Zanzibar

So there are still a few days before I fly to Zanzibar now the nerves and panic are setting in. Have I done enough training? After reading some one else’s blog it would seem not, also the fact I average only 2’000 steps per day this might be pushing it but trying to put that to one side.
Have I got all the stuff, is it the right stuff?
What happens if we miss the connecting flight or our bags get lost.
Is anything going to actually be open when we arrive at 3am!
What if the weather is typically British and it rains all the way up with zero views.
Then on the flip side I am super excited to see a totally different culture and way of life.
Also to climb a mountain which is bigger than anything I can comprehend currently and 🤞 have a view over the entire of Kenya and Tanzania.
Also being fully catered for and looked after for a week will be a welcome break and hanging out with 2 friends on a mountain. 🏔😀
Get up each day and know all I have to do is walk. No decisions or hassle, no worrying about this or that, just walk in the wilderness.

1 day to go.
How many times should you unpack and repack a bag just to check things. I find that the more time I do it the more chance I might leave something out but also I doubt myself more on what I have and more things sneak their way in, which is not good after carefully weighing everything. ⚖

Hmmm weather looks interesting. Rain and snow all the way up. Waterproofs and poncho are definitely in.

And were off.
So far flights have been on time and everything is going smoothly.

Aftershave in the toilets of the first flight was a nice touch. The second plane was slightly less roomy or up to date and unfortunately this was 7 hours long and sleeping was not comfy. The films however were up to date and very good.
Ordering the Asian veg food option was nice however repetitive as I think they only have 1 meal regardless of how many flights you are on or what time of day it is.

Istanbul airport is huge with many shops and lots of Turkish delight. Little Turkish Bazaar style shops dotted around trying to give you the impression you are in Turkey rather than an airport.

3am land in Zanzibar very tired, very hungry, very very humid. A lot of helpful taxi drivers however booking one in advance made it easier as they knew where we needed to go rather than trying to negotiate.

Note to self – anyone that is helpful is likely to want money. Carry bag 10 meters open door etc. Granted the bag was 20+Kg but not having any small notes made it an expensive first few meters.


Zanzibar

Day 1. Stone town.
Hotel staff are really helpful. Let us in early to drop bags off. Then got our rooms ready really quick once the other guests had checked out.
We even got breakfast, although were not officially checked in yet. Very nice and very welcome after 30 hours of travelling.

The other locals were friendly but very persistent at selling you a boat ride or a trip round town or anything really. They might be genuine however walking 100 yards and you are followed all the time from one boat captain to the next made it quite annoying and ruined the nice area.
Managed to go for a swim in the sea, during the rain! Water was quite nice, but no one else was in this area.
Got a bit of rest after a very long day so far. Still no idea of time and food has been a bit random. Hopefully get reset by tomorrow.

Plan to go see a food stall then boat ride tomorrow to keep the captains happy. Then see what else we can do.

Just outside our hotel we came across a more polite and genuine tour guide wo was working towards becoming a UNESCO ambassador.

Had a tour guide round stone town.
Very interesting finding about the history of the town and odd spots of the town.
Square doors are from Persia and round doors are from India, usually with spikes on the door to keep out elephants. The more brass on the door shows wealth. The wood carvings show their job and roots. I.e. slave master is chains. Anchor or fish scales for Fisherman etc.

Jaws corner. The cosmopolitan area of the town where all the different cultures come and hang out drink coffee and discuss things. Play board games.

We also found out why there are no traditional food shops like you would find in Europe. It is all fresh and sold on market stalls. The market was a massive maze of stalls selling everything from clothes to food and spices to spare electronics and scooter bits. Open everyday hence no need for expensive shops.

Local lager. Those who don’t climb it drink it.

Day 2.
Spice plantation tour. Since our tour guide from the day before was so good we went with him again, he seemed to know a lot and have a network of taxi drivers and spice growers.

Saw a lot of spices in their natural habitat. Some I recognised others not at all but knew what they were when told.
Most of the leaves smelt the same, damp green vegetation but the spice came from the bud, bark or root.
Cinnamon bark also produced Vicks/olbas style root which I did not realise.
There were also a lip stick bushes with little spikey red fruits.
Stringer bean style vines which were vanilla pods,
Ginger root, turmeric, pepper corns, lemon grass scattered around. As the locals said they have a spice cupboard and pharmacy all in their back yard.

