Sum up

My last week on Zanzi was filled with maandazi and grammar.
Had class up till thursday, and mama auntie did not go easy on me. On the other hand, I did get a fancy laminated diploma from her.

Chest

I also managed to fall in love, with a Zanzibari chest. The wooden kind, not the human kind...

One of my bro's took me to a shop, where a guy makes the chests out of recycled wood (staircases, doors et.c). Some of the pieces are antiques and some are not, but they all have a history and a story to tell.

One of the chests in progress was calling out my name loud and clear, so I decided go for it. The most bulky souvenir I've ever bought!

The weekend was spent in Kendwa, on Zanzis north coast. Beautiful beach!

Spent the days doing nothing, but swimming, chilling and relaxing in the sun. And, jetskiing!

Saturday evening was the fullmoon party, which was interesting to take part in. (note to oneself, never become one of those drunk loud tourists who dance on tables, just watch them)
I spent a good part of the evening flat on my back on a blanket, feet in the ocean, gazing at the stars and sipping champagne...

Monday was a sad day, as I left my beloved Zanzibar behind. But, as we all know, it was not a goodbye, it was a see you soon type of farewell from my favorite spot in the world...

Am now in Addis Ababa, recovering from a camel ride, but will tell you more about that later...

Jambiani - toothless man, awkward moments and maasai disco

I decided to spend the weekend on the east coast, in a beach bungalow, chillaxing.
Early Friday morning, we got on a daladala from Stonetown, aiming to be in Jambiani by noon.
Daladala took off as planned, stopped after 20 min, to load various merchandise on to the roof. (note to myself, be grateful you didnt opt to bring the big backpack)
They loaded roughly 20 bags of rice, some construction materials, fruits, veggies and other little bits and pieces.
Fortunately the lady with the sleeping chicken managed to get a seat!
Once we arrived to the bungalows, and had installed ourselves, we chilled by the pool. I fell asleep and burned my forehead :(
Later in afternoon we decided to find the village and stock up on some snacks, and find a place to eat dinner.
We got out on the road, walked, walked, walked and walked, only to realise we had missed the little road leading in to the village, so we had to turn around and come back - very amusing according to a truckload of workers..
Finally in the sleepy village of Jambiani, we found a duka where a toothless man bit off a piece of his cookie and offered us one piece each! What can you do, apart from accepting and eating it? LOL!
Going back we opted for the beach route, which was closer, and nicer.
Stopped by a restaurant and ordered lobster for dinner next day. Also popped into a local bar with 4 drunk people and a totally wasted, slightly possesive and totally bonkers pregnant lady, who we escaped from pronto!
Saturday we chilled and made friend with some Maasais on the beach. They offered to escort us to a disco later in the evening, so we could do some cheza cheza. Great initiative!
But, first we returned to the lobster place, and although we had C L E A R L Y cancelled the order in the morning, guess what! Yes, there was lobster awaiting. Trying to explain we didnt want it, it just got more and more awkward, and a sort of stand off was taking place, not quite knowing what to do.
Finally we ended up paying for it anyway, but only retail price though.
Did I mention the establishment did not have electricity? We dined in the light of a torch!
Later, we caught up with the masai, and took a 45 min walk along the beach, only lit by the moonlight, to Paje. Trecked through the village, crossed the road and up a hill, only to find the disco without power! No cheza cheza :(
After feeding the entire mosquito population of Paje with my blood, we finally left, backtracked until we got to the JAMBO bar, which had electricity and a toilet as a cash registry!
Furniture was logs and the bar itself a hut on the beach. There we finally got to cheza cheza until our masai escorts walked us back to our hotel.
Sunday was a very relaxed day in a hammock by the seafront. bought a scarf from a grandpa on the beach, and went back to stonetown after lunch....

Chasing water and finding shells

I have now had the opportunity to shower in the noble company of a crab!

Yesterday we set off to coconut beach, only to find the pool under maintanence and the tide far far far out!
We were told there was another hotel with a pool 5 minutes walk up the beach, so we set off  on the shore.

What can I say? We walked, walked and walked and no hotel in sight, and no road, so we just continued.
Came across some really beautiful sea shells, which I decided to keep as a memory of this magic island.

After 2h of walking in the sun on the shore, we found our way back to the road, hopped on a daladala and set off to watch the sunset at the local beach here.
Finally home, I decided to kill two birds with one stone, and rince my shells while showering.
Imagine how surprised I was when one started moving! Yikes! Where are your flip flops when you need them??

Today mama auntie told us we are no longer new beginners, but intermediate students. YEY!
In order to celebrate, I had a swim in the sunset, watching the dows sail out for the night, how beautiful!
To round up the evening, I got a fixh slammed in my face, by a man who lost his balance in an overcrowded daladala. am so honoured! LOL

School, beach, trucks and daladala

Daladala

Mama Auntie was in a great mood today, and actually laughing at some of the slang I picked up over the weekend!

After class, we decided to hop on a dala dala, or actually squeeze ourselves on to an overfull dala dala.

I ended up half sitting the lap of an old granpa, with my bag in another lap, and my friend in my lap..

