Something New at Gede Ruins

and... This is what is new! A tree house built in a huge Baobab tree in the middle of the ruins. It gives an amazing view of the ruins- I think this is the palace- and it also supports A Rocha's Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Eco-Tourism Scheme (ASSETS), a fund to send local kids to secondary school.

http://www.assets-kenya.org/

Gede Ruins are the ruins of a town which is now about 8km from the coast. I think it used to be much closer when it was actually built, 800(?) years ago. It was kind of lost for a few hundred years, and people aren't too sure why the original inhabitants left, and also aren't too sure why there doesn't seem to be any reference to it in historical records. Something that always amazes me is that all sorts of centuries-old Chinese and Indian artifacts have been found here (as well as Fort Jesus in Mombasa).
The entrance to the Mosque
A millipede, or 'Mombasa Train' (because it is so big and slow). For the record, millipedes, which are nice and shiny and big and slow, are harmless. Centipedes on the other hand are smaller, lighter in colour, fast and squirmy and pack a big sting. Do not put your finger this close to a centipede.
Look at all these great little feet working in unison. Beautiful.