Paradise Day 4
Trip Start
Dec 26, 2011
1
17
32
Trip End
Jan 29, 2012
Jambiani Beach, Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Feel distinctly un-energetic today. Go out for breakfast, sit longer and drink my coffee properly today. This continent is a problem for me, or at least my eating habits. I never finish a meal or a drink (unless that meal consists of cake, in which case, crumbs don't stand a chance) and I feel really guilty about it now. My spoiled canadian ass gets some dirty looks from waiters. But, they serve a set meal menu, and if it's too much or I simply don't like it, should I force it down? Will that save people from starvation? It would be different if I took more food than I ate (which, sadly, I did all the time on the Uganda camping trip). Reminds me of an argument I had with uncle Jerry, about how there were children starving in China, so I should finish my beans. I offered to mail them to China if it would help. I was only 7, what response were you expecting?
Anyway, sandbars are starting to show, so time for walk. Today is a national holiday, so the kids are out in full force, helping their mothers harvest seaweed. They set up sticks and string all over the sandbar. At one point I was annoyed, as you couldn't get into the water at the end of the sandbar because they had so many traps set up. Then I listened to what I was saying, which was basically, "how dare these women use their land to make a living when I've shown up for a few days to play". But, I'm pretty sure I admitted to being an asshole in the first post of this blog, so...
So, I'd been wondering why no one has cleaned my room the entire time I've been here. My sheets are sandy, my towels are dirty, I'm out of toilet paper, etc. Turns out, there is only one key to this room, as it's in the back and only used when they overbook (my feeling, anyway). So I give them my key before my three hour walk, they run over with my key as soon as they see me return. Place smells of cleanser, new sheets on bed, with fresh flowers, etc. Wish someone had mentioned it earlier.
Go to Coral for Internet, cause even though they promised the wifi would be fixed here by Tuesday, that's clearly not happening. Try again to deposit an email money transfer into my account, and again my bank refuses. They let me sign in to my account, so why can't I put money into it? If I tried to pay a strange vendor, then yes, you're protecting me. If someone wants to put money INTO my account, I say let them. Which is what I said to them in a strongly worded email. I'm sure they're shittin' themselves right now. Anyway, very angry. Then it starts raining, out of nowhere, there seem to be three thousand houseflies around me and now a stray cat is under the table. Enraged. But at least it's stopped raining. Chat with local dude at bar for a bit and decide I should take advantage of the last of the sandbar. Start collecting little shells for no reason, but they're very pretty and may look good on my mantle, provided I can get them home safely.
Then just sit in air conditioned room reading before dinner. Bit bored on my own, if I'm honest. Not much to do here without company and everyone staying here is in a couple. And German. But see Laura in a couple of days at the falls, so just relaxing until then.
They let people play their iPods at dinner here. On my first night, the waiter honoured me with first choice. I put on Some Girls, by the Stones, a birthday gift from Mike and Deb. I don't think the Germans or the dreadlocked weirdos cared for it, but at least one table of dudes asked for them to turn it up. Music has been pretty crap since they took away my dj privileges. The French kite surfer dude is quite obsessed with putting his music on, usually noodly jazz or something equally pretentious. Especially when new ladies arrive. I'm telling you, 20 years ago I would have thought he was so deep and interesting. Now just smile when I see it working for him. He is kinda cute, to be fair. Maybe they're aware, but don't care. Either way, it's something for me to do while I eat dinner.
Things I've forgotten to mention: I forgot my brand new hiking boots on the truck in Kampala. Not sure what I'll do on the next safari, as pretty sure I need them.
The ginger beer is actually just really potent ginger ale. Still delicious, and fun to say, Stoney Tangawizi (that's Swahili for ginger)
Germans smoke, a lot. Like between every course.
They rake up the seaweed off the beach every morning. Looks like a lot of work too.
The forest next to the lodge, which should be full of red colubus monkeys is actually full of wild chickens. And their chicks. They're very noisy.
Salisbury Hill has just begun to play, so that's my cue to leave.