The ride took about 1h and then we walked through the villages and climbed down a steep to get to the beach.

But, what a beach!

Secluded, with white sand turquoise water and a light breeze coming in....

We decided to climb back up to see the sunset, and to escape the incoming tide. But also to get back to the mainroad before dark.
After we had walked through some of the villages, we were offered a ride on the back of a truck. We climbed up, or actually they hauled me up with grace and elegance never seen before hehe.
It was a bumpy ride through random villages and with people dancing and singing for the election campain on the way.
I have never been so happy to have my big well padded derriere to sit on LOL!

They dropped us off in a village, where we caught a dala dala back to town. Made quite a detour, but hey that doesnt really matter does it? Loads of fun, with happy people, and guaranteed A/C!

Now, I should really revise my grammar and nambas in order to get ready for class tomorrow.
Am currently contemplating to stay here for an extra week, and skip the mombasa leg of my trip, but we'll see...

Reagge night and a vespa ride

I have now been to a reagge party with a masai!

Well, my adoptive brothers decided to take me out for another night in town.
Started at the food market, eating a zanzibari pizza (crepes with banana and chocolate), and downing a ginger beer.

From there we went to a local bar, where a reagge party going on.
Had a couple of drinks, and hit the dancefloor.

I thought bob marley was dead, but aparently he's hiding on Zanzibar, lingering around in bars, with a bad breath, really stoned and try to corner me on holiday, lol.
The guy was an exact copy of Bobby boy :)

Next up was a masai, with stick and all, jumpin over to my side to the tunes of mama africa, thank god for by bro's who were c***k blocking for me, hehe..

After the reagge party, we went to a night club called the Dharma lounge. There, when they started playing an african top hit song, a sista grabbed my derriere and gave me a lesson in how to shake it, man that was hard work!

Today I had a lazy morning, was supposed to get my laudry done, but car broke down, and we got stuck in the heat for a couple of hours, before I finally got a ride home on a vespa!

Now, I should study and get some nyamachoma!

An ordinary zanzibari friday

Woke up as usual, had my shower, grabbed a maandazi and went to class.
Our 2nd teacher kept falling asleep in a corner while mama aunty was all hardcore grammar.

After class I went to the bank, as my card has been giving me headache. They couldnt help me, so a random man, who worked in another branch drove me around town trying to help me get cash. Mission failed, and he drove me back to where I live. Thank you random banker with a big car!

Me and Naomi (my co student) decided to get on a dala dala and go to a beach to chill.
Once there, we were chased through the village by some evil kids calling us bad names and screaming "give us money, fuck you man"
We escaped them, got trapped in a lagoon, and had to swim, fully clothed across with bags on our heads. On the other side we met a random dude in a life vest, who suggested to show us nice places to party.
We brought him back, he took us to a random souvenir shop, which had a huge bar in the back, and from there it continued.
We ended up in a club, on a roof top with an (empty) swimmingpool in the middle. Dancing under the stars to 2 am...

Am now wondering what tonight might bring!

Here we go!

Time flies. I have already spent my first week on the magical island of Zanzibar...

It didnt quite turn out as I had planned it, but hey, thats life - Hakuna Matata!

When I was having lunch with Jenny in London before departure, she suggested I get in touch with her friend here on Zanzibar if I wanted company.
She texted him, and he replied back saying that there's an apartment for me free of charge.
Or alternatively stay with him, in his 4 bedroom villa near the beach.
Am lodged and fed and pampered, and am seriously beginning to like this.

First day of class was interesting.
Teacher had no clue I was coming, and had not made any arrangements.Mama Aunty, the teacher, is teaching me and a canadian girl, in someones home. (Still havent figured out the connections)
She's jammin grammar into our heads like nobodys business, and sets up an attitude if we dont understand, lol!
One more week of class, and then off to Mombasa...

waka waka, its time for Africa

Still not packed, or semi packed maybe I should say...

Got the stufff out, started to fill the backpack, and decided to sleep instead. =/
Just realised I haven't packed any shoes!!!

As long as I have money, passport and malaria tablets I should be fine though. And, I still have 2h before I need to move to the station..

Cohen and Azizi can knows for sure that something's going on, they've been like post its on me all morning, and am feeling a bit guilty over leaving them..
I know they will be fine, but still...

Alrighty, back to the packing once and for all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibqtKBpSQ3s

Holiday!

In less than 24h it's time for take off, and I haven't even started packing yet...


Pile of stuff



Well, there's a pile of stuff on my table, but nothing in my backpack.

It feels like I have loads of time, and am already in pole pole mode, why hurry if I can chill?
And chill is exactly what I'm planning to do!

Sun, sand and the Indian Ocean for three beautiful weeks, rounded up with a 5 day visit to Ethiopia.
Bring on the cocktails!

I'm kicking off my trip by taking the train to London, have lunch with lovely Jenny, then off to the airport.
Flying out tomorrow evening, via Addis Ababa to Dar es Salaanm, to finally reach Zanzibar on Sunday afternoon.
Once there and installed in the former harem, I can prepare for my Swahili course, which starts monday morning..

But before that, I guess I should pack....