Mombasa

Beautiful white sands welcome my feet into the ocean, with their soft, wet, coarse sensation. The ocean is warm and cool at the same time. It tempts me to stay longer without uttering a word. Its temptation, I swear it, is stronger than girls in bikinis, who want to have fun. The Mombasa people too tempt you to stay; they call you "brother", "sister," "son", "daughter".....though you are a stranger. They smile at you without any scorn, slyness, or expecting anything in return. Their smile is natural and innocent. They serve you a cup of tea without asking for it, and offer you a seat. They ask about your journey, home and destination. You feel as though you had met in a past life. "You have met God!" people tell me when I return to the city. "I found Him in Mombasa," comes my response.