Page 75 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 21

Tourism

we are open to learn from the things
around us. And by natural, I mean
allowing what the Supreme Mind
put in nature for our good, to thrive.

Personally, photography is one way
I try to paint the things I see around
me and what stories they tell even
without voices. So I am reminded at
all times both to see and appreciate
both the beautiful and even the ugly
things around me. But here is what
sunrise and sunset really makes me
see. It makes me envisage the mys-
orning walks for me The very next morning after we tery of life, death and the mercy of
are not just fun or arrived in Mombasa, I walked to the God that gives meaning to both.
even exercise, but beach as early as 6am with the hope Sunrise speaks of the rising of the
Mdeeply spiritual. These of catching the sunrise as it shows new mercy of God that gives life to
are moments when I take time to up in the horizon. The day however everything it touches in the morning
have conversations with God, reflect had a different plan from mine. It and sunset is a reminder that no
on things going on around me or in was really hard getting something man will live forever on this planet
the world generally and also when magical. The sun was blanketed earth and that the shadow of death/
I sometimes get new songs or ideas by some huge dark clouds, so the darkness after daylight, will blanket
for an article or poem. That early sunrise was not pretty. But I met everyone at some point. It’s quite
morning cold wind, fresh smell of a few people who wanted me to simple and straightforward.
flowers and the beautiful symphony take photos of them. One of them
of chirping birds creates this feeling a visibly excited Indian journalist Are we learning?
of life and bounce that is both cre- who writes for a Bahrain magazine The way some people take life or
ative and exhaling. It gets even more and was have having his holidays in treat others like garbage, you will
beautiful when the clouds decide to Mombasa. We had some chat about think they have the buttons that they
allow sunrise paint a perfect glow of story writing, journalism and how to can just press to extend their lives or
gold art in the horizon. It’s always change the negative Afrikan nar- that they have photocopies of their
heaven on earth for me and one rative that is mostly in mainstream lives in their wardrobes. One thing is
which is influential in my choice of media. I took some photos of a certain though, that you are reading
wanting to have a Swahili architec- young Kenyan couple who were at this article means that you have had
ture home at the coast. God willing. the beach doing what couples do on your share of sunrise and are living
the beach. It was a simple moment the daytime of your existence. And
As much as I love sunrise and sun- and reminder that life is really about as you do that, please be reminded
set photos from any location, I love people, love, connection, what that he who has tasted sunrise must
them more when I capture them at makes us humans, art in nature also taste sunset. And that brings me
the Mombasa coast line or on the and the other beautiful things that to the question of “what have you
Giriama creek in Kilifi county. It’s all can happen if we give goodness a learnt or what are you learning right
beauty and no beast for me. chance in our midst. But in all of now even as you go through your
these, there is something important daytime and knowing that sunset in
Early February, my wife and I had a I would like to share, which is really inevitable?” Think about it.
video project to shoot in Mombasa. the point of this article. It’s about Some say life is short but I will say
It was such an opportunity for a why I do sunrise and sunset photog- life is long especially if what you are
visit and good early morning walk at raphy. doing right now can outlive you. So
the beach. Driving from Nairobi to think about it. Everything we do in
Mombasa for more than ten hours Sunrise and Sunset photography life has consequences, either positive
in itself was fun. Driving through Life is quite simple and straightfor- or negative. So when next you see a
various landscapes and seeing wild- ward if we humans allow natural sunrise and sunset, be reminded of
life along the trip was very beautiful. principles to have their ways and if what it is really about.

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