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Birthdays in various parts of the world are a big deal, well; at least that is what I think, from where I come from it is not a deal, let alone a big one. I have always seen people who celebrate it as special because it comes with spending. This is a succinct imagination that in Kenya only the bourgeoisies enjoy, the rest of us just move on like it is another year of struggle, but this was not my case when I turned twenty five years old, I wanted an experience, I wanted to celebrate mine so bad and being a travel enthusiast, this was my moment. 'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page,' St. Augustine once said. I had to save in order to celebrate mine. My budget was fixed, I swear to be better next time, my destination was Mombasa,I wanted to have an experience of my own, first time in everything, to the coast, to board a plane and a train back. I was so anxious, happy and had this fear of the unknown, my plane was set to depart at 12:30 pm on Saturday, I had packed the day before, my favorite grey baggy short could not miss, it had to be on the plane with me. I was at the airport by 10:00 a.m. I couldn't afford to miss my plane , not my first one. I acted natural all the way until we boarded, I could not stop taking pictures though. One hour later we landed at Mombasa, the coastal city of Kenya that attracts tourists from all over the world, yet I had never set foot, the weather was cool and breathtaking, temperatures about 29 degrees, hotter than normal, I took a cab and we headed to my hotel room, my twenty five hours stay begins. Walking steadily towards the reception, she receives me warmly, her Swahili language is mesmerizing, she is articulate and meticulous, she smiles and says" happy birthday sir, welcome" I smiled and replied 'thank you' she directs me to my room. I hurriedly freshened up ready for my meal, pure Swahili dish then began my exploration. My first stop was the Likoni Ferry, people and cars use these ferries to connect south coast and the island, it is a smooth transition happening across Indian Ocean, hundreds of commuters get to the ferry one after the other, around four hundred people on board we cross, I did this again coming back and I loved it. Women across both sides selling coast delicacies, 'vitumbua, bhajia, kaimati' etc. Guys having bites as they progress. I then move to Mombasa old town, here I get to see buildings that existed in the 15th century and people still occupy to date, rusty with that vintage taste, later I explore Fort Jesus, constructed by the Portuguese where Vasco da Gama had business, it is already 9:00 pm, but business is as usual, I head to Nyali beach, here I relax enjoying the cool night breeze as we watch the stars over the ocean. Day two I woke up early ready for the beach, I had only eight hours left before I got on the train back to Nairobi, pirates public beach was the ideal to swim and enjoy, I rocked my favorite baggy grey shorts, it felt awesome writing my name on the sand and waves washed it away, I ran from one end to the next, feeling my self just enjoying floating on the salty water, I felt twenty five. Fast forward I headed to the hotel to freshen up and left for the Standard gauge railway, it was 2:45 pm, fifteen minutes before the train left, on arrival, security checks seemed to be threatening my patience, I took a deep breath trying to be still. 'The train is about to leave', I could hear, as I rushed to get my ticket it was already too late, times waits for no man and so was the train, I had to spend an extra hour again in the coastal city, getting to town and booking a bus scheduled for 4:00 p.m. amid my tight budget.