Zanzibar and other adventures!
"Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees." --Rumi
Hello hello from Paradise! I've been a bit stressed lately working hard on fellowship applications looking ahead for my next adventure and the past weekend's travel was an amazing reward for all this intense work.
Ahh I have gone on a much needed getaway from the busy city of Dar to enjoy the slower paced island life of Zanzibar, it is unlike any place I've seen before! Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania and it has a completely different feel. It has been a trading post for many, many years and through that it has a ton of different influences present in the food, architecture. It is a huge spice hub and the food reflects that most definitely.
A friend from the Heller School, Lynn came to Dar es Salaam last week to visit from her practicum in Kenya. She had to leave the country due to the unrest that's happening over there after the recent elections and she accompanied me on the adventure. Its been great traveling with a friend and exploring the island.
Funny happening on the way to the Ferry, we tried cramming into the city bus to get there and after being pushed a little too tightly into other riders, we got off the bus and walked down the road requesting an uber--it couldn't find us so we kept walking, a bit concerned that we'd miss our ferry! Finally we found a taxi and sped to the ferry port arriving just before the ferry was taking off. Whew! We made it. We sat down for the 1.5 hour journey and unfortunately the passenger sitting next to Lynn got sick and started puking into a bag right next to us. Lynn was not happy about that and the fact that the fan didn't work either. She marched right up to the Captain's deck and demanded some action--getting us first class seats in the process. Lol, I was so amazed--squeaky wheel gets the grease! We arrived by ferry into the busy port entrance of Stone Town, Zanzibar where we had to go through formal immigration processes--I even got a new stamp!
After making our way out of the port, we spotted our driver with a sign with my name on it (Gill my roommate had recommended this guy and we weren't quite sure what we were in for!) His name was Osama and he was truly awesome! He greeted us with two cold water bottles and we hopped in his car to begin our adventure. We were hungry so he took us to an awesome spot called Lukkmans with fresh octopus and all kinds of other Zanzibar treats :) The day was looking up quite well. We went through Stone Town which is like a fort with small alleys and close buildings. Osama also briefly took me to see where they made these spiced baobab nuts and bought me a bag. They were so interesting and good and still warm from cooking. I was very excited!
After lunch we hopped back into the car and drove an hour to the east side of the island near the town of Jambiani to check into Mbunyi beach village--an amazing beach resort. Ocean views, massages, henna designs. Lynn and I went to check out a restaurant called "The Rock" which was literally on a rock in the middle of the ocean! It was so neat--unfortunately it was too dark to see the nice views but it was very romantic ;)
I even got to go snorkeling out in the Indian Ocean. I floated on a small traditional fishing boat called a Dao with a local crew of fisherman and some Canadian pilots on holiday. I got to see a lot of fish and the water was amazing--I also got a bad sunburn. The African sun is no joke!
After snorkeling, Lynn and I walked along the beach, there were a ton of kids playing football and hanging out. We got stopped pretty quickly by a kid on the beach selling shells, we got hustled into buying a bunch of shells but they were beautiful so it was ok! We checked out the town of Jambiani and found a local shop and bought a ton of souvenirs, beautiful pictures and painted tins, it was a shopping type of day! That night we had a nice bonfire by the beach with the Canadian pilots, it was perfect. They told us about their life living in Sudan and how tough it was with extreme poverty. Street kids fighting over food and money. Just crazy and a sad reality. I haven't yet seen that extreme of a case in Tanzania but its important to be aware of these things especially when I have so much to be grateful for.
After relaxing at the beach village for a few days, Lynn and I said goodbye to paradise and Osama picked us back up to check out Stone Town a bit more, but first we made a pit stop to see a 100% legit Witch Doctor. Osama knew someone who knew someone who knew where to find a local healer. We stopped at an organic mushroom farm and hiked a few kilometers to the Witch Doctor's house. It was a little shack and we came in and sat down. Lynn asked the witch doctor about love and he took out a book of Arabic spells and whispered into a mirror and then placed it on different parts of her body, asking her if she was hot or cold in certain places, basically he concluded that she had a demon inside but it wasn't a bad one, and that she should look for a new love interest than the one she has now. Ha!
