Lake Koena

This blog is dedicated to all my fun and nature loving nieces and nephews of the Paine clan who are always willing to spend the day at the Lake with me.
Lake Koena view from Kokori pamo ( meaning red hill)
My nieces and nephews from the Paine clan

Warebe to'o A local villager settles to catch something for dinner

It is a must do activity when I visit my village every vacation. With no cost at all to spend you are free to enjoy the untouched nature that has so much history dating back to my great great grand fathers who lived a nomadic life- style until they settled for the banks of Lake Koena. It was here that my father was born and grew up imitating the ways of the villagers as a young boy, especially from his father and grandfather who were very much keen on passing their skills, knowledge and values to him as he was the oldest of the Paine boy.

With the news that aunt Ep is planning to spend the day at lake Koena the little ears are alert that they waste no time in alarming their cousins in the neighborhood. Morning arrives , I am ready with my swimmers, hat, sun- screen, water bottle, footwear and some food/fruits to keep us going for the day and I notice little bodies assembling; I know I have company. They worry nothing about a towel nor the swimmers, water bottle or hat. They are as happy as a clam that they know the day will be filled with fun and perhaps special treat from aunt Ep with lollies.

A typical day out at Lake Koena includes use of 2 0r 3 canoes to paddle to certain location; station at a location and swim as much as we can; enjoy local fruits/food for lunch; swim some more and then paddle back to the shore; last jump in for a swim (Mo'o) as my little nieces and nephews like to call it; pack up and we are all ready to walk another 30 -40 minutes back to Begabari pamo village (Village on the hill top).
Arriving at the village we are welcomed with food prepared by my extended family members
( The tireless and kindest sister in laws who happen to be the mums of some of the nieces and nephews I went out with at the lake) who will never let you pass by without having a bite of their best produce and a drink of mutari tu ( coconut juice).
After spending an hour or 2 we excuse ourselves and leave for our little family village -Deu.
By the time we reach home its 5.00 0r 5.30pm. Its been a long day and I am finally having the need to rest my tired feet and a few chats with family members about how the day went.