Zanzibar pictures

Starting out. We even look tired here thanks to the 4am wake up call to make the bus for 6am. Our arrival picture, however, looks worse. So does the picture of our swollen feet. Neither are included here. Sorry!

Simultaneously enjoying two simple pleasure that aren't available in Rwanda - food and plastic bags! In this case, food IN a plastic bag.

The bus stopped often but for not very long. If you were still in line for the pit latrines when the bus honked you had to run and jump on just to catch it.

Our favourite haunt in Dar - the Badminton Institute which had fabulous Indian food.

From the top of Kilimanjaro Kapinski (sp?) Hotel in Dar. The Level 8 bar and good drinks and a great view of the harbour as the sun et. 

The safety boat on the slow ferry Flying Horse to the island. We chose to take the fast ferry back and, even though they did had out barf bags, we managed (with the help of Gravol) to keep our stomach's full.

Of course, we took Gravol on the slow ferry too and this was the result. 

Karibu Zanzibar (Welcome to Zanzibar). 

Putting my feet in the Indian Ocean for the first time.

Out for drinks with our VSO Tanzania counterparts.

Christmas Day on the beach. (Yes this was originally a full body shot but let's be honest, who wants to see that?)

Watching the sun set on Christmas Day and enjoying Kilimanjaro beer.

The tree I brought was Snoopy size.

Bakhtim cooking our Red Snapper on the fire. As stoned as he usually was, he can sure put on a good Christmas dinner.

Part of the gang at our guest house for dinner. There were seven us in total but Bakhtim and his friend. (Bakthim is there next to me). It was such a lovel meal with a mini Christmas tree and a large one near the table. There were also lights and tinsel. So great!

Zanzibar pictures part deux

Mnemba Island where the rich and famous stay. Brad and Angelina, maybe?

Snorkelling on Boxing Day. Much, much better than shopping in a mall.

The dive master for the boat loved the Santa hat and just had to have his photo taken too. Oscar was so great that we hung with him and a few others from Spanish Dancer dive shop afterwards for beers. Thanks Oscar!

Now who's this? Santa?

Christine and Karen getting ready for their second dive.

On the boat ride back we covered up and went to sleep. Long day. 

Traditional dhow boats. These go out fishing every afternoon and stay out all night. 

A traditional dhow boat.

High tide at Nungwi Beach

Kayaking on the Indian Ocean

Riding in the dalla-dalla on our way back to Stone Town. Yes, it was that hot.

Snoopy came along but the life jacket just didn't fit him. (Whoops, photo a little out of order)

A farewell gift from a local friend.

dalla-dallas at the bus park in Stone Town.

Red Colobus Monkies in Jozani Forest. They are endemic (I learned that new word) and endangered. So the stupid tourist that was there trying to catch one that ran past her got an earful for me. Regardless that she didn't speak English (maybe Italian) I think the look on my face and my tone said enough...

Zanzibar pictures con't

Visiting a tradition Zanzibar hotel and hoping the door might be open.

In the streets of Stone Town. 

Natural lipstick...

...but I don't think it's my colour. 

Cinnamon

Eating fresh cloves. This is Zanzibar's biggest spice export and the darling of the spices. However, farmers are forced to sell it to the government for cheap prices. The government then charges and armload for it and that money rarely gets back to the farmers. 

Getting henna on my hands. 

They use glue from a plant and charcoal for the colour.

The twin babies of the lady who owned the house wanted to try too. 

This is one way to get a coconut. And here I just thought they just shook the tree!

Okay...this was a little touristy but they put such an effort into our purses and crowns we couldn't say no. Oh and our frog necklaces and our cinnamon earrings....

Spices at the spice farm.

That's a big fish. 

Another shot of a dalla-dalla on Zanzibar.

Fish market in Dar es Salaam.

Octopus.

Jumbo prawns

Bringing in the fish directly from the sea.

Mmmmm.....

Okay, I'll try it. 

Our Last Supper in Dar at the Badminton Institute. We ran into Claire and Rona who had two friends from Australia with them. Oh and tonight the Institute had no rice! In an Indian restaurant. Oh well. Naan was amazing....

At least I had time to catch up my reading. This is going to be a long trip home.

30 hours ain't so bad! We are crossing the bridge back into Rwanda. Behind us is Rusumo Falls. Ah..it's good to be home.

Back in the Land of a Thousand Hills....and great coffee

Well 30 hours later, I hopped off the bus infront of my house and came home. I live, literally, on the road to Tanzania and had the busdriver pull infront of my driveway instead of continuing the two hours to Kigali and then having to catch a bus back to Kibungo. I arrived to a warm welcome from the gang at the motorcycle co-op and when I went to get food from Consolee, another big hug and "welcome home." Of course, I arrived to no water but it's back on now and I had a big long sleep in my own bed. It is nice to be in a place where I have to wake up in the middle of the night to put on a sweater. I don't think I'm cut out for hot places. The best part about coming home? COFFEE. Why is it that Starbucks sells "African coffee" but you cannot find a decent one in all of Tanzania? So, this morning, as I sift through my photos, catch up on emails and look out at the mist covered hills of Kibungo, I sip gorgeous Rwandan coffee from the comfort of my home. The trip was great and I still can't believe that on Christmas and New Years I was walking barefoot through the white sands and wading in the water of the Indian Ocean. Seems like a bit of a dream, actually. I will write a longer post about the trip but here are some highlights....

- Christmas dinner of Red Snapper, Jack fruit and Zanzibar donoughts

- The "Romantic Bungalows" that were anything but.

- 60 hours riding a bus through the Tanzanian hinterlands

- Heat stroke, heat rash, dehydration and sea sickness. All the things that make up a great holiday on an exotic tropic island. (Yes, I think I'm more cut out for Iceland than Zanzibar)

- Singing "Christmas in Killarney" while dancing around a mini Christmas tree

- Snorkelling in the Indian Ocean on boxing day

- Kayaking in crystal clear water

- Eating the best Indian food ever at the Dar es Salaam Badminton Institute. Really.

.....and a few other adventures that I'll save for another day.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope 2010 brings you health and happiness!