Zanzibar

So last weekend Naveen and I took some time off work to travel to the island of Zanzibar which is off the coast of Tanzania. On a previous trip to Tanzania Naveen had wanted to go, but didn't and really regretted it - so this time around she did not want to miss out again! I'll admit I was a little reluctant to travel so far when there are so many things to see and do around Uganda - but it was totally worth it!

We spent our first day in Stonetown - the historic capital of Zanzibar.  It's made up of these tiny alleyways that somehow constitute 'roads' so we spent the day walking around looking at the cool architecture and getting lost. In the evening we went down to the water to watch the sunset in Forodhani Gardens where we were entertained by local boys leaping into the water while we waited for the night food market to begin.  The night food market is not to be missed - the local fishermen bring in their catches from that day and you get to pick what you want to eat off their table. We also had fresh cane juice with lime and ginger and Zanzibari pizza with Nutella and banana (which put the crepes in Paris to shame).

The next morning we headed to Kendwa Rocks - a resort, on the north of the Island, which highly recommended by Devin. So we hung out on the beach and played some beach volleyball. The weather wasn't the best as it is Zanzibar's 'winter' but that meant we also didn't have to pay the peak tourist time prices. The beach was still beautiful, soft white sand and the water a crystal clear turquoise.

The highlight of Naveen and I's trip was definitely the snorkelling trip we took while at Kendwa. We took a beautiful wooden boat (although it was too big to be a traditional dhow, but still had a cool sail) to the island of Mnemba.  We went snorkelling for an hour and saw the most fish I have ever seen including Moorish Idol, Parrot Fish, Blue Tang, Surgeon Fish among others.  There were so many fish we were literally swimming right alongside the schools. Then we hopped back into the boat for a delicious lunch.  And then after lunch the most magical thing happened.... DOLPHINS showed up!

Now, you have to understand that Naveen and I really really really wanted to go swimming with wild dolphins, but all the tours left from the South end of the island and we were in the North - so we had kind of given up on that dream.  But as the dolphins approached the reef I turned to our guide and asked him if we could jump in with them if they got closer - and he said sure! And that as a matter of fact the boat can just drop us off closer to them.... So Naveen and I jump in and start swimming.  Soon two dolphins show up and then a couple more and before I knew it I was in the middle of 30 wild dolphins! I got to dolphin kick beside a dolphin!! It was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life (and that's after rafting down the Nile the weekend before...  - how lucky am I?)

The rest of our trip was spent relaxing in a surreal bliss on the beach, unable to believe that we really did get to go swimming with the dolphins.  And then it was back to reality come Tuesday with an interview for work at 7:30 am...

One of the buildings in Stonetown

A view of the some of the boats in the harbour while we ate our lunch

Naveen and one of the many beautifiul doors in Stonetown

The following pictures are some of the ones I took of all the boys jumping off the pier while the sun set.  Naveen and I obviously went and sat right at the edge (while other mzungus hung back) and so we got a great show as each boy tried to up the next.  It was actually quite a spectacular scene and resulted in some of my favourite pictures of our trip thus far.

At the night food market - you can see all the skewers of fish and lobster.  He's holding up a calamari tentacle (which I didn't eat...) They also had delicious samosas, potato balls with spices inside, and naan.

The sunset in Stonetown

Kendwa Rocks - the place where we stayed. It was actually the first 'resort' built in that area of the island and so it wasn't developed as a big resort, which have begun to spring up on either side.  We stayed in a palmwood banda, not unlike the one you see to the right of the picture for only $20/night each!

Naveen at the beach in a moment of sun! The water was so nice but you had to watch out for jellyfish!

Naveen and I on the boat on our way to Mnemba

Our two Canadian friends we met, Marc and Charlene who also came snorkeling!

Charlene with a drink at sunset - such a lovely day