Home » Tanzania » November 9 – Zanzibar --- Laura

t's been a good two weeks since I have been to the internet and am finally in a place where the internet actually works, quickly, with no blackouts, shutdowns, and frustrating losing of information. Another bonus: this place is AIR CONDITIONED! Wow, I could almost be home.

November 9 – Zanzibar --- Laura

Lasulo
2006-01-06 17:53:59

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or Tanzania or Zimbabwe, but every person in those countries knew George Bush was running against John Kerry. Crazy - but we do have a lot of responsibility to the world to lead and lead well. I just hope old Dubya does not mess it up for all of us. The world is watching.

On a lighter note, check this out. Sitting at a table with people of many different nationalites and found out from a Fijian guy that the Red Sox had won the World Series! A girl from Boston was sitting at the other end of the table and when she heard, she lost her mind.... Crazy to hear about your team winning (after 86 years) whilst in Malawi from a guy from Fiji. That's travel for you - the world sometimes never seems so small.

So, currently on the island of Zanzibar (off the coast of Zanzibar). Took us four days to get here via various modes of transportation: minibus, back of a pickup, taxi, boat, and proper nice bus for our sixteen hour journey. We crossed over the border on foot, and it was not fun. You really cannot say you have travelled until you cross from one country to the next on your own two feet with all your possessions on your back and people chasing after you for taxis and money changing. Scary. Luckily, there were five of us so the safety in numbers thing was in effect. Dar es Salaam is a bit of a dive so we only stayed one night and then came to gorgeous, exotic, spice-laden Zanzibar which is chaotic mix of Arabic and African cultures. We are in Stonetown, an old town which when at its peak had ships from all over the world arriving to buy and trade slaves and spices from the beautiful, tropical waters. Dhows are still in use today and seeing them next to modern boats is like seeing two worlds collide. It's touristy here but fascinating - winding streets, women in burkas, men kneeling in prayer, Masai people selling jewelry, fresh seafood for one dollar, and people of all different colors. We are in the last week of Ramadan so there is no eating or smoking allowed on the streets during the day and all the restaurants were shut (with the exception of one tourist place we found).

Tomorrow we are heading up the north of the island to do some more beaching and diving. Just not finished doing nothing yet. Loren arrives in less than two weeks!! Yeah!! Then a few weeks alone and then Africa is finished and we are onto Asia (Sri Lanka and India). Still have almost ten months of travel left. Crazy - home seems very far away and yet I miss everyone so much and think about home at the weirdest times and always in my dreams at night.