Pineapples only get 2 fruit per year on the plant. And start off as tiny trees with a pineapple on the top.

Tasted all the local fruits, green oranges. Grape fruit, cucumber, Red bananas, tiny bananas, Papaya, pineapple, jack fruit (spikey but not much flesh used a vege pulled pork substitute) melon, mango, passion fruit, fresh coconut straight from the tree climbed by the guide. Flesh was very soft and water tasty. Some local tea. Ginger which was very strong, local strong cinnamon coffee.

All in all a very interesting day and the drive across the island showed us a bit more of the local culture.

Went swimming in the sea again which was nice and warm.
Sunset drinks on the floating restaurant.

Then
Checked out the local food market for evening meal. Chicken Sharma and pizza were the main dishes along with various fish kebab’s but did not try those.
Had chocolate pizza which was just a crepe with Nutella and a chicken Sharma, not in that order. Was very nice and good to see a mix of locals and tourists enjoying food by the harbour.

Zanzibar pizza was the special delicacy onion, mince beef, tomatoes, egg, mayonnaise, cooked in a crepe style pancake. Did not try as were very busy.
Tried the sugar cane drink with ginger and lime, did not taste of much which was disappointing.

There were loads of cats around which made sense when the food market was on why they look so healthy.
Also there are a lot of chickens in the spice farm, around the hotel as well. Which meant there was always eggs on the menu. The cats and chickens seemed to know their place and did not bother each other. Also they are respected in the community for religious reasons.

Day 3.
Rainy. Very rainy The day we planned to go snorkelling and boat ride to the prison island. Quite a choppy ride over but made it. Could not see either island at some points due to rain and waves. Glad I put my water proof on. However, our captain did not get lost, unlike one of the others which missed the island and had to turn round to find it.

Joined a couple from Newcastle on the trip and ran into some one from UEA canoe club, small world.
Saw giant tortoise which are very rare and very old. Up to 196yr old. There were a lot more than expected as only started as 4. But large rocks all over the island kept moving.

All the paths had turned into rivers and ponds which we waded through but the tortoises did not seem to mind. Waterproof shells and leather feet.

Also looked at the old prison which then converted to a quarantine island. Where any travellers had to spend 3 days whilst their blood was checked for disease before being allowed on the island.
The prison was not very exciting as was closed and still rainy but interesting history.
Did not get to go snorkelling as too rough and would not have seen anything. We were also so wet by then not sure it would have made a difference if we were in or out the boat.
Another choppy ride back got us even wetter but stayed up right and got back safely.

Eventually the rain has stopped and went out for a snack. All the roads were flooded or free bath and shower as the taxi drivers informed us.

1 more day on the island not much more to do other than pack and sort. Rest before the real fun.

Getting and converting money was quite easy once you found the right door. Always just around the corner!

Day 4.
Check out. Do nothing but relax.
Just getting used to this view in the morning and the comfy beds.

Reading up on Zanzibar airport it might be another stressful and interesting journey. We will see.
Calm and humid day with lots of fish to watch by the floating bar. Watching all the tourist boats go out to the island in the calm waters, typical.

Food is dictated by the weather more than anything today. If it rains we need somewhere to hide so restaurant it is

After reading all the horror stories of Zanzibar airport it was a breeze. A little bit of waiting outside as desk had not opened yet but were told how long we had to wait. Then straight through security, checking, passport, security. Yes 2 security scans but walked through no queues. Shops, toilets all you need for an hour long wait.

Ran into someone on their way home who had just done Kili. Although very hard they enjoyed it but did take Diamox 😟 which I currently do not have. However, they went up the hut route over a shorter time. He said there was some very hard struggle and bits he does not remember it was just an uphill plod. However slowly slowly, drinkie drinkie and good mental attitude was needed, 8 out of 10 made it. Not sure if this was encouraging or not.
Just hanging out in the departure lounge. 🤞 bags make it and meet up with Emma in Moshi.

Flight was the easiest thing yet and even got snacks on the plane. Breezed through the other end as we were an internal flight, so less checks.

Found driver, very dark drive to hotel, turns out the blacked out windows are useful during the day but impossible to see out of at night.
Arrive at hotel with bags. Job done good to go.
Mass panic of re packing and weighing before the real fun begins.

Bed…😴