The traditional Lamu Old Architecture, with white washed coral rag walls and palm leaves roofing. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Wei Tong]

By Wei Tong, CRI correspondent in Kenya

Imagine there is a secluded paradise on earth - a tiny island lying off the East African coast reminiscent of ancient times, where life moves only as fast as a donkey, which is the only means of transportation on the island. The two-or three-storey buildings with palm-thatched roofs are still there, just as centuries ago, making the town a living piece of history and one of the most important sources for knowledge about pre-colonial Africa.

This is Lamu archipelago, lying to the far north of the Kenyan coast. In 2001, Lamu Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the year from which the town started its annual Lamu Cultural Festival to bring jubilance to the locals and to preserve its original appearance from pre-colonial times.

Strolling along the narrow labyrinthine alleys in Lamu Town, curio shops, small guesthouses and eateries in the traditional Swahili style, all with white-washed coral-rag walls line the streets. Donkeys, the only means of transportation on the island, walk leisurely through the disorientating alleyways with ease and comfort, despite their backs being loaded with either building materials or riders.