough, the lunar phase that evening was a waxing crescent, which you can see if you look closely at my photos.

    We enjoyed a lively conversation with Alan and Susan (friends we made through the choir class) along with cool beverages, and a glorious sunset.Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Graves in a Frangipani Grove

    March 13, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    We took the free CAT Bus in Penang to the nearest stop to the Old Protestant Cemetery.

    The grounds are well-kept, but since the first gate we found was padlocked, we wound up entering through a part of the wall that had caved in.

    The burial ground is tucked in a shady grove of frangipani trees. As you can see, I tucked some of the fragrant blossoms into my hat band. (Look closely and you can see that I have sweat right through my hat, as well. It was such a hot and humid day!)

    I saw a strange little creature on the corners of a sarcophagus. It reminds me of these little piggy looking creatures that I saw all over town. Once again, something to research later!

    I also so many different kinds of butterfly here, as well as a moth that was the size of my hand. Really fascinating place.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    2

    Exploring Penang

    March 13, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Despite the sweltering heat, we enjoyed exploring Penang’s Georgetown neighborhood, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    I really wanted to free one of the caged birds we saw along the way, however. The poor thing was out in the bright sun, with no available shade!Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Phuket Scenery

    March 12, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Here are a few things we saw while driving to and from the Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket.

    The sign for “Tourist Attraction” cracked me up. So generic!

    I was surprised at all the places advertising cannabis. Unlike other Asian countries, Thailand seems to be fine with pot.

    A barber shop we passed had quite a cultural melange in its window display. As always, we saw a few large posters of Thailand’s royal family here and there.

    I don’t know what those bird beaked creatures are all about, but I find them rather scary and intriguing.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    11

    Penang Cat Cafe

    March 12, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    Years ago, I toyed with the idea of opening a coffeehouse that also had a small bookstore and petting zoo out back. Most folks I shared this idea with told me I was an idiot. (But back then, I did not have the best support system around me, haha!)

    Anyway, I’ve wanted to visit a cat cafe for ages. I finally got my chance in Penang and it did not disappoint!

    Cat cafe rules vary from venue to venue. Many make you pay by the hour, but the one in Penang simply requires you to order food and/or drinks.

    Larry and I shared a duck curry and an amazing dessert called Yuzu Bingsu, and we each enjoyed an iced caramel espresso.

    I was there for the cats, but wow! The food was excellent. They also had free WiFi, which meant that Larry, who is definitely not a cat person, was content to read the news and scroll Facebook while I enjoyed the kitties. Also, there was absolutely no litter box smell.

    The food was inexpensive, too. Our curry, for instance, cost roughly $6 in US dollars!

    The Yuzu Bingsu was quite a surprise. It was a bit like a snowcone, except that the ice was much finer. It was more like snow, in fact. They gave us little shovels to eat it with, as well as a citrusy syrup to pour on top. It was nice and tart, not overly sweet, at all, and had little citrus micro spheres along with fresh grapefruit inside it.

    It really was the most refreshing treat to have on a sweltering day in Penang.

    As for me, I had a lovely time playing with the kitties. It sure made me miss my cat, however. None of those cats loves me the way Miss Otis does and vice versa.

    I’d definitely visit Munchkind and Friends again if we ever return to Penang.    Read more

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