I learned what Pole Pole means!
Before I set off for Kenya, I first had to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). Click here to get yours from the official Kenyan government website. . It is recommended to do this at least 72 hours before arrival. I paid around 34$ for the application. My flight from Munich to Mombasa took off on February 6 at 5:00 pm with Lufthansa. After a short flight to Frankfurt and a 2-hour layover, I was finally on my way. I was lucky enough to sit in a row of 4 on the flight from Frankfurt to Mombasa, with no neighbors, which meant I had all 4 seats to myself.
The heat when I got off the plane was overwhelming. Leaving in February meant that I was still very warmly dressed. But the Kenyan weather, especially the humidity, was nothing like what I was used to.
The moment I took off my jacket, I realized that Africa is a completely different world. Upon entering the airport, my documents were checked, such as the ETA and my passport, and my photos and fingerprints were taken. After final baggage check, I was finally able to leave the airport.
On leaving the airport, I was greeted by eager baggage handlers. I finally decided to give my suitcase to one of them. As he carried my suitcase to the car, he held out his hand in a friendly manner and said in very good German: "1€, 2€". As I had no cash on me, the search for an ATM was a bit of an odyssey, but eventually I was able to pay the porter and set off. I gave him 500 shillings, which is about €3.50. I decided to buy a SIM card for the data volume straight away. I paid €20 for 20 GB, which was fair in my opinion. However, in the rush for an ATM, I had forgotten to pay the lady at the counter for the SIM card. A young gentleman pointed this out to me and I did so immediately.
Drive from the airport to Temple Point Resort
After the morning rush and without the "Pole Pole" principle, the drive to the resort finally started. "Pole Pole" means "slow" in Swahili, one of the first Kenyan words I learned. The drive was breathtaking. I couldn't stop taking photos of the landscape and the people. The roads, the cars, the people - everything was so fascinating. It was special that I had bought a camera especially for this trip so that I didn't have to take photos with just my iPhone. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone takes good photos and videos, but it was just a completely different feeling to hold a camera in your hand and of course want to try it out straight away. I had picked up a Sony Alpha 6400, a good entry-level camera.
A local market right by the roadside, as you often find in Kenya.
When we arrived at Temple Point Resort after a 2.5 hour drive, it felt like I was entering paradise. Everything was so green and inviting. The staff were incredibly friendly and I was immediately greeted with a refreshing towel and a glass of juice. My room was just steps away from the beach, and after dropping off my belongings, I immediately set off to explore the beach. The resort felt like a botanical garden and I enjoyed just walking around and discovering everything.
The beach was about 20 seconds away from my room 1c, which was very relaxing.
In the evening, I visited the sunset bar "Lichthaus", where I watched the beautiful sunset.
The Lichthaus is very popular between 4pm and 9pm and you should book in advance.
Later, I met up with friends for dinner in Malindi and enjoyed the delicious local cuisine. The ride back to the resort on a motorcycle cab was an exhilarating experience, if a little scary. But I enjoyed feeling the night air and seeing the stars above me. When I finally arrived at the hotel, I was exhausted but happy. My first day in Kenya was full of adventure and new experiences, and I couldn't wait to see what the next few days would bring.
