One of the wonders that greets your eyes on the North Coast is the Watamu Monument. Erected across from the Temple Point Hotel, the derelict structure could be as old as the 13th-century settlements of Gedi and Malindi. The site may have been one of the Arab towns abandoned after being vanquished by enemies. Buried beneath it are rumors of bones and hidden treasure. However, the wagging tongues and conspiracy theories will only be muted when archaeological excavations reveal the truth. Until that day, the Watamu Monument will continue to hold its secrets. From Watamu Marine National Park, the neglected monument can still be seen towering blasphemously into the sky.