Then it was my turn and I asked him about how to quell my ever present anxiety, always with my mind racing and my body fatigued. He said I need to take 7 peppercorns and the juice of 3 limes and drink it with some sugar every day for 7 days and then I'll be ok. I should also stop thinking anxious thoughts--good advice ;) So after we got the info we needed we hopped back in Osama's car and back to spend a few more hours in Stone Town.
Lynn and I were in a shopping mood after getting a little taste of what unique things Zanzibar had to offer. We went a little overboard but it was a worthy shopping spree. I got 6 pairs of earrings, some fancy woven bowls, some wood carved boxes, a bunch of Zanzibar spices and coffees, a dress and some pants and a bunch more! Anyway. I was happy with my plunder and I even improved my bargaining skills a bit, there is no fixed price, always negotiable--kind of fun, kind of risky ;)
Osama took us to the Zanzibar airport where we got our flight back to Dar es Salaam on the tiniest plane I've ever seen. It was fun watching the sunset on the plane ride which was just a quick 20 minutes! I LOVED Zanzibar, I will definitely be going back sometime soon! :)
The next week whizzed by, more work at the office and more fellowship applications. Then at the end of the week I got to welcome another visitor, my friend Twisi from Malawi was in town and Lynn was still there for one day! We had a mini Heller reunion and I hosted them at my apartment, we reminisced and went dancing and drinking close to the house. I'm so lucky to have friends around the world, its even funner when they come to visit you!
I've got a lot I still want to accomplish while I'm here but I'm having a blast every day! Learning so much and feeling grateful that I get to experience this beautiful place.
Next on the list, get serious about practicing Swahili! Stay tuned :)
Hello hello from Paradise! I've been a bit stressed lately working hard on fellowship applications looking ahead for my next adventure and the past weekend's travel was an amazing reward for all this intense work.
Ahh I have gone on a much needed getaway from the busy city of Dar to enjoy the slower paced island life of Zanzibar, it is unlike any place I've seen before! Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania and it has a completely different feel. It has been a trading post for many, many years and through that it has a ton of different influences present in the food, architecture. It is a huge spice hub and the food reflects that most definitely.
Welcome to Zanzibar!
Zanzibar Port Ferry
Just a peek at the Zanzibari style architecture
A friend from the Heller School, Lynn came to Dar es Salaam last week to visit from her practicum in Kenya. She had to leave the country due to the unrest that's happening over there after the recent elections and she accompanied me on the adventure. Its been great traveling with a friend and exploring the island.
Funny happening on the way to the Ferry, we tried cramming into the city bus to get there and after being pushed a little too tightly into other riders, we got off the bus and walked down the road requesting an uber--it couldn't find us so we kept walking, a bit concerned that we'd miss our ferry! Finally we found a taxi and sped to the ferry port arriving just before the ferry was taking off. Whew! We made it. We sat down for the 1.5 hour journey and unfortunately the passenger sitting next to Lynn got sick and started puking into a bag right next to us. Lynn was not happy about that and the fact that the fan didn't work either. She marched right up to the Captain's deck and demanded some action--getting us first class seats in the process. Lol, I was so amazed--squeaky wheel gets the grease! We arrived by ferry into the busy port entrance of Stone Town, Zanzibar where we had to go through formal immigration processes--I even got a new stamp!
After making our way out of the port, we spotted our driver with a sign with my name on it (Gill my roommate had recommended this guy and we weren't quite sure what we were in for!) His name was Osama and he was truly awesome! He greeted us with two cold water bottles and we hopped in his car to begin our adventure. We were hungry so he took us to an awesome spot called Lukkmans with fresh octopus and all kinds of other Zanzibar treats :) The day was looking up quite well. We went through Stone Town which is like a fort with small alleys and close buildings. Osama also briefly took me to see where they made these spiced baobab nuts and bought me a bag. They were so interesting and good and still warm from cooking. I was very excited!
