Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
WEEKEND AWAY<br />
pair met in Hawaii at a kitesurfing event<br />
and it was love at first sight, quite literally,<br />
as Shawn saved Anna from a serious kite<br />
tangle out at sea. By the time they both got<br />
safely back to shore, they were besotted,<br />
and have been together ever since. Anna<br />
says that all their friends and family raised<br />
their eyebrows as they lived and worked<br />
on opposite sides of the globe, but the two<br />
made the long distance work, spending<br />
all their savings to travel to see each other<br />
whenever they could. Finally, last year,<br />
they decided to put down roots in Lamu,<br />
one of their favourite places, to nurture the<br />
healthy, happy lifestyle that they wanted to<br />
start together. Anna is a health coach and<br />
advanced yoga and meditation teacher<br />
(which they provide at The Cabanas), while<br />
Shawn has been a professional kitesurfer<br />
since he was 12, and has competed around<br />
the world. He retired from competing when<br />
he moved to Lamu as he finally found his<br />
perfect kitesurf playground at The Cabanas<br />
after a worldwide search, a real testament to<br />
the conditions here. He has set up a bespoke<br />
kitesurf school and now the couple gets to<br />
enjoy the sport that brought them together<br />
most days of the year.<br />
We prefer to take our breakfasts at the<br />
Top Deck, which is exactly what the name<br />
suggests, taking turns tucking into breakfast<br />
and swimming the length of the infinity pool<br />
which offers views of the ‘jungle’, cabanas<br />
and sea. This is the kind of spot which<br />
ignites the romance without much effort,<br />
and as long as you’re with a partner, you’re<br />
instantly put under a spell. You will look like<br />
quite the sappy pair taking turns between<br />
marveling at the scenery and getting lost<br />
in each other’s eyes. For lunch and dinner,<br />
chef Njole Zuma is adept at various cuisines<br />
ranging from Italian to continental and<br />
African. He also whips up fantastic vegan<br />
and vegetarian dishes using some of his<br />
favourite ingredients such as seeds, cumin,<br />
coriander, fennel, fenugreek and cardamom.<br />
I love his use of coconuts to elevate the<br />
dishes, accompanied by fried potatoes so<br />
good that it would be a crime to resist- at<br />
least that’s what I tell myself. Succeeding<br />
at working ourselves into a food coma, we<br />
have no choice but to stroll down to the<br />
beach for a massage that sends us right to<br />
sleep. Such a tough life. As if to balance<br />
things out, our plans for a seafood beach<br />
bbq are put off thanks to a bout of rain.<br />
The Cabanas at Kizingoni Beach lend<br />
themselves to a do-nothing-but-relax-andget-pampered<br />
romantic escape. The staff<br />
are ever at your beck and call. The place is<br />
also so secluded that when we set off along<br />
the shoreline for a walk, we only have sand<br />
crabs and birds for company. The villas, too,<br />
are so spread apart that even if there are<br />
other guests, you and your partner will likely<br />
feel like you’re alone on the island. Love<br />
is celebrated here, and Shawn and Anna<br />
love to host proposals, anniversaries and<br />
just couples wanting to escape the rat race<br />
and reconnect with each other. You are very<br />
welcome to relax into the healthy happy nest<br />
that they have created in this corner of Lamu.<br />
www.thecabanaslamu.com<br />
26 DISCOVER EXPLORE EXPERIENCE
Change language