Africa Oct. 5 2007

Hi all,

More exciting times as we just travelled through Kenya and Tanzania and got ourselves to the paradise of Zanzibar. We didn't manage to see much of Kilimanjero or Mt. Kenya on our way through as they were both mostly covered in cloud. I am sure that it clears up later in the day!

Zanzibar was a pleasant boat ride away from Dar es Salaam. India's touts didn't have a patch on these guys that greeted us at the pier. They are called papasi here and that means ticks. They were worse than we have ever seen. Guess that means that life is tough and employment difficult. So from the pedestrian tick, we switched to one in a taxi. We did find a hotel and are quite enjoying life here. After the first day or so - without suitcases and some recognition, life settles in and the people seem quite pleasant and friendly. Everyone pays everyone else in the tourist food chain - hope some of it gets down to the bottom. Even at the food stall the guy that ushers you in gets a tip from the propietor. The buses are cheap but of course, everything that you do or consume has a commission built in. So friends are definitely required to do business here - and the more the better.

Spent the morning trying to snorkel with the dolphins. It was a very interesting experience. they are totally wild and unhabituated. The little boat that we were in would spot them and we would try to get somewhere in front, jump out of the boat and try to swim with them. We got pretty close sometimes. I learned that they can swim quite quickly (it took most of my energy to keep up - considering the waves, etc.), they can change directions at any time, and they can swim quite deeply. We jumped in to chase them 5 times. At one point, I saw three playing in the water below me. I got pretty close a couple of times but not close enough to touch. It was exciting and I gained some appreciation for them. We followed them to the 'playground' where they apparently stay most of the day.

Tomorrow we are off to the north to do some snorkelling.

Stone Town here is an Arab town with all the tiny streets that form a maze. Great fun - though it needs a large dose of money and care to put the white coat on it and repair works.

Take care,

We'll continue to enjoy,