The deliciousness that was Lukkman's food--Octopus and Jumbo Prawns!!
After lunch we hopped back into the car and drove an hour to the east side of the island near the town of Jambiani to check into Mbunyi beach village--an amazing beach resort. Ocean views, massages, henna designs. Lynn and I went to check out a restaurant called "The Rock" which was literally on a rock in the middle of the ocean! It was so neat--unfortunately it was too dark to see the nice views but it was very romantic ;)
Getting some Henna designs ;)
I even got to go snorkeling out in the Indian Ocean. I floated on a small traditional fishing boat called a Dao with a local crew of fisherman and some Canadian pilots on holiday. I got to see a lot of fish and the water was amazing--I also got a bad sunburn. The African sun is no joke!
Dao boats out and ready for fishing/sailing
Me, before the sunburn!
On the Dao!
My attempt at a Panorama
The neatest starfish ever!!!
After snorkeling, Lynn and I walked along the beach, there were a ton of kids playing football and hanging out. We got stopped pretty quickly by a kid on the beach selling shells, we got hustled into buying a bunch of shells but they were beautiful so it was ok! We checked out the town of Jambiani and found a local shop and bought a ton of souvenirs, beautiful pictures and painted tins, it was a shopping type of day! That night we had a nice bonfire by the beach with the Canadian pilots, it was perfect. They told us about their life living in Sudan and how tough it was with extreme poverty. Street kids fighting over food and money. Just crazy and a sad reality. I haven't yet seen that extreme of a case in Tanzania but its important to be aware of these things especially when I have so much to be grateful for.
Exploring the beauty of Jambiani!
I had to get a closer look at the flowers!
Evening sunset with palm trees
After relaxing at the beach village for a few days, Lynn and I said goodbye to paradise and Osama picked us back up to check out Stone Town a bit more, but first we made a pit stop to see a 100% legit Witch Doctor. Osama knew someone who knew someone who knew where to find a local healer. We stopped at an organic mushroom farm and hiked a few kilometers to the Witch Doctor's house. It was a little shack and we came in and sat down. Lynn asked the witch doctor about love and he took out a book of Arabic spells and whispered into a mirror and then placed it on different parts of her body, asking her if she was hot or cold in certain places, basically he concluded that she had a demon inside but it wasn't a bad one, and that she should look for a new love interest than the one she has now. Ha!
Mushroom Farm where the witch doctor lived ;)
Trekking off to see the witch doctor! No pictures on site were allowed!
Lynn and I were in a shopping mood after getting a little taste of what unique things Zanzibar had to offer. We went a little overboard but it was a worthy shopping spree. I got 6 pairs of earrings, some fancy woven bowls, some wood carved boxes, a bunch of Zanzibar spices and coffees, a dress and some pants and a bunch more! Anyway. I was happy with my plunder and I even improved my bargaining skills a bit, there is no fixed price, always negotiable--kind of fun, kind of risky ;)
Feeling very luxurious after fancy shopping!
The door to Freddie Mercury's, (the lead singer of Queen) childhood home!
Hanging out with Osama, our excellent taxi driver for the weekend.
Osama took us to the Zanzibar airport where we got our flight back to Dar es Salaam on the tiniest plane I've ever seen. It was fun watching the sunset on the plane ride which was just a quick 20 minutes! I LOVED Zanzibar, I will definitely be going back sometime soon! :)
Smallest plane I've ever been on in my life, you had to hunch over to go down the aisle.
The next week whizzed by, more work at the office and more fellowship applications. Then at the end of the week I got to welcome another visitor, my friend Twisi from Malawi was in town and Lynn was still there for one day! We had a mini Heller reunion and I hosted them at my apartment, we reminisced and went dancing and drinking close to the house. I'm so lucky to have friends around the world, its even funner when they come to visit you!
Pics are semi blurry but I think you get the idea ;)
I've got a lot I still want to accomplish while I'm here but I'm having a blast every day! Learning so much and feeling grateful that I get to experience this beautiful place.
Next on the list, get serious about practicing Swahili! Stay tuned :)
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