Reflecting on tourism - What is the 'real' Africa?
It’s hard to remember
the last Christmas I spent at home; the typical English Christmas
isn’t familiar to me that’s for sure. Instead when December comes
around my family and I set off to Watamu, Kenya – a small village 2
hours north of Mombasa and 1 hour south of the Somali border.
Undoubtedly we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, first visiting
the continent 7 years ago, we are drawn back every single year. So
December 2012 it’s no different; once again we settle back into our
usual resort, apply the sun tan lotion and get comfy on the sun beds.
All you can see is the serine white beaches and the clear blue Indian
Ocean reaching for miles. The deserted surroundings allow the faint
whistle of the breeze and the crashing of the waves to ring in our
ears as we doze in and out of our sleep.
The break and drastic change from the normal hectic lifestyle back in England, makes it extremely easy to get into this daily pattern, wasting away the days one by one. I can’t fault people for doing that, as long as they understand that sitting in a resort, is far from the ‘real’ Africa. You can’t say you have been to Africa until you venture from the haven of tourism, characterized by the stereotypical holiday privileges, which are expected by holidaymakers. The built up hotels, running water and food at hand all come unnaturally in this country and stepping out into the local villages strongly initiate this realization.
The break and drastic change from the normal hectic lifestyle back in England, makes it extremely easy to get into this daily pattern, wasting away the days one by one. I can’t fault people for doing that, as long as they understand that sitting in a resort, is far from the ‘real’ Africa. You can’t say you have been to Africa until you venture from the haven of tourism, characterized by the stereotypical holiday privileges, which are expected by holidaymakers. The built up hotels, running water and food at hand all come unnaturally in this country and stepping out into the local villages strongly initiate this realization.
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| Photography - Lottie May (all rights reserved) |
Kenyan Culture and the great Sense of Community
The contrast between
environments when simply walking beyond the exit of the hotel still
amazes me. When first visiting Africa I remember it being very
overwhelming. This is down to the main fact that you can’t walk for
more than 5 yards without being approached by someone. However
despite the slight irritation of this, the majority means no harm,
only there to greet you or maybe try to sell you something hoping to
make small profit. This is common within the African culture with all
the communities being so tightly intertwined, showing a genuine sense
of compassion for one another. This is not only displayed when simply
walking down the dusty African lanes, but also through organizations
set up to help individuals in the communities.
Visiting the Rainbow Orphanage
One of these
organizations in which I regularly visit is the Rainbow Orphanage,
run by an American woman called Linda who sold all her worldly
possessions to build this orphanage. The facilities are
very basic with no electricity and the children are squeezed into
bunked dorms. They have so little but are so happy and grateful.
Rainbow orphanage is full to the seams and Linda often has the
difficult task of turning away small children who are left overnight
waiting at the gate. Many of the children have AIDS – an epidemic
in this part of Africa affecting 1 in 4 people. Linda draws her
inspiration from her religious beliefs; indeed this is the value
base, which guides the behavior within the orphanage. I feel so
humble watching these small children sing grateful thanks for the
food they have been given for the day – a bit of rice and some
dried goat. Then I return to my hotel and face the buffet of
luxurious foods that their minds could not even imagine.
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